Library and Information Science Commons^™

Digital Searching: A Grounded Theory Study On The Modern Search Experience, Nicolas Armando Parés

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This Grounded theory study explores US adults' modern information search process as they pursue information through digital search user interfaces and tools. To study the current search process, a systematic grounded theory methodology and two data collection methods, a think-aloud protocol and semi-structured interviews, are used to develop the theory. The emerging theory addressed two tightly connected research questions that asked, “What is the process by which humans search and discover information?” and “What is the process by which search and discovery interfaces and tools support the modern search process?”

The study collects participant data from US adults who have …

Examining The Relationship Between Library Services Use And Fall-To-Fall Retention In Community College Libraries, Eric Deatherage

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Community college libraries exist to support institutional outcomes. One such outcome is student retention. This study’s purpose was to fill the gap in the literature at the community college level, proposing that a model including all library service use types would explain variance in student retention beyond that explained by total library financial expenditure. Services included were numbers of physical materials circulated, digital books circulated, e-serials used, reference transactions, library presentations, attendees at presentations, gate counts, and interlibrary loan materials borrowed. Additionally, it was proposed that the relationship between gate counts of physical entry into the library and student retention …

An Evaluation Of A School District’S Mental Health Services Program Designed To Ensure A Safe And Positive Learning Environment For All, Jasodra Suba

Dissertations

A key component to academic success is comprehensive mental health services for students. The intended purpose of this evaluation was to study the implementation of strength-based performance standards in one school district’s mental health training for all individuals preparing to work in a school-based environment. The context of my program evaluation was one large public school district in the United States operating in a state that mandates that each public school district implement a mental health services program. As part of this study, I examined the underlying concerns surrounding the large public school district’s implementation of evidence-based Mental Health Assistance …

The Nature Of Informal Educators In Science Centers, Science Museums And Zoos: Case Studies Of Personnel, Practices, Programs, Outreach And Organization, Courtney Erickson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Informal Science Centers provide educational experiences for people across the country daily. While the terminology is often similar, there are differences between institutions, often determined by mission, organizational structure, and experience. The purpose of this study was to identify shared experiences and unique characteristics of eight informal science centers around the country. The significance of the study was to add to the understanding of informal science educators' responsibilities, organizational structure, decision-making process, and development. Data for the study was collected using qualitative measures through a researcher-created interview, sent to fifteen institutions, after the recommendation from two well-known informal science researchers. …

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 …

Examining Student Perspectives On Information Literacy, Kathleen Conklin Brenner

All Theses And Dissertations

The American Library Association released its Framework for Information Literacy in Higher Education in response to the changing needs and demographics of today’s digital native students. This study was designed to ascertain first-year undergraduate students’ definitions and perspectives of information literacy to determine how they are aligned to the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) six frames of information literacy. The overarching research question was: How is the Association of College and Research Libraries Framework for Information Literacy aligned to first-year undergraduate student expectations of information literacy instruction? The following supplemental research questions supported the study:
1. How do …

La Radio Virtual Universitaria De Bogotá Como Medio Para La Promoción De Lectura, Henry Alexander Osorio Rodríguez

Sistemas de Información, Bibliotecología y Archivística

El presente trabajo aborda la Radio Virtual universitaria con el fin de determinar la influencia de esta en la creación de hábitos lectores desde su utilización por parte de los docentes, estudiantes y funcionarios de las universidades, actuando como generadores de contenidos o en su rol de oyentes . Lo anterior permite establecer desde su perspectiva, que este medio de comunicación, que utiliza las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TIC) como puente para llegar a la comunidad universitaria, funciona como elemento difusor de información, formador de lectores y da elementos a los oyentes para crear conciencia lectora y …

Secondary Student Information Literacy Self-Efficacy Vs. Performance, Jen Spisak

Theses and Dissertations

The amount of information in the world has grown exponentially in the last generation. Students often believe that growing up as digital natives means they have advanced information literacy skills. However, school librarians are not seeing evidence of this in their schools. The purpose of this study was to determine if secondary students overestimate their information literacy (IL) abilities, if relationships exist between IL self-efficacy and performance, and if grade level or self-efficacy level changes those relationships. To accomplish this, data were collected from two middle schools and three high schools from a total of 397 students in grades 6, …

Reliability And Validity Of Michigan School Libraries For The 21st Century Measurement Benchmarks, Natosha Nicole Floyd

