UL Professional Development

I was spending some time trying to think of new ways to push our popular fiction display up on the second floor and, just for fun, I wanted to see if there was something like glogster for newsletter or email templates. So I did some investigating and thought I’d share three interesting sites for marketing services through email or newsletters:

MailChimp: is my favorite so far (and the most rec. by the review site I’ll link to below). It offers protection against spammers and allows you to send a newsletter/email to a high number of subscribers in the free plan.

MadMimi: I have looked at the least, which means it still needs to be explored.

Letterpop: seemed to be a pretty popular one, but the free account has a very low number of emails sent, but it appears that the building of the newsletter is super easy.

Here’s a detailed review (a little outdated, but it looks like most content is still accurate). The site that created this list, Listio, also looks pretty interesting.

If anyone happens to play with these newsletter tools, let me know. I’d love to know what you think!

~Kellie

Guest Faculty Member: Colleen Boff

“Cheesy Advice”

Rejections — you will experience a lot of it, you can use your frustration to fuel determination

Importance of picking something to write about that you are passionate about — spin your passion into something you can publish

First Year Experience — luckily, a wide open field and still is. Connected with a woman outside her field, had a bunch of mutual questions. Approached a (non-library) funding agency and did a nationwide survey. Published in Reference Services Review — first of its kind, gets cited out. Presented (separately) at Loex West and East — opted out of publishing in the proceedings because wanted to publish elsewhere. Remember that is an option.

10 years later, approached by ACRL to redo the survey. More elaborate methodology, a new partner, a much larger enterprise.

Common Reading Experience — started a few years after she got here. Not a lot published on this in the literature (lead role for librarians in Common Read program). Wanted an ACRL panel — got rejected, but turned it into a journal article instead. Cold calling sometimes works really well, but it can be really be challenging.

Pre-planning? Did that make any difference with unknown collaborators? Maybe would have prevented some bad experiences.

Q: did you weed people out? Or did it depend on who responded? A: Tenure-track librarians were more interested and reliable.

Q: Did you ask for writing samples, etc.? A: No, not really. Knew some people’s work, and wasn’t in a position (like book editor) to ask. Is a leap of faith to work with people.

Other, non-FYE experiences: At one point, did a lot of work with College of Ed. Brand new faculty member in Intervention Services — she was publication-hungry too. Got grant money to develop collaborations across campus. One session done for this faculty member, had a good session. $1000 each for this grant, but she was more interested in the publication opportunity.  EDIS 440 — capstone class, how to mine the literature to find teaching strategies to teach fractions, etc.

Between her skills and her recruiting some other faculty to create a database: ISOD. Used students to mine literature, built the database with citations. LOEX Presentations — LOEX really likes if you can bring non-librarians with you — really well-received, a lot of questions were asked. Depended on grant seed funding.

Graduate Course taught and developed with Sara Bushong — Teacher/Practitioners. Lots of research opportunities there.

Q to Susannah — thought about research opportunities out of teaching? A: Maybe the online part — not done online a lot.

Q: Was the FYE position posted that way, or were you hired and then given a charge? Posted as a FYE job. Has to tweak the job a lot, because what BGSU does for FY students changes all the time.

Minefields with crafting own position as untenured faculty member?  “Let me get back to you on that” — buy time, keep your supervisor informed when asked to do something big.

Untapped in the literature — this sort of “learning community” — online learning community; community of practice for academic librarian literature.

  I presented at a recent Early Childhood Conference and thought I would share this list of great early childhood books 2010 that I developed.  Thought some of you might like holiday gift ideas for the preschoolers in your life.  Kathy

As we run across these, let’s add them to a list to keep this in our mind when it is time to start writing or submitting our next articles.

Many are listed in the Directory of Open Access Journals, too (115 Library Science ones listed here: http://www.doaj.org/doaj?func=subject&cpid=129) — these are a few I found compelling. Which ones would you add to the list [which ones do you read]?

Journal of Library Innovation

Collaborative Librarianship

Communications in Information Literacy

See the full post at Library Writer’s Blog — 3 year committment, you need to submit your CV and 1-3 writing samples plus a short essay. Application review begins Dec 6th.

Deadline for proposals extended to December 3, 2010.

———————————————————————-

Call for Proposals:

Ohio Valley Group of Technical Services Librarians 2011 Conference
Technical Services Renaissance
Miami University, Oxford, OH
May 15-17, 2011

http://techserv.lib.muohio.edu/ovgtsl11/

Description: In this time of turmoil for libraries, some Technical Services librarians are building a foundation for the future. Some study past successes and failures to guide future decisions and actions. Others apply current tools and concepts to reinvent existing services and to create innovative new services more relevant to today’s information environment. Finally, some are creating entirely new concepts and paradigms that will help drive the future of libraries. The foundation we are building will support a rebirth of function, form and purpose — a Technical Services Renaissance.

