Digital Commons Network^™

Strategies For Enhancing The Ability Of Rural Farmers To Deal With Challenges Of Climate Change Through Adult Education Programme In South East, Nigeria, Abaobi David Agbo Dr., Ngozi Justina Igwe Dr., Onyinye Regina Ekere, Stella C. Nwizu Prof.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Agriculture has become the main stay of the economy of developing countries in the world especially south-east, Nigeria. Rural farmers in South-east, Nigeria have suffered significant losses due to extreme weather events and natural disasters attributed to climate change such as severe flooding, drought, decease and pest attack etc. The responses and reactions of rural farmers to these extreme weather events and natural disasters has suggested that there is a lack knowledge of climate change. This study therefore is aimed at developing strategies that could help enhance the ability of rural farmers to cope and deal with the effects of …

Deviant Behaviors In Academic Libraries In Oyo State, Nigeria: Prevalence, Causes, Impacts, And Mitigation Strategies, Fisayo Adesola Adekunle Mr, Bright Ajayi

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Abstract:

This study explores deviant behaviors in academic libraries in Oyo State, Nigeria, focusing on their prevalence, causes, impacts, and potential strategies for mitigation. The descriptive research design of the survey type was adopted for the study. Data were collected from respondents, including students and staff at Kenneth Dike Library, University of Ibadan, and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology library, Ogbomoso. These universities formed the population of the study. Simple random sampling technique was used. 350 copies of questionnaire were distributed across the universities with a retrieval success of 305 copies, representing 87.14% return rate. The study identifies that …

2025 Furman University Scholarship Reception Program, Madeline Eastergard, Kathie Sloan

Libraries Institutional Records

On February 14, 2025, the Libraries and the Office of the Provost hosted the Furman University Scholarship Reception. The reception showcased scholarly publications, creative works, and professional accomplishments of Furman faculty or staff from the 2024 calendar year. It highlighted Furman faculty and staff who completed a degree, received a grant from an external funding source totaling more than $1,000, and/or published books, book chapters, journal articles, exhibits, recordings, performances, films, or other works. The following Furman presenters provided four-minute speeches about their scholarly or creative works:

• Liz Bouzarth, Professor of Mathematics
• John Harris, Professor of Mathematics
• Kevin Hutson, Professor …

Staff Attitude, Library Policies And Service Delivery In University Libraries In Ogun State, Nigeria, Ilori Edeole Maria Mrs, Owolabi Ruth O Dr, Oden Abigail N. Mrs, Ogungbade Aderonke A. Mrs

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

University library services aim to meet the information needs of the university community, fostering learning and research. Quality service, particularly in tangible aspects and reliability, leads to user satisfaction. Staff attitude significantly impacts library service utilization, as does library policy, which guides library operations. The study adopted survey research design. The study population comprised 80,247 university library users in Ogun State, Nigeria. A sample size of 1,513 was determined using the Krejcie and Morgan (1970) method. Universities were stratified into federal, state, and private categories, and respondents were purposively selected. The findings indicate high-quality service delivery in university libraries in …

Data Management 101: 5 Steps To Smarter Research Data Management, Zeineb Yousif, Sara Westall

Librarian Posters and Presentations

This introductory workshop explains five simple steps researchers can take to more effectively manage and preserve their research data.

1. Backups
2. File Naming
3. Documentation
4. Security
5. Future Proofing

The activities and case studies within can be adapted to match the particulars of the campus where it is being presented.

The Need For Collaboration In Nigerian Libraries, John Ogonu, John Gibson Ogonu Dr

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This paper depicts the importance of collaboration of libraries in mitigating the challenges facing the Nigerian Library System. It explains that libraries are facing financial set back as a result of low subvention, currency devaluations, hiking prices of books, journals and databases and changing nature of the library users which always lead to increasing client expectations, changing technologies etc., and these threats can only be overcome through library collaboration. The paper examined three forms of collaborations that exist in Library system. The paper revealed areas for collaboration which includes cooperative acquisition, cooperative cataloguing, cooperative referencing, staff development, library exchange and …

Use Of Electronic Information Resources By Distance Learners Of The Open University Of Sri Lanka, Irosha Marasinghe

