Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Knowledge Sharing Practices In Academic Libraries In Imo State, Nigeria., Ngozi Ike

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study investigated knowledge sharing practices in academic libraries in Imo State, Nigeria. The research adopted descriptive survey design. Two research questions were posed for the study. The population of the study was 89 professional librarians selected from four tertiary institutions in Owerri Municipal Council which are Federal University of Technology Owerri (48), Imo State University, Owerri (15), Federal Polytechnic Nekede (11) and Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education Owerri (15). The instrument for data collection was rating scale titled Rating Scale on Knowledge Sharing Practices in Academic Libraries in Imo State (RSKSPAL). The data collected was analyzed using simple …

Launching A 3d Printing Program For Students: Recommendations And Best Practices For Libraries, Wilhelmina Randtke, Nathaniel Lee Bareford

Library Faculty Publications

The Georgia Southern University Libraries launched a 3D printing program for students in July 2022. Prior to launch, library employees at two of Georgia Southern University’s campuses investigated options for implementing safe, affordable, and sustainable 3D printing in existing academic libraries without retrofitting costly ventilation systems into existing facilities. This article describes the reasons why the Georgia Southern University Libraries thought that a 3D printing program could fulfill a service need for students across university colleges and departments and outlines some of the challenges, best practices, and unique innovations that the library’s employees experienced throughout the program launch process. The …

Reframing Occupational Stress To Mitigate Burnout: A Trauma-Informed Care And Constructive Living Approach To Foster Lifelong Resiliency And Self-Directed Life Management Within Academic Libraries, Wendy C. Doucette, Rebecca Tolley

ETSU Faculty Works

This editorial chapter addresses the problem of burnout in academic libraries by introducing a fusion of principles from trauma-informed care (TIC) and Constructive Living (CL) to offer unique, easy-to-incorporate plans of action to identify and mitigate symptoms of burnout. These two action-based philosophies, which may be new to most readers, provide strategies for considering, practicing, and adopting perspectives and behaviors that may give those suffering from burnout new ways of thinking about their professional and personal lives. We identify accessible opportunities to connect mind and body in self-care to neutralize negative self-talk, regain perspective and balance, and foster lifelong resiliency …

“I Want My Prc”: Engagement Of Undergraduates With And Assessment Of The Peer Research Consultant Program, Karlene T. Clark, Avery Breiland

Librarian Publications

Purpose

This paper describes the benefits found in undergraduate students working to provide research assistance to their peers. The discussion includes how soft skills are built, along with how the position has aided in both educational and building towards their future careers. The paper is submitted for the special issue on “The future of peer-led research services.”

Design/methodology/approach

The authors provide a viewpoint from both a peer research supervisor and a student currently working as a PRC. The paper covers the requirements and implementations at the beginning of the program along with the changes that have occurred to better streamline …

Exploring Faculty Consideration Of Instructional Resource Cost To Students, Christine N. Turner, Sarah Fitzgerald, Anne Graham

University Libraries Presentations Series

This study investigated how instructors consider resource cost and availability to students when selecting reading and viewing assignments. It employs a critical incident technique method, asking instructors to consider one course syllabus when considering their assignment practices. Findings address differences across formats including books, chapters, articles, and media. Most instructors never consulted library personnel regarding their reading and viewing assignments. Social and behavioral science instructor responses demonstrated interest in course material cost to students. Humanities and fine art instructor responses also demonstrated interest in cost and familiarity with library services. Responses from natural science, nursing, and engineering demonstrated less familiarity …

Burning The Candle At Both Ends How And Why Academic Librarians Who Are Parents Experience And Combat Burnout At Work, Amy Chew, Michael Holt, Jessica Lee, Robert Griggs-Taylor

UT Libraries Faculty: Other Publications and Presentations

Academic librarians already wear many hats, juggling a multitude of skills and duties in order to meet the needs of their patrons. When one of those hats is parenthood, however, balancing work and home life can sometimes seem like an insurmountable task. In this chapter we explore how and why academic librarians who are also parents experience burnout, as well as methods used to combat burnout by examining the results of a nationally distrib­uted mixed-methods survey. The survey also addresses practices to combat and prevent burnout, both on a personal and institutional level, and the perceptions of their effectiveness.

