Brittany Richardson
The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) has named the Kolwyck Library Information Commons (KLIC) of Chattanooga State Community College as an Exemplary Information Literacy Program in the category of Outreach.
ACRL is a professional association of academic librarians and other interested individuals within the American Library Association (ALA). The association is dedicated to enhancing the ability of academic library and information professionals to serve the information needs of the higher education community and to improve learning, teaching, and research. As the largest division of ALA, its membership serves more than 12,000 members, or almost 20 percent of ALA membership.
The characteristics that illustrate best outreach practices include:
· Clearly define and describe the program and its value to targeted audiences, including those within and beyond the specific institution.
· Market the program through the creation and distribution of publicity materials.
· Identify and reach out to relevant stakeholders and support groups both within and outside of the institution.
· Use a variety of communication methods, including formal and informal networks and media channels.
· Provide, in collaboration with other campus professional development staff, workshops and programs that relate to information literacy.
· Contribute to information literacy’s advancement by sharing information, methods, and plans with peers and stakeholders both within and outside of the institution.
According to Brittany Richardson, coordinator of library instruction, librarians participate actively and creatively in outreach efforts within the college as well as with outside partners. By working extensively with faculty in the Teaching and Learning Academy and in collaboration to present the award-winning “Writers@Work” program, the library also works with students in middle school, as well as with STEM high school students who are located on the campus.
“These programs clearly demonstrate the value of information literacy education to our targeted audiences and to the institution and community as a whole,” states Richardson.
The recently-remodeled library boasts more than 35,000 print books with accessibility to more than 67,000 electronic books, 73 academic databases, customized library guides, and numerous film/videos that stream academic content. Librarians collaborate with departmental faculty to create custom tailored information literacy instruction classes to meet students’ information needs and to further the goal of making them critical thinkers. The physical library provides multimedia study rooms, and both quiet and collaborative spaces. There are 117 public computers that are available for student use. Casual seating areas and a Riverfront Café area provide a comfortable place for visitors to relax, study or quietly socialize. For more information about what Kolwyck Library Information Commons offers, visit http://library.chattanoogastate.edu/.