SLIS News Feed

SLIS Class Project Implemented on the IU Black Film Center/Archive Website

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Four SLIS master degree students have had a class project implemented for real world use. Stacey Doyle, Asik Pradhan, Rebecca Reed, and Jane Shin completed their class project (a database) for Dr. Ying Ding's class (SLIS S511: Database Design) during the Spring 2011 session. Dr. Ding recently emailed: "Just got great news from our last year database design class - their group project is now being used on the Black Film Center/Archive’s website."

Database Design is a course concerned with teaching students how to use various database models, understanding theory surrounding databases, as well as creating a database of their own. Dr. Ding is currently teaching the class again this semester (Spring 2012).

A part of the assignment description states:

What is the purpose of the database? Why is it needed? What should it do?
Who are the users and what are their information needs?
What are the problems that the system should solve?
What input data is available to the database?
What kind of information should be stored in the database?

Included here is an excerpt from the description of the students' project:

Database Environment

The Black Film Center/Archive was founded by Dr. Phyllis Klotman in 1981 and was the first repository for the collection and preservation of African American film and film-related materials in the United States. Dr. Klotman served as professor emerita of Afro-American Studies and Film Studies for many years and was a driving force behind the department and the film archive and center. Dr. Klotman started the collection and served as the director of the Black Film Center and Archive for eighteen years, until she passed her duties over to Audrey McCluskey (1998-2006), who then passed her duties over to the current director Michael Martin. Since the creation of the archive and center, the BFC/A has broadened the scope of materials and genres that it collects and now includes films, filmmakers, producers, actors, directors, musicians, and others included in film production from not only the United States but from all over the world. The BFC/A is a non-circulating collection that consists of over 2,000 individual film titles on various formats (VHS, 16mm, DVD, ¾” U-Matic, 35mm, 8mm, and Laserdiscs) dating from the 1890s to present day. Besides films, the collection features director and actor interviews, press kits, posters, lobby cards, photographs, audio materials, articles, event materials, and other film related papers. Mary Huelsbeck, the current archivist, has just taken over the archive within the last few years. Her goal is to make the BFC/A collections more accessible to users. Currently, the website has lists of the films, actors, musicians, and events available online; however, the BFC/A lacks a searchable database. They are in especial need of one for their photograph collection. Currently, there is a word document that has a searchable table for the photograph collection, which consists of about 1,500 individual items.

Goals and Objectives

The clients seek a database that allows them to successfully search and cross-reference their photograph collection, one that they can add data to and that has the potential to include their scanned digital copies of the photographs. Currently, the website only contains a list of individual actors and films without cross-references. The archivist and staff at the Black Film Center/Archive would be among the primary users, but the user base would also include researchers, scholars, production companies, students, and members of the general public, so the database needs to be also accessible to someone outside of the archive. Reference queries will be done by both the archivist and the patrons themselves, so in many ways their needs are similar. In addition to requiring something that is easy to search, both the clients and users require the database to include all the information that is in the current Word catalog, as well as the descriptions that are attached to the physical copies of the photographs themselves. The database will not only support the instructional and research needs of the patrons, but it will also encourage personal interests in the history, meaning, and aesthetics of black film via the photograph collection. The purpose of the database is to create something that will streamline the clients’ photograph acquisition and retrieval process and make it easier for them to cross reference. Also, it is intended to allow access to all photograph information in one place instead of having the users to browse it through the Word-based catalog. Ultimately, the clients would like a framework that would make it easy for them to transfer it to the web. The database will fulfill clients’ goals and user requirements through a more efficient and uniform method of entering, storing, accessing, and updating photograph information. The main objectives of the archive and center are to preserve and promote the scholarly resources. Users of the archive, whether they are the archivists and staff, scholars, researchers, students, faculty members, or the general public will have to come to the BFC/A to access materials, either by coming in person or by asking reference questions remotely.

Susan Gibbons: University Librarian - Yale University

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

SLIS alumna Susan Gibbons (MLS’95) is the University Librarian at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. Her appointment began on July 1, 2011, and was featured in Yale’s Newsletter - Yale News (March 21, 2011). An excerpt is included here:

"Susan brings to Yale both a keen intelligence and an infectious enthusiasm for the work of libraries," wrote [Yale President] Richard C. Levin in a message to the campus community. "She is greatly admired by faculty and staff colleagues at Rochester, as well as by librarians around the country, for her effective and highly collaborative style of leadership. She fully understands the challenges facing a great research library: that we must continue to maintain and augment our extraordinary print collections, and, at the same time, embrace the exciting possibilities of greater and more efficient use of scholarly materials through digital technology."
Gibbons received a B.A. in history from the University of Delaware in 1992, and in 1995 master's degrees in both history and library science from Indiana University-Bloomington. More recently, she returned to school while working full-time to earn both a M.B.A. in 2002 from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and an Ed.D. in higher education administration from the University of Rochester in 2009.

In an email interview, Susan gave us details on her new job as well as some tips for future librarians.

Main Job Duties: I am responsible for the third largest academic library in the U.S., which has more than 12.8 million volumes, a staff of over 500, and 18 library facilities on the Yale campus.

Favorite Aspects: I enjoy working at the senior level of the university to ensure that we can support and enhance research, teaching and learning at Yale. We work in service to the academic mission of Yale University and the service orientation of my job is very rewarding.

Tips for Students: I attended IU SLIS assuming that someday I would be a history bibliographer. If I had held fast to that plan, I would not have the job satisfaction that I have today and likely would be unemployed. My advice to students is to say "yes" to whatever opportunity arises, even if seems to be aiming you down a different path. Seek experiences that force you to stretch, but stay true to your moral compass. A bad experience is still a learning experience and you will be stronger for it. It is really a lot of clichés, many of which I heard from my parents growing up, but, as much as I hate to admit it, they were right.

Assistant Curator, Indiana State Museum

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

SLIS alumna, Kisha Tandy (MLS ’10) is the Assistant Curator for History and Culture at the Indiana State Museum. She was recently interviewed by the Indianapolis Star newspaper regarding her work on a new exhibit for the museum titled “Represent.” The exhibit which “presents work by African-Americans who have lived and worked in Indiana” opened on January 21 and will run through October 14, 2012.

The article was posted on the newspaper website on January 15, 2012 and is titled "Q&A with curator Kisha Tandy." It is noted in the article that prior to working at the State Museum, Tandy interned at several Indiana repositories, including the Indiana Historical Society and the Morris-Butler House. In her own words, she made the move to the State Museum because “I wanted to do something that would allow me to use my history background in a different way—presenting history but not necessarily in written form.”

