Digital Commons Network^™

Addressing Anti-Black Racism In Library And Information Science Curriculum, Amber Matthews

STEMPS Faculty Publications

This paper explores the development of the graduate course Anti-Racism in Library and Information Science that was piloted at Western University in 2022 and 2023. The one-semester (13-week) course was designed with Black-led community organizations and students contributed to anti-racist information and memory work through experiential learning partnerships. The course used critical Library and Information Science (LIS) literature alongside Black Canadian scholarly perspectives that were grounded in anti-oppression and anti-racism frameworks. The course goals were for students to develop an understanding of how race and other structural inequities inform lived experiences and tools to support collaborative community-led projects. The LIS-tailored …

How District Administrators Further The Book Banning Agenda, Kim Reichenbach Krutka

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Book banning and censorship in school libraries remain a significant barrier to intellectual freedom. Drawing on ten years of experience as a Texas school librarian, this opinion article highlights how district policies and grievance procedures empower individuals to exclude books representing marginalized identities, particularly queer and Black experiences. Using Critical Race Theory (CRT), specifically the tenets of whiteness as property and counter storytelling, the article explains how these policies uphold white privilege and dominant narratives while silencing counter-stories that validate diverse student identities. The grievance process allows a single hearing officer to overturn committee decisions without transparent reasoning, often restricting …

Teaching Generative Ai Literacy: Approaches And Challenges, Susan G. Archambault, Nicole Murph, Shalini Ramachandran

Librarian Publications & Presentations

No abstract provided.

Introduction To Systematic Review For The Health Sciences (Spring 2025), Bethany S. Mcgowan

Libraries Faculty and Staff Creative Materials

The course syllabus for the Spring 2025 iteration of the graduate course ILS 595: Introduction to Systematic Review for the Health Sciences.

Predicting Crises On The African Frontier Stock Markets With Investor Sentiment Indicators: A Machine Learning Approach, David Korsah, Lord Mensah

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

This study examined the predictive ability of machine learning algorithms in identifying crises within African stock markets. The study employed seven distinct machine-learning models, analyzing historical stock prices from eight stock markets, three major sentiment indicators, and the exchange rates of local currencies against the US dollar, with each data spanning from May 1, 2007, to April 1, 2023. Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) emerged as the most effective algorithm for predicting crises. Historical stock prices and exchange rates were identified as the most critical features for prediction. On the sentiment side, investors’ perceptions of potential volatility on the S&P 500, …

Preventive Health Care Information Seeking Behaviors Among Baby Boomers In Taiwan, Alexander N. Chen, Michael J. Rubach, Tracy Suter, Hsin Ke Lu, Mark E. Mcmurtrey

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

Preventive health care is widely acknowledged as one of the most effective ways to reduce medical costs and enhance people's health. Preventive health care information (PHCI) is a crucial component. This study examines the PHCI-seeking behaviors of Taiwanese baby boomers. The study found some support for the idea that the preferred media used influenced the likelihood of Information seeking behavior. People with good health conditions were found to be more likely to seek PHCI, while people with greater health care needs sought out PHCI less frequently. The study examined social influences, which were found to be important. Three different types …

Pedagogy In The Age Of Ai: Exploring Generative Ai For Higher Education, Alison Munsch Phd

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents transformative opportunities for higher education, enabling personalized learning, enhanced student engagement, and efficient pedagogical practices. This tutorial-style article guides educators in integrating generative AI into their classrooms through hands-on activities, practical strategies, and reflective exercises. It explores the capabilities of AI tools such as ChatGPT, their applications across disciplines, and the ethical considerations for their use. By cultivating critical thinking and fostering student readiness for AI-driven futures, this article underscores the transformative potential of generative AI in higher education with an emphasis on the academic areas of business analytics, information systems, and computer science.

