Using Monthly Book Lists to Showcase Library Resources with an Emphasis on Work-Life Balance, Marginalized Communities and Patient Care

Background: When [institution] opened in 2019, the small library staff sought ways to build an inclusive and engaging library culture. The Circulation Supervisor developed the practice of creating monthly reading lists to showcase the wider library system’s holdings, draw attention to important topics, and encourage student interaction with the library. Over the past few years, this passive programming project has developed into a larger collaboration between the Circulation and Reference departments, as well as created a robust workflow among the various full time, part time, and temp employees. Using a three-prong marketing approach (a Libguide, library social media, and physical displays), the booklists promote work-life balance to create well-rounded healthcare students and provide diverse perspectives on patient care.

Description: Each month, two themed reading lists are created: Take A Second, which promotes work-life balance for busy students, and Topics in Healthcare, which focuses on an educational health-related topic. The reading lists are presented both virtually through a LibGuide, and physically via displays at the library desk. The LibGuide features full lists of all the selected materials in multiple formats with summaries and links to check out the items. The physical displays feature paper crafted imagery and printed book covers with QR codes to the books’ catalog entries. Each month, the Circulation and Reference staff collaborate to develop topics for both lists; these topics are often based on monthly commemorations, such as Black History Month and Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month. The topics chosen aim to bring awareness to important issues and uplift marginalized voices. A list of 5-10 books for each topic is then selected- Take a Second by a full-time circulation staff member, and Topics in Health Care by one of the two Reference Librarians. After lists are curated, additional tasks are split up amongst the rest of the circulation staff, including pulling quotes, developing descriptions, and updating the LibGuide and physical displays.

Conclusion: This monthly project has not only facilitated engagement with the library’s student patrons but has also created an ongoing workflow within the library’s Circulation department and allowed for collaboration between the Circulation and Reference teams. Since instituting the monthly booklists, many students have checked out items from the library catalog, increasing both usage of library materials and discussion around highlighted topics. The library’s book display on Hispanic Heritage Month was recently used at a campus-wide event, opening the door to future partnerships within the [university] community.