[Eril-l] Core E-forum: "We've GOT to be Sillier": Approachability in Academic Libraries

Tue Jun 24 05:00:00 PDT 2025

*Cross posted to multiple lists*

Please share this with your channels and help us promote this event.

Core E-forum: "We've GOT to be Sillier": Approachability in Academic
Libraries

July 15-16, 2025

Moderated by Mary Elizabeth Schiavone, Tristan M.K. Draper and Easton
Brundage

Please join us for an e-forum discussion. It’s free and open to everyone!

Registration information is at the end of the message.

Each day, discussion begins and ends at:

Pacific: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Mountain: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Central: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Eastern: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

We as a profession have worked hard to make libraries places “for all,” but
our roles are inherently designed to filter information in ways that can
intimidate patrons. The higher education ecosystem complicates librarians’
roles further, as we can be isolated from both students and other staff and
faculty, while also trying to serve their needs. Focusing on increased
approachability efforts, even in small steps, can combat the overarching
pressures of higher education and increase student success.

This e-forum will introduce participants to the theory behind
approachability efforts in our own librarianship practices and give them
opportunities to practice applying these concepts to real-world-inspired
scenarios, so that they feel empowered to advocate for applying
approachability concepts in their own practice.

If your students' eyes glaze over when you teach, if no one is coming to
your programs, if your professional identity is a performance that you are
no longer enjoying…we’ve been there! Join us for an e-forum that will help
you make your librarianship fun, again or for the first time, and help you
feel less alone.

Learning Outcomes:

Participants will…

   -

   Assess current library resources, spaces, and services to identify
   opportunities for improvement within realistic bounds
   -

   Practice applying approachability to real-world-inspired scenarios
   -

   Develop skills to advocate for the necessity of active steps toward
   approachability

Who Should Attend:

Academic librarians who are invested in making libraries a more welcoming,
silly, fun place.

Hosts

Mary Elizabeth Schiavone (she/her) is a Student Success and Engagement
Librarian and the Federal Depository Coordinator at Beloit College. Mary’s
primary research focuses are increasing approachability in academic
libraries and contextualizing government information. Mary is a co-host of
the podcast Librarians Spill the Tea and loves exploring scholarly drama
and research ethics. She spends her free time surrounded by her three dogs,
webcomics, and increasingly ridiculous craft projects.

Tristan M.K. Draper (she/her) is a Student Success & Engagement Librarian
at Beloit College and Chair of the Wisconsin Association of Academic
Librarians. Tristan’s research focuses on accessible instructional
technology and gamifying library instruction. Tristan is a co-host of the
podcast Librarians Spill the Tea, which discusses scholarly drama and
research ethics. She spends her free time playing Dungeons & Dragons and
board games, knitting an array of silly animals, and reading graphic novels.

Easton Brundage (he/they) is a Research & Learning Librarian and the
liaison to STEM departments at Loyola University Chicago. Easton’s research
interests include accessibility and inclusivity in librarianship, art in
the sciences, and student success in STEM disciplines. He is currently
working on a project to bring STEM zines into the library. In his free
time, Easton loves trying new crafts, learning new animal facts, and
reading gay books.

What Is an e-Forum?

A Core e-forum provides an opportunity for librarians to discuss matters of
interest, led by a moderator, through the e-forum discussion list. The
e-forum discussion list works like an email listserv: register your email
address with the list, and then you will receive messages and communicate
with other participants through an email discussion. Most e-forums last two
to three days. Registration is necessary to participate, but it's free.

How to Register

You must register your email address to subscribe to or access an
electronic discussion list on ALA's Mailing List Service. Once you have
registered for one e-forum, you do not need to register again, unless you
choose to leave the list. Find instructions for subscribing and
unsubscribing online. (
http://www.ala.org/core/continuing-education/e-forum-instructions)

For more information:
https://www.ala.org/events/successes-and-challenges-putting-integration-integrated-library-systems

If you have any problems, please contact core-eforum+help at groups.io.

*Posted on behalf of the Core Continuing Education Committee.*
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