No.9
October 2005
Debbie Bowring, Law Reference Librarian at
KDU College Library, Malaysia. left to right- Ms Judy Ong, Ms Rafiah Majid (Assistant Librarian), Ms Sakinah Mohamad, Deborah Bowring, Emily Lim Suan Hoon (Chief Librarian), & Marlina Jaafar (Assistant Librarian).
See below Partnerships between the Library and Faculty: Information Literacy on-shore and off-shore
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Library News |
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News from Sections |
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Electronic services news: |
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Teaching and Help |
Library news:
From the University Librarian
In the last week of September the Library was pleased to host two library conferences. These were CODA (Customers of Dynix Australia) 2005 and the 2005 Australian Law Librarians Symposium.
CODA focuses on the ‘engine room’ of the library, making sure that our cataloguing and acquisitions processes are running smoothly. This enables us to provide the best access to our collections through Horizon, our integrated library management system.
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The Law Librarians’ Symposium covered issues of performance measurement and service delivery in the 21st century. Both conferences gave UTAS Library staff an opportunity to network and learn from colleagues on the mainland, and to showcase activities within Tasmania. It was a pleasure to welcome both groups when they visited the University Library at Sandy Bay. |
For next year we are looking towards a new policy for developing the Library collections and a revised budget allocation process. We have had discussions throughout the University and final drafts of these policies are now available via the Library web site at http://www.utas.edu.au/library/about/index.html. Please contact Graeme Rayner, Collection Management Librarian or your liaison librarian if you have any comments or queries regarding these policies.
Linda Luther
University Librarian
Availability survey completed
Beth Barnard assists a student with the 'Availability survey'.
During the first two weeks of August, the Library undertook an 'Availability Survey' to ascertain the availability of sought library items and to analyse why items might be 'unavailable'. The survey was conducted simultaneously in the Morris Miller, Science and Launceston libraries in order to provide an across the Library system result and this was hopefully achieved by a return rate of 600 forms per Library.
Thank you to all the students and staff who participated in this survey. The survey, based on methodology devised by the Committee of Australian University Librarians, was undertaken by the daily distribution of questionnaire forms to library patrons who have entered the library building(s) in order to seek out a particular item (in this case a physical item from the lending or serials collections) Returned forms were analysed by staff, to establish the veracity of the user claims (when and where these related to the non-availability of the sought item) The forms were then coded and the data entered onto spreadsheets for subsequent tabulation and analysis.
The Library is currently analysing the implications of the survey results as they relate to service areas and collection development with a view to improving conditions or circumstances which led to items being unavailable.
News from Sections:
The Cradle Coast campus is currently involved in running a pilot project called Learning Leading - Creating a Community of Lifelong Learning. This is a collaboration between the University of Tasmania, the Tasmanian Education Dept., TAFE Tasmania and the Cradle Coast Authority. As a part of this project UTas students are able to have access to computers at Smithton High school from 3 pm to 6pm on Monday to Friday. This is a great alternative for students in that area who don’t have other ways of accessing a computer.
Phone: 03 6324 3276
E-mail: Ltn.Reference@utas.edu.au
IT Services
Access to centrally managed computers has improved in the libraries since the Learning Hubs were developed. Before the Learning Hubs there were 108 computers available for students to use, and this has now increased to 183. The Morris Miller Library has 50 machines and the Launceston Campus Library has 40, plus there are email kiosks in the Morris Miller, Science and Launceston Libraries. Students also have access to centrally managed machines in the eLearning Labs (22 in Hobart and 23 in Launceston) when the labs are not booked for classes.
Many students have started to bring their own laptop computers into the Launceston and Morris Miller Libraries and are connecting to the University’s network through UANA (University Authenticity Network Access). Currently about 800 students have registered their laptops on the wireless network.
Launceston Library
Librarian has an Affair in Sydney
The School of Nursing and Midwifery are expanding their Bachelor of Nursing program into the St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney starting in 2006. They sponsored the Launceston based nursing liaison librarian, Mr Ian Bollard, to visit St Vincent’s Public and Private Hospitals to investigate how information services, including information skills training, can be best delivered to our students in Sydney. Ian commented, “There is a great deal of goodwill to make the venture succeed, which is filtering down to the hospital libraries as well. It is great to see our nursing students that have previously been on clinical placement in Sydney being held in such high regard”.
