Preparation Continues for Accreditation Review
top floor of the King Library building and were to relocate to the Little Fine Arts Library with the completion of the final phase of renovation. In addition, phase 3 included other facilities for the School As we reported in the spring 2010 newsletter, the School is Phase 3 has been revised substantially, and in the Propreparing for ALA periodic comprehensive accreditation gram Presentation we write: “Plans for this area have review. Accreditation is the responsibility of the Committee evolved over time in response to changing University needs on Accreditation, which, according to the ALA Web site, is and strategic opportunities within our College. Current plans “a standing committee of the American Library Association dedicate approximately 350 sq ft for responsible for the implementation of the McConnell Center, 100 sq ft for a the accreditation of library and inforserver room, and an area of shared mation studies programs. The COA cubicle space as well as offices for the develops and formulates standards of Dean and other college personnel and education for library and information a conference room. The remaining studies and policies and procedures space of the phase 3 renovation will for ALA accreditation.” The current include two University smart classstandards were adopted by the ALA rooms of 870 sq ft each, that the ColCouncil on January 15, 2008. lege will have priority access to, and The School must produce a Program the College Knowledge Center. The Presentation in which the six standards College Knowledge Center includes a are addressed. Director Jeff Huber sent Risk Sciences Center, a Center for copies of the draft Program PresentaInstructional Communication, a Distion to members of the School’s Advisemination and Implementation Scisory Council the first of August, for ence Lab, faculty offices, and the ColAnne Bradley (left) accepts the their review. Advisory Council memlege Graduate Program offices as well LISSO Leadership Award from bers’ comments led to further as cubicle space for Research AssisLiz Siler as Jeff Huber looks on revisions to the draft document. tants, Graduate Assistants, and TeachThe comprehensive review is following a schedule that ing Assistants. The last stage of the renovations will transirequires the School to submit the draft Program Presentation the former SLIS student commons area to College purtion to the Office for Accreditation and the External Review poses, including the Dean’s suite, a conference room, and Panel chair at the end of October. They will review the other staff offices.” The two classrooms were completed in draft and may ask for clarification and possibly additional September, while work continues on the rest of phase 3. information. If revisions are required, they will be made in time to deliver the final Program Presentation mid-January. Internship: An Important Option Members of the ERP are to be on campus February 28 – Available in the Master’s Program March 1. The Committee on Accreditation announces the results of comprehensive reviews twice yearly. The comprehensive Although some ALA-accredited programs require an internreview schedule the School is on calls for COA action to be ship, the School does not. However, we recognize the imannounced at the 2011 Annual Conference. portance of an internship to the student who has no library work experience, and through our professional field experience course, LIS 675, we provide the means for a student Work Underway on Final Renovation Phase not only to have an internship but also to earn three hours of credit toward either the MSLS or MA degree. In addition to When the architect developed the plans to renovate the third School-initiated LIS 675 placements, it is not unusual for a floor of the Little Fine Arts Library building, she provided library director or department head to get in touch with the for three phases. Phase 1 was two classrooms. The School School to ask that information be distributed about an inwould schedule them first each semester, and the Registrar ternship. Some are paid; others are not. Some are done in would assign classes to them at times the School did not use conjunction with LIS 675; others are not. We are aware of them. Phase 1 also included a room with more than twotwo internships in recent years that, in each case, led to the dozen work stations, which the School would schedule exlibrary’s creating a professional position for the person, due clusively. Finally, in the first phase, what was the staff to her performance in the internship. lounge when the third floor held library staff was renovated Although most LIS 675 internships are in one of the very nicely as a student lounge along with a kitchen. Phase population centers where there are significant numbers of 1 was completed in January 2003. the School’s students – Lexington, Louisville, northern Phase 2 was the School’s administrative and faculty ofKentucky/Cincinnati – we will consider a placement anyfices and two conference rooms, and the School moved where, as long as there is a suitable institution with a person from the fifth floor of the King Library building to the third qualified and willing to serve as the student’s placement floor of Little Fine Arts Library building in October 2007. supervisor. Several summers ago a student had a summer The computer lab and McConnell Center remained on the Fall 2010
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