During the summer, thousands of soon-to-be college students will read books as part of campus-wide "shared reading" programs (also referred as to common reader programs, one book programs, etc.). Such programs are designed to provide incoming students with a common experience and invite exploration of particular themes (e.g., diversity, etc.),…

This "back to school" edition of College Connection features ideas and success stories from academic libraries that have welcomed first-year students in creative ways. Many libraries participate in campus orientation initiatives in order to introduce new students to the library as a welcoming place with helpful staff. These events can set a…

The standardized narrative for group orientation tours of a large university library was rewritten as audiocassette script for self-guided tours. Assessment of the audiotaped tour after one semester of use indicated that user reactions were positive and that it reduced the amount of staff time needed for orientation. (EM)

The tremendous expansion of online information sources has prompted academic librarians to increase their outreach to undergraduates of the "Net Generation" in an effort to more effectively promote their libraries' resources to these students. Such outreach programs involve identifying library resources that support the…

A survey was conducted in May 1982 of all academic libraries in Illinois to elicit information regarding the provision of bibliographic instruction, user education, or library orientation to undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty members during the 1981/82 calendar year. Usable replies were received from 143 libraries (70% of those…

This packet of materials includes an article, "Development of a Self-Guided Audiocassette Tour at a Large Academic Research Library: Preliminary Report," which originally appeared in the Summer 1986 issue of "Research Strategies," and the scripts for self-guided audiocassette tours of the main and undergraduate libraries at the…

Based on responses of 53 Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member libraries to a 1986 Systems and Procedures Exchange Center (SPEC) survey, this kit examines the changes in the organization and staffing of the collection development function in ARL libraries over the past 3 to 4 years. A concise summary discusses survey results, which…