Charge
- Develop clear definitions of outreach and engagement to be adopted by the Library in order to better assess individual and collective efforts in these areas
- Promote intentional implementation of activities that balance outreach and engagement goals and in particular increase engagement outputs in order to fulfill a land grant mission
- Provide leadership about best practices in outreach and engagement and communicate these to the Library
- Manage a library-funded grant program to allocate funds for outreach and engagement activities
- Provide support and information resources for outreach and engagement activities such as training opportunities, and a central hub for information about relevant policies and best practices in outreach and engagement
- Facilitate regular assessment of outreach and engagement activities in the Library
Membership Details
The Outreach and Engagement Committee is composed of individuals (including faculty, academic professionals (APs), and civil service staff) from each Library Division. Members of the OEC should be individuals who are actively involved in outreach and engagement activities. Additional members may be appointed to represent special concerns. Members are appointed by EC and serve two-year staggered terms with possible reappointment for an additional term. The chair will be elected by the committee from its membership, and serves a two-year term with the possibility of reelection for one additional two-year term.
Members
- Kristen Allen Wilson(Oct 2020 - Oct 2021)
- Sarah Christensen(Oct 2020 - Oct 2022)
- Karen Huck(Oct 2020 - Oct 2021)
- Heather Murphy(ex officio - Chief Communications Officer)
- Lisa Romero(Oct 2020 - Oct 2021)
- Janis Shearer(Oct 2020 - Oct 2022)
- Shelby Strommer, Chair(Oct 2020 - Oct 2022)
- Mara Thacker(Oct 2020 - Oct 2021)
- Chris Wiley(Oct 2020 - Oct 2022)
Additional Committee Information
OEC MediaSpace Channel
Visit our MediaSpace channel for recordings of past professional development sessions.
Definition of Library Outreach
“In academic librarianship, outreach is work carried out by library employees at institutions of higher education who design and implement a variety of methods of intervention to advance awareness, positive perceptions, and use of library services, spaces, collections, and issues (e.g. various literacies, scholarly communication, etc.). Implemented in and outside of the library, outreach efforts are typically implemented periodically throughout the year or as a single event. Methods are primarily targeted to current students and faculty, however, subsets of these groups, potential students, alumni, surrounding community members, and staff can be additional target audiences.” (Diaz, 2019, p. 191)
Outreach activities build awareness and facilitate the use of the Library’s collections and services, encourages life-long learning, and the creation and strengthening of relationships between the University and the communities that it serves. Some examples of library outreach activities include exhibits, presentations about the Library’s resources, and tours.
Diaz, S. A. (2019). Outreach in academic librarianship: A concept analysis and definition. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 45(3), 184-194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2019.02.012
Definition of Library Public Engagement
The Office of the Provost uses the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement to define community/public engagement. The definition reads:
“Community engagement describes collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity. The purpose of community engagement is the partnership of college and university knowledge and resources with those of the public and private sectors to enrich scholarship, research and creative activity; enhance curriculum, teaching and learning; prepare educated, engaged citizens; strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility; address critical societal issues; and contribute to the public good.” (2020)
In the library context, this entails programs and activities that draw on the Library’s professional expertise, collections, and resources in a collaborative partnership with diverse user communities to explicitly include people not affiliated with the university to contribute to the public good. Some examples of library engagement activities include Small Press Fest, Chai Wai series, workshops held in collaboration with local public libraries, and many more.
Community engagement classification (U.S.). (2020, August 11). Retrieved April 19, 2021, from https://public-purpose.org/initiatives/carnegie-elective-classifications/community-engagement-classification-u-s/
Agendas and Minutes
- Show All
- 2020-2021
| Meeting Date | Agenda | Minutes | Related Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 2021 | Agenda available | Minutes not yet available | |
| April 15, 2021 | Agenda available | Minutes available | |
| March 18, 2021 | Agenda available | Minutes available | |
| January 21, 2021 | Agenda available | Minutes available | |
| December 17, 2020 | Agenda available | Minutes available | |
| November 9, 2020 | Agenda available | Minutes available | |
| October 26, 2020 | Agenda available | Minutes not yet available |