Community and Two-Year College Interest Group News

Book Discussion Series 

The Community and Two-Year College Interest Group (C2YCLIG) is hosting a book discussion series this year, focusing on Race in America. We will hold one more discussion on Race in Libraries on Thursday, February 25th at 2:00PM via WebEx. Following completion of the discussion series, we will hold a related workshop. Everyone is welcome to join in the final discussion and workshop. Please email C2YCLIG co-chairs at c2yclig-chairs@alaoweb.org. 

Call for Planning Committee Members 

The planning committee is working virtually on the book discussion series and workshop. We do not require in-person attendance at events. Please consider joining the C2YCLIG planning committee, which you can do via the ALAO Volunteer Form on the ALAO website.  

–Megan Mamolen, C2YCLIG Co-Chair, Lakeland Community College
–Ragan Snead, C2YCLIG Co-Chair, Lakeland Community College

 

Distance Learning Interest Group News 

Who Among Your Colleagues Is a “Distance Learning Visionary”? 

The Academic Library Association of Ohio (ALAO) wishes to recognize and commend visionary librarians in distance learning who promote equitable access to library resources and services.  Who among your colleagues is implementing creative solutions, conducting studies, or coordinating programs in distance library services and learning?  

ALAO’s Distance Learning Interest Group (DLIG) invites nominations for the 2021 “Distance Learning Visionary.”  

To Nominate: 

Nomination applications should include:

(1) a 250-500 word essay that demonstrates the nominee’s contributions to distance learning at an Ohio institution
(2) a brief presentation proposal to suggest what the nominee might share with colleagues at the 2021 DLIG workshop.

Links to relevant supporting materials are encouraged.  Self-nomination or group nominations are permitted. 

Visionary Benefits: 

 Awarded honor of being named the 2021 Distance Learning Visionary.

Recognition at the 2021 ALAO Annual Conference, as well as on the ALAO Website, ALAO Newsletter, and the DLIG Blog. 

Monetary grant of $150.00 to present at the 2021 DLIG workshop. (Please note that the funds are contingent upon the grantee presenting in person, remotely, or via pre-recorded session.) 

For complete details and submission guidelines, please see the Distance Learning Visionary Research/Project and Presentation Grant website at https://www.alaoweb.org/page-1111901 or email the DLIG Co-Chairs, Kayla Hennis and Jessica Long, at  dlig-chairs@alaoweb.org

Applications are due by January 30, 2021. 

–Kayla Hennis, DLIG Co-Chair, Wright State University 
–Jessica Long, DLIG Co-Chair, Miami University Middletown

 

Special Collections and Archives Interest Group News

The Special Collections and Archives Interest Group (SCAIG) met on October 30th at the ALAO Annual Conference for an informal discussion of how our institutions and departments have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and adapted to the new situation.  We are starting to plan the annual workshop, which will be held virtually in 2021. If you are interested in serving on the planning committee, please contact the co-chairs.

Look for a save-the-date early in the new year!

-Rachel Makarowski, Special Collections and Archives IG Co-Chair, Miami University
-Henry Handley, Special Collections and Archives IG Co-Chair, University of Dayton

 

Scholarly Communications Interest Group News

Change in Leadership

The Scholarly Communications Interest Group recently welcomed Drew Balduff as SCIG co-chair for the 2020-2022 term. This position was formerly held by Mark Clemente of Case Western Reserve University. Drew currently serves as Electronic Resources Librarian and interim College Librarian for Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at the University of Findlay. He will work with Heather Crozier, fellow SCIG co-chair, to implement professional development opportunities for ALAO community members.

Emerging Trends in Scholarly Communications Series

Beginning in Spring 2021, SCIG plans to host a workshop or panel centered on BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color) erasure in scholarly communications and what we as information professionals can do to ameliorate white privilege in the field. As noted by Alice Meadows in a September 2020 post to The Scholarly Kitchen, it is absolutely necessary we begin (or continue) to engage scholarly communications with social equity initiatives. The SCIG co-chairs will ensure this event provides participants with action steps for building and sustaining an anti-racist scholarly publishing ecosystem at one’s institution.

Another workshop or panel currently under development will involve academics who currently practice multimodal scholarship and/or composition. This event will explore various aspects of multimodal publishing and discuss how librarians can become active participants in the process.

Stay up to date on SCIG professional development opportunities by subscribing to our listserv. Please send an email to scig+subscribe@alaoweb.org if you are interested. 

Additional Plans for 2021-2022

The SCIG co-chairs hope to build a web-based “scholarly communications toolkit” for ALAO members using Google Sites. Stay tuned for more info!

–Drew Balduff, SCIG Co-Chair, University of Findlay
–Heather Crozier, SCIG Co-Chair, Ohio Northern University

 

STEM Interest Group News

During fall 2020, the STEM Interest Group has focused on providing support to STEM librarians through a variety of activities. Our monthly Open Discussions Forum continued to offer an opportunity to chat with colleagues across Ohio. The Round Table at the Annual Conference provided an opportunity to discuss how the pandemic impacted the collection development, reference, teaching, and outreach activities for STEM librarians and shared strategies to cope and build resilience. Back in October, STEMIG also hosted a webinar on tools and best practices for creating instructional videos.  The webinar featured speakers Nathanael Davis of Cedarville University and Zach Sharrow from the College of Wooster. The video recording of the webinar is available at https://youtu.be/KTyX5ZtLdQw and the slides are available on the STEMIG Events page on ALAO’s website. 

–Daniela Solomon, STEM IG Co-Chair, Case Western Reserve University 
–Zach Sharrow, STEM IG Co-Chair, College of Wooster