Kiersty Cox helps SLIS Students Develop Important Skills

SLIS Instructor, Kiersty Cox, led twenty-one graduate students in an informative discussion on job searching skills and resume writing. She explained that many businesses and organizations hire librarians, but call them other things, so students may need to look outside the traditional library for potential job opportunities. She discussed the writing of a good resume, the use of active verbs, and how to use power terms to sell one's skills. Cox talked about how the organization of the resume is very important, as well as how the cover letter complements the resume. Finally, Cox shared insights she has personally acquired from years of job hunting and hiring. Job Search Skills Power Point

Student Organizations Host Brown Bag Series

The USF SLIS student organizations have organized a weekly lunch/networking meeting dubbed "Brown Bag" to give students an opportunity to discuss current library topics. Students who would like to participate should bring a lunch to CIS room 2020.

Wednesday Feb. 25 12 p.m. - 1pm.

Kiersty Cox, a SLIS instructor, will discuss preparing for your first professional job. Last year, Kiersty Cox presented "Get it Write: Make Your Resume Work For You!" at the The Florida Library Association annual meeting in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Immediately after lunch, participants can stay stay for a presentation by one of the candidates for the open SLIS faculty position.

Upcoming brown bags will be held at the regular time of 1pm-2pm every Wednesday (with minimal exceptions) and include Carolyn Edds, a research librarian at the St. Pete Times, on March 4, and on April 8 we'll be visited by Vicki Zook, an archivist at the St. Pete Times.

Dr. Henrietta Smith to serve on the Caldecott Award Selection Committee

SLIS Professor Emerita, Dr. Henrietta Smith

Dr. Henrietta Smith is a member of the 2010 Caldecott Award Selection Committee. The Caldecott Medal is named for Randolph Caldecott (1846-1886), a British illustrator best known for his nursery storybooks, including The Babes in the Wood, The Hey Diddle Diddle Picture Book, and Sing a Song of Sixpence. Dr. Smith says of the election to the committee, "I am looking forward to the fun, the hard work the association with other commmittee members and the selection of the best illustrated book for the year 2010.

Dr. Scott Simon to perform at John F. Germany Library

John F. Germany Library presents its annual Musical Explosion Tour at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22. Featured musicians and entertainers include Scott Simon, Venus Jones, Myron and Natalie Jack. Admission is free and the event is cosponsored by the May K. Houck Foundation and the Friends of the John F. Germany Public Library.

This annual library event showcases some of Tampa's finest musicians and entertainers celebrating the roots of Blues, Jazz, Soul, Rock and Gospel, all the way down to Hip-Hop.

JCLC Conference Proceedings Available Online

The proceedings from the first Joint Conference of Librarians of Color (JCLC) are available online. The conference drew over 1100 librarians and exhibitors, and was sponsored by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA), American Indian Library Association (AILA), Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA), Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA), and National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking (REFORMA). Several members of the SLIS Faculty participated in the conference either by helping to organize it, exhibiting the School in the exhibits hall or presenting a program.

USF Libraries Support Distance Learners

USF Libraries provide special assistance to distance learners. Distance learners have a critical need for consistent access to online materials, interlibrary loan to get print materials outside the USF Libraries, and assistance from librarians to answer questions about access to online resources and getting connected. USF Libraries subscribes to over 600 online databases, 8,000+ e-journals, 215,000+ e-books and provides access to millions of articles, books, documents, and image collections. For more information, log in to Blackboard, select the "USF Libraries" tab and then the "USF Libraries" link. Select the "Services" tab at the top of the page and then the "Distance Learners" link.

Loss of SLIS Student

John Emory Seago Jr., 41, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009, in Tampa, Fla., where he was in his last semester of graduate school at the University of South Florida. John was a graduate of Trafton High School in Baton Rouge. He received a bachelor's in English from the University of South Florida and began his graduate studies there in 2007. He was to receive his master's degree in May 2009. John was recently selected to the National Honor Society for his academic achievements in graduate school at USF. Preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Claude A. and Magurete Chevalier Seago; and his maternal grandfather, Gilbert F. Landry. John is survived by maternal grandmother, Bessie Case Landry; parents, John E. and Anna Raye Landry Seago; brother, James Edward "Jim" Seago; and numerous uncles, aunts and cousins. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in his name to the Bluebonnet Branch of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library System, 9200 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70820.

Opportunity for USF SLIS Students to Participate in FLA Library Days at the Legislature

FLA Library Days at the Legislature allows a variety of library supporters to speak to their legislative delegation about issues relating to local libraries and its programs. The event takes place in Tallahassee on March 10th and 11th. USF SLIS would like to encourage participation and is willing to offer financial assistance for two students to travel to Tallahassee. Students would provide a few volunteer hours to assist with the operation of the event, as well as have an opportunity to participate in the event itself.

If you have questions about this event or you are interested in participating, please contact Dr. Linda Alexander before February 13, 2009 and she will provide you with the information you need. lalexand@cas.usf.edu

Dr. Michael Buckland

Dr. Michael K. Buckland (right) speaking with SLIS students after his presentation

Dr. Michael Buckland presented a lively program to SLIS students and faculty, as well as many USF Tampa Librarians. View Dr. Buckland's presentation.

SLIS Director, Dr. John N. Gathegi (left) and Dr. Michael K. Buckland

Re-accreditation Information

Every seven years LIS schools in the US and Canada undergo a review conducted by the Committee on Accreditation (COA) of the American Library Association (ALA). ALA has an Office for Accreditation and this office publishes a newsletter called "PRISM". The fall issue of the PRISM announced several schools that would be under review during the spring 2009 academic term. USF SLIS is one five programs being reviewed at this time. The External Panel from the Office for Accreditation will be making their site visit from February 21st through February 24th. Members of the External Panel will be observing face-to-face and online courses, as well as meeting with faculty, staff, students, employers of SLIS Alumni, SLIS Advisory Council Members and USF administrators. Please access the links above to learn more about the re-accreditation process. USF SLIS has been continuously accredited by the American Library Association since 1975.

John Prevosk of Sunlink speaks in Dr. Dunkley's classes

John Prevosk and Dr. Cora P. Dunkley

John Prevosk, Training Coordinator at Sunlink was a guest speaker in Dr. Cora P. Dunkley's classes the first week in January. Funded by the Florida Department of Education, SUNLINK is Florida's K-12 public school union catalog, a shared database of materials in Florida K-12 library media centers.

News from the Student Organizations

The USF SLIS student organizations recently started their own blog.

They have also decided to start a regular Brown Bag meeting to hold informal conversations with professional librarians, and to discuss research in library and information science.

Their first meeting will be this Wednesday, Feb. 4.

If you happen to be around between 1-2pm you're welcome to drop in. If you'd like to volunteer to chat with the students some lunch time this semester, we'd love to have you.