It is time to wrap up our self study. Mike and I are summarizing the discussions and comments into a draft. We need one more important effort from committee members. Please take a few minutes and, either from memory or by reviewing the blog, submit two or three strengths & two or three weaknesses (room for improvement, opportunities) of our library program. Either submit these as comments to this post, or email them to me and I will publish your comments!
And thanks for all you hard work. Be sure to note the email on our party to celebrate our efforts.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Standard 5.A.3 – Purpose and Scope
5.A.3 Information resources and services are determined by the nature of the institution’s educational programs and the locations where programs are offered.
Lead Bloggers: Joella/Danny
1. Do the collection and online resources reflect the programs that are offered at the college?
The resources provided by the UM-Helena library reflect the programs offered by the college in that the bulk of library resources are geared toward General Education; this department houses a large majority of the student population. Other programs like trades and technical are also represented by the collection. The online data bases provide a number of choices for areas such as Science, Business, Nursing, etc. However, the online resources for Computer and Trades could be bolstered. Trades could be split into Welding, Aviation, Diesel, etc. and online resources specific to those technologies provided.
2. Are our selected materials at the appropriate level for our programs or are they too remedial (high school level) or too advanced (graduate level)?
The online databases are geared towards the undergraduate level. However, there are additional data bases that are graduate level or high school level. These data bases, however, serve a purpose in that the nature of a two year college results in both advanced students and students who need to do some “catching up”. Thus the databases service the demographic of our students.
The in house collection is focused specifically on the undergraduate program in which the title was purchased. This reflects the libraries attentiveness to instructor suggested material for specific programs and so takes the guess work out of purchasing program specific titles.
3. How is the library responsive to request from programs?
The library takes requests from faculty and processes that request through the Collection Management Plan. There is an online form so that request can be easily made or requests can be made in person at the library.
4. How are faculty involved in determining the resources for the library? The services? Should there be a more formal advisory board to the library?
Anyone can make a request for the collection. Again, these requests must follow protocol. Education department also consult with the librarian in regards to collection additions and the librarian attends academic departmental chair meetings, thus staying abreast of changes within the academic areas.
The advisory board to the library should probably meet 2 times a year to review the libraries processes and to provide feedback; insuring the library is on par with other institutions.
5. What services are offered that support the educational programs? In particular, how is the General Education program supported by the library program?
The library offers class room research instruction and an instructor may “book” a librarian to help out in specific classes. Additionally, students may take advantage of interlibrary loan programs to supplement their research and AV equipment is available to aid both instructors and students in presenting their work.
6. Are there any library services that are provided to the programs at the airport campus? Why are there not more services provided to this campus?
Online resources are available to students at the airport campus. Additionally the library provides local newspaper delivery. Additional services offered by the library must be accessed on site at the library. This requires airport campus students to travel to the Donaldson campus.
This arrangement is not ideal and is recognized as so. However, the funding available for staffing a cross-town library operation is not available. If such funding were to materialize the cross-town library service would be of great interest.
7. How do the library collection and services support students enrolled in online classes?
Students enrolled in online classes may access the libraries online databases and reference guides from their home computers. Also, the library web page contains resources to facilitate students during research projects; such as documents that outline the research process. Online students may also take advantage of the Blackboard link provided by the library.
Perhaps a monthly email newsletter updating online students as to the new resources available may help to spark interest and motive students to visit their local libraries.
Lead Bloggers: Joella/Danny
1. Do the collection and online resources reflect the programs that are offered at the college?
The resources provided by the UM-Helena library reflect the programs offered by the college in that the bulk of library resources are geared toward General Education; this department houses a large majority of the student population. Other programs like trades and technical are also represented by the collection. The online data bases provide a number of choices for areas such as Science, Business, Nursing, etc. However, the online resources for Computer and Trades could be bolstered. Trades could be split into Welding, Aviation, Diesel, etc. and online resources specific to those technologies provided.
