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This paper presents a comprehensive review of the poster session “Library orientation in blackboard: supporting online and distance learners” presented at the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) 2017 conference in Baltimore, Maryland.

Development of AU Library Student Orientation in Blackboard is discussed from the initial course proposal up to its completion of first year use. Orientation modules are reviewed and include purpose, organization and technology resources utilized to deliver content.

Complete library orientation information including project timeline, marketing, learning management systems (LMS) usage data, survey and assessment outcomes, video viewing statistics and plans for moving forward are provided.

This paper details steps taken and resources used to develop an online library orientation suitable for any LMS. Project design, orientation module structure and select orientation resources are provided.

This paper addresses the need for academic library orientation to support online and distant learners by delivering a practical library introduction in Blackboard.

The library orientation session is an important marketing tool because it offers the first opportunity for library staff to connect with new clients (Craft and Ballard-Thrower, 2011; Rhoades and Hartsell, 2008). This paper aims to explore library orientation practices in special libraries and information centers with the goal of surveying current practices and identifying guidance for successful orientation program design and delivery.

This study explored library orientation practices in special libraries and information services through an electronic survey. The survey questions were developed based on themes that emerged from case studies on library orientations from the academic library literature. These themes included reasons for library orientation program redesigns, the importance of partnerships in orientation design and delivery and the tools and techniques used in the delivery of orientation sessions.

The results revealed that library orientations are taking place in special libraries, but there is no consistent approach to library orientation delivery. Even within a single library, multiple approaches to library orientations are taken based on client availability, demand and information needs observations of library staff. Participants’ responses were analyzed to develop recommendations for special library orientations. These include developing partnerships (particularly with human resource departments), using technology strategically, considering the timing of orientations for new potential clients in relation to their start as new employees in the host organization, customizing library orientations based on client segment, engaging in ongoing outreach, and being flexible in design and delivery methods.

This study represents a starting step in an exploration of library orientation practices in special libraries. The key limitation of this study was the low response rate leading to small sample size. A larger sample of special libraries would be needed to produce a quantitative analysis of the prevalence of practices with an acceptable degree of statistical significance. Alternately, smaller samples of special libraries organized by characteristics such as size or type (e.g. corporate libraries, law libraries and medical libraries) could be conducted to determine if distinctive trends exist within these special library types.

This study revealed information about key practices and challenges that can be used by special library practitioners seeking to implement or redesign a library orientation program in their library.

While academic and practitioner literature exists detailing library orientation activities in academic and school libraries, there are very few papers on special library orientations. This study fills a gap in the literature by investigating library orientation practices in special libraries and information centers.

This study examines the effect of information literacy orientations on usage statistics in an academic library. The aim of the study is to show that library orientations increase student usage of the library.

The paper analyzes student usage statistics at Cochise College Library.

Analysis of survey data collected at Cochise College Library revealed a significant increase in usage of the library by students who received an orientation.

This paper describes the study's design, the results and also lays the foundation for more empirical research into the subject.

This paper is an outcome of the study made for designing the multimedia‐based orientation programme of the Dyal Singh College Library (DSCL), New Delhi, India. The purpose of this paper is to enlighten the new students and to create insight into the operations of the DSCL.

Macromedia Flash software is used in designing and developing the multimedia‐based library orientation programme of the DSCL. In this study, the quality and usefulness of the information provided is evaluated through feedback. The structure of the programme is divided into 227 snapshots lasting for 20 min. A survey was conducted using structured feedback comprising of five questions.

Regarding the implementation of multimedia‐based library orientation programme and the responses received from the respondents regarding usefulness of information presented in the programme, except “library online public access catalogue & internet browsing”, all other features are found to be either excellent or very good. The quality features, such as, easy to understand (76.44 per cent), programme content (60.23 per cent), programme graphics, sound and special effects (46.76 per cent) are rated as excellent; and the length of the programme (72.28 per cent) and comprehensiveness (51.74 per cent) are rated as good. The overall evaluation of the programme is rated as very good (62.55 per cent).

This paper is not conceived to replace live college library tours, but rather to supplement them. In its present non‐linear form, the programme allows the user to start at the beginning and run through to the end. However, users cannot interact with the video but they can stop, forward and backward the programme.

Highly useful for new students who face the constraints of inconvenient timings and format; reduces the burden of the library staff of imparting physical library orientation and improves the library image in this age of information; and helps the user in overcoming the geographical and language barriers.

The paper provides the advantages of multimedia‐based library orientation in college libraries. The multimedia‐based library orientation programme has been developed as an effective means of conveyance and makes information handy and accessible on the college site as “virtual tour”. The entire programme can be viewed at and develops creativity among college librarians in designing such programmes.

This paper aims to outline the conceptualization, design and implementation process of an escape room-style game for first-year student orientation sessions hosted by a combined academic unit including a university library, archives and museum. The game can be customized and adapted for a variety of learning environments and purposes.

Breakout EDU kits have been used to create escape room-style games to teach curricular content in new and engaging ways. This orientation session was designed to teach new students how to find and use essential collections and resources on each of the unit’s websites by using a fun, collaborative and engaging game.

