The ‘Academic’ Librarian: collaborating with an academic department to design and deliver a...

The ‘Academic’ Librarian: Collaborating with an

academic department to design and deliver a

Master’s programme at Maynooth University

Hugh Murphy & Barbara McCormack

CONUL 2016

Outline• History, Library & Archives: a natural fit?• Strategic rationale• Background and development • Overview of MA Historical Archives • What does the Library actually do and what does this

mean? • Examples – HY618 Book Collections in Archives, HY628

Leadership & Project Management• Benefits: Library, academic department, students • Challenges• Lessons learned • Testimony

Hugh Murphy & Barbara McCormack, Maynooth University Library

History, Library & Archives: a natural fit?


Strategic rationale

• Strongly aligned with Library Strategic Plan, particularly Section 1 Teaching and Learning

• Complements existing teaching in Special Collections e.g. identifying and evaluating primary sources

• Provides opportunities for staff development in terms of teaching, research and public speaking

• Enhances the credibility of our institution and recognises the expertise of our staff

• Emphasises the importance of inter-departmental collaboration from a University perspective


Background and Development• Course was established in 2008• Initially developed as a two year part-

time course but this approach was revised in 2011 when the course became a full-time offering

• Approximately 10 library staff members currently involved in the programme including conservators, librarians, and archivists

• Accredited (provisionally 2016-17) by the ARA as a professional qualification in archives


A 16th century printed book used for teaching students on the MA

Historical Archives

MA Historical Archives (MHP57)• Taught masters (Level 9) programme which runs over a

calendar year (two semesters and summer modules)• Involves teaching input from the History Department, the

University Library, and An Foras Feasa, the Digital Humanities Institute of the University.

• The course aims to:– Educate students on the principles, attitudes and skills which underpin

the professional management of historical archives– Inform students of the necessary care and development of archives– Generate an awareness and understanding of archival management

solutions – Communicate the historical processes involved in record creation and

the key repositories in which they are held


Modules taught solely by Library staff

Preservation Management

HY615

Managing an Archives Collection

HY617

Leadership and Project Management

HY628

Book Collections in ArchivesHY618


Other input from Library staff


Digital Humanities: Theory and Practice

AFF601

Information Literacy Sessions

Field TripsProject-based work placements in the

Library

What does this mean?

Library staff are involved in all aspects of course delivery including:


Course design

Developing lesson plans

Instruction

Assessment

Example 1: HY618 Book Collections in Archives

• Delivered by Hugh Murphy and Barbara McCormack

• 5 Credit module• 12 lecture hours including

practical sessions onsite and one offsite visit

• 12 hours of planned learning activities and 12 hours of independent student activities


HY618 Course Objectives

Foster an understanding and appreciation of rare and unique collections

Enable a comprehensive analysis of physical characteristics of different formats (manuscript, print, and archival)

Develop navigational skills in terms of finding aids and catalogues

Facilitate the evaluation of printed items in archival collections

Equip students with resource description skills


HY618 Assignments

• Analysis of early printed work

• Short report on findings

Incunabula

• Students visit an exhibition

• Report on their observations and analysis

Exhibitions

• Identification of MARC fields

• Impact of resource description

Resource Description


Example 2: HY628 Leadership & Project Management

• Delivered by Helen Fallon with input from other library staff including University Librarian

• 12 lecture hours including 2 hours of assessment• Aims to:– Equip students to face leadership and project

management challenges in the workplace– Provide an insight and overview into resource

management and people management– Deliver skills necessary to successfully manage a small

archives facility


HY628 Topics Covered

Advocacy and marketing

Professional writing/Applying for funding

Financial management/Building projects

Management and Leadership


Benefits: Library

• Professional development – new skills

• Credibility• Contribute to the

future of profession• Re-assess our

practices


“Helpful in evaluation our own

basic procedures – in a ‘Am I practicing what I preach?’

sense”

“While it placed a demand on our staff and resources the opportunity

to play a key role in the MA in Historical Archives had many

benefits including an opportunity for staff working in the area to enhance their own professional practice through teaching and

research.

These benefits far outweighed the disadvantages and meant that the library's participation had personal

and institutional benefits for the staff involved”

(University Librarian)

“good to help and guide”

Benefits: Academic Department

• Support• Bespoke knowledge


without the Library this MA programme would not have got

off the ground, and certainly would not have achieved the

ARA accreditation

“…the library is the laboratory, the students are seeing as well as hearing,

the collections (manuscripts, estate papers, early printed books), are the

teaching materials, and their instructors are the custodians and

specialists, in situ..”

“The involvement of the Library staff in the design, development, teaching and assessment

of the MA in Historical Archives has brought something very special to the programme. Staff

contribute individually (and collectively) from their specialist fields – preservation, archives description, special collections cataloguing,

digitisation of records, leadership and project management, and more.

They do so as reflective practitioners and life-long learners themselves, they bring real, first-hand experience into the classroom, along with a ‘can do’ attitude…. the colleagues who teach on this MA programme model how to be open

to the new, to be flexible and innovative.

Benefits: Student

• Direct Support• Broader palette of skills• Bespoke knowledge• The ‘practitioner’ experience


'The library staff involved in the Master's course incorporated

information literacy and valuable practical skills to develop a rich

enquiry process and support our best professional practise’

“having such a broad profile of staff teaching ensured the

course was always interesting and relevant”

Challenges

• Demand on time• Logistics• Out of comfort zone –

lecturing is a different skill

• Student engagement


“Consider what training

or support will be

needed by staff teaching

on the project”

Lessons learned

• Clear definition of roles and responsibilities

• Support staff in this venture• Practical, concrete examples• Sort out logistics asap• Learn from past graduates


Impartial testimony

“It is clear to us that there is enormous support within the University for the development of this programme”

-ARA assessment

“…deliver a well thought out and challenging module” -ARA assessment

“The use of library staff…is to be commended. Without exception, they bring a breadth of skills and experience to the programme which will be of great benefit to the

students.” -ARA assessment


Thank you!

Questions?

[email protected]@nuim.ie


mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

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