Deb the Librarian shares study tips this week on KRUA’s radio show, Informania, repeated Thursday at 5pm on 88.1, The Edge.

This week, Deb the Librarian began the hour talking about the path she took to become a librarian at the University of Alaska Anchorage.  After receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in English with an emphasis in Business from Florida State University, and a Masters degree in Library and Information Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, her path included experience at a variety of libraries.

Academic libraries she has worked at include:  University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Wisconsin-Superior (as a volunteer), and University of Alaska Anchorage.  She has also worked at public libraries, including the Duluth Public Library in Minnesota, Minneapolis Public Library (INFORM fee-based research service), and Anchorage Public Library (Branch Manager for Samson-Dimond Branch Library).  And finally, she has also gained more online and varied research experience working in special libraries, including, James J. Hill Reference Library (privately funded business library open to the public), Teltech (fee-based research firm), and Minnegasco/Reliant Energy/Centerpoint Energy (the library at a gas company (that experienced name changes over the years).

What Lessons from this experience can she share with students?

As she reflected on her path from Florida to Wisconsin to Minnesota to Alaska, Deb shared the following with students (now in an expanded version):

Getting involved in the professional association student chapter in graduate school paid off.  Being the Chair of the Special Libraries Association Student Chapter at University of Wisconsin-Madison helped her expand her leadership skills and build her resume.  Lesson:  Looking for opportunities to connect with professional groups, even as a student, can be beneficial.

Taking opportunities to volunteer or intern while looking for a full-time position provided helpful experience, and allowed Deb to develop relationships with others who could be mentors, and references.  Lesson:  While deciding what career path to follow or while looking for a job, consider volunteering or interning as a great way to build experience, network with people in the field, and explore that particular work environment to see if it is a good fit.

Focusing on the positive contribution helped Deb overcome fears.  (This wasn’t mentioned on the show, but I’m mentioning it now.)  Do  you think Deb has experienced insecurities related to hosting a radio show?  If you guessed yes, you are right!  When taking on new challenge, Deb has developed the habit to take time to think about the positive outcome for that challenge, and, in the case of hosting the radio show, the contribution that she wants to make to the community.  Lesson:  When feeling shy, insecure, or incapable, rephrase the thoughts to be positive.  I make a positive difference.  My radio show is a success.  I have a good memory, and can do well on this test.  I am capable.  I am a good student/librarian/presenter.

Tips for Studying

The majority of the Informania radio show on Monday, March 18, was spent discussing successful study habits, which Deb found in documents from Dartmouth College’s Academic Skills Center .  The particular documents she shared information from include an Active Study Handout, which was adapted from:  Ann Algier’s Everything You Need To Know About Learning.  Topics covered in this handout include, the use of mnemonics, study cards, and effective strategies for memorization.  There are also other helpful handouts on the Dartmouth’s Academic Skills Center web page.

Deb shared two tips from another handout titled, How to Retain Information.  The first part of the How to Retain Information handout talks about why we forget.  Highlighted at number one is that a negative self concept impacts our ability to remember.  Basically, “we think of ourselves as forgetting things.”  Reading this reinforces my belief that it is important to think positively (and rephrase those self criticisms)!  On this handout, I also found a discussion about changed cues helpful.  What does this mean?  When you have changed cues, it means that even though you memorize the wording from the textbook, when the information is presented differently on a test, it may be difficult to remember, because the cue (presentation of information) has changed.  This Academic Skills Handout recommends that to remember material for a test, a person studying should rephrase the ideas in his/her own words to help them remember the information when it is stated in a different way on the test.

There are also video tutorials as well as handouts on this information-filled web site Dartmouth College web site.  For those interested, the url is http://www.dartmouth.edu/~acskills/success/study.html

The music played on Informania this week follows:  Information, by Dredg;  With a Little Help from my Friends, by the Beatles; The Long and Winding Road, by The Beatles; What’s on Your Mind, by Information Society; Learning to Fly, by Tom Petty, and That’s What Friends Are For, by Dionne Warwick (and Friends)

 

 

 

 

Where can you find old photos of earthquake damage? Listen to Informania, Monday at 9am or Thursday at 5pm, on KRUA, 88.1FM to find out from Arlene Schmuland, Head of Archives and Special Collections.

