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Turning Outward: Community Engagement and Outreach of Academic Libraries During Covid-19
Last modified: 2021-12-10
Abstract
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, libraries are proactively pivoting their community engagement and outreach efforts online andare finding new ways to serve faculty, students, and partners. Libraries are committed to strengthening the resilience and recoveryof the community through working collaboratively with its members and building partnerships with relevant organizations. This paper aims to investigate the types and scope of community engagement and outreach activities of academic libraries while thephysical library spaces remain closed or operating on a limited capacity. It also looks at the tools and methods employed toimplement such activities. The paper also attempts to uncover patterns or emerging themes as libraries explore innovative ideas and take new initiatives for the betterment of the community they serve.The study employs a website and Facebook page survey of AUN (ASEAN University Network) Inter-Library Online (AUNILO)member-libraries. The following six outreach categories will be utilized: (1) Collection-Based Outreach; (2) Instruction &Services-Based Outreach; (3) “Whole Person” Outreach; (4) Just for Fun Outreach; (5) Partnerships and Community-FocusedOutreach; and (6) Multi-Pronged Themed Events and Programming. Said categories were derived from Farrell and Mastel (2016)paper entitled “Considering Outreach Assessment: Strategies, Sample Scenarios, And A Call to Action.”Findings of the study will offer some insights on how libraries strengthen their roles in transforming societies as they provideopportunities to bring about positive change in their communities. Moreover, this paper will also challenge libraries to take a closerlook at their own activities and consider how they can design creative and inspiring ways to connect with their communities.
Keywords
academic libraries; educational activities; COVID-19; community involvement; innovation