Flinders University’s

Fridays at the Library series

in the context of the University’s

Community Engagement program:

A case study

Gillian Dooley

Lauren Gobbett

Flinders University Strategic Plan 2012-2016

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Community Engagement

• Fridays at the Library – ‘cultural, artistic and

topical events’

• Part of the Library’s contribution to the

University’s engagement activities

• Expense in cash and kind borne by library

(with some sponsorship)

• Contribution to triple bottom

line – socio-cultural impact

• Increase visibility of library

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Library events in the University context

• Academic libraries are ideal gathering places

for social and community events

• Library event series can:

– enhance university and library’s reputation

– open enduring communication lines

between academics and community

– provide an accessible and welcoming face

for the library

– generate good will

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Fridays at the Library

• Started October 2000

• 6-9 events per year

• Usually held in Central Library,

Bedford

Park

Campus

• 100+ events

• 1-2 events each year in city or

other location

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Fridays at the Library

• Varied program:

– Single speakers

– Panel discussions

– Historical film screenings

– Larger events with a performance element

– Topics from across Flinders’ teaching and

research areas

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Fridays at the Library

• Run by Library staff (not Friends group)

• Promoted to the public as well as staff

and students

• Informal and welcoming

• Free admission

• No bookings

• Refreshments

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Partnerships

• Flinders University faculties, schools and

departments

• South Australian organisations, e.g.

– History SA (Maritime, Motor, Migration Museums)

– Friends of the State Library of SA

– History Council of SA

– Don Dunstan Foundation

• National organisations

– Australian Book Review

– National Library of Australia

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Research projectWe set out to test our belief that the Fridays at

the Library series:

• encourages informed discussion in the community of

topical and often controversial subjects,

• fosters exchange and networking between

researchers, particularly those based at Flinders, and

the community,

• provides an accessible and welcoming

interface between the university and the

surrounding community, and

• is distinctive and unusual in the context

of Australian university libraries

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Census of University Libraries

– 10 Libraries answered ‘yes’

– 7 of these were organised by

‘Friends’ organisations

– 2 were focused specifically on use

and promotion of library resources

– 1 was mostly exhibitions and

associated launches

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Query to ANZ libraries:

‘Does your library organise and present

events open to the public?’

Survey of FatL audience

Three broad categories:• Questions about awareness and

attendance

• Questions about preferences for venue,

event types and topics, attitudes and

opinions about the program

• Demographic information, including

connection with the university

Survey approved by Flinders University Social and

Behavioural Research Ethics Committee

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Participation in survey

• Survey was made available

electronically, in print, by mail, by email.

• Estimated potential pool of respondents

approximately 600

• 112 completed surveys received

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Publicity and attendance

• Direct mail and email more effective for the

survey group than social media

• 65% attend more than once per year

• 42% have been attending for >6 years

• 99% influenced by topic

• 97% influenced by speaker

• Timing influenced 92%

• Venue influenced 76%

• Refreshments influenced 44%

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Comments

• ‘Flinders Uni is good for us as we live nearby and attending is

easy. The city location requires a deal of arranging, plus parking

issues.’

• ‘Even if fascinated by the speaker and topic, I find the city venue

impractical for me.’

• ‘Work full time in the city: not able to go to the central library [on

Bedford Park campus].’

• ‘The venue influence is negative! Flinders is a long way away’.

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Subject and format• History, Arts, Literature of greatest interest

• Current affairs and science also of interest

• Health had highest neutral/uninterested scores (38%)

• Single speakers are most popular (84%)

• History at the Movies next (74%)

• Musical-literary events next (70%)

• Launches highest neutral score (42%)

• Substantial minority neutral in each category - ‘It

depends on the topic – all could be interesting.’

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What do you like about FatL?• ‘The opportunity to receive information and views

from informed sources. This information is

delivered at the level of the intelligent layperson.

Networking over light refreshments is enjoyable.’

• ‘The opportunity to be brought up to date with

advances in learning and current affairs. The

opportunity in sharing the various researchers’

data.’

• ‘The sharing afterwards over a drink of opinions

and thoughts with others of a wide range of

backgrounds.’

• ‘The range of activities and the pleasant

atmosphere in the room.’

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What do you like …

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How could we improve?

• improving publicity

• changing the timing and the

venue, although the respondents

were split between wanting to

have all the events at Bedford

Park and wanting to have them all

in the city.

• improving technical aspects such

as amplification and sight-lines.

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How could we improve ...

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Words to describe FatL

Ranked top to bottom (agree + strongly agree)

• Informed (100%)

• Stimulating (90%)

• Topical (79%)

• Good for socialising (69%)

• Good for networking (45%)

• Controversial (23%)

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Most important aspectsRanked top to bottom (important + very important)• Provides an opportunity to hear interesting speakers on a variety of subjects

(100%)

• Encourages informed discussion of topical and often controversial subjects

(86%)

• Raises the profile of the University in the community (84%)

• Introduces the Library’s collections and services to the broader community

(84%)

• Provides an accessible and welcoming interface between the university and the

community (80%)

• Provides an opportunity to meet and socialise with people with similar interests

(77%)

• Fosters networking an exchange of information between academics and the

community (68%)

• Provides an opportunity for alumni and retired staff to maintain contact with the

University (66%)

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Comments• ‘I appreciate the opportunity to get “unbiased” factual

information about “controversial” topics which are

often “clouded” by populist media reporting’,

• ‘I have an opportunity to hear live music from

professional musicians and other experts in different

fields. I enjoy meeting people who share their dream.’

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Connection with Flinders

• 28% ‘visitors’

• 22% former students

• 21% former staff

• 16% current staff

• 9% current students

• 9% ‘other’ – e.g. ‘previous professional

connections’, ‘live close by’, ‘children went to

Flinders’

• 8% University of the Third Age

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Demographics

• 52% over 65

• 31% 55 - 64

• <4% under 35

• 60% female

• 40% male

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Postcodes and socio-economic index

• 107 respondents

distributed over 47

postcodes

• Grouped around city

and Flinders Bedford

Park campus

• Median ABS SEIFA

ranking 76 percentile

• Wide range – from 12 to

98 percentiles

• 47% in top 20

• 17% below 40

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Limitations of research

• Limited data regarding non-attendance

• Participant bias towards series

• Staff involved in research also strongly

identified with series

• Changes of personnel in survey team

over life of research project

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Benefits of FatL for Library

• Partnerships with other organisations raise

profile of Library

• Collaborations with other parts of the

University and individual staff and students

confirm value of Library

• Goodwill generated in community leading to

donations and participation

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• Promotes library’s

collections and services

Benefits of FatL for University

• Raises profile of our staff, services, activities

and research

• Promotes knowledge exchange between

university and community

• Promotes interdisciplinary

communication

• Provides space for alumni

and retired staff to stay

connected

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Benefits of FatL for Community

• Promotes informed discussion of topical

and controversial topics

• Welcoming atmosphere promotes social

inclusion

• Encourages community use of

university facilities and resources

• Provides intellectual stimulation in non-

threatening environment

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Thank you