Librarians are doin’ it for themselves: Developing our own open-source ILS

 

Session Description:
Librarians are no longer waiting for vendors to produce software that doesn’t really do what they need it to, at a price they can’t really afford. Software companies and developers have been telling librarians what they want and need for far too long–now librarians are stepping up and saying this is no longer acceptable. Case in point is the new Integrated Library System (ILS) being developed on the open-source FOLIO Library Services Platform (LSP) in conjunction with roughly a dozen academic libraries. Over 100 academic librarians from these libraries are working on the project as Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), Special Interest Group (SIG) conveners, members of the Product Council (which is responsible for guiding the development of the product and prioritizing the work), Product Owners, and in other roles. This panel discussion will highlight why the libraries involved have decided to develop their next ILS, the pivotal role of librarians on the project, and how the project has impacted the libraries involved. We will start the session with a brief overview of the project organization and the development process, in order to frame the discussion to follow.

 

Libraries Lead the Charge: Best Practices for Engaging Student Veterans

 

Session Description:
As academic libraries continue to recognize the unique needs of student veterans, they must seek ways to revise old and create new services and increase overall support to this growing population. In this “boot camp,” panelists actively engaged in providing library services to student veterans will discuss research findings, innovative approaches to providing outreach, and lessons learned in the process of implementing programs and services. This session will introduce attendees to a variety of ways libraries have engaged veterans and those actively serving, and equip them with reliable “intel” that can be implemented immediately at their home institutions.

 

Learn it, Do it, Teach it: Increasing Sustainable Digital Scholarship Support through Collaborative In-House Professional Development

 

Session Description:
In order to support faculty and students using digital tools and methods in their research, our institution prioritized the development of digital scholarship skills. However, as libraries tighten their belts at a time when professional development is imperative for public service librarians to accommodate new modes of teaching and research, how do we gain maximum impact of the learning happening outside our libraries? Panelists will present their perspectives toward increasing support for digital scholarship through a home-grown institute. They will share benefits resulting from collaborative professional development and engage audience members in brainstorming their own in-house learning opportunities.

 

LEADing liaisons: From behind the scenes to center stage with new roles in metrics

 

Session Description:
Discover how liaison librarians successfully connected with their respective departments to apply the power of metrics in telling the story of research impact. Their new approach included engaging with individual researchers around the value of metrics in articulating impact institutionally, nationally and globally. This evolution in the liaison role required learning about metrics; evaluating opportunities; assessing applicable metrics and tools; and developing new services. The audience will also participate in a poll on liaison librarians’ metrics practices, comparing results with those from a global audience, and anticipate future needs with a metrics forecast and tips from an industry expert.

 

Leading and Learning Through Change: Five College Library Directors Discuss Negotiating the Value and Impact of Our Work

 

Session Description:
A new generation of small college library leaders have recast the narrative of the value and impact libraries by adjusting to the swiftly changing environment within our colleges. We will discuss new methodologies in agility, human capital management, strategic financial modeling, and personal resiliency. We believe these lessons will be valuable to those currently in leadership, leadership aspirants, and library staff interested in understanding the unique set of pressures and opportunities faced by small college library directors.

 

Leading a Common Read Program: New Roles for Academic Librarians

 

Session Description:
Designed to build community and academic engagement, common read programs are frequently part of the First Year Experience for incoming students. Common read programs may be led from within the academic library but require building program support across campus to realize their full potential. Panelists will provide insight into successful programs from a variety of academic settings, discussing creative approaches to programming, assessment, communicating value, and the sometimes politically-charged book selection process. Panelists will also share strategies for building curricular support for these primarily co-curricular programs.

 

Ithaka S+R Faculty Survey 2018: First Release of Key Findings

 

Session Description:
The Ithaka S+R Faculty Survey has tracked the attitudes and behaviors of US faculty members since 2000 to provide regularly updated snapshots on key issues and trend analysis of changes across survey cycles. Christine Wolff-Eisenberg and Roger Schonfeld will unveil key findings from the Faculty Survey 2018 which we plan to publish in conjunction with the ACRL 2019 conference. In this survey cycle, we have continued our coverage of faculty research workflows, teaching practices, and perceptions of the role of the library, and have expanded coverage of new issues including learning analytics, open educational resources, and evolving scholarly communication models.

 

Indigenous Studies Scholars in Canada : Recasting Narratives of Research Support in Academic Libraries

 

Session Description:
Join us as academic librarians from four universities in Canada discuss highlights of an innovative research study, coordinated by a not-for-profit higher-education organization, that explores how university libraries can better serve Indigenous Studies scholars. In-depth interviews of Indigenous Studies faculty, a neglected academic library clientele, is shedding light on their unique information and research needs. How can libraries help promote the value of Indigenous knowledge in academia? Do libraries have a role to play in increasing access to Indigenous knowledge keepers’ personal narratives, which are highly valued by Indigenous faculty? What differences in findings are there between these academic libraries?

 

Indigenous Inquiry: Seeking to Understand and Better Support Indigenous Studies Scholars on U.S. Occupied Institutional Land

 

Session Description:
How can we better support the research needs of Indigenous scholars on our campuses? This panel presents findings from four diverse U.S. based academic libraries who sought to engage with their Indigenous Studies scholars. Panelists will share stories about building relationships with and learning from Indigenous scholars’ research activities, along with insights about how libraries, archives, museums, and special collections can design locally responsive services and tools in ways that are reflective of Indigenous research best practices.

 

Incentivizing Information Literacy Integration: Librarians as Partners in Assignment Design

 

Session Description:
Find out how one library incentivized faculty collaboration to incorporate information literacy learning outcomes into the undergraduate curriculum. A university library offered three $500 mini-grants to faculty who committed to teaming up with librarians to redesign a major assignment in an undergraduate class. Over the course of the fall 2018 semester, librarian/faculty teams worked together to develop information literacy learning outcomes, pre-tests, rubrics, and scaffolding information literacy skills throughout a course assignment. The redesigned assignments were implemented in spring 2019. In this panel, librarian teams will share their experiences collaborating with faculty on assignment design and share preliminary assessment data.