In regards to the “Represent” exhibit, Tandy explains, “I really am trying to make sure that I am presenting African-American history accurately, with documentation and with respect. The appreciation for the past and the people who came before and set the path for me does not go unnoticed.”

SAA-SC Hosts Fourth Annual Conference for Graduate Students and Early Professionals

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The Society of American Archivists - Student Chapter (SAA-SC) of Indiana University’s School of Library and Information Science, Bloomington campus, is set to host their fourth annual Graduate Student and Early Professionals Conference Saturday, March 3 and Sunday, March 4, 2012.

Registration forms must be turned in by February 17 to Dina Kellams, the group’s faculty advisor and an Associate Archivist at the IU Office of University Archives and Records Management.

The official announcement from the SAA-SC website is featured below.

SAA-SC to Host Conference for Graduate Students and Early Professionals in Archives, Rare Books, and Special Collections: March 3-4, 2012

Indiana University student chapter of the Society of American Archivists will host its fourth conference, “Back to the Future: Reconciling the Past, Present, and Future in Archives and Special Collections,” to be held on Saturday, March 3 - Sunday, March 4, 2012 at Herman B Wells Library in Bloomington, Indiana.

The conference will consist of presentations of papers and projects on topics related to archives, special collections, and rare books. Presenters—both students and professionals new to the field—hail from Indiana University as well as institutions from across the country. The conference will also include tours of Indiana University repositories and museums, as well as a workshop. More information on tour and workshop options can be found on the conference blog. These events will have limited enrollment and will be opened first to conference presenters.

Registration for the Conference
Those interested in attending the conference are encouraged to see its designated website for further information about registration, including the required registration form and payment details. Local Bloomington attendees are welcome to submit registration materials via the mailing address listed on the aforementioned website, or materials may be dropped off at the University Archives reception desk during general operating hours (Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., or Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.). The deadline for registration is Friday, February 17, 2012, but remember that tour and workshop options are limited and assigned on a first come first served basis—register soon to reserve your spot. A tentative conference schedule is posted on the SAA-SC website, and details concerning presentation sessions including titles, presenters, and abstracts will be updated as they are solidified.

We are also pleased to host a Society of American Archivists pre-conference workshop, Project Management for Archivists, on Friday, March 2, 2012. The day-long workshop will be taught by Rosemary Pleva Flynn, Librarian and Manager at the Energy & Environmental Research Center at the University of North Dakota. Registration for this workshop is separate from conference registration.

For more information on SAA workshop and registration, please see our blog.

For further information regarding the conference, please send inquiries to iusaaconference@gmail.com.

New Dual Degree Option: Master of Information Science and M.A. in Latin American and Caribbean Studies

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) is pleased to announce the establishment of a new dual-degree program in partnership with the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS):

• Master of Information Science (M.I.S.) and Master of Arts (M.A.) in Latin American and Caribbean Studies

Below is the formal description. SLIS and CLACS have jointly offered the Master of Library Science (MLS) with the MA in Latin American and Caribbean Studies for a number of years. A recent SLIS News story highlighted Timothy Thompson - a student in that joint program:

• SALALM (Seminar on the Acquisition of Latin American Library Materials) Scholarship Recipient

Marcie Deffenbaugh is the first student in the new dual MIS/MA program. She began her studies in both units at Indiana University with hopes for this dual-degree option to be established. Prior to coming to I.U., she completed a B.A. in Spanish, and a B.B.A. in Information Systems at Texas A&M. She was an information technology volunteer for the Peace Corps in Ecuador for 27 months. She has been the recipient of several scholarships while at I.U., including the prestigious FLAS (Foreign Language and Area Studies) Fellowship. Her FLAS award was for the study of the Quechua language.

We asked Marcie to comment on this new program option:

"I am excited and honored to be the first student in the new MIS/MA program, which is giving me the opportunity to pursue my interests in both technology and Latin American studies. Upon graduating, I hope to find a job in the nonprofit sector, specifically working with Latin American indigenous groups and their use of emerging technologies. I am confident that the dual MIS/MA degree will teach me the skills I need to be successful as well as prepare me to overcome any challenges I may face in my future work."

Excerpts from the Description of the Dual MA/MIS Degree
in Latin American and Caribbean Studies and the School of Library and Information Science for the Graduate School Bulletin

The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies offers a dual degree program in cooperation with the School of Library and Information Science. The program prepares students for a wide range of careers requiring a combination of technical skills in information science, foreign language proficiency, and area expertise. Study in the dual degree program allows students to complete the M.A. and M.I.S. with a total of 60 credit hours rather than the 72 hours that would be required to take the two degrees separately. Students take at least 24 credit hours in CLACS and at least 36 graduate credit hours in Library and Information Science. Under this program, the two degrees must be awarded simultaneously.

CLACS Requirements
Students must take 24 credit hours of advanced courses relating to Latin American and Caribbean studies. The interdisciplinary seminar LTAM-L501 (3 credits) must be taken, together with 21 credit hours in other LTAM courses or those Latin American and Caribbean studies courses that are cross-listed with other departments. Students will be expected to take the majority of coursework toward the CLACS degree in graduate-level courses offered within the College of Arts and Sciences. Prior approval from the Director of Graduate Studies must be obtained for enrollment in any courses outside the College. All other requirements for completion of the Latin American Studies M.A., including language proficiency and thesis or final paper/examination, remain as listed in this bulletin.

School of Library and Information Science Requirements
Students must take 21 credit hours of required MIS courses (S510, S511, S513, S515, S516, S556, a programming course in or outside of SLIS) and at least 15 credit hours of SLIS elective courses appropriate to the student's background and interests (36 credit hours total).

SLIS Faculty Spotlights: January 2012

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

SLIS faculty member actively contribute research to the profession. Their articles and papers make a difference. Read below of some recent contributes to the field.

The ALISE (Association of Library and Information Science Educators) Conference was held in Dallas, Texas from January 17-22, 2012. Cassidy Sugimoto was on two teams who received awards, and two SLIS doctoral students (Peter Hook and Shannon Oltmann) received poster awards - [these items are featured in other SLIS News stories.] Jean Preer completed her three year term on the ALISE Board of Directors at the Conference. She also facilitated a discussion at the Ethics table at the "Birds of a Feather" session at ALISE.

