Hi Rebecca! I don't work in public services any longer, but I do know we eliminated our Saturday librarian hours at SVSU because of the same issues (a librarian is available via email and chat). The library is open, however with a circ supervisor and a few
students-- but we don't have anything to draw them in. Maybe it's just Saturdays?
Libraries sometimes stay open during quiet times due to the philosophy of the library -- you are there if needed.
Do you have Saturday classes? That can make a difference. Outreach to those classes may help.
I would probably post to Facebook or other social media that the library is open. Make it fun. For academics, that's about all I can come up with unless you have a large staff that wants to plan Saturday activities or some gimmick to get them in (I'm assuming
Northwood does not have a large staff).
Beth
Beth M. Johns, MLIS
E-Resources Librarian
Saginaw Valley State University
Melvin J. Zahnow Library
pronouns: she/her/hers
From: collib-l-request@lists.ala.org <collib-l-request@lists.ala.org> on behalf of Grai, Rebecca <grai@northwood.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2019 10:00 AM
To: michlib-l@mcls.org <michlib-l@mcls.org>; collib-l@lists.ala.org <collib-l@lists.ala.org>
Subject: [collib-l] student attendance on Saturdays
We are a small, private, business university and our attendance on Saturdays is dismal. I’d like some ideas on increasing it. Does anyone do special things on Saturdays to bring in students? Any ideas on increasing attendance in general?
Any advertising verbiage that might attract students attention? Our Sunday attendance is decent because they are getting ready for Monday, but on Saturdays, it’s nothing but crickets.
Grateful for any ideas.
Rebecca Grai
Head of Circulation
Strosacker Library
Northwood University
4000 Whiting Drive
Midland, MI 48640
Office: 989.837.4333
grai@northwood.edu
northwood.edu
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