Academic libraries are integral to the teaching and learning missions of colleges and universities. Yet, libraries continue to face substantial challenges in their work to advance student learning, especially regarding the sustainability and scalability of their instructional efforts. This paper describes a phenomenographic research project that…

This paper identifies approaches, challenges, and best practices related to planning and designing today's academic library learning spaces. As part of the Project Information Literacy (PIL) Practitioner Series, qualitative data is presented from 49 interviews conducted with a sample of academic librarians, architects, and library consultants.…

This article describes a strengths-based approach to supervised visitation within the child welfare system of the United States. Supervised visitation gives parents accused of abuse or neglect the opportunity to spend time with children temporarily removed from their care. Although supervised visitation has the potential to be a tool for promoting…

The May primary election added seven school district referenda to the total number occurring in Indiana since 2008, three of which passed and four of which were rejected by voters. In the 2011 primary election, there were five General Fund referenda and two construction referenda. Of General Fund referenda, two passed (Crown Point Community School…

Statistics in the Community (STATCOM) is a student-run statistical consulting program that has been serving its local community since 2001. Directed and staffed by graduate students from Purdue University's Department of Statistics, it provides professional consulting services to governmental and nonprofit groups free of charge. Students work in…

THE ACTIVITIES OF A PILOT CONFERENCE FOR THE DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION IN VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL MEDIA WERE REPORTED. THE PURPOSES OF THE CONFERENCE WERE (1) TO DEMONSTRATE THE USES OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF EQUIPMENT, PROCESSES, AND METHODS FOR TELEVISION (TV) USAGE IN EDUCATION, (2) TO RELATE TV TO OTHER MEDIA USED IN EDUCATION, (3) TO PROVIDE WAYS…

Possible advisory committee roles and responsibilities, and some examples of these in action, are described and discussed. Included are the Indiana State Advisory Council on Vocational Education's recommendations for maintaining an active advisory committee, which are based on the assumption that a board can be effective only if it receives…

Based on the author's experiences working with several elementary schools, this article explores numerous issues confronting change agents who venture directly into grass-roots school reform projects. Focus is on the change-agent role and issues concerning ideology, power, and commitment. Outside consultants should be participants rather than…

Described is a training institute for teachers and school community workers who would be working in preschool centers. Trainees spent their mornings doing their field work in a Head Start classroom and afternoons in discussion groups with their instructors. Consultants from various disciplines addressed the training group. The school community…

Describes the Kentuckiana Metroversity Linking project, a consortium of academic and public libraries using the Z39.50 information retrieval protocol to provide service to Greater Louisville and Southern Indiana. Topics addressed include the Z39.50 standard, the consultant's role, addressing technical issues, Internet vs. dial-in access,…

Discipline-specific consulting has a critical place in any university as a form of community outreach. For example, when government and nonprofit organizations need objective information for decision making, a university-driven consulting program providing free services can fulfill their needs. We show how this can be accomplished by describing a…

The Gary plan of "work-study-play" was the brainchild of William Wirt (1874-1938), though largely influenced by the philosophy of John Dewey (1859-1952). Introduced in 1907 to the schools of Gary, Indiana, by Superintendent of Schools Wirt, the Gary plan had organizational and curriculum features that fostered hands-on activities…

The objective of this program was to increase the awareness of locally-elected public officials, who must be considered among the key decision-makers of northwest Indiana, to the impacts of their decisions on environmental quality in this heavily industrialized region. Conferences and workshops were held to accomplish this objective and the…