CFP: Serving Our College-Bound Patrons (Book Chapters)

CFP: Serving Our College-Bound Patrons  (Book Chapters)

Book Publisher: ALA Editions, 2013
Editor: Africa Hands, MA, MLIS 

Serving Our College-Bound Patrons will be a resource on how to provide quality consistent service to college-bound patrons. It will present ideas, best practices, and information specific to programming, outreach, administration, and community partnerships. While other books have explored designing spaces for young adult patrons, acquiring library research and critical reading skills, little has been written specifically for librarians serving college-bound patrons.

This book is intended to be practical and conversational in tone detailing what has been done for this population, and how and why other libraries should follow suit. Libraries continue to be called on to prove value and place in the community, especially in light of technological advances. By actively reaching out to the college-bound community – serving and supporting patrons who desire to achieve higher education – libraries can prove to be valuable partners in the heart of the community. This book will bring together difference voices and perspectives on serving this important population.

Target audience

The target audience for this book includes public librarians, teen services librarians, community outreach librarians and secondary school librarians, particularly those serving urban and rural populations and in communities where such resources and information are scarce.

Topics

Suggested topics include but are not limited to: library programming related to the college application process and/or financial aid, community programs and outreach, needs assessments related to serving this population, outreach using the social media, collections and special displays, collaborations with community organizations, cross library collaborations (public-school, public-academic, public-juvenile detention facility, etc), test preparation services, budgeting considerations, grants, overcoming administrative obstacles. Topics related to serving reentry and first-time adult students are also welcome.

Submission procedure

Please submit abstracts and proposals of up to 250-300 words and a short
author bio to asheri@rocketmail.com with the subject heading CollegeBound by January 5, 2012, with notification by March 5, 2012. Final manuscripts of between 3,000 and 5,000 words will be due June 5, 2012.

Africa Hands has graduate degrees in counseling psychology and library and information science. She works in a public library setting and has over 10 years experience in higher education including admissions and advising with undergraduate and graduate students. In addition to a poster session and subsequent article on the book topic, she has written several articles related to search engines, social media, and online resources for FUMSI and Against the Grain.