ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries 782 / C&RL News ■ N ovem ber 1998 C O N F E R E N C E C I R C U I T Institute for Information Literacy Immersion ’99 An invitation to apply ACRL’s Institute for Information Literacy (IIL) is pleased to an n o u n ce ILL’s Immersion ’99 pro­ gram. Whether your insti­ tution is just beginning to think about implementing an information literacy com ponent or w hether you have a program well under way, Immersion ’99 will provide instruction librarians with the intellectual tools and practical techniques to help institutions build or enhance their instruction pro­ grams. This program will be four-and-one-half days of intensive training and education (July 23-28, 1999, at Plattsburgh State University o f New York) for current an d future instruction librar­ ians. Participation is limited to 80 to ensure an environm ent that fosters group interaction and active participation. Acceptance to the Immer­ sion Program is competitive. Description Immersion ’99 will offer tw o tracks: TRACK I: d e sig n e d fo r n e w librarians and librarians n e w to teaching. The curricu­ lum will focus on six fundamental areas including: • foundations: concepts of information literacy and its relationship to critical thinking; • learning theory: as it relates to instructional de­ sign and developing as a teacher; • praxis: making the connection between theory and practice using teaching techniques and learn­ ing technologies; • assessment: including theory and practice; • programming and management; and • working in the academic environment. Participants will develop personal portfolios and group projects based on individual needs and interests. Participants will also have opportuni­ ties to work with the librarians enrolled in Track II throughout the program. TRACK II: d esig n ed fo r ex p e r ie n c e d in ­ struction librarians w h o seek to further de­ velop, integrate, o r advance an inform ation literacy program w ith in their institution. Participants will develop and share individual case studies in advance of the immersion program through the Immersion ’99 class Web site. Change dynamics, systems thinking, institutional outcomes assessment, scalability, distributed learning and the integration of teaching, learning, and technology will be brought to bear on analyzing the various programmatic challenges presented in the case studies. Seminar participants will be expected to develop an action plan for implementation and possible inclusion in a “best practices” report six months after the program. A faculty o f nationally rec o g n ize d librar­ ians and scholars is developing the curriculum and will be teaching the program. Members of the faculty are Mary Jane Petrowksi, lead fac­ ulty m e m b er (C olgate U niversity); E u g en e Engeldinger (Carthage College); Randy Hensley (U n iv e rsity o f H aw aii); D e b ra G ilc h rist (Pierce College); Jo a n Kaplowitz (University o f C alifornia at Los A ngeles); a n d Sharon M ader (Christian Brothers University). Costs Registration: $995 includes tuition, instructional materials, Friday night reception, room (residence hall living), and all meals, with the exception of one evening (which will be on your own). C&RL N ew s ■ N ovem b er 1998 / 783 Application information 1. The IIL application process requires that all documents in the application package be re­ ceived by the due date, including cover letter, statement, recommendations, one-page re­ sume, and scholarship application. 2. Read this information carefully. Make sure you address each element of the process. 3. No handwritten information may be submitted. 4. Please provide four copies of your complete application. Y our e n tir e a p p lica tio n p ack age is d ue by ja n u a ry 8 ,1999, and should be sent to: Cerise O berm an, Institute for Inform ation Literacy, Feinberg Library, 2 Draper Avenue, Plattsburgh, NY 12901, Fax: (518) 564-5100, e-m ail: Cerise.Obemian@plattsburgh.edu. Your completed application package should contain: 1. A co v e r letter that confirms your applica­ tion and the financial support if you are ac­ cepted to the program. 2. A one-page resum e. 3. T w o le tte r s o f referen ce from y o u r cu r­ rent supervisor, a professor, a colleague, faculty m em ber, o r an y o n e w h o can ex ­ plain how Immersion ’99 will enhance your professional developm ent an d further in­ stitutional goals. Graduate students should subm it a letter from their d ea n an d a p ro ­ fessor. P lease n o te, letters m u st a cco m ­ p a n y th e a p p lica tio n . 4. For Track I applicants, no more than a two- page statem ent that includes: • an explanation o f w hy you w an t to at­ tend; • your interest in and experience with infor­ mation literacy; • your teaching experience; and • an indication of scholarship need, if you are applying for one of the three types of scholarships being offered. Please be clear w hich of the scholarships you are inter­ ested in and why. See below for details: —new librarian —minority librarian —graduate school student. 5. For Track II applicants, no more than a three- page statement that includes: • a 500-600 w ord description of the prob­ lems or challenges you w ould like to ad­ dress with respect to your current infor­ m ation literacy program . In p rep arin g your statement, please review “The In­ fo rm atio n Literacy Institutional Q u o ­ tient Test” in the May 1998 C&RL News, pp. 348-349 an d o n th e Web ‹ h t t p : / / w w w . ala. o rg /ac rl/n ili/n ilih p . h tm l› ; • an assessment of your institution’s current commitment to information literacy; • an explanation of how you and your insti­ tution will enhance information literacy in your environment following the Immer­ sions program; and • your interest in and experience with infor­ mation literacy. T he Institute for Inform ation Literacy Ad­ visory G roup will review all applications. Suc­ cessful applicants will be notified by mail or e- mail by late February; successful applicants will b e ask ed to confirm their acceptance shortly thereafter. Q uestions concerning the applica­ tion process, finances, a n d /o r available schol­ a rsh ip s sh o u ld b e a d d re sse d to: Mary Ellen Davis, ACRL, 50 E. H u ro n Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611, (800) 545-2433, ext. 2511, e- mail: medavis@ala.org. Scholarships ACRL is offering ten scholarships to the Immer­ sion ’99 program. The scholarships will cover reg­ istration, room, and board. Recipients must be ACRL members, currently em ployed in an aca­ demic library, or a library school student in good standing. • N e w lib r a r ia n s ( 4 s c h o la r s h ip s ) : These scholarships are limited to applicants w ho have been in academic librarianship for two years or less. • M in o r it y l i b r a r i a n s ( 4 s c h o l a r ­ s h ip s): These scholarships are limited to th o se w h o have b e e n in academ ic librarianship for five years or less. • L ib r a r y s c h o o l g r a d u a t e s tu d e n ts ( 2 s c h o la r s h ip s ): These scholarships are limited to individuals planning a career in academic librarianship with instruction as a primary interest or specialization. Schol­ arship recipients must be graduate students in good standing. Location Plattsburgh State University of New York is lo­ cated in the fabulous Lake Champlain/Adirondack Mountain region. The campus is an hour drive to Montreal, Canada; Lake Placid, New York; and Burlington, Vermont. ■ mailto:Cerise.Obemian@plattsburgh.edu mailto:medavis@ala.org