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reaching underserved student populations in academic libraries
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Reaching Underserved Student Populations
Emily MannJune 25, 2013
What do we mean by underserved?
Why do we care?
What Barriers exist?
What can we do?
What is a traditional student?
• Right out of High School
• 18-22
• Lives on campus
• Full time studenthttp://www.fresnostate.edu/home/student_life/index.html
Non-Traditional?
Age
Gender/Sexuality
Traditional Student
Box
Outside The BoxEthnicity Language
Location
Who is underserved?
• Adult learners• First-generation students• Transferring students• International students• DE students
But aren’t we all the same?
Help all the students!!!!!!!
http://letterstoayounglibrarian.blogspot.com
Well sort of……
MinimizationAn orientation that highlights cultural commonality and universal values and principles that may also mask deeper recognition and appreciation of cultural differences.
Adapted from Paige (1993)
What’s the problem?
Pros:
Accepts that there are universal tendencies
Works to accept all people and all customs
Helps us to avoid stress of contrast
Can give open-minded point of view
Avoid judgment
ConsDemonstrates a knowledge of your own culture not of the cultures around you
Fails to learn from other cultures
Lack of curiosity
May miss values and non-verbal clues
“tolerance” may be based on mistaken beliefs
What defines us?
See: Holmarsdottir
Every Patron is an Individual!
So if everyone is different….
Are we wasting our time trying to customize services?
Not at All!
The “traditional” student and experience is changing
Paying attention to the needs of specific groups can help serve all patrons
Can focus marketing
“Traditional”
High School College/Graduate School Work
Education Experience Today
4 yearHigh School
Charter school
Homeschool/Self-directed
4 year collegeEmployment
2 year college
Graduate School
One size does not fit all
• Clearly everyone is on their own path
• Why would we expect the same services to meet the needs of everyone?
http://www.greatwhatsit.com/archives/8460
What to do, what to do?
• Think about the barriers that may exist
• Targeted programing
• Library Staff Training
• Marketing and outreach
What stands between me and the student?
Defining the Barriers:
Cultural
Functional
Language
• What patrons expect from library
• What patrons expect from the librarian
• Expected interactions
• How the patron interacts with the space
• Ability for patron to use space (DE Students)
• part of cultural barriers
• Can make communication seem difficult for both librarian and patron
Know the barriers and get past them!
• There is no magic button, but awareness can help!
• Take the time to understand the patron’s needs, not their perceived needs
• Design around the needs of all patrons (services, physical spaces, outreach)
Targeted Programing
• Promote the tools we have• Increase collection that serves needs and
interests of all students• Find out what the students want and need,
not what we assume they need• Events that are welcoming to all groups
Targeted Spaces and Collections
LGBTQ Collection
Don’t lose them
• Patrons may miss out of freshman instruction
• Provide information literacy classes outside the curriculum
• Keep innovating
Assessment!
Implement
Review
Innovate
Staff Training
• Brings together staff• Provides a united
front to patrons• Staff can learn from
each other
https://slacktiverse.wordpress.com/category/cute-animals/
Marketing and Outreach
Different mediums
Go to the patrons
Promote what we have
Innovation
When we create new programs and outreach to target underserved populations, we give new life to our organization and improve our image to everyone
Libraries are there to serve our patrons, so lets make sure everyone is included
Conclusion
• Melting pots mean everyone loses their unique flavor; we need to be a stew
• Accepting change as the norm makes us happier librarians and people
• Reaching out to all patrons increases retention
• Creating programs for different groups works to bring together everyone
ResourcesHolmarsdottir, Halla, & Hagli, Mari Tøra. (2011). From Christopher Columbus to Evo
Morales : indigenous exclusion and inclusion in urban education in El Alto, Bolivia. Høgskolen i Oslo. Avdeling for lærerutdanning og internasjonale studier.
Paige, R. M. (1993). Education for the intercultural experience. Yarmouth, Me: Intercultural Press.
Paige, R. M., & University of Minnesota. (2006). Maximizing study abroad: A students' guide to strategies for language and culture learning and use. Minneapolis, Minn: Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition, University of Minnesota.
Switzer, A. T. (2008). Redefining Diversity: Creating an Inclusive Academic Library through Diversity Initiatives. College & Undergraduate Libraries, 15(3), 280-300.
Questions?