ACRL Fostering Change Project

This summer, library staff participated in the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) second annual “Fostering Change” cohort, a 12-week program designed to help library teams plan and implement organizational changes. Library Director Jennifer Macaulay, Access Services Librarian Sydney Orason, and Reference Librarian Lindsay Boezi collaborated with ACRL facilitators to transform MacPhaidin Library’s Digital Lab, Podcasting Studio, and first floor Media Room into dynamic, student-centered spaces that are accessible to any member of the Stonehill campus community.

The impetus for this project was an aspiration to see these spaces utilized more often by students. Since the Digital Lab’s creation, it has mostly been used by faculty and a few Digital Fellows – current students trained in the use of the technology.  Use of the podcasting studio has been similarly limited. Our library Change Cohort team hopes that all members of the Stonehill community, including students, will now view these spaces as desirable locations to gather, create, and collaborate.

To implement these changes, Macaulay, Orason and Boezi used the summer break to create a service model, which outlines the library’s policies for booking and using the spaces.  The service model was presented to the members of the Fostering Change cohort, and librarians across the country weighed in on how our plan could be more inclusive, strategic and cost-effective.  

Now that the service model is finalized, the library intends to market the revamped spaces to student clubs and organizations on campus so that the community understands that these spaces are for everyone and can be utilized when not in use by faculty.  The signature marketing event will be the library’s Welcome Back party on September 9, from 1pm to 4pm. All campus community members are invited to this event, and we hope that you will join us in celebrating the start of the Fall semester!