Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 3. Interactive processes of the research and information service and education (RISE) system
Library users
Students
Community
users
Faculty and
Lecturers
RISE
Information and
instructional
services support
staff
Information
specialists
RISE
FORUM
RISE
DATABASE
the library, isolated from the learning activities
of the academic community. The technology-
enabled component of the holistic RISE system
is also significant, as it reflects both the need for a
domain knowledge database (course assignments)
as well as continuous information exchange (RISE
forum). The knowledge base continues to grow
as information specialists acquire, annotate, and
contribute the documents that enable information
and instructional service support staff to apply
'solutions and strategies' at the newly constituted
'research help desk'—a term recommended by
students. Intentional virtual and face-to-face
exchanges fuel continuous workforce learning.
Finally, the two-way communication between
librarians and support staff is expressed through
ongoing education, informally occurring through-
out the workplace and formally provided in weekly
training and education sessions which anticipate
students' assignment-based needs. This outward
looking, technology-enabled decision-support
system presents a sharp contrast to traditional
professional assumptions whereby questioners
were expected to come to librarians 'sitting at the
reference desk'. Instead, information specialists
now move beyond library walls to forge relation-
ships that influence faculty members' assignments
and thereby enrich student learning experiences.
In addition to coaching the library staff members
who assist students in completion of their assign-
ments, information specialists also design and
deliver disciplinary web pages complemented by
digital learning objects that introduce essential
information resources and search strategies. Now
they also offer virtual research 'live chat' services
that provide personalized 24/7 online advisement
to students, any time, any place. In these various
ways, librarians have fulfilled their shared aspira-
tion to increase the library's web presence. Their
co-design activities with students gave them the
necessary expertise and confidence. In addition,
through SSM practice, librarians have forged
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