Digital Commons Network^™

Voodoo: An African American Religion, A Blake Denton

The Southeastern Librarian

Jeffrey E. Anderson Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2024 ISBN: 9780807181324 272 p. $45.00 (Hbk)

Usability, Visibility, And Style: Libguides Usability Testing To Support Students’ Needs, Tera A. Ray

The Southeastern Librarian

The study aimed to discover the level of knowledge students have regarding LibGuides, the preferred navigational layout, and how students use guides to conduct research. Ten undergraduate students par-ticipated in a mixed-methods study consisting of semi-structured interviews and usability tasks. The study revealed that the usability test was the first time any of the participants had interacted with a guide, resulting in data free from bias or previous experience. Participants did not exhibit a clear prefer-ence for navigation style, and an emphasis was placed on the importance of an aesthetically pleasing design and a functional search bar. The study's findings …

Selling Science Fiction Cinema: Making And Marketing A Genre, Camille Mccutcheon

The Southeastern Librarian

J.P. Telotte Austin: University of Texas Press, 2023 ISBN: 9781477327333 192 p. $45.00 (Hbk)

Hear Me [Book Review], Mc Brickell

Disability in LIS (DisLIS)

Hear Me by Kerry O'Malley Cerra is a middle grade novel about a twelve year old girl coming to terms with a hearing loss and fighting for her right to deny a cochlear implant surgery.

The Architecture Of Disability: Buildings, Cities, And Landscapes Beyond Access [Book Review], Shannon Marie Robinson

Disability in LIS (DisLIS)

This isn’t another critique of accessibility standards in design. Rather, Gissen revolutionizes approaches to architecture, public landscape, and urban planning by centering impairment, allowing for a radical interpretation of the historical built environment, and thereby provides a more inclusive approach to its future.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard [Video Game Review], Jj Pionke

Disability in LIS (DisLIS)

This review of Dragon Age: The Veilguard discusses the gender and disability and accessibility options for character development and gameplay rather than focusing on the plot of the game.

Brittle Joints [Book Review], Jj Pionke

Disability in LIS (DisLIS)

Brittle Joints is a graphic novel that chronicles author Maria Sweeney's experience with brittle joints and extreme chronic pain.

Lanthorn, Vol. 59, No. 10, 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.

Alma Link Resolver Subject Report 2023-2024, Andrée J. Rathemacher

Technical Services Reports and Statistics

Statistics for 2023-2024 on the number of OpenURL requests by Library of Congress classification code made to the Ex Libris Alma link resolver for items held by the University of Rhode Island Libraries.

Information provided includes Classification Code, Classifications, Number of Requests, Number of Clicked Requests, and % Clicks from Requests.

Alma Link Resolver Title & Issn Report (Top 500) 2023-2024, Andrée J. Rathemacher

Technical Services Reports and Statistics

Statistics for 2023-2024 on the total number of OpenURL requests by journal title and ISSN made to the Ex Libris Alma link resolver for items held by the University of Rhode Island Libraries. Includes only the top 500 journals.

Information provided includes journal Title, ISSN, EISSN, Number of Requests, Number of Clicked Requests, % Clicks from Requests.

Usage Statistics: Project Counter R5 Dr_D1 Report Fy2024 - Database Search And Item Usage, Andrée J. Rathemacher

Technical Services Reports and Statistics

Project COUNTER R5 Report DR_D1 for the University of Rhode Island for the period from July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024. The DR_D1 report is defined as "Database Search and Item Usage." This report presents an annual total only and only includes those platforms successfully configured for automated harvesting via SUSHI.

File for download is Excel spreadsheet generated by Alma Analytics.

Results:

Searches Automated - 30,626

Searches Federated - 918

Searches Regular - 1,049,169

Total Item Investigations - 554,019

Total Item Requests - 235,329

Usage Statistics: Project Counter R5 Tr_B1 Report Fy2024 - Book Requests (Excluding Oa_Gold) By Title, Andrée J. Rathemacher

Technical Services Reports and Statistics

Project COUNTER R5 Report TR_B1 for the University of Rhode Island for the period from July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024. The TR_B1 report is defined as "Book Requests (Excluding OA_Gold)." This report presents an annual total only and only includes those platforms successfully configured for automated harvesting via SUSHI.

File for download is Excel spreadsheet generated by Alma Analytics.

