Category: Leadership

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Leadership Outreach

It’s not too late to join the team!

Although the formal application period has passed, the CJCLS Communications Committee is still looking for additional members. The charge of the committee is as follows:

To facilitate the sharing of ideas, best practices and news from ACRL/ALA units and relevant outside agencies to CJCLS members; assess the many communication options available and maintain a formal communication plan to disseminate information among CJCLS members. Membership on this committee includes the Section’s Webmaster and Newsletter Editor.

Hear from members about the value of joining the committee:

  • The committee is regularly active and working on projects.
  • It’s a chance for us to celebrate the work being done in community colleges! So much of ACRL content is focused on four-year institutions and not relevant to community colleges with fewer resources.
  • Get professional writing opportunities (like these blog posts!) to put in your portfolio.
  • Highlight news and innovations from community colleges across the country.

Interested? Reach out to the incoming chair Lisa Eichholtz on ALA Connect.

Categories
Leadership

The Forgotten Faculty

At my college, librarians are considered faculty. We share the classification of “non-teaching faculty” with counselors, even though both librarians and counselors offer elective courses and programming such as workshops or instruction sessions. This status is a good thing – it means we’re protected by the faculty union and contract, which impacts everything from pay to representation.

As valuable as this faculty designation is, it sometimes doesn’t seem to register with the rest of the campus community. I can’t blame teaching faculty for rallying behind issues impacting them – these days in education everyone is having to fight to protect their interests. However, it’s been frustrating to have to explain repeatedly to surprised colleagues that I am a fellow faculty member. A high-level college administrator once commented that they “would’ve liked to see someone from academics in the room” in a meeting where I and a counselor were both present.

These interactions have led me to wonder what can be done to bridge this gap. Non-teaching faculty attend faculty meetings and sometimes lead campus faculty associations. We often share information about our instructional services, but it seems like the message isn’t always getting through.

I’m writing this post out of curiosity – are librarians faculty at your campus? If so, have you had similar experiences? What have you done to raise the profile of librarians with teaching faculty and administrators at your institution?

Categories
Events Leadership

CJCLS Volunteer Info Sessions

Interested in volunteering for a Community and Junior College Libraries Section (CJCLS) committee? Our 1st volunteer info session is today! Attend today or register for the session in February:

Learn more about volunteering with CJCLS.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Section Vice-Chair, Linda Miles (lmiles.librarian@gmail.com) with any questions.

Categories
Events Leadership

Volunteer with CJCLS

You are invited to volunteer for one of the committees of the Community and Junior College Libraries Section (CJCLS) of ACRL. Learn more about the CJCLS committees:

  • Awards
  • Communications
  • Conference Program Planning
  • Library Staff Education
  • Membership
  • Mentoring Program
  • Nominating
  • Open Educational Resources Committee
  • Scholarly Research
Five hands of different colors raised in their air under the word Volunteer
Tungilik, CC0, via Wikimedia Common

Information Sessions

Attend an upcoming information session to learn more about the committees and volunteering.

Timeline

Submit the ACRL volunteer form by February 28, 2023.

Why Volunteer

Hear from CJCLS members about why they volunteer:

I became active in CJCLS in 2018 when I volunteered for the Membership Committee. I became the chair of the committee and have enjoyed working with community college librarians from across the country.  Our libraries are very different, but also very similar.  I’m so glad I volunteered.

Lisa Eichholtz – Jefferson Community and Technical College, Kentucky

I have been involved in CJCLS for the past three years. Meeting other community college librarians has been inspiring. As part of the Communications Committee, I coordinate the ACRL Community College section blog and newsletter to share stories and ideas from community college librarians across the U.S.

Suzanne Bernsten – Lansing Community College Library, Michigan

There are so many intelligent, thoughtful, and creative community college librarians out there and I’ve learned so much from them. I enjoy hearing about how other people meet challenges and I get inspiration and ideas to bring back to my library. I’m a better community college librarian because of my involvement with CJCLS.

Jill Sodt, Mott Community College, Michigan

Questions

Contact the CJCLS vice-chair, Linda Miles, Hostos Community College, lmiles.librarian@gmail.com

Learn more about CJCLS:

Categories
Leadership Mentoring

Apply to the CJCLS Mentoring Program

Hello Community and Junior College Libraries Section!

Our CJCLS Mentoring Pilot Program was a success and we are now accepting applicants for the 2022-2023 (8-month) mentoring program. Pilot program participants shared many positive experiences. Comments included:

  • A positive experience and plan to participate again in fall.
  • This was very helpful for me to be able to talk with another director about the challenges we are facing.
  • Found it very beneficial to talk to someone further along in their career who is specific to the college setting.

