Comments on: Report From The Field: California’s Community College Crisis http://acrlog.org/2009/08/06/report-from-the-field-californias-community-college-crisis/ Blogging by and for academic and research librarians Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:32:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Christopher Verdak http://acrlog.org/2009/08/06/report-from-the-field-californias-community-college-crisis/comment-page-1/#comment-146233 Christopher Verdak Mon, 30 Nov 2009 04:03:27 +0000 http://acrlog.org/?p=1798#comment-146233 These students may be able to go to local public libraries to access databases and other electronic resources. Though I write this not being aware of cuts to public libraries in California. Perhaps community college librarians can collaborate with public libraries near community colleges to best serve these students. In the best of possible worlds, I imagine a structure of referral where community college librarians and teachers point to public library databases and available resources. For public librarians and libraries that host these students, full staffing and logistical support and administrative buy-in would be needed, where clear collaboration and communication between college and public library was the norm. I speak from the position of a reference librarian working daily with students from a near-by community college with no library (or more correctly a library students are willing to use). My library serves as the proxy library for these students both on-site and remotely, since the majority of these students either do not know that their library has databases and electronic resources or do not use these databases or their college's (likely overwhelmed) inter-library loan service. So I can imagine well a situation where these California students flock to public libraries. Keep in mind, that I'm not simply saying that California public libraries should just become surrogates for these students without any planning or support. This development really hurts the information literacy efforts of these colleges, if these students are denied the very resources that (in essence) make information literacy possible. I especially see community college and university students who come to the public library with what I see as increased satisficing behaviors. They come seeking quick, "efficient", and just "good enough" answers for their assignments and papers. This development really begins to abridge the very core a college's educational goals, if we ask a those already tied to Google, Web 2.0, and "just good enough" to do with less. These students may be able to go to local public libraries to access databases and other electronic resources. Though I write this not being aware of cuts to public libraries in California. Perhaps community college librarians can collaborate with public libraries near community colleges to best serve these students. In the best of possible worlds, I imagine a structure of referral where community college librarians and teachers point to public library databases and available resources. For public librarians and libraries that host these students, full staffing and logistical support and administrative buy-in would be needed, where clear collaboration and communication between college and public library was the norm.

I speak from the position of a reference librarian working daily with students from a near-by community college with no library (or more correctly a library students are willing to use). My library serves as the proxy library for these students both on-site and remotely, since the majority of these students either do not know that their library has databases and electronic resources or do not use these databases or their college’s (likely overwhelmed) inter-library loan service. So I can imagine well a situation where these California students flock to public libraries. Keep in mind, that I’m not simply saying that California public libraries should just become surrogates for these students without any planning or support.

This development really hurts the information literacy efforts of these colleges, if these students are denied the very resources that (in essence) make information literacy possible. I especially see community college and university students who come to the public library with what I see as increased satisficing behaviors. They come seeking quick, “efficient”, and just “good enough” answers for their assignments and papers. This development really begins to abridge the very core a college’s educational goals, if we ask a those already tied to Google, Web 2.0, and “just good enough” to do with less.

]]> By: Are you an edupunk librarian? http://acrlog.org/2009/08/06/report-from-the-field-californias-community-college-crisis/comment-page-1/#comment-134004 Are you an edupunk librarian? Sun, 09 Aug 2009 23:25:22 +0000 http://acrlog.org/?p=1798#comment-134004 [...] yes. Programs and services are being cut, yes. For example, in my recent report for ACRLog,  California’s Community Colleges Crisis, I highlight the 100% loss of funds for electronic databases. The state determined that continued [...] [...] yes. Programs and services are being cut, yes. For example, in my recent report for ACRLog,  California’s Community Colleges Crisis, I highlight the 100% loss of funds for electronic databases. The state determined that continued [...]

]]> By: Barbara http://acrlog.org/2009/08/06/report-from-the-field-californias-community-college-crisis/comment-page-1/#comment-133704 Barbara Sat, 08 Aug 2009 12:20:13 +0000 http://acrlog.org/?p=1798#comment-133704 Wow. How horrible. I know we rely heavily on our legislature (and taxpayers) supporting Minitex, which provides databases to all library types across the state. I have thought about what it would be like if that support went away, and what goes through my head is some 1980s dystopian vision - Max Headroom-style, feral packs of information-deprived people living in shanty-dorms. I suspect between the impoverished library resources and the larger classes, faculty will be assigning less exploratory work and will stick more to "here, read this." Wow. How horrible. I know we rely heavily on our legislature (and taxpayers) supporting Minitex, which provides databases to all library types across the state. I have thought about what it would be like if that support went away, and what goes through my head is some 1980s dystopian vision – Max Headroom-style, feral packs of information-deprived people living in shanty-dorms. I suspect between the impoverished library resources and the larger classes, faculty will be assigning less exploratory work and will stick more to “here, read this.”

]]> By: Ameet Doshi http://acrlog.org/2009/08/06/report-from-the-field-californias-community-college-crisis/comment-page-1/#comment-133566 Ameet Doshi Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:13:59 +0000 http://acrlog.org/?p=1798#comment-133566 A very troubling report, indeed. Clearly, print materials will circulate much more than in recent years, and even print reference collections might get some more daylight. Librarians will need to become more familiar with the "invisible" web which include academic digital libraries, online journals and other archives available in the public domain. A good starting point: http://www.oaister.org/ I wonder if more librarians and academics will take time to update and improve wikipedia articles in their areas? I recall reading some interesting trends about that happening among some faculty in the humanities. It really breaks my heart to hear the how bad things are for such a huge number of California's community patrons, librarians, faculty, and most significantly, students. Change is inevitable and perhaps the best we can do is surf the wave we've been given. This situation may give all of us a chance to connect with community college libraries in California and offer whatever support we can. Hang in there Kenley! A very troubling report, indeed. Clearly, print materials will circulate much more than in recent years, and even print reference collections might get some more daylight. Librarians will need to become more familiar with the “invisible” web which include academic digital libraries, online journals and other archives available in the public domain. A good starting point: http://www.oaister.org/

I wonder if more librarians and academics will take time to update and improve wikipedia articles in their areas? I recall reading some interesting trends about that happening among some faculty in the humanities.

It really breaks my heart to hear the how bad things are for such a huge number of California’s community patrons, librarians, faculty, and most significantly, students. Change is inevitable and perhaps the best we can do is surf the wave we’ve been given. This situation may give all of us a chance to connect with community college libraries in California and offer whatever support we can.

Hang in there Kenley!

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