Phone: 03 6324 3276
E-mail: Ltn.Reference@utas.edu.au
Law Library
Visit to KDU College Malaysia
In September 2005, Deb Bowring Reference Librarian, visited KDU College in Petaling Jaya. KDU College is our partner in the KDU College/UTas Twinning Programme (LLB). The aims of the visit were as follows:
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To introduce both staff and students to UTas online resources and services including Web CT Vista
Conduct legal research training for students focusing on primary and secondary legal materials
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Conduct training sessions for both academic and library staff covering selected online legal resources for teaching and research.
In addition, Deb liaised with both lecturers and students from our biomedical programme and conducted training sessions on both ProQuest and Medline. The training sessions were conducted over a period of 4 days and were received enthusiastically by both staff and students.
Phone: 03 6226 2063
E-mail: Law.Reference@utas.edu.au
Science & Morris Miller Libraries
The Science Library extends congratulations to Kay Hughes who has been appointed to the acting position of Circulation Officer, Morris Miller Library from the 29th September to the 3rd February 2006. We wish Kay the best of luck in her exciting new position.
Helen Jackson will be Acting Library Officer in the Science Library. Please contact Helen for any matters formerly sent to Kay:
Phone: 03 6226 2441
E-mail: Helen.Jackson@utas.edu.au
Phone: 03 6226 2441
E-mail: Science.Reference@utas.edu.au
Electronic Services News:
This area provides news about changes to existing or new electronic services, which are provided by the library to support research and teaching programs.
New Resources:
The Australasian Legal Information Institute (AustLII) has launched the Commonwealth Legal Information Institute (CommonLII) located at:
http://www.commonlii.org
Access to CommonLII is free. Using CommonLII it is possible to search 646 databases from 50 Commonwealth and common law countries and territories. The majority of these databases are found on existing LIIs in Commonwealth countries, however, CommonLII holds 44 databases from 28 additional countries and more are being developed. There are extensive database collections from India. Other countries included are Singapore, Malaysia, most Caribbean countries and ten African countries. CommonLII also enables the users to search Commonwealth-wide legislation, case law or law reform.
Aspect Huntley’s DatAnalysis for Business
Provides current and historical data for all ASX listed companies. Includes financial data profit & loss statements, cash flow, annual reports (from 1995- ) corporate details, shareholder information and company announcements-(from 1989). Updated daily.
http://www.utas.edu.au/library/info/dbase/dbases2.html#d
Aspect Huntly’s Annual Reports Online for Business
Annual reports database for all Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) listed/de-listed companies, 1995- current. Includes company prospectuses. Search for a specific annual report by company name, code or industry sector. Updated daily.
http://www.utas.edu.au/library/info/dbase/dbases2.html#d
Grove Music Online comprises the full text of The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, second edition, edited by Stanley Sadie and John Tyrrell (London, 2001), The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, edited by Stanley Sadie (London, 1992), and The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, second edition, edited by Barry Kernfeld (London, 2002).
http://www.utas.edu.au/library/info/dbase/dbases3.html
Grove Art Online provides web access to the entire text of The Dictionary of Art, ed. Jane Turner (1996, 34 vols.) and The Oxford Companion to Western Art, ed. Hugh Brigstocke (2001). We offer ongoing additions of new and updated articles, over 1,500 thumbnail art images and line drawings displayed in the text of articles, extensive image links, and sophisticated search and navigation tools.
http://www.utas.edu.au/library/info/dbase/dbases3.htm
21 new engineering ebooks are now available they are:
Fiber-Optic Communication Systems
Information Technologies in Medicine, Volume 2 Rehabilitation and Treatment
Information Technologies in Medicine, Volume 1 Medical Simulation and Education
Mobile Ad Hoc Networking
Tracking and Kalman Filtering Made Easy
Real-Time Systems
Scheduling in Real-Time Systems
Methods and Applications of Linear Models
Elements of Photonics, Volume I In Free Space and Special Media
Elements of Photonics, Volume II For Fiber and Integrated Optics
Real-Time Systems Design and Analysis
Radar Signals
Optical Filter Design and Analysis
Intelligent Image Processing
Signal Analysis
Handbook of Weather, Climate and Water
Broadband Circuits for Optical Fiber Communication
Fundamentals of Photonics
Software-Enabled Control
Wireless Local Loops
Applied Numerical Methods Using MATLAB
They can be accessed by a publication search on the Wiley homepage at:
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com
Developing independent, lifelong learners: partnerships between the Library and Faculty
From Linda Luther, University Librarian:
When students arrive at university, they encounter scholarly information resources that are totally new to them. Students need to acquire information literacy skills to discover, evaluate and use the information. These skills - identified in UTAS generic attributes - help students to become independent, lifelong learners.
