SLIS Newsletter Spring 2014

Volume 36 Number 1

Spring 2014

SLIS Announces Bachelors of Science Degree in Information Communication Technology On February 21 the School of Library and Information Science announced it would introduce a new program fall semester 2014, an undergraduate Bachelors of Science degree in Information Communication Technology (ICT). In an article in the fall 2012 issue, the newsletter reported the School would launch an undergraduate minor, in Information Studies, spring 2013. At the same time the newsletter informed readers the School intended to propose a new undergraduate major, as well as a new master’s program, both in ICT. While introduction of the minor in information studies could be seen as the realization of a goal the School set years ago, to have a place in the undergraduate curriculum, approval to offer a major is the ultimate realization of that goal.

Following is the text of the press release the School issued on February 21: School of Library & Information Science Announces New Bachelors of Science Degree in Information Communication Technology New major to launch Fall 2014 A new major is placing students at the forefront of today’s increasingly interconnected world.

The Bachelors of Science in Information Communication Technology (ICT) focuses on the intersection of technology, people who use that technology, policies and regulations that govern the use of that technology and communities or environments in which that technology is used. It is the newest undergraduate degree program in the College of Communication and Information, the university’s official iSchool, part of a collection of Information Schools dedicated to advancing the information field.

Housed in the School of Library and Information Science, ICT is an applied information technology degree program.

The ICT program (http://ict.uky.edu) provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively apply, use, and manage technology when solving problems specifically related to information and communication. It provides a human and organizational focus on technology – teaching students how to be effective users of technology. Students who major in ICT can expect to work in positions where they are the communication link between people, organizations, and the technologies used to support those organiza-

tions’ information infrastructures. It is here that the University of Kentucky’s ICT program offers a unique advantage.

“Our program really emphasizes technology within the context of the people who use that technology and the environments in which it is used. The program is designed to emphasize the interconnected relationship between technology and society and how one affects the other,” says Dr. Jeff Huber, Director of the School. “While there are strong technical components in the curriculum, we adopt a much broader view that considers how information, communication, and technology affect people and communities.”

ICT majors may pursue one of two concentrations, ICT Commercialization or Technology Management. ICT Commercialization focuses on ICT as an enabling tool to drive economic growth. The concentration in Technology Management focuses on using technology to provide a stable operating environment. Information and course descriptions can be found on the new ICT program website. Students take different courses depending on the degree concentration they pursue, allowing them to focus their degree plan on the option they feel best suits their career interests.

ICT is a fast emerging field that encompasses many job sectors. The U.S. Department of Labor (USDL) projected growth rates for employment in the ICT sector trends favorably for the ten-year forecast period with most job categories reflecting double-digit percentage increases over that term. Information Security Analysts, for instance, have a 37% job growth outlook for 2012-22. Other ICT sector jobs such as Web Developers are expected to have a 20% increase, and Database Administrators have a projected 15% increase. Employment availability in two categories (Information Security Analysts, Web Developers, and Computer Network Architects (107%); Media and Communication Workers, All Other (148%)) already exceeds the projected numbers for 2020.

The School of Library and Information Science has been growing its presence in the undergraduate area. The ICT major will complement an already existing minor in Information Studies. The minor, offered since spring 2013, is another unique program to the University: the University's first fully online minor. The IS 200 Information Literacy and Critical Thinking course has also gained experimental approval as a UK Core course.

College Celebrates 20 th Anniversary

Sally [Dr. Sally Johnson] and I also enormously enjoyed the good fellowship of SLIS faculty members and always looked forward to the children’s literature conference and the annual banquet.

A little known fact of my early work history was working part time in libraries when I was in the Army. So, in very real ways, libraries have always played a central role in my life.

The University of Kentucky College of Communication and Information (CI) is celebrating its 20th anniversary during the 2013-14 academic year. The College held an Anniversary Celebration & Awards Dinner Friday November 8, at Spindletop Hall in Lexington. Faculty, staff, alumni, and friends attended an evening that commemorated the College’s successes and recognized the recipients of the 2013Prof. Doug Boyd on Merger 2014 College Excellence Awards. Among those recognized was Jennifer Coffman (’71), who received the School of Library and Information Science Outstanding Alumna/us Dr. Doug Boyd was Dean of the College of CommunicaAward. tions at the time it merged with the College of Library and The College was created in 1993 Information Science to form the with the merger of the College of College of Communications and Library and Information Science and Information Studies, of which he was the College of Communications. the first Dean. He addressed the Initially established as the College of Celebration & Awards Dinner and Communications and Information provided a print version of his Studies, in May of 2012 the Board of remarks to the newsletter.

Trustees approved a name change, to The story of the merger of two UK the College of Communication and colleges in 1993 is so convoluted and Information. odd that it could only happen in the Dr. H. Dan O'Hair, who has been academy.

Dean of CI since August 1, 2009, A great deal of the credit for the commented to the newsletter about successful merger goes to Dean the merger: Thomas Waldhart and his colleagues When I learned the University of in Library and Information Science Kentucky was recruiting for a Dean of (LIS). Essentially, in the early 1990s the College of Communications and several US library schools were in Information Studies, I was interested some trouble. The discipline was in in the position, and one of the things transition and there were funding that appealed to me about the college problems that were national in scope. was its composition. I wrote in my Tom’s wife Enid was a faculty application letter: member in the College of CommuniDean H. Dan O’Hair at the Anniversary “Let me say at the outset that I find cation’s Department of Celebration & Awards Dinner. the disciplinary composition of the Communication at the time, so many Banquet photos by Ann Stroth college to be ideal, and enjoining of us knew Tom and a few LIS faculty journalism and telecommunications, library and information members well. Faculty in both colleges believed that we science, and communication into a single college represents should examine a possible merger, but everyone wanted to a strategic masterpiece. Although the disciplines represee specifics. Tom took the lead from the library science sented by these units are varied and independently distinside, and I dealt more with the larger administrative issues guished, a whole host of conceptual and practical issues that of the merger. Combining the two colleges, we believed, are shared by these constituents are rich and deserving of could give the three units in the College of Communications collaborative attention. I have an interest in, and experience the possibility of realignment. with, all three disciplines and would find it an exciting chalTom talked with the College of Communications faculty lenge to serve as Dean of this College.” and I talked with the College of Library and Information Science faculty. We drafted a document that was ratified by Dr. J. David Johnson was Dean of the College from Aufaculty of both colleges at a meeting in March 1993. The gust 1998 until June 30, 2009, and he told the newsletter: merger would: The merger happened before my deanship. However, it • Create a College of Communications and Information was a major attraction for me in applying to be Dean at Studies with me as the dean.

UK. Obviously, given the three books I have written on • Create a School of Library and Information Science as information seeking and the two on knowledge managepart of the new college with Tom Waldhart as Director. ment I see wonderful synergies across the units of the col• Merge the Department of Telecommunications and the lege. My collaboration with faculty members in SLIS, School of Journalism to create a School of Journalism and particularly Donald Case, have been my most rewarding Telecommunications. ones since I have come UK. Spring 2014

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All of this was proposed in a year when Chancellor Robert Hemenway mandated an R&R study – Restructuring and Reallocation. In fact, we are the only units on campus that made any administrative changes.

Tom Waldhart and I took our written faculty-approved proposal to the Senate Council with a request that they forward it to the full Senate for a vote, an essential step before asking for Board of Trustee approval. The Senate Council chair, a feisty math professor, said that he did not like what we proposed. Tom and I redrafted the proposal to reflect the Senate Council chair’s suggested changes. The Senate Council approved the merger. However, by the time it reached the full Senate, the body had already met for the last time for that academic year.

I talked with Professor of Pharmacy and Senate President John Piecoro who agreed to call a special meeting of the Senate with our college merger as the only item. To avoid not having a quorum, Department of Communication Chair Professor Jim Applegate and I split the Senate membership list and called each voting member with a request that they attend. Well, this is ancient history; not everyone was using e-mail at the time. Most showed up for the special session, and the proposed merger passed.

Like John Piecoro, Professor of Nursing Juanita Fleming was among a select number of faculty that kept UK functioning during some difficult financial and leadership years.

Juanita at that time worked for President Wethington as a special assistant. She essentially was in charge of the Administrative and Governing Regulations and ensured that everything was on the up-and-up.

After the Board of Trustees passed the merger resolution in May 1993, she called me in the dean’s office and asked the name of the new college. I said, “Communications and Information Studies.” She said, “Oh, it says here “Communication and Library Sciences. That is what was approved.”

There was a long pause from the always proper Dr. Fleming. Then she said, “I’ll just change it.”

Prof. Emeritus Tom Waldhart on Merger Dr. Tom Waldhart, who retired in 2004, was Dean of the College of Library and Information Science at the time it merged with the College of Communications, in 1993. The newsletter asked Dr. Waldhart to comment on the merger and especially on the circumstances that led him to propose merger. His comments follow.

Starting in the 1970s, professional education in library science began to change in a number of important ways.

Library education programs began to expand the scope of their academic programs to include elements of information science and technology. In some cases, program expansion resulted in a redefinition of the traditional academic units. In other cases, this change in scope resulted in the establishment of newly defined academic units, or the combination of library science with other academic units to form larger units with broader educational, research and service responsibilities.

At the same time, public universities throughout the United States began to experience significant economic Spring 2014

pressures produced by the rapidly growing costs of higher education, and stable or declining support by federal and state government. These economic pressures continue to the present, and they have sometimes resulted in the closure of smaller academic programs or the merger of smaller programs with other academic units, in the hope of reducing administrative costs, sharing faculty and facilities, and perhaps realizing some economies of scale.

In fall of 1987 Dr. Timothy Sineath resigned as Dean of the College, and when advising Chancellor Art Gallaher regarding new leadership for the College, the University Senate Council asked the administration to consider the possibility of combining the small College of Library and Information Science with some other larger academic unit. In December 1990, after some discussion of the issue of reorganization, Dr. Robert Hemenway (who replaced Dr. Art Gallaher as Chancellor during summer 1988) advised me (who was functioning as Acting Dean of the College) that he had concluded Library and Information Science should probably remain a college. While supporters of library education at the University, and within the Commonwealth, were pleased with Dr. Hemenway’s decision to retain Library and Information Science as a college, college administrators and faculty continued to be concerned about the future of the unit in the broader University.

Because of the financial issues facing higher education in the Commonwealth, the faculty of the College continued to examine various strategies for addressing this important organizational issue. Independence as a College offered the academic unit some important advantages in terms of increased visibility, control of budgeting, staffing and the development of academic programs. However, the independence of a relatively small academic unit within the University, at a time of limited organizational resources, may make it vulnerable to merger with a larger, and perhaps only marginally related academic unit, or even closure.

In response to the budget cuts, President Wethington announced that the University would undertake a “critical look at restructuring and staff at the University.” Chancellor Hemenway recognized that “If we are to make the University better, despite current or future budget cuts, we must realign our resources, reassess our priorities, streamline our organizations, and re-examine our staffing patterns and work processes.” As part of this process, Dr. Hemenway asked all college deans to examine their organizational structures in an effort to ensure that the limited resources available to the University were being used in the most efficient and effective ways possible. Reorganizing academic units was recognized as one way of achieving these goals.

