Towers Newsletter of the Library Associates of the University of Idaho Library Spring 2013
“Mover & Shaker”......................... 2 Nancy Young retirement ............... .2 Presidential Mid-Career award.......... 2 “Twelve Nights in the Library”..........2
What do University of Idaho teaching faculty value most about their library? Many say support from the university’s librarians and library staff is the resource they simply can’t live without. “My goal is to get my students in the library doing research,” said UI College of Business and Economics instructor Jan Rauk. Reference librarian Robert Perret, liaison to the College of Business, has a creative way of making that happen. He engages Rauk’s undergraduate students in a library scavenger hunt. “This fun activity familiarizes them with the resources and services they’ll need to complete my big class projects,” said Rauk. “That’s what separates them from the pack when presentations are done. Those who work hard using the library resources always come out on top,” she said.
Priest Lake Museum Collection.... .....3
UI faculty weigh in on value of library resources
Inside this issue:
Volume 16, Issue 2
Advisory Board meeting.................. 3 Libraries and student success........... 3 Dean’s Message............................ 4
Another fan of the UI librarians is Erin Chapman, assistant professor in the School of Family and Consumer Sciences. Dr. Chapman teaches graduate students who come from all four specialties of the discipline. “In this course, I’m helping my students develop a focus for their thesis. That can be difficult because I’m not an expert in all four areas,” she said. That’s when she turns to reference librarian Kathleen Monks, her college’s subject liaison.
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“The students usually start with a broad topic. Katie did a presentation for my class and showed them some tricks for narrowing their topic for a more focused search,” said Chapman. “It’s incredible the amount of time you can save when you know what terms to use. My ability to assist my students in the early stages of their master’s program is better because I have someone to turn to in the library.”
875 Perimeter Dr. MS 2350 Moscow, ID 83844-2350 Phone: (208) 885-6534 Email: librdean@uidaho.edu
Undoubtedly, these professionals model our institution’s commitment to student success and academic achievement. Barry Bilderback, Lionel Hampton School of Music
Barry Bilderback, an assistant professor of ethnomusicology in the Lionel Hampton School of Music, adds even more praise. “Each year, the university librarians provide support and insight to our students and faculty in the School of Music. They provide our undergraduates with instruction on the library’s outstanding music resources and create electronic guides for locating them. They also teach our graduate students how to use the library’s amazing Jazz Archives,” he said. “Undoubtedly, these professionals model our institution’s commitment to student success and academic achievement.” continued on page two
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Professor Nancy Young to retire Reference Librarian and Professor Nancy Young, a library faculty member since 1998, is retiring July 31. Young, who holds an MLS degree from the University of Wisconsin and a JD degree from the University of California at Berkeley, serves as the library’s Social Sciences subject liaison to the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences. In 2000, Young was one of the team of faculty, librarians and information technologists that integrated information literacy and technology into the interdisciplinary freshman core discovery classes as part of an Idaho State Board of Education grant. She also taught a section of the freshman core, Cultural Encounters. “Blending classroom teaching with ongoing information literacy research and library service was the biggest challenge of my career” Young said. “The university’s emphasis on interdisciplinary learning has been one of the best things about working here as a reference librarian,” she said. “It requires librarians to know a little about a wide range of subjects and to continually stretch and grow professionally.”
UI librarian named “Mover & Shaker” University of Idaho librarian Ben Hunter (pictured in top right corner) has been named a “Mover & Shaker” in the library industry by the national publication, Library Journal.
Sprague gets prestigious Mid-Career Award Nancy Sprague, University of Idaho reference librarian and associate professor, is one of ten recipients from throughout the university of the 2013-2015 Presidential Mid-Career Award. The award acknowledges “achievements made by gifted faculty who have demonstrated a commitment to outstanding scholarship, teaching, and engagement.”
The journal’s editors identified 50 outstanding professionals who “embody service to their community and a passion for advancing libraries and their profession,” according to editor-in-chief, Mike Kelley. Hunter, who leads the UI Library’s Cataloging and Collections department, was selected for his commitment to librarianship and success transforming his library’s technical services department.
