Librarianship in For-Profit Educational Institutions Discussion Group

What are you most proud of this year?

Have you tried a new tool with your students? Hosted an event for your faculty? Acquired a new database for your collections? Had a meaningful interaction with a patron?

Let's celebrate!

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Mary Snyder
Convener for ACRL - Librarianship in For-Profit Educational Institutions DG
University Librarian @ Strayer University
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What a great question! The past year has been a whirlwind of transition, activity, and adaptation. The pivot to 100% remote learning was not an easy one. And I understand that I am not alone in that sentiment. However, our institution is not like larger universities and colleges. My college is very small, FTE hovers around 500 and was a technical college prior to my joining it. They began to offer a BFA program which required them to establish a library/learning resources center. So before me, their learning resources were very informal and...scattered. My mission was to BUILD their library, their collection, programs, and services.  Challenge accepted.  Fast forward four years, and it continues to be a "work in progress;" however, what library isn't?

One area of the library that is consistent with other traditional institutions is our support of general studies courses. I draw on the collections, learning outcomes, and information literacy instruction of my librarian colleagues at other institutions for inspiration. Specifically, the introduction, use, and integration of open education. For-profit college tuition can be expensive, that is a matter for another time. Through sheer luck, an instructor at my institution uses OER in their social science class. I am partnering with him to develop a strategy that will encourage our other GE faculty to do the same.

I have developed a growing collection of OER content for our library including discovery through our online catalog.  That I am able to bring these resources to our community is the achievement that I am most proud ;-)

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Lucille Bellamy
Director, Library & Learning Resources
Gnomon
She/Her/Hers,They/Them/Theirs
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Original Message:
Sent: Mar 02, 2021 11:08 AM
From: Mary Snyder
Subject: Let's celebrate - what are you most proud of this year?

What are you most proud of this year?

Have you tried a new tool with your students? Hosted an event for your faculty? Acquired a new database for your collections? Had a meaningful interaction with a patron?

Let's celebrate!

------------------------------
Mary Snyder
Convener for ACRL - Librarianship in For-Profit Educational Institutions DG
University Librarian @ Strayer University
------------------------------

Wow Lucy!! Building out OER is certainly a tremendous accomplishment. That work easily translates to students saving money.

I believe the DOE's current average for undergraduate course materials is $250/class. Our university has a much lower average, provided by our bookstore. I multiply our average by the number of seats (post add/drop) to provide an estimate to leadership on student savings. If the course materials include library resource, then I include that to show how our spent dollars can multiple savings!

What ways have others shown value through OER or library resources in their classes?
​

------------------------------
Mary Snyder
Convener for ACRL - Librarianship in For-Profit Educational Institutions DG
University Librarian @ Strayer University
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Mar 17, 2021 02:44 PM
From: Lucy Bellamy
Subject: Let's celebrate - what are you most proud of this year?

What a great question! The past year has been a whirlwind of transition, activity, and adaptation. The pivot to 100% remote learning was not an easy one. And I understand that I am not alone in that sentiment. However, our institution is not like larger universities and colleges. My college is very small, FTE hovers around 500 and was a technical college prior to my joining it. They began to offer a BFA program which required them to establish a library/learning resources center. So before me, their learning resources were very informal and...scattered. My mission was to BUILD their library, their collection, programs, and services.  Challenge accepted.  Fast forward four years, and it continues to be a "work in progress;" however, what library isn't?

One area of the library that is consistent with other traditional institutions is our support of general studies courses. I draw on the collections, learning outcomes, and information literacy instruction of my librarian colleagues at other institutions for inspiration. Specifically, the introduction, use, and integration of open education. For-profit college tuition can be expensive, that is a matter for another time. Through sheer luck, an instructor at my institution uses OER in their social science class. I am partnering with him to develop a strategy that will encourage our other GE faculty to do the same.

I have developed a growing collection of OER content for our library including discovery through our online catalog.  That I am able to bring these resources to our community is the achievement that I am most proud ;-)

------------------------------
Lucille Bellamy
Director, Library & Learning Resources
Gnomon
She/Her/Hers,They/Them/Theirs

Original Message:
Sent: Mar 02, 2021 11:08 AM
From: Mary Snyder
Subject: Let's celebrate - what are you most proud of this year?

What are you most proud of this year?

Have you tried a new tool with your students? Hosted an event for your faculty? Acquired a new database for your collections? Had a meaningful interaction with a patron?

Let's celebrate!

------------------------------
Mary Snyder
Convener for ACRL - Librarianship in For-Profit Educational Institutions DG
University Librarian @ Strayer University
------------------------------