Improving information literacy programs as an element of liberal education on private college campuses was the principal goal of the Transformation of the College Library Workshops offered in San Francisco, CA, on February 26-28; Pittsburgh, PA, April 15-17; and Minneapolis, MN, June 3-5.
     The workshops also aided institutions in strengthening the role of the library by fostering collaboration between librarians and faculty members, examining the changing use and conception of the physical space of the library, demonstrating the use of technology in improving students’ learning, and setting institutional priorities for library-related costs. Workshop sessions described effective institutional practices and helped campus teams (consisting of the chief academic officer, the library director, and a faculty member or information technology staff member) develop institutional plans for information literacy.
     “The workshops offered the team members a rare opportunity to talk at some length about the issues involved in making the library an essential element of teaching and learning in their institutions,” said CIC Senior Advisor Tom Kirk, library director and coordinator of information services at Earlham College (IN). “Institutional teams were able collectively to explore the roles of budgets, faculty partnerships, space, and technology in libraries that meet the institutions’ teaching and learning goals.” Kirk co-directs the library project with CIC Senior Advisor Scott Bennett, university librarian emeritus of Yale University, and Rita Gulstad, dean of extended studies and learning resources and director of computing at Central Methodist University (MO).
     In post-workshop evaluations, participants said they valued access to expert speakers, working in institutional teams composed of individuals who often do not come together for educational planning, and having time to plan an information literacy program.
     Because of the overwhelming demand for the workshop (there were more than 200 applications for the 60 workshop openings), CIC is seeking funds to serve additional institutions.
     Funding for these workshops was provided by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Carl and Lily Pforzheimer Foundation, the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, and the Association of College and Research Libraries. They were developed in cooperation with the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR).
     Workshop presentations, campus plans developed at the workshops, and success stories are available here.

Independent
The Council of Independent Colleges
One Dupont Circle NW, Suite 320 • Washington, DC 20036
tel: (202) 466-7230 • Fax: (202) 466-7238 • e-mail: mailto:cic@cicnche.edu • www.cic.edu

Last updated: August 2004
Copyright © 2004 The Council of Independent Colleges