The administration and faculty of the College of Library and Information Science discussed the possibility of merging the College with another unit for several months. It soon became apparent that, if merger with another unit was judged necessary and/or desirable, the College of Communications offered the most attractive alternative for a variety of important reasons. (1) The instructional, research and service programs of both colleges possessed a common information-communication focus, providing a programmatic basis for a merger of the units; (2) While the academic proPage 3

gram of Library and Information Science was part of the Judge Jennifer Coffman is SLIS Graduate School, the program possessed a strong profes2013 Outstanding Alumna sional orientation that was mirrored throughout the undergraduate programs of the Journalism, Telecommunications The School of Library and Information Science conferred its and Communication programs of the College of Communi2013 Outstanding Alumna/us Award on Judge Jennifer cations; (3) The Library Science program and the DepartCoffman (’71). Dean O’Hair presented the Award to Judge ment of Communication taught many service courses for Coffman at the College of Communication and Information other academic units in the University; (4) Joining the ColAnniversary Celebration & Awards Dinner, held at Spindlelege of Communications would provide selected graduates top Hall November 8. of the Master’s Program in Library and Information Science In addition to earning an MLS degree at UK, Judge with access to the doctoral program of the College of ComCoffman also has a BA from UK, in English, and a JD. munications; (5) Because of the strong undergraduate proPrior to earning her law degree, she worked as an English gram experience of the College of Communications, the teacher and a librarian.

After law school, she worked in primerger of the two units would provide a basis for the possivate practice in Lexington until ble development of professionally1993. In that year Kentucky oriented undergraduate programs in Senator Wendell Ford information-related areas; (6) The recommended to President Bill merger of the two colleges would Clinton that Jennifer be appointed offer the opportunity of sharing to the US District Court for the some of the specialized inEastern District of Kentucky and structional and research expertise the US District Court for the that each of the individual colleges Western District of Kentucky. possess, and possibly reduce course President Clinton nominated her for duplication in the future; (7) The the positions, and the US Senate merger of the two colleges might confirmed her appointment on Sepallow some reduction in tember 30, 1993. administrative overhead in the two At the time of her appointment, units; (8) The 25 years of Judge Coffman was the first female experience of Library and Inforfederal judge in Kentucky. In 2007 mation Science with distance she became the first female federal learning programs (during the last chief judge in Kentucky. In May 10 years, much of it online) would Dean O’Hair presents the SLIS Outstanding 2011 Judge Coffman was appointed bring some needed online Alumna/us Award to Judge Jennifer Coffman. to the US Foreign Intelligence instructional expertise to the Surveillance Court, while continuing to serve on the District merged college; (9) The merger with the College of ComCourt. She retired from the bench on January 8, 2013. munications would make Library and Information Science Judge Coffman presided over a case that many readers of less vulnerable to the threat of closure of a relative small the newsletter will remember and was, she told a reporter, academic program in an economic emergency; (10) A “without a doubt the most noteworthy case” over which she merger would increase the number of graduate students in presided, “involving the theft of rare books from Transylvathe merged college to approximately 300 masters and docnia University.”

Sentencing the four young men, “who toral students, making the new college one of the largest pleaded guilty, took about 10 hours, and the courtroom was graduate programs in the University. overflowing with spectators.”

She told the reporter, “‘I got With the agreement of the Library and Information Sciletters from librarians all over the United States.’” ence faculty, I initiated discussions regarding the merger of Library and Information Science and Communications with Dean Douglas Boyd. We both felt that, while some What is ‘Instructional Communication’? issues and concerns would need to be addressed, the idea of merger had some benefits for both Library and InforWhen the University of Kentucky developed a new general mation Science and the College of Communications, and education program several years ago, a significant role that the respective faculties should be given the opportuemerged for the College of Communication and Information nity to consider the possibility of merger.

(CI), and the Division of Instructional Communication and The proposal was discussed by the faculties of all the Research (ICR) was established as the unit responsible for units involved, and the faculties of both colleges voted in developing and implementing the College’s role in the genfavor of the merger. Dean Douglas Boyd and I endorsed eral education program. As the newsletter reported last fall, the proposal, as did Chancellor Robert Hemenway and advantages were seen to housing ICR within the School of President Charles Wethington. The University Board of Library and Information Science. In this issue of the newsTrustees approved the merger, and the College of Commuletter Dr. Derek Lane, a faculty member in the CI Departnications and Information Studies was established effecment of Communication, addresses the question, What is tive July 1, 1993. instructional communication?

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What is Instructional Communication?

by Dr. Derek Lane Almost four decades have passed since Hurt, Scott, and McCroskey (1978) argued that the primary difference between knowing and teaching is communication. Instructional communication (IC) occurs at the intersection of educational psychology, pedagogy, and communication and encompasses the study of communication processes and related messages as they occur in instructional contexts across subject matter, grade levels, and types of settings.

IC is frequently confused with Communication Education (CE) even though the differences are relatively straightforward. Put simply, communication education involves “instruction in communication” whereas IC involves “communication in instruction.” CE puts the emphasis on communication pedagogy (i.e., how to teach communication skills in communication courses) while IC puts the emphasis on the role of communication in improving learning outcomes across instructional contexts (K-12, training and development, etc.).

IC traditions can be traced to 3200 B.C. but communication education has been a part of formal education since the beginning (Friedrich, 1987). Speech courses for ministers were taught at Harvard as early as 1636 and similar courses for teachers were offered at Indiana University in 1892 (Wallace, 1954). The critical turning point for contemporary IC researchers occurred at the end of the 1960s with the creation of two IC doctoral programs – one at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN (1967) and the other at Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL (1970). Both programs included a unique mix of personnel, grant funding, outstanding resources and enthusiastically committed graduate students (Barker, 1989). Two years later, in 1972, the International Communication Association (ICA) formed the Instructional and Development Division (IDD).

Over the past forty years substantial progress has been made with respect to knowledge claims that can be used to improve instructional practices and learning outcomes across multiple contexts. To date, ICR faculty have focused most of their efforts on enhancing and improving UK Core courses related to the teaching of composition and communication skills (e.g., communication education issues), but the new graduation requirement for integrated communication within the specific disciplines (GCCR) has generated a lot of interest in ICR. There is also demand for IC in business, medical and engineering education contexts for assistance in improving curriculum, instructional strategies, and behavioral competencies. Researchers in the Division of Instructional Communication at the University of Kentucky are generating and integrating instructional communication theory and research into multiple applied contexts (e.g., risk, crisis, health, corporate, interpersonal) with federal funding to help create the future.

References: Barker, L. L. (1989). Perspectives on communication instruction from a representative of two early doctoral proSpring 2014

grams in communication education. Communication Education, 38(4), 345.

Friedrich, G. W. (1987). Instructional communication research. Journal of Thought, 22(4), 4-10.

Hurt, H. T., Scott, M. D., & McCroskey J. C. (1978).

Communication in the classroom. Reading, MA: AddisonWesley.

Wallace, K. R. (Ed.) (1954). History of speech education in America: Background studies. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc. Following are examples of research by ICR faculty: Pam Cupp, health communication In my work over the last 20 years, learning theories, practices and principles have helped to inform effective health prevention interventions across a broad spectrum of social and health maladies. Understanding the structure of good curricula was key in the development of HIV and alcohol prevention programs both in the U.S. and abroad, as evidenced by projects funded by NIAAA and NIMH. In a study funded by NINR, we also advanced science in understanding the importance of teachers' attitudes, beliefs and practices in changing health behaviors of high school students. Since schools are often the most practical and accessible venue for engaging with students about health and social issues, the intersection of health and instructional communication will continue to grow in importance.

Derek Lane, education Instructional communication researchers at the University of Kentucky collaborated on a study funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research that was aimed at improving school learning environments in high school health classrooms. A series of studies conducted over five years successfully demonstrated that communication can be used to improve learning environments, delay sexual initiation, and enhance student health behaviors. Results of another study funded by the National Science Foundation illustrated that instructional communication strategies related to team-based learning could be used to improve student learning in college science and chemistry classrooms.

Anthony Limperos, mass communication Mass communication research is multifaceted, diverse, and does indeed intersect with the field of instructional communication. Traditionally, the study of mass communication has focused on everything from journalism and strategic communication to understanding the societal and psychological impacts of various media in everyday life. Dating back to early concerns about war propaganda to the commercial genesis of television, researchers have always been interested in understanding how media can be used to “teach” or educate the masses. This is precisely how mass and instructional communication fit together. In today’s society, access to media and new communication technology is unprecedented. Everything from older media like television to newer media like video games and iPads can potentially be used as an educational tool. In my opinion, any researcher who is concerned about the impact of a particular type of media message or medium on any type of learning outcome is essentially parPage 5

ticipating in both mass and instructional communication research. This has been especially true in terms of my own research trajectory. I am currently conducting research to understand if commercial exercise video games (commonly known as "Exergames") can be used to teach and motivate future exercise behavior. This research has the potential to extend our understanding of the exergaming experience and may also inform other research that involves design and implementation of media for instruction purposes.

Prof. Youngseek Kim Receives Awards Dr. Youngseek Kim has been awarded the ASIS&T Best Information Behavior Conference Paper for 2013. The paper, entitled “Institutional and Individual Influences on Scientists’ Data Sharing Behaviors: A Multilevel Analysis,” was written by Dr. Kim and Dr. Jeffrey Stanton of Syracuse University. The Best Information Behavior Conference Paper Award is presented at ASIS&T's annual conference to recognize the best paper in the Information Behavior category. More information can be found on the ASIS&T SIG USE wordpress.

In addition to the ASIS&T Award, Dr. Kim also received the 2014 Eugene Garfield Doctoral Dissertation Award from the Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) for his dissertation, entitled “Institutional and Individual Influences on Scientists' Data Sharing Behaviors.” The Award was presented to Dr. Kim at ALISE's 2014 annual conference, January 21-24 in Philadelphia.

Prof. Maria Cahill to Participate in AASL National Research Forum Prof. Maria Cahill, who administers the SLIS School Librarian Program, learned in February that she is one of fifty active scholars chosen to participate in the American Association of School Librarians’ (AASL) Causality: School Libraries and Student Success (CLASS) research summit.

The program, funded by an Institute of Museum and Library Services National Leadership Grant for Libraries, will be held in April in Chicago.

According to information in the October 2013 ALA press release announcing the grant and program: AASL will use the $99,398 in grant monies to host a national forum to outline a research agenda for future school library research. While previous studies have suggested a correlation between increased student achievement and school libraries staffed by professional school librarians and containing adequate resources, a more rigorous experimental design strengthens findings for the school librarian profession. The national forum, in addition to a research agenda, will create an interdisciplinary networked community of researchers who will pursue research studies on student achievement that meet scientifically based empirical research models.

