UQL Cyberschool – collaborating with secondary schools to connect their students with university library services and resources: a case study

Abstract

The University of Queensland Library (UQL) has been offering an outreach program for secondary schools for more than 15 years. The program - UQL Cyberschool, which is funded by the UQ Library, connects schools and their students to university library services and resources. It aims to develop students’ confidence and skills in using tertiary level information resources to assist with the transition from school to university and to prepare students for success at school, university and beyond. Schools may join the UQL Cyberschool community for free and access many free and high-quality information resources through the UQL Cyberschool website (https://www.library.uq.edu.au/library-services/services-for-secondary-schools). The UQL Cyberschool also negotiates significantly discounted subscriptions to commercial online databases on behalf of schools who wish to extend the resources available to their students. In 2015 32 vendors offered 186 products to over 450 member schools. In addition, UQL Cyberschool works with vendors to trial products for up to 30 days.

While some schools only use the virtual services many do visit the St Lucia campus. In 2015 UQL Cyberschool delivered 84 classes to 1869 students, conducted 63 tours and worked with schools on many ‘self-guided visits’. Local students are able to borrow from the University Library and over 600 have chosen to do this.

To support ongoing professional development for teacher librarians, the UQL Cyberschool provides an annual seminar. In 2015 the theme was Social media and the promotion of school libraries that addressed the use of social media in libraries along with marketing strategies used in various schools for library promotion. The day is sponsored by several vendors who are given the opportunity to demonstrate their products.

In 2015 an ‘extended’ outreach program was established for schools that were either geographically remote, were in a low socio-economic area or had a high level of indigenous students. This is in line with the UQ strategy to attract high performing students regardless of their background. Sponsorship funds from the seminar were used to support a number of students from rural Queensland to visit the campus for an “on-campus experience day”. UQL Cyberschool worked closely with the UQ Office of Prospective Students and Student Equity who provided refreshments and visits to a residential college. Feedback was very positive so future extended outreach programs will be offered.