Teaching about teaching and instruction on instruction: A challenge for health sciences library education

Objective: This is a review of the master's-level curricula of the fifty-eight America Library Association-accredited library and information science programs and iSchools for evidence of coursework and content related to library instruction. Special emphasis is placed on the schools and programs that also offer coursework in medical or health sciences librarianship. Methods: Fifty-eight school and program websites were reviewed. Course titles and course descriptions for seventy-three separate classes were analyzed. Twenty-three syllabi were examined. Results: All North American library education programs offer at least one course in the general area of library instruction; some programs offer multiple courses. No courses on instruction, however, are focused directly on the specialized area of health sciences librarianship. Conclusions: Master's degree students can take appropriate classes on library instruction, but the medical library profession needs to offer continuing education opportunities for practitioners who want to have specific instruction for the specialized world of the health sciences

The Control of Public Education and School Library Media Programs

published or submitted for publicatio

Literacy, learning and libraries: Common issues and common concerns

Discusses common issues in literacy, learning and libraries in Canada. Role of libraries and librarians in literacy; Need to have collaboration between public libraries and school districts on professional family literacy programs; Measures to succeed in making library programs effective for students

Importance of School Library Programs

Within the discipline of library science, over 20 research studies have been done in the United States attesting to how high-quality school library programs contribute to improved academic achievement. On the other hand, in the fields of education, school counseling, administration, and school leadership, and so on, there is a dearth of scholarship and recognition of the positive impact librarians and library media program have on student success. This conceptual paper first presents an overview of the empirical research on school library programs and the positive impact they have on the academic achievement of students in the United States. Second, the argument is made that if education is to remain sustainable, it is essential that collaborative relationships are developed between school librarians and other personnel within school building

A case study of a rural Iowa school preparing to meet new state guidelines for school libraries

The national school library guidelines place the greatest emphasis upon the teaching and learning component of school library programs led by professional school librarians. Despite findings linking school library programming, including instruction by professional school librarians, to increased student achievement on standardized tests and improved content learning through student inquiry using library resources, the importance of the instructional role of the school librarian remains largely unrecognized by administrators and teachers. A qualitative case study of one rural Iowa elementary school provided insight into the issue of small schools without library programs as they are preparing to meet the Iowa reinstatement of the requirement for school library programs. The site was purposefully chosen because it has been operating without a school library program or professional teacher librarian district-wide. All 8 teachers from one elementary school and the non-endorsed library associate and the 4 district administrators participated in a focus group or semi-structured interviews. Related documents were consulted. The study explored the stakeholders\u27 perceptions and expectations regarding school library programs. Three themes emerged from the data exemplifying the expectations surrounding this school\u27s library program: (a) a minimal role for school library programs in the vision and reality of participants, (b) the invisibility of the professional qualifications and instructional and collaborative qualities of the teacher librarian needed to increase program sustainability; and (c) a disconnect between the school library program and literacy, technology, and other curricular area school improvement initiatives. Implications for the importance of physical and intellectual access to school library collections and information skills instruction, integrated with an inquiry approach to learning, to a democratic education are discussed. Implications for school administrators, school librarians, and classroom teachers are also discussed

Marine Environmental Research Institute

This Maine-based research facility studies pollutant impacts on marine mammals, water quality monitoring, and coastal impacts. Also maintains a seal stranding response and rescue center. Public outreach programs feature speakers, lending library, and Ocean Aquarium Room with regional marine life. Experiential education programs including onsite visits and ecological cruises are offered for schools and the community, fees apply. Summer internships available for undergraduate and graduate students. Educational levels: General public, Primary elementary, Intermediate elementary, Middle school, High school, Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper division, Graduate or professional

UNH School of Law IP Library: 20th Anniversary Reflection on the Only Academic IP Library in the United States

[Excerpt] The UNH School of Law Intellectual Property Library celebrates its twentieth anniversary this year. It is a fortuitous time for this look back and for strategic considerations for the future. This anniversary comes at a time in the history of legal education when conditions over the past few years have intensified the analysis of mission and resources for law school libraries. This article is a retrospective review of the history and dynamics surrounding the founding and first twenty years of growth. It is also an analysis of the future growth and mission of the IP Library during times that demand more strategic vision, taking into consideration the explosion of information, formats, scope of intellectual property (IP) and allied areas of practice, competitor IP programs at other U.S. law schools, and greater scrutiny of expenses of U.S. law school libraries generally

Perspectives of school administrators related to school library media programs after participating in an online course, "School library advocacy for administrators"

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on Feb 15, 2010).The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file.Dissertation advisor: Dr. John M. Budd.Vita.Ph. D. University of Missouri--Columbia 2009.This mixed methods study examines the experiences of two groups of administrators who participated in the online course, "School Library Advocacy for Administrators," respectively, in the summer of 2005 and the fall of 2006. The course was offered through Mansfield University in Mansfield, Pennsylvania. It was developed to educate administrators about school library media programs and the role of the library media specialist, and to subsequently create administrative advocates for school libraries. The purpose of this study is to explore how these administrators perceive that the course made a difference in what they know about school library media programs and how the information impacted their perspectives and actions in relationship to the library media programs in their buildings. Employing a mixed methods approach, this study makes use of standardized responses and descriptive/phenomenological methods to examine the experiences of the participants through interviews. Findings indicate that the Mansfield University online course provides an impetus for participating administrators to change their perceptions toward library media programs and make changes in their school library programs to some degree. Based on these findings, the Mansfield online course appears to offer a viable solution for informing educational administrators about school library programs.Includes bibliographical reference

ALEA III and the Boston University School of Music Opera Theater, May 2 and 3, 1986

This is the concert program of the ALEA III and the Boston University School of Music Opera Theater performance on Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3, 1986 at 8:00 p.m., at the Concert Hall, 855 Commonwealth Avenue. Works performed were The Bear by William Walton and Antigone by Marjorie Merryman. Digitization for Boston University Concert Programs was supported by the Boston University Humanities Library Endowed Fund

A Case Study of a Rural Iowa School Preparing to Meet New State Guidelines for School Libraries

A qualitative case study highlighting one rural Iowa elementary school provided insight into the issue of small schools without library programs as they are preparing to meet the Iowa reinstatement of the requirement for school library programs. The site was purposefully chosen because it has been operating without a school library program or professional teacher-librarian district-wide. All eight teachers and the nonendorsed library associate from one elementary school participated in either a focus group or semistructured interviews. The four district administrators were interviewed individually. Related documents were consulted. This study examined the status of the school library program, analyzed the stakeholder’s perceptions and expectations for the school library program and instructional role, and identified supports and obstacles to implementing the new state teacher-librarian and school library program and requirements. Three themes emerged from the data, exemplifying the expectations surrounding this school’s library program: (a) a minimal role for school library programs in the vision and reality of participants, (b) the invisibility of the professional qualifications and instructional and collaborative qualities of the teacher-librarian needed to increase program sustainability, and (c) a disconnect between the school library program and literacy, technology, and other curricular area school improvement initiatives. The results showed this school’s library program denied students access to libraries and learning opportunities essential for a democratic education. The data from this case study support these conclusions by showing an inability of the local school district to create or sustain a high quality school library program without a state mandate and the inability of the current state mandate to instill a high quality school library program in this district