Self-Study Issues

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Standard Six

Committee Membership

Oversight Group
Dr. Diane Moore, Co-Chair, Dean, Liberal Arts and Learning Resources
Simon Waltzer, Co-Chair, Professor of English and Speech
Paul Aiello, Professor of Anthropology
David Breslin, Professor, Associate Librarian
Dr. Jim Carriger, Professor of Business
Sandy Hajas, Supervisor, Learning Resources
Henny Kim, Instructor of English
John Elmer, Assistive Media Specialist
Larry Manson, Professor of Reading, English and History
Deborah McDaniels, Media Services Specialist II
Michelle Millea, Professor of Engineering and Mathematics
Claudia Peter, Assistant Professor of Nursing
Octavio Sifuentes, Professor, Librarian

Staff Involved in Discussions Regarding their Areas
Eleanor Austin, Library Assistant
Tricia Blain, Library Assistant
Rose Marie Castro, Library Assistant
Connie Drusen, Word Processing Operator
Patty Earl, Tutorial Specialist
Jan Loren, Instructional Lab Tech
Eloisa Limon, Instructional Assistant, Foreign Languages
Diana Salberg, Library Assistant

Standard Six: Information and Learning Resources

Information on learning resources and services are sufficient in quality, depth, diversity, and currentness to support the institution’s intellectual and cultural activities and programs in whatever format or wherever they are offered. The institution provides training so that information and learning resources may be used effectively and efficiently.

Self Identified Issues

A. From 1996 Self-Study Report

Issue:
Quantity of Library Holdings.

Discussion Summary:
We have resolved the issue. As a result of the expansion of electronic databases, the library has greatly increased the periodical holdings. In addition, we have purchased approximately 1,500 new books annually to keep the collection updated and balanced to support the curriculum.

 

Issue:
Library and AV understaffing.

Discussion Summary:
We have resolved the issue in terms of the Library for the present. The issue for the Media Center (AV) is an ongoing issue.

· Relation to Library: As a result of the capacity to catalog online, we have improved the efficiency of accomplishing this activity. With the advent of databases and the card catalog online, students have increased access to resources without the need for additional staff. Using the integrated library computer system to do such things as check out materials, keep records, issue fines, etc. has increased the efficiency of staff.

· In relation to the Media Center: The staffing level in the Media Center has been reduced from three full-time positions to one. Although the equipment delivery system has been transferred as a responsibility of the warehouse, there still remains a staffing deficit. Special equipment, such as LCDs and laptops, continue to be scheduled and delivered through the Media Center office for security reasons. Also, duties involving equipment emergencies in the classrooms, the maintenance and repair of equipment, the production and editing of videos, and the training of staff on the use of new equipment continue as a vital component of the Media Center, along with the usual duties of recommending, ordering and scheduling the use of instructional materials. Office hours have been reduced; the office is closed when the Specialist is in the field; and student hourly is used in the evenings to allow minimal service to evening faculty. College budget constraints have not allowed progress towards resolution of this issue. Exploration of the use of software can help mitigate the issues related to instructional materials scheduling, but other issues revolve around one-to-one service.


Plan for 2003-04 Self Study:
With the advent of the new LRC we can continue to automate staff activities and increase staff efficiency with such things as a self-check-out circulation system, implementation of The Library Corps Software system allowing students to put holds on books that are checked out, and the adoption of 24/7 reference service for remote patrons. We are still concerned about the college’s potential to meet the need for increased staffing to support the new LRC, especially in the areas of technical support, TV production, and distance learning, in light of the State’s budgetary crises.

 

Issue:
Need to increase Library operating hours.

Discussion Summary:
We have resolved the issue. Library operating hours have been increased in order to support changes in class scheduling. When Saturday classes were initiated, the Library was opened for four hours every Saturday with reference service available. When a four-week summer session was added, Library hours were increased and reference service was added; however, when these class offerings are cut due to budgetary constraints, the hours of operation are reduced concomitantly. With the advent of electronic databases and an online catalog, a wide variety of library resources are available to students 24/7.

 

Issue:
Need to upgrade Learning Center and Language Lab materials and equipment.

Discussion Summary:
This issue has been resolved. Computers, software, and networking have been completely replaced in the Library, Learning Center, Language Lab, and Computer Composition Lab, in some cases twice since 1996.

