Education Library & Curriculum Resources Centre – Consultation News, Next Steps and ELAC Report

Dear Colleagues,

This spring, in response to current budgetary challenges and realities regarding library space and collection usage, the Education Library Advisory Committee (ELAC) was tasked with identifying essential library services in order to develop a set of recommendations for transformation of the space currently occupied by Education Library & Curriculum Resources Centre. Resources that are deemed of instrumental value to members of academic units of the Faculty of Education fall under three categories: 1) physical space and space use; 2) collections and resources; and 3) library and information services.

At the end of May, after two open forum discussions and a formal consultation process, ELAC submitted a report outlining a series of recommendations for action in order to ensure the continuation and preservation of library resources and services. The report in its entirety can be found here. We would like to take this opportunity to thank ELAC and all faculty, staff, students and McGill community members who took part in the consultation process.

Upon careful review, discussion and agreement, we are pleased to confirm the following:

• Physical space and space use – As of September 1, the majority of the space currently housing the Education Library will fall under the jurisdiction and care of the Faculty of Education. The removal of the compact shelving in this area will create an opportunity for the Faculty of Education to develop flexible teaching and learning spaces that will address various needs: individual and group study spaces, computer enhanced space for microteaching, innovative teaching spaces, and areas designated for clinical discussions.  The Library will also donate to the Faculty all of the computers currently in the public space as well as the furniture in the public areas. Staff furniture and computers will be relocated for Library use.
• Collections and resources – The Library will maintain the Curriculum Resources collection, which includes the Children’s and Young Adult Literature collection, along with reserve material for Faculty of Education courses. Essential volumes associated with ECP and DISE teaching needs will be added to the collection as space allows, per the recommendations of the “Curriculum Working Group,” an ELAC sub-working group made up of librarians and faculty. Recommendations from this group have been submitted to the Dean of Libraries. This collection will be located in the area that now holds the Curriculum Resources collection. Being a subset of the current collection, it will keep its name – Curriculum Resources Centre.  The Main Education collection, as well as the Education journals and theses will be moved to the second floor of the Humanities and Social Sciences Library. The collection will be boxed up, the compact shelving dismantled and moved beginning August 5^th. It is our goal to have the collection available in early September.
• Library and Information Services – The academic librarians currently assigned as liaison librarians to the Faculty of Education will maintain regular office hours in the new study space. Education librarians will be based at the Humanities and Social Sciences Library and will continue to provide services through individual consultations and online assistance. Librarians will also continue their strong commitment to supporting research and teaching-related activities in the Faculty. As much as possible, the Education Librarians will accommodate the evening class schedule and will attempt to make themselves available on-site for the hours during which they are most needed.

Staffing of the Curriculum Resources Centre will be determined by the Library. A Library Assistant will be on-site, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. to oversee circulation (i.e. returning and re-shelving of materials). This staff member will be primarily responsible for returning and re-shelving materials, but will not supervise the new space in the Faculty of Education.

Frequently asked questions have been developed to outline the above changes. They can be accessed here.

As per the ELAC report, the Curriculum Resources Centre will be re-assessed in 12-18 months to determine if the implementation of these changes meets the needs of students and faculty.

Once again, we would like to thank ELAC committee members and all consultation participants for their valuable input.

Sincerely,

C. Colleen Cook
Trenholme Dean of Libraries and
Professor School of Information Studies

Hélène Perrault, Ph.D.
Dean, Faculty of Education

McGill Education Library & Curriculum Resources Centre
FAQs Following Spring 2013 Consultation and Report

(FAQs will be updated periodically to address new questions as they arise.)

1. What exactly will change? When?

   • Space - As of September 1, the majority of the space currently housing the Education Library will fall under the jurisdiction and care of the Faculty of Education. The Faculty of Education will maintain the majority of the space as study space. The removal of the compact shelving in this area will create an opportunity for the Faculty of Education to develop flexible teaching and learning spaces that will address various needs such as: individual and group study spaces, computer enhanced space for microteaching, and areas designated for clinical discussions. The Library will also donate all of the computers that are currently in the space, as well as the furniture in the public areas. A preliminary redesign of the space will be prepared by the Faculty.
   • Collections and resources – During the month of August the Main Education circulating collection, as well as the Education journals and theses will be moved along with the compact shelving to the second floor of the Humanities and Social Sciences Library. The Library will maintain the Curriculum Resources collection, the Children’s and Young Adult Literature collection and the reserve material requested for Faculty of Education courses, including essential volumes for the departments of ECP and DISE. This collection will be located in the area that now holds the Curriculum Resources collection. Being a subset of the current collection, it will keep its name – The Curriculum Resources Centre – and will be run and staffed by the McGill Library.
   • Access to Library and Information Services – Education Liaison Librarians will maintain regular office hours in the new space created in the Faculty of Education. The Education Liaison Librarians will be based at the Humanities and Social Sciences Library but will continue to provide their dedicated services to the Faculty of Education through individual consultations, office hours and online assistance. Librarians will also continue their strong commitment to supporting research and teaching-related activities in the Faculty. The Curriculum Resources Centre will be staffed by a Library Assistant on-site, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. This staff member will be responsible for the Curriculum Resources Centre but will not supervise the new space which will be the responsibility of the Faculty of Education.

