Despite planning for the new library, prepping a new library system, reviewing our entire collection, and managing day-to-day library business, folks at the library somehow find time for all kinds of professional development, presentations, publications, and more. Take a look at these recent and upcoming accomplishments by our very own and, next time you see one of them, give ‘em a high five.
Bo Baker, Information Commons Librarian:
Bo’s instructional video The World of Information was accepted for inclusion on the Association of College & Research Libraries’ (ACRL) Peer-Reviewed Instructional Materials Online (PRIMO) database.
Bo also has two contributions to an anthology on library instruction titled Let the Games Begin!, available in May from Neil Schulman. The first entry, authored with colleagues Caitlin Shanley and Lane Wilkinson, is titled “Nightmare on Vine Street: Librarians, Zombies, and Information Literacy,” and the second is titled “The World of Information: A Socratic Method for Millennials.”
In addition, Bo was accepted into the ACRL Immersion program to be held in Seattle, WA in July, 2011.
Virginia Cairns, Head of Reference and Instruction:
In November, 2010, Virginia was awarded a $25,000 Access and Diversity Grant by UTC. A large portion of the grant has already paid for the new Ethnographic Video Online database and the remainder will enhance the library DVD collection through the acquisition of films and documentaries by minority filmmakers and concerning equity, gender, diversity, and multicultural topics.
Melanie Dunn, Interlibrary Loan Coordinator:
Melanie created the research guide “Resources for Examining the Expert Witness” for the regional legal seminar: Dealing with Experts on a Limited Budget held December 17, 2010 at the University of Georgia School of Law in Athens, GA.
Jason Griffey, Head of Library Information Technology:
Jason is still basking in the glow of his recent book Mobile Technology and Libraries. However, he’s not resting on his laurels. Recent articles include:
- “Social Networking & the Library” Privacy and Freedom of Information in 21st Century Libraries. Library Technology Reports 46 (8), ALA Techsource. November/December 2010.
- “Ebook Sanity.” Library Journal. August 15, 2010.
In addition, Jason was invited to speak or present at the following conferences and meetings:
- “Post 2.0 – Disintermediation :: Ubiquity :: Contextualization” keynote speech, Mississippi State University Emerging Technologies Summit. September 17, 2010.
- “Cloudy with a Chance for Cooperation: Cloud-based Library Management.” Library and Information Technology Association (LITA) National Forum 2010, Atlanta, GA. October 2, 2010
- “Ebooks & Impact-Containers::Content::Services.” Council of State Library Agencies in the Northeast (COSLINE) Annual meeting. Newport, RI. October 21, 2010.
- “Generation Z: Keeping Libraries Relevant.” California Library Association Conference 2010. Sacramento, CA. November 14, 2010.
- “The World (and Jason Griffey) interviews Vernor Vinge.” American Library Association (ALA) Midwinter 2011. San Diego, CA. January 8, 2011.
- “ALA TechSource Midwinter Tech Wrapup.” ALA Techsource webinar, January 19, 2011.
- “Experiences become Expectations.” Georgia Library Association Midwinter meeting. Clayton State University, Morrow, GA. January 28, 2011.
And if you haven’t had enough, Jason currently blogs at Perpetual Beta for American Libraries Magazine and the ALA TechSource Blog.
Colleen Harris, Head of Access Services:
You know those ninja who fight with, like, two weapons instead of one — and how awesome they are? Colleen is one of those ninja. In addition to writing about the usual library stuff, Colleen is a published poet. Interested? Well, you can look for her recent publication These Terrible Sacraments: Poems published last November by Bellowing Ark, then move on to her forthcoming The Kentucky Vein to be published by Punkin House later this spring.
On the library side of things, Colleen’s recent publications include:
- “Matrix Management in Practice in Access Services at the North Carolina State University Libraries,” Journal of Access Services 7(4), 203-211.
- “Terms of Service, Cramped Budgets, and Good Library Citizenship: The Netflix Dilemma,” The Bottom Line: Managing Library Finances 23(4), 212-214.
