Developing a Science Cafe Program for University Library - Personal Statement Example

The concept can always be expanded, once it gets started from the library. The library cafeteria may be the best place to start this since all types of people use the library and the word can also be spread about the event.

Being a library-based event the participation of students, scholars, and researchers will be high. But the necessary advertising should be made to the science interested public to make Science café more exciting. As far as I can see the number one method to attract people is the Internet. Since most people are addicted to Facebook, Blogs, and scientific forums, the organizers can get huge publicity on the event by using such technologies. For example, by using a Facebook library profile the news can be delivered to the students since a higher portion of the younger generation is using Facebook. Library’s blog can also be used by starting a new discussion on Science café. In the article, it was stated that the feedback made by participators through Facebook and blogs was less.

But, I think the feedback could have been higher if the advertising could be done using the above-stated Internet technologies. By applying Internet technologies will also help librarians to implement concepts such as Library 2.0 (Zanin-Yost, 2010) in the future, related to overall activities may surely benefit its user. This type of feedback will prove much effective and preserve the informal nature of the Science café. By building, this kind of relationship with the library will surely benefit the library and its users. After an event users and the library may have good knowledge of the library resource to be used for further reference in a particular subject. Additionally, the communication between the library and its user may also improve.

Although the environment is different and the refreshments are provided the Science café will not work if the expert’s presentation is boring. I agree with that advice made on choosing experts who feel comfortable with speaking to nonexperts for presentations. On the other hand, some presentations may get bored depending on the content. So it is better if experts can select topics on implementations rather than complex theories. In other words, if an invention that will be useful for the community will be an interesting presentation. Another suggestion may be to do a presentation in a way that the viewer participation is high. A better example from Cal Poly Science café is the event named Darwin 200,( Scaramozzino, 2010) which captured the interest of most participants.

It is also a reality that organizers have to find sponsors for the event since food and drink are not free at all. For a university, it is better a roster can be prepared including each department can sponsor a Science café session once a month. Since Science café is open to the public, depending on the quality we may get a permanent sponsor from the public. For a library, it will help to build good relationships not only with other departments in a university but also with the organizations who may contribute to the library as well. By recording the presentations and publishing a bulletin on Science café will add invaluable material to its resource collection and it will certainly help the library user who missed previous events.

According to the survey, statistics stated, you may be in doubt whether the expected results could be gained or not. Because of the informality of the event, it will take some time for both the public and university community to get used to it. With more Universities, libraries, and science enthusiasts getting involved in the concept of Science café will surely be developed into proven methods to distribute scientific knowledge in every community. Read More