During this week’s Informania interview, Arlene Schmuland, Head of Archives and Special Collections (ASC) at the Consortium Library talked about the Archives collection of photos, diaries, letters, film, artifacts, and University of Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Pacific University (APU) theses and dissertations housed at the Consortium Library.  Photographs, historic papers and film are preserved in special boxes to prevent light damage, and placed in a special vault to environmentally support the longevity of these items through constant, facilities-regulated temperature and humidity.

The UAA and APU theses and dissertations are browsable as a complete historic collection in Archives.  By next year, UAA theses and dissertations will only be submitted and available electronically.  UAA and APU students, staff and faculty can search dissertations/theses through Proquest Dissertations and Theses Full Text.

Where is the Archives and Special Collections Department, and how can you access their collection?

Archives and Special Collections is on the third floor of the Consortium Library, in Room 305, basically across the hall from the entrance to the elevators. Their hours are 10am-4pm, Monday through Friday, or by appointment.  You can reach Archives faculty by phone at 907-786-1849, or by email.  You can find their mailing address and other information at Location, Hours and Reference.

Can the community view Alaskan archival resources online?

Many historical images, texts and moving pictures are available online.  The Alaska Digital Archives, which includes more than 60,000 images (pictures, scans of texts (letters, diaries, etc.), maps, and moving images) from Alaskan history.  It originated with contributions from the Alaska State Library, University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the University of Alaska Anchorage scanning images and documents with a focus on Alaska Native History and Culture, and Alaska’s Movement to Statehood.  You can find images of the Alaskan Gold Rush and the development of the Alaskan Highway in this database as part of the movement to statehood.

What is the current project in Archives?  A 1964 Earthquake Portal!

Currently, Arlene is overseeing a special grant-funded project in the Archives and Special Collections Department that will benefit those interested in exploring Alaska’s 1964 earthquake.  As part of this project, a librarian in Archives is busy at work scanning and creating meta-data (identifying, searchable descriptions of what or who is included in the old photographs or documents being scanned) so that these images and documents can be found and accessed online.  This online earthquake portal is expected to “go live” in about a month (April 2013?).  The goal is to create this resource in time for the 50th anniversary of the 1964 earthquake in 2014.  Thank you to the Alaska State Library grant and to the Archives and Special Collections team for providing this access!

Alaskan historical donations, any one?

Arlene emphasized the fact that they are open to all historical collections of photos and papers from Alaskan history.  In addition to simply being old family photos or videos to you, they can be resources that capture important moments in Alaskan history.  For example, a woman who donated a film collection to Archives, realized that it included an image of the End of the Road sign on the Seward Highway that was posted by Girdwood.  That image hadn’t been available in the Archives and Special Collections before receiving this contribution.  Do you have an old box of photos that present a part of Alaskan history?

Who uses Archives?

The national and international community contact Archives regularly.  With the growing number of Alaskan reality TV shows, Archives is called upon more frequently for historic images, film footage, and information.  Also, researchers looking for pictures of ancestors sometimes find them in Archives.  Community members often discover items in the Archives collection while searching Google.  The Archive’s finding aids (descriptions) of the donated collections of historic pictures and documents are searchable using Google.  One man was able to find pictures of his grandfather from World War II thanks to the detail in the description of a photo collection donated to the Consortium Library’s Archives and Special Collections.

The Archives and Special Collections Department additionally serves students and other university researchers.  Arlene will check the schedule of upcoming course offerings, and contact appropriate professors to alert them of resources that may support their curriculum, or tell them about resources that may engage their students in primary source research.  One example of students using Archives for their assignment included students finding and comparing pictures of the Portage Glacier taken during many different years, to demonstrate how the glacier is receeding.

What about film and artifacts?

On occasion, Archives will receive donations that include artifacts (things).  For example, they have an old dog sled that they keep on display.  They also have a turning signal from a car that was crushed during the Alaska earthquake.  The majority of artifacts that they receive are referred to a museum, since that facility would more likely have the space and conditions for storing artifacts.

The Archives includes some historic film footage provided through donations, but a larger historic video collection is available at the Consortium Library thanks to their neighbor, the Alaska Moving Image Preservation Association (AMIPA).  AMIPA is located on the third floor, within the doors of the Archives and Special Collections Department.  Videos in their collection include, but are not limited to, historic Iditerod race footage, copies of Jay Hammond’s Alaska, and film footage from old UAA classes.

