Better Together: Responsive Community Programming at the U-M Library

In the past seven years, the University of Michigan Library's programming model has evolved to be responsive and reflective of staffing areas of interest and expertise. Our team-based, iterative model enables us to develop responsive exhibits, workshops, experiences, and events in our community...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of library administration 2015-02, Vol.55 (2), p.131-141
Main Authors: Vander Broek, Jamie Lausch, Rodgers, Emily Puckett
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
academic-public library partnerships
Communities
community engagement
Community relations
Construction
Education
Learning
Libraries
outreach
Programming
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Summary:In the past seven years, the University of Michigan Library's programming model has evolved to be responsive and reflective of staffing areas of interest and expertise. Our team-based, iterative model enables us to develop responsive exhibits, workshops, experiences, and events in our community. This article explores our experiences in developing this model through the lens of some of our collaborations with the Ann Arbor District Library (AADL). Our approach to programming opportunities builds on learning by doing, building deeper, mutually beneficial relationships with other organizations, and continually making sure we are truly developing programming with our audience (our community) in mind. While public and academic libraries often develop distinct sets of services, collections, and expertise to serve their respective communities, successful collaborations can yield interesting opportunities for more effective engagement and programming. Our relationship with AADL has helped us to identify and better understand how we can connect our teaching and research missions with the interests and needs of the broader community in which we are situated.
ISSN:0193-0826
1540-3564
DOI:10.1080/01930826.2014.995558