When Life Hands You Lemons: Overcoming Obstacles to Expand Services in an Embedded Librarian Program

ABSTRACT

Having launched a pilot program of embedding librarians in faculty Blackboard courses, a team of university regional campus librarians reviewed their library services to faculty teaching online, off-campus, and traditional courses, and returned for Round 2. Just as the library services offered in this collaborative effort were taking off, conditions worsened. A storm of staff reductions, budget cuts, and administrative reorganization hit. Despite the climate of uncertainty and challenges, the embedded librarians persevered as they are convinced of the value of collaborating with faculty in Blackboard as active academic research consultants to further students’ information literacy skills. Project Information Literacy's findings validate this strategic solution. Consequently, the embedded librarians assessed users and implemented sustaining practices to the program to maximize its impact. Moving in the right direction is essential and doable, no matter the difficulties.     

Reference for the Remote User Through Embedded Librarianship

Embedded librarians serve an important role in assisting remote users. Despite the varying degrees of embeddedness, all maintain the goal of ensuring the same high-quality reference and instruction services that users have come to expect from the traditional library setting. Embedded librarians select and use technology that most effectively meets the needs of this unique user group. This technology can include the library Web site, course management systems, research guides, lecture and screen capture software, remote reference (including telephone, chat, and email), web conferencing, online survey tools, citation management, and social media.     

国外嵌入式图书馆服务研究进展

在大量文献调阅与成功案例研究的基础上,对20世纪以来国外嵌入式图书馆服务的理论与实践进行梳理,认为嵌入式图书馆服务的概念逐步深入人心、理论与实践框架日益清晰、嵌入式馆员越来越受到人们青睐、嵌入式实践遍地开花、学术机构的嵌入式服务独占鳌头、不断探索嵌入式技术与应用等几大研究进展,希望能为我国的图书馆服务创新提供借鉴与启示。     

迎接新千年到来的图书馆

从印刷媒体与电子媒体、实体图书馆与虚拟图书馆、信息技术、知识与信息、图书馆员5个方面论述未来的图书馆事业;介绍并分析国内外一些学者在未来图书馆存亡问题上的争论与主张;阐述图书馆在知识时代中的新使命;提出实体图书馆与虚拟图书馆共存、印刷型文献与电子出版物共存等观点,特别强调未来的图书馆“不是没有围墙的图书馆,而是超越围墙的图书馆”的观点。     

Serving as an Educator: A Southern Case in Embedded Librarianship

This is a case study at Mississippi State University where a business librarian taught a one-credit financial literacy course for undergraduate freshmen during the 2010 Fall term. In this case, the librarian acted as a faculty teacher and an instructional librarian to teach the students financial literacy as well as information literacy. The course curriculum was embedded with a library orientation to introduce the library services. Pre- and post-course assessments were conducted to analyze the students’ learning level in financial knowledge and the level of familiarity with various library services.     

高校图书馆嵌入式信息素养教育模式研究——以重庆大学图书馆为例

[目的/意义]高校图书馆是知识发现和科技创新的重要力量,是培养高素质创新型人才的重要基地,高校图书馆开展嵌入式信息素养教育是新时代高校人才培养的基本需求,也是实施国家发展战略的基本要求。[方法/过程]基于高校图书馆嵌入式信息素养教育实践的梳理,以重庆大学图书馆的实践案例为切入点,对嵌入式信息素养的教育主体、教育平台、教育对象进行研究,力图构建可推广的、多层次、多角度、多渠道、立体化的嵌入式信息素养教育模式。[结果/结论]高校图书馆应打造信息素养教育专业队伍、学生服务队伍和校社协同的教育队伍,搭建线上线下两者协同促进和"教-学-研"三者紧密结合的嵌入教学平台,同时,针对不同的教育对象建立长效嵌入式学业生涯教育机制和进阶嵌入式信息素养教育机制,构建涵盖全员、全方位、全过程的嵌入式信息素养教育"三全"模式,不断推动我国高校图书馆开展嵌入式信息素养教育的水平、能力和质量的提升。     

Mapping Uncharted Territory: Launching an Online Embedded Librarian Program

ABSTRACT

Developing a strategy for embedding librarians in online courses can be challenging, but it is essential to demonstrate to accrediting agencies how libraries serve online students. A well-thought-out plan can be scalable and sustainable for rapidly growing online programs and can satisfy accreditation standards. This article examines how one small, liberal arts college developed a plan of action for an online embedded librarian program, including both the conceptual and practical aspects of launching the program: aligning library instruction with course and program learning outcomes, brainstorming strategies for embedded library instruction, and communicating the value of such a program to online teaching faculty.     

Envisioning the Academic Library: A Reflection on Roles,Relevancy and Relationships

The focus of this article is to reflect on current and near future issues and trends concerning academic libraries. This includes an overview of the literature on embedded librarianship and a focus on the need for more participatory and collaborative approaches to library services.

The core argument is that academic libraries need to continue to adapt their roles and develop stronger relationships across the university in order to maintain and promote their relevancy to all stakeholders. Embedded roles in research and teaching, and an embedded existence through collaboration and outreach will strengthen the academic library's presence within its parent institution.     

