Digital Commons Network^™

[Re]Thinking Digital Infrastructure: Centering Humans In Integrated Systems Work, Mark Lane, Bodeene Amyot Cairdeas, Rebecca B. French, Jody Condit Fagan

Libraries

In this talk, librarians and archivists from an academic library will discuss establishing and cultivating a Digital Infrastructure Working Group (DIWG). The DIWG was born out of a need to create interoperability between metadata, preservation, discovery, and access systems for archival materials, and demanded a radical rethinking of prior organizational approaches to digital asset curation, including leveraging available APIs and vendor contracted system development. Learn how team members approached technological work by centering each other’s well-being and intentionally making visible the often-invisible human labor invested in developing and maintaining digital infrastructure. We will share how the DIWG challenged organizational silos, …

Strategies For Sustainable Access To Electronic Resources During Covid-19 Pandemic Era: Experience From The Consortium Of Uganda University Libraries, Jackline Estomihi Kiwelu, Andrew Mwesigwa, Jesca Karungi

Libraries

The paper shares the strategies the Consortium of Uganda University Libraries (CUUL) adopted to provide access to electronic resources to its member libraries in COVID-19 pandemic era. It examines the challenges, opportunities COVID-19 brought and how CUUL managed to deliver its mandate during the pandemic. The study used a qualitative research approach and a survey research design. A structured online interview data collection tool was employed to collect the required information from the CUUL executive committee members and the electronic resources functional committee. Content analysismethod, with coding and categorization, was used for data analysis and presentation of findings. This paper …

Jmu Libraries Magazine: Volume 2, Jenne M. Klotz

Libraries

Volume 2 of the biennial JMU Libraries magazine, highlighting services, events, awards of the JMU Libraries.

Exploring Artist Residencies For Academic Libraries, Jenne M. Klotz

Libraries

This white paper describes the results of a research leave that explored artist residencies and considered their potential in academic libraries.

Batch Cataloging At Jmu: A Framework And Four Projects, Rebecca B. French

Libraries

Many libraries have uncataloged collections or backlogs which could benefit from batch processing, but little guidance exists on how to conceptualize and plan such a project. I will share a framework I developed which categorizes types of batch cataloging projects and outlines the steps involved. I will also describe four projects we've done at JMU to illustrate how the framework can be applied to design a variety of metadata workflows.

Building A Library Renovation Website Using Public Relations Principles, Kristen S. Shuyler

Libraries

Learn how James Madison University Libraries built an award-winning library renovation website using core principles from the field of public relations (PR). Key features include an interactive visual timeline (created with an open-source tool), a collection of memories of the library, and FAQs based on actual user questions.

Approaches To Comics Stewardship: Making The Case For Academic Library Special Collections, Brian Flota, Kate Morris

Libraries

No abstract provided.

Promoting Sustainable Environments Through Urban Green Spaces: Insights From Kenya, Arnold Mwanzu, Joseph Mwangi, Winnie Nguyu, Jacob Nato

Libraries

Kenya has experienced rapid population growth and urbanization in recent years leading to major changes in its natural environment. Urban infrastructure has a significant influence on carbon emissions and environmental degradation. Urban green spaces are some of the interventions that demonstrate how the impact of increased urbanization can be managed. An exploration of the current state of urban green spaces in Kenya is essential to identify equitable and sustainable development strategies. Kenya has a few green spaces and community gardens for relaxation and recreational activities. These spaces’ continued renovation and preservation strongly indicate Kenya’s commitment to maintaining urban green spaces …

Lived Experiences Of Academic Librarians Of Color: A Bibliography, Jody Condit Fagan

Libraries

The scholarship in this bibliography offers wisdom for all academic library workers about the experiences of academic librarians of color. My initial purpose in exploring the literature was to combat my own ignorance and to help me be a better colleague to non-white librarians in predominantly white academic institutions. These works also inform diversity, equity, and inclusion programming in academic libraries, especially when primarily theory-based approaches might fall flat for a given audience.

I have tried to provide links to open access full-text where possible. Where a book chapter has no open access online, I provide a link to the …

The Information Literacy And The Infodemic In Covid-19 Pandemic At Kampala International University, Justina E. Ogbonna Cln, Jackline Kiwelu

Libraries

Access to reliable information in times of emergency is important. However the quantum of information during emergency may cause infodemic. The study investigated the role of information literacy in mitigating infodemic in COVID 19 pandemic. A survey was conducted among educators and students in School of Mathematics and Computing (SOMAC), Kampala International University (KIU), Uganda. The findings reveal that: majority of the respondents (50%) either agreed or strongly agreed that they evaluated information before use; on the state of their emotions, respondents were confused, overwhelmed, alarmed and anxious; 50% were able to access the information with ease, while 50% could …

Using Professional Expectations To Improve Research And Reading Behaviors With Pre-Professional Health Students, Carolyn Schubert, Jennifer Walsh

Libraries

Scaffolded information literacy interventions to teach students about evaluating health information as a faculty-librarian partnership.

