CyberU, University of Phoenix, and the Growth of Virtual Learning:  Implications for Real-Time Libraries
Patricia Reeling, School of Communication, Information and Library Studies, Rutgers University

A frank and compelling description by Prof. Reeling of her part to expose to public scrutiny the University of Phoenix’s application to offer college courses in New Jersey.  In her discussion of the UPhoenix’s “under the radar effort,” she commented on the ACRL information literacy standards and accrediting agencies, her visit to the University of Phoenix and the economics of higher education and library materials budgets.

POWER Library 2 College: A Partnership Platform for College and University Libraries in PA
David Schappert, ESU; Alice Lubrecht, Commonwealth Libraries; Dan Iddings, PALCI, Bernadette Freedman,  PALINET; Jack Sulzer, PaLA. Charles Beard, Moderator

A discussion of on-going library cooperation efforts statewide, all examples of the strength of collaboration and cooperation between the 126 academic libraries in our state,  such as:
· The participation of academic libraries, such as Penn State and CMU in the ACCESS PA database
· The joining by the State Library and Thaddeus Stevens Institute in the SSHE's Keystone Library System
· The PALCI URSA search and borrow system
· The Commonwealth Libraries matching support for the PALCI deal for Art Bibliographies Modern
· PALINET's hosting of the PA academic libraries listserv
· The effort by the PaLA Legislative Committee to lobby for a POWER 2

Blueprint of a Successful Collaborative Approach to Information Literacy
Susan Markley and Merrill Stein, Falvey Memorial Library, Villanova University

Academic year program, Quest, to introduce 1,600 freshman to research strategies and tools.  Pre-test and post-tests results were conducted.  Important factors are faculty buy-in and appropriate curricular "fit" which is the freshman common requirement in the humanities and significant planning before the launch of program.   Library instruction, delivered by self-paced tutorial and in-library research strategy session (both required), had a clear positive impact on the quality of student’s critical abilities to research, synthesize and present their “quest.”

Oh! The Sources Students Cite! Or, What Student Bibliographies Reveal
Lisa Hinchliffe and Christine Kubiak, Illinois State University Library

Research-validated investigation of citations consulted for student speeches.  Using a coding scheme and actually retrieving the items cited, librarian researchers tried to decipher the student research process and where it succeeds or fails.   Surprises included fabricated sources and/or inaccurate citations, books used were found in the University libraries two out of three titles (use of remote resources was not a part of the assignment), over 30% of presentations used research done for other classes, inconsistent use of standard styles (APA), and student difficulty with selecting topics suited to research.

A Productive Partnership: University Librarians and Minority Students
Art Lichtenstein, Torreyson Library, University of Central Arkansas

A report on the UCA librarian's participation in a minority student academy designed to support and nurture highly capable students who were in most instances the first member of their family to attend college.    Also a discussion of how partnering to help staff a university endorsed initiative heightened the librarian's visibility and credibility on campus.

Developing a Distance Learning Resource Center
Patricia Serotkin, Director of Library and Academic Information Services, Pasquerilla Library, Saint Francis College

Ms. Serotkin reported on the delivery of library research resources to Master's of Medical Science students at a community college in Colorado.  (Saint Francis' physician assistant program is nationally ranked.)   The US Navy as part of the Navy's interest in distributed medical education funds this Saint Francis' distance education program.  Delivery of instruction and library services and resources is web-based with video conferencing and audio streaming, too.  ACRL guidelines (full equity for on-campus and off-campus students for example) were explained. A prototype course, collecting data on the students for a course delivered on campus and off informed decisions about how to scale library resource purchases, the need for a help desk, and other matters related to serving a students out-of-state, in a different time zone.

College and Research Division Luncheon
Library Advocacy

Charles Beard, Director, University Library, State University of West Georgia
Mr. Beard, one of the architects of PeachNet and Galileo in Georgia, exhorted the audience to work all together to lobby for library users all over the state, no matter what library they are using.  He argued that the common interests of public, academic, private, school and research libraries are greater that the interests that differentiate those libraries.  He reviewed the steps that librarians need to take to get the job done with our legislators for POWER II for academic libraries.  He is a very persuasive and charming speaker and an effective advocate for libraries and for the funding libraries must have to accomplish the goals of access, collections and staffing.

Also during the luncheon Gary Wolfe, Commissioner of Libraries, reported on the efforts to move POWER 2 from a pilot for a few community college libraries to a fully funded statewide program.  He is hopeful Gov. Ridge's budget (Feb. 2001) will have POWER 2 included.  He articulated his vision for library excellence across PA for all libraries and that now is the time to support academic library users by state licensing of databases to dramatically reduce costs and to ensure equitable access for all.  He also announced an RFP is in the offing for an improved ACCESS PA catalog to make it a true integrated system that supports resource sharing such as ILL more effectively.  He mentioned academic libraries such as Dickinson, PSU, and CMU have joined the ACCESS PA database.  He also said during the third year of the POWER Project there will be much more focus on training and promotion.

Ladders for the Ivory Tower: Meeting the Needs of a Diverse Community at an Academic Library
Vibiana Kasabian, Paul Robeson Library, Camden Campus, Rutgers University

Heartening presentation by the librarian who works with Camden County Community College students.  The community college contracts for library services and resources with the Camden campus of Rutgers within the context of the Urban Campus Project.  Special needs students and collection development needs assessment, personal and formal outreach, project evaluation tools, and ESL were explored.  Ms. Kasabian engaged the audience effectively soliciting some surprising comments such as the largest ESL group at LCCC is Syrian.  Also discussed specific publishers who offer good materials for highly educated but non-English readers/speakers.

10/13/00

Back to Jean Johnson's Home Page