MCTC Open House Tonight!

Stop by the MCTC Open House tonight to learn about our Information Studies department course offerings and our Library Information Technology A.A.S. degree, Public Information Services certificate and Technical Information Services certificate. We'll be talking about our new courses for 2011-12 as well:

• LIBT 1400 Preserving History & Memory: Archives in Current Society: This course examines archives as powerful repositories of history and memory and the archivist as an active agent in the process of shaping our knowledge of the past. You will look at the traditional functions of archives, which are selection, preservation and access, as well as the roles of archivists and support staff, both in their institutional settings and within the context of the wider society which they serve. Offered Spring Semesters.

• LIBT 1410 Topics in Library Information Technology: This course provides an opportunity to study a variety of topics in library and information technology. Possible topics include studies of collection development, management, online privacy and the role of libraries, trends in social media and relevant technologies. Offered Fall, Spring, and Summer Semesters (tentative)

Our Fall 2011 Topics course is:

Collection Development Trends
We will consider some of today’s collection challenges such as: What is the role of print resources in the modern library? How do digital subscription packages affect collection building? Which new trends like patron-driven acquisitions and Ereaders will prevail? How will the relationship between libraries and publishers shake out? Take this class and explore together!

• LIBT 2310 Library Community & Outreach Services: This course examines community and outreach services provided by libraries of all types. You will explore how academic, public, and special libraries as well as school media centers in the United States, build partnerships and serve their broader communities, with emphasis on those who are traditionally underserved. Offered Spring Semesters.
  

Summer and Fall Course Registration is Open!

MCTC's registration for both summer and fall semesters is now open.

Summer

There are 7 sections of INFS 1000 Information Literacy & Research Skills offered this summer, so if you have managed to miss taking this course in your first year of Library Information Technology coursework, OR if you're a new student planning to take LIBT 1100 this fall, this is a great time to work it into your schedule. One of the online sections has already filled, but there are still "seats" in the other two online sections. There are four face-to-face sections offered. Be sure to let your student colleagues know, and remind them that students should take INFS 1000 in their first 24 credits.

Fall

INFS

INFS courses for fall include 17 sections of INFS 1000 Information Literacy & Research Skills, four of which are online. If you're planning to start the program this fall, we strongly recommend that you make INFS 1000, which is required for both the Public Information Services and Technical Information Services certificates, and the A.S. and the new A.A.S, one of the first courses you take. It will help you with success in your subsequent program and liberal arts coursework.

One of the recommended program elective courses, INFS 2510 Necessary Illusions: A Critical Introduction to the Information Age, is only offered fall semesters. This course is being offered this year for the first time as a "blended course," which means that it meets face to face for some of the class time, and online for the rest. It will be meeting roughly every other Wednesday evening through the semester.

INFS 2600 Ideas, Censorship and Politics is required for anyone getting their A.S. or A.A.S. in Library Information Technology, and is only offered fall semesters. Like other Library Information Technology program courses, this course is offered fully online.

LIBT

We're excited this fall to introduce a new course to our Library Information Technology program offerings. This is a great course to take if you're an alum or a community member, in addition being a good option for students wishing to complete the new A.A.S. degree offering. We're offering LIBT 1410 Topics in Library Information Technology, a 1 credit topics course which will change focus with each offering. For this first offering, we are THRILLED that MCTC librarian and collection development guru Julie Setnosky will be teaching:

Collection Development Trends
We will consider some of today’s collection challenges such as: What is the role of print resources in the modern library? How do digital subscription packages affect collection building? Which new trends like patron-driven acquisitions and Ereaders will prevail? How will the relationship between libraries and publishers shake out? Take this class and explore together!

This course will meet in-person one time on Saturday, 8/27 from 12:45-3:30 p.m. with the rest of the class time spent online. LIBT 1100 is a co/prerequisite for this course, or you can obtain permission of the instructor to register if you're taking this course as a non-degree seeking student.

LIBT 1100 Introduction to Information Agencies, the gateway course to our LIT degrees and certificate programs, will again be taught by the amazing Jennifer Sippel and is only offered fall semesters. Over and over, students finish this course with a whole new outlook on the work of libraries in their respective communities, and are ready to dive into the other program courses.

LIBT 2210 Introduction to Indexing and Abstracting is required for our LIT A.S., A.A.S., and Technical Information Services certificate. This course is only offered fall semesters, and is a great class for those wishing to learn more about metadata and indexing. If you work in editing or other publishing fields, or work in programming and database management, this is a great course to take as a continuing education course. LIBT 1200 Introduction to Technical Information Services is a prerequisite, or you can receive permission of the instructor to enroll.

LIBT 2300 Online Searching and Reference Services is another great class to take as continuing education. If you're working in a library or other position where you're asked to work on research projects, this course can be a lifesaver! It is required for our LIT A.S., A.A.S., and Public Information Services certificate, and is only offered fall semesters. LIBT 1300 Introduction to Public Information Services is a prerequisite, or you can receive permission of the instructor to enroll.

Last but not least is LIBT 2900 Library/Information Agency Internship. Completing the internship is required for students completing the A.S. or A.A.S., and for our certificate students, it is highly recommended for anyone not currently working in the library field. The internship is intended to be a capstone experience, so all 2000-level LIBT courses are co/prerequisites for this course, or you can receive permission of the instructor to enroll. If you are going to graduate with the A.A.S., you have the option of taking a 3 or 4 credit (120 or 160 hours) internship.

