Digital Commons Network^™

Book Review: Hopeful Visions, Practical Actions: Cultural Humility In Library Work Edited By Sarah R. Kostelecky, Lori Townsend, And David A. Hurley, Gina Mik

School of Information Student Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Social Justice Design And Implementation In Library And Information Science Edited By Bharat Mehra, Ellie F. Kawada

School of Information Student Research Journal

Social Justice Design and Implementation in Library and Information Science, edited by Bharat Mehra, is an engaging volume that explores the pursuit of social justice in its many forms in the field of Library and Information Science (LIS). The included chapters cover case studies of social justice implementation in library services, theoretical frameworks for subversive methods of research and education, and the future of library advocacy for social justice. While the volume is centered on English-speaking countries and lacks the perspective of paraprofessional library staff, the themes and examples presented in the book are invaluable to any LIS students, professionals, …

Decolonizing The Academic Library: Examining The Successful Indigenization Of Ubc And Unm’S Library Services, Emily T. Villars

School of Information Student Research Journal

This article examines decolonization and indigenization initiatives at two academic libraries: the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the University of New Mexico (UNM). It asks how these institutions have implemented indigenization in their libraries and what lessons can inform broader reconciliation work across North America. Through a comparative lens, it analyzes how national and organizational frameworks, such as the Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA-FCAB) Truth and Reconciliation Report and Recommendations and the American Indian Library Association’s (AILA) organizational goals, can shape these efforts. The study highlights three core strategies: decolonizing access and classification, transforming library spaces, and expanding …

Book Review: Academic Librarian Burnout: Causes And Responses Edited By Christina Holm, Ana Guimaraes, And Nashieli Marcano, Brianna Gaffney

School of Information Student Research Journal

No abstract provided.

A Reflection On Research Limitations And Conclusions, Pearl Kim

School of Information Student Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Letter From The Dean: Research As A Way Of Becoming, Mehrdad Aliasgari

School of Information Student Research Journal

No abstract provided.

A Study Of Library Web Pages In Websites Of Government Degree Colleges In Telangana State, Dr. Mohammadi Asra Sultana

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Libraries are an indispensable part of higher educational institutes. Academic websites provide us a virtual tour of the college. Library web pages in a college website are an important tool through which the students can be reached out to showcase and promote print and electronic resources, services, library activities, etc. The present study has been taken up to study the web pages of the websites of Government Degree Colleges in Telangana. Maximum number of colleges has uploaded information in their Digital Library button, followed by Library Services, Library Collection and Library Profile. A few colleges have uploaded information in other …

Records Management Systems Employed By Registries In Zambia: A Case Study Of Selected Departments In Health And Education In Livingstone., Sututu Imasiku

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study investigated the records management systems employed in the education and health sectors in Zambia, with a focus on their role in improving service. Using a mixed-methods triangulation design, data was collected through surveys, interviews, observations from registry users and key informants with a sample size of 150. 100 teachers where purposively sampled from the Education department specifically at the District Education Secretary registry with 5 key informants and 40 from the Livingstone Teaching Hospital registry with 5 key informants. Chi-square t-test and descriptive analysis was used in quantitative data, while thematic analysis was used for qualitative data. The …

An Assessment Of The Effectiveness Of Records Management On Service Delivery. A Case Study Of Ministry Of Local Government And Rural Development In Zambia, 'Pamela Lweendo Hangoma, Kadeyo M. Kuyela, Sututu Imasiku, Adrian Chisale, Glenda Ntalasha, Matilda Mercy Muchinga, Emma M. Ndalameta-Theo, Dalitso Mvula The

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study assessed records management practices and their influence on service delivery in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in Zambia. The study was guided by the Records Continuum Model, which emphasizes the continuous management of records from creation, capture, organization, use, to preservation. The objectives were to examine current records management practices, assess their effect on service delivery, identify challenges, and propose strategies for improvement. A qualitative case study design was adopted, with data collected from 22 participants across 11 departments through face-to-face interviews, and analyzed thematically using content analysis. Findings revealed that records are generated through …

Leveraging Student Specialties For Innovative Digital Commons Exhibits, Madison Price, Sara Decaro

Faculty Submissions

In this presentation, Madison Price and Sara DeCaro of Pittsburg State University will cover their unique projects created with Digital Commons Exhibits, what inspired them, and how they incorporated student employees into their workflow. Pittsburg State’s location in southeast Kansas has been home to historically significant institutions like the Haldeman-Julius Publishing Company, an internationally-known leftist press, and artists such as Gordon Parks and Eva Jessye.

