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This page updated: 6/20/07 |
ACRL Western New York / Ontario Chapter Spring 2007 Conference
WNY/O ACRL Spring Conference Featuring Barbara Alvarez, University of Rochester Plus Poster Sessions
Session Four | Poster Sessions | Conference in Brief | Presentation Materials
The Western New York/Ontario chapter of the Association of College and Research Libraries (WNY/O ACRL) invites you to a day-long conference designed to help cultivate ideas for moving beyond the traditional boundaries of libraries. Please join us at the scenic Roycroft Inn in East Aurora, NY, where we will explore how the traditional definitions of library services are evolving in our communities. We have put together a conference on some of the adaptive ideas, strategies, and programs librarians in Western New York and Ontario are implementing in response to our student and faculty patrons using our libraries differently.
The issue of internet neutrality is murkily defined by geeky terminology so poorly understood that the same phrases are used by political adversaries. The internet is an agreement, not a thing. It is a designed and engineered environment, however, so the agreement, to exchange data packets using several protocols, can easily be changed. In that sense, while the internet itself seems to be scaling ever larger without breaking physically, the terms of the agreement that determine its nature, the protocols, can be changed depending on who's in charge. Code is law.
While the telecom industry likes to talk about needing tiers of service for reliable transmission of NFL games live on the Internet, the danger is in the consequent need to examine data packets. Then the Internet will no longer be stupid, treating all packets the same. It will be smart. It will be able to tell one packet from the next. Then the question becomes, who or what decides what to do with that packet? On what basis is the decision made? The who could be a legislature or a company or a librarian or a bureaucrat. The what could be an algorithm, an automated online robot, programmed by that bureaucrat. In either case, what is the difference between a filter and a censor?
If the Internet stays stupid, if it is merely a bit pipe, if it is neutral to the content of data packets, if it gives them all equal priority, then the civil liberties issues and problems will be located where they should be and always have been, in our institutions and homes and workplaces. If the Internet is not neutral, then either librarians should be very afraid or an alternate agreement, a "darknet", might develop using newly written protocols.
Doug Anderson, who has a BA from UT Austin and an MFA from UMass Amherst (1982), is an associate professor in the Business Department at Medaille College in Buffalo, NY. Since the mid-1990's, the proof-of-concept prototype web site at RicciStreet.net has completely replaced printed textbooks and other paper in Doug's courses and created a community of learners supplementing his face-to-face classes. Learn more: http://RicciStreet.net/acrl.htm
A Panel Discussion
Many college freshmen find themselves completely at a loss when facing their first research-based assignments. Many find the library resources overwhelming. If it sounds familiar to you, come to this panel session and find out about a stimulating collaboration librarians from academic and school libraries have engaged in to remedy this situation. Under the auspices of the Rochester Regional Library Council the Information Literacy Continuum Committee was formed to address the problem of transition from high school to college researching and to promote effective information literacy teaching practices. School and academic librarians from a wide range of institutions connected to explore current information literacy skills among students of their home institutions. They attempted to develop fruitful strategies to ensure that all students learn and maintain the skills they will need as they move on to higher educational levels. In an effort to provide high school students the foundation necessary for a successful transition to college and beyond, the Committee has created a guide "Core Library and Research Skills Grade 9-14+” targeted to address observed deficiencies. The guide, following the stages of the research process, introduces a basic set of skills and specific grade levels for introductory and mastery achievement. Session participants will explore this sequential model that can be used as a guideline and teaching tool. They will be invited to comment on the presented document as well as to share their ideas about best practices in teaching information literacy. Participants will also learn about other numerous benefits achieved in the course of the collaborative process such as creating new connections between educational institutions, better understanding of challenges school and academic librarians face when teaching information literacy, and fresh insight into incoming students' skills and knowledge base.
Presenters include:
Barbara Alvarez, Subject Reference Librarian, Rush Rhees Library, University of Rochester
A Panel Discussion
As librarians with access to many resources, we often take for granted the benefits that access to information can result in. We forget that some, such as those in developing regions, do not necessarily have the luxury of access to information resources. A handful of determined Masters of Library and Information Science students at the University of Western Ontario, in London, Ontario started Librarians Without Borders in 2005 to address this need. Within the past year, the organization has been incorporated, established its first Board of Directors, applied for charitable status and quickly grown in support both locally and internationally, with over 350 members as of December, 2006.
