Library Instruction Committee

Meeting Minutes

October 7, 2009

DC 1568

Present: Kristen Jensen, Leeanne Romane (chair), Peter Stirling, Janet Wason (recorder), Agnes Zientarska-Kayko.

  1. Approval of Minutes for September 4, 2009:
    The minutes were approved.
  1. Business Arising:
    III. b. Action: Peter will work with Marian on the LINC web pages; they will report the URL for the archived files to LINC.
    Action: Agnes will identify the outdated links to government websites on the LINC web pages and send the new URLs to Peter for updating.
  1. Additional Agenda:
    Nancy Collins is developing library instruction sessions for the Co-operative Education Department and International Student Office. She will follow-up with requests for assistance at the appropriate time.
  1. Updates/Reports:
    a)Feedback on using lesson plans:
    The feedback has been positive, with people commenting that the plans structure the lesson and keep the presenter on track, while allowing individual development. As well, some people use PowerPoint slides to structure the information during a presentation, while going ‘live’ to demonstrate searches.
    Leeanne noted that she had created a lesson plan for the ELAS (English Language for Academic Studies) classes she has been doing for Math students.
    Note: Creators of unique lesson plans are invited to send them to LINC for mounting on the website.

Decided: Finding a book in the library (reading call numbers, finding locations) would be a good screencast topic; LINC will consider adding the topic to Primo lesson plans.
b) Comments on ‘solo’ teaching:
Feedback indicated that the solo teaching sessions were successful and enjoyable, particularly since there was always an assistant. Team teaching may be appropriate for some topics.

Decided: On the issue of back-up for general orientation instructors, Leeanne will act as back-up; she will also create an additional list of back-up instructors from amongst the other volunteers each orientation session.

  1. Decision items:
    a) Limiting numbers of attendees in session:
    i) Which classes should be capped? We discussed factors such as the instructor’s preference (e.g. RefWorks), the number of available laptops, the stability of the laptops and the wireless, network, whether session is hands-on, degree of interactivity.
    ii) What number do we set as a limit?
    Decided: To cap the enrolment at 25, with a wait-list of 10. It will be up to the instructor to raise or lower the number when they volunteer to teach a session.
    Action: Leeanne will check with Tim Ireland about whether it is possible to plug in the FLEX Lab laptops and the process of doing so.
    b) Public Page Responsibilities:
    LINC is responsible for maintaining certain pages of the library website. It was decided that the following people would ensure that the links are current (Rose Koebel can make the actual changes):
    Kathy—Undergraduate Students
    Agnes—Graduate Students
    Janet—Faculty & Staff
    Peter—International Students
    Leeanne—Tours & Workshops
    Laura—Online Tutorials
    Nancy—How Do I...?
  2. Discussion Items:
    a) Update Language on the current Registration page:
    Action: Leeanne will approach Nancy about changing the language to reflect our current usage.
    b) There have been two sessions suggested, Copyright and Patents:
    Decided: Because of the special nature, these 2 topics would be very helpful to the academic community.
    Action: Leeanne will send an e-mail to ISR asking for expressions of interest in doing the sessions and also for suggestions for campus experts who might want to participate.
    i) Who should be approached to teach specialized sessions?
    Decided: The chair would first find out whether an ISR member is interested in teaching a specialized session; if no one is interested, the matter would be brought back to LINC to decide further action.
    c) Do we want to post current LINC lesson plans on the website?
    Decided: Current lesson plans will be posted on the LINC staff website, possible under the ‘Planning Library Instruction’ section.
    Action: Members should look at the LINC website to determine the appropriate spot to place lesson plans and PowerPoint examples.
    Decided: Students who are unable to attend library instruction sessions can be referred to a number of alternatives: individual session with subject librarian, library and subject guides, How Do I...? page, and, in the future, screencasts.
    d) ELAS tutorial and posting on the library’s website:
    Decided: It would be appropriate to add the tutorial to the Online Tutorials webpage.
    Action: Leeanne will follow up with Laura.
    e) How do we handle the issue of an instructor wishing to offer additional sessions after the orientation schedule has been set and the room bookings made?
    Decided: It will be the responsibility of the person suggesting the extra sessions to find a room and make the bookings; the LINC Chair will send out the request for assistants for the additional sessions.

Decided: The Chair is responsible for setting up the initial schedule and making bookings, but can delegate the task as needed.

  1. Around the Table:
    None.
  1. Adjourn: The next meeting will be on November 4, LIB 407; recorder—Agnes Z.