PSU’s collection of 2,000 Haldeman-Julius printing plates presented a quandary for Special Collections, until one student’s interest in them prompted this question: could the plates still be used? The result was multiple collaborations across PSU’s …

Bridging Pure4egs And Digital Commons: Streamlining Our Faculty Open Access Ir Workflow, Jessea Young

Librarian Publications & Presentations

In Spring 2024, Loyola Marymount University’s William H. Hannon Library transitioned from Expert Gallery Suite (EGS) – SelectedWorks to Pure4EGS, a “light” version of Pure for EGS customers. Since the implementation of our Pure4EGS instance, Scholars @ LMU, we have harvested citations from the research management system to quickly identify open access articles for inclusion in Digital Commons. Our new workflow has allowed us to focus more on other scholarly communications services—such as assistance in outreach to our research institutions and centers, transformative agreements, and open access journal management—rather than copyright and data entry work for Digital Commons @ Loyola …

Black Women Library Leaders: Challenges And Considerations For Inclusive Advocacy, Aisha Johnson, Shaundra Walker, Tamika Barnes, Tina D. Rollins

Library Faculty Scholarship

Black women leaders face unlimited challenges navigating the complex landscape of leadership, balancing race and gender dynamics that often intersect to create unique obstacles. The intersectionality of our identities compounds the hurdles we encounter, making our leadership journey particularly challenging. Research indicates that Black women leaders frequently grapple with systemic racism and gender bias in both professional and societal spheres.1 Additionally, we encounter stereotypes and preconceived notions that affect perceptions of our competence and authority.2 We strive to break through the glass ceiling while confronting structural barriers and limited representation at executive levels, exacerbating an uphill climb.3 The impact of …

Beyond The Stacks: Borrowing Of Immersive Technologies And Smart Eco Systems To Reimagine Libraries., Vuppala Lingaiah

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This theoretical Chapter explores the paradigm shift of knowledge access, user experience, and institutional viability through the integration of immersive technologies, such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (MR), artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT), within the new paradigm of funky libraries, and how these technologies are changing knowledge access, user experiences, and the institutional sustainability of various library environments. Methodology: The research approach is non-empirical and exploratory-conceptual, based on a synthesis of systematic literature, thematic clustering of the existing literature, and theoretical critique of recent peer-reviewed findings. The chapter is based on more …

Challenges Confronting The Use Of School Media Resource Centres In Secondary Schools In Jos North Lga, Plateau State-Nigeria, Ucham James Diyong, Gilbert Paul Igboechesi

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Background: This study investigated challenges confronting the use of school media resource centers in secondary schools within the Jos North Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State, Nigeria. The research aimed to identify existing obstacles and their impact on student achievement through two research questions and two hypotheses.

Methodology: Utilizing a descriptive survey research design, the study sampled 294 Junior Secondary School (JSS 2) students—selected via simple random sampling—from a total population of 1,178 across four schools. Data were collected using a self-structured, four-point Likert scale questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation).

Findings: Results revealed that …

Powering Up Clinical Scholarship In Pain Management / Chronic Pain Fellowship, Evelyn Wang

HSLIC Faculty and Staff Instructional Resources

This presentation introduces chronic pain fellows to clinical scholarship pathways in pain management, highlighting core literature search strategies, evidence‐based resources, and HSLIC services that support research, publishing, and teaching in chronic pain care.

