Reference and User Services Association (RUSA)

The Accidental Law Librarian: Legal Reference for Public Service Librarians

NMOORE — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 19:13:27 +0000

The Accidental Law Librarian: Legal Reference for Public Service Librarians NMOORE Thu, 12/19/2024 - 13:13

eLearning

Apr 14 - May 12, 2025

$209 General/$188.10 91��ý Member/$129.50 RUSA Member/$141.08 Student

https://elearning.ala.org/local/catalog/view/product.php?productid=256

Where can I find child support guidelines? What are the laws in Nevada on gun ownership? Can you help me apply for a business license? How do I copyright my name? Legal questions are not unique to law libraries. In an era of rising self-representation and shrinking courthouse staff, all librarians are apt to receive legal question. Yet few MLS programs offer more than a single course on law librarianship. Some offer none at all. This course steps into that breach. It will cover the basics of legal publishing, how to understand and respond to legal questions, and which information sources are the go-to sources for any type of legal question. More broadly, the course will delve into the overwhelming need for free public law libraries.

By the end of this course, the participant will be able to:

Locate primary and secondary sources of law
Interpret legal citations
Discuss the issues around the unauthorized practice of law (UPL)
Conduct a legal reference interview

This four-week course is asynchronous with weekly live sessions on Wednesday from 12pm-1pm Central. The live sessions will be recorded and attendance is not required.

The instructor, Anthony Aycock, Legislative Librarian with the North Carolina General Assembly has 20+ years experience in public, private, and academic law librairies. Since 2017, he has been the library director for the North Carolina General Assembly - i.e, the legislative of the Tar Heel State. He also worked for the North Carolina Justice Academy and for Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, North Carolina's largest law firm. His education includes a B.A. in English from Mars Hill College, an M.L.I.S from the University of South Carolina, an M.F.A. from Queens University of Charlotte, and a master's in criminal justice from Methodist University. Anthony is also a freelance writer, publishing on libraries and other topics.

This course is co-sponsored by RUSA's Federal and Armed Forces Libraries Interest Group.

Ninah Moore

nmoore@ala.org

91��ý Units

Programs & Services

Reference

Online

American Newspapers as Historical Evidence: Understanding Publishing and Editorial Practices of Historical Newspapers

NMOORE — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 18:27:58 +0000

American Newspapers as Historical Evidence: Understanding Publishing and Editorial Practices of Historical Newspapers NMOORE Thu, 12/12/2024 - 12:27

eLearning

Mar 26, 2025 | 12 - 1pm

$79 General Public/$71.10 91��ý Member/$46.61 RUSA Member/$37.12 Student

Newspapers are frequently used primary sources for historical research. However, there are many features of historical newspapers that reflect the society of the past, and the economics of newspaper publishing, which may not be apparent to a 21st century reader.

Newspapers had their own purposes and audiences, and researchers should know these facts when looking into them. This webinar will discuss why historical newspapers presented information in the way they did, publishing practices that readers should be aware of, and preservation practices that affect which newspapers we have access to now (and how you might find some newspapers beyond the usual places). We will discuss tools for learning more about a given newspaper, "reading" a newspaper by examining its layout, and why reading a newspaper in microfilm is a different experience than using a database.

By the end of this webinar, the participant will be able to:

Identify some aspects of newspapers as primary sources that required skeptical scrutiny
Use tools that provide information about a newspaper's purpose, influence and circulation
Discuss drawbacks and advantages of viewing newspapers in a database vs. microfilm
Track down copies of newspaper editions that were not preserved in microfilm

This webinar is for any librarian serving patrons who do historical research will be well-served by learning more about newspapers as evidence.

The presenter, Steven A. Knowlton, is a Librarian for History and African American Studies at Princeton University. He has published a number of award-winning articles using newspapers as primary sources, and currently serves as Chair of the RUSA History Section-Best Historical Materials Committee.

