Volume 2, Number 1
In This Issue
Director's Message
URI Library Students win scholarships
Reminder about Programs of Study
GSLIS graduate named University of Florida Libraries' Director of Development
1st Annual SLA/RI & SLA/RI GSLIS chapters Fall meeting
Scholarship News
Seminar in Chinese Librarianship
Student, Faculty and Alumni News
A funny, loving tribute to librarians from one of our patrons
A place to share your bookshelf with others and find out what your friends are reading!
MySpace…for bibliophiles
Librarians’ Internet Index
A helpful list of websites you can trust
You Don’t Look Like a Librarian
A website about the changing image and perception of librarians
A list of fun and funny online websites and resources for librarians who refuse to be “classified!”
Web resources helpful to librarians doing research
Blogs from librarians and library students about various topics
Tell Us!
Do you know an amazing student or faculty member GSLIS should know about?
Is there an upcoming event you’d like us to report on?
Let us know!
Dr. Naomi Caldwell
Alison Messier, GA
A Message from Acting Director, Kevin McClure
I’ve been asked to provide a few comments to the Newsletter as the Acting Director of GSLIS. My term as Director began in June and I will return to my regular duties in Communication Studies in December. As you can imagine there were a number of challenges involved in coming into another program to direct. Primary among my concerns in deciding to accept the position was in not knowing what I might be getting myself into; not knowing if I was opening a box of chocolates or a can of worms. So I want to briefly comment on my experiences and impressions as Acting Director, as someone who is an outsider of sorts.
First, it has been a wonderful experience for me to learn about the program and get to know the faculty, the staff, and the students. In fact, my most active impression of this experience regards the professionalism, expertise, and abilities of the faculty, the staff, and the students in the department. All of you should be proud of the work that everyone is doing and the virtuosity and professionalism with which everyone carries out their duties and responsibilities. Second, I want underscore the collegiality, warmth, and goodwill that everyone has shown me personally. Without the support and goodwill of everyone I would not be even remotely able to perform these duties and responsibilities. It has also been a wonderful opportunity for me to grow in my knowledge about administration duties at the University and to face new challenges professionally. As I look forward to the end of the semester I hope that I can continue to help the department to fulfill its mission and to be of service to everyone who needs my support. Finally, if nothing else, I hope that I have provided the department with a greater appreciation of importance of having Dr. Eaton as the chair.
--Kevin McClure
Two URI Library Students win scholarships
Media Contact: Jan Wenzel, 401-874-2116
KINGSTON,
R.I. –July 15, 2008—For the second year in a row, two
students enrolled in the University of Rhode Island’s
Graduate School of Library and Information Studies program have
won New England Library Association scholarships. The library
association provides a multitude of services and opportunities for
librarians in every type of library throughout the six New England
states. Each year, the association awards four scholarships to
graduate students –two $2,000 scholarships for full-time
students and two $1,000 scholarships for part-time students.
This year, Alison Messier of Wakefield, a full-time
library and information studies student at URI, will receive a
$2,000 scholarship. The Northampton, Mass. native, currently
completing a professional field experience at the Naval War
College in Newport, will be a graduate assistant in the library
program for the upcoming 2008-2009 academic year. After graduation
next May, she plans to pursue a career in academic libraries,
possibly technical services or reference, preferably in the Boston
area.
Marilyn Hines, a part-time library and information studies student at URI, won a $1,000 scholarship. She is currently employed at the Coventry Public Library as a paraprofessional, providing reference services and working at circulation. She expects to graduate next May and become certified as a school library media specialist. She is interested in 1) developing programs and curricula to help bridge gender-related technology gaps that too often begin in middle school and 2) building collections that allow every child to find him/herself on the library shelf. She lives in Greene, R.I. with her spouse and three children.
Reminder about Programs of Study
The University of Rhode Island Graduate School’s policy pertaining to the completion and submission of Programs of Study (POS) states that all matriculated students must meet with their advisor and complete their POS by the time they have completed six (6) credits. If this procedure is not followed, the Graduate School could determine that the courses and their corresponding credits would not count toward the student’s degree. To avoid this, please make an appointment with your advisor, sooner rather than later, to plan your POS. The Graduate School of Library and Information Studies’ curriculum committee uses the data from completed POS forms to determine the course schedules and rotations for each semester, so your completion of the POS is helpful toward this end.
GSLIS Graduate Named University of Florida Libraries' Director of Development
July 14, 2008—Alicia A. Antone joined the University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries on June 16, 2008 as the director of development. She has a varied background in a wide range of library-related activities from public, special, and public/private partnership libraries.
