As part of return-to-campus activities, VCU Libraries is running a Study Safer public relations campaign. The campaign, which includes posters, digital messaging and a stream of social media posts, integrates information about safety precautions related to COVID-19, expectations for people using library buildings and coverage of library services and resources both on-site and online. 

“The campaign theme, Study Safer, is thought to emphasize both the libraries’ role as the center for academic work and our community’s mutual commitment to public health,” said Director of Communications and Public Relations for VCU Libraries Sue Robinson. 

“Our biggest priority is getting new information out to our students as quickly as possible,” said Isabella Pence-Lanctot, user services coordinator at James Branch Cabell Library, who posts to Cabell Library social platforms. “VCU Libraries will be sharing tips for health and safety in our spaces while navigating our changing learning environment on campus and at home.” 

K.J. Ricasata, Health and Wellness Library assistant, will be contributing to social media posts from the vantage point of the MCV Campus, including both Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences and the VCU Medical Center Health and Wellness Library. “We hope the campaign will create conversations about safety and responsibility among members of the VCU community. Because libraries are often the heart of university life, we encourage people to post their own ideas about physical distancing, mask styling, remote learning and study skills in the comments or to share posts using the hashtag #StudySafer.”

VCU Libraries’ annual start-of-year orientation session, Library Fest, is also tied to the campaign. This year, Library Fest takes the form of videos on social media in order to provide students with an overview of library services and resources safely from their homes or dorms or wherever they happen to be on campus, and all Library Fest posts will be marked with the #StudySafer hashtag.

Find and engage with VCU Libraries on social media and contribute your ideas to the #StudySafer campaign. Use the tag #StudySafer.

More details on safer behaviors in library buildings and VCU Libraries protocols for fall 2020.