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
▫Students▫Faculty▫College departments
•Communication▫Using technology
Services we wanted to initiateVirtual Reference•Embedded Librarian•Information Literacy Instruction•Outreach
▫Students▫Faculty▫College departments
•Communication▫Using technology
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
▫Students▫Faculty▫College departments
•Communication▫Using technology
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
▫Students▫Faculty▫College departments
•Communication▫Using technology
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
▫Students▫Faculty▫College departments
•Communication▫Using technology
Communication•“Word of Mouth”
▫Wordpress blog▫Used to promote library services and
education
Communication•“Word of Mouth”
▫Wordpress blog▫Used to promote library services and
education•Topic Guides
▫PBWiki▫Get students started with finding sources
Communication•“Word of Mouth”
▫Wordpress blog▫Used to promote library services and
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
▫Students▫Faculty▫College departments
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/
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]
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