Key Activities and Accomplishments FY 17-18
The BSSE unit did not come into existence until mid-year, but during Spring semester they provided learning and research support services to the Temple University community and the public, primarily via:
- Ask a Librarian reference service via Ask Here desk, email, and chat - Research consultations on a drop-in or by-appointment basis, either in-person and via video conference
- Course-embedded information literacy instruction in GenEd, higher level undergraduate, and graduate classes
- Research Guides that recommend subject-specific resources for subjects taught at Temple, and for particular courses
- Collection development in the form of e-resource reviewing and decision-making, firm order spending, responding to patron purchase requests, and maintaining the Leisure Reading Collection Other notable projects undertaken by BSSE unit members during 2017-2018:
- Worked with ITS, CAT and others in TUL, to enable automatic embedding of Research Guides in Canvas courses
- Production of instructional videos on Canvas guide content embedding and, with Access Services staff, on Ares course reserves embedding
- Set up systematic collection of patron feedback for one-on-one research consultations - With the Coordinator of Learning and Student Success, set up regular distribution schedule for ENG 802/812/902 student and faculty feedback; conducted ENG 802 instruction observations and reviewed feedback to date
- Transitioned to a co-liaison librarian model for the School of Social Work (SSW); in consultation with the lead liaison librarian for College of Public Health, revised outreach and instruction plan for SSW
- Conducted a campus-wide department scan, and a business-school comparison between Fox and other public university business schools; began ‘Accidental Business Librarian’ professional development series and planning for a 2018-2019 transition from a sole liaison librarian to a team model for supporting Fox School of Business
- Took on ICPSR Designated Representative role and began outreach planning for 2018-2019 with Temple’s Official Representative and an ICPSR board member; Launched the Finding and Using ICPSR Data guide
- Established liaison librarian relationships with new Temple academic programs: Global Studies, and Public Policy; Launched Global Studies subject guide - Conducted Research Guide edit-a-thons and other efforts to remediate existing guides, and implemented new Guide review process, leading up to the launch of new LibGuides Accessibility and Usability Standards (Sept 2018)
- With Resident Librarian, conducted assessment project on experiences and attitudes of Textbook Affordability Project (TAP) participants; presented to OE Global conference
- Facilitated new Textbook Listening Tour meetings with School of Social Work, Psychology and Political Science department; Consulted with TAP grantee on open education options to replace an Intro to Psychology textbook
- BSSE unit members also assisted with: Blacklight/Website Strategic Partners user testing, Chat in the Stacks public programming, Temple Analytics Challenge planning and presentation, GIS Day 2017 planning, Writing Intensive Course Committee syllabus review