The information skills that students need become more complex as they move from their first year to honours and into postgraduate study or the workforce. Library staff can work with academics to embed explicit teaching of these skills into the curriculum. In this issue of Library News we feature case studies of teaching programs and projects that highlight the partnerships between librarians and academic staff.
If you would like further information on Information Literacy or how to develop these partnerships for student learning, you can find the Information Literacy Policy at
http://www.utas.edu.au/library/about/liaisgeneric.html,
or contact Richard.Dearden@utas.edu.au
Preparing students for University learning
Preparing students for University learning
Information literacy has been part of UniStart since its inception. Librarians and academics from FEU work together to continually improve the way these skills are taught.
Students are introduced to information literacy and library resources in a lecture, reinforced by a hands-on workshop with a self-paced exercise. This teaching is strategically placed in the timetable to follow Essay Writing and the Research Process taught by FEU, and helps students find information for the UniStart essay.
Launceston Librarians Susan Bell, Cherie Holmes and Di Hodge meet with FEU Lecturer and UniStart coordinator,
Dr Tim Moss.
Working with the New Medical Curriculum
Clinical Librarian, Ian Barton, has been active in the New Medical Curriculum Working Group since its inception. Ian’s main role is to develop information literacy content for the new medical course.
Clinical Librarian Ian Barton and Assoc. Prof Geraldine McCarrick, Director of the New Medical Curriculum.
Information literacy learning outcomes are embedded within the new curriculum and students’ skills will be assessed. The teaching of the skills is integral to the case based learning approach of the course.
The New Medical Curriculum has adopted the standards for the information literacy learning outcomes from the ANZIIL Information Literacy Framework:
http://www.anziil.org/resources
/Info%20lit%202nd%20edition.pdf
Librarians will teach students in weekly sessions throughout the first year of the course with the aim of achieving a high skill level as a sound basis for students in subsequent years – in particular, Evidence Based Practice.
Information skills in Government
Dr Megan Alessandrini and Librarian, Kate Walpole worked together to embed information literacy teaching in 1st and 2nd/3rd year Government units. They started with a pilot program in 2004 for the 2nd/3rd year unit.
Students learn skills through workshops that allow them to focus on their projects. VISTA tutorials facilitate flexible, self-directed learning and revision. Skills are assessed by a research journal that receives 10% of the essay marks.
Kate has also undertaken pioneering work to embed information literacy in the first year curricula of Asian Studies with Dr Pam Allen, Sociology with Dr Doug Ezzy and Aboriginal Studies with Carol Pybus. Douglas Ezzy said: "It is the best thing since sliced bread. The program worked very well. It seemed to help that category of student who often don't read very much to do just that little bit more research for their essays".
Kate Walpole, Morris Miller reference librarian and Dr Megan Alessandrini, School of Government.
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Information Literacy on-shore and off-shore
The Law Library and the Law School worked together to embed legal research skills vertically across the Law degree - no matter where it is offered. In Tasmania Librarians deliver lectures and tutorials on legal research skills across the campuses.
Offshore, UTAS Librarians visited the KDU Law School in Malaysia to teach legal research skills. Librarian Deborah Bowring’s visit this year included the development of a train-the-trainer program with staff of the KDU.
Professor Don Chalmers, Dean of Law , Savita Kaur Vegil [at back], Meera Arul-Sivam, Siti Awanis Othman, Quah Ean Lin, Deborah Bowring, and Chew Phye Ken.
These initiatives, and planning for future developments, have been made easier because the close working relationship between the Law Library and Faculty has been embedded into the Faculty structure. Deborah Wright, Law Librarian, is a member of the Faculty Teaching & Learning Committee, Research & Postgraduate Studies Committee, and most importantly the Skills Sub-Committee of the Faculty T&L Committee.
How do we know what students know?
