Atla Annual 2025

Have you ever felt stuck when it comes to creating unique, engaging, and meaningful outreach programming at your library? If so, you’re in luck! Staff members from the Reference, Instruction, and Outreach Department and the Special Collections Department at Pitts Theology Library have collaborated in building a successful outreach model, called Brews & Books, and we are excited to share what we have learned along the way.

Brews & Books is an event that brings archival and rare book items outside the front doors of the library to meet community members. The library provides coffee (which supports the business of a Candler alum) and tea with some information about the items showcased through signature bookmarks and digital screen displays. It is an informal way to highlight materials that are unique to the Pitts Theology Library holdings while building community with students, faculty, and staff.

This session will be done in two parts. The first part will include a brief presentation from panelists about the particulars surrounding the work necessary to create and execute our Brews & Books events. The second part will allow time for attendees to have an in-person experience of what a Brews & Books event is like, as well as an opportunity to brainstorm together about what kind of programming might work at their own library.

Learning Outcome

We want others to feel inspired to find materials that are unique to their institution and showcase them in a way that is accessible for students, but also practically beneficial for their libraries. Participants will leave knowing how to begin the brainstorming process for collaborative and interdepartmental outreach events like this, how to plan the practicalities of outreach events, who to look to for support within their institutions, how to learn from trial and error, statistical data to justify continued outreach, and helpful software and handouts to use.

Audience Engagement

Audience participation and feedback will be central to our presentation. Those attending, both in person and online, will be able to experience a Brews & Books event for themselves. Following this, we’ll invite an open conversation to reflect on the experience: What aspects resonated most? What could be improved? In particular, we’re eager to hear from online participants, as a key goal of these events is to create an authentic and inclusive way for distance learners to engage and contribute. We look forward to collaborating as colleagues to explore and refine this approach together. To keep the conversation going beyond the session, we’ll provide a custom bookmark (a staple of our Brews & Books events) featuring key steps, suggestions, and a QR code linking to additional resources.