ACRL College & Research Libraries News

College & Research Libraries News

Bibliographic Instruction in the Discipline Associations

Donna Senzig Acting Director

University of Wisconsin—Madison College Library

Since bibliographic instruction librarians know that their programs benefit from the support of interested and know- ledgeable faculty, they have been highly innovative in their methods of seeking faculty involvement and support. One such method, although little publicized, may have long- reaching effects—the providing of information about biblio- graphic instruction to faculty through the professional asso- ciations of their subject disciplines. Through a survey con- ducted by the ACRL Bibliographic Instruction Section Cooperation Committee, it was discovered that librarians are members of and/or participating in bibliographic instruc- tion programs in thirty professional associations in the humanities and social sciences. In an open meeting of the Cooperation Committee held on June 29 in New York, some of these librarians offered ideas for others who may be interested in working with professional associations. Sugges- tions included methods of becoming involved in the associa- tion. areas of bibliographic instruction involvement, type of person needed, and methods of coordinating activities of librarians working within the same association.

Becoming Involved

Within the unique operating methodology of each association, there are a wide range of opportunities for involvement by librarians, including meetings and other activities at the state, regional, and national level. In associations with a central office, it is important for librarians to become familiar with and to work with the headquarters staff. It is also important to work with the chairpersons of program committees and of sections interested in both undergraduate and graduate teaching and in the teaching of methodology. If the association produces a bibliographic product, whether printed or provided as a data base service, the staff in charge of these services could be contacted. Librarians could also seek to serve on the editorial boards of the association’s journals and newsletters. Librarians have found that it is very helpful to work with faculty members and

others who have a Ph.D. in the field in order to develop a faculty/librarian team approach in the presentation of programs and papers on bibliographic instruction.

Areas of Involvement

Librarians, either singly or as a faculty/librarian team, have presented papers and programs on bibliographic instruction and how bibliographic instruction can make teaching more effective. Articles and book reviews on bibliographic instruction can be provided for the journals and newsletters of the association. Bibliographic teaching aids for the field can be prepared by librarians for marketing by the association as well as teaching guides to the bibliography published by the association. Other areas of involvement related to bibliographic instruction might include participating in the design of the association’s data base from the user perspective; providing training institutes to teach the use of the data base; formulating library accreditation standards for the field; serving as an editor of the association’s publications; and preparing bibliographies and research tools for the field.

Personal Characteristics

Any librarian interested in working with a discipline association should be an active member of the association and be highly motivated to do the groundwork necessary to establish contacts and to promote the visibility and credibility of bibliographic instruction. It is useful but not always necessary to have a Ph.D. in the field. Writing and speaking skills are important, but in addition the librarian should be familiar with other bibliographic instruction librarians who can be called upon to give high quality papers and programs and to prepare articles or other informative materials that will meet the given need of the association.

Coordination of Activities

Librarians participating in bibliographic instruction activities within discipline associations have often felt handicapped by the difficulty of identifying other librarians within the same association and by the lack of communication between librarians in different associations. The Cooperation Committee is interested in compiling a directory of librarians who have experience in giving a program in bibliographic instruction to a discipline association and of librarians who are members of a discipline association and would be interested in promoting bibliographic instruction activities. Interested persons who are not now on the mailing list of the Cooperation Committee may contact Donna Senzig, University of Wisconsin College Library, 600 North Park Street, Madison, WI 53706. ■■