The press release continued: One of the goals of the forum is to create a rich and diverse community of researchers focused on causal reSpring 2014

search in school libraries that meet the rigorous criteria for scientifically based empirical research.

AASL President Gail Dickinson commented: School library scholars have contributed to a strong body of research that shows the strong impact that school librarians have on school-wide student achievement. It’s a logical step to now focus on the causal relationship between strong school libraries with professionally trained and certified school librarians and student learning. We expect that the CLASS white paper and the ensuing research agenda will clearly outline what school librarians do to create student learning opportunities. With the support of the ILMS grant, AASL looks forward to its continued role as leading school libraries into the future.

Prof. Sherali Zeadally Receives Awards from IEEE Computer Society Dr. Sherali Zeadally, Associate Professor in the School’s Information Communication Technology program, received the IEEE Computer Society’s Golden Core Member Award in December 2013.

The Golden Core Member award was established in 1996 by the IEEE Computer Society’s Board of Governors. The first class of the Golden Core members consisted of approximately 500 persons who served the society in significant ways throughout its 50 years. The award recognizes an elite group of individuals who are recognized for longstanding service to the society. Each year the awards committee selects recipients from a pool of qualified candidates and permanently includes their names in the Golden Core Member master list.

Dr. Zeadally also received the IEEE Computer Society Meritorious Service Award in December 2013.

Read more of Dr. Zeadally’s accomplishments on his web page at: http://www.uky.edu/~sze223/

Dr. Donald Case to Deliver Keynote Addresses Prof. Donald Case has been invited to be a keynote speaker at the LIDA (Libraries in the Digital Age) conference, to be held in Zadar, Croatia, June 17-22. The topic of his presentation will be “Sixty years of measuring the use of information and its sources: From consultation to application.”

In addition, Prof. Case has been invited to give a keynote presentation at ISIC 2014, the Information Seeking in Context series of conferences that has been taking place since 1986. The conference will be held this year at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom, with the assistance of the Universities at Aberystwyth and Sheffield. The conference will be held between the 2nd and 5th of September.

An Interview with Prof. Jasmine McNealy Dr. Jasmine McNealy joined the School of Library and Information Science fall semester 2013 as one of the first faculty hired in the Information Communication Technology Page 6

program. In addition to a PhD, which she earned at the University of Florida, Prof. McNealy holds a law degree, also from the University of Florida. The newsletter thanks Dr. McNealy for agreeing to an interview.

You have lived in several states in different parts of the country. Your undergraduate degree is from the University of Wisconsin, and your master’s degree, JD, and PhD are from the University of Florida. You held faculty appointments at Syracuse University and Louisiana State University. Is there a place you consider “home”?

I don’t think there is one place that I consider home. There are places in which I’m more comfortable, whether because I lived there longer, I know people there, I know the culture, etc. But as of right now, there’s no “home base” for me.

You have both a JD and a PhD. What prompted you to pursue both degrees?

I think obtaining both degrees was a natural progression.

Originally I was in the dual MA/JD program at the University of Florida that allowed students to complete both their masters degree in mass communication and the law degree at the same time. As I headed toward completion of my program, I saw that there were interdisciplinary issues that I wanted to explore further. I also enjoy conducting research.

The School’s Information Communication Technology (ICT) program is new, and you are one of the first three faculty hired in the program. Are there aspects of the ICT program for which your having a JD makes you especially well suited – gives you a different perspective?

I believe that there are issues and subjects about which legal study offers a critical perspective. Many of the subjects that students will study in the program, whether networks, infrastructure, information architecture, copyright, etc., will have a law, regulation, or policy component that is critical for the student to understand. I think it is particularly critical in the area of information communication technology for future professionals to understand how law, policy, and regulation can, and will, affect how they produce and interact with technology, as well as how this area has shaped societal interactions with technology historically.

Is there an aspect of information communication technology that you believe is an especially fruitful research field for a person with a law degree?

The easy answer would be that those with law degrees would be attracted to any of the technology subjects that touch on law like, copyright, privacy, access to information, etc. These are all very important topics. But “good” law is social science, and social science is important because it tells us how societies actually function. What I mean by “good” law is law/policy that is not just a normative prohibition or regulation of human or organizational activity.

Good law looks at how people actually live, or in the case of information communication technology, how they actually interact with, use, and are affected by technology. I think that almost any area of information communication technology could be fruitful for a person with a law degree because the individual would be able to study how people actually Spring 2014

interact with technology, and then recommend how the law should, or should not, change.

Understandably, many of your publications are in law journals. Do you see that continuing?

There are advantages to publishing in law journals that are not available for social science and other journals. Law journals allow simultaneous submissions, sometimes publish more swiftly, and longer submissions. That said, reaching a diverse and interdisciplinary audience requires the use of various outlets. Therefore, while I plan to continue to publish in law journals, I will also publish in social science journals depending upon the subject and the study.

The other units within the College of Communication and Information are the School of Journalism and Telecommunications, the Department of Communication, the Division of Instructional Communication and Research, and the Graduate Program in Communication. Do you think it likely you’ll teach courses in any of those units?

I believe I could teach in some of the other units in the College. That would be a decision for Dr. Jeff Huber to make.

Prof. Michael Tsikerdekis Discusses Dangers of GPS Tracking Last fall Lexington’s NBC affiliate WLEX-TV Channel 18 interviewed SLIS Prof. Michael Tsikerdekis about the dangers of GPS tracking. Introducing the interview, reporter Kevin Christopher told viewers, “Smart phones provide a quick and easy way to snap pictures and paste them all over the Web.” His colleague Nancy Cox added, “By sharing those photos with friends and family you may also inadvertently be telling perfect strangers exactly where you live and what you own.” The purpose of the interview, she explained, was to investigate “the dangers of GPS tracking.”

Reporter Josh Breslow, who interviewed Prof. Tsikerdekis, noted the “barrage of pictures” in social media, adding, “It’s what’s embedded in these photos that might just surprise you.” Prof. Tsikerdekis explained: “We’re not really aware of this technology because it came so fast into our lives that we just take security for granted. Virtually anyone suddenly not only has your photo but also they know where your home is.”

This is due to smart phone technology: “If you have a smart phone … more than likely it has built-in GPS, and when you snap a photo, it doesn’t just record the image, it can also embed the exact location where that picture was taken. It’s actually quite simple for someone to download your photos and use the information to pinpoint your whereabouts.”

When Mr. Breslow asked how a person can protect himself, Prof. Tsikerdekis offered several “tips”: “Know your devices, feel free to disable your phone’s GPS, learn the ins and outs of the social media site you’re using, and, parents, keep track of what your kids are doing online and on their phones.” He added: “By taking these simple steps to protect yourself, you can insure that you know who you are sharing your location with.”

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At Lunch-N-Learn, Faculty Discuss Information Communication Technology Program On February 11 Profs. Jasmine McNealy, Michael Tsikerdekis, and Sherali Zeadally discussed the School’s Information Communication Technology (ICT) program at a Lunch-N-Learn. The three, who were appointed fall semester 2013, are the first faculty hired in the new ICT program. In his introduction, Director Jeff Huber said: The ICT program is designed to focus on the intersection of technology, the people who use that technology, the rules and regulations that govern use of that technology, and the environment or communities in which that technology is used.

After introducing her/himself, each panelist discussed ICT from the person’s perspective and area of specialization.

Prof. Tsikerdekis next explained how his interest in ICT developed. He told the audience that, conducting research while working on his PhD, “I had the opportunity to see how people work with technology and interact with technology, and I realized the technology wasn’t designed with the user in mind, the environment wasn’t designed with the user and technology in mind, and so I focused my research on the kinds of things that would change that. I decided that when I got my degree I wanted to continue that, through research and teaching.”

“When I saw the position for ICT [at SLIS],” he continued, “it was really interesting for me, because Information Communication Technology is perfect. In computer science, your work is so restricted. In ICT your work encompasses computer science, along with people, technology, and regulation; and so it is perfect for studying the interaction of all of these.”

Prof. Tsikerdekis focused his remarks on the question, How do I see ICT? He replied: “I would describe it from the perspective that I am familiar with, socio-technical systems design. You have people, you have technology, and you have the environment; and you have to focus on how these factors interact with one another and which factors you can alter. Obviously, not the people, but you can do a lot about technology and the environment.”

Prof. Sherali Zeadally

Prof. Michael Tsikerdekis

“In the past,” Prof. Tsikerdekis continued, “most of our focus has been being reactive to technology. You fix things after they happen. An example of this is email spam. We developed email without taking into account how people will behave with the system. Then spam came along and we decided that spam filters will be the solution. But, spam filters work at an individual level on clients not the overall system. We have not eliminated or prevented spam but rather reacted to it. Servers still have to handle billions of spam emails and process them. We fix the problem on the individual level but not on the community level. The big goal, and what ICT is for me, is a new approach, to try to block these problems even before they happen.”

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Addressing the question, What is ICT for me? Dr. Zeadally said: “ICT is about people, technology, and processes and how they all interact with each other.

In the 1960s, business, technology and law were treated as three distinct disciplines with little interactions, but as you move into the 1980s, you start seeing some connections between technology and business, technology and law. And now, you have strong connections among technology, business, and law including health care. If you imagine these four areas as four circles of a venn diagram, at the very intersection of all of those four circles, is where I see ICT. And to solve ICT problems, you need all these four circles.

Every time I talk about ICT to people, I’m always looking at this common region. It’s very easy to visualize.”

Prof. Zeadally told the audience, “There are two things about ICT that I’d like you to remember. One is this aspect of convergence – the convergence of many types of technologies. The second thing is seamless integration. Everything is being integrated together as seamlessly as possible.

And you operate in this space. So for me, that is what is ICT. It’s about convergence; it’s about integration, to give you this seamless system. Can the technical person alone solve all of these problems? Absolutely not. But can social Page 8

scientists solve all of these problems? They can’t either. So you need this blend of disciplines to address the convergence and seamless integration issues associated with ICT in the 21st century.

What I want to achieve with ICT is seamless access to information, anywhere at any time from any device. However, I put requirements on this. I want to do this with speed. I want to do this with performance. I want this to be secure. And I have added another goal, I want to do it in an energy-efficient manner, and that’s a challenge.”

Concluding, Dr. Zeadally addressed the question, Why come to UK? “For me, coming to UK had a lot to do with the new exciting ICT program. I’ve always liked to be at the forefront of something when it’s just starting.”

Prof. Jasmine McNealy

Prof. McNealy began her remarks by saying that, following receipt of her bachelor’s degree at the University of Wisconsin, she went to the University of Florida, where she did a joint MA and law degree. Following completion of those degrees, she spent an additional two years there and completed a doctoral program, and “my PhD was in mass communications with an emphasis on media law.”

Addressing the question, What is ICT to me? Prof.