According to post-orientation survey responses, an average of nearly 80% of all new students felt that the Breakout EDU orientation game was either “Moderately Effective” or “Very Effective” in preparing them for their first day of classes. Documented observational assessments further suggest that students had fun playing the game and appreciated the hands-on approach to library orientation.

Although the use of both digital and non-digital games in library orientations are heavily documented, there has been very little research conducted on the use of escape rooms in this context, and almost no research has been conducted on the use of Breakout EDU kits for library orientations. This paper provides a practical example of how academic libraries can incorporate a customizable and highly engaging escape room-style game into first-year orientation sessions of nearly all sizes.

Why are some libraries more market‐oriented than others? The purpose of this paper is to answer this question by examining the pertinent issues underlying the inter‐relationship between market‐orientation and superior service performance.

An integrated methodological approach of qualitative as well as quantitative methods was used to gain knowledge behind the market‐orientation – service performance relationship. The directors and consumers of 33 academic and special libraries participated as respondents in this study.

In total, three kinds of libraries were found: the strong; the medium; and the weak. The findings show that the higher market‐orientation is positively connected with the libraries’ superior service performance.

The implication of this research does suggest that the gap between the service provider and receiver can be closed by increasing the marketing competence of service provider.

The practical implication for libraries is that it pays to be market‐oriented, the ultimate result being higher customer satisfaction.

The relationship between market‐orientation and service performance has yet to be explored and established in the library world. This is one of the first such studies which attempted to investigate this inter‐relationship.

Why are some libraries more market‐oriented than others? This paper seeks to answer this question by examining the pertinent issues underlying the marketing culture of Finnish research libraries and the library management's awareness of modern marketing theories and practices.

An integrated methodological approach of qualitative as well as quantitative methods was used to gain knowledge on the pertinent issues lying behind the marketing culture of research libraries. The directors and consumers of 33 academic and special libraries participated as respondents in the study.

Three kinds of marketing cultures were found: the strong (the high flyers); the medium (the brisk runners); and the weak (the slow walkers). These marketing cultures are explained by analyzing the libraries' marketing attitudes, knowledge, and behavior permeating their organizations.

The study shows the extent to which marketing attitudes, behavior, and knowledge are related. Moreover, the results indicate serious implications, not only in the Finnish context, but also for libraries in other cultural contexts as well.

The practical implication for libraries is that it pays to be market‐oriented, the ultimate result being higher customer satisfaction.

The contribution of the paper lies in the framework showing linkages between the critical components of the marketing culture of a library: antecedents, market orientation, facilitators and consequences.

The purpose of this paper is to present a model of the complexity in public libraries based on a case study of Cumbria Libraries, a public library service in the North West of England. The model illustrates the complexity of the library as a societal organisation with multiple stakeholder perspectives. The model is based on community orientation as a form of market orientation, in combination with other multiple strategic orientations that combine to add value for stakeholders within the community.

The study is based on a case study of Cumbria Libraries. The data were gathered during field visits via conversations, interviews, photographs, documents and observations and includes 85 participants from multiple stakeholder groups. The analytical approach blended thematic and situational analyses.

A key finding was the existence of multiple strategic orientations, the criticality of the leadership roles in managing the complexity and in motivating staff and community stakeholders towards offering a cohesive and relevant service suitable for community needs.

There is currently no literature on strategic orientation in libraries. The paper present an original model illustrating the complexity of the strategic orientations identified within the case study.

This paper is the result of exploratory research forming part of ongoing study into the value and relevance of market orientation as a strategic option for library managers. The aim of the study is to define the concept of market orientation relative to the library sector.

A series of focus groups and field interviews were carried out in order to validate the established constructs of market orientation prevalent in the management literature. Focus groups were used to gather data from librarians working at different levels in two different sectors, health and arts. Interviews were carried out with library service managers in two other sectors, academic and public. Senior library policy makers were also interviewed. The object was to gain an indication of the breadth of opinion across sectors. The data were coded and analysed using a taxonomic map developed during the study.

Market orientation is a concept that library professionals see as being valuable. Library managers define market orientation in the same way as the concept is defined in the management literature. Their understanding of the concept is developing.

There are implications for further research. Methods used to measure market orientation in other domains are likely to be relevant for libraries.

Fostering an organisational culture that supports market orientation has implications for service management and development.

Research in market orientation in libraries is limited. This study provides the basis for research development into market orientation and its value for libraries.

The purpose of this paper is to describe how library orientation is given on this college campus to reduce library anxiety and normalize the usage of the library.

Orientation was delivered using a multimodal presentation. Librarians created a three segment session using an MTV cribs style video with a library tour, polling technology hosted in the cloud and visual storytelling.

Incoming freshmen and transfer students in the library orientation left with the impression of the library as a welcoming space that is frequently used by all students at college.

This information will enable academic libraries to plan a similar library orientation session to first year students.

The paper highlights the poster presentation given at the Association of College and Research Libraries' biennial conference held in Philadelphia on 30 March‐2 April. This information will enable academic libraries to plan a similar library orientation session to first year students.