PREREQUISITES:
MLIS and Dual MAS/MLIS: Completion of MLIS Core or permission of iSchool Graduate Advisor
MAS: completion of MAS core and permission of the iSchool Graduate Advisor
GOALS:
This course prepares students to use social media and other digital tools for the purpose of professional outreach. The aim is threefold: (i) To show, through a critical analysis of digital outreach activities, how social media are currently used in libraries and archives; (ii) To provide students with the tools to use social media effectively for professional use, both with respect to written communication and the use of images, the choice of subject matter, and customizing posts to the interests and needs of specific audiences; (iii) To give students first-hand experience of undertaking outreach activities themselves and to reflect on this experience.
OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
- Understand the role of social media in outreach programs [1.1, 1.4];
- Understand how outreach contributes to the mission of libraries and archives [1.1, 4.1];
- Undertake effective professional social media activities [1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.2, 4.2];
- Communicate specialized information to an audience of non-experts [1.1, 2.2];
- Take part in a collaborative outreach project [3.1, 4.2, 5.2];
- Reflect on outreach activities in various communication modes [2.1, 4.1].
TOPICS:
- Outreach and advocacy;
- Social media as professional tools;
- Written communication skills;
- Communication aimed at non-expert audiences.