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Networking With Instruction Librarians For Free!
by Ellen Keith and Lenora Berendt
In the spring of 1992, Deborah Tenofsky (then Coordinator of Library Instruction at Loyola University Chicago) saw the need for instruction librarians from the Chicagoland area to meet to discuss ideas and issues related to providing library instruction, and to share information, teaching tips, and common concerns. She contacted coordinators and instruction librarians from a number of local universities and colleges, and held the first meeting later that year. Lenora Berendt, Instruction Coordinator at Loyola University Chicago, took over as chair of the group in 1996 after Debbie's departure. In 2001, Lenora turned over leadership of the group to Ellen Keith, Interim Associate Dean for Public Services/Instruction Coordinator at the Illinois Institute of Technology.
Evolution Of the Group
The Chicago Area Instruction Librarians Group has evolved into a dynamic and high-quality source of continuing education for the area's library instructors. Membership has expanded to include public and community college librarians who are involved in providing instruction to users, and the group currently meets four to five times annually at different area libraries. Each meeting begins with light refreshments, followed by a brief business meeting in which future meeting dates and instruction topics are identified and scheduled. Members volunteer to provide 20-30 minute presentations on each topic, making sure that sessions are as interactive as possible. After the business meeting, members give presentations on topics selected at the last meeting. Meetings tend to run a little long, as much discussion is always generated from the presentations.
Holding the meetings at different libraries gives everyone an opportunity to check out each other's teaching facilities and either commiserate over the lack of technology or go green with envy over its abundance. Library administrators are generally happy to host and provide refreshments, as it's both good public relations and good networking.
The group maintains a Web presence and an e-mail discussion list. Both serve as communication vehicles for providing general information and discussion within the group, as well as details about (free!) membership, previous meeting topics, future meetings, and instruction and related links for teaching librarians.
Ellen's Experience
From a personal standpoint, I am grateful to the group for introducing me to such a rich resource of librarians. The scope of the group provides almost instant connections, as we all have the same concerns and share similar interests. I first met Lenora Berendt during her tenure as chair at a group meeting at DePaul University in 1997. When she asked for a library to host the next meeting, I volunteered my library (I was at Columbia College at the time). Lenora and I became friends over the course of making the arrangements, and it was at a future meeting that we realized we wanted to present on the same topic, "Managing an Instruction Program." As we were both instruction coordinators of active programs, we decided to collaborate and present together.
Our presentation was enthusiastically received, and generated so much discussion that we realized we wanted to expand it and explore it further. LOEX's (Library Orientation & Exchange) program this year, Managing Instruction Programs in Academic Libraries, afforded us the perfect opportunity. Our proposal, "All Our Ducks in a Row: Essential Components and Challenges of Managing an Instruction Program," was accepted, and again, it gave us great pleasure to collaborate on a topic we so enjoyed. It's remarkable to look back and realize it all came out of a local group.
When Lenora decided she had too much on her plate to continue chairing the group, she asked me if I would like to be the next chair. It was an easy decision to make. As chair, I've had the opportunity to administer the e-mail discussion list and update the web page, two great skills to develop, as well as the perfect reason to attend every meeting -- where I am consistently impressed by my colleagues' presentations.
Lenora's Experience
Deborah Tenofsky's vision for the group was to provide a forum for teaching librarians to learn together and share information. She set a strong example of that philosophy by mentoring me at Loyola, where I assisted her with library instruction for three years. She provided me with new opportunities to participate and "shine," and was always available to discuss new ideas or problems I encountered along the way. I became Instruction Coordinator at Loyola after her departure and am most grateful to her for her continued support and friendship.
The role of chair was, and continues to be, an informal one. We are fluid and all members are expected to participate in some way, so that the leadership for the group is a shared experience -- a key ingredient to our continued success and longevity. The chair serves as a moderator and contact person for the group, while the responsibility for each meeting rests with the host librarian. Our meetings are structured but informal and we don't take minutes. I believe it is this format that has allowed the group to develop, flourish and maintain a level of quality that continues to the present time. There is no place for politics here!
The Chicago Area Instruction Librarians Group has provided me with opportunities to improve my skills as an instructor and to make new acquaintances and friends. I've experimented with new teaching techniques that I've learned about through my experiences with the group. Opportunities to test new ideas and receive constructive feedback from my fellow instruction librarians have been numerous and helpful, but most importantly, our group has provided me with the opportunity to become part of a network of working librarians whom I can always call on for information and support. I thank Deborah and my colleagues for these many opportunities and happy experiences.
Lenora Berendt is Instruction Coordinator at the Loyola University Libraries. Ellen Keith is Interim Associate Dean for Public Services/Instruction Coordinator at the Paul V. Galvin Library at the Illinois Institute of Technology. The group's web site and instructions for subscribing to the mailing list are at http://columbus.gl.iit.edu/chibi.