Predicting Global Healthcare Supply Chain Delays: A Machine Learning Approach Leveraging Country-Level Logistics Metrics, Jeevan Sai Gali, Nima Molavi, Sepideh Alavi

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

In global healthcare logistics, ensuring the timely delivery of medical commodities is critical, particularly in low- and middle-income countries characterized by infrastructural limitations and operational uncertainties. This research introduces an advanced, data-driven predictive framework designed to forecast delivery delays by synthesizing granular, internal shipment-level data from the USAID Global Health Supply Chain Program (GHSC-PSM) with external country-level logistics capabilities indicators derived from the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI). Rather than relying on retrospective trend analyses, this study employs machine learning algorithms such as Random Forest, XGBoost, Support Vector Machines (SVM), and Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) to detect …

Managing Compliance: The Role Of Leadership Styles In Information Security Practices In Nigerian Public University Libraries” Insights From North-East Nigeria, Musa Giade Ya'u Musagiade, Gaberial O. Alegbeleye, Madukoma Ezinwanyi

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Background: Information security compliance comprises adhering to established policies, protocols and to ensure absolute security. Despite the importance of security compliance in academic libraries, evidence from previous studies reported a low level of information security compliance among personnel in public university libraries in North-East Nigeria. However, proper leadership styles influence information security compliance leading to absolute protection of information systems. So, this study explored the influences of leadership styles in security compliance in public university libraries in North-East, Nigeria.

Method: This study adopted a survey research design. The population consisted of 618 library personnel from the 14 public university libraries …

Looking Into Mirrors And Windows: School Librarians' Perspectives On Diverse Representation In Book Collections, Kimberly Reichenbach Krutka

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Librarian professional standards include the development of collections with diverse representation, and the study of multicultural literature is often part of masters programs. However, there is a lack of scholarship examining what multicultural literature signifies for librarians. In addition, the current landscape surrounding libraries has jeopardized students’ access to literature, furthering a narrative that attempts to exclude specific identities and portrays librarians as irresponsible and harmful. This study aimed to build a foundation of understanding and critical insights into this problem through a survey distributed to Texas school librarians. Data was analyzed through descriptive statistics and content analysis to understand …

Why Should I Stay? Canadian Black Youth And Public Libraries, Amber Matthews

STEMPS Faculty Publications

This study used narrative inquiry and critical approaches to race to explore Black youth perceptions of public libraries and community-based programs. The study was conducted in Ontario with youth aged 13 to 24 and parents of youth. Data was drawn from semi-structured interviews with youth and parents and an arts-based qualitative tool. Libraries were identified as safe and welcoming community spaces. However, youth feel poorly represented and seek youth programs with a race-conscious and inclusive approach. Core recommendations include equitable approaches to representation, strengthening relationships with partner organizations, and addressing performative approaches to inclusion.

Library Committee Report, 2025-01, Elizabeth Mamo

Rochester Regional Health authored publications and proceedings

The Library Committee is a requirement of the RGH Medical/Dental Staff and is facilitated by Dr. Scott Schabel. After RGH and Unity merged, the Libraries formed one department and expanded access and services to all RRH sites. The Library committee, composed of staff from across the health system, provide feedback and share library news with their teams. The committee meets 2x/year via Zoom.

This report highlights library activity from 2024.

Socio-Economic And Infrastructural Determinants Of Response Time Disparities Across Emergency Service Agencies, Alice N. Ottah

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This study comprehensively analyzes the determinants of disparities in emergency response times for EMS, Fire, and Police agencies in San Francisco from 2021 to 2023, utilizing a multilevel modeling framework and publicly accessible data. Contrary to a primary reliance on structural neighborhood factors, this research reveals that while neighborhood disadvantage statistically significantly interacts with agency type to influence response times, its direct effect is weak and not uniformly consistent across services. Specifically, the analysis demonstrates that variance in call response times across neighborhoods is minimal (Intraclass Correlation Coefficients < 0.02), the effects of disadvantage are agency-specific (null effects for Police and Fire), and even when significant (for EMS calls only), response times are faster in more disadvantaged neighborhoods. These findings challenge the existing literature on emergency response times and highlight the need for tailored policy interventions that consider both neighborhood context and agency-specific operations to promote equitable emergency response.