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Electronic resources’ availability, accessibility, currency and reliability make distance learners use e-resources for their learning and research activities. This study investigated the use of e-resources in terms of frequency, types of e-resources, purposes of use, and reasons to use by distance learners of the Open University of Sri Lanka. The descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The total population of the study comprises 26,503 active undergraduates of the Open University of Sri Lanka. The stratified random sampling technique was used to select a representative sample of 379 respondents. Data were collected using a questionnaire and were analyzed using …

Library Staff Perceptions Of Virtual Library And Information Services At Makerere And Uganda Christian Universities, Uganda, Lydia Namugera, Joyce Bukirwa, Constant Okello-Obura

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study, which was underpinned by the ServQual model aims to determine the perceptions of library staff of Makerere and Uganda Christian Universities on the provision of virtual library and information services (VLIS), the challenges faced and strategies for the enhancement of VLIS provision. A qualitative design was used to collect data from eight library staff who were selected through purposive sampling until data reached saturation. The findings indicated that majority of librarians exhibit poor perceptions towards VLIS; as manifested in their reluctance to participate in VLIS provision, their conservatism, which impedes acceptance of new VLIS and their …

Building An Inclusive Community: Hosting An International Graduate Student Orientation, Adelia B. Grabowsky, Liza J. Weisbrod, Timothy Dodge, Juliet T. Rumble

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

In 2018, library faculty at a large, public land grant university formed a working group tasked with assessing the information needs of graduate students and implementing action plans to support this user population. From the beginning, the librarians recognized that graduate students are not a homogeneous group. Desiring a more nuanced understanding of these students, they held focus groups in 2019 to explore students’ experiences with navigating graduate school and, more specifically, the University library. One sub-group of particular interest to them was international graduate students, who make up a sizable percentage of the graduate student population on campus. International …

Teaching Information Literacy In A Genai World: A 5cs Framework For Fostering Critical Engagement, Paul Cook, Adam Maksl

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Teaching Information Literacy in a GenAI World:
A 5Cs Framework for Fostering Critical Engagement

This interactive workshop will equip participants with a robust framework for teaching students the knowledge and skills necessary to understand the modern, multifaceted information ecosystems upon which GenAI is built and operates. The 5Cs of news literacy (context, creation, content, circulation, and consumption), as outlined in Tully, Maksl, Ashley, Vraga, and Craft (2021), will be adapted to information literacy more broadly and we will explain how that framework presents an excellent foundation upon which broader information literacy knowledge and skills can be built. As GenAI becomes …

Engaging Students With Interdisciplinary Learning Community Project For Freshman Composition And Digital Media Students, Hsi-Ling Huang, Xin Xu

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Studies have shown that Learning Communities have many benefits, including “[f]ostering workforce skills, encouraging problem-solving skills, and increasing retention and success” for both faculty and students (Dodge and Kendall, College Teaching, 2004). In this project, we created an interdisciplinary Learning Community Project that allowed a Freshman Composition (FC) course to pair with a Digital Media (DM) course (Sophomore students) for students to work on a mini magazine. Students in FC were writers whose tasks focusing on writing and researching, whereas students in DM were copy editors whose tasks focusing on graphic design and layout. The goal was for students …

From The Stacks To Student Success: Understanding Faculty Perceptions Of Collection Management And Its Impact On Student Use Of Library Resources, Alyshia K. Bagley, Jessica L. Swaringen

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Effective collection management is vital for a library’s ability to support the evolving needs of its academic community. Faculty engagement with library resources plays a crucial role in how students access and benefit from these collections. This research seeks to identify gaps between faculty understanding of collection management practices and their influence on student use of library resources.

This study will explore how faculty perceive collection management at GS Libraries, examining factors that shape their views and their subsequent impact on teaching, research, and collaboration with library staff. Following a review of existing literature, a survey containing quantitative and qualitative …

Empowering Learners, Shaping The Future: Cultivating Metaliteracy Across The Curriculum, Vivian Bynoe, Jessica L. Swaringen, Lauren Mcmillan

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

The rapid evolution of the information landscape requires students to be adaptable to a complex information environment. Students are not just information users but also informants and creators who act based on their social identities and social power (Oliphant, 2021). As educators, part of our responsibility involves empowering students to take ownership of the learning process, not only in the classroom but in ways that transfer to their everyday lives. Students who enter the college classroom may or may not be equipped with important 21st century skills such as those identified by the P21 framework for 21st century learning (Soulé, …

The Disinformation Vaccine: A Case For Integrating Comprehensive Disinformation Education Into First Year Writing Classes, Benjamin F. Jackson

