RTL Shares: Lightning Lesson Exposition

Thursday, December 14, 3:00-4:30, Lamont Library Forum Room

The Law School Library and Baker Library have implemented a new type of research training. How can you teach more people in less time? We suggest the Lightning Lesson - an on-the-go instruction method for training researchers on discrete tasks in five minutes or less. This instruction method occurs in high traffic areas, and is no more than five minutes per interaction. Through trial and error we honed in on what worked and what didn't, adapting and, in some cases, increasing our interactions with students by as much as twenty times!

Take your Lightning Lesson out for a test run or come experience some Lightning Lessons first hand to get a feel for the experience. Presenters will offer their Lightning Lessons at tables throughout the space with selected presenters offering pop up talks on different aspects of Lightning Lessons. Then presenters will come together to discuss the experience, what worked, what didn’t, and what you be taking away with you.

Presenters must sign up in advance; any and all attendees are welcome to come enjoy the experience.

Questions? Please contact ablechner@law.harvard.edu for more information.

RTL Shares: Podcasting for Librarians

Cabot Science Library Instruction Room, Thursday, November 16, 3:00-4:30

Please join RTL Shares for an introduction to podcasting for and in libraries! Learn about the process of creating the Houghton 75 Podcast, from sound checks to scripting to post-production, and find out how students are using spaces and technology in Cabot Science and Lamont libraries to produce their own podcasts. After the presentations, you’ll have an opportunity to see the Cabot Science Library Media Studios.

Presenters

  • James Capobianco, Christina Linklater, and Hannah Spencer-Ferello, Houghton Library
  • Susan Berstler and Joanna Huang, Cabot Science Library 

RTL Shares: New Media Consortium Conference Follow-Up

Thursday, July 13, 2017, 3:00-4:30 PM, Lamont Library Forum Room

Following on the New Media Consortium’s annual summer conference this year in Boston, the Harvard Library staff who attended NMC invite you to a NMC follow-up open session to share perspectives and build campus community around new media in education. This follow-up meeting will be a step toward identifying a few short term and maybe longer term actionable items for the Library to build upon its current services related to new media as it relates to our work and services provided through the Library.

The New Media Consortium issues the annual Horizon reports, trend and technology forecasts for education, libraries, and museums: 

RTL Shares: Preservation Basics for Mini-Exhibitions

Thursday, April. 20, 2017 3:00 – 4:30 PM, Lamont Library Forum Room

Co-sponsored by RTL Shares and Harvard Library Preservation Services.

Harvard staff responsible for creating exhibits or loaning materials for exhibition are invited to a program that explores the best methods for safe display of books, flat paper and photographs. A combination lecture and hands-on format will offer practical advice about and simple guidelines for putting together small, one-case exhibitions within your library. The group will present useful timelines, resources and checklists as well as offer an opportunity to discuss the best way to safely exhibit library treasures. Hands-on activities and refreshments will be provided. Bring your reusable mug!

RTL Shares Visit to MIT Libraries and Book Marks Exhibit

Thursday, March 16th 3:30-5, MIT Libraries

Attendees met at the MIT Rotch Library and were greeted by Anna Boutin, Librarian for the School of Architecture and Planning (SA+P) and Tom Gearty, SA+P Director of Communications and curator of the Book Marks exhibition. He answered questions while participants viewed Book Marks. Anna led a tour of the library. Refreshments were served at a social with members of MIT's Liaison, Instruction, & Reference Services team, who then led small group tours of other MIT Libraries.

RTL Shares: The Mindbug of Unconscious Bias

Friday, February 24, 2017, 9:30-11:00 AM, Lamont Forum Room

As educators, we strive to interact with others in a fair way that’s consistent with our values. But sometimes that doesn’t happen. Jack Cao, a 4th year PhD candidate in Harvard University's Psychology Department, presented on how unconscious biases may play a role. He introduced the group to the Implicit-Association Test (IAT), currently the best method for measuring bias. He also recommended the book Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People.

RTL Shares: Student Practices and Mental Models in HOLLIS+

Thursday, February 16, 2017, 3:00-4:30 PM, Lamont Forum Room

How do students search for known citations and how do they troubleshoot when they hit a barrier? How do they interpret the “Find it @ Harvard” button in HOLLIS+? How does all of this impact our teaching?

After a presentation of findings from HOLLIS+ Usability Studies, we will gather together to uncover the implications of these findings for teaching and what we could do differently to better meet users where they are.