The ALA (American Library Association) Midwinter Conference was also held this year in Dallas from January 20-24. SLIS hosted an Alumni Reception on Sunday, January 22.

At the conference, Andrea Copeland participated in ALA's Reference and User Services Association (CODES) Collection Development Education Committee meeting on January 21. Rachel Applegate was part of a panel discussion on teaching online searching (January 18). Marilyn Irwin was the Chair of the Schneider Family Book Award Jury, and the ASCLA Representative on the ALA Education Assembly.

Tomas Lipinski was a part of the Copyright Education subcommittee of the ALA OITP (Office for Information Technology Policy) meetings on January 20 and 22. He chaired the ACRL (Association of College and Research Libraries) Copyright Discussion Group meeting on January 21. The topic was "Hathi Trust and Related Litigation." He also participated in a discussion/consultation with the ALA OIF (Office of Intellectual Freedom) Committee on January 21.

John Walsh participated in the Modern Language Association Convention in Seattle, Washington from January 4-10, 2012. He participated in a workshop "Evaluating Digital Scholarship for Tenure and Promotion." And, he presented a paper, "Information and the Victorian Poet," in a session on "Reconfiguring the Scholarly Edition."

Katy Börner presented a talk "DIY Data Mining, Information Visualization, and Science Maps" at Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS), KNAW The Hague, The Netherlands on January 23, 2012.

Jean Preer's "Wake Up and Read!" Book Promotion and National Library Week, 1958" was published as chapter in Historical Essays in Honor of John Y. Cole, ed. Mary Niles Maack (Library of Congress in Association with the University of Texas Press, Washington, D.C., 2011.)

A variety of topics were addressed in faculty journal articles. SLIS faculty members Blaise Cronin, Ying Ding, Staša Milojević, Cassidy Sugimoto, Jingfeng Xia and, SLIS doctoral student Erjia Yan, are among the authors included here:

Cronin. B. Editorial. Language matters. Journal of the American Society for Information Science & Technology, 63(2), 2012, p. 217.
Milojević, S. (2012). Multidisciplinary cognitive content of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Journal of Nanoparticle Research. 14(1), 685. . Doi:10.1007/s11051-011-0685-4.
Wild, D. J., Ding, Y., Sheth, A. P., Harland, L., Gifford, E. M., & Lajiness, M.S. (2012). System chemical biology and the Semantic Web: What they mean for the future of drug discovery research. Drug Discovery Today, doi:10.1016/j.drudis.2011.12.019.
Xia, J. (2012). "Diffusionism and open access," Journal of Documentation, 68(1): 72-99.
Yan, E., Ding, Y., Milojević, S., Sugimoto, C.R. (2012). Topics in dynamic research communities: An exploratory study for the field of information retrieval. Journal of Informetrics. 6(1): 140-153.

Faculty/Students Class Project Published

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

SLIS faculty member Jingfeng Xia and eight of his students have co-authored an article that was recently published in the 2012 portal: Libraries and the Academy (Vol.12, No.1, pp. 85-102.) The article is titled "A Review of Open Access Self-Archiving Mandate Policies" and is accessible online through Project Muse.

In an email interview, Dr. Xia explained about the article:

"This was a course project for a class I taught in Spring 2011. I separated students into groups and asked them to read relevant literature, collect necessary data, and draft a portion of the article, all under my guidance. I used this as a learning experience for students to understand how to conduct research.

This research is related to the topic of the course that included open access as a part of the class discussions. By working on the project, students not only learned research strategies, but also became familiar with the materials. In this article, we presented some interesting findings which are useful for researchers, librarians, other information professionals, and administrators to think the development of open access and adjust open access policies."

Course Title: Information Policy

Co-authors:
Sarah B. Gilchrist,
Nathaniel X.P. Smith,
Justin A. Kingery,
Jennifer R. Radecki,
Marcia L. Wilhelm,
Keith C. Harrison,
Michael L. Ashby,
Alyson J. Mahn

Abstract:
This article reviews the history of open access (OA) policies and examines the current status of mandate policy implementations. It finds that hundreds of policies have been proposed and adopted at various organizational levels and many of them have shown a positive effect on the rate of repository content accumulation. However, it also detects policies showing little or no visible impact on repository development, and attempts to analyze the effects of different types of policies, with varied levels of success. It concludes that an open access mandate policy, by itself, will not change existing practices of scholarly self-archiving.

ALISE Awards for (1) The Biblioblogosphere and (2) Teaching in the Age of Facebook and other Social Media

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The ALISE (Association for Library and Information Science Education) Annual Conference was held this year in Dallas, Texas from January 17-20, 2012. At a reception on January 19th, the ALISE Board of Directors announced the 2012 award recipients. They noted that "these individuals exemplify the excellence that ALISE encourages and represents in the LIS community."

SLIS faculty member Cassidy Sugimoto was a member of two project teams that received awards. She is a Co-Principal Investigator on each award. Carolyn Hank (McGill University) is the PI on both, and Jeffrey Pomerantz (UNC Chapel Hill) is the Co-PI on one of the awards.

OCLC/ALISE Library and Information Science Research Grant
• The Biblioblogosphere: A Comparison of Communication and Preservation Perceptions and Practices between Blogging LIS Scholar-Practitioners and LIS Scholar-Researchers

$14,362 provided by OCLC and the Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE)
Role: Co-Principal Investigator (with PI Carolyn Hank (McGill))
Dates: January 2012-December 2012

ALISE Research Grant
• "Teaching in the Age of Facebook and other Social Media: LIS Faculty and Students 'Friending' and 'Poking' in the Social Sphere"

$5,000 provided by the Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE)
Role: Co-Principal Investigator (with PI Carolyn Hank (McGill) and Co-PI Jeffrey Pomerantz (UNC-CH))
Dates: January 2012-December 2012

SLIS Alumna Receives 2011 I Love My Librarian Award

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Barbara Weaver (MLS ’75), the regional library director for Ivy Tech Community College Northwest, was one of the 10 recipients of the 2011 I Love My Librarian Award. Weaver, who has 90 percent hearing loss as the result of a childhood illness, has served the people of Indiana as a librarian for over thirty years.

The award, sponsored by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the New York Times, and the American Library Association since 2008, “encourages library users to recognize the accomplishments of exceptional public, school, college, community college, or university librarians.” Recipients receive a cash award, plaque, and travel stipend to attend a special reception in New York.