What songs were played on Informania?

Information by Dredg was played at the beginning of this radio show, and Photograph by Nickelback was played at the end.

 

Facilities Planner Lonnie Mansell talks about the UAA Campus Master Plan on the Informania radio show, Monday at 9am or Thursday at 5pm on KRUA, 88.1, The Edge.

Lonnie Mansell was hired by the Department of Facilities, Planning and Construction as the Facilities Planner in the Fall of 2012.  Learn more about Lonnie Mansell from the Green and Gold News announcement.

Listen to the Informania interview with Lonnie Mansell.

On Informania, Lonnie shares that part of updating the UAA Campus Master Plan includes collecting information about UAA community needs and interests through interviews, meetings and blog comments, and then analyzing the information.  You can find a link to more information about the UAA Master Plan 2012 , as well as a comment blog on the lower righthand side of UAA’s home page.

Social Work Professor Kathi Trawver talks about her research on mental health courts on Informania, Monday at 9am or Thursday at 5pm on KRUA, 88.1, The Edge.

Listen to the Informania interview with Kathi Trawver .

Kathi Trawver earned her Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin in 2011, and her Master of Social Work from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 1998.  Professor Trawver’s curriculum vitae can be viewed at  http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/socialwork/Directory/Faculty/krtrawver.cfm

Kathi’s doctoral research was on Mental Health Courts.  You can access the full text of her dissertation, titled Who Succeeds in Mental Health Courts? Identifying Predictors Related to Program Retention and Legal Recidivism, by going to http://search.proquest.com/docview/1095109332 If you are unable to access it from this link, go to www.consortiumlibrary.org, and type in mental health courts and Trawver in the QuickSearch box.  Her dissertation will result near the top of the page of your search results.  Click on the title, and log in with your user name and password to view the dissertation.  The following abstract (summary) of her dissertation is from the ProQuest Dissertation/Theses Online database.

Who Succeeds in Mental Health Courts? Identifying Predictors Related to Program Retention and Legal Recidivism

Trawver, Kathi R.View Profile. The University of Texas at Austin, ProQuest, UMI Dissertations Publishing, 2011. 3530277.

Abstract (summary)

The purpose of this research was to examine “who ” was best served by a mental health court (MHC) by identifying the characteristics of participants that were predictive of six-month post opt-in program retention and non-recidivism. Participants were 148 available adults who had recently enrolled in 1 of 4 west coast MHCs, were diagnosed with an Axis I schizo-spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, or major depression, were legally competent, and provided informed consent. This court-based exploratory study used structured in-person interviews to administer standardized measures to collect demographic, socioeconomic, criminal history, psychiatric, substance use/misuse, health, motivation to change, and therapeutic alliance characteristic data. Additional data were provided by the MHC study sites. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 64 ( M = 36.56, SD = 11.81) and most had less than a high school education (M = 11.46, SD = 2.49). Participants were more typically male (61%), white (58%), unmarried (93%), unemployed (92%), had a prior felony (57%), and were diagnosed with schizophrenia (49%) and a comorbid substance use disorder (68%). At 6-month follow-up, 72% of the participants remained enrolled in MHC and 55% remained arrest-free. Results from chi-square and independent sample t -test analyses showed significant differences in the years of education, GAF scores, number of contacts with a mental health professional, and strength of therapeutic alliance with the MHC judge between retained and not retained participants. A significant logistic regression model identified that more years of education, a higher number of contacts with a mental health professional, and a stronger therapeutic alliance with the MHC judge were significant predictors of participants’ program retention. Additionally, significant differences were found between recidivating and non-recidivating participants’ age, ethnicity, education, income, housing, prior criminal history (e.g., prior charges, arrests, and jail days), GAF scores, BPRS scores, AUDIT scores, DAST scores, and comorbid substance use disorder. Another significant regression model identified being older, more educated, white, and having income other than SSI/SSDI were predictive of non-recidivism. MHC programs may use these findings to better assess potential participants, provide more targeted treatment and other related support services, and consider ways to strengthen their working alliance with participants.

Learn about the UAA Justice Center and criminology research from Professor Marny Rivera, Monday at 9am or Thursday at 5pm, on the KRUA (88.1) radio show, Informania.

