Personal librarian programs are a low-cost, high-impact way to alleviate student anxiety and increase their engagement with library services and resources. At Brock University, personal librarians connect with both undergraduate and graduate students across multiple disciplines. But how do we know if our efforts are successful? Combining quantitative and qualitative measures offers a comprehensive approach to assessment. This presentation will explore factors involved in planning and executing a personal librarian program, including the importance of striving for empathetic marketing. The advantages and challenges of combining quantitative and qualitative measures, such as surveys and participation metrics, to gather data on student attitudes and their use of library services will be highlighted. The presenters will also discuss the implications of using email marketing software to deliver personalized, targeted messaging to students.
Outcomes:
– Identify the main characteristics of successful personal librarian programs in order to implement a similar program in your own institution.
– Describe advantages and challenges of assessment methods including online surveys, participation and email marketing metrics in order to implement assessment methods appropriate for your institution.
– Examine ideas for strategic assessment methods tied to student achievement and retention in order to determine how they might be applied at your library.