Working Towards Promotion To Full Professor: Strategies, Time Management, And Habits For Academic Librarian Mothers, Marta Bladek

Publications and Research

After briefly sharing my experience as an academic librarian mother, the chapter places it within the larger context of academia in which women, especially mothers, lag behind men in attaining the full professor rank. It then outlines the strategies that have enabled me to gradually make progress towards promotion. The chapter discusses strategies to use at the institutional level (familiarity with local requirements, personnel process and related trainings, as well as the availability of leaves and grants), at the departmental level (workflow adjustments, scheduling arrangements, and strategic choice of projects and service commitments), and then at the individual/personal level (seeking …

Forging A Liaison Team For The Future Through Renewed Onboarding Practices, Bettina Peacemaker, Emily Hurst

VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations

Welcoming new employees is one of the most important jobs of a manager, but it is not an easy one. Guidance from the literature specific to academic liaison librarian onboarding is minimal and fails to address current workforce and workplace realities. This poster will explore how a team of liaison librarian managers used reflective and informed feedback to build a strong onboarding process to successfully welcome eight liaisons in two years and detail how the managers recently renewed their onboarding process to account for new, hybrid work environments and prepare new liaisons for the future of work in academia.

Display Of Plenty: Addressing Food Insecurity On Campus, Adrienne Warner, Sarita Cargas, Sarah Johnson

University Libraries & Learning Sciences Faculty and Staff Publications

This chapter describes how undergraduate students created an interactive display in an academic library to address food insecurity among students at their university. In the 2021 fall semester, students in the Honors College course, The Human Rights of Students, created a visual display to present and refine their work on raising awareness of food insecurity. Spurred by the 2020 University of New Mexico Basic Needs Report, they engaged others in conversation through digital and analog media to dispel stigma and promote resources. Not only did it raise awareness, their undergraduate research project embodies several social justice tenets found in the …

Saying No To Say Yes: Mediating Student Technology Needs In Times Of Crisis, Catherine Fonseca, Rita Premo, Hilary Smith

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

This chapter details the mediating role embraced by the SSU Library in managing university-wide technology and learning challenges during an unanticipated pivot to remote instruction and is organized according to lessons learned. Responding to COVID disruptions in real time, we identified key areas where our expertise and relationships allowed us to advocate for and support students, while also saying no or limiting our participation in others. Limiting the services provided during a crisis to only those that fit within the core scope of our mission was a powerful tactic that libraries should exercise often and widely communicate. Rather than answering …

Improving The Effectiveness Of Using Social Media In Vietnamese Academic Libraries, Thi Phuong Chi Duong

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

In recent decades, social media has moved from a fringe activity to one that is considered as central for library outreach and promotion. This study aims to explore the current state of using social media and factors affecting the use, then to suggest solutions to improve social media use in Vietnamese academic libraries. In the present study, a mix research methodology was used to achieve the research objectives. The results showed that social media is a marketing communication tool for academic libraries to transmit news, announcements and events. Social media also helps them introduce library resources to users, and implement …

Where Do Community College Students Go For Their Reference Management Needs: Findings From A Survey Study, Ajatshatru Pathak, Sarah Johnson

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This research article reports the findings of a survey that was conducted at two community colleges affiliated with a large public university system in the Northeast of the United States. A survey was to explore community college students’ citation management help- seeking habits. Findings suggest that respondents were more likely to utilize Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab (OWL) website for reference management help than other resources. The results also show the impact of various factors (i.e., institution, academic level, undergraduate class level, field of study, age, gender, race/ethnicity, and user type) on students’ citation help -seeking practices. Significant statistical associations …

