The Information Technology Rural Librarian Master's Scholarship Program (ITRL) has been awarded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services to the School of Information Sciences at the University of Tennessee to train sixteen paraprofessionals working in the Southern and Central Appalachian rural libraries to get their master’s degree part-time (June 2010 - August 2012) with a focus on information technology and rural librarianship via distance education. The ITRL Annual Summit 2011 is a recorded presentation of two faculty members and thirteen ITRL students regarding their experiences during their first year in the program. You can access the ITRL Annual Summit 2011 recording at URL: http://asp8.centra.com/GP/main/0000008aeed00000013325341d9e95f8 . Before viewing the file, the system will ask you to enter an email address. Any valid email address will work. For additional comments or questions about ITRL, please contact Dr. Bharat Mehra (principal investigator of ITRL), Associate Professor, School of Information Sciences, University of Tennessee, by phone 865-974-5917 or email: [email protected].
Information Technology Rural Librarian Master’s Scholarship Program Asynchronous Annual Online Summit 2011 Bharat Mehra, Kimberly Black, Vandana Singh School of Information Sciences, University of Tennessee Lake City Public Library, TN Johnson City Public Library, TN Sevier County Public Library, Sevierville, TN Hancock County Publi Library, Sneedville, TN
Transcript
1. Information Technology Rural Librarian Masters Scholarship
Program Asynchronous Annual Online Summit 2011 Johnson City Public
Library, TN Hancock County Public Library, Sneedville, TN Sevier
County Public Library, Sevierville, TNLake City Public Library, TN
Bharat Mehra, Kimberly Black, Vandana Singh School of Information
Sciences, University of Tennessee
2. Agenda Introduction The ITRL Purpose Why the ITRL Program is
Important Five Phases of the ITRL Program Education in the ITRL
Context Participating Faculty Voices of Faculty Participating
Partners Voices of Partners ITRL Students Voices of ITRL
StudentsITRL Planning Meeting13 November, 2009 ITRL Annual Online
Summit 2011
3. IntroductionIn 2009, the School of Information Sciences
(SIS) at theUniversity of Tennessee (UT) was awarded a
$567,660grant entitled Rural Library Professionals as ChangeAgents
in the 21st Century: Integrating InformationTechnology Competencies
in Southern and CentralAppalachian Region (ITRL) by the Institute
of Museumand Library Services Laura Bush 21st Century
LibrarianProgram. Laurel Jones Public Library, Laurel, MS ITRL
Annual Online Summit 2011
4. The ITRL PurposeThe ITRL purpose is to recruit
sixteenparaprofessionals working in rural libraries in theSouthern
and Central Appalachian (SCA) regions tocomplete their masters
degree part-time (June 2010 August 2012) with a focus on IT and
rurallibrarianship in the UTs SIS program via distance. ITRL Annual
Online Summit 2011
5. The ITRL PurposeITRL students are receiving: Part-time
degree in a ALA-accredited program A structured,
individually-tailored IT and rural management curriculum Rural
library practices and needs incorporated into the curriculum IT
competencies in developing rural library work applications
Formal/informal professional mentoring by educators and
practitioners Full-tuition scholarship for two years Allowance for
materials Provision of a laptop computer. ITRL Annual Online Summit
2011
6. Why the ITRL Program is Important The SCA regions are
experiencing: Information poverty and unemployment Economic
challenges Low levels of information literacy and educational
attainment A lack of access and use of IT Other unique
environmental challengesLibrary professionals who are embedded in
their communities are in astrong position to help address and
develop solutions to these needs. Laurel Jones Public Library,
Laurel, MS ITRL Annual Online Summit 2011
7. Five Phases of the ITRL Program1. Recruitment of ITRL
students from rural libraries in the SCA region2. Needs assessment
of library services and information challenges faced by rural
regional libraries3. Implementation of educational/training
activities4. Mentoring5. Evaluation/assessment of program outcomes,
and dissemination of program results/experiences. ITRL Annual
Online Summit 2011
8. Education in the ITRL Context 16 ITRL students are enrolled
part-time, taking six credit hours (two courses) each semester
(summer, fall, and spring). Forty-two credit hours (14 courses)
plus a comprehensive examination or thesis are required for
graduation. Students began courses June 2010 and will graduate
August 2012. ITRL Annual Online Summit 2011
9. Education in the ITRL Context IT Outcomes Management
Outcomes1. 1.Technology infrastructure 1. Service evaluation in
rural planning and analysis libraries2. 2. Web design, development,