This webinar will be offered using Zoom. Speakers or a headset for listening to the presentation are required. Closed captioning is available in the Zoom platform. You may interact with the presenter and ask questions through text-based chat. The webinar will be recorded and the link to the recording shared with registrants shortly after the live event.

For questions or additonal information, please contac Ninah Moore at nmoore@ala.org

Ninah Moore

nmoore@ala.org

91��ý Units

Reference

Programs & Services

Online

Academic BRASS Volume 19, No. 2

RASHELLENAGAR@GMAIL.COM — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 16:20:25 +0000

Academic BRASS Volume 19, No. 2

Volume 19, No. 2, FALL 2024

Notes and Thoughts on Retrieving Historical Members of the S&P 500 from WRDS
Tee Lip Hwe

Getting Oriented: A Business Librarian Joins the Business School’s Orientation Committee
Chuck Knight

Market Research Reports: Creative Options for Locating Industry Insights & Data
Susan Klopper

RASHELLENAGAR@… Fri, 12/06/2024 - 10:20

Connecting Information Literacy Efforts to Student Retention

NMOORE — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 18:20:20 +0000

Connecting Information Literacy Efforts to Student Retention NMOORE Wed, 12/04/2024 - 12:20

eLearning

May 19 - Jun 13, 2025

RUSA members: $129.50 | 91��ý members: $188.10 | Non-91��ý members: $209 | Student Members: $141.08

https://elearning.ala.org/local/catalog/view/product.php?productid=1293

Experts say that student retention in academe is the continued enrollment of a student from the first year to the second year, and on to graduation. In this class, we discuss the difference a librarian makes as teacher of information literacy, study skills, time management, and academic writing, and in mentoring and supporting students from first year to graduation.

Existing campus programs may be made up of a retention or enrollment office, career services, and a tutoring center, for example. In these cases, librarians need a seat at that table. In other situations, librarians have an opportunity to create an innovative grass-roots program. Either way, the bottom line for librarians is that student retention is measurable, improves, and the institution thereby graduates informationally literate leaders of the future. Librarians have a place in this entire process.

By the end of this course the participate will be able to:

Conduct and study best practice research
Create a proposal to campus administration to create a grass-roots program, or to become embedded into an existing retention program.
Create and customize institutional information literacy programs designed to help increase student retention
Develop communities across the campus in support of retention activities
Learn to present your ideas based on research and review a real-life case study, conducted by the instructor pre-and post-Covid.

The time commitment for this four-week asynchronous course is 15 hours total.

The instructor, Debra Lucas-Alfieri, Retired with Distinction from her positioin as the Head of Reference, Interlibrary Loan, Public Services, and Information Analysis and Instruction, at D'Youvile University in Buffalo, NY. Debra has been teaching online library science classes, seminars, and webinars for over a decade, working with national organizations. She has presented web-based symposiums for organizations in Florida and Montreal. Debra has vast experience and knowledge of the history of libraries, and its' mission, her research and philosophies are highly regarded, studied, and cited across the world. Through teaching and writing, she has impacted students and scholars across the globe.

Before she Retired with Distinction from D'Youville University, she was appointed Faculty Senate Parliamentarian and served from 2018 until she retired in 2022. During her tenure, she was awarded a Sabbatical and Faculty Research Grant in 2014, a Faculty Fellowship Award in 2015-2016, and a promotion to Full-Librarian Academic Rank in 2016. her retirement created the synergy to collaborate with countless librarians who will then drive our profession and institution of libraries successfuly and strategically into the future.

Instructor

How to Register

Online
By Email: download, complete and email form (PDF) to registration@ala.org
By Mail: Download, complete and mail form (PDF) to 91��ý, ATTN: MACS/Online CE Registration, 225 N. Michigan Ave. Suite 1300, Chicago, IL 60601

Credits

Continuing Education Credit- A certificate of completion will be sent to each participant upon successful completion of a course.

