The new issue of CJCL, the first that I have curated as editor, covers a range of topics as eclectic as the institutions and librarians that are represented in the title of this journal. I hope that you will find something of interest to you and, perhaps, even something that will have an impact on your work.
Wayne Finley's article “Graphic Novels in Community and Junior College Libraries” should be accompanied by apologies to both the author and my predecessor, Wendell Johnson. During the handover of the reins, this article was lost. It was meant to be published with a special issue on popular culture that was published as Volume 21, Issue 1-2. If you are interested in other articles like this one, you should see that special issue.
The article by Carlos Argüelles, “Information Literacy Instruction and Assessment in a Community College: A Collaborative Design” provides a case study of a road map for implementing the process of designing a new course. One of the important points in the article is that one of the motivating factors was an accreditation process. It is important to monitor departments that are up for accreditation and have librarians involved in both issues of collections and curriculum design. Many accrediting bodies have incorporated information literacy goals into their curricular standards (though they may use different terms), so librarians must be at the table to offer their expertise. A similar note was sounded in a short piece by Mark Coltrain in Volume 21, Issue 1-2, in a piece entitled “Collaboration: Rethinking Roles and Strengthening Relationships.”
Another article that completes the report of something from a previous issue is the article, “Utilizing Web 2.0 Technologies for Library Web Tutorials: An Examination of Instruction on Community College Libraries’ Websites Serving Large Student Bodies” by Barbara Blummer and Jeffrey M. Kenton. They offer a quantitative look at how libraries are utilizing their websites for sharing tutorials. This is yet another argument for community college libraries to better utilize their websites.
One final piece that is offered, “Professional Identity Development among Graduate Library and Information Studies Online Learners: A Mixed Methods Study” by Rebecca A. Croxton, looks at the growing phenomenon of online professional education for librarians and how it can be strengthened by participation in professional conferences and internships or practicums. If you are in a position to offer internships in your institution, you might be surprised to find out that there are library students living in your community and ready to work with you.
I hope that you will consider lending your voice to the journal. I am looking for longer, research results, literature reviews, book or electronic resource reviews, and opinions about current topics. I would especially be interested in short pieces about unique services or collections found in your community college or junior college library. Please come join the conversation.