Microsites as Outreach Tools: A Case for Targeted Engagement in Academic Libraries

Abstract

This column presents a case study in which academic librarians at a mid-sized university designed,
implemented, and evaluated a targeted microsite to support first-year students in large-format
instruction sessions. The microsite served as a curated landing page linking to high-demand
resources and services, and it was promoted via a QR code sticker for ongoing access. The
authors describe the institutional context, rationale for selecting a microsite, implementation
details (including collaboration with a library makerspace), and preliminary analytics from the pilot
project’s deployment. The column concludes with practical lessons for academic libraries that are
considering microsites as tools for outreach and instruction