LITT: Academic Libraries

The library is the heart of any academic institution. Connect with others who work in Idaho’s colleges and universities in this LITT and share your experiences and perspective with your peers in other academic libraries.

The LITT: Academic Libraries listserv is a great way to stay connected. This listserv is co-sponsored by the Network of Idaho Academic Libraries (NIAL). Check out our listserv guidelines before posting.

Subscribe to the LITT: Academic Libraries listserv:

Our next LITT: Academic Libraries chat will be held April 25

Notes from Past LITT: Academic Library Community

Thanks to everyone who attended today’s LITT: Academic Library Community chat on supporting remote/virtual students. We had a great discussion about the various ways our libraries supports virtual students. Here are some of the trends/ideas/projects we discussed:

  • An increase in on-demand services – do our students know to demand it?
  • Proactive chat and global chat increases engagement in chat reference
  • Sharing blog posts in Moodle
  • An increase in demand driven acquisitions
  • Lockers at the library for students to retrieve their materials
  • Low turnout for zoom events
  • Very successful passive programming
  • Grab and go de-stress kits very popular with students
  • Going from 10 to 150 laptops available for checkout
  • Allowing textbook checkouts for up to 1 week
  • Looking into controlled digital lending (CDL)
  • Added a request to digitize into library catalog – request goes to ILL to manage
  • Very successful board game collection – buying games from a local shop

  • Houseplants in the library
  • Shortage of student employees, lots of students and staff out sick or quarantined
  • Becoming challenging to confront students about mask compliance in the library
  • Increase in difficult situations with regards to mask compliance in the library
  • How to handle interim leadership positions at an institution
  • All libraries should have a collection development policy with a challenge/reconsideration section (more information here)

  • Meaningful metrics
    • How do we demonstrate value?
    • What do you mean by value?
    • How can we make data collection better to tell our story better?
    • Gathering stories/testimonials after reference transactions
  • Using VR in the library for the first time, what considerations and/or best practices are there?
  • What to post on social media when there’s no events?
    • Cool book covers
    • Quote of the day
    • Learn from other social media people on campus
    • Convergence of informational / educational / fun
    • Featuring people that work in the library
    • Pay attention to what’s trending – TikTok for example
    • Pay attention to what you like about other library social media accounts
    • Liking, commenting, interacting with other library accounts to boost engagement and community

Questions or comments about LITT: Academic Libraries chats? Contact Annie.

Check out our Academic Libraries Services & Consulting page

LITT EVENTS

LITT: Digital Resources

July 11, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm MDT

Early Learning LITT Discussion

August 15, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm MDT

LITT: On the Move – Summer Outreach Successes!

August 20, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm MDT

Early Learning LITT Discussion

October 17, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm MDT

Early Learning LITT Discussion

December 19, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm MST

Annie Gaines

CE Consultant
Email / 208-639-4151
Read my Blogs

Deana Brown

Adult Services Consultant
Email / 208-639-4156
Read my Blogs