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Planning and Implementing the Use of New Online Research and Networking Tools by Librarians at an American University to Improve Engagement with the Campus Community
Mark A. Vargas
Library Director
Saint Xavier University
Chicago, Illinois
International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation, 2009
Purpose of the Session
Provide overview of the research skills of SXU students
Explain how using new research and social networking tools helps raise information literacy and engage the campus community
What is the Current State of Information Literacy?
Research Skill = Information Literacy
Ability to find, evaluate, and use information
Understand the scholarly, peer-review process
NOT computer literacy, NOT media dependent
Observations from the Library
Limited awareness of the scholarly, peer-review process
Perceived skills exceed capabilities
Students have difficulties finding materials
Total reliance on Google and Wikipedia
Librarians’ Perspective
No chance for a library research course
Limited role in general education classes
Where We Started
BetterTeaching
Tools
BetterTeaching
Tools
BetterComm.Tools
BetterComm.Tools
BetterResearch
Tools
BetterResearch
Tools
FacultyOutreach
FacultyOutreach
InformationLiterate
Students
InformationLiterate
Students
Basic Engagement Principles
Stop trying to make students little librarians
Reach them on their level
Reach them using their tools
Simplify, simplify, simplify
Faculty Outreach
BetterTeaching
Tools
BetterTeaching
Tools
BetterComm.Tools
BetterComm.Tools
BetterResearch
Tools
BetterResearch
Tools
FacultyOutreach
FacultyOutreach
InformationLiterate
Students
InformationLiterate
Students
Located the Team Players
Group willing to work with the Library
Reviewed results of the ICT exam
Willing to experiment
ICT Compared Proficiencies Is not a computer-skills test
SXU students performed well below the national average in three categories; just met average in the other categories
Major Environmental Changes Faculty learned in age of
limited information
Students have almost unlimited access to information
Library has resources impossible to obtain just a few years ago
Common Problems…
Library assignments often don’t have clear learning objectives
Students don’t know why the assignment is made
Assignments don’t match the research skills of the students
Assignments are often too esoteric or too complex, especially for freshmen and sophomores
Better Teaching Tools
BetterTeaching
Tools
BetterTeaching
Tools
BetterComm.Tools
BetterComm.Tools
BetterResearch
Tools
BetterResearch
Tools
FacultyOutreach
FacultyOutreach
InformationLiterate
Students
InformationLiterate
Students
Library Tutorials using Adobe Captivate
Built-in assessment
Standardize instruction on scholarly, peer-review process
Instruction as homework rather than in-class
Reduce duplicate instruction; reach more students
Tutorial Interactivity Must engage students
Students choose options, input data, make choices, take quizzes
Must be completed by average student in about 15-20 minutes
Examples of Tutorials
Scholarly, peer review sources Research v. review, abstracts, keywords Finding primary research materials Specialized nursing research Evaluating statistical data SWOT analyses
Feedback Students
#1 question: why didn’t I get this sooner?Very helpful in understanding research
concepts
FacultyUseful as homework, less class time needed
for library instruction
Better Communication Tools
BetterTeaching
Tools
BetterTeaching
Tools
BetterComm.Tools
BetterComm.Tools
BetterResearch
Tools
BetterResearch
Tools
FacultyOutreach
FacultyOutreach
InformationLiterate
Students
InformationLiterate
Students
Communication Through Their Tools Tried and dropped Ask Away
Implemented Meebo chat service, Twitter, and Facebook, BookNews
Experimenting with ConnectYard
Meebo
Totally open, easy to use Instant chat Librarian on duty almost all hours the
Library is open Wide variety of questions Tremendous success
2nd most popular academic library Twitter site
At least two updates daily Tiny URLs for bibliographies Facebook for engagement, not research Focus is on SXU students
Twitter and Facebook
Electronic newsletters for new materials in many topic areas
View, or email subscription, or get RSS feeds
Patrons can leave comments
Book & DVD News
Better Research Tools
BetterTeaching
Tools
BetterTeaching
Tools
BetterComm.Tools
BetterComm.Tools
BetterResearch
Tools
BetterResearch
Tools
FacultyOutreach
FacultyOutreach
InformationLiterate
Students
InformationLiterate
Students
Why Libraries Lost Virtual Patrons
Traditional searching was too complexToo many choices (catalogs, databases)Too many different interfacesMany interfaces over designed
Patrons naturally preferred less efficient but easier to use interface: Google, Bing, etc.
What SXU Library Wanted
Easy to use
Search tool that unified searching for any format
Kept our ILL capabilities with the I-Share consortium
WorldCat Local
1st Illinois library to implement
Research tool that combines searchingBy format, including journal articlesBy locationFull interlibrary loan functionSaving to social network sites
WorldCat Local
Patrons do not have to choose databases or catalogs
If SXU doesn’t have it, patrons can usually get it through ILL or purchase
Allows patrons to locate, retrieve, share information seamlessly
Summary
SXU Library is attempting to engage its patrons on their level, using their tools
Are we successful? Anecdotally, yes. Over time, we will build quantifiable assessment measures to improve and expand our operations.
