Two College of Information alumni were included in the 50 “up and coming individuals from across the United States and Canada who are innovative, creative and making a difference” named in the “2007 Movers & Shakers” issue of Library Journal:

Larry N. White (MLS 93, Ph.D. 2002) is Assistant Professor of Library Science and Coordinator, Library Science Program, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC. To read about Larry go to http://libraryjournal.com/article/CA6423434.html.

Katherine O’Clair (MS 2004) is Science Reference Librarian, Noble Science and Engineering Library at Arizona State University. She is also the president of the College of Information Alumni Association. To read about Katherine go to http://libraryjournal.com/article/CA6423400.html.

We congratulate these two outstanding “Movers and Shakers” and wish them great success in their future endeavors.

Two Florida State University researchers who received funding from the Institute of Museum & Library Services to build an online learning community and explore sustainability issues as part of a collaborative multi-university project for the Internet Public Library were interviewed in a radio show broadcast locally on National Public Radio.

College of Information assistant professors Lorri Mon and Sabah Currim are co-investigators with Drexel University professors Eileen Abels and Denise Agosto on a $613,478 grant for “A Virtual Learning Laboratory for Digital Reference: Transforming the Internet Public Library.” The IPL is a public service organization, founded at the University of Michigan and hosted by Drexel University, which provides digital library collections and online question-answering services. Graduate students at FSU, among many other universities, have participated in hands-on community service learning by answering questions asked by real people from around the world via the Internet Public Library’s e-mail service.

Enhancements to the Internet Public Library funded through the IMLS grant will make digital reference learning objects available to faculty in all ALA-accredited LIS programs, provide a laboratory with access to new technologies used to offer digital reference and digital library services and create a collaborative learning community for faculty, students and working librarians. This innovative approach is designed to meet the needs of digital librarianship training in a changing world in which librarians are experimenting with services via e-mail, chat, virtual worlds and Web 2.0 resources.

“Students graduating from today’s LIS programs are likely be employed in libraries offering not only traditional face-to-face reference services but also online question-answering services using a variety of remote and digital media,” Mon said. “My work will involve building the learning community site, while Dr. Currim will focus on the long-term sustainability of the project.”

The University Teaching and Advising Awards Committee is seeking nominations for awards recognizing excellence in teaching and advising. The deadline for nominations is Friday, January 4th. These awards recognize excellence in teaching and undergraduate advising and each award carries a $2000 honorarium.

Students and alumni may nominate full-time faculty members or full-time advisors for these awards. Nomination forms are available online and will be published in the FSView. The nomination form is short and asks for a brief reason for your nomination. If a nomination form is not available, simply write a short paragraph stating the name of the professor or adviser and reasons for your nomination.

Criteria used to evaluate nominees include: availability to students; helpfulness and personal interest in students; use of creative or innovative techniques; receptivity to students’ ideas; organization and presentation of subject matter; stimulation of student thought and interest; helping students make discriminating judgments; knowledge about curriculum and career options; helping students develop an appreciation for the values and rewards of a university education; and an open and non-judgmental approach to students’ concerns.

Is Your Favorite Instructor/Advisor Eligible?

To qualify for a University Teaching Award, the nominee must:

1. hold a permanent, full-time faculty appointment at the rank of instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, or professor, or a position of assistant/associate in, research associate, or other position with a full-time teaching assignment;
2. have completed at least two full years of teaching at Florida State University;
3. have taught at least two courses in the year of the award (including summer term); and
4. have not received a university-wide teaching award during the last five years.

Nominations accepted from past and present students only.

To qualify for the University Distinguished Teacher Award, the nominee must have received a University Teaching Award at least five years prior to the current academic year. If a nominee has received more than one teaching award, the five-year period starts with the date of the first award, that is, the nominee is eligible even if a second award was received during the last five years. The above requirements (University Teaching Award) related to rank and appointment status also applies to this award. If nominee has received Distinguished Teacher Award before, they have to start the process over again-i.e., they are only eligible for a Teaching Award after five years from winning an award.

Nominations accepted from entire University community, including alumni.

Students from the FSU STARS Alliance presented Computing Careers Night at Godby High School in Tallahassee on the evening of Nov. 6. The purpose of the event was to educate students, parents, teachers and guidance counselors about educational and career opportunities available in computing. The STARS (Students and Technology in Academia, Research, and Service) Alliance is a nine-university regional partnership sponsored by a National Science Foundation grant to broaden participation in among underrepresented groups. According to the U.S. National Bureau of Labor Statistics, during the next decade eight out of the ten top careers will be in computing related fields.

“There are a lot of different careers in computing – everything from writing computer software, to developing Web sites, to managing business information. In addition, you can apply computer skills to almost any profession – health care, teaching, hurricane tracking, or music, to name a few,” said Ebe Randeree, FSU’s academic liaison to the STARS Alliance.

Presenters at Computing Careers Night included Jackie Pons, superintendent of Leon County Schools; Corey Latislaw and Chris Landbeck of the FSU STARS Alliance; and keynote speakers Glenda Atkinson and Chet Hall of the TalTech Alliance. Career exhibits were presented by representatives from Florida State University, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee Community College, and Godby High School.

To learn more, visit FSU’s STARS Alliance web site at starsalliance.fsu.edu.

STUDENT STARS. FSU STARS Alliance students presented Computing Careers Night at Godby High School. Above (left to right), Kristen Norena, Sabrina Fontaine, Christine Savvakis, and Emily Robarge organize their work. Below, Sabrina Fontaine (left) signs in a parent for the evening’s activities. The STARS Alliance is funded by a National Science Foundation grant to broaden participation in computing among underrepresented groups.

SLA Florida and Caribbean Chapter
TRAVEL GRANT
SLA 2007 Annual Conference
Denver, CO – June 3-6, 2007

The Florida and Caribbean Chapter of SLA is offering a grant that will reimburse travel expenses of up to $1,000 to attend the SLA 2007 Annual Conference in Denver. The Chapter may award a student grant and a professional grant for a total of up to two $1,000 awards. For more information please visit the SLA Florida-Caribbean Chapter web site at http://units.sla.org/chapter/cfc/awards/conference_grant.htm .

Deadline: March 30, 2007