Community workshop series in information literacy recruits undergraduates.

Over the last few years, service learning has become an important objective of the University. The University Library has a strong history of service to the community and in 2005 established the Community Workshop Series (CWS). The CWS partners with public libraries in the area to offer classes in information literacy to the public. Graduate students from UNC's School of Information and Library Science have been active participants and gained valuable experience. More recently, the University Library partnered with APPLES, the Service Learning program on campus to bring undergraduates into the CWS. Not only do they provide a useful and important service to the community, but by being trained and then teaching others to find and evaluate information, the undergraduates have increased their own information literacy and critical thinking skills.
http://www.lib.unc.edu/instruct/community_workshops/

Goals:

• Undergraduates increase their own ability to find and evaluate information.

• Undergraduates apply what they've learned, and then assist others in their academic work and lives.

• Undergraduates develop an appreciation of lifelong learning.

Assessment:

Only anecdotal evidence at this time.

Stories of the American South.

This is a series of learning objects developed in collaboration with our digital publishing unit. They are intended to capture the interest of undergraduates and introduce them to the rich primary resources available on campus. By presenting students with primary source materials, like manuscripts and oral histories, they have the opportunity to think deeply about a topic, think critically, and come to their own conclusions about history.
http://www.lib.unc.edu/stories/

Goals:

• Gain an understanding and appreciation for the power of primary source material in the study of history.

• Begin to use primary source materials in their own academic work.

• Develop critical thinking skills.

Assessment:

In 2007, we conducted a series of tests around the "Stories of the American South" and found students had a better understanding of North Carolina history and were more apt to find and use primary source materials in future assignments.

Online tutorials.

We also have a series of online tutorials designed to introduce students to research and the literature of various fields. We also recently developed a series of tutorials designed to support the University's robust travel abroad program.
http://www.lib.unc.edu/instruct/tutorials.html

Goals / Assessment:

NA

Delivering the library via Blackboard.

We recently began developing customized course pages to integrate into the University's course management system, Blackboard. The library works closely with the faculty to identify the information sources appropriate for class assignments. The pages contain contact information for subject specialists available to help, either via email or chat. They also link to examples of scholarly book and journal articles, online tutorials, research guides, and other instructional resources designed to supplement or reinforce face-to-face instruction. In addition to being integrated into Blackboard, the pages are hosted on the library's website for later referral.
http://www.lib.unc.edu/coursepages/

Goals / Assessment:

NA

Library uses Second Life to prototype upcoming renovation in main library.

As part of the forthcoming renovation of the public spaces in the University Library's main library, the staff has begun to develop a prototype of the new space in the virtual reality program, Second Life. The site helps users visualize the new spaces and will eventually offer a number of the services, including virtual reference, research consultations, and collaborative workspace.

Goals:

See above

Assessment:

NA