Scholarly & Professional Activity Committee Report (2002-2003)

Members:

• Veronica Calderhead
• Kayo Denda (Chair)
• Sara Harrington
• Triveni Kuchi (Vice-Chair)
• Mary Beth Weber

Fall 2002:

The Program entitled What is the future of reference in the digital library environment? took place on December 12, 2002, at Pane Room, Alexander Library. The keynote speaker was Anne Lipow, director of Library Solutions Institute & Press, and a nationally renowned expert on the changing nature of library reference service. A panel RUL librarians consisting of Natalie Borisovetz, Marty Kesselman, and team of Triveni Kuchi, Laura Mullen, and Stephanie Tama, presented respectively the services Ask-a-Librarian, Real Time Reference, and Librarians Without Borders. The Public Services Council, SAPAC, and Training and Learning Committee co-sponsored the program. The event was very well attended and simultaneous video conferencing was offered to the Robeson and Dana Libraries.

The following is the summary of evaluation/comments from the attendees of the event:

• Any workshop that makes me think constructively and critically about the work I do is extraordinarily useful. I like the format, particularly instructor's willingness to answer questions and participate in a dialogue.
• Add a half-hour and a break so keynote has time to explain her presentation.
• Mount all presentations on web pages.
• Interesting to see what RU libraries were doing.
• More focus on academic libraries and reference.
• Worked very well…good to be able to see what RULs were doing and then get response.
• Enjoyable, interesting, good flow/pace. More workshops like this would be great. Liked combination of keynote and RU panelists.
• Ann's authority should give us impetus to take on some obvious but unpopular changes - e.g. get librarians off the desk and where the users are!
• Always good to have time to think about these issues.
• Focus needs to be on future services, rather than already existing services and/or stereotypes of "libraries".
• Organization and presentation of entire program was very well executed.
• More Q & A…I'd prefer slightly more time for open discussion-ideas back and forth-Many people have ideas I'd like to hear.
• Excellent presentations by all!
• As a participant in the AAL service, I particularly enjoyed Natalie's presentation. I thought the combination of speakers and topics provided a perfectly balanced blend of ideas and perspectives.
• It was wonderful to integrate our local research with that of an international presenter/consultant. She (Anne) challenged us. God bless her.
• Not many people can adapt their presentation like Anne did. Most impressive.
• This is hard to evaluate. I am already familiar with the Rutgers' services, but it was interesting to see coherent presentations about all three together.
• I find there are serious clashes between my philosophy and Anne Lipow's, but I did think that some of her ideas had merit and could be applied to our environment. However, they were more relevant to individual service than to virtual service.
• A new perspective…and some realities.
• More time for discussion-I often disagreed, but not because it wasn't well done! Thought-provoking.
• Structure worked well-putting the Rutgers folks first was appropriate.
• [Anne] is terrifically prepared.
• I wish we did more talking like this about services.
• Have panelists talk about needs not being met, already identified.

Spring 2003:

SAPAC hosted a monthly Brown Bag Lunch Series with diverse range of topics. All presentations took place at Pane Room, Alexander Library, from 12-1:30 PM.

February 19
Presenter: Sabine Rauchman, Visitor from Berlin, Germany
Topic: Differences and similarities between German and American academic libraries: a personal experience (co-sponsor with Diversity Committee)

March 12
Presenter: Fernanda Perrone, Archivist and Head, Exhibitions Program (SC/UA)
Topic: History of catholic women's colleges of New Jersey

April 9
Presenter: Eileen Stec, Outreach and Instruction Librarian (NBL/DGLSS)
Topic: Results of Shaping a Life* assessments on learning following library instruction
(*Shaping a Life is the mission course of Douglass College, a requirement for all Douglass incoming students, approx. 800)

May 7
Presenter: Tricia Libutti, Education Librarian (NBL/ALEX)
Title: The Construction of a Monograph: From Ideation to Publication

June 4
Presenter: Jim Niessen, Word History Librarian (NBL/ALEX)
Title: Itinerarium Bibliothecarii: Working with Colleagues in Berlin, Budapest, and Chisinau.