Weekly Review

UK Libraries Cooperating with Research Project on Information Literacy:

Meagan Oakleaf of the Syracuse University iSchool recently announced the funding of her new project, RAILS (Rubric Assessment of Information Literacy Skills). Rails, located at Syracuse University's iSchool, operates in partnership with the ACRL Assessment Immersion Program and is augmented by Waypoint Outcomes.

An IMLS-funded research project, RAILS is designed to investigate an analytic rubric approach (that’s what UK Libraries is doing as well) to information literacy assessment in higher education. The RAILS project is intended to help academic librarians and disciplinary faculty assess information literacy outcomes.

UK Libraries’ rubrics are being shared on the RAILS site. Hopefully the sharing among institutions will grow as more institutions sign on. For now, UK is one of the early adopters.


Cheri Daniels Explores “Shadows of Eastern State Hospital:”

During its long history, many of Lexington’s Eastern State Hospital patients were buried on the hospital grounds. To make way for the new location of the Bluegrass Community and Technical College, the old graves are being identified and moved. In the December 23, 2010 issue of Ace Weekly, Cheri Daniels, Lending Unit Manager in Interlibrary Loan and a professional genealogist, explores the history of the cemetery including the fate of her own Uncle Lewis. Cheri suggests that, “we must remember that each loved one buried there has an identity and story that needs to be discovered and restored to our collective memory. “

You can see the entire article at: http://www.aceweekly.com/index.php/site/news/this_years_models/


Faculty and Staff Survey on International Interests:

The International Working Group has developed a survey for all library faculty and staff that is designed to serve two purposes. The interest portion of the survey is designed to provide information to the Working Group that will help them in developing the library initiatives for the coming year. The second part of the survey, dealing with language, will aid the group in indentifying the language proficiency that exists within University Libraries. The survey will be an important piece in shaping the direction of the program.

You can fill out as much or as little of the survey as you wish. Any information you provide will help in shaping the program. The survey is available at: http://bit.ly/fLvhOS and will be available until January 21st.


University of Louisville Names New Dean of Libraries:

Robert Fox, Jr., associate dean of libraries at Georgia Tech since 2005, has been named Dean of Libraries at the University of Louisville. Prior to his tenure at Georgia Tech, Fox served in several positions at Clayton State University in Morrow, Georgia. He was that institution’s director of library services from 1992 to 2005. He also has served as a reference librarian at Woodruff Library at Atlanta University Center, a consortium of historically black colleges and universities.

Fox earned his M.B.A. at the University of Georgia. He holds a master of library sciences degree from Clark Atlanta University.


Thanks to Debbie Sharpe and Toni Greider for their contributions to the Weekly Review.


Terry Birdwhistell
Dean of Libraries