Document Type
Presentation
Publication Title
Spring Forward 2026 (virtual conference), organized by the League of Awesome Librarians
Abstract
As a STEM librarian, the struggle to get to know students (and faculty) is real. Beyond the usual "We have a librarian?" phenomenon experienced by most subject liaison librarians, there is an extra layer of stigma carried by many in the STEM fields – scientists should be able to figure things out all by themselves, so asking for help or advice is admitting that you can't handle it! Of course, we know the truth – librarians are here to help with many tasks that scientists are never formally taught, including selecting databases and developing good search strategies. Before being able to engage in those conversations, I needed to first simply introduce myself to my liaison groups – the engineers and the chemists. Enter my new outreach idea: weekly "house calls" right in the middle of their respective buildings! Tune in for reflections on the success I've seen in inviting conversation (and sometimes questions!) by bribing with candy and the chance to win a prize each month!
Publication Date
3-17-2026
College or School
UAB Libraries
Recommended Citation
McGuire, Ashley, "Tricking Students into Talking to You: “House Calls” Edition" (2026). Libraries Professional Work. 41.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/libraries-pw/41
