Student Belonging and the Library - Webinar
Weds 26th June 2024: 10.30am am to 12.30pm
Hosted on Teams by Library, Skills and Customer Services team, London South Bank University
BOOK YOUR FREE TICKETS: https://buytickets.at/csguk/1276018
In this webinar presenters from HE institutions across the country will speak about Initiatives you’ve taken to build or increase the sense of community in their libraries including changes to policies, staffing and spaces
Presentations
Using library spaces to promote inclusion and belonging.
Facilitators: Jodie Calleja, Assistant Director for User Experience, Service Design and Delivery; Steven Peters, User Engagement Manager; Library and Learning Resources | Canterbury Christ Church University
As a department recognised for their contribution to Belonging and Inclusion, Jodie and Steve will speak to the library's use of space and the student voice to promote belonging.
They will touch upon two main uses of open plan spaces across the central Canterbury library, including:
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monthly Stressless events that connects our diverse student groups
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displays using our academic resources to promote awareness of mental health, disability, and cultures
Words Matter: Shaping positive experience and belonging.
Presenters: Claire Townsend, Library Enquiries and Communications Manager, Aston University
In this presentation, we will look at the power of words, how they can shape a sense of belonging and shared responsibility. From enquiries to policies to signage how we use language can determine how someone experiences our services and spaces.
Belonging at Teesside: Our bottom-up approach at promoting inclusiveness and increasing student belonging at Teesside University Library.
Presenters: Happiness Azu & Tracy Casling-Andoniou, Teesside University.
The University has recently invested a significant £2million in refurbishing the university library ground floor and reception area. This refurb features a brand-new café offering a diverse menu serving foods from West Africa, Asia and British classics developed in partnership with students, new social spaces which includes a collaborative ground floor study area and furniture style that promotes group working, an exhibition space for library themed and student facing services team events, a wellbeing space for mindfulness activities and etc, and a new welcome desk which has given the library a face lift and has been positively described as making the library feel more welcoming.
We also recently adopted a different recruitment approach for our student workers (Student engagement assistants) which ensures that the new cohort have strong people, team working and communication skills and introduced a new welcome point led by the student workers and targeted at students who may feel less inclined to approach the main library welcome desk – these have been relevant in increasing positive student experience & engagement with the library.
With Library messaging, we have changed our style and tone on signages and digital communications subtly to promote the library more as a communal space where everyone has a shared commitment of ensuring it’s suitable and conducive for all intended purposes and less as a place where rules are sacrosanct and must be worked to. This has helped in embedding a sense of mutual respect and shared responsibility.
Building a greater sense of belonging at Lincoln.
Presenters: Lesley Thompson and Jemima Sims
An introduction to the building block approach taken to build a greater sense of belonging at the University of Lincoln Libraries. The presentation will briefly cover the approach taken on the student led sensory room, the development of the zine collection, the ‘info’ wall and the family friendly study space.
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Plus presentations on specific ‘wellbeing spaces’ at their institutions from:
Claire Edwards, Service Operations Manager, University of Plymouth
Louise Beattie, Library Assistant, Queen’s University Belfast
Chris North, Library Services Manager, Solent University
BOOK YOUR FREE TICKETS: https://buytickets.at/csguk/1276018