The Distinctive Populations reboot team was tasked with evaluating current and potential instructional opportunities with student populations such as first-generation college students, adult learners and veterans, change of campus and transfer students, international students, and multicultural students. We chose to use the term “distinctive populations” to describe diverse groups of students because it is the term used in the Association of Research Libraries’ 2018 Research Library Impact Framework.

Because we already have strong relationships with many relevant groups on campus, we created a document mapping our existing partnerships, activities, and contacts with the groups we identified. We collected a variety of institutional data on these populations, and benchmarked with other institutions by exploring the published research related to the role of the library in reaching these students groups. Findings from our benchmarking research are outlined in our literature review document.

As mentioned in a previous blog post, our research led us to identify veterans as a target population for our reboot work. Our team also identified the Comprehensive Studies Program hosted by the Multicultural Resource Center (MRC) and the Equity Scholars Program as potential partners. Students in all three of these groups take a specific course on transitioning to college life, providing the Libraries a natural opportunity for integration.

We contacted key stakeholders within the identified groups to begin conversations about what form library integration with these programs could take, and collected syllabi for the required courses for each group. To facilitate future discussions, we developed a document outlining our instructional activities, such as library escape rooms, that can be used with classes and groups that don’t have a specific research assignment.

Based on our research and conversations with stakeholders, we compiled a list of recommendations for future initiatives with the identified groups.

• Participate in Military Appreciation activities, which most often occur in November, by seeking representation on the planning committee, working with the Office of Veterans Programs on veterans-focused library displays, and/or developing and/or hosting a veterans-focused program.
• Convert one group study room within Pattee and Paterno Libraries into a veteran-designated group study space.
• Pilot the development of a Personal Librarian program to both the Veterans First-Year Seminar and the First Year Veterans Special Living Options.
• Build a veterans-focused collection for the new Veterans Resource Center at University Park (through the Leisure Reading program), and locate the materials within the new center.
• In Fall 2019 pilot some form of library involvement in the required courses for veterans, the Comprehensive Studies Program, and the Equity Scholars program. Options include an escape room or scavenger hunt activity, a customized interactive workshop designed to introduce students to library services and resources, a personal librarian program, or collaborating with the instructor on the development of a research assignment.
• Customize activities for these groups (and other distinctive population groups) to highlight the Libraries’ multicultural resources as a way to reflect the cultural background of the students.
• Conduct an assessment of new instructional initiatives with distinctive populations piloted in Fall 2019.

Questions and comments on our team’s work are welcome and can be sent to Dawn Amsberry at dua4@psu.edu.