By: Diane Stirling
(315) 443-8975
School of Information Studies (iSchool) faculty member Megan Oakleaf presented a workshop recently at Eastern Kentucky University for members of Kentucky’s State Assisted Academic Library Council.
Oakleaf, associate professor and director of instructional design at the iSchool, presented on the topic of assessing and communicating the value of academic libraries, a topic on which she is nationally renowned. A group of 82 librarian directors and academic librarians from a broad spectrum of sectors at that university and at other colleges throughout Kentucky attended. The group also was joined by a visiting contingent from the College of William and Mary in Virginia.
The full-day workshop represented the first time the Council had approached the issue of validating and communicating the value of academic libraries, and it comprised a kickoff of that broad new initiative, according to Oakleaf.
In addition to presenting a lecture representing her research and work in that area, Oakleaf also moderated a panel consisting of librarians from the region. They discussed how a project recently undertaken by the Council aligned with the assessment and communication initiative’s goals. In addition, hands-on activities were conducted throughout the afternoon using Oakleaf’s workbook, Academic Library Value: The Impact Starter Kit.