getting to know you academic community
TRANSCRIPT
Getting to Know Your Academic community; the Approach of New Science Librarians Figuring It Out!
Anna Stoute and Natalie Waters 2006
Welcome to McGill University
Large research-intensive university 13 branch libraries Macdonald Campus Library Schulich Library of Science and
Engineering
Melting of hiring freeze
1993-2001 number of librarians dropped from 85 to 59
2001 “Contrat de Performance” Hiring resumes
Hiring gap occurs
Hiring Gap Consequences
Experienced librarians retiring New librarians taking over positions
with no one to train them Everyone knows that approach
New librarians expected to know university structure and procedures
Our expectations versus reality
Formal orientation Informal Self-orientation
Faculty Support Old habits are hard to break Very minimal awareness of library
services
Making our own path
Introducing ourselves to our departments
Talking to students Implementing new programs New approach to advertising
So, in retrospect…
Lack of formal training program Lack of faculty support Our lack of professional experience
More outreach Open to ideas Eager to learn Always looking for ways to improve
Where are we today ? Strong relations with faculty and
students Familiar with university and library
structure and procedures But, as we all know
A librarian’s ultimate goal is to provide anytime, anywhere service to their clients.
Therefore, our job is never ending!