Librarians Without Borders endeavours to achieve its mission to improve access to information resources regardless of language, geography, or religion through the formation of partnerships with community organizations in developing regions. In preparation for our inaugural project in Angola, we are acknowledging the importance of education and literacy, but also the importance of having the facilities and materials to aid in improving programs for learning and development. We will continue to address these issues as Librarians Without Borders develops.
As a growing organization, we have experienced many challenges as well as successes. We would like to embrace this opportunity to discuss how we have met and overcome some of the obstacles we have encountered while attempting to create a successful and sustainable organization. In addition we will elaborate on how the organization has grown, our future plans and how people can become involved.
Catherine Baird has been involved with Librarians Without Borders (LWB) since January 2006. She has served as Co-Lead for Communications, Co-Chair of Operations and in January 2007 became Co-Executive Director with colleague Rebecca Jansen. Catherine currently works as a reference and instruction librarian at York University in Toronto. She is a section editor for the peer-reviewed open access journal, Partnership: Canadian Journal of Library and Information Practice and Research. She holds an MLIS and an MA in German Literature.
Connecting Within Our Communities
In their look at the relationship between librarians and faculty from a sociological perspective, Christiansen, Stombler and Thaxton (2004) point out that although the two groups appear to be “tightly coupled”, they aren’t. “This is surprising,” say the authors, “considering their potential for interaction, collaboration and shared interests in quality teaching and research” (117). To a university librarian whose title recently became “Liaison Librarian for Collaborations in Teaching and Research”, this was a perplexing and challenging perspective from which to begin my work.
In October 2006, the University of Guelph Library asked me to explore ways in which the library could better support teaching and research across disciplines, and to enhance collaborations with other campus individuals and groups that share this goal in some way. I began with one assumption (I know nothing) and one item on my agenda (Explore with an open mind). Three months into my exploration, it appears that Christiansen, Stombler and Thaxton are on to something. To varying degrees, there appears to be a disconnection between librarians and faculty – a disconnection that may impede the library’s ability to support teaching and research.
This session will comprise a discussion of literature salient to this disconnection in librarian-faculty relationships, some of the reasons for it, and ways to bridge the gap. It will also include a discussion of the process I’m undertaking at the University of Guelph to explore these relationships, as well as the results of my exploration through April 2007.
Before becoming a librarian, Melanie Boyd held various positions in the nonprofit sector in western Canada – including implementing intergenerational programs in long term care, overseeing tours and promoting cultural programs at the University of Saskatchewan, and working as Executive Director for the Saskatchewan 4-H Council. Melanie owned a consulting business for six years, during which time she published a book about her 100 year old grandmother. Melanie has been a Liaison Librarian at the University of Guelph since 2004
Reaching Out Beyond Traditional Library Walls Elizabeth Curry Hilbert College
Being able to reach beyond the traditional four walls is essential for today's academic library. Many students connect to library resources distantly without ever walking through library doors. In order to communicate with these evolving patrons, McGrath Library at Hilbert College created both a MySpace page as well as a Library Blog. Both of these nontraditional forms of connecting and communicating with our patrons allows us to expand beyond conventional library boundaries and connect with students, faculty, staff, and community members outside who use our resources.
Charles Lyons University at Buffalo
The poster focuses on the local communities served by libraries - the cities, towns and neighborhoods served by libraries of all types (public and academic). I'd highlight some of the ways that libraries are leveraging newer technologies to increase the flow of local information within their communities; how libraries help keep the local community informed about itself. For academic libraries this is important because libraries can play a role in facilitating campus / community relations. Also, many students may be from the local community and others may want to work locally after graduation. Academic libraries also often serve many "unaffiliated users" from the local community.
Katie Donahue Hilbert College
The McGrath Library is diving into three new community outreach projects connecting local high school students to our academic library this spring and summer. First, we've created the High School Friends of the Library Program for local high school teens. Next, we have 70 Frontier High School students scheduled to come on campus to perform research at the McGrath Library to complete their AP English research papers this May. Finally, we're hosting a group of Buffalo high school students in the College's new High School to Hilbert program happening in July. We believe these visits will give high school students a taste of college life and even inspire students who are not sure if college is for them.
