Cultural Competency
A few years ago after a staff meeting where diversity, higher education communication, and delivering services held central to the discussion, a manager approached me and a colleague inquiring about … Continue reading
PD: The What, When, Why, and How
Planning for and actively developing our professional skills and competencies is foundational to librarianship. Quarterly, I take stock of where I lack a skill and identify what strengths could be enhanced … Continue reading
Deprofessionalizing Our Profession
Deprofessionalization has been a research and discussion topic for several decades. Articles published in JAMA discuss the components of deprofessionalization in the medical profession and the undesirable effects of that … Continue reading
Collection Assessment: Done in 3 months
It is February 2016. Snow drifts on the sidewalk; darkness deepens before 6:00 PM and the cross country ski trails are in excellent condition. The past few months were full … Continue reading
Building Competencies
Several times a year, I revisit the goals that guide my professional life in librarianship. One goal pertains to the ongoing development of a suite of professional competencies. Through their work, librarians … Continue reading
Rates of Plagiarism
Incidents of plagiarism at the college where I work are dropping. Really. It is true. True, at least, in the experience of several instructors. Over the past semester, I have facilitated … Continue reading
Pilot Project: In Waiting
November is often the month when librarians find short breaks to reflect on how the term is progressing, making adjustments where necessary and to continue with ongoing projects. It is … Continue reading
It’s all about other people: it is, really.
Every week opportunities are offered to develop advanced interpersonal skills; taking such opportunities helps me to become more compassionate, appreciative, and empathetic to those persons with whom I work, live, … Continue reading
Working with the IL Framework, Knowledge Practices, and Dispositions
We’ve been working with a set of standards, each of which has specific and measurable competencies demonstrable as performance outcomes, for over 15 years. Academic librarians have crafted library instructional … Continue reading
Time flies . . . when
Is the idiom, “time flies when you’re having fun”? The summer has slipped by, happily and filled with days spent among family and friends. However, it was not without snippets … Continue reading
