Category Archives: Essay

Negotiating the Power Dynamics of Librarian-Led Instruction: Strategies for Overcoming the Limits of One-Shot Instruction

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Michelle Bishop, First-Year Experience Librarian,
Nicole Westerdahl, Research, Instruction, and Outreach Librarian,
and Deborah Bauder, Research, Instruction, and Outreach Librarian,
State University of New York at Oswego

Introduction

By its very nature, the traditional one-shot information literacy instruction session goes against most pedagogical best practices, yet remains a common format for instruction in academic libraries. The typical one-shot, as implied by its name, is a one-time instructional session where librarians provide varying levels of instruction on library or research related topics. The persistent struggles associated with this teaching model continue to dominate the information literacy literature. The history of this discussion has centered on debates about the instructional role of librarians, calls for better collaborations with discipline faculty, meaningful assessment, inclusive teaching practices, librarian burnout, and effective professional development. Despite the abundance of articles addressing these challenges, librarians continue to grapple with this instructional method and to explore creative approaches to mitigate the many well-documented pedagogical challenges of the one-shot.

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Harnessing Library of Things for Citizen Livelihood Sustenance in Nigeria: Role of Librarians’ Social Entrepreneurship

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By Adebowale Jeremy Adetayo, Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
and
Olateju Abayomi Adeleke, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria has been facing a severe economic crisis, which has led to a sharp increase in poverty rates. The rising cost of essential commodities has further compounded the problem, making it increasingly difficult for citizens to sustain their livelihoods. In light of these challenges, librarians can play a critical role in ensuring that citizens are better equipped to cope with these economic pressures by engaging in social entrepreneurship and harnessing the library of things. By adopting collection development practices that prioritize items of critical societal relevance, librarians can build a robust library of things that can be made available to citizens through purchases, donations, and gifts. Given their customer-focused training, librarians are well-positioned to play a key role in delivering these services and ensuring that citizens have access to the tools and resources they need to sustain their daily lives. The article argues that leveraging the library of things as a social enterprise is a profitable and effective strategy for supporting the daily lives of ordinary Nigerians. To achieve this goal, policies must be developed that encourage the development of library of things and seek government support to ensure its success and expansion. By doing so, librarians can contribute to building a more sustainable and equitable future for all Nigerians.

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An Area Studies Pilot: Faculty Engagement, Public Space and Reference Service

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By Charmaine Henriques
International Studies Librarian
Indiana University
Herman B Wells Library
Bloomington, Indiana

Introduction

Indiana University Bloomington (IUB) Libraries noticed a decrease in student (predominantly undergraduates) usage of its services and resources. This ongoing concern had been noted in the library literature and library panels/presentations. Administrators throughout the nation repeatedly surveyed students, put together focus groups and convened committees to discuss and find solutions to this phenomenon. These investigations unearthed recurring issues: students didn’t know how to navigate the
library or where and from who to get help. There was a segment of this population that either grew up without access to or did not make use of the library during primary and secondary school. For certain post secondary students, a college or university library will be the first library they ever encounter which can be an overwhelming experience, while to others that have already been enrolled for a few years the library is an unknown, unwelcoming place that they do not understand. Even so, where many saw a problem, a group of Area Studies librarians at IUB Libraries saw an opportunity.

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Diversifying the Portfolio: Expanding the Patron Base of Branch Libraries

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By Joel Roberts
Music Librarian
University of Memphis

This essay began as a discussion about the increase in traffic that my branch academic library, which is a music library, experienced between 2016 and 2019. The catalyst for this increase was implementing events and programming that were marketed towards all students, not just music students. The decision to write this up was the result of feedback I received from a poster session that I gave at a conference at the beginning of 2020, a year that proved to be a transitional year for everyone. As a result of how that year progressed, I came close to abandoning this project because I began to view a discussion about the potential for events and programming to create an increase in traffic as irrelevant in an environment where gatherings were ill-advised. Furthermore, reopening after the initial COVID lockdown revealed that far fewer patrons were visiting my library compared to before the pandemic. During the 2021-2022 academic year when students were back on campus in full, our daily traffic average was lower than it had been before COVID. Thus, the gains in traffic that I had witnessed had been eliminated by the pandemic.

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The Five College Hub: Connecting Libraries Across Campuses 

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By Jean Janecki, Mount Holyoke College
Paulina Borrego, University of Massachusetts- Amherst
C.M. Flynn, Smith College

Five College Library Consortium – An Unlikely Cast of Characters

The Five College Libraries Professional Development Committee (FCLPD) comprises one member from each of the Five College Consortium’s libraries located in the Pioneer Valley in Western Massachusetts. This is just one of several Five College Library Committees formed to address, advance, and consolidate efforts around common issues to all its members. This article focuses on the successful role of the Professional Development Committee as it fosters and supports conversations and collaborations across campuses. Learn about the Five College Consortium, its library connections, and how this committee coordinates, promotes, and engages its library staff in professional development opportunities.

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