If you have questions about courses or course sequencing, please contact:

Ginny Heinrich
Information Studies Department and Library Information Technology Program Coordinator
virginia.heinrich@minneapolis.edu
612-659-6296

LSSC Registration Assistance Awards

The Library Support Staff Interests Round Table (LSSIRT) of the American Library Association has been offering Registration Assistance Awards to participate in the Library Support Staff Certification Program (LSSC) for the last several weeks and on April 30^th, LSSIRT will close the call for applicants. The Awards are for $175, half of the application cost to participate in LSSC and recipients must register within 90 days of receiving the award. The LSSC Program offers library employees the opportunity to achieve recognition for their experience, enhance library service, and increase skills and knowledge in areas like the foundations of librarianship, technology and communication.

Nancy Bolt, Co-Project Director of LSSC comments, “Research in Maryland and Minnesota has shown that certification results in library support staff who have a more comprehensive understanding of library service, are more confident, and contribute more to library operation and success. And ultimately, it results in library users that are better served.”

To be eligible to participate in LSSC and thus receive an Assistance Award, applicants must have a high school diploma or its equivalent and have worked for the equivalent of one year (1820 hours) as a library staff member or volunteer within the last five years.

Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC) provides a path to recognition and awareness of the critical role that library support staff play in the delivery of quality library service. To achieve certification, support staff must achieve six of ten competency sets either through development of an online portfolio or taking LSSC approved courses. The competency sets are: Foundations of Library Service; Technology; Communication and Teamwork; Access Services, Adult Readers’ Advisory Services; Cataloging and Classification; Collection Management; Reference and Information Services; Supervision and Management; and Youth Services.

Detailed additional information is available on the LSSC website or by contacting Nancy Bolt at 303-642-0338 or nancybolt@earthlink.net.

Ian Lashbrook - ilashbrook@ala.org

Research Associate

Library Support Staff Certification Program (LSSC)

Office Hours: Mon-Thurs, 8:30am - 4:30pm

50 East Huron, Chicago, IL 60611

(o)312-280-1411, (f)312-280-5297

http://ala-apa.org/lssc

MN Volunteer Posting: Medical Library Association

Reminder: The other "MLA", the Medical Library Association, is in Minneapolis in May for its annual conference!

Sign up for the Medical Library Association (MLA) conference! Early bird discounts end tonight*
http://www.mlanet.org/am/am2011/about/index.html

Volunteer!
If you are interested in volunteering at the MLA conference, contact Katherine Chew, chewx002@umn.edu

Volunteer and earn passes to conference!
For those who are not members of the Medical Library Association:
Katherine Chew, Local Volunteer Coordinator, reports that "for every 4-hour shift that you sign up to volunteer for, you can receive a complimentary day pass -- the more shifts, the more day-passes. You can choose which day(s) to use the passes and these do include entrance into the exhibit hall, but not to any of the lunches or receptions."

“Library Futures" Survey/Feedback Opportunity

The 2010-2011 “Library Futures: Staying Ahead of the Curve” series has come to an end. Planning for 2011-2012 season has begun.


Please share  your thoughts with the organizers by answering 10 short questions that will guide the planning process. The survey is available here:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WMN5NJ2


thank you for your participation!

MN Internship Posting: Outreach Services

Library Outreach Services Internship
Hennepin County Library

Outreach promotes the use of the library by the nontraditional or under-served user through the development and support of programs and services.

The Outreach Department's goal is to bring the experience of the library and its resources to the community - in their homes, senior living facilities, rehabilitation centers, the correctional facilities of the county and through events held at the library.

Commitment:
One semester, 4 to 8 hours per week, June 2011 to August 2011.

Wage:
This is an unpaid position which could be for college credit or work experience.

Location:
Main work location is at the Ridgedale Library, 12601 Ridgedale Dr., Minnetonka, with some work in Downtown Minneapolis at the Juvenile Detention Center, in Plymouth at the Adult Correctional Facility, and in Minnetonka at the County Home School.

Application Deadline:
May 6, 2011

Duties:
Duties may include the following:

· Provide direct information services working at the At Home phoneline

· Assist in classifying / organizing Adult Correctional Facility collection

· Assist in compiling and analyzing data for Adult Correctional Facility programs and

Deposit Collection booktalking program

· Assist in creating documents for use in Large Print book club kits, including writing

Book discussion questions

· Assist with Read to Me, a family literacy program, at the Adult Correctional Facility

· Assist in the creation, implementation and evaluation of a reading interest survey

for use with the Deposit Collection sites, at the Adult Correctional Facility, and at

· Assist in weekly filling of information requests from Adult Correctional Facility the

County Home School

· Plan, develop, and implement a book discussion group at the Adult Correctional

Facility (women's) and District 287 (teens)

· Plan, develop, and implement a project of interest related to Outreach

Requirements:
Candidate must currently be enrolled in a library program or a recent library school graduate. Applicant must have completed coursework in reference / information services. Candidate has not completed an internship with Hennepin County Library in the past.

To Apply and For Questions:
Submit a resume and brief cover letter outlining your qualifications for this internship to:

Barb McKenzie
Hennepin County Library - Ridgedale
12601 Ridgedale Drive
Minnetonka, MN 55305
bamckenzie@hclib.org
(952) 847-8579