Friends of the Library
C.G. O’Kelly Library Newsletter
Winter 2008
Inside
3
Workshops For Writing Center Tutors
3
Library Services & Enrollment Growth
3
Tracking Library Effectiveness
4
Media Production Lab
5
New Staff Members
6
Staff Development
XXVIII Annual Charleston Acquisitions Conference
HBCU Library Aliance
NCLA Library 2.0 Instruction Conference
8
WSSU Friends of the Library Endowment & Anniversary
9
08’ Annual Library Benefit
O’K Fellows Institute
Locate, evaluate and use information
Student enrollment was felt throughout O’Kelly
New Southern Association of Colleges and Schools requirement Media staff members offer new workshops
5th Annual GA Conference on Information Literacy
25 Years of Service
“HisStory” Documentary a Success
12 Slater Book Society
A publication of C.G. O’Kelly Library
Dr. Sadie Brown Webster named 2009 Honoree
The third O’K Fellows Institute will be held January 5 – 6, 2009. This program is designed to build students’ information literacy skills by helping faculty members adjust library assignments. A staff member reviewed courses offered across the curriculum and determined that over 150 classes emphasizing writing and research are offered. With that in mind, the staff’s goal is to invite faculty who emphasize research and writing in their teaching to the institute. Also encouraged to attend are faculty members who are actively implementing writing across the curriculum as part of the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) for the 2010 accreditation visit.
Previously to complete the class, a presentation was made to the Arts & Science faculty inviting them to participate. The goal this year is for 15 to 20 faculty members to attend the institute. Positive comments from the first Fellows Institute graduates; members of the Arts & Science and the Human Performance faculty, were very instrumental in helping to recruit the third class. Over 73 % of the institute participants continue to schedule library instruction sessions and recommend that students seek assistance from librarians to complete their assignments. That number is expected to grow as the WSSU embarks upon improving writing cont. on pg. 2
Friends of the Library | Winter 2008
O’K Fellows Institute cont. from pg. 1
across the curriculum and other university standards. The O’K Fellows experience is positively impacting library services – the contact between students and librarians has increased by over 100 percent and the number of electronic resource searches increased by 300 percent in 2007-08. This fall, the number of instruction sessions offered has already reached the total 2006-07 level of 186 classes. By the end of October, eight librarians had taught an average of 22 library instruction sessions each and 10 librarians had assisted with nearly 300 reference questions/research consultations each.
Librarian Julie Dornberger passes out “participation treats” to participants at the Fellows Institute
The next step for the O’K Fellows planning team is to find techniques to document the program’s impact on student learning/writing and faculty teaching methods. For student learning, the library staff would like to confirm whether students are using more library held resources and are more accurately citing those resources in their papers. During the initial institutes, it was obvious that faculty members required strategies to ensure that students follow-through on assignments. Embedding consultations and checkpoints within learning experiences encourage students to meet short term goals. Consultations involve librarians in the learning process and they assist students during the preliminary research stage with refining their search strategies or selecting the best database to use. Checkpoints give faculty and students opportunities to review preliminary outlines and bibliographies following the completion of initial research and reading to ensure that students’ assignments are on target. So the final question that can be documented through the O’K Fellows experience is, how did faculty members modify their teaching techniques and assignments and did those changes result in improved writing performance by students? WSSU Fine Arts faculty who teach introductory courses must include writing experiences in their first level classes as part of their strategy to introduce quality writing across the curriculum. The O’K Fellows Institute or the
2
Friends of the Library | Winter 2008
QEP requirement caused the Fine Arts faculty who teach during the fall semester to schedule library instruction sessions in September for their introductory and second level courses. Four Fine Arts faculty members participated in the first or second Institutes. They found the techniques presented in the O’K Fellows experience to be an excellent foundation for creating effective writing assignments. A recent conversation with Sharif Bey, Assistant Professor of Art and a graduate of the first Institute, illustrated a need for the O’K Fellows planning team to continue conversations with former participants. Bey continues to improve his assignments and he is now seeing students being more responsible in their writing and research. He is also incorporating a research/writing requirement in 2000 and possibly 3000 level courses. The resulting information can be particularly helpful to new participants and may be useful to others needing a new approach to their assignments. Bey As more faculty members across the curriculum participate in O’K Scholar Institute and follow through on expectations for students to use library resources to write papers—not accepting papers that do not have outlines and bibliographies, and that obviously have plagiarized sections—then one aspect of students’ writing should improve.
