Central New York libraries…the SU iSchool needs your help!
And you also get something out of the deal.
IST 613 – Library Planning, Marketing and Assessment – at the Syracuse University iSchool is seeking projects for the spring semester. Student teams work with area libraries to develop plans for new library projects, products or services.
What do the students do? The students research how other organizations have planned, marketed and assessed projects similar to yours and produce a literature review. They create a project plan for your endeavor, taking into account what they have learned about your organization (e.g., staffing, etc.). After the project plan is complete, they work on a marketing plan and finally an assessment plan. Each document is reviewed by the professor and modified based on the professor’s input and additional information gathered by the students. The format of the documents follows the format outlined in the syllabus, which may include more information than you would require, and ensures that the students have thoroughly considered the details.
What don’t they do? The students do not implement the project. They are responsible for developing the plans for the project.
What will your library receive? At the end of the semester, you will receive a project plan, marketing plan, assessment plan and literature review for your project. This material is then yours to implement as-is or tweak to further meet your needs. Some libraries have used these plans in order to obtain funding from the library’s board of directors or other sources.
What would be your time commitment? Approximately 7-10 hours. During the first four weeks of the semester (Jan. 15-Feb. 13), your assigned staff member will spend approximately one hour with the student team (3-4 students) at your facility to discuss your project idea. Students may need to contact you by phone or email to ask any clarifying questions. At the end of the semester, you will need to attend the last class on Thursday, April 23 (5-7:50 p.m.). Every student team will present a poster on their project.
Some services that students have developed plans for include:
* Human library
* Circulating bake ware collection
* Institutional repository
* Bicycle lending program
* Little Free Libraries
* Summer reading programs
* Gaming programs – for youth or inter-generational groups
* Information commons
* Book clubs for adults, students, and pre-K children
* Outreach & orientations
* Library art programs
* Computer recycling program
* Library fundraising event
* Music events in the library (coffeehouse)
Please email the following information to Jill Hurst-Wahl.
* Name of your library
* Address of your library
* 5-6 sentence description of the project
* Name, phone number and email address of the person on staff who will be able to answer specific questions about the project
Only ONE idea will be accepted from each library.
Projects from public, school, academic and special libraries are requested. Students will review the projects ideas on January 15 and select the projects they want to work on. You will be notified if you have been selected and the names of your team members.