News & Professional Development

Alison Gurganus, President, Council of Chief Librarians
Online Services Librarian, San Diego Mesa College
Emerging Technology Faculty Specialist, San Diego Community College District

Welcome to the 2024-2025 academic year! As this new year begins we are seeing a number of positive changes here at CCL. As you know we have spent a number of years giving a great deal of our focus to the Library Services Platform (LSP) and making sure that we have strong leadership and support to keep it running successfully. I am proud to say that we have created that strong infrastructure and our LSP leaders are amazing. With that said, as we visualize the coming year, I would like to think of this as the dawning of a new day at CCL. We have many additional issues and concerns in our libraries that also need focus and it is my goal to facilitate the mechanisms that will help meet those concerns. 

I would especially like to write some words regarding your professional learning opportunities. Last year your CCL Leadership and Professional Development Committee (which is composed of members of your CCL Board of Directors) brought to you webinars and all day sessions on AI and Information Literacy. This continues to be of great concern in our field as AI will change the face of research as we know it and, if we choose to be part of the conversation, we have a powerful seat at that table. In fact, if you are interested in coming together as a community to discuss and coordinate CCL’s AI efforts, I invite you to be part of our AI workgroup that will begin meeting this term, just fill out this form, if you have not contacted me already.  In short, CCL will continue to bring you professional learning and play a leadership role in those conversations at the state and local levels. However, we understand that there is more going on at your campuses that are of concern and we would like to bring you the webinars, all day sessions and resources that you need. To that end, we would like to welcome you to fill out this survey and let us know what professional learning opportunities you are interested in and/or thought leaders you would be interested in hearing from.

There are other projects in the works that we are excited to bring to you. Most notably, a new website and a new communication plan that will help us keep you in the loop and give you plenty of opportunity to engage with your board and California Community College library community. As always, we continue to advocate and negotiate for your needs and concerns at the state level. 

I look forward to our year together and look forward to working with you to create stronger and more vibrant libraries. 

2023-2024 CCL Professional Development Pilot Program: Your Feedback and Going Forward

By Elizabeth Bowman, LSP Program Manager/Professional Development

In August 2023 the CCL Board approved a pilot program so that CCL could expand one of its organizational goals: to support the professional development of those working in California community colleges.

The project sought to effectively, efficiently, and regularly identify professional development opportunities for librarians and staff, and to disseminate information about professional development opportunities from around the state and the nation.

This was done by checking dozens of PD sources checked each week and using recommendations and feedback from others throughout the academic year and sending a weekly email.

When we asked for your feedback in spring 2024, we got 98 responses, comprised of people working in 63 different colleges across the California community college system about the process.

• Respondents nearly unanimously described the emails as informative and/or interesting, often introducing readers to opportunities previously unknown ; only 5% of respondents reported “rare” or “never” as an answer about learning about opportunities through the emails.
• Nearly 84% of respondents indicated they had attended professional development options because of the emails.
• A wide span of barriers that limit or prevent participation in professional development was mentioned in these broad categories:
  • Staffing levels/coverage needs 
  • Time, release time 
  • Money
  • Workload
  • Impact of travel

Narrative comments were full and thoughtful, and they offered: 

• Various and specific ways the project was valuable and useful.
• Ongoing professional needs and new interests:
  • Specific Alma and Primo issues were identified which have been shared with the LSP Program Manager.
  • Broader professional development needs were shared with the CCL Leadership and Professional Development Committee which creates programs for north/south workshops and plans the Annual Meeting of CCL in March each year. 

All of this feedback informs the program and will make it better for those who read and use the emails and any other updates to be devised.

At the annual CCL Board retreat in July 2024, the board decided to continue this project and looks forward to the shape it will take going forward, in addition to weekly emails.

As ever, anyone is welcome to offer:

• Feedback on professional development opportunities attended/used from the emails
• Recommendations for specific programs or new sources of professional development
• Feedback on this process

Be in touch! pd@cclibrarians.org

AH, FALL!

Ah, October – the signs and scents of Fall, Halloween decorations, and the arrival of the FY2024-25 CCL membership invoices.

What does your college get from that $150 CCL membership payment?  (Which, by the way, hasn’t changed for many years!) 

Here are some but not all of the benefits:

• Workshops and the annual meeting
• The Outlook
• The work of CCL-EAR, the Library Consortium purchasing arrangement, and the free CountryWatch database
• The listservs
• The management by CCL of the LSP Program, and the ongoing operation of the governance & organizational structure
• The seats which CCL has at the Chancellor’s Office – Library Advisory Committee, Telecommunications and Technology Committee, Distance Education and Ed Tech Committee – and sustained visibility at the system level
• The liaison position with the ASCCC Executive Committee
• General work and effort to make the world safe for the CCC libraries!

CCL is again paying the 2025 ELUNA membership for every library.  ELUNA helps direct the ongoing improvements and upgrades to Alma and Primo.  And the 110 CCC libraries – with about 20% of the total vote – has a big impact on ELUNA!

Regards --  Gregg Atkins, Executive Director, CCL

ASCCC Spring Plenary Session, April 19-20, 2024

By Dan Crump, Liaison, Academic Senate for California Community Colleges

The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) held its Spring Plenary Session in April at the Marriott Hotel in San Jose. The theme of Session was “Radicalizing Spaces of Possibility: Faculty Leadership in Vision 2030.” As ASCCC President Cheryl Aschenbach noted in her February President’s Update, “The future of teaching, learning, and leading must be focused in practices that challenge Eurocentric structures and elevate liberation. In her work Teaching to Transgress: Education as the Practice of Freedom, feminist teacher, scholar, and activist bell hooks urges teachers to see the classroom as “radical space of possibility” where student and faculty partnerships can disrupt systemic barriers through collaboration, disruption of power structures, and the centering of compassion and social justice. Sessions will highlight opportunities to create radical change through efforts included in Vision 2030.”

Session information, including the program, resources, and presentation materials, are available on the ASCCC website.

