Presentation to the UNLV Libraries on a program to highlight and promote innovative student, staff and instructor use of library media resources and tools, and show others "how it's done." Note: the opinions and proposals are solely the author's, and do not reflect the views or policies of the UNLV Libraries.

1. UNLV
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARIES
“The UNLV Libraries will define the new
academic research library—bringing people and
information together in innovative ways.”
 Academic libraries in the 21st century have evolved from repositories into
learning centers providing engaging resources and services like high-speed
network connections, digital collections, fully-equipped study spaces, media
production labs and more
 Surveys like Educause’s annual Study of Undergraduate Students and
Information Technology have consistently shown that students value
educational technology in the abstract, but look to their instructors and other
mentor figures for guidance (www.educause.edu/ecar)
The challenge for libraries: to help students turn abstract potential into real
applications and show them that they can be producers and creators of
content as well as consumers (and for library staff to be seen as
reliable, helpful consultants in that process)
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Brian Schuck
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2. UNLV
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARIES
“Doing more to facilitate use of
technology in creative and meaningful
ways—ways that encourage and support the use of technology
for academics—is something that each of us has a certain level of
responsibility for to improve students’ technology experiences.”
- Executive summary, ECAR 2013 Study of Undergraduate Students and
Information Technology
UNLV library staff already have a robust “personal” web
presence, sharing their expertise using tools like subject
guides. The goal of DiyMedia:
Extend that presence to include students, instructors and
other staff who have done creative things with library media
resources.
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Brian Schuck
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3. UNLV
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARIES
Objectives:
 Reinforce libraries’ image as a key resource for creativity
 Cultivate a culture of sharing: students have expertise too
 Engage with “real world” UNLV examples
 Emphasize simple ways to be creative with media tools
 Utilize existing dissemination tools, e.g., subject guides
 Increase numbers of students, staff and faculty involved with media
 Promote examples in more locations, web and physical
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Brian Schuck
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4. UNLV
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARIES
Recruitment:
 Library units
 Library student employees
 Individual faculty members and graduate students
 Student organizations
 Offices of Online Education and Information Technology
Incentives:
 T-shirts (or similar) to all participants
 Extra credit negotiated with instructor
 All participants entered in iPad (or similar
prize) raffle
 Featured (by permission) in libraries
publicity
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6. UNLV
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARIES
Promotion &
Distribution
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7. UNLV
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARIES
Measuring Success:
 Diversity of authors (students, staff, instructors)
 Good range of examples and subjects using diverse
resources
 Page hits, comments and usefulness ratings
 Prompt responders to take longer survey:
What resources have you used in the past?
 What are you likely to use in the future?
 What types of library assistance have you used?
 What resources or services would you like to see?
Referers: who else is linking and where are page users
coming from?
 Use in workshops, classes, presentations (word of
mouth)
 Consideration: review periodically for freshness
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8. UNLV
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARIES
Questions?
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Brian Schuck
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