Theme and Tracks
Defined as "to make worldwide in scope or application," globalization affects all aspects of society, including higher education. Universities are increasingly committed to providing global equity in higher education. Libraries and librarians are responding to this opportunity of increased multiculturalism on campuses with progressive and innovative library resources and services. CARL is seeking proposals that demonstrate this commitment to globalization within libraries in one of the areas described below.
The impact of globalization on librarianship
How has staffing, librarians' skills, subject expertise, etc. changed as our world becomes both larger and smaller? Are we expected to have more or different knowledge? Are universities more inclined to accept international MLS degrees in our hiring practices? What has been the impact of globalization on library education? In what ways has an increasingly multicultural student body affected the profession?
Best practices for serving a multicultural community
How do you best serve multicultural students and/or faculty at the reference desk or in the classroom? Has your campus seen an increase in multicultural students, staff and faculty? What are the unique needs and learning styles of this population and what are some best practices for providing them library services?
Information literacy crossing global borders
How are students abroad being taught information literacy skills? What are some best practices for teaching international students from a variety of backgrounds and understandings of US academic libraries? When teaching information literacy globally, how do we accommodate varying quality and access to technology? What techniques have you found to be most successful in teaching information literacy in a global environment?
Internationalizing collection development
What is the effect of globalization on collection development practices and policies? How do you incorporate the effects of globalization into your collection development practices, i.e. budget considerations, staffing considerations, approval plans, etc.? What are some challenges you have experienced in facilitating global collection development and access to research? What lessons have you or your library learned?
Global Reference
Can traditional reference services work in a global environment? Are you or your library cooperating with libraries around the globe to provide reference? How has this affected the level or type of reference assistance your students receive? What are the implications of global reference service?
Serving International and First-Generation Students: Meeting their needs
How does teaching international, exchange and first generation students differ from teaching 'traditional' students? What adjustments, if any, do you make in your teaching techniques and/or reference interview to best serve these students? What are some characteristics of this population and what impact do they have on library services?
Global Technologies and the Library
What new technologies is your library using for service learning, professional development, cataloging, communication, library instruction, information literacy, reference, and/or collection development that allow for or promote globalized service?