2. Are our selected materials at the appropriate level for our programs or are they too remedial (high school level) or too advanced (graduate level)?
The online databases are geared towards the undergraduate level. However, there are additional data bases that are graduate level or high school level. These data bases, however, serve a purpose in that the nature of a two year college results in both advanced students and students who need to do some “catching up”. Thus the databases service the demographic of our students.
The in house collection is focused specifically on the undergraduate program in which the title was purchased. This reflects the libraries attentiveness to instructor suggested material for specific programs and so takes the guess work out of purchasing program specific titles.
3. How is the library responsive to request from programs?
The library takes requests from faculty and processes that request through the Collection Management Plan. There is an online form so that request can be easily made or requests can be made in person at the library.
4. How are faculty involved in determining the resources for the library? The services? Should there be a more formal advisory board to the library?
Anyone can make a request for the collection. Again, these requests must follow protocol. Education department also consult with the librarian in regards to collection additions and the librarian attends academic departmental chair meetings, thus staying abreast of changes within the academic areas.
The advisory board to the library should probably meet 2 times a year to review the libraries processes and to provide feedback; insuring the library is on par with other institutions.
5. What services are offered that support the educational programs? In particular, how is the General Education program supported by the library program?
The library offers class room research instruction and an instructor may “book” a librarian to help out in specific classes. Additionally, students may take advantage of interlibrary loan programs to supplement their research and AV equipment is available to aid both instructors and students in presenting their work.
6. Are there any library services that are provided to the programs at the airport campus? Why are there not more services provided to this campus?
Online resources are available to students at the airport campus. Additionally the library provides local newspaper delivery. Additional services offered by the library must be accessed on site at the library. This requires airport campus students to travel to the Donaldson campus.
This arrangement is not ideal and is recognized as so. However, the funding available for staffing a cross-town library operation is not available. If such funding were to materialize the cross-town library service would be of great interest.
7. How do the library collection and services support students enrolled in online classes?
Students enrolled in online classes may access the libraries online databases and reference guides from their home computers. Also, the library web page contains resources to facilitate students during research projects; such as documents that outline the research process. Online students may also take advantage of the Blackboard link provided by the library.
Perhaps a monthly email newsletter updating online students as to the new resources available may help to spark interest and motive students to visit their local libraries.
Standard 5.A.2 – Purpose and Scope
5.A.2 The institution’s core collection and related information resources are sufficient to support the curriculum.
Lead Bloggers: George/Alan/Dave
What is the size of the core collection? (What is on our shelves)
How does the size of our collection compare to other 2 year schools in Montana or the region?
Is there a program that is underrepresented in the print or electronic collection?
Our current core collection is right under 7,000 hard copies of books, journals, and media. This compares unfavorably to every other 2 year school in Montana. As of Fall 2007 we had a collection of 6,200 volumes, Missoula COT had a collection of over 17,000 texts even with the main UM – Missoula campus just miles away. Our closest COT for demographics, mission, size, and location, MSU-Great Falls had nearly 10,000 hard copies texts. forty percent larger than our collection. We fell the statistics speak for them shelves; we are extremely anemic in a hard text collection.
Our electronic collection piggy backs on UM-Missoula so it appears to be adequate. With the shortage of texts some departments are no doubt ‘short’ on quickly available resources. In particular, English or any related literature class. True, we have good electronic sources and can obtain hard texts from our sister university libraries, but this is not as practical, fast, or tangible as an available hard copy at the students immediate use.
We need more books.
Lead Bloggers: George/Alan/Dave
What is the size of the core collection? (What is on our shelves)
How does the size of our collection compare to other 2 year schools in Montana or the region?
Is there a program that is underrepresented in the print or electronic collection?
