Digital Commons Network^™

"I Don't Think Librarians Can Save Us": The Material Conditions Of Information Literacy Instruction In The Misinformation Age, Amber Willenborg, Robert Detmering

Faculty Scholarship

This national qualitative study investigates academic librarians’ instructional experiences, views, and challenges regarding the widespread problem of misinformation. Findings from phenomenological interviews reveal a tension between librarians’ professional, moral, and civic obligation to address misinformation and the actual material conditions of information literacy instruction, which influence and often constrain librarians’ pedagogical and institutional roles. The authors call for greater professional reflection on current information literacy models that focus on achieving ambitious educational goals but which may be unsuitable for addressing the larger social and political crisis of misinformation.

Along For The Journey: Graduate Student Perceptions Of Research, Alissa Droog, Kari D. Weaver, Frances Brady

Faculty Peer-Reviewed Publications

Graduate student identities and personal lives are heavily tied to their experiences of research, and many struggle to find, understand, and use information for research purposes. Using a drawing exercise rooted in visual research methods combined with semi-structured interviews, a research team in the United States and Canada explored graduate student perceptions of research with 19 participants. Thematic analysis identified six themes: research is abstract; research is an odyssey; social support makes or breaks the student experience; research is an emotional continuum; interplay between identity/values; information is problematic. The study has implications for how librarians support graduate student research.

The Wicked Problem Of Climate Change And The Challenge Of Engagement: Exploring Educational Approaches And Possibilities For Information Literacy, Andrea Baer

Libraries Scholarship

Climate change is a prime example of a “wicked problem”: it is characterized by complexity and unboundedness and has no complete or simple solutions, though communities can develop constructive interventions that address particular aspects of the problem (for example, in cities increasing green spaces that have a cooling effect). Because the problem of climate change is so expansive and the answers to it remain limited in scope and impact, engaging with the topic inevitably evokes difficult emotions like uncertainty, overwhelm, despair, and grief. So it is understandable that a common response to the realities of climate change has been denial …

Information Literacy Instruction Services At Rural Community Colleges, Fall 2019 Through Ay 2021/22, Heather Posey Vandyne

Forsyth Library Faculty Publications

This exploratory study examines the instructional practices of two-year institutions located in rural areas during the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and the two academic years that follow. Since the virus commonly known as COVID-19 first made its way to the United States in March 2020, three classes of community college students have had an introduction to higher education unlike any other in living memory. The mixed method approach consists of a survey aimed towards rural college librarians and subsequent in-depth interviews. This study identifies attempts to retain connections with faculty and students, as well as adjustments in …

Can Ai Become An Information Literacy Ally? A Survey Of Library Instructor Perspectives On Chatgpt, Melissa S. Del Castillo, Hope Y. Kelly

Works of the FIU Libraries

Libraries can play a role in navigating the AI era by integrating these tools into information literacy (IL) programs. To implement generative AI tools like ChatGPT effectively, it is important to understand the attitudes of library professionals involved in IL instruction toward this tool and their intention to use it for instruction. This study explored perceptions of ChatGPT using survey data that included acceptance factors and potential uses derived from the emerging literature. While some librarians saw potential, others found it too unreliable to be useful; yet the vast majority imagined utilizing the tool in the future.

A Compilation, Analysis, And Categorization Of 403 Atmospheric And Climate Science Misconceptions, Haeli Leighty

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT) has listed the inaccessibility of research related to misconceptions in atmospheric and climate science as a Geoscience Education Research Grand Challenge (Cervato et al. 2018). This project was a direct response to this call for research and consisted of three distinct steps: 1) data gathering, which included reviewing the literature for relevant misconception data, 2) a qualitative analysis, which included compiling, organizing, and categorizing the data collected, and 3) a quantitative analysis, which included determining the prevalence of each misconception across topic categories, demographic categories, and over time. A total of 403 misconceptions …

