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Month: May 2018

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Liz Kavanaugh, Information Literacy and Assessment Librarian at Misericordia University

Liz Kavanaugh is a founding member of the Advisory Board of the Threshold Achievement Test for Information Literacy. A long-time user of the Project SAILS information literacy assessment tool and an advocate for effective assessment, Liz was the perfect match for the fledgling project to create a new tool based on the ACRL Framework.

In this interview, you will see how Liz's commitment to assessment and to information literacy are woven throughout her professional life.

Question: What do you like about your job?

Liz: I am very fortunate to be in the position of Information Literacy and Assessment Librarian at Misericordia University in Dallas, Pennsylvania. When I took the position about five years ago, we were just heading into an accreditation year with Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). It was an exciting time that launched me right into the thick of gathering data, writing reports, and meeting with stakeholders across campus. I really loved the active sense of how important assessment was at that time and I love how it has grown into a more full-fledged body of data today for the library. Much of it is based on the information brought forward through our long-term use of SAILS at this time and now we’re on the route to our 2024 review, which brings the excitement full circle.

Q: Please tell us about a project you are currently working on. What are you trying to accomplish? ...continue reading "Meet the TATIL Advisory Board: Liz Kavanaugh"

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This post is based on a presentation that Kory Paulus gave at the North Carolina Community College Library Association Conference in March of this year.

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Kory Paulus, Reference and Instruction Librarian, Wingate University

Wingate University recently had its Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) accreditation review. During the review they suggested we strengthen our assessments. With that, WU moved Mitch Cottenoir to the position of Institutional Effectiveness and SACSCOC Liaison. Mitch approached the library and asked how we would like to improve assessment. As a library we decided most of our direct interactions with students came from classes taught by the reference and instruction librarians, Isaac Meadows and myself, Kory Paulus. So began our adventure into updating our assessment for instruction and information literacy.

As a first step, knowing only a little about assessment, I checked out our library’s collection of assessment books. I am a librarian after all and love to research! After considering several books I chose to begin my reading with Classroom Assessment Techniques for Librarians, written by Melissa Bowles Terry and Cassandra Kvenild and published by the Association of College and Research Libraries. This book gave us important guidance for our assessment. ...continue reading "Library Instruction Assessment Improvement Strategy for SACS: A Case Study"

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Sophie Bury joined the Advisory Board of the Threshold Achievement Test for Information Literacy in 2015. In this interview she reveals her passion for teaching and her commitment to assessment. Read about Sophie's projects on faculty IL and media literacy and learn why she joined the TATIL Advisory Board.

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Sophie Bury, Librarian at York University

Question: Please tell us about your job. What are the highlights of your position?

Sophie: I am currently in the role of Head of the Bronfman Business Library at the Schulich School of Business and Learning Commons Chair at York University Libraries. I will commence a new role at York University Libraries as Director of Learning Commons and Reference Services in July 2018.

The Learning Commons unites learning services at York University to better support students’ success and is a partnership of the Libraries, Learning Skills Services, the Writing Department, the ESL Open Learning Centre, the Career Centre, the Teaching Commons (supports teaching development at York) and the YUExperience Hub (supports experiential education at York).

My previously held roles include that of Business Librarian at York University and Wilfrid Laurier University, as well as leadership roles in the area of information literacy at both these universities in committee chair or other leadership positions.

...continue reading "Meet the TATIL Advisory Board: Sophie Bury"