In addition, the Session delegates adopt resolutions that guide the work of the ASCCC. The resolutions cover a wide range of topics relating to “academic and professional matters” (the ASCCC 10+1).  You can view all the approved resolutions on the ASCCC website under "Adopted Resolutions."

Elections for 2024-25 ASCCC Executive Committee were held on the Saturday of Session. I am sorry that I was not there as I would have been able to give a big hug of congratulations to “one of our own!” Stephanie Curry (Librarian, Reedley College) was elected to the officer position of Secretary. Stephanie has served for six years as both a North and Area A representative on the Executive Committee and chaired a variety of committees---Accreditation, Curriculum, Relations with Local Senates, Resolutions, Transfer, Articulation and Student Success (TASSC), CTE Leadership, and Part-Time Faculty Committees and is currently chairing the Educational Policies Committee and the new Awards and Recognition Committee. Congratulations to Stephanie on this new step in her ASCCC leadership walk!

ELUNA 2024 Annual Meeting Report: Cathy Tully

By Cathy Tully, Library Specialist, College of the Sequoias

The ELUNA 2024 Annual Meeting was the first professional conference I attended. As a classified library employee, I do not get many opportunities to attend events on this scale. I had planned to attend the ELUNA 2020 Annual Meeting as part of the Alma/Primo implementation team at my library and was disappointed when the in-person meeting was cancelled. I had no idea what to expect from ELUNA 2024, but I intended to take full advantage of this opportunity.

My library specialist responsibilities revolve around circulation, course reserves, and cataloging. Therefore, most of the twelve presentations I attended addressed issues in these areas, such as "Departure Ahead: Building Bridges for Collections and Services during a library renovation" and "Using Alma to Create Equitable Access to Library Technology". These presentations addressed the two most pressing challenges at my library: library renovation and our aging laptop and hotspot loan program. I came away with strategies to reduce confusion during our library renovation by minimizing the shelving locations for our collection, which I am currently implementing. At the latter presentation, I was able to contribute to the discussion my knowledge of technology loan programs in the California Community College system. I also made connections with other libraries and library staff facing the same issues and look forward to our continued exchange of ideas that will benefit the LSP consortium.

Most of the sessions were geared toward system administrators and librarians and presented resources that are not obtainable for a medium sized community college like mine. I was intimidated. I may not have always understood all the points presented, but I came away from each session with at least one strategy that I could implement at my library. Presentations such as "Navigating Troubled Waters of Collection Management with Alma Analytics", and "Assessing Geographic Diversity in Your Collection: From Alma to Data Visualizations" made me rethink how our library presents our resources. I intend to use Data Visualizations in collaboration with our librarians to visualize the metadata information in their assigned subject areas of our collection so that they have a better understanding of the diversity of the library collection. If it’s a success, we may apply the same tools to other areas of information of interest to them.

"The Search for the Undiscoverable: The Successes and Challenges with Non-Traditional Library Materials in Primo" used the case study of cataloging video games to make them more searchable for the students. The presentation sparked ideas for my own anatomical collection. That collection is not easily searchable by students who are interested in a specific muscular group or organ. The tools I learned can be adapted to make our anatomical collection and hopefully future non-traditional materials easier to locate by students and faculty.

Community college libraries were not heavily represented at ELUNA 2024. CCL’s commitment to sending multiple representatives from our consortium and including classified staff stood out among the attendees I spoke with. I am proud I was able to represent such an inclusive organization at ELUNA and thankful for the opportunity to further my professional development and understanding of the possibilities still to discover with Alma.

ELUNA 2024 Annual Meeting Report: Jeff Karlsen

By Jeff Karlsen, Sacramento City College

I began by attending Developers Day+, a series of single-track sessions delivered over two days focusing on integrations, APIs, and so on. Attendees and presenters included everyone from the tech-curious to full-blown software engineers, with presentations ranging from birds-eye theoretical (how do we control for bias in development work?) to exploratory (can ChatGPT write normalization rules? Short answer: no) to the “wait, what—how are you doing that” (a demo on how to intercept Primo code at a base level and redirect it to third-party services—never mind!). At DD+ I presented on my district’s Canvas integration, specifically the way we embed course-specific links to items on reserve.

The most exciting DD+ presentation was—and this is not typical for a user group conference—from an Ex Libris employee, who demonstrated the forthcoming Alma add-on Open Library Workflows. Ex Libris is licensing the N8N platform, which allows one to visually connect various web services and data transformations. In the Alma version, the tool will natively recognize all of Alma’s APIs and be able to receive Alma webhooks. In other words, it will (for a price TBD) allow us to better automate various processes without writing a bunch of code. I think this will be really, really good.

I’d recommend Developers Day+ to those who write some amount of code and/or get deeply involved with integrations that require extensive collaboration with IT. Be aware, though, that some of it will sail over your head. One idea floated for next year’s event was to provide some Angular-focused sessions for customization of the New Development Environment (i.e. the Primo successor), which is scheduled to be in production by that time.

The Annual Meeting proper is a mix of plenary sessions, presentations by ExL product leads, forums from working groups and other ELUNA bodies, and peer-to-peer sessions in which library personnel present their own initiatives, challenges, and discoveries.

The plenaries from Alma senior leadership are one of the odder elements of the conference. While sometimes containing new info—did you know that Alma-D is going to be replaced by a new digital archiving product, Specto?—they also have an element of weird corporate showmanship and spin, like a LinkedIn post come to life. At one point a speaker showed a clip of a TED Talk; the TED talker then appeared in a video in which she greeted, Cameo-style, the ELUNA attendees of whom she knew nothing; then it turned out that Ex Libris had brought dozens (hundreds?) of copies of the TED talker’s book (some sort of management/self-help thing) to give out for free to attendees. Hm. At the end of the opening plenary, one Alma customer memorably countered: “You are talking a lot about AI and innovation. But I don’t need these things. I need a product that works and is well-documented.” AI? Aieee…

Sessions featuring Ex Libris product leads in conversation with library personnel were interesting. Librarians are, it turns out, uneasy about our vendor’s forays into using generative AI to create Community Zone metadata—especially as this gets into subject headings. I also attended a forum hosted by the Analytics Community of Practice, which, among other things, has been pushing for better documentation of Analytics subject areas.

