LibGuides: Libraries: Professional Development

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Academic Libraries for Commuter Students Did you know that more than 85% of U.S. undergraduates commute to college? Yet the literature geared to academic libraries overwhelmingly presumes a classic, residential campus. This book redresses that imbalance by providing a research-based look at the specific academic needs of commuter students. Edited by a team of librarians and anthropologists with City University of New York, the largest urban public university in the U.S, it draws on their ongoing research examining how these students actually interact with and use the library. The insights they've gained about how library resources and services are central to commuter students' academic work offer valuable lessons for other institutions. Presenting several additional case studies from a range of institution types and sizes, in both urban and suburban settings, this book provides rigorous analysis alongside descriptions of subsequent changes in services, resources, and facilities. Topics include why IUPUI interior designers decided to scrap plans to remove public workstations to make way for collaborative space; how ongoing studies by University of North Carolina anthropologist Donna Lanclos shaped the design of the Family Friendly Library Room, where students may bring their children; ways that free scanners and tablet lending at Brooklyn College supports subway studiers; ideas from students on how best to help them through the use of textbook collections; using ACRL's Assessment in Action model to learn about student engagement and outcomes with library instruction at a community college; and guidance on enlisting the help of anthropology students to conduct interviews and observations in an ethnographic study. With its emphasis on qualitative research, this book will help readers learn what commuter students really need from academic libraries.
Academic Library Services for First-Generation Students Presenting strategies for improving academic library services for first-generation students, this timely book focuses on programs and services that will increase student academic engagement and success. Demographic data and secondary school graduation rates suggest that colleges and universities will enroll growing numbers of first-generation students over the next decade. Academic Library Services for First-Generation Students focuses on ways academic libraries can uniquely contribute to the successful transition to college and year-to-year retention of first-generation students. The practical recommendations in this book include a wide range of ideas for the design and modification of library services and facilities to be more inclusive of the needs of first-generation students. All of the recommendations are specifically aimed at addressing challenges faced by first-generation students. Topics covered range from study spaces and service points to information literacy instruction and campus partnerships. The book makes the case--both explicitly and implicitly--that academic libraries can help address known risk factors (e.g., by helping students build academic cultural competencies) and thereby improve success, persistence, and retention for first-generation students. Academic library professionals in both leadership roles and public service positions will benefit from the actionable strategies presented here. Includes practical strategies for modifying existing library services to be more inclusive of first-generation student needs Incorporates suggestions for new services targeted toward first-generation students Offers insight into first-generation students' perspectives on academic libraries Builds understanding of the role libraries can play in first-generation student success and retention
Coaching Copyright From researching to remixing, library users need your guidance on a wide range of copyright topics. The way to move beyond "yes, you can" or "no, you can't" is to become a copyright coach. In this collection librarian and attorney Smith teams up with information literacy expert Ellis to offer a framework for coaching copyright, empowering users to take a practical approach to specific situations. Complete with in-depth case studies, this collection provides valuable information rooted in pragmatic techniques, including in-depth discussion of the five questions that will help you clarify any copyright situation; storytelling techniques to enliven copyright presentations, plus ways to use music or YouTube to hook students into copyright topics; three coaching scenarios that tie into ACRL's Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education and bring real-world applications to your library instruction; how-to guidance on leading mock negotiations over real journal publishing agreements; a 90-minute lesson plan on author rights for writers in a student journal; tips for teaching instructional designers how to apply copyright and fair use principles to course management systems; and an LIS copyright course assessment model. This resource will help you become a copyright coach by showing you how to discern the most important issues in a situation, determine which questions you need to ask, and give a response that is targeted to the specific need.
Designing Effective Library Learning Spaces in Higher Education Modern academic libraries must respond not only to pedagogical changes, but to technological changes. Accommodating advances in technology into library space, design, and management is a critical challenge. How can modern libraries successfully integrate traditional learnings forms with digital ones?  This book presents case studies and empirical evidence which focus on the current landscape and future potential posed by the changing face of libraries. Readers are invited to learn how the re-modelling and new architectural design of existing libraries can revitalise the library space and inculcate digital literacy development within their walls. The authors offer an engaging account of how libraries' meet users' needs and utilize stakeholder inputs to design truly innovative library spaces.
