Roving started in UCD Library in September 2007 as a proactive service to provide point of use assistance to users wherever they are in the library. Roving is about taking services beyond the desk, using teachable moments to help our students build their skills and self confidence, and give them the ability to discover for themselves the services our Library has to offer. 2012 winning poster in the ANLTC 2012 Library Assistant Poster Competition

1. “What do you need
to know today?”
UCD Library Roving Services
Roving started in UCD Library in September 2007 as a proactive
service to provide point of use assistance to users wherever they
are in the library. Roving is about taking services beyond the
desk, using teachable moments to help our students build their
skills and self confidence, and give them the ability to discover
for themselves the services our Library has to offer.
Listen Assist Empower
“It’s lovely to meet a friendly face who can “You've saved me so much time” – 3rd Year “You have answered questions I did not
help me” – 1st year Arts Student Med Student think of asking” – Erasmus student
Helping readers who James Joyce Library Increase awareness of other library
- Don’t want to appear foolish - One of the largest libraries in Ireland services
- Think question is too basic - 11,320 Square Metres - Group study areas
- Don’t know where to ask - 800,000 items of stock located on 4 - Internet use
- Are unaware of services floors - Laptop loans
- Are shy - Photocopying and printing
UCD James Joyce Library Floor Plan:
Adapted to suit demand
- Times of day / year "..personal interaction with a
- Mini tours for new semesters librarian can increase the
- Informal orientation for retention of at-risk students in
Erasmus students college."
Lavoie, Lisa. "Roving Librarians: Taking it to the Streets." Urban
- From carrying a clipboard to an iPad Library Journal 15.1 (2008): 78-82.
What we learn from readers What readers learn from us What we learn from roving
- How they view the library - Confidence in using the library - Patterns of library use
- Where they need upskilling - First steps in information literacy - What works & what needs work
- Where other services could help - Awareness of the variety and range of - Empowers staff to leave the desk
External Reader
Other
Postgraduate
the collections
Staff
Undergraduate
Type of reader we help Type of query we handle Into the future
More staff roving
Catalogue - Empower all staff to participate
E Resources
External Reader Reservations
Other Self issue
Postgraduate General Query Develop specialist rovers
Staff Loan entitlement
Undergraduate Finding material - With responsibility for basic IT issues
Printing
Refer to desk
- New student induction
Emily Doherty emily.doherty@ucd.ie tel: 01 – 7167184 Debra McCann debra.mccann@ucd.ie tel: 01 – 7167146 http://www.ucd.ie/library