Enhancing Graduate Education

Enhancing Graduate EducationARL/CNI Fall Forum

Joan K. LippincottCoalition for Networked Information

ARL/CNI Fall ForumJoan K. Lippincott

Coalition for Networked Information

OverviewOverview

Four key challengesSummary of group discussionsWhat else?

Four key challengesSummary of group discussionsWhat else?

Four Key ChallengesFour Key Challenges

We need to produce graduates who can:

Work with agilityWork at the frontiers of knowledge creationWork as intellectual innovatorsThink synthetically

We need to produce graduates who can:

Work with agilityWork at the frontiers of knowledge creationWork as intellectual innovatorsThink synthetically

Summaries of Group DiscussionsSummaries of Group Discussions

Spaces/communities of scholarsDiscovery and accessInterdisciplinarity

Spaces/communities of scholarsDiscovery and accessInterdisciplinarity

Spaces/communities of scholarsSpaces/communities of scholars

What really works?Flexibility: current and for futureBuild or remodel spaces in other buildings and offer services there (collaborate)Library presence in other spaces (embedded librarian)

What really works?Flexibility: current and for futureBuild or remodel spaces in other buildings and offer services there (collaborate)Library presence in other spaces (embedded librarian)

Spaces/communities of scholarsSpaces/communities of scholars

What really works?Virtual spaces for students not on campusExclusive space for grad studentsUsability test one year post-renovation

What really works?Virtual spaces for students not on campusExclusive space for grad studentsUsability test one year post-renovation

Spaces/communities of scholarsSpaces/communities of scholars

Quiet areasCollaborative areasStore materialsFood & beveragePrintingOffice hours

Quiet areasCollaborative areasStore materialsFood & beveragePrintingOffice hours

Practice presentation roomsPresentation skills trainingWriting servicesLibrarian/service staff 24X7

Practice presentation roomsPresentation skills trainingWriting servicesLibrarian/service staff 24X7

What really works?

Spaces/communities of scholarsSpaces/communities of scholars

What elements/services can turn pleasant spaces into intellectually stimulating communities?

Multi-media labsDisplays - Special Collections, art workCollaborative spacesSocial spaces - cafes

What elements/services can turn pleasant spaces into intellectually stimulating communities?

Multi-media labsDisplays - Special Collections, art workCollaborative spacesSocial spaces - cafes

Spaces/communities of scholarsSpaces/communities of scholars

What elements/services can turn pleasant spaces into intellectually stimulating communities?

“Concierge services” for grad studentsTeaching and Writing servicesWork-in-process sharing (visual, posters, group meetings)Child care center (U. Oregon)

What elements/services can turn pleasant spaces into intellectually stimulating communities?

“Concierge services” for grad studentsTeaching and Writing servicesWork-in-process sharing (visual, posters, group meetings)Child care center (U. Oregon)

Spaces/communities of scholarsSpaces/communities of scholars

What about online communities?Virtual spaces and tools for grad students to share content, e.g. teaching materials

What about online communities?Virtual spaces and tools for grad students to share content, e.g. teaching materials

Discovery & AccessDiscovery & Access

Services that are in the user workflow and which are targeted and engaging - (Lorcan Dempsey’s concept)Community-oriented services, e.g. recommender systemsWork with others (Google, etc.) to make academic content more readily available

Services that are in the user workflow and which are targeted and engaging - (Lorcan Dempsey’s concept)Community-oriented services, e.g. recommender systemsWork with others (Google, etc.) to make academic content more readily available

Discovery & AccessDiscovery & Access

Service modelsOnline tutorials24X7 information servicesNew ways of delivering services at time of needEmbedded librarian - “house calls”Research services team

Service modelsOnline tutorials24X7 information servicesNew ways of delivering services at time of needEmbedded librarian - “house calls”Research services team

Discovery & AccessDiscovery & Access

Service modelsIncorporate guides into course mgt. systemsEchat integrated into course websitesPeer learningContact with grad students early and often

Weekly grad student presentations of research in the library Non-threatening sharing of ideas in library

Provide opportunities for informal social engagements: cocktails, social hours, etc.

Service modelsIncorporate guides into course mgt. systemsEchat integrated into course websitesPeer learningContact with grad students early and often

Weekly grad student presentations of research in the library Non-threatening sharing of ideas in library

Provide opportunities for informal social engagements: cocktails, social hours, etc.

Discovery & AccessDiscovery & Access

Tools, etc.Technology as more than a tool but an integrated part of what we doTechnology platform for field students (wiki, blog, etc.) that is accessible from remote locationsCombine controlled vocabulary with user tags

Tools, etc.Technology as more than a tool but an integrated part of what we doTechnology platform for field students (wiki, blog, etc.) that is accessible from remote locationsCombine controlled vocabulary with user tags

Discovery and AccessDiscovery and Access

Special collectionsUsing grad student help to organize collection and creating a portal for accessWorkshops introducing Archives and Special Collections

Special collectionsUsing grad student help to organize collection and creating a portal for accessWorkshops introducing Archives and Special Collections

Discovery and AccessDiscovery and Access

IssuesWhat do grad students need and want (build on research that’s already done)How to create partnerships with departments, deansAbsence of physical draw - how to create personal relationships

IssuesWhat do grad students need and want (build on research that’s already done)How to create partnerships with departments, deansAbsence of physical draw - how to create personal relationships

