Library Practicum

Syllabus & Handbook to Fieldwork LIBM495/595

School of Education
Library Media Program
Black Hills State University

Spring Semester, 2015

2 Semester Credits

Michael Tolan, Education Instructor / Librarian

E.Y. Berry Library, #102 (Technical Services)

& 605.642.6356

2:30-4:30 M-F or by appointment

Course Prerequisites:N/A.

Technology Requirements: No specialized equipment, software, or accessories are required. Students need only access to a personal computer, internet connection, and some form of word processing software (for creation of fieldwork files uploaded to D2L).

Course Requirements: A 90-hour fieldwork resulting in 2 semester hour credits (or comparable experiential substitution – see below).

Instructional Methods:This course is exclusively fieldwork hourscoupled with the associated feedback and evaluation paperwork.
Textbook(s) / Readings:By definition, the Practicum does not include a traditional classroom/lecture component. It is also not built around an assigned textbook with exam and/or term paper. Documented, mentor-supervised, library-based experience is the course.
Course Communication: Because of the uniqueness of the Practicum as a “course”, students in the field will have little student-to-student contact via D2L. Students will have regular communication with the Practicum Instructor via weekly log reportsand other required Practicum projects and assessments.
Fieldwork Problems/ Concerns: Any student experiencing or witnessing a serious problem at the site library or with the Mentor, etc., should not rely on the D2L system for email notification, and should instead telephone the Practicum instructor immediately.

Attendance: Excellent attendance is required in any field experience. All absences must be recorded in the weekly log reports and, if possible, cleared with the Mentor beforehand. Unexcused absences may lead to the removal of the student from the Practicum site. The Practicum is a professional experience, and the highest standards of behavior are expected. Actions falling short of this may lead to termination of the fieldwork. Students with documented misconduct, including but not limited to inappropriate use of private information, inappropriate actions involving patrons or guests, etc., may be removed at any time from the site library and given a course grade of “F”.

Academic Integrity Policy Statement (per “Academic Dishonesty”):Cheating and other forms of academic dishonesty run contrary to the purpose of higher education and will not be tolerated in this course. Academic dishonesty includes (but is not limited to) plagiarism, copying answers or work done by another student (either on an exam or on out-of-class assignments), allowing another student to copy from you, and using unauthorized materials during an exam. Academic dishonesty is a serious offense and could result in failure on an assignment or course. To the extent possible, all incidents will be resolved in discussions between the student and faculty member. As necessary, the chair and then the dean may become involved to resolve the issue. If academic dishonesty is established, a report describing the incident and its resolution will be filed in the offices of the dean and provost. In cases where a satisfactory outcome is not achieved through this process, students may appeal to the University’s Academic Appeals Committee.

Course Goals: This 2-credit course (90 supervised hours) is an opportunity for students to apply knowledge acquired from the LIBM program and experience first-hand the many tasks (instruction, policies & guidelines, management, patron services, automation, fiscal & procedural duties, etc.) and responsibilities associated with running a functioning library and/or school media center.

Course Outcomes:Unlike a traditional classroomor e-course, in a fieldwork each student’s experience is individualized. This is so in terms of the setting (school, college, public library, museum, etc.), the facility (funding, clientele, budget, teaching demands, etc.), Mentor (education, experience, library and non-library demands, ties to testing and the curriculum, workload, etc.), and long-term employment goals. The fundamental goal of the LIBM fieldwork is to provide an opportunity for practical, hands-on, library-specific education.

Experiential Substitution:Licensed South Dakotateacherslikely qualify for an experiential substitution; advanced undergraduate education students pursuing teaching careers in South Dakota, may qualify for the same. Wyoming students are held to a different standard, however working WY teacher-librarians with 2 or more years of recent school library experience may qualify for the substitution. Those individuals interested in this experiential substitution option are encouraged to contact the BHSU Office of Field Experience:

Evaluation Procedures (Grading): The Practicum is not a pass-fail course. All grading is on a ten-percentscale: A=90% (360+ points), B=80% (320-359), C=70% (280-319),etc.

50Practicum agreement (set-up document)

50Weekly log reports (all)

100Student’s assessment of the Practicum

100Mentor’s assessment of Student’s Practicum

100Instructor’s assessment of Student’s Practicum

400

Locating a Site Library for Your Practicum: Students locate and propose library sites for their Practicum (exception: students interested in the Rapid City Area Schools, RCAS; these students list a grade requirement and are then assigned a site library based on the RCAS Field Placement Request form –see D2L or the School of Education’s Office of Field Experience for a copy). The Office of FieldExperience and the Practicum instructor approve every site and Mentor. Non-teaching students will be able to perform their Practicum at almost any type of library, while working teachers and paraprofessionals (in and outside the library) might have the library type dictated for them by their goals and the relevant K-12 Endorsement demands. If you have questions or concerns, contact your Practicum instructor.