Workshops for Writing Center Tutors Being able to effectively locate, evaluate and use information is integral to so much of learning. After Elizabeth Priest, associate director of the writing center, participated in O’K Fellows Institute she asked the library instruction team to develop a series of workshops to teach Writing Center tutors how to locate, evaluate and use information. The workshops on “using citation styles,” “web evaluation,” “research techniques” and “plagiarism” were designed and offered by Christie Peters in September and approximately 17 students participated. The objective was to give the tutors basic information that they could utilize as they assist students with their writing. As a result of the training, the tutors are now referring students to librarians when students need assistance with locating information for their assignments. Hopefully, students will use O’K resources and then do a better job of citing sources within their papers.
Tracking Library Effectiveness Winston-Salem State University’s 2010 Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) visit is fast approaching. One of the primary library requirements for the upcoming visit is that service effectiveness—especially the effectiveness of our library instruction program–must be documented. Effectiveness can no longer be documented with a multiple year statistical report that shows an annual increase in questions answered, books used from the collection, or persons entering the building daily. Now the assessment must include users’ responses to the services offered. To satisfy this requirement, staff members developed a short survey and requested responses from library users during November. A second, more detailed survey will be conducted during the spring. Results from the fall survey include requests for more than one copy of textbooks, which we already have; and that we need more computers, which we need. The library instruction team is documenting how well freshman students are retaining information shared during library instruction sessions. The results indicate that keyword searching remains an issue for students. Presently we have library instruction data for two years.
Library Services & Enrollment Growth During fall 2008, WSSU had the largest enrollment (6,400 students) in the history of the university and the library staff felt this growth. Several days in September
and October the daily attendance reached nearly 1,600 individuals. In addition to seeking assistance, students used study and meeting rooms, checked out textbooks and DVDs, used computers, and checked out laptops. All computers and laptops were routinely in use during cont. on pg. 4
Winter 2008 | Friends of the Library
3
Growth those months. Attendance drops as the semester comes to an end but computers are still in constant use.
struction classes had 35 or more students, requiring the staff to offer more classes in the library lecture room instead of the instruction classroom. Also there were several classes offered in other campus buildings because all the rooms in the library were reserved and
There were many days that at least six Library Instruction classes were offered between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm. The larger enrollment was very obvious when several in-
A a new and positive trend this year was routinely booked meeting and study rooms on Mondays and Wednesdays until closing.
cont. from pg. 1
Media Production Lab
Students working on O’Kelly’s 1st Floor
Media Production & the Library’s LCD Panels The O’Kelly Media production team is responsible for keeping fresh informative packages playing on the LCD panels now located on all three floors of O’Kelly library. The panels are a bright, new, and innovative way to communicate information to patrons visually. Special reminders, library service hours, room reservation schedules, and information from research consultation to how to use databases run in a rotation on the screens. Some university departments are also advertising their major events on the panels. The panels are a highly successful piece of technology for the library.
The new C. G. O’Kelly Media Production Lab opened in February 2008. Media staff members are now offering workshops at least twice during each semester to introduce students to video production software. Assistance is available in the Media Production Lab from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Under special circumstances, assistance can be scheduled after regular service hours. Mass Communications and Social Science students are signing up for the learning experience. Call Chris Screen at extension 2910 or 8606 to schedule a workshop for your class or small groups.