McNealy said: “ICT to me – and again this is from the perspective of a mass communications person – is looking at the ways, the channels, the methods, and the technology which allows us to communicate. Separate the content from the technology? I don’t think you can do that, because the technology shapes the content, and the content certainly shapes the technology. It’s about society, it’s about how we are able to function, and the methods that we need to use to function, particularly communicating or transferring information.”

“One of the reasons I like the University of Kentucky,” she continued, “is because you have the College of Communication and Information so information is not separate from communication. You can’t really do that – well, you can, but for me it’s not right. So I’m going to study communication and we’re going to talk about communication and we’re not going to talk about the content. Or we’re going to talk about communication but the library school is over there, and I’m thinking that libraries, catalogs, and archives preserve all aspects of communication. It’s weird to me to have them separate. It’s one of the things I like Spring 2014

about the University of Kentucky – information, communication, and library science in the same college – and it’s one of the things that led me here. ICT is a new program, and I can teach in exactly the area I do research in.”

Prof. Donald Case To Retire After 20 Years at UK SLIS Dr. Donald Case will retire at the end of this academic year, 20 years after he arrived at UK as Professor and Director of the School of Library and Information Science. He left the Director’s position in August 1997 to devote more time to teaching and research. He has taught MLS and PhD courses on research methodology, technology policy, and information in society.

At the time he accepted the University of Kentucky offer, Prof. Case was a faculty member at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he had taught for ten years in the Graduate School of Library and Information Science. While at UCLA he also taught in the undergraduate communication studies program.

A native of Washington state, Dr. Case earned an MLS in the ALA-accredited program at Syracuse University and a PhD in Communication Research at Stanford University.

While at Stanford, he was Research Advisor at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, where he advised scholars-in-residence on data processing and statistical analysis.

Dr. Case’s ties to both library and information science and communication were seen as excellent preparation to head the ALA-accredited program at Kentucky, which, a year before his arrival, had merged with the College of Communications to form the College of Communications and Information Studies (today the College of Communication and Information), which includes the Department of Communication.

Prof. Case has conducted research on information behavior, health information seeking, social informatics, and scholarly communication. His CV lists more than 30 articles published in refereed journals and nearly as many nonrefereed publications, unpublished reports, and monographs.

He has published numerous book reviews and a substantial number of conference papers. He served on the Editorial Board of Library Quarterly (1996-2003) and has served on the Editorial Board of the Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology for more than 20 years. He was President of the American Society for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T) during 20082009, and served on that organization’s Board of Directors for six years.

Dr. Case’s book, Looking for information: A survey of research on information seeking, needs, and behavior, published by Academic Press/Elsevier Science (2002), received the ASIS&T Best Information Science Book Award in 2003. The third edition appeared in 2012. That same year Peter Lang published Health information seeking, which Dr. Case wrote with Dr. J. David Johnson, a colleague in the Department of Communication. Prof. Case will continue to Page 9

write articles and books post-retirement. He is currently writing an article that explores why the actual “use” of information (in the sense of its application to solve a problem, make a decision, to create something new, or some other effect of information) has been so rarely studied; instead, most investigations have measured information needs or information seeking, especially the consultation of channels or sources like libraries and documents, rather than what happens after the information is located. Prof. Case also has been writing a book about the relevance of systems theory to human problems, and a historical novel about events taking place in 1901.

Prof. Case’s extensive service to the University of Kentucky and the College of Communication and Information includes two terms on the UK Academic Senate, one term on the Academic Senate Advisory Committee on Privilege and Tenure, a term on the UK Graduate Council, several years on the Graduate School Fellowship Committee, Search Committees for the most recent two College of Communication and Information Deans, and a long list of committee assignments within the College of Communication and Information and the School of Library and Information Science.

Dr. Case was a member or External Examiner for 19 dissertation and thesis committees while at UK, serving as chair for five of them. Prof. Case was chair of Dr. Suzie Allard’s (MSLS ’99, PhD ’03) dissertation committee, and she commented to the newsletter about her experience working under his direction:

Prof. Joseph Miller To Conclude Lengthy Career at University of Kentucky

Associate Professor Joseph Miller, who has been an instructor at the School of Library Science for more than 20 years and has worked at the University of Kentucky in several capacities for nearly 40 years, will retire at the end of the current academic year.

A Minnesota native, Prof. Miller moved to Lexington in 1974 and began his first position at the University of Kentucky in the Department of Biochemistry, while concurrently completing his BS degree in biology from the University of Minnesota, which he received in 1976. In 1977 he was appointed Research Analyst - Department of Plant Pathology, in UK’s College of Agriculture. He was responsible for the operation of a forest pathology research laboratory and conducted microbiological, histological, chemical and physiological studies related to the mechanisms of resistance in forest trees to pathogenic fungi.

During the 1980s, Prof.

Miller became interested in computer and information technology. After briefly exploring electrical engineering, he found LIS offered an opportunity to both develop and apply information technologies. He left the College of Agriculture in 1991 to accept the position of computer lab manager in what was then the College of Library and Information Science, while he continued to pursue the MSLS degree. After completing the School's program in December 1992, Profs. Donald Case and Joe Miller at the Anniversary Celebration. he was promoted to Librarian As the chair of my and Coordinator of committee, Donald guided my scholarly development Computing Services and an instructor at SLIS, 1993- 2003. He both in terms of helping me identify and develop a meanachieved the rank of Librarian III in 1996 and Librarian II with ingful intellectual agenda and guiding me to become a tenure in 1998. In 2003 he was appointed Associate Professor good colleague in the academic community. While I was in the School of Library and Information Science. still a student he was always generous in sharing his Prof. Miller’s honors and awards include: scholarship by providing opportunities for me to be en• Excellence in Teaching Award, College of Communications gaged in his work, and also in finding ways to help me and Information Studies, September 2000. engage in leadership roles in our profession. Most impor• Outstanding Chapter Member Award, Special Libraries tantly, Donald's guidance didn't stop when I was awarded Association, April 1998. my doctorate. More then ten years since I graduated he is • Melody Trosper Award, School of Library and Information still my research hero, trusted confidant, valued mentor Science, 1993. and most importantly, good friend.

• Beta Phi Mu Honorary Society, 1993.

Prof. Miller has published work in both biology and library Prof. Case told the newsletter that, following retirement science.

In LIS, his research interests have been focused on the from UK, he will return to his hometown of Bellingham, design, configuration, and application of computer and Washington, where he still has many friends and family information technology systems in libraries and the use of members. He looks forward to enjoying travel, golf, sailing, instructional technology to support online pedagogies. The hiking and volunteer work for local humanitarian and envisecond edition of his book, Internet Technologies and ronmental groups.

Spring 2014

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Information Services, first published by Libraries Unlimited in 2009, is to be released in 2014.

Prof. Miller’s published papers in library and information science include: • Case, D. O. and J. B. Miller. (March 2011). Do Bibliometricians Cite Differently from other Scholars? Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology 62(3), 421-432.

• Miller, J. B. (2006). The Internet has changed like, everything. Kentucky Libraries, 70(2), 4-6.

• Miller, J. B. (2003). PC Security in a Networked World.

Kentucky Libraries, 67(4), 18-22.

• Waldhart, T., J. B. Miller, and L. M. Chan. (March 2000).

Provision of Local Assisted Access to Selected Internet Information Resources by ARL Academic Libraries. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 26(2), 100-109.

• Miller, J. B. (1997). What's in a Name? Technology Connection, 4(7), 20-2.

• Hannah, S. A. and J. B. Miller. (1995). Memory Management for the Stand Alone PC. Computers in Libraries, 15, 12-18.

• Miller, J. B. and S. A. Hannah. (1994). Memory Management for the Networked PC. Computers in Libraries, 14, 23-4.

Examples of published work from his earlier career in biology that were authored with Dr. Louis Shain include "Movement of cytoplasmic hypovirulence agents in chestnut blight cankers" (Can. J. Bot. 70: 557-561, 1992) and "Pinocembrin: An antifungal compound secreted by leaf glands of eastern cottonwood"(Phytopathology 72: 877-880, 1982).

Prof. Miller’s other publications include numerous reviews, newsletters, and directories. He has made a substantial number of presentations and accepted many speaking invitations and has conducted numerous workshops and institutes, for the Kentucky Department of Education, the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, and the School of Library and Information Science. He has a record of considerable service, at the School, College, and University levels. Professor Miller has been active in a number of professional associations, serving as the faculty advisor to the SLA student group and as a pastpresident of the Kentucky chapter of the Special Libraries Association.

Prof. Miller told the newsletter that, in retirement, he plans to devote time to family and his many hobbies, including reading, woodworking, genealogy, gardening, and golf. He is looking forward to having time for travel and to sharing many new adventures with his wife, Susan.

Dr. Waseem Afzal Works with Prof. Case This spring the School is hosting a visiting scholar, Dr. Waseem Afzal, Lecturer at the School of Information Studies, Charles Sturt University, Australia. Dr. Afzal is in residence at UK from March 17 through April 11 and is working with Prof. Donald Case on a project related to defining and measuring information needs. After leaving UK Dr. Afzal will spend two weeks working with Dr. Dan Roland at Kent State University and visiting sites in Virginia.

Spring 2014

Dr. Afzal’s graduate degrees are from Emporia State University, where he earned his MBA in Business Administration and PhD in Library and Information Management; and the University of Punjab-Pakistan, where he earned his MCom with an emphasis in Finance. His research interests include human information behavior, economics of information, Web studies, LIS education, and research methods. His research has been published in the Journal of Information Science, Library and Information Science Research Electronic Journal, and Journal of Information, among other journals.

Alternative Spring Break Students Are Guests at WPN Banquet As readers of the newsletter know, a meeting in summer 2010 between SLIS Director Jeff Huber and Deanna Marcum (’71), who was then Associate Librarian of Congress for Library Services, opened the way for students in the School’s program to participate in the Library of Congress Alternative Spring Break Internship Program, beginning in 2011. The first year five SLIS students spent the week of March 14-18 in LC internships. Spring 2012 there were again five LC interns. In addition, two students had internships that spring at the National Library of Medicine, which joined LC as a site for internships.

From the outset the School has provided financial assistance to the interns. After launching the program, the School applied to the Women & Philanthropy Network at UK for funds to support the program, and the WPN awarded $10,000 in scholarships, for spring 2013 and 2014, enabling the School to double the number of LC interns.

This year, twelve students spent the week of March 17-22 in internships. Melinda Borie, Patricia Guradiola, Erica Harbeson, Dorie Knight, Karla Kuhn, Tracy Legaspi, Jasmyne Lewis Combs, Marian Mays, Hannah Musser, and Heidi Taylor Caudill were LC interns. Tyler Nix and Lauren Robinson were National Library of Medicine interns.

Upon their return, the students were guests at the WPN banquet at Maxwell Place, the residence of the UK president.

A Gift to Benefit SLIS: A Lasting Legacy With a Naming Gift I am pleased to present information in each issue of this newsletter on ways that gifts can be made to benefit the Library School through gift and estate planning. I hope the following will be useful to you.

