Location
Benson Center, Williman Room
Start Date
11-8-2014 2:45 PM
End Date
11-8-2014 3:30 PM
Description
Keywords: librarian, service learning, engagement, 21st century, cultural shift
Through an active learning session, this presentation will discuss the experience of a librarian at Lipscomb University who teaches a service learning course in Freshman Seminar. Credit earned in this course fulfills part of the comprehensive SALT (Serving and Learning Together) graduation requirement. The characteristics and culture of service learning complement the characteristics and culture of academic librarians. The added value of active library participation in the SALT program to students, their increased engagement with the university library, and the ultimate goal of student retention will be addressed.
At face value, such a partnership makes sense. However, what tensions arise in such a relationship? 21st century academic librarians need to move beyond the library walls. Service learning goes beyond the university walls. This requires a cultural shift – service learning was new to Lipscomb University at the time of the inception of the SALT program 6 years ago. How can we engage?
Short bio of the presenter(s)
Elizabeth Heffington has been the Catalog Librarian at Lipscomb University for 5 years. Prior to that, she was a Librarian at a branch of the Nashville Public Library. She earned her MLIS at Rutgers University. Her next major life goal is to move to Hawai’i.
Christin Shatzer is the inaugural Director of Service Learning at Lipscomb University, a post she has held for 6 years. Her Master of Public Administration is from the University of Delaware. She is a world traveler and will spend the spring in Bath, England with the university’s Study Abroad program.
Emptying the silo, entering the 21st Century : Librarians engaged in Service Learning
Benson Center, Williman Room
Keywords: librarian, service learning, engagement, 21st century, cultural shift
Through an active learning session, this presentation will discuss the experience of a librarian at Lipscomb University who teaches a service learning course in Freshman Seminar. Credit earned in this course fulfills part of the comprehensive SALT (Serving and Learning Together) graduation requirement. The characteristics and culture of service learning complement the characteristics and culture of academic librarians. The added value of active library participation in the SALT program to students, their increased engagement with the university library, and the ultimate goal of student retention will be addressed.
At face value, such a partnership makes sense. However, what tensions arise in such a relationship? 21st century academic librarians need to move beyond the library walls. Service learning goes beyond the university walls. This requires a cultural shift – service learning was new to Lipscomb University at the time of the inception of the SALT program 6 years ago. How can we engage?
