Register for the new ACRL e-learning course, "Virtual Reference Competencies III: Maintain and Build Reference Skills and Knowledge"

Register now for the new Association of College and Research Libraries
(ACRL) e-learning course, " Virtual Reference Competencies III: Maintain
and Build Reference Skills and Knowledge," to be offered February 18 -
March 7, 2008.

ABOUT THE COURSE
Without good communications skills a librarian will have a difficult
time being a good reference librarian. However, without solid competence
in reference skills and knowledge, a librarian is not a librarian. This
reference expertise is why information seekers-all potential and current
library users-will choose to use virtual reference services instead of
just Googling on their own. Reference competencies involve searching,
critical thinking, and information organization skills, as well as
knowledge of specific reference sources and information-finding tools.
Competent reference librarians are aware of the publication processes,
both print and electronic, and the policies, procedures, organization,
and legal environment of their specific library or library organization.
In this workshop participants will engage in learning activities,
supported by readings as well as lecture and discussion to maintain and
build on the reference competencies required by effective virtual
reference librarians.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this course, you will have:
* Ability to be approachable -- to maintain and project a welcoming and
enthusiastic reference service attitude through text-based
communications
* Awareness of and ability to apply organizational policies relevant to
any given user of a specific virtual reference service
* Detailed functional knowledge of ready-reference sources of
information, such as encyclopedias, almanacs, indices, bibliographies
and standard reference works in print and electronic formats
* Awareness of the best or core reference sources available in print and
electronic formats, and of the range of information resources that may
be used in the delivery of reference services for selected subjects and
general reference
* Ability to conduct good reference interviews, to analyze reference
questions using knowledge of the structures, organization, and
accessibility of information in print and electronic formats
* Awareness of the need to and ability to evaluate information resources
for their appropriateness in level, scope, and format for a given user
Additional learning outcomes are detailed on the course description
page, located at
http://www.acrl.org/ala/acrl/acrlproftools/virtualref3.cfm.

INSTRUCTOR
Diane Kovacs, Kovacs Consulting
The instructor has been teaching virtual reference related concepts and
skills online and in-person for more than 14 years. She is the author of
The Virtual Reference Handbook: Interview and Information Delivery
Techniques for the Chat and E-Mail Environments Neal-Schuman Publishers
(2007) published concurrently in the United Kingdom by Facet Publishers
(2007) and The Kovacs Guide to Electronic Library Collection
Development: Essential Core Subject Collections, Selection Criteria,
and Guidelines (Neal-Schuman, January 2004). Additional Biographical
Information is available at http://www.kovacs.com/aboutus.html.

REGISTRATION
Registration for this seminar is now open. For additional information
and a link to the online registration form, visit:
http://www.acrl.org/ala/acrl/acrlproftools/virtualref3.cfm
ACRL and ALA members will receive a registration discount. The seminar
is limited to 60 participants, so register early. Payment may be made by
credit card or purchase order (PO) only.
ACRL member: $135
ALA member: $175
CACUL member: Can$195 (charges will be made in U.S. dollars)
Nonmember: $195
Student: $60

ACRL Update - January 24, 2008

ACRL Update
Tuesday, January 24, 2008

1. Register by Jan. 24 for virtual reference, website usability e-learning
2. Give your feedback on ACRL annual assumptions
3. ACRL Insider launches

1. Register by Jan. 24 for virtual reference, website usability e-learning
Register by Thursday, January 24, for one of ACRL's new e-learning courses:

"Virtual Reference Competencies II: Practice and Expand Communications Skills and Knowledge" - January 28-February 16, 2008Virtual reference service requires all of the same professional communications skills and knowledge as face-to-face reference service. The challenge is to apply, practice, imagine, and understand how to communicate professionally within the technology context and using good reference skills and knowledge. In this course, participants will engage in learning activities, supported by readings as well as lecture and discussion to practice and expand the communications competencies required by effective virtual reference librarians.

"Introduction to Website Usability" - January 28-February 16, 2008For very little investment in staff hours and training you can reap tremendous benefits by connecting with the users of your library website and web based applications through usability testing. This three-week course is designed for the librarian or library IT staff person who is interested in setting up a usability program but doesn’t know where to begin.

ACRL e-learning courses are primarily asynchronous seminars, allowing participants to work through course material at times convenient to them throughout the three week scheduled course time. Participants may also choose to schedule online chat time with the teacher, as they feel necessary. Specific material and learning activities will be covered during each week of the course. Threaded discussion forums are available for use in learning activities and other course-related conversations.

Complete details about these e-learning courses, including learning outcomes and registration materials, are online at http://www.acrl.org/ala/acrl/acrlproftools/elearning.cfm. Questions? Contact Margot Conahan at mconahan@ala.org.


