Thomas F. Holgate Library Bennett College HBCU Library Alliance –Mentorship Program Bennett College Site Visit December 12, 2005 Joan Williams, Director Mentor: Elsie Weatherington, Dean, Virginia State University

“ From Good to Greater ” Information Literacy Moving Bennett College Students to Greatness

Information Bennett College Bennett College seeks to integrate information literacy into the development of a community of learners that is centered on the student and sustained by a creative, energetic library program.

We plan to work collaboratively with faculty and library staff to provide intellectual access to information through learning activities that are integrated into the curriculum.

This goal will be accomplished through a Andrew Mellon Grant received by our institution.

Andrew Mellon Grant Implementation Objectives  Hire 1 librarian to handle this particular job  Faculty fellowships to develop interdisciplinary experiential syllabi

 Workshops -faculty and staff to enhance understanding of information literacy  Provide intercampus and conference travel  Provide resources for collection enhancement

Workshop Outline  Objectives of the Project  Participants  Planning

 Timeline  Challenges  Action Plan  Summary

Workshop Objectives  Demonstrate how to integrate library resources into curriculum.  Involve library staff members in planning  Demonstrate how to find the library website from the College homepage

 Demonstrate how to navigate through the library website  Demonstrate how to use the online catalog  Demonstrate how to search online databases

Advisory Committee  Library Committee faculty/library staff  Academic Dean

Workshop Participants  Faculty 3 Divisions/12 Department/ 48 Faculty  Librarians 2 Librarians/2 Paraprofessional  Others Academic Support Services Staff

Time Line  Develop advisory committee immediately with faculty involvement by (January 31, 2006)  Develop job description and advertisement for “instructional services librarian” by (February 2006)

 Conduct two workshops, March 30- April 1  Hire Information Literacy Librarian by May 2006

Challenges  Political : Climate -library has inadequate resources to support teaching and learning

 Competition: faculty workloads -downsizing -faculty enrichment

 Customer: Millennial student - Instant gratification -Technology answers all

Accomplishments  Instructional Service Librarian position posted Bennett College website  Faculty participation in collection development

 New equipment purchases to enhance library training  Information literacy expert Dr Patricia Brevik conducted 2 mini workshops with administration and faculty

 Library director attended 2006 Computers in Libraries Conference

Conclusion Information Literacy at Bennett College is a work in progress. It has opened up conversation each day to make changes in attitudes toward the library.

Giving us an opportunity to provide the millennial student with skills that will stimulate their desire to become life long learners and support the pedagogy of the academic curriculum.

HBCU Leadership Mentor Dr. Elsie Stephens Weatherington, Dean University Library, Virginia State University

Thomas F. Holgate Library Bennett College Information the Library