The Future Is Diamond: Open Journals Collective, Galadriel Chilton, Caroline Edwards

All Things Open

The Open Journals Collective is a Collective Community Interest Company based in the UK that exists to benefit the community rather than private shareholders. Composed of journal publishers, editors, and librarians, the OJC community is dedicated to building a sustainable future for academic journals as a strong alternative to profit-making models of global corporate publishing and data systems. Officially launched in January 2026, this international organization is working to build a scalable pathway away from commercial publishers and subscription models to keep academic publishing within values-aligned organizations. But what is diamond open access, and why is it important for libraries …

How Journal Editors Are Addressing Challenges With No-Fee Open Access, Colleen Lyon, Christopher Hollister

All Things Open

No-fee or “diamond” open access embodies the principles of the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science, particularly openness, inclusivity, and collaboration. This model of publishing strengthens equitable access to knowledge, promotes multilingualism, and democratizes science.

Unique among open access models, no-fee open access eliminates both APCs and subscription fees, making it completely free for both authors and readers. This model is often funded by academic institutions, governments, or non-profit organizations, focusing on equity, inclusivity, and accessibility.

To investigate the efficacy of this model, the presenters administered a survey of North American no-fee journal editors to explore the challenges of managing no-fee …

Greenaissance? Zero-Embargo Funder Mandates And Green Open Access, Josh Cromwell

All Things Open

Recently, several funder-driven Open Access mandates, such as Plan S in Europe or the NIH Public Access Policy in the US, have indicated a desire to shift away from allocating funds for article processing charges (APCs) and have instead called for significantly reducing or eliminating embargo periods on accepted manuscripts (AMs) to make them a viable pathway to compliance for researchers.

This talk will address how these policies can significantly revitalize Green Open Access and open repositories, and will discuss strategies for researchers and librarians to use these new policy changes as an opportunity to share their research openly without …

Bridging Libraries And Classrooms: Co-Teaching For Student Success, Joy Urbina, Isabel Baca

Librarian Conference Presentations

An instructional librarian and writing professor describe their collaborative approach to co-teaching. Learn how integrating information literacy with writing instruction strengthens students' critical thinking and research skills and discover practical strategies from this successful cross-disciplinary partnership.

Make It Make Cents: Creating A Rubric To Evaluate Potential Read-And-Publish Agreements, Olivia Chin, Luke Mcdonald

All Things Open

Negotiating read-and-publish agreements for institutions can be tricky! There are many different aspects to consider: cost, publisher ethics, publishing data, open access discounts, etc. How do you decide which agreements to choose? What are your dealbreakers? In the summer of 2025, the License Negotiation Team from the University of Tennessee Knoxville Libraries created a rubric to evaluate potential read-and-publish agreements with vendors. The rubric allowed us to prioritize our principled negotiations approach and standardize how we approach these decisions. This presentation will demonstrate how academic libraries can create and implement rubrics to address the publishing criteria most important within their …

Here Be Dragons (Or Treasure?): Navigating Complexities Of Oa Funding Options, Anna R. Craft

All Things Open

The wide availability of open access scholarship benefits authors, readers, and institutions. But it can be challenging to navigate OA funding options, especially in a climate of budget cuts and rising costs. In these conditions, how can institutions support authors who want--or need--to share their work via open access?

At UNC Greensboro, a mid-sized regional public university in central North Carolina, OA funding support options include APC waivers and discounts through read-and-publish agreements with certain publishers, as well as an OA subvention fund that offers limited awards to offset some APC costs. These options have supported many UNCG authors in …

Exploring The Landscape Of Indian Library And Information Science Journals: A Bibliometric Perspective On Publication Productivity And Authorship Patterns, Shiva Kumara S U, Sampath Kumar Bt

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The present study aims to ascertain the publication productivity, authorship patterns, and the Degree of collaboration in two Indian Library and Information Science (LIS) journals. The related data was extracted from two LIS journals viz., “Annals of Library and Information Studies” (ALIS) and “DESIDOC Journal of Library & Information Technology” (DJLIT). The study findings show that there is a gradual decline in the number of publications published in both journals from 2015 to 2022. It is also noticed that collaborative research is on the rise in LIS literature and two-authored papers are the most common. The average degree of collaboration …

Student Perspectives On Textbook Affordability, Ginelle Baskin, Mary Ann Jones, Suzanne Mangrum

All Things Open

Join us as we share findings from a recent campus-wide survey at a mid-size regional R2 university exploring the impact of course material costs on students. We asked students to provide answers on how textbook costs affect their learning experiences, choices, and successes. This session will highlight key data, student voices, and showcase opportunities for faculty to make their courses more affordable and equitable through the use of Open Educational Resources (OER) and other no-cost materials.