Like everyone else, I went to a lot of sessions, which are inevitably hit-and-miss, but frequently spurred some sort of idea in relation to my own work. Highlights:

• A session detailing Orbis Cascade Alliance’s attempts to share network-wide reports with member institutions. There’s no easy path to doing this sort of thing; it can’t be done without extra steps and creative solutions.
• One library’s extensive work on increasing the automation of their reserves. This was interesting because the reserves process is very laborious. I’m not sure I could imagine my library doing anything as extensive as they have, but it’s a reminder to keep one’s eyes open for opportunities to streamline.
• One library’s project on using Oracle Data Visualization (DV) to study the geographic diversity of their collection. This was interesting to me because so little has been provided on how to use DV. I’m hoping to use it more in the coming year.
• I went to a few sessions touching on discovery imports, i.e. externally-hosted data that that, with some massaging via normalization rules, can be made to appear in Primo without creating records in Alma. We have not implemented this sort of thing yet, but it seems like something we should pursue to get our externally-hosted special collections listed in discovery.

In addition, I attended the meeting of our state ELUNA affiliate, eCAUG. There I learned that the CSU system is eager to engage in print resource sharing. If we want, we can sign up with their courier and implement “peer-to-peer” resource sharing. If anyone is interested, they can contact Chris Lee, cwlee@calstate.edu.

ELUNA is a real treat for those of us who spend a lot, maybe too much, time wandering through the Alma/Primo labyrinth. It was terrific to connect and reconnect with so many CCC people on the scene, as well as other California folks familiar from eCAUG and elsewhere. Sure, one ends up consuming a lot of hotel food and spending most of the day indoors, but to me it’s well worth it, and getting CCL’s financial support for the experience made it all very easy. Next year in Atlanta?

ELUNA 2024 Annual Meeting Report: Megan Kinney

We Have Come So Far! 

ELUNA 2024 Experience

Drawing upon my former experience in the LSP Electronic Resource Management Work Group, and my current experiences in the CCL Electronic Access and Resources Committee, I look for the overlap between the technical aspects of Alma/Primo and the collection decisions we make in our libraries. I approached the ELUNA 2024 conference with this mindset, being curious about the shifts Ex Libris is making and how they may impact or alter our modes of work in making resources available to our school communities.

I went to two sessions on the upcoming Alma interface changes related to how it will impact different functions: searching and saving sets in Alma and title searching will change. Both are gaining the slide-out panels and split view options currently available in a few other parts of Alma. For example, this interface style is present in Acquisition functions (where I place orders on databases in Alma), as well as in the Overlap Analysis function (which I use to compare our current eResources with ones are considering subscribing to). The new interface helps to keep many pieces in view all at the same time and reduces the amount of back and forth clicking required when using Alma (that cause me to lose my train of thought). 

In another session, I learned about one institution’s research into how items are ordered in a Primo result list, and how they used their findings to improving the ranking order of particular source types. They reviewed “scores” from exported PNX records to inform how they would adjust various Boosting Factors to impact their Primo results. 

One stream of sessions that I sought out were related to the various ways schools were using Alma to make physical objects available, such as technology items and games. These are not directly related to eResources (although the proliferation of laptop and hotspot lending hopefully means students are gaining much easier access to library databases). These presentations often started with a focus on some of the technical implementation of the objects, but the sessions often segued into what it was like to inherit a glut of new items and responsibilities (such as grant funded tablets that were not discussed before purchase), and the process of developing workflows to manage successful partnerships with entities outside the library. 

Many of the questions in the sessions from attendees often centered on how decisions came to be made in the libraries, as well as requests for advice (from both presenters attendees) People shared what it was like to do this work, the difficulty of learning on the fly what parts of Alma do and do not work for the task at hand, as well as what it means to communicate library work to the broader institution. Sometimes, the key takeaways in the room were not so much about utilizing one field over another, but the simple things libraries implemented adjacent to the tasks of using Alma and Primo. For example, I learned of a library that weighed board games upon acquiring them. They entered this information into the Alma record and referred to it during check-in to easily confirm that the game came back complete (rather than counting pieces). 

The sessions at ELUNA were very informative, especially from those working in libraries. Some I left early to find another because you all are already so far ahead of the game and have shared all your wisdom and time generously! Luckily all the slides are still up and available to refresh upon as things come up in my library, as well as in conversation with all the library folks I get to meet through CCL and the LSP. The best part of attending ELUNA is meeting folks from other libraries, problem solving and learning from those who have worked through an issue before, and advocating with others for needs with Ex Libris in the room. I met one nervous librarian from a community college system just starting their Ex Libris transition, and it made me grateful to be in this work with all of you, struggling and supporting each other as we move deeper into this platform. 
(Unrelated, but if you ever find yourself in Minneapolis, may I share the best finds from my early morning bakery hunts before sessions started: Black Walnut Bakery and Laune Bread.)

-Megan Kinney, CCL-EAR Chair
Electronic Collections Librarian, City College of San Francisco

ELUNA 2024 Annual Meeting Report: Michele Alaniz

Thanks to the generous funding from CCL, I was able to attend the ELUNA Annual Meeting for the first time in Minneapolis last May. It was a 3-day event packed with numerous sessions presented by Ex Libris users and vendors. It was an excellent opportunity to see how other libraries are using various Ex Libris products to meet the needs of their community, but also to hear about successes, strategies, pitfalls and how these institutions make changes or improve their processes. I also thoroughly appreciated the community aspect of the presentations. It was extremely useful to get insight from presenters and attendees alike during the sessions. 

