University Library Services : A Redesign

The author starts off with a rhetorical question: “What kind of problem is a library?” urging the readers to think about this question as they continue to read the article. The question grabs the readers’ attention, and intrigues them to read on to find and answer. She further utilizes this technique of rhetorical questions throughout the article for the same purpose of emphasis on the vitality of the role of public libraries. Moreover, Smith extensively employs the use of metaphors and personification. For example, she describes the internet as libraries’ “universal death knell”, which portrays the internet’s negative impact on the development of

Working in any organization where there is lack of help, time, and supplies can be quite challenging for employees and management. This seems to the dilemma that these three reference librarians where having. Within this case study there seems to be frustration with the current working conditions, especially the technological support that is needed. The reference librarians find it challenging to complete their jobs when they have to consistently assist in computer problems, leaving the reference desk unattended.

When I signed up for LIS 6080, I honestly thought I was not going to learn much because I use computers a lot. I was wrong. I found that this course, with the textbook, discussions with fellow classmates, and the Professor, I learned a lot that I can build upon and use as an information professional. Libraries are becoming leaders in new technologies as they integrate new web and mobile technologies for its users. With these new technologies, information professionals will need to understand these technologies, to provide assistance for these technologies, and to be prepared to interact with patrons using these technologies. LIS 6080 is the course that has set the foundation for my future career as an information professional. This course

The artifact “Ask a Librarian” Assessing Virtual Services in Academic Libraries for Students with Disabilities is a document that I constructed in LIM 504- Research Methods in Professional Applications. The project explored library technology services, specifically “Ask the Librarian” chat service.

As digital technology has increased the need for libraries and librarians to help navigate the vast world of information available, your Part-time Library Assistant II (Reference) position is an excellent opportunity to people find information and the resources they need.

For this project, I interviewed Dr. Sonya Gaither, director of the Hightower Library at Gordon State College in Barnesville, Georgia. The challenge Dr. Gaither wanted to focus on was changing procedures within the library that have not been updated in years, specifically how the librarians on her staff conduct appointments with students seeking research assistance through the Personal Librarian Program.

Libraries have long served the purpose of providing books and Internet access to those in need. However, libraries have become almost obsolete in society and do not really serve a purpose anymore. With the constant advancement of technology in the world, people no longer need to check out a book or use an old computer. Even though libraries offer many services to the public for generally no charge; libraries can no longer be justified as worth the hard-earned money of taxpayers due to the emergence of new technology, as well as the lack of funding available to maintain them.

With the growth of distance education and demand for equitable library support for all students, distance librarians and library staff members put forth a great deal of effort to develop an accessible suite of tools and resources for the students they serve. Caspers defines the distance student as “one whose residence is too far away for him/her to reasonably be expected to regularly travel to the home campus library” (2000). These students struggled to find adequate resources in the early days of distance education, but in recent years technology has allowed libraries to provide more accessible services as well as increasing portions of their collections electronically to remote users. Despite these efforts, librarians may find that a significant number of students have a “wandering eye” and do not necessarily look only to their home university for service, but also to local libraries for some or all of their library and research needs as they proceed through their academic program. Are public libraries and special libraries able to meet the research needs of distance learners, or are these students being underserved as they choose to use libraries other than their home university?

The Pateman & Vincent statement from 2010 suggests that the library profession is either oblivious to, or choosing to ignore the plight of those most in need in society. Seven years on, there is no halt in the growing gap between rich and poor and public libraries are still justifying their existence, in a climate of declining funding for services. Changes to the UK welfare system have accelerated, with a drive for government services to be ‘digital by default’ (Rust, 2014). Public libraries and their staff are amongst the best placed in society to provide not only access to technology but the support required for customers to use it to navigate the complicated benefits system and other services which are now only available

The background, academic abilities, and desires of non-traditional or educationally disadvantaged students significantly impact how LRD perform library services especially reference (which helps students access the information they need more than many other academic libraries that have students with more experience in accessing information through a variety of different media. The LRD reference staff has worked hard to develop a collegial and sustained relationships with students. In response to their needs, LRD librarians have developed novel initiatives such as a “Technology Gym”, where students can “work out” their technology muscles, to help them gain the confidence necessary to navigate essential technology for academic and

Though the Library has recently received a high rating on the perception of quality of service from clients (see Climate Survey 2015 responses and data), it can be argued that this self-reporting expresses sufficiency – that the library is sufficient, that it is “good enough”. A central goal in Phase I is to create new language that can be used to move beyond sufficiency, and to create a new vibrant strategic framework for the Library and realign its position in SMU’s overall knowledge strategy for teaching and learning.

For students to be adequately informed about the value of the university library and resources such as the Internet in information retrieval there must be a careful collaboration between teaching staff and library staff (Kenney, 2007). The focus in this task, of course, is preparing students not just for the immediate research project at hand but rather to prepare them to be life long learners, to prepare them to be successful and productive once they leave the academic environment and take up their chosen careers (Lauer & Yodanis, 2012).

In the academic library that I chose to examine, finding the reference desk is no easy task for the unfamiliar patron. With three major entrances and six floors to navigate, this library is an epitome of what most libraries would strive to have: boundless space for patrons and a vast, growing collection. The patron, however, could easily take one glance at this gargantuan building and easily become overwhelmed, despite the services that this one building contains, such as being combined with financial aid, the information technology (IT) center, and areas to grab coffee and snacks. It is my hope that upon observing and engaging with the reference department that they will prove themselves to be helpful and accessible to patrons known and

Schools need 21st century materials and resources to serve 21st century students. There needs to be a change in ideology regarding the function of the library in todays society. “For centuries, libraries have remained essentially separate, even competing with one another to establish and maintain the greatest collection, and now they need to recast themselves as platforms rather than storehouses. (Palfrey, 2015) With the introduction of the internet and online information libraries need to rebrand themselves. Libraries around the world can now share information with one another in real time, and the competition for resources has ended. That said, there is still value in networking with other agencies devoted to education and information. John Palfrey, author of Biblio Tech suggests that, “Libraries must act as ambitiously networked institutions, connecting their network effectively with partner intuitions: archives, historical societies, museums, and other cultural heritage organizations.”(2015) More agencies are partnering up to give their patrons access to the best and most credible information.

#Learning Commons
 The year of the Learning Commons is ablaze on social media. Teacher-librarians are embracing technology as a way to reach new audiences and share resources. The social media of choice for these tech savvy teachers is Twitter, and their hashtag is YearLC. (Loertscher, D., & Koechlin, C., 2015) Twitter is being used as a marketing tool to rebrand

The following draft action plan was prepared in view of the measures that would need to be taken after a fire in a repository, belonging to a university college established in the nineteenth century. The basic points included in the plan are appraisal of the damage, conservation of the damaged building and material, implementation of actions and a risk management plan for damage prevention.