An academic library is a university facility that the majority of students will use at some point during their studies, whether they are on or off campus. But should university libraries just wait for students to come and use their services? A number of researchers (Mellon, 1986; Bostick, 1992; DiPrince, 2016) refer to many students struggling with library anxiety, which DiPrince (2016, p.284) describes as “feeling overwhelmed by the volume of information, confused by library systems, and uncertain where to begin their research”. Bostick (1992, quoted in DiPrince, 2016, p.284) develops this further by describing five dimensions of library anxiety and lists the first dimension as “barriers with staff”. In addition to library anxiety, libraries today also face the challenge of library complacency, seeking to prove “the continuing relevance of the library as an information source” (Gremmels, 2015, p.273). With this in mind, during the Summer of 2006 when the library publicity team at Leeds Beckett University (then Leeds Metropolitan University) were asked to be involved in the two week Freshers’ Festival, we jumped at the opportunity. After all, as Dubicki (2009, p.175) notes, “every interaction with individuals on campus represents a golden opportunity for library staff to sell the services of the library”.
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)