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Full-Text Articles in Library and Information Science

Assessing Integration Of Library Services Into Course Management Systems: Where We Stand Now, Matt Torrence, Beth West, Lindsay Johnston Feb 2015

Assessing Integration Of Library Services Into Course Management Systems: Where We Stand Now, Matt Torrence, Beth West, Lindsay Johnston

Matt Torrence

Our panel of presenters will engage the audience in a group discussion of best practices for implementing and assessing a robust library presence in the CMS environment. The attendees will benefit from an exploration of the challenges and advantages of integrating library services into university-wide systems and platforms. The session will focus on metrics of assessing the effectiveness of the library services in the CMS, including student participation, grades, GPA, and others. We will also invite interested parties to join our online community of practice, where we continue these important conversations.


Talking Chat: The Good, The Bad, And The “What Were We Thinking?”!, Jessica Cerny, Matt Torrence Jan 2015

Talking Chat: The Good, The Bad, And The “What Were We Thinking?”!, Jessica Cerny, Matt Torrence

Matt Torrence

The RUSA MARS: Virtual Reference Discussion Group will be holding a forum on January 31st, 2015 from 4:30-5:30 pm in McCormick Place West w474a. The forum topics will be focused on online chat services and known issues, characteristics of successful and unsuccessful implementations, and more. Panelists will share their experiences with online chat services and participates will have an opportunity to ask questions. If you are considering implementing online chat services in your library or you would like to learn more about what has worked and not worked for other libraries, this is an opportunity to gain insight on how …


A Review And Evaluation Of Services And Resources To Engineers: A Case Study Of Outreach And Marketing, Assessment, And Future Directions In A Research Library, Matt Torrence Jan 2015

A Review And Evaluation Of Services And Resources To Engineers: A Case Study Of Outreach And Marketing, Assessment, And Future Directions In A Research Library, Matt Torrence

Matt Torrence

Engineering student and faculty populations present a beneficial and unique challenge to libraries and the information science community. The literature, activities, and resource needs of this group provide insight into a demographic that is often among the early-adopters of new technologies, tools, and methods of sharing information. Despite the often non-bibliographic nature of their research efforts, there are numerous elements of the traditional service model that remain relevant and integral to the engineering research patron base. New methods of live and virtual instruction, the improved promotion of research consultation, and data management are prime targets for efficient and effective service …


Libraries In The Course Management System: Best Practices And New Directions, Lily Todorinova, Matt Torrence, Jon Jeffreys Jun 2014

Libraries In The Course Management System: Best Practices And New Directions, Lily Todorinova, Matt Torrence, Jon Jeffreys

Matt Torrence

Course Management Systems (CMS), such as Blackboard, Sakai, Canvas Instructure, and Moodle are ubiquitous in the classroom environment. These systems are bridging the gap between traditional, hybrid, and fully online classes, as most academic institutions have adopted the use of a CMS across a wide spectrum: from serving to keep track of administrative processes, such as grading and attendance, to being the main tool for organizing and communicating course information for both faculty and students. Libraries have responded by implementing a variety of services in the CMS, including LibGuides, chat widgets, discovery search tools, and more. Three academic library panelists …


Counting Counts: Discussion On The Present And Future Of Public Services Statistics And Reporting, Matt Torrence, Lily Todorinova, Lindsay Johnston Jun 2013

Counting Counts: Discussion On The Present And Future Of Public Services Statistics And Reporting, Matt Torrence, Lily Todorinova, Lindsay Johnston

Matt Torrence

From clickers to pencils, and now with software and immediate reporting, librarians and staff involved in public services have always strived to emphasize the important role of available reference and research help. In the new era of automated tracking and statistics, however, we often find ourselves dealing with many and different types of systems to record similar types of interactions. There may be one system for local/campus email reference and another for consortia, or other arrangements for interacting with patrons. At this discussion group, a series of thought-provoking questions on these and related topics will inspire a useful discourse on …


Proving Your Value: The Librarian’S Contribution To The Promotion And Tenure Process, Matt Torrence, Susan Ariew Apr 2013

Proving Your Value: The Librarian’S Contribution To The Promotion And Tenure Process, Matt Torrence, Susan Ariew

Matt Torrence

What is impact and why is it so crucial to the survival of academic scholars? Find out how to assist academic faculty by helping them document their impact for promotion and tenure purposes. Panelists from two different institutions will contrast traditional and emerging new resources that measure faculty productivity, along with illustrating outreach and instruction strategies related to these resources and the populations they serve.


