Towards an
exceptional
Undergraduate
learning experience
The Personal Librarian Programme - a pilot project at Rhodes University Library, 2013
Vuyo Gontshi
15th LIASA Conference:
10 October 2013
Cape Town International Convention Centre
Outline Aim
Introduction
Evolving models of library service
80s model of service
Faculty Liaison model of service
Personal Librarian model of service introduced
Implementation at Rhodes Marketing
Pre-exam main launch – 19 April 2013 Extended Studies launch – 26 July 2013 Day Kaif launch ‘Cake Day’ – 02 August 2013
Law Library launch – 16 August 2013
Methods used to assess users needs
Results
Lessons learnt thus far
Conclusions & Future plans
Readings on 3 models
Aim
Report and share a unique intervention
for enhancing the Undergraduate
learning experience at Rhodes University.
To focus on the establishment of the
project, the experiences encountered
and lessons learned thus far.
Background
Participation in the 2011 Carnegie Research
Academy (Carnegie funded RLC)
Research report – new Information Literacy
intervention started at Rhodes Commerce Library
‘Do you feel confident enough to ask the librarians anything?’
“I don’t feel I could ask the librarians anything other than a book that I can’t find,
otherwise ‘what could they tell me?” (Gontshi, 2011)
United States 2012 – 12 weeks trip
Yale University experience (7 weeks)
Observation of Yale’s Personal Librarian Programme
Sought to answer the above question
Evolving Models of library service
80s Librarians were caretakers of physical collections
“They collected material ‘just in case’ someone would need
it”… (Besser, 1998)
Shifts in library services became apparent in the 90s
“Libraries are becoming less important for the materials they
collect or house, and more important for the kind of material they
can obtain in response to user requests” (Besser, 1998)
User focused approach
…90s, digital networking invaded the Librarians’ space
demanding shift in service…
Undergraduate comments from
LibQual
“More attention should be invested in
student needs.”
“it is a very good library, but some staff
members are not that helpful.”
Implementation cont… Who is involved?
Librarian: Information Commons (Under-Graduate) – co-ordinator of Personal Librarian programme
Librarians & Assistant Librarians Circulation (1 librarian), Technical Services (1 librarian,
1 principal librarian), User Services (6 faculty liaison librarians & 1 assistant librarian), Law Branch Library (1 librarian, 1 assistant librarian)
Not involved - Principal Librarians Focusing on supporting Postgraduate students and
Academic staff
Process of engagement
1300 1st year students divided amongst the 13 PLs
Introduction emails were sent to individual students - End of 1st term
Some PLs got responses immediately, some never did
Active students in the programme = 755
Some students saw it as a “rescue program” “I feel like you have brought exactly the kind of help that I need.”
“I am very glad that someone has finally come to my rescue” “I think I need some time with you to polish up my computer skills”
Follow-up launch invitation emails
Marketing
Launches Launch for 1st year students – 19 April 2013 pre-
exam
Extended Studies students’ launch – 26 July 2013
Day Kaif launch ’Cake day’- 02 August 2013
Law Library launch – 16 August 2013
Banner, posters, T-shirts, Bookmarks, Badges
lollipops & Lucky draws
Webpage http://www.ru.ac.za/library/services/personallibrarian/
Implementation cont… Methods used to assess students needs
Survey question - “What do you expect from your
Personal Librarian”?
One-on-One engagement via
email and personal contact
Lecturers’ feedback
Results – 1st year student launch vs Day Kaif launch
Pre & post-exam comparison – 1st year students 2013
Results cont… Sample survey comments from 1st year students
before June exams
“Must be kind and help when struggling, be patient when
asked questions”
“I expect that my personal librarian will be willing to help
me anytime and not get tired”
“Be there when I need help. So far I am happy; they are doing a great job”
“I expect them to have a smile on their faces then only will I
be happy to ask for help”
“Assistance with research with digital and physical records and with academic work
Results cont… Sample survey comments from Law
Library students
“Friendly, smile, helpful librarians who appear to be enjoying their
job. A thorough knowledge of resources and technology always
helps, Rhodes law librarians rock!” – mature student; 2010
“I think this is a good program that will be useful to first years
mostly. I expect them to be available when needed always,
smiling so they can be approachable” - 1st year student; 2013
“Friendliness, Efficiency, helpfulness, Law library scores highly on
all 3 counts” – mature student; 2005
Results cont… Trends across the entire student population
05
1015202530354045
Friendliness & willingness to help
Assistance in finding information-OPAC, online resources
Research & study guide
Practical assistance: photocopying,
printing, loan procedures
Challenges
No dedicated space for PLs to consult with individual students
Some PLs use chill zones, Info Commons study rooms, group study rooms when available
PL programme demands the need for mobile devices
Lessons learnt thus far…
Reflections - Were we successful? Feedback was received but not in the way we expected Word of mouth referrals
“I heard about this programme from my friends and I would like to have my own personal librarian too”
http://activateonline.co.za/the-library-just-got-personal/
o Academics responses
Sociology lecturer – requested a personal service for her undergraduate students
Observed trend A need for a personal service at university entry level and at1st
year of Postgraduate level
Extended studies programme – foundation year students Importance of working with the Academic coordinators
…and we are still learning…
Conclusions & Future plans Entire student population indicated that they were seeking
for a relationship more than academic support:
Friendliness & willingness to help
Assistance in finding information
Even though we focused on 1st year students in 2013, the
entire student body voiced a need for personal service
As a result of the above, the team has decided to open
the programme to the entire under-graduate population
in 2014.
Students don’t respond to emails – they prefer personal
contact so…..
Acknowledgements
Personal Librarian team
Rhodes University Library
Yale University Library
Carnegie Corporation of New York
Papers discussing the 80s Model of
library service
(Besser, 1998)
http://besser.tsoa.nyu.edu/howard/Papers/peters.html
(Tyckoson, 2001)
https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/bitstream/handle/2142/8398
/librarytrendsv50i2d_opt.pdf?sequence=1
(ALIA, 2003)
http://conferences.alia.org.au/libtec2003/papers/cram.ht
ml
Papers discussing Faculty Liaison
Service Model…
(Jaguszewski & Williams, 2013)
http://www.arl.org/storage/documents/publications/NRNT-Liaison-
Roles-final.pdf
(Mbali, 2011) & (Rionda, 2010) Carnegie Research Academy
unpublished reports
(Wade, 1999) http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0099-1333(99)80030-5
Articles describing the Personal
Librarian Service Model
(Bailey, 1984) – Personal service at Postgraduate level
(Foster & Gibbons, 2007)- Studying students: Undergraduate
research project
http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/publications/booksanddigitalresources/digital/Foster-Gibbons_cmpd.pdf
(Nann, 2010) - How Yale Library did it
http://www.aallnet.org/main-menu/Publications/spectrum/Archives/Vol-
14/pubsp1006/pub-sp1006-personal.pdf
(Spak & Glover, 2007) Yale Medical Library PLP http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1300/J115v26n04_02
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