Emerging Issues in Academic Library Cataloging and Technical Services This study profiles the cataloging and metadata efforts of five universities in the United States: George Washington University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Illinois at Springfield, the University of Utah and Oregon State University.The study focuses on challenges posed by the quickly changing playing field of traditional metadata and cataloging services as new technologies, approaches and expectations impact traditional technical services. For each of the libraries listed, detailed interviews were conducted with one or more major player in technical services and cataloging, exploring recent changes and developments in managerial lines of authority and work flow organization, technology, database maintenance, error detection, training, linked data, and the integration of archives, special collections and institutional digital repositories into the overall library metadata effort. The study also looks at required skills for catalogers and how this skill set is expected to evolve. Other important issues covered include: transitioning to Alma, the increasingly important logistics of working within cataloging consortia, the role of technical services and cataloging staff in electronic information acquisition and processing, use of applications and software to enhance university-wide communications for all players in technical services/metadata effort, programming skills for catalogers and tools for assessment and customer service.
Library Services for Immigrants and New Americans Wondering what your library can do for your community's immigrant population? This book is replete with resources, tips, and suggestions providing valuable guidance to librarians who want to better serve this still-growing part of America's population. This up-to-date guide to developing and implementing a wide variety of services to immigrants and new Americans focuses on the practical steps of creating and promoting programs. Illustrated by success stories in libraries throughout the country, the book discusses both traditional (ESOL and citizenship classes) and transformative (legal aid and workforce development) programs and services in terms of size, type, and local political climate (e.g., sanctuary cities) at a variety of public libraries as well as in select school libraries. As changes unfold in regard to how the federal government and local communities view and treat immigrants and new Americans in their midst, this topic deserves a fresh take from the profession. The author meets that need, providing practical ideas that range from creating more accessible websites and improving wayfaring and customer service in order to overcome cultural roadblocks to dealing with backlash in communities as libraries extend outreach and partnership-building goals. Outlines practical steps to take regardless of library size and type Shares ideas for community outreach initiatives designed both to draw in program participants and to educate local-born residents about their new community members Describes accessibility changes that are easily implementable and will help all users, including immi-grants and new Americans
Profiles of Best Practices in Teaching Information Literacy Online
Supporting Students on the Autism Spectrum: a Practical Guide for Academic Libraries This book will be invaluable for those in the academic library who want to understand how best to serve students on the autism spectrum and how those students can contribute to the library. As a large number of students on the autism spectrum come of age and enter college, increased awareness of autism spectrum disorder is necessary among those who work in academic libraries so that they can respond to and meet the unique needs of these students. This book fills a scholarship gap while serving as a practical resource for working with the neurodivergent student population in academic libraries. McMullin and Walton explain issues that are likely to arise when interacting with students on the autism spectrum and offer practical solutions for handling them. They discuss how to work with neurodiverse students in different contexts, including at service points, in the classroom, as employees, and through outreach programs. They highlight possible concerns about the physical environment of the library and demonstrate ways that the library can be an especially positive place for students with ASD. Personal anecdotes from students with autism as well as library faculty and staff round out this valuable work. Serves as an essential resource on how to serve students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) Offers an overview of characteristics of students with ASD that is tailored to those working in academic libraries and shows how those characteristics will affect various types of interactions Provides practical solutions for common issues that librarians/ and staff may encounter when communicating with ASD students Features tips and ideas for librarians and library staff working at service points (e.g.i.e., reference desk, circulation, etc.) and in the instruction classroom
Supporting Trans People in Libraries Designed to provide practical information to library workers of all types, this book offers specific strategies for supporting trans people in their libraries. As trans people (including those on the nonbinary spectrum) start to feel safer expressing their identities in public, libraries are making an effort to show that they welcome people of all gender identities. Yet there are many potential barriers to actively supporting trans people, including lack of knowledge about the needs of the trans community and lack of funding or institutional support. This book, written entirely by trans library workers, is designed to dismantle some of these barriers. Supporting Trans People in Libraries is relevant for library workers of any background and position. People with little knowledge about trans identities can start with the opening introductory chapters, while those looking for guidance on a specific situation--such as adding all-gender restrooms, interacting respectfully with trans coworkers, deciding what information to require on library card applications, writing inclusive job postings, making collection development decisions, and more--can jump to a particular chapter. For each topic, there are sections on easy fixes, best practices, and example language. Readers can easily adapt the information to benefit their libraries and communities in concrete ways. Provides introductory information on trans people, community needs, and preferred language Offers specific best practices for creating inclusive library environments for trans patrons and employees Includes resources and suggestions for long-term support of trans people in libraries Suggests inclusive language for various scenarios (e.g., sharing pronouns and writing job descriptions)