libraries on their minds from day one: a new model for freshman service- learning programs dr. april...
TRANSCRIPT
Libraries on Their Minds from Day One:
A New Model for Freshman Service-Learning Programs
Dr. April Heiselt, Dr. Bob Wolverton, Ms. Susan Hall
ALA ConferenceChicago, IL July 2009
Once upon a time… the “Day One” Story In 2006, MSU President Foglesong
established an agenda to build character and leadership skills.
A first-year leadership learning community concept was proposed by Dr. Tom Carskadon.
This concept, “Day One,” while developed under a Student Affairs umbrella, is linked to Academic Affairs and the local community.
Day One Structure How the Day One Program Works
– Living-learning environment (Cresswell Hall)– Leadership Forum Class– Co-enrolled “Day One” General
Education Class– Service-Learning component
Definition of Terms– Pods (Day One Courses) = 24-28 students– Action Team = 5-7 students– Action Team Mentor (ATM) = Faculty or Staff Mentor
Service-learning Structure
Pod A
SmurfettesATM: Ann Smith
The IncrediblesATM: Joe Jones
Bully’s Bookworms
ATM: Bob Wolverton
Habitat for Humanity
American Red Cross
MSU Disability Services
Starkville Public Library
Red HotsATM: Ann Tilman
Service - learning
Students provide a service that meets the need of a community partner and is
connected to course objectives.
Service-Learning Requirements
Student Requirements– 10 site visits (minimum)– 20 service-learning hours/events– On-line service hour log– Submitted one reflection each week– Action Team Project Proposal & Brief– Action Team Service-Learning Presentation (Showcase)
Action Team Mentor Requirements– Took attendance at Action Team meetings– Comment on student reflections– Verified service hours on student logs
Day One EventsField Day
Showcase
Stark Annex Project
Background of the ChristopherRandolph Stark and Annie ReynoldsStark Annex
Recent addition to the Starkville Public Library
2300 square feet
Staffed by two librarians: Carolyn Reed and Perian Kerr
Stark Annex Project
Houses genealogy books and materials, microfilm records, historical and rare books and primary family documents.
Help needed in processing: Newspaper obituaries Local high school newspapers Local birth, death, and marriage
information from the Starkville Daily News
Genealogy and local history microfilm Scrapbooks from local schools and
community groups
Stark Annex Project
Stark Annex ProjectThree major types of projects:1) Preservation Working with obituary notices in newspapers
that had been kept in shoeboxes and donated to the library.
Scrapbook maintenance – involved inter-leaving
with acid-free paper, copying newspaper entries, extracting names, and documenting contents.
Photocopying local high school newspapers from the 1930s to the 1950s.
Stark Annex Project
2) Research
Locating and photocopying historical articles.
Researching academic theses and dissertations held by the Mississippi State University Libraries which dealt with individuals, times, or places in Oktibbeha County.
Abstracting and indexing names and dates in early high school yearbooks and finding births, marriages, and deaths with page numbers from local newspapers.
3) Public relations: Writing articles for the city newspaper:
– Describing Annex work and how the librarians could assist patrons with their genealogical and historical research.
– Geared toward young adults that would generate interest in locating and documenting their own family history.
Creating activities for children ages 8-12 that would help stimulate their interest in learning about their own family history.
Creating a display for the Stark Annex.
Stark Annex Project
Day One Action TeamsBully’s Bookworms (2007)
(6 freshman students)
The SubLime 7 (2008)(7 freshman students)
Action Team Accomplishments
Hundreds of newspaper obituaries (originally in shoeboxes) were sorted alphabetically and labeled.
160 Starkville High School newspapers were photocopied on acid-free paper; 121 were inventoried; 16 had all names extracted and indexed.
Seven scrapbooks were inventoried and preserved.
County historical research project at the MSU Libraries was completed. Project involved checking theses and dissertations about the local area.
Accomplishments, continued
Birth, death, and marriage information was extracted and indexed from the Starkville Daily News from 1950-1952.
Initial content inventory completed of all genealogy and local history microfilm.
Names from the 1924 and 1926 Starkville High School yearbooks were extracted and indexed.
Four high school student historical essays became part of the Stark Annex collection.
Benefits to the Starkville-Oktibbeha County Public Library:
Received assistance from tech savvy, hard working students throughout the semester.
Excellent progress made in organizing their collection.
Benefits to the Day One students:
Satisfaction of serving others in the community.
Helped students develop skills in team building, time management, and leadership.
Helped students develop a strong work ethic.
Children’s Services
at the Starkville
PublicLibrary
BOOM! Books On Our Minds
Community partner was Children’s Services of the Starkville Public Library
Laura Foxworth, Children’s Librarian
Weekly Service Tasks
ShelvingPublicity, flyers, bulletin boardsComputer tasksEvents / story-time
preparations
Action Team Meetings:
Covered assigned tasks outlined in Day One Guidebook
Planned for the team “legacy” project
Day-long children’s event at the Starkville Public Library
Chronicles of Narnia
Celebration of the series with themed event
Narnia related trivia questions Prizes, refreshments Team t-shirts were designed Narnia costume contest Movie finale
My weekly investment…
One lunch hour
Read student work posted to MyCourses, approved for credit
Tracked student service hours and approved
Factors in Success
Detailed course notebook, outlining weekly assignments, events, expectations
Questions were anticipated / answered
Rules were known Cooperation between academic units Flexibility with community partners
and student mentors Critical mass of available volunteers
Dr. April Heiselt [email protected]
Dr. Bob Wolverton
Ms. Susan Hall [email protected]
Contact Information:
Day One Information
For more information about the Day One Leadership Programplease see:
http://www.dayone.msstate.edu/