Outreach and Engagement Committee
Charge
- Develop clear definitions of outreach and engagement to be adopted by the Library in order to better assess individual and collective efforts in these areas
- Promote intentional implementation of activities that balance outreach and engagement goals and in particular increase engagement outputs in order to fulfill a land grant mission
- Provide leadership about best practices in outreach and engagement and communicate these to the Library
- Manage a library-funded grant program to allocate funds for outreach and engagement activities
- Provide support, consultation, and information resources for outreach and engagement activities such as training opportunities, and a central hub for information about relevant policies and best practices in outreach and engagement based on committee availability
- Facilitate regular assessment of outreach and engagement activities in the Library
Membership Details
The Outreach and Engagement Committee is composed of individuals (including faculty, academic professionals (APs), civil service professionals, and civil service staff) from each Library Division. Members of the OEC should be individuals who are actively involved in outreach and engagement activities. Additional members may be appointed to represent special concerns. Members are appointed by EC and serve two-year staggered terms with possible reappointment for an additional term. The chair will be elected by the committee from its membership, and serves a one-year term with the possibility of reelection for one additional one-year term.
Additional Committee Information
OEC Outreach and Engagement Grant
Through the Library’s Outreach and Engagement funding opportunity, the Library embodies the University’s land grant values and strengthens its commitment to Strategic Direction No. 3: Societal and global impact. Proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and provide funding for up to $500 per event, up to a maximum of $500 per person per fiscal year to be used for outreach and engagement activities. Matching funds from the applicant’s unit or other sources are strongly encouraged. The Outreach and Engagement Committee (OEC) will review proposals based on the OEC Grant Funding Rubric until all allocated funds have been awarded and advance recommendations to the University Librarian. All fulltime Library employees are eligible to apply.
Purpose of OEC Funding
- To allow for more outreach and engagement activities per year, and to provide for the possibility of larger or more costly events.
- To foster the development of collaborative, change-oriented projects that advance community research, learning experiences, and societal well-being.
- To advance the Library as a place of convergence and inclusivity for programs that illuminate and address real world issues.
Application Information
- Complete eligibility requirements and application details: OEC Grant Program Request for Proposals (pdf)
- Application review criteria: OEC Grant Funding Rubric (pdf)
- Review process and timeline: OEC Grant Review Timeline (pdf)
- Apply now: OEC Grant Funding Application Form (employee login required)
Per the committee’s grant eligibility requirements, a brief report must be received by the Committee within 90 working days of project completion. Project contacts who do not submit a report may not be eligible for future grant awards.
- Complete and submit grant report: OEC Grant Report Template (pdf)
Additional Resources
OEC MediaSpace channel featuring recordings of past Skill Up Sessions.
Toolkit:
This toolkit provides information about resources in the Library, the campus, and the community for those who are organizing outreach and engagement events and initiatives.
Library Outreach
“In academic librarianship, outreach is work carried out by library employees at institutions of higher education who design and implement a variety of methods of intervention to advance awareness, positive perceptions, and use of library services, spaces, collections, and issues (e.g. various literacies, scholarly communication, etc.). Implemented in and outside of the library, outreach efforts are typically implemented periodically throughout the year or as a single event. Methods are primarily targeted to current students and faculty, however, subsets of these groups, potential students, alumni, surrounding community members, and staff can be additional target audiences.” (Diaz, 2019, p. 191)
Outreach activities are typically one-way communications that build awareness and facilitate the use of the Library’s collections and services, encourage life-long learning, and the creation and strengthening of relationships between the University and the communities that it serves. Some examples of library outreach activities include exhibits, presentations about the Library’s resources, and tours.
Public Engagement
The Office of the Provost uses the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement to define community/public engagement. The definition reads:
“Community engagement describes collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity. The purpose of community engagement is the partnership of college and university knowledge and resources with those of the public and private sectors to enrich scholarship, research and creative activity; enhance curriculum, teaching and learning; prepare educated, engaged citizens; strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility; address critical societal issues; and contribute to the public good.” (Public Purpose Institute, 2020)
In the library context, this entails programs and activities that draw on the Library’s professional expertise, collections, and resources in a collaborative partnership with diverse user communities to explicitly include people not affiliated with the university to contribute to the public good. Some examples of library engagement activities include Small Press Fest, Chai Wai series, workshops held in collaboration with local public libraries, and many more.
Sources
Public Purpose Institute. (n.d.). Community Engagement Classification (U.S.). The Public Purpose Institute in Partnership with the Carnegie Foundation. https://publicpurpose.org/initiatives/carnegie-elective-classifications/community-engagement-classificationu-s/ Diaz, S. A. (2019).
