In a previous blog post, we cited the results of a 2021 Technology from Sage survey of academic library professionals. Sage asked survey participants whether or they agree with this: “The mission of the library is not about buildings and collections, but who librarians serve.” Perhaps unsurprisingly, the majority (75%) agreed.
However, as we also reported, a follow-up survey of undergraduate students in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom suggested that there is “a disconnect between the librarians’ perception of themselves and the library in general and the student perception”.
A 2023 Technology from Sage report, titled "Librarian Futures Part II: The Knowledge Gap Between Librarians and Students", notes: "Encouragingly, when asked how the library supports their studies, relatively few students (5% of respondents) reported that the library has no role in supporting their studies."
What the report's authors considered more concerning, though, was that only 34% of students reported that librarians help them find resources, and only 24% reported that librarians taught them about resources.
When the researchers asked the undergrads to list each of the ways they find resources for their assignments and studies, 63% said "I Google stuff", while 35% said “I go to the library website” and 27% reported “I go to the library building.”
See also:
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Academic librarians help students succeed, but student engagement is key
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Places to create and explore: The benefits of makerspaces in academic libraries
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Six ways to rebuild library patron loyalty and increase foot traffic
Academic libraries struggle with visibility
Clearly there is a gap between how students perceive libraries and they way librarians see them. As one academic librarian — Kat McGrath of the University of British Columbia — noted, sometimes the mission of campus libraries isn't even well understood by the institutions they serve:
Libraries are not yet being seen by their universities as service providers for patrons — there is still this old-fashioned view of collections and books on shelves.
It's a question of visibility, which is actually one of the important challenges that academic librarians face. Let's face it, academic libraries need funding to maintain collections, acquire new technology and provide services. Higher visibility can demonstrate the library’s value to the administration, helping justify budget allocations and investment in new resources.
While they almost certainly know that their local campus library exists, many students and faculty members may be unaware of the full range of resources, databases, collections and services the library offers. By increasing visibility, the library can ensure these resources are more widely known and utilized, which can enhance research, teaching and learning outcomes.
Read on for a few suggestions for academic librarians looking to improve their library's visibility and increase engagement with library users.
1. Collaborate with faculty
Partner with faculty across departments to integrate library resources into their courses. Offer to deliver guest lectures, design research guides or create tailored library orientations for their classes. Faculty partnerships can help you reach students and highlight how the library directly supports their academic success.
Increased visibility will in turn help your library forge stronger partnerships with faculty and other departments. By positioning itself as an essential academic partner, the library can support curriculum development, faculty research, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
2. Host workshops and events
Organize workshops on media literacy, research strategies, citation management, information science or specialized tools like data analysis software.
You can also host author talks, academic panels or "human library" events. Promoting these events through multiple channels — email, flyers, social media or even PressReader's Self-Pub feature — can attract diverse groups and showcase the library as a hub for learning and engagement.
3. Use social media effectively
Build a dynamic social media presence to connect with students and faculty. Share updates about new collections, events and resources.
Engaging content, such as study tips, fun facts about the library or student success stories, can help create a sense of connection and make the library more relatable and accessible.
4. Develop a campus outreach program
Reach out to key student organizations, academic departments and administrative offices to raise awareness of the library's offerings. By being proactive, you can increase collaborations, develop customized services and ensure that the library’s value is widely known. Consider assigning liaison librarians to different departments to foster relationships.
5. Offer personalized research assistance
Promote your reference services, whether in-person or online, as an integral part of the library’s offerings. Personalized research consultations, drop-in hours or virtual reference services (such as chat or video appointments) provide direct value to library users, helping them solve specific academic challenges.
6. Highlight technology and innovation
If your library offers digital resources, makerspaces or advanced research tools, make sure these are highly visible. Offer demonstrations, workshops or promotional campaigns to showcase how these resources can aid in research, creative projects or interdisciplinary collaboration. Being seen as a tech-forward institution helps solidify your role in modern scholarship.
Having your own library app couldn't hurt, either.
7. Leverage the library’s physical space
Create inviting spaces for study, collaboration and even relaxation. You might consider hosting open house events, library tours, or pop-up info sessions to introduce students to the library’s environment. A welcoming atmosphere encourages more frequent visits, and in turn, greater awareness of your resources.
8. Engage in cross-campus marketing
Collaborate with the marketing or communications department to develop a comprehensive outreach strategy. This might include newsletters, articles in campus publications or visibility in university-wide emails. Be present at orientations, fairs and other campus-wide events to introduce the library to new students and faculty.
9. Create eye-catching displays
Set up displays that highlight particular collections, themes or upcoming academic events. Engaging exhibits — whether physical or digital — can draw attention to underutilized resources, new acquisitions or even just a seasonal theme that makes the library feel more connected to current campus life.
10. Solicit and act on feedback
Create opportunities for students and faculty to share their needs and ideas for improving the library. Surveys, focus groups or suggestion boxes can give you insight into how the library is perceived and where you can enhance services. Acting on this feedback, and communicating those changes, demonstrates that the library is responsive to the campus community’s evolving needs.
Inspired by the work of the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, librarians at Rutgers University took an approach that involved turning outward "and, in so doing, occupy[ing] a different space within the campus community".
In an article titled "The promise of academic libraries: Turning outward to transform campus communities", Rutgers librarians Nancy Kranich, Megan Lotts and Gene Springs observed, "That space is where we are convening conversations across boundaries, providing community members an opportunity to listen to each other in a trusted, safe place."
They authors further noted:
Convening community conversations has helped us shift our focus from outreach, which entailed “selling” our services, to engagement, where we learn about our community’s aspirations and concerns. It has helped us gain a sense of agency, empowering us to feel comfortable as we step forward, embrace, and strengthen the campus community.
The heart of academic life
As higher education evolves, libraries must adapt to new teaching and research methods, such as open access resources, digital scholarship and data management. By being more visible, the library can demonstrate its role in supporting these trends and position itself as a critical part of future academic endeavors.
By actively engaging with the campus, promoting your services in varied ways and maintaining a strong presence, you can ensure that the library remains at the heart of academic life.