Wayne State University Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Michigan School Libraries for the 21st Century Measurement Benchmarks (SL21). The instrument consists of 19 items with three subscales: Building the 21st Century Learning Environment Subscale, Teaching for 21st Century Learning Subscale, and Leading the Way to 21st Century Learning Subscale. The sample consisted of 54 respondents who were administered the instrument in 2014 and 2015. Cronbach’s alpha for the total instrument was 0.807 (n = 19 items). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to measure construct validity. The findings derived from the EFA did not tend …

The Importance Of Highly Effective School Library Media Programs On School Learning Environments, Alexandra M. Juch

EDL Sixth Year Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the characteristics of a previously identified successful school library program (SLMP) in a Connecticut public school. The primary goals of this research are to answer these questions by conducting a single case study to examine the nature of this previously identified SLMP so that promising practices identified from this study can be applied to other SLMPs in Connecticut public schools. The data collection methods embodied both qualitative and quantitative instruments that included surveys, interviews and documents. Qualitative data analysis included preparation, familiarization, coding and general meaning that was entered into a table …

Transforming A High School Media Center Into A Library Learning Commons, Nancy A. Chiara

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the College of Education at Morehead State University by Nancy A. Chiara on April 22, 2014.

Mixing The Emic And Etic Perspectives: A Study Exploring Development Of Fixed-Answer Questions To Measure In-Service Teachers' Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge, M. Brooke Robertshaw

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this dissertation study was to develop fixed-answer questions to measure teachers' technological pedagogical content knowledge when teaching with online learning resources. Technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) is a framework to describe the kind of knowledge that teachers use when they are teaching with technology. Online learning resources include text, video, images, and interactive websites that teachers can use to help teach subject matter to their students. Fixed-answer questions are the kinds of questions found on standardized tests like the SAT, and tests that K-12 students take as a part of state and national testing. Many measures have …

Addressing The Needs Of Students With Color Vision Deficiencies In The Elementary School Library, Karla Bame Collins

Teaching & Learning Theses & Dissertations

Color vision deficiencies affect approximately eight percent of the male population (Birch & Chisholm, 2008; Cole, 2007; Jenny & Kelso, 2007; Neitz & Neitz, 2000), yet the condition is often overlooked in the educational setting despite the pervasiveness of color in the school (Suero et al., 2004). The purpose of this study was to explore how elementary school librarians provide instruction and prepare the library environment to meet the needs of students with color vision deficiencies.

This mixed methods study consisted of two components. The first component was a questionnaire administered to elementary school librarians throughout Virginia to gather data …

Fortifying The Pipeline: An Exploratory Study Of High School Factors Impacting The Information Literacy Of First-Year College Students, Jennifer L. Fabbi

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Information literacy—the ability "to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information” (American Library Association [ALA], 1989, para. 3)—has been widely and increasingly cited as an essential competency for college success, for the workplace, and for life (Bruce, 1997; Eisenberg, 2008; Fitzgerald, 2004; Johnston & Webber, 2003; National Leadership Council for Liberal Education and America’s Promise, 2007; Obama, 2009; Rader, 2002). Information literacy best practice and standards state that students optimally develop this skill set through immersion in the research process—often and over time—and this proposition is also supported 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 …

A Case Study Of The Libraries In The Vanguard Learning Colleges, Linda G. Swaine

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted to determine the characteristics of a learning-centered library from the perspective of the libraries in the 12 Vanguard Learning Colleges which were participants in the Learning College Project sponsored by the League for Innovation in the Community College. The 12 Vanguard Learning Colleges were: Cascadia Community College (WA), Community College of Baltimore County (MD), Community College of Denver (CO), Humber College, (Ontario), Kirkwood Community College (IA), Lane Community College, OR), Madison Area Technical College (WI), Moraine Valley Community College (IL), Palomar College (CA), Richland College (TX), Sinclair Community College (OH), and Valencia Community College (FL). Furthermore, …

A Media Literacy Curriculum For The Adolescent Learner, Chris Lopez

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop a media literacy curriculum for teachers of young adolescents. Media literacy is a new, evolving field of study that teaches students to become critical consumers of today's media. Media have often been blamed for the ills of student learning, critical thinking, performance and/or behavior skills. In the review ofliterature, the author investigated media's impact on the adolescent learner, the need to teach media literacy, and recommended curriculum that would benefit the adolescent learner. The curriculum unit is designed to be a useful teaching tool for teachers of adolescent and preadolescent learners who …

Motivating The Reluctant Teen Reader To Use The High School Library, Mary Ellen Vartheuer

All Graduate Projects

Twenty reluctant teen readers were surveyed to determine their library needs and interests. Interviews with twelve high school librarians yielded suggestions for motivating high school students to read. Input from these two sources was used in developing a library program consisting of motivational activities, designed to encourage young adults to use their high school library and to read more. The resulting library program and a list of library materials ordered to meet the needs of these specific students are included.