2. Give your feedback on ACRL annual assumptions
The ACRL Research Planning and Review Committee is encouraging broad feedback from members on the future of academic and research libraries through the use of a Web-based survey instrument available at https://marvin.foresightint.com/surveys/Tier1Survey/ACRL/231. The survey encourages members to give consider the ACRL assumptions on the future of academic libraries and emergent issues identified in the 2007 ACRL Environmental Scan. The Environmental Scan is available online at http://www.acrl.org/ala/acrl/acrlpubs/whitepapers/Environmental_Scan_2.pdf.

All ACRL members are encouraged to complete the survey, which will remain online and available to respondents until March 30, 2008.

3. ACRL Insider launches
ACRL is pleased to announce the debut of a new Weblog, ACRL Insider. The mission of ACRL Insider is to keep ACRL members, and other interested parties, current and informed on the activities, services, and programs of the association. ACRL Insider features information on publications, events, conferences, and e-learning opportunities, along with podcasts and other media. With the launch of this new communication tool, ACRL hopes to foster openness and transparency by providing an outlet for connection between members and staff. In order to encourage a collaborative environment, all ACRL Insider posts allow for reader comments and suggestions. ACRL Insider works in tandem with ACRLog (http://www.acrlblog.org/) to provide a big picture view of the association and academic librarianship.

Visit ACLR Insider online at http://www.acrl.ala.org/acrlinsider to read posts and subscribe by email, or subscribe by RSS at http://feeds.feedburner.com/acrlinsider.

Give your feedback on ACRL annual assumptions

The Research Planning and Review Committee is charged with collecting member feedback each year on the “Assumptions About the Relevant Future for Research and Academic Librarians and Libraries” This feedback helps to inform annual discussions by the Board of Directors on the status of the Strategic Plan and on any initiatives or programs that might be pursued by the Association in the coming year. Beginning this year, we are encouraging broad feedback from ACRL members on the “Assumptions” through the use of a Web-based survey instrument available at https://marvin.foresightint.com/surveys/Tier1Survey/ACRL/231.

This survey instrument will be available for use by ACRL members immediately following the conclusion of the ALA Midwinter meeting. In completing the survey, we ask that respondents keep the following questions in mind:

• How would you rank the importance of each of the established “Assumptions” in terms of its being a priority for ACRL attention in the coming year (2009)?

• Are there established “Assumptions” that remain relevant, but require substantial revision in light of changes to the academic and research library environment over the past 5 years?

• Are there established “Assumptions” that are no longer relevant to the future of academic and research libraries that should be dropped from future surveys?

• How would you rank the importance of each of the “Emergent Issues” identified in the 2007 Environmental Scan in terms of its being a priority for ACRL attention in the coming year (2009)?

• Are there any “Emergent Issues” that have become so significant that they should be included as part of the “Assumptions” for future surveys?

Finally, the instrument will provide opportunities for members to identify additional “emergent issues” not addressed in either the “Assumptions” document or in the 2007 Environmental Scan.

All ACRL members are encouraged to complete the survey. The survey will remain online and available to respondents until March 30, 2008.

The Research Planning and Review Committee will also sponsor a focus group discussion of the “Assumptions” at the ALA Annual Meeting in Anaheim. Please watch for further information as the date draws closer.

Thank you in advance for your participation in this important component of ongoing strategic planning by the Association.

Registration is now open for ACRL "Combating Student Plagiarism" webcast

ACRL is offering its webcast, "The Role of the Librarian in Combating Student Plagiarism," on February 11, 2008. Registration is now open.

Webcast date: February 11, 2008

Time: 11:00 a.m. Pacific, 12:00 p.m. Mountain, 1:00 p.m. Central, 2:00 p.m. Eastern

Length: 1.5 hours

This 1.5-hour webcast explores the role of the academic librarian in combating student plagiarism and the "culture of copy" that our students inhabit. Examine why plagiarism poses problems for higher education professionals including academic librarians, why use of discipline-based approaches helps combat plagiarism effectively, how to design effective information literacy session assignments to help students understand how they can avoid plagiarism, and more.

Lynn Lampert, coordinator of information literacy and instruction at California State University-Northridge will lead the webcast. She has specialized in the area of information literacy instruction since she began her professional career as an academic librarian in 1998.

Registration is limited to 60. ACRL and ALA members receive a registration discount. For complete information, including more details about the webcast, learning outcomes, and a link to registration, go to: http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlproftools/plagiarism.htm.

Registration fees:
ACRL member: $50
ALA member: $75
CACUL member: Can$90 (charges will be made in U.S. dollars)
Nonmember: $90
Student: $40
Group: $295

ACRL Update

ACRL Update


1. ACRL issues 2007 environmental scan; invites reaction

2. New ACRL publications

3. ACRL Insider launches

4. ACRL offering new e-learning courses on virtual reference, website usability



1. ACRL issues 2007 environmental scan; invites reaction
The 2007 environmental scan by the Research Committee of the Association of College and Research Libraries (available at http://www.acrl.org/ala/acrl/acrlpubs/whitepapers/Environmental_Scan_2.pdf) explores the current atmosphere in the world of academic and research libraries. It also considers trends that will define the future of academic and research librarianship and the research environment. The document builds on earlier ACRL reports, identifying several emerging issues that will increasingly impact the work of academic and research libraries and librarians.



