Jefftine+University+Library+Profile

Jefftine University Library Institutional Profile:
 Jefftine University is a large community college located in the urban landscape of New York City. JU has many different degree programs for both undergraduate and graduate students. Jefftine University Library (JUL) is a major component of the university and has become the cultural and informational center for our academic community. The library’s mission is to support the curriculum of the university and the research needs of both the faculty and students.

**Staff:** The library’s staff includes professional librarians, support staff, and work study students. Our librarian staff includes a few subject specialists. The library receives consultation from the faculty when a specialist is needed in an area we are lacking. Over the years, our librarians worked to create relationships with the faculty so such collaboration and participation may occur. Another step in librarian/faculty collaboration was to create classes that more closely tie programs of study to library resources. A few years ago, JUL began collaborating with the faculty to create information literacy classes to educate students on research strategies using the library’s resources. Our staff of professional librarians and subject specialists shoulders the responsibility for conducting these sessions, but when a library class is taught in conjunction with a university course, the course’s professor is encouraged to participate by preparing students with assigned coursework that may be used during library sessions. Such involvement from faculty helps to make the lesson relevant to the course topic or to a specific student assignment. The classes have been tremendously successful, and the library is looking for opportunities to expand. We wish to incorporate technological tools and social media into the classes to push students to gain knowledge in current trends in technology. The classes themselves and the collaboration with academic courses helps promote JUL as a resource where students may always turn, reinforcing its role at the heart of scholarly research. Furthermore, JUL imagines a more fully integrated university community, with the librarians’ roles as central to maintaining the educational framework for such a robust academic scheme.

**Physical Space:** The Jefftine University Library building is the focal point of the campus. The Library has private rooms for group study and three computer labs, which are great for conducting classes on information and media literacy. The computers in the library, as well as those around campus, give access to the electronic databases to which the Library subscribes. The electronic databases are also available through personal computers via library wireless connections and off-site with a student ID number. Other than computer labs, the technology the Library possesses is quite limited. We do have the advantage of borrowing or arranging access to more advanced forms of technology from the academic departments. The library uses two out of the three computer labs to conduct classes. Classes are offered in conjunction with academic programs The classes take place during the time slot of their respective courses. Other classes are offered independently of any course. These classes are held during library hours at various times to ensure all students have a chance to attend. A schedule of the classes being offered are available on the library website, updated on a semesterly basis, though students are not required to RSVP in order to attend. The library uses feedback from surveys, recommendation from the JU community, and trends within different disciplines to create new classes that support the university’s academic curriculum. We try to leave holes in the course schedule for flexibility for creation of new classes, but staffing limitations, desk and virtual reference services, and the increasing priority of our outreach program sometimes leave limited free time. Also, tutorials in basic library research skills are available online for those students who could not make it to a scheduled time or who just need a refresher.

**Student Population:** The population of the university is approximately 15,000 students and is quite diverse. The majority of our students are undergraduate students. Most students are from the area, but a significant amount arrive from out of state and internationally.

40% -- White, Non-Hispanic 25% -- Black, Non- Hispanic 20% -- Hispanic 15% -- Asian/Pacific Islander

As stated before, the JU Library partnered with undergraduate faculty to teach a required information literacy course for incoming students. Through these courses, the library has learned the majority of students are not as comfortable with formal technology as once thought. They are very knowledgeable in social media and basic search engine functions, but once asked to use such knowledge in an academic setting, they feel lost and uncomfortable, refraining from asking questions or seeking help. Such comfort with academic research and use of electronic resources ranges with the previous educational background of each student. Through the information literacy classes, the Library also learned that the greatest need of the student body is fitting time into their busy schedules to come to the library. Due to this issue, we will begin offering online tutorials of the core classes being taught. We will also create classes focusing on tools that will make student workload lighter. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The goal in introducing information literacy classes to the Jefftine University community was to bridge educational gaps among students to create a level playing field. The goal is to help our student community successfully conduct research and use the facilities they have around them, while realizing constraints and coming to creative solutions within them. Most students feel they don’t need help; they know everything already. The tools students learn about through our classes will aid them in fulfilling their academic commitments, but also prepare them for their professional careers.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">**Course Planning Considerations:** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The library’s budget has recently been cut back, but costs accrued from establishing information literacy classes is very low. All materials needed are already available on campus. Any extra purchases and the curriculum of classes we create each semester need approval from the university administration and the head librarians. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Information Literacy classes are currently required for incoming freshman. Classes are set up through the library for students who wish to participate and further their knowledge and skills. The classes are geared towards students who may be unfamiliar with electronic databases and is a way to teach them how to conduct scholarly research. Again, the library would like to expand the classes being offered and proposes to a create classes for a range of disciplines for students with different levels of expertise. Emails to students, faculty encouragement, and fliers will promote such classes. Also, if a particular student is in need of help, the library encourages faculty members to recommend research consultations. One-on-one research consultations are available for those who cannot make it to the scheduled classes or for those with special needs. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unique challenges we look forward to are students who have no background in information literacy or using electronic resources. Another issue that may occur is whether students will attend. As stated before, the JU student body has many personal, professional, and academic responsibilities that may limit attendance. The library plans to be flexible in class times. We will experiment and conduct surveys when the best times are to conduct the classes that are convenient to the student body.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">**Media Literacy/Information Literacy Definition:** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For our lesson plans, we will use the information literacy definition found on the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) website. The ACRL defines information literacy as “a set of abilities requiring individuals to ‘recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the information needed’” (www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/standards/informationliteracycompetency.cfm). We are also adding media literacy into our definition of information literacy in order to educate students about what a particular format can and cannot do for them. For our purpose media literacy is the evaluation and the usage of different formats in which information can be conveyed. Our baseline for teaching such abilities our information/media literacy curriculum will be the literacy competency standards described on the ACRL website. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our goal is to acquaint students with a process and strategy for evaluating their own information needs. By offering them tools for research and evaluation, we hope they will discover methods of adapting library resources in ways that work best for them and their subject specialty. By realizing the full extent of available information, students will be more effective at articulating and answering their own questions.