Continuing professional development as transformational learning: A case study

The case study explores librarians experiences of learning pedagogical skills. The innovative professional development course was designed to equip librarians with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to deliver learner-centred training. Unlike the traditional ‘one-size-fits all’ model of professional development, this particular model provided librarians with opportunities to collaborate with their colleagues, share experiences, and to reflect on their instructional practices. The study employed qualitative research methods within a case study framework. The transformative learning theory provides the theoretical lens through which to understand librarians' learning experiences. Data gathering techniques included document analysis, observation and individual semi-structured interviews. Ten participants were purposively selected. Findings from this study have shown that the participants changed their attitudes towards teaching and learning, became confident, and improved their instructional practices. The study concluded that meaningful adult learning experiences have the potential to transform librarians' professional practice. In addition, a contextually responsive professional development programme, adequately supported by library management, is likely to provide an effective continuing professional development model.     

A university library management model for students’ learning support

Abstract

This research was aimed at developing a university library management model that would support students’ learning. The research was conducted in three phases: 1) an investigation into the requirements of a university library service of instructors; 2) an investigation into the attitudes of librarians, libraries’ administrators, and university’s administrators toward the roles of library and policy concepts relating to university library management that promote students’ learning; and 3) the development of a university library management model for students’ learning support. A mixed research method was applied comprising qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data was collected using in-depth interviews and questionnaires. The findings have led to a proposal of a university library management model that supports student learning, which is comprised of five components: 1) management policy and system; 2) learning resources; 3) learning support services; 4) learning environments; and 5) the competency and roles of information professionals. It can be stated that studies into Thai university library implementation, strategic plans, and self-assessment reports under the quality assurance system showed that even though libraries have updated resources and services following changing situations in policies, technologies, and users’ needs, there is no clear indicator that Thai university libraries have any strategy for acquiring roles to support students’ learning with practical outcomes. Through reliable research work, this study into a model for university library management would result in a means of developing university libraries that truly supports university student learning based on information from instructors, library administrators, and librarians.     

The View from Square One:

Amid growing trends toward curriculum reform on many campuses, librarians may find an opportunity to contribute significantly to the improvement of undergraduate education. In the Bibliographic Instruction and Writing Across the Curriculum movements, recent developments suggest that librarians may work more closely with their classroom colleagues to create more effective learning situations. While curriculum reform has a most apparent impact on user education, it also touches upon collection development (and bibliographic control), reference and circulation activity, professional development and the library's public image. At Washington State University, the library is prominently represented on a campus-wide committee to develop a new core course under the auspices of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The librarians involved have expanded their professional practice in unexpected ways, causing an increased respect for the library among teaching faculty, and an added dimension to their careers as academics. Their experience is offered as a model for those whose institutions are similarly undergoing reforms in general education.     

Who Will They Think We Were? Public Libraries and Records Retention Practices in Six Midwestern States

ABSTRACT

This research project investigates public records retention policies incorporated into practice in public libraries in the upper Midwest. The authors compared behaviors mandated by state legislation to practices in place based on a survey of public library administrators in the states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Indiana. The intent was not to determine actual compliance, but to elicit information about practices. While variables such as definitions of terms and standards of policies affect the interpretations of the results, the findings highlight that public librarians have an awareness about retention policies, though they vary from institution to institution. Within this article, the authors discuss these records management practices in relation to their value in the development of institutional and professional history.     

开放科学环境下数据馆员的实践探析

[目的/意义]开放科学环境下,明确数据馆员的基本内涵、在业务流程中的作用及其职业可持续发展方案,有助于对数据馆员进行岗位设置,并为学术图书馆开展创新服务提供参考借鉴。[研究设计/方法]系统调研国内外数据馆员相关文献,梳理其基本概念、职能作用,分析学术图书馆数据馆员的发展实践与现实需求的匹配情况。根据数据馆员招聘信息,提炼其工作内容,提出可持续发展方案。[结论/发现]数据馆员能够在开放科学环境下支持科研人员处理数据管理实践与数据治理事宜。学术图书馆以教育培训和促进职业群体自我发展的方式,增加数据馆员的竞争力,提升科研用户满意度。[创新/价值]提炼数据馆员基本研究框架、工作维度模型;提出从数据生产与流转周期角度剖析开放科学环境下科研数据全生命周期,阐明数据馆员在其中的作用。     

Librarians and OER: Cultivating a Community of Practice To Be More Effective Advocates

ABSTRACT

As the costs of scholarly and educational publications skyrocket, open educational resources (OER) are becoming an important way to provide content and enhance the teaching and learning experience. Librarians have a key role to play in developing, advocating, and managing OER. For many librarians, however, championing OERs means adding an additional responsibility to their already heavy workloads, which may be overwhelming. This article describes how a grassroots group of academic librarians in British Columbia, Canada joined together as a community of practice to learn and to share ideas, strategies, and tools to support the use of OER. The BCOER Librarians focus on the education and professional development of librarians to help facilitate the use and development of OERs and to create authoritative and sustainable resources to support librarians in OER-related interactions with faculty.     

Wired Professional Development: New Librarians Connect Through the Web

ABSTRACT

Taking advantage of professional development opportunities is imperative for new academic librarians. Even if not a position requirement, continuing education and professional involvement have the potential to inspire and improve job performance. While online resources should not replace traditional professional development experiences such as conferences, they can certainly provide additional ways to develop skills and expertise. Connecting with other librarians electronically through listservs, virtual conferences, and other online opportunities can make such involvement more accessible for new professionals.     