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Students’ exposure to disinformation and misinformation is far greater than it has ever been. As the ability of generative AI to produce image, video, and audio deepfakes grows more sophisticated, disinformation will become even easier to spread and harder to detect. The rapid spread of social, political, scientific, and medical disinformation has been deadly and its potential is disastrous. Security experts now warn that dis/misinformation is the greatest threat to national security. Americans at large and students in particular have a demonstrated lack of information literacy when it comes to detecting false information, and bad actors nationally and globally are …

Enhancing Engagement With Ux/Ui Design: How The Laws Of Ux Inform Information Literacy, Laura A. Palmer, Tyler M. Eckert

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

This presentation will draw on a case study in which a recent graduate of a user experience design (UXD) program was able to apply UXD principles and research practices to increase the discoverability of training materials used by a library consortium. The case study presented will demonstrate to educators and students the importance of learning how UX laws can inform best practices for development, assessment, and iteration of digital spaces. Attendees will learn how laws/heuristics drawn from UXD play a critical role in ensuring that resources are accessible, intuitive, and engaging.

Our case study centers on how a library consortium …

Harnessing The Power Of Chatgpt To Streamline Reference And Research Librarian Workflows: Sample Productivity Use Case Scenarios And Their Roi, Ladislava Khailova

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

After the public release of ChatGPT by OpenAI in November 2022, GenAI systems have been applied and tested in a wide variety of contexts, including those aimed at increasing workplace productivity. In fact, some studies estimate the GenAI enhancements to work functions to generate a shocking additional trillions of dollars annually in the nearest future, with the knowledge work industry especially likely to be impacted. This presentation uses these predictions to look into the potential of ChatGPT to enhance reference and research librarian workflows. The specific explored productivity use case scenarios include harnessing the power of the chatbot to streamline …

Teaching The Researched Family Profile Essay As Meaningful Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy And Counterstory, Amy L. Garrett Brown

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

My students have been asked to create a researched narrative about their family history (the definition of “family” is loose and includes families of choice) using personal interviews, artifacts, research and reflection. They will mix the voices of their family members with the voices of scholars and historians from the university library and databases. This is a conversation. In many ways, these are counterstories. In order to focus on using Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy (Alim and Paris) with this assignment, I thought about several of the tenets of CSP: “Instead of being oppressive, homogenizing forces, CSP asks us to reimagine schools …

Restoring School Librarians: Challenges And Strategies, Debrah E. Kachel

Learning Hub

The article examines efforts to restore school librarian positions across eleven urban U.S. school districts, despite significant financial and administrative obstacles. It documents strategies used by district library leaders to advocate for staffing, funding, and policy changes, emphasizing equity in access to certified school librarians. Through structured interviews and analysis, the report highlights key barriers, advocacy methods, and funding mechanisms that have influenced school library staffing. The study's findings contribute to the ongoing discourse on educational equity and policy reform in K-12 library services.

Information Literacy Capability Of Preschool Teachers In An Effort To Improve The Pedagogical Competence Of Preschool Teachers In Central Lampung District, Purwanto Putra, Andi Windah, Arnila Purnamayanti

Jurnal Sosial Humaniora Terapan

The title of the proposed research is "Information Literacy Skills of Early Childhood Education (ECE) Teachers in Efforts to Enhance Pedagogical Competence of ECE Teachers in Central Lampung Regency." This research aims to explore the information literacy skills of ECE teachers in the Central Lampung Regency, Lampung Province, using the ACRL (Association of College & Research Libraries) standards, and to understand how ECE teachers can meet the demands to improve their professional competence in line with current technological and informational developments. The research adopts a qualitative case study approach with a mixed methods methodology (interviews, observations, and surveys). The research …

Improved Open Access Support Through A Popular Open Access Fund, Andrea A. Wirth

Library Faculty Research

This paper describes results of a 2023 survey of authors who applied to University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Open Article Fund, a fund that supports article processing charges (APCs). The survey sought feedback about the fund’s impact, value, and award criteria as well as opinions on other open access topics. Results show that the fund has had a positive impact on open access uptake and opinions of open access. Respondents reported that they participate in other open publishing activities and believe that most publications should be made open access. The results suggest opportunities for better strategic connections between the …

Lanthorn, Vol. 59, No. 11, January 20, 2025, Grand Valley State University

Volume 59, August 5, 2024 – April 14, 2025

Lanthorn is Grand Valley State's student newspaper, published from 1968 to the present.

