Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Leadership Conference Charts Course For Future Of Sela

The Southeastern Librarian

The bi-annual leadership conference of the Southeastern Library Association was held inDecatur, Georgia on May 13, 2004. This conference serves as a training opportunity forincoming leadership - officers and chairs of committees, sections and roundtables - aswell as any interested member, including those who might take a leadership position inthe future or just want to develop their leadership skills. Additionally, the conferenceprovides an opportunity for networking, discussion of issues important to SELA andlibrarians in the region, and planning for SELA’s future.

Message From The President, Judith Gibbons

The Southeastern Librarian

Column by SELA President, Judith Gibbons.

Hbcu (Historically Black Colleges And Universities) News

The Southeastern Librarian

Library news from historically Black colleges and universities.

Solinet Offers Iacet - Certified Continuing Education Units

The Southeastern Librarian

Classes offered by SOLINET’s Educational Services now offer Continuing Education Units (CEUs), a major benefit to library staff needing to enhance or maintain their professional credentials.

People News

The Southeastern Librarian

Recent professional developments from SELA members.

State News

The Southeastern Librarian

Recent developments from SELA member institutions.

Outstanding Southeastern Library Program Award Call For Nomination

The Southeastern Librarian

Calls for nominations for the Outstanding Southeastern Library Program Award of 2005.

Eku Libraries And The Nova Program: Collaborating To Bring Information Literacy To First Year Students, Brad Marcum

The Southeastern Librarian

During the fall semester of 2003, Eastern Kentucky University libraries and the NOVA program for first year students initiated a collaborative effort aimed at achieving two goals: 1) better prepare the one hundred students selected to participate in the NOVA program for their career at EKU, and 2) provide those students with information literacy skills needed to function as discriminating consumers of information throughout their lives.

This article will discuss the creation and outcomes of our first year of collaboration. It will touch on our positive experiences and on some of the challenges EKU librarians encountered as we worked with …

Assessing Library Services With Libqual+: A Case Study, William J. Hubbard, Donald E. Walter

The Southeastern Librarian

There is a growing body of literature on the development of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) assessment tool, LibQUAL+ (Cook, Heath, Thompson). Because LibQUAL+ is a fairly recent innovation, there has been little published on its use in individual libraries. The 2001 LibQUAL+ survey at Texas Tech (Kemp) and the 2002 survey at the University of Washington (Hiller) are two exceptions. Both were conducted at ARL libraries, which is appropriate as LibQUAL+ is an ARL program. ARL has announced a forthcoming title, From Data to Action: Libraries Report on Their Use of LibQUAL+™ Survey Findings, but this has yet …

President's Column, Judith Gibbons

The Southeastern Librarian

Column by SELA President, Judith Gibbons.

The Southeastern Librarian V. 53, No. 1 (Spring 2005) Complete Issue

The Southeastern Librarian

Complete issue of The Southeastern Librarian, volume 53, no. 1 (Spring 2005).

From The Editor, Perry Bratcher

The Southeastern Librarian

Column by Perry Bratcher, editor of The Southeastern Librarian.

Chatting About Questionpoint And Docutek, Dana Mervar, Matthew Loving

The Southeastern Librarian

The following article describes our experience using two popular interactive chat services: OCLC QuestionPoint and Docutek VRLplus. A search of the library literature revealed that no similar comparisons had been done. Regardless of the future of chat technology, the current buzz surrounding its use is prompting libraries across the country to seek out ways of acquiring a chat service. OCLC has strong name recognition due to its traditional role in providing library technology solutions. This factor plays an important role in marketing its QuestionPoint chat product. Docutek also offers library technology solutions with the idea of making technology simple and …

Creating A Reading Culture In An Academic Library, Kathy A. Campbell, Debbie O'Brien, Jean Flanigan

The Southeastern Librarian

Aliteracy is becoming a growing concern on college campuses, including East Tennessee State University (ETSU). Several years ago, a colleague emailed the librarians at Sherrod Library an article from the online edition of the Washington Post (Weeks 2001) about a graduate student at Park University in Kansas City who was making it through school by skimming texts, drawing information and themes from dust jackets, watching television, and listening to audio books. Jeremy Spreitzer, the focus of the Washington Post story, represented the growing number of students in the United States who are aliterate. After discussing this article at our faculty …

Striving For Success: Practical Advice For Reference Graduate Assistants (And Other New Reference Providers), D. Brett Spencer, Amia Baker, Richard A. Stoddart, Sheri Helt, Adrienne R. Lee, Bryan Paul Tronstad

The Southeastern Librarian

With a little reflection, most librarians can recall the excitement, anticipation, and fear that filled their early days at the reference desk:

“What will people ask me?”

“What if I don’t know how to help someone?”

“What do I need to do to be successful?”

Many librarians first experienced this emotional turbulence while working as graduate assistants (GAs) in academic library reference departments. Although demanding, working as a reference graduate assistant yields many benefits. An assistantship introduces participants to basics of reference librarianship like customer service, search techniques, and teamwork. Assistantships also help students get their foot in the door …

Live Virtual Reference And The Database Dilemma, Jennifer Mcclure

The Southeastern Librarian

Live virtual reference programs in the university setting have blossomed in recent years as librarians have aspired to become as “virtual” as the resources they offer. While some libraries have chosen to limit their service to affiliated members, many have preferred to open their programs to the wider community. The motivation to do so is perhaps particularly strong among public university librarians, who often feel a dual responsibility to their own affiliates and to the citizens of their state. However, the decision to offer a chat reference service to the public raises a number of legal, ethical, and practical questions …