collaborations with faculty in upper division courses laura robinson reference/instructional...

Collaborations with Collaborations with Faculty in Upper Division Faculty in Upper Division CoursesCourses

Laura RobinsonLaura RobinsonReference/Instructional Services LibrarianReference/Instructional Services Librarian

Conant Library, Nichols CollegeConant Library, Nichols College

Copyright 2004 Laura RobinsonCopyright 2004 Laura Robinson

Working with GrantsWorking with Grants

11 June 200411 June 2004 Laura RobinsonLaura Robinson 22

Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline

Information literacy at Nichols CollegeInformation literacy at Nichols College Building support for upper division Building support for upper division

information literacy infusioninformation literacy infusion Nichols College Faculty Teaching Center Nichols College Faculty Teaching Center

grantgrant ProjectProject AssessmentAssessment ReportingReporting

Davis Educational Foundation grantDavis Educational Foundation grant


Information Literacy Information Literacy at Nichols Collegeat Nichols College Two-tiered information literacy Two-tiered information literacy

training for first-year students:training for first-year students:Professional Development Professional Development Seminars (PDS)Seminars (PDS)

Current Issues Symposia (CIS)Current Issues Symposia (CIS) Upper division instructors collaborate Upper division instructors collaborate

with librarians on a case by case with librarians on a case by case basis.basis.


Gaining Institutional Gaining Institutional Support for Upper Support for Upper Division InfusionDivision Infusion Find formal and informal Find formal and informal

opportunities to discuss the need.opportunities to discuss the need. Seek out key people on campus:Seek out key people on campus:

Known library supporters/users Known library supporters/users (faculty, administration, and students)(faculty, administration, and students)

Heads of programs that use the libraryHeads of programs that use the library Heads of programs in which the library Heads of programs in which the library

is underutilizedis underutilized


Seeking Opportunities Seeking Opportunities for Formal for Formal ProgrammingProgramming Nichols College Faculty Teaching Nichols College Faculty Teaching

CenterCenter Sponsors teaching workshops Sponsors teaching workshops

held throughout the year.held throughout the year. Provides grants for improving Provides grants for improving

teaching methods on campus.teaching methods on campus.


The Fall 2003 Pilot The Fall 2003 Pilot ProjectProject Project designed for maximum flexibility Project designed for maximum flexibility

while having the following standard features:while having the following standard features: Each class had three formal contacts with a Each class had three formal contacts with a

librarian.librarian. Assignments relating to information literacy Assignments relating to information literacy

instruction were defined in syllabus and allotted instruction were defined in syllabus and allotted a percentage of the final course grade.a percentage of the final course grade.

Students and faculty completed satisfaction Students and faculty completed satisfaction surveys at the end of the semester.surveys at the end of the semester.

Faculty were in attendance at Faculty Teaching Faculty were in attendance at Faculty Teaching Center Pilot Project Results Presentation.Center Pilot Project Results Presentation.


Student agreement with the following statement:

I learned important research skills.

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StronglyAgree

Agree No Opinion orN/A

Disagree StronglyDisagree



The librarian's class visits enhanced the course / my learning.

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70

StronglyAgree

Agree No Opinion orN/A




I would recommend including information literacy instruction in other courses at the college.

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5

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15

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Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion Disagree StronglyDisagree



I feel comfortable approaching the librarian for assistance in the future.

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5

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Strongly Agree Agree No Opinion orN/A



Faculty CommentsFaculty Comments

““Develops rapport [between students Develops rapport [between students and librarians] and makes students and librarians] and makes students more comfortable asking for help.”more comfortable asking for help.”

“…“…the number of quality sources the number of quality sources cited has gone up.”cited has gone up.”

“…“…[students] still struggle with [students] still struggle with correct [APA] format, but overall the correct [APA] format, but overall the improvement has been noticeable.”improvement has been noticeable.”


Making the Case for Making the Case for Formal Upper Division Formal Upper Division CollaborationsCollaborations Presenting Pilot Project resultsPresenting Pilot Project results

Suggesting readingsSuggesting readings

Working within the Nichols Working within the Nichols College missionCollege mission


From Nichols Grant From Nichols Grant to Davis Grantto Davis Grant There was a clear need with limited There was a clear need with limited

resources to fulfill that need.resources to fulfill that need.

There was institutional support and There was institutional support and momentum.momentum.

There was proven ability to follow through.There was proven ability to follow through.

The campus grant writer was in full support The campus grant writer was in full support and made a creative proposal.and made a creative proposal.


The AwardThe Award

The Davis Educational Foundation The Davis Educational Foundation awarded $56,000 to be used over three awarded $56,000 to be used over three years in order to increase information years in order to increase information literacy training and access to literacy training and access to resources.resources.

Business Source EliteBusiness Source Elite subscription subscription Part-time reference librarian to enable Part-time reference librarian to enable

instruction librarian to devote more time to instruction librarian to devote more time to information literacy traininginformation literacy training

Stipends for faculty and librarians involved in Stipends for faculty and librarians involved in Information Literacy ProgramInformation Literacy Program


Some DetailsSome Details

The project will last for six The project will last for six semesters, semesters,

Fall 2004 – Spring 2007.Fall 2004 – Spring 2007. Each semester four faculty members Each semester four faculty members

will collaborate with a librarian.will collaborate with a librarian. Requirements are similar to Pilot Requirements are similar to Pilot

Project, with addition of pre- and Project, with addition of pre- and post-testing.post-testing.


Long Term Goals of the Long Term Goals of the Grant ProjectGrant Project Establishment of standards within Establishment of standards within

each area of study at the college.each area of study at the college. Begin to reach all student Begin to reach all student

populations and programs.populations and programs. MBAMBA MilitaryMilitary Continuing EducationContinuing Education


The PlanThe Plan

Market to upper-division faculty who have Market to upper-division faculty who have not traditionally sought library not traditionally sought library collaborations.collaborations.

Be flexible while having useful assessment Be flexible while having useful assessment tools.tools.

Be patient, both with instructors and with Be patient, both with instructors and with progress toward program goals.progress toward program goals.


So Far…So Far…

In May invitations were mailed to In May invitations were mailed to all faculty.all faculty.

Four qualifying responses were Four qualifying responses were received within 24 hours (eight received within 24 hours (eight within a week).within a week).

Collaborations have begun this Collaborations have begun this summer.summer.


Contact InfoContact Info

Laura RobinsonLaura RobinsonConant LibraryConant LibraryNichols CollegeNichols CollegeCenter RoadCenter RoadDudley, MA 01571Dudley, MA [email protected]@nichols.edu508.213.2222; fax 508.213.2323508.213.2222; fax 508.213.2323

Conant Library Conant Library website: website: http://www.nichols.edu/libraryhttp://www.nichols.edu/libraryemail: email: [email protected]@nichols.eduAIM: AIM: nicholslibrarynicholslibrary

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