Making a gift which qualifies for naming recognition is an ideal way to create a lasting legacy for someone at the University of Kentucky, whether that person is yourself, a loved one or an individual who has significantly influenced your life.

By working with me or one of my colleagues in the UK Office of Gift and Estate Planning, you can establish a named endowed fund, or make a gift to support a capital need which qualifies for naming an area in one of the UniPage 11

versity’s facilities. Many opportunities exist which can enable you to provide a tangible memorial for an individual of your choosing.

Naming recommendations are submitted to the UK Board of Trustees for endorsement. Gift amounts required to name endowed scholarships, programs and academic positions have been established by the UK Board and begin at the $25,000 level.

I have worked with many individuals over the years who were interested in making a gift to the University and having it honor or memorialize a special person in their lives.

Scholarships have been named for former professors whose impact upon students was transformational. Other endowed funds have been named to perpetuate the memory of family members and to connect their names with the good work that is being done at the University.

There are many possibilities for creating a lasting legacy with a naming opportunity at the University of Kentucky.

These include professorships, academic chairs, lectureships, research funds, physical facilities on campus, and the list continues.

I enjoy working with individuals to accomplish their philanthropic goals at the University. My colleagues and I are always available to assist UK alumni and friends in determining which planned giving option is best for each individual situation.

For more information without obligation, please contact me. It would be a pleasure for me to assist you in leaving a lasting legacy with a naming gift for the Library School.

Sincerely, J. Ford Stanley ’91 Director of Gift and Estate Planning University of Kentucky 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

SLIS Spring Scholarships Awarded The newsletter thanks SLIS Lecturer Ashley DeWitt, who works with Assistant Director Will Buntin, for passing along the news the School awarded scholarships to students in the Library and Information Science master’s program for the spring 2014 semester. Ashley provided information about each of the scholarship recipients.

Deanna Pina, who was awarded the Hallie Day Blackburn Scholarship, is a first year student with a keen interest in teen services. She works at Campbell County Public Library, KY, as an Adult/Teen Services Programmer, and volunteers as a Virtual Reference Librarian at MyInfoQuest.

She is a self-identified gamer, otaku, and bookworm.

Deanna hopes that she can find employment as a Teen Librarian upon graduation from SLIS. Laura Beth Mann, who received a Wilson Fund Scholarship, is from Bullitt County, KY, and this her fourth semester in the LIS program. She received her Bachelor's degree Spring 2014

from Campbellsville University, KY, in Elementary Education. Currently, Laura Beth works at Nichols Elementary School as a Library Media Specialist; she plans to continue working as an LMS after completing the program.

Amanda McReynolds, who also received a Wilson Fund Scholarship, is the Children’s Librarian at the Allen County Public Library in Scottsville, KY. She has a passion for early literacy, reference and retrieval, youth programming, as well as ancestry and genealogy inquiries. Amanda recently became the representative to Allen County for the School Readiness Task Force formed by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. The Task Force goal is to promote early literacy to families across the state by instilling the importance of reading through all ages. Amanda and her husband, who teaches in Allen County, reside in Halifax, KY. Helen E. Fry Memorial Scholarship recipient Aaron Williams earned his bachelor of arts in psychology at the University of Louisville. He is a first year student in the UK SLIS Master’s program. He is employed as a library assistant at the McCracken County Public Library, KY, where he spends his time working the circulation and information services desks. His professional interests include marketing and public relations for public libraries and the digitization and preservation of historical documents and artifacts. In his free time, Aaron enjoys reading, running, and writing.

MacQuown Fellowship Fund Renamed College Chief of Staff Janice Birdwhistell provided the following information.

The Vivian Johnson MacQuown Fellowship Fund, established in 1994, honors this 1964 SLIS graduate and former UK reference librarian. In February of this year, the fund was renamed the Vivian Johnson MacQuown and Melissa MacQuown Forsyth Fellowship Fund. Mrs. Forsyth, of Prestonsburg, KY, who died on Sunday, July 7, 2013, was the daughter of Vivian MacQuown and a 1989 graduate of the school. She had been Director of Libraries for the Big Sandy Community and Technical College System.

The Fellowship is awarded to a student in the School pursuing a Master of Science in Library Science degree, who shows satisfactory academic performance and promise of being able to function as a competent and effective librarian and information manager. The recipient of the award is selected by a Fellowship Committee appointed by Jeff Huber, Director of the School. He said, “We feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to award the MacQuownForsyth Fellowship to our students. We are appreciative of the recent gift by Mr. William Forsyth to honor his wife.”

Mr. Forsyth is a 1973 UK Journalism graduate.

Jessica Pass Is KY High School English/ Language Arts Teacher of the Year SLIS student Jessica Pass learned the end of January she had been chosen Kentucky High School English/Language Page 12

Arts Teacher of the Year by the Kentucky Council of Teachers of English/Language Arts. The award was presented at the KCTE/LA annual conference, held in February. Jessica is an English teacher at Boone County High School, in northern Kentucky.

In a cincinnati.com article, “Teacher finds inspiration in students,” reporter Melissa Stewart wrote that Jessica “was surprised by the award. ‘By surprised I mean that I feel like I’m just doing my job. It’s wonderful to be honored for just doing what you’re supposed to do every day.’”

Although she has been a classroom teacher for five years, this is her first year at Boone County High School, following four years as a teacher at Erlanger High School, also in northern Kentucky. Boone County High School curriculum coach Jerry Gels, who nominated Jessica for the award, told Ms. Stewart: She is one of the more energetic, student-focused and community-driven teachers I’ve ever been around. I’m really impressed with how she works with students in the classroom. She pushes them and works them to death and they love her for it.

Jessica enrolled as an undergraduate at the University of Mississippi, which she attended for two years. She then transferred to UK, where she completed her bachelor’s degree in May 2007 with a major in journalism. In May 2010 she completed a master’s degree in teaching at Northern Kentucky University. She enrolled in the SLIS School Librarian Program fall 2013.

Brian Lashbrook is LJ Mover & Shaker Brian Lashbrook, who enrolled in the School’s MSLS program fall semester 2012, is among the 50 men and women who are the 2014 Library Journal Movers & Shakers. According to information in the March 15 issue of the magazine, the Movers & Shakers program was introduced in 2002, and the “Class of 2014 brings the total number of Movers to over 650.” This year’s honorees were chosen from among more than 225 nominations.

The 2014 Movers & Shakers are in six categories, and Brian, who is Information Technology Manager at Daviess County Public Library (DCPL), Owensboro, KY, is among the Marketers. DCPL staff member Kevin Clark is also a 2014 Mover & Shaker among the Marketers. The two, who have worked together since 2012, are recognized as “Art Partners.”

According to information about Brian and Kevin and their work at DCPL, not long after they began to work together “they learned about a smartphone app that would make the library an innovator in using interactive technology to attract patrons.” With the encouragement of DCPL Director (and 2012 Mover & Shaker) Jim Blanton (’00), Brian and Kevin “used the augmented reality Aurasma app to promote the library at a local street art contest.” According to Brian, “We showed passersby how to use their smartphones to make the drawing come to life and give them more information about our programs.”

Spring 2014

The technology enabled DCPL “to create a virtual art gallery, ‘Frame Your Imagination (FYI),’ featuring frames holding teaser posters designed by Lashbrook…. When patrons used the free DCPL FYI app to scan the posters, the work of local artists would appear on their screens.”

In addition, Kevin and Brian “also created an interactive scavenger hunt, enlisting actors from a local production of Dracula. Visitors could scan images of Dracula at the library to view video clues.” The article comments, too, that “With his graphic design skills, Lashbrook customized the DCPL FYI app to brand it with the library’s logos and colors, using a free nonprofit feature offered by Aurasma.”

According to the magazine, “These innovations brought an increase in library program attendance of almost 50 percent combined for children and adults in the duo’s first year. Blanton attributes the increased patronage to marketing efforts. ‘What’s truly rewarding,’ he says, ‘is to hear the feedback from patrons who have come into the library for the first time.’”

Ashley DeWitt Appointed Lecturer Ashley DeWitt has been appointed to the position of Lecturer in the School of Library and Information Science.

This spring she is teaching UKC 101: Information Literacy & Critical Thinking, a UK Core experimental course that, she told the newsletter, “asks students to explore the topic of information literacy through creativity, inquiry, and critical thinking.”

A Georgia native, Ashley earned a Bachelor’s degree in History with a minor in Spanish with highest honors at the University of Georgia. Following completion of her undergraduate degree, she entered a master’s degree program in history at UK, focusing on constructions of gender in early modern Spain and its colonies. She earned her MA in December 2011, and she completed a Graduate Certificate in Gender and Women’s studies, also at UK, in May 2012.

At UK, Ashley has taught sections of Composition and Communication I & II for the Division of Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Media. In addition, she served as a copy editor for English-as-a-Second-Language faculty in the College of Arts & Sciences. She was also a member of the Writing Center staff for four years and served as Assistant Director of the Center from November 2011 to August 2013.

Ashley, who enrolled in the School’s MSLS program in January 2012, expects to complete the program this spring.

As a student, she has served as Vice President (March 2012-May 2013) and President (May 2013-December 2013) of the American Library Association student chapter. She also participated in the Alternative Spring Break program at the Library of Congress in March of 2013, and she joined Dr. Lisa O’Connor on the summer 2013 study abroad program in Northern Ireland.

Ashley told the newsletter that her professional interests include information literacy and library history. In particular, she has focused on the impact of Carnegie grants on library development in Kentucky. Her current research explores the significance of such grants in Lexington.

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Alumna Dr. Suzie Allard Wins 2013 Library Journal Teaching Award Dr. Suzie Allard (MSLS ’99 PhD ’03), Associate Professor and Associate Director of the School of Information Sciences, College of Communication and Information, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, received the 2013 Library Journal Teaching Award, which is sponsored by ProQuest.

The announcement appeared in the November 15 issue of Library Journal, in an article by John N. Berry III, Editorat-Large.

In his article, Berry says of Suzie: “For the past decade, Suzie Allard has worked to build a specialty in science information and science data management. In the process, she has expanded the range of jobs available for the new librarians graduating from her programs.”

Suzie’s colleague Professor Carol Tenopir, who nominated her for the award, commented to the newsletter: Suzie is an exemplary teacher – knowledgeable about the content, enthusiastic, and caring about her students. She has built connections with local science agencies, such as Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12, that allow our students to have valuable practical science information and data experiences in addition to what they study in the classroom.

Alumna Julia Allegrini Receives Carnegie Corporation/New York Times Award Julia Allegrini (’01), Manager of Kenton County Public Library’s Covington Branch, in northern Kentucky, is one of only ten librarians from across the country to receive the Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times 2013 I Love My Librarian Award. On December 17, 2013, the Carnegie Corporation of New York issued the following release: Ten librarians from various types of libraries joined the company of a select few as recipients of the Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times “I Love My Librarian” Award today. The 2013 recipients were selected for their dedicated public service and the valuable role they play in our nation’s communities in transforming lives through education. Only 60 librarians nationwide have won the I Love My Librarian Award since its inception in 2008.

