Collaborations for Student Success: How Librarians and Student Affairs Work Together to Enrich Learning

Libraries are exploring new roles and partnerships on college campuses to improve students' experiences and enable learning outside the classroom. Student affairs professionals are experts in student development and the student experience, but librarians and student affairs professionals are largely unfamiliar with each other's roles in student learning. This book provides a road map for librarians and student affairs professionals seeking partners for campus collaborations.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 212 pages
Publication date: 06 May 2021
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Libraries are actively exploring innovative roles and forming new partnerships on college campuses to enhance students' experiences and facilitate learning beyond the traditional classroom setting. While faculty members are undoubtedly key partners in this endeavor, there are other potential collaborators that librarians should consider. One such group is student affairs professionals, who are responsible for a wide range of aspects related to student development and the overall student experience.

Student affairs professionals comprise one of the fastest-growing segments in higher education, overseeing various aspects such as residence halls, service learning, career exploration, and more. They possess deep expertise in student development and are well-positioned to collaborate with librarians in promoting learning outcomes.

Despite their potential for collaboration, librarians and student affairs professionals often lack a clear understanding of each other's roles in student learning. To address this gap, Long conducted a series of focus groups with librarians and student affairs professionals from several four-year, residential colleges and universities. Through these discussions, he identified common values shared by both groups and explored effective strategies for forming successful partnerships.

However, he also highlighted the barriers that can arise when these two groups fail to fully comprehend each other's roles in student learning. This book serves as a valuable resource for librarians and student affairs professionals seeking to collaborate on campus. It provides a comprehensive roadmap for building partnerships, highlighting the benefits and challenges of such collaborations and offering practical insights and strategies for successful collaboration.

In conclusion, libraries are leveraging new partnerships and roles to enhance students' experiences and facilitate learning outside the classroom. By recognizing the value of student affairs professionals and understanding their roles in student learning, librarians can create effective collaborations that benefit both students and the institution as a whole. This book provides a valuable guide for librarians and student affairs professionals seeking to partner for campus collaborations.

Weight: 322g
Dimension: 219 x 154 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538158395