Our current core collection is right under 7,000 hard copies of books, journals, and media. This compares unfavorably to every other 2 year school in Montana. As of Fall 2007 we had a collection of 6,200 volumes, Missoula COT had a collection of over 17,000 texts even with the main UM – Missoula campus just miles away. Our closest COT for demographics, mission, size, and location, MSU-Great Falls had nearly 10,000 hard copies texts. forty percent larger than our collection. We fell the statistics speak for them shelves; we are extremely anemic in a hard text collection.
Our electronic collection piggy backs on UM-Missoula so it appears to be adequate. With the shortage of texts some departments are no doubt ‘short’ on quickly available resources. In particular, English or any related literature class. True, we have good electronic sources and can obtain hard texts from our sister university libraries, but this is not as practical, fast, or tangible as an available hard copy at the students immediate use.
We need more books.
Standard 5.A.1 – Purpose and Scope
5.A.1 The institution’s information resources and services include sufficient holdings, equipment, and personnel in all of its libraries, instructional media and production centers, computer centers, networks, telecommunication facilities, and other repositories of information to accomplish the institution’s mission and goals.
Lead Bloggers: Suzanne/Candace
In addressing this indicator, the following questions were addressed.
Does the library have a mission statement, was it easy to locate, and if so, does it relate well to the institutional mission?
The Library’s Mission statement is easily found on the Library Website at www.umhelena.edu/library under the “Library Mission” link. The mission statement is as follows.
The mission of the Library at University of Montana – Helena is to enhance instruction and learning by providing resources and access to information in support of the college’s programs.
The Library assists students in achieving success and contributes to the educational process by maintaining a balanced collection of materials in a variety of formats and by providing knowledgeable staff to help patrons with their information needs.
The Library also exists to foster the broader educational ideals of life-long learning, information literacy, and intellectual freedom to the college and the greater Helena community.
The Library’s mission statement follows closely the mission statement for UM-H. That mission statement is found on page 2 of the 2008-2009 course catalog.
The University of Montana - Helena College of Technology promotes lifelong educational
Do we have instructional media or instructional production in our library?
The library’s instructional media consists of dvd’s and videos, some AV equipment, remote access to library website which links to data bases, PowerPoint presentations on how to use the library, reserve collections, and, of course, its collection of books, journals and magazines, newspapers, electronic books, electronic books, journals, and newspapers. The librarian is very willing to create displays at instructors’ requests.
The library does not have any instructional production equipment in the library.
Do we have a computer center in our library? Networks? Telecommunications? Copier, Scanner? Is there equipment that the library lacks that would enhance our services?
The library has a computer center for online research that has five computers with one being housed at a table that is handicapped accessible. The five computers have no software on them other than that needed to go online, search the card catalog and print out a bibliography or research material. These computers have access to the library network. The library also shares the school’s wireless network, and guests are provided with directions for log-on.
The library houses a copier that students can use for .05 cents a page. There is no fax or scanner in the library. These two are needed to help students do research, produce materials for classes, and to help them communicate with various outside groups. These two things would enhance the library’s ability to serve students.
Are our resources sufficient to support our stated mission? If not, where are we lacking,(ie. lifelong learning). How do our electronic resources relate to our print collection?
The trades programs, housed at the airport campus, have access to the electronic materials and the book catalog through faculty computers and student computer labs. However, there is not a branch of the library on that campus. The library holdings have good and updated books and journals that support the trades, and the trades faculty have input into ordering and culling of books and journals.
Patrons have good access to collections at the Donaldson campus. They also can access most Montana library collections through the library website and the University of Montana libraries through the card catalog. Books and journal articles are easily obtained through interlibrary loans. The data bases provide excellent access to collections in general areas, in the sciences, in business, in arts and humanities, in nursing, in history and public affairs, in the trades, in career areas, and in computers. Newspaper and specialized and general encyclopedias are offered as well through the electronic holdings.
