Ashley Cole

The Evolution of Eastern Kentucky University Libraries Orientations: Giving Students a LIbStart to Student Success Through Library Engagement

Abstract Library anxiety is well-documented in the literature; however, traditional college students often also lack understanding about the value of libraries, due in part to the misconception that “everything is (easily and quickly) available and accessible online.” To combat this misconception and library anxiety, Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) Libraries replaced boring service overviews and cumbersome, awkward tours of our building with LibStart: participatory, student-lead experiences that situate the Library as a central partner in the higher education experience. By inviting students to show us the library through their eyes, we harnessed the strengths of our libraries, its people and services, and even our own students to create engaging, impactful orientations that reduce library anxiety and communicate library value. This chapter traces the history of the library orientation at EKU Libraries, sharing how we revived and continue to improve library orientations through collaboration and assessment, harnessing the strengths of librarians, students, and instructors.