The following are a few excerpts from Weaver’s nomination by Becky Sacopulos — and, an interview with Weaver conducted by Jeff Manes at the Post-Tribune.

Barbara Weaver Nomination

“Barbara’s inventive presence, verve, and respect for students and staff as Regional Library Director for Ivy Tech-Northwest’s campuses in Gary, East Chicago, Valparaiso, and Michigan City has resulted in the establishment and operation of a regional tutoring program where college students can persist and flourish with one-on-one help with their courses.”
“Barbara demonstrates the WOW factor in work ethic and service to others.”
“Barbara does not wait for others to come to her before launching initiatives to draw the interest of students and staff to the library not only for support of academic programs but also to be the helper at their side. For 18 years, she has served the College in an exemplary way.”

Post-Tribune News Article "Disability No Roadblock for Librarian" - by Jeff Manes Chicago-Sun Times Publication - Merrillville, Indiana posted January 13, 2012

“I had to give a two-minute speech in front of more than 300 people. I’m not a very good speaker, but I told the audience that when I received the phone call I’d won, I felt like I was being crowned Miss Indiana.”

In response to someone asking her, “Do you really think you’ll be able to handle it in the profession, not being able to hear?”:

“I’ve done well in school. I’m an avid reader who graduated sixth of 123 and was on the National Honor Society in high school. I had great role models. My parents loved me and I have a brother to look up to. I don’t see why I cannot achieve my dream of being a librarian.”

Doctoral Students Place at ALISE Student Research Poster Competition

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

SLIS doctoral students Peter Hook and Shannon Oltmann presented posters at the ALISE/Jean Tague-Sutcliffe Doctoral Student Research Poster Competition, ALISE (Association for Library and Information Science Education) Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas on January 18, 2012. Hook is a doctoral candidate having completed his qualifying exams in 2011. Oltmann will receive her Ph.D. soon. She recently completed her final dissertation defense.

According to the ALISE website, the competition “offers doctoral students an opportunity to share information about their dissertation projects with the LIS community.” The posters are judged “on the significance of the research topic to the LIS field, the appropriateness of research design and methodology, and a concise description of the results, as well as on the organization, clarity, and aesthetics of the poster.” 47 posters were presented at this conference.

Peter Hook's poster, which placed second in the competition, is titled: “The Structure of Law: Domain Maps from 40,000 Course-Coupling Events and a History of Academic Discipline." Shannon Oltmann, who placed third, titled her poster: “Why Science is Silenced: Restricted Access to Scientific Information in the Federal Government.”

The following excerpts come from their two abstracts:

Peter Hook's Abstract:
“This work determines the similarity of legal course subjects in terms of their topical relatedness and employs multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) to distribute those course subjects in a two-dimensional mapping so that they may be quickly perceived by the viewer using the distance-similarity metaphor.”

Shannon Oltmann's Abstract:
“Scientific information, used by the U.S. Federal government to formulate and evaluate public policy in nearly every department and agency, is frequently contested and sometimes altered, blocked from publication, deleted from reports, or restricted in some other way. This dissertation examines how and why such restriction occurs through a qualitative comparative case study approach…”

We also asked Shannon and Peter to provide any thoughts about their experience at the competition. Shannon stated that "it was challenging to summarize several years' worth of work in a concise, comprehensive ten-minute presentation, but it led me to really focus on the core components of my research. By the final round of judging, I was able to connect the research question, methods, theories, and results in a seamless fashion. I enjoyed the opportunity to talk with so many different people about my research; I got some interesting feedback and new perspectives. People were interested in my methods and case selection, in my findings, and in how I might expand this research in the future. I was surprised to earn third place because there was a lot of high-quality research presented in the competition, but it was a rewarding affirmation of my research." Peter noted that "the judging was long and involved. I thought we would simply pin up the work and let it speak for itself. However, spoken explanations were part of the process and influenced the judging... I am glad I stuck around and enthusiastically presented my work…"

SLIS faculty members Dr. Katy Börner and Dr. Howard Rosenbaum are given credit on the posters. Dr. Börner is Peter Hook's advisor, and Dr. Rosenbaum is Shannon Oltmann's advisor.

SALALM (Seminar on the Acquisition of Latin American Library Materials) Scholarship Recipient

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

"My research is guided by the conviction that the expansion of digital information services can play a role in bridging the gap between libraries and local communities throughout Latin America and the Caribbean." -Timothy A. Thompson

Recently, Timothy A. Thompson was selected as one of the 2011 SALALM Scholarship Recipients. He is a current student in the dual degree Master of Library Science and MA in Latin American and Caribbean Studies program.

Below is the SALALM (Seminar on the Acquisition of Latin American Library Materials) announcement about the award. When asked about the award, Tim mentioned that he would like to "underscore the importance of the support I've received from Luis González [the Librarian for Latin American, Iberian, Latino, and Chicao-Riqueno Studies, Indiana University, Bloomington]."

SALALM Announcement
posted December 20, 2011
author: Daisy Dominguez

"Timothy Thompson is a dual-degree master’s student in library science and Latin American and Caribbean studies at Indiana University. In his application essay, Tim highlighted his keen interest in both digital libraries and Brazilian studies, two areas that have gone hand in hand with his professional development as a librarian: within his MLS degree, he is also pursuing a digital libraries specialization, and his first two years of study at Indiana University were funded by consecutive Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships in Portuguese.

He has worked closely with Luis A. González, Indiana University’s Librarian for Latin American, Iberian, Latino, and Chicano-Riqueño Studies, under whose supervision he completed an internship centered on digital collection development. Using open-source reference management software, he helped implement a complete redesign of González’s Researching Brazil, an online gateway that provides a searchable index of Brazilian scholarly journals.

In 2010, Tim received a Boren Fellowship to spend the following year in Brazil. During the first half of 2011, he continued his study of advanced Portuguese and took language courses at the University of Brasília, where he also completed a graduate-level course in Information Architecture. Concurrently, he enrolled in an independent readings course supervised by González and wrote a review essay of 12 recent books related to library and information science in Brazil.

In April, he was selected to receive the 2011 Rovelstad Scholarship in International Librarianship, awarded annually by the Council on Library and Information Resources to sponsor travel to the IFLA World Library and Information Congress, held this year in San Juan, Puerto Rico. There, he was able to network and share his research interests with information professionals from throughout Ibero-America and the Caribbean.

