February 9, 2009 Meeting of User Education Committee

Agenda not yet available.

Members Present: Melody Allison (10), Susan Avery (ex officio), Paula Carns (09), Merinda Hensley (ex officio), Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe (ex officio) – Chair, Emily Love (ex officio), Lori Mestre (ex officio), Yoo-Seong Song (10), Ellen Swain (09), Nathan Yarasavage (10)

Members Absent: Bernice Harrington (09), Karen Hogenboom (09)

Additional Attendees: Robin Miller (Central Reference/Academic Outreach GA)

1.  2008-2009 Meetings Remaining

• March 9, 10-11
• April 13, 10-11
• May 11, 10-11
• June 8, 10-11
• July 13, 2009 (Canceled: Conflicts with ALA Conference)
• August 10, 2009

2.  User Education Lunches – “Teaching Toss”

Upcoming “Teaching Toss” discussions will be held in Library 423 (428 is unavailable).  Dates and topics of upcoming discussions are as follows:

• Tuesday, February 24 – Teaching Philosophy, facilitated by Beth Woodard
• Tuesday, April 21 – Assessment, facilitated by Susan Avery, who attended the Assessment Immersion program

3.  Reports from Faculty Retreat

Lisa asked committee members to share thoughts, reactions and follow-up to the 2009 Annual Faculty Retreat, held on Friday, February 6 ^th.  The theme of the retreat was “Preparing Students for the Global Century.”

Paula shared insights gained about how the library can incorporate global competency and support study abroad.  Emily also maintains general web pages for students researching study abroad locations and Lisa suggested that Emily and Paula work together to link country/area studies pages to general study abroad pages.

Several members of the committee reported strong feelings about the keynote speaker and the retreat program.  Lisa encouraged the committee to review the report by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (http://www.aacu.org/LEAP/principles_in_practice.cfm) for additional insights about revising general education.

Lisa asked the committee to suggest speakers for future retreats.  Speakers must appeal broadly and address general topics in teaching and learning. One possible person to suggest would be Joan Lippincott from CNI.

4.  Updates from Working Groups

• Active Learning Working Group – No update to report.
• Library in a Box Working Group – Emily sought clarification about which pictures belong in the box.
• High School Working Group – Emily attended the in-service day for high school teachers. Emily expressed concern about the group’s purpose and Lisa suggested that the User Education Committee revisit the working group’s charge and consider focusing more on the information literacy needs of students preparing to enter the University of Illinois. Emily suggested that Jim and Francis be included in a newly charged group and that perhaps Susan would chair it.
• Graduate Student Information Literacy Working Group – Next meeting is Monday, February 16.
• Career Services Working Group – The work is in its information-gathering phase.

5.  New Working Group: Distance Teaching and Learning Working Group

A new group has been created to address library services for distance learners.

Charge:

Investigate teaching and learning services and support for distance programs, faculty, and students. Provide advice and recommendations about shaping a distance teaching and learning program in the University Library based on past practices at Illinois, current library services, professional guidelines and standards, and a review of practices at other research libraries. Facilitate discussion of recommendations at April committee meeting in order to finalize working group report by June 30, 2009.

Timeframe:

February-June 2009

Membership:

Merinda Hensley (facilitator), Rae Ann Montague (GSLIS), Sue Searing, Nancy O’Brien, Lori Mestre, Laura Hanson, Robin Miller (Academic Outreach Graduate Assistant)

Merinda distributed a draft description of services for distance learners and requested feedback from the committee as well. Lisa will invite those who are not on the User Education Committee to join the group.

6.  Announcements/Discussion

• Merinda reported that the Savvy Researcher series began for Spring Semester and 11 people attended a session last week.
• Lisa requested updates from all working groups for the next meeting, preferably by email in advance of the March 9 ^th meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

Robin Miller