ALAO News Blog

ALAO’s Distance Learning and Instruction Groups will be hosting a spring workshop “Effective Instruction from Design to Assessment” on Friday, March 12, 2010. The workshop will take place at Ashland University, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. and will feature the following sessions:

Instruction by Design: A Panel Discussion
Moderator - Dr. Christina Bonner, Ohio Dominican University
Panelists - Jillian Jevack, Ashland University
Dr. Dawn Snyder, Franklin University
Litsa Varonis, The University of Akron
Lynn Trinko, The Ohio State University at Lima

A well-designed library instruction program can make a big difference for your students’ academic success. A panel of professional instructional designers will share their expertise with creating
instruction programs that work. Discussion will include tailoring programs to fit the audience, to meet objectives, and to be used with on-campus and distance learning settings.

Knowing What They Know: Information Literacy Assessment Techniques
Presenter - Carolyn Radcliff, Kent State University & Project SAILS

This presentation will touch on a variety of assessment techniques that you can use with your students, with an emphasis on knowledge testing. Learn how to create effective tests and work with the results. Find out about options for standardized testing for information literacy, including the Project SAILS test. Get an update on Project SAILS, including a preview of its latest offering. The session will be interactive, and you will be challenged to put the workshop material to work through small group exercises.

Enjoy a great opportunity to network with your colleagues and lunch is included. Please download the registration form for more information.

Congratulations to Susan Scott, Library Director, The Ohio State University At Newark, on receiving ALAO’s highest honor, the Jay Ladd Distinguished Service Award.

Past President Karen Wilhoit presented the award to Susan during ALAO’s 35th Annual Conference, held October 30 in Wilmington.  Karen noted that Susan has been actively involved in ALAO for at least 10 years, in both elected and appointed positions, including President-Elect, President and Past President.  She has made significant contributions as a legislative advocate and member of the government relations team, as a knowledgeable participant in instruction interest group workshops and on the ALAO Executive Board, and continues to be a vital communication link to ALA and ACRL in her role as ACRL Liaison.

Quoting from a nominator’s remarks, Karen stated that “Susan’s contributions to board discussions are always well reasoned, guiding the decision-making process with the perspective of a leader who has seen many changes in the profession and association over the past ten years. Susan has also been a champion for students entering the profession, regularly teaching a course in the KSU-SLIS program at Columbus and promoting by example and in her writings the efficacy of internships for those students in academic libraries. Her efforts have directly contributed to ‘growing the profession.’”

Susan thanked ALAO for the distinction with remarks at the conference, and also sent the postcard shown here:

Deadline: October 1st, 2009

TEDDY Award
For Distinguished Service by ALAO members in the fields
of Technical, Electronic and Digital Services

ALAO TEDSIG seeks nominations for the TEDDY Award.  This award recognizes an individual’s significant contributions to the technical, electronic or digital services fields.  Contributions may include service, innovative practices, presentations, publications, and leadership in the profession.

TEDSIG Co-Chairs will award the TEDDY during the ALAO Annual Conference held October 30th this year. Along with an award plaque the recipient of the TEDDY will receive two free registrations to a future TEDSIG spring meeting workshop, one for themselves and the other for a colleague or library school student of their choice, and TEDS, the TEDSIG mascot.

To be eligible for the TEDDY, the nominee must be a current ALAO member, who as worked in or is currently working in an Ohio academic library in the area of technical, electronic, or digital services.  To nominate an individual please provide the following information:

·     Name of nominee
·     Nominee’s position title
·     Nominee’s college or university
·     Nominee’s ALAO and TEDSIG activities
·     Your rationale for nominating this individual.  Please include the nominee’s contributions to the field at the local, regional, and/or national level
·     Your name and contact information, including phone and email

You may nominate more than one person if desired.  Current TEDSIG Co-Chairs are ineligible for the TEDDY.

Please mail or email your nominations by OCTOBER 1, 2009 to:

Kiffany Francis
Metadata Librarian
Cleveland State University Libraries
2121 Euclid Ave., RT 122C
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
k.a.francis10@csuohio.edu

Please see the updated page on the Web site, and send your nominations to Past President Karen Wilhoit no later than October 1, 2009.  This is ALAO’s highest award, and a great opportunity to recognize the achievements and contributions of an ALAO member.

Now that the elections are over and the votes have been tallied we are proud to introduce the new officers and board members who will be joining the ALAO Executive Board.

Their terms will begin in June 2009 at the annual ALAO Leadership Retreat.  Elected to Board positions were:

Rocki Strader - Vice President/President-Elect - Ohio State University

Gaynelle Predmore - Treasurer - Bowling Green State University

Nicole Robinson - Board Member-at-Large, 1st year - Muskingum College

Don Appleby - Board Member-at-Large, 1st year - University of Akron

Gregory A. Martin - Board Member-at-Large, 1st year - Cedarville University

If you get the opportunity please welcome and congratulate our new board members. Don’t forget that in order for ALAO to stay vital and necessary we always need members who are willing to contribute their time and energy, whether to elected positions or in some other role in service to the organization and it’s membership.