Collaborations between LIS Education & Rural Libraries in East Tennessee:
Improving Librarian Technology Literacy & Management Training
Johnson City
Public Library, TN
Hancock County Public
Library, Sneedville, TN
Sevier County Public Library,
Sevierville, TN
Lake City Public Library, TN
Bharat Mehra, Kimberly Black, Vandana Singh, Shu-Yueh Lee
School of Information Sciences, University of Tennessee
Agenda
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About the ITRL Program
The ITRL Purpose
Why the ITRL Program is Important?
Research Goals
Discussion
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Alliances and Associations based on a Pilot Study Conducted
to Assist in Funding of the ITRL Grant Proposal
Collaborations in the Planning and Development of the ITRL
Grant Proposal
Partnerships in the Five Phases of the ITRL Project Design
Conclusions
ITRL Planning Meeting
13 November, 2009
ALISE 2010: Mehra, Black, Singh, & Lee
About the ITRL Program
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“Information Technology Rural Librarian Master’s
Scholarship Program” (ITRL) in the School of Information
Sciences at the University of Tennessee meets an urgent
need for rural librarians in the Southern and Central
Appalachian (SCA) region to develop information
technology competencies and training in a master’s
program (accredited by the American Library
Association) that combines work experience and practice
with graduate instruction and curriculum support.
Hamlin-Lincoln County
Public Library, Hamlin, WV
ALISE 2010: Mehra, Black, Singh, & Lee
The ITRL Purpose
The purpose of the ITRL Scholarship Program is to recruit sixteen
paraprofessionals working in rural libraries in the Southern and
Central Appalachian (SCA) regions to complete their master’s
degree with a focus on IT and rural librarianship in the UT’s SIS
program via distance.
ITRL students will receive:
 Part-time degree in a program accredited by the ALA
 A structured, individually-tailored IT and rural management curriculum
 Rural library practices and needs incorporated into the curriculum
 IT competencies in developing rural library work applications
 Formal/informal professional mentoring by educators and practitioners
 Full-tuition scholarship for two years
 Allowance for materials
 Provision of a laptop computer
ALISE 2010: Mehra, Black, Singh, & Lee
Why the ITRL Program is Important
The Southern and Central Appalachian Region is experiencing:
 Information poverty and unemployment
 Economic challenges
 Low levels of information literacy and educational attainment
 A lack of access and use of IT
 Other unique environmental challenges
Library professionals who are embedded in their communities are in a
strong position to help address and develop solutions to these needs.
Laurel Jones Public Library,
Laurel, MS
ALISE 2010: Mehra, Black, Singh, & Lee
Research Goals 1
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To draw implications for developing alliances and associations
between LIS education and rural librarians in the SCA s regions
based on a pilot study that was conducted to assist in funding the
grant proposal, namely, to explore the perspectives of East
Tennessee’s regional librarians about the extent of their need for a
professional library education to integrate IT competencies and
information management skills in their work environments.
Jonesville Public Library, NC
ALISE 2010: Mehra, Black, Singh, & Lee
Pilot Study
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Quantitative web-based survey with select open-ended
questions helped ascertain the extent of need for professional library
education in the SCA region
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A self-administered web-based survey was available during
November 12-19, 2008, to gather data for the study
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A call for participation was sent on the TN-Libraries ListServ and elicited
participation of members of the Regional Library System in
East Tennessee
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Research questions
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What are the key information needs of rural communities in the region?
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What are the library services provided by rural information professionals in the region?
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What is the extent of perceived need for formal library professional education among
information professionals in the region?
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What specific training/educational programs are needed by information professionals
in the region?
ALISE 2010: Mehra, Black, Singh, & Lee
Pilot Study Findings
Location of Respondents
ALISE 2010: Mehra, Black, Singh, & Lee
Most Important Library Services Provided to Rural Clients
Most important resources or services in region
technology access (internet access; computer access)
recreational material (books, magazines, films, etc.)
youth services/programming (homework help, story
hour, etc.)
medical/nutrition and health information
materials and services to home schooled populations
technology training
support for client job searching
services to special populations (nursing homes,
outreach to remote areas, prison services, etc.)
information and referral to other community and
government agencies
community meeting space
support to local civic organizations
information services/materials to small businesses,
farms, etc.
