Transcript Re-Shaping Library Service Programming: New Strategies for

Re-Shaping Library Service Programming:
New Strategies for the New Millennium
Daryl C. Youngman
Kansas State University
23d Annual Conference
International Association of Technological University Libraries
IATUL
June 4, 2002
Times are ChangingBut Are Libraries Really Changing?
 Library Technology
 Library
Has Changed
Users Have Changed
 Library
Changes- Are they evident and substantive from
the user’s perspective?
 Librarians
irrelevant.
can choose to change, or risk becoming
Re-Shaping Library Services
Requires
Progressing on Several Fronts
 Change
the fundamental service focus
 Recognize
modern information-seeking habits
 Consider
new roles for librarians
 Ongoing
assessment of service
Changing The Service FocusHow Do Librarians View Their Mission?
 Librarian-centered

vs. Patron-Centered
Budd, 2001
 Content-Centered
 Content
vs. Knowledge-Centered
Focus: “how many books & books & journals?”
 Knowledge Focus- “is learning enhanced?”

Smith, 2000
Recognizing Modern User Habits
 24
Hours/remote access
 Point
of use/time of need
 Users
don’t “know all that stuff”
 Need
for Librarian- in person or virtually
 “at
-Weiler
home there is no one to help” -Grodzins-Lipow
New Roles for LibrariansEnhanced Participation in Learning
 Course
Development Phase
 Librarians
 Teaching
participate on course/curriculum design team
Phase
 24
x 7 online reference sources integrated into course
 Virtual (online) reference
 Participate in instruction within online-delivered courses
 Evaluation
 Define
phase- librarians and course instructors
competencies and measures
 Assess effectiveness of programs & services
More New Roles
Information Literacy
 Joint
Responsibility of University and Library- ACRL
 Librarians have skills and partnering opportunities
Content Development
Digital
Libraries
Distance library instruction modules
Information Literacy Challenges
 U.S.
Students have little formal, standardized training
 Belief
easy
that information access and use of technology is
 Popular
usage vs. effective research usage
 Point–of-use
 Librarians
Time-of-need instruction- Grodzins-Lipow
partnering with course instructors
Service Assessment :
Why?
 Increasing
User Expectations
 Need for optimizing use of existing resources
 Staff
 Financial
 Validate
enhancements gained from knowledge-based
service model
 Remain in touch with modern users/remain relevant
A Service Assessment Outline
 Establish
Benchmarks
 Adopt a Primary Survey Instrument- LibQual+, et.al.
 Clarification Before, During & After- Focus Groups
 Adopt Specialized Assessment Tools as Indicated
 Continue Cycle of Assessment/Improvement
 Communicate to Users!
A Re-Shaped Service Model
 Challenges
 Patron
existing views of the library service mission
centered, and knowledge centered view
 Recognizes
information seeking habits of modern users
 Moves Librarians into new roles
 Addresses information literacy realities
 Is linked to ongoing assessment program
Conclusion
The Future Looks Good!
 Users
and Technology have both changed
 Libraries can re-shape their service mission and remain
relevant
 Librarians can effectively move into new roles
 Ongoing assessment can ensure best use of resources
and continuing relevance.
Selected Sources

Budd, John M. Information Seeking in Theory and Practice: “Rethinking Public
Services in Libraries”. Reference & User Services Quarterly 40 (2001):
256-263.

Grodzins Lipow, Anne. “Who Will Give Reference Service in the Digital
Environment?” Reference & User Services Quarterly 37 (1997): 125-129.

Smith, Kenneth R. “New Roles and Responsibilities for the University Library:
Advancing Student Learning Through Outcomes Assessment”. ARL 213
(2000): 2-5.

Weiler, Angela. “Two-Year College Freshman and the Internet: Do They Really
Know “All That Stuff”?”. Portal: Libraries and the Academy 1.2 (2001)
161-167. {July 23, 2001.}
Http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/portal_libraries_and_the
_academy/v001/1.2weiler.html
Contact Information
Daryl C. Youngman
Chair of Science Libraries
Associate Professor
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas
[email protected]