Instruction Discussion Topics

ILA/ACRL & IPAL Interest Group graphic

 

We’re gearing up for the ILA-ACRL/IPAL joint conference, and we want to hear from folks involved with library instruction!

During the Information Literacy Interest Group session, Iowa academic library staff who do instruction get together to talk, share ideas, and build community. (Are you new to the interest group’s activities? Check out our recaps and resources from past years over on the blog – http://ilove-instruction.blogspot.com/)

We’ve got some activities planned, but we also want to be sure we’re meeting your needs. So…

What’s on your mind? What would you like to discuss with colleagues during the Information Literacy Interest Group session? Add your ideas below!

Let us know by April 15th!

Thanks,
Becky Canovan (bcanovan@dbq.edu, University of Dubuque) and Cara B. Stone (cstone@iastate.edu, Iowa State University)

Want to share this form with friends? Use this link: https://bit.ly/ipalil22

New ILA/ACRL Website & Thank You!

The 2022 ILA/ACRL Electronic Communications Committee (ECC) is thrilled to announce the launch of the new ILA/ACRL webpage, you can find it here: https://www.iowaacrl.org/ 

We would like to extend a huge thank you to previous ECC members James Cox & Maggie Haltermann-Dess who migrated the lion’s share of the website content. You left the low hanging fruit of tying up loose ends, and crossing the finish line to the current ECC. Last but not least, thank you to Ryan Gjerde for his behind the scenes expertise, and switching us from the old to the new site.   

We hope the new site will be easier for ILA/ACRL members to navigate and find the information they seek, as well as for new committee members to edit, update, and maintain into the future.

With thanks,

2022 ILA/ACRL Electronic Communications Committee

Members:
Jenny Parker, Chair
Claire Bowling
Sarah Young

Mary Hammond Iber ILA/ACRL Spring Conference Scholarship 2022

Mary Hammond Iber was an exceptional librarian, mentor, and friend.  A librarian and archivist at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, she died unexpectedly on January 2, 2014. Mary was known for her kind, creative, and helpful nature and her vibrant approach to life. She taught as an adjunct instructor at the University of Iowa School of Library and Information Science and was involved with Iowa ACRL leadership, including serving as President in 2010 and chairing the Nominating, Awards, and Newsletter committees.

To honor her commitment to continuous learning and growth, Iowa ACRL makes available the Mary Hammond Iber Spring Conference Scholarship. The scholarship will help fund attendance at the Iowa ACRL and IPAL Joint Spring Conference, May 19-20 at University of Northern Iowa. The scholarship will cover the registration fee and up to $100 in travel, hotel, and meal expenses.

Applicants must be either:

1) Paid members of Iowa ACRL, working full-time in an Iowa academic or research library, and either:

Attending their first Iowa ACRL Conference, or have worked in an Iowa academic or research library for fewer than three years.

OR

2) Library science students and/or support staff working in an Iowa academic or research library. Student and support staff applicants do not have to be paid members of Iowa ACRL.

Previous Iowa ACRL Spring Conference scholarship recipients are not eligible.

Please submit the application linked here, including a 250 word or less essay describing how the conference theme “Reconnecting, Renewing, Responding” is related to one of your professional goals. Scholarship winners are selected by the Awards Committee on the quality of the essay.

The deadline for applications is April 17.  The winner will be notified by May 2.

Mary Anderson, Awards Committee Chair

Conference Hotel Information

The spring conference committee is cautiously optimistic about an in-person spring conference (final decision made early April), so we wanted to share hotel details so that you can take advantage of the best rates available.

ILA-ACRL has room blocks with:

  • Hampton Inn (downtown Cedar Falls, $139, rate until April 11) and,
  • Country Inn and Suites (very close to UNI, call 319-268-1800, & mention Iowa Library Association for $89 rate until April 18) for the upcoming conference.
  • For those looking for a less expensive option you can stay on campus at UNI ($40 / night); more information can be found here under “Individual Conference Housing.” 

Additional information about the conference location and how to submit proposals can be found on the Iowa ACRL website. Please direct any questions to Eric Jennings, Conference Committee chair.

ILA/ACRL Research Award 2022

The ILA/ACRL Awards Committee announces a $500 grant to be awarded to an ILA/ACRL member for a presented or published scholarly work.  Please consider submitting your own work or nominating a colleague for this award!  The following rules and qualifications apply:

  • A qualifying presented paper must be text-based and have been delivered at a regional, national, or international conference.
  • A qualifying published paper is to have appeared in a scholarly journal.
  • A qualifying book is to be scholarly in nature.
  • The subject matter of the material submitted may be on any scholarly topic.
  • The papers should have been delivered or published since August 1, 2020.
  • PowerPoint slides, video, or audio submissions will not be considered.
  • Entries may be self-submitted or nominated.
  • Entries will be considered by the Awards Committee on the basis of a blind ranking process. Criteria include but are not limited to:
    • Venue is scholarly as evidenced by, for example, peer-review of submissions and/or reputation for scholarly exchange.
    • Research represents substantive contribution to the body of knowledge.
    • Work shows evidence of rigorous and thoughtful inquiry into the topic.
  • If the committee finds that none of the entries are meritorious, it may decide not to make an award.
  • The deadline for submissions is April 1, 2022.  The winner will be notified May 2, 2022.
  • The winner will be announced at the ILA/ACRL Spring Conference May 19-20, 2022. The recipient(s) will be encouraged to share a brief (5-10 minute) verbal summary of their research at the ILA/ACRL business meeting during the conference.

Please email submissions to:  Mary Anderson, ILA/ACRL Awards Committee Chair, Loras College, mary.anderson@loras.edu

Include a copy of your work/research along with your name and contact information.

On behalf of the ILA/ACRL Awards Committee, thank you!

Committee members:

Mary Anderson, Chair

Jamie Byerly

Sara Scheib

Anna Schmall