2. What exactly is being moved?

   Effective September 2013, all circulating materials housed in the compact shelving will be transferred to the second floor of the Humanities and Social Sciences Library. All Curriculum Resource materials, Children’s & YA Literature, and Education reserve materials will remain in the Library-run Curriculum Resource Centre. Digital materials also remain unchanged, with plans to expand them. As is the case with circulating materials located in other branches, items from the Education collection that are moved to the Humanities & Social Sciences Library may be requested for delivery to the Curriculum Resources Centre through the Library’s inter-branch delivery service. Faculty may also request materials be delivered to their campus mailbox.

3. As of September 1st, what are the new hours for service for the Curriculum Resource Centre and the new space in the Faculty of Education? Will there be extended study hours in the evening?

   Hours of service by a Library Assistant in the Curriculum Resources Centre will be Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. As of September 1, 2013 the study space and former stack area will fall under the jurisdiction of the Faculty of Education. Hours of access for study, both quiet and group, will be confirmed by the Faculty of Education.

4. What will happen to library staff including librarians and library assistants?

   One library assistant will be on-site from Monday to Friday, 9 .am. - 5 p.m., to oversee the Curriculum Resources Centre. Librarians will have offices in the Humanities & Social Sciences Library and will continue to provide services to the Faculty of Education students and faculty through several means: scheduled office hours on-site at the Education Building, individual consults, instruction, and online assistance. In addition, librarians will continue to be dedicated to their users –partnering extensively with faculty, researchers, and students by being embedded in the departments with which they have been traditionally associated, providing onsite support in the classroom, in the new space created at the Faculty of Education, and across the faculty.

5. Will an Education liaison librarian be on-site all the time?

   The hours during which liaison librarians will be on-site have not yet been determined; however, their schedules will posted online and on the display screens when this information becomes available. As much as possible, the Education Librarians will accommodate the evening class schedule and will attempt to make themselves available on-site for the hours during which they are most needed.

6. Why is the Education Library & Curriculum Resources Centre being selected to undergo this change?

   The Library’s statistics show that loans of print materials from the Education Library & Curriculum Resources Centre have dropped 61% per cent since 2005. This trend is expected to continue as the Library continues to expand its extensive digital holdings. The consultation process has outlined key needs moving forward including: more access to space for study and group work and continued access to librarian support and reserve collections. We are undergoing change to meet these essential needs.

7. Will I have access to the “reserve” collection after hours?

   Yes. The reserve collection will be housed in the Curriculum Resources Centre within the Faculty of Education space. A library assistant will assist users from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., as needed. After hours, users will gain access to the Curriculum Resources Centre by using their ID card. A card reader system (Lenel On Guard) will be installed on the door. Self-check machines will continue to be available for use should students want to check materials out at any time the Curriculum Resources Centre is accessible.

8. What’s in the “reserve” collection?

   The Library will maintain the Curriculum Resources Collection, which includes the Children’s and Young Adult Literature collection, along with reserve material for Faculty of Education courses including testing manuals that will duplicate those held in the Assessment Library and frequently used titles in the subjects closely tied to the teaching of subject specialties and program concentrations. These titles will be added as space allows, per the recommendations of the “Curriculum Working Group,” an ELAC sub-working group made up of librarians and faculty. Initial recommendations of this group have been sent to the Dean of Libraries. This collection will be located in the area that now holds the Curriculum Resources collection. Being a subset of the current collection, it will keep its name – Curriculum Resources Centre.

9. What’s happening to the A/V and digital equipment that is currently in the space?

   An “AV & Digital Working Group,” an ELAC sub-working group made up of librarians and faculty, has been struck to address two issues: 1) to frame the immediate lending needs of the Faculty culminating in a report; 2) to review the equipment required by the Faculty in order for the Faculty to be better aligned with the new curriculum needs with respect to media and digital literacies. Report and recommendations from this group were received by the Dean of Libraries.

10. How does the inter-branch delivery service for print books work? What’s the turnaround time?

    Students, faculty and staff can request an item be delivered from any McGill branch library to another. Requests for items can be made by finding and requesting the item in the catalogue. Requesting the pick-up and delivery of an item that is on the shelf will take approximately two business days.

11. Can I request that a journal article be scanned and sent to me via email?

    Yes. With the enactment of new Canadian copyright laws, the library is working on implementing a new service for users. If the library does not own the journal article electronically and it is available only in print, the library will scan and email the article and send it to you via email. As this service is still under development, please continue to check this FAQ as information will be added as new details emerge.

12. Where is the Humanities and Social Sciences Library?

    It is on the corner of McTavish and Sherbrooke St. West on the lower campus.

    The Humanities and Social Sciences Library coordinates are as follows:

    McLennan-Redpath Library Complex
    3459 McTavish Street
    Montreal, Quebec H3A 0C9
    Information: 514-398-4734 | Email: hssl.library [at] mcgill.ca
    Fax: 514-398-7184
    Visit: https://www.mcgill.ca/library/branches/hssl

13. Will we all be consulted in the redesign?

    A redesign of the space freed by the transfer of stacks will be prepared by the Faculty of Education. Input from the Faculty of Education stakeholders will be sought to finalize the redesigned space.

14. Tell me more about the formal evaluation that will be done 12-18 months from implementation.

    A post-implementation assessment of the changes to the Education Library & Curriculum Resources Centre is essential in order to establish how this restructuring has impacted affected the research, teaching and learning needs of the community. Re-evaluation of the changes will give all stakeholders the opportunity to voice what worked and didn't work after implementation. The formal evaluation process is currently being developed. Please continue to check this FAQ as information will be added as new details emerge.

15. Questions? Need more information?

    For library related matters, please contact: education.library [at] mcgill.ca.