Don’T Do More With Less: Sustainable Work As A Management Value, Amanda Koziura

Library Faculty Research

Discusses a series of decisions a middle manager made to keep the work of her department sustainable and how she incorporated her values into her process.

Fostering Success: How Cross Campus Partnerships Can Improve Accessibility, Engagement, And Inclusion For Autistic Undergraduate Students, Mercedes Rutherford-Patten, Luna Nombrano Larsen

Library Scholarship

The academic library, with its long history of student support and social justice advocacy, is the perfect organization to lead the way in dismantling systemic barriers to student success. Research shows that college students who regularly use library services are more successful academically (Shea & Derry, 2022). Another vital support the library can provide is community. Inclusion and belonging are integral to the success of autistic college students: “feeling like part of a community” and “to always feel like I’m welcome [on-campus]” were ways students measured their own success in a study by the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (2020, p. …

Data Literacy Competencies In Context: Employee Perspectives From The Workplace, Patricia Condon, Wendy G. Pothier

Faculty Publications

Data literacy is essential in today’s workplace, and professionals across roles and experience levels recognize its value. This article reports on findings from interviews with 16 supply chain and logistics professionals. The study examines how seven proposed data literacy competencies align with workplace needs, how employees address the data literacy gap, and how librarians can support workforce readiness. Findings highlight opportunities for libraries to bridge the data literacy gap through instruction and resources development that integrate technical and non-technical data skills with information literacy.

Searching Effectively: Basic Principles And Practical Tips For Better Results, Roy E. Brown

VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications

This handout updates Doing a Good Search: Basic Rules and Search Tips, originally published in 2024. It outlines the basic principles of doing a good search, from identifying a topic and formulating a clear question to selecting and searching at least two databases. It also includes information on Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT), subject headings, and Google Scholar. New to this iteration of the document are best practices for using artificial intelligence in literature and evidence searches.

Remember: Searching is an iterative process, which involves repeated cycles of refinement. Your approach will shift depending on the specific question you're trying …

Georgetown University Law Library, Georgetown University Law Center, Austin Martin Williams

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

The story of the Georgetown University Law Library (Law Library) is one of exceptional growth, innovation, and change throughout its more than 100 years in existence. While the Law Library's history is rich in detail, it cannot be fully told without exploring the history of both the Georgetown University Law Center (Law Center) and Georgetown University (University).

Implementing A Z-Course Program At Fort Hays State University, Claire Nickerson

Library Faculty Publications

In 2018, the Fort Hays State University (FHSU) Open Educational Resource (OER) Committee proposed a Z-Course Program to track and incentivize the use of zero-cost course materials. It included a course-marking initiative, the implementation of a small cost-share fee to students to fund the program and incentivize departments to offer Z-courses, and a Z-Course Grant Program for faculty who wanted to convert their courses. The proposal was approved in 2020 and implemented beginning in 2021. Since then, the course-marking and fee implementation have been streamlined, and the committee is working on qualitative assessment.

Journal Of Family Of Strengths Website Re-Designed!, Alice Sherwood

TMC Library Newsletter (2015-)

The Journal of Family Strengths (JFS), formerly Family Preservation Journal, is an open-access, double-blind peer-reviewed online journal produced by CHILDREN AT RISK in partnership with the Texas Juvenile Crime Prevention Center – Prairie View A&M University and The TMC Library.

For additional information, visit the Library Blog

United States Environmental Protection Agency Scientific Integrity Policy

Copyright, Fair Use, Scholarly Communication, etc.

