Volume 33 Number 2
Fall 2011
School Media Certification Faculty Position Reinstated; School Gains Faculty Line
ALA COA Continues Accreditation of Master’s-Degree Programs
The School learned in February that UK Provost Kumble Subbaswamy approved reinstating the faculty line devoted to school media certification. The School lost the line due to a budget reduction for fiscal year 2010-2011 and suspended admission to the school media certification program. When Director Jeff Huber informed faculty and staff the Provost had approved reinstating the position, he added: “We will need to form a search committee to begin work immediately since the goal is to have someone in place beginning August 2011 and to begin admitting school media certification students right away.” Along with searching for a faculty member to fill the reinstated line, efforts were begun to disseminate information the line was to be restored and admission to the school media certification program would be resumed. Will Buntin led efforts to recruit students to the school media certification program, and he told the newsletter responses to those efforts have been gratifying. In addition to approving reinstatement of the school media certification position, the Provost, in a separate decision, approved an additional faculty line for the School. The Provost took the step in response to the School’s continued strong enrollment, which for some time has pressed against, and on occasion exceeded, 220 students, the upper limit of the target range, given the size of the faculty. Although the School admits students for the fall semester, spring semester, and summer, most new students enroll in the fall, with the result there is high demand for the core courses in the fall semester. Consequently, there is not only the limit on enrollment due to faculty size but also the practical limit that is the result of more entering students in the fall wanting to register for core courses than there are openings in the courses. This often has forced SLIS to notify qualified fall applicants the School is unable to admit them at that time, due to a lack of space in core courses. The School discussed enrollment limitation due to faculty size in the Program Presentation that was prepared in conjunction with ALA accreditation review. The additional faculty line increases to 250 the enrollment that the faculty of 13 can reasonably accommodate.
Director Jeff Huber received written notification the end of June that the Committee on Accreditation of the American Library Association “voted to grant continued accreditation status to the program leading to the degrees of Master of Arts and Master of Science in Library Science at the University of Kentucky.” The normal accreditation review cycle is seven years, and the letter noted: “The next comprehensive review is scheduled for spring 2018 unless evidence persuades COA that the review should be conducted at an earlier or later date.” The letter explained the basis for the favorable decision: The decision was based on the Program Presentation, the External Review Panel Report, all of the reports the program submitted to the Committee since the last comprehensive review, and the June 26, 2011, meeting with you; [College Dean] Dan O’Hair; and Marilyn Irwin, Chair of the External Review Panel. The letter also pointed out that “The decision to grant continued accreditation to the program is based on the ‘totality of the accomplishment and environment for learning … rather than from a consideration of the isolated particulars’ (Standards, p. 5).” The letter concluded: The Committee [on Accreditation] thanks all those who provided information and participated in the evaluation process. The cooperation of those associated with the program and with the University of Kentucky enabled us to facilitate the review of your program. We appreciate your cooperation in the on-going evaluation, assessment, and review process of accreditation and we encourage you to continue your efforts. Between comprehensive reviews the academic unit that offers an ALA-accredited master’s-degree program must submit what are referred to as “biennial narrative reports,” and the letter to Director Huber included information about topics to be addressed in the next biennial narrative report, due December 1, 2012. When Jeff notified faculty and staff the program had been granted continued accreditation status, he added: “Again, thank you all for your work on the accreditation process!”
Recruiting Efforts, Restoration of Faculty Position, Tuition Policy Lift UK SLIS Enrollment into Higher Target Range In the spring 2011 newsletter we discussed the varied means the School uses to maintain enrollment at the upper end of what was then the target range, a headcount of 180-220. When the Provost approved an additional faculty line for the School, along with reinstating the school media certification faculty position, the target enrollment range was increased to 220-250, and the goal became to raise fall 2011 enrollment from last fall’s 215. The goal was achieved; fall 2011 enrollment is 236. The strong enrollment is attributed to a combination of factors, among them recruiting efforts that include direct mail and online advertising, the restoration of the school media certification faculty position, and a higher rate of application completion. In addition, two things are felt to enhance the School’s competitive position beyond Kentucky: the ability that a student has to complete the program entirely online, and the UK policy that a person who enrolls in a graduate program pays in-state tuition, no matter where the student resides, as long as the student takes only online courses. Of the 236 students, 52 do not reside in Kentucky. Assistant Director for Student Affairs Will Buntin, who is responsible for recruiting, participates in “career fairs” on a number of campuses, to include Berea College, Hanover College, Eastern State University, Kentucky State University, Northern Kentucky University, University of Louisville, and of course UK. He has published advertisements in student newspapers at a number of schools, to include Marshall University and the University of Cincinnati. And, he has a table at conferences, for example, the annual Kentucky Library Association conference and Kentucky Public Library Association conferences. This fall Will also will exhibit at the Virginia Library Association annual conference, which will be held October 27-28 in Portsmouth. “Exhibiting at the event was actually suggested by UK SLIS graduate Craig Amos [’07],” Will told the newsletter, “and I hope other alumni will pass along suggestions for recruiting efforts.” As we explained in the spring newsletter, as yet another way to recruit students, Will bids on search terms so that when someone enters a search phrase on Google.com, such as “online library science degree,” the School gets a prominent spot on the results page. Will explained to the newsletter: “This lets us target those people who are searching for information about library science programs, or more specifically online library science programs.” Will holds online information sessions for those interested in the program, and, he stressed to the newsletter, he continues to make a concerted effort to make people aware that our program can be completed entirely online. This often involves correcting inaccurate information, that, even with online courses, students must still travel to the UK campus. However, it is School policy that there are no required faceto-face sessions in online classes. Fall 2011
Listserv Created Specific to Graduates Will Buntin has created a listserv for graduates of our program to help them stay in touch with what is going on at the School. If you are a graduate and would like to subscribe, send an email to: listserv@lsv.uky.edu Leave the subject line blank. In the body of the email, delete any signature you have and insert the text below, using your name in place of FirstName LastName. subscribe SLIS-ALUMS-L FirstName LastName Will told the newsletter: “I expect traffic on this list to be relatively light, consisting mainly of School announcements relative to the program, events and notices of the School newsletter.”
UK’s College of Communications and Information Studies Joins iSchools In February, Dan O’Hair, Dean of the UK College of Communications and Information Studies, which includes the School of Library and Information Science, learned the iSchool group had accepted the College’s application to be a member. According to the iSchools web site: “The iSchools organization was founded in 2005 by a collective of Information Schools dedicated to advancing the information field in the 21st Century. These schools, colleges, and departments have been newly created or are evolving from programs formerly focused on specific tracks such as information technology, library science, informatics, and information science. While each individual iSchool has its own strengths and specializations, together they share a fundamental interest in the relationships between information, people, and technology.” Admission of our College brought membership to 31, and while two-thirds are in the US, members include University College Dublin, Humboldt University in Berlin, Royal School of Library and Information Science, Denmark, Singapore Management University, and Wuhan University, China. Members that offer an ALA-accredited master’sdegree program include University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, School of Information and Library Science; Indiana University School of Library and Information Science; Florida State University College of Communication and Information; and University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science. The UK press release announcing the College had joined the iSchools organization includes comments from Dean O’Hair: “The College of Communications and Information Studies joins a prestigious and elite group with its designation as an iSchool…. This honor recognizes our commitment to advancing the information field by harnessing new technologies and educating our students for the twenty-first century.” The newsletter asked Dean O’Hair how he sees iSchools membership affecting the position of the College within the University. He replied: “Being part of a prestigious Page 2
organization such as iSchools positions our students and faculty strategically with other colleges at UK who are at the cutting edge of academic innovation. Internationally, being a member of iSchools offers global opportunities to advance the fine work we do at UK.”
Alumni and Awards Banquet 2011 The School's annual Alumni and Awards Banquet was held Friday, April 29, at the Embassy Suites Hotel. Lisa Raney received the LISSO Leadership Award, and Emily Pike and Marcia Rapchak received the Melody Trosper Award. New members of Beta Phi Mu were initiated. Gail Kennedy ('74) received the 2011 Outstanding Alumna/us Award and delivered the Karen Cobb Memorial Lecture. The following were invited to membership in Beta Phi Mu: August 2010 graduates Cara Frank and Tammy Whitlock; December 2010 graduates Sara Craycraft, Bethany Croteau, Jennifer
Study on the Two New Trends in Open Source Software: End-Users and Service,” received the Best Paper Award Runner Up of Track and Best Paper Award Winner of MiniTrack at the 42nd Annual Hawaii International Conference on Systems Sciences. Namjoo’s research interests include free/libre open source software, information security management, knowledge management, e-government, and healthcare information systems.
