Digital Commons Network^™

This Southern Metropolis: Life In Antebellum Mobile, Kristine Stilwell

The Southeastern Librarian

Mike Bunn

Athens: NewSouth Books, 2024

ISBN: 9781588385246

162 pp. $27.95 (Pbk)

Sela Officers And Executive Committee, State Representatives, Committees, Sections, And Round Tables, John H. Barnett

The Southeastern Librarian

Current SELA officers and representatives.

Evaluating And Supporting Transformative Agreements: Five Institutional Perspectives In Discussion, Anna R. Craft, Peggy Kain, Danica Lewis, Camille Mccutcheon, William Joseph Thomas

Libraries Professional Work

Transformative—or Read and Publish—deals are impacting the open access (OA) publishing landscape, allowing libraries to test new models for funding and incentivizing OA publishing, while also providing direct benefits for authors, including discounts and waivers on article processing charges (APCs). But how sustainable are transformative deals in light of library materials budgets and workloads for personnel who negotiate these deals, manage the implementations, and support campus authors? And how can libraries evaluate the perceived value of these deals in relation to the specific needs of their institutional users?

Accuracy Matters: Evaluating The Value Of Ai Tools For Summaries In Metadata, Emily Baldoni, Angela Yon

Faculty and Staff Publications – Milner Library

Since the introduction of ChatGPT in 2022, the potential impact of Artificial Intelligence on library workflows has been a topic of immense interest—and sometimes anxiety—in the library profession. In the area of cataloging and metadata, one frequently cited potential use for AI (particularly Large Language Models (LLMs)) is constructing summaries and abstracts of information resources. However, very little systematic assessment has been done of the characteristics, quality, and utility of AI-generated abstracts for library materials, leaving information professionals with little evidence on which to make data-driven decisions as to how, if at all, to implement AI-assisted workflows for this aspect …

Translating The Lived Experiences Of Graduate Students Into Practice: Qualitative Research Informing Library Services, Olivia Baca, Liz Cooper, Mark Emmons

Scholarship Day 2025

Presentation based on:

Surbaugh, H. M., Baca, O., Cooper, L., Emmons, M., & Neely, T. Y. (2025). Investigating the lived experiences of graduate students at the University of New Mexico. Journal of Graduate Librarianship, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.59942/2995-9063.1018

The Rise And Fall (And Rise?) Of New Mexico's Criminalization Of Abortion, Jennifer Laws

Scholarship Day 2025

No abstract provided.

2025 Unm Library Scholarship Day Collcted Abstracts, Unm Health Sciences Library & Informatics Center, Unm Law Library, Unm University Libraries

Scholarship Day 2025

This booklet compiles citations and summaries of recent scholarly works (and works in progress) authored by librarians from all three campus libraries. UNM authors’ names are bolded. It offers readers a snapshot of the ideas, innovations, and collaborations shaping the information science discipline today. Consider it an invitation to connect with colleagues whose work reflects the intellectual vibrancy of UNM’s libraries.

Patterns Of Trust: Unraveling How Students Evaluate Online Sources, Stephanie Beene, Amy Jankowski, Alyssa Russo, Lori Townsend

Scholarship Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Transforming Public Services For Stem Students And Faculty, Tessa Withorn, Robert Detmering

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Despite institutional priorities to expand STEM education and research activity, some academic libraries struggle to engage faculty and students in these disciplines with library resources and services. This column shares and reflects on how strategic liaison librarianship can address the needs of STEM programs at a large, public university. Implementing new services around research impact and data management and building fruitful connections with STEM researchers has reinvigorated and increased engagement with the library. In the future, a team-based liaison model shows promise for sustaining relationships and forging new paths that communicate the value and impact of the library.

Lanthorn, Vol. 60, No. 07, November 10, 2025, 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.

An Institutional Repository's Journey Through Title Ii Web Accessibility Standards, Jennie Tobler-Gaston

Criss Library Faculty Proceedings & Presentations

In April 2024, the implementation of Title II web accessibility standards for government entities prompted immediate reflection on accessibility practices within our institutional repository, DigitalCommons@UNO. This presentation will discuss the Title II standards and their implications for university repositories, describe the development of workflows for ensuring repository content meets these standards, and discuss the ongoing challenges for remediation.

Providing Library Instruction For An Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program Course, Susan Direnzo Ashby, Marilia Antunez

Research, Publications, and Presentations

In the Spring Semester of 2025, two librarians collaborated to deliver in-person library instruction sessions for a section of an undergraduate communications course held at a women’s community correctional facility in Ohio. This section of the course was offered as part of the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program. This presentation will explore the unique challenges and innovative solutions involved in preparing and conducting library sessions in a non-traditional academic setting, which included both incarcerated students and university students.

