Engagement is the key to student success and patron support, and diversity and inclusion lead the way to reaching new patrons and meeting current patrons where they are. Revisiting new and old methods of engagement with patrons can build an environment where they feel supported, involved, and seen. In this presentation, learn how a large academic library is using traditional orientation tables, innovative transfer programs, and book displays with a diversity focus to reach minoritized groups and solidify the library as a welcoming environment. Public library programming will be compared to the academic setting, and suggestions on how to scale and translate these programs into school and special libraries will be presented.

Panelists

Molly Olney-Zide (she/her) is the Instruction and Outreach Librarian at the University of Delaware where she supports library instruction and student outreach, including transfer programs, orientations, and collaborative book displays. She has over 7 years of DEI-focused programming experience at UD.

Jamie Morris started at Dover Public Library in 2019 and is currently an adult services librarian. Prior to that, she was a social worker with a focus on children in the homeless community. Generally, she creates displays for adults but has done all ages displays. She also served as the chair of the Strategic Planning Committee at DPL which had a focus on DEI goals.

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