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Logging Outreach Hours on Libcal
- What should I include in my Libcal entry?
- Total number of participants
- Any relevant notes (How many library cards were made? How many books checked out? Did you make a connection that would benefit future outreach efforts? Etc)
- Additional staff present
- I did an outreach event last month and haven't recorded it yet. Is it too late? Outreach reports are made each season; if your outreach event happened within the timeframe of the current season, it's not too late to add it to Libcal. See the Outreach Reporting Calendar here.
- I sometimes host tours of my library location - does that count as outreach? Yes! We define that as Onsite- Outreach; your numbers should go on the Outreach / Truck calendar that best describes the age group.
- I host a regular program for a group from an external organization or community - does that count as outreach? No - even though your connection with the group possibly began through an outreach effort, your regular program is now a regular library program and should be logged that way.
- I have a program I can't tell how to log- what should I do? Check out the Guideline here; if you have further questions, you can direct them to Liz Laribee (elaribee@arlingonva.us).
- Why were the Outreach and Internal / Passive calendars separated? The reasoning behind the decision is for easier and more accurate reporting on those respective efforts.
- Why is logging outreach hours important?
- Measuring impact. Keeping track of outreach hours helps us identify trends in our work, including where we are investing our time, where we aren’t, and how effective our efforts are.
- Accountability. Tracking hours allows us to understand how many resources we are using including materials and staff time. It lets us be more transparent in our process and can help us demonstrate commitment to our community partners.
- Informed decision-making. Understanding how much time and work is required by different outreach activities can help us plan more effectively and realistically for the future.
Outreach Reports
- What is the Outreach Report? Beginning in Season 1 2024, systemwide outreach data will be collected and turned into a report, capturing the reach and impact that Library staff had in bringing services into the community.
- What is the publishing schedule for the Outreach Report? See here.
- I did an outreach event last month and haven't recorded it yet. Is it too late? Outreach reports are made each season; if your outreach event happened within the timeframe of the current season, it's not too late to add it to Libcal.
- I took great photos at my program - can they be included in the outreach report? Please send your photos to Emilie Krut (ekrut@arlingtonva.us).