The release continued: Patrons nominated librarians working in public, school, college, community college and university libraries. As part of the nominating process, more than 1,100 library patrons submitted detailed stories regarding how their librarian had an impact on their communities and lives. The nominations detailed how local librarians provided lifechanging resources for multicultural communities and new Americans, created fun and educational safe havens for youth, and strived to preserve local history.

Julia was nominated by Alma Puissegur. In her 3,000-word nomination, she wrote: Spring 2014

Julia Allegrini is a innovative, yet pragmatic, visionary.

She envisions the Covington Branch of the Kenton County Public Library as a central and major community resource for information, learning, and engagement of, our entire Covington community and she has shaped our branch's services accordingly. Because of her commitment and her vision, she effectively balances the needs of patrons, staff, and community. During the current 2 ½ year renovation of our branch, she has used the renovation as a tool for community involvement and has kept our library open seven days a week, maintained access to all resources, and engaged the community even more than before in supporting patrons and staff.

Throughout her nomination, Ms. Puissegur stressed Julia’s commitment to diversity: The variety and sophistication of branch staff attests to her commitment to reflect and to respect the diversity of the branch's urban/suburban service area. When I and my neighbors see ourselves reflected in the staff, our library experience is more welcoming and harmonious for all of us.

Elsewhere she noted: Julia is a beacon of tolerance and openness for the entire community. Covington is an old river city across from Cincinnati, Ohio and the urban core for a string of old, small cities which cling to the Northern edge of a conservative suburban community. Our library sits on the border of a business and residential district. The area has happily seen an influx of younger people who seek the urban life.

Covington and our library struggle with the effects of gross income inequalities, racial division, sexual orientation issues, and political extremes in the population. In such an environment, Julia's dedication to creating a public space open to all members of the community becomes an interesting and challenging concept to put into practice, but her creative commitment has made this concept a reality at our Covington library.

Alumni Direct ‘Star Libraries’ In a June 15, 2008, article in Library Journal, Keith Curry Lance and Ray Lyons announced that “we propose a new ranking system [of public libraries] that focuses … on ranking libraries based on their performance.” A little later they explained: These annual rankings are intended to contribute to selfevaluation and peer comparison, prompt questions about the statistics and how to improve them, and provide an advocacy tool for the individual library. Toward these ends, the proposed new system scrutinizes only such statistics that describe library service outputs, such as visits, circulation, public Internet computer usage, and program attendance. It excludes resource inputs, such as staffing levels, collection size, and revenues and expenditures. Inputs, we believe, do not measure library performance.

Rankings would be based on national data published each year.

The first rankings appeared in 2009 in what was designated the “LJ [Library Journal] Index of Public Library Service.” Because the Index makes use of stars – three, four, Page 14

and five – to rank libraries, those anointed are referred to as “star libraries.” The most recent rankings, published in the November 1, 2013, issue of Library Journal, include two libraries directed by SLIS alumni. They are the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, where Kim Fender (’83) is the Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Director, and the Kenton County Public Library, in northern Kentucky, where Dave Schroeder (’97) is the Director.

Coincidentally, KCPL service area is across the Ohio River from the PLCHC service area.

At PLCHC, a History of ‘Star’ Status For the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, being recognized as a star library wasn’t a new thing.

PLCHC was a star library in 2010, 2011, and 2012, in each case receiving four stars. What made 2013 different, it was the first year the library achieved the highest ranking, five stars. The 2013 ratings reflect 2011 data, and Kim told LJ,s John Berry: That year, 2011, was the first year of our new strategic plan. When developing this plan, we took a different approach, involving hundreds of staff in idea workshops to suggest actions that would help us achieve our objectives and soliciting input from our cardholders as well. As a result of staff and customer input, we increased the number of copies of high-demand titles we purchased, added cards for children and teens that have no fines and don’t require parental permission, and fully embraced digital content. Circulation, visits, program attendance and computer use all increased to record levels.

Although the new strategic plan may have made the difference between four stars and five in 2013, it appears the basis for PLCHC being recognized as a star library was established a half-dozen years earlier. In the 2010 article, the first year in which PLCHC was a star library, Kim explained: In 2007 we started a project to redesign our main library. We consolidated several departments, added a couple of new departments, and kept some of the previous departments. The whole redesign was based on data we gathered by actually observing how people were using the main library. The project was completed in early 2008, and that year the main [library] had a circulation increase of 16.1 percent. In addition to facilitating use, the new design is much more efficient, resulting in annual operating savings of about $1 million.

Kenton County Public Library: First Kentucky ‘Star Library’ Kenton County Public Library is the first library in Kentucky to be declared a “star library.” The newsletter congratulated Director Dave Schroeder, who agreed to answer several questions.

To what do you attribute the library's being selected for the honor?

There are four criteria for the award - circulation, program attendance, computer use and gate count. A number of facSpring 2014

tors play into our success. We have strategically budgeted funds in these categories: staff, collections, programming and technology. I believe very strongly that our excellent collection (traditional and electronic) drives our circulation.

We have many excellent public libraries near us in Northern Kentucky and Southwest Ohio. As a result, our competition is strong. Therefore, it is imperative that we maintain a strong and well-balanced collection.

In addition, we are very user friendly. Our patrons know they can suggest materials, and if it meets our collection development criteria, we will buy it. On the technology front, we always try to stay on the cutting edge. We replace our public terminals every three years, we supplement the offerings from KYVL [Kentucky Virtual Library] with 100 additional subscription databases and we have a Digital Branch Manager (she has the status of a full branch manager and sits on our Administrative Team). Staff understand that technology is a vital part of how we function and what we need to provide excellent service to our patrons.

We have also invested considerably in programming. We have adult, teen, computer and children's programmers at all our locations. We see the library as more than a book repository. It is a community education center. We hold classes for infants through senior citizens, both in our branches, and out in the community. These programs are also part of a broad network of partnerships we have developed with agencies, schools, and community groups. Partnerships help us spread the word about what we are doing, stretch the budget and strategically place us as a vital organization in Northern Kentucky.

I also do my best to hire the most qualified staff members we can find. Once on board, we give them freedom to be creative and to share ideas with each other and with the administration. Our staff receive eight hours of customer service training, a complete orientation to the system and diversity training in their first couple of months of employment. I always tell the staff, “We can have the best collection in the world, but if we do not have staff members with exceptional talent and strong customer skills, we will fail.”

What has been the effect on staff of the library's being selected?

It has been a great boost in the arm for the staff. They were very excited, not only to be ranked, but to be the first in Kentucky to be honored. Our Board of Trustees has also been very excited about the ranking and speak about it frequently in public.

The ranking has been a great way to market the library and we have been able to garner press attention (print and media). I have spoken to numerous groups since we received the award and they are all very proud to hear that “their” library has been nationally ranked.

Is the honor all the greater because KCPL is the first Kentucky library to be designated a star library?

We have been recognized on the regional and state level many times. This was one of the first times our system was recognized on a national level. It is always very satisfying to be the first – I must admit! However, I think it is something the entire library community in Kentucky can take great Page 15

pride in. For too many years, we have seen that map in Library Journal with a large zero over the state. It was wonderful to see the zero disappear. I think this ranking is a milestone for Kentucky libraries. And I have no doubt that Kenton County will be the first of many to be so honored across the Commonwealth.

Are there other comments you'd like to make?

As a director, I like goals – it is just part of my nature. One of my goals was to achieve the “enhanced” level in the Kentucky Public Library Standards. We were able to accomplish that two years ago. I then set my sights on the Library Journal ratings. I made the staff and trustees aware of what we needed to do to reach this goal and I made sure our budgets and strategic plan reinforced these standards. It is always very gratifying to achieve goals and to be recognized. However, the best recognition we have received has been from our patrons. The people of Kenton County have supported our system for many, many years. They love their library and value its services. It has been wonderful to be congratulated from so many residents on this achievement – this means more to me than the ranking!

Alumna Amy Dodson Directs ‘Best Small Library in America 2014’ A number of years ago Library Journal introduced the Library of the Year series. The library chosen for the recognition generally was a large institution, and yet nearly 80% of the nation’s approximately 9,200 public libraries serve communities of fewer than 25,000. Apparently, this was pointed out to the magazine, because in 2005 a new series, the Best Small Library in America, was introduced. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is cosponsor, with Library Journal. The library chosen for the recognition receives a $20,000 prize. The Best Small Library in America 2014 is Pine River Library (PRL), CO, where Amy Dodson (’96) is Director. The article announcing PRL’s selection, “Building a Living Library,” by Editor-at-Large John N. Berry III, appears in the February 1 issue of the magazine.

PRL serves the community of Bayfield, CO, and, according to information in the LJ article, the library’s operating budget, $582,000, translates to about $66.50 for each of the 8,749 residents. Over the past year or so, the library has grown, inside and out, to serve the community better. In early 2013, an addition to the building added 4,000 square feet, an increase of more than 40%. In October 2013, Berry writes, “PRL expanded outside as well as in, unveiling its ‘Living Library.’” The 17,000-square-foot outdoor space includes: • a community garden, • a straw bale toolshed, • a fruit orchard, • a greenhouse, • “five Nature Explore outdoor learning areas, and • lots of space for reading, relaxing, and enjoying Colorado.”

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Amy told Berry that in spring 2014 the library would add “a beehive to the top of the toolshed. We’ll have a webcam inside so kids can watch the bees do their work without getting too close.” There will be a volunteer beekeeper, who will teach classes on harvesting and using the honey.

The articles in the Library Journal Library of the Year and Best Small Library series remind us that what a public library makes available to its community is limited only by library staff imagination and community willingness to fund. PRL’s “Living Library” provides examples; here is another: Bayfield has no movie theater, but PRL’s state-of-the-art movie equipment and new meeting room are used to show documentaries, classic films, and other productions. The films are open to the public, providing free entertainment for patrons of all ages. A new feature in the library’s renovation was the addition of an outdoor movie wall that serves as a projection screen.

A visit to the library’s web site http://www.lmpl.org/ midFebruary found a link to Tool Drive, with the explanation, “The library is currently accepting donations of the following items for our tool-lending library.” The list comprised 79 items, alphabetically arranged (which you’d expect from a library), from axe, bike repair toolkit, and bolt cutters, to wire stripper, wrench assorted, and wrench torque. The requested lawn mower is to be “Push.”

When the newsletter learned of the recognition PRL had received, we asked Amy if we could interview her, and she agreed.

What has been your career path since completing the MSLS program 18 years ago?

My first job after leaving UK SLIS was at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in Akron, OH – a home museum. It’s the former home of the Seiberling family, founder of Goodyear. I was in charge of special collections as part of the curatorial staff.

I did a one-year (paid) internship. It was so much fun to work in a museum. It is very much like the Biltmore but much smaller. I did repair and cataloging of mostly architectural drawings of the early 1900’s.

