Messages from the Eagle

ABSTRACT

Each year Dacus Library teaches library use to over a thousand freshmen in introductory Writing classes. In the summer of 2000, two reference librarians undertook a revision of the basic methodology of teaching library use to freshmen. This change was necessitated by staff shortages, coupled with increasing enrollment. The resulting virtual tour, which was introduced in fall 2000, combined an existing audio-tape tour with one hour of classroom instruction. The university's mascot, an eagle, was used to lead the students on a tour of all three floors of Dacus Library, with explanations of each location pictured. In addition, the eagle was used to describe and explain the online catalog. The new virtual tour, while still a work in progress, is considered to be a success by students, library faculty and staff, and Writing instruction faculty. You can visit the Dacus Library tour at www.winthrop.edu/dacus/About/Tapetour/Exercises/assignment2.htm.     

Developing Faculty ICT Competencies Inside and Outside the Library

Despite all the financial resources that are directed to support and acquire learning technologies, the results have been generally disappointing. Faculty are eager to use technology but lack the technical skills, ability, and experience. Library staff includes a talent tool rich in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)/WEB 2.0 technical expertise and experience. In terms of content sourcing and procurement, library technical services and selection staff have broad knowledge of the marketplace for online information and content as well as experience in licensing access. They have a firm grasp of the transaction process, workflows, pricing, and licensing negotiations. Content development and sourcing inevitably involves access management, online storage, copyright, and licensing—things at which libraries are good. ICT deployment is changing teaching and learning on campuses, and the roles of those involved in teaching and learning are also changing. Whether formally through mandated library services, or informally through back channels, library staff are supporting faculty new technology use as well as faculty teaching materials content sourcing and procurement.     

The Buck Stops Where?

SUMMARY

University students-whether adult, distance learner, or traditional age-need access to university services and quick accurate answers to their questions beyond traditional “business” hours. Students' busy schedules and changing life patterns dictate that university services meet their needs. At DePaul University in Chicago, student focus groups repeatedly pointed to the need for one central place to get an answer or solve a problem. DePaul Central was created as an information and referral service to satisfy that student need, at the same capitalizing on the value of the librarian skill set.     

Moving from the Consortium to the Reference Desk: Keeping Chat and Improving Reference at the MSU Libraries

The experience of the Mississippi State University (MSU) Libraries illustrates the challenges presented by moving from consortial to local chat, as well as an evaluation of the advantages of chat reference in an academic setting. Countering the consortial, instant-messaging model prevalent in virtual reference today, the MSU Libraries have found chat offers advantages in an academic community. Moving to a local setting, it was possible for the MSU Libraries to maintain quality control over chat transactions while building relationships with faculty and students across campus.     

Build It (and Customize and Market It) and They Will Come

ABSTRACT

Like other academic libraries, the University Library System of the University of Pittsburgh (ULS) continues to invest in providing anytime, anywhere access to research materials in electronic format. While there are obvious benefits for users in this concomitant increase in complexity for these same users, with many of them, especially undergraduates, turning to the speed and simplicity of Google and away from the complexity of library sponsored electronic resources. Seeking ways to both maximize our investment in full text resources, and promote easy access to this universe of electronic resources for our users, the ULS felt strongly that a navigational solution had to be found, and in 2004 began the process of implementing a federated search tool.

This article discusses the collaborative process between the University Library System and its federated search vendor, and discusses the decision making process behind the customizations made by the ULS to its federated search system. The article also addresses the process of working with a professional marketing organization to developing a marketing message and supporting materials to promote its federated search system, and finally briefly looks at usability and usage statistics to assess the degree to which the Zoom! federated search system has met the goal of providing fast, easy access to high quality information. doi:10.1300/J136v12n03_07     

RefWorks Usage Patterns: Exploring the First Four Semesters of Use by Faculty,Graduate Students,and Undergraduates

This study explores citation management usage patterns of undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty. We analyze the temporal use of RefWorks with an eye toward informing reference services and instruction initiatives. The frequency and intensity of use allow us to glean an understanding of user groups on campus. While our findings for undergraduates and faculty conform to general assumptions, graduate students emerge as a group more similar to faculty than anticipated. Graduate students’ use of RefWorks is characterized by steady logins and large amounts of references; thus, suggesting that personalized instruction might benefit graduate students more than scheduled workshops.     

Researching Recent U.S. Legislation Using Free Sites on the Internet

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of gender, college status, and prior Internet experience on the use of Internet resources. The subjects were 96 patrons randomly selected from those using the Internet terminals at the University Library of the University at Albany, SUNY, during the first two months of 1995. We found that the majority of users shared the following characteristics: they are male undergraduates affiliated with the social sciences and are novice users who have less than six months experience. Respondents felt strongly that the Internet is useful, and has been an important resource for their research and assignments. Users have high expectations of searching capabilities, while they feel neutral or disappointed with browsing. Our findings indicate that libraries should provide access to the Internet. They also suggest that libraries should take the lead in developing searchable indexes and making info-bases better organized for the ease and effectiveness of browsing.     

基于高校档案管理系统的学籍档案管理模式研究

学籍档案管理是高校教育教学的重要组成内容。通过分析学籍档案的形成规律和特点,力图运用档案管理系统,借助信息技术和网络技术,利用著录模板设置和数据导入功能,构建现代化学籍档案管理模式。促使学籍档案归档科学、管理规范、利用充分,实现归档部门负责信息的真实性、完整性,档案部门确保信息的安全性、有效性,更好地为高校、个人以及社会服务。     

应用职业生涯规划理论促进高校辅导员队伍建设

本文运用职业生涯规划相关理论,分析职业生涯规划对高校辅导员的重要性,研究高校辅导员生涯规划策略,为高校加强辅导员队伍建设提供方法和途径。     

提高高校档案教育功能见解

高校档案是高等学校发展历程的展现,更是高校全体教职员工多年来辛苦工作的记录和总结。它反映了学校在以往时期的教师教学状况、领导管理效果、学生学习质量等多项学校工作在不同时期的开展状况。由此可以看出,高校档案对于高校自身发展来说是一笔无形的财富。因此,学校应重视档案的整理和利用,以更好地发挥学校档案对于高校在今后的教学、管理等学校工作方面的指导意义。