SJSU SLIS Audio/Video Podcast

In her first public appearance since leaving the journal after serving ten years as Editor–in–Chief of VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates), the only independent professional journal for Young Adult Specialist librarians, Cathi Dunn MacRae is interviewed by SLIS faculty Dr. Anthony Bernier. MacRae comments on the state of YA Librarianship, her own career, and much more.

Evidence Based Practice (EBP) has recently emerged as a topic of discussion amongst professionals within the library and information industry. Simply stated, EBP is the process of using formal research skills and methods to assist in decision making and establishing best practice. Are library and information professionals ready for EBP? This presentation will consider the role of EBP in the library profession including the barriers that exist in engaging in EBP within professional practice. The presentation will provide the opportunity to discuss the challenge of fostering a culture of evidence based library and information practice.

Evidence Based Practice (EBP) has recently emerged as a topic of discussion amongst professionals within the library and information industry. Simply stated, EBP is the process of using formal research skills and methods to assist in decision making and establishing best practice. Are library and information professionals ready for EBP? This presentation will consider the role of EBP in the library profession including the barriers that exist in engaging in EBP within professional practice. The presentation will provide the opportunity to discuss the challenge of fostering a culture of evidence based library and information practice.

Jeremy Kemp, SLIS Assistant Director for Second Life Campus, talks about Second Life and how it applies to library students, as well as how it can be used for outreach to Library communities.

Jeremy Kemp, SLIS Assistant Director for Second Life Campus, talks about Second Life and how it applies to library students, as well as how it can be used for outreach to Library communities.

Libraries face competitive pressures not primarily from other libraries but from online information resources, bookstores, and myriad other opportunities and demands for how people choose to spend their disposable time. Library customers have changing expectations about library service. Role of the public librarian is changing as the number of reference questions marked decreases. Although the mission of a public library is still valid, the service delivery methods and systems need to be improved and to be continuously responsive to changes in society in the communities we serve, and in the needs and expectations of our customers.

Libraries face competitive pressures not primarily from other libraries but from online information resources, bookstores, and myriad other opportunities and demands for how people choose to spend their disposable time. Library customers have changing expectations about library service. Role of the public librarian is changing as the number of reference questions marked decreases. Although the mission of a public library is still valid, the service delivery methods and systems need to be improved and to be continuously responsive to changes in society in the communities we serve, and in the needs and expectations of our customers.

This presentation will identify ways in which libraries can determine the value of the services that they provide and then communicate their value to the important stakeholders. Techniques that have been used by public, academic, school and special libraries will be reviewed and discussed.

This presentation will identify ways in which libraries can determine the value of the services that they provide and then communicate their value to the important stakeholders. Techniques that have been used by public, academic, school and special libraries will be reviewed and discussed.

What is the average age of the gamer? How much money did the video game industry rake in during 2005? What percent of the population is playing games? How many libraries consider themselves to be supporters of video gamers? Why should librarians pay attention to video games, anyway? The numbers — and answers — may surprise you! Discover why video games matter to your library in terms of entertainment, culture, learning, literacy, and child/adolescent development in this overview of gamer statistics.

What is the average age of the gamer? How much money did the video game industry rake in during 2005? What percent of the population is playing games? How many libraries consider themselves to be supporters of video gamers? Why should librarians pay attention to video games, anyway? The numbers — and answers — may surprise you! Discover why video games matter to your library in terms of entertainment, culture, learning, literacy, and child/adolescent development in this overview of gamer statistics.

You've made good progress at SLIS—that is, until you realize that you are heading toward the inevitable fork in the road: the e-portfolio or the thesis. As you approach the fork, a bespectacled person wearing tweeds cautions "WRONG WAY! TURN BACK!" and waves you toward the e-portfolio. What should you do? Take the e-portfolio path of least resistance? Or ignore the danger signs, thumb your nose at the tweed-clad nabob of negativity, and take the road less traveled? This presentation demystifies the thesis option. It will examine some of the real and perceived obstacles to pursuing a thesis, outline the process, recommend strategies for plotting a successful trajectory, and suggest how you might use your thesis to boost your career.

You've made good progress at SLIS—that is, until you realize that you are heading toward the inevitable fork in the road: the e-portfolio or the thesis. As you approach the fork, a bespectacled person wearing tweeds cautions "WRONG WAY! TURN BACK!" and waves you toward the e-portfolio. What should you do? Take the e-portfolio path of least resistance? Or ignore the danger signs, thumb your nose at the tweed-clad nabob of negativity, and take the road less traveled? This presentation demystifies the thesis option. It will examine some of the real and perceived obstacles to pursuing a thesis, outline the process, recommend strategies for plotting a successful trajectory, and suggest how you might use your thesis to boost your career.

Chat reference is a reference conduit completely based on real-time electronic interaction. The fundamental principle stays the same across all reference services – assisting users in fulfilling their information needs. But when it comes to the process of how reference services are conducted, chat reference has set itself apart from email-based or face-to-face reference. The difference exists in so many aspects that general reference competencies need to be reexamined to ensure quality performance in chat reference services. A two-stage study was conducted to determine essential chat reference competencies and effective training techniques to deliver them. Findings from this study and how they could benefit the professional preparation for chat reference librarians will be discussed in the presentation.

Chat reference is a reference conduit completely based on real-time electronic interaction. The fundamental principle stays the same across all reference services – assisting users in fulfilling their information needs. But when it comes to the process of how reference services are conducted, chat reference has set itself apart from email-based or face-to-face reference. The difference exists in so many aspects that general reference competencies need to be reexamined to ensure quality performance in chat reference services. A two-stage study was conducted to determine essential chat reference competencies and effective training techniques to deliver them. Findings from this study and how they could benefit the professional preparation for chat reference librarians will be discussed in the presentation.