Judging A Library By Its Cover

JUDGING A LIBRARY BY ITS COVER: CREATING GOAL ORIENTED INTERFACES AND ASSIGNMENTS

Natasha Luepke

Overview

Introduction Why are libraries intimidating? Statistics Online library interfaces Collaboration Classwork Conclusion

Introduction

Students often feel left out Students often feel intimidated Students cannot physically visit library

Goal Oriented Interface

Why are libraries intimidating?

Physical presence Assume user’s familiarity

Statistics

18 million students enrolled in college or university (U.S. Census Bureau, 2009)

6.5 million community college students (American Association of Community Colleges, 2010)

75.8 million Americans over the age of three were in school in 2005 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2009)

“Each day more than 13,000 people visit the [Multnomah County] library” (Hannah-Jones, 2010, para. 5).

“Two-thirds (66 percent) of 2-year and 4-year Title IV degree granting postsecondary institutions reported offering online, hybrid/blended online, or other distance education courses” (Parsad and Lewis,2008).

Online Interfaces

Tours

IM/Texts

Information

Students cannot attend tours/problem with videos

Librarians not available 24/7

Information overload

Interfaces

Goals

How do I….? Find a….

Goals

Collaboration

What do librarians want students to know?

What do professors want students to know?

What do students want to know?

Assignments

Scavenger Hunts Direct questions Library/research walk-through Require specific resources Interview a librarian

Scavenger Hunt Ex

1. Click on XXXXXX menu item on the main page of the library. Place your cursor over “Catalog” tab at the top of the screen. a. List at least 2 categories that appear on the menu.

2. Click on XXXXXXXX menu item on the main page of the library. a. What are the hours? b. What are 2 Powerpoint tips?

3. Click on the “Plagiarism” menu item. a. What are some reasons not to plagiarize?

6. Click on XXXXXXX menu item on the main page of the library. a. Where can you find information on writing a cover letter? b. Who might be part of the audience for a memo?

Direct Questions

Create a memo, addressed to me, in which you answer the following:

1. What are the main basic formatting differences between a memo and academic paper?

2. Do you have any questions about how to format a document?

Direct Questions

What do you like? What do you dislike? What do you wish you knew more about? What would you like to improve? What do you already understand?

Conclusion

Goals Collaborate: Librarians, Professors,

Students Improved interface for all

References

American Association of Community Colleges. (2010). “Students at community colleges.” Retrieved from http://www.aacc.nche.edu/AboutCC/Trends/Pages/studentsatcommunitycolleges.aspx

Hannah-Jones, N. (2010, Feb 23). “Multnomah County Library earns nation's highest honor for libraries.” In The Oregonian. Retrieved from http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/02/multnomah_county_library_earns.html

Parsad, B. and Lewis, L. (2008, December). Distance Education at Degree-Granting Postsecondary Institutions: 2006–07. In National Center for Educational Statistics. Retrieved from http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2009/2009044.pdf

U.S. Census Bureau. (2009, Dec 16). “Back to school: 2007 – 2008.” Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/010218.html

Libraries