Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Place Matters: The Role Of Public Libraries As Change Agents In Central Appalachia, Jasmyne R. Lewis

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The role of public libraries is changing in response to a multitude of influences and trends. The exponential growth of technology as the primary method of information access, funding challenges, changing demographics, and other mitigating factors have forced public libraries to become more than book repositories. Community library leaders and governing board members are faced with challenges such as decreased funding, community division regarding library services, and soaring costs for library materials and services, as they develop and adopt policies and practices to navigate this ever-changing environment.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to collect data from the public …

Still Lending You The World: The Toledo Lucas County Public Library In The 21st Century, Cade Clem

Honors Projects

This research paper focuses on how the Toledo Lucas County Public Library (TLCPL) has adapted to the 21st century, with an emphasis on the impact of digital materials and the Internet. This paper looks at these changes primarily through three lenses: official policies, services and programs, and internal culture. This paper uses quantitative data to determine if TLCPL has maintained overall growth in areas such as number of cardholders, customer counts, circulation, computer usage, and program attendance. These numbers show that, while not always maintaining growth, TLCPL has adapted quite well to the 21st century, bringing in record high numbers …

Still Lending You The World: The Toledo Lucas County Public Library In The 21st Century, Cade Clem

Honors Projects

This research paper focuses on how the Toledo Lucas County Public Library (TLCPL) has adapted to the 21st century, with an emphasis on the impact of digital materials and the Internet. This paper looks at these changes primarily through three lenses: official policies, services and programs, and internal culture. This paper uses quantitative data to determine if TLCPL has maintained overall growth in areas such as number of cardholders, customer counts, circulation, computer usage, and program attendance. These numbers show that, while not always maintaining growth, TLCPL has adapted quite well to the 21st century, bringing in record high numbers …

Social Isolation Interventions For Older, Underrepresented And Vulnerable Americans: A Descriptive Study Of Public Library Outreach Services During The Covid Pandemic, Sally Mathews Inglett

Leadership Education Capstones

The United States entered a state of lockdown in March 2020 in order slow the spread of the COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. With this lockdown came mandatory social isolation, which was especially impactful for older, underrepresented and vulnerable Americans. Public libraries acted as community information centers and took on many unexpected roles to benefit the common good. This study identified these interventions through research and survey, and their relationship to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (Maslow, 1943). This study also brought to light collaborative relationships between agencies, the redeployment of library staff and resources to meet these needs, the impact of the …

Power To The People: Libraries As Third Spaces For Civic Dialogue And Collaborative Empowerment, Laura Bishop

Community Engagement Student Work

The United States is experiencing deep divisions and lack of political will to address inequities impacting people’s lives. Pathways to convergence are needed to build bridges amongst community members for solidarity and community action to address these. Civic dialogue in Third Spaces is a method for cultivating understanding across differences to make change possible. Public libraries possess democratic missions committed to equitable access to resources, open exchange of ideas, and self-empowerment. Public librarians facilitate civic dialogue and engagement; little scholarly attention is given to their efforts. This project brought together public librarians interested in civic dialogue to explore understandings of …

Creating A Culturally Competent Children's Library, Rachel Burger

Human Development and Family Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

There is an ever-growing need for cultural competence and well-rounded education, especially for children. In order to promote cultural competence, this current creative project focused on enhancing a library space at a child development center in the mid-south and supply with resources that address diversity. The goal was to transform the library into an enticing, relaxing, and judgement free area where children feel comfortable to explore their culture and the cultures of others. New books added to the library were thoroughly reviewed and chosen for the purpose of promoting cultural competence and inclusion, and new language introduction. A wide variety …

Libraries, Their Communities, And White Flight: A Social Impact Assessment Of Public Libraries In The Jackson Metro Area, Wesley Craft

Honors Theses

In 1969, federal courts forced Mississippi to integrate public schools. Following, droves of white families moved out of Jackson for suburbs in nearby Madison and Rankin Counties. Today, the Jackson metro area is the most partisan segregated and among the top five racially segregated metro areas in the U.S. (Dottle, 2019). With that in mind, I sought to find out: How do libraries in the Jackson metro area impact their communities, and do disparities exist between Jackson’s libraries and white flight libraries?