Next stop was Louisville Free Public Library, as a supervisor at the Main Library downtown. This is where I had my first supervisory position and learned a lot in a short period of time. Looking back now, I know I could have done a much better job there. I was very green! I supervised the second floor, which included Reference, Business Reference, Periodicals, and then later Telephone Reference.

Whenever there was turnover in another department, I would step in and supervise another group for a little while, as well. So there was a lot of shifting around for a while.

Then I got a job with Ingram Library Services Nashville, TN, doing collection development. I learned a lot about the book and publishing industry, and a lot about myself. I didn’t stay with Ingram very long (less than a year), as I learned that I missed public service. I enjoy collection development immensely, and I still consider it one of my “subspecialties”, but I really feel that I am meant to be in the public library world.

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and so they have been able to do a lot of wonderful things I then moved on to Nashville Public [Library] in midover the years without accumulating any debt. This building 2000. This was a great time for NPL and I worked with was built in 2004 with those funds, then expanded in 2013. many wonderful people. I was very fortunate to join that team at that time. I learned so much from that experience. I At the end of the Library Journal article you are quoted as was a branch manager of 3 branches near downtown for 5 saying, “I have an amazing staff here … innovators and years, and I loved the communities I served. Then the time leaders. I am very fortunate.” Would you elaborate? came to move forward.

I have to say that the staff here completely blows me away!

I took a job with LSSI (Library Systems and Services) in They are the most dedicated and enthusiastic people I’ve Riverside County, CA in January 2005. Yes, I realize that ever seen. I’ve had great employees before – but these folks some folks in our profession look at LSSI as the “evil prireally amaze me. They love to work here. They tell me they vatizer” and so on. I did too! In fact, I wrote a paper in lilove their jobs, that they consider it a privilege to work here, brary school about the “new” (back then) trend of outthey get excited to come to work every day. I can feel the sourcing library services. I was adamantly opposed! Then passion they have for what they do. It’s astonishing! I have nearly 10 years later, I am working for the “enemy”. been so impressed.

I spent 8 years with They have set a really LSSI, working in the high bar for themselves Riverside County – and a high bar for me, Library System. This is as well. And none of one of their largest and them have ever worked longest-standing in a library before this contracts. I have to say one. that some of my assumptions about The LJ article opens LSSI were completely with your statement: wrong. Some of my “Lots of libraries are colleagues were the there for the most amazing, community, but here in intelligent, creative, and Bayfield, the community Amy Dodson (“I’m the one in hot pink!”) and staff at Pine River Library. dedicated professionals built the library.”

Photo by Karen Skelly I’ve ever met. The LSSI Would you tell administration is very committed to providing outstanding newsletter readers something about the community? service to the public. The people I knew in Riverside The Bayfield community is amazing! I have been very imCounty and other contracts were like family. Employees are pressed by the support this community shows for their livalued and respected and treated like friends and family brary. We have an advantage, of course – Bayfield is so tiny members. I’m not saying it’s a perfect company – it’s certhat the library has no competition for entertainment. There tainly not. But it’s also not what I had assumed it was before is no movie theater, no Starbucks, no shopping mall, not I worked there. And I just loved Riverside County and the 2 much of anything. There is only 1 stoplight. There are only libraries I managed. For most of the 8 years, I was the City 3 or 4 restaurants open for dinner. And only 2 on Sundays.

Librarian at the Cathedral City Library, which is next door So picture a tiny little town made up mostly of homes, to Palm Springs. It’s a wonderful community and certainly ranches, farms, and a few small businesses. Then picture a beautiful (and very, very hot). At the end of my time there, I cutting-edge, state-of-the-art library right in the middle. It’s was transferred to the other end of the county to open a new beyond impressive. branch near Perris, CA. I worked there for a few months We have more technology here than at any library of before I got the job here in Colorado. mine in California. We have an indoor cinema (fancy new movie projector and screen) and an outdoor cinema (new According to the Library Journal article, a 5,000 square outdoor projector, sound system, and movie wall). Our foot addition, completed last year, brought total space to community room has 2 smart boards, 2 projectors, and a 13,000 square feet. You’ve told me that is a typo and should room divider that is a white board on both sides. We have a be 4,000 square feet. Still, the increase is substantial in perSMART board in the story room, so that children and even centage terms. How was the addition paid for? toddlers can learn how to use it. We have more than 50 The addition was really 4,000 square feet. The entire expan“gadgets” that circulate: from laptops to MP3 players to sion was paid for with taxpayer funds that the previous diiPads to digital projectors to Kindles. And this is in a town rector and board had been saving for many years. In 1999 without neon signs, or a dry cleaner, or a supermarket. the taxpayers voted for a mill levy that brought lots of There are more horses and cows than there are students at healthy revenue into the library. We are funded solely by all three schools combined. So you can imagine my reaction property tax and oil/gas tax, but the vast majority is property when I left the interview last year! WOW! tax revenue. So from 1999 to 2003, we had plenty of revenue and very little spending. The previous director and The article refers to, and briefly discusses, the “Living Liboard members were fiscally conservative (to put it mildly), brary.” Would you tell readers about it?

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The Living Library is a 17,000 sq. ft. outdoor space that includes a community garden of 24 raised beds, a geodesic dome greenhouse, compost bins, fruit orchard, berry bushes, outdoor learning areas, and a straw bale shed that has a living roof. The living roof of the straw bale shed consists of perennial flowers that were planted last year – it will be gorgeous this summer. The shed itself is built of straw bales and clay with a wood frame. (and that’s it!)

The outdoor learning areas for children feature a xylophone (technically an Imbarimba), a balance-and-coordination play area with balance beams and “step stumps”, craft tables, and building blocks. In March we will be installing a bee hive on the roof of the shed with a 24-hour “bee cam” – a web cam with a live feed into the library and online. In early summer we will also add to the Living Library a bug habitat to encourage growth AND control the pest population naturally. Then we are adding a community nature loom – everyone in the community can add something to the loom that we will weave into a finished piece.

And finally, we have a mobile kitchen unit, that will be used to teach classes using the food grown in the garden and greenhouse. Cooking classes, canning, preserving, and so on. We want to provide education in the complete cycle – how to grow, harvest, and prepare/cook/ preserve. The Mission Statement of our library is “We Connect People to Possibilities”, and the Mission Statement of the Living Library is “We connect people to possibilities, encouraging growth in a variety of literacies.” It’s all one library, both the physical or traditional Library, and the Living Library.

How did the library celebrate the Best Small Library honor?

We had our BIG celebration for the award at the library on February 24. We had over 480 in attendance, a live band, door prizes, you get the idea. It was a great event.

Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County Receives IMLS National Medal On May 8 of last year Kim Fender (’83) accepted the Institute of Museum and Library Services 2013 National Medal for Museum and Library Service on behalf of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County (PLCHC), where Kim is the Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Director. First Lady Michelle Obama joined IMLS Director Susan Hildreth in the East Room of the White House to present the Award to the ten recipients.

According to the press release announcing the awards: The National Medal is the nation’s highest honor conferred on museums and libraries for service to the community and celebrates institutions that make a difference for individuals, families, and communities.

This year’s honorees exemplify the nation’s great diversity of libraries and museums and include a science center, children’s museum, music museum, art museum, cultural museum, public libraries, and county library systems, from seven states.

IMLS Director Susan Hildreth elaborated: Spring 2014

Medal winners were selected from scores of nominations from institutions across the country that demonstrate innovative approaches to public service and exceed the expected levels of community outreach.

Earlier this year, 33 institutions were announced as finalists for the National Medal, and community members were encouraged to share stories about their experiences at these institutions on the IMLS Facebook page. We heard from hundreds of people who told us how libraries and museums are educating, inspiring, and leading lifelong learning while serving as community anchors.

At the presentation, Kim was accompanied by Amina Tuki, who is an example of the many people who benefit from the varied services and programs available at PLCHC. When she and her husband arrived in Cincinnati in the early 1990s as refugees from their native Ethiopia, Amina was unable to read her native language, Amharic. In Cincinnati, she met her YWCA tutor at the library, turned to the library’s Homework Central to help her daughter, Hannah, and, when the Adult Learning Center opened at the library, took advantage of it to develop her English skills.

IMLS published a 2013 National Medals brochure, in which each of the recipient organizations is discussed. Information about PLCHC notes that the library “is one of the largest, oldest, and most heavily used in America. With 17.6 million items borrowed in 2011, it is the eighth busiest library in the country.” Cincinnati, the largest of the 49 jurisdictions that the library serves, has “critical education needs: it has the third highest rate of childhood poverty (48 percent) in the nation, and 20 branches serving communities where fewer than 80 percent of children read at grade level.” In one of the ways the library responds, it participates in Read On!, a regional initiative involving more than 70 organizations. It provides tutoring at 18 Cincinnati Public Schools in partnership with community organizations. The library also teams with Read Aloud to raise awareness of the importance of reading to children in developing literacy.

According to the information in the IMLS brochure, “The library’s children programs target three factors that are critical to academic success.” Two of the three – preparing children for kindergarten and “preventing summer learning loss” – may not be unusual among public libraries, but the third, “school attendance,” is usually seen as the responsibility of the schools, not the public library. However, in Cincinnati.

The library takes a proactive approach to school truancy.

If staff members see children in the library during school hours, they determine which school they attend, review the school calendar, and contact the school.

PLCHC programs are not limited to children.

The library established an Adult Learning Center that provides help with literacy and math skills, online job applications, and GED preparation. The Online Learning Center provides a one-stop shop to access these learning resources online.

Efforts at outreach include “providing collections and services to incarceration facilities, homebound individuals, [and] senior centers.”

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Finally, the IMLS information about PLCHC includes a section with the heading, “Targeting Optimal Utilization”: The library analyzed user information to define needs and identify ten cardholder clusters. It chose to focus on three groups: Rising Stars are teens who use the library heavily, providing opportunity to retain cardholders often lost as they mature; Wave Riders are early adopters of digital content, who can help develop new, innovative services; and Occasionals, who visit only three or four times a year, offer the best opportunity to improve customer service.

had kept — those were real treasure troves. So pretty quickly we realized it was a viable project, and we were going to be able to find material to fill an entire cookbook.

When Andrew enrolled in the SLIS master’s degree program, he already had an interest in cooking. “[W]hen he went to a school in a small town for his undergraduate degree, there weren’t many dining options … so he started cooking on Saturday nights.”

When he moved to Lexington to attend graduate school, it was natural he would work in restaurants to support himself.

Reflecting on PLCHC’s receipt And today? of the National Medal, Kim “McGraw, who is the father of commented to the newsletter: twins … says he will ultimately The Public Library of seek a job in library archives.

Cincinnati and Hamilton For now, with newborns in the County has always been house, he earns his living as Amina Tuki (left), Kim Fender, and First Lady committed to providing sous chef at County Club, a Michelle Obama at the White House ceremony. services that have an impact on relatively new restaurant.” our community. We never expected to receive national recognition for doing our best to serve our community.

