Un-camouflaging the Library: An Outreach Continuum Leila June Rod-Welch, Outreach Services Librarian Barbara E. Weeg, Collection Strategist Librarian Un-camouflaging the Library: An Outreach Continuum Leila June Rod-Welch, Outreach Services Librarian leila.rod-welch@uni.edu Barbara E. Weeg, Collection Strategist Librarian barbara.weeg@uni.edu Rod Library University of Northern Iowa ALA-EBSS Research Forum June 24, 2017 ALA - EBSS Research Forum June 24, 2017

Introduction Outreach Initiatives Outreach Services Librarian Underserved - Military Science Department/ROTC Conference Website Course catalog Introduction Library initiative to provide more formalized outreach to underserved departments/groups   Active library instruction program Initiated formal outreach program to expand contacts and to build the library research skills of students through outreach to student organizations; also other university members such as incoming staff and faculty Outreach Services Librarian – new position Role of assessment Through formalized systematic assessment at each step we gained information to build the next level of outreach The research methods we used were simple and straightforward This method can be applied to designing outreach to other underserved groups One group we identified as being underserved group was the Department of Military Science/ROTC; although some of the students received library instruction in their major classes Background about Military Science Department/ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) was created through the National Defense Act of 1916 College-based program providing leadership and military training to prepare young adults to become officers in the United States military Some ROTC students are military veterans—have previous military experience Army ROTC has 275 host programs and 1,100 partnerships at colleges and universities across the United States. Over 30,000 ROTC cadets At our university, which is a state university, military training dates back to 1891. Officially, in 2001 UNI became an ROTC partner university At UNI, 12 military science/ROTC classes are offered Leadership development, military operation, and ethical decision making as well as fitness and survival skills Learned about the Military Science department, faculty, staff, and students Conference -- the outreach services librarian and the collection strategist librarian attended a state-wide military and veterans’ conference Website Course catalog

Phase 1: Department Head Interview of Military Science Department Head Email Face-to-face meeting Phase 1: Department Head Outreach Services Librarian initiated idea of library outreach to military science department and students   Department head receptive Interviewed the department head Email: after conference to follow up and confirm mutual interest in library outreach Scheduled a meeting: interview about faculty, staff, students’ library needs Face-to-face meeting Assessment-- Department head’s information and perceptions Staff and faculty needs Students’ needs Number of students in the program Majors Military Science classes being taught How can we help them and their students? Faculty were the key stakeholders; if the faculty were not supportive of library and its services, they would not be supportive of their students learning about the library

Phase 2: Faculty and Staff Pre-presentation Survey: 9 questions Library Pictorial Presentation Post-presentation Survey: 4 questions Phase 2: Faculty and Staff Presentation to ROTC faculty and staff (departmental meeting)   Assessment – Pre-presentation Survey: 9 questions that asked the faculty and staff to identify How best to reach out to military science students Where in the military science program library instruction would be timely and relevant Whether library orientation and library instruction should be mandatory for the students Also questions about library use and perceptions Pictorial PowerPoint (20 minutes): All the library services and information resources Assessment-- Post-presentation Survey: 4 questions Assessing the quality of the presentation Whether this presentation would be helpful for their students The survey ended with an open-ended question for them to supply any comments

Phase 3: Students Guided Library Tour Assessment of Learning Student comments during tour Research consultations Department head feedback Phase 3: Students Guided Library Tour for Military Science/ROTC students Tour began in library instruction room Outreach Service Librarian demonstrated how to access: Library website Online integrated library system Links to library services such as research consultations, chat, … Physical tour of all the 4 floors   Assessment-- Student comments during tour Research consultations Feedback from the department head based on students self-report of prior library knowledge and experiences

Conclusion Three-phase assessment of library interest and knowledge among members of a university military science department led to a sustainable, progressive program of library outreach Expanded into course-integrated library instruction for “Leadership in a Complex World” Three-phase assessment of library interest and knowledge among members of a university military science department led to a sustainable, progressive program of library outreach   Expanded into course-integrated library instruction for “Leadership in a Complex World” Mission Command and the Company Grade Officer (MIL SCI 3119) Students study military leadership that occurred during Vietnam War Also battle analysis Vietnam War LibGuide supporting the course developed by Collection Strategist Librarian -- http://guides.lib.uni.edu/vietnam-war