Discovery and AccessDiscovery and Access

IssuesDevelop capacity to share ideas and know what’s elsewhere, as well as what’s in your own institutionPilotsHow to share resources among libraries

IssuesDevelop capacity to share ideas and know what’s elsewhere, as well as what’s in your own institutionPilotsHow to share resources among libraries

Discovery and AccessDiscovery and Access

New kinds of people working in librariesGroup identified 40 new position ideas Copyright managerUnix skillsDigital librariansSubject specialists who shift focus from building collections to supporting users/building relationships

Skill set of librarian - work the room, cold call, social skillsTake personnel resources from serials and cataloging

New kinds of people working in librariesGroup identified 40 new position ideas Copyright managerUnix skillsDigital librariansSubject specialists who shift focus from building collections to supporting users/building relationships

Skill set of librarian - work the room, cold call, social skillsTake personnel resources from serials and cataloging

InterdisciplinarityInterdisciplinarity

Role of library in facilitating interdisciplinary work

Library funding model is tied to traditional departmentsGrad students are not involved in collection decisions, including cuts of serials

Role of library in facilitating interdisciplinary work

Library funding model is tied to traditional departmentsGrad students are not involved in collection decisions, including cuts of serials

InterdisciplinarityInterdisciplinarity

How can libraries help surmount discipline “language” issues?

Can we work with database producers?Can we help students identify key resources in other disciplines?

Do libraries have a viable role in developing interdisciplinary discovery tools?How can libraries foster cross-sector partnerships?

How can libraries help surmount discipline “language” issues?

Can we work with database producers?Can we help students identify key resources in other disciplines?

Do libraries have a viable role in developing interdisciplinary discovery tools?How can libraries foster cross-sector partnerships?

InterdisciplinarityInterdisciplinarity

Service modelsGraduate library advisor assigned to each studentThe “subversive” librarian - find new ways to insert into the academic processOutreach to centers and institutes, not just departmentsAssign responsibility for communication to grad students across disciplines

Service modelsGraduate library advisor assigned to each studentThe “subversive” librarian - find new ways to insert into the academic processOutreach to centers and institutes, not just departmentsAssign responsibility for communication to grad students across disciplines

InterdisciplinarityInterdisciplinarity

Address grad student needsMake closed-off space accessible after hoursHave staff available hours really neededConduct focus groups solely with grad studentsDigital “research space” for grad students (as part of institutional repository)

Address grad student needsMake closed-off space accessible after hoursHave staff available hours really neededConduct focus groups solely with grad studentsDigital “research space” for grad students (as part of institutional repository)

Innovative projects and ideasInnovative projects and ideas

Librarians assisting students with identifying sources of funding (U. Washington)myLibrary (U. Minnesota) - campus portal opportunity (19,000 daily unique logins to university portal)PennTags (U. Pennsylvania) - social bookmarking service

Librarians assisting students with identifying sources of funding (U. Washington)myLibrary (U. Minnesota) - campus portal opportunity (19,000 daily unique logins to university portal)PennTags (U. Pennsylvania) - social bookmarking service

Innovative projects and ideasInnovative projects and ideas

Text mark-up project for first year students (Northwestern) - training opportunity for a variety of skills“Chapter exchange” - monthly event (with food!) where students can critique each others’ dissertation chaptersExclusivity - card-swiped entry

U. Florida, U.Va. (computer lab)

Text mark-up project for first year students (Northwestern) - training opportunity for a variety of skills“Chapter exchange” - monthly event (with food!) where students can critique each others’ dissertation chaptersExclusivity - card-swiped entry

U. Florida, U.Va. (computer lab)

Innovative projects and ideasInnovative projects and ideas

Friday afternoon program for international students (Boston College)Program on how to publish (with faculty speakers - Boston College)

Friday afternoon program for international students (Boston College)Program on how to publish (with faculty speakers - Boston College)

What else?What else?

Not just discovery and access - need to add production - iterative process of research

Multi-media production areas, hardware, software, expertisePractice presentation roomsDigital exhibit space (physical and virtual)

Not just discovery and access - need to add production - iterative process of research

Multi-media production areas, hardware, software, expertisePractice presentation roomsDigital exhibit space (physical and virtual)

What else?What else?

Authorship issuesWhere to place content developed as part of research (final products as well as data, images, etc.)Formats acceptable for ETDs and other publication venuesIntellectual property issues, contracts, licenses

Authorship issuesWhere to place content developed as part of research (final products as well as data, images, etc.)Formats acceptable for ETDs and other publication venuesIntellectual property issues, contracts, licenses

What else?What else?

Preservation of content created by grad students

StewardshipFormatMetadata

Preservation of content created by grad students

StewardshipFormatMetadata

Communication/marketing/brandingCommunication/marketing/branding

Outreach to:Grad studentsFacultyGrad school leadership

Outreach to:Grad studentsFacultyGrad school leadership

You’re not intentionally hiding yourYou’re not intentionally hiding your

Special collectionsServicesStaff expertiseEquipment…But, that’s how it seems to users

Special collectionsServicesStaff expertiseEquipment…But, that’s how it seems to users

AssessmentAssessment

Survey, use dataQualitative data

Create formal channels for ongoing communication

Survey, use dataQualitative data

Create formal channels for ongoing communication

DiscussionDiscussion

FacilitatorsYour questions and comments

FacilitatorsYour questions and comments

Joan K. Lippincottjoan@cni.org