Week 4 Reflection: Hey Chicago…here we come! (ALA/ Uni of Chicago State Library, Chicago Public Library)

June 12th:

We started our day with a morning session by Peggy about the importance of Information Literacy and how to develop an information literacy program to the library patrons. The session covered many crucial points regarding the matter; one of which is that students/patrons (in case of public libraries) have to be information creators, not only information consumers, and that ‘information has value’. We already have information literacy programs in our library, but I need to check with our colleagues back there if and of the instructional methods (SILI, PILI, ADDIE, IDEA, Bloom’s taxonomy) are applied. I also agree to a great extent to the importance of ‘course assessment’ (including doing the assignments while designing the course from the very beginning); something that is maybe not taken seriously in most libraries.

Sandi Caldrone, then, introduced us to Research Services and Data Management. I know that there are some libraries that provide assistance to researchers; maybe only in terms of finding resources and citation, but to have a service that provides data bank repository, data preservation, consultations, workshops, data sharing policies, data security, data management plans templates, data life cycle, and even data organization including a ‘file naming system’ is really more than amazing; everything is organized and available with great assistance; what would a researcher need more. Lucky, Uni of I researchers!

Also today, we visited the Urbana Free Library. It is an ancient library that goes back to 1918! We mainly visited the ‘Teen Open Lab’ (est. 2013); the idea of having a space dedicated specially for teens to explore all their talents (other than reading) like art crafts, playing instruments, playing video games, sewing, 3D printing, etc. is really vital for such age and should be taken into consideration in the library space design now and in the future.

Our day came to an end with a Thanksgiving dinner by the Altrusa team members. We really had a great time at Marga’s home. Pat’s narration of the story behind the Thanksgiving day, Carol’s talk about Altrusa, the delicious food, and above all Marga’s side talk about her life, her major, her children, the book she is working on, her smile and the big warm heart she has inside made us feel as if we are one of her family members. Deep thanks to all Altrusa team for everything they did to make us feel as if at home! 🙂

Jun 13th:

We started our trip to Chicago by visiting Upshot marketing agency. One learned to reframe your docs (e.g. annual report using trends). Then we headed to the best part of the day; ALA headquarters! It is such an honor to visit such association; I never dreamed to pay a visit there…and now I am here; moving freely around the ALA employees’ work stations, taking pictures and listening to a session by the director Michael Dowling. I gained more knowledge about the ALA divisions, roundtables and offices, ALA connect, ALA magazine and annual conference. I am also determined to investigate more the ALA e-learning platform.

Jun 14th:

On our second day in Chicago, we visited the University of Chicago Library. What was extremely astonishing was the stacks area and the crane that automatically facilities retrieving books, with almost no human interference! A technology that definitely saves space, effort and time, and provides accurate and speedy service. Another thing that stopped me there was the ‘Conservation Lab Space’. The amount of tools, substances and techniques used to preserve popular and rare books are really unbelievable, equal to the passion they work with and the most amazing work environment they work in.

As I work in a public library, I feel more satisfied and excited when visiting a public library. It just feels I am back home! 🙂 It was Chicago Public Library‘s turn! Once you step in you get overwhelmed by the library marble walls, floors and pillars, the wall paintings, the white high ceiling, and the pieces of art surrounding you everywhere. YOUmedia in Chicago Public Library was our stop there. It is the first time I see an almost comprehensive makerspace for teens to explore their talents and skills, have fun, gather, and do anything apart from reading.

Jun 15th:

We visited the Campus Instructional Facility (CIF). It is a campus space (a whole building) that is only dedicated for instructional classes, meeting, workshops etc. by prior reservation. I was really amazed how such building provides all sorts of different seating, TV screens, facilities, projectors, etc. for meet every instructor’s needs.

It was really interesting to hear from the Preservation Services team about the different ways and tools they use in the University of Illinois to preserve books in a good condition for a longer shelf life. Also, how they consider the environment during the preservation process is really appreciated and remarkable.

Jun 16th:

It was the first time for me to meet people living in a house with no electricity, upon their choice (the Amish Community)! I respect the owners’ lady, Julie, regarding teaching her children, knowing German, leading that kind of life, helping her husband while still sticking to her principles, although most of such believes make no sense to me.

Still in the Amish neighborhood, we head to the Arthur Public Library; a small library it is but yet still able to serve the community they live in. I liked the idea of the book sale and considering implementing it back in my library.

Leave a Reply