美国州公共图书馆员职业认证制度比较研究

美国各州已有公共图书馆员职业认证制度,其认证制度由各个州自行决定,差别较大。通过文献调研和比较研究的方法,对美国不同州的公共图书馆员职业认证制度进行分析,发现美国公共图书馆员职业认证制度包括以下特点:重视继续教育及职业发展;加强小型公共图书馆员认证;强化公共图书馆领导认证;政府成为认证制度的推手;职业认证成为一种趋势。美国公共图书馆的馆员认证制度可为我国公共图书馆员职业认证制度的建立和发展提供借鉴。     

Health sciences librarian competency perceptions: a survey of national community college librarians

Objective:The primary objective of this study was to determine how community college health sciences librarians perceive their proficiencies in the essential skills, knowledge, and abilities necessary for the practice of a health information professional as defined by the Medical Library Association (MLA) Competencies for Lifelong Learning and Professional Success. A secondary objective was to determine their current level of engagement with the professional community and identify barriers to further professional development.Methods:A survey was posted to various email discussion lists, and volunteer follow-up interviews were conducted.Results:The survey was completed by seventy-five community college health sciences librarians, and seven follow-up interviews were performed. Survey results indicated that community college health sciences librarians perceived themselves as having intermediate or advanced intermediate proficiency in the six MLA competencies. Survey and interview results indicated that community college health sciences librarians were engaged with the profession and faced the same barriers to continued professional development and continued education as other academic librarians.Conclusion:The results affirm that community college librarians who are responsible for collections and services in the health sciences meet the MLA competencies, which fills a gap in the literature regarding how these librarians develop professional competencies and are involved in professional associations. The results suggest that community college librarians can improve their skill levels by continuing their education and following trends in the literature.     

The Professional Development of Reference Librarians

Abstract

Professional activities can have a profound impact on the professional development of reference librarians in all types of libraries. This article discusses the positive impacts that research and publication, conference attendance and presentations at professional association meetings, and service activities have on the professional development and growth of reference librarians. Also included are practical tips and strategies for becoming more involved in these professional development activities.     

Applying Cognitive Load Theory Principles to Library Instructional Guidance

ABSTRACT

If the goal of library instructional guidance is to provide students with the knowledge needed to acquire new skills in order to accomplish their learning objectives, then it is prudent to consider factors that impact learning. Cognitive load theory addresses several of these factors and is applicable to a wide-range of instructional devices used by librarians, particularly during research guide design, multimedia development, and database administration. This article will provide academic librarians with an overview of cognitive load theory and strategies for minimizing distractions while maximizing the student's learning potential.     

The Impact of Professional Development on Library Faculty Attitudes,Practices, and Knowledge of Student Learning Assessment

In order to align with university-wide assessment initiatives and to promote a systematic approach to one-shot assessment within our library, a team of five librarians participated in a campus-wide professional development program about student learning assessment. We then implemented library-specific professional development about student learning assessment for one-shot instruction. We provide an overview of the professional development program and discuss our study that explored the impact of the program on librarians’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes about student learning assessment. Our findings indicate that faculty participants had a positive change in practice, knowledge, and attitude after participating in the professional development program.     

公共图书馆馆员胜任力模型构建研究

[目的/意义] 构建公共图书馆馆员胜任力模型,对于公共图书馆馆员的招聘、培训、考核及职业发展具有重要意义。[方法/过程] 采用文献分析法、开放式问卷法和专家访谈法收集胜任特征指标并编制频次及行为表现表,在此基础上设计结构化调查问卷,以SPSS 13.0为数据分析工具,通过实证研究和统计分析方法,研究公共图书馆馆员胜任力特征的构成,构建公共图书馆馆员胜任力模型,并在此基础上进一步分析影响模型各维度胜任特征的因素。[结果/结论] 研究表明:公共图书馆馆员胜任力模型由基本知识和业务能力、相关学科知识、计算机运用能力、职业态度和服务精神、情绪适应能力、组织沟通能力6个维度组成,职业态度和服务精神对工作绩效有显著影响。     

Providing Reference Services for Young Adults

Summary

With more resource-based learning, libraries have become central in adolescent academic lives. School and public librarians play unique and overlapping roles in providing students with informational needs. School librarians, as educators, work with classroom teachers to design meaningful lessons that draw upon available resources. However, school librarians cannot work independently of public librarians, especially reference specialists. While school libraries focus on tools that support the curriculum, public libraries offer references for broad public use. Ideally, public and school libraries coalesce for collection development and service coordination. This article discusses issues and opportunities for school-public library partnerships and coalitions to benefit teens.     

Selected Issues in Holocaust Denial Literature and Reference Work

Summary

The author presents some of the personal issues related to providing access to Holocaust denial materials, and explores the subjective reasons which make this topic a unique problem. It is suggested that librarians afford themselves of various opportunities to educate the public about this material, while providing access to it in accordance with Constitutional rights and professional practice.     

Expanding the Learning Community

Summary

While educational partnerships between academic libraries and public schools have taken many forms throughout the later half of the century, a less common approach to building learning communities is coordinated outreach visits by academic librarians to secondary schools to provide active-learning, hands-on workshops that include remote access to the wide range of information technologies and electronic resources available in academic libraries today. This article reviews the concept and practice of learning communities, establishes a connection between learning communities and information literacy, and offers an outreach model that promotes information literacy and expands the academic learning community to college-bound high school students.     

What’s in a Name: Defining Reference/Introducing Ourselves

ABSTRACT

Reference is the word we use for the actions that librarians engage in to answer questions from the public. The art and practice of reference involves many actions that likely can only be understand through engagement. Students in a graduate basic reference class engage in active learning to introduce themselves to their classmates and to understand how to define what reference is. Both activities involve placing words in context.