Craft and Librarianship: A Reconsideration of the Sources of Librarian Job Satisfaction

ABSTRACT

This article surveyed the sources of job satisfaction among 1,833 library and information science (LIS) master's program graduates in North Carolina from 1964–2009. The study examined the effects of traditional work-related variables such as income, flexibility, co-workers, fringe benefits, and setting on job satisfaction. In addition, the analysis introduces variables related to the notion of craft, professional achievement, and family dynamics to determine what impact they have. Craft combines the wish to perform one's work well independent of extrinsic factors or influences and the desire of the worker to create a quality final outcome or product. The major finding of the study is that craft and professional achievement are the largest determinants of job satisfaction among LIS graduates. Meanwhile, variables such as marital status, whether or not one has children, and breadwinner status had no discernible effect. Supportive co-workers, being a woman, and membership in professional organizations likewise correlate with job satisfaction, while being a full-time worker, anxiety over job security, and working in an academic library setting contributed to dissatisfaction. Although LIS graduates generally report being very content in their jobs, this study suggests that they are anxious about changes such as the increasing number of temporary and freelance jobs and the perception that full-time staff are doing more work with fewer resources.     

Appraising the Community of Practice at a Hospital Library System Using a Critical Librarianship Lens

Abstract

The Kaiser Permanente health sciences librarians created inter-regional policies to standardize and guide the work of all librarians across regions. In response to the larger organization’s emphasis on promoting diversity and equity in healthcare and the workplace, the library policies have evolved over time to include aspects of critical librarianship in the information services that the Kaiser Permanente librarians provide to their organization. The article describes how the inter-regional group of hospital librarians provide information services through a critical librarianship lens and provides examples of how other health sciences librarians can incorporate these principles to expand their services.     

Supporting Student Success in the First-Year Experience: Library Instruction in the Learning Management System

This article discusses how the Library and Office of Institutional Research at a public college measured the relationship of an online information literacy module in the learning management system with student success metrics in a first-year experience course. Specifically, the authors examine the relationships of an online instruction module, online module completion status, library use sessions, and student success metrics, such as semester grade point average (GPA), one-year retention, and academic standing. The results suggest that students who participated in the online information literacy module had better student outcomes than those that did not participate in the module. Research assignment grade and library use sessions are found as significant predictors of student semester GPA and one-year retention, controlling for high school GPA, student characteristics, and utilization of student support services. Practice implications are discussed.     

Reference Librarians Speak for Users: A Learning Commons Concept That Meets the Needs of a Diverse Student Body

ABSTRACT

This article describes creating a learning commons at a main campus library.     

Embedded Librarian Within an Online Health Informatics Graduate Research Course: A Case Study

The Health Sciences Library and the Department of Health Informatics & Information Management at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis piloted an embedded librarian project in summer 2012. The value and effectiveness of the pilot project was evaluated by analyzing the content of e-mail questions received from the students and the students’ answers to the pre- and post-class surveys. The project received positive feedback from the students and course faculty. Librarians collaborating with teaching faculty and interacting one-on-one with students in health information-intensive courses proved to be helpful for student learning.     

Improving Research and Learning in Higher Education in Portugal: Digital Resources,E-Books,and a Discovery System as Enabling Factors for Students

ABSTRACT

This article describes a library's implementation of digital resources for research, teaching, and learning at a higher education institution in Portugal. A school specializing in education and teacher education established strategic performance areas related to digital resources for the fulfillment of its mission, which included some functions of the academic library. The library implemented a discovery system, and the school invested in a wider range of resources, including e-books, both acquired and institutionally published. The library's training programs were also revised to promote the new system and electronic resources. This case study describes how an academic library in Portugal responded to institutional needs, illustrating how libraries everywhere must connect to the larger vision and demonstrate value through technologies, integrating digital and print resources to provide access built around users' needs.     

Beyond Circulation: The Evolution of Access Services and Its Relationship to Reference Librarianship

Academic libraries have undergone a variety of organizational changes in the last two decades. One area that has evolved out of these changes is access services. Relationships between circulation, interlibrary loan, and reference have been explored though informal and formal organizational structures. Because of these types of interactions it is feasible for reference librarians to consider positions in access services.     

The Past,Present, and Possibilities of Commons in the Academic Library

Within the past 10 years, commons have become increasingly prominent in academic libraries. Commons evolved out of the “library as a place” movement and stem from the digital revolution, increased emphasis on collaborative learning, and changing student habits and needs. The three levels of commons are information commons, learning commons, and the emerging virtual commons. Libraries implementing commons must consider the impact on reference services and staffing and be prepared for higher than anticipated use. Libraries should use both quantitative and qualitative assessment methods. Commons can revitalize the library by giving it a key role in reaching university strategic goals.     

Assisting,Instructing, Assessing: 21st Century Student Centered Librarianship

ABSTRACT

For librarians at the University of North Florida, there was a need to move beyond information literacy instruction to one-on-one and small group research consultations to aid in student success. By staffing the research desk with staff and students, librarians were able to open their calendars to allow more time for in-person, phone, and online consultations to aid in meeting the research goals of students at the institution. After assessing the research consultation program for two years, there has been a positive correlation between research consultation usage, satisfaction in completing assignments, and student success measures throughout the university.     

国内外图书馆嵌入式服务实践进展

泛在知识环境下,嵌入用户教育环境、融入科研人员/科研团队的研究过程、深入政府机构、企事业单位的决策过程,已经成为图书馆学科服务变革的方向。国内外图书馆嵌入式服务的实践进展,主要表现为嵌入专业课程课堂教学和嵌入网络教学平台开展嵌入式信息素养教育,融入教师/科研人员以及学生的研究过程,提供嵌入式科学研究服务,并面向政府机构、企业单位为他们提供辅助决策服务。     

Creating a Role for Embedded Librarians Within an Active Learning Environment

In 2013, the librarians at a small academic health sciences library reevaluated their mission, vision, and strategic plan to expand their roles. The school was transitioning to a new pedagogical culture and a new building designed to emphasize interprofessional education and active learning methodologies. Subsequent efforts to implement the new strategic plan resulted in the librarians joining curriculum committees and other institutional initiatives, such as an Active Learning Task Force, and participating in faculty development workshops. This participation has increased visibility and led to new roles and opportunities for librarians.