US EPA SIP

From Philosophy To Nlu: Evolving Definitions With Research Hypotheses, Jian Wu, Sarah Rajtmajer

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Over the past decades, alongside advancements in natural language processing, significant attention has been paid to training models to automatically extract, understand, test, and generate hypotheses in open and scientific domains. However, interpretations of the term hypothesis for various natural language understanding (NLU) tasks have migrated from traditional definitions in the natural, social, and formal sciences. Even within NLU, we observe differences defining hypotheses across literature. In this paper, we overview and delineate various definitions of hypothesis. Especially, we discern the nuances of definitions across recently published NLU tasks. We highlight the importance of well-structured and well-defined hypotheses, particularly as …

Investigating Post-Adoption Abandonment Of Mental Health Mobile Applications Among Young Adults, Donald Harris

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

The rising prevalence of mental health issues among young adults has driven increased interest in Mental Health Mobile Applications (MHMAs), which offer accessible and cost-effective solutions to traditional barriers such as financial limitations, stigma, and restricted healthcare access. Despite their promise, MHMAs frequently experience high rates of attrition and abandonment, significantly limiting their long-term effectiveness. Employing a mixed-methods, multi-stage research design, this dissertation explores the determinants of MHMA abandonment among young adults, emphasizing the interplay between technological inhibitors and enablers, individual user characteristics, and the mediating roles of user satisfaction and perceived usefulness.

Study 1 utilized quantitative text analysis, including …

2025 Digital Commons And Experts Annual Report, Amanda Steinvall

Publications 2026-present

No abstract provided.

Information Literacy & Library Research Skills: What Faculty Think Fy Students Know - A Pilot Study, Julia Warga

2025 Faculty Bibliography

No abstract provided.

Information Studies: Library Development Of An Undergraduate Curriculum For The Information Age, Heather A. Howard, Erla Heyns, Matthew Hannah, Dave Zwicky, Clarence Maybee

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

In today’s information-rich environment, students need to understand how to navigate information challenges such as mis/disinformation, conspiracy theories, algorithmic and information literacy, and artificial intelligence. As we have seen, such information challenges will continue to have an outsized impact on our online lives, civic health, and democratic norms. These information challenges have had a dramatic impact on democratic norms. To address these challenges, librarians at a large public university used both qualitative and quantitative methods such as an environmental scan, stakeholder analysis, focus groups, and interviews to inform the development of an Information Studies Minor designed to intervene in this …

Hearing From Working Nurses: Incorporating Real-World Knowledge Practices Into The Framework To Better Instruct Tomorrow’S Healthcare Professionals, Anne R. Diekema, Elizabeth (Betsy) S. Hopkins, Britt Fagerheim, Brandon Patterson, Nena Schvaneveldt

Library Faculty & Staff Publications

There is a certain duality to the role of librarians in higher education as the job requires preparing students for their current academic work, such as doing research for writing papers, while at the same time preparing students for their future professional information work.¹ Librarians seeking guidance on teaching information literacy more comprehensively are left to study the professional standards of the targeted professional group,² and find or carry out research on these practitioners.³ Synthesizing and translating these findings into instructional approaches while staying true to existing information literacy standards, however, can be challenging.⁴ In this …

Rrh Library Newsletter, Winter 2025, Libraries At Rochester Regional Health

Rochester Regional Health authored publications and proceedings

Newsletter sections include: New Database: Embase; St. Lawrence Health New Database Access; EBSCOhost New Database User Interface; Discovery Tool Update

Gvsu Undergraduate And Graduate Catalog 2025-2026, Grand Valley State University

Course Catalogs, 1963 - Current

Grand Valley State University 2025-2026 undergraduate and graduate course catalog. Course catalogs are published annually to provide students with information and guidance for enrollment.

Aku Libraries Annual Report - 2025, Office Of The University Librarian

Office of the University Librarian Reports

- Message by Peter Gatiti Associate Vice Provost & University Librarian

- The Beautiful Nakawa Campus Library

- AKU Author’s Day 2025

- Celebrating 5 Years of AKU Author’s Day: Bold Voices, Powerful Stories, Lasting Impact.

- A Student’s Journey into Co-Authoring Neuroscience

- My Fear of Academic Writing

- University Library Strategic Plan 2024-2029

- Lecture Series on Open Science

- Behind the Scenes

- Our Libraries & Students

- Book Conversations…

- RFID Technology at AKU Libraries

- Video Editing: Where Vision Meets Creativity

- Preserving Today for Tomorrow

- “Our Collections Matter”

- The FMIC Library

- …