UDC 027:004.77

PEÑAFLOR J.

Libraries, De La Salle University (Manila, Philippines),

Among the thirty (30) member libraries (see Table 1), 7 libraries were excluded from the study because of website or Facebook inaccessibility and 2) website and Facebook pages are not up-to-date. As a result only 23 libraries were surveyed in this study (see Table 3).

Table 1

AUNILO member-countries

Based on the literature review conducted, the authors gained an overview of various outreach activities and adopted the outreach categories presented by Farrell and Mastel (2016) in their paper entitled “Considering Outreach Assessment: Strategies, Sample Scenarios, And A Call to Action” as follows: (1) Collection-Based Outreach; (2) Instruction & Services-Based Outreach; (3) “Whole Person” Outreach; (4) Just for Fun Outreach; (5) Partnerships and Community-Focused Outreach; and (6) Multi-Pronged Themed Events and Programming. Said categories were derived from Farrell and Mastel (2016) paper entitled “Considering Outreach Assessment: Strategies, Sample Scenarios, And A Call to Action” (see table 2)

The investigation was conducted from May 1-31, 2021. Websites and Facebook pages of the AUNILO member-libraries were accessed and comprehensively browsed for posts related to community engagement and outreach. Only posts that from March 2020 to April 2021 were collected and imported into Excel and categorized. Aside from categorizing the outreach activities, the different platforms used for implementing the outreach and engagement activities were also noted. The data gathered were then tabulated and analyzed using basic percentages, frequencies, and rankings.

The limitation posed by this method is that it is possible that other activities are not fully presented in their website and Facebook pages and those activities were not included in the results of this study.

Table 2

Outreach categories used in this study (Farrell and Mastel (2016)

Results and Discussion

Despite the challenges brought about by Covid-19 pandemic, many libraries are still actively engaged in performing various outreach activities. The following AUN (ASEAN University Network) Inter-Library Online (AUNILO) member-libraries’ website and Facebook pages were reviewed (see Table 3).

Table 3

AUNILO member-libraries activities

Table 4

Outreach and engagement activities per category

As seen from Table 4, all member libraries are still able to deliver instruction & services-based outreach. This is positively reassuring, given the global crisis we are facing, libraries continue to deliver remote services to the community. Closely followed by collection-based outreach at 91.30%, data shows that libraries put a premium on building awareness and providing information about the resources and services that are available despite the hard condition. Interestingly, outreach and engagement activities during these times also paved the way to focus on a more holistic approach to programming – community driven and geared towards helping people achieve personal progress. Evidently, 69.57% or more than half of the libraries decided to offer such outreach programs belonging to the “whole person” and partnerships and community-focused outreach. Lastly, the least used type of outreach was under the category of multi-pronged themed events and programming. Quite understandably the lowest performed as activities in this category take place on a large scale with numerous activities and varied levels of support, frequently over several days. This type of programming poses a great challenge most specially at a time where everyone is still adapting to the new normal.

Table 5

Platforms used by libraries in the delivery of outreach activities

Platforms No. of Libraries %

Online Meeting 23 100.00%

Platforms

Facebook 20 86.96%

Instagram 10 43.48%

YouTube 8 34.78%

TikTok 3 13.04%

*multiple responses

Such outreach and engagement activities were all performed online as seen on Table 5. Fully utilized in the delivery of outreach and engagement activities were various online meeting platforms. These include the use of Zoom, Google Meet, MS Teams among others. Among the social media platforms, Facebook (86.96%) leads as the most utilized online space through posts or even live streamed content. Tiktok at 13.04%, despite being least used in this category, is still a well received move at a time where we must reach and amplify efforts to online spaces where our patrons are.

Implementation of outreach and community engagement programs in AUNILO member-libraries

Collection-Based Outreach

As described above, collection based outreach are those activities that are centered in promoting the library collections and reading. In the survey, activities found in this category include books fairs, book exhibits, book reviews and book talks. This also includes read together programs and some quizzes or scavenger hunts that make use of the library collections.

Traditionally, these activities are done face-to-face and within the library premises but activities mentioned above were mostly conducted online making use of meeting platforms and various social media channels. For example, Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) Library in Indonesia hosts its book talk program #CeritaBuku, which means “storybook” when translated in English, using Zoom and broadcasted live via Facebook. They also use Instagram live to talk to authors for this program. (Instagram is a free, online photo-sharing application and social network platform that was acquired by Facebook in 2012.) Another novel way that UNAIR does to post book recommendations is through TikTok, a popular social networking app for making and sharing short videos. Singapore Management University Library (Singapore) also uses Instagram to promote their online databases in partnership with their Library Peer Advisors (students). Burapha University Library in Thailand, on the other hand, creates podcasts for their book review and makes them available in SoundCloud.

Instruction & Services-Based Outreach

Providing instructions that promotes the services and resources of the library is essentially part of the core service of the library. Expectedly, all libraries surveyed implement this type of outreach that ranges from training and workshops, video tutorials, podcasts and even contests.

