Faculty Development Five Year Plan
Harold B. Lee Library
June, 1998
Part I: Self-Assessment
A. Personal Background
1. Academic Background
• B.A. History
• Masters of Library and Information Science
2. Library Experience
• Department Chairman - Public Reference Librarian
• Interim Children’s Librarian
• Computer Assisted Research Services (C.A.R.S.)
B. Strengths
1. As an academic reference librarian I believe one of my greatest strengths is my commitment to user assistance. I continue to view myself as a gatekeeper to knowledge, guiding people toward the information they want and need. I am a strong advocate of client-centered service, with a focus on the individual and meeting his/her varied needs when and where they arise. I am cognizant of the diverse clientele we work with at BYU and strive to always be sensitive, approachable and sincere in my efforts to relate with, as well as provide equitable service to all members of the BYU community.
2. I believe I have a high tolerance for change and possess a spontaneous, flexible approach toward technology and its impact on reference service.
3. I am committed to lifelong learning and appreciate the importance of sharing that mission with the patrons I teach and serve.
4. I am not sure whether it is a strength or not, but, I am rarely satisfied with the status quo. I bring a curiosity to my work that compels me to constantly be exploring and learning. My tenacious nature drives me to find creative ways to provide more effective service, just as readily as I am driven to find the answer to a difficult query.
5. I believe I am an effective reference librarian because I truly like what I do. I enjoy the new challenges that come as the profession continues to evolve.
C. Skills and Competencies
1. I believe I have the communication skills and public relations savvy requisite to effectively represent the library when dealing with the BYU community. I am comfortable interacting with students and faculty in both formal and informal settings.
2. I am a capable teacher in the classroom, as well as at the reference desk.
3. I am competent in searching the variety of online and commercial databases offered at BYU.
4. I have a good working knowledge of standard print and electronic sources and I am proactive in the investment of time and energy to continually learn new skills and sources.
5. I have demonstrated my problem solving and patron negotiation skills through my ability to break down a query into logical parts and then match it to the resources available. I have a willingness to experiment along with the patron, exploring new sources until the answer is found.
6. I have had extensive management and supervisory experience that enables me to hire, train and supervise student and para-professional employees at the reference desk.
7. I am an avid reader of the professional literature, relying upon it to help me in the constant redefining of my own philosophy of librarianship, as well as to inform me of and finally encourage me to embrace additional skills essential to good librarianship.
D. Research Interests
• Mentoring student assistants and para-professionals
• Interactive bibliographic instruction
• Remote/distance education and the implications for reference service
• Integrating the World Wide Web into reference service
• Student learning theory
• Faculty-librarian partnerships
• Changing role of the reference librarian
E. Citizenship Opportunities
1. Member - Reference Services Committee
2. Member - Library Use Instruction (LUI) Committee
• Participated on LUI task force to design and recommend a format to be used for web-based library research guides
3. Member - Computer Assisted Research Committee (C.A.R.S.)
• Compile monthly report for the committee
• Provide database training for C.A.R.S. librarians
4. Member - Library Guides Committee
5. Member - Utah Library Association (ULA)
6. Chairman - ULA Public Relations Committee
• Work in conjunction with the ULA Legislative Committee, lobbying ULA initiatives with state legislators
• Set up and maintain a ULA listserve
7. Vice-Chairman - ULA COMART
8. Member - American Library Association
9. Steering Committee Member - ALA RUSA Performance Issues Discussion Group
• Plan convention programs
• Participate on convention panel discussions
10. Contributing Member - Children’s Book and Play Review
• Write reviews of newly published juvenile literature
• Participate in juvenile literature forums
F. Areas I wish to develop
1. I need to improve my collection development skills, focusing on establishing more definitive policies and procedures for collection evaluation, maintenance and management.
2. I want to improve my management of the General Reference Desk by taking a more active role in developing new training modules and evaluative procedures for my student reference assistants. Additionally, I need to participate more fully in on-going training, to ensure that continual superior service is provided.
3. I want to become an expert teacher in the classroom and at the reference desk, capable of coaching students to become independent learners.
4. I need to continue honing my search skills, further mastering DIALOG, as well as the various electronic databases we provide for public use.
