The Northeast Kansas Library System (NEKLS) is sponsoring a rather
interesting and timely sounding program on August 1 titled “Get your
Information Here? Gadgets, Mobile Access and Library Futures”.  It is
from 9 to 4 at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. The
registration is only $20 since the KU Libraries belong to NEKLS. The
keynote is Libraryman (Michael Porter ~ www.libraryman.com ) See
http://www.nekls.org/ for more information.

Check out what our co-workers have been up to!

Title:
Successful approaches to teaching through chat
Author(s):
Frances Devlin, Lea Currie, John Stratton
Journal:
New Library World
Year:
2008
Volume:
109
Issue:
5/6
Page:
223 – 234
DOI:
10.1108/03074800810873579
Publisher:
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Document Access:
Please select from the following options:
View HTML | View PDF (83 KB)

Reprints & permissions:
Request
Abstract:
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine whether librarians at the University of Kansas are providing instruction through chat in order to develop best practices for training purposes.
Design/methodology/approach – The authors analyzed a sample of chat transcripts using the “ACRL Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education” to determine whether librarians were utilizing opportunities for instruction in the chat medium. Using this analysis, they selected the best examples of instructional techniques.
Findings – Students were open to receiving instruction through chat. Librarians who were most successful in providing assistance to students demonstrated persistency and approachability in their interactions.
Practical implications – The authors developed a list of top ten practices for instruction through chat which can be used for training purposes.
Originality/value – Librarians need to continue to develop instructional techniques to create more opportunities for teaching moments in chat. The paper raises awareness of the impact of librarians’ demeanor in the online environment.

Stats anyone?

Annual summary and monthly circulation statistics for the just-ended fiscal
year are now available on the library staff intranet. The direct link is:
http://www.lib.ku.edu/staff/automation/voyager/reports/circ/fy2008/2008fycir
c.shtml

Expertise?

Interesting article on latest hiring trends for libraries.

Kudos

Our own Sarah Goodwin Thiel chaired the committee which revised BCR’s Collaborative Digitization Project updated “Digital Imaging Best Practices” document.  Congratulations, Sarah, on this achievement!  The full BCR announcement is below.

Sarah Goodwin Thiel, digital services librarian, University of Kansas, served as the working group chair. She notes, “While continuing to address the needs of a particular audience, beginning practitioners and those from institutions with limited resources and/or expertise, Version 2.0 is developed to assist practitioners from the cultural heritage section to navigate the quickly evolving world of image digitization and to efficiently increase and improve access to digital scholarship.”

Students and eBooks

Thanks to Tami Albin for passing along this link to a report on how students use eBooks.

Employee of the Year

All,
I am delighted to announce that Nishon Hawkins is the 2008 USS Employee
of the Year!
Nishon, was selected unanimously by the SSEYA selection committee for
her outstanding performance in 2007. In particular, the committee noted
“her extra effort and patience in implementing changes to the e-reserves
guidelines brought on by new copyright restrictions, and in helping
faculty adjust to the changes. Working “behind the scenes” Nishon put
forth extra effort to implement the necessary changes, which, of course,
came at a critical time (just prior to the beginning of the 2007 fall
semester).  The committee felt that Nishon’s efforts in solving a major
problem at that critical time, as well as all the service that she
rendered “behind the scenes” merit special recognition.
Furthermore the committee noted that she is “extremely conscientious,
organized, efficient, patient and professional in everything she does.”
She is also the number one fan of the library softball team, The Dewey
Decimators, and attends every game.

Congratulations Nishon!

On behalf of KU Libraries I thank the SSEYA selection committee for
their work in completing the process this year. They are: Jon Giullian,
Leila Jacobs, Gary Samuelson, Laura Skarka, and Rita Wilson.

lorraine j. haricombe

Reading Madness!

Class Act

Zanice Bond de Perez of the Writing Center helps student athletes develop thesis statements for their papers in the Libraries’ LA&S 292 Research Methods course this summer. The course was taught by Librarians Tami Albin and Julie Petr, and is open to all KU students.

Award Winner!

Susan Craig recently received the Distinguished Service Award from ARLIS. Read her remarks from the conference here.