Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Including A Chaplain And Culturally Sensitive Notary In End-Of-Life And Earlier Difficult Healthcare Issues, John Stonestreet

Journal of Health Ethics

Would patients and families benefit from a Doctor Body Cam? Linked from www.DoctorBodyCam.com, this article explores innovations providing accountability for ethical communication surrounding major healthcare decisions. One of the greatest challenges physicians face is living up to their own ideals, let alone others’ expectations, for high-stakes doctor-patient/family communication, especially at the end of life. From emotional strains to time limitations, a multiplicity of factors obfuscates the pursuit of excellence in this vital endeavor. Evidence suggests that, like nearly every other sector of healthcare and society, African American patients and families are most likely to get the short end of the …

A Call For Liberty And Justice For All: Unraveling The Complexities In 2021, Dr. Sheila P. Davis

Journal of Health Ethics

This Preface summarizes the articles in this issue. Seven articles are presented with center on liberty and justice for all populations discussed.

"I Felt What Was Happening In Our Country [Usa] With Race Was So Much Scarier Than The [Covid-19] Virus.” Black Lives Matter Protesters’ Beliefs And Practices During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Evelyn Arana-Chicas, Brooke D. Jones, Francisco Cartujano-Barrera, Ana Paula Cupertino

Journal of Health Ethics

This study describes the COVID-19 prevention practices and beliefs of Black Lives Matter protesters in the U.S. Participants completed a survey on following COVID-19 guidelines and answered interview questions. Twenty participants were enrolled. Mean age was 29 and most were female (80%) and black (75%). Participants almost always wore their masks (75%) and washed their hands (85%) while protesting. Most reported rarely social distancing (55%) and not being concerned about COVID-19 (55%). Themes included: 1) Fighting for social justice, 2) Protesting is more important than COVID-19, 3) Unable to social distance, 4) Masks mostly worn, 5) Protests sparked global movement, …

Sexual Minority Rights Are Not Just For The West: Health And Safety Considerations In Africa, Robert Scott Stewart Ph.D., Dionne Van Reenen Ph.D., Richard Watuwa Ph.D.

Journal of Health Ethics

In a recent article, C.O. Akpan argues that it is “unnatural for a man to sleep with a man as with a woman, and the idea of marriage in this sense is an abomination” (“The morality of same-sex marriage: How not to globalize a cultural anomie,” Online Journal of Health Ethics, 13(1), 2017, p. 9). Arguments in favor of same sex marriage, he claims, are “driven and motivated by the human right fad” (p. 9) that is inappropriate for African countries.

We argue that the specific arguments Akpan employs against the morality of homosexuality and same-sex marriage are flawed. Our …

Slis Connecting, Volume 10, Issue 1, Spring/Summer 2021, Stacy Creel, Ph.D., Teresa S. Welsh Ph.D.

SLIS Connecting

No abstract provided.

The History And Current Challenges Of Libraries In Japan, Francis A. Alix

SLIS Connecting

Japan's libraries have many positive attributes and continue to evolve. However, many library sectors struggle with serving users because of staff outsourcing, library leadership, and a focus on circulation statistics that prevent them from developing into 21st-century information and community centers. This paper reviews the history and current status of each library sector, including their services and staffing. It then examines their current challenges and how professionalism, librarian education, and community engagement are the main challenges to their success and suggests recommendations to elevate them to compete in the global arena.

Locating Banned Books: A Collection Analysis Of Libraries In Arkansas And Tennessee, Floyce Thomas

SLIS Connecting

No library can make everything available to its patrons. However, libraries should adhere to the American Library Association (ALA) for guidance on what items are banned from the library's collections. Censorship and intellectual freedom have gained attention for how it affects libraries and the restraints it individualized for banned or forbidden items. Difficulties are characterized as formal, composed complaints recorded with a library or school asking for specific materials to be expelled from view because the substance may not be considered appropriate for the users.

The purpose of this study is to compare a selected set of previously banned books …

Reaching Out: A Publication Trend Analysis Of Scholarly Articles Discussing Graphic Novels And Reluctant Or Struggling Readers, Mary Kirkham

SLIS Connecting

Graphic novels combine short text and pictures to tell a story or convey information while still engaging the reader visually. This is a potentially useful tool for reaching out to struggling and reluctant readers. Struggling readers have difficulty reading and understanding what it is they are reading. Pictures allow for more context clues than just text alone, allowing for the potential for greater success in comprehension for struggling readers. Reluctant readers, on the other hand, may have more of a distaste for reading. In some cases, they are capable of understanding what they read, but they do not enjoy the …

Ethics And Cyber Libraries: Challenges Facing The Values And Ethics In Lis, Jessica Omer

SLIS Connecting

Cyber libraries face many challenges when it comes to access. These challenges can lead to cyber libraries failing in following the guidelines for the values and ethics of the LIS professional. Some authors have argued that cyber libraries are the future of libraries. They argue that patrons want information immediately at their fingertips. The fact that library budgets are shrinking and electronic sources can be cheaper cause many libraries to lean more towards the idea of cyber libraries. However, while digital libraries do have their advantages, they are not perfect. We live in a time where librarians have their feet …

