Miami University Libraries’ Residence

Hall Research AmbassadorsPeer Research Assistance in Residence Halls: a

Partnership Program with Residence Life and the

Libraries

Just to Clarify--We are from THE Miami University--the

other one is here in Florida

Who Are the Partners?

Jenny PresnellInformation Services LibrarianKing Library

Nancy MoeckelLife Sciences LibrarianBrill Science Library

Additional Partners

Residence LifeDr.Todd Holcomb, Director, Residence Life and New Student ProgrammingKay Thomas, First Year Advisor in Emerson Hall

LibrariesBelinda Barr, Head of Information Services Jerome Conley, Coordinating Head of Special Libraries

Joanne Goode, Head Science Librarian

Additional Key Players

AmbassadorsJassmine FoustAnne GregoryCatherine JohnsonChris Jones

The Research Ambassador Program in

a Nutshell“This Program will provide research assistance to students in their residence halls, when they need it, from their peers…

The Research Ambassador Program in

a Nutshell “…undergraduate students will be hired and trained as Research Ambassadors to provide basic information and research advice and to connect students with Librarians for further in-depth assistance when necessary.”

The Current Library Climate

Remote access toIndexes and databasesFull text•Journals, books, reference tools

Many services online•ILL, chat, email ref, online renewal

Current Research

What first year students know in High SchoolUsed library •29% weekly•29% 2 times a month

Tools Used•60% WWW•65% electronic index

Current Research

The article from jp that we talked about might go hereStats about use

Current Research

Dr. Karen Schilling presented research findings at a library staff meetingIncreasing Expectations for Student Effort by Karen M. Shilling and Karl L. Shilling. About Campus May/June 1999• Findings show the importance of setting high initial expectations for academic effort

• “increasing expectations means heightening the intellectual challenge of course, moving beyond memorization to engaged critical analysis that creates excitement for students”

Concerns

Many First Year Students believe that the Internet is the only tool they need. But, there are many other research tools they must add to their toolkit.

Everything looks like a nail if the only tool you have is a hammer

Concerns

Many students believe that an Internet search will find the answer to everything. Some services support this notion•Questia•NetLibrary•XanEdu•Ebrary

Concerns

Some students experience library anxiety

•Easier to just avoid coming to the library

•So much available remotely

An idea begins to form…

Remote access is important, Schilling and others’ research, our

concerns…

Could specially trained students help their peers with research in their

residence halls?

Can Peer Assistance Work for Libraries?

Students may learn better from peersSome more comfortable asking for help from peers

Peer tutor model already successful

Related but Different Peer Programs Already

ExistSome examples of successful Library peer assistance programs

Peer Information CounselorsLibraries in residence halls--IUHall computer labs--BGSUPeer interns--U Mass (Dartmouth))Student Navigators in the Knowledge Commons --U of Cape Town)Library Peer Assistant--SUNY Binghamton Roving Peer Mentors in Library--U of Cincinnati

Our Reasoning

Peer programs demonstrate success alreadyLibrarians can’t cover services in the library during the day and then cover a Residence Hall in the eveningTraining students as Ambassadors means each Hall can eventually have evening service, every eveningThere will be some immediate assistance, as well as a direct link to more in-depth assistance

Let’s Try It!

First Year students often come with few research skills,and are too willing to rely solely on the Internet, are adapting to life away from home for perhaps the first time, are peer pressured, yet may readily accept help from their peers, may experience library anxiety, there aren’t enough Librarians ……for all these reasons and more, having a peer assistant IN THE RESIDENCE HALL seemed worth trying.

The Program Pilot

Determined which Residence HallBertha M. Emerson Hall. •Co-educational, first year residence hall.

•Nearby are Morris, Tappan, Scott, Minnich and MacCracken.

The Program Pilot

Emerson Hall demographics345 residents •300 males•45 females

1 First Year Advisor (resident)•1 graduate assistant advisor•11 undergraduate resident advisors

The Program Pilot Some Demographics

Miami’s Class of 2005--(3,450 selected from 12,500 applicants)

37% ranked in top 10%66% ranked in top 20%25% earned ACT of 29 or higher25% combined SAT of 1300 or higher9.6% Multicultural• African American• Asian• Pacific Islanders• Hispanic• Native American

Emerson Hall GPA high school 3.2-3.5ACT• 23

SAT• 1200

Majors• Undecided, business, education,fine arts

Multicultural• 10%

The Program Takes Off

Hired the Ambassadors •Created brochures to advertise the position– 10 hours per week– Learn while you earn

•Added job description to library website – http://www.lib.muohio.edu/libinfo/employ/rh.html

The Program Takes Off

Trained the Ambassadors •Blitz training to start

– 2, 2 hour sessions

•Weekly training and worksheets ongoing – Meet weekly for training – Worksheet completed on their own time

The Program Takes Off

Ambassador job duties 4 main categories:•1: Directional:

– answering basic directional questions, such as where libraries, computer labs, media collections and other resources are located and assisting with services such as Check your Circulation Record and Interlibrary Loan services.

