“But I’m not an Engineer”… Collaboration between a Librarian and an Upper Division Project-Based Engineering Program
- Conference
- Location
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Minneapolis, MN
- Publication Date
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August 23, 2022
- Start Date
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June 26, 2022
- End Date
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June 29, 2022
- Conference Session
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Engineering Libraries Division Technical Session 7: Library Collaboration
- Page Count
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13
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--40493
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/40493
- Download Count
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192
Paper Authors
Rebecca Bates Minnesota State University, Mankato
Becky Bates received the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Washington. She also received the M.T.S . degree from Harvard Divinity School. She is currently Professor and Chair of the Department of Integrated Engineering at Minnesota State University, Mankato, home of the Iron Range and Twin Cities Engineering programs.
Rob Sleezer Minnesota State University, Mankato
Rob Sleezer serves as an associate professor in the Department of Integrated Engineering at Minnesota State University, Mankato. As an active member in ASEE and IEEE Rob works to connect the learning of engineering to the practice of engineering. He supports learning across the breadth of electrical engineering and facilitates a seminar where student engineers engage in design and professional learning.
Heidi Southworth Minnesota State University, Mankato
I am the Digital Initiatives Librarian and Associate Professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato and manager of Cornerstone, our University's Institutional Repository. My position provides leadership and direction for the development, growth and maintenance of Cornerstone and Scholar Profiles (AKA SelectedWorks). I am a member of the Archives and Preservation Team within the Library Services Department. I am the liaison to the departments of Automotive and Manufacturing Engineering, Construction Management, Electrical and Computer Engineering and Technology, Integrated Engineering, and Mechanical and Civil Engineering. I have a Master of Library and Information Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a Master of Arts degree in history from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Abstract
Since 2013, a librarian at Minnesota State University, Mankato has collaborated with faculty and students in an upper division project-based engineering program. While having several years of experience in university libraries plus advanced degrees in history, the librarian had a limited background in science, engineering, and technology, and lacked a formal engineering degree. At first glance, this match may appear to be a recipe for failure. Indeed, in those first few years, the librarian’s angst about the missing engineering degree caused many sleepless nights of worry and concern. However, there came a time when the words “but I am not an engineer” fell to the wayside as the librarian grew more confident and embraced the role of library liaison to the Integrated Engineering department and its project-based and co-op-based programs. This paper describes the partnership that went from self-doubt to success in supporting project teams of student engineers. The program operates at off-campus locations so providing service at a distance and developing electronic resources has been crucial for positive interactions with students and faculty. The vertically integrated student teams mean that there is some institutional memory in the student experience about the benefit of working with their librarian. This appreciation supports student learning of contextual research skills and abilities to describe their project information needs to a non-technical audience. While the successes did not happen overnight, the current status is of a positive working relationship where students understand the benefit of working with librarians, including non-engineering librarians, to solve their technical challenges. This paper presents our approach to building relationships between the library resources and engineering students and faculty, our strategies for success, and our future plans for collaboration.
Bates, R., & Sleezer, R., & Southworth, H. (2022, August), “But I’m not an Engineer”… Collaboration between a Librarian and an Upper Division Project-Based Engineering Program Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN. 10.18260/1-2--40493
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