- “Low and No-Cost Development Opportunities for Librarians” and “Managing Staff Stress During Budget Crises: Lessons for Library Managers” (co-authored with Mary Chimato) in The Frugal Librarian: Thriving in Tough Economic Times, ed. Carol Smallwood, Chicago: American Library Association, 2011.
You can also read Colleen’s thoughts on all things library on her blog Guardienne of the Tomes.
Layton Jackson, Stacks Maintenance Specialist:
Layton recently earned not one, but two UTC Training and Professional Development Certifications. In ModelNetics training, Layton learned effective management, communication and leadership skills before completing STAR Achievement training last December and further enhancing his productivity.
Beverly Kutz, Reference & Instruction Librarian:
Beverly will be hitting the road this Spring to deliver a pair of presentations.
First, with the help of our own Bo Baker, Caitlin Shanley, and Lane Wilkinson, Beverly will present a 60 minute session titled “We Learned Some New Dance Steps” at the Tennessee Library Association Annual Conference in Murfreesboro, TN on March 24, 2011.
Then Beverly will head to the Southwest to present “’Gun Control’ is Not a Research Question!” at the national Library Orientation Exchange (LOEX) Annual Conference in Fort Worth, TX, May 2011.
Theresa Liedtka, Dean of the Library:
Our Fearless Leader often makes time to write reviews of new reference books — and somehow she gets in on the coolest ones. Recent reviews include:
- Review of Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2008. Reference Reviews, 24 (4), 2010.
- Review of Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology. Reference Reviews (forthcoming).
In addition, Theresa will join colleagues Martha Earl, Bess Robinson, and Perveen Rustomfram to present “Charting a New Course: Smoothing the Transition for New Librarian Hires” at the Tennessee Library Association Annual Conference in Murfreesboro, TN on March 24, 2011.
Priscilla Seaman, Reference & Instruction Librarian:
Together with colleague (and former UTC librarian) Toni Dean, Priscilla is realizing the fruits of an original research project. The paper “The Management and Support of Outreach in Academic Libraries” was accepted by the Alabama Library Association (ALLA) CUS Research Committee. Priscilla and Toni will present the paper at the ALLA Annual Convention in Orange Beach, AL on April 20, 2011.
Caitlin Shanley, Instructional Design & Technology Librarian:
Caitlin and Bo Baker will bring (more?) mystical voodoo to the Big Easy when they demo the library’s zombie video game Nightmare on Vine Street in a presentation titled “Bringing Library Orientation Back from the Dead” which will be part of the Poster Sessions of the ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA on June 25, 2011.
Caitlin and Colleen Harris will present “Service Desk Switch Hitting” at the Tennessee Library Association Annual Conference in Murfreesboro, TN on March 25, 2011.
Caitlin will present on a panel entitled “Institutions and Sex Materials” at the Archives, Libraries, Museums and Special Collections Conference in West Hollywood, CA on May 14, 2011. A version of her paper will also appear as a chapter in the upcoming anthology, Porn Archives, to be published by Duke University Press.
Lane Wilkinson, Reference & Instruction Librarian:
Lane’s instructional video Key Word Searching in OmniFile was accepted for inclusion on the Association of College & Research Libraries’ (ACRL) Peer-Reviewed Instructional Materials Online (PRIMO) database.
Lane also has the following presentations, panels, and invitations coming up for 2011:
- “Bridging the Gaps: Transliteracy as Informed Pedagogy in Library Instruction.” LOEX Annual Conference, Fort Worth, TX, May 2011.
- Transliteracy Interest Group panel discussion. ALA Annual Conference. New Orleans, LA. June, 25, 2011.
- Lane has also been invited to speak at the ACRL New York chapter (ACRL/NY) Annual Symposium 2011.
Check out Choice Reviews Online where Lane reviews new philosophy books. You can also head over to the Libraries and Transliteracy blog where Lane posts regularly or go to Lane’s Sense and Reference blog for idle musings on libraries, literacy, and philosophy.