Library Technicians: The Swiss Army Knives of Academic Libraries

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Library Technicians The Swiss Army Knives of
Academic Libraries

• The Evolving Role of the Library Technician From
  35 Years Ago to the Present
• Carol Campbell
• Senior Library Technician,
• Humber College ITAL
• Denise Rooney, Library Technician
• University of Guelph-Humber
• Adam Weissengruber
• Library Technician
• Humber College ITAL

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Bio

• Carol Campbell
• 35 years service with the
• Humber College ITAL Libraries
• 1973 Graduated from Sheridan College from the
  Library Technician Program
• 1973 1976 was the first Library Technician
  hired at Osler Campus
• 1976 Present Humber College ITAL North
  Campus - Senior Reference Technician providing
  instruction to classes of students on the
  research processes and on the use of library
  research tools including online databases,
  reference materials and the Internet

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Swiss Army Knife - Metaphor

• What is a Swiss Army Knife and how would it
  define the roles, opportunities challenges of
  a library technician?
• Wikipedia http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Army_
  knife
• Swiss Army Knife is a brand of multi-functional
  pocket knife or multi-tool
• The term Swiss Army Knife is sometimes used
  metaphorically to describe usefulness?
• Wisegeek http//www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-swiss-a
  rmy-knife.htm
• The Swiss Army Knife is a marvel of economic
  design ingenuity. The very name Swiss Army
  Knife has fallen into popular use as a metaphor
  for successful multitasking.

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Metaphorically
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Additional Metaphors?

• Suggestions

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Overview

• Observations From the Past
• A Library Technician focused on Instruction
• Booking Classes
• Working With Faculty
• Preparing Giving a Class
• Evolving Tools from Pathfinders to LibGuides

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Observations From the PastOsler Campus (Osler
School of Nursing), Humber College

• Osler Campus, Humber College (Weston)
• 1973 1976
• Branch Library
• 1 Librarian 1 Library Assistant
• Operating all aspects of a Health Sciences
  Library
• Circulation of library materials
• Reference services to faculty students
• Maintained periodicals collection
• In-house indexing of nursing medical journals
• Acquisitions/Technical services for books A.V.
  software
• Original cataloguing using NLM W Schedule
  cutter tables
• Operating A.V. equipment 16mm. Film projector,
  DuKane Slide Projector Caramate
• Supervise IMC Co-op Student
• Worked 3 evenings a week

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Way Back When Osler Campus (Nursing) - Humber
College
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Technology From the Past
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North Campus Library 1976 - Present
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Highlights North Campus1976 -
Periodicals
Government Documents
Circulation
Statistics Canada
Annual Reports
Special Needs Services
Vertical Files
Internet Classes
Fashion File
Audio Visual
Reference Services
Career Classes
Bookroom/Study Hall Media/Screening Rms.
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The Present Library Classes

• Provides in-depth library instruction classes,
  usually subject specific demonstrates the
  research process of various library resources
  including the library website, catalogue,
  databases, reference materials selected
  internet sites.
• Sessions are interactive/ engaging can include
  a learning activity.
• Classes are requested by faculty, either an
  individual session or multiple sessions given
  over week.

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Booking Classes

• Most sessions are booked in advance by the
  faculty, usually be e-mail, by phone, in person,
  or the Library Website gt Just For Faculty gt
  Request for Instruction sent automatic request
  ga Nclass
• Classes are booked into the North Library
  Instruction Calendar includes detailed
  information Course Date Time Faculty name
  of students, databases, etc.
• Assigns classes to the appropriate library
  technician.

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Book Class into North Library Instruction Calendar

• Details of class noted into North Library
  Instruction Calendar (First Class)
• Confirmation emailed to faculty
• Classes booked into Library Instruction Classroom
  
• More faculty requesting library sessions in
  computer labs
• Bookings for computer labs are booked through the
  ITS online booking calendar.

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Working With Faculty

• Work with the faculty to interpret/review the
  research assignment the facultys expectations
  for the class
• Develop outlines of information resources to be
  included in the class instruction (Subject
  Guides)
• Liaise with faculty with revision of the library
  research assignment update them on new
  information resources that are relevant to their
  course
• Special Projects

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Preparing Giving a Class

• Library website, logging in, Library 24/7, Ask ON
• Information Literacy (Writing a Paper)
• Review assignment
• Print resources required
• Subject databases tailored to the class
• Subject Guide reviewed updated if necessary
• PowerPoint prepared for the session given out
  to students as a handout.
• Students are encouraged to participate in the
  session by searching a topic using a database
  that was demonstrated in class.
• Faculty students like having the library class
  in the computer lab, students can follow along
  with demonstration more interactive encourages
  participation.
• Students can get a head start on their assignment
  with the help of the library staff

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Variety of Classes
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LibGuides Subject Guides Web 2.0

• Subject Guide Committee formed Feb./08 to look at
  other formats to showcase the subject guides that
  would be more visual interactive (Web 2.0)
• Looked at using a blog, wiki, or subject guide
  software packages
• Viewed various subject guides from other academic
  libraries and the software available
• Criteria less static, less time consuming to
  update maintain pricing
• Computers Libraries 2008 promising vendor
  Springshare LibGuides http//www.springshare.com/l
  ibguides/
• Committee Selected Springshare LibGuides software
  for Humber Libraries subject guides

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Springshare LibGuideshttp//www.springshare.com/l
ibguides
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Humber LibGuides
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Humber LibGuides Roll Out
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Questions?

• Thank You
• Contact
• Carol Campbell
• Humber Libraries
• Humber College ITAL
• e-mail carol.campbell_at_humber.ca