Comments on: Two Librarians Attempt to Knock Down Walls http://tametheweb.com/2008/04/13/two-librarians-attempt-to-knock-down-walls/ Libraries, Technology and People Sat, 10 Jan 2009 02:13:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Veronica http://tametheweb.com/2008/04/13/two-librarians-attempt-to-knock-down-walls/comment-page-1/#comment-1879 Veronica Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:37:09 +0000 http://tametheweb.com/?p=2726#comment-1879 This semester I decided to pilot reference hours twice a week in the computer lab of the Graduate College of Social Work at the University of Houston. So far, I've been really happy with the results. I've gotten to know students much better, and I can follow up with students after one-shot instruction sessions. Plus, just the act of leaving the library and prowling through my liaison college's building is beneficial. I usually end up bumping into a professor or two, and the flyers pasted in the student lounge let me know what events are taking place in the college. This semester I decided to pilot reference hours twice a week in the computer lab of the Graduate College of Social Work at the University of Houston. So far, I’ve been really happy with the results. I’ve gotten to know students much better, and I can follow up with students after one-shot instruction sessions. Plus, just the act of leaving the library and prowling through my liaison college’s building is beneficial. I usually end up bumping into a professor or two, and the flyers pasted in the student lounge let me know what events are taking place in the college.

]]> By: Ellen http://tametheweb.com/2008/04/13/two-librarians-attempt-to-knock-down-walls/comment-page-1/#comment-1873 Ellen Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:22:09 +0000 http://tametheweb.com/?p=2726#comment-1873 We've been doing this for almost a year now at Baylor - called "Librarians on the Loose" and have met with some success and some not so much. It really depends on the place. We started out last semester going to the Business school, the student union and the new honors college dorm. The B-school was by far and away the place where we had the most success, so we tweaked it for this semester, dropping the student union and the dorm and adding the science building and the writing center. We figured that it's the academic buildings where students are actually thinking about papers and projects and might be looking for library assistance outside of the library. Basically we're just trying to go where students already are and already are studying. We’ve been doing this for almost a year now at Baylor - called “Librarians on the Loose” and have met with some success and some not so much. It really depends on the place. We started out last semester going to the Business school, the student union and the new honors college dorm. The B-school was by far and away the place where we had the most success, so we tweaked it for this semester, dropping the student union and the dorm and adding the science building and the writing center. We figured that it’s the academic buildings where students are actually thinking about papers and projects and might be looking for library assistance outside of the library. Basically we’re just trying to go where students already are and already are studying.

]]> By: Elizabeth Stephan http://tametheweb.com/2008/04/13/two-librarians-attempt-to-knock-down-walls/comment-page-1/#comment-1854 Elizabeth Stephan Sun, 13 Apr 2008 18:27:54 +0000 http://tametheweb.com/?p=2726#comment-1854 I have been offering satellite reference in the School of Business at the University of Mississippi for four years. I consider it a success. If one were to look at my stats it might not look like people were lining up to talk to me (but sometimes they were), I consider any and all interaction a success. And because most of the interaction was subject-specific, many of the consultations were longer. Being in the School of Business also allowed me to become visible and get to know the faculty--it wouldn't have happened as easily as it did if I hadn't spent time in their building. I sit in an open atrium with a laptop, table, and sign. Spring semesters are slower than fall semester, but spring semester is slower at out main reference desk, too. I spend Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons in the B-School. I have considered changing the Thursday hours--it doesn't seem to be a busy time. It works because of the culture of the department. Students and faculty both spend a lot of time in the building--faculty in their offices and students hang out in the building. I have been offering satellite reference in the School of Business at the University of Mississippi for four years. I consider it a success. If one were to look at my stats it might not look like people were lining up to talk to me (but sometimes they were), I consider any and all interaction a success. And because most of the interaction was subject-specific, many of the consultations were longer. Being in the School of Business also allowed me to become visible and get to know the faculty–it wouldn’t have happened as easily as it did if I hadn’t spent time in their building. I sit in an open atrium with a laptop, table, and sign.

Spring semesters are slower than fall semester, but spring semester is slower at out main reference desk, too. I spend Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons in the B-School. I have considered changing the Thursday hours–it doesn’t seem to be a busy time.

It works because of the culture of the department. Students and faculty both spend a lot of time in the building–faculty in their offices and students hang out in the building.

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