Are you new to community college libraries and want to expand your professional knowledge and skills? Or are you an experienced librarian willing to share your knowledge to help others? The CJCLS Mentoring Program Committee invites you to participate in the CJCLS Mentoring Program!

We’re accepting participants until September 15, 2022. After the deadline, participants will be paired and there will be a Mentoring Program Kick-Off Meeting to review expectations. The program will run from October 15, 2022 until June 30, 2023.

Participation Requirements

Mentees

Open to all who are currently employed at a community college library as a librarian, staff, administrator, or students enrolled in or recent graduates from graduate-level Library and Information Science (MLIS) programs.

Mentors

Currently employed at a community college library as a librarian or administrator with a minimum of 4 years of library experience.

Submit your application by September 15:

Contact Committee Chair, Sandy McCarthy, at mccarthy@wccnet.edu with questions.

With Appreciation,

The CJCLS Mentoring Committee

Sandy McCarthy, Yumi Shin, Sabrina Dyck, Nathasha Alvarez, Laura Mondt, Mi-Seon Kim, Robin Brown

Categories
Collections Events Leadership Research

Upcoming Events about Community College Libraries

CJCLS Section Events

Diversity & Collection Development – Friday, March 18, 2022 from 2-3pm ET

Coffee & Conversations: Accessibility in OER – Monday, April 4, 2022 from 1-2pm ET

Ithaka S+R Events

Join an upcoming virtual convening organized by Ithaka S+R.

Learn more and register: Conversations on Community College Library Strategy and Collaboration

  • Emergency and emerging technology programs at community college libraries – Tuesday, March 22, 2-3pm, ET
  • “When in doubt, go to the library”: Navigating the community college ecosystem – Tuesday, April 5, 2022 from 2-3pm, ET
  • Assessing the evolution of community college library mission – Tuesday, April 19, 2022 from 2-3pm, ET
Categories
Leadership Mentoring Outreach

Get Involved in the CJCLS Mentoring Program

Are you new to community college libraries and want to expand your professional knowledge/skills? Or are you an experienced librarian willing to share your knowledge to help others develop their skills? The CJCLS Mentoring Program Committee invites you to participate in the CJCLS Mentorship Pilot Program!

We’re now accepting participants until March 15, 2022.

After the deadline, participants will be paired (mentor/mentee) and the mentoring pilot program will then run from April 1, 2022 until June 30, 2022.

After the pairing, there will be a Mentoring Program Kick-Off Meeting to review the expectations.  At the end of the program in June, participants will be asked to complete a survey to assist our committee in collecting data on what worked well, what can be improved, and assessing the program overall.

Requirements for Participation

For Mentees – Open to all who are currently employed at a community college library as a librarian, staff, administrator, or students enrolled in or recent graduates from graduate-level Library and Information Science (MLIS) programs.

For Mentors – Currently employed at a community college library as a librarian or administrator with a minimum of 4 years of library experience.

How to Apply

Fill out the appropriate application at the link below before our March 15 deadline!

For more information, contact the Mentoring Committee Chair: Sandy McCarthy (mccarthy@wccnet.edu)

With Appreciation,

The CJCLS Mentoring Committee

Sandy McCarthy
Yumi Shin
Sabrina Dyck
Nathasha Alvarez
Robin Brown

CJCLS Mentoring Program LibGuide

Categories
Leadership Member of the Month

We Want you! Volunteer now for a CJCLS committee

Covid librarianship has given us all an opportunity  to re-evaluate how we spend our time.  I hope many of you will decide that this is a good time to engage with the section and volunteer for a committee.  The volunteer form is live. Remember,  CJCLS  committees do not require conference attendance. I could give you all the reasons I am involved, but our members say it best! 

The following quotes are from our Member of the Month surveys:

Networking, good friends, the opportunity to advocate for Community College Libraries. Colleagues who supported me when I went up for promotion.

Robin Brown, Borough of Manhattan Community College, New York

I enjoy all professional development opportunities offered to me through my memberships. The availability to network is also a great benefit, especially through the COVID pandemic.

Evelyn Hudson, Hazard Community and Technical College, Kentucky

I appreciate the opportunity my membership provides to connect with other community college librarians. I volunteered for my first CJCLS committee in 2017 and somehow was made chair, which meant I served on the Executive Committee as well. That was a great way to get to know more about the organization and to meet other engaged librarians from around the country.

Andrea Kingston, Monroe Community College, New York

My CJCLS membership has provided me with the opportunity to connect to community and junior college librarians around the country. I have found these connections to be invaluable throughout my career. Community and junior college librarians are incredibly collegial, often sharing resources that they’ve created with me that allow me to do my job better and serve students more effectively.