Keynote speakers: Karen Coyle, Librarian and Consultant, and Susan Gibbons, Vice Provost and the Andrew H. and Janet Dayton Neilly Dean of the River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

The Conference Program Committee invites forward thinking submissions in all areas related to technical services librarianship including acquisitions, cataloging, serials, electronic resources and preservation in academic, public, and special libraries. Participants are encouraged to think about where we are headed and where we want to go and to share work in areas on the leading edge of librarianship. Topics of interest include but are not limited to the following:

•    Approaches to metadata creation, reuse and interoperability
•    Approaches to training
•    Authority control in open source repository platforms
•    Automation / technology assisted cataloging and metadata creation
•    Cloud based solutions
•    Collaboration within and outside the library
•    Digital library projects
•    Digital object curation and preservation
•    Discovery and access
•    Emerging roles for technical services / technical services librarians
•    Integration of metadata creation with traditional cataloging workflows
•    Linked data publishing and applications
•    Local documentation practices
•    Network level data management
•    New staffing models
•    Role of Technical Services in open access and scholarly communication
•    Patron driven acquisitions and services
•    Role of the catalog
•    Special formats cataloging
•    Strategies for working with limited budgets and resources
•    Use and development of open source tools and platforms
•    Vendor relations

Participants are invited to submit proposals that report on recent research, address emerging trends, or showcase new tools, services and projects. Time slots for all sessions are 50 minutes in length including time for questions.

Submissions for presentations, workshops and panel sessions will be considered in addition to specific proposals to lead sessions in non-traditional formats (birds of a feather, lighting rounds, free-for-all forums, unconferences).

Submit the following information at http://techserv.lib.muohio.edu/ovgtsl11/call-for-proposals by December 3, 2010:

*   Title
*   Abstract (no longer than 250 words)
*   Names, affiliations, and contact information of all presenters
*   Primary contact for presenters
*   Format (presentation, lightning round, workshop, etc.)
*   Equipment and other special needs

Presenters will be notified of proposal acceptance by February 1, 2011. For more information, please contact Jody Perkins at perkintj@muohio.edu

About OVGTSL
The Ohio Valley Group of Technical Services Librarians (OVGTSL) was founded in 1924 and draws its members from the states of Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. The annual conference rotates among these three states on a regular basis. Membership is open to anyone interested in library technical services.

ACRL Research Writer’s Consultations @ ALA Midwinter

The ACRL Research Program Committee (RPC) is once again sponsoring Research Writer’s Consultations at the 2010 ALA Midwinter Meeting, held January 7-12  in San Diego, CA. Aimed at the new or inexperienced writer, the Research Writer’s Consultations will match a writer with an experienced writer or editor, who will offer guidance and critique.

AUTHORS

Are you an ACRL member working on a research article? Would you like some constructive feedback? Submit a draft research paper for consultation. RPC will match each new writer with an experienced writer and the pairs will meet face-to-face during the San Diego meeting. Draft research papers must be submitted by Monday, December 20, 2010. Papers will be shared with the experienced writer/editor only. Submission details follow:

Include on first page: Author’s name and contact information in upper left and a paragraph describing what you would like others to comment on about your paper (e.g,. grammar, writing style, clarity, presentation of the research methodology).

Page limit:  25 double-spaced pages, standard 1″ margins

Preferred format:  Microsoft Word. Number pages. Footers should include author’s full name and e-mail.

Draft research papers should be in complete enough form for others to read easily.

Submit by Monday, December 20th  to: Sheril Hook at

sheril.hook@utoronto.ca<mailto:sheril.hook@utoronto.ca<mailto:sheril.hook@utoronto.ca%3cmailto:sheril.hook@utoronto.ca>>

REVIEWERS

Are you an experienced, published writer or editor? Interested in providing guidance to your colleagues who may be writing their first research article? Submit your name and a description of your areas of expertise by December 1, 2010. Reviewers are expected to review papers submitted by authors in advance of the San Diego conference, as well as meet with the author for consultation onsite during the conference.

Please send your current contact information, a copy of your current resume or list of publications, and a brief description of your current research interests.

Submit by December 15, 2010 to: Sheril Hook at

sheril.hook@utoronto.ca<mailto:sheril.hook@utoronto.ca<mailto:sheril.hook@utoronto.ca%3cmailto:sheril.hook@utoronto.ca>>

MEET DURING ALA Midwinter Meeting

Each pair will correspond ahead of time to set up their own meeting time and place at the Midwinter Meeting to critique the papers, discuss approaches for writing, and share ideas on where to submit articles.

