Embedded Librarian Program: Embedded Librarian Program:

Librarians and Faculty Partnering to Serve Online Students Librarians and Faculty Partnering to Serve Online Students

NERCOMP Annual Conference NERCOMP Annual Conference Innovation and Reliability: Finding the BalanceInnovation and Reliability: Finding the Balance

March 20-22, 2006March 20-22, 2006Worcester, MAWorcester, MA

Victoria Matthew & Ann SchroederVictoria Matthew & Ann Schroeder

Copyright Victoria Matthew & Ann Schroeder, 2006. This work is the intellectual property of the author. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright statement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the author. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the author.

Community College of Vermont: Community College of Vermont: A distributed campusA distributed campus

Librarians and professors connect ahead of time.

Librarians plan the library session.

Librarians travel to the site.

Migrating The ModelMigrating The Model

Inside the library forum…Inside the library forum…

Introductions…Introductions…

Student’s question…Student’s question…

Librarian’s response…Librarian’s response…

Growth of ProgramGrowth of Program

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Spring 04 Summer 04 Fall 04 Spring 05 Summer 05 Fall 05 Spring 06

Program ModelsProgram Models

““Ask the librarian” thread in each Ask the librarian” thread in each weekly discussion.weekly discussion.

Librarians incorporated into groups.Librarians incorporated into groups. A librarian forum for specific weeks A librarian forum for specific weeks

of class/specific projects.of class/specific projects. A general librarian forum for the A general librarian forum for the

whole semester.whole semester.

Program works best when…Program works best when…

An “ask the librarian forum” is set up in the discussion board.

The librarian knows what the assignments are, and can tailor responses and suggestions.

“Asking the librarian” is built right into the specific assignments

The faculty member reiterates to students the importance of “asking the librarian”

Challenges encountered…Challenges encountered…

Students email rather than post a question in the discussion forum.

Partnership approach not implemented. Some students need synchronous handholding. Not enough librarians!

New Directions & Meeting New New Directions & Meeting New Challenges Challenges

ChatChat IP Video Conferencing & NetMeetingIP Video Conferencing & NetMeeting RSS FeedsRSS Feeds Library Courses for Curricular AreasLibrary Courses for Curricular Areas

Chat Meets the need for synchronous assistance, but…Alternate platforms are problematic:

•IT not in a position to support alternate platforms.•IT has no control over content, security or protection of privacy.•Installing the Trillian software on the server could cause software conflicts.

Blackboard chat problematic on dial-up.

IP Video & NetMeetingIP Video & NetMeeting

Meeting the needs of students with:

•Reduced library staffing

•A distributed campus

How it works….

IP Video Unit

IP Video Unit

Screen displaying

NetMeeting image

Monitordisplaying IP Video Image Computer w/

NetMeeting running

Screen displaying

NetMeeting image

Monitordisplaying IP Video Image

Librarian at location A

Students & Instructor at location B

Computer w/ NetMeeting

running

The librarian perspectiveThe librarian perspective

The student perspectiveThe student perspective

Challenges of the formatChallenges of the format

The library instruction sessions were The library instruction sessions were deemed a success, but:deemed a success, but:

Technical details & difficultiesTechnical details & difficulties Teaching style adjustment requiredTeaching style adjustment required

RecommendationsRecommendations

Coordinate set up and monitoring on the remote Coordinate set up and monitoring on the remote end.end.

Coordinate handout distribution in advance.Coordinate handout distribution in advance. Take into account possible delays in video by Take into account possible delays in video by

pausing.pausing. Consider splitting up the session into lecture and Consider splitting up the session into lecture and

hands-on practice with questions.hands-on practice with questions. Discuss protocol for asking questions in advance.Discuss protocol for asking questions in advance. Think about your teaching style/camera setup. Think about your teaching style/camera setup.

RSS Feeds

A great tool for getting automatically updated information for different content areas.Blackboard makes it easy to add RSS feeds to any content area.Concern about stepping on toes because need to post to content area.

Library Courses for Curricular Library Courses for Curricular AreasAreas

Enable us to :Serve more students with a limited number of librarians.Post content (like RSS feeds) without stepping on instructor toes.Build a sense of community among students who are studying within the same curricular area.

Shared resources by curricular Shared resources by curricular areaarea

Shared discussions by Shared discussions by curricular areacurricular area

Ann Schroeder: Ann Schroeder: ann.schroeder@ccv.eduann.schroeder@ccv.edu

Victoria Matthew: Victoria Matthew: victoria.matthew@ccv.eduvictoria.matthew@ccv.edu

Questions?Questions?