Reflections on an Evaluation Project: Fridays at the Library in the context of the University's Community Engagement Program

Gillian Dooley, Lauren Gobbett

    Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

    Abstract

    This paper reflects on a research project undertaken in 2013 to evaluate a series of events titled ‘Fridays at the Library’ run by Flinders University Library. The project was undertaken by a team of library staff, and sought to explore (1) whether other similar community engagement activities are undertaken in university libraries around Australia, and (2) the benefits of running such a program for ‘engaged outreach’. A survey of our audience confirms our belief that Fridays at the Library (a) encourages informed discussion in the community of topical and often controversial subjects, (b) fosters exchange and networking between researchers and the community, (c) provides an accessible and welcoming interface between the university and the surrounding community.However, there were several challenges and limitations faced by the research team, including participant bias owing to the existing relationship between many of the respondents and the researcher, limited time available to conduct research in a service-oriented institution, and limited participation by those in the broader university and community population who might be aware of the series but do not attend.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1-18
    Number of pages18
    JournalAustralasian Journal of University-Community Engagement
    Volume10
    Issue number2
    Publication statusPublished - 2015
    Event2015 Social Theory, Politics and the Arts Conference - University of South Australia, City West Campus, Adelaide, Australia
    Duration: 10 Dec 201512 Dec 2015

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