Teaching materials available at https://www.projectcora.org/assignment/critical-reading-strategies-dietetics-students

Cultivating Connection: Attending To Student Affect Through A Pedagogy Of Care, Liz Chenevey

Libraries

No abstract provided.

A Bibliometric Analysis Of Biomedical Research Productivity In Africa South Of Sahara 2010- 2022, Jackline Kiwelu, Peter Gatiti, Alice Akiteng Okure

Libraries

The purpose of this study was to analyze biomedical research productivity in Africa South of Sahara indexed in Scopus. Using a retrospective bibliometric analysis with Scopus databases, data covering 2010-2022 from 41 South of Sahara countries was retrieved and analysed using H-Index, webometrics and impact factor. The results show that the biomedical research output by Africa South of Sahara was 2,207 documents, almost half (1,087) from South Africa alone followed by Nigeria (282), Kenya (236) and Uganda (193). The least was Somalia, one (01) document. Overall, the University of Cape Town in South Africa had the highest publications (269) as …

Being Present, Supporting Presence: Ideas For Online Teaching And Facilitation, Rebecca B. French, Jody Condit Fagan

Libraries

Although many campuses are returning to in-person classes and meetings, plenty of libraries are still holding events online. How can you as a facilitator or teacher be more fully present when leading or teaching online? How can you support attendees’ ability to be present themselves, and for all to find human-to-human connection in virtual spaces? This webinar will cover:

• planning and preparation work to support your presence as a facilitator and the needs of the group, considering the learning objectives or meeting goals
• activities for opening and closing online events in a way that invites presence and connection
• practices for …

Use Of Information And Communication Technologies To Support Knowledge Sharing In Development Organisations, Peter Gatiti

Libraries

This paper aims to identify knowledge sharing mediums used in development organisations and determine how different technologies support knowledge sharing. Results explore the strategies for using ICTs to extract, share, and disseminate knowledge. The qualitative data was gained from interviews with 11 knowledge management practitioners working in Kenya’s development organisations. All interview questions were open-ended and were consistent across the interview sessions. Qualitative data were analysed in themes using NVivo. Findings show that knowledge sharing in development organisations was supported by ICT-based tools, social media tools and collaborative tools. These tools were used for knowledge extraction, sharing and dissemination. The …

Enhancing Information Access Through Information Literacy Programs: A Case Of Marist International University College., Edgar Owira, Arnold Mwanzu

Libraries

Information literacy has been used successfully the world over as a strategy to improve access to information resources that usually cost a lot of money but, due to lack of awareness and skills of utilization, result in low or no usage at all. Most local institutions of higher learning have implemented programs that are either embedded in their curriculum or spontaneous to maximize usage. It is essential to assess or evaluate these programs' efficiency and effectiveness and use the feedback to plan for improvements. This study sought to assess and investigate the role of information literacy programs in enhancing information …

The Flowerings Project: A Library In Transformation, Jody Condit Fagan, Joanne V. Gabbin, Bethany Nowviskie, Lauren K. Alleyne, Aaron Noland

Libraries

This final report from the JMU Libraries and Furious Flower Poetry Center to the Mellon Foundation describes in detail the activities undertaken as part of a 2020-2021 planning grant, “Furious Flowerings: Developing a Partnership Model for Digital Library Support of a Living Center for Black Poetry,” funded by the Mellon Foundation. The grant explored and developed a partnership model for integrated library support of a living, academic center for the arts with archival, scholarly, digital, educational, and performance components. Nine key areas were addressed, including three overarching areas: development of cultural competencies, exploring how an exemplar project can be used …

Jmu Libraries Magazine, Jenne M. Klotz, Kristen S. Shuyler, Emily Blake

Libraries

This magazine describes highlights from the JMU Libraries from 2020-2021.

“What If You Don’T Have A Library School?” Ethical Considerations For A Summer Internship At An Academic Library, Mark Lane, Brian Flota, Juhong Christie Liu

Libraries

Enabling professional working experiences for library and information science (LIS) graduate students is always rewarding. With this chapter, the authors will reflect on the operation, collaborative processes, and results of an academic library’s summer internship program. Ethical aspects related to ensuring intern pay, along with individual goal-based learning in a real workplace and the integrity of professional status, will provide insights for others looking to plan or implement similar programs.

Furious Flowerings: Digital Infrastructure, Mark Lane, Bodeene Amyot

Libraries

Presentation to JMU Libraries and Furious Flower Poetry Center.

Meeting A Need: Piloting A Mentoring Program For History Librarians, Malia Willey, Brittany O'Neill, Amanda Binder

Libraries

Mentoring is a mainstay of librarianship. Professional organizations can offer specific guidance for librarians through mentoring programs. This article describes the development and assessment of a mentoring program for history librarians by the Academic Librarians Committee of the Reference & Users Services Association’s History Section. The study examines the findings from a survey of participants. Respondents indicated overall that the program was beneficial. Mentors and mentees who interacted through web conferencing tended to report higher satisfaction. The responses suggest improved practices for future iterations of this program, including evaluating the process for pairing mentoring matches, creating an onboarding process, providing …

Scholarly Communications Strategies, Mark Lane, Howard S. Carrier, Liz Thompson

Libraries

Poster presented at JMU Faculty Welcome.

