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IntroductionAs roving reference becomes a mainstay activity on campuses across the country, the practice presents a unique opportunity to collaborate with multiple university depart-ments in order to reach students from diverse backgrounds. However, it is not always enough to create a miniature library station outside the physical building. Adapting to the target environments’ demeanor and practices helps alleviate library anxiety for students, staff and faculty. Research and Instruction librarians at Towson University are integrating this adaptive practice as a new approach to reaching diverse populations across campus. Once a week librarians blend into these casual environments in order to provide research relief. The librarians have found this to be a mutually rewarding endeavor they plan to expand and encourage you to replicate!

Diversity at Towson University

The Numbers

Despite a prevalent nationwide “graduation gap” between minority and non-minority graduates, Towson was singled out in 2010 by the Washington Post for being one of the few institutions of higher education in the country by which minority stu-dents either meet or exceed the graduation rate of non-minority students.

Groups that identify, measure, facilitate and assess diversity issues on campus

• The Diversity Advancement Committee, made up of University leadership including the President

• Diversity Action Committee, composed of a cross section of members of the academic and administrative divisions of the university and representatives of the student body

• The Center for Student Diversity (CSD) is the coordinating resource for students and student groups to engage with diversity is-sues on campus.

Challenges• Garnering motivation for rebranding

• Slowtraffic

• Time required by librarians

Moving Forward• Increase marketing to build

student awareness

• Video advertising

• Better signage

• Speak with student groups

• Track interactions through the off desk statistics tracker

References

Towson University. (2012). Towson opportunities in STEM. Retrieved from http://www.towson.edu/tops/

Towson University. (2012). Center for student diversity. Retrieved from http://www.towson.edu/diversity/

Towson University. (2012). Office of diversity and equal opportunity. Retrieved from http://www.towson.edu/odeo/diversity_resources/diversity%20action%20plan.asp

Towson University. (2012). Commitment to diversity. Retrieved from http://www.towson.edu/main/abouttu/comdiv/

Towson University. (2012). Center for student diversity - Diversity profile. Retrieved fromhttp://www.towson.edu/diversity/profile.asp

Vise, D. (2010). Md’s Towson University conquers ‘graduation gap’. The Washington Post. Sunday, December 12. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/11/AR2010121103752.html?sid=ST2010121200488

Additional Reading

To view links to the references listed above, addi-tional resources about the topic of this poster, and a copy of the poster itself please use the QR code or go to this URL: http://bit.ly/jclcresearchrelief

Brand Development

• “Research Relief” phrase originally coined by Shannon and used for the roving reference at the CSD

• Expanded outreach to TOPS and retained the name however we wanted to re-brand to make the service more visible

• Decided to unify all the other roving reference done by librarians to other de-partments

• Voted on names and tagline

• NewofficiallogodesignedbytheCenterforInstructionalAdvancement&Tech-nologyoffice.

• Posters/handouts created to indicate schedule and the current presence of an available librarian

Positive Outcomes• Presence at familiar location provides ease for students, staff and faculty

• New, more positive perceptions of librarians

• Opportunities presented through collaboration with other university departments

• Engages librarians with diversity initiatives on campus

• Student workers this fall semester will have added task of helping catalog CSD library

• Library information session integrated into TOPS student orientation

Program Justification

• Originated from a separate project with Shannon cataloging the small library in the Center for Student Diversity and students occasionally dropping by to ask questions

• Towson student population: Over 21,000

• Averagedailylibrarytrafficduringterm:3,000

• 1960’s designed library for much smaller population.

• Growing campus

• Make a personal connection, so the librarian becomes a familiar face

• Smaller, “safe” place for students to be themselves

• Attempting to reach students during point-of-need moments

Reasons students voice for not going to the library

• Busy space and busy librarians

• Too far

• Study space not what students prefer

• Unfamiliar territory

CSD & TOPS

Center for Student Diversity (CSD)

The CSD was “established to aid the institution in its efforts to foster inclusion, col-laboration, and relationship building. The center provides academic, social, and transi-tion support for underserved students and promotes exchange and dialogue between individuals of diverse backgrounds and lifestyles.”

Populations CSD serves:

• African American Student Development

• AsianPacificIslander/LatinoStudentDevelopment

• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Student Development

• Student Success Programs - SAGE and CEEP

• Women’s Resources

• Campus Ministries

• Jewish Cultural Center - Hillel

Towson Opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (TOPS)

• The mission of the program is “to recruit and retain students from underserved and underrepresented communities in the Baltimore Metropolitan area who are interested in pursuing careers in all STEM disciplines”

• National Science Foundation (NSF) funded

• Significantincreaseinstudent retention/matriculation

• Transferable classes from Baltimore County Community College

• Learning Commons space for TOPS students

Get out! Research Relief Where They Least Expect ItLaksamee Putnam • Sara Arnold-Garza • Shannon Simpson • Towson University, Albert S. Cook Library Baltimore, MD

Names Taglines

Research Relief

Cook Library Across Campus

Library Quick Clinics

Ask a Librarian

We bring the research help to you

Fast research help where you need it most

Library help for your research

Helping you research everything

Cook Library

Smith Hall (TOPS)

Hawkins Hall (Education)

College of Liberal Arts

Center for the Arts

University Union (CSD)

West Commons

“ Towson University values diversity and fosters a climate that is grounded in respect and inclusion, enriches the educational experi-ence of students, supports positive workplace environments, promotes excellence, and cultivates the intellectual and personal growth of the entire university community. ”