Although this course is not CEU-certified, many licensing boards will accept it for credit. Requirements vary by state and school district regarding certification and continuing education credits. The decision to grant CEU credits remains entirely up to your state or school district. If you are in need of credits, check with your state and/or school district before enrolling to determine eligibility. Some states will review your certificate of completion and course description to determine eligibility.

Ninah Moore

nmoore@ala.org

91��ý Units

Yes

Project Management in Libraries

NMOORE — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 16:35:58 +0000

Project Management in Libraries NMOORE Wed, 11/27/2024 - 10:35

eLearning

Mar 31, 2025

$209 GENERAL/$188.10 91��ý MEMBER/ $129.50 RUSA MEMBER/$141.08 STUDENT

https://elearning.ala.org/local/catalog/view/product.php?productid=278

In this class, participants will review the skills and experiences needed to be exempary project managers in a library organization. Interactive and dynamic activities such as discussions, reading assignments, and class exercises will accompany each week's lectures. The four-part topical tour of project management will culminate with a final project management principles. The course is self-paced.

Learning Objectives:

Issues facing new and existing managers who need to create project management plans.
The importance of project champions, administrators, and cross-departmental staff will be covered in depth
Effective communication (written and verbal), training staff, managing cross department projects, delegating tasks, and being the middle manager. Leading literature will be uncovered, reviewed and discussed.

By the end of the course, participants will be prepared to assume both leadership roles and managerial roles, in relation to effective project management.

Instructor:

Debra Lucas-Alfieri Retired with Distinction from her position as the Head of Reference, Interlibrary Loan, Public Services, and Information Analysis and Instruction, at D’Youville University in Buffalo, NY (2002-2020). Debra’s research, practice, expertise is demonstrated in her book chapter, Project Management in Libraries: An Overview for Middle Managers, which appears in Middle Management in Academic and Public Libraries (2011). She authored Marketing the 21st Century Library: The Time is Now (2015), a librarians’ textbook, published by Chandos, an imprint of Elsevier. She also published academic journal articles in Collaborative Librarianship, the Journal of Interlibrary Loan, Document Delivery & Electronic Reserve, the Journal of Library and Information Science, and Library Leadership and Management. Additionally, she served as an editor for the Journal of Library Innovation. For fun, she crafted and published encyclopedia articles the Encyclopedia of Power, the Encyclopedia of Time, the Encyclopedia of Anthropology, and the 20th Century Encyclopedia of Pop Culture. Alongside clinicians, university faculty, and university students, she co-authored and published articles in the nursing and pharmaceutical fields

Debra has been teaching online library science classes, seminars, and webinars for over a decade, working with national organization such as 91��ý RUSA and Library Juice Academy. She has presented web-based symposiums for organizations in Florida and Montreal. Debra has vast experience and knowledge of the history of libraries and its’ mission, her research and philosophies are highly regarded, studied, and cited across the world. Through teaching and writing, she has impacted students and scholars across the globe.

Before she Retired with Distinction from D’Youville University, she was appointed Faculty Senate Parliamentarian and served from 2018 until she retired in 2022. During her tenure, she was awarded a Sabbatical and Faculty Research Grant in 2014, a Faculty Fellowship Award in 2015-2016, and a promotion to Full-Librarian Academic Rank in 2016. Her retirement created the synergy to collaborate with countless librarians who will then drive our profession and institution of libraries successfully and strategically into the future.

Ninah Moore

nmoore@ala.org

91��ý Units

Online

Inside Interlibrary Loan: Basics for a New Millennium

NMOORE — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 20:19:58 +0000

Inside Interlibrary Loan: Basics for a New Millennium NMOORE Thu, 11/21/2024 - 14:19

eLearning

Feb 3, 2025

$209 General/$188.10 91��ý Member/$129.50 RUSA Member/$141.08 Student

https://elearning.ala.org/local/catalog/view/product.php?productid=256

As library shelving and physical collections continue to diminish, electronic resource collections continue to grow. To keep up with library trends and evolve in these troubling and uncertain times, we need to expand our Interlibrary Loan (ILL) services to meet the needs of our library patrons. In this four-week asynchronous eCourse, you'll learn to utilize ILL services to do just this. Designed for MLS candidates, MLS graduates, librarians, library administrators, and paraprofessionals, this course teaches yu everything you need to know about ILL systems, including its surrounding nuts and bolts, regulations, and copyight issues. You'll also explore potential internal and external policies and procedures that your library can put in place and examine modern day challenges related to electronic resources.