I Want To Be Where The Activities Are: Engagement And Activities For Information Literacy Sessions, Hannah Brandon

Presentations

Being engaging with students during an information literacy session is always a challenge. In my presentation, I will go over four different activities that I am attempting to use to increase engagement among my students. Two of the activities, Information Literacy Bingo and Slido, typically happen while I am presenting to the students. The other two are activities, scavenger hunt and podcast creation, happen once I have concluded my presentation. I will discuss where I got these idea, how I executed them, how they were received by the students, and any changes I might make in the future. I will …

Beyond The Library: The Role Of Academic Libraries’ Chat Reference In Answering Campus Questions, Erin Owens, Vanessa Acre, Darcy C. Del Bosque, Robin Fowler, Silvia Sheffield

Library Faculty Publications

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic drove most users online, chat was establishing itself as a core service for asking library-related questions of many types, from basic directional and reference to research queries of a more sophisticated nature. This investigation seeks to provide insight into how academic libraries are seen not only as a source of library assistance, but also as a means of filling an information gap on a wider subject: the university campus at large. The study’s methods involved analyzing chat transcripts from five large four-year public universities during a two-year period (2019- 2021), noting the frequency of campus-related …

Reframing Wikipedia As An Information Source: Concepts And Strategies For Critical Inquiry And Digital Literacy., Andrea Baer

Libraries Scholarship

Since its inception in 2001, Wikipedia has grown to become the largest and most popular reference source in the world. Contrary to the idea that it lives in the Internet’s Wild West, this resource has robust infrastructure, with editorial guidelines, processes, and dedicated volunteers who help to make Wikipedia an invaluable information source for learning about almost any topic. Of course, it’s also true that not every Wikipedia article is reliable, and that the quality and depth of articles ranges. The crowdsourced nature of Wikipedia, along with its extensive editorial processes, make it not only a powerful (albeit imperfect) reference …

Himmelfarb Library Liaison Letter - April 2024, George Washington University, Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library

Himmelfarb Library Liaison Letters

No abstract provided.

Smu Libraries – An Enabling Partner In Ai Information Literacy, Samantha Seah, Zhe Benedict Yeo, Lukas Tschopp

Research Collection Library

SMU Libraries plays a pivotal role in advancing AI information literacy within the larger need for digital literacy skills in the SMU community. In this presentation, participants will get an overview of SMU Libraries' engagement and partnerships with the academic community and will showcase initiatives and resources supporting AI literacy. This includes a discussion of insights from the scholarly literature, research findings and critical perspectives to inform teaching and learning practices related to AI. Speakers will share SMU Libraries’ contributions towards awareness and adoption of AI through a portfolio of successful collaborations and initiatives with partners and stakeholders within and …

Patrons Of D.V.G Public Library, Kolar Are Aware Of And Using The Information Sources & Services: A Survey, Geetha C S, M S Akshay Kumar

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The most important aspect of any library is its patrons. Any library’s goal is to determine what its users need, meet those needs, and satisfy them to the best of its ability. When it comes to public libraries, they face greater challenges in meeting the requirements of their increasingly diverse readership. The present study is an attempt to analyze the awareness and usage of the information sources and services offered by the D.V.G. public library, Kolar. A well-structured questionnaire was distributed to draw the data from the users. Responses from the users show that 95% of respondents are aware of …

Teaching Ai Literacy Through Library Frameworks, Christopher M. Jimenez

Works of the FIU Libraries

This poster presents a comprehensive exploration of the integration of generative artificial intelligence (AI) with the Association of College and Research Libraries' Frameworks for Information Literacy. It seeks to shed light on the implications and considerations of incorporating generative AI within the framework of information literacy, focusing on key concepts such as authority, information creation, value, research as inquiry, and scholarship as conversation.

