WELCOME 
BACK ISSUES
Angela Dunnington has recently taken on the task of chairing LIRT’s new Adult Learner’s Committee. Angela is a Reference Librarian and Bibliographer at University of Texas, San Antonio. In her new position, she will head the committee responsible for examining issues related to the instructional needs of the adult community and nontraditional students. One of her main goals is to develop this committee into a facilitator for information on adult learning styles and on the teaching methods appropriate for this population. Since the committee is relatively new, having met for the first time at the Midwinter meeting in Washington D.C., the group’s course of action is still under development. Nevertheless, one should expect to see some dynamic initiatives very soon, given Angela’s leadership skills and dedication to serving the needs of adult library users.
Angela has been involved with LIRT since 1998. Before joining LIRT, she was active in ALA through the New Member’s Round Table and ACRL’s Instruction Section. When she became a member of LIRT, she continued her pattern of proactive involvement, never hesitating for a moment to take on new duties and tasks. Upon joining LIRT, she immediately applied to the Liaison Committee and served for two years. In addition to her current LIRT Committee Chair assignment, Angela is chairing the President’s Program Committee for the New Members Round Table, as well as serving on her second ACRL Instruction Section Committee: The Awards Committee.
Along with her committee work, Angela’s other professional experience makes her uniquely qualified to be chair of the Adult Learners Committee. Her first job out of library school was at Louisiana State University, Shreveport – a commuter campus with many adult students. After one and a half years at this university, she landed her current job at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Her duties at this institution include reference, library instruction and collection development. Despite being very busy, Angela refuses to let her hectic work schedule prevent her from taking an active role in student groups. She is a member of the Non-Traditional Student Council and is also a mentor to the students enrolled in the “college success seminar,” which is offered through the university’s Thomas Rivera Center.
Angela is very dedicated to promoting the library’s collection and resources. She continually searches for new ways to convey information about using the library to the students at her university. Her guiding assumption is that active learning styles are the best way to acquire the necessary research skills. To this end, she is currently working on an online tutorial, entitled “Library 101.” She also has a chapter in a forthcoming volume of Library Instruction Publications’ Active Learning Series. Her contribution to this volume is entitled “Creating Effective Search Strategies.”
Angela’s commitment to helping adult students is impressive and admirable. Her dedication to this population, along with her wealth of experience, will start her committee off on the right foot, I am sure. Let’s all thank Angela for taking on the task of chairing this new committee and wish her luck. Her group will no doubt help shed new light on the best strategies for addressing the needs of adult and nontraditional students.
Tracy Hull is Communications Liaison and Reference Librarian at Georgia State University’s Pullen Library.
LIRT News, March 2001. Volume 23, number 3.
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