[Prodev] Specialized classes
Bryan Carson
prodev@aallnet.org
Mon, 10 Mar 2003 16:44:36 -0600
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I'm getting into this a little late today, but my experience in library school
was similar to that of Kathie. The University of Michigan had school
librarianship, classes in academic librarianship, Gov Docs, State and Local
Government Documents, a legal class (which I took) and an advanced legal class
(which I didn't). There were classes in other special librarianship areas as
well, such as health sciences, music, etc. A large number of people were in
the Archives Managment program. And there were the now-standard computer-type
courses. Basically a person could pick and choose whatever he or she wanted.
I did do an internship at the Detroit office of the (then well-respected)
accounting firm of Arthur Andersen. It was very valuable, but I also learned a
great deal from my student worker position at the Kresge Business
Administration Library.
One thing I found interesting was that we had 4 lawyers and a paralegal in the
law librarianship class. The 4 lawyers (myself included) got the 4 lowest
grades in the class, and the paralegal got the highest grade. It was because
the final exam was a legislative history take-home. Lawyers are conditioned to
not only hate legislative history, but to also fear it. As a result, they give
it to their paralegals (if not their law librarians).
I find it interesting that you are talking about the types of classes that are
available. I currently hold a joint appointment between the library and the
library science program at Western Kentucky University. Our master's degree is
not ALA-accredited. It is a school library media program, and is accredited by
NCATE (which even the ALA admits is the proper agency to accredit school
library media programs.) We are currently thinking about building up the
program to attempt ALA accreditation, and the biggest issue we face is the
lack of choices for students who are going into something other than school
librarianship. We are aware that if we wish to obtain ALA accreditation, we
will have to be able to provide an education for those who are going into
other fields as well.
I also have a few comments about online classes. I now teach a reference class
online which I formerly taught in person. I can tell you that I was dragged
kicking and screaming into the online world. I really didn't want to teach
online, and I didn't think the students would learn as well.
Since I actually wanted my students to use real reference books (imagine
that!), it took me about a year to design the online course. I had two
required meetings last fall and none this spring. I now admit that the
students have learned a great deal more than I expected, but at the same time
they are working about 4 times as hard as they would have in a face-to-face
class. (By the way, the teacher also works 4 times as hard.)
I also found, however, that the students did better last semester when we did
have a face-to-face meeting at the beginning to explain the course. Many of
the students didn't really understand what the course requirements were or
what my expectations were. These were things that turned out to be better
explained in person rather than through written means.
My belief, based on totally un-scientific experience, is that online classes
work but are very time-intensive, and that they work best when combined with
an initial class meeting.
--Bryan M. Carson
Kathie Sullivan wrote:
> I just alluded to these classes in my last post. At SUNY Albany, in 1985-86
> and for some time afterwards, they offered: Legal Bibliography (Joe
> Morehead), State and Local Government Documents (offered infrequently, so
> didn't take it), Special Libraries (again, not offered often and it was
> "case studies" mostly), and Government Documents (again, Morehead). Those of
> us who wanted to specialize took advantage of designing internships (I
> worked at the AG's library with Judy Brown et al) and graduate
> assistantships (I worked at the graduate library, where the legal collection
> was located.) The hands-on experience was invaluable.How many others were
> able to have an internship prior to graduating? Kathie Sullivan
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Fullerton, Barbara [mailto:bfullerton@lockeliddell.com]
> Sent: Monday, March 10, 2003 2:59 PM
> To: 'prodev@aallnet.org'
> Subject: [Prodev] Specialized classes
>
> There has been a few comments made about classes that specialize
> in different disciplinary topics. Did you attend a program that
> had classes geared toward special librarians? At Emporia, we had
> some basic classes like introduction to legal materials, a class
> on medical librarians, a course on scientific materials, etc. At
> the time I attended most of the classes were geared toward school
> or public librarians, especially the summer classes.
>
> Barbara Fullerton
>
--
Bryan M. Carson, J.D., M.I.L.S.
Assistant Professor
Coordinator of Reference & Instructional Services
Associated Faculty--Library Media Education Program
Western Kentucky University Libraries
1 Big Red Way
Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101
Phone: 270-745-5007
Fax: 270-745-2275
bryan.carson@wku.edu
All original content copyright 2003 Bryan M. Carson
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I'm getting into this a little late today, but my experience in library
school was similar to that of Kathie. The University of Michigan
had school librarianship, classes in academic librarianship, Gov Docs,
State and Local Government Documents, a legal class (which I took) and
an advanced legal class (which I didn't). There were classes in other special
librarianship areas as well, such as health sciences, music, etc. A large
number of people were in the Archives Managment program. And there were
the now-standard computer-type courses. Basically a person could pick and
choose whatever he or she wanted.
