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Library Experience Day (LED)

A group of people, mostly women, sitting on a bus and smiling at the camera.
The image shows a person standing in a hallway with wooden shelves and cabinets lining the walls, suggesting a library or office setting.
A person with curly hair is sitting on the floor in a library aisle, surrounded by bookshelves filled with various books.
Two young people, a boy and a girl, are sitting on the floor in a hallway lined with bookshelves. They appear to be reading books or magazines. In the background, another person can be seen walking down the hallway.
A group of diverse individuals, primarily young women, are gathered in a hallway, some standing and others seated, with a warm and friendly atmosphere.
A group of people, primarily young individuals with curly hair, are gathered in a room with a rug on the floor and lighting equipment visible in the background.
A group of young people, likely students, are engaged in a collaborative activity at a table in a classroom setting.
The image shows a group of students working together on a project, with laptops, papers, and other materials spread out on the table in front of them.
A presentation is being given in a classroom setting, with a projector screen displaying information and a speaker addressing the audience.
A group of young people, mostly women, are seated in a classroom-like setting, with bookshelves and other furnishings visible in the background.
Image of the LED Poster Presentation

Background

LED began as a community partnership between the Ole Miss and Oxford High School Libraries in 2023. It was developed by Melissa Dennis, Head of Research and Instruction at the J.D. Williams Library on the Ole Miss campus, and Amanda Osborne, the OHS Librarian. LED was designed as a one day, hands-on learning experience at the academic library specifically for high school juniors and/or seniors and their school librarians. The purpose of LED was twofold. From the school librarian perspective, LED helped bridge the gap between high school and college by providing an introduction to the academic library and  the services available to university students. From the academic library point of view, LED offered an opportunity to recruit students to enroll at Ole Miss for college and build patron support for the university library. 

LED Poster Presentation

After the initial planning and piloting phase of LED, Dennis and Osborne presented their research at the Mississippi Library Association Conference in 2024. The co-created a poster presentation about their initial research: Developing Community Engagement: Exploring a Partnership. To view the LED poster presentation, click on the following title: LEDposter.  Embedded in the poster is a slideshow about the first LED. To view the LED slideshow, click the following title: LEDslideshow. 

LED Research Paper

After the completion of the first official LED event, Dennis and Osborne co-authored an academic paper about their research: Library Experience Day: Fostering Student Engagement and Recruitment through a Community Partnership. Their paper was published in the peer reviewed journal The Southeastern Librarian in December 2025. To view the LED academic paper, click on the following title: LEDresearchpaper.

Related Research

Annotated Bibliogaphy

Osborne's research on the topic of academic library outreach to school libraries was completed while taking courses at the University of Southern Mississippi as a graduate student in the Masters of Library and Information program. In LIS 651: Foundations of Library Science, Osborne wrote an annotated bibliography that included an analysis and reflection of 20 peer reviewed sources on the topic of academic library outreach to high schools. To view the annotated bibliography click the following title: AnnotatedBibliography.pdf.

Bibliometric Research Paper

The annotated bibliography was the basis for the literature review that Osborne also wrote in LIS 651: Foundations of Library Science.  The literature review was included in the bibliometric analysis paper Osborne wrote on the topic of academic library outreach to high schools. To view the bibliometric analysis paper click the following title: BibliometricResearchPaper.pdf.