The value of collections in the undergraduate recruitment process: The role of the Cadbury Research Library in recruiting Liberal Arts students

Sue Worrall, Director of Special CollectionsCadbury Research Library, University of Birmingham

Conception and Development

‘Explore new perspectives Liberal Arts and Sciences offers an innovative programme of study

across four years. With a year abroad at one of our partner universities and a wide range of options to explore your interests

across the arts and sciences, this new programme will enable you to influence and lead our rapidly evolving world. ‘

Objectives for the sessions from the tutors view point

• To engage the students in an activity perceived as fun compared to formal interviews

• To show off the amazing cultural assets of the University as a major selling point to his potential market of students interested in a Liberal education

• To find a relaxed environment in which the students could be encouraged to demonstrate a range of transferable skills including listening, interpersonal communication and team working.

Running the Sessions• Broken down into 8 separate

sessions over 4 month period, 1 hour in length with an average of 6 students in each

• Treated students as informed learners on an equal level with facilitators

• Mix of items including archives, rare books and artefacts used was crucial

Running the Sessions

• Think about the origins of the items, why they were made in that way

• Who had created them and for what purpose

• What purposes might they have been used which was unintentional in their original creation

• Use for current researchers

• Appreciate multilayered network of connections

• Engage on an emotional level with the items and express this engagement.

Running the Sessions

• Working in small groups discussing and feeding back on their most significant item

• Explain the reasons for their choice

• Many groups created linkages between the items and historical and current events

• High level of student interaction with each other and with session leaders

• Really interesting exchange of ideas!

Lessons Learnt and Future Planning

• Positive feedback from tutors and students

• Course Director believed session was key to his work – it fulfilled his aims

• Valuable role for OBL is contributing towards student recruitment process across a variety of disciplines

• For Library creates early relationship with student and demonstrates our value to the institution