Paula S. McMillen

Bibliotherapy with Preadolescents Experiencing Divorce.

Preadolescence is a challenging developmental stage, but when complicated or threatened by the effects of family dissolution or divorce, the challenges can be overwhelming. Such youngsters often need and can benefit from counseling intervention. One particularly appropriate intervention is bibliotherapy. Reasons for using bibliotherapy for such youngsters are provided, and specific methods and materials are suggested.

Lessons learned about developing and coordinating an instruction program with freshman composition

In the Spring of 2001, the Oregon State University Libraries began planning for a collaboration with the university’s freshman composition program. In implementing this project, with no additional library resources, and with the majority of library faculty less experienced in working with freshman students, the coordinators of the program learned numerous lessons which highlighted both the steps needed in initiating and maintaining a new instruction program, and the functions and competencies vital to providing instructional leadership and coordination in an academic library. The following case study describes the process that the coordinators of this instruction program followed, and will discuss the important role that library instruction coordinators have to play in starting a new program of library instruction.

Complex questions, evolving answers: Creating a multidimensional assessment strategy to build support for the “teaching library”

SUMMARY Since 2001, librarians at Oregon State Universitys Valley Library have been working to build a “teaching library” supported by a clearly articulated instruction program. From the start, we believed that we needed to assess the teaching librarys impact, not only to determine the success or failure of our efforts but also to demonstrate the need for intentional, proactive information literacy instruction on our campus. No single assessment tool or method proved adequate to effectively measure student learning happening both inside and outside the library. We describe our evolving, multi-pronged approach to measuring the impact of the library on student learning in the context of current assessment practices in academic libraries and higher education.

It takes a village to manage the 21st century reference department

Abstract Reference services at Oregon State Universitys Valley Library have undergone several reorganizations in response to institutional changes, shifting service needs and patron demands. Part of this history includes training for and functioning in team-based management. We have now evolved to a management model that utilizes workgroups and an advisory and coordinating council to assist in running the department. We find this model provides flexibility, sharing of the workload and professional development opportunities, all of which are essential in todays tumultuous reference environment. We will describe the functioning, potential hazards and multiple advantages of this model.

The Bibliotherapy Education Project: Alive and Well—and Perpetually “Under Construction”

ABSTRACT The Bibliotherapy Education Project began as a teaching collaboration between faculty at Oregon State Universitys Libraries and School of Education. The projects evolution from 1999 to 2004 was previously described in this journal (McMillen 2005). The core of the project is a book evaluation tool, which builds counselor skill and knowledge in selection of books; since 2004, book evaluations created with the tool populate a searchable database. The accompanying Web site supports emerging counseling professionals in learning to competently use books in therapy. This article will describe recent developments and future directions for the overall project, including a usability study targeted to refining the Web site.