Results:

Total Item Requests - 130,532

Unique Title Requests - 54,592

Intrusion Detection For Wireless Sensor Network Using Particle Swarm Optimization Based Explainable Ensemble Machine Learning Approach, Shaikh Afnan Birahim, Avijit Paul, Fahmida Rahman, Yamina Islam, Tonmoy Roy, Mohammad Asif Hasan, Fariha Haque, Muhammad E. H. Chowdhury

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) play a pivotal role in various domains, including monitoring, security, and data transmission. However, their susceptibility to intrusions poses a significant challenge. This paper proposes a novel Intrusion Detection System (IDS) leveraging Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and an ensemble machine learning approach combining Random Forest (RF), Decision Tree (DT), and K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) models to enhance the accuracy and reliability of intrusion detection in WSNs. The system addresses key challenges such as the imbalanced nature of datasets and the evolving complexity of network attacks. By incorporating Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique Tomek (SMOTE-Tomek) techniques to balance the …

Lanthorn, Vol. 59, No. 09, January 6, 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.

Self-Directed Learning In The Elementary Library, Maggie B. Doud

Learning Hub

This article examines the implementation of the "My Time" self-directed learning framework in elementary school libraries, focusing on its impact on student autonomy, critical thinking, and engagement. "My Time" integrates structured choices with flexible guidance, enabling students to take ownership of their learning. The author reflects on practical experiences and connects them to theoretical foundations, including Glasser’s Choice Theory, Knowles' self-directed learning model, and constructivist principles. Key findings demonstrate that "My Time" significantly improves student engagement, autonomy, and behavior through activities such as makerspaces, inquiry-based projects, and reflective goal-setting. The article emphasizes the program's potential to transform school libraries into …

The Data-Driven Library: Communicating The Value Of Your School Library Program To Administrators, Parents, Students, And Colleagues, Shala Howell

Learning Hub

This article examines the use of data dashboards as a tool for teacher librarians to advocate for their school library programs. It emphasizes the importance of linking library services to district priorities to secure funding, increase collaboration, and demonstrate the library’s impact on student outcomes. An eight-step process is detailed, including defining objectives, identifying target audiences, collecting and visualizing data, and publishing dashboards using accessible tools like Google Workspace. By crafting coherent, audience-specific narratives, librarians can highlight how their programs support educational goals, improve resource utilization, and foster collaboration. The article concludes that data dashboards provide a sustainable and compelling …

Characteristics Of World Class School Librarians, David V. Loertscher, Michelle Young, Charlene Peterson

Learning Hub

Over 30 school librarians across the U.S. and Canada and who had been nominated by their peers for their excellence were interviewed as a part of the AliveLibrary Project at San Jose State University. The major question was “What are the major characteristics of world class school librarians.” Each was read and rated by three researchers, and in several rounds resulted in eight major characteristics that seem to undergird high impact on teaching and learning across a wide spectrum of locations, affluence, diversity, and communities.

Survey Study On College Student’S Acceptance And Attitude Towards Generative Ai To Their Learning, Jinhua Wang

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

This study investigated college students’ attitudes and acceptance of generative AI tools like ChatGPT. These tools are advanced programs capable of understanding questions and responding in a conversational manner. The main objective is to determine whether college students find generative AI tools helpful for their learning and schoolwork. A comprehensive survey was conducted with 57 college students at an online survey platform SurveyMonkey.com. The survey solicited college students’ perceived usefulness of generative AI tools in academic settings regarding their school activities (such as writing papers, explaining complex topics, coding, solving math problems, and researching information). The model of Diffusion of …

Addressing Physical Space Needs Of Neurodivergent Students, Mary Francis

Research & Publications

No abstract provided.

Annual Report 2024-2025, Anna Nelson

Annual Reports

No abstract provided.

Ai 101: What It Can (And Can't) Do For You, April Sheppard

Staff and Faculty Scholarship

In this presentation, April defines AI, describes how it works, reviews some pros and cons, and finally discusses what AI can actually accomplish in its current iteration.

