Transforming traditional library orientation at UCT Libraries: A practical overview Theresa Schoeman and Nuroo Davids 02 October 2019
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Transforming traditional library orientation at UCT Libraries: A practical overview
Theresa Schoeman and Nuroo Davids
02 October 2019
UNIVERSITY ORIENTATION
Induction for first year students into university life
“Orientation is a set of programmes designed to introduce first-year students to the different facilities and unique aspects of university life”.
“Orientation is a series of events and activities designed to help a first-year student explore all that awaits them at university.” University of Cape Town 2019
LIBRARY ORIENTATION
Omeluzor et al. ( 2017:1) mentions that library orientation “….is a core activity of the academic libraries that entails educating, enlightening, guiding and helping the library users to identify, understand and utilize library information resources effectively”.
TRADITIONAL UCT LIBRARY ORIENTATION
Long library tours
Library jargon
Information overload
Overwhelming !
REFRESH ATTEMPTS ….
2017 REVALUATION
REFRESH
RENEW
REPURPOSE
REVITALISE
RECONNECT
PROPOSED NEW IDEAS
Branding
Social media
Library Buddies
Burst of activities
o Library tours
o Plaza activity
o Roaming Library Buddy
BRAND
According to Ned Potter (2019) “Your brand is the perception of your library, your services and your collections in people’s minds”.
“Its how people think and feel about who you are as an organisation, and what you do”.
BRANDING
“Branding, on the other hand, is the process of trying to influence people’s perceptions of the organisation, and the way they regard your brand”. Ned Potter
Strong visual identity
SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook, Twitter and Instagram was utilised to advertise
orientation
Instagram posts & stories were designed in a creative, interesting, good composition & with daily posts.
PLAZA WEEK 2018 - 2019 Plaza week = “take the Library out of the library”
Library Buddies at the library stall
Promote Social Media
Creating a hype around library use and the Library Buddies
Promote a competition
PLAZA WEEK
PLAZA WEEK
LIBRARY TOURS
ROAMING BUDDY PROGRAMME
ROAMING BUDDY ROLE
Assist students to adapt to using an academic library
Establish a peer-to-peer relationship with students
Assist studentso Finding bookso Computer issueso Printing issueso Self-checkout machine
Show students that the library is not an intimidating or scary place
QUESTIONS
How do I connect to the WiFi?
Where are the toilets?
Can I print? And where?
How do I print?
Printing credits? What's that?
I'm looking for the Health Psychology textbook, where can I find it?
How do I log on to this PC?
Do you know where ICT is?
Where is the fee’s office?
I remember my UCT password, what do I do?
CONCLUSION
Orientation programs must be revitalised and be relevant to the needs of the present generation. Generations such as the Millennials and the incoming Generation Z
Create a unique, consistent brand for your institution and invest in marketing
Keep it simple and bear in mind what your First Years need
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