Target Audience: Academic librarians or others who regularly welcome new patrons
Learning Outcomes:
1) Participants will be able to compare different approaches in providing an orientation to the law school library.
2) Participants will able to locate resources on how to develop their own orientation activities.
Library orientation is always difficult: How do you get your patrons to learn about the library, while keeping them engaged? How do you introduce research to students who are more worried about getting their parking pass and financial aid figured out? How do you connect with new associates in a meaningful way so that they feel comfortable approaching you in the future?
Arming your librarians with different strategies for engagement is key to a successful orientation – and a valued library. From Battledecks-style presentations to balloon towers in the reading room, this presentation will provide in-class and in-library activities you can use to get to know your students and get them to know your library. It will also explore how to reach students through virtual tours using Prezi, creating videos to personalize the library, and other ways to include orientation activities in your library’s online presence. Law firms present their own challenges when it comes to associate, paralegal, and staff orientations. This presentation will also draw from experiences conducting orientations in a large law firm setting and demonstrate how early engagement leads to more valued firm librarians and firm libraries.