For lifelong learning, the library website highlights websites of general interest: medical, zip codes, Montana, Native Americans, and so on. The collection lacks good fiction and non-fiction that would be used for recreational or lifelong learning opportunities beyond those required by the programs and their instructors. Some recreational reading books are available for downloading in audio format. The library is beginning to gather some self-help books that help students promote good physical, mental, and financial health.
Program needs and the needs of lifelong education could be better supported by the library being open more hours per week, by having professional librarians or technicians and not work study students operating the library in the evening hours. More trained personnel would allow the library to open earlier in the morning and for longer hours over the weekends. Currently, the library is open during fall and spring semesters on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 pm Monday through Thursday, and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and for some Saturday hours during the second half of the semesters. During breaks and the summer, the library is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
What library services/activities, if any, support the cultural development of students?
The library’s holding include books, journals, and electronic media about many cultures; the library often creates displays that coincide with cultural events on campus. For example, for Montana’s American Indian Heritage day, the library puts together a display of its books on Montana tribes. When the Diversity Committee sponsored a deaf culture panel discussion, the library displayed its holdings on deaf culture.
The library also hosts art exhibits and book discussions; these all contribute to the cultural life of our students.
In summary, our library does well with its limited budget, personnel, and physical space. The library offers basic services: a book collection and journal collection focused on UM-Helena programs; electronic access to databases that support the programs; a limited computer center; a copier; a variety of videos and dvd’s, some reference materials; available wireless internet; and one professionally trained research and administrative librarian and one library technician. The library does not offer video and audio equipment beyond a projector and some laptops, nor does it offer a production center, nor a copying center. It is not a repository for state or federal materials. Its collection of lifelong learning materials needs to be enhanced as does its collection of books aimed at helping students maintain mental, physical, and financial health.
The library’s physical holdings along with its electronic holdings and the choices made for each uphold the library’s mission, especially where its programs are concerned.
Lead Bloggers: Suzanne/Candace
In addressing this indicator, the following questions were addressed.
Does the library have a mission statement, was it easy to locate, and if so, does it relate well to the institutional mission?
The Library’s Mission statement is easily found on the Library Website at www.umhelena.edu/library under the “Library Mission” link. The mission statement is as follows.
The mission of the Library at University of Montana – Helena is to enhance instruction and learning by providing resources and access to information in support of the college’s programs.
The Library assists students in achieving success and contributes to the educational process by maintaining a balanced collection of materials in a variety of formats and by providing knowledgeable staff to help patrons with their information needs.
The Library also exists to foster the broader educational ideals of life-long learning, information literacy, and intellectual freedom to the college and the greater Helena community.
The Library’s mission statement follows closely the mission statement for UM-H. That mission statement is found on page 2 of the 2008-2009 course catalog.
The University of Montana - Helena College of Technology promotes lifelong educational
goals of learners, supports workforce development needs of employers, and
fosters community involvement by providing a substantive, responsible, and accessible
learning environment.
Do we have instructional media or instructional production in our library?
The library’s instructional media consists of dvd’s and videos, some AV equipment, remote access to library website which links to data bases, PowerPoint presentations on how to use the library, reserve collections, and, of course, its collection of books, journals and magazines, newspapers, electronic books, electronic books, journals, and newspapers. The librarian is very willing to create displays at instructors’ requests.
The library does not have any instructional production equipment in the library.
Do we have a computer center in our library? Networks? Telecommunications? Copier, Scanner? Is there equipment that the library lacks that would enhance our services?
The library has a computer center for online research that has five computers with one being housed at a table that is handicapped accessible. The five computers have no software on them other than that needed to go online, search the card catalog and print out a bibliography or research material. These computers have access to the library network. The library also shares the school’s wireless network, and guests are provided with directions for log-on.
The library houses a copier that students can use for .05 cents a page. There is no fax or scanner in the library. These two are needed to help students do research, produce materials for classes, and to help them communicate with various outside groups. These two things would enhance the library’s ability to serve students.
Are our resources sufficient to support our stated mission? If not, where are we lacking,(ie. lifelong learning). How do our electronic resources relate to our print collection?