 

Issue:
Resources to upgrade and replace old equipment.

Discussion Summary:
We have resolved this issue for the short term at an adequate level, but it remains a concern as future state funds for instructional equipment dwindle.

Although it is difficult to supply resources to meet all of the instructional AV needs, attempts have been made to equip all appropriate classrooms with TV/VCR units and overhead projectors. LCD projectors have been updated and the basic instructional technology needs of instructors have been met.

However, no systematic plan to update equipment exists. In the Media Center, it is difficult to keep up with the demand for equipment as it wears out and as new technology becomes available, such as the replacement of videos with DVDs as well as the VCRs with DVD players. Budgetary constraints have not allowed for the institutionalization of a line item budget allotment for equipment development or emergency issues, therefore, funding for new equipment for the classrooms is dependent upon available grant funds. Although through the use of state equipment funds, resources were provided to allow classrooms to be equipped with basic TV/VCR units and overhead projectors and for the purchase of a few LCD projectors, the ongoing equipment replacement and upgrade is an ongoing problematic issue. The instructional technology needs of the faculty continue to be a challenge and a plan for systematic replacement needs to be addressed.

 

Issue:
Lack of awareness by students of tutoring services and Learning Center services.

Discussion Summary:
We have resolved this issue. Instructors on the Library Committee reported that they believe there is a broad awareness of tutoring and Learning Center services among faculty and students, and the Library and Learning Resources staff agrees. This has been addressed with publicity which occurs every semester including Learning Resources brochures distributed to all faculty, learning resources information in the part-time faculty handbook, a presentation on learning resources at each new part-time faculty orientation, the College Web site, information in the student handbook, information in the College Catalog and Schedules of Classes, information on learning resources presented at new student orientations, tutoring staff going to department meetings each semester to liaison with faculty and the mandatory study hall for athletes in the Tutoring Center. In addition to this effort, the staff also visits classrooms, publicizes the program by placing flyers in all full-time and part-time faculty boxes, posts flyers throughout the campus, and provides tours and orientations in the Center.

 

Issue:
Absence of tutors in skill labs.

Discussion Summary:
This issue is no longer relevant. We believe it came out of a supplemental instruction project of Title III in 1996, which is outdated; however, the Nursing Program has received a grant from a hospital council to provide specially trained tutors in the nursing labs to meet a recently identified need. In addition, tutors are currently placed in the Autocad Lab, Multi-Media Computer Lab, and the Digital Photography Labs as requested to provide assistance as long as the budget permits.

 

Issue:
Need for tutoring clerical assistance.

Discussion Summary:
This issue has been resolved. A 40% full-time clerical assistant has been assigned to the Tutoring Center for the past four years to address this issue. Originally a 50% position was committed for this area, however, budgeting and staffing issues precluded staffing at that level.

B. From 1998 Report:

Issue:
College continuing to review library staffing and technical support staff needs – issue resolved, see above.

C. From 2002 Report:

Issue:
College continuing to review library staffing and technical support staff needs – issue resolved, see above.

2003-04 Self-Identified Issues and Issues That Need to Be Considered In Planning – Resulting from Review of Standard Six


Standard 6.1:
Information and learning resources, and any equipment needed to access the holdings of libraries, media centers, computer centers, databases and other repositories are sufficient to support the courses, programs, and degrees wherever offered.

  • As instructional technology continually changes and increases in cost, the institutionalization of a budgetary allotment for methodical purchases of Media Center equipment and media collection development is needed to meet instructional needs in the classroom.
  • Plan: A systematic plan to update equipment in all areas of learning resources needs to be established.
  • Tutoring functions need to be automated including the appointment system, timekeeping, and payroll to allow staff to be more efficient and better serve students.
  • There is no budgetary allotment for the annual purchase of textbooks for the Tutoring Center to support its instructional needs.
  • We need to provide learning resources including tutoring for off-campus and distance learning students.
  • We need to develop a specific Learning Resources Web site.
  • We need to develop a systematic way to gather data to decide if our Library collection is meeting students’ needs.
  • We need to provide universal access to information and learning resources to include access to students with disabilities.
  • Plan: evaluate each learning resource using accessibility criteria and remediate deficiencies.


