1. Growing Our Future through
Community Engagement
October 26, 2011
Joyce Neujahr
Nora Hillyer

2. Vision of Partnership
• The University of Nebraska – Omaha Criss
Library is currently in the third year of a
formalized partnership with the non-profit
organization Girls Inc. of Omaha.
• Our combined vision: the creation of a viable
library for two Girls Inc. campus locations.

3. Girls Inc.
Girls Inc. Demographics
Age groups
Five to Eight..................................................................................... 42%
Nine to Eleven ................................................................................. 31%
Twelve to Fourteen.......................................................................... 19%
Fifteen to Eighteen........................................................................... 8%
Ethnic Groups
African American............................................................................. 70%
Caucasian......................................................................................... 9%
Hispanic............................................................................................ 7%
Native American................................................................................ 1%
Multiracial.......................................................................................... 9%
Other................................................................................................. 4%
Girls Served
Through our Girls Inc. Centers. 884
Through Outreach Programs .... 383
Boys and Girls Served
Through “Kid-Ability!”............. 7,126
Grand Total............................... 8,393
Number of snacks
& meals served...................... 63,328

4. To Date
Partnered with Library Science Collection
Development Class
• Community Analysis of Girls Inc members &
researched appropriate educational needs
• Evaluation of current collection
• Built new collection of recommended resources

5. To Date
Library Science Collection Development
Class Outcomes
• UNO Students:
– Applied library science theory to real-life situation
in matching community and books
– Gained a sense of responsibility
• Girls Inc
– Approachable and usable collection that was
appealing to their members
• UNO Faculty
– Increased motivation by students to produce
thoughtful selections

8. •

12. To Date
Partnered with Library Science Young Adult
Services Class and Omaha Public Libraries
• 4 books, 48 girls, two weeks, 16 pizzas, 12 dozens
cookies
• Summer Young Adult Book Club
• UNO students led book discussions of realistic fiction
titles
• Presentation of Public Library services

13. To Date
Summer Young Adult Book Club
Outcomes
• UNO students gained real life experience in
programming for young adults
• Assumptions of lower socio-economic lives were
challenged
• Girls Inc. members became active in utilizing public
library resources and programming
• Participants this year are next year’s role models

14. Young Adult Summer Book Club

15. To Date
Putting Good Books in Girls’ Hands
Scholastic Book Fair
Service Learning Academy Grant
Book Club participants each chose a book

16. Future
Sustainable Future
• Continued pursuit of funding
• Nebraska Cornhusker State Industries, manufacturers
of products produced by inmates of the Nebraska
Department of Correctional Services' institutions
• Automated Information Library System allowing for
circulation of the new collection.

17. Strategies and ideas for partnering
• Big Picture Vision
– To connect and engage students’ learning with real life
applications and community implications
– Evidence for the library being an active partner in
community engagement
• Multiple partners both on and off campus
– Be assertive, they won’t come to you
– Be aware, watch the news
– Every group has an information need whether they
realize it or not
• Need a match between curriculum and
partner’s goals

18. Thanks for Listening!
Questions?
Comments?
jneujahr@unomaha.edu
nhillyer@unomaha.edu