Information Technology Rural Librarian Master’s Scholarship Program Dr. Bharat Mehra, Dr. Kimberly Black, Dr. Vandana Singh School of Information Sciences, University of Tennessee Lake City Public Library, TN Johnson City Public Library, TN Sevier County Public Library, Sevierville, TN Hancock County Public Library, Sneedville, TN

About the ITRL Program  “Information Technology Rural Librarian Master’s Scholarship Program” (ITRL) in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Tennessee meets an urgent need for rural librarians in the Southern and Central Appalachian region to develop information technology competencies and training in a master’s program (accredited by the American Library Association) that combines work experience and practice with graduate instruction and curriculum support. ITRL, ETLA Presentation November 12, 2009 Hamlin-Lincoln County Public Library, Hamlin, WV

Why the ITRL Program is Important The Southern and Central Appalachian Region is experiencing:  Information poverty and unemployment  Economic challenges  Low levels of information literacy and educational attainment  A lack of access and use of IT  Other unique environmental challenges ITRL, ETLA Presentation November 12, 2009 Library professionals who are embedded in their communities are in a strong position to help address and develop solutions to these needs. Laurel Jones Public Library, Laurel, MS

Pilot Study Report ITRL, ETLA Presentation November 12, 2009 Location of Respondents

Pilot Study Report ITRL, ETLA Presentation November 12, 2009 Most Important Library Services Provided to Rural Clients

Pilot Study Report ITRL, ETLA Presentation November 12, 2009 Most Important Library Training and Educational Programs Needed by Information Professionals in East Tennessee

The ITRL Goal The goal of ITRL is to recruit sixteen paraprofessionals working in rural libraries in the Southern and Central Appalachian region to complete their master’s degree with a focus on IT and rural librarianship in the UT’s SIS program via distance. ITRL, ETLA Presentation November 12, 2009 ITRL students will receive:  Part-time degree in a program accredited by the ALA  A structured, individually-tailored IT and rural management curriculum  Rural library practices and needs incorporated into the curriculum  IT competencies in developing rural library work applications  Formal/informal professional mentoring by educators and practitioners  Full-tuition scholarship for two years  Allowance for materials  Provision of a laptop computer

Project Partners Project partners have agreed to serve in the ITRL grant based on their leadership, role, knowledge, networks, experience, and interests in promoting IT-based development and change in the region’s communities  Nancy Renfro, Director of the Watauga Regional Library  Donald B. Reynolds, Director of the Nolichucky Regional Library System  Susan Simmons, Director of the Clinch-Powell Regional Library  KC Williams, System Director of the Sevier County Public Library Though all current project partners are located in the East Tennessee region, representatives from other regional and county library systems in the Southern and Central Appalachian region are being contacted to elicit their participation in the various grant activities. ITRL, ETLA Presentation November 12, 2009

Five Phases of the ITRL Program 1. Recruitment of ITRL students from rural libraries in the Southern and Central Appalachian region 2. Needs assessment of library services and information challenges faced by rural regional libraries 3. Implementation of educational and training activities 4. Mentoring 5. Evaluation/assessment of program outcomes, and dissemination of program results/experiences Norris Community Library, TN ITRL, ETLA Presentation November 12, 2009

1. Recruitment  ITRL’s goal is to emphasize local and regional recruitment of students holding paraprofessional jobs in rural libraries in the Southern and Central Appalachian region.  Partners are recruiting potential candidates from their staff and community populations. Other local, regional, and national public library professionals are being contacted to elicit their proactive participation in recruitment efforts.  Recruitment success will be evaluated, refined, and may continue in the future, promoting rural librarianship as a track in the profession and increasing the flow of rural library paraprofessionals into accredited LIS programs. ITRL, ETLA Presentation November 12, 2009

Application and Admissions  Eligibility and Requirements  Currently working in a rural Southern and Central Appalachian library  Completed bachelor’s degree  A 3.25 cumulative GPA in undergraduate coursework and GRE scores (above the fifty percentile) or a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in 12 or more hours of graduate coursework  Complete the UT SIS Admission Application and the ITRL Scholarship Program Application.[URL:  How to Apply:  1. Complete applications for admission to both UT Graduate School and SIS 2. Take the GRE and have scores sent to UT 3. Send transcripts from all colleges and universities attended 4. Complete the Personal Data Form 5. Write a one-page statement of intent (essay) 6. Have three academic and/or professional recommendations 7. Complete application for the ITRL scholarship program ITRL, ETLA Presentation November 12, 2009

2. Needs Assessment  An ITRL Needs Assessment Symposium [online and face-to-face meetings] will be conducted in March/April 2010 and fifty library and information professionals from across the Southern and Central Appalachian region will provide feedback about library services and information challenges faced by rural libraries in the region. Break- out sessions and focus groups will be orchestrated to address local information needs, use of information resources and services, challenges and barriers, areas of improvement, and use of computers and information technologies. ITRL, ETLA Presentation November 12, 2009 Doddridge County Public Library, West Union, WV

3. Education/Training Implementation Students will have the opportunity to develop their own customized projects within an individually-tailored curriculum, where they pursue study of IT applications, rural library research and management, and explore development of topics in rural library settings. ITRL, ETLA Presentation November 12, 2009 Upshur County Public Library, Buckhannon, WV

 Service evaluation and assessment in rural libraries  Planning and management of a rural library program for children (or young adults) and adults  Reader’s advisory and fiction/non-fiction genre  Grant writing and development 3a. Rural Management Outcomes IS 574~Mehra Jacksboro Public Library, TN ITRL, ETLA Presentation November 12, 2009

3b. IT Training  Technology infrastructure planning, assessment, and automation analysis of library systems  Web design/development/usability  Database design/implementation  Building digital library/web portals  Establishing hardware/software configurations for networking systems  Creating Library 2.0 tools IS 574~Mehra ITRL, ETLA Presentation November 12, 2009

4. Mentoring  An educator-practitioner team will provide each ITRL student mentoring and guidance in their formal coursework to integrate IT while developing comprehensive solutions for rural libraries in the Southern and Central Appalachian region. ITRL, ETLA Presentation November 12, 2009 Gloucester County Public Library, VA (1914)

5. Evaluation  Throughout the duration of the ITRL project we will continuously analyze the effectiveness of students’ experiences in developing IT applications in their courses for their rural work environments.  This will include collecting data on career choice, academic success, professional association participation, and the graduates’ evaluation of the program throughout their period of study. ITRL, ETLA Presentation November 12, 2009

How to Participate  Assist in recruitment of ITRL students as a member of the ITRL Recruitment Board  Participate as a member of the ITRL Practitioner Mentoring Board  Participation in the ITRL Needs Assessment Symposium ITRL, ETLA Presentation November 12, 2009 Jonesville Public Library, NC

The ITRL Website  ITRL, ETLA Presentation November 12, 2009

Thank you for your attention and participation. ITRL, ETLA Presentation November 12, 2009 Questions and Comments???