Over the last few years, I’ve focused mainly on discovery in my role at City College of San Francisco but have recently had to shift focus to co-managing systems while our systems librarian is on sabbatical. With that in mind, I attended sessions that focused on discovery, systems and analytics – anything that can help me to build on my current experience. While I attended numerous useful sessions, I’m highlighting the following 2 sessions because I might be able to use these most immediately in my work. 

• Looking for Trouble: Using Alma Analytics To Find Problems in Your Catalog
  • Lybarger from University of Kentucky Libraries suggests several strategies to locate problem areas in the catalog. This includes looking for clues in facets or running reports and analyzing specific locations in report data. Her reports can be found in the shared community folder in Analytics. They can be repurposed for other institutions to use on their own data. Report details and examples can be found in the PowerPoint presentation
• Springshare Integration with Ex Libris Tools
  • In this quick paced and useful session, presenter, Talia Richards-Resendes discussed using the Resource Recommender, but also covered how libraries can integrate Libguides into the search results via OAI-PMH. In this method, library guides appear as a material type, and it’s also possible to swap out “Research Guides” in title. To see this in action, try a search at Seneca Libraries. While tempting, this approach does appear to require ongoing maintenance.  She also mentioned plans to pull LibInsight data into Alma Analytics for ACRL reporting. 

In my experience, it did take a few sessions to find my rhythm at the conference and to adapt to the time zone. I recommend having back-up choices, and to be ready to switch to another session if your first choice doesn’t meet your expectations or if it fills to capacity.  Also, be sure to utilize the category feature in the online conference schedule to narrow down relevant sessions. Take advantage of the ample coffee, tea, water and snacks available at the conference to stay awake and hydrated. Also, if you’ve never attended, don’t miss the first-time attendee reception. On a sidenote, I wish conference planners would have dedicated larger rooms to some of these sessions. 

I highly recommend attending this conference. It was an incredible opportunity to participate in a conference so focused on my immediate needs, but to also engage with such smart and creative people with the same goal of making their collections discoverable. I also appreciated being able to meet up with other California Community College librarians in person. If I do end up making it to ELUNA in Atlanta next June, I will likely try to include Knowledge Days in my plans. In the meantime, I do plan on attending eCAUG in Long Beach this October. See you there. 

Michele Alaniz, Distance Education Librarian, City College of San Francisco
Systems Work Group, 2024-25

ELUNA 2024 Annual Meeting Report: Patricia C. Torres

Once again, I was able to attend ELUNA Annual Conference due to the generosity of the CCL Executive Board. Having been selected to attend last year’s I did not think that I would have the opportunity this year. When I learned that my attendance was approved, I was very pleased and began my planning. This year I prepared by reviewing the programs ahead of time and taking advantage of their online scheduler app, Dryfta. The app was great. I was able to save time in moving from one session to the next. It was much quicker than thumbing through the print program.

There were many sessions that caught my eye. Here are some of the ones I attended:

• Wait, You Want What? Using Alma For Campus-Wide Technology Inventory Management
• Looking for Trouble: Using Alma Analytics To Find Problems in Your Catalog
• Reparative Cataloging in the Washington Research Library Consortium
• How to Manage Open Access (OA) Content in Alma
• Bridging Code & Culture: An Affordable Course Materials Project
• I Didn’t Know You Could Do That in Alma!
• myLibrary: Connecting Students to Library Resources Related to Their Courses
• Alma All Title New User Interface
• Creating the Discovery Walkway: The Next Discovery Experience
• Alma Circulation Desk: A New User Interface for Manage Patron Services
• California Regional User Group (eCAUG) Meeting
• Diffusion of Innovation: Implementation of a ChatBot in a Minority Serving University Library
• Alma Digital Working Group Update: Where We Are and Where We Are Going
• From Google to ChatGPT – libraries and the tale of two revolutions

As a member of the Circulation workgroup I was inclined to attend sessions dealing with the Fulfillment side of ALMA but as a Library Services Manager I was also drawn to sessions that dealt with technical services and reserves. I was pleased with the presentations. Just like last year, I found myself sending off emails/text to my colleagues back at work and asking questions relating to session I was attending or sending them pictures of some of the slides that I thought would be helpful. 

Having the opportunity to meet up with fellow workgroup members “in-person” was a great asset to the conference. Some of us attended the same presentations which led to great discussions on what we do similarly and differently and why we do the things we do.  I enjoyed the collegiality during the workday and the group dinner we had at “Hell’s Kitchen”. Thank you once again CCL for sponsoring us. 

Due to scheduling flight times, I did not depart Minneapolis until Saturday evening. I had a few hours to explore downtown before heading out. Since this was my first time visiting Minneapolis I took advantage of some sightseeing. I enjoyed visiting the Minneapolis Central Library, walking over to a park near the Mississippi River, and stopping by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. After all of this I was tired! I realized I had been walking downtown for 3 and half hours. I was ready for my flight. 

I recommend that everyone attend an ELUNA Conference when possible. 

Patricia C. Torres, Circulation Workgroup-Southwestern College Library

ELUNA 2024 Annual Meeting Report: Yasmine Malboubi

By Yasmine Malboubi, LSP Circulation Workgroup & Library Technician - Foothill College

Attending the ELUNA conference for the first time was an invaluable experience. As a space that brings together professionals utilizing Ex Libris' library management system, ELUNA offers a unique opportunity to stay abreast of the latest developments in library technology. From new product releases to changes in the system itself, ELUNA provides a platform for library professionals to learn about what's on the horizon.

One benefit of attending ELUNA is the access to experts in the industry. These experts share their knowledge, solutions, and techniques through presentations and workshops, providing attendees with valuable insights into addressing common library challenges. By learning from experienced professionals, attendees can streamline their library processes and improve their overall efficiency.

ELUNA also fosters a strong sense of community among library professionals. Attendees have the chance to connect with peers, share experiences, and learn about innovative solutions implemented in other libraries worldwide. This exchange of ideas can be incredibly beneficial for identifying new approaches to challenges and improving library services.

