One model for how to change and change well is Bucknell University's
library. I visited there a year or so ago and came away greatly
impressed by the forward-looking staff and management at Bucknell.
Technology helps, but it is not just a matter of technology. The
Bucknell folks have worked very hard for years on the most difficult
change of all - one's mind and behavior.
Basic library work is left to well-trained and well-supervised students,
including basic reference work. The MLS holders focus on heads-down,
hard-core research work with faculty, and have chosen to be THE experts
on their community on information fluency. Most impressive is the fact
that this approach was not imposed from above, it was chosen and
implemented by librarians.
I absolutely stand corrected if there is anyone lurking on this list
from Bucknell. I'll end by saying anyone who looks at what Bucknell has
done and is doing will be doing themselves, and their library, a great
favor.
Mark Andrews, Creighton University
-----Original Message-----
From: Next generation catalogs for libraries
[mailto:NGC4LIB_at_listserv.nd.edu] On Behalf Of Ross Singer
Sent: Monday, May 07, 2007 9:14 AM
To: NGC4LIB_at_listserv.nd.edu
Subject: Re: [NGC4LIB] Yes but
On 5/7/07, K.G. Schneider <kgs_at_bluehighways.com> wrote:
> Another fallacy seems to be that the role of the librarian is
> to explain the functions of complex software. I hope we have a more
stable
> role in the pedagogical firmament than that.
This cuts to the root of the problem. I had tried to dissect this
discussion between:
- Humility (we need to improve access and simplify our tools because
there's nothing really stopping it but ourselves)
- Self-importance (a computer couldn't provide the value we as trained
professionals offer and any attempt to do so would be detrimental to
real research)
But Karen's point shows a somewhat different angle of this. Are we
glorified software trainers? There seems to be a huge disconnect here
between the argument of "we need to teach information literacy" and
"before you can address whether or not the citation you are looking
for addresses your needs as a researcher, we need to teach you how to
use 17 different arcane interfaces to find it -- we might not even get
to the information literacy part...".
-Ross.
Received on Mon May 07 2007 - 14:53:33 EDT