I researched seven libraries inside the metro area’s three library systems –– three libraries in Jackson and four …

Buenas Prácticas En La Interacción Lúdica En Bibliotecas Públicas, Cindy Lorena Reyes Suárez

Sistemas de Información, Bibliotecología y Archivística

En el presente documento se muestra de forma detallada de la utilidad del uso de las buenas prácticas lúdicas en la actividad que se desarrolla en las bibliotecas públicas, ya que las mismas permiten promover a las diferentes opciones y recursos disponibles para que las personas se acerquen y disfruten de los servicios que prestan dichos establecimientos. Es importante destacar el hecho de que es deber de los profesionales en bibliotecología desarrollar estrategias que sean llamativas y útiles a las personas que habitan en la periferia de las diferentes bibliotecas, ya que estos son los primeros usuarios en llegar y …

Public Librarians' Adoption Of Technology In Two Southeastern States, Ashley Ea Dowdy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Public libraries have become community hubs of technology, changing the responsibilities of public librarians. The problem is a gap between public library technology needs, the skills librarians have with technologies, and the strategies they use to acquire skills. The purpose of this predictive, sequential, explanatory mixed method study was to examine public librarians' attitudes about learning new technology and their behavioral intention to adopt it. Two frameworks guided this study: the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model and the diffusion of innovations theory. Quantitative data (N= 202) were collected by survey and analyzed through multiple linear regression …

An Examination Of Sound Resource Libraries And Their Applications At Bowling Green State University, Madeleine Grimm

Honors Projects

In this applied research project, I have explored the uses and limitations of sound resources at Bowling Green State University for student projects. My goal has been to create a stock music library for students on campus to have easy access to for class projects and portfolio work. In this project I address: How can a university best manage its stock music and sound resources; are there any standards for best practices or outstanding examples? What sound resources currently exist for student use in general and at BGSU? How are these sound resources currently managed at BGSU? What are the …

Marketing Digital Aplicado A Productos Y Servicios Innovadores Para La Biblioteca Rural De Moniquirá, Angie Lorena Aragón Perilla, Cristian Camilo Fontecha Álvarez

Sistemas de Información, Bibliotecología y Archivística

En este trabajo se presenta una propuesta de marketing digital aplicado a los productos y servicios innovadores para la biblioteca rural de Moniquirá, para lo cual se identifica el perfil socio informativo de los usuarios de la biblioteca, se determina el tipo de productos y servicios apropiados para el perfil de esos usuarios y se definen las diferentes fases de la propuesta. El trabajo incluye la construcción del estado del arte del tema, el desarrollo del marco teórico necesario para el cumplimiento de los objetivos, el diseño y la aplicación de los instrumentos de encuestas y entrevistas necesarios para el …

An Adaptive Reuse Strategy: The Jerome Academic Commons, Lucas Hartman

Honors Projects

The William T. Jerome Library has towered over the campus of Bowling Green State University for over 50 years and while the academic and campus landscapes have changed greatly over those years, the Library has not always been able to keep pace with those shifts. After a study of the application of Architectural Adaptive Reuse on college campuses, it was determined that the Jerome Library could be a good candidate for this as well. Following a qualitative research study of interviews with Library and University staff, a conceptual design proposal focused on resources and collaboration was presented showing there is …

Breaking Through The Echo Chamber: Teaching Students To Use Technology For College Research And Global Citizenry, Kaitlin Drake

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Preparing high school students for college level courses is vital to their success in higher education. Information literacy and digital literacy are necessary skills for college students in order to conduct their research for their classes. My own research was a compilation of scholarly articles and books focused on digital literacy, information literacy, and the issues surrounding these terms to understand what today’s students need in the classroom to succeed as young researchers. Search engines like Google operate under a facade of being an unbiased source. In reality, they are a for profit company whose search results go through an …

Library Space Assessment Poster, Kaitlyn Shamp, Chenisvel Nunez

Sociology Undergraduate

Objective: How are students using our library spaces?

