Egalitarian Teams in Action: Organizing for Library Initiatives

In 2006 Peter Senge, who coined the term the learning organization, wrote, “As the world becomes more interconnected and business becomes more complex and dynamic, work must become more ‘learningful’... It’s just not possible any longer to to figure it out from the top, and have everyone else following the orders of the ‘grand strategist’” (p. 4). Senge documented the need for professions and organizations that can change, that can quickly adapt, be nimble, learn, and find new opportunities in the changing information landscape. Libraries are not immune from this kind of pressure. In this case study, first presented at the 2017 LACUNY Institute, three library faculty members describe a team with the salient characteristics of commitment and nimbleness, a team that aims to be this new, “non-traditional” team, one that is in alignment with best practices for change management and learning organizations, and with the work of Etienne Wenger and others on Communities of Practice (CoPs). After describing the team’s background and formation, this case study presents the results of a mid-year survey, along with a list of the team’s work and accomplishments, as evidence of productivity and team members’ satisfaction. Specific benefits and challenges of the team’s structure and processes are discussed. Finally, best practices for this type of committed and agile teamwork are drawn from the CoP literature and this case study, and some of the ways this “learningful” experience may impact faculty as individuals, and what that may mean for the future of the library, are considered

Generational Career Shifts: how Matures, Boomers, Gen Xers, and Millennials view work

We examined several career concepts, including career identity, planning and resilience, career salience, work locus of control, modern career orientations, career self-efficacy, and career anchors, as well as the expectations of pre-career Millennials. Overall, our study shows significant intergenerational differences across many of these concepts. For example, Matures identified with their careers more than other generations, which suggests that work plays a more central role in their lives. Millennials and Gen X employees indicated a belief that they are not in control of their career success. Moreover, Millennials had lower levels of selfefficacy than both Gen X and Boomer employees. In terms of career anchors, we found that each successive younger generation placed more importance on autonomy and independence, entrepreneurial creativity, lifestyle, service, and dedication. Lastly, pre-career Millennials indicated high expectations for salary growth over their careers, despite expecting to take an average of five years off of work for child-rearing and travel activities

Mesenchymal stem cells expressing TRAIL lead to tumour growth inhibition in an experimental lung cancer model

AbstractLung cancer is a major public health problem in the western world, and gene therapy strategies to tackle this disease systemically are often impaired by inefficient delivery of the vector to the tumour tissue. Some of the main factors inhibiting systemic delivery are found in the blood stream in the form of red and white blood cells (WBCs) and serum components. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been shown to home to tumour sites and could potentially act as a shield and vehicle for a tumouricidal gene therapy vector. Here, we describe the ability of an adenoviral vector expressing TRAIL (Ad.TR) to transduce MSCs and show the apoptosis‐inducing activity of these TRAIL‐carrying MSCs on A549 lung carcinoma cells. Intriguingly, using MSCs transduced with Ad.enhanced‐green‐fluorescent‐protein (EGFP) we could show transfer of viral DNA to cocultured A549 cells resulting in transgenic protein production in these cells, which was not inhibited by exposure of MSCs to human serum containing high levels of adenovirus neutralizing antibodies. Furthermore, Ad.TR‐transduced MSCs were shown not to induce T‐cell proliferation, which may have resulted in cytotoxic T‐cell‐mediated apoptosis induction in the Ad.TR‐transduced MSCs. Apoptosis was also induced in A549 cells by Ad.TR‐transduced MSCs in the presence of physiological concentrations of WBC, erythrocytes and sera from human donors that inhibit or neutralize adenovirus alone. Moreover, we could show tumour growth reduction with TRAIL‐loaded MSCs in an A549 xenograft mouse model. This is the first study that demonstrates the potential therapeutic utility of Ad.TR‐transduced MSCs in cancer cells and the stability of this vector in the context of the blood environment.</jats:p

Genetically Modified Foods and Organisms: What in the World ...?

This paper examines the current controvery over genetically modified organisms and foods and compares the regulatory response in the United States, European Union and United Kingdom

Transforming Library Services for and with Teens through Continuing Education

Together with the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA), the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) embarked on a year-long exploration of the continuing education (CE) needs of staff at state library agencies (SLA) and libraries to identify challenges and opportunities and recommend ways for improving the CE landscape as a strategy to transforming serving teens through libraries.  This project was funded through a National Forum grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services

Remodelling the third sector: advancing collaboration or competition in community-based initiatives?

In the last decade, UK public agencies have increasingly been required to collaborate with non-state providers to deliver welfare services. Third sector organisations are now providers of services from early years to old age, taking a growing role in children and young people's services in socially deprived neighbourhoods. National policy has recognised third sector expertise in working with marginal groups of people. However, changing relationships with the state have drawn community organisations into new, often uncomfortable, organisational arrangements, affecting their work and their roles in relation to service users and community stakeholders. This article examines recent changes from a third sector perspective, drawing on data from a study of community-based organisations providing children and young people's services in deprived localities. It considers the changing environment of ‘new localism’ affecting these organisations, focusing on recent plans for local area commissioning of services. The article identifies some progress in supporting community services in deprived areas but illustrates how the continuing emphasis on competitive contracts and centrally driven frameworks undermines collaborative work and community trust. It argues that such mechanisms may serve short-term state interests but devalue the very community-level work, which is increasingly being promoted to address challenging social problems

The Vehicle, April 1959, Vol. 1 no. 1

Vol. 1, No. 1 Table of Contents Aunt OraHelen Leepage 3 Ethnocentrismpage 7 FashionsLinda Lyonspage 7 On Giving Up Auden in DespairHelen Leepage 8 The Vagaries of ComplianceHelen Leepage 8 The StormJean Nightingalepage 9 Sonnet to SubjectWayne Nelmspage 9 The Killing of Mr. KitAl Brookspage 10 ShortsC.E.S.page 16https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1000/thumbnail.jp