Policy Matters: Edi Evaluation Of An Academic Library's Policies, Kimberly Shotick, Michele N. Hunt, Sata Prescott, Alissa Droog, Sarah Mchone-Chase

Faculty Peer-Reviewed Publications

Why does policy matter, and how can libraries reform their policies to create a more equitable library for library workers and library users? The authors discuss their experience in reviewing the policies of their library with an EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) lens. The authors describe how they initiated and developed this project, the factors that they considered in forming their evaluation rubric, and what they learned from the process.

Exploring Faculty Perspectives On Text Selection And Textbook Affordability, Rachel E. Scott, Mallory Jallas, Julie A. Murphy, Rachel Park, Anne Shelley

Faculty and Staff Publications – Milner Library

This paper reports the results of a pilot project conducted Spring 2021 in which Milner Library licensed 75 assigned texts to 52 courses at Illinois State University. The authors used the pilot as a springboard to explore faculty perspectives on textbook selection, textbook affordability, and the role of the academic library in addressing the rising cost of textbooks. The results highlight the strong, and often deeply personal, beliefs faculty hold about textbook selection and textbook affordability, reveal several obstacles to achieving affordable access to course readings, and demonstrate the willingness of some faculty to partner with librarians and other institutional …

Exploring Faculty Perspectives On Open Access At A Medium-Sized, American Doctoral University, Rachel E. Scott, Julie Murphy, Cassie Thayer-Styes, Chad E. Buckley, Anne Shelley

Faculty and Staff Publications – Milner Library

Faculty hold widely varying perspectives on the benefits and challenges afforded by open access (OA) publishing. In the United States, conversations on OA models and strategy have been dominated by scholars affiliated with Carnegie R1 institutions. This article reports findings from interviews conducted with faculty at a Carnegie R2 institution, highlighting disciplinary and individual perspectives on the high costs and rich rewards afforded by OA. The results reiterate the persistence of a high degree of skepticism regarding the quality of peer review and business models associated with OA publishing. By exploring scholars’ perceptions of and experiences with OA publishing and …

It Assessment In Arl Libraries, Rebecca L. Mugridge, Janetta Waterhouse

University Libraries Faculty Scholarship

With the rapid pace of change and the high cost invested in information technology, it is important for academic libraries to evaluate the information technology solutions they use in their institutions to determine whether they are meeting the needs of their students, faculty, staff, and other users of their libraries and resources. This study presents the results of an online survey of Association of Research Libraries (ARL) academic library members to benchmark the assessment strategies that they used to evaluate their IT activities. This article compares their responses with earlier studies to identify trends and make recommendations for effective assessment …

The Organization Of Information Technology Activities In North American Research Libraries, Rebecca L. Mugridge, Janetta Waterhouse

University Libraries Faculty Scholarship

This study presents the results of an online survey that benchmarked the organization of information technology (IT) functions in academic library members of the Association of Research Libraries. The survey investigated whether responsibility for 14 key areas resided in the libraries or in an institution-level information technology department, whether responsibilities have shifted over the past 20 years, satisfaction with services provided, assessment methods used to evaluate information technology services, and top challenges facing library IT. This paper considers the survey results addressing where the responsibility lies, satisfaction with the support, and whether and when the responsibility changed.

Comparing The "Value Of Information Services" For Providers And Vulnerable Patrons: A Mixed-Methods Study With Academic Libraries And Students With Disabilities, Devendra Potnis, Kevin J. Mallary

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Introduction. This multi-year, mixed-methods study compares (a) the reasons administrators and librarians of academic libraries invest in assistive technology for delivering information services to students with disabilities, with (b) the benefits that influence these students’ intention to use AT.