Within the context of generative AI, questions arise regarding the credibility of AI-generated information. This poster delves into the factors that influence authority in information resources and examines how generative AI compares to traditional sources of expertise. …

Searching Govinfo.Gov/, Bert Chapman

Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations

This U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) database provides access to information legal, legislative, and regulatory information produced on multiple subjects by the U.S. Government. Content includes congressional bills, congressional committee hearings and prints (studies), reports on legislation, the text of laws, regulations, and executive orders and multiple U.S. Government information resources covering subjects from accounting to zoology.

Himmelfarb Library Liaison Letter - March 2024, George Washington University, Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library

Himmelfarb Library Liaison Letters

No abstract provided.

Strategies For Reading Scholarly Articles, Hannah Krauss

All Musselman Library Staff Works

This handout reviews suggested strategies for reading scholarly articles in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities, recommending reading out of order based upon the discipline. The second page contains tips for taking notes on articles for research and classes.

Trust Me: Film + Q&A; (February 22, 2024, 5:30 Pm, Sheldon Museum Of Art) [Poster], Sheldon Museum Of Art, University Of Nebraska-Lincoln

Sheldon Museum of Art: Catalogs and Publications

Poster for Trust Me: Film + Q&A held February 22, 2024 at 5:30 PM at the Sheldon Museum of Art (University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States).

Poster blurb:

In today's information landscape, how do you know whom--and what--you can trust? Watch the award-winning, feature-length documentary Trust Me, which explores how media technology is influencing society and what we can do about it.

A Q&A with Rosemary Smith, filmmaker and managing director of the non-partisan Getting Better Foundation, follows.

More information about the screening is available at https://news.unl.edu/newsrooms/today/article/trust-me-documentary-to-screen-at-sheldon/.

More information about the film is available at https://www.trustmedocumentary.com/ …

Himmelfarb Library Liaison Letter - February 2024, George Washington University, Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library

Himmelfarb Library Liaison Letters

No abstract provided.

Course Lecture: Beyond The Article As The Favorite Piece Of Scholarly Communication, Devon Olson

Librarian Publications

The third of a 5-part series of lectures on scholarly communication, this lecture introduces learners to the ways in which various information architecture structures, such as indexes or natural-language-processing algorithms, impact information access and use. Activities allow students to explore and then teach each other about how the internet has changed over time and exists differently across the world, as well as how practitioners in their own discipline communicate beyond the academic article format.

This lecture was designed for the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program.

This lecture is appropriate for adult …

Course Lecture: The Knowledge Economy, Devon Olson

Librarian Publications

The first of a 5-part series of lectures on scholarly communication, this lecture introduces learners to the scholarly communications landscape by exploring its roots in historical and cultural events such as colonization and the growth of the internet. Two activities enable students to explore the legal implications of reusing various materials as well as the speakers and audiences of top journals in occupational therapy.

This lecture was designed for the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program.

This lecture is appropriate for adult and emerging adult learners with very little or basic understandings …

Course Lecture: Government Resources As A Part Of Scholarly Communication, Devon Olson

Librarian Publications

The second lecture in a 5-part series of lectures on scholarly communication, this lecture situates government publications and public use datasets as one facet of scholarly communication and evidence based practice via discussion of the structure of the United States government and related vocabulary, as well as activities in which learners explore and then teach the class about various data tools.

This lecture was designed for the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program.

This lecture is appropriate for adult and emerging adult learners with very little or basic understandings of scholarly communication, …

Chatgpt Is A Liar And Other Lessons Learned From Information Literacy Instructors, Melissa S. Del Castillo, Hope Y. Kelly

Works of the FIU Libraries

Wondering where generative artificial intelligence (AI) fits in information literacy instruction? This session will share findings from a recent survey of library professionals on how they are already teaching about and using AI powered ChatGPT in information literacy instruction and where they see potential opportunities and areas of concern. Survey analysis will include information about attitudes, current and anticipated use, and descriptions of teaching methods that leverage the technology. As we navigate the survey results, attendees will have the opportunity to share their own perspectives on the same questions via live polling. We will then turn to attendees to share …

