Last Friday, I attended the USF Libraries Annual Meeting. As Associate Librarian and as the Campus Librarian for Lakeland, I was asked to present a short report to the Libraries personnel assembled. Here is what I presented:
Lakeland Library Services
Engaging students
- Lakeland’s information literacy and library instruction activities hit a new high with, as of mid-December 2006, 718 library users reached in 39 orientations, classes and seminars. Students in all Divisions and Departments were reached. This is an increase of over 210% in terms of students and 320% in terms of presentations compared to 2005. Five of these classes were given to distance learners using real-time electronic classroom software Elluminate.
- Reference also increased from 83 questions answered in 2005 to more than 235 in 2006, an augmentation of over 280%.
- The Lakeland Librarian, Catherine Lavallée-Welch, manned a table at the student-led “University Awareness Day” in November to distribute information about the library services on campus. The laptop she brought to the event was used in answering impromptu reference questions.
Engaging Faculty & Researchers
- Collection development activities continued during the year. Two new collections were started: a Professional Development collection was created at the request of staff members. Accessible to all, this collection will comprised of titles that will help USF personnel develop their professional skills. The groundwork was also put in place to create a USF Lakeland Faculty Publications special collection that will be launched in the Spring.
- In August, Catherine Lavallée-Welch, was a presenter at the campus’ first “Technology Integration Institute for Faculty”. She held three sessions: Weblogs and wikis, Catalog and database searching and Resources for promotion and tenure. Nine faculty members participated in what is a year-long process to integrate more technology into teaching.
Engaging the Community
- Just in time for the Faculty and Staff Campaign, a development fund specific to the Lakeland Library Services was created. We are grateful to our Lakeland colleagues who have elected to make their donations to this fund. It shall be appear on the USF Foundation website this coming year.
The keynote speaker during lunchtime was Dr. Ray Arsenault from USF St. Petersburg. He talked about his 2006 tome, Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice from the Pivotal Moments in American History series by the Oxford University Press. I can only recommend this excellent book.