• Collect evidence to inform future space planning and renovations
• What works? What does not work? What is needed?
• Physical spaces must meet the needs of a 21st century student.

Library Space Assessment, Kaitlyn Shamp, Chenisvel Nunez

Sociology Undergraduate

Presented research and data findings of Library Space Assessment to librarians and library staff on how students use the Lavery Library.

Statistics-Bierce Library Study, Tyler J. Hushour

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This is a report from two surveys that I created and administered to students and faculty at Bierce library who came to the Circulation Desk or the Tech Desk, as well as some of my other findings when periodically looking around the library to see where students like to study or hang-out. There was a written survey given at the Circulation Desk, and a different survey given at the Tech Check-Out Desk. The project is for Melanie Smith-Farrell, the head of Access Services, and is based on a similar study Ian McCullough did in the science library. While this is …

Librarians And Student Affairs Professionals As Collaborators For Student Learning And Success, Dallas Long

Theses and Dissertations

Increased accountability in higher education is increasingly compelling librarians to demonstrate their impact on student learning and student success. To do so, they are encouraged to collaborate with student affairs professionals to improve students' experiences. However, the literature suggests librarians lack formal, structured partnerships with student affairs professionals, and that librarians and student affairs professionals are largely unfamiliar with each other's roles in student learning. They may have narrow or inaccurate perceptions of each other, and lack meaningful ways to collaborate. This study explored librarians' and student affairs professionals' perceptions of each other's roles in student learning and success. Additionally, …

An Investigation Of Digital Reference Interviews: A Dialogue Act Approach, Keisuke Inoue

School of Information Studies - Dissertations

The rapid increase of computer-mediated communications (CMCs) in various forms such as micro-blogging (e.g. Twitter), online chatting (e.g. digital reference) and community- based question-answering services (e.g. Yahoo! Answers) characterizes a recent trend in web technologies, often referred to as the social web. This trend highlights the importance of supporting linguistic interactions in people's online information-seeking activities in daily life - something that the web search engines still lack because of the complexity of this hu- man behavior. The presented research consists of an investigation of the information-seeking behavior of digital reference services through analysis of discourse semantics, called dialogue acts, …

Exploring Information Literacy In Relationship: Intelligence And Personality As Factors , Timothy A. Cooper

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

No abstract provided.

Transmitting Whiteness: Librarians, Children, And Race, 1900-1930s, Shane Hand

Master's Theses

In the wake of the public library movement in the southern United States during the early twentieth century, local librarians began providing library services for those whom they deemed to be their most valuable resources, children. Representatives of a new profession, children’s librarians campaigned for better tomorrows by collecting good books specifically for young readers while providing safe, comfortable spaces that encouraged an atmosphere of instructive entertainment.

Supplemental to the development of a unique children’s department, library administrators sought strong working relationships with the city’s various public schools. The public cooperative that developed between libraries and schools brought thousands of …

Library Anxiety Of Law Students: A Study Utilizing The Multidimensional Library Anxiety Scale, Stacey L. Bowers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether law students experienced library anxiety and, if so, which components contributed to that anxiety. The Multidimensional Library Anxiety Scale (MLAS) developed by Dr. Doris Van Kampen was used to assess library anxiety levels of law students. The MLAS is a 53 question Likert scale instrument that measures the construct of library anxiety. Participants in the study were law students enrolled in a private Midwestern university during the 2009-2010 academic year who completed the survey instrument.

Law students are a unique graduate school population who undergo an extremely rigorous and competitive …

Faith And Literature: A Look At Book Censorship, Laura Cox

Honors Theses

For centuries, society has debated the issue of book censorship. Before Johannes Gutenberg introduced the printing press in 1455, the burning of hand-scribed books destroyed limited copies and guaranteed they would not be read. With the printing press, books could be produced in greater numbers; yet, printed speech was still a commodity that could be controlled. In 1517, Pope Leo X condemned Martin Luther's Ninety Five Theses, an early example of religious censorship of materials deemed dangerous or subversive. Political censorship quickly followed when Emperor Charles V issued the Edict ofWorms, containing a "Law ofPrinting" which banned the printing, copying, …

Third Grade Library Power!, Kristen Joan Scott

All Graduate Projects

The process of curriculum design for a third grade information literacy skills unit was studied. Studies supporting the connection between a quality school library program and increased student achievement were examined for positive characteristics to be implemented into a third grade library program. State standards in reading, technology, and information skills were analyzed for integration into the design. The result is a third grade information literacy skills curriculum design for implementation into a library program. Implications for future third grade library curriculum improvements are discussed.

