Earlier this summer, the Leatherby Libraries was honored to be included in both a Choice case study and its companion webinar on “The Socially-Distanced Academic Library: A Case Study Series of Best Practices During COVID-19.” One of only five academic libraries across North America, and the only one on the West Coast, to be included in the case study, the Leatherby Libraries’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially the increase in marketing and communications, were highlighted.

The case study, which can be viewed on the Chapman University Digital Commons here, details the ways in which the Leatherby Libraries made use of its “solid and well-established online marketing and communications strategy” to stay in touch with Chapman University students, faculty, and staff, as well as the larger community that frequents the Leatherby Libraries and Leatherby Libraries staff in particular. By making use of the robust marketing strategy and collaborating with upper administration to be included in messaging sent to the entire campus community, the Leatherby Libraries was able to remain visible as a crucial member of the campus team.

In July, Dean Kevin Ross, Ph.D. and Development Librarian Essraa Nawar participated in a webinar sponsored by Choice and Taylor & Francis, which gave all of the libraries included in the case study the chance to present about the ways their academic libraries overcame the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. The entire webinar can be viewed here.