During the latter half of the year, he conducted fieldwork for his master’s capstone project, which he will conclude during the upcoming semester. His research focuses on the contribution that digital libraries can make as educational resources supporting human development. He is undertaking an analysis of 13 major digital library initiatives in Brazil and has carried out a series of semi-structured interviews with project managers.

'The goal of my research is to determine the extent to which human development has formed part of the rationale for creating digital libraries in Brazil,' says Thompson. 'My research is guided by the conviction that the expansion of digital information services can play a role in bridging the gap between libraries and local communities throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.'

With Cavan McCarthy (Louisiana State University, retired), he is currently co-authoring a chapter on Brazil for the second of a two-volume IFLA publication titled Libraries in the Early 21st Century: An International Perspective, scheduled for publication in early 2012."

Dr. Hamid Ekbia: Presentations in England, Italy, and the Czech Republic

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

December 2011 found SLIS faculty member Hamid Ekbia giving talks at the London School of Economics and Poltical Science, at the University of Western Bohemia, and at the University of Trento. Below are abstracts from his talks, and links to the institutions where they were presented.

As a part of a London School of Economics and Political Science seminar on ICTs in the Contemporary World, Dr. Ekbia gave a presentation on Tuesday, December 6, 2011.
Abstract
Digital Discipline: The Active Complicity of the Modern Subject

The vast infrastructure that enables the transfer of electronic data over communication networks of today also provides the conduits for the transfer of a unique kind of power that seems to envelope large segments of contemporary societies. While physically weaker than the electrical power of the grid, this power seems to be much stronger socially, culturally, and politically — with a grip on people’s minds and behaviors that is rather fierce, forceful, and, at times, formidable. The close association between this kind of power and pervasive computer technologies of today encourages us to dub it “digital power” or, more aptly, “digital discipline.” What makes digital discipline most distinctive from other forms of social power that historically preceded it is its seemingly voluntary and self-inflicted character. Not only do we not resist, we show a strong readiness to embrace it, availing our minds and bodies as vehicles for its circulation and operation. In our quest for happiness and in competing for enhanced performance (longevity, health, wealth, fun) our bodies become docile and our minds complicit in the process. We seem to become happy slaves with respect to some technologies (iPhones, Blackberries, etc.), frustrated but dependent cogs in a system of others (users of customer support in almost any domain, users whose privacy is not respected), and transcendently empowered experts for still others (expert programmers, gamers). What is the origin and character of this power? What are the social, economic, and political mechanisms that enable it? And what moral order and cultural values does it cultivate? These are the questions that I would like to examine here. My interest in these questions is partly retrospective — I want to understand the historical origins and the course of development of the contemporary subject; and partly prospective — I want to see what kinds of designs and arrangements of emerging technologies (health technologies, media, government information systems, financial instruments, etc.) lead to what kinds of roles and relationships between human subjects and technological objects.

BAI 2011 is the abbreviation for "Beyond AI: Interdisciplinary Aspects of Artificial Intelligence" - a conference held December 8-9, 2011, University of Western Bohemia, Pilsen, Czech Republic.

Abstract
Analogy, Aesthetics, and Affect: What HCI Designers Can Learn from AI
William W. York and Hamid R. Ekbia

Recent interest in the aesthetic and affective aspects of design within Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) has generated more questions than answers. In particular, there is a dearth of understanding of how these aspects of design are operationalized, how they relate to use, and how they relate to each other. We propose a third aspect of design - analogies - as a useful way to think about these questions. As close relatives of metaphors, analogies have been a topic of discussion in HCI but are rarely invoked in relation to affect and aesthetics. Building on a view of analogy making as an aesthetically guided process of slip-page and seeing as, we argue that analogies are central to design and use, providing a link between the aesthetic and affective properties of artifacts. In doing so, we draw on examples from AI research as well as different areas of creative activity.

"Personal Health Records and Patient-Oriented Infrastructures: Empowering, Involving, and Enrolling Patients through Information Systems" was an international workshop held December 12-13, 2011 at the University of Trento - Italy. Below is the abstract from Dr. Ekbia's talk.

Abstract
Medicine, Machines, and Mediations: Coordination of Health Work

Current thinking in health technology invests a great deal of hope and emphasis on the role of Electronic Medical Records (EHR) and Personal Health Records (PHR) in improving the state of health care. Including vital health information such as past and present diseases, allergies, and medications, these records are meant to facilitate the recording, storage, and sharing of information among various actors such as providers, practitioners, pharmacies, and insurance companies, but also give patients a pivotal role in managing their health by positioning them as mediators among these other actors. Accordingly, a growing consensus of health managers, medical practitioners and informaticians, technologists, and policy analysts seems to tie the fate and future of health care to computerization of healthcare. However, the chorus is not in unison — rather, the views differ on why this is needed, how it is going to happen, and what performance criteria should be applied in assessing its success. In analyzing these views, we identify two broad perspectives — namely, what can be called “rationalist” and “institutionalist” views — each with its own set of assumptions and principles, but also idiosyncratic subthemes and approaches. I discuss the main outlines of these views, focusing on how they understand and portray the relationship between technology, work, and institutional/organizational change in health care. I argue that this relationship can be best understood in terms of different types of mediation, where various aspects of medical work take on different forms and qualities through computerization and machination in general. I explore and examine these mediations by conceptualizing health work as consisting of various types of works with varying assemblages of participants, goals, and tools. Delineating the various mediations would help us appreciate the positive and negative affordances of these technologies on the character and quality of modern medical practice, while understanding the origin and legitimacy of the constant cries of fragmentation and dehumanization of healthcare.

2012 Indianapolis Youth Literature Conference

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The 2012 Indianapolis Youth Literature Conference will be held on Saturday, February 25th at the Central Library of the Indianapolis Public Library. Co-sponsors of the conference are the Indiana State Library, the Indiana University School of Library and Information Science, Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Public Library, and Kids Ink.

To register: complete the registration form and send it as an attachment to SLIS faculty member Dr. Marilyn Irwin (irwinm@iupui.edu) by Friday, February 10, 2012.

Registration Form

Conference registration is $85.00, which includes parking. An optional box lunch can also be ordered for an additional $10.00. Checks or purchase orders only will be accepted. The deadline for registration is February 10, 2012. LEUs and PGPs will be offered.

Speakers and Presentations:

Nick Bruel , author of a number of books, including his Bad Kitty series. His 2011 books are Bad Kitty Meets the Baby and A Bad Kitty Christmas. Bad Kitty for President was released in January. Mr. Bruel will provide a keynote address and an informal Meet the Author session.

