Organising Events

The tips on this page will help you to learn how to set up group and individual appointments, as well as organising larger events such as departmental meetings.

Tips for organising events

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Group appointments vs individual appointments

Use LibCal when you’re running events with multiple attendees and Bookings with Me when you’re offering individual slots.

LibCal can be used to arrange both 1:1 appointments and group sessions. The LibCal appointments feature allows people to set up a webpage that they can send others to book appointments with them. It integrates with Microsoft Teams to allow for online appointments if required and integrates with Outlook to ensure that booked appointments are automatically added to your calendar.

Bookings With Me is an alternative solution to LibCal for arranging 1:1 appointments such as office hours, support meetings and interviews etc. It allows you to set up a booking page with customisable availability windows which other people can use to book meetings with you. It’s fully integrated with Outlook and Teams, meaning bookings are automatically added to your personal calendar, and online meeting links are automatically generated for both parties.

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Use custom availability

Specifying a date range for availability and offering specific times will help keep things manageable and help you avoid burnout.

Whether you’re hosting events through LibCal or offering 1:1s with Bookings with Me, using time and attendance limits makes your availability clearer and more manageable.

Avoid the first and last hour of your day to allow for any unexpected changes to your schedule. Including buffer time gives you greater flexibility allowing you to reschedule appointments at short notice if something unexpected happens.

You can also use Appointment Padding in LibCal or Buffer time in Bookings with Me to avoid back-to-back meetings. These features allow you to leave time in between your meetings for resting, consolidating notes or simply absorbing any delays so they don't impact the rest of your day.

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Be clear whether it is online or in-person

When setting up your event, make the format obvious. As well as having the location in the description, you should consider having a note in the title itself, if space allows. For example: [Online] Introduction to OneNote. This helps attendees clearly see the location and enables them to plan ahead and manage any access needs.

Avoid vague phrases such as “Join us!” or “Location: TBC” as this can create uncertainty and can discourage people with access needs from signing up if it is not clear whether the room is accessible or not.

Consider running hybrid events to appeal to a wider audience and increase the number of sign ups. Running your event in-person can exclude distance learners or those unable to physically get to campus. Limiting your event to online attendance only can discourage attendees who may feel uncomfortable joining from an open plan office, have no home office or just prefer the face-to-face experience. Joining online also relies on the attendees to have access to a reliable internet connection.

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Use confirmation and reminder emails

Both LibCal and Bookings with Me offer automated email tools. Timely reminders help reduce no shows and remind attendees of the important details.

Reminders should include calendar links so the event can be easily added to an attendee's Outlook calendar.

Include room information or joining links so attendees know how to access the session. For example, a Microsoft Teams link or making people aware of accessible routes to reach a room. has a list of accessible guides and information for 久久精品. Reiterating whether the session is online or in-person will decrease the number of no shows and prompt registrants to cancel their place or get in touch if they can no longer attend.

Include any steps or tasks attendees need to complete ahead of the session. For example, instructions for creating an account or how to request access to a system or software.

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Keep titles clear and searchable

Avoid acronyms or overly long titles; keep titles short and meaningful.

Avoid jargon or acronyms that may not be clear to all users, especially those who are new or external to the university, non-native English speakers, or those using screen readers. Avoiding complex event titles also makes your event easier to find and less intimidating for staff and students.

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