Proposals

Instructional Technology Conference 2009

Title: Library iTour: Introducing the iPod Generation to the Academic Library

Name: Virginia Cairns, Toni Carter

Audience: Librarians, Instructional Technology Specialists

Audience Level: All

Length: 1 Hour

Abstract: For years, the Lupton Library has offered a library introduction to first year students participating in the Freshman Seminar Program at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. When the library received a grant in 2007 for the purchase of iPods, the reference and instruction librarians created a new video introduction to the library that incorporated their use. Hear about the background of the project, how the tour was created, and lessons learned along the way.

Description: For many years, the Lupton Library offered a traditional library introduction class to first year students participating in the Freshman Seminar Program at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. In 2007, the library applied for and received a campus grant to purchase 30 iPod Touches, along with accompanying hardware and software. The goal was to create library instruction content that would be both engaging and challenging to students. The reference and instruction librarians took the lead and developed a new library introduction for the Freshmen Seminar Program that incorporated the use of the iPods, with the intention of replacing the traditional class. The result was an iPod-based First Year Experience program, called the iPod Investigation, designed to introduce incoming freshmen to the facilities, resources, services and people available to them at the Lupton Library. Incorporating video, music, screen captures, quizzes, and even a bit of gaming, the Lupton Library iPod Investigation has completely transformed the freshmen student's initial experience with the academic library. In the first semester alone, close to 750 incoming freshmen participated in the tour. Come learn about the details of this innovative and entertaining program, including: the brainstorming and planning process, the creation of the video with the use of an iMac, the implementation of the program that meant obtaining buy-in from the Freshman Seminar instructors, and the assessment and evaluation by both students and librarians, with specifics on what we would do differently next time.

Session Type: Lecture/Presentation

On-Site Equipment Requirements: Internet Connection, Microsoft PowerPoint, overhead projector

Contact Information/Affiliation:
Virginia Cairns
Head of Reference/Instruction
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
615 McCallie Avenue Dept. 6456
Chattanooga, TN 37403-2598
Virginia-Cairns@utc.edu
423-425-2279

Toni Carter
Reference/Instruction Librarian
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
615 McCallie Avenue Dept. 6456
Chattanooga, TN 37403-2598
Toni-Carter@utc.edu
423-425-2671