Informed Desk Staffing With Quantified Reference Statistics: Using Electronic Data Collection To Re-Envision Reference Services At The Usf Tampa Libraries, Lily Todorinova, Andy Huse, Barbara Lewis, Matt Torrence Jun 2011

Informed Desk Staffing With Quantified Reference Statistics: Using Electronic Data Collection To Re-Envision Reference Services At The Usf Tampa Libraries, Lily Todorinova, Andy Huse, Barbara Lewis, Matt Torrence

Matt Torrence

Andy Huse, Barbara Lewis, Lily Todorinova, and Matt Torrence participated in a panel presentation for RUSA MARS Hot Topics. Their presentation titled "Informed Desk Staffing Through Quantified Reference Statistics” discussed the data collection, data analysis, and decision-making aspects of the Re-envisioning Reference project at the USF Libraries. This project examined the implementation and effectiveness of online data collection tools and the use of their data to inform managerial decisions as to scheduling of desk hours and staffing levels. Interviews with key library administrators were conducted in order to provide an historical perspective as to weaknesses of past data collection and …


Students, Faculty, And The Library: Research At The University Of South Florida, Susan Silver, Matt Torrence, Barbara Lewis, Drew Smith Jun 2011

Students, Faculty, And The Library: Research At The University Of South Florida, Susan Silver, Matt Torrence, Barbara Lewis, Drew Smith

Matt Torrence

This study will assess various aspects of library services and resources from the user perspective, utilizing a number of methodologies, including surveys, usability testing, observation, and focus groups. In-depth examination of how students and faculty use the library will guide our efforts to improve library services and resources and facility that relate to student success.


Connecting People With Needed Resources Through A Successful Print Serials Review, Jared Hopppenfeld, Matt Torrence Apr 2009

Connecting People With Needed Resources Through A Successful Print Serials Review, Jared Hopppenfeld, Matt Torrence

Matt Torrence

The purpose of this poster session is to share with conference attendees the procedure the University of South Florida Tampa Library went through in its recent print serials review. Two concepts motivated this project. 1) Journals have long been an important resource for faculty and students of an academic institution, but the format in which these resources are primarily used has changed with increased electronic availability. 2) Collection development librarians at USF wish to deliver high-demand resources to their faculty and students. In today’s economy, in order to make this concept a reality, low-use titles must be relinquished. The writers …


Beyond The Basics - “Casting A Net” To Provide Customized Research Services For Faculty And Students, Susan Ariew, Cheryl Mccoy, Gloria Colvin, Marcia Gorin, Matt Torrence Mar 2009

Beyond The Basics - “Casting A Net” To Provide Customized Research Services For Faculty And Students, Susan Ariew, Cheryl Mccoy, Gloria Colvin, Marcia Gorin, Matt Torrence

Matt Torrence

This interactive panel discussion will look at how librarians at two similar institutions can “cast a net” to create “Beyond the Basics” services to support student and faculty research. Florida State University and University of South Florida recently reorganized their reference departments in order to provide more customized services for graduate level and faculty research. Panelists from both schools will engage participants in identifying ways to customize research services at their institutions.


Supercharging Online Instruction: Amplifying Interactivity Using Interactive Simulation Software, Maryellen Allen, Steven Osler, Matthew Torrence Oct 2005

Supercharging Online Instruction: Amplifying Interactivity Using Interactive Simulation Software, Maryellen Allen, Steven Osler, Matthew Torrence

Matt Torrence

As the trend toward online and distance learning courses in higher education continues, educators and instructional designers continually struggle with efforts to engage and motivate learners located in electronically distributed, asynchronous environments. Studies in the professional literature point to active and problem based learning strategies as possible ways to successfully involve students while raising achievement levels, yet importing such methodologies to the online environment is challenging. Emerging technologies offer hope for the integration of active/problem-based learning with the online instructional environment. One of the most promising of these technologies includes interactive simulation software applications.