In 2004, the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology undertook research into the impact of the explicit teaching of information literacy. Results of the research have been presented this year at the national Information Literacy Symposium:
http://www.anziil.org/events_meetings/2005/events/
symposiumseriesfour/overview.htm#Presentations
and the UniServe conference on science teaching:
http://science.uniserve.edu.au/workshop/2005/
symposiumprogram.html
Assoc Prof Sue Jones, Zoology and Chris Evans
Science Librarian
Assoc Prof Sue Jones, from the school of Zoology, led the project, and is continuing the research in collaboration with Science Librarian, Chris Evans. One aspect of the research is to assess the effectiveness of the School of Zoology’s vertically integrated information literacy program.
Benefits of Zoology’s embedded information literacy program have been presented in papers at the Lifelong Learning Conference in 2004 - Paper at:
http://lifelonglearning.cqu.edu.au/2004/papers/dearden-142-paper.pdf
and HERDSA in 2003 - Paper at:
http://surveys.canterbury.ac.nz/herdsa03/pdfsnon
/N1096.pdf
Information literacy for first year students
Emma Pharo, Lecturer and First Year Coordinator (Semester 2), and Tricia Vierra Liaison Librarian for Geography & Environmental Studies developed a fully online VISTA learning module for information skills that is immediately applicable to the first assignments for both science and arts students enrolled in the team taught unit. The learning module accommodates individual learning styles, incorporates activities for real time practice and finishes with an assessed activity. The learning module was released for active learning for Weeks 2-5 and available for student review thereafter. The module will refined after evaluation at the end of Semester 2.
Tricia Vierra, Liaison Librarian for Geography & Environmental Studies and Emma Pharo, Lecturer
and First Year Coordinator (Semester 2).
Information skills for the Graduate Certificate in University Teaching and Learning
FEU academics Neil Trevett and Sharon Thomas worked with Education Liaison Librarians Tricia Vierra and Diana Hodge to customise an information literacy skills session for academic staff enrolled in a unit of the Graduate Certificate. The session targeted highly information literate participants who need to transfer their skills to a new discipline - University Teaching & Learning. The workshop also gave participants an appreciation of the value of information skills for students in their disciplines.
Electronic Services News: (continued)
Free Databases
The following free databases are now linked from our Databases pages:
arXiv.org e-print archive
Dat Analysis
Feminae: medieval women and gender index
HealthInsite
Japanese-English Dictionary Interface (JEDI)
Making of America - Cornell University
Making of America - University of Michigan
Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy
OAIster
PEDro
SPRILIB Antarctica
http://www.utas.edu.au/library/info/dbase/index.html
More Database Trials:
CINAHL with Full Text and CINAHL Plus with Full Text for Nursing
Contains all CINAHL journals plus over 100 journals not indexed in basic CINAHL. Quick Lessons and Evidence-Based Care Sheets are included. Indexing and PDF files extend back to 1937 and searchable cited references to 1994. Trial access to this database is available on and off campus by IP authentication until 8th November 2005.
http://www.utas.edu.au/library/info/dbase/trials.html
The Shakespeare Collection
This database brings together general reference data, full-text scholarly periodicals, reprinted criticism, primary source material and the full-text annotated works from The Arden Shakespeare. Trial access to this database is available on and off campus by IP authentication until 31st October 2005.
http://www.utas.edu.au/library/info/dbase/trials.html
Updates to existing databases:
ANR-Index Archive for Agricultural Science
Formerly the ABOA and Streamline databases, ANR-Index Archive, is a bibliographic database of older publications on agriculture and natural resources including sustainable Australian agriculture, food, forestry and fisheries industries and the promotion of conservation and sustainable use of Australia's environment, water and natural resources.
http://www.utas.edu.au/library/info/dbase/dbases1.html
ANR-Research Archive for Agricultural Science
Formerly known as CARRP, ANR-Research Archive, is a research in progress database that contains completed research projects from the ANR-Research database across the Australian agriculture and natural resources areas.
http://www.utas.edu.au/library/info/dbase/dbases1.html
OED Online update
The September 2005 OED Online update includes over 2,000 new and revised words and other usability improvements.
http://www.utas.edu.au/library/info/dbase/dbases3.html#o
For any enquiries/comments please contact:
Kate.Walpole@utas.edu.au
..... printable version, PDF 553k
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