Phillip Hoose, a nonfiction author for youth. The latest work from Mr. Hoose is the award winning biography, Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice. He will provide a keynote address and an informal session on the process of writing nonfiction.

Shannon Hale, author of fantasy staples including The Goose Girl and Princess Academy. Ms. Hale also has written two novels for Jane Austen fans, Austenland and Midnight in Austenland. Ms. Hale will give a keynote presentation and an informal Meet the Author session.

Concurrent session presenters will include Shirley Mullin talking about the best youth books of 2011, Michele Farley sharing insights as a member of the Caldecott Medal jury, and a panel of four Hoosier young adult authors (Christine Johnson, Claire de Lune and Nocturne; Julia Karr, XVI; Saundra Mitchell, The Vespertine; and Mike Mullin, Ashfall).

See Related SLIS News Story:
• Indianapolis Youth Literature Conference - 2011

Photo Credit: Indianapolis Central Library by Serge Melki.
Some Rights Reserved

SLIS Faculty Updates

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Included here are some of the activities of SLIS faculty members at the close of the year 2011. As you can see, there are a variety of connections both globally and with other disciplines. From Ireland to Japan, from the Mayo Clinic to journal articles, SLIS faculty members are involved in future-driven research.

Dr. Ying Ding gave an invited talk at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The talk was given on November 29, 2011 and was titled "Modeling Network of Scientists."

Also, Dr. Ding, two SLIS students (Bing He and Yuyin Sun) and other colleagues co-authored an article for PLoS One:

He, B., Tang, J., Ding, Y., Wang, H., Sun, Y., Shin, J., Chen, B., Moorthy, G., Qiu, J., Desai, P., & Wild, D. (2011). Mining relational paths in integrated biomedical data. PLoS One.

A Japanese translation of Library Ethics (a book authored by Dr. Jean Preer) was published by the Kyoto Institute for Library and Information Science. Library Ethics was published in 2008 by Libraries Unlimited, a member of the Greenwood Publishing Group.

On December 14, 2011, Dr. Blaise Cronin gave an invited presentation "Never Too Many Cooks: The Evolving Nature of Scientific Authorship" at the School of Information and Library Studies, University College Dublin (Ireland).

Then, on December 16, 2011, Dr. Cronin gave an invited talk at the Institute for Research in Social Sciences, University of Ulster, Belfast, Northern Ireland. The presentation was titled "What It Means to be an Author."

Dr. John Walsh contributed an article to the January 2012 issue of JASIST:

Walsh, J.A. (2012). "Images of God and Friends of God": The Holy Icon as Document. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 63, 185-194.

Class Presentation: Seminar on Literature for Youth (SLIS S672)

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Current Master of Library Science student Jose Rincon led the book talk for the final session of SLIS S672 (Seminar on Literature for Youth). Jose is doing the Children's and Young Adult Services Specialization as a part of his MLS degree program. The display for the class was inviting. We asked instructor (and Specialization Director) Dana Backs for details, and we asked Jose Rincon to tell about the experience.

• from Dana Backs:

"This was the final class for S672. All semester the students were given a topic to present. The topics ranged from very emotional - self-esteem and eating disorders, to very fun - Adventure Stories. Because the class shared many personal stories to relay whether the books rang true to them, we all got to know each other on a fairly good basis.

The last class was on War and Upheaval, and again we shared a lot of personal stories and a lot of good books for children and young adults. Jose' did a great job of making the last day a real celebration of how this class evolved over the semester. I can truly say this was one of the best groups of students I've ever had. Every one of them took the class seriously and came prepared to discuss the topics every week."

• from Jose Rincon:

"On December 8, 2011 I directed a class discussion on the Portrayal of War and Political Upheaval through the use of children’s picture books. My responsibility was to lead the discussion and provide clarity of the topic for the entire class. I decided to use all kinds of realia to set the tone for our discussion session. There were posters and children’s books about war displayed all through the class.

The required reading for the class included two short historical fiction chapter books (A Boy no More by Harry Mazer and Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr. In addition, nine children’s picture books were included. Titles included The Librarian of Basra by Jeanette Winter, Rose Blanche by Robert Innocenti, and The Bracelet by Yoshiko Uchida.

Many resources were used to compile the collection of books. Some books included; Literature Connections to American History k-6 by Lynda Adamson and War and Peace: Literature for Children and Young Adults by Virginia A. Walter. These books included annotated bibliographies on children’s books related to this topic.

One of the highlights of the program included making an origami paper crane. After discussing Sadako and the thousand paper cranes the class participated in a craft. I wanted to include this craft in my presentation to include hands on activity and it was meaningful to the discussion of the book.

The presentation was 2 hours and 45 minutes. We had a 15 minute break. During this break tea and snacks were provided for the class. We also took a class picture at the end of the break.

The class was provided with an annotated bibliography of all the books in the presentation. A collection of about 70 books ranging from children to young adults were displayed all throughout the class. These books all were chosen from the resources I compiled. An art exhibit was also created. Posters were put up all around the room for the class to see. These images included war and upheaval images throughout history. The class had at least 7 days in advance to read the books. The 9 children’s picture books were put on reserve at the Monroe County Public Library."

Assistant Librarian - San Diego Zoo Global Library

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

SLIS alumna Amy Jankowski (MLS'11) is now an Assistant Librarian with responsibilities for the Archives and Rare Books Collections at the San Diego Zoo Global Library in Escondido, California. While at SLIS, Amy did the Archives and Records Management Specialization within the Master of Library Science degree.

Her new job was featured in the Special Libraries Association (SLA) Future Ready 365 blog. In an email interview, Amy gave us more details.

from Amy Jankowski:

"SLA's Future Ready 365 blog sought contributors from all over the library profession with a goal of launching one post per day for a full year, all variations on the theme of being 'future ready'. I volunteered to contribute to the blog during the week that my local SLA chapter in San Diego volunteered to cover. My boss, who is highly active in the organization, urged me to write something up despite my initial feeling that I'm still too new to publicize my experiences in print; everyone's voice is valid! I decided to focus on acclimating to a first professional position because it's a subject that seems often overlooked by students and new library professionals otherwise inundated by articles and advice surrounding the job hunt. I hope it helps connect SLIS students to more of the content on SLA's Future Ready blog. There are so many fantastic articles posted there on a really diverse range of topics. It's easy to get lost in the content!

