Training and Retaining Student Employees

Abstract

Like most academic libraries, Purdue University Calumet depends heavily on student workers for its daily operations. After the investment of time and effort involved in training student workers, it is important to retain them from one year to the next. This case study examines training procedures that are designed to cultivate a sense of mutual respect between library staff and student workers, with the goal of keeping those whose skills and work experience prove valuable. A training program developed with retention as a goal yields benefits to the student and the library. It can also be a recruitment tool for the profession.     

A Survey of the Value of Library Employment to the Undergraduate Experience

When exploring the overall impact of the academic library on the undergraduate experience library student workers are a unique group to consider. As both direct users and providers of library services to their peers, student workers enable libraries to gain an understanding of the general undergraduate population. The objective of this article is to present the findings of a study of undergraduate students employed at a university research library. A questionnaire distributed to 350 student workers gathered information about who they are and how they engage with their communities. This article will look at the value working in an academic library brings to undergraduates' lives. It will consider whether working in the library promotes student success, builds community, and provides them with valuable opportunities to engage in peer networking.     

Tablets: A Survey of Circulation Policies at Academic Libraries

This article presents the results of a Web-based survey regarding the circulation of tablets in academic libraries. The survey, which was completed by 61 respondents, identifies the most common circulation policies and procedures used. These results will help other academic institutions develop their own policy or update existing ones. Areas of disagreement raised by the survey are also discussed and avenues for further study are identified.     

Training,Supervising, and Evaluating Student Information Assistants

Abstract

Training, supervision, and evaluation of student assistants is not a topic covered in most library school curricula; it is a skill that it is assumed one will have or acquire through on-the-job experience. This article focuses on the hiring, supervision, training, and evaluation of student information assistants in the reference/electronic resource setting. Student Information Assistants are known by many names-reference assistants, peer counselors, research assistants, and database assistants, to name a few-but within this article I will use the name Student Information Assistants (SIAs).     

Student Assistant Training in a Small Academic Library

Abstract

At Valparaiso University's main library, the Christopher Center for Library and Information Resources (formerly the Moellering Library), student employees are an integral part of day-to-day operations. Students work at the reference desk and must be able to handle reference questions. Since the fall 2000 semester, the Reference Services Librarian has been creating a training program for the student assistants, consisting of an initial training period and a series of quizzes combined with review sessions. Student assistants are also indispensable in Instruction Services. These students are charged with library web site and instruction materials' updates. Methods, lessons learned throughout the process, and quiz questions are used to illustrate the development of the training program. Student performance evaluations and feedback are positive.     

Combining Circulation and Reference Functions at One Desk

ABSTRACT

In order to learn from experiences of academic libraries that combined their Circulation and Reference functions into one service point, an informal survey was conducted through relevant listservs. Some academic libraries have combined Circulation and Reference Departments at one desk and others are in the process of doing so. The results summarize the responses with a discussion of the various models and outcomes.     

Breaking New Ground: The Case for Seed Libraries in the Academic Library

Seed libraries are a relatively new innovation in the library field, offering seeds, gardening information, and the opportunity for community and ecological engagement to members. While they are increasingly popular in public libraries, they have not yet established a foothold in academic libraries. This paper defines the nature and role of seed libraries, the current state of seed libraries in North American universities, and offers recommendations for the establishment of seed libraries in academic libraries.     

我国高校图书馆多媒体信息服务调查研究

采用网络实证调查的方法,对我国大陆和港台高校图书馆的多媒体信息服务方式和内容进行分析,提出了改善传统视听服务,建置VOD视频点播系统,利用多媒体资料为教学服务的服务新方向。     

E-Mail Reference as Substitute for Library Receptionist

SUMMARY

The authors explore the historical development of e-mail reference services in general, and report on the evolution of this service in their own library. Based on evidence from their own service and from reports in the literature, they propose a connection between e-mail reference service and broader library services including circulation, interlibrary loan, and even acquisitions, through which the reference librarian receives questions traditionally directed elsewhere. The e-ref button presents an unexpected avenue of librarian-to-librarian communication, both within and beyond one's home institution. Implications are discussed.     

