Browsing by Author "Soergel, Elizabeth"

Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
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    Anatomy in the Library: Anatomical Models on Course Reserves
    (2016-06-08) Soergel, Elizabeth
    In Fall 2015, the Engineering and Physical Science Library (EPSL) began lending anatomical models as part of its course reserves program. EPSL received a partial skeleton and two muscle model figures from instructors of BSCI105. These models circulate for 4 hours at a time and are generally used by small, collaborative groups of students in the library. This poster will look at the challenges and rewards for adding these items to EPSL’s course reserves.
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    Commons Model In Libraries - Challenges & Successes
    (2017) Soergel, Elizabeth; Banyas, Kelly; Zdravkovska, Nevenka
    In the last few years academic libraries in the United States embraced the new Commons model, where each of these commons, such as learning commons, research commons, subject and format commons, etc., has its own specific characteristics and role within the library. However, this new trend mainly has been the result of increased reliance on electronic collections and increased need for collaborative work. Users want continuous access to all resources in a variety of locations, which is not always feasible due to resource and staffing limitations. To adapt to this new model, library spaces have been transformed to accommodate the needs for collaborative work. Additionally, staff skills and duties have also been transforming with librarians and support staff becoming partners in the research process as opposed to being transmitters of information. We will briefly discuss different commons models and give examples of challenges and successful space transformations. We will explore the skillsets of the new workforce needed for this new reality and the new positions in Libraries that are advertised. Like academic libraries, iSchools will have to adapt as well since this is where new members of the workforce are cultivated and educated. At the same time, professional development in the libraries is an important component of bringing current staff up to speed in the changing environment. We will also share our experience with implementing library commons and discuss the different commons that exist at the University of Maryland Libraries, such as the Terrapin Learning Commons, Research Commons and its subsidiaries Research Commons @ EPSL (Engineering and Physical Sciences Library) and Research Commons @ MSPAL (Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library), and Media Commons.
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    Commons Model in Libraries - Challenges & Successes
    (2017-06-19) Soergel, Elizabeth; Banyas, Kelly; Zdravkovska, Nevenka
    In the last few years academic libraries in the United States embraced the new Commons model, where each of these commons, such as learning commons, research commons, subject and format commons, etc., has its own specific characteristics and role within the library. However, this new trend mainly has been the result of increased reliance on electronic collections and increased need for collaborative work. Users want continuous access to all resources in a variety of locations, which is not always feasible due to resource and staffing limitations. To adapt to this new model, library spaces have been transformed to accommodate the needs for collaborative work. Additionally, staff skills and duties have also been transforming with librarians and support staff becoming partners in the research process as opposed to being transmitters of information. We will briefly discuss different commons models and give examples of challenges and successful space transformations. We will explore the skillsets of the new workforce needed for this new reality and the new positions in Libraries that are advertised. Like academic libraries, iSchools will have to adapt as well since this is where new members of the workforce are cultivated and educated. At the same time, professional development in the libraries is an important component of bringing current staff up to speed in the changing environment. We will also share our experience with implementing library commons and discuss the different commons that exist at the University of Maryland Libraries, such as the Terrapin Learning Commons, Research Commons and its subsidiaries Research Commons @ EPSL (Engineering and Physical Sciences Library) and Research Commons @ MSPAL (Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library), and Media Commons.
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    Learning Outside the ClassroomL STEAM Salon Series at EPSL
    (2017) Banyas, Kelly; Soergel, Elizabeth
    Within the past semester, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Library (EPSL) has hosted a speaker series called STEAM Salon. This informal series, organized by the Research Commons at University Libraries, brings in faculty speakers in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) disciplines at the University of Maryland (UMD) to present on their current research. Topics are from various areas of research and faculty speakers come from all over campus. Students regularly attend these talks, either independently or as part of their coursework. This poster will explore how these talks engage student learning outside of the classroom and create an informal learning environment.
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    Make and Remake: Adapting Library Makerspaces to Meet Institutional Needs
    (2017-06-19) Soergel, Elizabeth; Banyas, Kelly
    Makerspaces have become a mainstay in many universities in the United States. At the University of Maryland (UMD), there are a variety of makerspaces available to the university community, including in private labs, classrooms, and specially built makerspaces within academic units. When makerspaces were first being conceived at UMD, maker technology was introduced through the University Libraries and grew to include spaces at multiple libraries on campus. As the number and variety of makerspaces has grown at UMD, the libraries have worked to remain competitive and current as other campus and corporate partners developed new makerspaces of their own. This poster will look at the genesis of makerspaces in the University Libraries at UMD and some of the initial services that were provided to the university community. This poster will also explore the changes that took place with the libraries’ makerspaces as other academic units on campus began developing their own makerspaces and offering a more diverse set of services. Finally, we will look at the reorganization of the UMD Libraries’ makerspace and future goals of the “maker” program in the library.
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    Make it at the Library: Including Maker Tech in the Academic Library
    (2016-05-21) Soergel, Elizabeth
    The University of Maryland Libraries have various maker technologies at multiple libraries on campus. My poster will show how the UMD Libraries developed and implemented makerspace services and technology, which are available to students, staff, and faculty in any discipline as well as members of the general public.
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    Reference and Instruction Services at Howard Community College
    (2014-12-10) Soergel, Elizabeth
    Libraries support the academic needs of students in a variety of ways. During the Fall of 2014, I participated in a field study at the Howard Community College Library as part of the MLS program in the University of Maryland's iSchool. Information literacy activities at HCC included staffing the library's reference desk and learning commons pilot, meeting with students to assist with research, and providing instruction sessions for classes at the request of the professor. Staff and librarians provide essential services to students, many of whom are new to high education and the academic library. This poster looks at the essential parts of providing information literacy instruction and reference services to community college students.
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    Virtual Invormation Services Task Force Report
    (2014-03-02) Larson, Elizabeth; Markowitz, Judy; Soergel, Elizabeth; Tchangalova, Nedelina; Thomson, Hilary; Luckert, Yelena; Ippoliti, Cinthya
    Virtual information and reference services, be they synchronous or asynchronous, are offered by libraries of all kinds. They have been adopted and adapted to suit the needs of many institutions of higher education. The University of Maryland Libraries have been offering such services for more than ten years. Very little has changed in how the service is provided since 2003, when UMD became a member of the Maryland AskUsNow! cooperative. The Virtual Information Services Task Force set about examining the effectiveness of our current virtual reference model, considering both our staff providers and our users. We looked at whether our current staffing model is appropriate for our staff and at the same time, how it might be adjusted to deliver better service to our users. We conducted a survey of library staff, an analysis of the statistics available on UMD virtual reference activities, an environmental scan of the virtual reference activities of Committee on Institutional Cooperation libraries, an analysis of popular chat software products, and a review of the literature. The Report provides 10 general recommendations and two possible service models, which have been adopted into practice since.