Monday, January 26, 2015

Call for Chapters: Teaching Reference Today: New Directions and Approaches

CALL FOR CHAPTER PROPOSALS
Proposal Submission Deadline:  March 6, 2015
Teaching Reference Today: New Directions and Approaches

A book edited by
Lisa A. Ellis, Newman Library, Baruch College and Nicolette Warisse Sosulski, Portage District Library, Michigan
To be published by Rowman & Littlefield
Introduction
Reference is an evolving outreach service in today’s libraries.  Some of its changes are technological, as users are afforded the means to gain remote access to librarians as well as a plethora of online content, free and proprietary.  However, there have been shifts in reference attributed to economic pressures, as well as new self-directed and discoverable content for users. In many ways, this evolution could be best understood as a revolution in that there has been a call in the profession to demand libraries devise innovative initiatives and programs which may require the consideration of new skills and methods of approach.  In developing these new skills and methods of approach, library students and librarians as change agents, may be required to delve into disciplines outside the field of library and information science in order to be highly effective. 

Undoubtedly, the (r)evolution of reference services has prompted library schools to seek greater alignment with practitioners and libraries on the forefront of these changes, where there may be shifts in the theories and practices (especially, core functions and values) of reference  services.  As library schools and practitioners work together to educate library students and librarians on how reference  services are being “reimagined” or “repositioned” in this new era, they are rethinking their curriculum, assignments and training sessions to incorporate real-world challenges responsive to user communities and their needs. 
How may we better educate a new and current generation of reference service professionals, given the challenges they will likely encounter?  What new tools and resources should library students learn to fully contribute to the new directions of reference services? What kinds of assignments could be devised to better promote active learning?  What new approaches or theories could be applied to assist library professionals in meeting the information-seeking needs of users?

Target Audience
Library school faculty, library students, professional development instructors, trainers, and current reference librarians, all will find this text useful in addressing the theories, applications, and practices of (r)evolving reference services in a variety of libraries and new information settings. 

Submission of Chapter Proposal
Contributors are welcome to submit chapter proposals (in the form of an abstract, 300-500 words) which have not been previously published, to both editors at the email addresses noted below.  Please be sure to include a suggested title, brief bio of 75 words or less, and complete contact information (name, job title, mailing address, email address, telephone and fax number). 
Some recommended topics related to teaching and learning about the changing nature of reference include, but are not limited to, the following:
·         Planning and management of changes in library school curriculum and/or professional development opportunities
·         Collaborations between library school faculty and library professionals to ensure what is taught is closely aligned with what is current practice
·         Impetus for change in library school accreditation standards or expectations
·         New ways to define or name reference services and professionals which makes sense to users, and considers new directions and approaches
·         New approaches to teaching various aspects of reference (ethics, fostering information literacy, knowledge of reference sources or reader’s advisory, working with specific user-groups, promoting community, etc.)
·         What are the core functions and values of reference and how are these changing
·         Understanding current or emerging changes in information seeking behavior and library use by user groups to determine best practices in reference interaction
·         Theories and practices outside the discipline of library and information science (i.e. management or technology support) to apply and why
·         Developing skills and abilities demanded of today’s reference professionals given their need to be change agents or assume non-traditional reference responsibilities
·         Incorporating new and emerging tools, technologies and information sources in assignments
·         Establishing practicums or designing assignments for real-world experience within reference courses
·         Creating learning opportunities using the case studies of reference service initiative successes and failures
·         Developing instruction to reflect how traditional reference services may be increasingly offered by paraprofessionals
·         Identifying challenges and unique approaches to using different modes of reference from the perspective of users and/or librarians

Submission Procedure
Contributors are invited to email on or before March 6, 2015, a chapter proposal in the form of an abstract, 300 -500 words.  Authors of accepted proposals will be notified by March 23, 2015 about the status of their proposals and sent chapter guidelines, including submission details.  Completed chapters in the range of 20 to 30 pages double-spaced in length, are expected to be submitted by June 30, 2015.  All submitted chapters will be reviewed and returned by August 30, 2015.   Final chapters will need to be submitted by October 30, 2015.  Publication is expected in late 2015 – early 2016.

Timeline:
Chapter Proposal Submission:  March 6, 2015
Notification of Proposal Acceptance:  March 23, 2015
Deadline for Completed Manuscripts:  June 30, 2015
Reviewed Manuscript Returned:  August 30, 2015
Final Chapter Submission:  October 30, 2015

All Chapter Proposals and Further Questions about Submissions can be sent via email to both:
Lisa A. Ellis
and  
Nicolette Warisse Sosulski