| Abstract: | Abstract Academic libraries have often participated in outreach to their surrounding communities. This article focuses on independent outreach efforts of academic libraries to move beyond their walls or traditional clientele. Academic libraries determine their interaction with their communities based on three factors: whether a need is expressed from outside the academy, whether they see their mission as an invitation to pursue an action on their own accord, or whether they construct a form of outreach in response to a specific problem or crisis. Most libraries, public and private, recognize outreach as part of their mission and obligation to the community. This article examines why libraries choose to initiate outreach programs. |
