Home → Student Access Initiative → Student Access → Promoting Student Access
Last Updated 08/21/2023
Now that you have your Student Access accounts created, how do you get engagement from the community? In the fall of 2020, we asked everyone who is currently participating to share their tips and tricks. Thanks to all of the great contributions!
*School visits are reported to be very effective. According to Neuse Regional, last year they were able to massively increase our eBook (and to a slightly lesser extent online database) usage by giving students in classroom demonstrations of how to use their Student Access number to login. This also helped them to develop a face to face relationship with our points of contact at the school systems. These classroom visits do require some willingness on the part of the school system to help set them up, but there is usually at least one (if not more) administrators and/or media specialists who recognize how valuable the resources accessed through the program are and are eager to help systems get into classrooms to start demonstrating how to access resources.
Lack of awareness with parents. Attending open houses at schools was proven most effective when situated beside the bus assignment line, which can be slow and allow time for the representative to approach parents in line with bookmarks and talk about the program. Most were unaware. When we’ve been in the gymnasium with lots of other tables, the noise is such that it is nearly impossible to have a conversation, so even at the open house events: location can be key.
Reticence of media specialists, who may believe the program will require a larger workload. Cultivating relationships through increased conversation with teachers and media specialists, as well as school administration, is always helpful. During the pandemic it has proven especially useful, as everyone was scrambling to have meaningful online content for students. Getting school administration on board is helpful as they can facilitate getting us invited to meetings and staff days.
Communication hiccups. It can be very helpful to create a document listing the contact for each school system. We always think we'll remember who those people are from year-to-year, but having a document handy can save a lot of time.
Henderson County Student Access Libguide — the FAQ section has proven especially helpful
Neuse Library Student Access Libguide
Carteret County Student Access Libguide
Documents attached to this page for download are templates for flyers, opt-out letters, and other marketing options.