Depositing Your Works In The Unl Digital Commons: Advice For Self-Depositors

Institutional Repository Information

You have found the UNL DigitalCommons, the university’s institutional repository, and you would like to include some, or some additional, articles or other works in it. If you are not an affiliate of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln or a participant in one of its educational, service, or research programs, then we probably cannot help you. This repository is intended for archiving the scholarly output of the UNL community.

Following is some advice for UNL faculty, staff, students, and associates on the procedures for putting your work online in our publicly accessible UNL DigitalCommons web space, which is search-engine enabled …

February 2025 Library & Learning Newsletter, Minnesota State University, Mankato. Library & Learning Dean’S Office Communications Team

Library & Learning Newsletters

PDF version of the February 2025 (Volume 3, Issue 4) Library & Learning Newsletter.

Himmelfarb Headlines - February/March 2025, The George Washington University, Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library

Himmelfarb Headlines (2009 - present)

News, information, and resources relating to Himmelfarb Library that is of interest to patrons.

Book Review: Dangerous Innocence: White Men, Mass Culture, And The Southern Outsider's Appeal, 1960-2020, Chris Sharpe

Georgia Library Quarterly

A book review of Dangerous Innocence: White Men, Mass Culture, and the Southern Outsider's Appeal, 1960-2020 written by William P. Murray.

Building And Defending Lgbtq+ Collections, Jason D. Phillips, Jordan Ruud

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This chapter explores the critical role of collection development policies in libraries, particularly in supporting and defending LGBTQ+ collections. The authors argue that a robust, regularly updated, and transparent collection development policy is essential for ensuring equitable representation and resisting censorship. They emphasize that such policies must account for the needs of historically underserved communities, including LGBTQ+ populations, and serve as tools for advocacy and defense against internal and external challenges.

Using real-world examples, the chapter highlights the consequences of outdated or ineffective policies, including instances of hidden censorship and administrative interference in material acquisition. The authors advocate for retrospective …

At What Cost? The Personal Stakes Of Intellectual Freedom, Jason D. Phillips, Jordan Ruud

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This chapter explores the emotional, professional, and political costs faced by librarians advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusion and intellectual freedom within libraries. Through personal narrative and critical reflection, the authors introduce the concept of "queer battle fatigue"—a framework for understanding the cumulative psychological toll on LGBTQ+ individuals who are consistently placed in advocacy roles within predominantly cisheteronormative institutions. A case study of a drag storytime event at a university library illustrates the social backlash, institutional pressures, and moral injury experienced by organizers, demonstrating how well-intentioned programming can become flashpoints for political controversy. The authors highlight the intensifying hostility toward LGBTQ+ representation …

Law Library Blog (February 2025): Legal Beagle's Blog Archive, Raquel Ortiz, Jessica Silvia

Law Library Newsletters/Blog

No abstract provided.

Enemies Within The Gates: Contending With Internal Censorship Challenges, Jason D. Phillips

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This chapter explores the rarely discussed but impactful issue of internal censorship within academic libraries, focusing on challenges to LGBTQ+ materials. Drawing on personal experiences at a regional public university in the American South, the author recounts multiple instances where library staff and leadership acted in ways that undermined the inclusion of LGBTQ+ resources. These incidents ranged from quietly removing or hiding books to resisting the addition of LGBTQ+ periodicals and graphic novels, and even denying purchase requests without explanation. The chapter underscores how fear of controversy, personal bias, and institutional conservatism can result in "soft censorship," despite the profession's …

Orchestra Librarians’ Responses In The Time Of Covid-19: A Qualitative Study Of Symphony Orchestra Librarians Around The Globe, Patrick Lo, Hermina G.B. Anghelescu

School of Information Sciences Faculty Research Publications

The COVID-19 crisis has disrupted the performing arts ecosystem worldwide, with an even more severe impact on classical orchestras. This study examines how 19 seasoned, established orchestra librarians and their parent organizations worldwide experienced and responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study examines similarities and differences in their professional practices and experiences of coping with pandemic-related disruptions. The study sheds new light on how orchestra librarians' practices changed, along with their resilience, adaptability, sense of self-worth, and career fulfilment during COVID-19,in the context that none were furloughed or made redundant. The paper also discusses the impact of pandemic restrictions on …