Outreach in academic librarianship: A concept analysis and definition. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 45(3), 184-194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2019.02.012
Expert: Sara Berthier, Events Administration Associate: 217.333.2615
Experts: Heather Murphy, Chief Communications Officer: 217.333.3758 | hmurphy@illinois.edu
Digital Signs
Listservs
UIUC Calendars
- Library Events Calendar
- Office of Inclusion & Intercultural Relations – Diversity Calendar
- The Daily Illini Events Calendar:
Send the event name, event location, start date, end date, and contact info to calendar@readbuzz.com. - UIAA’s Online Calendar:
https://illinoisalumni.org/wp-login.php?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.illinoisalumni.org%2Fwp-admin%2F&reauth=1
Hold cursor over the Events icon on the left-hand navigation bar. Click Add New Event.
Local Community Calendars
- The News-Gazette:
http://www.news-gazette.com/calendar
Scroll down and click Submit (on the right-hand side). Then click Create an event.
- WCIA-TV Hometown Calendar:
https://www.wcia.com/community/calendar/#/
Click on “+ Add Event”, which takes you to CitySpark.
- WAND-TV Community Calendar:
https://www.wandtv.com/community/community-calendar/#!/
Click on “+ Add Event”, which takes you to CitySpark. You don’t need to submit again if you did this for WCIA-TV. It should add the event to both calendars.
- WICD-TV Community Calendar:
Sent the event name, event location, start date, end date, and contact info to events@wics.com. Make sure to include the event date in the subject line. I also like to include a short event description as well.
- 40 North | 88 West Calendar:
http://www.40north.org/user/login?destination=node/add/event
- WDWS/WHMS:
Send the event name, event location, start date, end date, and contact info to aaspenson@whms.com.
- Champaign County Convention & Visitors Bureau:
https://www.visitchampaigncounty.org/events/submit-an-event
- Illini Radio Group Community Calendar:
http://wixy.com/submit-a-community-calendar-event/
Experts:
Jen-chien Yu, Director, Library Assessment: 217.300.0400 | jyu@illinois.edu
John Laskowski, User Experience Coordinator: 217.300.6703 | jdlasko@illinois.edu
WHY Assess?
Assessment for Accountability
- Desk Tracker Public Engagement Events form
- Instruction Statistics Database (Illinois login)
- Illinois Extension and PEARS (non-library example, program evaluation approach)
pears.oeie.org/accounts/signin/?next=/ (University Library doesn’t have access) - Strategic plan goals and metrics (e.g. number of public engagement activities)
Assessment for Improvement
- Illinois Student Learning Outcomes [provost.illinois.edu/assessment/learning-outcomes-assessment/illinois-student-learning-outcomes/] and Library Student Learning Outcomes Assessment [www.library.illinois.edu/staff/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2018/02/Assessment-Process-Template-updated-4-20-2019.pdf]
- Project Outcome for Academic Libraries acrl.projectoutcome.org/ (Contact Jen Yu, jyu@illinois.edu, for more information)
Focus on 4 outcomes: Increased Knowledge, Increased Confidence, Application New Skills and Awareness of Resources.
Sample programs/events survey: https://acrl.projectoutcome.org/en/33390
You can find the Library Style Guide and Library-branded templates to use on the Communications page on the Library Staff website.
Studio 2D – (to utilize Studio 2D, please contact Chief Communications Officer to make arrangements)
The following are options on and off campus. The Chief Communications Officer can assist in selecting a printer and making printing arrangements.
Document Services (UIUC)
The Library has five central accounts (below). Many Library units have their own separately run accounts (see https://www.library.illinois.edu/geninfo/blog/).
- Twitter: Social Media Team
- Instagram: Social Media Team
- Facebook: Social Media Team
- TikTok: Social Media Team
- Reddit: Social Media Team
To submit your content to be posted in these accounts, please fill out this form:
https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/2049983549
Skill-up Session Recordings (located on the Outreach and Engagement Committee page on Media Space)
Exhibitions Committee (e.g., Exhibits 101 PPT)
Land Acknowledgment Statement for on-campus events:
https://chancellor.illinois.edu/land_acknowledgement.html
On Campus Location:
While a Library location is preferred (and almost always free to use), there may be a non-Library location that best lends itself to your event. Beware of any associated costs with using a non-Library location and be sure that fits within budget.
Off Campus Location:
Locations off campus are discouraged unless you partner with an off-campus partner.
Location Parking:
Parking around Library locations during the day during the week is a challenge for those attending events on campus. It’s much easier for attendees to find parking after 5pm (Monday through Friday) or on weekends.
Advancement has banners and tablecloths: http://publish.illinois.edu/libraryofficenotes/files/2016/08/Library-Advancement-Checkout-Items.docx
Giveaways or Promotional Items
Please inquire with the Chief Communications Officer to order Library-branded products for your unit or event. You can visit the following vendor’s website for ideas:
Note for committee members: meeting minutes can be accessed from the secure Box folder
Meetings
Looking for older meeting documents? Check the Committee meetings archive on Box.