Locating a Mentor for Your Practicum: It is not essential that the Mentor possess the K-12 Library Media Endorsement and/or a graduate degree in library or information science. What is essential is that the Mentor has directorial control of the library, an appropriate vision for the facility and the role it plays in the institution or community, is committed to the students and/or patrons, and views the Practicum as a professional experience. All of these factors are essential for a meaningful fieldwork experience.

Mentor / Employer Eligibility: The following qualifications must be met:
  • The Practicum site must be a fully functional library, serving patrons on a regular basis.
  • The Mentor should have either a professional library education or comparable library experience.
  • The Mentor should have sufficient staff allowing her to serve as a professional guide and supervisor.
  • The Mentor has a desire to participate in the program in order to improve the preparation of library personnel.
  • The site library may be required to provide Workmen’s Compensation and disability coverage for the Student.
  • Practica may be paid or unpaid and the status of which must be determined beforefieldwork hours are initiated.
  • For unpaid Practica,initially, the Mentor need only agree to and sign the PracticumProposal / Agreement form.
  • For paid Practica, the Mentor will provide a written job description and sign the Practicum Proposal / Agreement form.

Responsibilities of the Mentor / Employer: Participating Mentors are asked to fulfill the following responsibilities:

  • Complete and sign the Mentor Profile / Practicum Agreement form.
  • Allow the student to experience a variety of tasks and assignments.
  • Train and supervise the intern for the duration of the fieldwork experience.
  • Provide liability insurance and workmen’s compensation coverage for the Student.
  • Review, if required, the student’s weekly log forms for completeness and accuracy.
  • Converse with the Practicum instructor (if necessary) to discuss the student’s performance.
  • Complete the Student’s Practicum final assessment form and deliver directly to the Instructor.
  • If applicable, offer insights into the apparent strengths and/or weaknesses of the BHSU library media program.

Responsibilities of the Practicum Instructor:The Practicum instructor is expected to:

  • Oversee all administrative responsibilities associated with the Practicum.
  • Serve, if and when necessary, as a mediator between the Mentor and Student.
  • Converse with the Mentor/Student (if necessary) during the fieldwork experience.
  • Provide students with answers/feedback on any Practicum-related work, projects, etc.
  • Determine and record the student’s final letter grade (the Practicum is not a pass-fail course).
  • Collect, evaluate, and maintain all Practicum and course-related records and paperwork for students.

Responsibilities of the Library Practicum Student: Participating students in the Library Media program are required to:

  • Represent BHSU in a professional manner at all times.
  • Fulfill the duties and responsibilities outlined in all Practicum forms.
  • Locate an appropriate library and complete the Practicum Proposal / Agreement.
  • Provide the Mentor with Profile/Practicum Agreement form, for review and signature.
  • Insure that the 45-hours per-credit Practicum workload was covered at the site library.
  • Investigate site libraries for fieldwork suitability (unless seeking placement in Rapid City Area Schools).
  • If seeking placement in Rapid City Area Schools, complete Section1 of the RCAS Field Placement Request.
  • Treat the Practicum fieldwork as a professional job, striving to perform all duties to the best of one’s abilities.
  • Maintain a weekly log listing specific objectives, insights, tasks, problems encountered during fieldwork hours.
  • Send your Mentor a thank-you letter and deliver a copy of this to the Practicum Instructor via the D2L dropbox.
  • Fill out a Practicum assessment, to be returned directly to the Practicum Instructor (not the Mentor), via D2L dropbox.

Receiving theK-12 Library Media Endorsement: Completing the Library Practicum, the LIBM Program, receiving the Library Media Minor, becoming a certified teacher, and receiving a State K-12 Library Media Endorsement, are all separate steps (none of these things entails another). The endorsement may only be added to a State teaching license (if you are not a teacher, you cannot be awarded the K-12 teaching endorsement). How you apply for the K-12 Endorsement is explained in a D2L course file. The SD and WY processes differ.

ADA Statement: Reasonable accommodations, as arranged through the Disabilities Services Coordinator, will be provided students with documented disabilities. Contact the BHSU Disabilities Services Coordinator, Mike McNeil, at 605-642-6099, (Woodburn 134), fax number 605.642.6099, or via email at for more information. Additional information can also be found at:
Academic Freedom & Responsibility – Freedom in Learning: Under Board of Regents and University policy student academic performance may be evaluated solely on an academic basis, not on opinions or conduct in matters unrelated to academic standards. Students should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion, but they are responsible for learning the content of any course of study for which they are enrolled. Students who believe that an academic evaluation reflects prejudiced or capricious consideration of student opinions or conduct unrelated to academic standards should contact their school dean to initiate a review of the evaluation.

The Mission of the School of Education is to prepare

competent, confident, and caring professionals.

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