Wednesday, August 30, 2006

ALUMNI NEWS

Congratulations to Laura K. Gypsye Legge, who has attained provisional Certified Archivist status by passing the Academy of Certified Archivists examination administed at the Society of American Archivists meeting in Washington, DC. She will become fully certified after a year of professional archival experience. Gypsye was the recipient of the first-ever ACA Travel Assistance Award. She graduated from SLIS in December 2005, with an MLIS and a Certificate of Graduate Study with concentrations in archival studies and technical services. Congratulations to Gypsye on this important achievement in her continuing professional development!

SLIS NEWS: Survey

For all you SC Public Library Staff Members out there in Cyberspace:

You are invited to take a short survey (10 mins) to help us assess the current state of emerging technologies in public libraries across the state.

Take me to the Survey:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=148872490938

ALUMNI NEWS

Shelia Umberger was just named the head of the Roanoke City Library system. Her master's is
from Univ. of South Carolina. The link to the story will remain active for 7 days.

http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/79503

GENERAL NEWS

http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/
august2006a/lcworkforce.htm

GENERAL NEWS: Web Conference

Web Conference 4-part Series: Learning Disabilities and Adaptive Technology
The dates for the series will be October 5, 12, 19 and 26
Registration is $150: Register at:
<http://easi.cc/forms/ldconf.htm>

Part 1 Learning Disabilities - Adolescents and Adults
Presenter: Noel Gregg, Ph.D. Director & Distinguished Research Professor
University of Georgia
Regents Center for Learning Disorders

This first presentation in a series of four focusing on learning disabilities will present an
overview of learning disabilities and the adolescent /adult population. Several individual
profiles will be used to investigate defining individual attributes, assessment issues, and effective learning strategies. The similarities and differences observed with learning disabilities related to instructional, testing, and work strategies will be emphasized. The need for understanding the heterogeneity across the population will be highlighted.

Part 2: K-12 through Transition: One Size Does Not Fit All
Presenter: Pene Chambers, Director, Information Systems
Department of Special Education
Kennedy Krieger Institute

Technology affords flexibility and can accommodate unique and diverse individual
needs and interests without compromising goals and objectives. Use what you have
better. You will learn where and why to access books and text from the web as well as what to do with the text to make it more accessible and usable. You will learn about ways to alter standard applications, including Microsoft Word and PowerPoint and use technology in non-expected ways. Included will be information about altering and using standard word processing programs including how and why to create templates and create forms. You will also learn how and why to use PowerPoint as an organizer and to make non-linear presentations.
Other strategies and less normal application combinations will be included.

Part 3: LD and AT in Post-secondary Education
Presenter: Carolyn Phillips, Manager,
Georgia Department of Labor/VR Tools for Life Program Vocational Rehabilitation

Program Customized Employment gives power back to individuals, families, employers
and community stakeholders. Participants will be exposed to unique profiles of individuals with learning disabilities who have benefited from the concept of customized employment because it fosters flexibility, individuality, unique strengths and desires and a partnership with the natural community. This presentation will show that working across local, state, federal and
international domains advances the opportunities for persons with disabilities to increase their access and participation in employment and daily life. This presentation will also address key concepts with customized employment: self determination, zero exclusion criteria, interest based assessment, individualized job development, integrated and linked employment, choice-based
options for, and user friendly access to, assistive technology

Part 4: The Matrix: Incorporating Universal Design for Learning in a Post-secondary
setting for Student with Learning Disabilities
Presenter: Christopher M. Lee, Ph.D.
Director, AMAC, University System of Georgia

This presentation will explore how disability services are evolving within the post-secondary environment. The scope of disability services has changed as a result of access to alternative media and more effective ways of linking accommodations, modifications, and AT to individual student profiles. With better informed staff and more innovative options students should be receiving better services. If so, then why are retention and graduation rates for students with
disabilities so low? Are students utilizing these innovative services? This presentation
will offer participants insight on how students in post-secondary settings are accessing and using assistive technology services, how post-secondary systems are incorporating universal design for learning models, and will highlight innovative systems that are linking and expanding to others outside of network partners and creating a service-driven Matrix.