2. Management of a rural library and usability program for adults
and3. 3. Database design and children/young adults implementation;
3. Readers advisory4. 4. Building digital library and 4. Grant
writing and development web portals5. 5. Establishing hardware and
software networking6. 6. Creating Library 2.0 tools ITRL Annual
Online Summit 2011
10. Participating Faculty Dr. Bharat Mehra, Assistant Professor
(Principle Investigator) Dr. Kimberly Black, Assistant Professor
(Co-Principle Investigator) Dr. Vandana Singh, Assistant Professor
(Co-Principle Investigator) ITRL Annual Online Summit 2011
11. Participating Partners Nancy Renfro, Director, Watauga
Regional Library Donald B. Reynolds, Director, Nolichucky Regional
Library System Susan Simmons, Director, Clinch-Powell Regional
Library KC Williams, System Director, Sevier County Public Library
ITRL Annual Online Summit 2011
12. ITRL Students Heather Duby, Acquisitions Assistant at
Pellissippi State Community College, Knoxville, Tennessee. Brittany
Fletcher, Elementary School Teacher/Media Team Member, Mountain
City Elementary School Media Center, Mountain City, TN Julie
Forkner, Reference Librarian, E. G. Fisher Public Library, Athens,
TN Angela Glowcheski, Information Specialist, Lumpkin County Public
Library, Chestatee Regional Library, Dahlonega, GA Becky
Grindstaff, Software Support Specialist, Knox County Schools,
Knoxville, Tennessee ITRL Annual Online Summit 2011
13. ITRL Students Richard Haynes, Director, Harlan County
Public Library System, Harlan, KY Kevin Jump, Circulation
Assistant, Weeks-Townsend Memorial Library, Barbourville, KY Lauren
Long, Library Technologist, Madison County Public Library,
Marshall, NC Susan Macrellis, Library Director, East Ridge City
Library, East Ridge, TN Helen Owen: Instructional Supervisor for
Materials and Supplies, Teacher Resource Center, Sevier County
School System, Sevierville, TN ITRL Annual Online Summit 2011
14. ITRL Students Marilyn Pontius, Hancock War Memorial Branch
Library, Washington County Free Library, Washington County, MA
Deborah Ratliff, Branch Manager/Program Specialist, Goshen Public
Library, Rockbridge Regional Library, Goshen, VA Christine Smith,
Branch Manager, C. Bascom Slemp Memorial Library, Lonesome Pine
Regional Library System, Big Stone Gap, VA Susan Williams: Resource
Center/Education Coordinator, Highlander Research and Education
Center, New Market, TN Vicki Winstead, Library Media Specialist,
Jackson Elementary School Library, Kingsport, TN Amber Woodard,
Library Technical Assistant, Cumberland University, Lebanon, TN
ITRL Annual Online Summit 2011
15. Voices of ITRL Students1. Heather Duby 7. Fran Owen2.
Brittany Fletcher 8. Marilyn Pontius3. Julie Forkner 9. Chris
Smith4. Angela Glowcheski 10.Susan Williams5. Becky Grindstaff
11.Vicki Winstead6. Susan Macrellis 12.Amber Woodard ITRL Annual
Online Summit 2011
16. 1. Heather Ruble Duby ITRL Summit 2011 Thank you for the
opportunity! ITRL Annual Online Summit 2011
17. 1. Heather Duby: About Me Attended Pellissippi State
Community College (PSCC) from 1991-1993; Graduated with an
Associate of Arts Degree in English Attended the University of
Tennessee at Knoxville from 1993-1995; Graduate with a Bachelor of
Arts Degree in English From 1996 Present I have worked in the PSCC
library Learned about the ITRL program from my friend, Bill Stevens
Began my Masters Degree coursework in the summer semester of 2010
ITRL Annual Online Summit 2011
18. 1. Heather Duby: A Change inPerspective & Skills
Perspective as a paraprofessional Perspective as a future
information professional Improvement in technology skills & the
ability to think about tasks in new ways Coursework has broadened
my horizons and has had real-world impact on my library ITRL Annual
Online Summit 2011
19. 2. Brittany Fletcher Collection Development Lessons and
Activities through Literature Hands on Learning Project : iPads in
the classroom Mountain City Elementary School ITRL Annual Online
Summit 2011
20. 2. Brittany Fletcher: The Future Practicum allowing me to
work with students of all ages Switching collection database to
Destiny Continue training with new technology in the classroom
Johnson County Middle School ITRL Annual Online Summit 2011
21. 3. Julie Forkner E. G. Fisher Public Library ITRL Annual
Online Summit 2011
22. 3. Julie Forkner: McMinn County, TN 11% Unemployment 14%
holds a bachelors degree ~ 40% is over 45 years old ITRL Annual
Online Summit 2011
23. 3. Julie Forkner: Computer Use at E. G.Fisher Service
population: 45,834 Open 54.5 hours/week 23 Public Access Computers
Wi-Fi Available Computer Use in FY 2009-2010: 42,345 ITRL Annual
Online Summit 2011
24. 3. Julie Forkner: Laptop ComputingLab 12 Laptops including
one for the visually impaired. Which in turn prompted: A
relationship with Techsoup Updating public desktops to Windows 2010
Mobile lab to take to community libraries Laptop Check-Out to