Text And Data Mining For Pianists? Bringing Digital Humanities To A Graduate Music Research Methods Course Through Topic Modeling, Taylor J. Greene

Library Articles and Research

This article provides an example of the successful integration of text and data mining (TDM) into the Research Methods for Performers course, a required course for students in the Keyboard Collaborative Arts (KCA) Master of Music (MM) program at Chapman University. This course is similar in scope and content to the course frequently titled Music Bibliography at other institutions, and the methods described also apply to such courses. Incorporating TDM into this course effectively introduced data-focused research methods to performing arts students and expanded the students’ understanding of the scope and possibilities of research in music through the application of …

Finding Physical Books, Amber Dierking

Lesson Plans

Topic: How to find physical books in the GVSU libraries

Objectives: Students will feel comfortable and will be successful searching for books on the library website. Students will successfully navigate call numbers, the stacks, check out, and holds.

Suitable Audience: Any classes which make significant use of/requires physical sources. This lesson has been used with Art History classes but could be adapted for others.

Himmelfarb Library Liaison Letter - January 2024, George Washington University, Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library

Himmelfarb Library Liaison Letters

No abstract provided.

Social Media And User-Centric Approach: A Comprehensive Exploration, Suresh Madhavrao Manekar

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The communication industry has skilled a significant model shift in recent times because of the ubiquitous impact of social media (Smith, 2021). In addition to reforming interpersonal communication, these platforms have emerged as vital channels for the dissemination of information and the development of societies (Jones et al., 2020). This chapter explores the transition towards a user-centric approach and the development of social media stages over time. This investigation is built upon the user-centric approach, which prioritises the customization of digital experiences according to individual preferences. It is crucial to grasp the multi-layered effects of social media on group domains, …

Online Source Evaluation Through “Lateral Reading”: A Workshop For Educators, Andrea Baer, Daniel G. Kipnis

Libraries Scholarship

Learning Outcomes:

• Become familiar with and apply lateral reading strategies to evaluating online sources.
• Explore ways to teach lateral reading to students in your educational context.

Audience: All educators, including K-12 teachers, public librarians, academic librarians, educational administrators and community organizers)

Both everyday life experience and a growing body of research show just how hard it is to determine the credibility of online sources. Traditional checklist approaches to evaluating websites (e.g., the CRAAP test) are ineffective, despite their continued prevalence. A more effective approach to quickly assessing the credibility of an online source is lateral reading. “Lateral reading” essentially involves …

Dwindling Trust In Experts: A Starting Point For Information Literacy, Mark N. Lenker Iii

Library Faculty Presentations

Librarians and teachers encourage students to include expert perspectives in their research, but recent public discourse includes high-profile examples of experts being inconsistent or wrong, and recent studies suggest that public trust in experts is declining. Waning trust makes it difficult to teach information literacy: I can push students to find high-quality research sources, but what if these sources turn out to be yet another example of experts getting it wrong? After a period of living with this worry, I found a way to move forward by centering class discussion on the public’s dwindling trust in experts. Part of this …

Search Engine Activity, Amber Dierking

Lesson Plans

This lesson/activity uses search engines as examples to think critically about information systems.

Objectives: Students will gain a deeper understanding of how search engines function, how those mechanics affect their results, and will consider how and why these differ from searching within library systems.

A Critical Librarianship Approach For Teaching Patent Searching: Who Becomes An Inventor In America?, Dave Zwicky, Ilana Stonebraker

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

The ways in which a technology is invented, owned, and approved are strongly influenced by the same oppressive and exclusionary structures that critical librarianship interrogates. Patents, limited-term grants of rights to inventions, are issued to inventors in exchange for detailed specifications of the invention. This paper examines current practices used by business librarians in teaching students how to find patents and how these practices could be critically informed given the nature of the United States patent system as it exists today. An output of this work is a suggested lesson plan with recommended resources.