Instructor Debra Lucas-Alfieri will also introduce you to management software tools, both those created internally as a homegrown option, or a proprietary software platform like ILLiad or Tipasa. Throughout the course, you'll gain exposure to and become skilled in assessing how ILL affects your organization's staffing and budgeting bottom lines. The projects, readings, and exercises will be of an immediate and practical nature. All students will also complete a series of short answer questions and complete a final analysis of your learning outcomes and experiences. The expected time commitment is three hours per week.

After participating in this eCourse, you will:

Understand key concepts of ILL infrastructures and operations
Grasp the current issues and opportunities for ILL operations, such as international lending, copyright compliances, and software/hardware needed to for an efficient operation
Have starting points for creating and enforcing patron-driven borrowing and lending policies and procedures
Be able to enhance opportunities in this essential library service at your institution
Discuss how changing COVID challenges will drive your ILL operations forward.

Additionally, we will embrace in detail:

Definitions
Past histories
Present situations
Future predictions
Benefit and risk management
Procedures and staff management

Ninah Moore

nmoore@ala.org

91��ý Units

Programs & Services

Reference

Online

91��ý unveils shortlist for 2025 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction

RAGARCIA — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 16:01:57 +0000

91��ý unveils shortlist for 2025 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction

CHICAGO –Today, the 91��ý (91��ý) announced the six books shortlisted for the esteemed Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction, awarded for the previous year’s best fiction and nonfiction books written for adult readers and published in the United States.

The 2025 Selection Committee Chair Allison Escoto will announce the two medal winners at the Reference and User Services Association’s Book and Media Awards (BMAs) livestreaming event, premiered during LibLearnX in Phoenix on Sunday, January 26th at 10:30am Mountain Standard Time.

2025 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction shortlist titles include:

Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction 2025 Shortlist

“Cinema Love,” by Jiaming Tang. Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.

The growing complexity of Tang’s fully realized characters is as fascinating as the interrelationships among them, a group of friends, lovers, and immigrants to America connected by the Worker’s Cinema in the Chinese town of Mawei. Rich in simile and metaphor, Tang’s first novel is beautifully written and a captivating reading experience.

“James,” by Percival Everett. Doubleday, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

In an astounding riposte, Everett rewrites Huckleberry Finn as the liberation narrative of the enslaved man Huck befriends. Determined to rescue his wife and daughter, James takes the story in a completely different direction than the original, exemplifying the relentless courage and moral clarity of an honorable man with nothing to lose.

“Martyr!” by Kaveh Akbar. Knopf, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

The bedazzling and profound story of anxious, outspoken Iranian American poet Cyrus Shams, obsessed with the idea of “meaningful” death, unfolds from different points of view and darts back and forth in time. First-time novelist Akbar creates scenes of psychedelic opulence and mystery, emotional precision, edgy hilarity, and heart-ringing poignancy as his characters endure war, grief, addiction, and sacrifice, and find refuge in art and love. 

Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction 2025 Shortlist

“Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space,” by Adam Higginbotham. Avid Reader Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, LLC.

In this precise account of the 1986 Challenger space shuttle disaster, in which all seven crew members perished, Higginbotham (winner of the 2020 Carnegie Medal for Midnight in Chernobyl) delves into the definition of acceptable risk and assesses accountability. Human error combined with technical failure caused the explosion--but hubris also contributed. Higginbotham’s comprehensive and affecting recounting illuminates a tragedy that was entirely preventable.