The Program Takes Off

Ambassador job duties 4 main categories:•2: Instructional:

– teaching the use of MiamiLINK including: how to connect to SHERLOCK, other catalogs, online databases, online reference tools, and the Internet and assisting with the use thereof.

The Program Takes Off

Ambassador job duties 4 main categories:•3: Referral:

– connecting your client with a Librarian for more in-depth instruction of resources or in-depth assistance with research

The Program Takes Off

Ambassador job duties 4 main categories:•4: Record keeping:

– maintaining accurate information regarding use of this service, questions asked and similar statistics

The Program Takes Off

Service began Fall, 2001• Lobby of Emerson

– Sunday 7-11pm, MTWR 8-11pm– Total of 16 hours per week

• Question log– Record date/time/question

• Advertising– Flyers posted through out Emerson

• Signage– Large poster near the duty desk

The Program Takes Off Sample Questions Asked by

Residents

• What are the hours of the Health Center?• Can you help me find the English 111 tutorial?

• What is the “twinkie defense”• How does an electric shaver work?• Need some books about euthanasia. Can you help?

• Need some articles about consumer behavior in Colonial America

• Have you seen a blonde girl go by here?

The Program Takes Off

Assessment •Feedback weekly from Ambassadors

•Questionnaire responses from residents

The Program Takes Off

Types of Questions Asked

Directional

Instructional

Referral

The Program Takes Off

Where Emerson Residents Seek Help

Internet

Library All

Friend or Classmate

Professor

Resident Assistant

Other

Head Resident

The Program Takes Off

Activity by Day

0

5

10

15

20

25

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

The Program Takes Off

Activity by Month

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

September October November December

What we have just described is the program without any

of the “challenges or opportunities”

There were a few…

Challenges and Opportunities

Scheduling of ServiceDuty hours• Thursday night party night• Holidays• 3-days

Coordinating our schedules• Classes, activities, meetings, training, • Student teaching…

Challenges and Opportunities

Posters and advertisingCovered upReplacedNot noticedSurvey results show •1/2 didn’t know about Service

Challenges and Opportunities

PhoneCritical for referral to librarians• Removed from lobby• Replaced and removed again• Still working on it• Cell phone might be solution

AlternativesMore use of chat (limited hours)More use of email reference service (24 hr response time)

Challenges and Opportunities

Better location in the Residence Hall needed

Lobby is busyStudents on their way in or outSmall and crowded

Spring Semester relocated to small living room adjacent to lobby. Optimal space in basement study lounge

Trying airport equipmentWaiting for wiring

Challenges and Opportunities

Safe storage for equipmentAmbassadors have to unpack and pack equipment each time

Locked in office• Locked out once or twice

What’s Next this Spring

Spring semester 2002More assessment•Questionnaire during corridor meetings

– First one done– Incorporate results in planning/revising program

More advertising•More flyers•More demonstrations•More word of mouth

What’s Next this Spring

Coordinate with specific assignmentsTailor advertising in the Hall to specific recurring assignmentsTailor training schedule for Ambassadors

Offer special sessionsBy topicFor those on academic probationothers

What’s Next For the Program

Offer the service in more Residence Halls

Hire more ambassadorsTrain more ambassadors• Current ambassadors mentor new ones • Current ambassadors participate in training

Create an Ambassador ListservExpand the Ambassador web page• http://staff.lib.muohio.edu/~presnejl/ambass/ambass.html

Some costs

Equipment2 laptops•$5,228.70.

Other equipment•Splitters•Surge suppressors

Some costs

TimeCoordinators time• Substantial• Will only require more time as program expands

Student wages4 students @ 10hrs/wk X 16 weeks• $3,296.00 per semester

Promotions • 10cent pay raise/yr

Expanding program will require more wages

Some benefits

Partnerships Strengthened

Residence Life learns about Library and servicesLibrary learns about Residence LifeUnderstanding of each units goals as we all strive to support the University's goals

Some benefits

Learning by allRAs making use of library as a required academic programLibrary learns about FYELearn while you Earn Opportunities for Ambassadors

Improved support of and response to the First Year Experience needs

Some benefits

Most importantlyFirst year students acquire sound research skillsAre connected to the library (information specialists) early in their student careers

Some “out takes” or What’s been FUN about

the programOur ambassadorsShare some tidbits hereAnne’s chocolate chip cookiesPizza deliveries hardSome lock outsOne ambassador not a morning person

Thank you for your time today

We are very happy to share this program idea with you…..Any questions?