Primary tabs
You don't need to be an ALA Member to purchase from the ALA Store, but you'll be asked to create an online account/profile during the checkout to proceed. This Web Account is for both Members and non-Members. Note that your ALA Member discount will be applied at the final step of the checkout process.
If you are Tax-Exempt, please verify that your account is currently set up as exempt before placing your order, as our new fulfillment center will need current documentation. Learn how to verify here.
- Description
- Table of Contents
- About the authors
The Library Outreach Cookbook collects 110 recipes full of activities, strategies, plans, and tips designed for librarians of all stripes working within a variety of institutions, budgets, and needs. The Cookbook is divided into four sections:
- Getting Started with Outreach. Topics covered include marketing, planning, logos, slogans, spaces, mobile, visual media, newsletters, swag, displays, and assessment. The ideas and strategies here will work in almost any context.
- Campus-Focused Outreach. Here we look closely at ways in which you can focus on people at your own institution—specifically, students, faculty, staff, and the broader campus community.
- Community-Focused Outreach. This section provides ways in which you can better connect to those folks that may not be formally connected to the institution—specifically, K-12 schools, local professionals, middle-aged and older adults, veterans, and the general community.
- General Programming Activities and Events. These are interesting opportunities for those that interact with your library, with examples covering library orientation, food, stress relief, therapy dog programs, exercise, multicultural events, human libraries, making, themed events, and end-of-semester activities.
You can use the ideas as written, adjust them to match your own situation, or mix and match a variety of these concepts to come up with something entirely new. The Library Outreach Cookbook provides different approaches, formats, and solutions that lead to successful outreach.
Acknowledgments
Table of Contents
Introduction
Section 1: Getting Started with Outreach
Marketing
Chapter 1. Aligning Library Marketing and Communications with Institutional Branding
Beth Hendrix
Chapter 2. Crafting Tantalizing Elevator Pitches for Any Audience
Sarah E. Fancher
Planning
Chapter 3. Networking Resources for Outreach Librarians
Chapter 4. Collaborative Planning for Outreach Priorities
Mark Lenker
Chapter 5. Easy User Interviews for Event Flyers and Other Marketing Materials
Sheree Fu
Chapter 6. Creating a Master Calendar of Outreach Events
Jennifer Friedman and Nora Wood
Chapter 7. Collaboration within a Social Media Working Group
Sarah Christensen and Emily Moran
Logos
Chapter 8. Design Your Own Logo
Carina Gonzalez
Slogans
Chapter 9. Quick and Easy Taglines for Every Occasion
Cate Schneiderman
Spaces
Chapter 10. Discovering and Creating a Unique Marketable Space
Samantha Paul and Jonathan Klotz
Mobile
Chapter 11. Fostering Community Engagement with Mobile Technology
Sarah Christensen, Monique Lassere, Delaney Bullinger, and KayLee Strahan
Visual Media
Chapter 12. A Quick and Easy Guide to Curating Your Library’s Instagram Account
Jon Reed
Chapter 13. Regram and Repost
Mallory Jallas
Chapter 14. Using Memes to Grab Attention
Mark Gatesman
Chapter 15. Cost-Effective Infographic Options
A. Miller
Chapter 16. Spice Up Outreach for Online Information Literacy Using Interactive Images
Reilly Curran and Rebecca Bliquez
Chapter 17. Using Posters for a Campaign of Discovery, Diversity, and Identity
Sue Robinson and Bettina Peacemaker
Newsletters
Chapter 18. A Collaborative System for Customized eNews
Martha Roseberry, Bettina Peacemaker, and Sue Robinson
Chapter 19. A Library Newsletter with a Twist
Ashley Creek
Swag
Chapter 20. Using Memes and Stickers for Collectible Library Marketing
William Cuthbertson
Chapter 21. Tasty Reads and Sweet Surprises with the Library Book Mobile
Krissy Cwengros and Serene Rock
Displays