Increase Your Impact And Visibility With Scholarworks@Utep, Alyssa Pope, Angela Lucero, Maria Teresa Torres

HIIT 2025

Slides presented at the 2025 HIIT Conference's "Breakfast with the Library".

Join the UTEP Library for an informative session on ScholarWorks@UTEP, our institutional digital repository. You'll learn how ScholarWorks@UTEP increases the visibility and impact of your research, and get hands-on guidance uploading your scholarly works—including articles, conference papers, datasets, creative materials, and more.

Engaging With Ai In A Technical Writing Course: A Collaboration Between A Writing Instructor And A Librarian, Isabel Baca, Joy Urbina

HIIT 2025

After describing our collaboration (a Technical Writing Instructor and a Librarian) on teaching students how to use artificial intelligence (AI) to strengthen their writing, we will engage attendees by having them reflect and practice with AI. For our workshop presentation, attendees will:

• Learn how a librarian and a writing instructor collaborated to teach students to use AI effectively and ethically in their writing.
• Reflect on how they can incorporate AI in their classroom or workplace.
• Learn how a librarian can help them incorporate AI into their courses.
• Practice using AI and developing their prompt engineering skills.

Our workshop presentation will …

Assessing, Selling And Onboarding Transformative Agreements At An R2 Institution​, Jennifer Freer, Daniel Trout

Presentations and other scholarship

Transformative agreements can help libraries expand content offerings and subsidize publishing costs. RIT Libraries, new to these agreements, has joined 4 over the past year in a process driven by Electronic Resources and Acquisitions/Serials. We will walk the audience through the assessment criteria for the two of the agreements we joined (Cambridge and Springer), along with lessons learned. The assessment criteria include: cost, impact on access to content, a scan of publishing activities on campus, as well as turnaway data obtained from vendors and a new implementation of Celus 5 for Counter 5 data.

We will share the language used …

Investigating The Relationship Between Noun Classes And Plant Folk Taxonomy In Chasu Language Of Kilimanjaro Region In Tanzania, Peter Rabson Mziray

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

The current study investigates the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu (G 22). The study focuses on two objectives: the first objective is to describe the plant folk taxonomy in Chasu and the second objective is to determine the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu. Data were collected from rural villages in Same and Mwanga districts by using free listing, field interviews (jungle-walk-and-identify), and written texts containing Chasu plant names. The findings reveal that Chasu folk taxonomy reflects different ethnobotanical categories; including a unique beginner which is mmea/mimea ‘plant(s)’, and three life …

From Curiosity To Research: Exploring The Papers Of The University Librarian At Uva, Veronica Fu

Journal of East Asian Libraries

This article traces an exploratory journey into the Papers of the University Librarian at the University of Virginia (UVA), shedding light on lesser-known aspects of Harry Clemons’ contributions beyond his tenure at UVA. A chance conversation led to a deeper investigation, which eventually developed into a research project. This article provides an overview of that research as well as reflections on the intellectual and emotional rewards of the exploration. It also touches on challenges in archival access and the importance of enhancing discoverability for future researchers.

Understanding Ai Literacy: Implications For Practice​, Devon Olson, Janet Anderson, Sara Westall

Librarian Publications

Presentation from the 2025 Mountain Plains Library Association Tri-Conference, held in Grand Forks, ND. This presentation provides an overview of basic AI concepts and frameworks for AI literacy, discussing the impact of different patron and learner demographics on learner needs, competencies, and instructional strategies.

Fair Winds And Following Seas: The Unwritten Code Of Navigating Increasing Professional Responsibilities, Michelle E. Colquitt, Kayla Whitehead, Jennifer Zuccaro

Presentations

No abstract provided.

Peer To Peer Connections: Student Ambassador Team Encourage Belonging Through Library Supports And Services, Amy Odwarka

All Faculty Scholarship

Libraries are an integral support system for students within a university organization, serving a unique purpose for students as they reinforce both academic and social emotional needs, ultimately lending to persistence, retention and graduation efforts. Academic libraries are also a third place in the lives of many students, helping them find their people and make community on campus. Over the last three years, faculty librarian Amy Odwarka from Mary J. Booth Library at Eastern Illinois University collaborated with students to build a robust student driven engagement team, the Library Ambassadors of Booth (the LAB), encouraging peer to peer communication and …

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

Library & Learning Newsletters

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

Enhancing Food Security Sustainability Through Digital Information Extension Services In Rural Uganda: Maize Postharvest Evidence-Based Strategies, Jackline Estomihi Kiwelu, Patrick Ngulube

Libraries

Background Postharvest losses caused by poor drying and storage practices lead to maize waste, reduced food availability, unsafe food due to aflatoxin contamination, and income loss for farmers. This exacerbates food insecurity and threatens the livelihoods of rural communities. Leveraging digital solutions to provide quality maize postharvest handling information is critical to mitigating these challenges.