From Core Competencies to Desired Traits

Abstract

Reference librarianship in academic libraries has entered into a new century, and the profession will need competent reference managers more than ever. Gone are the days when a reference librarian was promoted to head the reference department based on an interest in supervising others, longevity and experience. The number of applicants in search pools for head of reference positions continues to decline. As the demand for electronic products and other venues of convenience for information delivery continues to increase, the nature of reference practice will change to meet the needs of the user. Unless one prepares for it, that change will be involuntary. This paper examines some of the qualifications, or desired traits, librarians should have who are interested in head of reference positions.     

加拿大公共图书馆一瞥

用印度图书馆学家阮岗纳赞的“图书馆五原则”,检视加拿大公共图书馆标准化的服务体系,并以多伦多公共图书馆流通领域为例,介绍图书经费的来源、热门书籍的确定、逾期图书的罚款处理、馆际互借的操作流程和图书馆员工如何想方设法向成年人、老人和儿童提供精湛和优质服务。     

国外高校图书馆留学生延伸服务及思考

[目的/意义] 留学生是高校图书馆的特殊的用户群体,国外高校图书馆对留学生延伸服务的研究已有较长历史和实践经验,通过对相关研究成果的分析为国内高校图书馆提高留学生延伸服务提供意见和建议。[方法/过程] 通过文献分析法对部分国外相关研究和实践进行考察和分析。[结果/结论] 国外相关研究重视案例及数据分析,对不同层次留学生延伸服务提出不同的研究重点,重视比较分析、研究方法的科学性及社交媒介带来的影响。我国高校图书馆留学生延伸服务的研究及其实践应注重多方合作和国际化服务能力的提升,并朝更加细化、多元化和个性化的方向发展。     

READ-ing Our Way to Success: Using the READ Scale to Successfully Train Reference Student Assistants in the Referral Model

The Reference Services Department at Radford University's McConnell Library has been developing a training program in the reference referral system for student assistants (SAs) over 3 academic years. The program's goal is to effectively instruct SAs in balancing high quality customer service with the importance of appropriately referring users to librarians and to assess the accuracy of their referrals and responses. The trainers have met these goals with the successful incorporation of a modified version of the Reference Effort Assessment Data (READ) scale, a reference transaction assessment tool developed by Bella Karr Gerlich, into the student training program.     

美国高校图书馆实时参考服务试验项目研究

文章从人员配置、宣传推广、软件选择、咨询问题类型、服务评估等方面对8个美国高校图书馆的实时参考咨询试验项目进行了研究分析与经验总结。     

论高校院系资料室人员队伍建设

本文分析了目前高校院系资料室队伍现状及提高资料人员专业化水平的必要性，提出了搞好资料室人员队伍建设的措施。     

Collaborative Leadership

Abstract

In 1991, Joseph C. Rost published Leadership for the 21st Century (Praeger) in which he presented a definition of leadership that focused on the influence relationship among leaders and followers rather than on the traits of the leader or the functions of leadership. Rost's model is useful for academic reference leaders who usually head a group of professionals who are involved in a variety of responsibilities that require them to be leaders. This article applies Rost's theories to academic reference leadership and explores a model that will provide for better job satisfaction for librarians and improved services to library users.     

高校图书馆网站检索系统个性化服务

个性化服务是一种崭新的服务理念，文章在论述了高校图书馆网站检索系统现状的基础上，分析了其开展个性化服务的必要性，进而提出了一些建议，着重讨论了如何全面、系统地开展高校图书馆网站检索系统的个性化服务，最后展望了其发展前景。     

Quality Control: A Necessary Good for Improving Service

This article reports the benefits, challenges, and effective methods of assessing the quality of virtual references services at an academic library.     

Welcome to the Neighborhood: The Merger of Interlibrary Loan with Access Services

In March 2006, the Interlibrary Loan unit was physically merged with the Access Services Department (circulation) at the University of Denver, Penrose Library. Consolidating the units into one service desk resulted in a more distributed and efficient workflow. This article describes the process and the impact of the consolidation.     

Personnel Management in Access Services

Abstract

Access services is not unique in its need for effective personnel management. A review of the literature indicates that there are many publications on or relating to library personnel administration; however, relatively few of them are dedicated to the narrow topic of access services. As such, this review encompasses literature that is general to the area of personnel management, with specific applications to access services in libraries. In general, this article references works published between the years 1990 and 2002, but also includes older works that are particularly useful and relevant.