Author Archives: Nancy Turner

Assessment for Planning: Special Collections Research Center Uses Data to Drive Location Decisions, and More

Planning to move the Special Collections Research Center  from its current space to the new library building takes careful planning, with different challenges than the general collections. For one, there are manuscripts AND books to be stored, with collections that … Continue reading

Posted in data-driven decision making | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

LACUNY 2017: What’s Next for the Academic Librarian?

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the LACUNY 2017 Institute, a small conference sponsored by the Library Association of the City of New York at  LaGuardia Community College. The theme was The Future of Librarianship: Exploring What’s Next … Continue reading

Posted in conference reports | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Improving How We Support New Professionals: The Resident Librarian Program

Temple’s Resident Librarian program is now in its third year, and we have started the recruiting process for our 2nd cohort of resident librarians. I sat down with the program administrators Richie Holland, Director of Administration,  and Sandi Thompson, Head … Continue reading

Posted in organization culture and assessment | Leave a comment

ACRL Conference Points the Way: Reports from the Field

Last week many of us headed down to Baltimore (along with 3400 other librarians) to attend the ACRL (Association of College and Research Libraries) biennial conference. By all reports, it was great learning experience, plus it’s always fun to catch … Continue reading

Posted in conference reports | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Grounded or Toppling Over? The Three-Legged Stool of Assessment Culture within the Organization

Today marks my third year at Temple University Libraries – a good time for reflection on how the organization has developed a culture of assessment. One thing I have learned. An assessment librarian does not a culture of assessment make. … Continue reading

Posted in organization culture and assessment | Tagged , | Leave a comment

From Assessment to Leading Change in Windy, Wet Atlanta

Coke is king here in Atlanta, so I was surprised to see comedian Paula Poundstone with a Pepsi for refreshment during her hysterical stand-up routine in front of 500+ librarians at the American Library Association’s midwinter meeting. She made much … Continue reading

Posted in conference reports | Leave a comment

Assessment Reflections 2016

January is a time of reflection – this post is just that, some ideas that sparked my interest last year, with hopes of delving into them more deeply in 2017. Sunday morning’s radio listening was doubly-rewarding, as I heard two … Continue reading

Posted in organization culture and assessment | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

When Numbers Fail Us

The recent election demonstrated in a powerful way the limits of data, in this case a multitude of polling numbers, towards understanding, or planning, for our  future. As an assessment librarian who counts on numbers to tell a story, I … Continue reading

Posted in conference reports, instruction and student learning | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Lighting the Path with Assessment

Every two years librarians engaged with assessment gather together to share stories, methods, and research findings. We inspire one another as we work toward creating a culture of assessment at our institutions. This year 600+ of us met in Crystal … Continue reading

Posted in conference reports | Tagged | Leave a comment

Finding the Sweet Spot for Library Instruction

This month’s issue of The Journal of Academic Librarianship features the research findings of Barbara Junisbai, M. Sara Lowe and our own Natalie Tagge, Education Services Librarian at the Ginsburg Health Sciences Library.  Natalie and I talked about her compelling … Continue reading

Posted in instruction and student learning | Tagged , | Leave a comment