September 10, 2012 Meeting of User Education Committee

1. Welcome and Introductions

Lisa welcomed all new and returning members. Members each introduced themselves.

2. Upcoming 2012-2013 Meetings – 10:00-11:00 am Library 428

3. Agenda Review

Lisa reviewed the agenda.

4. Primo Implementation Update – Michael Norman

Previously, committee members Adriana Cuervo and Sue Searing served in a liaison role to the Web-Scale Discovery System Implementation Team; however, neither of them are members of the User Education Committee this year. Michael noted the importance of this continued productive relationship. Michael and Lisa are working to identify a formal liaison.

Michael explained that, though the team hoped to be further along by now, they are currently running into issues getting catalog records into Primo. Once all catalog records are all in Primo and the team makes configuration changes, a link will be sent out so that searches can be done against the system library-wide. Michael noted that there will be an informational session before the launch. He also noted the availability of weekly walk-in sessions for people to test the system and that the initial rollout will be followed by waves of implementation. There is room for many possibilities and options within Primo and the system can be customized based on feedback.

The committee discussed the importance of staff training and availability of implementation team members during testing periods for questions and feedback. Lisa noted that studies demonstrate a need to build staff proficiency with systems and that a systematic approach is needed to educate librarians and staff. Along with building staff competence and proficiency with the system, the committee also discussed the need to understand how to help students manipulate the system to meet faculty expectations for resource use (e.g., first-year composition students are required to use articles and not books).

The committee discussed the importance of stress tests to ensure that the system can operate under peak load. Michael noted that the Library can book rooms for people to come and complete research-intensive searches at the same time.

The committee discussed what resources are indexed in the Primo Central Index. Michael noted that not all resources will be indexed in Primo. Scopus and EBSCO products will not be in Primo. The committee noted the importance of having a list of what is and what is not indexed in Primo. Proprietary documentation about the Primo Central Index is available from Michael.

The committee discussed the possible impact of key resources not being indexed in Primo. From a user’s point of view, they may not realize that they are not searching all available resources. The committee noted that subject librarians should open the lines of communication with subject database vendors to address how this change will affect how we use their product if it is not available in the index. The committee also discussed the importance of having a chart or list of what is available in vuFind and the Classic Catalog and the differences in coverage.

5. Acclamations and Accolades

This agenda item will be repeated at each meeting and is an opportunity for committee members to share highlights related to information literacy and instruction work. Committee members are encouraged to submit items ahead of time so they can be listed in the agenda.

Mara shared that she will reach between 150-200 students with one-shot instruction sessions this fall. The instruction sessions are new and focus on searching international news publications. She reached out to faculty members through email and hopes to continue to have an impact in offering instruction sessions to serve faculty.

Melody shared that at the end of an instruction session on how to use Library resources TA complimented her for her enjoyment and passion in front of the classroom, noting the positive impact this must have on students.

Carissa shared that with the recent change to Business Information Services, she connected with a faculty member who invited her to teach research workshops covering three major business databases. She was given the full 90 minutes to cover two databases in one session. Students were also given a take-home exercise. Carissa joined the class again in another week to cover the third database. She shared that she was happy to offer students such an immersive experience.

Carissa also shared that she will be taking a different approach to the traditional one-time Illinois Business Consulting session at the beginning of the semester. She will teach fourteen 90-minute sessions over a six-day period. This is a radical change from addressing all sections at once, as done in previous years. The sessions will be more hands-on and students will be grouped by teams to begin project research.

The committee discussed that some evolved new service models have opened up capacity to approach instruction differently, leading to opportunities that are far more effective for student learning.

6. Committee Charge

The next meeting will begin with an overview of the purpose of the committee and discussion of possible projects in 2012-2013.

The User Education Committee provides guidance and advice to the Coordinator for Information Literacy Services and Instruction and the University Library by formulating and reviewing plans, goals, priorities, strategies, policies and procedures related to user education; identifying temporary and ongoing instructional issues; promoting awareness of and participation in information literacy activities within the Library and the University as a whole; gathering information and encouraging research and discussion about information literacy, information seeking, and user education; creating and assisting with instructional development programming; and responding to requests for assistance or advice about user education and information literacy issues.

7. Brainstorm/Review Possible Goals/Projects for 2012-2013

This agenda item will be addressed at the next meeting of the committee. Lisa suggested that the goal is not to generate as many projects as possible but to prioritize and work on manageable projects to which the committee can devote enough time to realize success. Known projects include:

• eLearning/Blackboard Collaborate
• Information Literacy Awareness Month (October)
• Primo and Gateway
• Spring Information Literacy Workshop

Respectfully submitted, Emma Clausen