Difficult Library Patrons in Academe

Summary

Difficult patrons have been considered primarily from the perspective of the problem behaviours they present in libraries. Many have attempted to define the problem patron and to provide advice and develop guidelines for frontline public service staff. To understand the difficult patron in academic libraries we need to answer three questions-How well do we know our patrons? Do we unwittingly create difficult patrons through our failure to appreciate their needs? Do we regard patrons as difficult because the way they use libraries and conduct their information research does not match our idea of how it should be done? The answers to these questions suggest that we need to reconceptualize both our patrons and the services we provide. Library staff need to see difficult patrons not as problems but as challenges to the service ideas and standards we hold. A paradigm shift is necessary if we are to reconstruct our beliefs about our patrons, their information seeking behaviours, and the services we provide to meet their needs. Some strategies for developing the skills of library staff to work effectively with difficult patrons are presented.     

Working in the Asynchronous Environment

Abstract

Those called upon to instruct or moderate within the asynchronous environment must acquire the skills necessary to engage learners from across a distance. This paper will provide two case studies describing the experiences and practice of working in this environment. The first case study will describe the reference and instructional library support provided to the Master of Continuing Education program offered by the University of Calgary. The second case study will describe the services and resources offered by the Node Learning Technologies Network, particularly those aimed at librarians.     

Outreach to Distance Learners

Summary

It is the responsibility of any institution offering distance education programs to provide library resources and services for its students. In contrast to traditional students who can find the library on a campus map and go there, distance learners need orientation in order to “find their way” to their library. Librarians must be proactive in their efforts to make the library visible and accessible to these students. Library resources and services must be made available in ways compatible with the needs of students in these programs. The processes of designing, marketing, providing and evaluating appropriate library services demand continuous outreach to the distance education community.     

How It's Done: Examining Distance Education Library Instruction and Assessment

ABSTRACT

While articles on individual studies, surveys, and programs abound, there is a lack of baseline data regarding what and how libraries provide instruction for their distant populations. Do libraries generally provide information literacy or library instruction to students at a distance? How is instruction usually provided? Is instruction generally assessed? If so, how is instruction assessed? These questions were asked of librarians in an online survey of 143 institutions offering distance programs, randomly sampled from the College Blue Book. With a 55% response rate, data about instruction offerings and assessment were correlated with information about library staff size, budget, and student enrollment. The expectation was that larger libraries with more money and students would provide more and better services, but interestingly these factors had far less influence than anticipated. It seems that the individual efforts of librarians were the major determinants for services offered by libraries at institutions with distant students.     

Helping Adult Undergraduates Make the Best Use of Emerging Technologies

Summary

College campuses are faced with an ever-increasing number of adult undergraduates, some of whom are returning to complete degree programs, while others are coming to college for the first time. In order to teach these adult learners effectively, colleges must recognize that they have academic and social needs, as well as life experiences, that are different from those of the traditional-aged undergraduates, and adapt their educational approaches accordingly. Adult students' experiences with and beliefs about libraries and information technology also differ from those of younger students. This must be taken into account when providing library instruction to this population.     

我国高校图书馆社会化服务研究综述

我国图书馆界对高校图书馆社会化服务多持支持态度,但认为在实施上要视高校图书馆具体情况有条件进行。高校图书馆社会化服务的主要形式有文化宣传、有限开放、参考咨询、联合共建等。当前对高校图书馆社会化服务现实案例研究较少,整体水平有待提高。     

LIBRARIES AND MULTI-CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING

The library in a community serves as a primary source of information for and about that community. Usually, the community is composed of mixes of racial, ethnic, and cultural groups. There is a need to understand the varied make-up of the community in order to provide equal and unrestricted access to information for all members of that community.     

Today's School Library Media Specialist:

No abstract available for this article.     

Using a Web-Based MOO for Library Instruction in Distance Education

Abstract

This institution is in the process of establishing a graphical interface, Web-based MOO [Multi-User Dungeon, Object-Oriented], both to create a forum for synchronous library instruction and to serve as an online meeting place for off-campus students, who are otherwise without a learning community. This paper describes the development of that service and outlines its strengths and weaknesses.     

A Review of: “Health Informatics for Medical Librarians. Cleveland,Ana D. and Cleveland,Donald B.”

This article is a retrospective look at the changes in hospital libraries from 1970 to 2014 based on the author's experience and a survey of the literature related to hospital libraries indexed in PubMed from 1970 to the present. New roles for librarians and methods for conveying the value of libraries to administrators are described.     

Providing Circulation Services in a Temporary Location

Abstract

This article presents the experience of Circulation Services at Booth Library, Eastern Illinois University, during a 31-month relocation to temporary facilities while the building was undergoing renovation. The move to temporary locations presented new challenges and required unique solutions. Issues such as the rationale for the move to the temporary facilities, the organization of the temporary branches, the delivery service, preservation and security, staffing issues, and the role of student workers are discussed. The article recommends extensive planning prior to a move to temporary facilities, as well as the adoption of a flexible approach during the duration of the stay in the locations.     

Shopping for Health Information

ABSTRACT

In this time of ongoing health care changes, consumers need to become better informed to actively participate in their health care decisions. As a result, hospital libraries are being challenged to address this need. Scottsdale Healthcare's Health Sciences Libraries have responded to this challenge by establishing a Health Information Center at the premiere shopping mall in the area. Implementing a Health Information Center at a mall is a unique way to bring medical information to the community. The purpose of this paper is to describe the planning process, the implementation, and the future vision of the Health Information Center at Scottsdale Fashion Square.     

Providing Library Outreach to Student Athletes

Summary

Student athletes' schedules can be very tightly structured around classes, homework, study, practice, and athletic events. As a result, they do not have the same freedom with their schedules as the average student. A library outreach program was developed at Valdosta State University to target the Department of Health, Physical Education and Athletics, and specifically the student athletes. The goals of this program are: (1) to provide the Department faculty and staff with a library contact or liaison, (2) to help student athletes learn to use the Library more effectively under pressure, thus relieving some of the stress they face with their demanding schedules, and (3) to make the library a less intimidating, more welcoming environment. The Library's outreach program is incorporated into the Department's NCAA CHAMPS (Challenging Athletes' Minds for Personal Success) program and includes tailored library instruction sessions. CHAMPS, as designed by the NCAA, does not currently include a library skills component.¹ Library outreach may be defined as any activity or program such as tailored library instruction that is created “to meet the information needs of an unserved or inadequately served target group.”² Outreach activities often focus on a specific user population such as high school students, off-campus students, international students, non-traditional students, and even faculty, and are often a method of promoting the use of the library.³ Providing outreach to student athletes is not well documented, however, there are a handful of universities with some type of outreach program to student athletes in place.⁴     

Cracking induction in health libraries: is there a right way?

In most instances, inductions are the first time that users will be introduced to health library services. The time available in which to deliver library orientation sessions within a broader, Trust induction programme is often limited, and this can present challenges for health librarians. Inductions are a great marketing tool, and it is important that induction sessions make the right impact. Within a brief window of opportunity, the health librarian must impart key information to the inductees whilst ensuring the session is relevant and memorable. In this article, guest writer Nicola Healey, Library Manager of North Somerset Healthcare Library, discusses the range of approaches she and her colleagues have explored in delivering library inductions, explaining what worked, what did not and what areas still remain for development. H. S.