“Cue the Sun! The Invention of Reality TV,” by Emily Nussbaum. Random House, an imprint and division of Penguin Random House LLC.

Reality television may be ubiquitous, but it’s not new, as Nussbaum illustrates in this fine book. She traces its roots to radio, then to TV shows that capitalized on people’s willingness to look silly in front of a camera, through the creation of juggernauts like Survivor and Big Brother. An enjoyable deep dive into a format that, for better or worse, is here to stay.

“A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon,” by Kevin Fedarko. Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, LLC.

Centering his own lifelong relationship with the Grand Canyon, from reading about it as a child through his time as a clumsy canoe guide, Fedarko shares his canyon-spanning hike, replete with steps, missteps, and arguments along the way. He particularly inspires in detailing the ancestral history of the land and some of the Indigenous individuals who continue to fight against overdevelopment and ever-booming tourism.

Carnegie Medal winners will each receive $5,000. All the finalists will be honored during a celebratory event in June 2025 during the 2025 91��ý Annual Conference in Philadelphia.

The awards, established in 2012, serve as a guide to help adults select quality reading material. They are the first single-book awards for adult books given by the 91��ý and reflect the expert judgment and insight of library professionals and booksellers who work closely with adult readers.

The awards were established through a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York and are cosponsored and administered by Booklist and RUSA. Booklist also sponsors the Michael L. Printz Award, Odyssey Award, and Alex Awards. RUSA’s CODES administers the Notable Books List, The Reading List, The Listen List, and the Sophie Brody Medal.

More information on the finalists and the awards can be found at http://www.ala.org/carnegieadult. Also, book cover artwork is available for download at /carnegie-medals/resources .

About Carnegie Corporation of New York
Carnegie Corporation of New York was established in 1911 by Andrew Carnegie to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding. In keeping with this mandate, the Corporation's work focuses on the issues that Andrew Carnegie considered of paramount importance: international peace, the advancement of education and knowledge, and the strength of our democracy. 

About Booklist
Booklist is a book-review magazine that has been published by the 91��ý for more than 100 years, and is widely viewed as offering the most reliable reviews to help libraries decide what to buy and to help library patrons and students decide what to read, view or listen to. It comprises two print magazines, a digital magazine for library patrons, an extensive website and database, e-newsletters, webinars, and other resources that support librarians in collection development and readers' advisory.

About Reference and User Services Association (RUSA)
The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) is a member community engaged in advancing the practices of connecting people to resources, information services and collections, building relationships among members from all types of libraries, encouraging openness, innovation and idea sharing, and promoting excellence in library services and resources.

About the 91��ý

91��ý (91��ý) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, 91��ý has been the trusted voice of libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit www.ala.org.

RUSQ Relaunch

NMOORE — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 17:57:43 +0000

RUSQ Relaunch

We are very pleased to announce that RUSQ: A Journal of Reference and User Services, is once again publishing, and the first issue of volume 60 is now available at [add link to the OJS site here?]. Re-launching RUSQ has been a major operation, and one that would not have been possible without the assistance and thoughtful help of many people, and I would like to recognize them here, and thank them for that help. Courtney McDonald, RUSA past-president, and Bill Ladewski and Ninah Moore of RUSA Office provided invaluable assistance in closing out volume 59 of the journal and then in working through the process of whether RUSA still wanted to publish a scholarly journal. The members of the RUSA Publications Taskforce, Jenny Bossaller, Stephanie Graves, Courtney McDonald, and Carol Schuetz guided that process and helped draft a thoughtful and compelling report that revealed the value to continuing publishing RUSQ. Tim Clifford at 91��ý Productions has been an integral part of the process of redesigning the journal and ensuring that we can bring out a quality product within the structure of the RUSA budget. RUSA presidents, Cynthia Johnson, Christina Pryor, Joseph Yue, and Illana Stonebreaker provided support and guidance as we moved towards the re-launch of the journal. Finally, RUSQ board members—Jenny Bossaller, Jen Hunter, Vanessa Irvin, Melissa Jeter, Jessica Jones, Courtney McDonald, Carolyn Mulac, Dave Tyckoson, Amy Vanscoy, Melissa Wong—and column editors—Yvonne Dooley, Craig Clark, Matthew Galloway, Rebecca Graff, Julia Martin, and Dr. Jo Philips—have already put in significant work shaping the journal’s scope, reviewing manuscripts, and developing column ideas.