Antone has master’s degrees in library and information science and public administration from the University of Rhode Island. She holds undergraduate degrees in business administration and management from Johnson & Wales University, Providence. She recently completed several courses at The Fundraising School, Center on Philanthropy, at Indiana University. She is also an American Library Association Spectrum Scholar.
Her most recent work experience was with Broward County Libraries as the Assistant Regional Library Manager of the South Regional – Broward Community College Library (Pembroke Pines), the first LEED certified “green” building in the county. She was responsible for planning the direction of the libraries’ funding opportunities and securing resources to sponsor library programs and events. Prior to that she worked at the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center near Fort Lauderdale where she served as the assistant director and later as the director.
At UF, Antone will have primary responsibility for directing activities to secure major gifts and private support for the Smathers Libraries. Her first order of business is to visit each library to meet faculty, staff and students and learn what the libraries’ and students’ developmental needs are. She will work closely with the Associate Dean of Development and Advancement, Dean of Libraries and the library administration to align funding goals into a comprehensive strategic plan to meet the libraries’ needs by matching those needs to our donors’ values.
Antone says that “libraries are the people’s university, whether they are academic or public. It is through their gestation on our campuses and in our communities that they have the greatest impact on our future. People will give to that end.”
Submitted by Barbara Hood, Public Information Officer, UF
First Annual SLA/RI chapter and SLA/RI GSLIS chapter Fall Meeting—November 8, 2008
Speaker Jessica Baumgart, Quality Assurance Engineer at Renesys and multi award winner will present “Technological tools and tricks.”
Included
in this meeting is a brief introduction to the Student chapter’s
mentorship program with some face-to-face interaction. The
Mentorship Program is designed to match one student/new
professional to a working MLIS professional for the academic
2008/2009 year. This is open to all aspects of librarianship, not
just those that concern themselves with "special
libraries."
This innovative talk takes place at Galanti
Lounge,
3rd floor, University Library @ URI
Address:
University Library 15 Lippitt Road, Kingston, RI
02881-2011
Directions:
http://www.uri.edu/home/visitors/Map/kingston_direction.html
Cost:
Current
GSLIS students: FREE!
Students,
retirees, and in between jobs: $10.00
Members: $15.00
Non-members: $20.00
“Angel donations” $10.00
Speaker: 11:30 AM
Light Lunch: 12:30 PM
Light lunch will consist of fingerfood, fruit, vegetables and dip, juice, and a variety of other delectables.
RSVP on or before Nov. 1 by kindly sending a check, made out to “SLA-RI chapter” to Cherine Whitney 68 Tefft Hill Road Wyoming, RI 02898. Any questions? call 401-539-0922 or email cherinewhitney@cox.net. **Please let Cherine know if you are planning on attending so that she can get an accurate head count.**
Scholarship News
GSLIS is always grateful to the many friends and alumni who support our program. Hundreds of you have donated to the Annual Fund for GSLIS. In addition to practical support, your gifts provide important evidence of your moral support. We sincerely appreciate even the smallest donations.
As we go through this fall semester, we’re also reminded of our gratitude toward those who support our students with larger gifts and endowments. Some highlights:
Jason McGill was awarded the first Gordon M. Conable Conference Scholarship, by the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF). The Conable Scholarship was created to advance two principles that Gordon Conable held dear: intellectual freedom and mentorship. The scholarship provided for the registration, transportation, and accommodations for a library school student or new professional to attend ALA’s Annual Conference. This year’s conference was held in Anaheim, California.
Seminar in Chinese Librarianship
The Graduate School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Rhode Island is pleased to announce its Global Education for Librarians and Information Professionals Program.
GSLIS
will offer again the Seminar
in Chinese Librarianship
taught by Professor Yan Ma and Professor Ying Ye at Zhejiang
University in the summer of 2007. The dates are: May 25 to June 5,
2009. The seminar will provide students and professionals with an
opportunity to travel to China to study the history of Chinese
librarianship and libraries and information services from the
ancient to the contemporary times.
Participants learn about
different types of libraries and librarianship in China, the role
of the traditional, academic, public, special and school libraries
in China. Students will have an opportunity to learn the
U.S.-China Million Book Digital Library Project, which is
instituted at Zhejiang University.
The Seminar is a
3-credit course from GSLIS. Participants are asked to attend all
class sessions and library tours in China and complete a research
paper after the Seminar ends. Non-credit option is also
available.
Participants will attend all class sessions and
library tours without the requirement of the research
paper.