Melissa P. Johnston joined the faculty this fall and is responsible for the SLIS school library media certification program. Melissa graduated from the University of Georgia, Athens, in 1993 with a BA in English and a minor in political science. Three years later she earned an MEd at that institution, and earlier this year she completed a PhD in the School of Information Studies, Florida State University. Her dissertation title is “School Librarians as Technology Integration Leaders: Enablers and Barriers to Leadership Enactment.” Martin, Marcia Rapchak, Anna New members of Beta Phi Mu, left-to-right: Anna Between 1996 and 2008 Stewart, and Victoria Triplett; and Stewart, Emily Pike, Marcia Rapchak, Patricia Calico, Melissa was a school librarian at May 2011 graduates Lauren Virginia Lacefield, Jennifer Dupuis, Samantha Carlin, several elementary schools in Abner, Patricia Calico, Samantha Matt Cockerell (Other new members did not attend the Georgia. In 2006 she was Georgia Carlin, Matt Cockerell, Jennifer Banquet and were inducted in absentia.) Library Media Specialist of the Dupuis, Virginia Lacefield, Emily Year and Northeast Georgia Library Media Specialist of the Pike, Thomas Pinkerton, and Judith TenEyck. Year. Also in 2006 she received the Georgia Department of Education Exemplary Library Media Program of the Year Four Join School Faculty award. In 2004 she was Teacher of the Year at Vickery Creek Elementary, Forsyth County Schools. Melissa received the Florida State University School of Namjoo Choi joined the School’s faculty this fall, followLibrary and Information Studies Outstanding Doctoral Stuing completion of the doctoral program in the Department of dent Award in 2011 and the Award for Excellence in the Informatics, College of Computing and Information, UniEducational Use of Historical Records in 2007. She was a versity at Albany, State University of New York. The title Library Journal Mover and Shaker in 2007. of his dissertation is “How Loyal Are Your Users? Loyalty, Ideology, Identification: An Empirical Study in the Ning Yu completed her doctoral work earlier this year at Free/Libre Open Source Software Context.” Indiana University, Bloomington, where she had earned the In 2005 Namjoo earned an MA in the Department of Master of Information Science degree in 2004, following Telecommunication, Information Studies and Media, Colreceipt of a Bachelor of Information Management degree in lege of Communication Arts and Sciences, Michigan State 2001 at Shandong University, China. The title of her IU University; and in 2002 he completed a BA in the Departdissertation is “Semi-Supervised Learning for Opinion Dement of Mass Communication, Yonsei University, Seoul, tection in the Blogosphere.” While at IU she was an instrucKorea. tor in the School of Library and Information Science, where In 2009 Namjoo’s article, “Knowing is doing: An empirishe taught a course in database design, as well as a course in cal validation of the relationship between managerial inforprogramming for information management, designed to mation security awareness and action,” was the Outstanding teach basic skills for creating dynamic and interactive Web Paper Award Winner at the Emerald Literati Network applications using Perl CGI. Summer 2008 Ning was a ReAwards for Excellence. The article also received the Donn search Intern at Yahool! Research, Santa Clara, CA. From Parker Award presented by Information Management & September 2007 to April 2008 she was a System Developer, Computer Security, in which the paper was published: IU Digital Library Program, Indiana University, Blooming16(5), 484-501. That same year his article, “An Exploratory Fall 2011
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ton. In that work she provided programming and software support for a variety of Digital Library projects using various technologies. Ning’s research interests, broadly stated, are information retrieval and Web mining. Her research is ongoing on automatic identification of opinions in user generated content (e.g., blogs), with immediate applications to include opinion search, automatic tagging, and product/service monitoring. She contributed to the management of digital library resources by developing and assigning metadata schema using a semi-automatic approach that leveraged both human expertise and machine techniques for the Just-in-Time Teaching Digital Library, an NSF-funded project at the US Air Force Academy. Earlier this year the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign (UIUC) awarded Hong Zhang the PhD in information science. Her dissertation title is “Personal Information Organization and Re-access in Folders: An Empirical Study on Personal Computers.” In 1996 Hong received the MS in Library and Information Science at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and in 1991 she received the BS in Information Science at Peking University. Between August 2008 and January 2010 Hong was research programmer at the Engineering Library Digital Library Research Lab at UIUC, where she maintained and updated OAIPMH data harvesting, metadata transformation, database, and web site programs in the IMLS-funded project. She was previously a Research Assistant at the UIUC Graduate School of Library and Information Science, in the Moore Foundation funded project BioGeomancer, to develop an Applied Hidden Markov Model to automatically segment and mark up biological geographic data in museum records. Prior to that she was Research Assistant in the UIUC National Center for Supercomputing Applications, where she built the data repository and OAI-PMH Harvestor with Federal Register data. Hong’s research interests include personal information management, personal digital archiving, digital libraries and metadata, information/knowledge organization and retrieval, and human computer interaction. She comes to the School with varied Teaching Assistant experience, and spring 2011 was co-instructor in the online course, “Digital Libraries Research and Practice.”
Prof. Melissa Johnston Receives 2011 IASL Takeshi Murofushi Research Award Prof. Melissa Johnston, who joined the faculty in August, learned in June she had been chosen to receive the Takeshi Murofushi Research Award from the International Association of School Librarianship. The grant is awarded to fund a research project. Melissa received the monetary grant for her research in international best practices. The award was presented at the 40th Annual Conference of the International Association of School Librarianship, held at The University of West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica, in August.
Fall 2011
Prof. Donald Case to Receive ASIS&T SIG USE Award; Lecture in Finland Prof. Donald Case has been chosen to receive the ASIS&T Special Interest Group on Information Use (SIG USE) Outstanding Contribution to Information Behavior Research Award and its attendant induction into the SIG USE Academy of Fellows. The award will be presented at the October 9-12 Annual Meeting of ASIS&T in New Orleans. Informing Prof. Case he had been chosen for the award, SIG USE Chair Lynn Westbrook wrote: “This award constitutes our SIG's highest honor and we are proud to have a scholar of your stature for our 2011 awardee. The purpose of this award is to promote scholars who have, over a period of time, contributed in an outstanding way to the development of the field of information behavior research.” Prof. Case, who is on sabbatical fall semester 2011, will take a short-term Fulbright lectureship in Finland from midOctober to mid-November. He will teach at the Abo Akademi University in Turku, the University of Oulu, and the University of Tampere. He told the newsletter: “In Turku and Oulu I will lecture on theories and models of information behavior, and consult with MA and PhD students and faculty about their research proposals. In Oulu and Tampere I will also lecture on health-related information seeking. In all three schools I will discuss possible collaboration on research. Finland has several prominent scholars of information behavior, whom I have met over the years at the series of Information Seeking in Context (ISIC) conferences in Europe.”
Prof. Stephanie Reynolds Presents to CATALYST, TLC; Accepts YALSA Appointments In June, Prof. Stephanie Reynolds conducted a 6-hour workshop with school library media specialists for the Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative. Prof. Reynolds’ workshop was a part of Project CATALYST (Collaboration Among Teachers and Librarians Yields Successful Teaching), developed by Carroll County, KY, Public Schools, the Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative, six other school districts, and six county public libraries. The goal of the IMLS-funded project is to train 35 librarians to collaborate more effectively in addressing the needs of students with limited proficiency in reading and information literacy. According to information about the project, “Professional development activities will integrate project activities and strategies into formal plans and will produce eighty-seven integrated instructional activities that will be permanently available online.” Prof. Reynolds will be a discussion leader this fall at The Learning Center at Linlee (Fayette County Schools alternative school) for “One Book, One TLC.” Prof. Reynolds has accepted several appointments related Page 4
to the work of ALA’s Young Adult Library Services Association. They are: • YALSA Discussion/Interest Group Evaluation Taskforce, Chair; • YALSA Past President’s Program Lecture Selection Committee; • YALSA Research Committee.
Jeff Huber, Melissa Johnston Participate in Library Media Specialists Kickoff Director Jeff Huber and Prof. Melissa Johnston participated in the Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS) kickoff meeting for school library media specialists on July 28. The event was held in the auditorium of Lexington Public Library’s (LPL) Central Library. Candy Zaluski (’85), FCPS Library Resource Specialist, who arranged the program, asked Jeff and Melissa to “talk about the vision you have for school library media specialists – the focus that they will need for the future to keep our profession strong and what UK plans for those getting accredited for their MSLS and what you expect your practicum students to experience.” In the morning, 58 school and agency library media specialists met the new LPL Executive Director, Ann Hammond, as well as the Youth Director, Toy Lancaster, and the Outreach Director, Kelly Dean (’96), to discuss partnership possibilities, such as the Spellbinders programs that come into schools once a month. In the afternoon, Jeff discussed the past and future of UK’s library and information science program, reminding those present that the loss of the faculty line devoted to the school library media program caused the School to suspend admission to the program fall semester 2010. He said it was gratifying that the UK Provost reinstated the position and that the School was receiving many applications for fall 2011 from people who wish to combine the ALA-accredited master’s program with certification to be media specialists. Melissa stressed the convenience of the School’s online program for the person who works full time and wants to complete the School’s MSLS program – the only ALAaccredited program at a Kentucky institution. UK SLIS, FCPS, and Kentucky Education Television (KET) have submitted a grant application that, Candy told the newsletter, “would partner UK, FCPS librarians and KET to work together training library media specialists in new technology applications and projects on a monthly basis.” The group included several SLIS students who are pursuing library media certification and are doing the required practicum at FCPS. Melissa talked with the group about what to expect from students who are placed in practicums, as well as what UK hopes the students will learn from FCPS media specialists during the students’ practicums. Following the day-long kickoff, Candy told the newsletter: “The feedback I received was full of excitement and gratitude that UK will continue the school library media program, especially since, if this year is any indication – we placed nine new library media specialists – as a profession Fall 2011
we really need graduates from an ALA-accredited program that will fill the needs of our students and schools in having media specialists who will be able to lead, train, and adapt to the technology advances that will come in the future.”