Jumping Into The Deep End: Lessons Learned From Editing A Book About Open Movements, Abbey K. Elder, Bryan T. Ricupero, Shannon M. Smith

All Things Open

In 2023, we had a great idea: let’s make an open access book about open movements! Little did we know, this experience would change us all as we learned and grew alongside the authors who contributed to our volume, Open Movements: Recognizing Challenges and Building Connections.

Open Movements is about a lot of things: it’s about the institutional initiatives that support open scholarship, the vendors and programs that connect practitioners to the ideals of openness, and the barriers we run into when we try to communicate all that “Open” can be. Despite coming from separate institutions with backgrounds spanning …

Big Data Research In Library And Information Science: A Bibliometric Analysis In India, Dr. Prafulla Kumar Mahanta

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Big Data can be defined as high-volume, high-velocity, and high-variety information assets that demand cost-effective, innovative forms of information processing for improved insight and decision-making. Library and Information Centres generate and manage vast amounts of data through digital catalogs, circulation systems, user queries, and digital repositories. The main purpose of the study is to analyze big data research in Library and Information Science in India from 2015 to 2024. It conducted a quantitative analysis using the Bibliometrix tool on scientific production indexed in the Scopus database. A total of 1639 documents were retrieved and exported in CSV format. MS Office …

Free To Read, Free To Publish: Library Publishing And Global Scholarly Communication, Jonathan D. Grunert

All Things Open

Open access is a right exercised by scholars and their institutions, not a privilege granted by publishers. From this perspective, library publishing is not peripheral to the open access movement but a necessary extension, and when libraries take on publishing roles, they reclaim functions long outsourced to commercial actors and re-center scholarly communication within academic communities. The partnership among libraries, institutions, and researchers is foundational to the production, evaluation, and sharing of knowledge. Library publishing shows that open access can be sustainable and scholar-driven without reliance on paywalls, article processing charges, or exclusivity.

Since 2014, library publishing has evolved from …

Cultivating Empathy Through Exhibit Design To Engage Students In The Ai And Handheld Tech Era - Three Case Studies, Angela R. Whitlock

The Primary Source

This article examines how exhibition environments can foster empathy, participation, and meaningful connection among student visitors within an increasingly digital and technologically mediated cultural landscape. Through a comparative multi-site case study, it analyzes three exhibition environments that engage students through immersive design, participatory technology, and interpretive framing: the African American Military History Museum in Hattiesburg, Mississippi; the Ulysses S. Grant exhibit space within Mitchell Memorial Library at Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi; and the in-progress redesign of the Southern Literary Trail exhibit, also located within Mitchell Memorial Library and scheduled for completion within the next year. While each site …

Lanthorn, Vol. 60, No. 14, April 6, 2026, Grand Valley State University

Volume 60, August 4, 2025 – April 20, 2026

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

Addressing Legal Uncertainties In Article Versions And Institutional Copyright Policies To Support Immediate Public Access To Federal Grant-Funded Publications, Yuanxiao Xu

Copyright, Fair Use, Scholarly Communication, etc.

New federal public access policies—mandated by the 2022 OSTP Memo and already adopted by several key federal grant-making agencies—require authors funded by federal grants to deposit peer-reviewed publications for immediate public access. This paper explains how grant- receiving institutions and their affiliated authors can dispel legal uncertainties and comply with the new public access policies. Section I delineates how valid prior licenses enable public deposit of manuscripts notwithstanding later publishing agreements transferring copyright to the journals. Section II discusses the different versions of a manuscript created during the publication process. Section III describes the different types of third-party contributions incorporated …

Res Historica, Volume 5, Alpha Rho Epsilon Phi Alpha Theta, Lindsay Rae Smith Privette Phd

Res Historica

The 2026 journal of historical research by Anderson University students, Res Historica.

The editorial team for this edition of Res Historica was Dr. Lindsay Rae Smith Privette, Julia Ackerman, Callyn Wright, Logan Davis, and John Hinton. Cover art by Mary Beth Lee.