History Librarians Interest Group

FREE Online Presentation: Library Instruction Together: Building a Community of Practice on a Shoestring Budget
Presented by Ashley Roach-Freiman, Jenny Harris, Sarah Smith, Laura Sheets, Lyndy Wibking, Aaron Wimer, Andrea Kincaid
Wednesday April 26, 2023 1pm CT
Register here
Sponsored by the ACRL ULS Professional Development Committee

As an academic librarian, do you feel a lack of opportunities to network, share best practices, and find support locally? In 2017, a group of instruction librarians from across Tennessee gathered online to discuss creating something beyond the state-wide offerings, which were limited and not always representative of their voices and interests. Inspired by like-minded gatherings, such as Brick & Click, the California Conference on Library Instruction, and the Library Collective, among others, the original members of the Library Instruction Tennessee (LIT) steering committee recognized a need among information literacy professionals to create bonds, inspire one another, share resources, and grow in practice. With collaboration and innovation as primary goals, the meeting sparked an annual conference that has now been convened for five years. The community is being rebranded to Library Instruction Together to include librarians from outside of the region. 

With little financial support, the LIT planning committee faced challenges in ensuring that their annual conference remained affordable for all librarians and library professionals, including those with limited access to professional development funds, and those for whom library staffing needs preclude the option of traveling overnight. Learn how the conference has adapted to community needs from the original low-cost conference in central Tennessee to a free online conference and a unique, low-cost local offering connecting Tennessee librarians to concepts of self-care and a network of allies and friends.

Library Instruction Together originated from a dearth of opportunities for southeastern teaching librarians to participate in a community of practice. From the beginning, LIT has been a highly collaborative and informal grassroots initiative, growing slowly while maintaining our vision. The panel will discuss the history of LIT, including obstacles, outcomes, and a look to the future. Attendees will take away ideas about how to grow a community of practice in their region.

Bios:

Ashley Roach-Freiman is an Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Library Instruction Curriculum at the University of Memphis. She brings a background in poetry writing and composition to instruction and librarianship, and creative energy that allows her to design engaging, informed, and user-friendly curriculum. She believes in working with students' innate curiosity and uses backward design to make lesson plans to meet all students where they learn. Her research interests include creativity, critical information literacy, and Taylor Swift.

Jenny Harris is an Associate Professor and Coordinator of Research and Instruction at Austin Peay State University. She enjoys helping students find their authentic voices through research and writing. Her research interests include faculty-librarian collaborations, identity and culture in academic libraries, and library assessment.

Sarah Smith: Sarah Smith is the District Dean of Libraries at St. Louis Community College. Her 16 years of providing library instruction prior to this role informs her passion for integrating the library into students' learning experiences.

Laura Sheets: Laura Sheets is an Assistant Professor in the Library Teaching and Learning Department and the Library Instruction Coordinator at Bowling Green State University. Her research interests include the effectiveness of credit-bearing information literacy courses, the application of instruction design principles to library instruction and online learning objects, and empathetic teaching practices. 

Lyndy Wibking is the Electronic Resources Librarian at Roane State Community College. In addition to managing the library website, databases, and ILS, she provides reference and instruction for RSCC students across nine teaching locations in East and Middle Tennessee.

Aaron Wimer: Aaron Wimer is an Associate Professor and Director of the Daniel Library at The Citadel, Military College of South Carolina. Prior to moving into leadership, Wimer served as the Head of Research and Instruction for Southern Polytechnic State University and Kennesaw State University post consolidation, and spent 10 years as an Instruction & Outreach librarian.

Andrea Kincaid: Andrea Kincaid is Lead Public Services Librarian at Chattanooga State Community College. With a history in reference and instruction, Andrea is dedicated to providing a safe, accessible and welcoming space for students to learn essential information literacy and critical thinking skills. Her current role allows her to further her passion of mentoring and developing librarians, library staff, and student workers.

This free presentation is sponsored by the ACRL University Libraries Section Professional Development Committee. It will take place on Wednesday April 26 at 1pm CT via Zoom. Register here: https://ala-events.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ot_5pu4pQWmCdhw6sciJHw 

If you can't make this session but wish to view a recording later, please register so that you'll receive an email that includes a link to the video of the presentation.