In addition to connecting with peers and learning from experts, ELUNA offers information about trends in library technologies and library management systems. They also hold many sessions and workshops covering Ex Libris’ wide range of services and products.

One of the new updates that particularly excited me was the enhanced search and set capabilities in ALMA. The ability to split the screen while working in ALMA, along with new scheduling enhancements and updates to title searching, has the potential to significantly improve efficiency and productivity.

Attending ELUNA is a great way to gain professional development and stay up-to-date on the latest industry trends. Moreover, it offers a unique opportunity to provide direct feedback to Ex Libris leaders on their library management system. By sharing your thoughts and suggestions, you can help shape the future of the system and ensure it continues to meet the evolving needs of libraries.

In conclusion, ELUNA is a highly recommended conference for library professionals using ALMA. It offers a wealth of opportunities for learning, networking, and professional development. Whether you're seeking to stay informed about the latest technology trends, connect with peers, or contribute to the future of ALMA or other Ex Libris products, ELUNA is a valuable experience that I would highly recommend. 

I hope to be able to attend again in the future!

LSP Newsletter - News from Around the Library Services Platform

By Trevor Passage, LSP Program Manager, Library Consortium

Introduction

Hello all,

Welcome to the inaugural LSP Newsletter! Here, I hope to be able to provide folks with more information about the Library Services Platform and the goings on with the program–especially for those who may not be serving on a Work Group or keeping up with the Governance Committee Minutes.

Brief History of the LSP

The LSP started back in 2016 as an idea proposed by the Council of Chief Librarians to provide the CCC system with a state-wide, web-based, library management system. Using one-time Prop. 98 funding, a taskforce put together an RFP and went out to see what providers existed that could offer a library system at scale.  Ex Libris’ Alma & Primo VE were chosen to fulfill this need for our libraries, and currently 110 colleges have joined the LSP.  In its current iteration, the Community College League of California provides personnel, and the Council of Chief Librarians is the vendor working with the Chancellor’s Office to secure the state funding for the LSP; the projected savings to the CCC system from 2019 through 2024 are $8.5 million.

ELUNA 2024 Recap

ELUNA is the ExLibris Users of North America and is a not-for-profit educational group for users of the Ex Libris suite of library products. The CCL pays for the ELUNA membership of each participating college, and supported the travel costs for eight folks to attend ELUNA’s Annual Meeting last May. You will be able to read more about their experience in this September’s Issue of the Outlook, as each participant went on the condition of supplying an article about their time at ELUNA 2024. I found it extremely interesting, and while the focus was on the new wave of AI infused products coming out in the near future, the most impactful workshops I attended were the ones that focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Harmful Language Review Process and Form

Monday, September 16th marks the launch of the Harmful Language Review Process and Form.  The Harmful Language Review Subgroup has published an excellent blog post to the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Anti-Racism, and Accessibility blog that you can find here. There will be a Wednesday Webinar presentation on the new Harmful Language Review process on September 25th, and an office hour for folks on October 1st. Keep your eyes peeled for the links to those in the weekly Schedule-at-a-Glance emails I send out.

Governance Committee Updates

The first meeting of the LSP Governance Committee is September 27th, and membership has been solidified for the 2024/25 academic year.  Your committee co-chairs are Cameron Bluford (Los Medanos College) and Kymber Ensele (Lake Tahoe Community College). The Governance Committee advises and guides our shared stakeholders in the deployment and management of the LSP. You can see the full roster of members, read the LSP policies, and review past meeting minutes at the Governance Committee LibGuide.

Important Dates

9/27/24 - LSP Governance Committee Meeting
10/24/24 & 10/25/24 - ELUNA California User Group Annual Meeting
11/15/24 - LSP Governance Committee Meeting
02/07/25 - LSP Governance Committee Meeting
03/27/25 - LSP Governance Committee Meeting
05/02/25 - LSP Governance Committee Meeting
06/16/25 - 06/20/25 - ELUNA Annual Conference
07/31/25 - LSP Governance Committee Retreat

Award Announcements

Congratulations to those who have won awards in the last year!

• Lindsay Davis, Merced College, Distinguished Full-time Faculty Member of the Year
• Abigail Morales, Cypress College, Long Beach City College, Santiago Canyon College, REFORMA 2024 Dr. Arnulfo D. Trejo Librarian of the Year Award
• San Diego Mesa College Library and Learning Resource Center, Insight Into Diversity Magazine, 2024 Library Excellence in Access and Diversity (LEAD) Award
• Dr. Romelia Salinas, Mt. San Antonio College, REFORMA 2024 Elizabeth Martinez Lifetime Achievement Award Winner

Mt. SAC Library Awarded National Endowment Grant to Further the College Digital History Project

The Mt. SAC Library is thrilled to announce that we have received a prestigious grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities for a 3-year project titled "Promoting Equity by Examining College History Through Digital Photos." Mt. SAC is one of only five institutions nationally to receive a grant through this initiative. The funding, totaling $149,949.00, will be used to expand a digital photo collection that documents the history of Mt. SAC, incorporates the use of the photo collection across the humanities and other academic disciplines, and promotes digital preservation on campus and in surrounding communities.  

We look forward to the positive impact this grant will have and are excited to continue the library’s  mission of meeting the needs of our students and diverse communities through cultivating knowledge creation and discovery, innovation, and academic, professional, and personal achievement.   

For more information about the National Endowment Grant and upcoming programs, contact digitalhistory@mtsac.edu or Hong Guo, Grant Project Director/Online Learning Librarian, hguo@mtsac.edu 

The project has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. 

NEWS | Mesa College Library Receives Insight Into Diversity’s 2024 Library Excellence in Access and Diversity (LEAD) Award

The San Diego Mesa College Library and Learning Resource Center (LRC)  received the 2024 Library Excellence in Access and Diversity (LEAD) Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education. The LEAD Award honors academic libraries’ programs and initiatives that encourage and support DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) across their campus. These include, but are not limited to research, technology, accessibility, exhibitions, and community outreach. San Diego Mesa College will be featured in the March 2024 issue of Insight Into Diversity magazine.