5. I want to improve my reference service by integrating the World Wide Web, as both an information and an instruction tool.
6. I want to expand my patron negotiation skills, then devise a better methodology for training my student assistants in mastering that same reference skill.
7. I need to gain a better understanding of student learning theory so I can positively contribute to information literacy.
Part II: Professional Goals and Proposed Action Plans
A. Librarianship
Continue in my present assignment as General Reference Specialist
• Provide training for department student reference assistants and para-professionals
• Maintain and manage General Reference Collection
• Design and maintain the General Reference web page
• Provide DIALOG training and searching for faculty and graduate students
• Provide basic bibliographic instruction to English 115 and Honors 200 students
• Participate in research introduction to English 300 level classes
• Provide database training to library faculty and students as assigned or requested
• Provide research strategy and DIALOG training to Law students - twice a semester
B. Professional Development
1. Professional/Creative Projects:
Goal: To use the library collection development policy as a guide, develop and implement more definitive policies and procedures for the management of the General Reference collection.
Plan:
• Assess the collection for currency, balance, comprehension and responsiveness to user needs.
• Use the review literature to help identify new materials that will ensure the collection meets the established guidelines for quality and subject coverage.
• Design a program for weeding that increases accessibility and enhances the value of the overall collection.
Goal: To enhance the quality of training for student reference assistants and para-professionals. Design new training modules, based on the minimum competencies needed to provide excellent service in an academic library that supports an integrated environment of print and automation.
Plan:
• Compile a list of key attitudes, characteristics or behaviors requisite to providing quality user assistance.
• Design training tools to teach identified skills, resources and behaviors.
• Design evaluation tools, techniques and strategies to ensure mastery of the core competencies.
Goal: To provide quality user-assistance to all members of the BYU community.
Plan:
• Network with other reference specialists, both within and outside the library and learn from their experiences.
• Develop proficiency in the various electronic databases BYU offers, to include DIALOG, through workshop participation and personal practice time.
• Provide individualized bibliographic instruction through the design of electronic and point-of-use instruction tools for online databases.
• Design electronic research guides for using General Reference sources such as book review indexes and general biography.
• Continue to evaluate web sites that can be added to the General Reference web page, thus increasing its usefulness as a quality reference and information tool.
Goal: To contribute to information literacy efforts that empower students to become independent learners.
Plan:
• Continue to teach advanced research strategies and the use of DIALOG as it relates to graduate and Law School student research needs.
• Provide input to the Library Use Instruction (LUI) committee on ways to foster the faculty-librarian partnerships essential for effective information literacy programs.
• Provide input to LUI committee and express a willingness to participate in exploring bibliographic instruction opportunities for students who ‘fall through the cracks’, i.e. handicapped or disabled students, non-traditional students, multi-cultural students, remote students, transfer students and freshmen who do not take English 115 or Honors 200 classes.
2. Scholarship Projects:
Goal: To research student learning theory with the intent of designing tools to be used in training students on library resources.
Plan:
• Conduct a literature search and network with other professionals regarding pedagogies directed at student learning.
• Design training tools.
• Develop an evaluative instrument to measure success of the training tools.
Goal: To research reference sources on the internet and the integration of the World Wide Web into reference service.
Goal: To research remote/distance education and its implication for reference service.
Goal: To research faculty-librarian partnerships.
C. Citizenship
Goals:
• Exemplify honor and integrity in daily work and relationships with others.
• Promote harmony and collegiality within my department.
• Contribute to the profession of librarianship.
• Contribute to the mission of the University in general and the Library in particular.
• Invite opportunities for community service where my professional expertise is needed.
Plan:
• Be an active participant on assigned committees.
• Provide service through active participation in professional organizations and attendance at yearly conferences.
• Accept leadership opportunities when extended, keeping in mind the importance of balancing job responsibilities with scholarship and citizenship activities.
• Seek collaborative opportunities with colleagues through development of informal relationships.
III. Relationship between my individual goals and university aspirations
A. Relationship between my individual goals and university aspirations
1. Providing a current, balanced and comprehensive reference collection is an essential part of the library’s goal to provide "quality collections".
