Education Commons^™

Claiming Our Place In The Center: Counterstories Of Women Of Color Open Educational Resources (Oer) Librarians, Regina Gong

Copley Library: Faculty Scholarship

Research has recognized the importance of libraries and librarians in supporting, managing, and sustaining open educational resources (OER) programs in postsecondary institutions. Open education initiatives generally align with social justice aspirations and should be open and inclusive to everyone. Yet, in practice, this has not always been the case. While librarians are considered critical partners in the leadership and management of OER programs and are often heralded as heroes and champions of these initiatives, research has failed to interrogate and discuss the experiences of Women of Color (WOC) doing OER work. In particular, the challenges and often invisible labor that …

Academic Instruction Librarians’ Conceptions Of Teacher Agency And Affective Orientations Toward The Concept, Andrea Baer

Libraries Scholarship

This article reports on findings of an online survey on academic instruction librarians’ conceptions and experiences of teacher agency in the context of their instruction work and, more specifically, on their affective orientations (positive, ambivalent, or negative emotions and feelings) toward teacher agency. Two key dimensions of participants’ conceptions of teacher agency are evident throughout this analysis: 1) views of teacher agency as an individual experience of autonomy (individual agency) and/or views of it as more relational and interactive (and thus potentially collective), and 2) beliefs about the feasibility of librarians’ teacher agency, given librarians’ roles and positions as educators. …

Keeping The Light On: Academic Librarians & Burnout (Conference Presentation), Jason D. Phillips, Laura Pitts, Jessica Riedmueller, Joanna Warren

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

There is substantial research about sources of burnout among academic librarians; however, very little addresses the impact of the local environment. Responding to regional and institutional shifts while still trying to uphold the values of librarianship such as providing confidential and free access to information can quickly lead to mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion, classic symptoms of burnout. A panel discussion was hosted at the Arkansas Library Association (ArLA) / Southeast Library Association (SELA) Joint Conference, on Saturday, October 14, 2023. Academic librarians from different Southern states discussed their local environments, their libraries’ responses to recent events, and their strategies …

Textbook Affordability Initiatives And Open Educational Resources: Complementary Or Competing Approaches To A Persistent Problem?, Anne Shelley, Rachel E. Scott

Faculty and Staff Publications – Milner Library

This presentation investigates library support for textbook affordability initiatives and Open Educational Resources (OER) to consider the relative opportunities and limitations of both approaches. The literature has shown that the cost of textbooks—which has increased far beyond the rate of inflation—can be an obstacle to student success, especially for students from underrepresented groups. By sharing findings from published literature and results from focus groups and interviews conducted with teaching faculty, the speakers highlight both the incentives faculty have to collaborate with librarians to address the increasing costs of assigned materials as well as the challenges they face in adopting an …

Gender Differences In Information Literacy Self-Efficacy Among Academic Librarians In Federal University Libraries In South-East Nigeria, Osita Victor Ossai Dr

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study investigated gender differences in information literacy self-efficacy among academic librarians working in federal university libraries in South-east Nigeria. The descriptive survey research design was used in this study. Using purposive sampling, twenty academic librarians were selected for the study. The Information Literacy Self-Efficacy Scale (ILSES) was used to obtain the data. In total, there are 28 items on the scale, which has a high Cronbach Alpha reliability score of 0.91. In this scale, seven sub-dimensions are measured extensively. To analyze the data, percentages, means, standard deviations, t-tests, and Lavene's tests were used. In terms of mean ratings, male …

The Perceptions Of Academic Librarians On Their Role In Lifelong Learning, Self-Directed Learning And Heutagogy, Anna Ferri

Instructional Design Capstones Collection

This paper uses a qualitative methodology to explore the perceptions of academic librarian on the definition of lifelong learning and their roles in supporting lifelong learning. Existing research on the topic was aligned to the emergent educational model of heutagogy to identify key concepts including self-directed learning, learner agency, and the impact of technology. Heutagogy is a learning model focused on self-determined learning, often in a high technology environment, for mature learners who have high degrees of agency over the entire learning process including identifying learning goals and methods, locating resources, and designing assessments. Using loosely structured interviews of academic …