Main job duties: Because of my repository's small size, my job encompasses duties of both an archivist and a librarian. My position focuses on archives work, yet I assist with general library reference, technical processing, circulation, and outreach when needed. My role with the zoo's archives encompasses appraisal, accessioning new collections, arranging and housing materials, creating descriptive finding aids, assessing preservation issues, exploring digital capture and management strategies, and providing reference service to a largely internal patron base, as the library is not open to the public. In the future, I also plan to recommence my repository's oral history project as well as expand archival outreach and advocacy initiatives through social media strategies and exhibits—both in-house and online.

Favorite thing: Aside from all the obvious benefits of living in southern California and working in a place where I can almost always opt to take a sunny lunchtime walk to see lions, giraffes, and gorillas, I love working in a small, specialized repository and learning how to adapt to the needs and interests of my organization's user base—from public relations and marketing staff to zookeepers and conservation scientists. I really enjoy expanding my subject matter knowledge about zoo history, conservation, botany, and zoology, which I hope will aid me in strategizing to build strong historical documentation of San Diego Zoo Global's organizational culture for the future.

Tips for students: The best advice I can give is to diversify your experiences during graduate school, including coursework, jobs, and volunteer experience. It's nearly impossible to predict where you will end up in the professional world, and diversification of experiences gives you more confidence and flexibility in exploring creative options. Also, do the best you can to be enthusiastic, genuine, and keep an open mind. I believe these things make a huge difference in attitude and shine clearly through to potential employers. The coursework and busy activity schedule of library school can be a draining experience, but it helps when you continually remind yourself why you started the program—hopefully it's because you wanted to pursue something you love!"

Digging Into Data Challenge

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

On January 3, 2012 the Office of Digital Humanities at the National Endowment for the Humanities posted the results of the Digging Into Data Challenge:

"Today, fourteen teams representing Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States were named the winners of the second Digging Into Data Challenge, a competition to promote innovative humanities and social science research using large-scale data analysis. Each team represents collaborations among scholars, scientists, and librarians from leading universities worldwide.

Thank you to the 67 international teams that competed in the challenge as well as the many libraries, archives, and data repositories that made materials available to the researchers. The competition was very keen and, in the end, fourteen teams were awarded grants after an international peer-review process."

Press Release - IU News Room - January 9, 2012

SLIS Dean Debora Shaw sent out this announcement regarding grants received by SLIS faculty members Cassidy Sugimoto, Staša Milojević, Ying Ding and Katy Börner:

"Congratulations to Cassidy, Staša, Ying, and Katy for winning two of the 14 Digging Into Data Challenge grants announced today. This is round two of the competition, which aims to promote innovative humanities and social science research using large-scale data analysis.

Cassidy, Ying, and Staša will work with Mike Thelwall (Wolverhampton) and Vincent Larivière (Montreal) to examine topic lifecycles across heterogeneous corpora, including not only scholarly and scientific literature, but also social networks, and blogs.

Katy will work with Colin Allen (IU), Andrew Ravenscroft (East London), Chris Reed (Dundee), and David Bourget (London). They will examine digitized documents to identify arguments that drive research in the sciences and humanities, enabling innovative interdisciplinary research and better-informed debates among students and the general public."

Descriptions from the grant's website:

• Cascades, Islands, or Streams? Time, Topic, and Scholarly Activities in Humanities and Social Science Research

Principal Investigators: Cassidy R. Sugimoto, Ying Ding, Staša Milojević, Indiana University, Bloomington, NSF; Mike Thelwall, University of Wolverhampton, AHRC/ESRC/JISC; Vincent Larivière, Université de Montréal, SSHRC.

Description: This project will examine topic lifecycles across heterogeneous corpora, including not only scholarly and scientific literature, but also social networks, blogs, and other materials. While the growth of large-scale datasets has enabled examination within scientific datasets, there is little research that looks across datasets. The team will analyze the importance of various scholarly activities for creating, sustaining, and propelling new knowledge; compare and triangulate the results of topic analysis methods; and develop transparent and accessible tools. This work should identify which scholarly activities are indicative of emerging areas and identify datasets that should no longer be marginalized, but built into understandings and measurements of scholarship.

• Digging by Debating

Principal Investigators: Colin Allen and Katy Börner, Indiana University, Bloomington, NEH; Andrew Ravenscroft, University of East London, Chris Reed, University of Dundee, and David Bourget, University of London, AHRC/ESRC/JISC.

Description: A project to develop and implement a multi-scale workbench, called "InterDebates", with the goal of digging into data provided by hundreds of thousands, eventually millions, of digitized books, bibliographic databases of journal articles, and comprehensive reference works written by experts. The team’s hypotheses are: that detailed and identifiable arguments drive many aspects of research in the sciences and the humanities; that argumentative structures can be extracted from large datasets using a mixture of automated and social computing techniques; and, that the availability of such analyses will enable innovative interdisciplinary research, and may also play a role in supporting better-informed critical debates among students and the general public.

Katy Börner Selected to be an AAAS Fellow

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Indiana University proudly issued the following press release. It includes news that SLIS faculty member, Dr. Katy Börner is one of ten IU faculty who were selected to be Fellows in the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). This is a significant honor for both SLIS and the university. The recipients will be recognized at the AAAS Annual Meeting to be held February 16-20, 2012 in Vancouver, Canada.

Dec. 7, 2011
Steve Chaplin, University Communications (stjchap@iu.edu)
Indiana University

IU record of 10 faculty receive Fellow distinction from AAAS

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The American Association for the Advancement of Science has awarded the distinction of Fellow to a record 10 Indiana University faculty members this year. Founded in 1848, AAAS is the world's largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science.

The new Fellows, all from the Bloomington campus, include seven from the College of Arts and Sciences and one each from the School of Education, the School of Library and Information Science, and the School of Medicine. The 10 new Fellows represent the largest group selected from IU since 2001, when five Fellows were named, and brings the total number of AAAS Fellows at IU to 66.

"This is a superb achievement by our outstanding faculty, and this recognition far exceeds any that IU faculty have received in the past from this prestigious association," said Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie. "Indiana University is delighted that this group of distinguished scholars, representing a full spectrum of disciplines, is being acknowledged by their peers for the quality and diversity of their work and for their sustained record of achievement. Recognition by the AAAS confirms their leadership and impact in their fields, and it reinforces the excellence of Indiana University's faculty."