Method. In the first phase, 50 library administrators and 22 librarians from 186 public universities across the US shared their top-three reasons for investing in assistive technology through a qualitative survey. In the second phase, 322 students with disabilities from the same institutions completed a quantitative survey, in which respondents shared individual-level benefits that influence their intention to use assistive technology. …

Reading Habits Of Students In The Digital Era: A Case Of Uganda College Of Commerce, Tororo, Susan Nattembo, Joyce Bukirwa

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Purpose

This study, carried out at Uganda College of Commerce, Tororo Uganda examined the reading habits of students in the digital era in order to propose strategies for enhanced library and information services provision.

Design/methodology/approach

This study utilized cross-sectional survey design with mixed-methods approach. Data were collected using questionnaire and interview. Quantitative and qualitative data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) and thematic analysis respectively. The study population two hundred forty-two students and 15 staff members of Uganda College of Commerce, Tororo.

Findings

It was established that students at Uganda College of Commerce, Tororo mostly …

Human Resource Development Practices In Academic Libraries In Tertiary Institutions In Nigeria, Cajetan Okechukwu Onyeneke, Doris Chiemeka Obasi

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study examined human resource development practices in academic libraries in non-university tertiary institutions in Imo State, Nigeria. Four research questions and four hypotheses guided the study. A descriptive survey design was used for the study. A census study technique was adopted to cover the entire population of one hundred and fifty-two (152) library staff in the four public tertiary institutions in Imo State. A rating scale titled “Human Resource Development Practices Rating Scale (HRDPRS) was used to collect data for the study. A reliability index was established using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) and it was (r) 0.82. The …

Preservation Of Library Materials In Selected Public Colleges Of Education In Ghana: Strategies And Challenges, Hafiz Abubakari, Dawuda Issah, . Yakubu Baba, Abdul-Majeed Bawa Wumbie

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study investigated the preservation practices selected teacher colleges of education libraries in Ghana. The study examined the existence of preservation policies in the teacher college libraries, preservation techniques in place, level of training given to library staff on preservation and barriers to effective preservation of information resources in the teacher college libraries. The study adopted a survey research design and the instruments used were structured questionnaire administered to forty-four (44) library personnel in six teacher colleges of education in Ghana. The population of the study consisted of para-professional and professional librarians. Descriptive statistics methods were used to analyse the …

Applications Of Diversity Language To Descriptions Of Collection Development Activities At Academic Libraries: An Exploratory Analysis Of Strategic Plans And Diversity Information Webpages, David Macaulay

UNL Libraries: Faculty Publications

Diversity is commonly invoked as a goal for libraries in a variety of domains, including collections. This study explores how diversity language is used to characterize collection development efforts at a sample of large North American academic libraries, through content analysis of strategic planning documents as well as library webpages providing information about diversity efforts. The topic of collection diversity was found to be not consistently addressed in these documents. While 90% of the institutions whose strategic plans were examined mentioned diversity in some way, less than half of these did so in relation to collections; about one-third of the …

Climate Justice And Racial And Gender Equity: Creating And Promoting Featured Collections, Sherry Buchanan

Library Faculty Publications and Presentations

PDXScholar, the repository for Portland State University, showcases three main collections that are automatically curated based on filters – tags that collect and display the content: Climate Justice, Racial and Gender Equity, and COVID-19. In this presentation, I will give an overview of our featured collections, their development and promotion, including the criteria for inclusion, technical aspects, and impact. The Digital Commons automated collection tool and system configuration will be briefly explained.

The User Experience: Student Perspectives On Library Course Reserve, Sara Foster, Duane Wilson, Shannon Sanders, Justin Johnson

Faculty Publications

A group of researchers from an academic library surveyed students to understand how and why the members of their community use course reserve services. Students were happy with the service and used it as a replacement for purchasing textbooks. Frequent users requested more textbook offerings, and both users and nonusers indicated a need for increased promotion of the service. Users provided specific suggestions for improvement that should be examined. Findings illustrated the value of course reserve services as a way to help students with college affordability and to support instruction and learning.

