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After a few years of cautiously expanding services and programs back to pre-pandemic levels, the University Libraries fully embraced the community’s enthusiasm to connect and engage on campus in 2023—and students were here for it. The Libraries increased events, programs and activities in 2023 to engage our students and community.

“Libraries are meant to connect people to information, but we also connect people to resources and other people,” says Kate Langan, engagement librarian. “Waldo Library is a hub for so much activity that goes beyond the classroom.” 

This idea of a library hub led Langan to create Waldo Fest, a spring event intended to prepare students for their next step—their next semester, first career or summer internship—or connect them with services they need to finish the semester.

The event invited campus services like Career and Student Employment Services and Student Financial Aid into the library so students could get help after regular business hours. Drop-in writing and research support allowed students to get help with assignments on the spot.

However, it was telling that the most popular stop at the event was the Counseling Services table. In addition to Waldo Fest, Langan developed a series of stress-buster activities for mid-terms and finals week, including art breaks and therapy dogs. Over 385 students participated in therapy dog sessions during finals week in December 2023.

Collaborating with campus departments led to more creative programming that connects students and advances University priorities like sustainability. Business Librarian LuMarie Guth worked with the Office of Sustainability to bring some of their activities and educational workshops to Waldo Library in 2023.

“Libraries inherently support sustainability. We reduce resource consumption by sharing books,” Guth says. “This offered an opportunity to leverage our high-traffic central location to highlight less visible campus services.”

Waldo Library is a high-traffic facility on Western’s campus, recording over 217,000 library visitors¹ in 2022-2023. Students appear to be spending more time on campus, and the library is a popular destination.

In addition to events like Waldo Fest, the Libraries engages students at recruiting, orientation and Fall Welcome events to help them navigate library services, resources and spaces. In 2023, the Libraries hosted plant potting events, a hands-on fall welcome activity that gets students into the library to explore.

“We want students to know we are here to help them with their academic needs,” says Julie Garrison, dean of University Libraries. “We are also a welcoming place where staff cares about them as a whole person.”

“The plant parties are about building connectedness with the �������ϲʹ���ֱ�� community and engaging with our students in a fun way,” notes Garrison.

Events are one way the Libraries helps reduce barriers that may keep students from seeking services that can help them succeed. Participating in these campus events helps students discover library spaces, services and resources that will help them succeed academically.

Community connections

In 2023, the Libraries also increased programming available to the community, including the returning Historic Walking Tours of Kalamazoo hosted by Regional History Curator Lynn Houghton.

Houghton offered 16 free walks throughout Kalamazoo, including new tours focused on the Vine Historic District and Downtown Historical Markers. Each walk lasts between 60 and 90 minutes and travels approximately 1.5 miles. The tours drew approximately 750 attendees, with the largest tour hosting 105 people.

The walks with Gazelle Sports initially started to get people more active before work but quickly became an attraction for the entire community.

"I thought this would be a one-hit wonder," Houghton said. "If I sit back and look at the entirety, I think, where's the time gone? It's been a lot of fun. It's fun to have the flexibility to enhance and expand it."

Houghton’s historical knowledge and talents are significant resources for community programs and organizations, including , the City of Kalamazoo’s multi-year program to improve life in the city and engage residents, community groups, businesses and others in shaping Kalamazoo’s future.

As a part of the Imagine Kalamazoo program, Houghton worked with the program’s neighborhood activator to connect with community groups like the Neighborhood Association of Parkview Hills. Houghton provided historical information to the Association that was used to create nature trail signage in their neighborhood.

Houghton also fosters connections with others in the public history field through the Public History Roundtable, an informal group of Kalamazoo locals who work at museums, libraries, archives and more. The group’s goal is to connect and become more aware of what’s happening in the community related to public history work. It has led to projects and collaborations between Western and other institutions.

“It's a group that is designed to create connections, provide cooperation and just break down barriers,” adds Houghton.

Collaboration was a key feature of library events and programs, including the Intellectual Freedom lecture and workshop with Dr. Emily Knox that the University Libraries hosted with the Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS) in February 2023.

Dr. Emily Knox, an associate professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, shared her expertise on the rise in banned books, the consequences of these campaigns and actions that individuals could take in response.

Increased numbers of book challenges and bans in schools and libraries have made headlines around the United States, including in communities in West Michigan.

“This topic is extremely relevant for our society today,” says Garrison. “Free speech and intellectual freedom are an ingrained part of our society, yet we have tension when there is information or knowledge that conflicts with our personal views and beliefs.”

In addition to the public lecture, the Libraries and MCLS hosted a workshop for Michigan librarians to learn about intellectual freedom, book challenges and how libraries can prepare.