OU Library Community: building an online community

In this last instalment of the ‘OU Community’ series, we want to introduce you to Sam, Debbie and Jude, the lovely people who are behind a lot of the information that you see on our various Library web channels: the Engagement and Communications team (E&C team for short). 

[[[image-0 medium left]]]Our main task is to help you learn all you need to know about the OU Library (….and occasionally things you never knew you wanted to know!) to help you get the most from your studies. We keep you up-to-date with the latest library news, services and developments via Library website news, through the Library’s Facebook and Twitter pages and a number of other places. You might think that we write social media posts at the last minute or in a bit of a hurry (well, we do sometimes!) but in fact most of the time we plan and research a lot of the content to make sure the results are current, informative and engaging for you. For example, this week Jude wrote a social media post relating to the total solar eclipse which took place in North America.  She did some great research into why solar eclipses occur and about what else might be hiding in our skies, and then linked it to one of our online library resources, the ebook ‘Astronomy for Dummies’.

“Because our students are scattered all over the world we rarely get to meet any of them face to face.” Sam says. “So it’s really important to us to make sure that all of our students feel like they’re part of a community, and talking to them online about what the library can offer and help them with is a big part of this.”

[[[image-2 medium right]]] “We like to have fun with our students, as well as talking to them about ‘library stuff’.” Jude continues. “Last week it was #AfternoonTeaWeek, so we asked the question ‘Cream or Jam first?’ It started some really interesting conversations and we got to eat loads of scones! Plus we often get to work with some really awesome design tools – we’re allowed to have a play and be really innovative in what we create.”

The E&C team also look after the Library Services Student Panel. The panel is made up of 400-500 current OU students – from a wide variety of backgrounds, ages and study levels. Working with the panel and with other teams within the library, the E&C team conducts regular research projects throughout the year, gathering and understanding your needs and your current experience of our services in order to improve them. We can then use all of that feedback to deliver a more up-to-date, fit for purpose online library experience. Research methods range from online surveys, to telephone interviews, to new site testing, Love & Break Up letters, and some students even got to use our fascinating eye-tracking software in the labs.
[[[image-1 medium left]]] Debbie works closely with the Student Panel, and says: “Working with members of the Student Panel is really rewarding – we get to learn first-hand how our students use the online library, and their feedback helps to shape what the online library will look like in the future, and what help and support we offer.”

The E&C team also turn their hands to lots of other things, such as:

• Creating videos to share the changes we have made as a result of working with the Library Student Panel (or that are just a little bit of fun).
• Getting to know our community here in Milton Keynes by adding questions and challenges to the whiteboard in the library atrium.
• Helping to run library events here on campus.

No two days are the same, and we have a lot of fun! Keep in touch with the E&C team via our Facebook and Twitter pages!