Appraising Records, Maureen Cresci Callahan, David Staniunas

Published Works

This chapter operationalizes archival appraisal as a values-driven, lifecycle activity that begins in pre-custodial conversations and continues through transfer, accessioning, stabilization, description, migration/reformatting, and, when warranted, deaccessioning. It reframes appraisal as both selection and retention, not merely separation, and offers guiding principles: assess long-term research value, preserve context, and acknowledge the rarity of true uniqueness. The authors translate strategy into practice through functional analysis and scaled prioritization (e.g., adaptations of the Minnesota Method), showing how to map organizational or personal functions to record types to widen evidentiary breadth. Practical tools include creator interviews, top-level surveys of born-digital environments, and structured …

Appraisal And Acquisition Strategies In Collecting Repositories, Maureen Cresci Callahan, David Staniunas

Published Works

This chapter explores the principles, values, and practices that shape intentional collecting and acquisitions work in archival repositories. The authors argue that acquisitions are a form of public service, requiring archivists to engage actively and responsibly with communities to diversify the historical record and counteract the biases of passive or unexamined collecting. Drawing on case studies from institutions such as Northeastern University, the Minnesota Historical Society, and the New York State Archives, the chapter outlines models and strategies for building trust with donors, navigating power dynamics, and aligning acquisitions with institutional mission and capacity. Topics include advisory boards, documentation strategy, …

U-Stressed? Do Library Employees Experience More Technology Eustress Or Distress?, Abigail Raper

Library Services Publications

Based on professional conversations regarding library technology usage and its impact on workrelated stress, I inquire whether library employees experience more technology eustress or distress on the job. This question was inspired by Tarafdar et al.’s (2019) Technostress Trifecta. My study explores a facet of this theoretical framework, specifically the relationship between motivating (eustress) and discouraging (distress) technology stress. The research project used a mixedmethods approach. I implemented the Information and Communication Technology Demands, the Eustress-Distress Emotion Regulation questionnaires, and a follow-up semi-structured interview. Study participants received a recruitment email through a professional newsletter read by people who work in …

Undergraduate Students’ Perceptions Of University Libraries’ Services, Resources, And Physical Spaces: A Descriptive Analysis, Amanda Hardin

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Understanding undergraduate students' perceptions regarding university libraries’ services, resources, and physical space allows library leadership to improve student support. The purpose of this needs assessment using cross-sectional survey data of undergraduate students (N = 1733) was to examine how students use the libraries, how they perceive their ability to use resources, services, and physical spaces, and the relationship between use and perception to better understand satisfaction levels with everything academic libraries offer. Interviews with library leadership (N = 3) offer insight into how data received from the needs assessment were utilized to improve academic libraries and highlight the importance of …

Fy2024 Association Of College And Research Libraries (Acrl) Statistical Survey: University Of Rhode Island Data, Julia Lovett

University Libraries Reports & Statistics

The report contains FY2024 data as submitted by the University of Rhode Island Libraries for the 2024 Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Annual Survey.

Copyright...Not Wrong, Natasha J. Jenkins

LWLC Faculty Research

PDF and PowerPoint presentation made during a Staff Opportunity for Learning and Engagement (SOLE) Session at the Levi Watkins Learning Center on the campus of Alabama State University, March 18, 2025. The PowerPoint is a PDF file. The supplemental list of helpful resources is the "Related file".

Reference Interview Recommendations For Text And Data Mining, Laura Egan

Librarian Publications

Text and data mining (TDM) has become increasingly important in research and teaching in higher education. Researchers at all levels are engaging with larger quantities of data than previously feasible. The exponential increase in the availability of text data has resulted in a proliferation of the number of tools that facilitate text data processing and analysis. While TDM skills may have been optional or a disciplinary focus in the past, they are increasingly employed in a broader range of fields. Students and researchers may also be inspired to use TDM tools as they come across examples while looking for new …

Small Changes, Big Returns: Decision-Making And Progress Towards Equitable Service Delivery, Kourtney Blackburn, Christina Hillman

Lavery Library Faculty/Staff Publications

Lavery Library is the sole library for St. John Fisher University and its five schools. The university is located in a small suburb in western New York State. Over the past decade we experienced many transformational changes. Some of these changes include our parent institution’s designation moving from college to university and the expansion of hybrid and online programs. The program expansions, combined with exploring textbook borrowing and changes to library services post-Covid, propelled the library staff to reimagine Interlibrary Loan (ILL) services for distance patrons. From our first online program policies in 2012 to the present day, this chapter …

The Green Advantage: An Analysis Of Open Access Publications At A Mid-Sized University, Lisa M. Rose-Wiles, Maria A. Barca

Library Publications

Introduction: The escalating cost of journals, loss of access to research results, and mandates by funding agencies favor Open Access (OA). The suggestion that OA publications are cited more than those behind paywalls should appeal to faculty where citations are critical for promotion and tenure. Further, the option to publish Green OA without cost would be advantageous to faculty who lack financial support for OA publications.

Methods: We used data from Scopus to analyze field weighted citation counts (FWCI) for OA publications over 20 years in terms of OA type, document type, subject area, and subject normalized impact factor.

Results: …