The Library Student Advisory Board: Why Your Academic Library Needs it and How to Make it Work - Softcover

This practical guide written by two library professionals who have real-world experience establishing a library student advisory board at Penn State University's Schuylkill campus, explains the benefits and operation of such a board in the academic library. Different from traditional student advisory boards, the club at Penn State Schuylkill resembles a public library's 'friends' group in which members provide feedback and guidance for librarians while also promoting the library and raising funds for patron-selected materials. The activities of the club benefit not only the library and the greater campus community, but also the club members themselves - giving these students the opportunity to develop leadership skills, to work with campus faculty and staff to effect change, and to organize educational activities tailored to the interests of their fellow students.Useful advice is here for anyone curious about just how much time, effort, and know-how is required to form a library student advisory board. The topics include: how to get a club started; how to recruit new members and keep those members active; the duties of the club advisor; basic 'do's and don'ts' of fundraising and grant writing; and how to build a successful relationship between the club, the library director, and the library staff. In addition, several Penn State Schuylkill students provide first-hand accounts of the student advisory board's development and growth, along with personal reflections on how the club has improved the campus community.

This is a practical guide written by two professionals with real-world experience establishing a library student advisory board. Penn State University's Schuylkill campus library has such a board, operating beautifully. Different from traditional student advisory boards, the club at Penn State Schuylkill resembles a public library's "friends" group. The activities of the club benefit not only the library and campus but the club members themselves. Just how much time, effort, and know-how is required to form a library student advisory board? Here is the answer. Useful advice is offered on how to get a club started, how to recruit new members and keep them active, the duties of the club advisor, basic "do's and don'ts" of fundraising, and how to build a successful relationship between the club, the library director, and the library staff.