question about how databases are refered to

I am curious to know how many others have questions from students who are frustrated because the instructor will say to 'look in the Ebscohost' and the students cannot find 'Ebscoshost' (just given that instead of a specific database or that it is found on the library page). I'm wondering if we can check with instructors and have them change it in their syllibi to at least say check the databases on the library page (wouldn't necessarily be an Ebsco database used in the search).

Interesting website for instrutors

Found this really cool article on a helpful website developed by Carlton College:

http://chronicle.com/wiredcampus/article/3036/pedagogy-in-action-online

I already added it to ma.gnolia but it would be something to show faculty.

Books in Print/RCL Web/ CHOICE

Librarians,

Which of the following products do we need to subscribe to next year for purposes of collection development, and WHY?

Books in Print
RCL Web
CHOICE

Thanks, Emily

What did you like better?

I like TLC better because it was a nicer and much better look for our students.

Work vs. Play

I was working so hard...




that I was barely hanging on....



Thank goodness for vacation!

Admission Rep Meeting

On May 9th I did a forty minute presentation for the admission reps for Fargo and Moorhead campuses. We have had a number of new admission staff join in the last month as well as a new director of admissions. We discussed how to present both the physical library itself-their first sentence should not include,"I know this library is really small, but..." I emphasized the volume of resources available through our databases, we did a mini-database searching workshop, a presentation of our presence on the portal, I used the handout Emily prepared a few quarters ago, so they each left with something concrete. I also discussed my role and my service to students as a librarian along with our network of campus libraries and librarians. I received a lot of positive feedback during the talk and after. Tours have noticeablely improved, has anyone else presented for the admission reps?

Stagnant?

Does anyone feel that, despite the days and weeks when you go home exhausted, you just aren't getting anything done? Or, in the big picture, like you are a hamster on a wheel?

How do you combat that stagnant feeling?

So, what's a CMDS?

Thank you all for the congratulations & kind words on my committee appointment!

I thought I would explain a little more about the division- section- committee for clarification. As I'm sure most of you know, the American Library Association has a number of divisions - and round tables (like the Video Round Table that Emily emailed us about a little while ago). I am a member of the division Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS - pronounced "alex" or close to that as I learned at Midwinter). ALCTS provides continuing ed, standards, publications, etc. relating to Collections, Acquisitions, Serials, Cataloging, and Preservation. The section for collections is Collection Management & Development Section, or CMDS, and includes a number of committees. One such committee is Collection Assessment.

More info at- http://www.ala.org/ala/alcts/alcts.cfm

Website For You - CD

Library Journal offers links to Publisher Catalogs that you can flip through electronically. Pretty cool.

On Books & Budget

Should we offer eAudioBooks? NetLibrary offers a Popular Fiction Collection for Academic Libraries. Should we provide this collection for students, faculty & staff?

How should we budget for print books next year? Should I budget a lump sum for each of your campuses for all print books and AV? Or should I make distinctions by program? Should I divide the budget again by Reference & Circ?

What are the core titles that every campus needs to get every year? I'm already thinking:

- ICD-9
- HCPCS
- Almanac
- Statistical Abstract
- Tax Guides/Resources
- CIA Factbook (Yes, I know it's online for free, but I like it in print)
- Chase's Calendar of Events
- Occupational Outlook Handbook (this is every other year - eoy - I don't know where we are in the cycle)
- Health care industry almanac (eoy)

What am I missing?

Besides newspapers, Digital Design magazines/journals, the JAMAA (medical assisting), and general periodicals like Time and Newsweek - what other items do we HAVE to have on campuses in print?

Cataloging TLC v Polaris

Did it seem that the cataloging function in Polaris was simpler and easier to use than the one we saw in TLC today?

However, TLC has the flashy student interface that I believe we need.  The rest we can make work.

 

Polaris and TLC

As I look at both Polaris and TLC, I have a few thoughts and questions. It is a fact that any new system we look at is going to be better than what we have with ALEPH. However, exactly what is it we want in this new system? Have we made a list of priorities? Is simple, quick cataloging our #1 need, or the quality of reports we can pull or is it the usability of the pac from the student end? What would you list as the top five areas/things you want from this new system? Here are a few of my thoughts.
#1 - A flashy, simple interface that our students will be drawn to and feel compelled to use
#2 - Simplify our cataloging
#3 - Ability to interact with CLASS and import student info, pictures, etc.

I can not think of more at this time. I must go and help a student. I would love to know what each of you think is the most important component of a new system!

A Few Updates

Wasn't that blog title original? My evening just sparks of creativity. Anyway...

Thank you for your patience with me this past week and for those who shared condolences. I know that some of your work/productivity was affected by the goings on, and I hope that whatever I didn't finish last week will be quickly resolved early this week.

I also apologize about my miscommunication about the teleconferences/meetings with the OPAC vendors. We had to make a change due to travel restrictions. As soon as I have more information about the TLC webinar, I will let you know. For those of you in the Twin Cities, I do hope that you can take part in person (lunch will be provided). Otherwise, I hope you can all attend via phone. I know that the second webinar is long, but this is a huge purchase for us and it deserves our attention and careful consideration (in my humble opinion).

On a lighter note... thanks to Jan and Hilary for their INCREDIBLE work last week. We FULLY cataloged (I think) nearly 700 items for the Fort Myers collection. We worked nearly nonstop for two days (12 hours per day). We took only a few breaks to complete some interviews and to buy MORE books from Barnes and Noble. We still have about 200 titles left to deal with, one way or another, which will be resolved during a later visit. I'm very proud of their work and pleased that the Fort Myers campus will have a functional library at its opening in July.