<p>I did do an internship at the Detroit office of the (then well-respected)
accounting firm of Arthur Andersen. It was very valuable, but I also learned
a great deal from my student worker position at the Kresge Business Administration
Library.
<p>One thing I found interesting was that we had 4 lawyers and a paralegal
in the law librarianship class. The 4 lawyers (myself included) got the
4 lowest grades in the class, and the paralegal got the highest grade.
It was because the final exam was a legislative history take-home. Lawyers
are conditioned to not only hate legislative history, but to also fear
it. As a result, they give it to their paralegals (if not their law librarians).
<p>I find it interesting that you are talking about the types of classes
that are available. I currently hold a joint appointment between the library
and the library science program at Western Kentucky University. Our master's
degree is not ALA-accredited. It is a school library media program, and
is accredited by NCATE (which even the ALA admits is the proper agency
to accredit school library media programs.) We are currently thinking about
building up the program to attempt ALA accreditation, and the biggest issue
we face is the lack of choices for students who are going into something
other than school librarianship. We are aware that if we wish to obtain
ALA accreditation, we will have to be able to provide an education for
those who are going into other fields as well.
<p>I also have a few comments about online classes. I now teach a reference
class online which I formerly taught in person. I can tell you that I was
dragged kicking and screaming into the online world. I really didn't want
to teach online, and I didn't think the students would learn as well.
<p>Since I actually wanted my students to use real reference books (imagine
that!), it took me about a year to design the online course. I had two
required meetings last fall and none this spring. I now admit that the
students have learned a great deal more than I expected, but at the same
time they are working about 4 times as hard as they would have in a face-to-face
class. (By the way, the teacher also works 4 times as hard.)
<p>I also found, however, that the students did better last semester when
we did have a face-to-face meeting at the beginning to explain the course.
Many of the students didn't really understand what the course requirements
were or what my expectations were. These were things that turned out to
be better explained in person rather than through written means.
<p>My belief, based on totally un-scientific experience, is that online
classes work but are very time-intensive, and that they work best when
combined with an initial class meeting.
<p>--Bryan M. Carson
<p>Kathie Sullivan wrote:
<blockquote TYPE=CITE> <span class=536530020-10032003><font color="#0000FF">I
just alluded to these classes in my last post. At SUNY Albany, in 1985-86
and for some time afterwards, they offered: Legal Bibliography (Joe Morehead),
State and Local Government Documents (offered infrequently, so didn't take
it), Special Libraries (again, not offered often and it was "case studies"
mostly), and Government Documents (again, Morehead). Those of us who wanted
to specialize took advantage of designing internships (I worked at the
AG's library with Judy Brown et al) and graduate assistantships (I worked
at the graduate library, where the legal collection was located.) The hands-on
experience was invaluable.</font></span><span class=536530020-10032003></span><span class=536530020-10032003><font color="#0000FF">How
many others were able to have an internship prior to graduating? </font></span><span class=536530020-10032003></span><span class=536530020-10032003><font color="#0000FF">Kathie
Sullivan</font></span>
<blockquote dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<div class="OutlookMessageHeader" lang="en-us" dir="ltr"><font face="Tahoma"><font size=-1>-----Original
Message-----</font></font>
<br><font face="Tahoma"><font size=-1><b>From:</b> Fullerton, Barbara [<A HREF="mailto:bfullerton@lockeliddell.com">mailto:bfullerton@lockeliddell.com</A>]</font></font>
<br><font face="Tahoma"><font size=-1><b>Sent:</b> Monday, March 10, 2003
2:59 PM</font></font>
<br><font face="Tahoma"><font size=-1><b>To:</b> 'prodev@aallnet.org'</font></font>
<br><font face="Tahoma"><font size=-1><b>Subject:</b> [Prodev] Specialized
classes</font></font>
<br> </div>
<font size=-1>There has been a few comments made about classes that specialize
in different disciplinary topics. Did you attend a program that had classes
geared toward special librarians? At Emporia, we had some basic classes
like introduction to legal materials, a class on medical librarians, a
course on scientific materials, etc. At the time I attended most of the
classes were geared toward school or public librarians, especially the
summer classes.</font>
<p><font size=-1>Barbara Fullerton</font></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<p>--
<br>Bryan M. Carson, J.D., M.I.L.S.
<br>Assistant Professor
<br>Coordinator of Reference & Instructional Services
<br>Associated Faculty--Library Media Education Program
<br>Western Kentucky University Libraries
<br>1 Big Red Way
<br>Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101
<br>Phone: 270-745-5007
<br>Fax: 270-745-2275
<br>bryan.carson@wku.edu
<p>All original content copyright 2003 Bryan M. Carson
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