New Staff Name: Christie Peters Graduate of: University of North Carolina at Greensboro , 2008 Degree: Library and Information Science School Master’s Position: Associate Instruction Librarian during 2008-09 This apprenticeship position was created to give a recent library school graduate, valuable experience in instruction, reference, and to also give the instruction team an additional person to teach the increasing number of classes generated by the O’K Fellows Institute and larger student enrollment. The apprenticeship is funded through salary lapse funds. Peters, has prior experience teaching high school science at Henrico High School, Richmond, Va. She also worked reference desk, special collections, and archives collection at UNCG’s Jackson Library
Her pri-
or teaching experience really came in handy when more classes than normal were scheduled early in September and the staff did not have the needed three weeks to complete her orientation and training. Peters was able to take the lesson plan and run, especially with the freshman orientation sections and science classes. Name: Vincent Wiggins Graduate of: Winston Salem State University, 2007 Degree: Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems Position: Library Evening Computer Support Technician Wiggins’ has worked as a network administrator in his hometown, of Rocky Mount, NC prior to seeking employment at WSSU. He is excited about having the opportunity to assist students who are currently enrolled at his Alma Mater. His responsibilities include keeping the nearly 200-plus computers—desktop and laptop—working effectively, ghosting and installing new computers. A significant portion of his work day is devoted to inspecting the laptop computers at the circulation desk to ensure that they are in excellent working condition. He must also routinely spot check the wireless environment to ensure that it is working effectively. Vincent assists patrons with using hardware and software during evening hours and also troubleshoots the print management systems located on the first and second floors. Name: DeShanna Vaughters Graduate of: Winston Salem State University , 2001 Degree: Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems Position: Program Specialist (Administrative Officer) For the last 11 years, Vaughters worked as a Business Analyst with GMAC in WinstonSalem. She is the manager for multiple projects. She is the person who will ensure communication is shared with the appropriate personnel and that projects are completed on time. Her assistance will be particularly important now that librarians are very involved with teaching classes and assisting patrons with research consultations. A few of her primary projects are collecting and maintaining supporting documents for the 2010 SACS visit; specifically ensuring that the necessary documents are posted on SharePoint; distributing, tabulating and posting assessment surveys and results in the appropriate software.
Winter 2008 | Friends of the Library 5
Charleston Acquisitions Conference Acquisitions assistant Patricia Mack was a first time attendee for the Charleston Acquisitions Conference October 5-8, 2008. She applied for and received a North Carolina Library NC Echo grant to attend. Mack was excited to be able to choose so many sessions that were relevant to her primary assignment. Mack learned that there are many ways to do the same assignment. She was introduced to several new strategies that she would like to see implemented in the O’K acquisitions department. The library staff is encouraging Mack to enroll in library school because she is very detail oriented and thorough. Carl Leak, electronic resources librarian, and Crystal Holland, serials librarian, also attended the conference. They were amazed that the conference had increased in size so much that participants were often not able to participate in sessions that they had originally selected to attend. They did learn a lot about better managing electronic resources and serials holdings. Left: Mack, right: Holland, center: Leak
Staff Development National agencies are offering small, specialized workshops that give participants quality learning experiences by allowing them to stay focused on their area specialty. These experiences are popular with staff because of focused themes and they are often held in one hotel instead of a large convention center. This significantly reduces the hassle of getting from hotel to hotel for different sessions. Vicki Miller, education liaison librarian, and Julie Dornberger, coordinator of library instruction, attended the Georgia Conference on Information Literacy. This was Miller’s second time attending this conference. The conference was unique because the audience included academic librarians and K-12 media specialists, as Miller well as university instructors.
6
Friends of the Library | Winter 2008
A presentation from the K-12 librarians focused on instructing teaching candidates information literacy skills so that they can expose their students to how to locate, evaluate and use information. Miller noted with great interest that university faculty members were creating Libguides for their classes. Check with Carl Leak or Vicki Miller to learn how to create your own Libguide. A presentation that J. Dornberger found interesting was “Creative Commons,” a new set of simple, easy-to-understand copyright licenses. These licenses permit scholars to share their works with others and to easily find free products they can use. More information about Creative Commons can be found in the November 2008 issue of CRL News or contact Julie Dornberger, coordinator of library instruction for assistance with using the product. Dornberger
Historical Black College & University (HBCU) Library Alliance Charlotte, NC was the site for the third biennial HBCU Library Alliance membership meeting- “Raising the Bar”October 27-29, 2008. Mae L. Rodney, director of library services, was the O’Kelly Library delegate during general sessions and Angela Wilson, temporary Archivist, participated in the pre-conference on preserving digital images. Participants from the University of Delaware, Hampton University Museum and Tuskegee University discussed environmental, financial consideration of preservation and offered valuable tips for actually selecting and preserving images. Angela Wilson found the workshop extremely beneficial since she is in the midst of helping to make many images in our collection accessible via the Digital Forsyth Project. Joe Williams, Learning Commons manager at D. H. Hill Library at NC State University, described their newly transformed first floor reference area. Today their Learning Commons is a very open environment including roving staff members, computers, diverse seating and low tech instruction support equipment (a moveable dry erasable board) that offers students a high tech study environment which is attractive to millennial learners who are constantly multi-tasking. Williams’ presentation was very enlightening because every aspect of a learning/information commons is present in O’Kelly Library. Librarians and technical staff are readily accessible to assist individuals as they enter the door with their research or technical issues; all of the technology students need is in the building – printers, movie making equipment and editing systems. Three changes are needed to make O’Kelly’s first floor open in the tradition of the information commons: take down a few more book shelves, locate the computers throughout a wider area to reduce the concentration of noise and finally install an array of furniture—not just carrels and tables.