Dr. David Gregory Appointed to State The presentation ceremony at the White House with First Archives and Records Commission Lady Michelle Obama was an amazing experience. I came back to Cincinnati with wonderful ideas from the Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has appointed Dr David other award recipients and determined to do even more Gregory (’01) to a four-year term on the State Archives and for our community.

Records Commission. David, Dean of Library Services at Morehead State University, will represent regional state Andrew McGraw Is Co-Author of universities and colleges. The Kentucky Department for The Historic Kentucky Kitchen Libraries and Archives press release announcing David’s appointment explains the work of the Commission: The State Archives and Records Commission was created Andrew McGraw ’09 is the co-author of The Historic Kento advise the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Artucky Kitchen: Traditional Recipes for Today’s Cook, pubchives (KDLA) on matters relating to archives and records lished by the University Press of Kentucky. Andrew’s comanagement. The 17 members of the commission are apauthor is Deirdre Scaggs, Associate Dean of Special Colpointed to represent special and public libraries, state and lections in UK Libraries. The cookbook grew out of work local government, state universities and citizens-at-large.

Andrew did working in Special Collections while enrolled The composition of the commission’s membership is dein the MSLS program. Deirdre was his supervisor. signed to ensure that Kentucky citizens and government The newsletter learned about The Historic Kentucky agencies are represented in decisions concerning the presKitchen from an article published in Wildcat Connection: ervation of records of enduring value and the timely deNews from the UK Alumni Association. According to instruction of records that have ceased to have value. formation in the article, Andrew and Deirdre… were investigating the contents of the Logan English papers in Special Collections when they discovered their Jane Smith, Hired ‘Before the Beginning,’ first recipe, quite by random among the other bits of inRetires after 40 Years at Boone formation. This sparked an idea to seek out other authenCounty Public Library tic, handwritten recipes that everyday people would have followed in early Kentucky.

When Stephanie Salmons wrote an article about Jane Smith Their interest piqued, Andrew and Deirdre searched Special ('74) for nky.com (“Boone's first librarian retires after 40 Collections “looking for other handwritten recipes and sucyears,” The Community Recorder, January 3, 2014), she cessfully found what they sought in such things as diaries noted that Jane had “been with the Boone County Public and scrapbooks, as well as cookbooks.” Andrew told the Library [in northern Kentucky] since ‘before the beginWildcat Connection reporter: ning.’” As Ms. Salmons explained, “That’s before the liWe were quickly able to find four or five good sources brary opened in an old Florence feed store, before the liof recipes — complete books of recipes that individuals brary’s first permanent location was built, and before the Spring 2014

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library expanded to include a main branch in Burlington and five branches in the county.”

According to the library's web site, on November 6, 1973, “Boone County voters establish[ed] a library district.” In July of the following year, Jane was the first person hired by the library, as the director. She held the position until 1985, when, at her request, a new director was hired. Jane told Ms. Salmons: “[W]e needed to broaden our scope. I was better at the small management, hands-on, do everything. We were needing to diversify ... and my background better served the library taking over as technical services coordinator.” From then until she retired, December 31 of last year, she was in charge of the library’s technical services.

Although Jane is from Western Kentucky, she came to UK for her undergraduate degree. After completing it, she enrolled in the SLIS master’s-degree program. During her years at UK two things happened that influenced the course of her life: She met her future husband, Bill, who was from Boone County, and she learned, from him, that establishing a public library in Boone County was in the works. As she told Ms. Salmons, “He made an off-hand comment that Boone County was working on a property tax, trying to pass a tax to get a library … and I thought, ‘oh, that sounds interesting.’” At the time she was 22 and enrolled in the MSLS program. She applied for the director’s position, was interviewed, and was offered and accepted it. She told Ms. Salmons, “basically the rest is history.”

Constance Ann Mills Dies at 69 The newsletter has learned that Constance “Connie” Ann Mills (’66) died last November at age 69. According to the obituary published in the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Constance ‘Connie’ Ann Mills, 69, of Reed [KY] passed away Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013, at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital. She was born Sept. 10, 1944, in East Chicago, Ind., to the late Arnold and Rose Mary Monaghan Mills. She entered Brescia College at 16 years of age and earned a bachelor of arts degree in English. She subsequently earned master's degrees from the University of Kentucky and Western Kentucky University. She was a teacher and librarian at Owensboro Catholic High.

Later, she served as librarian at Western Kentucky University where she retired after 27 years as faculty emeritus. She was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church, where she was a Sophia Award recipient. She enjoyed reading, singing, playing cards and loved being with her family.

Phyllis Marie Calderon Dies at 91 Phyllis Marie Calderon (’71), who relocated from New Mexico to Lexington and enrolled in the School’s MSLS program when she was 48, died in February of this year in Bozeman, MT. According to her obituary in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, after graduating from high school, in 1940, Phyllis completed nursing school, joined the US Army as a nurse, and served until the end of World War II. Spring 2014

Following the end of the war, Phyllis and her husband returned to Montana, where their four children were born.

However, she and her husband divorced in 1964: “She was tired of living in cold and snow and moved her family to Silver City, NM, where she worked as a geriatrics nurse … for 22 years.”

Also according to the obituary: At the age of 48 she fulfilled a life-time dream of becoming a librarian by moving to Kentucky to earn a master’s degree in library science from the University of Kentucky. She returned to New Mexico and continued nursing while working part time as a librarian for Western New Mexico University.

In 2011, she returned to Montana.

Alumni Activities Jennifer Coffman (’71) last year retired after more than 19 years as a federal judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky and the Eastern District of Kentucky. From 2007 until 2012 she served as the Chief Judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky. Judge Coffman served concurrently on the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court from May 2011 until January 2013. She received the School of Library and Information Science Outstanding Alumna/us Award at last November’s Anniversary Celebration & Awards Dinner.

At the end of last year, Jane Smith (’74) retired after having worked 40 years at the Boone County Public Library in northern Kentucky. At the time she retired Jane was Head of Technical Services.

Kim Fender (’83) is the Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Director of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. PLCHC is among the 2013 Library Journal “Star Libraries.” Also last year, PLCHC was among only 10 institutions to receive the Institute of Museum and Library Services National Medal for Museum and Library Service.

Judy Stephenson (’85) is an online instructor at Florida State College at Jacksonville.

Valerie Perry (’94) has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Special Libraries Association, the first member of the Kentucky Chapter of SLA to receive a Board appointment. In her day job Valerie is Head of the Agricultural Information Center and Director of Branch Libraries at the University of Kentucky.

Amy Dodson (’96) is Director of the Pine River Library, CO, Library Journal Best Small Library in America 2014.

Dave Schroeder (’97) is Director of the Kenton County Public Library, in northern Kentucky. KCPL is among the 2013 Library Journal “Star Libraries” and is the first Kentucky library to receive the designation.

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Last fall Dr. Suzie Allard (’99) was named the winner of the 2013 Library Journal Teaching Award. Suzie is Association Professor and Associate Director of the School of Information Sciences in the College of Communication and Information at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Sarah Crisler-Ruskey is on the staff at Carnegie Public Library, Clarksdale, MS.

In December of last year the Carnegie Corporation of New York announced that Julia Allegrini (’01) was one of 10 librarians from across the country to receive the Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times 2013 I Love My Librarian Award.

Ashley DeWitt is Lecturer at the School of Library and Information Science.

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has appointed Dr. David Gregory (’01) to a four-year term on the State Archives and Records Commission. David is Dean of Libraries at Morehead State University, KY. Joseph Isaac (’10) and Kristyn Amsler were married in August of last year, in a ceremony conducted at the Lexington Opera House.

Betsy deGolian is a teacher at Bourbon County Middle School, Paris, KY.

Michael Fair is Adult/Teen Services Programmer at Campbell County Public Library, KY, assigned to the Carrico/Fort Thomas Branch.

Hayley Fountain is Children’s Librarian, Marshall County Public Library, Benton, KY. Edna Fugate is Archivist and Reference Librarian, Allara Library, Pikeville University, KY. Jason Griffith is on the library staff at Camden-Carroll Library, Morehead State University, KY.

Lisa Raney (’10) let the newsletter know in April she is Librarian II (Reference Librarian) at the Tulare County Library in Visalia, CA.

Amanda Hahn is on the library staff at Bridgewater College, Bridgewater, VA.

Jackie Hawes (’11) is Director of the Washington Public Library, MO.

Vicki Hale is on the staff at Lexington Public Library, assigned to the Village Branch.

Among Recent Graduates Drew Bagby is on the staff at Louisville Free Public Library.

Emily Bayma is on the staff at Crabbe Library, Eastern Kentucky University.

Tracy Bazsika is a teacher at Ockerman Middle School, Florence, KY.

Steven Jung is adjunct lecturer of Biblical Studies, School of Theology, Azusa Pacific University, Glendora, CA. Hannah Komasinski is Camping Services Manager, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, St Louis, MO. Nicholas Madsen is Young Adult Specialist, Community Library Network, Hayden, ID. Jessica Maurice is Youth Services Librarian, Forsyth County Public Library, Winston-Salem, NC.

Jamie Beaven is a member of the Information Literacy Instruction staff at Jefferson Community and Technical College, Louisville, KY.

Marian Mays is Youth Engagement Specialist, Anchorage Public Library, AK.

Deidra Chapman is Youth Services Intern, Clark County Public Library, Winchester, KY.

Traci Mays is on the library staff at the Health Science Library, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV.

Alexa Clark is User Experience Librarian, Spalding University, Louisville, KY.

Stevie McKinney is on the staff at the Louisville Free Public Library, assigned to the Fairdale Branch.

Christin Collins is on the staff at Paulding Library, Georgia Highlands College, Dallas, GA.

Katie Myers is School Library Media Specialist, East Side Elementary School, Shelbyville, TN.

Christina Cornelison is Public Services Manager, Madison County Public Library, Richmond, KY.

Christie Seagren is Reference Librarian, Davenport Public Library, IA.

Jackie Couture is Team Leader, Special Collections and Archives, Eastern Kentucky University.

Jennifer Stewart is a teacher at Rodburn Elementary School, Morehead, KY.

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Heidi Taylor-Caudill is Research Assistant, Intern, Office of the Provost, University of Kentucky.

Kristina Morgan Weber is a teacher in Jefferson County Schools, Louisville, KY.

Zachary Upton is IT Manager, Boyle County Public Library, Danville, KY.

Sarah Yost is a teacher at Westport Middle School, Louisville, KY.

Jama Watts is Reference & Genealogy Librarian, Marion County Public Library, Lebanon, KY.

Please send information for the newsletter to: carrigan@uky.edu

Stay in touch with UK SLIS. Keep up with what is going on at the School, with former classmates and current students.

Check our web site for updates. https://ci.uky.edu/lis/ Follow us on Facebook & Twitter.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/UK.SLIS Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/UK_SLIS Sign up for the SLIS graduate listserv.

Listserv: Send email to listserv@lsv.uky.edu Leave subject blank; in the body, type subscribe SLIS-ALUMS-L YourFirstName YourLastName

Spring 2014

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