Library and Information Science Commons^™

People News

The Southeastern Librarian

Recent professional developments from SELA members.

Stateside News

The Southeastern Librarian

Recent developments from SELA member institutions.

Seeding The Vision: Designing A Minority Librarian Residency Program - Part 2, Kawanna Bright, Jayati Chaudhuri, Jill Keally, Maud Mundava

The Southeastern Librarian

This is the second article describing the design and implementation of a Minority Librarian Residency Program at the University of Tennessee Libraries. The first article, which appeared in the spring 2004 issue of The Southeastern Librarian, provided the background for “Seeding the Vision” and outlined the process used to identify, recruit, and interview qualified librarians for the residency positions. In this article, readers will learn about the final steps in the search process and hear from the residents themselves about their experiences to date.

President's Column, Judith Gibbons

The Southeastern Librarian

Column by SELA President, Judith Gibbons.

From The Editor, Perry Bratcher

The Southeastern Librarian

Column by Perry Bratcher, editor of The Southeastern Librarian.

Outstanding Southeastern Library Program Award Call For Nominations

The Southeastern Librarian

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

Call For Nominations For Rothrock Award

The Southeastern Librarian

Calls for nominations for the 2005 Rothrock Award.

Conference Report - 2004 National Diversity In Libraries Conference: “Diversity In Libraries: Making It Real”, Barbara I. Dewey, Loretta O'Brien Parham, John Burger

The Southeastern Librarian

“Diversity in Libraries: Making It Real” was the topic and the objective of the 2004 National Diversity in Libraries Conference. Intentionally designed to focus on pragmatic, real-world approaches to fostering diversity, the gathering took place May 4-5 at the brand new Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center in Atlanta, Georgia. A record 300 librarians from across the country – and a few from other nations – responded to the call and came together for two days of learning and sharing experiences about this important issue. Sponsors for the fourth national diversity conference included the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries (ASERL), …

Academic Librarians And Outreach Beyond The College Campus, Iona R. Malanchuk, Marilyn N. Ocha

The Southeastern Librarian

Although numerous efforts have been made to enhance the literacy skills of children and youth, recent research clearly demonstrates the continuing need to develop and implement additional imaginative programs which lead to an increase in reading and reading comprehension skills. Whereas public and school media librarians have paved the way towards building successful literacy programs, academic librarians should also participate in literacy outreach programs for children and youth in order to help build these skills and encourage lifelong learning. This article addresses why and how academic librarians can help with the nation’s efforts to combat illiteracy.

The Southeastern Librarian V. 53, No. 3 (Fall 2005) Complete Issue

The Southeastern Librarian

Complete issue of The Southeastern Librarian, volume 53, no. 3 (Fall 2005).

May The Bun Be With You: An Annotated Bibliography Of Librarians And Their Image, David M. Salinero, Jill E. Grogg

The Southeastern Librarian

A very real tension exists between librarians’ attempts to alter their image(s) and the popular press’ and the public’s lingering preference for Marian the Librarian similes. As the Hot Picks @ Your Library calendar indicates, librarians take creative opportunities to dissuade the public of the “image of a dourfaced matron behind a forbidding desk” (Gillespie 2003, A01). But how do librarians attempt to frame their own discussion of the classic caricature? The authors wanted to know how librarians themselves have considered and researched the impact of the stereotype on the profession. What follows is a literature review of materials published …

Call For Nominations - Sela President’S Award

The Southeastern Librarian

A call for nomination for the SELA President's Award. The purpose of the President’s Award is to honor an individual outside the library profession who has made a significant contribution to the development or promotion of libraries in the Southeast.

Department-Integrated Information Literacy: A Middle Ground, William Joseph Thomas

The Southeastern Librarian

Much of the current literature on information literacy on college and university campuses encourages instructional services librarians and departments to pursue one of two options: either integrate information literacy into the curriculum as a campus-wide initiative, or establish a forcredit information literacy course taught by librarians. For a variety of reasons, instructional programs may not be able to accomplish either of these goals immediately. Perhaps the library does not have the institutional influence to mount a campus-wide program, or maybe the library lacks the needed resources in terms of personnel or instructional facilities. Tackling the planning required for a program …

Fast Times In Technical Services: Challenges And Opportunities, Audrey Fenner

The Southeastern Librarian

Both challenges and opportunities are plentiful in libraries these days. A quick summary of the current situation is that technical services departments must do more with the same or fewer financial and human resources and, at the same time, become involved in new library initiatives. Karen Calhoun of Cornell University Library wrote recently that organizational and operational assumptions about technical services are changing. This is her summary of the challenges facing technical services:

• Growing user expectations for electronic and digital services
• Wide array of formats and types of materials
• Rapid technological change
• Rising prices for library materials
• Close scrutiny of …

The Southeastern Librarian V. 53, No. 2 (Summer 2005) Complete Issue

The Southeastern Librarian

Complete issue of The Southeastern Librarian, volume 53, no. 2 (Summer 2005).

Message From The President, Judith Gibbons

The Southeastern Librarian

Column by SELA President, Judith Gibbons.

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.

Outstanding Southeastern Library Program Award Call For Nomination

The Southeastern Librarian

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

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.

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 …

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).

President's Column, Judith Gibbons

The Southeastern Librarian

Column by SELA President, Judith Gibbons.

From The Editor, Perry Bratcher

The Southeastern Librarian

Column by Perry Bratcher, editor of The Southeastern Librarian.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …