Library and Information Science Commons^™

Senior Citizens And Digital Information Access: The Obstruction Of Comforting Silence, Rodney C. Lawley

The Southeastern Librarian

This study investigates the possibility of undetected access obstructions preventing senior citizens from using digital information maintained by Alabama public libraries. Research methods include a literature review, a survey of Alabama public library administrators, and a textual analysis of online public library programming guides from four urban areas within the state. The survey gauges the perceptions, experiences, and actions of library administrators pertaining to digital library accessibility for senior citizens. The textual analysis component measures significant outreach efforts by public libraries targeting senior citizen patrons. Data collected suggest that Alabama public libraries lack unity and direction in their approach to …

Book Review: Kathleen Campana And J. Elizabeth Mills' Create, Innovate, And Serve: A Radical Approach To Children's And Youth Programming, Mateo Campos-Seligman

School of Information Student Research Journal

No abstract provided.

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.

An Analysis Of Library Closures And Covid-19: Are U.S. Libraries Closing Due To The Covid-19 Pandemic?, Garrett W. Jennings, Msls

SLIS Connecting

As of March 20, 2020, there have been 15,219 reported cases of COVID-19 in the United States of America (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2020b; Pan American Health Organization [PAHO], 2020). There are 16,568 public library buildings in the United States (American Library Association, 2019). Since they are community centers and publicly owned institutions, libraries are charged with ensuring that their patrons are taken care of and that they are serving their communities to the best of their ability.

The purpose of this study is to examine the rate of COVID-19 infections reported to the CDC in the …

Emotional Labor, Stressors, And Librarians Who Work With The Public, Kelsey Simon

School of Information Student Research Journal

Service jobs require regular interaction with customers and have certain expectations of specific emotions that should be shown during transactions. This use of expected emotional displays during service transactions is called emotional labor and it is an important part of service work, but there are significant consequences for regular use. This paper reviews the literature on emotional labor, and the consequences of the repeated use of emotional labor within the service workforce. It also reviews the literature on stressors reported by librarians and job-related stress. Relationships can be seen between emotional labor, the work of librarian professionals, and stressors in …

Understanding Diversity And Intellectual Freedom As #Corevalues, Deborah Hicks

School of Information Student Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Webometrics And Mississippi Public Libraries: A Webometrics Study Of Public Libraries In Mississippi, Charlie Simpkins

SLIS Connecting

With the introduction of the Internet, library websites have become new access points for a global community. A library’s website serves as a new branch for its users, one that can be accessed 24/7 globally. But with that continuous access to such a large audience, a library’s website should include certain key information to be truly beneficial to the user. This website content analysis examines the websites of public library systems in Mississippi for the presence of four elements from Kumar and Bansal (2014) essential menus for a library’s homepage and for the presence of eight elements from Chow, Bridges, …

Availability Of Public Library And Community Support For Patrons With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Survey Of Coastal Mississippi Libraries, Tammy L. White

SLIS Connecting

While a growing number of libraries are beginning to provide programs for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), there is still a need for more, and there is a need for staff to become more aware of the types of behavior that are associated with ASD so as provide a better understanding of how to create programs.The purpose of this research is to evaluate the availability of ASD programs and community support among public libraries in Mississippi’s coastal region.

Book Review: Palaces For The People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, And The Decline Of Civic Life, Eric Klinenberg, Georgia Westbrook

School of Information Student Research Journal

No abstract provided.

The More You Know, The More You Owe, Megan Price

School of Information Student Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Public Libraries And The Economically Disadvantaged: A Bibliometric Assessment Of Published Research, 1996-2016, Scott A. Manganello

SLIS Connecting

One of the greatest challenges that American public libraries have faced is serving the disadvantaged and homeless population. This research project analyzed publication trends in LIS literature from the past 20 years pertaining to research related to public libraries and the economically disadvantaged, specifically publication trend over time, core journals, most prolific lead authors, and focus of the studies.

Core Values: Intellectual Freedom And Privacy In Public Libraries, Stephanie A. Evans

SLIS Connecting

With the passing of the USA Patriot Act in 2001 following the events of 9/11, libraries on the national scale have had to staunchly defend issues of privacy and confidentially more-so than ever before. Evidence of this lies not only in statements within the ALA’s Resolution on the USA PATRIOT Act and Libraries but also in other core documents which guide policy development in public libraries (ALA 2005). Intellectual Freedom and privacy are two of the major issues addressed and protected by the American Library Association through the Office of Intellectual Freedom and the Library Bill of Rights (ALA 1996).