Common topics tackled include online resources, research writing and publishing, research and data analysis tools as well as information and digital literacy skills. Some sessions were conducted in partnerships with vendors or publishers but majority were facilitated by the librarians themselves. Singapore Management University offers a series of “bite-sized” library workshops on such topics usually scheduled weekly. Universiti Sains Malaysia Library conducts a program called “10-minute Research Hacks,” live streamed on Facebook and YouTube. Similarly, Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) offers advanced research support training such as using Python for basic data analysis, Tableau for data visualization and Mendeley and Zotero for reference management. They also offer trainings on digital scholarship, productivity tools, and open data sharing and scholarship

On the other hand, Chiang Mai University Library (CMUL) in Thailand has a podcast published on Youtube called “Hello Library” that allows patrons to “get to know the library” more. Also in Thailand, Chulalongkorn University Library livestreams it’s program series called “Chula Library Share” in YouTube and Facebook that also promotes the resources and services of the library. Libraries surveyed also provide instructions beyond the usual scope of library resources like workshops on using digital tools like Canva and Microsoft Office.

“Whole Person” Outreach

Libraries not only target meeting the information needs of its community but also concern themselves with helping people on an individual level. The survey revealed that “whole Person” outreach activities revolved around addressing physical and mental health and gender sensitivity.

As an example, University of the Philippines Diliman hosted an online conversation about women and gender; Universitas Gadjah Mada Library (Indonesia) has a project related to women empowerment while Universiti Malaya Library (Malaysia) had a suicide prevention campaign. Further, Chiang Mai University Library (CMUL) in Thailand offers meditation and dance sessions and Burapha University Library (Thailand) offers a weekly “Fit and Firm” activity.

Just For Fun Outreach

From games and contests to arts and crafts, libraries do not run out ideas to create activities to engage the community. Around 52% of the libraries surveyed offer this type of activity. For example, Singapore Management University (Singapore) organized a DIY lanyard making contest using recyclable materials as part of their go-green initiative. Another DIY activity was held by Chiang Mai University Library (CMUL) (Thailand) on creating knitted plant holders.

Also a fun event, the #LibraryFriendsLibraryFan Burapha University (Thailand) hosts contests with raffle prizes on their Facebook page. The University of the Philippines Diliman Library created a Meme challenge on “Hapit Mode/Backlogs” as part of their eKapihan (or virtual meet up over coffee).

Partnerships and Community-Focused Outreach

Libraries have always been about collaborations and partnerships. Reaching out to the community and participating in civic activities have become an integral part of the libraries’ outreach and community engagement programs.

Libraries surveyed offer various activities under this category such as book donation programs, book drives, roadshows, virtual tours and even reading programs. Some have organized feeding programs, blood donation drives and even participated in go-green initiatives in the local community.

The Universiti Brunei Darussalam Library (Brunei Darussalam) partnered with their local medical center for a blood donation drive. The Burapha University Library held various activities that fall under partnerships and community-focused category. For example, they partnered with their local elderly club and organized an activity that promotes reading. They also joined the local volunteers to collect trash from one of their beaches in their municipality. Further, BU Library participated in local tradition and offering ceremonies, and donated books to select students in one of the schools in their province and many other similar projects.

There were a number of initiatives that promotes environmental awareness and sustainability including Chiang Mai University Library’s seed distribution and tree planting activity; Sultanah Bahiyah Library’s recycling #trashforcash project; and Universiti Malaya Library’s #UMZeroWasteCampaign.

Multi-Pronged Themed Events and Programming

Activities in this category fall under multiple themes usually spread out throughout the week. Organizing such activities require more resources and involve more extensive preparation and coordination, many libraries appear to offer less of this kind of project.

The book fair activity held by Universiti Brunei Darussalam Library qualifies in this category as they also organized training-workshops and blood donation as part of the activity. Another good example is De La Salle University Libraries’ IAmInfoSMART, an information literacy campaign held during the Library and Information Services (LIS) month, with a theme DQ Deconstructed. Part of this program were daily games, database training and outreach to public school students that are all centered around digital citizenship.

Conclusions

The global crisis faced by the world crippled industries, institutions, and organizations with libraries facing new challenges and problems head on. However, this study revealed that libraries remain resilient despite the challenges and limitations brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. It was found out that libraries covered and were able to explore various types and scope of community engagement and outreach activities. Highly used forms of outreach are Instruction & Services Based Outreach followed by Collection-Based Outreach with increased focus on "Whole Person" and Partnership and Community-focused outreach. Least used at this time is the Multi-Pronged Themed Events and Programming. Such a feat affirms libraries’ capability to adapt in whatever situation they are in.

In addition, given the limitations, libraries are innovative as they continue to deliver and find novel ways to implement initiatives. The member libraries included in this study exemplified the agility in adopting appropriate technologies that will facilitate delivery outreach activities while maintaining and maximizing the spirit of collaboration and partnerships. Likewise, continued dedication to learning and adopting new digital skills also play an essential role in bringing about new avenues to conduct community engagement and outreach.

With the increased demand on the remote delivery of services and programs, libraries are simultaneously turning their focus outward by heightened emphasis on outreach activities that revolve around the theme of "coming together" as a community – an important facet in today’s society as we deal with the crisis together.

Moving forward, libraries can further expand their reach and amplify their role in the society as long as they focus on engaging the community to understand their needs and aspirations. Clear setting of objectives and sound development of strategies that leverages partnerships and collaborations can greatly assist in mobilizing resources despite the limitations experienced in this crisis.

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PEÑAFLOR J.

Бібліотеки, Університет Де Ла Саль (Маніла, Філіппіни),