American Libraries Live Logo. Retrieved online 11/25/13.
Join American Libraries Live for another free broadcast
Thursday, December 5th, at 1 pm CT.
Dan Freeman, stated in his blog, “Discovery services have the power to revolutionize library systems. With discovery services, you can find and retrieve information in ways never before possible. But if you’re a librarian interested in Discovery, what do you need to know to make a decision?”
For this broadcast, the panel of experts will include:
• Gwen Evans, Executive Director of OhioLINK
• Courtney Greene, Head, Discovery & Research Services, Indiana University
• Edward Smith, Executive Director, Abilene Library Consortium
Dean Mark Vargas. Image by St. Cloud State University. Retrieved online 11/25/13.
Earlier this year, Mark Vargas joined the leadership at St. Cloud State University (SCSU) as Dean of the Library, in the James W. Miller Learning Resources Center. Dean Vargas was drawn to SCSU because he recognized the potential to build upon the existing strengths of the Library in support of the University’s strategic plans stating, “We are a reflection of the University. It is important for the Library to show how it aligns with institutional goals and objectives; demonstrating our impact on the success of the students and faculty across campus is essential.” Dean Vargas’ number one priority is to meet the needs of students and faculty in this ever changing and dynamic educational environment. “All libraries are dealing with the complexities of the digital age. Many opportunities exist to collaborate with colleagues, other departments, institutions and so on; the list is endless. The challenge is to zero in on what is feasible, given the availability of finite resources.” When asked about his managerial style he replied, “I have an innate optimism, about how people want to do work. I believe there is power in showing people appreciation and respect. I want to provide the necessary resources and then get out of the way, to allow them to excel at their jobs.”
Born and raised in Gary Indiana, it was his experience as a steel mill worker, after high school, that influenced his decision to enroll in college. Dean Vargas’ interest in history, and experiences as a student volunteer in Archives, at Indiana University Northwest that led to the completion of a Bachelor of Arts in History; and later his Masters in both Library Science and History from the University of Maryland, Archives. Since then, Dean Vargas has worked at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT,) University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma-Chickasha, and Saint Xavier University-Chicago.
Dean Vargas graciously took time out of his busy schedule to meet with CMLE staff this week. And, we encourage other member libraries to take a moment and, in turn, welcome him to Central Minnesota! The Dean of the Library currently serves as an ex-officio member on the Governing Board for Central MN Libraries Exchange (CMLE.) In that capacity, Dean Vargas, welcomes collaboration and participation in programming; freely offering the Library as centralized facility for regional meeting and events, “I want to build a relationship between our Library and all CMLE member library types-their patrons/users are our current and future students.”
Image by zigazou76. Retrieved from Flickr. Used under Creative Commons’ licensing.
On December 10th at 1 pm CT, WebJunction will be offering a free online webinar, The Power of Transformational Stories. It will explore how to identify, frame and share stories to illustrate the value of libraries within our communities.
Click here for additional information and the registration link.
Note: Sometimes it can be uncomfortable talking about our successes without it sounding awkward and self-serving. But like a good story, it must be written if it is ever to be truly appreciated.
Image by Tatadbb. Retrieved from Flickr. Used under Creative Commons’ licensing.
Minnesota Educational and Media Organization (MEMO) has developed a list of Information and Technology Literacy Standards highlighting 21st century skills necessary to bridge K-12 and higher education expectations for students. The standards for grades 9-12 include;
Inquiry, Research, and Problem Solving: The student will learn a continuous cycle of questioning, gathering, synthesizing, evaluating, and using information individually and collaboratively to create new knowledge and apply it to real world situations.
Expanding Literacies: Read, view, listen and communicate in any format for a variety of purposes.
Technology Use and Concepts: Students will explore multiple technologies, evaluate their suitability for the desired educational or personal task, and apply the tools needed.
Ethical Participation in a Global Society: The student will participate productively in the global learning community and demonstrate safe, ethical, legal and responsible behavior in the use of information and technology.
As a library media specialist, how do you effectively teach these skills? This November, author Terry Heick shares several approaches to frame and effectively delivery content. The article, 11 Brilliant Ways To Frame Critical Content: A Complexities Chartdiscusses patterns, cultural trends, themes and more.At the bottom of the post Heick notes, “This isn’t an either/or proposition…take a standard–or concept behind a standard–and “refract” it through whichever of the following Depth or Complexity made the most sense according to that student’s knowledge-level.”
As an additional resource, TeachThought also published a visual information graphic on how to gauge understanding between a teacher and the learner(s.) Click here to view 27 Simple Ways To Check For Understanding, November 2013.
This post is a part of an original series created by librarians/media specialists across Central Minnesota featuring books. If you have a book you would like to showcase, send your review to our offices.
Review by Kathy Parker, Director of Libraries, Media, and Archives, College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University Libraries
Feature Book: Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital by Sheri Fink
Image of Kathy Parker provided by CSB/SJU.
Combining the best of both worlds, Five Days at Memorial has the tense plot line, complex characters, and life-and-death flashpoints of a thriller, but it’s actually a meticulously researched work of remarkable reportage. Fink investigated events at a New Orleans hospital during and after Hurricane Katrina. Healthcare workers struggled to keep critically ill patients alive as electricity winked off, generators flooded, HVAC systems failed, sleep was unattainable, looters were roving the streets, and rescue was uncertain. In the end, some staff faced criminal allegations for injecting patients with drugs that hastened their death. The author carefully avoids judgment, and instead helps readers understand how professionals trying to do their best in a crisis may arrive at very different decisions about how to respond.
As it happens, I was reading this book while updating and expanding our library’s disaster plan. It made me realize that much of our plan is focused on keeping collections safe, and that I needed to pay more attention to how to keep people safe as well. I learned some lessons about communication, coordinated responses, and compassion. Sheri Fink’s book reinforced my fervent hope that I never have to live through such a horrendous disaster as Katrina; and it has given me the opportunity – the luxury, really — to think about how I might wish decisions would be made should a disaster happen here.
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