2019-Information Literacy Research Associate

About the Project:

The 21st-century academic library plays a critical role in improving the academic success of first-year college students. Despite the documented importance of becoming an avid library user, many first-year students face anxiety about seeking the assistance of librarians or using library services, often resulting in barriers to academic achievement. The aim of this project is to provide peer-to-peer support for the information literacy needs of first-year students. Student associates will serve as library ambassadors, assisting with reference and instruction; creating, participating, and reflecting on library programs and services and assessing outreach initiatives to first-year students. Research Associates will collaborate with library faculty to support their peers’ research and information literacy needs and gain responsibility for leading programs as they gain skills and knowledge about the Library, its collections, and services. Associates will enhance their own knowledge of the research process contributing to the development of skills critical to future academic success.

Associate Professor, Kim Copenhaver is the Reference, Instruction and Access Services Librarian at Eckerd College. Her current research interests include leadership development in libraries and the use of gamification to increase employee motivation. Kim is an active member of the American Library Association, Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), Library Instruction Round Table, Florida Association of College and Research Libraries and the Florida Library Association. In 2017, Kim was awarded the ACRL Mid-career Career Librarian Scholarship to attend the ACRL Annual Conference and was selected to attend the ALA Leadership Institute in August 2018. Kim earned her M.A. in Library and Information Science from the University of South Florida.

The First-Year Research Associate Program at Eckerd College honors academically outstanding students with awards of up to $1,000. The program also provides the opportunity, during the freshman year, for the award winners to work closely with a sponsor (faculty or administrative personnel) on a project of mutual interest. Associates might assist with research for faculty publication or new courses, conduct scientific experiments, work with creative artists, or develop projects related to any phase of the academic, cultural, and social life of the college. Scholars are selected on the basis of achievement in high school and on the creativity and depth of responses to items on this application.​

Online submission due no later than February 1, 2019.