The librarian works with program faculty to make sure that the book collection and journal collection meet the needs of the programs. Faculty members are invited to suggest new books and journals and to help cull outdated works. For example, in order to receive Board of Nursing approval, the nursing department has to have access to current and appropriate books and journals in the library. The book collection and the electronic data bases sufficiently support the nursing program needs. Other areas need to grow.
The trades programs, housed at the airport campus, have access to the electronic materials and the book catalog through faculty computers and student computer labs. However, there is not a branch of the library on that campus. The library holdings have good and updated books and journals that support the trades, and the trades faculty have input into ordering and culling of books and journals.
Patrons have good access to collections at the Donaldson campus. They also can access most Montana library collections through the library website and the University of Montana libraries through the card catalog. Books and journal articles are easily obtained through interlibrary loans. The data bases provide excellent access to collections in general areas, in the sciences, in business, in arts and humanities, in nursing, in history and public affairs, in the trades, in career areas, and in computers. Newspaper and specialized and general encyclopedias are offered as well through the electronic holdings.
For lifelong learning, the library website highlights websites of general interest: medical, zip codes, Montana, Native Americans, and so on. The collection lacks good fiction and non-fiction that would be used for recreational or lifelong learning opportunities beyond those required by the programs and their instructors. Some recreational reading books are available for downloading in audio format. The library is beginning to gather some self-help books that help students promote good physical, mental, and financial health.
Program needs and the needs of lifelong education could be better supported by the library being open more hours per week, by having professional librarians or technicians and not work study students operating the library in the evening hours. More trained personnel would allow the library to open earlier in the morning and for longer hours over the weekends. Currently, the library is open during fall and spring semesters on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 pm Monday through Thursday, and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and for some Saturday hours during the second half of the semesters. During breaks and the summer, the library is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
What library services/activities, if any, support the cultural development of students?
The library’s holding include books, journals, and electronic media about many cultures; the library often creates displays that coincide with cultural events on campus. For example, for Montana’s American Indian Heritage day, the library puts together a display of its books on Montana tribes. When the Diversity Committee sponsored a deaf culture panel discussion, the library displayed its holdings on deaf culture.
The library also hosts art exhibits and book discussions; these all contribute to the cultural life of our students.
In summary, our library does well with its limited budget, personnel, and physical space. The library offers basic services: a book collection and journal collection focused on UM-Helena programs; electronic access to databases that support the programs; a limited computer center; a copier; a variety of videos and dvd’s, some reference materials; available wireless internet; and one professionally trained research and administrative librarian and one library technician. The library does not offer video and audio equipment beyond a projector and some laptops, nor does it offer a production center, nor a copying center. It is not a repository for state or federal materials. Its collection of lifelong learning materials needs to be enhanced as does its collection of books aimed at helping students maintain mental, physical, and financial health.
The library’s physical holdings along with its electronic holdings and the choices made for each uphold the library’s mission, especially where its programs are concerned.
Standard 5.A – Purpose and Scope
Standard 5.A – Purpose and Scope
The primary purpose for library and information resources is to support teaching, learning, and, if applicable, research in ways consistent with, and supportive of, the institution’s mission and goals. Adequate library and information resources and services, at the appropriate level for degrees offered, are available to support the intellectual, cultural, and technical development of students enrolled in courses and programs wherever located and however delivered.
In April we will be finishing up our self-study with this last group of three indicators that somewhat summarize what we have been studying.
The primary purpose for library and information resources is to support teaching, learning, and, if applicable, research in ways consistent with, and supportive of, the institution’s mission and goals. Adequate library and information resources and services, at the appropriate level for degrees offered, are available to support the intellectual, cultural, and technical development of students enrolled in courses and programs wherever located and however delivered.
In April we will be finishing up our self-study with this last group of three indicators that somewhat summarize what we have been studying.
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