Questions should be directed to Sheril Hook at sheril.hook@utoronto.ca<mailto:sheril.hook@utoronto.ca<mailto:sheril.hook@utoronto.ca%3cmailto:sheril.hook@utoronto.ca>>

Sheril Hook, M.A. English, MLIS
Collaborative Curriculum Development Librarian University of Toronto Mississauga HMALC, Library
3359 Mississauga Road
Mississauga, ON
Ph: (905) 838-3885

Not sure anyone would be interested in this, but thought I’d post anyway!
~Kellie

SHARE YOUR PROJECTS OR RESEARCH
BY PRESENTING VIRTUALLY FOR MIDWINTER 2011!

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2011
11AM-12noon PST/12-1PM MST/1-2PM CST/2-3PM EST

Are you interested in presenting at Midwinter but won’t be able to make it to sunny San Diego? Sharing your experiences with fellow members in the Arts Section’s *virtual* Discussion Forum is a great way to participate!

* Presentations can be on any topic pertaining to the arts or design. It can be a project that you are currently working on or research you are engaged in.
* There is no requirement for presenters to register for Midwinter nor do presenters need to be Arts Section members to participate. Everyone is welcome!
* Presenters need to be available on Wednesday, January 5, 2011 at 2-3PM EST. Each presentation will be 10-15 minutes with a short Q&A after.

Email your proposals to me Yen Tran (nttran@callutheran.edu). The deadline for submissions is Friday, December 3rd. Chosen presenters will be notified shortly after. If you have questions, please contact me. Thank you!

Yen Tran
Chair, ACRL Arts Section Publications & Research Committee
805-493-3092 | nttran@callutheran.edu

If you are a member of ACRL, you can join the Instruction Section for a small extra fee. Not only do you get the newsletter (a place for possible publication?), you can also sign up to be either a mentor or a mentee. Applications are being accepted for the next academic year now; check out this site: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/about/sections/is/projpubs/mentoring/index.cfm

I missed the sign up round my first year as an Instruction Librarian, and the window of applying was about 10 days last year, I think. At any rate, it was small, and you do want to share information about yourself so you get matched up with an awesome mentor. I sure did. The IS mentor committee set me up with a mentor who is a few years ahead of me in a faculty position. I had actually seen her present at LOEX and was putting some of her projects in action here, which made the match even more exciting. Since our conference attendance didn’t overlap this year, we communicate by email and cheer each other on electronically. The experience has been pretty great; she provides an outside viewpoint and set of experiences that are not a match with anyone else’s here. I feel like I can contact her any time to say hello, what do you think about this, or how did you get started in that? She is active in other organizations than the ones our library has ties too, so has been able to give me a push in a few different areas, or tell me more about expectations of service at different levels of the profession.

If you are already a member of this section and would like to be matched up, jump on it! The committee membership has changed, which may be a good thing, since the monthly discussion questions that were promised to mentors and mentees didn’t seem to ever appear, so we fumbled around a bit before we got our groove. It looks like this year will be more organized.

From Jane Rosser, via my Learning Community:

Transformations: The Journal of Inclusive Scholarship and Pedagogy, invites submissions for a special issue on Teaching Digital. Transformations is a journal that invites college teachers to take pedagogy seriously as a topic of scholarly writing. The CFP is attached and pasted in below as well. Please forward it to others who might be interested.
best,
Ellen

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
TEACHING DIGITAL MEDIA
Guest Editor: Mary McAleer Balkun

The editors of Transformations seek articles (5,000 – 10,000 words) and media reviews (books, film, video, performance, art, music, etc. – 3,000 to 5,000 words) that explore the uses of digital media in all pedagogical contexts and disciplinary perspectives.

Submissions should explore the application or impact of any form of digital media on teaching and learning, including but not restricted to digital/digitized materials, specific software, social media, virtual environments, audio or visual media, and the internet. We welcome essays from all disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives. Transformations publishes only essays that focus on pedagogical praxis and/or pedagogical theory.

Possible topics for pedagogy-related articles:

Teaching digital media as a subject Distance Learning
Digital texts Mapping software/ Social geography
Creation of new knowledge Collaboration
Virtual worlds Digital storytelling
Unintended consequences of using digital media Authorial/ Ownership issues
Creative commons Ethics and digital media
Access issues Social media/social networking
Technologies of plagiarism Libraries in the digital age
Email and the historical record Politics of knowledge
Globalization and digital media Faculty development
Portability of learning materials Censorship/ Self censorship
Class/race/gender and digital media Digital media and the arts
Personal vulnerability in the digital world Creating digital media
Immediacy/Ubiquity of information Discipline shifts

Deadline: November 30, 2010