LIS Induction activities

Library Matters Live at Aston University

Induction at Aston University

► Aston Welcome (Induction period)►International Orientation Week (International Students)►Freshers Week (Home and EU students)

► Some activities are timetabled centrally for all subjects by an Induction Co-ordinator e.g. VC Welcome talk, InfoZone fair

► Each school also timetables some subject specific events► LIS have had good support from university Senior Management

team with regards to Induction►This year Induction will have an academic focus

►Schools have been told that LIS must be included as part of their Induction activities

LIS Involvement in the university Induction Programme

► Participation in the Information Events► Questions included in Aston Fact finder Quiz► Timetabled Library Matters Live sessions held in the Library

►School timetabling officers work with LIS to timetable every new UG and PG student

►2 schools attend in Fresher Week►2 schools attend in Week 1 of term, included in individual

programme teaching timetables►ABS PGs have a 45 minute talk in the Great Hall (450 x 2)

►This year they will come over to the Library!

Induction Theme

Induction Theme

► Used Dr Who for our “Regeneration” theme►A0 posters ►Flash video for Totem in the entrance to the building

(sponsored by database suppliers) ►Pull up stands►Stickers for bags

► For previous themes we have had T Shirts with the logo printed on, last year we used “Need Help, Ask me” which we will use again this year

Information Market

What do we do?

► All staff who work on the Helpdesk are involved► 3 “Demo” points located on the Ground Floor of the Library

►Reserve and Collect – demo of self service, collection of reservations, paying of fines etc

►Staffed by Information Assistants►Printing and Photocopying – demo of printing system, online

payment for printing, scanning►Staffed by Public Service Assistants

►Take Control – introduction to the Catalogue and Reading Lists on Blackboard, general welcome to the Library, overview of role of the Information Specialist

►Staffed by IAs and ISs

Practicalities

► Students are timetabled in groups of 60►They are divided into 3 groups of 20 when they arrive and

do a “round robin” of the demo points►Each point takes around 15 minutes but it depends on

whether the students ask questions►Portable LCD screens are used for the Printing and

Catalogue demos►Timing was a big issue and often groups were ready for the

next demo point whilst the other demo was still going on►Due to the nature of the Ground Floor environment noise

was a big problem, especially for the Take Control talk.►This year we’re going to use a portable mic system

Incentives

► To encourage people to attend we had a prize draw for those who attended and completed an evaluation form

► Prizes were 3 e book readers paid for by the Pro Vice Chancellor and £100 Bullring voucher paid for by LIS Director

► Brown paper bags containing an initiation to Library Matters Live, chocolates and a pen were handed out during Information Market

► Students who attended Library Matters Live received an LIS pump bag containing an LIS notepad, floor plan, LIS brochure and a “freebie” which varied from a memory stick to a pen

Attendance 2009

► 3692 ‘new’ University students

► 2313 63% attended (increase from 47% in 2008)

► 1684 73% posted evaluation forms

►Over 400 ABS PGs were seen in the Great Hall but they didn’t fill out evaluation forms

► Overall students were very happy with the sessions, feedback was positive

►They still ask for a “tour” but with sheer numbers of people this isn’t possible

Challenges for this year

► No budget to do anything different or purchase giveaways

►Publishers and database providers have also tightened budgets so we are struggling to get any freebies

► Increased numbers of students – physically fitting them into the timetables

► Reduced number of LIS staff will mean that those involved will have a heavier workload this year