High School Students Get Jump Start on Using Libraries' Resources
While many parts of campus are quiet during Spring Break, the Ball State University Libraries' Instruction office and classrooms are buzzing with activity. Every year we teach 8 to 10 research orientation sessions for visiting high school English classes. This year during Spring Break we accommodated about 220 students, grades 10, 11 and 12 who needed assistance with research paper assignments.

Teachers from high schools in Cowan, Oak Hill, and Hagerstown decided that visiting Bracken and receiving library instruction was the introduction to library research that students needed.

Instructional Services librarians conduct instruction sessions for these students in one of two electronic classrooms at Bracken Library. They instruct the students on concepts like constructing good searches, narrowing research topics, and evaluating sources. They also provide demonstrations and recommendations for databases, reference materials, and CardCat. Class sizes usually range from 15 to 35.

A typical visit by one of these high school groups begins with a 40- to 60-minute drive to the Ball State campus. They enter the instruction sessions, which generally last about 30 minutes, and then begin working on their research while the library instructors provide one-on-one assistance. After about 30 minutes of work with the librarians close at hand, the classes will exit the classrooms and filter into the main part of Bracken, continuing to work for another hour or two. The students will finish their day with lunch at the Atrium or the Village before heading back to school by 3 p.m.

University Libraries Serves the Community
Spring Break isn’t the only time that Instructional Services conducts sessions for high school classes. Blue River Valley High School usually visits in November and April. Heritage Hall Christian School has a standing appointment for the first week of January. Indiana Academy will bring a few sections of science students in the fall and English students in the spring.

Eastern Hancock often brings their Library Media class in the fall. Students from Jay County, Burris, and Delta also make regular visits in the late fall or early spring semesters. A group of 14 home schooled students also received library instruction this year.

To date for the 2005-06 academic year, 657 high school students have passed through the doors of our library instruction classrooms, and two more classes are expected in the next week.

For more information, contact Jeremiah Kinney, Library Teaching Assistant, JSKinney2@bsu.edu or (765) 285-8017.

This story was published in The Library Insider, April 2006, pg. 7.
The Library Insider

Charter Service Offers Safe Escort on Campus
After campus shuttle busses have stopped running, people can rely on Charlie’s Charter for a safe escort to any Ball State University-owned property, such as from Bracken Library, late at night to the stadium parking lot or to a residence hall.
During the regular semester, Charlie’s Charter operates Sunday through Thursday from 6 p.m. until 3:30 a.m. This important, university-wide service is co-sponsored by the Department of Public Safety and the Student Government Association. The charter service is available on a first-come, first-serve basis so at busy times there may be a short wait.

Charlie’s Charter provides community members more than just a free ride. By providing transportation from one BSU-owned property to another, they are able to take an active part in campus life regardless of weather or distance and are able to participate in learning and research opportunities on campus during the evening.
Mark Lytle, one of Charlie’s Charter drivers, reports that they complete an average of 25 to 28 calls each night. Of course, these numbers increase during inclement weather. Mark estimates that about one-half of his calls come from students taking advantage of Bracken Library’s late night hours which are until 3 a.m.

Deepti Gopalagari, who is working toward a M.A. in Computer Science, frequently calls for a ride following her 3 a.m. shift in Bracken’s Educational Resources Center. Without this service, she would have to walk unescorted for the 1.7 miles to her home in Sheidler Apartments, or give up her hours. For Deepti, the service by Charlie’s Charter allows her to work on campus while pursuing an advanced degree. For other students, Charlie’s Charter gets them back safely to the front door of their dormitory or to their car in one of the many parking lots around campus.

For information, contact Kathleen Pickens, Library Night Supervisor, KEPickens@bsu.edu or (765) 285-3330.

This story was published in The Library Insider, April 2006, pg. 1
The Library Insider

Reference Services for the After-Five Crowd
It’s Tuesday night and Bracken Library’s lobby is buzzing with the energy of a hip night club. Students are meeting at the “naked lady” statue (artist Albin Polasek’s Forest Idyll) to discuss their days and plan their evenings, checking their e-mail on laptops through the Libraries’ wireless network, relaxing in cushy chairs with the latest issue of The Ball State Daily News, and reserving rooms for group study sessions. Everyone knows that the University Libraries is the place to go for the excellent services and sources necessary for successful scholarship in the modern age, but, for many Ball State students, Bracken Library is also the place to see and be seen.

