Library Strategies: Personal Librarian (PL) to Improve Retention for First Generation and Transfer Students

Creator(s)

Jonathan R. Wilson, East Tennessee State UniversityFollow
Jeri Paddock, East Tennessee State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Presentation

Publication Date

7-27-2022

Description

In an effort to improve retention and promote library services to new incoming students, the Sherrod Library staff at East Tennessee State University discussed different ideas and decided to expand the Lending Technology Program & Personal Librarian (PL) program to include First Generation and Transfer students. To help decrease library anxiety, students received by email a weekly newsletter of events and workshops happening in the library. These emails also personally reached out and regularly informed the students of information literacy skills such as navigating the library website, subject guides, tutoring center, and citation help. Additionally, the students received a short two-minute YouTube video bi-monthly that showed a different department in the library. The PL acts as a guide to help direct the students to the proper resources while presenting a friendly and approachable person for the students to interact with when asking for help.

Location

West Lafayette, IN (virtual)

Copyright Statement

© the authors, 2022.

Citation Information

Wilson, Jonathan R.; and Paddock, Jeri. 2022. Library Strategies: Personal Librarian (PL) to Improve Retention for First Generation and Transfer Students. 2022 Distance Library Services Conference, West Lafayette, IN (virtual). https://commons.erau.edu/dls-conference/2022/agenda/29/