By Beth Carpenter, User Services & Instruction Librarian
Transylvania University
and
Bria Sinnott, Arts & Communication Librarian
Towson University
Memes are powerful social media tools, but also powerful information literacy artifacts. Through theory and practice, memes have an important place in how we understand the way our students are thinking, how we can envision the future of information literacy, and how we can have some fun in the process.
By Tina Chan
Reference Services Program Manager and Humanities Librarian
MIT Libraries
It can be challenging for information and reference staff to learn and remember the resources and services available in their library to assist patrons. Information and reference staff receive training when they are new employees, but they need to update their skills as new resources and services become available. This article explores an information services training program that MIT Libraries implemented to support all library staff who provide any information and reference service. It examines the goals for a library-wide information services training program, the steps taken to complete the project, future work for the training program, and concludes with recommendations for creating a staff training program framework.
Continue reading Creating a Training Program Framework for Information and Reference Staff
By Olena Skachenko (skachenko.nana@gmail.com)
Scientific Library, Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts, Kyiv, Ukraine
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3827-5985
The article considers the experience of the University Library of Ukraine to motivate reading in college students. The author describes three library created events that encouraged students to visit the library, to read, and communicate with others in the library space. The first two events, Library Motivators and Literary Valentines, were implemented online. Information was posted on the library website and on different social networks. The third event, Book and Library Predictions was a way for students to communicate in the library space. Events like these could be implemented in other libraries using various online services and social networks.
By Paulina Borrego (pborrego@library.umass.edu)
Science & Engineering Librarian, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7624-6440
Editor’s note: This article presents ideas for library spaces that may be unworkable during pandemic-related closures, but may inspire creative outreach at a time of of budget and staff constraints.
It is said necessity is the mother of invention. It may also be true that the greatest gift of necessity may be the resulting liberation necessity allows. When things need to get done rapidly, there is little time to fret, over-think, or keep in line with previous conventions. Alternative avenues are explored without the luxury of dwelling on things. Solutions that might have been out of the realm of consideration are now possible.
Such was the case when the Science and Engineering Library became responsible for its exhibits. Prior to 2007, exhibits at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst Science and Engineering Library were under the purview of the W.E.B Du Bois Library Exhibits Committee. The Exhibits Committee found, planned, and funded exhibits in the main library, as well as in the branch Science and Engineering Library. Due to a change in committee charge, the Science and Engineering Library found itself maintaining its own exhibits space on a modest budget with limited staff.
By Paulina Borrego
Science & Engineering Librarian
University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries
Seed Libraries have been sprouting up in public libraries across the country, but what about a seed library in an academic library? Is such an idea in line with the mission of the library or even a viable option?
A seed library offers excellent opportunities to highlight University strategic plans and connect with academic departments and extension services, along with student and community groups. What follows is the story of the Mass Aggie Seed Library, how it came about, lessons learned, and steps to set up a seed library within an academic library.
Continue reading The Making of the Mass Aggie Seed Library: A Gardening How-to for Others