Make Mine a Double: Librarian Office Hours Multiply Basic Services

1. Make Mine a Double: Librarian Office Hours Multiply Basic Services Mellanye Lackey & KTL Vaughan, UNC-Chapel Hill Health Sciences Library Goal Provide a welcoming, familiar environment for users to get library-related help from a known librarian at a regular time and location in their local environment. “The office hours program has strengthened the Library’s partnership with the School by making information more accessible and easier to use at our point of need.” – Associate Dean Pamela U. Joyner, UNC School of Pharmacy • Advantages • Improves the librarian’s visibility in the School • Increases contact with students and faculty • Students seek out ‘their’ librarian • Repeat customers build on previous interactions • Higher-level questions on average than at the library • Provides help at time and place of user • Challenges • Competition with colleagues/other events • Clear communication & proactive marketing • Alignment with the School’s priorities • Pros & cons to each location • Drop-In Option • Work well in a highly visible space • Flexibility with topics covered • High traffic spaces are noisy & public • Online Option • Extend reach off-campus • Minimal technology required • Participants must log in • Logistics • Support: buy-in from administration crucial • Location! Location! Location! • Scheduling: time of day, week, year • Set up: table, computer, signs, space • Advertising: creativity counts • Scheduled-Topic Option • Work well in classroom setting • Include quick, targeted “class” • Classrooms quiet but not high-traffic