Standard 6.2:
Appropriate educational equipment and materials are selected, acquired, organized, and maintained to help fulfill the institutional purposes and support the educational program. Institutional policies and procedures ensure faculty involvement.

  • We need to analyze the effectiveness of faculty involvement in the learning resources arena and remediate problems.
  • Potential plans to do this include the following:
  • Look at the diversity of books ordered.
  • Annually evaluate order trends and the percent of books ordered by faculty from different disciplines.
  • Do a faculty satisfaction survey.
  • Review the number of library tours and numbers of students from each department who are being served in Library. Develop strategies to involve departments that are not currently involved.
  • · Determine if the software provided in areas such as the Learning Center and Tutoring Center meet the needs of the students to support their classes.
  • Determine if the media collection available in the Media Center is sufficient to meet the needs of the students in the classroom.


Standard 6.3:
Information and learning resources are readily accessible to students, faculty, and administrators.

  • Assess how accessible learning resources are to faculty and students and re-mediate problems.
  • Potential plans to do this include the following:
  • Find out the number of times databases are used.
  • Do a count of hits on the Library website.
  • Get out information on accessing databases and the Library catalog from home.
  • Count the number of books checked out.


Standard 6.4:
The institution has professionally qualified staff to provide appropriate support to users of information and learning resources, including training in the effective application of information technology to student learning.

  • The Library is served with professionally qualified staff who are trained in the effective application of information technology to student learning.
  • Retraining of other Learning Resources staff to meet the needs of changing technology is an issue that needs to be addressed.
  • Although we minimally meet this standard with regard to staffing levels, there is much concern surrounding the current budgetary crisis together with the onset of the new building, and the effects each will have on the College’s ability to provide for future staffing levels.
  • We need to develop a systematic way to collect data from users to determine if they are getting appropriate support to find and use information.


Standard 6.5:
The institution provides sufficient and consistent financial support for the effective maintenance, security, and improvement of its information and learning resources.

  • Funding for our library collection is totally state dependent now – book collection funded by restricted lottery allocations, databases by TTIP money. Although we have had consistent funding in the past, we worry about future consistency as the State economy falters.
  • Although there has been consistent financial support to maintain the collection, there has been no growth for the past four years to allow us to deal with increased inflationary costs, thus we are going backwards.
  • Although funding in all areas of Learning Resources has been at a consistent level the past few years, there have been no inflationary adjustments to cover increases in operating costs such as salary increases or the conversion of adult hourly tutors to provisional tutors.
  • The current budgetary crisis creates great concern for consistent funding in the future.


Standard 6.6:
When the institution relies on other institutions or other sources for information and learning resources to support its educational programs, it documents that formal agreements exist and that such resources and services are adequate, easily accessible, and utilized.

  • We meet this standard.


Standard 6.7:
The institution plans for and systematically evaluates the adequacy and effectiveness of its learning and information resources and services and makes appropriate changes as necessary.

  • We need to do an assessment of outcomes to determine effectiveness of our services in supporting student learning
  • Potential plans to do this include the following:
  • Survey faculty regarding their perception of how library services have improved student learning and student effectiveness in class assignments.
  • Survey students at end of class orientations.
  • Ask Library faculty to research new and emerging strategies for assessing learning resource services effectiveness in terms of student learning.
  • We need to evaluate the effectiveness of staffing ratios currently and plan for the new building.
  • We need to evaluate what effect budgetary reductions, such as the elimination of Saturday tutoring, has on student learning.

Standard Six List Of Documents

(Documents used in preparation of Self-Identified Issues, but not cited.)

S 6.1 Recommendation for Faculty Participation on Accreditation Self-Study
S 6.2 Library Committee Meeting 9-19-02
S 6.3 Standard 6 Progress Report Part 2 (Self Identified Issues) Plan and Calendar
S 6.4 Accreditation Progress Report Process – Library Executive Meeting
S 6.5 Library Committee Meeting notes from October 17, 2002 meeting
S 6.6 Revised notes from above 6.5 meeting to incorporate ideas from Library staff meeting 10-28-02
S 6.7 Library Committee Meeting Agenda 11-14-02
S 6.8 Accreditation e-mail of 11-21-02 from S. Hajas

 

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Last Updated 12/7/07
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