2. Student reference assistants provide user-assistance at the reference desk, interacting with all members of the BYU and the local community. The continued success of the library relies as much on their vocal advocacy as it does the librarians, so, they must be competent and confident in fulfilling their job responsibilities. Such competence and confidence comes from good, on-going training. The mission of the library is to provide quality service and "to assist patrons in finding and using information...." Well-trained, confident students are capable of meeting this goal.
3. The mission of the university focuses on the importance of excellence on the part of both faculty and students. As a faculty member, I have a responsibility to ensure that all aspects of my scholarship, citizenship and professional work are excellent in nature. In so doing, I should be able to contribute positively to the library, the university and my profession.
4. It is the mission of the library "to encourage lifelong learning." Excellent teaching, coaching and mentoring, informally as well as formally, will assist in the development of independent lifelong learners.
B. Resources needed to accomplish goals
• Financial support to fund creative work.
• Opportunities, as well as the requisite financial support, to attend training when needed.
• Research time to complete professional and scholarly projects.
• Department support and encouragement to meet the above outlined goals.
Part IV: Summary of Goals
1. Develop and implement a more definitive collection management plan for the General Reference collection.
2. Design an enhanced student reference assistant training and evaluation program.
3. Provide quality reference service.
4. Participate in and contribute to Library Use Instruction (LUI).
5. Research student learning theory and design training tools.
6. Maintain a high standard of professional excellence.
7. Exemplify honor and integrity in daily work and relationships with others.
8. Promote harmony and collegiality within my department.
9. Contribute to the library profession, the University and the Library.
10. Provide community service where my professional expertise is needed.
Part V: Time line for accomplishing goals
1997 - 1998
• Design a General Reference Department web page
• Develop a mentoring program for department student employees
• Develop and initiate a written weeding program for the General Reference Collection
• Collaborate on DIALOG tutorials for Biography and Film and Cinema databases
• Attend ULA and ALA annual conferences
• Design point-of-use instruction tool for SearchBank
• Co-present paper at ULA/MPLA annual conference - "The Inside Story on Your Search Engine: What’s under the Hood?"
• Present a workshop on research strategies and train the Nursing Faculty in database use
• Present a workshop on research strategies and train graduate Nursing students in database use
• Design training aids for SearchBank Health Reference Database and CINHL
• Write and have published juvenile literature reviews in the Children’s Book and Play Review
• Present a booktalk during the eleventh BYU Symposium on Books for Young Readers
1998-1999
• Design training tools to teach mastery of core competencies
• Develop a written Collection Management Plan for the General Reference collection
• Develop proficiency on SIRSI
• Submit proposal to present research on core competencies and training tools developed for Harold B. Lee Library student reference assistants at a poster session during the ALA annual conference
• Write an article for Children’s Book and Play Review
• Design electronic research guides for book reviews and general biography sources
• Design point-of use and electronic instruction tools for SilverPlatter and ProQuest
• Continue work on web page - new web sites, research guides, FAQ, etc.
• Work with ULA PR committee to design media campaign
• Continue to write juvenile literature reviews for the Children’s Book and Play Review
• Complete web-based guide for Library Indexes and Abstracts
• Attend a workshop on student supervision and/or mentoring
• Attend ULA, ALA and LOEX annual conferences
• Research student learning theory
• Research internet reference sources and web integration into reference service
1999-2000
• Evaluate student reference assistant training program
• Write an article on student reference assistants training program and submit for publication
• Seek opportunity to present student training program at a professional conference
• Research remote/distance education and the implications for reference service
• Continue to write juvenile literature reviews for the Children’s Book and Play Review
• Research faculty-librarian partnerships
• Maintain General Reference web page
• Attend ULA plus two additional professional conferences
2000-2001
• Maintain General Reference web page
• Research the changing role of the reference librarian
• Continue to write juvenile literature reviews for the Children’s Book and Play Review
• Write an article for Children’s Book and Play Review
• Seek appointment to a professional committee at the state, regional or national level
• Attend ULA plus two additional professional conferences
2001-2002
• Maintain General Reference web page
• Continue to write juvenile literature reviews for the Children’s Book and Play Review
• Attend ULA plus two additional professional conferences
This five year Faculty Development Plan contains a vision for my contributions to the Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, and the library profession, from September, 1997 - January, 2002.
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