NCSU Libraries Focus Online

Volume 23 number 3 - Spring 2003

NCSU Libraries Wins Library of the Future Award

By Linda Saunders, Research and Information Services

The NCSU Libraries' newly enhanced tutorial LOBO (Library Online Basic Orientation) has received the 2003 American Library Association (ALA)/Information Today Library of the Future Award. The award will be presented to library representatives at the ALA annual conference in Toronto, Canada, in June. In addition to a framed citation of achievement, the Libraries will receive a check for $1,500. The award is given for "innovative planning for, applications of, or development of patron training programs about information technology in a library setting."

During summer 2002, NCSU librarians in the Research and Information Services Department collaborated with other library staff and with NC State English faculty to revise LOBO. LOBO uses several information technologies to help students learn the information literacy process. These features include keyword search strategy builders, citation builders, viewlets, and wizards. Viewlets are extremely compact movie files, which can demonstrate how to use a technology. Because viewlets are small, any dial-up user with a 56k modem can watch one within seconds. LOBO students watch annotated movies of catalog and database searches. Another new feature is a link to the "Ask A Librarian LIVE" virtual reference service, providing an interactive, real-time connection between students and reference librarians.

Tom Sloan, chair of the ALA award committee, cited these innovations as key to LOBO's selection for the award. He added, "The Jury also recognized that LOBO was developed through a partnership between librarians and freshmen composition instructors."