Election as an AAAS Fellow is an honor bestowed upon AAAS members by their peers. This year, 539 members have been awarded this honor by AAAS because of their scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications. New Fellows will be presented with an official certificate and a gold and blue (representing science and engineering, respectively) rosette pin on Feb. 18 at the AAAS Fellows Forum during the 2012 AAAS Annual Meeting in Vancouver, B.C., Canada.

The Fellows from Indiana University, along with the AAAS citation of merit, are:

Carl Bauer
Professor and chair, Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Department, "For distinguished contributions in the field of microbial physiology especially for defining an understanding of the origin, evolution and regulation of photosynthesis genes."

Katy Börner
Victor H. Yngve Professor of Information Science, School of Library and Information Science, "For pioneering work on network science infrastructure development, the scientific analysis, modeling, and visualization of science itself, and curatorship of the international 'Places & Spaces: Mapping Science' exhibit."

David Clemmer
Robert and Marjorie Mann Chair Professor, Department of Chemistry, "For distinguished contributions to the field of analytical chemistry, particularly the development of ion mobility/mass spectrometry instrumentation and techniques for the analysis of complex biological mixtures."

David L. Dilcher
Professor emeritus, Department of Biology, "For distinguished service to the study of angiosperm paleobotany, particularly the 'abominable mystery' of angiosperm evolutionary origins, and for fostering international cooperation in paleobotany."

Patricia Foster
Professor, Department of Biology, "For distinguished contributions to molecular genetics and microbiology, particularly for determining mechanisms of stress-induced mutagenesis and elucidating the calculation of spontaneous mutation rates."

Peter Ortoleva
Distinguished professor, Department of Chemistry, "For distinguished contributions to the theory of the self-organization of matter across scales from nanometers to kilometers as understood through the basic laws of physics."

Jonathan A. Plucker
Professor, School of Education, "For distinguished contributions to the science of creativity and the creation of research-supported education policy."

Roderick A. Suthers
Professor, School of Medicine, "For distinguished contributions to the understanding of the fundamental mechanisms underlying sound production in birds."

Roger Temam
College Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Mathematics, "For distinguished contributions to applied mathematics and fluid mechanics and extraordinary mentoring of young mathematicians throughout the world."

Virginia J. Vitzthum
Professor, Department of Anthropology and Kinsey Institute, "For distinguished contributions to anthropology, particularly for evolutionary models of women's reproductive function and for international work bridging science and policy."

The tradition of AAAS Fellows began in 1874, and members can be considered for the rank of Fellow if nominated by the steering group of their respective sections, by three Fellows, or by the association's CEO. Each steering group then reviews the nominations of individuals within its respective section and forwards a final list to the AAAS Council.

The AAAS Council votes on the final aggregate list. The council is the policymaking body of the association, chaired by the president and consisting of the members of the board of directors, the retiring section chairs, delegates from each electorate and each regional division, and two delegates from the National Association of Academies of Science.

AAAS includes 262 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals. Science magazine has the largest paid circulation of any peer-reviewed general science journal in the world, with an estimated total readership of 1 million. The nonprofit AAAS is open to all and fulfills its mission to "advance science and serve society" through initiatives in science policy, international programs, science education and more.

Rubric Assessment of Information Literacy Skills (RAILS)

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Brian Winterman (MLS'03) will participate in the Rubric Assessment of Information Literacy Skills (RAILS) project for the 2011-2012 academic year. Winterman, Information Fluency and Assessment Librarian for the IUB Libraries, will represent Indiana University. He “was selected from librarians attending the ACRL Assessment Immersion Program, an intensive professional development experience focused on building librarian capacity to assess student learning.”

"Indiana University is one of five institutions nationwide selected to participate in the RAILS (Rubric Assessment of Information Literacy Skills) project during the 2011-2012 academic year. RAILS is based at the Syracuse University School of Information Studies and led by Assistant Professor Megan Oakleaf. The three-year project seeks to measure information literacy skills of college students and is funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services."

The following are additional excerpts from the IUB Libraries’ Press Release and describe the project in greater detail:

“RAILS is designed to help librarians and academic faculty develop and test rubrics that evaluate student learning and information literacy.”

"More than 100 samples of student work will be evaluated at each institution to not only evaluate the students themselves, but also how well librarians and faculty members assess student work. Part of the study’s overall goal is to normalize evaluation of student information literacy and establish rubrics to measure teaching effectiveness in libraries. RAILS will employ an interactive website and Waypoint Outcomes, a provider of Web-based academic assessment tools, to process the anonymized assessment data.”

“It’s a big issue with academic libraries to show that they are really contributing to the overall mission of the university,” Oakleaf said. “Libraries receive substantial financial resources from their institutions, so they have to prove their value within the university. This is a way to give actual evidence of the importance of academic libraries.”

Brian Winterman is also a SLIS adjunct faculty member. He has taught SLIS S523: Science and Technology Information in recent years. With his encouragement, the students in his classes have had articles published on their research.

SLIS S523 Class Members Co-Author an Article

Science and Technology Information Class Publish Paper

We asked him if he had any tips for SLIS students. He replied:

“When I was a SLIS student (‘00-‘03), assessment never even crossed my mind. If someone would have told me it would become a major part of my career, I probably wouldn’t have believed them. After graduation, though, my career became focused on information literacy research, and assessment came along naturally after that. Even though my work primarily involves information literacy, assessment is increasingly important in many areas of library and information science. Particularly in academic libraries, it is important for us to demonstrate our value to and impact on research, teaching, and learning at the university, and continuous and effective assessment should be the basis of that. So, no matter what your career goals, learn what you can about assessment of library services, collections, et al. There are few fields that do not involve some element of assessment, and understanding that angle of your field may improve the way you do your job and may also be a great asset to you in the job market.”

Happy New Year 2012

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The SLIS Office Opens for the New Year: Tuesday, January 3, 2012

•The SLIS Office will be closed Friday, 12/23/11 through Monday, 1/2/12.

SLIS Information Commons:
This SLIS Information Commons is open during the official semester dates. It will be closed for the weekend of 12/17 and 12/18 — and between Friday, 12/23/11 through Monday, 1/2/12. There may be some availability between 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. after exam week in December, and before classes start in January. Availability will depend upon systems maintenance projects.

New Student Orientation:
Friday, January 6, 2012 - Room 001
Spring Classes Begin:
Monday, January 9, 2012

Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday:
Monday, January 16, 2012 (Classes do not meet.)

Registrar's Official Spring 2012 Calendar

Registrar's Tentative 9-Year Calendar