Its name is big but its
mission and potential impact on rural Appalachian communities is even bigger.
The University of Tennessee School of Information Sciences Information
Technology Rural Librarian Master's Scholarship Program has awarded 16 full
scholarships to students working in the Southern and Central Appalachia’s
rural libraries [broadly defined] to study at a distance in its master’s
degree program, thanks to a generous grant of $567,660 from the Institute of
Museum and Library Services. Half of the scholarship recipients are from
Tennessee, while three students are from Virginia, two students from Kentucky,
and one student each from Georgia, Maryland, and North Carolina.
According to SIS Director Dr.
Ed Cortez, “Improving library services in rural America is an imperative
for community and economic sustainability. When people are unemployed, socially
disconnected and in need of support and encouragement they often turn to their
community libraries. The result of this important project means that when
people in need turn to their libraries they will be greeted and served by
sensitive professional librarians skilled in the newest information
technologies and service delivery techniques.” Eleven of the selected
ITRL students are working in public library settings, three students in school
libraries, and one student each in a non-profit community library and academic
library.
ITRL students will receive
full-tuition for two years, a laptop, and an allowance for materials. More
importantly, each student will receive individual formal/informal mentoring by
both a professor in the school and a practicing information professional
selected by them or assigned from volunteers who have agreed to serve in this
capacity. Students will continue to work as paraprofessionals in their rural libraries
while taking coursework at the school. The web-based curriculum will focus on
information technology and rural library management, and students will study
part-time at a distance in real-time, while developing tangible IT and rural
library management outcomes that will directly impact change in their local
communities.
Dr. Bharat Mehra is the
principal investigator of the grant and an assistant professor at SIS. He has
worked diligently with the selection committee in identifying the top
candidates who will use their ITRL experiences to extend their leadership and
capacities and translate their vision for their rural libraries into a reality
that makes a difference in their Appalachian communities. According to Dr.
Mehra, “It was a really tough decision since I personally communicated
with more than 70 people who showed interest in ITRL. Thirty-two candidates
submitted their application materials, and we are very fortunate to have an
excellent cohort where each person has a unique dream, passion, determination,
and skills to succeed and lead their library communities in the 21st
Century.”
The following 16 ITRL
students will start their coursework in summer 2010:
·
Beverly Sue
Chalman, Library Director, Charles Ralph Holland Memorial Library, Gainesboro,
Tennessee.
·
Brittany Renee
Fletcher, Elementary School Teacher/Media Team Member, Mountain City Elementary
School Media Center, Mountain City, Tennessee.
·
Julie Forkner,
Reference Librarian, E. G. Fisher Public Library, Athens, Tennessee.
·
Sally Elizabeth
Gilliam, Library Assistant, Lonesome Pine Regional Library, Big Stone Gap,
Virginia.
·
Angela Cortellino
Glowcheski, Information Specialist, Lumpkin County Public Library, Chestatee
Regional Library, Dahlonega, Georgia.
·
Richard George
Haynes, Director, Harlan County Public Library System, Harlan, Kentucky.
·
Kevin Sean Jump,
Circulation Assistant, Weeks-Townsend Memorial Library, Barbourville, Kentucky.
·
Lauren Long,
Library Technologist, Madison County Public Library, Marshall, North Carolina.
·
Susan Elaine
Macrellis, Library Director, East Ridge City Library, East Ridge, Tennessee.
·
Helen Frances
Owen, Instructional Supervisor for Materials and Supplies, Teacher Resource
Center, Sevier County School System, Sevierville, Tennessee.
·
Marilyn J.
Pontius, Hancock War Memorial Branch Library, Washington County Free Library,
Washington County, Maryland.
·
Deborah J.
Ratliff, Branch Manager/Program Specialist, Goshen Public Library, Rockbridge
Regional Library, Goshen, Virginia.
·
Christine Maness
Smith, Branch Manager, C. Bascom Slemp Memorial Library, Lonesome Pine regional
Library System, Big Stone Gap, Virginia.
·
Susan J.
Williams, Resource Center/Education Coordinator, Highlander Research and
Education Center, New Market, Tennessee.
·
Vicki Michelle
Crawford Winstead, Library Media Specialist, Jackson Elementary School Library,
Kingsport, Tennessee.
·
Amber Dawn
Woodard, Library Technical Assistant, Cumberland University, Lebanon,
Tennessee.
Rural Appalachian communities
experience relatively low levels of information literacy, educational
attainment, and a lack of access to information technologies. Library
professionals embedded in these communities are in a strong position to help
address and develop solutions to meet these needs.
Along with co-principal
investigators Drs. Kimberly Black and Vandana Singh, Dr. Mehra is designing a
needs assessment study of library services and information challenges faced by
rural regional libraries throughout Appalachia so that these students, upon graduation,
will be groomed to address the specific circumstances experienced in their
communities regarding information technology literacy and translate its myriad
of benefits for their communities.
Along with studying the
foundational theory and practice of library and information sciences, students
in the program will learn about technology planning, assessment, and analysis;
database and web design, development, and usability; building digital library,
Web portals, and Library 2.0 tools; and how to establish hardware and software
configurations for networking systems. Students will also learn a rich suite of
rural management skills, such as application of planning and service
evaluation; resource building and collection development; strategic marketing and
promotion; grant writing and partnership leveraging.
The four partnering
institutions are: Clinch-Powell Regional Library (Clinton, Tennessee: Susan
Simmons: Director), Nolichucky Regional Library (Morristown, Tennessee: Don
Reynolds, Director), Sevier County Public Library System (Sevierville,
Tennessee: K. C. Williams, System Director), and the Watauga Regional Library
(Johnson City, Tennessee: Nancy Renfro, Director).
The School of Information
Sciences (SIS) at the University of Tennessee is an innovative leader among
library and information programs nationally, and one of four schools that make
up the College of Communication and Information. School faculty instruct over
225 graduate students, are engaged in leading-edge research, and partner with organizations
throughout the world to help people flourish in our dynamic information
society. UT SIS is the only master’s degree program in Tennessee to be
fully accredited by the American Library Association.
The Institute of Museum and
Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the
nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is
to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and
ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state
and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance
learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more
about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.
For more information about the
SIS Information Technology Rural Librarian Master's Scholarship Program, visit
our website at http://www.sis.utk.edu/rural-librarianship.
__________
Joel Southern
Communications Specialist
School of Information Sciences
College of Communication and Information
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
1345 Circle Park Drive, Suite 451
Knoxville, TN 37996-0341
____________
(865) 974-6727
jsouthern at utk dot edu
www.sis.utk.edu