With the American Labor Day holiday approaching, we will take a short two-week break for an open discussion on new topics. We have several new topics scheduled for this end of summer and beginning of fall. Guest editors, topics, and date ranges are:
September 8-21
Sylvia Piggott, "A New Paradigm for Information Services"
September 22-October 5
Ling Hwey Jeng, "Positive Incentives for Continuing Education"
October 6-19
To be announced
October 20-November 2
Margaret Slusser, "Professional Associations and Library Education"
November 3-16
Gene Sherron, "Undergraduate Education"
November 17-30 (date to be confirmed)
James Sweetland, "Distance Education"
I am searching for a guest editors and topics for October 6-19 and following our last scheduled topic in November. Steve Wooldridge, CRISTAL-ED's technical editor and I, have discussed adding more members to CRISTAL-ED by posting information about the CRISTAL-ED discussion to other LISTSERVs and discussion groups. If you have ideas about groups that have members who might be interested in joining CRISTAL-ED, please message me (karen.drabenstott@umich.edu) or Steve (swooldri@umich.edu) directly or message CRISTAL-ED generally so that we avoid overlap and repetition. If you are members of the groups you suggest, it might be easier for you than for us to post messages because you are already subscribed. So, please recommend related electronic discussion groups. Steve and I will prepare an announcement describing the CRISTAL-ED discussion group for volunteers who are willing to post the announcement to related lists to which they belong.
For the next two weeks (August 25 to September 7), we will have a new topics discussion. CRISTAL-ED members who are taking a late-summer vacation instead of tuning into the discussion can always message me directly with their suggestions for new topics. Let the new topics discussion begin!
What suggestions do you have for new topics? If you are working on committees or with professional societies that want input on issues, consider the CRISTAL-ED electronic discussion group as a means of gathering new information. What haven't we discussed in the 18 months of CRISTAL-ED's existence? What have we missed, avoided, or not dared to discuss?
Having had library experience assisted my education by allowing me to match theory with it's practical application, making it much more meaningful. My previous experience helped me to get my new job as much as, if not more than, my degree. We may be doing a disservice to students who learn the hard way that just having the degree doesn't necessarily mean they can get a job. We may also be doing a disservice to those we serve when an inexperienced student who does get hired is placed in a situation where they haven't a clue what to do. Every new position requires a certain amount of on-the job training, but at least the new librarian could have some previous experience to which she/he could relate the new procedures.
With the changes in society including job security, career changes, retirement (forced as well as early), etc., what is the role of the Library in this new environment. Are we at a new literacy test that would include teaching individuals to type, and other computer-ease.
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