Note, in September there is another 4-part fee-based Web conference series on making Podcasts and Vodcasts accessible and also 2 free Web conferences:
<http://easi.cc/clinic.htm>

Also, EASI's online, month-long, instructor-led courses have been significantly enhanced and revised. In September the course is Barrier-free Information Technology, and this course will count towards the Certificate in Accessible Information Technology:
<http://easi.cc/workshop.htm>

GENERAL NEWS: OPAL

There are some new archived OPAL sessions added at the State Library's page:
http://www.statelibrary.sc.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=
view&id=321&Itemid=756

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

ALUMNI NEWS

Denise Lyons (SLIS 2004) has been promoted to the Assistant Manager position at the Audelia Road Branch of the Dallas Public Library (Texas), adding to her role as Adult Services Librarian. She has been at Audelia Road, the highest circulating branch of the country's second largest system, since last year, beginning at DPL in November 2004. She developed the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Resource Collections which will be replicated across the system, and has fostered the library's partnership with the Dallas County KinCare Network. Denise was the 2004 winner of the SLIS Wayne S. Yenawine award and is Vice President of the schools' Beta Phi Mu chapter.

GENERAL NEWS: Mary Jo Lynch Award

Interested in winning the Mary Jo Lynch Award? Here is the scoop!

The Webpage:
http://www.nclis.gov/statsurv/surveys/fscs/awardsFSCS/
MaryJoLynchAward.pdf#search=3D%22mary%20jo%20lynch
%20award%20nclis%22
(or click here)

Sponsors: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS), American Library Association (ALA), Federal-State Cooperative System (FSCS) for public library data collection.

Purpose: To encourage library school student statistical research using public library data collected at the state and national level.

Eligibility: Any student working toward a degree from a program of library and information science accredited by ALA.

Criteria: The winning entry must be:
*Appropriate for submission and possible publication in a regional, state, or national library print or online journal.
*Based on state and/or national FSCS public library data

The winning entry must possess the following:
* Clearly written
* Abstract
* Purpose or thesis statement and/or hypothesis
* methodology or methodologies used
* data and analysis
* findings
* conclusions with recommendations for future study
*Potential to directly or indirectly effectively promote public libraries

Number: Only one award may be made annually

Timing: This will be an annual competition, but eligibility for the first two years, 2006 and 2007, can be for any research paper completed after January 1, 2004. Beginning with the 2007 award, papers must be completed after January 1 of the year preceding the award. (e.g., the 2007 award will be for a paper completed after January 1, 2006).The award will be announced at the FSCS Conference held annually in December. 1 8/8/2006

Submissions: Candidates must email an electronic copy of the research paper no later than September 15 to: Neal K. Kaske
NCLIS
Telephone: 202-606-9200
Email: nkaske@nclis.gov
Subject: Mary Jo Lynch Award

Award Committee:
The award jury will be composed of two members to be named by ALA from the Committee on Research and Statistics (CORS), two members to be named by NCES, two members to be named by NCLIS, and one member to be named by the chair of the FSCS Steering Committee.

Form of Award:
The winner will receive an engraved plaque and funding for attendance at either the ALA national conference or the PLA national conference. Winners may be asked to present a summary of the research paper findings.
Costs paid will include actual and necessary expenses of conference attendance, including registration, travel, food, and lodging. Payment will be according to federal travel reimbursement guidelines. (ALA will provide funding for registration and lodging. NCES will provide funding for all other allowable expenses.)

Suggested Data Sources:
Library Research Service (sources of state data):
http://www.lrs.org/asp_public/other.asp
NCLIS (US Library Data Sources and Analysis):
http://www.nclis.gov/statsurv/NCES/index.html
NCES: Publications:
http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/libraries/pub_public.asp
Data Files: http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/libraries/DataFiles.asp#Pub
For further information contact:
Neal K. Kaske
Email: nkaske@nclis.gov 2 8/8/2006

Once again, the website:
http://www.nclis.gov/statsurv/surveys/fscs/awardsFSCS/
MaryJoLynchAward.pdf#search=3D%22mary%20jo%20lynch
%20award%20nclis%22
(or click here)

Monday, August 21, 2006

GENERAL NEWS: Personal Statement

Here is a personal statement for your viewing pleasure.

SLIS NEWS: Goals for SLIS

Here are the top ten goals that I see for SLIS. Please add yours or comment on mine.

1. Continue to provide high quality programs anytime / anywhere.

2. increase our technology offerings

3. better anticipate the needs of the fields – be one step ahead

4. build a doctoral program that produces top notch scholars, leaders in every way

5. develop an undergraduate program in information science that serves as the 3rd leg of a 3 legged stool – having a full suite of degree offerings gives us a new stature and power in the academy

6. increase student support from scholarships to research assistantships – get your check books ready when you start working!

7. Lucky 7 – continue to build our literacy initiatives and show that we make a difference

8. Recruit international students

9. increase diversity and representation in everything we do

10. make sure 1 -9 happen

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Welcome

This blog is for communications from the director of the school of library and information science at the university of south carolina. It is also a place for discourse on all aspects of the profession. Information about professional events are posted here as well as news from the school and the field.

Enjoy!