Sprague has been a UI library faculty member for nine years and serves as subject liaison to the College of Science. She was honored at the university’s 2013 Excellence Awards on April 15.
A Moscow native, Hunter began his library career at UI as a reference and instruction librarian in 2006 and moved to his current position in 2009. He holds a master’s degree in library science (University of North Carolina Chapel Hill), served as an Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Fellow and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Managerial Leadership in the Information Professions at Simmons College.
In addition Sprague, two library staff members, Jesse Thomas, interlibrary loan, and Jodi Haire, electronic resources, were honored with nominations for an Outstanding Staff Award for “exemplary dedication” and efforts above and beyond their normal job duties.
“Ben adhered to key administrative principles of inclusive planning, good communications and leading with a shared vision while enacting positive change,” said Lynn Baird, dean of library services.
Library partners with theatre department The semester’s final University of Idaho Library Research Colloquium brought the Department of Theatre Arts into the library for “Twelve Nights in the Library,” two days before the April 18 opening of the university’s production of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.”
Read Ben Hunter’s Library Journal interview at: http:// lj.libraryjournal.com/2013/03/people/movers-shakers-2013/ ben-hunter-movers-shakers-2013-change-agents/. “Value,” continued from page one
The play’s director, Chris DuVal, and reference librarian Rochelle Smith demonstrated how research into the era, costumes, sets, props, stage combat and weapons, and previous productions can illuminate the world of the play and the psychology of its characters.
Personalized service is what stands out to Dr. Katy Kavanagh, professor in the Department of Forest, Rangeland and Fire Sciences. “The reference librarians and interlibary loan staff really go out of their way,” she said. “For example, at the end of the semester they box up and return the materials I have put on reserve for my students. At a very hectic time, it’s nice not to have to worry about that,” Kavanagh added. “Customer service and quality are obviously priorities at our library.”
The library’s research colloquium programs, offered twice a semester, are designed to bring librarians and faculty researchers together to discuss a common research interest.
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New digital collection documents 70 years of Priest Lake area history The University of Idaho Library’s Digital Initiatives department announces the online release of the Priest Lake Museum Association Collection, a collection of historical photographs of Priest Lake, Idaho and the surrounding area. The 380 images span the years 1880 to 1950, documenting the area’s waters, boats, buildings, landscape, and people. The Priest Lake Museum Association built the collection in the early 1980s after putting out a call for historical photographs of their region. The photographs were eventually handdelivered to the UI Library’s Special Collections and Archives department, where they were photographed, reprinted and then returned to the Museum Association for delivery to their original owners. The entire collection is accessible to the general public at www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/priestlake.
May 1, 1915, May Pole at the Northern Hotel, Coolin, Idaho. University of Idaho Library Digital Initiatives, Priest Lake Museum Association Collection.
River, the collection features early Idaho images of stagecoaches, timber transport, and homesteading, as well as photographs of silent film star Nell Shipmen’s zoo, moonshine production, and both German and Italian WWII internees.
“It’s important for the library to work with local historical societies such as the Priest Lake Museum Association. These groups have valuable historical material and the library has the ability to give it broader recognition,” said Devin Becker, Digital Initiatives librarian. “By digitizing these images and offering them online, we can preserve the story they tell.”
The UI Library’s Digital Initiatives department works to preserve, create, and make accessible collections from the library, the University of Idaho, and the state of Idaho via its digitization database and digital archiving services.
In addition to striking photographs of Priest Lake and Priest
Spring 2013 Library Advisory Board meeting highlights strategies, transitions “Big ideas” was the topic of discussion on April 4 when the University of Idaho Library Advisory Board participated in an all-day strategic planning session with consultant Ron Walters. Walters, a UI alumnus, has done similar work with the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival Advisory Board and the UI Foundation. Under his guidance, board members explored creative ideas for expanding the library’s reach throughout Idaho and the nation.