November 17-18 NCLA Library Instruction 2.0 Conference at Chapel Hill Business Reference Librarian, Phyllistine Poole and Associate Instruction Librarian, Christie Peters attended this North Carolina based focus session on information literacy. Many of the breakout sessions which Poole attended were related to the techniques which are being
Overhead shot of WSSU Students at tables in the 1st floor stacks
introduced in the O’K Library’s Master Teacher Librarian certification program and the O’K Fellows Institute. The sessions offered best practice strategies and active teaching techniques. For example “Library Anxiety: Implications for Library Instruction”,
Poole
Peters
cont. on pg 8
Winter 2008 | Friends of the Library 7
NCLA 2.0 Conference cont. from pg. 7
recommended best practices to ease library anxiety among students and improve the quality of their work. The discussion “I Love it When a Plan Comes Together:
A Workshop on Creating In-Class Exercises to Support Research Instruction”, offered participants a small group experience charged with creating an undergraduate research assignment exercise. The groups reconvened and later discussed any significant differences among the exercises.
WSSU Friends of the Library Endowment & Anniversary The WSSU Friends of the Library will celebrate 25 years
Remember this is 25 years of dedication to a single cause.
of service to O’Kelly Library in November 2010. This sig-
Consider making a donation between now and Novem-
nificant milestone includes a consistent pattern of pub-
ber 2010 and be a part of keeping O’Kelly Library a place
lishing a newsletter twice annually since the organiza-
where Rams visit with great pride.
tion was formed and sponsoring public programs such as auctions, literary events, live shows and most recently a documentary to raise supplemental funds for the library. There was only a short period when the west wing was being constructed that some type of annual program was not offered. A major accomplishment is that the organization has also raised nearly $165,000 for the library endowment. The next major target is to reach the $250,000 level for the endowment by 2010. With a little help from our friends this goal can be reached. Contributions from $25 to $250,000 are welcomed! An endowment is very important where innovation and creativity are nurtured. A substantial library endowment will allow the staff to offer services and collections comparable to larger universities so that WSSU students can compete locally, regionally, national and internationally. Excellent services include “best practice library services and programs” as found at other universities to support instruction and research such as an information commons described in an earlier article. Endowment income helps new projects to move forward and provides encouragement for individuals to go the extra mile on establishing projects when a few extra dollars can make the idea pop.
“HisStory” Documentary a Success at 2008 Annual C.G. O’Kelly Library Benefit The WSSU Friends of the Library presented HisStory three days after the most significant election in the history of the United States. HisStory is a documentary that captures 32 African American men talking about family life, education, politics, sports and religion. Artists, preachers, retired teachers, dentists, veterinarians, lawyers, judges were just a few of the professions represented in the documentary. These men reflected about the importance of being leaders in their families. Several agreed that it takes a village to raise a child and that fathers must share time with their children. Memories about going to church, going to register to vote for the first time, and playing golf together were illustrated beautifully from family photo albums. Special thanks to Terrance Merck who was interviewed, but his name was omitted from the printed program. cont. on pg. 10
Guests listened to and shared memories throughout “History”
Winter 2008 | Friends of the Library 9
“HisStory a Success cont. from pg. 9
Some of the most memorable stories were how fathers sacrificed for their sons to go to college. Sons told how they were going to pass their lessons learned from the fathers to their sons. HisStory showed nearly 310 friends attending the library benefit that African American men do have strong families and values. Their reflections echoed many of the words President-elect Barack Obama voiced during his campaign; these Winston-Salem heroes shouted quietly but with a strong voice, “yes we can!”
