Reaching Out:
Teaching/Reaching Students Across Campus
Loreen Phillips
Eugene McDermott Library
University of Texas at Dallas
Richardson, Texas
ACRL 2005
Reaching Out:
Teaching/Reaching Students Across Campus
Tom Koch
Who we are
The Campus
The Collection
Librarians
Outreach
Conclusions
Rick Biddenstadt
Reaching Out:
Teaching/Reaching Students Across Campus
Tom Koch
Tom Koch
Who we are
The University of Texas at Dallas is one of the campuses of
the UT System. UT-Dallas, located in the suburbs of North
Dallas and along the Telecom Corridor®, offers over 115
academic programs within its seven schools.
Reaching Out:
Teaching/Reaching Students Across Campus
Who We Are:
The Eugene McDermott Library, as part of the University of
Texas at Dallas campus, serves a diverse community.
The student population totals over 14,000. There are 516
faculty and over 1100 staff.
Source: http://ospa.utdallas.edu/cds/2004/I_Facultyf04.htm
Source: http://ospa.utdallas.edu/present/contents.htm
Reaching Out:
Teaching/Reaching Students Across Campus
The Collection
Since August 2004 the McDermott Library’s holdings have
increased. The collection now includes over 200 databases,
40,000 electronic books, and approximately 15,000 electronic
journals.
Source: http://www.utdallas.edu/library/collections/libstats0802.htm
Reaching Out:
Teaching/Reaching Students Across Campus
Tom Koch
The Collection
In September 2004 the library achieved 1 million volumes
in its collection.
Source: http://www.utdallas.edu/library/collections/libstats0802.htm
Reaching Out:
Teaching/Reaching Students Across Campus
Rick Biddenstadt
Tom Koch
Librarians
Professionals 12.5
Other Professional Staff 7.0
Paraprofessionals and staff 44.0
Source: http://www.utdallas.edu/library/collections/libstats0802.htm
Reaching Out:
Teaching/Reaching Students Across Campus
McDermott Library had a lot to offer: a great, comprehensive
collection that supported the curriculum; knowledgeable librarians;
and up-to-date technology resources such as laptops for loan, an
Information Commons, and wired/wireless access.
The problem: how to create campus wide awareness of all that the
library had to offer thereby creating an informed and research savvy
campus community with an end result of improved information
literacy and an increase in library statistics?
The answer: boost visibility through outreach.
Reaching Out:
Teaching/Reaching Students Across Campus
Susie Kutchi
Chu-Hua Mou
Outreach
Why not go out and find the student? The librarians at
McDermott Library thought just that. With this in mind,
several outreach efforts were initiated by the Head of
Information Literacy. From Fall 2002 through Spring 2005 a
wide range of outreach ideas was attempted.
Reaching Out:
Teaching/Reaching Students Across Campus
Tom Koch
Tom Koch
Carol Oshel
Graphics by Microsoft
Outreach
Among the outreach efforts created were “Librarians On The
Loose”, the creation of 2 satellites offices, participation in
student fairs, offering workshops and tours, virtual chat, an
“Ask A Librarian” service, and advertising in the campus
newspaper.
Reaching Out:
Teaching/Reaching Students Across Campus
Tom Koch
“Librarians on the Loose”
The librarians took laptops all around campus, anywhere and
everywhere students could be found and created a unique awareness
of the library’s services. Imagine running into a librarian in the
student cafeteria!
Reaching Out:
Teaching/Reaching Students Across Campus
Carol Oshel
Graphics by Microsoft
Susie Kutchi
Graphics by Microsoft
With little graphic arts skills, the librarians created exciting, eye
catching posters, advertisements, bookmarks, stickers, and magnets.
The use of color, humor, and brevity were key to the success of
these creations.
Reaching Out:
Teaching/Reaching Students Across Campus
Stephanie Isham
Susie Kutchi
Graphics by Microsoft
Posters
Carol Oshel
Graphics by Microsoft
Reaching Out:
Teaching/Reaching Students Across Campus
Carol Oshel
Graphics by Microsoft
• Posters
Stephanie Isham
Graphics by Microsoft
Reaching Out:
Teaching/Reaching Students Across Campus
Carol Oshel
Graphics by Microsoft
Matt Makowka
Graphics by Microsoft
Stephanie Isham
Graphics by Microsoft
Reaching Out:
Teaching/Reaching Students Across Campus
Advertisements
IEEE
Carol Oshel
Carol Oshel
Graphics by Microsoft
Reaching Out:
Teaching/Reaching Students Across Campus
Stephanie Isham
Graphics by Microsoft
Bookmarks
Susie Kutchi
Graphics by Microsoft
Reaching Out:
Teaching/Reaching Students Across Campus
Hillary Campbell
Stephanie Isham
Graphics by Microsoft
Magnets and stickers
Reaching Out:
Teaching/Reaching Students Across Campus
Carol Oshel
Graphics by Microsoft
Advertisements
Carol Oshel
Graphics by Microsoft
Reaching Out:
Teaching/Reaching Students Across Campus
Advertisements
Susie Kutchi
Carol Oshel
Reaching Out:
Teaching/Reaching Students Across Campus
Tom Koch
Tom Koch
Conclusion
The outcome was that students, faculty and staff became aware of
the library, librarians, and resources. A great deal of effort,
ingenuity, and creativity had been rewarded.
Reaching Out:
Teaching/Reaching Students Across Campus
Conclusion
Library statistics showed an increase in the library’s website usage.
Reference statistics showed an increase in usage especially with in-depth
queries of 15 minutes or more. Overall, library usage improved.
Source: Library Annual Report
Source: Quarterly Library Newsletter
Reaching Out:
Teaching/Reaching Students Across Campus
Conclusion
Librarians found that students, having encountered the librarians
in less traditional settings, were more willing to seek research guidance.
Another end result was that they were becoming more knowledgeable
in electronic database and resource selection.
Reaching Out:
Teaching/Reaching Students Across Campus
Conclusion
The librarians continue many of the outreach efforts using trial and
error. As students become more information literate, it is easier to
introduce new search strategies and research skills during class
sessions. It is hoped that the continued outreach efforts will positively
influence future initiatives such as a one-credit library class.
Reaching Out:
Teaching/Reaching Students Across Campus
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action University
P. O. Box 830643 Richardson, TX 75083-0643 972-883-2955