Impacts Of Technology Skills On Generic Job Satisfaction, And Assessment Of Training Needs: A Case Of Pakistani Librarians, Asad Khan

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Since modern librarians are urged to acquire technological skills, thus objectives of this study are; 1) to examine whether or not the acquisition of such skills affects their generic job satisfaction (GJS) and; 2) to identify the training needs. To this end, twelve research hypotheses were formulated indicating the relationship of technology skills with GJS. The findings revealed significant effects of technology functional and professional skills on GJS and accordingly, all hypotheses (H₁-H₁₂) are supported. Further, Information Assurance and Security Skills were established as the principal predictor of GJS whereas Library Content Management System skills as …

The Essential Role Of College And University Librarians In Supporting Transfer Student Success, Peggy Lee Nuhn, Karen F. Kaufmann

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Nationwide, the numbers of transfer students on college and university campuses are increasing; however, libraries have not fully recognized the unique needs of transfer students with respect to students' attainment of information literacy competencies. Students may come to our campus with no previous information literacy instruction, and even if they had a "library instruction" class, it does not mean they can apply that to a new institution with different and perhaps more complex resources, or they may be taking online classes. Neither can we treat transfer students as "First Time in College" students, because they are not. Transfer students frequently …

Portraits Of Professional Collaboration: Faculty-Librarian Teaching Partnerships, Carrie L. Forbes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many regional accrediting organizations for higher education have embraced information literacy as a key component for both student success and student learning outcomes. Through embedded librarianship practices, librarians are now taking a leading role in developing and promoting users’ information literacy skills and in adopting an active classroom teaching approach. Faculty-librarian team teaching is a best practice for integrating information literacy into the higher education curricula, but the extant research has largely focused on the barriers to collaboration. Using Walsh and Kahn’s (2010) model of “collaborative working” as a conceptual framework, this dissertation explores the qualities and characteristics of four …

The Information Literacy Continuum: Mapping The Acrl Framework To The Aasl School Library Standards, Elizabeth Burns, Melissa Gross, Don Latham

STEMPS Faculty Publications

The Association for College and Research Libraries (ACRL) and the American Association for School Libraries (AASL), two major divisions of the American Library Association (ALA), both recently released new guidelines. These documents form the basis for information literacy and library skills instruction for PK-20 education. In this study, we explored the alignment between these documents to identify the continuum of knowledge and skill expectations as well as the dispositional attributes toward information literacy that learners are presented. Our findings identified where the content of the ACRL Framework and AASL Standards Framework for Learners documents is strongly aligned as well as …

The Burden Of Care: Cultural Taxation Of Women Of Color Librarians On The Tenure-Track, Camille Chesley, Tarida Anantachai

University Libraries Faculty Scholarship

This chapter shares findings of a study aimed at investigating the lived experiences of women of color librarians in promotion- and tenure-track positions. It examines how one’s identity as a women of color and the process of navigating the inequities embedded within the predominantly white systems of higher education and librarianship impact the everyday work, sense of identity, and overall career advancement of librarians of color. It also discusses the implications these ultimately present on the recruitment, mentorship, and retention of diverse faculty in academic libraries.

The Burden Of Care: Cultural Taxation Of Women Of Color Librarians On The Tenure-Track, Tarida Anantachai, Camille Chesley

Libraries' and Librarians' Publications

This chapter shares findings of a study aimed at investigating the lived experiences of women of color librarians in promotion- and tenure-track positions. It examines how one’s identity as a women of color and the process of navigating the inequities embedded within the predominantly white systems of higher education and librarianship impact the everyday work, sense of identity, and overall career advancement of librarians of color. It also discusses the implications these ultimately present on the recruitment, mentorship, and retention of diverse faculty in academic libraries.

The Library And Undergraduate Research In The Liberal Arts: Present Contributions And Future Opportunities, Todd J. Wiebe

Faculty Publications

This study sought to describe library value as seen through its various contributions to the mentored undergraduate research experiences of students in the arts, humanities, and social sciences at Hope College. Concurrently, it explored new opportunities for how librarians might become more directly connected with students involved in this hallmark of the academic program. Findings were intended to both highlight existing library contributions and initiate a well-informed movement toward aligning library priorities with the greater institutional academic mission.