Library as an undergraduate student and later worked at the University of Michigan as a graduate student. Strong was the State Librarian of California for 14 years and executive director of the Queens Borough Public Library in New York City for nine years. He served as Dean of the UCLA Libraries for the past decade.
Also on the agenda was a board leadership transition from the outgoing president, Ruthie Nellis, to the new president, Gary Strong. Strong is retiring this year as Dean of the UCLA Libraries to return to his home state of Idaho. A Latah County native, Strong earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Idaho and a master’s degree in library science from the University of Michigan. He began his career at the UI
Board President, Gary New member Dawn Wittman was Strong. Photo courtesy of welcomed to the board. A resident of UCLA Libraries. the Lewis-Clark Valley, Wittman recently retired after 13 years as director of the Lewiston City Library. She is a former school librarian and past president of the Idaho Library Association.
University team selected to participate in study linking libraries to student success A library-led team from the University of Idaho will explore how the library contributes to first year student retention in the Association of College and Research Libraries’ new program, “Assessment in Action: Academic Libraries and Student Success.” The nationwide program is made possible by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Association for Institutional Research, and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. The UI team is one of 75 chosen for the program’s first cohort. Teams representing all types of academic institutions were selected.
Idaho.” Members will gather data to demonstrate student learning from library instruction, allowing the team to identify the library’s role in campus learning assessment efforts and its connection to the university’s revised and restructured General Education program. The campus-wide team consists of professionals who work with first-year students: Team leader, Diane Prorak, UI Library instruction coordinator; Professor Rodney Frey, General Education director; Suzanne Billington, UI Career Center director; Dean of Students Cori Planagan, Orientation coordinator; and Diane Kelly-Riley, in-coming Writing Center director.
The UI team’s focus will be “Retaining First Year Students: The Impact of Information Literacy Instruction at the University of
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Dean’s Corner: Kudos to our outstanding team Throughout the university, we hear from teaching faculty about how the excellent work of our librarians and staff helps them increase their effectiveness in the classroom.
Others have successfully garnered external funding that benefits our collections and advances university interests. Robert Perret received funding from the John Calhoun Smith fund to support his scholarship on Idaho, “Here We Have 150 Years of Idaho History: a Comprehensive Bibliography of the Gem State on its Sesquicentennial.” Robert will travel throughout the state to
• Cash Gifts • Planned Giving • In-kind Gifts (Materials and Personal Collections) • Tax Benefits Appreciated Assets • Memorial or Honorary Gifts For more information, please visit: www.lib.uidaho.edu/giving/ways. Contact Lynn Baird (208-885-6534) to ensure your gift is used as you wish. Dr. Lynn Baird, Dean of Library Services
identify the hidden materials and collections that have evaded traditional catalogs. Devin Becker received coveted seed funding from the University of Idaho’s Office on Research and Economic Development to initiate his research on how writers are transitioning from working with paper to writing solely in digital format. His project, “Control Shift: Documenting the Transitions Writers Experienced in Moving from Paper-Based to Digital Environments” will will be based on interviews he conducts with ten prominent creative writers.
recognitions that shine a light on the fine work all of our faculty and staff perform to make our students successful. By engaging with other national leaders, our librarians are able to bring the best of Idaho to the world. Your support is essential to this end. To be able to travel and learn about cutting edge technologies and services takes your support. Your investment in the library is an investment in Vandal academic success.
We are proud of these accomplishments and honors. They are external
875 Perimeter Dr., 2350 Moscow, ID 83844-2350 Phone: (208) 885-6534 Email: librdean@uidaho.edu
The list of accolades continues to grow. Ben Hunter, head of Cataloging and Collections, was named a national library leader by a leading publication in our field, Library Journal. Kathleen Monks is the third UI librarian to be named an American Library Association Emerging Leader (joining Kristin Henrich and Ben Hunter, in that order). Nancy Sprague was one of ten university faculty to receive the President’s Mid-Career Faculty Award. In a nationally competitive program, Diane Prorak was selected to lead a research team studying the ways in which libraries contribute to student success. Jodi Haire and Jesse Thomas were nominated for outstanding staff awards.
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