Without all of this help, re-launching RUSQ would have been an impossible task. I am honored to serve as editor of the journal, and hope that it continues its long tradition of blending theory and practice in ways that will shape the profession for years to come.

Barry Trott

Editor, RUSQ

The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of the 91��ý, represents librarians and library staff in the fields of reference, specialized reference, collection development, readers’ advisory and resource sharing. RUSA is the foremost organization of reference and information professionals who make the connections between people and the information sources, services, and collection materials they need. Learn more at www.rusaupdate.org.

NMOORE Fri, 11/01/2024 - 12:57

Contact:

Ninah Moore

Program Officer-Continuing Education

RUSA

nmoore@ala.org

STARS Organization Committee

BLADEWSKI — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 13:56:56 +0000

STARS Organization Committee

Reference and User Services Association

BLADEWSKI Fri, 11/01/2024 - 08:56

To advise the STARS Executive Committee regarding the structural organization of the section; to develop, review, and maintain the section handbook and bylaws; to participate in planning for the section and to monitor and report on progress toward meeting the section's goals.

RUS-STAORG

Connect

July

Reference and User Services Association (RUSA)

All 91��ý Members

Off

A Lesson from Germany: Serving Refugee and Immigrant Populations

NMOORE — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 14:40:51 +0000

A Lesson from Germany: Serving Refugee and Immigrant Populations NMOORE Wed, 10/30/2024 - 09:40

Webinar

Dec 11, 2024 | 12 - 1pm

$79 NON-MEMBER/$71.10 91��ý MEMBER/ $46.61 RUSA MEMBER/$37.12 STUDENT

https://elearning.ala.org/local/catalog/view/product.php?productid=1328

Are you looking for new and effective ways to help New Americans? Explore the invaluable resources and services offered by three prominent German libraries tailored specifically for refugee and immigrants communities. In this session, participants will learn how the libraries of Frankfurt, Cologne, and Bremen, Germany serve an ever growing number of non-native populations from around the world. Discover how these institutions actively engage with diverse cultural backgrounds through multilingual collections, passive displays, language programs, community partnerships, and specialized services designed to meet the needs of newcomers.

Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the enriching experiences and resources avaiable at these libraries and how they might apply them at their library. Learn how these institutions serve as essential hubs for information and community building, offering a welcome environment where individuals from all backgrounds can connect, learn, and grow. From navigating bureaucratic processes to exploring cultural heritage resources, this webinar will highlight the transformative impact of library services in supporting the journey of refugees and immigrants as they integrate into German society. Don't miss this opportunity to explore innovatitve approaches and success stories that underscore the pivotal role of libraries in promoting social cohesion and cultural exchange.

By the end of this webinar, the participant will be able to:

Consider avenues of communication with local immigrant and refugee groups
Explore potential local and government partnerships that can expand library services and address target population's needs
Identify the benefits of cultural education and sharing the community through library events and partnerships with local immigrant and refugee groups

The presenter, Jessica A. Curtis, is an adult reference librarian at the Westerville Public Library in Ohio and an adult learning specialist. She is an active member and frequent presenter for the Ohio Library Council. She specializes in creating user-friendly classes for emerging technology and library services. She holds a BA from the Ohio State University and an MLIS from Kent State University.

This webinar is for public library staff, especially those working with youths, adults, and community populations and can influence and impact services, displays, procedures, and staff training as well as the well-being of the target audience of immigrant and refugee populations.

Ninah Moore

nmoore@ala.org

91��ý Units

Advocacy

Online