Monday, September 3, 2012
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Thursday, August 9, 2012
User Services and Instructional Librarians
What I do:
The User Services
Librarian’s overall responsibility involves the coordination of
reference service, information literacy and e-Learning initiatives, as
well as provides communications with, and support for, Library Services
users to achieve institutional learning goals.
Reporting to the Director,
Library Services, the User Services Librarian’s overall responsibility
involves the coordination of reference service, information literacy and
e-Learning initiatives, as well as provides communications with, and
support for, Library Services users to achieve institutional learning
goals.
•Providing general reference services in all disciplines individually and at the service desks, as well as specialized reference/research services;
•Providing input in the selection of new reference/electronic resources based on analysis, need and suitability;
•Working collaboratively with college faculty and library colleagues to integrate information literacy and research skills across the curriculum;
•Cultivating partnerships and collaborating with faculty on projects;
•Teaching library research instruction sessions at all library locations across a wide range of programmes;
•Participating in ongoing development of the library webs site; monitoring and evaluating web sites and research sources;
•Contributing information and advice about user’s needs towards ongoing planning and development, in order to provide leading edge Library Service; providing strategies toward the ongoing development of new library initiatives;
•Staying abreast of relevant library technologies, including Web 2.0 communication and social networking technology and developing marketing, outreach and reference services through the use of these technologies;
•Responsible for technology-enhanced instruction through the development of learning objects, streaming audio-video, web-based modules, and e-learning within course management systems; assessments of teaching and student learning outcomes;
•Working collaboratively with liaison librarian to create discipline-specific modules, web-based exercises, simulations, and other applications;
•Participating in development of references services, information literacy and e-learning policies;
•Coordinating the development of library publications to promote and instruct on the library and its resources;
•Providing guidance to all full and part-time support staff in the Library;
•Other duties as required.
On Accessibility
Adaptive
Technology in Universities
A university library should be part of an inclusive and dynamic community
of residents, students, faculty and friends. Throughout time, university
libraries have maintained a close relationship with learning and research and
have even influenced these two important priorities. Librarians like to
see positive changes throughout history as evolution. Technology, such as the
internet, has changed and improved the way people use libraries
The changes that occur over time in our libraries seem to parallel the
history of London. Positive and innovative changes in
communities are made possible through the efforts of true leaders. Librarians have the ability to lead the way this time in a way that is responsive to the needs of the
community, faculty and staff.
A good way to do this is to go back to the two important priorities
throughout the history of academic libraries - learning and research, to check
how closely our libraries are measuring up.
The main issue:
There isn’t adequate accessibility.
So our mission will continue to serve students, faculty and staff as a
university designed to provide information using cutting edge technology – only
this time, our identity includes all people, including people with
disabilities. How would it be to initiate the creation of an Inclusive Research
Centre within the library to collaborate with researchers throughout the university and
surrounding communities. I think that a university that has the initiative, the energy, the innovation and
the ABILITY to enable universities to move forward and realize an inclusive learning and
research vision. A positive step would be the building an academic program in inclusive design at
the undergraduate, graduate and professional development level. In addition to
a technology advantage and rich history in academics, a university can include programs
and initiatives that perfectly complement adaptive technology programs and
offer a vibrant, expanding academic community to situate their research.
Librarians regard disability as a disparity between the needs of the
individual and the service, education, tools or environment provided. As well,
accessibility is regarded as the adaptability of the library system to the
needs of each individual. The development of university research and services should
be grounded on accessibility and inclusion.
Just as universities may support open standards - as well as open access and open
source wherever possible - to distribute their work as widely as possible and to
encourage broad participation in their initiatives, all our work is therefore
collaborative. Departments research teams as well as community partners and
city community services can use the library’s Inclusive Research Centre for a
broad range of research and programming initiatives.
We as librarians are strong advocates of people with disabilities as they are often
overlooked when it comes to being productive with regards to information. They
should not be limited to only being ones who consume information. Instead of
people with disabilities being the ones who are limited in their abilities, it
is actually our entire society that is limited if people with disabilities are
excluded. We lose a big part of what makes us a community when people with
disabilities are omitted. Therefore, inclusion benefits everyone and without
this inclusion, we all lose out in being a complete community. Since many universities are on
the cutting edge of technology, this becomes a major part of our strengths and
power we have to our advantage. It should be used to the fullest. There are no
limits to how this space in a university can be used. In a library, there should
be room for everyone.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Reading brain images
Brain-image technologies that can read your thoughts and allow you to control computer interfaces. A
fairly recent development, esp. prominent in assisstive technologies (helping
people with severe speech impediments) which now seem to be showing potential
for migrating to the more main-stream applications.
Here is the audio link, in case you haven't had a chance to listen to today's "On the Current" on CBC: http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/2012/06/25/pandoras-box-episode-five/
In simple terms, scientists are compiling and cataloguing our (prototypical, flexible) brain responses to images. Such catalogues (or dictionaries) later allow a computer program to identify what a person is actually thinking (i.e., imagining in his or her mind). They appear to work with only concrete object images (apples, trees) for now, and have harder time with abstract ones (trust, love), according to the interviewed scientists.
Fascinating! Where will keyword searching IR be in 5-10 years from now? Imagine other consequences (e.g, in courtrooms or personal relations)?! The ethical and social implication are equally scary... Will there be time when there won't be private thoughts? At the expense of some direly needed convenience, of course...
Here is the audio link, in case you haven't had a chance to listen to today's "On the Current" on CBC: http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/2012/06/25/pandoras-box-episode-five/
In simple terms, scientists are compiling and cataloguing our (prototypical, flexible) brain responses to images. Such catalogues (or dictionaries) later allow a computer program to identify what a person is actually thinking (i.e., imagining in his or her mind). They appear to work with only concrete object images (apples, trees) for now, and have harder time with abstract ones (trust, love), according to the interviewed scientists.
Fascinating! Where will keyword searching IR be in 5-10 years from now? Imagine other consequences (e.g, in courtrooms or personal relations)?! The ethical and social implication are equally scary... Will there be time when there won't be private thoughts? At the expense of some direly needed convenience, of course...
Monday, July 23, 2012
Words on Trial: The New Yorker
What can "language detectives"
contribute to solving "language crimes" (e.g., extortion, black-mailing,
fraud)?
In courtroom situations, how reliable are witness narratives?
How much does the meaning depend on our
expectations?
Are these linguistics always right?
"Words on Trial: Can linguists solve crimes that stump the police?" --
Click here for full articleAre these linguistics always right?
"Words on Trial: Can linguists solve crimes that stump the police?" --
Sunday, July 22, 2012
HiLobrow: Subsupermen
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