The Power Of Encouragement: The Role Of Christian Academic Librarians In Supporting The Whole Student, Earleen J. Warner

Librarian Publications and Presentations

Christian librarians are exhorted to consider the role of providing encouragement, care, and emotional and spiritual support to college students. Caring for the whole student can have a positive impact on college student success and retention, as well as have a transformational effect on students’ spiritual lives. By treating college students as whole persons created in the image of God, Christian academic librarians can not only help these students succeed by meeting their academic needs, but also help students thrive by supporting them emotionally and spiritually.

Assessment Of A Professional Development Program On Adult Learning Theory, Melinda Malik

Higher Education Student Work

Librarians at colleges and universities invested in graduate education must understand and incorporate adult learning theories in their reference and instruction interactions with graduate students to more effectively support the students’ learning. After participating in a professional development program about adult learning theory, librarians in this study reported that, in many ways, they already employed teaching and learning strategies grounded in one or more adult learning theories. They also indicated gaining a greater awareness of student development, enabling them to more successfully tailor their interactions.

Libraries & Student Success, Melissa Bowles-Terry

Library Faculty Presentations

What makes a difference in student success? The framing questions for this presentation are:

1. What makes students stay in college and finish a degree? What prevents them from finishing?

2. What can librarians and faculty do to increase students' chances of succeeding at learning and at earning a degree?

This presentation will address high impact practices identified by George Kuh and adopted by the AAC&U, and give some examples of how libraries can support those high impact practices. It will also address student engagement, as measured by tools like the National Survey of Student Engagement or NSSE, and how libraries can …

Critical Race Theory And The Recruitment, Retention And Promotion Of A Librarian Of Color: A Counterstory, Shaundra Walker

Library Faculty Scholarship

Despite the proliferation of residency programs, institutes, and scholar- ships designed to increase the numbers of African American and other academic librarians of color, academic librarianship, in contrast to the American population, continues to lacks racial diversity. According to the American Library Association’s most recent Diversity Counts report, credentialed academic librarians are 86.1% white. African Americans make up 12.6% of the American population, but only account for 5.4% of credentialed academic librarians.

Elevator Pitch: Open Access Talking Points, Andrée Rathemacher

Technical Services Faculty Presentations

Speaking notes and discussion questions for a facilitated networking session, "Elevator Pitch: Open Access Talking Points." The speaking notes outline the argument that "an Open Access future is inevitable," and the questions are geared to encouraging discussion among librarians about their roles in relation to Open Access.

The networking session was sponsored by the Special Interest Groups of the ACRL New England Chapter and was held during the ACRL/NEC Spring 2014 Conference, We’re All in This Together: Strengthening Librarians through Professional Development. The session took place on May 9, 2014 at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, …

Glis 709 Revisited, John A. Drobnicki

Publications and Research

The author describes a 2012 follow-up research project, where he revisited and re-implemented a survey project that had originally been done in 1992.

Cuny Librarians And Faculty Status: Past, Present, And Future, John A. Drobnicki

Publications and Research

Librarians in the City University of New York system have held faculty ranks since 1965, but their faculty status dates back two decades further. How did they achieve faculty status and faculty ranks? What role did their professional association (LACCNY, later known as LACUNY) play? Is their status secure?

Cuny Librarians And Reassignment Time: What Is It? How Do I Get It?, John A. Drobnicki

Publications and Research

Although librarians in CUNY had achieved Faculty Status by 1946 and Faculty Rank in 1965, they were still never put on the Faculty Calendar with the Summer (or its equivalent) off. Professional Reassignment leave for library faculty was added to the contract in 1978 as a two-week research leave, and it has since expanded to a maximum of six weeks. However, as Professional Reassignment leave increased, the amount of annual leave for new librarians decreased.

