This is a recording of a session that featured George Lorenzo of Lorenzo and Associates and Educational Pathways. During the session George discussed his research on Information Literacy as well as other studies recently published as well as ongoing research in the area of Information Literacy. Continue reading Surfing Through Noise→

This blended librarian Webcast focused on the areas of disconnect as identified by McDonald and Thomas in their Educause Quarterly article entitled Disconnects Between Library Culture and Millennial Generation Values. Research libraries were among the first to embrace and exploit the potential of the World Wide Web after its debut in the 1990s. They quickly began constructing virtual information landscapes, including policies, services, and collections that not only shaped but also defined the realms of possibility within such terrain. In their roles as both terra-formers and cartographers of these spaces, libraries generally modeled the virtual terrains as electronic counterparts of physical libraries. Continue reading Discussing the Disconnects Between Library Culture and Millennial Generation Values→

This session featured a conversation about the emerging technology tools and their impact on the role of librarians in the teaching and learning process. One potential barrier to the evolution of new roles and services is being wedded to library processes and services that may no longer fit well with our future. Manning and Balzer will bring their combined experience as educational technologists to guide our discussion on what we may need to stop doing to make space for new ideas and strategies. Our goal is to develop a robust picture of an “ideal library” and some action steps that could move all of us forward in achieving that vision in our own contexts and cultures. Continue reading A Question of Relevance: Re-positioning the Academic Library for the New Information Age→

Google, Google Scholar and Wikipedia are emerging as favorite research designations among undergraduate students, while library resource usage seems marginalized. Is it really easier for students to find what they need on those free Internet sites? Where do they turn for help? How can libraries increase usage and relevancy? Are there new modes of instruction effective for the Net Generation? This talk explores the social nature of the web and advocates using social networking sites and student blogs to better understand and assist patrons. Blended Librarians need to add Web 2.0 technologies to their skill set, and this presentation will help get you started. Included will be strategies for assessment, marketing, reference assistance, and instructional opportunities. Find out how to expand your library’s web presence and interact more directly with students. Continue reading Conversations With Patrons: Extending Your Library→

When librarians and instructional designers work together, great things can happen. This archive discusses how a librarian and instructional designer at North Carolina State University work together to support graduate-level distance education courses. Continue reading Tales from a Librarian-Instructional Designer Partnership: Sharing Resources and Knowledge to Support Course Development→

Librarians are just beginning to hear more about the concept of the user experience (UX). Many retail and service organizations, such as Starbucks and Disney, design user experiences in order to gain an edge on their competitors or develop strong customer loyalty. The key is differentiation. This webcast will present a general overview of user experience and address why it’s important for libraries. Comparisons to the use of UX in the consumer market will be presented, as well as examples of how librarians can craft better user experiences. Continue reading Keeping the User in Mind: User Experience and the Modern Library→