"I am so proud that the Mesa College Library has earned this Library Excellence in Access and Diversity (LEAD) Award,” stated Dr. Ashanti T. Hands, President of Mesa College. “In 2019, we were intentional when we hired an Equity and Engagement Librarian – the first and only one in the region - who would promote access, outreach, and literacy services to minoritized groups. This recognition honors the power, impact, and possibilities of institutionalizing equity-minded, innovative practices that disrupt the status quo and create conditions that matter for our students to be seen and to succeed.”

Insight Into Diversity Magazine selected the San Diego Mesa College Library and Learning Resource Center (LRC) because San Diego Mesa College and the library are committed to promoting access, outreach, and literacy services to underserved groups, including ethnic and racial minorities, gender differences, and people with disabilities.

The Mesa College library has multiple Equity and Excellence Initiatives. One of these initiatives included hiring the first and only Equity and Engagement Librarians in the San Diego region, Dr. Edeama Onwuchekwa Jonah. As the leading college of equity and excellence, efforts related to recruiting, retaining, and advancing a diverse library staff are crucial at for fostering an inclusive and representative work environment. These efforts typically align with broader diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives of San Diego Mesa College.

"We know that many academic libraries are not always recognized for their dedication to diversity, inclusion, and access," says Lenore Pearlstein, owner and publisher of Insight Into Diversity magazine. "We are proud to honor these college and university libraries as role models for other institutions of higher education."

The Equity and Engagement librarian works with library staff and other librarians to assess the DEI progress of the library and ensure that the library supports students with equity and inclusion at the center of the services provided. True engagement positions the library as a catalyst in the communities it serves. Mesa College Library has provided increased engagement with students and initiated models to lower barriers and increase access for students, especially marginalized student populations

Additionally, the Mesa College library also created a 5-year DEIAA plan that is designed to help break down barriers and expand access to library resources for our underrepresented students. This is a unique plan, separate from but joined with the Mesa2030 Master Plan, and serves as a guide to develop activities, spaces, and programs that support a sense of belonging with a focus on antiracism, historically minoritized groups, and inclusion.

Another unique Mesa College program is the embedded Librarian initiative focused on underserved and disproportionately impacted student groups, which began as an initial request for class visits for our students in Black Studies Classes. The Equity Librarian has worked with faculty to expand the program, which now serves over 350 black students in their research sessions and embedded library class visits.

"Preparing for the 2023 LEAD application was very reflective and was extremely helpful in providing us with a framework to analyze our Equity-minded practices," stated Dr. Edeama Onwuchekwa Jonah. "We applied for the LEAD Award because the San Diego Mesa College Library Team would like to shine the light on our Equity and Excellence Initiatives, especially removing barriers and providing access to our underserved student populations."

Retirement Announcements

Congratulations to our newly retired library faculty!

• Robin Babou, Librarian, Río Hondo College (24 years of service)
• Karen Bourgaize, Part-Time Librarian, Río Hondo College (24 years of service)
• Randall Gust, Collection Development Librarian, East Los Angeles College
• Unjoo Lee, Cataloging Librarian, East Los Angeles College
• Rudy Martinez, Library Media Technician, Río Hondo College (25 years of service)

Tenure Announcements

Congratulations to our newly tenured library faculty!

• Daniel Ng, South Campus at Mountain House and OER Librarian, San Joaquin Delta College
• Dr. Loren Valterza, Coordinator of Bibliographic Instruction, San Joaquin Delta College

Newly Hired California Community Colleges Library Employees

Congratulations to our newly hired library employees!

• Dorothy Alvarado, Library Systems Technician, Citrus College
• Gabrielle Bianca Visco, Textbook Affordability Librarian, Mendocino College
• Dr. Amy Catania, Instructional and Outreach Coordinator Librarian, Contra Costa College
• Yesenia De Santos, Library Assistant, Long Beach City College
• Heather Evans, OER Librarian, Coalinga College
• Dr. Kim Orlijan, Dean of Language Arts and Library, Citrus College
• Marley Rodriguez, Equity and Outreach Librarian, San Diego City College

Norco College Welcomes Our New Instructional Design Librarian

Norco College welcomes Cheryl Cox as our new Instructional Design Librarian effective Fall Semester 2024. Cheryl served as Library Associate Faculty and as the Library Technical Assistant II at Norco College since 2021. She received her Master of Management in Library and Information Science at the University of Southern California. Cheryl completed her internship at Fullerton College and also has experience as a librarian and substitute teacher in K-12. Cheryl has embraced her role in creating, delivering, and assessing learning resources in support of the Library’s information literacy initiatives, and working with faculty to support OER/ZTC at Norco College. During her free time, Cheryl enjoys spending time outdoors, attending sporting events, watching movies, going to plays, and reading.

Norco College Welcomes Two New Library Technical Assistants

The Wilfred J. Airey Library at Norco College welcomes two new Library Technical Assistants:

Russell Burrows has a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and an MLIS from San Jose State University. He previously worked as a Library Assistant at the University of La Verne Law Library, a Library Assistant/Scanner at the Southern Regional Library Facility at UCLA, and as a Library Technician at Edgewood High School in West Covina, CA. Russell enjoys traveling, hiking, spending time with his pets, and reading biographies and non-fiction. 

Ivan Dorado previously served at the City of Orange Public Library as a Library Clerk/Outreach Coordinator. He was also previously employed at the Anaheim Public Library as a Library Assistant. Ivan is looking forward to assisting the Norco College community. He spends his free time with family and friends, trying new coffee spots, and going for long walks.

¡Nuevo! Cerro Coso’s Library Services in Spanish

To support students enrolled in Cerro Coso’s new Child Development Associate Teacher Certificate of Achievement being offered fully in Spanish, the library hired 2 part-time bilingual librarians to develop a comprehensive suite of library services in Spanish.