Registration is open to anyone. The seminar can
either be taken for academic credit or on a non-credit basis. The
deadline for application is March 15 with a deposit of $150. The
full payment will be due on May 1st. For more information on the
curriculum specific to the Global Education for Librarians and
Information Professionals Program, please visit GSLIS
Website:
http://www.uri.edu/artsci/lsc/Academics/GELIP/LSC597_china.html
Or,
contact Professor Yan Ma, Director of the GELIP Program, Graduate
School of Library and Information Studies, University of Rhode
Island, 94 West Alumni Avenue, Kingston, RI 02881 USA
Tel:
401-874-2819
Fax: 401-874-4964
Email: yanma@uri.edu
For
more details and to apply for a registration form, please visit
the Study Abroad Website
at:
http://www.uri.edu/international/study_abroad/summer.htm
For
admission and registration information, contact Ms. Katiuska
Perez, Coordinator of URI Summer Programs Abroad, Office of
International Students and Scholars, 37 Lower College Road,
Kingston, RI 02881
Tel: (401) 874-2019
Fax:(401)
874-2402
E-mail: spoie@etal.uri.edu
Student and Alumni News
Desiree Smelcer created a Preservation Plan as part of her Independent Study through the GSLIS program here at URI. Her plan is for the South Hadley Public Library and was created over the Summer 2008. The Library Trustees have approved, implemented, and funded the plan. There were no Preservation Plans at this library before this one was implemented.
Jessica Langlois (2004) recently became the Director of the Dennis Public Library on Cape Cod. She also got married on August 24, 2008 to Dan Ferreira. Congratulations!
Kirk Morrison (2006) is the Head of Reference Services at the Morgan Memorial Library, which is part of the Suffolk Public Library System, in Suffolk, VA. He lives with his wife in nearby Norfolk, VA.
Melody Allen (adjunct) retired at the end of September after 29 1/2 years as the state children's services consultant for the Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services. She worked in public and school libraries for eight years before that. In June, the Rhode Island Library Association presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award, and this fall she received the Emerson Greenaway Award from the New England Library Association. She will continue to teach LSC530 and co-teach LSC535.
Faculty News
Dr. Cheryl Ann McCarthy (professor), in Winter 2008, wrote two accreditation reports for the School Library Media Program for the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE). In March 2008, Professor McCarthy coordinated visits by both NCATE and RIDE teams to interview candidates, graduates, and mentors as well as visit school sites for the SLM Program. The MLIS School Library Media Program received full accreditation (5 years) with commendations for excellence and was awarded, “National Recognition.” The RIDE report, made two recommendations to strengthen the program by providing more collaborations as well as more opportunities for candidates to gain more experience with diverse learners in diverse environments. Dr. McCarthy would like to thank the faculty, the excellent SLM candidates, graduates, and mentors who participated in this review process. As a result of the RIDE recommendation, she is currently collaborating with Ms. Debbie Fisher at Central Falls High School to ensure that school library media candidates have opportunities to work in diverse settings and have opportunities to assist learners with their information literacy skills. This fall, Dr. McCarthy and SLM candidates are working on alternating Wednesdays at Central Falls High School. In May 2008, Professor McCarthy and one SLM Candidate, Carolyn Steward, participated in the evaluation of Senior Projects at the Providence Academy for International Studies (PAIS). Professor McCarthy continues to collaborate at PAIS with LMS, Peter Quesnel, to provide experiences for SLM candidates in diverse learning environments during the fall for visits and volunteering and in the spring for practicum.
Professor McCarthy has participated in Diversity Week book discussion programs at URI for the past four years. On September 24, 2008, she coordinated the program with author, Dr. Padma Venkatraman who provided insights to her highly acclaimed debut novel, Climbing the Stairs. Professor McCarthy facilitated the book discussion program with the assistance of her LSC 520 School Library Media Students who read the book and wrote interpretive questions to encourage inquiry into the novel, the characters, and the culture of India. Dr. McCarthy would like to thank all participants especially Dr. Venkatraman who graciously and generously discussed her brilliant novel and responded to students’ questions. In addition, Dr. McCarthy was pleased to have MCC Director, Dr. Melvin Wade, and GSLIS adjunct professor, Kathleen Odean, present at this program.
Professor McCarthy’s current scholarly work includes an investigation of “Learning Commons” or “Information Commons” in academic libraries. She visited Yale’s new Bass Library and received a tour and interview with Danuta Nitecki, Associate University Librarian, in May 2008 and plans to continue investigating learning commons in academic libraries if her sabbatical proposal is approved. In addition, she is completing an “Assessment of Students’ Information Literacy Skills” with Professor Karen Stein as part of a collaboration with mentors from LSC 527 Information Literacy Instruction.
Professor McCarthy continues to coordinate the new Information Literacy Instruction Certificate and she extends her congratulations to the recent recipients.
Professor McCarthy is also serving on the Rhode Island Center for the Book Executive Board.