LIRT News, March 1998

CHECK THESE OUT!

by Mary Pagliero Popp, popp@indiana.edu

Feeling overwhelmed? With good reason! Libraries and information resources are changing faster than the speed of light. Read on for some good ideas to help you keep up.

NEW COLUMNS & SERIES

Two new columns have recently debuted. They are focused on a school library audience, but they contain useful information for all who do instruction. The first, "Key Words in Instruction," by Daniel Callison appears in School Library Media Activities Monthly. Callison provides a good overview of key concepts, definitions of important terms, and relates research results to the school library. Recent topics include:

"Mental Models." 14 (Dec. 1997): 37-39, 45.
"Authentic Assessment." 14 (Jan. 1998): 42-43, 50.
"Facilitator." [instructional facilitator or coach] 14 (Feb. 1998): 40-42.

Michael Eisenberg, co-creator of the Big Six Library Skills concept, has begun a new 6-part series in Emergency Librarian. Beginning in the September/October 1997, each issue contains a one page summary called "Big Six Tips: Teaching Information Problem Solving," providing teaching tips for one of the Big Six Library Skills.

GOOD READING

Cooper, Eric A. "Library Guides on the Web: Traditional Tenets and Internal Issues." Computers in Libraries. 17 (Oct. 1997): 52-56.
Reviews basic design principles for library guides on the Web, and discusses the need to plan for a broader audience than the audience for printed handouts.
Eliasen, Karen, Jill McKinstry, Beth Mabel Fraser, and Elizabeth P. Babbitt. "Navigating Online Menus: A Quantitative Experience." College & Research Libraries. 58 (Nov. 1997): 509-516.
The authors describe their study at the University of Washington which showed significant improvements in user ability to find appropriate resources when items were grouped and more descriptive text was added.
Goodliffe, Stephanie. "Notes of a Successful Internet Trainer." Internet Trend Watch for Libraries 2 (Nov. 1997). Online. Available: http://www.itwfl.com/goodliffe.html (January 30, 1998).

A librarian who teaches the Internet to users in a public library without training facilities shares her tips for success.
Hammond, Carol and Eleanor Mitchell. "Library Instruction for the Professions: Information Needs and Libraries." RSR 25.2(1997): 79-87.

Presents results of a survey of Arizona professionals in accounting, architecture, psychology and recreation to find out their information needs, how they use information and libraries, and their need for information literacy skills. The authors make recommendations for changing library instruction for professionals.
Lipman, Cynthia and Marcia King-Blandford. "Innovation and Collaboration Brings Forth a New Approach to Bibliographic Instruction--Teach the Teachers." Journal of Interlibrary Loan, Document Delivery & Information Supply 8.2(1997): 21-31.

Describes a program at the University of Toledo developed to replace the traditional one-shot lecture/demonstration for English composition classes. Librarians train composition instructors to teach library and information skills to their students, using a special training workshop and individual appointments with instructors. Handouts and other support materials are prepared by the librarians.
McDermott, Irene E. "Solitaire Confinement: The Impact of the Physical Environment on Computer Training." Computers in Libraries 18(Jan. 1998): 22-27. (Also available online: http://www.infotoday.com/cilmag/jan/story1.html.)

Suggestions for layout, computer desks, and student workstation control software for the electronic classroom. Includes vendor information.

IN BRIEF

Abilock, Debbie. "The Gestalt of Online Searching." Multimedia School 4 (Nov. 1997): 22-28. (Also available online at: http://www.infotoday.com/MMSchools/nov97/story.html.)
Astin, Alexander. "The Changing American College Student: Thirty-Year Trends, 1966-1996." Review of Higher Education 21 (1998): 115-135.
Dewey, Barbara I. "In Search of Practical Applications: A Public Services Research Agenda for University Libraries." Journal of Academic Librarianship 23 (Sept. 1997): 371-379.
Hahn, Susan E. "Internet: Let the User Beware. _RSR_ 22.2 (1997): 7-13. [Annotated bibliography] Knight, Lorrie A. "Locating Public Domain Images: Some Sites to Visit to Enhance Your Web Pages." College & Research Libraries News 59 (Jan. 1998): 11-13.
McGuire, Patience Lea. "Developmentally Appropriate Library Media Skills Instruction." School Library Media Activities Monthly 14 (Feb. 1998): 22-28. [Grades 1-5]

Mary Pagliero Popp is Information Technologies Public Services Librarian at Indiana University Bloomington Libraries.

LIRT News, March 1998. Volume 20, number 3.
To report problems, please contact the LIRT News Production editor at edwards@ufl.edu