PLG Open Discussion: notes from 610

NOTES FROM LIS 610

10/23/18

• There should be a requirement to learn about homeless populations in LIS curriculum

• Outreach & partnerships with qualified professionals (like social workers)

• People like the ideas of hiring social workers for libraries (what about a joint social work/LIS masters program/degree?) ⇐ There are at least 2 universities that do actually have a dual degree, MSW and MLIS

• Everyone likes the idea of hands-on experience while in LIS programs

• Requirements in LIS curricula? How is it related to the digital divide? Big social questions related to information vs. technical requirements

• Everyone likes that 610 looks at social issues (it’s “nourishing”)

• Can more courses combine what they cover?

• 601 combined with databases

• Digital instruction combined with something else… etc.

• Do classes NEED to be 5-7:30PM? It’d be better if it was an hour or two earlier or later

• We need more discussion-based classes - it keeps us thinking and engaged

• EVERYONE agrees on this

• Gives us time to process and get new ideas, broaden our perspectives

• Improves our thinking

• Move from “sage on a stage” to coaching & “a good teacher is always in the middle but never in the way”

• Someone said they wish the coffee talks were a class :) ⇐ Holiday agrees!

• Everyone likes 691 because it’s sort of conversational and covers things that we don’t need a whole class on but works perfectly for a workshop format

• The program is great but there is a lot that can be improved on

• A lot of classes “exist” in our program but are not always offered

• More critical theory too

• Asking people in the field what they need in their employees in 5 years to figure out what skills are valuable in this program (such as instructing, ability to improvise, think on your feet) - they might already do something like this?

• Soft skills should be prioritized

• We should apply aspects of social justice to every course - there might already be an SLO that addresses it (and maybe offer a focused class for those who wish to learn about it in more depth) - there is a tie-in with discussion and social justice questions

• How can we get people involved in the student groups? Some people think offering a credit would be enticing and others don’t

• We should all be working together to same time and energy

• One student thinks maybe a senate? One rep from each student org

• They want to know exactly what would be the time commitment, responsibilities, etc. (maybe we can post this on the board and email it out?)

• People don’t know/understand/remember what all the clubs are - at orientation it’s overwhelming - they want blurbs again about each group (they recommend putting it on the fridge)

• What about virtual meetings? On Discord

• Make the book clubs or coffee talks like a podcast so people could listen to it later

• PLG meeting (conference call) with main group first Saturday of every month

• November 30 at 1 PM is next faculty meeting

• Topics we didn’t cover in coffee talks but would want to:

• Sci Hub

• Surveillance

• Privacy

• Grant writing (maybe more like a workshop)

• Or other workshops

• The ethics of publication (how only the publishers are getting the $, not the writers or editors)

• The elitism/barrier to entry of requiring an MLISc/MLS degree

• How universities evaluate scholarship (related to open access - like requiring faculty to edit or be published for promotion)

• Everyone can always email us any ideas they have! :) plgmanoa@gmail.com or holidayv@hawaii.edu