I really like the idea of high-school classes visiting the university
library for an orientation. One of our problems in public schools is
finding the money to have field trips, but even arranging a workshop on the
university campus on a Saturday for those students who can attend would be
better than nothing.
The University of Texas at Austin also offers courses for the students, and
some introductory information is given at the freshman level in their
English courses, but it is not enough--or they are so overwhelmed that it
doesn't sink in. I remember having to take a 1 credit course at the
University library when I entered college as a freshman, and it was very
worthwhile. UT at Austin Libraries also offer courses for students both in
the library and online. See
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/services/instruction/studentindex.html
When I was a university librarian for a time in my life, I was invited to go
into the university classes and present a lecture on how the library could
support the students in that particular course. I like that model, but I
doubt many University teachers today take the class time for that
collaboration.
Shirley Lukenbill, Librarian
Wooldridge Elementary, Austin (TX) ISD
and Lecturer, School of Information
University of Texas at Austin
sluken@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu
-----Original Message-----
From: School Library Media & Network Communications
[mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of SBrisco
Sent: Sunday, January 16, 2005 12:13 PM
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: [LM_NET] Information Literacy Article...again
One of the things that I happily discovered when I went from the high school
librarian level to the university assistant professor / librarian level
(Oklahoma State University) was that there was a class available for
students who wanted library instruction and it was available to any level of
student each semester. (For this semester's schedule example:
http://www.library.okstate.edu/lbsc1011/index.htm )
However, if you didn't want in-depth instruction but still needed a
refresher or just some additional information, the library provided online
tutorials that were available. ( See those at:
http://www.library.okstate.edu/guides/tutorial.htm )
And additional information and services were available online for those who
would take the time to seek--- (See those at:
http://www.library.okstate.edu/services.htm#instruction )
Another unique program that was offered was a high school visit to the
university library which allowed the university librarians at OSU to work
(collaborate) with high school teachers / librarians when they brought their
students on the OSU campus ---to see how the library compared to their
school's library and how to find specific things or at least realize that
you can ask a librarian for help when you get to OSU!
They have done this for YEARS...and I'm glad to see that they've included
much more in-depth information literacy aspects to the tutorials and to the
online resources for students....I'm sure that there are hundreds of other
universities that are doing the same thing. This was just my first
experience to realize that what I had been doing at the high level was being
taught at the university level. (I was glad to see that I wasn't wasting my
time!)
~Shonda Brisco
TVS MS / US Librarian
Fort Worth, TX
sbrisco021@charter.net
----- Original Message -----
From: "Shirley Lukenbill" <sluken@CCWF.CC.UTEXAS.EDU>
To: <LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>
Sent: Sunday, January 16, 2005 11:29 AM
Subject: Re: [LM_NET] Information Literacy Article...again
> For several years, I taught a course at the university level which took
> students through the research process, introduced them to a university
> library, and gave them the framework for knowing how to evaluate
> resources.
> The course was for juniors and seniors in college, and every one of them
> said that they wished they had taken such a course as freshmen. The
> students who took my course were usually faced with the task of completing
> a
> senior thesis. This was a daunting task for them when they felt
> inadequate
> to complete their regular research papers. I think that even if we do our
> jobs at the K-12 level, there needs to be something in an undergrad's
> introduction to a university that will move them to that level of
> research--not to mention helping them to just get over the shock of using
> the Library of Congress system as opposed to the Dewey Decimal System.
>
> Shirley Lukenbill, Librarian
> Wooldridge Elementary, Austin (TX) ISD
> and Lecturer, School of Information
> University of Texas at Austin
> sluken@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: School Library Media & Network Communications
> [mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of SBrisco
> Sent: Sunday, January 16, 2005 9:16 AM
> To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
> Subject: [LM_NET] Information Literacy Article...again
>
> If you thought that we were "alone" in our frustration and unsure just how
> this professor could assume that college students already knew everything
> when students started their research assignments.... never fear!
>
> As I "lurk" on the Information Literacy Instruction listserv (which is
> monitored primarily by university and college librarians.... who are
> banging
> their heads against the wall as they try to instruct those students who
> somehow missed the instructional process that would have allowed them to
> do
> any research assignment using Google --- thus bypassing the library), I am
> reading MANY university research librarians' responses to the article---
> and
> they agree with our evaluation of the situation.... (it's so nice to see
> the
> "big librarians" saying the same things we say!).
>
> Obviously, we are not wrong...and yes, the students DO come into the
> university libraries without an idea of where to go for their research---
> they don't know what a scholarly journal is, they can't limit their search
> topics, they don't know how to locate journals with articles that contain
> the information they need, and they haven't even started the writing
> process....which is where the librarian "should be assisting"...according
> the author.
>
> Yes, there are people out there who echo our frustrations.... No, we are
> not alone!
>
> By the way, I think it's humorous that the list contains comment after
> comment about the frustrations / examples of students NOT knowing how to
> do
> research / use the library....and scattered throughout the list are job
> openings for "information literacy librarians" being taken by universities
> and colleges around the nation---obviously, there's still a need even at
> the
> university level for instruction in this area!
>
> Let's keep doing what we're doing....
>
> ~Shonda Brisco
> TVS MS / US Librarian
> Fort Worth, TX
> sbrisco021@charter.net
>
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