Kristin Heathcock, Hillsborough Community College, Florida

The most significant benefit of being a CJCLS member is networking and getting involved with the ACRL CJCLS Section. I am the past chair of CJCLS. I encourage all to be active members of ALA by volunteering for a CJCLS committee or any ACRL committee.

Sandy McCarthy, Washtenaw Community College, Michigan

Membership in CJCLS has given me the opportunity to meet and work with librarians all over the country. I’ve really enjoyed the time I’ve spent volunteering on committees. It’s been a great way to stay involved in emerging practices and work with other passionate librarians.

Jamie Witman, Community College of Baltimore County, Maryland

I truly value the opportunities to share various topics with other community college librarians throughout the country. As a small college librarian, these opportunities are beneficial to me in increasing my knowledge and expanding connections to other professionals. It also helps me stay up-to-date during ongoing changing times.

Yumi Shin, Lamar State College, Texas
Categories
Leadership Research

Apply for the Medical Library Association (MLA) 2022 Research Training Institute

Apply for the Medical Library Association (MLA) 2022 Research Training Institute

Are you a library professional who wants to take your research skills to the next level? Do you have a brilliant idea or research topic that you want to pursue but do not know where to start and need support to carry it through? The MLA Research Training Institute (RTI) is a unique, highly effective, and collaborative online research and support program. RTI assessment findings show that the RTI learning model is sound, effective, and increases the research skills, confidence, and productivity of participants. Librarians of all levels of professional experience who provide health information services, collections, and support, and want to contribute to improving library and health care outcomes, are encouraged to apply to the RTI program.

The institute is a one-year online program that consists of a series of online modules in advanced research methods, mentoring by faculty experts and peer coaches, preparing and implementing a research project, and an opportunity to present findings at the MLA ’23 annual conference. RTI ‘22 features an expanded research curriculum and greater affordability and flexibility for participants. Learn more about RTI program details.

RTI Applications will be open until January 12, 2022

Applications are now being accepted through January 12, 2022, for the 2022 cohort of RTI research fellows. Accepted applicants will be notified in March 2022. See the RTI website for eligibility requirements and selection criteria. The institute offers many scholarship opportunities for professionals from small libraries, engaging in DEI research, and for those with limited financial means.

Discover and nurture your research talents! Learn how to conduct and lead quality research projects. Meet like-minded research colleagues, make lifelong friends, gain research confidence, form research collaborations, and help end-users improve health and wellness! Apply today!

Read about the RTI success story.

CJCLS member, Sandra McCarthy, was a 2019 RTI fellow. The study of community college health sciences librarians’ perceptions was the focus of her research and her research findings, Health sciences librarian competency perceptions: A survey of national community college librarians were published in the January 2021 issue of the Journal of the Medical Library Association.

The RTI fellow program was a very positive experience for me. The program provides you with training in research, an assigned mentor to meet with during the program as well as continued support during your research project, and the friendship with a network of librarians.

Sandra McCarthy, AHIP, faculty librarian at Washtenaw Community College

The project is made possible in part by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

If you would like to learn more about the institute, please visit the RTI website or contact Project Director, Susan Lessick, AHIP, FMLA at slessick@uci.edu.

Categories
Leadership

Get Involved! CJCLS Leadership Opportunities

ACRL’s CJCLS (Community and Junior College Libraries Section) seeks six (6) candidates for the 2022 election cycle. Two candidates each are sought to run for Vice-Chair, a three-year total commitment, Secretary and a Member-at-large position, both two-year commitments. All three positions will take office on July 1, 2022.

CJCLS Vice-Chair / Chair Elect

The Vice-Chair serves successive one-year terms, first as Vice-Chair, then Chair, and finally as Past-Chair. The Vice-Chair will begin their term at the conclusion of ALA Annual 2022. The successful candidate will represent the section at leadership sessions at the Midwinter and Annual conferences during their term as Vice-Chair and Chair. Position is from July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2025.

Secretary

The Secretary takes and distributes minutes for all Executive Committee meetings, the Section’s annual meeting, and any special meetings and may preside over meetings in the absence of the Chair and Vice-Chair. Position is from July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2024. 

Member-at-large

Member-at-large is a newly created Executive Committee position. The incumbent’s role varies from year to year and might include a special project or appointment to an ad hoc committee or task force. Candidates should be flexible and proactive, volunteering to contribute as opportunities arise. Position is from July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2024.

All nominees must be current members of CJCLS and have consented to be a candidate. The deadline for nominations is August 13, 2021. Please consider nominating yourself or someone who you think would be a great candidate. Send a brief biography and statement of interest to the CJCLS Nominating Committee Co-Chairs, Sandy McCarthy (mccarthy@wccnet.edu) and Shawna Thorup (sthorup@nwacc.edu). Read more about the positions and CJCLS Governance.