Objective This study examined maize postharvest handling extension information services provided by rural agricultural extension officers in selected districts of Uganda, focusing on how evidence-based practices supported by information sources, expert knowledge, and ICT infrastructure ensure the quality and relevance of the information delivered.

Methods …

Galileo Celebrates Thirty Years Of Library Innovation, Joy Woodson

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

From Information To Impact: The Strategic Role Of Libraries In University Ranking, Tatiana Usova, Fiona Glasgow, Lisa Chisholm

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

Academic libraries are increasingly positioning themselves as strategic partners within their institutions, moving beyond traditional support roles to actively advancing institutional priorities, particularly in global university rankings like QS and Times Higher Education (THE). These rankings significantly influence how universities are perceived and funded, and they rely heavily on the use of bibliometric data, research outputs, and institutional reputation.

This paper, presented by SIGMaRI, examines the evolving role of libraries in the rankings landscape. We will highlight impactful library-led initiatives and partnerships with other strategic university departments that advance the university's reputation and shape institutional research strategies. While libraries share …

Bridging Cultures, Building Communities: The Role Of Academic Libraries In Fostering Multicultural Engagement And Digital Inclusion, Emily Chan, Catarina Lei

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

This paper explores the evolving role of academic libraries in small, multicultural settings. Using the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) in Macao as a case study, we examine how the library acts as a catalyst for interdisciplinary collaboration. By bridging the gap between diverse faculty departments—such as History, Sound Engineering, and Design—the library facilitates innovative projects that preserve local heritage and promote Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This document outlines two specific case studies: the "First Global Typhoon Macau 1874" exhibition and the "OttoSonic" sound installation.

Informed Learning In Place: Tales From A Field Station, Thom Gerrish, Rachel K. Fundator, Clarence D. Maybee, Karen A. Reiman-Sendi

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

This study investigates how students learn to use information at a remote field station to prepare for roles as environmental researchers, climate advocates, and citizens. Using a semi-structured interview approach, the researchers examined the perceptions of twelve field station instructors on how their students engage with information to learn in a place-based educational context. Three interrelated themes emerged that demonstrate the varied ways in which students need to learn to use information: (1) Leveraging interdisciplinary lenses, where students integrate diverse perspectives to interpret environmental information; (2) Acculturating to field research practices, where students gain practical research and data skills through …

Pioneering Education In Holland, Michigan: The History Of Hope’S Preparatory School; Rare Books As Art And Artifacts, Rhian Machiela, Charlotte Ulloa

Archives and Special Collections Quarterly

Pioneering Education in Holland, Michigan: The History of Hope’s Preparatory School

Column: From the Director of Archives and Special Collections

Rare Books as Art and Artifacts

Reimagining Library Services In The Age Of Ai: A Case Study From A Canadian Academic Library, Wei Xuan, Christine Shaw

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

As artificial intelligence reshapes higher education, academic libraries are reimagining their services to meet emerging challenges and opportunities. This article presents a case study of the University of Manitoba Libraries (UML), a Canadian academic library actively integrating AI to improve service delivery, enrich research support, and enhance user engagement while upholding core values of access, equity, and scholarly integrity.

Four key initiatives are discussed: (1) the development of an in-house AI chatbot built on Microsoft Azure services, offering real-time conversational assistance grounded in trusted library content; (2) the implementation of Ex Libris’ Primo Research Assistant to enhance discovery with GPT-based …

Strategic Collection Management In Academic Libraries - Balancing Digital Resources, Print Collections, And Study Spaces, Xiaolu Guo, Trish Wilson

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

In the time of digital transformation and constrained resources, academic libraries must align collections with institutional priorities. This paper presents how Victoria University of Wellington Library’s strategic approach to balancing physical collections and student needs for study space. By sharing practical approaches and lessons learnt from collection evaluation initiatives, this paper will explore how an academic library seeks to align collections with institutional goal s in a sustainable, user-cantered way. Key discussion points include collection budget and usage trends; stakeholder engagement and UX; data driven approaches; and staff capability building.

Ai Empowerment Of Medical Libraries For Promoting Accessible Reading Of Evidence-Based Health Guidelines, Wenjing Ding

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

In an age marked by overwhelming information and a rapidly aging global population, the need for accessible, comprehensible health information has never been more urgent. Although evidence-based health guidelines play a crucial role in supporting informed medical decision-making, their dense medical language and structural complexity often render them inaccessible to lay audiences. This study investigates the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in enabling medical libraries to serve as dynamic platforms for promoting the accessible reading of such guidelines, thereby advancing public health literacy and equity.

A dual challenge emerges: on one hand, the expanding volume and sophistication of clinical …