Freq.
32
23
18
% of
Responses
87%
62%
49%
8
7
6
5
3
22%
19%
16%
14%
8%
3
8%
2
2
1
5%
5%
3%
Implications for Developing Alliances & Associations
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Formal educational opportunities and training
(e.g., degree programs, librarian certification courses,
workshops and “how-to” seminars) should be developed
to meet the need for awareness and use of technology
applications in rural library environments.
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Call for strategic relationship building and partnerships
between various stakeholders to seek, leverage, and
obtain library and technology resources to train staff with
IT skills and develop IT tools and implementation.
ALISE 2010: Mehra, Black, Singh, & Lee
Most Important Library Training & Educational Programs
Needed in East Tennessee
Area of Desired Education
technology – hardware, software, networks
partnerships and collaboration
collection management
administration: planning, goal setting, strategic
planning
technology – searching/web-based information
services
technology – providing instruction
technology – Web 2.0 social networking
services to children and young adults
library management
services to general adult populations
cataloging/metadata
services for the underserved
Freq.
% of Respondents
13
13
12
10
35%
35%
32%
27%
10
27%
9
9
9
8
8
5
3
24%
24%
24%
22%
22%
14%
8%
Implications for Developing Alliances & Associations
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East Tennessee’s regional librarians have a strong desire to
gain access to professional library education that integrates
IT competencies and library management training for
graduates to better serve their rural communities.
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The pilot research calls for a structured curriculum in the UT’s
SIS program and other LIS programs around the country that
provide students individually-tailored formal/informal
professional mentoring by educators and practitioners while
they learn IT competencies and develop rural library work
applications in their courses that are especially suited
towards the needs of the SCA communities..
ALISE 2010: Mehra, Black, Singh, & Lee
Research Goals 2
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To identify collaborations that were significant in the
planning and development of the ITRL grant proposal
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To explore partnerships that will be instrumental towards successful
implementation of future activities in the five phases of the ITRL
project design:
1. Recruitment of ITRL students from rural libraries in the SCA region
2. Needs assessment of library services and information challenges
faced by rural regional libraries
3. Implementation of educational and training activities
4. Professional mentoring (formal/informal) by professional educators
and practitioners
5. Evaluation/assessment of program outcomes, and dissemination of
program results/experiences
ALISE 2010: Mehra, Black, Singh, & Lee
Collaborations in the ITRL Planning and
Development of the Grant Proposal
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Ongoing feedback from regional librarians in the UT’s SIS advisory board
and alumni networks and paraprofessional experiences shared by SIS DE
students developed a fuller picture about the context of study
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Participation in local, regional, and state-level professional library
networks established professional ties with rural librarians in the SCA
region and gained their support and involvement in the grant proposal
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Contributions by East Tennessee’s regional public librarians in the pilot
study furthered formal assessment of need and provided evidence to
inform the grant development process
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Strategic planning in East Tennessee’s two regional libraries provided the
impetus to take action to address the experienced challenges (e.g., lack
of resources) in the region’s public libraries
ALISE 2010: Mehra, Black, Singh, & Lee
Collaborations in the ITRL Planning and
Development of the Grant Proposal
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Involvement of project partners throughout the
grant activities provides validity, leadership, knowledge,
networks, experience, and drive to promote IT-based
development and change in the region’s communities
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Nancy Renfro, Director, Watauga Regional Library
Donald B. Reynolds, Director, Nolichucky Regional Library System
Susan Simmons, Director, Clinch-Powell Regional Library
KC Williams, System Director, Sevier County Public Library
Representatives from other regional and county library
systems in the nine states within the SCA region are planning
to participate in the various grant activities
ALISE 2010: Mehra, Black, Singh, & Lee
Collaborations in the ITRL Phase 1: Recruitment
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Created the ITRL Recruitment Board with
members who are helping recruit potential ITRL
applicants (in progress) , developed a plan for
competitive recruitment of students to the program,
including development of recruitment materials and
criteria for selection (e.g. members of ARSL, ETLA)
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State librarians, regional library directors, county library
directors, and others in the SCA region have assisted in
marketing and promotion efforts, identifying potential
candidates from their staff and community populations,
and helping them complete admission procedures and
application materials
ALISE 2010: Mehra, Black, Singh, & Lee
Collaborations in ITRL Phase 2: Needs Assessment
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An ITRL Needs Assessment Symposium [online and face-to-face
meetings] will be conducted in March/April 2010 and fifty library and
information professionals from across the SCA region will provide
feedback about library services and information challenges
experienced in their rural libraries.