Chapter 22. Applying Retail Principles to Library Book Displays
Carla-Mae Crookendale and Sue Robinson
Chapter 23. Collaborative Exhibits for Marketing and Outreach
Lisa K. Hooper
Chapter 24. Library as Gallery Space
Renata Gibson
Assessment
Chapter 25. Outreach and Assessment Techniques for Your Library without Using LIBQUAL+
Dan Vinson
Chapter 26. Post-it Notes Feedback
Jessica Jordan
Chapter 27. Using Question Walls for User Feedback
Christina Broomfield, Kourtney Blackburn, and Christina Hillman
Chapter 28. Collection Recommendations Using Padlet
Rebecca Bliquez and Reilly Curran
Chapter 29. Virtual Library Safari Assessment
Ashley Creek
Section 2: Campus-Focused Outreach
Students
Chapter 30. Finding Synergy with Your Stakeholders: Crafting Student-Centered Policies, Programs, and Environments with a Student Advisory Council
Claire Veach
Chapter 31. Stirring Up Magic with Personal Librarians
Brian T. Sullivan, Trevor Riley, and Eva Sclippa
Chapter 32. Research Parties: Consultations for a Crowd
Jennifer Hunter and Christina Riehman-Murphy
Chapter 33. Bringing the Wildlife Senior’s Research Poster Session to the Library
Katia G. Karadjova
Chapter 34. Developing a Research Certificate Program for Your Library
Jeff Graveline
Chapter 35. Reaching First-Generation College Students through Storytelling
Emily Bush and Colette Strassburg
Chapter 36. Adding Leaves to Trees: Connecting African American Patrons to Their Roots
Nancy Richey
Chapter 37. Outreach for Student Athletes
Jennifer Natale
Chapter 38. Library Success for Students with Disabilities
Kaela Casey and Janet Pinkley
Faculty
Chapter 39. Using Information Literacy Mini-Grants for Faculty Outreach
Larissa Gordon
Chapter 40. Faculty Lightning Talks: Bite-Sized Research Insights
Steve Bahnaman, Elizabeth Dobbins, and Brooke Taxakis
Chapter 41. Promoting Faculty Scholarship through a Library Exhibit and Reception
Ilona MacNamara
Chapter 42. Breakfast and a Book
Kelly Heider
Chapter 43. Selling Altmetrics
Jen Bonnet, Marisa Méndez-Brady, and Brad Beauregard
Chapter 44. Inspiring Business Faculty with Comic Books and Styrofoam
Bettina Peacemaker, Yuki Hibben, and Pattie Sobczak
Staff
Chapter 45. Beating the “Blahs”
Susan Bloom
Chapter 46. Wait, I Don’t Have to Pay for That? Library Instruction for Staff
Beth Daniel Lindsay
Chapter 47. Library Olympics for Student Employees
Melissa Correll and Emily Moran
Broad Campus Community
Chapter 48. Greeting Your Patrons with Welcome Messages
Kristen R. Moore
Chapter 49. Instant InstaMeet: Creating Community in the Library
Amanda Woodward
Chapter 50. Pop-Up Library
Sarah Dauterive
Chapter 51. Weeding Party: Deselection with a Twist
Sarah Dockray
Chapter 52. A Multidisciplinary Film Discussion Series
Nell Chenault and Martha Roseberry
Chapter 53. Student Concerts in the Library
Taylor Greene
Chapter 54. You’re on the Air! Radio Show Outreach at Your University
Deborah Mole
Chapter 55. Using Smore to Promote New Books
Lindsay Davis
Chapter 56. That’s What She Said: A Display for Women’s History Month
Jennifer Harmonson
Chapter 57. A Self-Guided Library Tour using an Augmented Reality App
Dorothy Ryan
Chapter 58. Library Outreach with Augmented Reality
Rachel A. Koenig and Cori Wilhelm
Section 3: Community-Focused Outreach
K-12 Schools
Chapter 59. Getting Started with K-12 Outreach
Ariel Birdoff and Jordan Graham
Chapter 60. Elementary Students Learning in Academic Libraries
Leeanne Morrow
Chapter 61. Working with Middle and High Schools
Anne M. Jung-Matthews
Chapter 62. Model UN for High School Students
Kathryn Yelinek
Chapter 63. Opening Doors to an Academic Library Workshop Series for School Librarians
M. Delores Carlito
Local Professionals
Chapter 64. How to Chai Wai: International Engagement Involving Local Experts
Mara Thacker
Chapter 65. Speed Networking
Sabrina Wong
Chapter 66. Preparing Students for Job Interviews
Natalie Lopez
Chapter 67. Conducting Financial Literacy Events
Tensy Marcos-Bodker
Chapter 68. Outreach to Nursing Learning Communities in Remote Area Hospitals
Tia Esposito
