Using an Integrated Approach to Case Studies In Order to Enhance Critical Thinking

Harvard University sponsors a multitude of leadership institutes and activities targeting many different university administrative roles. One of these institutes which they co-sponsor with the Association of College and Research libraries and I had the opportunity to attend in its 2003 iteration is a week-long camp which focuses on the use of case studies. Aside from the canned case studies provided to participants all members of that year\u27s group are required to bring with them a summary of a case they have been involved in. They are also instructed to read the book Reframing Organizations by Bolman and Deal. The larger group is then broken into smaller teams with the goal of analyzing each other\u27s case based on the concepts in the Bolman and Deal text. I believe the model used with this group of administrators can also be applied to graduate students and that this model significantly enhances the quality of the students\u27 learning experiences and fosters critical thinking skills

Incivility and Dysfunction in the Library Workplace: Perceptions and Feedback from the Field

Issues associated with lack of civility, less than ideal functionality and employees that may not self-reflect as much they should are all challenges in the modern workplace and libraries are no exception. The purpose of this study was to determine which issues associated with a lack of civility such as mobbing, bullying, workplace dysfunction, and lack of abilities regarding self-reflection were found in the library workplace and to what extent. The data represents the feedback of 4,168 library employees through a self-reporting survey instrument designed by the authors with the help of the American Library Association. Data is both quantitative and qualitative and seeks to examine the issues addressed across all types of libraries. While useful for all library employees, this study and report are especially relevant to the modern library administrator

Technical Colleges on the Cutting Edge: Implementing New Technologies at HGTC Library

The integration of new technologies on college campuses is an imperative to enhance learning and prepare students for career success. This article describes the implementation of new technology at a technical college library. Thanks to a multi-layered grant from The Chapin Foundation HGTC Library was able to install a video wall, 10 zSpace machines, and a PolyCom system all in the same space located inside the library. Uses of this equipment in other settings as well as at HGTC are considered

The Impact of Information Literacy-Related Instruction in the Science Classroom: Clickers Versus Nonclickers

The goal of information literacy instruction is to enable students to develop skills that they can use for life to facilitate their empowerment through information. Instruction librarians, particularly those teaching Millenials whose need for “hands on” instruction has been widely emphasized, are constantly searching for methodologies that will provide appropriate levels of interactive instruction. Many methods for enhancing the relevance of library instruction have been discussed in the literature. This study, designed and developed by a collaborative team of librarians and science faculty, describes the effects of providing course-integrated, interactive (with clickers) information literacy instruction to undergraduates at a small private nonprofit university in the Southeast

Listening to the Customer: Using Assessment Results to Make a Difference

The following feature is adapted from “Listening to the Customer: Using Assessment Results to Make a Difference,” a panel discussion delivered on July 12, 2009, at the American Library Association Annual Conference in Chicago and sponsored by the LLAMA LOMS PELS Committee. The three program participants have written up their remarks to share their practical knowledge with those who could not make it to the session. With sequential changes in voice and a first-person style, the intent of this article is to capture the conference program experience in print. In addition, a list of selected background readings which provide additional context for the topic is included

Starting a Library from Scratch…Again (Well, Sort of)

How does one start a library from scratch? That’s the question I was faced with when I accepted the position as library director for the Charlotte campus of Johnson & Wales University in September of 2004. Many librarians would consider it a dream come true to start their own library. In my case, I was about to do it for the second time...well, sort of. The first time was when I had taken the position as library director of Johnson & Wales’ Florida campus in August of 1997. While not entirely new, the library was operating out of a classroom space when I arrived and, within that first month, moved, under my supervision, to a new 10,000 square-foot facility intended to serve approximately 1,150 undergraduates

The Effectiveness of Direct-Instruction and Student-Centered Teaching Methods on Students' Functional Understanding of Plagiarism

To improve students' functional understanding of plagiarism, a variety of approaches was tried within a comprehensive information literacy program. Sessions were taught as a “module” inside a required communications skills class at a private university. Approaches taken included control, direct-instruction, and student-centered sessions. Students were taught content and definitions regarding plagiarism, what circumstances or instances constitute plagiarism, where to go for help in avoiding plagiarism, and what constitutes appropriate paraphrasing. Pretest and posttest scores indicated that no approach performed significantly better than the others; however, even though students improved across all methods, they nonetheless showed the need for more hands-on practice

Communicating Who We Are: The Theory of Organizational Culture in the Workplace

The following material comes from a presentation at the American Library Association’s Annual conference held on June 27, 2010 in Washington, DC entitled “Communication at the Crossroads: The Theory and Practice of Connecting Effectively Within and Without the Organization.” It was sponsored by the Library and Leadership Association’s Library Organization and Management Section. My part of this program involved a focused discussion on internal communication and various theories as they might apply to this type of communication in the library workplace

Rechannel the Energy

The article offers one librarian director's opinion on a case study in which one librarian is sending electronic mail messages to coworkers perceiving them to be hostile. The author wonders why the director did not know about this beforehand. He suggests the director thank the workers for bringing it to her attention. When dealing with the worker in question, he advises the director to handle it positively and encourage the worker to come directly to her with concerns

The Impact of Information Literacy-Related Instruction in the Science Classroom: Clickers Versus Nonclickers

The goal of information literacy instruction is to enable students to develop skills that they can use for life to facilitate their empowerment through information. Instruction librarians, particularly those teaching Millenials whose need for “hands on” instruction has been widely emphasized, are constantly searching for methodologies that will provide appropriate levels of interactive instruction. Many methods for enhancing the relevance of library instruction have been discussed in the literature. This study, designed and developed by a collaborative team of librarians and science faculty, describes the effects of providing course-integrated, interactive (with clickers) information literacy instruction to undergraduates at a small private nonprofit university in the Southeast