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Online break-out sessions and face-to-face focus groups will be
orchestrated to address local information needs, use of information
resources and services, challenges and barriers, areas of
improvement, and use of computers and information technologies.
Doddridge County Public
Library, West Union, WV
ALISE 2010: Mehra, Black, Singh, & Lee
Collaborations in ITRL Phase 3:
Education/Training Implementation
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IT deliverables applied towards rural libraries include:
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Technology planning, assessment, and analysis
Database and web design, development, and usability
Building digital library, web portals, and Library 2.0 tools
Establishing hardware and software configurations for networking
systems
Management outcomes in rural library courses include:
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Service evaluation/assessment in rural libraries
Planning/management of a rural library program for youth and adults
Reader’s advisory and other information services
Grant writing and partnership development
ALISE 2010: Mehra, Black, Singh, & Lee
Collaborations in ITRL Phase 3:
The Possibilities in IT Courses
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Partnerships to facilitate student developed course
outcomes related to:
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Creation and use of technology and online tools (e.g., digital
libraries, OPAC, electronic databases) to access local materials,
bringing together state and local library networks
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Understanding of IT-related planning and application of research
methodologies to train other employees/ patrons to fully utilize
available databases and search engines
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Community based electronic communications (using Web 2.0 to
promote and expand library services)
ALISE 2010: Mehra, Black, Singh, & Lee
Collaborations in ITRL Phase 3: The Possibilities
in Rural Management Courses
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Collaborations with rural libraries where ITRL
students work to facilitate development of course outcomes
related to:
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Library service evaluation based on understanding of user needs
as assessed by students and the library
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Working within individual libraries with employees and patrons to
offer appropriate services and materials responding to changes
in expectations of various populations (current interests, activities,
etc.)
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Improving reader ‘s advisory methods and techniques, creating
partnerships between their library and other libraries, writing grant
proposals for the library
ALISE 2010: Mehra, Black, Singh, & Lee
Collaborations in ITRL Phase 4:
Professional Mentoring
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16 librarians with MLS degrees will form the ITRL Mentoring
Board that will work with ITRL educators to tailor individual student’s
academic program in integrating IT competencies to meet the needs of
their rural library and community [May 2010]
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Educators from UT’s SIS and practitioner-mentors from the ITRL Mentoring
Board will identify learning objectives, course recommendations, and
research projects to enhance IT skills with rural library applications
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Faculty and practitioner-mentor participants will develop profiles of
work/position descriptions and IT expectations for each ITRL student
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Each work/position profile will incorporate specific IT content and rural
management applications
ALISE 2010: Mehra, Black, Singh, & Lee
Collaborations in ITRL Phase 5: Evaluation
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Feedback from ITRL mentors, students, and rural library
professionals will be regularly collected
Throughout the ITRL duration we will continuously analyze
the effectiveness of students’ experiences in developing IT
course applications for their rural work environments
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Quantitative survey-based online student evaluation at the
beginning and end of each class
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Qualitative interview questions in each class
This will include collecting data on career choice, academic
success, professional association participation, and the
graduates’ evaluation of the program
ALISE 2010: Mehra, Black, Singh, & Lee
Conclusions
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ITRL is a collaborative effort from conception to
completion. Educators, partners, students, and libraries
are working together to improve library services and
materials across the Southern and Central Appalachian
region. We hope this collaboration will continue long after
the ITRL students graduate.
Upshur County Public Library,
Buckhannon, WV
ALISE 2010: Mehra, Black, Singh, & Lee
Acknowledgements
We appreciate the recently funded IMLS grant that
is helping to support activities reported in this
presentation. We gratefully acknowledge the
participation and contributions of East Tennessee’s
regional public librarians and others who
participated in various data gathering methods.
ALISE 2010: Mehra, Black, Singh, & Lee
Questions and Comments?
Thank you for your attention and participation.
ALISE 2010: Mehra, Black, Singh, & Lee