Digital Commons Network^™

Academic Libraries As Active Contributors To Student Wellness, Elizabeth Ramsey, Mary C. Aagard

Library Faculty Publications and Presentations

Colleges and universities have come to realize that student wellness is a factor in student retention and success. While academic libraries have not generally been included in wellness initiatives they are strategically placed on college campuses to play an essential role. By parlaying their reputations as trusted information providers and community centers, academic libraries can partner with more traditional campus health providers to be active and effective participants in this essential form of outreach.

Feeling Like A Fraud: Helping Students Renegotiate Their Academic Identities, Elizabeth Ramsey, Deana Brown

Library Faculty Publications and Presentations

A sense of belonging is an integral aspect of success in a long-term, group-oriented endeavor such as the pursuit of a college education. When students feel their presence at college is fraudulent, their achievements unfounded, or that they will be further disenfranchised if their true self is discovered, it is less likely that they will connect to the people and services who can help them achieve their educational goals. This “imposter syndrome” or “imposter phenomenon” can be addressed and turned around through a concerted effort. While that effort involves a personal journey, like any journey it is often aided and …

It’S Not Just What You Know, But Who You Know: Social Capital Theory And Academic Library Outreach, Elizabeth Ramsey

Library Faculty Publications and Presentations

The concept of social capital and its contribution to success and well-being in a variety of settings has potential for academic library outreach. Research has found that those with extensive and varied networks of social relationships can benefit in myriad ways, including academic and professional achievement. A connection has also been found between lower levels of social capital and negative effects on individuals as well as communities generally. Academic libraries are strategically positioned to enhance the social capital of their users, effecting positive differences in engagement, retention, and success after graduation.

Learning From Degree-Seeking Older Adult Students In A University Library, Mary C. Aagard, Marilia Y. Antunez, Jaime N. Sand

Library Faculty Publications and Presentations

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of library resources and services by degree-seeking older adult students (aged 50 years and over) and it is driven by the role of libraries in serving this often overlooked student population. Older adult students bring many benefits to the life of college campuses; nevertheless, many of these students also face challenges in meeting their information needs in academic libraries.

Design/methodology/approach – The authors surveyed degree-seeking older adult students at a comprehensive metropolitan university in the western USA. Surveys were distributed to 579 students enrolled in the spring semester …

Pound That Presentation: Connect With Twitter Users Via Hashtags, Memo Cordova

Library Faculty Publications and Presentations

Chances are that, as an information professional you have a pretty good idea of what Twitter is and its potential for libraries and educators. Twitter is “an online social networking website and microblogging service that allows users to post and read text-based messages of up to 140 characters, known as “tweets” (Statistics Brain, 2013). That simple description belays astonishing numbers: over 241 million monthly global users, who send over 500 million Tweets per day (Twitter, 2014). This gusher has shaped the social, political, and cultural fabric of our connected world. If that sounds too grandiose let’s not forget how Twitter …