Creative Alternatives: 2008 AzLA Presentation

Creative AlternativesImplementing Low-Cost Services and Technologies

CAC Library•Background of library up to Summer 2006

▫Remodel (2005)▫Staffing changes (2006)

•Opportunity to assess future direction▫Many changes during this period of time

occurring in libraries Primarily technology-driven

▫Saw the need to adapt to changes “Survival”

Assessment: Library User Trends•Considerations

▫Print journal and reference materials are used less, electronic/online used more

▫New methods of communication are available▫User-driven change:

Most students comfortable with technology More students are going online

In Pinal county, improved home access Students expect online resources, easy

availability

Assessment: Remote Students•Students spread across

Pinal County and Arizona▫Rural college▫Main campuses, centers

•Increase in remote/distance learning enrollment

Assessment: Funds•Limited funding•Limited technology infrastructure•A need to communicate change

▫Addressing perceptions, educating Technology changes continuing

How do we get there?•Asked the question

▫How do we make changes that meet student expectations and need without any additional funding?

•Thought about▫Budget shifting▫Resources and services other libraries are

offering Alternatives available (services and resources) Benefits versus costs

New Foundation•New Library Mission

▫Emphasizes new services and technologies▫Provide support to students regardless of

location•New Collection Development Policy

▫Stresses consideration of electronic resources in the evaluation/selection process Notes of availability, remote access

First Implementations•Databases

▫Control of budget▫Shifting of budget lines

Increase online journals•Started eBook collection•Web pages

▫Redesign

Services we wanted to initiate•Virtual Reference•Information Literacy Instruction•Outreach

▫Students▫Faculty▫College departments

•Communication▫Using technology

Virtual Reference Services•Implemented in Summer 2007•Set up generic email accounts•Chat service

▫Wanted a service that would be easy to use▫Looked at Trillion and Meebo▫Selected Meebo

Virtual Reference Services•Meebo chat

▫Free▫No downloads required▫Simple and easy to use widgets

•Started as “Chat with a Librarian”▫Found students didn’t want anonymity▫Changed to “Chat with _____”

Website widgets our students use

Librarian’s desktop

Virtual Reference Services•Usage is steadily increasing each semester

▫Fall 2007 – 2% of all ref questions▫Fall 2008 – up to 11%

•Cost: $0

Services we wanted to initiateVirtual Reference•Information Literacy Instruction•Outreach



Services we wanted to initiateVirtual Reference•Embedded Librarian•Information Literacy Instruction•Outreach



Embedded Librarian Service•Introduced to the idea at ACRL conference

▫Pilot of service – Summer 2007•Our setup

▫Librarian enrolled as TA and introduced as “personal librarian” to class

▫Various communication methods encouraged

▫Provide instruction when requested by faculty

Students have access to their “personal librarian”

Embedded Librarian Service•Number of classes has continually grown

▫37 classes in Fall 2008

Embedded Librarian Service•Increased library usage•Relationship building between students

and faculty▫Most students say they appreciate having a

librarian dedicated to their class▫Faculty are seeing improvements in

research assignments

•Cost: $0

Embedded Librarian Service“The embedded librarian program has been instrumental in my students’ success; they are less intimidated by the thought of library research. The students feel empowered by having their own, personal librarian and aren’t afraid to ask for help. Having Nancy in the class has also been very helpful because she can customize all the library services to fit my class; Nancy has also become familiar with my prompts and is therefore able to offer specific assistance – she knows what I require with regards to research and can steer students in the right direction (and they often need lots of steering and direction… away from Wikipedia).”Heather Moulton, CAC Professor of English

Services we wanted to initiateVirtual ReferenceEmbedded Librarian (Added)•Information Literacy Instruction•Outreach



Information Literacy Instruction•Workshops

▫Drop-in style▫Faculty are offering extra credit to students

•Topics include▫Research process▫Research strategies▫Evaluating websites▫Thinking critically▫Citing sources

▫“How to Use” databases and the online catalog

▫Web 2.0 and social networking

Information Literacy Instruction•Attendance is steadily increasing

▫Spring 2008 – 16▫Fall 2008 – 59

Web 2.0 workshops - 22•Research process, research strategies, and

citing sources workshops are best attended▫“How to Use” least attended

•Feedback overall has been positive•Cost: $0

Services we wanted to initiateVirtual ReferenceEmbedded Librarian (Added)Information Literacy Instruction•Outreach



Outreach•Book Club

▫Honors Program•Outreach to other departments and student

organizations▫Career services, Phi Theta Kappa

•Faculty Development class▫Two week online course for faculty to learn

about library trends and information literacy•Cost: $0

Services we wanted to initiateVirtual ReferenceEmbedded Librarian (Added)Information Literacy InstructionOutreach



Communication•“Word of Mouth”

▫Wordpress blog▫Used to promote library services and

education



education•Topic Guides

▫PBWiki▫Get students started with finding sources



education•Topic Guides

▫PBWiki▫Get students started with finding sources

•Webinars▫DimDim▫Provide instruction to online students

Librarian’s desktop during webinar

Student’s desktop during webinar

Communication•Unsure of usage yet

▫Recent implementation▫Students responded well to the webinar

•Cost: $0 (+ cost of webcam)

Services we wanted to initiateVirtual ReferenceEmbedded Librarian (Added)Information Literacy InstructionOutreach


Communication▫Using technology

Expected Results•Greater use of library resources and

services

Unexpected Results•Campus community is

looking to the library•Newspaper article

What It Takes•Assessing your situation to understand:

▫What your users need and want▫What you’re able to provide them

•Think creatively▫Find ways to get around limitations

•Willingness to try and fail▫Learn from what doesn’t work

What It Takes•Don’t be afraid to try/learn new

technologies▫Ask for help

•Enthusiasm

How to discover alternatives•Networking!

▫Listservs▫Blogs▫Webinars▫Conferences

Blogs To ReadMCLC Library Tech Talkhttp://mclctechtalk.wordpress.com/

Librarian in Blackhttp://librarianinblack.typepad.com/librarianinblack/

Designing Better Librarieshttp://dbl.lishost.org/blog

Tame the Web – Libraries and Technologyhttp://tametheweb.com/

http://mclctechtalk.wordpress.com/

Blogs To ReadLibrary Marketing – Thinking Outside the

Book(no longer updated, but worth reading the archives)http://librarymarketing.blogspot.com/

Marketing Your Libraryhttp://www.marketingyourlibrary.com/

It’s All Good (from OCLC)http://scanblog.blogspot.com/

Technology Used By CAC LibraryMeebo - chatwww.meebo.comwww.centralaz.edu/Library/Library/ Get_Help_Now.htm

Wordpress - blogwww.wordpress.comhttp://centralazlibrary.wordpress.com/

Technology Used By CAC LibraryPBWiki – topic guides wikiwww.pbwiki.comhttp://caclibraryresearch.pbwiki.com/

DimDim – webinar instructionwww.dimdim.com

Our Contact Info•www.centralaz.edu/library•Jeff Middleton

▫Director of Library Services▫520-494-5287▫[email protected]

•Nancy Deegan▫Librarian▫520-494-5279▫[email protected]

Creative Alternatives: 2008 AzLA Presentation

Education

Transcript of Creative Alternatives: 2008 AzLA Presentation