Just an FYI on a few other things - I have submitted MOST of your Baker and Taylor orders, and you should be receiving them this week. Additionally, I didn't have anyone ask for me to submit DEMCO orders for them - so if you do need me to do that, let me know.

A few things I plan to resolve this week:

1. I have no idea why the patron profile code is missing from ALEPH. I have a ticket into PALS and I hope to get resolution soon. In the meantime, I did provide some suggestions via e-mail late last week for a temporary fix.

2. I'm working on a recommended journal titles list. To date, it lists over 200 titles. I'm going to divide the list by categories and whether or not I recommend for titles to be in print or online. I hope that you'll find the list useful as you prepare your renewals and new orders for journal titles. (PS, if you have recommendations for me to add for everyone, now is a good time to let me know.)

3. Finishing up LibQUAL stuff. I have to get some numbers for an end-survey, and also get gift cards for our winners (this may have to wait until I have some moola in the bank).

4. Post about some required yearly print titles. I have a few in mind but I would like your help.

I will be doing calls with everyone this week. I look forward to talking with you.

-Emily

May highlights

What are you excited about for the month of May? What display/theme are you doing for May? Do you have any open workshops or faculty development sessions scheduled?

Benefits of grading the collection

I have started the "grading of the library collection" with two faculty members. One was with the HIT instructor and the other was with the Health Sciences instructor. The Health Sciences instructor who teaches mainly Anatomy and Physiology was able to help out with general science, psychology, chemistry, medicine, nursing and human anatomy, physiology, microbiology. What I have found is that we are at about a D through C, C+ level in these areas. The best part is that both faculty members have since sent me lists of resources to add to the collection to bring it up to a C/B level. What I couldn't do through emailing Faculty Recommendation Forms twice a quarter is happening through grading the collection. I hope it continues to work this way.

What are you reading?

I decided to try something fun to get some faculty/staff buy in to the library. I printed out these flyers along with recommendation forms and placed them in everyone's mailbox. I had a 33% response rate. The first two that were returned to me the following day were from the Campus Director and the Dean. I am hoping that when faculty sees that I purchase the books that they recommend that they will then start requesting resources for their areas.

I think it will be a hit with the students when I do faculty/staff picks, to see what their favorite instructor, admissions rep, etc. is reading/recommending. I also hope that it will increase circulation.

A Game For You!!

Who can guess what the following journals have in common? Your answer must be complete to win the prize!

American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education
Booklist
Child Development
Computers in Libraries
Distance Learning
Education & Health
Education & Information Technologies
Exceptional Children
Health Educator
Horn Book Magazine
Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing
Journal of Interlibrary Loan, Document Delivery & Electronic Reserves
Journal of Nursing Education
Journal of Pharmacy Teaching
Library Journal
Library Resources & Technical Services
Occupational Outlook Quarterly


... that's as far as I've gotten. Well?

The Wisconsin Association of Academic Librarians Annual Conference in Manitowoc, WI

The Wisconsin Association of Academic Librarians Annual Conference Manitowoc, WI

This was a great conference to have attended. In addition to talking and getting back in touch with other librarian friends and colleagues, I had a fantastic poster session and went to some useful sessions.


Avoiding the “Librarian Nerd Loop”: Engaging Students & Creating a User-Friendly Library Environment

The librarians at Carroll College are working hard to create student-centered services by making their webpages easier to navigate and use and using chat reference extensively using Meebo in particular. What I took away from this session was that the language library instructors use should be words and phrases the STUDENT would understand. No one is going to understand “bibliographic information”, “ILL”, or potentially even “Information Literacy”.

Ways to achieve a more student-centered library service plan:

• use Meebo for online chat (the RCLS is already doing this);
• create and update usable subject guides;
• utilize RSS feeds for appropriate links.

(See slides)

I LOVE this quote:

“Geek is chic – nerdiness is not!”

Pay attention to the words I use in the library and focus on what the audience will understand. “Information Literacy” is a big concept to get across. How can this be broken up into usable segments so our students can understand them?

Improving Teaching & Learning through Instructional Partnerships: Building Relationships One-on-One

This is a really interesting project that allows instructional librarians to improve their teaching skills with the aid of a partner. The project uses reflection, discussion and observation to achieve the goals of building supportive relationships with colleagues.
(see slides and handouts)

Identify those aspects of my teaching that I’d like to work on and ask for assistance from both the other RCLS team members and from faculty members on the GB campus for suggestions, discussion, etc.

Creating a Library 2.0 Presence Without a Web Programmer
This was an unexpected bonus session as I was going to attend a concurrent one. The NWTC library has created a dynamic web page and subsequent library subject guides within 3 months using a fantastic product called LibGuides. I’ve already shared this with Emily, and the RCLS is looking into this product. It’s beautiful! (see slides)

I’ve already shared this web product with Emily. I am looking at how other libraries use this as well to create the most dynamic and usable website we can

Library Instruction: Using Effective Marketing Strategies to Ensure Successful Outcomes
Library instruction is not understood in general. What we do is not understood by faculty and by staff. Faculty have assumptions as to library resources and its services. This intriguing session was about how librarians market our resources and services and how we promote ourselves in different ways. Some suggestions I and the rest of the RCLS team might be able to use are:

• the elevator speech
• focus primarily on the audience’s needs
• posters – K.I.S.S.
• the lingo changed to something the audience can understand: “Research-ology”, “Information Navigation 101”
• Creating a Marketing Plan for the RCLS!

I am looking at how I market workshops and other items on campus for the short and long term.