McConnell Literature Conference 2011 The 43rd McConnell Youth Literature Conference was held February 25-26, 2011, at Lexington’s Embassy Suites Hotel with the theme Diverse Directions in Youth Literature. Sharon M. Draper, Kentucky Bluegrass Award winner for Double Dutch and Coretta Scott King recipient for her works Forged by Fire and Copper Sun, delivered the Joy Terhune Lecture at the banquet on Friday night. In a talk filled with humor, Draper discussed the power of literacy and shared letters and thank you notes from her readers. Although Mrs. Terhune could not be with us this year, she was with us in thought, as was conference namesake, the late Anne McConnell. The banquet was atMcConnell Conference 2012 tended by several School faculty and The McConnell Conference School Director Dr. will be held March 23-24, Jeff Huber. We also welcomed the Dean of Embassy Suites Hotel. the College of Communications and Information Studies, Dr. H. Dan O’Hair, to his second McConnell Conference. On Friday afternoon, many aspects of youth literature and services were explored in breakout sessions. Children’s Librarian at the bilingual Village Branch of the Lexington Public Library Katie Cunningham presented “Serving Latino Families in Your Library” and spoke about ways to serve the growing population. Donna Ammerman, Adriana Silva, and Lise Tewes presented “¡Sí se puede! / Yes You Can! El Día de los Niños, El Día de los Libros / Day of the Child, Day of the Book at Your Library!” Master’s students in the School’s Critical Analysis of Children’s Literature course discussed the recipients of the 2011 Caldecott, Newbery, Printz and Morris awards. All sessions were repeated on Saturday. Illustrator Rafael López spoke about his award-winning works during the breakfast session Saturday morning, while Saturday’s lunch session featured the winner of multiple ALA-YALSA Best Books for Young Adults and ALAYALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers awards Matt de la Peña, who shared his story of becoming a writer. Mr. de la Peña has published short fiction in various literary journals, four young adult books, and a picture book, including Ball Don’t Lie, Mexican White Boy, We Were Here, I Will Save You, and his latest literary endeavor, Joe Louis: A Nation’s Hope (illustrated by Kadir Nelson). The Saturday schedule also included smaller breakout sessions with Draper, de la Peña, and López, and a repeat of Friday’s sessions. Children’s and Youth Services Librarian and UK graduate Sarah Flood Held and our own Dr. Stephanie D. Reynolds presented “Resources for AwarePage 5
ness: Shedding Light on the Bullying Crisis.” Thank you to all of the presenters for a job well done. The Blue Marble Bookstore of Fort Thomas, Kentucky, once again provided conference attendees with a wonderful selection of books. We are grateful for the continuing support of Peter and Tina Moore, and the staff of The Blue Marble. Also, many thanks go to our wonderful volunteers. For the 44th McConnell Conference, which will be March 23-24, 2012, Printz Award winning author M. T. Anderson (author of Feed, Octavian Nothing: The Pox Party, Whales on Stilts!, and The Game of Sunken Places) will present the keynote address at Friday’s banquet. Jennifer L. Holm (author of Newbery Award honor books Turtle in Paradise and Penny from Heaven, as well as The Babymouse Series, and The SQUISH Series) will be Saturday’s luncheon speaker. Updates can be monitored through the official McConnell Facebook page and the School of Library and Information Science website. We hope to see everyone again next year. Thank you for your support of the McConnell Conference. Rachel McGuire & Dr. Stephanie D. Reynolds
Library of Congress Spring Week Interns Reflect on Experience In the spring 2011 newsletter we reported that students in the School would have the opportunity to participate in the Library of Congress Alternative Spring Break Internship Program, and that five students would spend spring break 2011, March 14-18, in LC internships. We asked the five to reflect on their experiences as interns. Sara Wood – meeting the Librarian of Congress Sara Wood is in her final semester in the program. Her research interests include preservation and exhibit design, collection development, program development and evaluation, and research for vulnerable populations. She interned in the African and Middle Eastern Division at the Library of Congress. I participated in the Alternative Spring Break Internship Program at the Library of Congress. I worked under the direction of Eve Ferguson, East African Reference Librarian in the African and Middle Eastern Division. The first project I worked with involved processing materials for the African Pamphlet Collection which includes not only pamphlets, but also textiles, artwork, and other ephemera from Africa. Specifically, I discerned the subject matter of a variety of materials that Eve had recently acquired from Uganda and inventoried, organized, and placed the materials accordingly on the shelves. I also inventoried around 40 full-text transcripts of interviews with human rights activists in Kenya. These interviews will be edited and published in a book in 2012; however, Eve acquired full-text versions so that they may be inventoried and made available to researchers unedited and prior to the book's publication date. Aside from these projects, I also attended a workshop on post-election Burundi, and I assisted in a program held in the African and Middle Eastern Reading Room featuring Fall 2011
Will Travers, the CEO of Born Free Foundation, at which he discussed wild animal conservation efforts in East Africa and around the world. Perhaps my favorite part of the week was running into James H. Billington, our current Librarian of Congress, in the underground tunnels that run beneath the three buildings that comprise the Library of Congress! Eve was kind enough to stop and introduce me at which point Mr. Billington said what an honor it was for him to meet a young person pursuing the field of librarianship – what an honor for me! The week's work immersed me in the real-world application of what I've been studying since I began graduate school. Another great advantage of a program like this is the networking – I now have a stack of names I can call upon for references, job-hunting, professional development, etc. Above all, I spoke to a number of people who love their job as a librarian reaffirming my pride and passion for the profession I chose. I not only recommend a program like this (especially if you work full-time and can't afford to participate in a semester long program), but I highly encourage all students to pursue a similar experience as it is a perfect supplement to our curriculum. Sara's blog - http://sarawood.webs.com/apps/blog/ Emily Aldridge – entering through the back door At the time of her internship last spring, Emily Rae Aldridge was in her second semester in the School of Library and Information Science. She has degrees in History and Russian and was excited at the prospect of using her Russian language skill while interning at the Library of Congress, in the European Reading Room. It was a childhood dream to work at the LOC, and she couldn't wait to explore its hallowed halls. At sixteen I got the chance to see Washington DC for the first time on a school field trip. We wove in and out of the metro, popping up at different locations along the Mall and Capitol Hill, never really knowing where we were until we got there. The first time I saw the Library of Congress I had gotten turned around and approached from the back. In my memory, the sign on the back door said, "Staff Only." I knew that one day I was going to go in that back door. The week of spring break 2011 I got the opportunity to enter the Library of Congress through the back door. I was able to intern in the European Division for one week, learning about the mission and inner workings of the world's largest library. What I found surprised me. I found that my memory had failed me and that the door I remembered so clearly doesn't say "Staff Only," it says "Staff and Researchers Only." You may ask what difference that makes, why that increases access for the public. Researchers at the Library of Congress are not a designated group of the world's elite, although the Library certainly draws the world's best and brightest. Researchers are simply those who hold a reader's card, much like the library card that any of us hold at our local libraries and branches. In fact, the Library, as lofty as the institution may be, does not in any way exist to keep the public out. The Library is working to not only let the world Page 6
in, but to invite the world in. The Library of Congress, on every level, works to ensure free and easy access of information to anyone in need. During my short week, I got the opportunity to meet with many individual librarians, mainly those who work in the European Division. Without fail, every librarian that I interacted with communicated their commitment to serving the public with their words and actions. Although I learned many valuable skills and met many exceptional library professionals, the leaving point that I take with me from the week is that no library is too big for good customer service. No library is so lofty that it may rest on its laurels or its systems. If any library were to ever be allowed to do such things, it would be the Library of Congress. And yet, I found that each function of the Library was held in place by a service-minded librarian, from the bottom up. The Library serves the nation and the world because dedicated librarians have chosen such a path. In this visit I got to enter through the back door of the Library of Congress. However, I learned that there is no back door. There is no boundary of information access except the ones we construct ourselves. Librarians are there to bridge that gap, to serve the public, and to ensure that every library door opens to a world of information and opportunity for all those who choose to enter. Cheyenne Hohman – creating an online resource guide Jessicah Cheyenne Hohman is from Louisville, Kentucky, and is in her final semester in the MSLS program. She was excited to go to the Library of Congress not only to get a sneak peek at what's behind the scenes there, but also to gain valuable experience in the field and learn more about the intersection of print and digital media during her internship. I was assigned with the Digital Reference Division at the Library of Congress, and given a project for the week: to create an online resource guide, directing users to e-books available for free. I learned how the Library's web guides are constructed and approved, and what online full-text books are available via the Library's website, and, perhaps more importantly, through the Internet Archive (archive.org). With the support of a Sloan Foundation grant, more than 80,000 public domain works have been digitized by the Library of Congress. The Internet Archive also hosts millions of other files uploaded and shared by other foundations, libraries and individuals. The reference guide also includes information about common e-book formats, devices used to read them, and further information about where to get them. In addition to the project, I gained insight to the inner workings of the Library of Congress and the issues it faces. I had the privilege to be in an environment where I was surrounded by amazingly helpful and eager professionals, many of whom were glad to help me network with people at the Library of Congress who had insight or information. I came away with much more than a sense of accomplishment from finishing a project; I felt energized and inspired. My experience at the Library of Congress Fall 2011
enriched the context that I have for working in libraries. To see the online resource guide, click here. Meredith Nelson – giving back the badge reluctantly Meredith Nelson holds an undergraduate degree in American Studies from UK and completed the School’s master’s program this summer. She is an employee of the Council Clerk's Office in the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government and anticipates a long career in some type of public service, whether it be in information organization or public libraries. From the Library of Congress program, she hoped to gain further insight into the federal government's role in preserving history for posterity. That first morning at the Madison Building in the Library of Congress complex we were held up by security as the public isn't allowed into the buildings before 8:30. But the security badge we got, after we were eventually admitted for our opening event in the Alternative Spring Break Program, changed everything. Suddenly, I belonged there. I walked freely around the building, scooted past school groups at 8:00 a.m. to go through security and go to my cubicle. I walked unfettered in and out of the Newspaper & Periodicals Reading Room, the gateway to the Serials & Government Publications Division to which I'd been assigned. By day four I was even brave enough to take the elevator down to the ground level at Jefferson and walk the tunnel back to Madison. During the intern week I worked on what are called “topics pages” for the Chronicling America project, part of the National Digital Newspaper Project, sponsored jointly by the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities. There are currently over 3,000,000 pages available, between the years of 1860-1922, from 22 states and the District of Columbia. The University of Kentucky was one of the first awardees in the program, and I had the opportunity to work with quite a few historic Kentucky papers in my work that week. Topics pages provide guidance for people who want to begin using the Chronicling America site (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/). They provide search strategies for a particular subject, relevant dates, and links to articles which may potentially be of interest on that subject. There are already pages for subjects like the building of the Titanic, the Gibson Girl, the 19th Amendment, and the roller skating craze. During the week I worked on the Treaty of Versailles, General Pershing, the armistice in the Great War, the 18th Amendment, and the publication of Helen Keller's autobiography in serial in 1902. Because of the research involved, I can say without qualification that I know more now about World War I than I ever learned in school. The reference strategy classes I've had over the last two years have made all the difference in quickly getting up to speed on topics about which I knew very little. There's nothing ordinary about working at the Library of Congress, even for a week. After the second day, during which I got to observe my mentor librarian at work in the reading room doing reference, I thought, “this is a library Page 7
just like any other, and working reference here is just like working reference anywhere else.” Except with an unbelievable collection at your disposal of one-of-a-kind items, and the knowledge that you're working in the largest library in the world. Everyone in the Division was amazing, especially my mentor librarian, Megan, answering any questions I had, taking time to show me things, providing all sorts of guidance. I was quite free to ask to see things, to wander, to really get a feel for how things work here. Some things about working there were surreal – there's a Gutenberg Bible in a case in the building next door to the one I worked in. Downstairs from where I was there is a room full of microfilm reels that goes on for what seems like miles. 'Smart' permeates the air – conversations in the elevator are fascinating. One day I tried to go across the street to the new Capitol Visitor's Center, and couldn't because the police had it blocked off for a St. Patrick's Day luncheon at the Capitol, guest list including President Obama and the Prime Minister of Ireland. Can't say that's ever happened at my regular job. If you love books and learning, you automatically fit in there. If you love to sort them and keep them safe - even better. So, I didn't want to give back the badge. But I decided I could trade that for the unbelievable experience of getting to work at the LC that week. Emily Pike – applying skills learned in class Emily Pike, a former teacher who pursued school library certification while at the School, completed the master’s program this past May. While enrolled, she opted to take additional coursework to further explore her new interest in cataloging. After her courses in cataloging, she declared she would one day work at the Library of Congress, and, needless to say, was excited to have the opportunity so soon. It was 8:30am. I was walking in a center vault of the Library of Congress. I was in the Prints and Photographs division, alongside large drawers which held, among other things, the original drawings that Maya Lin submitted in the contest to design the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, in Washington D.C. I was all alone, and I was supposed to be there! This was just one incredible moment among many that I experienced during my week at the Library of Congress. I was assigned to a project working on photographs in the National Photo Company Collection. My job was to assign subject headings to the photos, to assist with online searching. I used the Thesaurus of Graphic Material (TGM) to pull authorized search terms from. The photos in the collection were all taken in Washington D.C. between 1920 and 1932. The photos I worked on were taken in May 1920. My favorite photo, taken at the National Dog Show, showed a picture of a Chihuahua sitting on the head of an Irish wolfhound. Another exciting experience was sitting in on a meeting of the TGM committee as they reviewed new term requests. It was thrilling to be working in Washington DC, right across the street from the Capitol building. It was very rewarding to be able to apply skills learned in class to real life situations. I appreciate the opportunity to participate in the Alternative Spring Program. Fall 2011
Japanese LIS Faculty Visit UK SLIS The School was host in September to three professors of library science in Japanese universities, whose research project, “Classification and Job Descriptions of Professional Librarians and Support Staff in U.S. Public Libraries,” was funded by Otani University. When Professor Takako Yamamoto of Otani University informed UK SLIS Director Jeff Huber she and her colleagues would like to visit the School, she wrote: “We have been studying about American librarianship. … After we searched public libraries in the U. S. by the internet, we have decided that this year we should visit the public libraries in Kentucky since we have found that the public libraries, including their personnel, are in comparatively better conditions. We are greatly interested in your school which educates professional librarians for those public libraries. … We are also planning to visit Bluegrass Community and Technical College since we presume that the College educates support staff for the public libraries. Visit to the Lexington Public Library, including branch libraries, is also our research topic of this year.” The project web site explained the undertaking: “It is said that there are two kinds of personnel; pofessionals and support staff in U.S. libraries. This job classification is said to have been recognized by the society. This is not so in Japan. [T]he project … would investigate the positions, responsibilities, and requirements of both professionals and support staff in the U.S. public libraries in order to improve the condition of Japanese public libraries.” The other members of the research team are Zensei Oshiro, Hanazono University, and Kenji Kanna, Ryukoku University. While at the School, the visiting faculty agreed to participate in a Lunch-N-Learn with LIS faculty, students, and staff, during which the guests discussed and answered questions about librarianship in Japan.
