Author ORCID Identifier

0000-0002-7207-6990

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2021

Abstract

University students expect much from their libraries. They want a place to study and research. They want a place to eat and hang out with their friends. They want to be able to relax between classes and find a quiet place to focus on work. They want a home away from home. As libraries have begun to accommodate these requests and shift away from the traditional ideas of a library, our students’ expectations are contradictory: have we lost the stereotypical idea of a library or are we in a renaissance where libraries are a third place for many students? Academic libraries can rise to meet all these expectations and more. Libraries are not bound by a single definition but host many. Our ambiguity can be an asset. It is time we lean into the idea of creating a community around the library.

In this paper, the author will discuss Ray Oldenburg’s idea of third place, why building a community is important, and how programming can help bridge the gap between the two. Those three ideas interconnect and have the potential to help students succeed. While programming is not a new idea in public libraries, many academic libraries could benefit from the types of programs found there. Too often, academic libraries shy away from more active and engaging programs for fear of establishing a non-scholarly identity and instead rely on passive or traditional programming for outreach.  As other aspects of librarianship have evolved to better suit the needs of the current generation, this paper calls for a similar evolution of academic programming. For academic libraries to flourish, it is imperative that we advocate for recreational, or “just because,” programming for students, faculty, and staff. Programming helps us build community, allowing us to discern students’ wants and needs and how to fulfill them.

This paper will encourage academic libraries to develop programming in their own libraries or evaluate their current programming practices. The author will also discuss ways to justify programming to naysayers and discuss ways we use assessment to support programming decisions. This paper will explore the connection between student wellness and student success, as well as how developing working relationships with other campus collaborators can improve services for students. By building relationships to better support students, as well as actively working to more effectively showcase our support for students at the university level, academic libraries are rising above traditional stereotypes of libraries and the people who work there. To continue being at the forefront of student needs, we must build a community of library advocates. By building a community around the library, we can help create successful adults who are also successful students.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Louisiana Libraries

First Page

4

Last Page

8

Comments

Preprint of Article. May have changes in the final version.

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