(From left to right) Librarians Virginia Velati Tirona and Selene Pineda

Librarians Selene Pineda and Virginia Velati Tirona, provide personalized reference assistance to help students find and cite sources for their academic work. They offer convenient Zoom drop-ins, allowing students to get help without an appointment, as well as workshops in Spanish on research strategies, database navigation, and citation management. In addition, they’ve carefully curated Libguides to provide research and citation instruction in Spanish, specifically designed to support Child Development coursework. They are also expanding our embedded librarian efforts, working closely with instructors to provide customized library support within courses, ensuring students receive the help they need directly within their learning environment. These initiatives are part of our commitment to enhance the academic success of Spanish-speaking students at Cerro Coso College.

Culturally Relevant & High Impact Library Resources: Primary Source Canvas Modules

By Michelle Morton, Cabrillo College

"Reunión General de Huelguistas/Strikers’ Meeting1"
Used with permission from the Watsonville Public Library

In Spring 2024, I was able to take a sabbatical to create six Canvas modules using primary source materials. The modules focus on local history and use sources that reflect our student population and status as an HSI. I collaborated with Tanya Hollis, Director of the Labor Archives Research Center at San Francisco State University to build modules we can each use at our institutions and share with others through Canvas Commons:

1. Two modules on the Watsonville Canneries Strike (1985-1987): This local strike was led by Mexican and Mexican-American women who went up against the cannery owners, the powerful agribusiness machine, and their own union.  Over the course of the strike, not one of the 1,000 Watsonville Canning strikers crossed the picket lines. The strike had a big impact on the local community and is an important story in labor history. The module includes photographs, oral histories, flyers, newsletters, newspaper articles, and other materials.
    
2. Filipino American Community and Identity in the Pajaro Valley: Created in collaboration with UCSC and the Watsonville is in the Heart Community Archive, this module provides an overview of Filipino American history in the Pajaro Valley through exploration of labor, businesses and social organizations, foodways, music, and poetry.  Sources include photographs, correspondence, oral histories, cookbooks, sheet music, and poetry.
    
3. What is a Union?: An overview of unions, union organizing, collective bargaining, and how workers use strikes to change their working conditions. It highlights labor organizing among warehouse workers, garment workers, farm workers, cannery workers, hotel workers, sex workers, teachers, illustrators, and baristas.

"How to Organize on the Job: A Handbook for Stewards2"
Used with permission from the Labor Archives Research Center, San Francisco State University

4. Oral History Toolkit: Provides step-by-step instructions for how to prepare to conduct an oral history interview, how to record using Canvas Studio, and how to turn in recordings and transcripts using Canvas. It is designed to make it easier for faculty to incorporate oral history assignments into their courses.
    
5. The Visual Language of the UFW: Uses primary sources to show the United Farm Worker black eagle logo in action and illustrate some of the ways these images were used to rally workers, build solidarity, and create community. Primary sources include flags, banners, posters, labels, buttons, newspapers, and photographs.
    
6. Union Printer Giacomo Patri: Presents the work of union illustrator and teacher Giacomo Patri. Patri taught at the California Labor School and illustrated publications for unions such as the Pile Drivers, Bridge, Wharf and Dock Builders, the International Longshore & Warehouse Union, the Marine Cooks and Stewards Association, and the California Retail Clerk's Association.

I worked with faculty in English, Ethnic Studies, History, Political Science and Sociology to pilot the modules in their courses. Modules 1-4 are available in Canvas Commons, and modules 5 & 6 will be available in Commons Spring 2025.

"Mariano Sr and Dan Fallorina in the Strawberry Fields3"
Used with permission from Watsonville is in the Heart

This project supported our goals as a library and a college to increase access to culturally relevant materials that support our new Ethnic Studies Department and align with our mission as a community college and an HSI. In addition, the modules increase access to Zero-Cost resources that faculty can integrate and adapt as they see fit across different disciplines.

Takeaways

"Filipino Women’s Club Members on Fourth of July, 19554"
Used with permission from Watsonville is in the Heart

Working Collaboratively is Powerful

Working with colleagues at other institutions, in other departments, and in the community takes time. Finding that time is a challenge for faculty who are already stretched, but collaborating also allows us to distribute the load and work in community to support each other and improve our teaching.

These Materials Matter to our Community

I know from experience that local, culturally relevant materials have an impact on students. I did not realize how important it is to the community that we integrate these materials into our curriculum. I have heard over and over in this process from community members how meaningful it is to have college courses that tell these stories.

Everyone Should take a Sabbatical

There's never a good time to leave your library short-staffed. In our daily work we are overloaded and stretched in many different directions. Sabbaticals give us a rare opportunity to focus, reflect, and follow through. Bringing our deep knowledge and passion for this work to bear on institutional transformation has huge benefits for our libraries, our colleges, and our students.

You can find the primary source modules I created in Canvas Commons searching "Michelle Morton." For questions, email me at mimorton@cabrillo.edu

Works Cited

1. "Reunión General de Huelguistas/Strikers’ Meeting." Flyer from Strike Binders, Agricultural Workers' History Center, Watsonville Public Library. ↩
2. "Mariano and Dan Fallorina at Reiter Berry Farm." Photograph from Fallorina Family Collection, Watsonville is in the Heart: A Community Archive and Research Initiative (accessed June 29, 2023). ↩
3. "Filipino Women's Club Members on Fourth of July, 1955." Photograph from Alminiana Family Collection, Watsonville is in the Heart: A Community Archive and Research Initiative. (accessed June 29, 2023). ↩

Norco College Library Develops an Information Literacy Graphic Novel

By Hayley Ashby, Norco College

Norco College recently completed its own graphic novel titled, On the Research Trail: A Guide to Evaluating Information. Norco College librarians applied for and received a Century Circle grant from the RCCD Foundation to develop an inclusive 24-page library comic for students on how to critically evaluate the trustworthiness of information and identify misinformation and disinformation online. The comic's objective was to give students practical 21st Century strategies for determining the credibility of information, and highlight resources and tools available through the Wilfred J. Airey Library.

