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Engaging users in your
discovery service: promotion and persuasion in an
academic context
Katherine Rose Information Systems Librarian
Regent’s University London
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‒ Introduction
‒ The role of academic librarians as
promoters
‒ Case study: launching a discovery
service at Regent’s University London
‒ Group discussion
‒ Conclusion, common themes
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Regent’s University London
interesting times…
‒ Higher education on the site since 1908
through Bedford College
‒ Regent’s College grew out of different
educational institutions 1984 – 2009
‒ Became a University and acquired AIU
London in April 2013
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We are…
‒An independent university
‒A charity
‒A not-for-profit higher education
institution formed of seven
schools
‒A multisite Library service with c.
50,000 items
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The topic I’d like to talk about…
The role of (self) promotion in academic
libraries today
‒ We all implement services, but what
comes next?
‒ As more of our services move online, the
marketing/promotion stage becomes
increasingly important
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Let’s start with RULDiscovery…
‒ EBSCO Discovery Service, chosen in
summer 2012
‒ Implementation: August – October 2013
‒ Launch: October 31st 2013
‒ Search box integrated in Blackboard,
created referring URL and access button
on intranet
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Why now…?
‒ Shift of culture at Regent’s, moving
from a small college to TDAP university
‒ Increasingly research-focused
‒ Expansion of Library: new positions,
new site, new expectations
‒ Need to maximise usage of eresources
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If you build it, they will come…(?)
‒ Increasing focus on online services
requires active marketing, promotion and
monitoring
‒ necessary to achieve user engagement
and value for money
‒ Contrast between new Library floor and
RULDiscovery
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Communications strategies…?!
‒ Involvement of project management
team
‒ Creation of a communication plan
‒ Thinking about key messages,
audience, channels and purpose
‒ Also useful to keep track of what has
been done
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What we’re doing…
‒ Indirect emails
Blackboard notifications
QR codes on posters and the Library catalogue
merchandise (bookmarks, cards)
intranet/bulletin newstories
Camtasia video support material
12
What we’re doing…
‒Direct staff meetings
committees
class presentations
one-to-ones and training sessions
13
What is working for us…
‒ Engaging academics through direct
contact (meetings, presentations on
committees)
‒ Liaising with lecturers to go into their
classes and give quick demos of
RULDiscovery
‒ Making ourselves available ‘any time, any
place’
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What has not worked so well…
‒Emails (culture of the organisation, so many
emails which don’t get read)
‒Offering students training directly
through drop-in sessions
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The results, so far…
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More presence, more usage…
‒ Usage stats show a positive correlation
with the number of physical Library
appearances in classes, meetings,
committees
‒ Usage shows no correlation with
pushing indirect promotion, emails,
posters etc.
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Moving outside of the comfort
zone… ‒ Traditional role of the academic Librarian
changing
‒ Instead of only implementing new services
and delivering training, there is a greater
need for active promotion and marketing of
our services
‒ Increasing need to actively prove our value
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Unexpected benefits…
‒ Our active direct promotion is raising the
profile of the Library within our institution and
is leading to our other services gaining
recognition
‒ Also helping to integrate the new Library team
‒ Allowing us to form new links with other
departments, e.g. communications, project
management, VLE
Over to you!
Have you recently promoted a new
service (online or physical)
How did you do this?
What worked and what didn’t?
How comfortable do you feel promoting
your services?
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Our conclusions…
‒ Academic buy-in is key to success
‒ Continue to reach out to students but
focus energies equally across staff and
students
‒ Know the culture of your organisation
‒ Virtual resources require more direct
‘face-to-face promotion’
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Future plans…
‒ Run staff and student focus groups in
October 2014
‒ Work in collaboration with the student
union to reach students more directly
‒ Continue to push for a presence in
staff/committee meetings
