Indiana University Bloomington Libraries

Thinking about Reference: a Retreat
8:30am to 12 noon, May 23, 2008
IMU Dogwood Room


























8:30am

Refreshments


8:45am

Welcome: Mary Strow and committee
        Welcome to the inaugural Reference Retreat for the Indiana University Bloomington Libraries. In case you are wondering why I am wearing this outfit, it's as close as I could come to a vintage 1908 costume, and I wear it, in part, to celebrate 100 years of Reference service in the IU Libraries. 100 years ago, Mary Dunham was selected by Chief Librarian William Evans Jenkins to be the first Reference Librarian. Mary had graduated with an A.B. from Indiana University in 1898 and did graduate work at Yale and the New York State Library School. Prior to her appointment, she had three years of experience as reference librarian at the University of Texas. She served as reference librarian at Indiana University from 1908-1910, and 1913-1920. I learned of this important milestone in our history from reading the doctoral dissertation of Mildred Hawksworth Lowell from the University of Chicago, entitled Indiana University Libraries, 1829-1942, call number Reference Z733.I62 L9.

          Thus, we are here today not only to celebrate 100 years of Reference Service, but also to kick-off what I hope will be an ongoing series of retreats organized for IU Libraries’ employees who wish to learn more about “all things reference:” resources, services, products, software, training, staffing, trends, and philosophies. To my knowledge, such a continuing education event has not previously been offered in-house, and it is my hope that through these retreats we can increase our knowledge, exercise our discussion/presentation skills, promote an awareness of new services and resources, foster greater communication about topics of interest, and meet more of our colleagues. I hope you enjoy the program, and please be sure complete the evaluation card at the conclusion of today’s retreat; we welcome your suggestions and comments.

         


Opening Speaker (via videocast): Nancy McClements, Head of Reference and Chair of the Campus Libraries Reference Management Team, Memorial Library, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
dowload the Videocast


9am

10 minute presentations:
  • Breaking the sound barrier with Screencasting     Tony White, Fine Arts Librarian, and Anne Haynes, Distance Education Librarian

  • Home at last in Wells: Reference Services in the University Archives     Dina Kellams, IU Archives

  • Next Gen Catalog     Mary Popp, LIT

  • Gaining and Maintaining Reference Skills via the Web     Steven Sowell, Business/SPEA Information Commons


  • 7-minute break


    10am

    Round table topical discussions: (15 min. at three of the following tables)
  • The Reference Portal     Dawn Childress, facilitator

  • Chat services     Diane Dallis, facilitator

  • Collection development and management for reference     Emily Okada, facilitator

  • How to utilize Web 2.0 technologies in the IUB Libraries     Carrie Donovan and Jennifer Laherty, facilitators




  • 11am

    "Speed-databasing": new products
  • World News Digest (Facts on File online)     Jeff Graf

  • Heritage Quest     Lou Malcomb

  • European Navigator    Dawn Childress

  • GreenFile     Nels Gunderson



  • 11:45am

    Wrap-up: summary of discussions / evaluations


    This retreat will be the first in a series of discussions coordinated by the Reference Discussion Series Program Committee (members: Dawn Childress, Lou Malcomb, Emily Okada, Steven Sowell, Mary Strow, Chair).