Full Description
Excellence in the Stacks details the philosophies, practices and innovations of award-winning libraries over the last ten years. It will inform the profession and highlight the themes and strategies these liberal-arts colleges share, and where they differ. Using the Association of Research and College Libraries Excellence in Academic Libraries Award standards as guidelines for exploring librarianship, this book gathers the perspectives of all types of librarians at all levels of employment. By highlighting winners' holistic approaches it helps define and focus the energies of college libraries in their pursuit of outstanding service and increased valuation by their parent institution.
Contents
List of figures and tables
Foreword
About the editors and contributors
Preface
Chapter 1: Measuring the "excellence” of librarianship at Earlham College
Abstract:
Measuring "library excellence” through numbers: the MISO Survey
Questioning "library excellence”
Chapter 2: Graduate services at the Newman Library
Abstract:
Introduction
The national urban fellows: developing best practices through a target population
Newman Library's credit courses
Chapter 3: The evolving liaison model at Mount Holyoke College
Abstract:
Situating the College and LITS
Separate departments and parallel liaisons: project-based collaborations
Merged department with parallel liaisons: collaboration on a daily basis
Merged department with single, blended liaisons: toward a (high-)performing team
Chapter 4: Fast-forward: the transformation of excellence
Abstract:
Back to basics
Making the argument
A paradigm is hard to change
Continuing challenges
Lessons learned?
Chapter 5: In unison with our communities and with each other: striving for excellence in college librarianship
Abstract:
Individual and organizational development
Partnerships and collaborations
Support for learning and teaching
Chapter 6: Looking outward: partnerships and outreach at Hollins University
Abstract:
Introduction
The challenges of today's academic environment
The outward-looking library; or, why it is natural and beneficial to play well with others
About Hollins University and the Wyndham Robertson Library
Students: working as a team
The faculty: partnering by providing solutions
Administrative departments: find common interests
Conclusion: partnering across the campus
Chapter 7: The A.C. Buehler Library at Elmhurst College: handcrafted academic library services
Abstract:
A culture of information literacy
Engaging the campus
Librarians as faculty
Sustaining excellence through innovation
How the A.C. Buehler Library practices innovation
Nurturing librarians: Kyle Jones reflects on his pathway to the profession
Conclusion
Chapter 8: Success through community: engagement at Grinnell College Libraries
Abstract:
A brief introduction to Grinnell College
Why focus on engagement?
Engaging students as teachers
Engaging students as curators
Engaging students through events
Engaging with diversity
Engaging students in library decision-making
Conclusion
Chapter 9: Excellence at Champlain: spending Groundhog Day in the Kuhlthau model
Abstract:
An outlier
Making every book count
Embedding instruction in the liberal arts
Matching the mission
Fostering innovation and autonomy
Living with uncertainty
Afterword: academic library value and the college library
Index
