Attached to: Minutes of March 12, 2008 Meeting
December 3, 2007
Adding value to the Information Assistant Position: a Proposal for Training and Multigenerational Dialogue on Librarianship
The RUL employs LIS graduate students as IAs primarily to staff reference desks at unit libraries. The IAs need training to
acquire solid understanding of overall operation of the libraries including fluency on RUL Website, unit library collection
responsibilities, selectors and their collection development responsibilities in order to perform their job. They typically
work 1-2 years until they get their degree. They include voucher and work-study students.
Current environmental scan:
- # of IAs: ALEX: 5. DGLSS 5. KLMR: 3, LSM: 0
- Each unit has an IA coordinator who hires them.
- Training conducted separately at units leading to duplication of efforts
- IAs' tight schedule of classes limit their availability
- Lack of opportunity for the IAs to get to know other IAs based at own and other units
- Not all IAs are interested in academic libraries
Some efforts at Douglass/Music:
- Match IAs with meaningful projects of their interest:
- Moevs project and archival research for exhibits (Caitlyn), Retired faculty (Andrea)
- Music ref (Elie), Shaping a life (Lisa)
- Informal mentoring: casual conversations, occasional lunches, etc.
- SAKAI site for information sharing
Proposal:
- A NBL wide IA Training Program coordinated by NB-ISSG.
PROS:
- All web-based information can be introduced for the group, leaving the units to address local and specific information.
- Create NBL wide IA community and opportunity to interact with other librarians or mentors
- One program during the National Library Week (April 13-19, 2007) with focus on mutigenerational dialog on librarianship. Possible formats include
- Panel presentation with librarians in various stages of their career
- One librarian leader talk about area(s) of need or growth in the next 10 years.
- RUL News & Events dedicated to IA and other student workers during the National Library Week and/or Student Appreciation Day.
Outcome:
- Better integrated IAs with better understanding of RUL
- Minimize IA training duplication.
- Integration and recognition of IA work
- Contribution to professional development of LIS students