Please share your thoughts and reactions to the issues identified in the 2007 environmental scan in an open discussion during the 2008 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 13, at Loews Philadelphia in room Congress C.



2. New ACRL publications

ACRL Publications is pleased to announce two new titles. Library 2.0 Initiatives in Academic Libraries, edited by Laura B. Cohen, is ACRL’s first hybrid publication. The title combines a print volume of twelve case studies with a wiki (http://www.acrl.ala.org/L2Initiatives) where the cases will be updated over the next two years. Authors describe the use of such tools as blogs, wikis, podcasts, IM, RSS, XML, Web services, mashups, and social networking to illustrate their efforts to forge new models of scholarly communication in academic environments.



Information Literacy Programs in the Digital Age: Educating College and University Students Online edited by Alice Daugherty and Michael F. Russo will also be published in time for ALA Midwinter 2008. This volume presents significant and innovative online instruction programs, describing the development, implementation, and assessment of each of these. This book is a resource for institutions currently teaching information literacy online, and a guide to those considering doing so.



Both of these exciting new titles are shipping now from the ALA Online Store (http://www.alastore.ala.org) and will also be available for purchase at the ALA 2008 Midwinter Store in Philadelphia!



3. ACRL Insider launches

ACRL is pleased to announce the debut of a new Weblog, ACRL Insider. The mission of ACRL Insider is to keep ACRL members, and other interested parties, current and informed on the activities, services, and programs of the association. ACRL Insider features information on publications, events, conferences, and e-learning opportunities, along with podcasts and other media. With the launch of this new communication tool, ACRL hopes to foster openness and transparency by providing an outlet for connection between members and staff. In order to encourage a collaborative environment, all ACRL Insider posts allow for reader comments and suggestions. ACRL Insider works in tandem with ACRLog (http://www.acrlblog.org/) to provide a big picture view of the association and academic librarianship.



Visit ACLR Insider online at http://www.acrl.ala.org/acrlinsider to read posts and subscribe by email, or subscribe by RSS at http://feeds.feedburner.com/acrlinsider.



4. ACRL offering new e-learning courses on virtual reference, website usability

Registration is open for ACRL's new e-learning courses:

* "Virtual Reference Competencies II: Practice and Expand Communications Skills and Knowledge"
January 28-February 16, 2008
Virtual reference service requires all of the same professional communications skills and knowledge as face-to-face reference service. The challenge is to apply, practice, imagine, and understand how to communicate professionally within the technology context and using good reference skills and knowledge. In this course, participants will engage in learning activities, supported by readings as well as lecture and discussion to practice and expand the communications competencies required by effective virtual reference librarians.
* "Introduction to Website Usability"
January 28-February 16, 2008
For very little investment in staff hours and training you can reap tremendous benefits by connecting with the users of your library website and web based applications through usability testing. This three-week course is designed for the librarian or library IT staff person who is interested in setting up a usability program but doesn’t know where to begin.

ACRL e-learning courses are primarily asynchronous seminars, allowing participants to work through course material at times convenient to them throughout the three week scheduled course time. Participants may also choose to schedule online chat time with the teacher, as they feel necessary. Specific material and learning activities will be covered during each week of the course. Threaded discussion forums are available for use in learning activities and other course-related conversations.



Complete details about these e-learning courses, including learning outcomes and registration materials, are online at http://www.acrl.org/ala/acrl/acrlproftools/elearning.cfm. Questions? Contact Margot Conahan at mconahan@ala.org.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR KLA/KSMA, SELA, ARL National Diversity in Libraries Conference

Proposals are being accepted for the 2008 KLA/KSMA conference SPECTRUM OF THE FUTURE. This is a joint conference with the Southeastern Library Association and the Association of Research Libraries National Diversity in Libraries Conference. All proposals must be submitted electronically.

The link is up on the KLA site. It is under "Conferences" then "Upcoming Conferences" then "Call for Proposals" or the direct link is http://www.kylibasn.org/proposals334.cfm .

All of the websites will have links to the proposal submission form, but you can access it directly from the following link http://kla-itrt.org/conf/

So that there is no confusion this is a call for mini-sessions and poster sessions. Mini-sessions will last 50 minutes as in the past.

The deadline to submit a proposal is January 31, 2008. Notification of accepted proposals will take place February 29, 2008.


Follow the link to see the exciting events already planned for the KLA/KSMA, SELA AND NDLC Joint Conference

http://www.kylibasn.org/ndlc201.cfm