Creating a Graphic Novel

.
Cover art by Mike Hall. © Norco College 2024

At Norco College the librarians recognize the graphic novel as a powerful storytelling medium for promoting visual and verbal literacy. The library’s collection of comic books, manga, and graphic novels has been cultivated to specifically support the College’s student population.

The popularity and draw of these materials inspired the library faculty to think about innovative ways to provide information literacy instruction. The increasing awareness of representation in the comic book industry has also raised the voices of diverse comic book authors, which has allowed the library to add more inclusive resources to its collections.

After coming up with the idea to develop a comic, the library faculty discussed the idea with the library dean, who unfortunately determined that existing library budget could not support the project. Undeterred, the librarians applied for an RCCD Foundation Century Circle Grant to cover the cost of contracting with the comic artist and printing physical copies.

After receiving the grant, the librarians began collaborating with Mike Hall, a fellow librarian and college instructor who had experience developing educational comics for academic and public libraries. Mike brought Dustin Evans on board to assist in coloring the pages once they were inked.

Content of the Story

Following the publication of Stanford History Education Group’s (2020) working paper, "Educating for Misunderstanding", Norco College librarians reflected on their approaches to teaching students how to evaluate information. Library faculty also observed that students were increasingly using social media sources such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Discord, and X to obtain current news information. Furthermore, "The Global Risks Report 2024" identified misinformation and disinformation as the number one global risk in the next two years due to the growing proliferation of artificial intelligence at a time when over half of the world's population is holding elections (World Economic Forum, 2024, 18-21). The current discourse on information and media literacy led the librarians to focus the graphic novel “story” on how to safely navigate today’s digital landscape to avoid information disorder. 

The librarians shared background information and photos of the College and students with the artist including student population data to ensure that the drawings would be representative of our demographics. The characters in the comic represent Norco College. The narrator is a horse (Norco, CA is affectionately known as “Horsetown USA”) and our students are the main characters. When developing the script for the graphic novel, the library faculty brainstormed on the various information literacy frameworks for evaluating information.

These included:

• Academic and College Research Libraries Framework for Information Literacy
• Fact Checking using SIFT (Stop, Investigate, Find Better Coverage, and Trace the Context)
• VIAbility Testing for News Sources (verification, independence, and accountability)
• Information Neighborhoods for better understanding the goal, method, practitioners, and outcomes for different domains such as Journalism or Entertainment

Using the Graphic Novel

Norco College is using its new graphic novel to introduce students to the library and to the basics of information literacy, especially evaluating information. The comic book highlights evaluation strategies and provides practical tools for students to become their own fact checkers. Librarians are also using the comic book to describe the different types of information sources that exist and are available at the Wilfed J. Airey Library.

Aligned with the Guided Pathways Framework, each school at Norco College has a dedicated library liaison. The library liaisons are distributing the graphic novel to faculty and students in their assigned school and providing guidance on how to use the material for instructional purposes.

Librarians have been using the graphic novel during library research sessions for courses such as English as a Second Language and Political Science. The comic will also be used by librarians teaching the LIB-1: Introduction to Information Literacy Course and will be integrated into the library’s information literacy Canvas modules. 

Library faculty are developing companion guides, worksheets, and assessments that faculty can use in conjunction with the graphic novel. Since the comic is available in print and electronically, librarians are assisting faculty with embedding information literacy instruction into their courses.

Finally, the comic book is being used as an outreach tool for library tours, Welcome Week, Career and Academic Planning (CAP) Hour, and open house events to introduce the library and promote information literacy. Librarians will also be reaching out to feeder schools to discuss how the graphic novel could be used to promote information literacy at the high schools and middle college within the service area.

Upcoming Events

Open Education Conference
"It's About Time"
Providence, RI & Online
October 8-10, 2024

COLEGAS 2024 Annual Conference
"Collective Resistance: Justicia y Liberación"
SAFE Credt Union Convention Center, Sacramento, CA
November 4-6, 2024

CARLDIG-South Fall Program
“21st Century Toolkit: Empower Your Inquiry!”
Citrus College
December 6, 2024

ALA LibLearnX 2025
"The Library Learning Experience"
Phoenix, AZ
January 24-27, 2025

A²MEND 18th Annual Summit
Los Angeles, CA
March 5-7, 2025

ACRL 2025
"Democratizing Knowledge + Access + Opportunities"
Minneapolis, MN & Online
April 2-5, 2025

September 2024 EAR Report

Happy new school year!

Since our last report, the CCL Electronic Access and Resources committee shared two new reviews:

• Ethnic NewsWatch: A DEI Database Quick Look - In Spring 2023, EAR provided a comparison review on Gale OneFile Diversity Studies, EBSCO Ethnic Diversity Source, ProQuest Diversity Collection, and the American Mosaic Academic series from ABC-CLIO at Bloomsbury. This review provides a quick overview of an additional DEI database.
• Literary Database Comparison - CCC librarians indicated to EAR that an updated literary database comparison would be helpful, and this review goes in depth. 

At our Wednesday Webinar in February 2024, many member libraries shared thoughts and suggestions as to how EAR can support the field with electronic resources, with respect to accessibility, citation tools, audiobooks, user experience issues with updated platform designs, funding, etc. As we meet over the course of the year, we are bringing your comments to the table for a closer look, and we may seek further information to better understand your experiences. 

We look forward to supporting you this academic year! More reviews are on the way, and our Wednesday Webinar this year will take place February 26, 2025. We don’t have any vacancies on the committee currently, but if you are interested in serving in the future, please let your interest be known by emailing me. CCL-EAR members serve three-year terms, have a two-term limit, and are appointed by the CCL board.

-Megan Kinney, CCL-EAR Chair

Electronic Collections Librarian, City College of San Francisco