Please Support Your School The support you provide through gifts to the School helps us to fund student scholarships, to send faculty and students to professional meetings, to support the McConnell Conference and many of our other programs. You can now make a gift by credit card or make a pledge on-line at: https://giveto.uky.edu/CIS_p/cis.htm. The University accepts payment by Master Card, VISA, American Express and Discover. This site contains a list of all scholarships funds in the College. To make a gift by credit card, first go to the drop down box and select a fund. You will then be prompted on how to pay for the gift. If you need additional information, please contact College Alumni and Development Officer, Janice Birdwhistell, at 859.257.4241 or at: janice.bird@uky.edu
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Introducing Ford Stanley, Director of UK’s Gift and Estate Planning
erty, retirement funds and other assets adds up! If a portion of a person’s total estate is bequeathed to the University of Kentucky, in most cases, it will amount to a major gift.
Hello. I’m Ford Stanley. I’m a UK graduate, and I’ve been working with alumni and friends of the University for several years now, assisting them in making gifts to benefit our many important programs and deserving students. I was asked by the School’s Director, Jeff Huber, to prepare information on ways gifts can be made to benefit the School. I plan to have information on planned and estate giving in each newsletter. I hope you find the information useful. My experiences have taught me that one of the easiest ways to make a significant gift to the University of Kentucky is through your estate plan. I’ve worked with several individuals who are remembering UK in their wills, and I’ve discovered that this type of gift is often overlooked by many. I also want to share with you five other remarkable things I’ve learned about bequest giving which most people never consider:
3) Your will can convey a very strong message about what you value in life. Often, individuals who dedicate much of their energy and income to advancing good causes during their lifetimes make provisions for those same causes in their estate plans. I’m happy to report that many donors who give annually to the University of Kentucky also decide to make a bequest to UK as their ultimate gift.
1) After you’ve taken care of everyone in your life through your will, then you can dream. Good estate planning begins with providing for the needs of loved ones. But it doesn’t have to stop there. Often, after specific bequests are made to family and friends, significant wealth remains. At that point, it becomes exciting to consider what can be done with the residual of a lifetime of accumulated assets. I always enjoy assisting friends and alumni of the University in discovering what “undreamed-of good” they can do via their estate plans, sometimes with what’s leftover. 2) Almost anyone can become a major donor to the University through a bequest. In my work, I have learned that most people have no idea as to the total value of their estates. And when they stop to actually tally everything, they are often amazed at their total net worth. The value of real prop-
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4) Your bequest can make a transformative difference and “move the needle.” Generally speaking, most people can make larger gifts through their estates than they can during their lifetimes. While every gift is helpful to UK, larger gifts can often transform a program or an area of the University to the next level, making a significantly greater impact upon students and the Commonwealth. 5) The University of Kentucky is diverse enough to match just about anyone’s donative desire. Throughout the years, I have always been able to connect a donor’s interest to an area of need within the University. UK has a myriad of programs and areas that can be enhanced by private philanthropy. As you consider your own estate plans, perhaps you’ll have questions to ask, or ideas you’d like to discuss. I invite you to contact me at no obligation. It would be a pleasure for me to learn about your philanthropic dreams . . . and help you find ways to make them come true at the University of Kentucky. Sincerely,
Ford Stanley, ’91 Director of Gift and Estate Planning University of Kentucky 114 Sturgill Development Building Lexington, KY 40506-0015 Phone: 800-875-6272 (toll-free) or 859-257-7886 Email: giftandestate@uky.edu Web site: http://www.uky.edu/development
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Alumni and Awards Banquet 2011
Clockwise from top left: Anna Stewart and husband, Dr. Greg Stewart; Director Jeff Huber and LISSO President Chelsey Spencer flank LISSO Award recipient Lisa Raney; Jeff Huber presents the Melody Trosper Award to Marcia Rapchak; students Stephanie Niemeyer, Circe Anderson, Sara Wood, and Lisa Raney; State Librarian Wayne Onkst and UK Dean of Libraries Terry Birdwhistell; Jeff Huber presents the Melody Trosper Award to Emily Pike.
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A Call to Leadership Gail Kennedy Karen Cobb Memorial Lecture – April 29, 2011 Gail Kennedy (’74) received the School’s 2011 Outstanding Alumna/us Award at the April 29 Alumni and Awards Banquet. Gail delivered the 2011 Karen Cobb Memorial Lecture at the Banquet, and we thank her for making it available to be published in the newsletter.
I will say to you tonight that the territory ahead is rugged, I am honored to be here tonight to deliver the Karen Cobb uncharted, and we are moving into it at breakneck speed. Memorial Lecture. I remember Karen well as a very bright Since Ben Franklin started his Library Company of Philareference librarian in the mid 1980’s. It is so appropriate delphia in 1731, libraries have traditionally been revered as that this annual lecture honors a UK library school graduate institutions for the common good. Librarians have been rewith great promise who was tragically lost so young. spected for their roles in preserving and providing informaIt is a special honor for me to be recognized by the gradution. But neither we, nor our institutions, are guaranteed ate program that prepared me with the knowledge and skills survival in the rugged territory of the chaotic new world. to make librarianship my life’s work. As I near the end of This new world is a perfect my career, I am especially aware storm—an unstable economy, of the importance of every course public outcry for deep spending and teacher I had during my years cuts, and exploding digital in library school. I understand technology being mined by a that Professor Lois Chan variety of for profit entrepreneurs. nominated me for this award. My Indicators of the uncomfortable admiration of Dr. Chan began environment we find ourselves in with my first day in her bombard us from all directions. introductory cataloging class We hear ominous predictions for many years ago and has grown budget cuts in library funding; with every passing year. She is, there is mounting pressure on as you all know, the international libraries to demonstrate their authority in cataloging and return on investment; we are classification today with a long confounded by slippery fair use list of awards and honors parameters and frustrated by testifying to her leadership and tricky new licensing for e-books impact in the field. It is thus Director Jeff Huber presents the 2011 and journals. And doesn’t it seem especially meaningful to me to have Outstanding Alumna/us Award to Gail Kennedy. that a new leading edge of been nominated for the alumna award technology emerges every month? by Dr. Chan. I was fortunate to be her student and also to The March/April 2011 issue of American Libraries inhave had her advice and friendship in all the years that folcludes these messages from the front: lowed. Professional leadership, a heightened urgency The title of my address tonight is “A Call to Leadership.” Perhaps that is not surprising or unexpected. I am sure most every person who has delivered the Cobb Lecture has at least mentioned the importance of professional leadership. At this point in time, however, there is heightened urgency in the message. I have been deeply immersed in the topic of leadership for the last couple of years by virtue of my involvement in ALA’s Library Leadership and Management Association. In LLAMA I’ve focused on strategies for developing and nurturing tomorrow’s library leaders. At the same time I’ve had a good vantage point for observing the recent pace of change in our field and the challenges, both present and on the horizon, facing the next generation of librarians. Fall 2011
• In an article entitled “President Obama’s Budget Strips FY2012 funding,” ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels says that Obama’s proposed 9% budget reduction for IMLS is “dead on arrival” in the Republican House, which will propose even deeper cuts. • In the Trends column: A discussion of HarperCollins decision to change its terms of service for libraries’ ebook lending rights via “check out limits” of 26 on each e-book licensed, prompts a publisher to comment in his blog: “While libraries do a public good by expanding readership of an author’s work, let’s not overstate their success turning readership into income for authors and publishers.” • In “One Librarian’s Takeaway from the Consumer Page 11
weeks at a time sequestered in the book stacks. In the days before funding declined, we had as many as six acquisitions librarians ordering books all day every day because we had lots of money to spend. The approval plan that was first offered by the Richard Abel Co. was a godsend because we could now automatically receive almost everything published in the subjects where we chose to be comprehensive. Acquisitions librarians could shift more time to the tedious • An article entitled “Libraries and Mobile Services,” job of searching for out of print books via letter and phone cites data from the Pew Internet and American Life calls to their favorite OP dealers. Project. In 2000 53% of Americans owned a cell phone, Filing cards in the card catalog was a very serious assignin 2010 82% own a cell phone or mobile computing dement for a new cataloger. So careful were we to avoid misvice that works as a phone. In 2009 36% of adults who filing catalog entries that we owned phones used them to dropped red flags in front of go online daily; one year every card we filed to allow later in 2010-- 55% of adults another, more experienced, filer use their phones to go online to come behind us to check our daily. The author posits that work, correct our mistakes and “it is crucial for librarians to meticulously count our errors. understand mobile devices Are these beginning to sound and provide services like stories from another planet? through them.” And This was the library of the world concludes, “If your library, before OCLC had 1.7 billion like mine (and every library holdings, before the integrated I can think of), has been library system, the library in the transformed by desktop era of plentiful funding and gocomputing and internet go acquisitions when collection access, now is the time to size and budget were the only take action and be proactive measures that mattered, the world Gail Kennedy delivers the Cobb Lecture in providing robust services to in which professional library mobile users.” positions were predictable and plentiful. It was a comfortable, placid library world. And those adjectives will never • And, finally, two telling titles in the book review secbe used to describe the library world again. tion: Being Indispensable: A School Librarian’s Guide to Becoming an Invaluable Leader is described as a 2011: pervasive aura of instability “template” for school librarians “trying to save their We have moved from the 20th century characterized by a jobs.” And then there’s The Frugal Librarian: Thriving solid understanding of the civic and educational purpose of in Tough Economic Times , which offers a chapter on libraries and the role of librarians to a chaotic 21st century attending library conferences on $40 a day, with tips on characterized by a pervasive aura of instability—in our things such as signing up for free vendor sponsored funding and in our role, purpose and mission. food events. From the downside of what appear to be some overwhelming challenges facing librarians, let’s consider the 1974: choices were straightforward upside viewpoint of what we can do to shape our own future Had I known I’d be dealing with these kinds of issues, I in spite of a bevy of factors beyond our immediate control. might have thought twice about becoming a librarian. The Before Rahm Emanuel uttered the now iconic phrase, profession I entered upon receiving my master’s in library “you never want a serious crisis to go to waste,” there were science in 1974 looked very different than it does in 2011. many other aphorisms about the opportunities that arise in In 1974 choices were straightforward. There were a few the midst of threats. Winston Churchill said, “A pessimist types of libraries in which you could work and within each, sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the the jobs were well delineated. You could work in public opportunity in every difficulty.” And John F. Kennedy said, services—either reference or circulation or that service area “When written in Chinese, the word crisis is composed of flourishing thanks to OCLC’s new online union catalog, two characters. One represents danger and the other repreinterlibrary loan. Your other option was technical services— sents opportunity.” We are certainly facing difficulties and acquisitions or cataloging. The technical services were the some danger but, at the same time, we are in a period of domain of librarians who purchased or cataloged behind the unprecedented opportunity. scenes. There were plenty of places to hide behind the The challenges we are encountering with exploding comscenes in librarianship. One of my early jobs was original munication and information technologies offer us great opcataloging of French language monographs. I could go days portunities, if we move swiftly, to take leadership roles on without emerging from my cube to interact with the world. several fronts. Librarians have been invested in efficient and Another was running collection inventories which involved Electronics Show,” a self-described “technologist and librarian” discusses his recent experience at the ICE Show and urges the library community to watch the leading edge of technology so that “by the time these things become embedded in our patrons’ lives it doesn’t take us a decade to find a way to provide library services that they recognize.”