Chapter 69. Providing Scholar Visitor Access to Your Library
Beth Daniel Lindsay
Middle-Aged and Older Adults
Chapter 70. Book Discussions that Go Beyond Just the Book
Norma Vélez-Vendrell and Amanda Gorrell
Chapter 71. More than Just Books: Responding to the Needs of Older Adults in Small Communities
Johnna Schultz
Chapter 72. Aiding Meals on Wheels Programs in Your Area
Gina Seymour
Veterans
Chapter 73. Opportunities for Working with Veterans
Jennifer Hadley
General Community
Chapter 74. Canned Food Drives
Rebecca Conkle and Mary Ann Venner
Chapter 75. Libraries Supporting the Needs of the Bereaved
Gina Seymour
Section 4: General Programming Activities and Events
Library Orientation
Chapter 76. Picture the Perfect Library Conversation Starters
Theresa McDevitt
Food
Chapter 77. Bring Patrons to the Library with “Build Your Own Food”
Gary Maixner, Mari Kermit-Canfield, and David Scott
Chapter 78. Cooking Out for Campus Safety and Health
Zachary Elder
Chapter 79. Hosting an Edible Book Contest
Alena Principato and Rebecca Vargha
Stress Relief
Chapter 80. Build a Chalkboard Mandala Table for Patron Engagement and Endless Adult Coloring Fun
Mari Kermit-Canfield, Gary Maixner, and David Scott
Chapter 81. Origami, Puzzles, and Coloring: “Unstudy Spots” on a Shoestring Budget
Heather Buchansky, Jesse Carliner, and Vincci Lui
Chapter 82. Impossibly Easy Window Graffiti
Britt McGowan, Kellie Sparks, and Amanda Ziegler
Chapter 83. Cookies, Croquet, Coloring, and Collections
Christal A. Young and Karen Howell
Chapter 84. International Games Day in the Library
Patricia Hernandez and Jennifer Anderson
Therapy Dog Programs
Chapter 85. Regular Visits with a Cataloged Therapy Dog
Sami Lange
Chapter 86. How a Therapy Dog Outreach Program Can Catalyze Success for University Students and Libraries
Kiriakis Newman and Jody Bailey
Exercise
Chapter 87. Literary Trail Mix: The Library Hike
Rebecca Seipp
Chapter 88. DISCover Your Library: Hosting an Indoor Disc Golf Tournament
David Scott, Gary Maixner, and Mari Kermit-Canfield
Chapter 89. Flipping a Student Rave into a Library-Sponsored Event
Stephanie J. Graves and Sarah LeMire
Multicultural Events
Chapter 90. Film Screenings and Discussions
Alyssa Martin and Christopher Shaffer
Chapter 91. Bring Your Campus Together with a Taste of Languages
Sarah J. Hammill, Sally Zamudio, and Eric Feldman
Chapter 92. Spice It Up With World Languages
Shauntee Burns-Simpson, Emily Drew, and Thomas Knowlton
Human Libraries
Chapter 93. Connecting Communities and Celebrating Diversity through Living Library Events
Tarida Anantachai and Abby Kasowitz-Scheer
Chapter 94. Open Up a Different Conversation with the Human Library
Philip Poggiali and Steven Feyl
Chapter 95. Recording Oral History: A Five-Star Outreach Experience
Holly Hendrigan and Kay Cahill
Making
Chapter 96. Utilizing Weeded Materials to Decorate Furniture
Olivia Piepmeier and Anna Pinks
Chapter 97. Creating Fantastic Gardening Kits
Kristen Mastel and Renoir Gaither
Chapter 98. DIY Terrarium Workshop
Autumn Sinai
Themed Events
Chapter 99. A Marathon Reading of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Stephanie Diaz
Chapter 100. Fish Fingers and Custard: A Doctor Who Event
Mary Francis
Chapter 101. Banned Books Buffet
Amanda Melilli and Rosan Mitola
Chapter 102. Theater and Costume Design in the Library’s Banned Books Celebration
Patricia Hernandez and Jennifer Anderson
Chapter 103. Haunting Halloween Library Tour
Krista Ivy
Chapter 104. Creating a “Poet-Tree” Event for Poetry Month
Sami Lange
Chapter 105. Paint Chip Poetry
Dawn “Nikki” Cannon-Rech
Chapter 106. Arts à la Carte
Marianne Swierenga, Susan Steuer, and Michael Duffy
Chapter 107. A Curated Collection of Cookery
Julie Shen and Natalie Lopez
Chapter 108. Popcorn and Pictures: Outdoor Movies
Terra Rogerson
End of Semester
Chapter 109. Bringing Magic to Exams with the College Finals Fairy
Kylie Bailin, Ben Jahre, and Sarah Morris
Chapter 110. Graduation Photo Booth
Rebecca Metzger and Karen Lindell
About the Editors and Chapter Contributors