Ten Steps to Increase Library Impact on an Academic Health Sciences Campus

Abstract

In summer 2009, the Norris Medical Library decided to increase outreach efforts in an attempt to revitalize its role in the USC School of Pharmacy for the upcoming academic year. Active networking in the summer and early fall resulted in an increase in use of both educational and reference services by pharmacy students and faculty; the number of planned instruction sessions for the 2009–2010 academic year increased fivefold. This article identifies ten steps that allowed the Library to expand its role considerably in just a few months. If followed wholly, or in part, these ten steps will help any library become more involved on a health sciences campus.

KEYWORDS:

• Collaboration
• curriculum
• education
• faculty
• instruction
• liaison
• networking
• outreach
• pharmacy students