Deb the Librarian interviewed Associate Proefessor Marny Rivera on Monday, February 17, 2013 on KRUA, 88.1, The Edge.  This program will be replayed on Thursday, February 21, 2013 at 5pm.  You can also listen to the interview conversation with Dr. Rivera by clicking here:  http://www.kruaradio.org/informania-with-dr-marny-rivera/

Dr. Marny Rivera received her PhD in Criminology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2002.  This week on Informania she talks about the immense amount of research conducted by faculty in the Justice Center.  Where can you search for research published by Justice Center faculty?  A list of publications, presentations and research products by the Justice Center and Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center products can be accessed by publication title or subject search through the Justice Center’s Research Database.

Dr. Rivera also shared information about the academic programs offered through the Justice Center.  Academic programs are offered in two areas:  1) Justice and 2) Legal Studies/Paralegal.  The programs under Justice include a Bachelor of Arts in Justice, a Minor in Justice, and a Master of Public Administration with a Criminal Justice emphasis.  Under Legal Studies/Paralegal the programs include a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies, a Minor in Legal Studies, an Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies, a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Paralegal Studies, and a Legal Nurse Consultant (LNC) Paralegal Certificate.  Justice Center faculty also provide pre-law advising for UAA students.

Are you interested in extra-curricular activities related to justice?  Good news!  There is a Justice Club at UAA!  For more information, go to  http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/justice/studentclubs/justiceclub.cfm

Songs played on Informania this week included “Information”, by Dredg; and “Who are you?” by The Who.

Philosophy Professor Terry Kelly talks about his research concerning “what is a promise” on Informania, Monday at 9:00am on KRUA, 88.1 FM, and repeated Thursday at 5:00pm.

Professor Kelly received his doctoral degree from St. Louis University in 1998.  His dissertation, Rationality, reflexivity, and agency in the critique of everyday life, can be accessed through Dissertations and Theses Online, which the Consortium Library subscribes to.  To find his dissertation, copy the title into the QuickSearch search box at www.consortiumlibrary.org, click search and his dissertation will be the first record that comes up.

See a list of other research conducted by Terry Kelly at http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/philosophy/faculty/terry_kelly.cfm.

Pew Research Center Report, “Library Services in the Digital Age” discussed on Informania radio show (KRUA, 88.1)

As part of the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project, Pew conducted a national survey of 2,252 Americans, ages 16 and older, about their perceptions and expectations of America’s libraries.  The survey interviews were conducted through calls to people’s cell phones and landlines between October 15 and November 10, 2012, and done in English and Spanish.  Read the the Library Services in the Digital Age report at http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2013/01/22/library-services/.

 

Learn about the UAA Experimental Economics Laboratory from Professor Lance Howe on the Informania radio show, Thursday at 5pm on KRUA 88.1.

Hear a replay of the interview with Assistant Professor of Economics, Lance Howe, December 24 at 9am and December 27 at 5pm on KRUA, 88.1, The Edge.

On Thursday, December 6, at 5pm, Assistant Professor of Economics, Lance Howe, spoke on Informania about the Experimental Economics Laboratory at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Professor Howe shared information about the history of economics, starting with Adam Smith, “the father of economics.”

Professor Howe also shared information about the influence of experimental economics by Dr. Vernon Smith, Nobel Prize winner in Economics in 2002.  Vernon Smith (http://economics.gmu.edu/people/vsmithemeritus) has been a great asset in the development of Experimental Economics at the University of Alaska Anchorage.  Dr. Smith was the first Rasmuson Chair of Economics at UAA in 2003.  What a first-rate way to begin a successful experimental economics program!

Lance Howe also shared information about the International Foundation for Research in Experimental Economics (IFREE), inspired by Dr. Vernon Smith and Mary Caslin Ross.  IFREE supports research and education in experimental economics.  IFREE has sponsored experimental economics workshops at UAA.  For more information, go to:  http://www.ifreeweb.org/about/index.php.

Read about Exploring Frontier Economics in Alaska, by IFREE Alumni Kyle Hampton at http://www.ifreeweb.org/WhatWeDo/FrontierEconAlaska.php

For information about the Experimental Economics Lab in the College of Business and Public Policy at the University of Alaska Anchorage, go to:  http://econlab.uaa.alaska.edu/