As the creative lead for the Ask Us Anything initiative, I had the privilege of contributing to a marketing campaign that garnered national recognition, including the prestigious John Cotton Dana Award. This esteemed honor, known as 'the most prestigious award of the American Library Association,' highlights UTSA's innovative approach to student engagement and retention through the Ask Us Anything campaign.
Designed to enhance student retention by increasing accessibility to library staff, the campaign transformed the library staff into the 'Blue Crew'—a dedicated team ready to answer any student question. We implemented creative strategies, such as collecting questions on blue Post-it notes stuck on library display windows, to demonstrate our eagerness to address students' inquiries.
The campaign's success was evident in the significant increase in reference questions recorded by UTSA Libraries, with a notable 48% rise in 2013. This tangible impact on student engagement and support solidified the campaign as a model of excellence in public and student relations.
Receiving the John Cotton Dana Award, sponsored by the H.W. Wilson Foundation, the American Library Association, and EBSCO, was a tremendous honor. This recognition not only affirmed the effectiveness of our campaign but also provided an opportunity to share our winning materials with libraries nationwide, serving as a beacon of best practices in student engagement and library services.
I'm proud to have played a role in this award-winning initiative and to have contributed to UTSA's commitment to supporting student success and fostering a culture of accessibility and engagement within the library community.