Alice Carli Eastman School of Music
Sibley Music Library began to digitize public domain music scores and make them freely available on the web in July of 2004. (See a sample at https://urresearch.rochester.edu/handle/1802/291). At the time this was merely the end result of a revised preservation workflow. Since then, it has led us to become part of a worldwide community of musicians and scholars, including a Polish record company, the world's leading authority on Russian piano music, and the Amateur Chamber Music Players organization. We are now hosting up to 2000 downloads a day from people who discover our digital music collection. We were able to accomplish this without additional staffing or funding, utilizing our university's Digital Repository. This Poster Session will show exactly what our equipment and workflows are, and how other libraries can adapt their existing preservation workflows in a similar way.
Sharon L. Cosentino University at Buffalo (MLIS Student)
The Easy Chair Reference Desk Services for International Adult Learners provides academic reference desk librarians with a better understanding of the special stress factors and library anxiety facing international students in the United States. Suggestions are made as to effective outreach methods designed to blend this specialized student group within the rest of the student community. This presentation also deals with the key misunderstanding issues underlying internationals contact with reference personnel and gives the reference librarian tips designed to blur national distinctions and enhance better understanding during the reference desk interviews. Citations of articles and websites to further information are also provided.
Host a Successful Information Fair Maryjane Poulin & Mary DeCarlo Syracuse University
Have you been trying to think of new ways to entice your faculty and students to use your online resources? What questions do they have about e-resources?
Grab everyone's attention with an Information Fair. In October 2006, Science Librarians at Syracuse University organized and hosted an information fair, attracting faculty and students, who came to learn about e-resources and talk directly with vendors. To keep it manageable and attract library users from disciplines that we support, the Information Fair focused on the sciences and engineering. We invited vendors to come and represent online resources to which our library subscribed. Vendors who could not attend and subject specific publishers were asked to provide brochures and freebies. The event was well publicized and held at the Student Center, a high traffic venue.
The cost to the library was kept at a minimum because vendors helped support the event. It was rewarding to meet faculty and students in this question-friendly environment and it became a learning experience for the students, vendors and librarians! Afterwards, both vendors and attendees said to "do it again."
Poster Session Outcomes:
The Information Fair webpage is at: http://library.syr.edu/information/scitechlib/info_fair_2006.html
Kari Zhe-Heimerman LeMoyne College
In the Fall of 2005, faced with the challenge of trying to connect with the Science students and faculty at Le Moyne College, I became a first year academic advisor for Biology students. This experience enhanced my contact with both students and faculty in Biology; taught me many new and interesting things about my community of users and their needs; and reminded me of the challenges that first year students face. This non-traditional Librarian role stretched, blurred and blended the boundaries between myself and my user community while enabling me to connect with my users in new and interesting ways. My poster will explain this experience, discuss the challenges of this process, and also present the many benefits of reaching out in this way.
Driving Change in a College Library Instruction Program Debra Lucas D'Youville College
In 2003, the Montante Family Library offered Library Instruction to its campus faculty on a request basis. The popularity of the service and the increased enrollment at the college created a surge in the number of sessions offered each semester. Nonetheless, data showed that students were dissatisfied because they said they didn't receive the instruction early enough in their college careers and in increasing numbers, they reported attending multiple instruction sessions.
This poster session shows how the data was compiled, analyzed, and used from 2003 - 2006, demonstrating the wisdom in using data to set strategic goals and drive change. Library leadership at D'Youville College collaborated and partnered with the Education Graduate faculty to enact changes to a library instruction service, and create reassessment tools and plans to continually improve this critical library service.
Pat Viele Cornell University
Connecting our communities is a great description of what I do! I work with faculty, graduate students, undergraduate students, staff and science teachers. I use a variety of tools to accomplish this.
Librarians have always looked for ways to make life easier for seekers of information. Technological developments have added several tools to our collection. Since I interact with undergraduates very little, I use the Society of Physics Students listserv to send interesting bits of information to them. To facilitate the exchange of information among physics librarians interested in incorporating information fluency into physics curriculum, I created a Physics Information Fluency blog. I use the social software connotea to create customized lists of web sites for faculty. We all live life in the fast lane, and I find that these short cuts are very helpful.
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