Meachum performs a tune for the audience
Lorenzo “Logie” Meachum, narrator, showed his pleasure at being invited to perform again for his second family, Winston-Salem State University, by giving those present a bit of Saturday Night Live, Comedy Central, an African American literature lesson, political commentary and a sermon from
Father and Sons: The Pauling family participated in “HisStory”
The King of Hearts Band played music for the event
the Old Testament. Being the extraordinary entertainer that he is, Logie expertly weaved his reflections to introduce each chapter of the HisStory documentary. Logie brought his family which included his mother, father, brother, wife and two sons to the benefit. He reminisces about how his father drove him to school and regularly sang Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” during their daily trip. cont. on pg. 11
“HisStory a Success cont. from pg. 10
At the close of the show, Meachum invited the guests to a promenade around the McNeil Banquet Hall with their fathers, or in honor of their fathers. Logie led the strolwith his father and sons. Many other fathers and sons joined in the Both the young and young promenade as well at heart gathered to see as daughters with “HisStory” fathers and daughters with husbands who had special memories of or ties to their fathers. Before the show ended, guests were requesting Logie’s presence in the 2009 event. The King of Hearts won our audience hearts again with their great music from the 1960s. These gentlemen have the “Motown” and the “Philadelphia sound” down to a “T.” In addition, they also mixed in a little Joe Williams just to make the ladies remember the nights when slow dragging was a dance and not a description of cars cruising down Main Street. Evening sponsors not listed in the program include Tavis Reggins and NAPC. Individuals who purchased tables after October 30, 2008 include Carolyn Black, Rosetta Pauling, St. Philips Moravian Church, United Cornerstone Baptist Church, Valerie Saddler, Reba
Warrren, esq, WSSU Academic Affairs, WSSU College of Arts & Sciences, and Larry Womble. Other donors include Severius Eli Bradley, S.J. Cloud, James Jarrell, Preston Mack, Bertha T. Roundtree, Ruby Royal, Gladys B. Sellers, Betty A. Terry, Jonathan and DeShanna Vaughters, Phyllis G. Walker, WSSU Former Miss Alumni Club (Marie Matthews), and Pency M. Yarborough. Thanks to everyone who made HisStory a great evening and an outstanding documentary.
Dr. Carolyn Anderson (right) speaks with guests at her table
All smiles: O’Kelly Library Director Mae L. Rodney and Meachum chatting
Winter 2008 | Friends of the Library 11
Dr. Sadie Brown Webster selected as 2009 Slater Book Society Honoree
(Bachelor of Science in Nursing). During her 10-year tenure as division director, the program continuously maintained state and national nursing accreditations. The society’s goal is to document the accomplishments of WSSU alumni and leaders such as Dr. Webster who epitomize the spirit of leadership, loyalty and other principles that positively impact the Alma Mater and its surrounding community. A few of the other honorees include Judge Roland Hayes, Miss Louise Smith, Dr. Barbara Phillips, Dr. Rachel Wilkinson, Mr. Evon Reid and N.C. State Representative Larry Womble. The organization’s vision to chronicle the university’s history has become very important as the university is changing so rapidly. The entire university family, nursing alumni and Winston-Salem community are invited to attend the Slater Book Society event in honor of Dr. Webster on Thursday, March 19, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. in the McNeil Banquet Hall in the Anderson Center. Tickets are $40 each. Tables with eight seats can be reserved in advance.
The Slater Book Society is delighted to announce Dr. Webster as our 2009 honoree. The year 1957 was a milestone in the history of Winston-Salem State University as the first nursing class graduated. Just as notable, one of WSSU’s most illustrious nursing professionals—Dr. Sadie Brown Webster was an honor graduate of that class.
Individuals—family, former colleagues, students—and organizations are invited to provide written tributes at $25 (half page) or $50 (full page) celebrating Dr. Webster’s outstanding contributions to the university and community. The written tributes will create a memory book program. Statements for the memory book must be received by February 20, 2009. Reservations for the evening can be made until March 3, 2009 and tickets must be purchased by March 13, 2009. Proceeds from the Slater Book Society will create a chapter ($2500) in honor of Dr. Sadie B. Webster. All the interviews and written information collected will be stored in the library’s historical collection for others interested in researching WSSU’s nursing program to review.
For 30-plus years, Dr. Webster served the university as a member of the nursing faculty, division director, and retired as an associate professor of nursing. She helped design a strong nursing program that trained generic nurses and provided the opportunity for LPNs (Licensed Practical Nurses) and RNs (Registered Nurses) to acquire a BSN First Nursing class of WSSU in 1957
Winter 2008 | Friends of the Library 12