increase computer access ITRL Annual Online Summit 2011
25. 4. Angela Glowcheski Information Specialist, Lumpkin County
Library, Dahlonega, Georgia 5.15 full-time equivalents An average
of 3,580 patrons served weekly An average of 14 programs a month
serving adults, young adults and children Ten public computer
stations Public internet access and wireless access ITRL Annual
Online Summit 2011
26. 4. Angela GlowcheskiChanges resulting from coursework:
Reorganized Computer Classes Built in tools of patron feedback
Reference Interview ProcessMore to come: Web Presence Community
Partnerships ITRL Annual Online Summit 2011
27. 4. Angela Glowcheski Benefits of the ITRL Masters
Scholarship Program Relationship with Teachers and Mentor
Interaction with fellow students Portfolio of Coursework Program
design ITRL Annual Online Summit 2011
28. 5. Becky Grindstaff Former English as a Second Language
Teacher Now Knox County Schools Technology Dept. Staff Work in
schools and school libraries each week (librarians are often the
support for technology) Will be assisting with the implementation
of a distance learning program during the 2011-2012 school year
ITRL Annual Online Summit 2011
30. 6. Susan MacrellisITRL student [text/images]Susan
Macrellisand the East RidgeCity Library staffwith formerUS
CongressmanZach Wamp .(EastRidgeChristmas Parade2010) ITRL Annual
Online Summit 2011
31. 6. Susan Macrellis East Ridge City Library, serving 20,000
residents of the Chattanooga, TN suburb, is located in the left
wing of the City Hall building. ERCL has formed a committee to
evaluate the suitability of adopting OSS Evergreen as its ILS. See
what all the excitement is about at http://open-ils.org/ or
http://www.georgialibraries.org/pu blic/pines.php ITRL Annual
Online Summit 2011
32. 7. Fran Owen How the ITRL Program has Fostered Growth in
Sevier County School LibrariesChanges implemented due to my
experiences in the program and course work ITRL Annual Online
Summit 2011
33. 7. Fran Owen 510-----Researched the Digital Divide in
Sevier County and what is being done to bridge the gap
520-----Learned how to properly assign subject headings and about
vocabulary control to improve Sevier Countys OPAC entries
530-----Learned about various selection, reference, and evaluation
tools important to all libraries and the ethics involved in
providing virtual reference services ITRL Annual Online Summit
2011
34. 7. Fran Owen 560-----Developed a partial opening day
collection for a school currently under construction
567-----Learning how to create a Sevier County School Library web
site 572-----Age appropriate school librarians have copies of
quality young adult selections and are performing book talks to
share their collection additions ITRL Annual Online Summit
2011
35. 7. Fran Owen 585-----Created a wiki for school librarians
to share curriculum development and designed and implemented an
instrument to improve communication between the school system and a
software vendor 590-----Learning how to develop a marketing plan to
educate school principals on the value of school librarians in
improving student achievement ITRL Annual Online Summit 2011
36. 8. Marilyn Pontius Marilyn Pontius Branch Manager Hancock
War Memorial Library Hancock, Maryland ITRL Annual Online Summit
2011
37. 8. Marilyn Pontius IT Deliverables: IS 585: Information
Technologies Closing the Digital Divide: Expanding Computing at the
Hancock War Memorial Library Hancock Library in 1904 Hancock,
Maryland ITRL Annual Online Summit 2011
38. 8. Marilyn Pontius Rural Management Outcomes IS 554 Public
Library Management and Services User-Centered Assessment/Evaluation
of Public Library Services: Computer Services Hancock War Memorial
Library ITRL Annual Online Summit 2011
39. 9. Chris Smith [text/images] C Bascom Slemp Memorial
Library located in the heart of Southwest Virginia Our Motto Start
Here Go Anywhere And Im the perfect example, thanks to the ITRL
Masters Scholarship Program ITRL Annual Online Summit 2011
40. 9. Chris SmithMeet my favorite community partner, Lyric,
the READ dog. Completing the requirements for my Masters degree has
forced me to examine my community, my library, and myself. When I
started the application process I told Dr. Mehra I expected to be
in the same place either with or without my degree. Im still
planning to stay, but Im a different person, and Ive made Slemp
Library a different place. ITRL Annual Online Summit 2011
41. 10. Susan WilliamsI am very privileged to be in the ITRL
program at theUniversity of Tennessee School of Information
Service. Iwork at the Highlander Center library in NewMarket,
Tennessee and this program is providing manywonderful learning
opportunities. opportunities. This is a photo of the Highlander
library. The mound on the left is the archive room, and to the
right is the main book room, sun room and the rest of the building.