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their nature have always been collaborative and now we are discerning use of the internet since it became widely popular finding a lot of groups interested in partnering with us to in the 1990’s. As our users began to discover the ease of accomplish shared institutional and community goals. Allisurfing the net for access to tons of information, we began ances formed in times of need will in many cases endure to analyze and assess this new approach to research. Early and produce synergy that continues to strengthen both the on, librarians sounded the alarm about the dangers of relyindividual partners and the partnership. The key is, don’t ing on undocumented information gleaned from casual wait to be asked. It is not uncommon for non-librarians to be internet searches. quite unaware of the extent of our expertise and interests so Our early investment in learning to use search engines so we must be proactive in reaching out to potential partners. that we could guide our users to efficient research and There are an abundance of opportunities open to us in trustworthy information has paid off. We librarians both these challenging times, too many to cover tonight. Perhaps understand the complexities of searching the internet and we it is more important to be prepared to seize opportunities want to help people find information they need. The “wantwhen they arise than to try to anticipate and categorize ing to help” part is significant because it is not necessarily a them. This is the foundation for the call to leadership. We tenet of every profession. Former ALA President Pat Berger are in the midst of one of the most dynamic and confusing once said, “Show me a computer expert who gives a damn, times in the history of librarianship. We cannot rely on the and I’ll show you a librarian.” As computer and information public good will and benevolence we have enjoyed for the experts with a deep commitment to public service, we can last 250 years to carry us forward. It is time to take a place be strong leaders in use of new technologies in information at the table where decisions are being made about how and service. by whom information services will be delivered. Most research universities have or are establishing institutional repositories. Libraries have a great opportunity to assume leadership for these projects Leadership at all levels and, in so doing, provide valueIt is really up to all of us, not just In LLAMA we talk about leadership at all levels—not just leadership added scholarly communication and defined by an appointed or elected intellectual property services. Some administrators, to play a role in position—but leadership that takes a are suggesting that research libraries variety of forms in different situacould become the scholarly leading organizational change. tions. Many of us do not expect nor publishers of the future, managing seek to join the ranks of digital archives and providing open management or run for office in professional associations. access to born digital publications. At Penn State, the Office The lure of librarianship for my generation was often the of Digital Scholarly Publishing is a collaboration between prospect of serving in a quiet, independent and individual Penn State Libraries and Penn State Press. This and other role. In today’s world of constant change, expectations of emerging models have broad implications as every univermultitasking and doing more with less, there is no room for sity faces challenges in providing access to scholarly jourthe solitary librarian. All of us will be thrust into situations nals whose prices have become untenable. where we can and should lead. This year’s LLAMA theme is “unexpected leadership.” Recurring budget cuts and possible opportunities What propels people to step into the void when expected Perhaps the toughest sow’s ear to fashion into a silk purse is leadership fails and what skills we can develop to enable us the climate of recurring budget cuts and the uncertainty of to be effective when we see the need to become leaders? At the financial picture in all areas—local, state, and national, the ALA annual conference in New Orleans this June, we public and private. What possible opportunities can we find will use Hurricane Katrina recovery as context for the topic in this dismal scenario? Let me suggest two. First we have of unexpected leadership in a crisis situation. Although the the opportunity to use the budgetary crisis to reexamine our situations we face in our profession and in libraries are not mission, goals, priorities and organizational structure. In usually at the crisis level of Katrina they have the common times of comfort we don’t think of reinvention and complacharacteristics of uncertainty and urgency. cency can settle in. Hard times make difficult choices imIn 2007 the Center for Creative Leadership hosted a foperative. Thoughtful decisions made in an atmosphere of rum which examined the leadership dimensions of crisis openness and transparency may be accepted and supported situations based on the experiences of a variety of leaders because everyone understands the necessity of change. We who played a role in Katrina. The findings of that forum have the opportunity to make shifts to new priorities and to were summarized in a white paper entitled “Stepping into discontinue or phase out practices that don’t support the new priorities. It is really up to all of us, not just administrators, the Void.” The authors suggest that there are certain leaderto play a role in leading organizational change. ship capabilities needed for complex challenges in crisis A second approach to leveraging our sparse funding is situations and that those also serve leaders well in general building partnerships with like minded individuals or times of instability and rapid change. groups. When everyone is well funded it is tempting to go it Complex challenges are those that defy simple leadership alone or to collaborate on a somewhat superficial level. In strategies. They require flexibility, agility, and novel solutimes like these we are all seriously in need of a little help tions and often demand collective responses rather than infrom our friends to move initiatives forward. Libraries by dividual ones. The stakes are high in a complex challenge Fall 2011
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and the leader is often torn between the pressure to act and the need to reflect. Individual and organizational competencies, including collaboration, adaptability, awareness of the environment, courage, risk-taking, co-inquiry, creativity and the ability to foster creativity in others, are those that help leaders navigate complex challenges. If these skills empowered the unexpected leaders during Katrina, they should also serve us well when we step into the void in the challenging situations that are occurring in all libraries today. Fundamental leadership skills The competencies required for complex challenge leadership are all part of the four fundamental leadership skills advanced by the Center for Creative Leadership. The way you address each skill, what you need to learn or emphasize, will shift as you move to different roles and face new challenges. The Fundamental 4 are: Self-awareness: understanding your strengths and weaknesses. Communication: Writing clearly, speaking with clarity and active listening are skills we need to develop and refine during our careers. Learning ability: the ability to constantly be in a learning mode, to value and seek out the lessons of experience. Influence: Influencing skills help you to communicate your vision or goals, align the efforts of others and build commitment from people at all levels. These leadership skills are actually similar to attributes we should cultivate simply to be effective librarians in today’s world. An interactive panel discussion at the recent ACRL national conference entitled “In the Spirit of Ben Franklin: 13 Virtues of Next Generation Librarians,” yielded these consensus attributes: 1. Collegiality: We need to appreciate both what we can teach and what we can learn.
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2. Being collaborative: which makes those outside the library more aware of what the library has to offer. 3. Flexibility: We must shift and evolve or be left in the dust. 4. Creativity: Thinking outside the problem. 5. Courage: Try something new, take risks, or else be left behind. 6. Curiosity: Embrace lifelong learning, explore, and see where it takes you. 7. Passionate and Engaged: If you’re not passionate, if you’re not engaged, you’re irrelevant. Hone your leadership skills In conclusion allow me to suggest one piece of advice for everyone, not just for our new graduates. Hone your leadership skills. If you are just starting in your career, find mentors and resources that can help you. At this summer’s ALA conference LLAMA and the New Members Round Table will be co-hosting a program and discussion on the topic of how early career librarians can develop leadership skills. If you are an educator or librarian in mid-career, assess your leadership skills and invest in improvement where you are lacking. If you are, like me, past mid-career, be fully engaged in sharing lessons of leadership gained from both your successes and failures, with those to whom you are passing the torch. In an interview with American Libraries last July, Thomas Frey, executive director and senior futurist at the DaVinci Institute, had a lot of advice about how libraries can position themselves to be relevant in the future but he ended with an encouraging note of approval, “. . . libraries are here to stay because they have a survival instinct. They have created a mutually dependent relationship with the communities they serve, and most importantly, they know how to adapt to the changing world around them.” It is our job as librarians of the 21st century to ensure that Thomas Frey’s prediction is accurate. The future is hazy and the present is chaotic but oh so full of opportunity.
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Deanna Marcum Receives ALA 2011 Melvil Dewey Medal Award . . .
. . . Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree . . .
Deanna Marcum (’71) received ALA’s 2011 Melvil Dewey Medal Award at the ALA Awards Ceremony Reception on June 28. The ALA release reads:
Deanna received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from North Carolina State University, Raleigh. The University issued the following press release:
Deanna B. Marcum receives the 2011 Melvil Dewey Medal Award CHICAGO - Deanna B. Marcum, Associate Librarian of Congress for Library Services … is the winner of the 2011 Melvil Dewey Medal Award, sponsored by OCLC. The prestigious honor, given in recognition of creative leadership of high order, is named in honor of Melvil Dewey, who was actively interested in library management, library training, cataloging and classification and the tools and techniques of librarianship. “The 2011 Melvil Dewey Medal Award Jury is pleased to honor Deanna Marcum for her many accomplishments during a long, varied and distinguished career in American librarianship,” said chair Winston Tabb. Among those achievements noted by the Dewey jury and Marcum's colleagues who wrote in support of this award were her “transformational leadership in cataloging and classification, most notably the creation of the Working Group on the Future of Bibliographic Control, whose recommendations are being widely implemented; her high order of creative leadership as president of the Council on Library and Information Resources, uniting librarians, scholars and publishers to focus on the most pressing challenges of the digital age; and her vision of libraries as part of an international, inter-connected, inter-dependent web of cultural heritage organizations.” Marcum successfully solicited and received a $2 million grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to digitize books from the general collections in the Library of Congress. Thus far nearly 75,000 books have been digitized and made freely accessible. She has served as management training specialist with the Association of Research Libraries (1977-80) and was dean of The Catholic University of America School of Library and Information Science (1989-92). Marcum was a vice president (1981-89) and president (1995-2003) of the Council on Library and Information Resources. Marcum has a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Illinois, a master’s in library science from the University of Kentucky and a doctorate in American Studies from the University of Maryland. In 2010, she received an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from North Carolina State University in recognition of her contributions to librarianship. She is editor and/or author or co-author of five books and has published more than 40 articles. In nominating Marcum, Nancy L. Cline, Roy E. Larsen Librarian of Harvard College, said, “There is no single personal accomplishment that warrants this award; rather it is Deanna’s record of continuous achievement that benefits libraries, brings visibility to critical issues and fosters growth and development in the profession.”
Dr. Deanna Bowling Marcum is the associate librarian for library services with the Library of Congress. She manages 53 divisions and offices whose more than 1,800 employees are responsible for acquisitions, cataloging, public service and preservation activities; services to the blind and physically handicapped; and network and bibliographic standards for America’s national library. Marcum is also responsible for integrating the emerging digital resources into the traditional artifactual library – the first step toward building a national digital library for the 21st century. In 1995, Marcum was appointed president of the Council on Library Resources and president of the Commission on Preservation and Access. She oversaw the merger of these two organizations into the Council on Library and Information Resources in 1997, and served as president until 2003. Marcum holds a Ph.D. in American studies from the University of Maryland, a master’s degree in library science from the University of Kentucky, and a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Illinois. She will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.
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. . . Agrees to Serve on College National Advisory Board Deanna accepted Dean O’Hair’s invitation to serve on the College National Advisory Board. Information on the Board Web’s site http://cis.uky.edu/nab explains its purpose and primary work: The University of Kentucky College of Communications and Information Studies National Advisory Board is vital to the success of the College and will help us continue to increase the number of endowed scholarships we are able to offer, to improve our programs and centers of excellence, and enhance our reputation both regionally and nationally to better serve our students and the residents of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and beyond. The Board is a voluntary group that serves as an external advisory body to the Dean. Members have attained prominence in their respective careers and are chosen for their value in providing counsel. Membership includes graduates and non-alumni members throughout the nation. The primary work of the National Advisory Board is to: • Advocate for College programs, students and faculty. • Open doors for corporate connections. • Educate and update our faculty on developments in the professional communities. • Assist us with long range and strategic planning. • Help us to find ways to recruit and retain students. • Provide leadership for our fund raising efforts. Page 15
Pat Hawthorne Is LLAMA President-elect This spring Pat Hawthorne (’85) was elected VicePresident /President-elect of ALA’s Library Leadership and Management Association. Her term as Vice President began in June of this year, following the ALA annual conference, and she will assume the LLAMA presidency following the annual conference in 2012. ALA issued the following press release: Pat Hawthorne elected LLAMA Vice-President/ President-elect for 2011-2012 The Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA) has elected Pat Hawthorne as Vicepresident/President-elect for 2011-2012. Hawthorne is the Director of Research & Learning Services for the Albert B. Alkek Library at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, a position she started in April 2010. “I am honored to be elected Vice President/PresidentElect of LLAMA. I was fortunate to find a home in LLAMA early in my career. As it evolved, I found enriching programs, continuing education, and publications from LLAMA to help me learn, grow, and develop my knowledge and skills. More importantly, I found a group of colleagues willing to share their knowledge, expertise, and wisdom. As libraries respond to increasingly challenging times, creative and inspired leadership is absolutely necessary. LLAMA is the ALA division that provides leadership development for librarians at all levels/stages of their careers in all types of libraries. I sometimes think of LLAMA as the ‘Just in time’ division of ALA because so many people come to LLAMA when they need the specific expertise of one of LLAMA’s specialty sections. I look forward to working with the LLAMA board to help libraries meet their leadership and management needs.” Hawthorne previously served as Director of Library Human Resources for the UCLA Library from 2002 to 2010 and was responsible for recruitment and staffing, classification and compensation, employee and labor relations, and training and development for the UCLA Library and its employees. From 1997 to 2002, she held management positions in reference and instruction and served as the Assistant University Librarian for Administrative Services at the Otto G. Richter Library of the University of Miami. From 1990 to 1997, she was the Administrative Projects Librarian at the Dolph Briscoe Library of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. She began her library career in 1988 as a government information and social sciences reference librarian at Louisiana State University Libraries in Baton Rouge. Prior to working in libraries, Pat was a journalist and public relations specialist. Hawthorne earned a Master of Arts in Adult and Higher Education from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 1997, a Master of Science in Library Science from the University of Kentucky in 1985, and a Bachelor of Arts in English and Journalism from the University of Southwestern Fall 2011
Louisiana in 1982. She earned a human resource management certification in 2000 from the University of Miami and currently holds the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification from the Human Resources Certification Institute, Society for Human Resource Management. She is an active member of the American Library Association and the Library Leadership Administration & Management Association (LLAMA) and served as Chair of the Human Resources Section within LLAMA from 2006 – 2007. She is also a member of the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) Division and the Texas Library Association. Pat was selected for the 2001 UCLA Senior Fellows Program and the 1994 TALL (Texas Accelerated Library Leaders) Texans Leadership Development Institute.
Cindi Trainor a 2011 Mover and Shaker When Library Journal Editor Francine Fialkoff announced the first group of Movers & Shakers, in March 2002, she referred to the program as “a celebration of the people who are shaping the library field today – and changing it for tomorrow.” Introducing the program, the magazine asked for nominations “of those individuals who are enhancing the way we provide service, who are making us think about what we do and how we do it, who are creating new models for others to use. … We wanted to reach down below the directors, the heads of departments, corporations, or institutions, to identify up-and-comers in all areas of librarianship….” Cindi Trainor (’92), who is Coordinator of the Library Technology and Data Services Division at Eastern Kentucky University Libraries, is among the 2011 Movers & Shakers in the “tech leaders” category. The information about Cindi in “Movers & Shakers 2011” reads: Giddy for UX Cindi Trainor loves to figure things out, especially things that will help library users. That's one reason she has worked to bring user-experience (UX) design concepts to online services at Eastern Kentucky University Libraries, where she is the coordinator of the Library Technology and Data Services Division. “I get giddy when given the opportunity to knock down barriers and make things work better,” Trainor says. That passion puts students first, says nominator John Blyberg, assistant director for innovation and UX at the Darien Library, CT. “She has introduced an emerging trend in public libraries – UX design – to the academic environment,” says Blyberg. “She has done so by valuing inclusion, compromise, and, above all, students' ability to access the information they need with ease.” Specifically, says Blyberg, she applied team thinking to get a jump on a rollout of the open source Drupal content management system across the university, reaching out to all departments to address the UX perspective. This team structure fostered fresh collaboration as it kept student needs front and center in the development of the new library website. It also worked out best practices for the invention and Page 16
maintenance of LibGuides, “living” online instructional documents that get continual update as needed. Blyberg and Trainor copresented on UX at the Library and Information Technology Association (LITA) meeting in June 2010 to introduce other libraries to the trend. Trainor also contributes regularly to the American Library Association's (ALA) TechSource blog, as well as posts on her personal blog, Citegeist.com. A respected photographer, her work has been published in the New York Times as well as on various library blogs and websites. Trainor credits her own success as a librarian to supportive library leadership and staff who aren't afraid to take risks, especially if it means improving service to library stakeholders. That attitude extends to services to fellow librarians as well. At last year's LITA annual and midwinter meetings, Trainor was instrumental in making the Top Technology Trends panel more virtual. She added streaming video, live blogging, and real-time interaction, says Jason Griffey, a 2009 Mover & Shaker who serves on LITA's Board of Directors with Trainor. She also helped Griffey produce an interview with award-winning sf author and retired computer scientist professor Vernor Vinge at ALA's Midwinter Meeting this past January. “I choose to work with Cindi on projects because she pays attention, more than anything, to what patrons actually want and how they are interested in interacting with the library,” Griffey says. Reproduced, with permission from Library Journal © Copyright 2011 Library Journals LLC a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. Find out more about Movers and Shakers at http://www.libraryjournal.com/csp/cms/sites/LJ/LJInPrint/ MoversAndShakers/moversandshakers2011.csp
Rebecca Montano-Smith to Identify Needs, Create Programs in Safe House Program Rebecca Montano-Smith (’05), Assistant Manager of Lexington Public Library’s Village Branch, will be responsible for identifying needs of the branch’s service community, creating programs to meet the needs, and recruiting instructors for the programs, following Village Branch’s receipt of a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Village Branch was awarded the grant in partnership with Martin Luther King Academy for Excellence, the alternative program developed by Fayette County Public Schools. The grant is $75,000 per year for 5 years. Rebecca explained to the newsletter: “The goal of the grant is to support the creation of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. The program helps students meet state and local standards in core academic subjects, such as reading and Fall 2011
math; offers students a broad array of enrichment activities that can complement their regular academic programs; and offers literacy and other educational services to the families of participating children. We started this summer with offering Aikido (a modern Japanese martial art) twice a week, African drumming, yoga and art. We also participated in the federal feeding program and served lunch to 30 kids each weekday. We also had a certified teacher here 3 days a week to help middle school and high school students work on PLATO, the credit recovery program. For the fall, we will again have certified teachers on hand to help middle and high school students with homework and work on PLATO. We will be offering Aikido again and the Art of Yoga (a special yoga program for at risk girls), as well as various other recreational and academic programs such as babysitting classes, bike safety, ACT prep and whatever else we can think of.” The Lexington Public Library release announcing that Village Branch would participate in the Educational Safe House program added: “The Educational Safe House leaders will also try to mold the Village branch site into a true community learning center, offering safety courses like CPR and ESL classes.” The Village Branch service area population includes many Latinos, and the release noted: “A big advantage is that all the library staff members [at Village Branch] are bilingual, which should help facilitate communication and understanding between families and those invested in their students’ education.”
