“Information Literacy” – you may have heard this term bandied about.  It refers to the knowledge and set of research and information competencies needed to identify, access, critically evaluate, and use information.  This era has been marked by ever-changing and evolving technology leading to a drastic increase in both the quantity of information available and the types of formats in which it is accessible.  Recognizing the importance of Information Literacy to all users of all ages, the American College and Research Libraries Association (ACRL) published its Information Literacy for Higher Education Competency Standards in 1999.  Since then, libraries have worked diligently to incorporate these skills into their instructional programs and to introduce them into other academic disciplines.

The James Earl Carter Library has been working for several years developing its Information Literacy Initiative and including components in its Instructional Program.  This past year alone, with the filling of our Reference Librarian position vacancy by Ru Story-Huffman who has experience in this area, we have been able to add to our instructional offerings (which also include LIBR1000 and customized classes) a for-credit Honors Course which covers many aspects of Information Literacy and to develop an Area B, 1 hour credit course dedicated to Information Literacy which is currently going through the approval process. In addition, we are working with Angela Wilson (Ass’t. Prof.) and Jeff Green (Dept. Chair) of  the Dept. of Dramatic Arts to incorporate large components of Information Literacy into their Communications1101 course.  If you or your group are interested in learning more about Information Literacy, please contact Ru Story-Huffman at 931-2850 or ru@gsw.edu.

The Library has also been active on other fronts.  We have continued our Luncheons in the Library programs which are open to the general public, have hosted several book-signings, and facilitated various Library Art Gallery openings and receptions.

We hope you enjoy our occasional feature spotlighting our talented staff.  This issue includes an article on Lee Ann Dalzell, our Cataloguer/Database Manager and Associate Professor, who has served GSW for 30 years.

Speaking of talented staff, Amy Wise, our Collection Development Assistant and regular contributor to our Newsletter and GSW’s Literary magazine, has again treated us to one of her lyrical poems.  John Wilson, our ILL Assistant, another of our accomplished staff, recently had two of his short stories accepted for publication.

Finally, to keep our readers abreast of the many technological changes and new electronic resources, we have included an article on the changes in GALILEO, by Gretchen Smith, Collection Development Librarian.

Thank you, again, for your support.

Vera Weisskopf
Dean of the Library
vjw@canes.gsw.edu

The James Earl Carter Library’s Luncheons at the Library Program kicked off the Spring Semester on March 17th. Various patrons came out and read passages from their favorite Irish authors this St. Patrick’s Day and enjoyed cookies, chips and drinks. Readings were done from a wide range of books including: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis, Dracula by Bram Stoker, Dubliners by James Joyce, Rachel’s Holiday by Marian Keyes and Ha Ha Ha: Roddy Doyle by Paddy Clarke. On Friday, April 4th, the Library co-hosted a Brownbag Poetry Reading with Sirocco, GSW’s literary magazine, as part of Springfest 2008 featuring Jeff Newberry, reading from his collection of poems. Newberry is an Assistant Professor of English at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, GA and is in the process of having his chapbook, A Visible Sign, published.

On Wednesday, March 19th, Georgia Southwestern State University welcomed author Kathryn Stripling Byer for the Writing Across the Curriculum and Dolores Capitan Awards convocation. Following convocation, she signed copies of her latest publication, Coming to Rest, in the Library’s Rare Books Room. Byer grew up in southwest Georgia and attended Wesleyan College in Macon, GA and earned her Master of Fine Arts from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is currently a poet-in-residence at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC. Her poetry books include: Catching Light, Black Shawl, Wildwood Flower, and The Girl in the Midst of the Harvest. Thanks to all who came out and supported the Library and its events!