Generation’S Information Need: A Study Of Pakistani University Library, Sadaf Shahid

Libraries

The goal of this paper is to define how generations influence information behavior and needs for accessing and using library resources, as well as how successfully the university library in Karachi serves both generations at the same time. In the Pakistani context needs of different age group was not detected in the literature review, and this study intended to address that space. The mixed-methods approach was used to gather the data that included observation, interviews, and questionnaires. Quantitative data was examined using Excel, while qualitative data was assessed using the study's theme. The information behavior of users' wants and preferences …

Making Decisions About Asynchronous And Synchronous Engagement Strategies: Access And Inclusion, Jessica Lantz, Eric M. Stauffer, Jamie Calcagno-Roach, Andrea H. Adams, Kristen S. Shuyler, Aaron Noland, Juhong Christie Liu

Libraries

This chapter conceptualizes an inclusive framework for decision-making in the selection of synchronous or asynchronous technologies to enhance engagement in online learning. Technologies are discussed in light of their utilization and value for course and curriculum design and development in online environments, with the considerations of providing sustained support, and optimizing technology and teaching efficacy. The content presented in the chapter will benefit those who develop and support synchronous and asynchronous learning environments to address challenges when transferring courses to online or hybrid modes.

Archival Continuum, Mark Lane, Tiffany Cole, Kate N. Morris, Rebecca B. French

Libraries

Presentation to JMU Libraries and Furious Flower Poetry Center.

More Alike Than Different: Student Perceptions Of Academic Librarians By Genders And Subject Areas, Elizabeth Price, Jody C. Fagan

Libraries

This study explored differences in how undergraduate students of different genders and academic disciplines perceived academic librarians at a U.S. public university. No evidence indicated differences between students identifying as male or female, and few statistically significant differences were found among four Subject Areas (Arts, Humanities + Social Sciences, Business, Health + Education, and STEM). Our results have implications for local practice though they are not generalizable to other institutions. Despite a lack of significant findings, librarians should continue to explore ways to measure how students of different disciplines perceive academic libraries and/or librarians as valuable to their academic success.

Evidence Based Medicine: The Role Of The Health Sciences Librarian, Nasra Gathoni

Libraries

Introduction: Evidence Based Medicine definitely challenges the traditional role of the Librarian thus advocating for the need to acquire necessary skills, so as to be in a position to support Evidence Based Medicine.

Objectives: To outline the steps in the Evidence Based Medicine process; to explore the role of the health sciences librarian in the Evidence Based Medicine process; and to explore the challenges and opportunities that health sciences Librarians encounter.

Methodology: The study was descriptive and qualitative summary of the data was provided. The study obtained data from the views and experiences of 20 medical librarians from various countries …

Internet Information Retrieval Experiences And Challenges Of Aga Khan University Library Users, Nasra Gathoni

Libraries

This study reports on internet information retrieval experiences and challenges of Aga Khan University library users. The unit of analysis was obtained through a purposive sampling method and data collected using a structured questionnaire. The data was quantitatively analyzed and descriptive statistics provided. 87% (52/60) of the members in the sample completed and returned the questionnaire. 83% indicated that they had prior computer skills and 52% had training in Internet searching. 35% of the respondents who did not use any of the search techniques indicated, was noted. Gender did not appear to affect use the retrieval of information vis-a-vis use …

Enhancing Healthcare Quality In Hospitals Through Electronic Health Records: A Systematic Review, Peter Gatiti, Eunice Ndirangu, Joseph Mwangi, Arnold Mwanzu, Terry Ramadhani

Libraries

Background: The evolution of information technology has continued to put pressure on healthcare systems to switch from manual to electronic systems. The electronic health record is a leading information technology system that has drawn considerable interest from governments and private health facilities. However, EHR implementation has proved to be a problematic endeavor, especially in developing countries.

Objective: This review sought to determine the influence of EHR implementation on healthcare quality in hospitals and identifying applicable lessons for EHR implementers in hospital settings.

Methods: Relevant literature was searched in the identified databases, including Scopus, PubMed, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and …

Open Access Publishing In Kenya: The Challenges And Successes Of Transitioning To Transformative Agreements, And Opportunities For These Agreements To Continue Benefiting Kenyan Researchers., Arnold Mwanzu

Libraries

The Kenya Libraries and Information Services Consortium (KLISC) has been at the forefront of championing and spearheading Open Access initiatives in Kenya. The National consortium — which boasts over 130 member institutions through a combination of university libraries, research institutions, and public/national libraries — was established in 2003 with an aim of collective subscriptions to electronic resources to cope with the increasingly unsustainable cost of information resources. All members pay a certain amount of money every year towards the acquisition of electronic journals and eBooks, depending on and guided by their FTE’s. This means that institutions with lower FTE’s get …