first conclusions

adventures in library instruction: Let the Games Begin! [podcast]

annavan — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:15:44 +0000

This month Jason, Rachel, and I had the opportunity to talk with Theresa McDevitt and Ryan Sittler, editor of and contributor to, the newly published book, Let the games begin!: Engaging students with field-tested interactive information literacy instruction. We discussed the role of games [No technology required!] in the library classroom and their value in instruction design as a teaching tool. Each entry for the sixty [yes, SIXTY] games in the book include objectives, information literacy competency standards addressed, time required, material and equipment, and evaluation tools.

Give it a listen, and check out the show notes!!!

Join us for future episodes! If you’re interested, please post a comment on the Adventures in Library Instruction blog or email us! We’d love to have you be a part of our Skype discussion or participate in a one-on-one interview. OR you can record your own a segment of something fabulous you’re doing with library instruction techniques, technology, or methods!

adventures in library instruction: balance and burnout [podcast]

annavan — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:49:30 +0000

‘Tis the season for instruction/teacher librarians to teach, teach, and teach some more. I thoroughly enjoyed the discussion Jason, Rachel, and I had during episode 29 of Adventures in Library Instruction. We talked about strategies librarians can take — as individuals and as a department/instruction team — to relieve stress, specifically stress revolving around class preparation, instruction requests, and course schedules.

A few of the strategies we discussed included:

Determining which classes can benefit from an online/e-learning alternative [strategically incorporated into their curriculum/research process];
Requesting less shifts on the Ref Desk during high instruction times [we discuss some objectives to successfully implement such an idea!!!!]; and
Using your schedule to negotiate with the faculty member a later [and possibly more opportune times for the students' research project] instruction dates.

While listening to the podcast, I realized a couple other ideas:

Just say, “no” or better yet — ask for help! I know that’s an INSANE idea isn’t it? I know when I was trying to heavily market instructional services, I *always* tried to accommodate the faculty member even if s/he requested an “orientation to the library” and there was no research component to the class. Is this the best use of our time? I could use that time to prepare for a class where the students are delving into research, and I’ve been incorporated into the class syllabus at highly strategic times. Don’t get me wrong. I am a big believer in creating a fabulous first impression of the library for students, but I began to rely on my colleagues to take on “general orientation” sessions if I couldn’t do it.
This leads to bringing more people into your instruction team. I loved it when *anyone* in the instruction team/department led instruction sessions. Yes, those staff sans library degrees were in their leading classes, and the ones I got to see did a fabulous job. I found that they appreciated the experience and it was a great professional development opportunity for them.
Mark off “planning time” on your calendar. I used this a LOT toward my latter years in academic librarianship. I asked my Team Leader if I could mark off time on my calendar to focus on class preparation. Let’s face it, meetings happen, and if I had to nix planning for a meeting that couldn’t wait, I did it. But for me, having that chunk of time set aside for class prep was a major stress-relief.

Give it a listen, and check out the show notes!!!

adventures in library instruction w/ lynda kellam [podcast]

annavan — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 19:42:29 +0000

This month we talk data services and instruction. Now before all you humanities types run away … relax. There are great resources Lynda Kellam, the Data Services and Government Information from UNC-Greensboro shares during Episode 28. My personal favorite resource she shares — Junk Charts. Lynda’s pulled “junky” charts (i.e., data being misrepresented, data displayed in a confusing manner, examples of when art takes over the numbers/science, etc.) for in class exercises allowing students to start critically thinking about interpreting data charts (as well as how to appropriately represent/display data). LOVE!

Incidentally, you may want to check out Lynda’s recently published book, Numeric data services and sources for the general reference librarian, which includes a chapter about incorporating statistics and numeric data sources into instruction sessions.

Give it a listen, and check out the show notes!!!

adventures in library instruction w/ “librarian z” [podcast]

annavan — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 13:26:13 +0000

Episode 27 of Adventures in Library Instruction is about the reference manager program, Zotero. We discuss our own Jason Puckett‘s recent book, Zotero: A Guide for Librarians, Researchers and Educators. During this particular episode, we talk about teaching Zotero, teaching WITH Zotero, as well as how Jason’s book offers practical advice, techniques and strategies for instruction librarians.

The book really is Jason’s “Zotero brain” on paper. He’s done a fabulous job organizing the information into a Zotero manual for Zotero users, as well as guidance for those interested in teaching and supporting Zotero at their institutions.

(Note: DRM-free ebook editions available from ALA Store)

google books for genealogy research

annavan — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 12:51:36 +0000

I’m preparing for a “Genealogy Resources on the Web” workshop, and while I plan to cover the biggies (e.g., Cyndi’s List, USGenWeb Project, etc.), I found that Google Books can yield a treasure of family history! Behold my second cousin, Samuel J. Betar, III:

Hanania, R. (2005). Arabs of Chicagoland. Charleston, SC: Arcadia. (via Google Books)

This led me to search my Great Uncle (Samuel J. Betar, II), who was a prosecutor in the Department’s organized crime unit in Chicago . Google Books allowed me to see that there is even more to read about my Great Uncle’s involvement with the Sam Giancana case in William F. Roemer’s book, Roemer: Man Against the Mob.

Census reports are loaded with information, but finding your relatives’ lives documented in a historical context is priceless!