Digital Commons Network^™

A User-Centered And Evidence-Based Approach For Digital Library Projects, Mary M. Somerville, Navjit Brar

Navjit Brar

Purpose–Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) processes fortified by collaborative evidence-based librarianship (EBL) principles can guide end-user involvement in digital library project design and development. User-generated research examples reveal the efficacy of this inclusive human-focused approach for building systems. Design/Methodology/Approach– From 2003 to 2006, user-centered interaction design guided increasingly complex human-computer interaction (HCI) projects at California Polytechnic State University. Toward that end, project planners invited polytechnic students, supervised by computer science professors, to assess peers’ information seeking needs. This student-generated evidence informed creation of paper prototypes and implementation of usability tests. Sustained relationships between planners and beneficiaries permitted iterative evaluation and continuous …

Open Source, Crowd Source: Harnessing The Power Of The People Behind Our Libraries, Cindi Trainor

Cindi (Trainor) Blyberg

Presented at the Bridging Worlds 2008 Conference in Singapore, this paper was later published in the journal Program: electronic library and information systems in July 2009: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/00330330910978581

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an insight into the use of Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 technologies so that librarians can combine open source software with user-generated content to create a richer discovery experience for their users.

Design/methodology/approach – Following a description of the current state of integrated library systems (ILS) and the developments with Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 technologies, examples are given of library suppliers and …

Mental Health Services Research & Policy Collection: Arl Collection Initiative, Phyllis Ruscella, Ardis Hanson, John Abresch, Claudia Dold

Ardis Hanson

An ARL-level mental health services research and policy collection will support, not only the international and national goals of improving mental health; it also positions USF (USF) within the renowned health services research community, becoming peers with other major university health services research centers. The further development of the mental health services research and policy collections, with the foci on disaster mental health and vulnerable populations and the improved access to related mental health services research grey literature, directly supports USF’s stated goals. It expands the university’s capacity for world-renowned interdisciplinary research. It supports globally competitive undergraduate, graduate, and professional …

“Reference Librarians At The Reference Desk In A Learning Commons: A Qualitative Evaluation.” Preprint, Elizabeth B. Fitzpatrick

Elizabeth B. Fitzpatrick

This is a preprint of an article co-written with Dr. Anne C. Moore, and Beth W. Lang, Head of Reference, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst. At the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s W.E.B. Du Bois Library’s Learning Commons, only Reference librarians staff the Reference & Research Assistance desk. Surveys, a focus group, reference question transcriptions, and question-type tallies indicate this service model is strongly preferred by users and librarians over the previous tiered model.

Christianity And Libraries: A Selective Bibliography, Gregory A. Smith

Gregory A. Smith

Provides an introduction to a searchable bibliography of 340 sources that explore various connections between Christian faith and practice, on the one hand, and the world of libraries and information, on the other. Explains the rationale for the bibliography and describes its scope and content. Provides eight tips for successful searching.