Out-Of-Print Books As E-Books: A Collection Analysis, Mary Frances Calix

SLIS Connecting

In recent years, archival institutions have begun to digitally archive or preserve the items in their collections. This way, items are more accessible to those wanting to perform research but not necessarily handle the original documents and are not likely to be permanently damaged. One example of a digital preservation project is the one that forms the basis for this paper- the Oklahoma Historical Society's collection of out-of-print historical books that have been made available as e-books. Created over three years ago, this collection contains 22 books about Oklahoma and Texas history. The original publication dates of the books cover …

Thriving Places, Thriving People: A Look At Usm's Master Of Library And Information Science, Karlie Herndon

SLIS Connecting

Article in Arete (Winter 2020/21, p. 9-11) featuring two recent MLIS graduates, Carrie Pennington Mastley and Laura Valliant. Reprinted with permission from USM Graduate School.

From The Gas: Congratulations, Publications, Presentations, Teresa S. Welsh Ph.D.

SLIS Connecting

News and congratulations from SLIS Director and Graduate Assistants for student, alumni, and faculty accomplishments, publications, and presentations.

Spotlights: Faculty, Alumna, Kaigler Children's Book Festival, Stacy Creel, Ph.D.

SLIS Connecting

Spotlighting SLIS Faculty Dr. Laura Clark Hunt, SLIS alum Floyce Thomas, and the Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival.

Slis Director's Report, Teresa S. Welsh Ph.D.

SLIS Connecting

News and updates from Southern Miss School of Library and Information Science Director, Dr. Teresa Welsh.

The Reading Room Goes Virtual: Retooling First Year Experience Class Encounters With Archives And Primary Sources In The Wake Of Covid-19, Deedee Baldwin, Jessica Perkins Smith, Melody Dale

The Primary Source

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Fall of 2020, Mississippi State University librarians who taught archives-based First Year Experience classes had to make significant changes to their syllabi. In addition to the classes no longer meeting in the library itself, activities like archival visits, interactions with the physical materials, scavenger hunts, group projects, and games had to be replaced with in-class assignments and projects based on items available in the digital collections. Ultimately, the semester, with all of the stress and unknowns that came with it, gave instructors an opportunity to try new strategies, to increase students’ …

Volume 9, Issue 2, Fall/Winter 2020/21, Stacy Creel Ph.D., Teresa S. Welsh Ph.D.

SLIS Connecting

SLIS Connecting refereed open-access e-journal, Volume 9, Issue 2 (Fall/Winter 2020/21)

The Value Of Local Authors: A Survey Of The Mission Statements And Submission Guidelines Of Local Author Collections, Rachel Mcmullen

SLIS Connecting

This research examines the mission statements and submission guidelines of local author collections in public libraries to determine in what ways these collections emphasize the communities they represent, the extent to which all members of the community are represented by the collection, and how these collections are accessed by the community.

The Natchez Museum Of African American History And Culture, Danielle A. Terrell

SLIS Connecting

The Natchez Association for the Preservation of African American History and Culture (NAPAC) is a repository of local history that spotlights the life of black citizens from the turn of the century to the modern-day. What makes the NAPAC Museum unique is that it collects history that is only native to Natchez, Mississippi. The rich heritage of the African American culture is interpreted through artifacts and other relics that allow one to focus on what was then and what is now. The purpose of this study is to document the collections, organization, events, and degree of digitization of the museum.

Exploring Data Mining Research In West Africa: A Bibliometric Analysis, Oladosu O. Oladimeji, Olayanju O. Oladimeji

SLIS Connecting

This research paper's main objective is to quantify and analyze the research output of data mining in West Africa, including (1) growth in publications as measured by the Relative Growth Rate (RGR) and Doubling Time (Dt), (2) productivity and quantification of research output for different institutions of the region (West Africa).

A De Grummond Primer: Highlights Of The Children’S Literature Collection, Ellen Hunter Ruffin

SLIS Connecting

The first book-length project on the Collection, edited by Carolyn J. Brown, Ellen Hunter Ruffin, and Eric L. Tribunella, includes unique aspects of the holdings in scholarly essays written by children’s literature “notables.” Along with over ninety full-color images, the book examines the Collection’s strengths: Fairy tales, 19^th Century periodicals, African American children’s literature, the Golden Age of illustrated books, early books for children, and many more.

From The Gas: Congratulations, Publications, Presentations, The University Of Southern Mississippi

SLIS Connecting

News and congratulations from SLIS Graduate Assistants for student, alumni, and faculty accomplishments, publications, and presentations.

Spotlights: Faculty, Alumna, And Courses, Stacy Creel Ph.D.

SLIS Connecting

Spotlighting SLIS Faculty Ms. Ashley Marshall, SLIS alum Angie Manfredi, and elective courses LIS 445/545SL: Information Needs of Underserved Populations, a service-learning course.

Slis Director's Report, Teresa S. Welsh Ph.D.

SLIS Connecting

News and updates from Southern Miss School of Library and Information Science Director, Dr. Teresa Welsh.