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…

The 80’s Model of library service –

Librarians seen as the custodians of library

collections

Faculty Liaison Librarian Service

Model – 2005….

Rhodes Library LibQual survey –

measures quality of library 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.”

Personal Librarian Service Model

introduced – ‘reaching out’

What we set out to do

Meet your vibrant personal librarian team

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… Law Library graph showing a trend

according to the level of study

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

THANK YOU!!!