The Organization Of A Learning Resource Center At The Christian And Missionary Alliance Church In Ellensburg, Washington, Robert Neil Gordon

All Graduate Projects

This paper presents an investigation into providing a model and designing and organizing a learning resource center (LRC) for the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church. Including existing and potential resources and/or media used in teaching and general church ministries, the plan makes provision for systematically using these resources by evaluation. Recommendations for the learning resource center were based on the review of related literature, the philosophy, goals and objectives of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church and input from church members.

An Evaluation Of The First Year Of The Instructional Media Intern Program In Northeastern Illinois, Roger Joseph Rezabek

Masters Theses

This Thesis is an evaluation of the first year of an instructional media intern program in northeastern Illinois, near Chicago. Included as part of the evaluation is a description of the program in video cassette format. The script of the recording is one part of this paper. A copy of the video cassette is on file at The Audio Visual Center, Eastern Illinois University and with the author.

There were eight interns in the first year's program during the 1973/74 school year. Each intern had an immediate supervisor who was a media specialist in the district. There were three district …

A Survey Of The Rowan County School System's Library Program As Related To State And Regional Standards, Billie Jean Clayton

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

An applied project submitted In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Education Specialist at Morehead, State University by Billie Jean Clayton on July 21, 1976.

Lincoln School: Evaluation Of Learning Resources And Five-Year Plan For Improvement, Gilbert Dale Hanneken

Masters Theses

No abstract provided by author.

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.

An Investigation Of Library Skills Acquired By Fifth Grade Students At Harvard Elementary School, Franklin Pierce District, Tacoma, Washington, Larry D. Rodahl

All Master's Theses

This study investigates two factors that were assumed to influence the amount and kind of library skills acquired by fifth grade students during the period of two consecutive years at Harvard Elementary School . The two factors were teacher-librarian cooperation and library availability.

A Study Of Health Misconceptions Among Elementary And Secondary Teachers, Robert Clyde Davidson

All Master's Theses

During the past few years a limited number of studies have been completed related to health misconceptions. Some have investigated health and safety misconceptions, while others have reported various testing procedures. Studies involving all populations {general public, elementary, secondary, and college students) have pointed out existing inadequacies in health knowledge and the prevalence of health misconceptions. As a result, the writer felt the need to investigate and measure the prevalence of health misconceptions among teachers.

A Reading Study Skills Course For A Community College, La Ree C. Rasmussen

All Master's Theses

The ability to read is no longer limited to the literal meaning of the word, but is increasingly dependent upon the reader's ability to recognize the style of writing, so that he knows whether to apply denotative or connotative meanings to what he is reading. Because reading needs have changed and will continue to change as rapidly as our culture changes, it is necessary to continuously develop and improve reading skills. The purpose of this study is to: (1) enumerate the reading study skills needed by college students, (2) describe the details of a reading study skills program, (3) and …

A Comparative Study Of The Definition Of Role Of School Library/Media Specialists As Defined By The Joint Committee Of Wsal-Wdavi-Wascd And By Practicing School Library Media Specialists Attending The 1971 Wdavi Spring Conference, Reginald Brian Sullivan

All Master's Theses

A study designed: (1) to determine whether the building level Role Definition produced by the ad hoc Joint Standards Committee was representative of the roles performed by the media personnel, and (2) to determine the role duties of district media personnel. The study showed the Role Definition to be representative and the district level proposal emphasizing administrative and coordinative responsibilities. It was recommended a future study be conducted to further the knowledge of the role/duties of district media personnel.

Developing Educational Specifications For Elementary Library Quarters In The Monroe School District, Earl Leroy Harding Jr.

All Master's Theses

This study is to assist in the development and construction of library quarters in the elementary schools of the Monroe School District, Monroe, Washington.

The Public School Instructional Materials Center, Milton Robert Christison

Graduate Student Research Papers

This study will review literature concerning the concept of the Instructional Material Center in the individual public school. It will seek answers to the following questions: tlhat is the origin of such a concept? What are the arguments for and against such a concept? Is it possible to list the facilities and services needed in a school's Instructional Materials Center? What are the relationships between each school's Instructional Materials Center and instructional materials units at other levels?

A Study Of Library Services In Seven Indiana High Schools Using The Evaluative Criteria Of The National Study Of Secondary School Evaluation, Olive Kinsley

Graduate Thesis Collection

The purposes of this study are three-fold: 1. To organize and summarize the data concerning library services for the libraries filling out these criteria; (2.) To find the strengths and weaknesses of these libraries; (3.) To point up areas in which improvement needs to be made.