Meaningful, Motivating Library Lessons That Matter To Students In Grade Four, Karen Louise-Bjorling Felch

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop a meaningful, motivating library curriculum to increase student learning in literacy for students in grade four. Current literature and research on the roles of the teacher-librarian, information literacy instruction, reading advocacy, specifically literature guidance and appreciation, and motivation were explored. A yearlong library curriculum map was created addressing topics and methods found to be effective in the review of current research. The library curriculum was aligned with the Marysville School District Elementary Library Curriculum Guide for Grade Four, the Washington State Grade Level Expectations in Reading, the Washington State Essential Learnings in …

[A Library Policy Manual For Selah School District Libraries, Selah, Washington], Roberta Jean Gustafson

All Graduate Projects

This project was undertaken to develop a library policy manual for the Selah School District libraries. Topics were collected from a variety of venues, manuals on the Internet,the.librarian list serv LM-NET, American.LibraryAssociation and the Washington Library Media Association. Lists generated from these sources were then narrowed down to the important management and operations topics. It was determined that substitutes in the library would need the information to manage the library, utilize the checkout system and enforce library policies, therefore those sections are in the front of the manual. Those policies that are part of the Selah School District Board Policies …

An Analysis Of The Relationships Between The Perceived Organizational Climate And Professional Burnout In Libraries And Computing Centers In West Virginia Public Higher Education Institutions, Arnold R. Miller

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between the perceived organizational climate and professional burnout in libraries and computing services units in West Virginia higher education. Research questions were defined to investigate the differences between libraries and computing services units in the perceived organizational climate, professional burnout, organizational climate vs. burnout, demographics vs. organizational climate, demographics vs. burnout, and the combined effects of demographics and organizational climate upon burnout. The Work Environment Scale (WES) Form R, third edition, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) HSS, third edition, and a demographic questionnaire measured the organizational climate, burnout, and demographics. …

Activities For Elementary Libraries To Integrate Nonfiction Reading, Cynthia L. Debock

All Graduate Projects

The focus ofthis project was to create activities that would encourage Kindergarten through Fourth grade elementary students in the use of nonfiction texts for personal enjoyment and information gathering. The project consists of activities designed to increase reading of nonfiction by the early elementary student. The activities are developed based upon a review of research that indicates improved reading comprehension of expository text among students who are taught to use interactive strategies. The activities include activation of prior knowledge through K-W-L, various graphic organizers, and DR-T A/DL-TA and providing a method for the reader to discover the structure or organizational …

A Program For Teaching Media Research Skills To Sixth And Seventh Grade Students In The Eastmont Middle School, Sally Hawkins Cooper

All Graduate Projects

This paper presents a program for teaching media/research skills by integrating them with study assignments in curricular areas developed by classroom teachers. It is planned to be carried out in the Instructional Resource Center with both the classroom teacher and the librarian present. Evaluation is provided for student diagnosis and program improvement. Recommendations include the adoption of this program for the Eastmont Middle School.

Public Library Bond Issues Elections In St. Cloud, Minnesota, Keith Gilbertson

Culminating Projects in Information Media

Public Library bond issues election in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

A Measure Of The Library Skills Of High School Graduates Of Washington State As Demonstrated By Freshman Of Central Washington State College, Malcolm Douglas Alexander

All Master's Theses

This paper presents the study of library skills possessed by the 1971 entering freshman class at Central Washington State College. The study was designed to provide data to library faculty about the skills in which the students required instruction. The students tested possessed a selected list of library skills at the 47th percentile as measured by Ethel M. Feagley' s test A Library Orientation Test For College Freshmen. The hypothesis that they would not possess the skills at the 50th percentile was upheld.