Alumna Anne Abate Launches Library Discount Network After Anne Abate (’86) left her position as Executive Director of SWON Libraries, the cooperative serving academic, public, school and special libraries in Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky, in the summer of 2010, she started Library Discount Network. We got in touch with Anne near the end of July of this year to ask her what prompted her to launch the company, what services it offers, and what experiences she would share with readers of the newsletter after running the company for a year. We appreciate Anne’s willingness to answer our questions and to have the questions and replies published in the newsletter. What prompted you to start Library Discount Network? Libraries are the cornerstones of our democratic society. Fortunately, some communities recognize this fact and provide adequate financial and moral support for their libraries. In many other cases, however, financial resources are diminishing for all types of libraries. Whether well supported or struggling along, libraries need to spend their budgets carefully and stretch their dollars further. I organized my business to help groups of libraries with that stretching— trying to make them even more elastic. How would you describe, generally, what Library Discount Page 17
Network does – what services it offers? Library Discount Network was founded to assist all libraries in getting the most from their budgets. I also work with nonprofit organizations on management and their organizing documents. However, we specialize in developing and maintaining vendor discount programs for library networks and consortia. We would like to work with any library organization that is serious about providing the best value to its members. It’s actually an excellent business model, as we save the libraries on their electronic subscriptions and it does not cost the parent organization anything to participate. Had you been thinking about starting a firm for some time before actually doing so? The whole idea came to me pretty quickly actually. I just saw a need in the library community. Libraries were not always seeing adequate customer service from the vendors nor the special help it can take to meet their budgets. Prices for electronic resources are staggering. I am able to negotiate with the vendors, save the librarians lots of time, and get the librarians more detailed information about the resources that are out there and better ways to compare resources. We organize training sessions and trials for groups of libraries which saves time for both the librarians and the vendors. And saving money while we are at it is an added bonus. Have you added services in addition to helping libraries obtain discounts? In addition to discount programs, Library Discount Network utilizes its expertise to assist with association and nonprofit management, including organizational and parliamentary support. Are you able to discuss specific undertakings? I started the company last July [2010]. We have been helping FoKAL (Federation of Kentucky Academic Libraries) since September. So far, we have saved them almost $120,000. We are really proud of that. I helped SAALCK (State Assisted Academic Library Council of Kentucky) to incorporate, and I just completed their application for nonprofit status with the IRS. I am also working with ALAO (Academic Library Association of Ohio) on a similar project. I would like to expand this part of the business for other library organizations. Training is very important, and you have considerable experience teaching on the college level, including for the School of Library and Information Science. Do you see Library Discount Network getting into training? We’re involved in training now and hope to do more work in that area. I serve as the “host” or director for a man who produces online webinar training sessions for the library market. Because I have a lot of experience with online training, I am able to smooth out the process and make sure everything goes well during the sessions. There is a lot of crappy online training out there, but I like to assure prospective clients that we are putting out a quality product. I think having an online director really is a necessity. Is your degree in library and information science important Fall 2011
for the work that you are doing? I have always thought that everyone should get a library degree before any work in higher education, particularly doctoral studies – how else can you do adequate research? In addition to the library degree, I also have a doctorate in computer technology in education which helped me prepare for the online training element and a certificate in nonprofit management which is essential for the nonprofit work. But when dealing with librarians and their jobs and their needs, I really think the library degree is essential so that you understand the complexity of the resources, the lay of the market, and the difficult position that many librarians are in serving as the gateway between the information resources and the people who will ultimately utilize them. My library degree, even though earned in the 1980s, established the framework for that understanding. How can libraries contact you if they would like more information on any of your services. We don’t work with individual libraries on the discount programs. If anyone is interested in that, they should have their group or consortium contact us. We can provide the nonprofit services or the online training support to anyone. You can refer them to our website for contact information: www.librarydiscountnetwork.com
Terry Manuel Completes MSL Program We learned a couple of years ago that Terry Manuel (’88) was enrolled in a second master’s-degree program, one entirely online, and when he completed the program earlier this year, we asked him to comment on the program for the newsletter. Terry wrote: I didn't fully realize, when I began the Masters in Law program at Champlain College, how valuable it would be to me in my current position* when combined with my MSLS from the University of Kentucky. The three years I spent working on this degree have left me strongly in favor of online education and distance learning, especially for graduate and postgraduate students for whom online study may be the only option. I think bringing distance learning online has been a tremendous benefit to the non-traditional student. Gone are the days when you wrote your assignment and mailed it to your professor. If you had questions, you wrote a note or called your professor long-distance. Online distance learning allows for communication among students and professors. The isolation of correspondence classes is gone. Students are able to receive instant feedback to assignments or questions. The instructors in the program were exceptional: attorneys with years of relevant experience in their subject field. Contrary to what some believe, I didn’t find online education any easier than traditional “face-to-face” study. It is considerably different, in that most of the interaction takes place via the written word. I can understand how this could prove challenging for some people, and why distance education still may not be for everyone. Page 18
At the May graduation, Champlain conferred 57 master's level degrees in five areas of study, Masters of Business Administration, Masters of Science in Digital Investigation Management, Master of Science in Law, Master of Science in Managing Innovation and Information Technology and Master of Science in Mediation and Applied Conflict Studies. *Program Development Branch Manager, Field Services Division, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives.
Matt Cockerell Joins College Staff to Assist with Developing Online Courses While Matt Cockerell (’11) was enrolled in the master’sdegree program, he worked part time for the School, and we learned quickly he is a competent young man with considerable knowledge of information technology. Following completion of the program, Matt was hired in an effort to build infrastructure to support the move to online instruction as more College faculty become interested. We asked Matt to discuss his work and thank him for doing so. I began working for the College of Communications and Information Studies as a technologist / instruction producer shortly after graduating from UK SLIS in May 2011. My position was created in order to assist the College in developing new distance learning course offerings. I work under the supervision of UK SLIS Director Dr. Jeffrey Huber. My job description could best be summarized as a liaison between faculty and technology. I assist instructors by preparing and packaging content best suited for online learning. My main focus at the moment is fine-tuning online sections of the newly created Composition and Communication courses. These courses are taught by the Instructional Communications department within the College of Communications and Information Studies and are required courses for all undergraduate students at the University. The courses combine writing and public speaking components into their learning objectives. Figuring out how to present, capture, and share student speeches in an online environment has been a thought-provoking, yet challenging, experience. My coursework at UK SLIS as a distance learning student helped to prepare me for this position. Having seen the “other side” of Blackboard, I quickly developed a much greater appreciation for all of the effort, creative thinking, and problem solving required in developing online courses. I cannot express how daunting the sight of an empty Blackboard shell can be. Current students and alumni of UK SLIS can be proud of the fact that the faculty and staff here at UK SLIS have an understanding of distance learning education with such demonstrated expertise. I have already had the chance to work with several of my fellow alums in the brief time I have been in this position. I worked with Marcia Rapchak (’10) when she was a lecturer for the Department of Instructional Communication. I have attended training sessions offered by Virginia Lacefield (’11) of UK’s Academic Technologies Group. Most recently, I am working with Jennifer Dupuis (’11) in conFall 2011
nection with a leadership course being offered by Dean Dan O’Hair in which students will be using Blackboard to create new entries for Wikipedia. The facets of my job that I find most rewarding are twofold. First, I enjoy meeting new people and developing connections across campus. This position has allowed me to create relationships throughout the College of Communications and Information Studies and other departments. I am currently working towards developing courses for the Graduate Program in Communication and for the School of Journalism and Telecommunications. Second, I have the opportunity to work with advanced software packages. There are so many options available to instructors who wish to teach online courses. I have access to many different types of screen-capture and virtual conferencing programs. It is very rewarding to be able to help others learn new skills. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to work at the University of Kentucky, especially in such close connection to the School of Library and Information Science. I have been on UK’s campus in some form or another since 1999 and cannot imagine being anywhere else.
