This presentation was given by Olivia Llewellyn It describes how Coventry University, Lanchester Library used a social event 'imbibe' to liaise with promote library services to academic staff

1. IMBIBE! Wine and library
developments
Olivia Llewellyn
o.llewellyn@coventry.ac.uk

2. How do we engage with
academics?
• Via email
• Face-to-face via:
Course Consultative Meetings
Boards of Study
Faculty Board
Research Group
Information Skills

3. Opportunity
• We want to market/promote our services
• Business school traditionally harder to
engage with than other schools – lots of
departments
• Wine. It works (plus emails, leaflets, posters)

4. The event
• Professional but relaxed
• Food and wine - lunchtime
• Short slots, range of speakers
• Database promotions during lunch
• Whole event under two hours
• Towards start of term

5. What we said
• Access to e-resources: the end of
ATHENS
• Library support for researchers
• Electronic reading list update
• Video streaming
• CURVE – depositing RAE items

6. Feedback
“Useful to find out about resources and support
available, particularly as a new member of staff”
“Lots of information that I wasn’t aware of before”
“Informative and user-friendly”
“You made us aware of the fact that you’re available for
us”
“Nice to get to know more library staff. I only ever knew
1 or 2 of you”

7. What we learnt
• Timing is everything
• Food and wine
• Formal and informal way of meeting
staff worked well
• Follow up on contacts
• Consider doing every two years