Mission Possible: A Retreat To Prepare Librarians To Infiltrate Upper-Level Curricula, Priscilla Finley, Diane Vanderpol, Susie Skarl, Sidney Lowe

Susie Skarl

From its humble beginnings a scant fifty years ago as a small desert school, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) has rapidly evolved into a dynamic urban academic institution dedicated to creating a learning environment that empowers students to become lifelong learners. UNLV's first classes were held in 1957, and its solitary campus building housed all of the classrooms, offices, science labs, and a library of 2,000 books managed by a part-time librarian. Today, the UNLV Libraries include the 302,000 square foot Lied Library, three campus branches, 125 employees, and a book collection that expanded to well past a …

Cuny Librarians And Faculty Status, John A. Drobnicki

Publications and Research

Although the libraries in what were then known as the City Colleges of New York were made academic departments in 1938, all of the librarians did not have faculty status until 1946, and faculty rank did not come until 1965.

Developing And Applying An Information Literacy Rubric To Student Annotated Bibliographies, Erin E. Rinto

Library Faculty Publications

Objective – This study demonstrates one method of developing and applying rubrics to student writing in order to gather evidence of how students utilize information literacy skills in the context of an authentic assessment activity. The process of creating a rubric, training scorers to use the rubric, collecting annotated bibliographies, applying the rubric to student work, and the results of the rubric assessment are described. Implications for information literacy instruction are also discussed.

Methods – The focus of this study was the English 102 (ENG 102) course, a required research-based writing course that partners the instructors with the university librarians …

Cuny Librarians And Reassignment Leave: What Is It? How Do I Get It?, John A. Drobnicki

Publications and Research

Although librarians in CUNY had achieved Faculty Status by 1946 and Faculty Rank in 1965, they were still never put on the Faculty Calendar with the Summer (or its equivalent) off. Professional Reassignment leave for library faculty was added to the contract in 1978 as a two-week research leave, and it has since expanded to a maximum of six weeks. However, as Professional Reassignment leave increased, the amount of annual leave for new librarians decreased.

Hitch Your Wagon To Institutional Goals, Anne E. Zald, Michelle Millet

Library Faculty Publications

The landscape of accreditation and accountability in higher education is in a period of rapid change, coalescing around issues identified in the 2006 report of the Spellings Commission, “A Test of Leadership: Charting the Future of U.S. Higher Education.” Information literacy librarians need to connect their instructional efforts to the institutional strategies and initiatives that address continuous improvement whatever their source, e.g. accreditation agencies, funding bodies such as state legislatures, institutional participation in the Voluntary System of Accountability (VSA), University & College Accountability Network (U-CAN), or internal initiatives of the institution’s administration. The challenge for instruction librarians is great, requiring …

Full Circle, John A. Drobnicki

Publications and Research

The author looks back on twenty-five years of working in libraries, and reflects on how some duties have not changed.

Best Practices For Hiring Academic Librarians With Faculty Status And Rank, Christopher Shaffer

The Southeastern Librarian

When library school students graduate, their primary goal frequently is to find a job; they may have a preference for a position as a public librarian, academic librarian, or school media specialist, but most important is finding gainful employment in order to put food on the table. The person responsible for hiring academic librarians must attempt to discern, based on a résumé and a relatively brief personal interview whether a candidate is capable of performing the basic tasks of being a librarian, interacting with faculty, guiding students, and performing their duties as a member of the academy. To make the …

Information Workers In The Academy: The Case Of Librarians And Archivists At The University Of Western Ontario, Melanie Mills

Melanie Mills

For much of its history, the organizational culture for academic librarians and archivists at The University of Western Ontario was primarily a culture of the practitioner. While librarians and archivists supported teaching, research and service at Western, they did not directly engage in it. As a result of grassroots efforts undertaken by members of Western’s academic community in the mid-2000s however, the potential contributions of information workers to the teaching, research and service mandate of University began to garner recognition. Born out of this collective awakening, a successful union drive and shortly thereafter an inaugural Collective Agreement for The University …

Of Fairs And Festivals: Librarians Teach Thematic First-Year Seminars, Donna Braquet, Micheline Westfall

The Southeastern Librarian

For almost a century, library skills instruction by academic librarians has been a vital component of university programs created to help first-year students adapt to the social and academic environment of college life (Walter, 2004). Asretention of first-year students has become a strategic goal for universities, a variety of firstyear experience (FYE) programs have been developed over the last decade to address this goal. For many academic librarians, the FYE programs have resulted in an increased collaboration with faculty (Walter, 2004). This collaboration ranges from assisting faculty with incorporating information literacy skills within classroom instruction to embedding librarians within classes …