Post on 25-Dec-2015
COLLABORATING ACROSS CAMPUSES AND CONTINENTS
Welcome to the Future!
Kimberly Brady, MSI, AHIPEducation & Research Librarian, Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences
Nita Bryant, PhDLibrary Liaison for the Social and Behavioral Sciences, James Branch Cabell Library
Virginia Commonwealth University
A cross-campus library collaboration supporting the information needs of:
An online interdisciplinary program taught by 3 universities on 3 continents
A diverse and geographically dispersed student population
Challenges, Tools, and Solutions Lessons Learned and Future Directions
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME IN ADDICTION STUDIES (IPAS)
STUDENTS: GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
Social and Behavioral Sciences Liaison
Health Sciences Librarian
CROSS-CAMPUS COLLABORATION
Benefits: Complementary
subject and resource knowledge
Experience with different audiences
Challenges: Scheduling
meetings Managing time
constraints
INSTRUCTIONAL TOOLS
LibGuide: High use High librarian visibility
Screencasts & Video Tutorials
Blackboard (Course Management System): Embedded, “highly visible”
TOOLS: BLACKBOARDLibrarians enrolled as ‘instructors’
Access to all course materials
Grasp course scope& sequence
Anticipate information needs
“Ask a Librarian” Discussion Board widely used
Greater Visibility!
CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNED
Time Differences
Complicates timely response to queries
Live Chat was offered but not used
Web Conferencing impractical across time zones
Due Dates vary by time zones
CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNED:
Course Reserves
Large numbers of readings
Insufficient time to process
Terms do not align with US semesters
CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNED
Copyright & Licenses
Course Reserves: not all required readings were compliant with VCU’s policies
Software license limitations affected users outside US borders
FUTURE DIRECTIONS
Collaborate with University of Adelaide, King’s College London libraries so students are directed to best sources available
New collaborative opportunities emerged from this program We are providing similar support to
Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows at VCU’s Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies http://guides.library.vcu.edu/humphrey
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?
Collaborations will be increasingly:
Cross/multi/inter-disciplinary
Multi-institutional
Multi-national
HOW CAN WE MEET THE FUTURE?
Be proactive
Identify emerging opportunities
Approach colleagues with relevant complementary subject and resource knowledge
Identify potential barriers (institutional, organizational, time, distance, schedules)
Build rapport with program faculty – essential!
USE DISTANCE EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY
Create a Program LibGuide
Leverage Course Management Systems like BlackboardCreate “Ask a Librarian” Discussion forum
Use email to announce new tutorials, answer questions, provide consultations
Leverage existing online tutorials, create program specific tutorials using available software
FINAL LESSON LEARNED: EXPECT SUCCESS!
The challenges are NOT that big!
Much was accomplished in a very short time using existing distance education technologies.
The payoffs ARE!
Students say we are an integral part of their course experience
Faculty have appreciated the program support
The experience has been personally/ professionally rewarding
MORE INFORMATIONVCU Libraries IPAS: Addiction Studies LibGuide: http://www.guides.library.vcu.edu/ipas
VCUlibraries on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/vculibraries
Kimberly Brady, MSI, AHIP
Education & Research Librarian, Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences Virginia Commonwealth University kkbrady@vcu.edu
Nita Bryant, PhD
Library Liaison for the Social and Behavioral Sciences, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University nbryant@vcu.edu
Flickr Creative Commons Image Attributions:
Slide 7: “Legs over Shinjuku,” by Nestor’s Blurrylife. ttp://www.flickr.com/photos/nestorlacle/3606781229/
Slide 18: “Stop Sign,” by Steve A. Johnson. http://www.flickr.com/photos/artbystevejohnson/6673406227/
Slide 19: “Handshake,” by buddawiggi. http://www.flickr.com/photos/buddawiggi/5987710858/