Students and faculty enjoy interactive and customizable experiences that surpass the traditional functions of the academic library. These users create communities and form friendships while enjoying programs and services such as the following:

Librarians to assist with research papers
A wide variety of DVDs and CDs for personal enrichment and entertainment
A bestsellers book collection for recreational reading
Student art work on display throughout the Libraries
Meeting rooms for study sessions and student organizations
Access to the wireless network throughout
Soft chairs for a relaxing study session or break
Live musical and theatrical performances

Students find their libraries’ experience enhanced by the new Student Virtual Library Web page which is designed to better serve the research needs of undergraduates. Lots of students comment about using great resources through the Libraries’ “Digital Media Repository,” a collection of digital resources for teaching and learning.

Librarians utilize blogs to open communication channels, share information, and solicit feedback from students and faculty.

As Librarian Liaison to the School of Extended Education, I created a blog at http://distancelibrarian.blogspot.com to help keep distance learners and instructors abreast of changes in the University Libraries and to foster and deepen a sense of community among distance library users.

We librarians are always looking for additional ways to make the University Libraries the most enjoyable and convenient places to study and socialize on campus, making them the best places for learning after the classroom.

Beginning in mid-August 2006, students can look forward to a full coffee bar “Bookmark Café @ Bracken Library,” expanded library hours to include 24-Access Mondays through Thursdays, and a monthly foreign film series in Bracken.

For information, contact Kelli Keclik, Information Services Librarian, at KKeclik@bsu.edu or (765) 285-1101.

This story was published in The Library Insider, April 2006, pg. 6.
The Library Insider

Styles of Millennials Help Shape Future Directions for Library Service

With the introduction of the personal computer in the early 1980’s, current college students are the first generation to have grown-up literally surrounded by technology. The Internet, iPods, PDAs, and cellular phones are not luxuries but everyday communication tools to today’s students.

These developments were underscored at the recent 21st Annual Computers in Libraries Conference, a three-day immersion on the latest in searching, search engines, web design, digital content management, e-learning, e-collections, and digital trends in general.

Throughout the conference, formal presentations and informal discussions could be found on the characteristics of today’s students, the ‘Millenials’ born between 1982 and 2000. Lee Rainie, Director of the Pew Internet and American Life Project, offered a summary* at the conference showing that today’s undergraduates:

Are involved in world of media and gadgetry
Have mobile technology
Are very involved in using the Internet
Are multi-taskers
Are often unaware of or indifferent to the consequences of using technology
Will face radical technology changes in the next decade
Shape their approaches to learning and research based on this new technology

These are points to bear in mind as we seek ways to expand the University Libraries’ collections and services to keep pace with new learning styles, technological developments and their uses.

The conference confirmed the Libraries’ efforts are on the right track: many innovations mentioned in presentations are already in place in Bracken Library and the branch libraries, but look for more changes as we continually strive to offer collections and services to best meet the teaching, learning, and research needs of Ball State University’s students and faculty.

*Rainie, Lee. (24 March 2006) The Internet: Enhancing Digital Work & Play. Presented at the Computers in Libraries 2006 conference

For information, contact Suzanne Rice, Assistant Dean for Public Services, SRice@bsu.edu or (765) 285-1305.

This story was published in The Library Insider, April 2006, pg. 5.
The Libray Insider

Video Clips Show Research How-to's
A creative and interesting set of videos was created by the University Libraries’ Information Services Librarians in order to help students learn to use library resources more efficiently.

“The videos are a unique way to assist students. They are short and informative, but also meant to be fun,” said Lisa Barnett, Instructional Services Librarian.

The short streaming video clips are located on the University Libraries’ web site and cover topics such as locating materials determining whether an article is scholarly or popular and deciding which web sites are trustworthy sources of information

Theatre majors Natalie Sallee, Sean Riggs, Nicole Hansel, Jamie Boalbey, Lauren Sheffield, Josh Carver, and Kevin Anderson acted in the videos. Prof. Robert Habich, Department of English, also made a special appearance. Thanks to the production staff at Teleplex for their assistance. View the videos at
Tutorials

For information contact Lisa Barnett, Instructional Services Librarian, at LJBarnett2@bsu.edu or (765) 285-8017.

This article was published in The Library InsiderThe Library Insider, April 2006, pg. 7.