Building Strong Academic Libraries And Library Professionals In Uganda Through The University Of Pretoria Carnegie Cpd Programme, Gorrety Maria Juma, Aga Khan, Marlene A. Holmner

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Academic libraries are encountering numerous changes due to the emerging Information Communication Technological trends and the ever-changing information-seeking behaviour of their users. For the librarians to effectively implement these trends and remain competitive, they need to be regularly equipped with knowledge and skills through Continuing Professional Development. The study aimed to find out the factors that influenced the motivation to participate in the University of Pretoria (UP) Carnegie Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme and the potential impact on service delivery of the selected academic libraries in Uganda as represented in the programme. The study applied a qualitative research design with …

Embedding Inclusive Excellence In An Academic Library: Strategic Planning & Infrastructure Considerations, Ione T. Damasco

Roesch Library Faculty Presentations

While many of our libraries have issued public statements declaring a commitment to greater diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), many of us have struggled with how to move beyond words to enacting sustained, anti-oppressive actions. We will look at one library that used a multi-pronged, stepped approach to embed inclusive excellence as a framework in every department. Inclusive excellence recognizes an institution’s ability to succeed is dependent upon how fully it values, engages, and includes the rich diversity of each of its members. First, the library formalized its diversity committee, developing a charge and requiring representation from each department. Second, …

Peer Reference And The Out-Of-The-Building Experience, Brett B. Bodemer

Library Scholarship

Purpose – This article conceptualizes essential keys to the future of peer reference in academic libraries as extrapolated through the dual lenses of academic library history in the United States of America and recent experiences of a peer program with prospective and actual out-of-the-building experiences.

Design/methodology/approach – A 30,000-foot historical view of the dispositions of space in academic library buildings, collections, spaces, technology and reference provision is integrated with a description of the responses and insights of a peer reference program during the program’s prospective and actual out-of-the-building experiences. These components are then analyzed to extrapolate keys to peer reference …

Open Access Literature In Libraries: Principles And Practices, Karen Brunsting, Caitlin Harrington, Rachel E. Scott

Faculty and Staff Publications – Milner Library

Open Access has evolved into the most complex challenge of the scholarly communication landscape and something libraries grapple with on a regular basis. But although librarians hold increasingly positive perceptions about OA, including its richness of unique content and immediacy of access, many lack the understanding, training, documentation, and knowledge of best practices that would allow them to engage with it confidently. This book helps to fill that gap, using a holistic approach that walks readers through the steps of integrating OA resources into library collections and supporting OA initiatives irrespective of budget, institution type, collection size, and staffing. Explaining …

Leadership And Innovative Behaviour In The Twenty First Century Academic Library, Ugwunwa Esse

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The paper considered leadership and innovation behaviours in the academic libraries of the 21^st century. Based on an extensive review of literature it explored concepts in leadership behavior that can engender innovation in academic libraries. It was discovered that change is inevitable in environment due to the emergence of a pervasive application of information technology and communication to its operations. Thus, the 21^st century library needs to integrate emerging technologies to its routine activities as well as expand the frontier of its services to gain competitive advantage over other information retrieval systems in order to ensure continuous relevance …

Academic Libraries And Research Data Management: A Case Study Of Dataverse Global Adoption, Hsin-Liang (Oliver) Chen, Tzu-Heng Chiu, Ellen Cline

PCOM Scholarly Papers

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the development of Dataverse, a global research data management consortium. The authors examine specifically the institutional characteristics, the utilization of the associated data sets and the relevant research data management services at its participating university libraries. This evidence-based approach is essential for understanding the current state of research data management practices in the global context. Design/methodology/approach: The data was collected from 67 participants’ data portals between December 1, 2020, and January 31, 2021. Findings: Over 80% of its current participants joined the group in the past five years, 2016–2020. Thirty-three Dataverse …