Alumna Claire McCann Dies at 77 Claire McCann (’63), who worked for many years in University of Kentucky Libraries Special Collections and Archives, died in April a few days short of her 77th birthday. She had retired from UK a number of years ago but continued to work as a volunteer. This obituary appeared in the April 19 issue of the Lexington Herald-Leader: McCANN Claire, 76, was born in Cincinnati, OH on April 20, 1934 and was the only child of Harriett Barker McCann and Hubert McCann. She was a graduate of Villa Madonna College (now Thomas More College) in 1957 and received an M.L.S. from the Department of Library Science at the University of Kentucky in 1963. She began her library career at UK in Sep 1962 where she was steadily promoted achieving tenure in 1969 and the rank of Librarian I in 1977. McCann served as the Curator of Manuscripts in Special Collections and Archives in the UK Library system until her retirement Aug 31, 2004 - a forty-one year period. In addition, she was the coordinator of the department's reference area for more than fourteen years. Always unselfish with her time, it was common knowledge that she knew UK's Special Collections holdings better than anyone. Few reference librarians were her equal in pursuing information. The acknowledgements citing her assistance that appeared in hundreds of books and articles are a testament to her research and reference skills. In addition to her main responsibilities, McCann also team taught a course on Special Collections in the UK School of Library and Information Science (1976-1979). Claire was a caring and generous friend and mentor. Moreover, she was highly principled and a person of deep faith. McCann was an avid UK basketball fan and loved animals – particularly cats. Page 19
Alumni Activities Former Kentucky State Librarian and Commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives Jim Nelson (’69) has agreed to serve on the College of Communications and Information Studies National Advisory Board. Jim retired from the Kentucky positions several years ago. Deanna Marcum (’71) received ALA’s 2011 Melvil Dewey Medal Award as well as an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from North Carolina State University, Raleigh. In addition, she has agreed to serve on the College of Communications and Information Studies National Advisory Board. On June 30 of this year Woodvall Moore (’72) retired following a 35-year career at Evangel University. At the time of his retirement he was Director of Library and Media Services, in which capacity he oversaw the Klaude Kendrick Library, the Instructional Resource Center, and the music library. David Gleim (’73) in June retired from the position Dean of Libraries at South Dakota State University. Judith Gibbons’ (’78) article, “The Best in Library Branding,” appeared in the May/June 2011 issue of American Libraries. Candy Zaluski (’85) is Library Resource Specialist, Fayette County School System, Lexington. We received an especially nice e-mail from Ellen Schellhause (’88): “I enjoyed reading the Lucinda Zoe article and seeing the names of Professors Weigand, Harris, and McConnell [in the spring 2011 newsletter]. It brings back fond memories of being in the old student lounge on the top floor of King Library drinking 5 cent coffee and debating the future of paper vs. paperless with Professors Harris and Waldhart, and students in the classes of ’88 & ’89. Just wanted to let you know that after 7 years leading one of the University of Illinois Chicago Health Science Libraries, I moved to Florida to be Director at the Maitland Public Library. It’s a big change, but the community has so much enthusiasm for their library. Public libraries have such a wide range of activities going on all the time, it’s fun to come to work every day. Dennis Miller did a great job of discussing where we are today in public libraries as well. Thanks for keeping us informed on what is going on with the School. There are a lot of pleasant memories associated with UK and the time spent there.” Bert Chapman (’89) passed along good news in April: “I wanted to let you know that my fourth book, Geopolitics: A Guide to the Issues, has just been published by Praeger. http://www.abc-clio.com/product.aspx?id=2147508417 .” Fall 2011
Bert has the rank of professor and is Government Information, Political Science, & Economics Librarian at Purdue University. If your name is Michael Flannery (’89) and you are asked to deliver a talk on March 17, it is probably nearly impossible to say no. As we assume is widely known, those of Irish heritage are among the most agreeable people in the world, inclined to say yes to a request made for any date, but especially a request made for Saint Patrick’s Day. And so, Mike said yes, when the Alabama Department of Archives and History asked him to deliver a talk in the ArchiTreats: Food for Thought series on Alabama history. There is information about his talk, and about Mike, at http://www.archives.alabama.gov/press_release/AT_03_17_11flannery.pdf. He is Professor and Associate Director for Historical Collections at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Robert Kelly (’90) is a reliable correspondent, and he wrote early in August: “The directors of Kansas' 25 public 2-year colleges formed the TYLDC (Two-Year Library Directors Council) and its first formal year of existence was this past academic year. Were you aware that three of the initial four officers were Kentucky MLS alums? Historian Matthew Pannkuk ('06) of Seward County Community College and Area Vocational School, Vice-Chair Micaela Ayers ('98) of Butler Community College and me as Chair? For 2011-12 I will be Past-Chair, Micaela rotates up as Chair and Matthew remains as Historian. Also, Matthew is the incoming chair of the College & University Library Section of the Kansas Library Association.” In taking on the role of correspondent, Robert prudently did not give up his day job. He is Coordinator of Library Services, John F. Kennedy Library, Rimmer Learning Resource Center, Hutchinson Community College/AVS. We thank Valerie Estes Perry (’94) for letting us know that, in addition to being Head of UK’s Agriculture Information Center, she has been appointed Director of Branch Libraries. UK Libraries Dean Terry Birdwhistell (’78) said in announcing the appointment: “Valerie Perry will serve a two-year assignment as Director of Branch Libraries, reporting to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Research. In addition to managing the Agricultural Information Center, Valerie will be responsible for supporting branch library services through consulting and advising on branch services, policies, and procedures in response to the evolving needs of students and faculty. The Director of Branches supervises all branch library heads, plans regular meetings with branch faculty and staff, and assists in special projects related to branch mergers, moves, and space and service restructuring.” Susan Martin (’95) wrote in July: “I’ve been on sabbatical since Christmas 2010 and living in a flat at Regent’s College in the University of Oxford in England. The experience was way better than I ever imagined. All librarians should experience the Oxford libraries. I was appointed Director of Page 20
Library Services at Georgetown College and started the new position on July 1. I’m excited.”
Clermont County Public Library in Ohio and Faith is the Assistant Director of Owen County Public Library [KY].”
Dr. Robert Sanders (’95) this summer was appointed chair of the Department of Leadership and Educational Studies, Reich College of Education, Appalachian State University.
Steve Hammel (’06), Branch Manager Lafitte, Jefferson Parish Public Library, wrote earlier this year: “Greetings from beautiful Jefferson Parish Louisiana. Things are going pretty well, I’ve been in this position for about nine months and really like it. Lafitte is a small branch, just myself, one full and one part time person so I get to do everything; adult and children services, collection development, outreach, etc . Consequently boredom is not a regular visitor. This is the link for the library I’m at: http://www.jefferson.lib.la.us/branches/jplpage.lafitte.html
We thank Will Buntin for passing along this e-mail from Mary Ann Abner (’96): “I graduated from SLIS in May 1996. Since that time I’ve worked exclusively for vendors, mostly as a telecommuter. I’ve worked for Ingram Library Services, OCLC, and Special Libraries Cataloguing (British Columbia). I even made a brief but unhappy detour into the world of Kentucky Medicaid. (Don’t ask.) But now, I find myself back in a brick-and-mortar library. I’m the Technical Services Manager at Jessamine County Public Library in Nicholasville. I couldn’t be happier to be here.” Kelly Dean (’96) is Outreach Director, Lexington Public Library. We received this news last spring from Mary Chesnut (’02): “I wanted to let you know that I recently was promoted to Associate Professor of Library Services and granted tenure. I continue to love my position here at NKU [Northern Kentucky University]. I work with such talented and creative librarians…it is truly the dream job for me.” Mary is Associate Professor, Coordinator of Information Literacy, Research & Instructional Services, Steely Library. Jeremy Berberich (’04) is Interim Director of Knowledge Management and Associate Director of Library and Information Services, Gateway Community and Technical College, Florence, KY. Rainey Wyatt (’04) is Middle and Upper School Librarian, Louisville Collegiate School. Tonya Head (’05) has been promoted to Central Library Manager, Lexington Public Library. Venus Fasce Moose (’05) is Adult Programming Librarian, Kenton County Public Library, KY, Erlanger Branch. We thank Andrea Brofft (’06) for the following: “I thought I would send an update on behalf of Faith Mulberry (’06) and myself. Though we only had one class together in school, our paths crossed again when we worked at a Northern Kentucky public library. Then, we parted ways for new opportunities, but not before starting a side project together with another colleague. Here is information: Andrea Brofft and Faith Mulberry launched Lunch It Punch It (http://www.lunchitpunchit.com), which encourages lunch packers to pack ten lunches before eating out. The blog caught the eye of American Library Association and was featured in the January 19 [2011] edition of ALA Direct. When they're not talking about the next great packed lunch, Andrea is a Collection Development Librarian at Fall 2011
William Bowman (’08) has joined the staff at Campbell County Public Library, KY, at the Newport Branch. Rebecca Davis (’09) let us know in May she had been accepted at the University of Tennessee and would begin the Information Science doctoral program in the fall. Jamie Helle (’10) is Reference Librarian at Boyle County Public Library, Danville, KY. We thank Marcia Rapchak (’10) for letting us know about the offer she accepted: “I am working at Duquesne University. I took a position as an Instruction Librarian, and I am working on revising the curriculum for the required, onecredit hour information literacy course, Research and Information Skills Lab. I will be teaching three sections in the fall and two in the spring. My other duties will include collaborating with instructors to integrate information literacy across the curriculum, working on campus-wide IL assessment, working as a liaison, and spending time on the reference desk. In my eyes, it's the perfect position for me.”
Among Recent Graduates Lauren Abner is Administrative Secretary, Kentucky Talking Book Library, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Jessica Andrews is an English teacher at Henry Clay High School, Lexington. Ryan Burch is Library Media Specialist, Summit View Middle School, Independence, KY. Patricia Calico is a teacher at Tates Creek Middle School, Lexington. Matt Cockerell is Technologist/Content Designer in UK’s College of Communications and Information Studies. Jennifer Dupuis is Project Manager, Health Literacy and Leadership Research, College of Communications and Information Studies, University of Kentucky. Page 21
We have learned of the death of several alumni. Matthew Gilley is on the University of Kentucky Libraries staff. Virginia Lacefield is an Information Systems Support Specialist at the University of Kentucky. Andrew McClanahan is on the staff at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County and is assigned to the Main Library. Kristy Nowak’s article, “Serving Teens in the Public Library,” was published in the Summer 2011 issue of Kentucky Libraries. Bethany Reeder is on the library staff at ITT Technical Institute, Lexington. Claire Sowell is on the staff at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. Sara Spurr is a sixth grade teacher, Trimble County Middle School, Bedford, KY. Trina Stokes is a member of the staff at the UK Medical Center Library. Judith TenEyck is a librarian at the Galen College of Nursing, Cincinnati. Christy Terry is a kindergarten teacher at Our Lady of the Mountains School, Paintsville, KY. Kayla Watts is Program Director, Breathitt County Adult Education, Jackson, KY.
Dr Robert Ward (’76) died in February in Charleston, SC. A native of Louisville, KY, he earned an undergraduate degree at Bellarmine University in Louisville, master’s degrees from the University of Kentucky and Drake University, and a PhD from Virginia Tech. He was an associate professor at the School of Library and Information Science, Louisiana State University, and is survived by his widow, Jan Buvinger Ward, who resides in Charleston, SC. David Matthews (’87) died in April. This information was provided by the Burnside Funeral Home, Bridgeport, WV: David F. Matthews, 56, of Fairmont, passed away Saturday, April 2, 2011, at the Heritage Nursing Home. He was born in Spencer [WV] on February 21, 1955, a son of the late William H. and Jean Steber Matthews. … He was a graduate of Spencer High School, Marshall University, and received his Masters of Library Science from the University of Kentucky. David was a 20 year member of the Faculty of Fairmont State University [WV], where he was the Librarian. He was also a contributor to WV Encyclopedia. In July, Toni Greider (’73) passed along the news that Ken Randles (’99) had died in Tucson, AZ. The following information was provided by the Arch L. Heady-Cralle Funeral Home, Louisville: Born in Louisville, 9/9/63, Ken attended Waggener High School and the Youth Performing Arts School. A 1999 graduate of UK with a master's in library science, Ken moved to Tucson to pursue his career. Ken loved science and especially enjoyed the Sonoran Desert. He studied dance and was an admirer of Baryshnikov and Michael Jackson. An animal lover, he liked bulldogs and shelties and wrote stories about bulldogs. He was an avid Star Trek fan. .
Please send information for the newsletter to carrigan@uky.edu
Fall 2011
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