ITRL Annual Online Summit 2011
42. 10. Susan Williams: What have I learned? This program has
made me much more comfortable with technology, and I am learning
more all the time. Some of the technology areas covered include:
--Basic computer hardware and software including PowerPoint.
--Graphic design using Photoshop --Drupal, wikis, blogs, social
networking I have also been very interested in learning more about
reference librarianship, information literacy and how people can
learn more about maneuvering through the vast internet information
world. This area provides great fuel for our work in participatory
research with grassroots groups. All of this also helps our library
to think about what are some additional communication vehicles and
services that could be useful. ITRL Annual Online Summit 2011
43. 10. Susan Williams: More thoughts aboutthe program I am
very appreciative of the faculty with the UT SIS for many reasons
but especially because they are so willing to allow me to choose
topics that are interesting and helpful to me. Some of the projects
that have been very informative include: --A research paper about
Broadband access in rural areas --Research on digitizing historical
photographs --Evaluation of our participatory research service
--Currently, a training module for user instructions for groups
that come to Highlander. Most rewarding has been the chance to use
my brain, and to be creative. I also appreciate the opportunities
to work in teams for some projects. This program has at times been
quite a challenge for me, given my age and limited knowledge of
technology. Many thanks to all!!!! ITRL Annual Online Summit
2011
44. 10. Susan Williams Many thanks from me and my cats! ITRL
Annual Online Summit 2011
45. 11. Vicki Winstead Native of East Tennessee Library Media
Specialist at Andrew Jackson Elementary School in Kingsport, TN
Participant in Kingsport City Schools Teacher Leader Academy
Completed Advanced Technology Academy for Kingsport City Schools
School Web Master Certified Smart Board Trainer ITRL Annual Online
Summit 2011
46. 11. Vicki Winstead: IS 560-Developmentand Management of
Collections Evaluation and selection of print and non-print
materials. Deselection and weeding Project: Develop a Small
Collection For my elementary school library, I evaluated and
selected materials to support the science curriculum in
Kindergarten through fifth grade This collection was developed
using various criteria including Purpose, Audience, Definition,
Format, and Cost. ITRL Annual Online Summit 2011
47. 11. Vicki Winstead: IS 554 Public LibraryManagement and
Services Performed and evaluation and user-centered assessment of
the Job-Seeking service of the Kingsport Public Library. ITRL
Annual Online Summit 2011
48. 11. Vicki Winstead: IS 572 Resources andServices for Young
Adults Evaluation and review of young adult magazines and movies
Book talks Collection development project Reading responses
Challenged/banned book essay YA awards ITRL Annual Online Summit
2011
50. 12. Amber Woodard The most beneficial project for my
library: Screencast tutorials created for my final project in IS
585, Information Technologies. These can be viewed at
youtube.com/culibrary. To read more about the project, please visit
sis.utk.edu/Woodard ITRL Annual Online Summit 2011
51. 12. Amber Woodard My Goals for the Remainder of the
Program:1. 1. Continue to learn about the field of librarianship
and develop my skills as a librarian 2. 2. Study emerging library
technologies and how to implement them within my library setting3.
3. Collaborate with my peers in the program in order to learn from
paraprofessionals in other library settings ITRL Annual Online
Summit 2011
52. 12. Amber Woodard Thank you for the opportunity to
participate in the program! ITRL Annual Online Summit 2011