Digital Commons Network^™

Integrating Human-Centered Design Into Undergraduate Stem Capstone Courses: A Food Product Development Case Study, Saadeddine Shehab, Dawn Bohn, Lucas O'Bryan, Luettamae Lawrence, Mike Tissenbaum

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

This study examines the integration of human-centered design (HCD) in a Food Science capstone course and explores its impact on students’ learning outcomes and skill development. This case study investigated how 42 undergraduate students engaged with HCD processes—including understanding, synthesizing, ideating, prototyping, and implementing—to develop innovative food products. Through pre- and post-surveys, interaction analysis, and performance assessments, the findings revealed that HCD activities significantly enhanced students’ knowledge, collaboration, creativity, and metacognitive skills. Additionally, students demonstrated improved food science competencies, such as product formulation and sensory evaluation. This study highlights the benefits of embedding HCD within STEM curricula to foster authentic, …

Assessing Information Literacy In A Living Learning Community: An Academic Library Case Study, Sara Mccaslin, Sean Kinder

The Southeastern Librarian

Assessment of information literacy efforts can impact college students’ success and retention. Library outreach and partnerships with teaching faculty, especially those targeted towards first-year students, are important. Library involvement with High Impact Practices (HIPs) including Living Learning Com-munities provide librarians with an assessment-rich environment to connect information literacy with student success and retention. This case study sought to assess the impact of information literacy library instruction on first-year Living Learning Community (LLC) Criminology students and asked the follow-ing question: Are the general information literacy class and the Special Collections information literacy class beneficial to Criminology LLC students? The authors learned …

Resilience And Demographics As Predictors Of Internet Addiction Among Polytechnic Library Users In South-South, Nigeria., Godwin Oberhiri-Orumah (Cln, Mnla), Esharenana E. Adomi Prof

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study investigated resilience and demographics as predictors of internet addiction among polytechnic library users in South-South, Nigeria. The study adopted the correlational research design. The population for the study was 3,302 library users from which a sample size of 412 library users in five federal polytechnics using the multi-stage sampling technique was selected. The instrument used for data collection was the questionnaire. The results show that the extent of Internet addiction among polytechnic library users in South-South Nigeria is moderate. The study also found that the level of resilience among polytechnic library users in South-South Nigeria is to a …

Information Seeking Behaviour Of Health Workers In Primary Health Centre In Ede Metropolis, Osun State Nigeria, Stephen Adekunle Ajayi, David Agbadaola, Adebayo Nurudeen

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The purpose of the study is to examine the Information seeking behaviour of primary health workers in primary health center in Ede metropolis. The study was guided by five objectives such as type’s health information seeking, factors influencing the information seeking behavior, the health information sources consulted among others. The study uses a quantitative research and data was collected through questionnaire. The questionnaires were coded, analyzed and presented in tables, while the population of the study is (135) in Primary health centres in Ede metropolis. Total enumeration sampling technique was used as the sampling technique. Only 97(79.9%) of the …

Building A Professional Learning Community To Improve Technical Services Librarians’ Teaching Preparedness: Assess, Act And Reflect, Junli Diao

Publications and Research

This action research was conducted to address the gap between having all librarians prepared to teach and technical services librarians’ unpreparedness to teach in a university library system. The implemented intervention was developing a professional learning community among technical services librarians with a variety of teaching experiences to improve teaching preparedness by sharing, discussing, and reflecting. The learning topics covered library teaching basics, motivating students, self-assessment, planning to teach, using Wikipedia for critical thinking, embedded librarianship and credit-bearing courses, teaching and research, and building a teaching portfolio and librarianship portfolio. A qualitative approach, including the implementation journal, reflective writing, and …

Reading The Rainbow Together: A Workshop On Lgbtqia+ Themes And Identities In Library Collections, Alicia G. Vaandering, Amanda Melilli, James W. Rosenzwing

Public Services Faculty Presentations

Although libraries are facing a substantial increase in book challenges that disproportionately target queer books, many librarians have had limited opportunities for professional development in understanding queer representation in library collections. In this workshop, participants will use the Rainbow Representation Rubric to analyze queer narratives and identities in brief example texts (book reviews and picture books). The presenters will guide participants in discussions that prepare them to support their communities by developing collections that capture the true diversity of queer experiences.

Rupert Raj’S Written Acts Of Activism And Care Throughout The 1980s And 1990s, Mia Jakobsen

Amplify: A Journal of Writing-as-Activism

In researching acts of activism and care in Canadian queer and trans racialized history, I examined how Rupert Raj advocated and cared for other trans individuals through his writing in the 1980s and 1990s. He noticed that there were few publications for trans individuals so he created easily accessible methods to share vital information regarding research and support that would have otherwise been difficult to acquire. Raj’s writings shared vital transgender research, literature, and expertise from across the globe. He provided critical support to and for other trans men through his easily accessible publications and letters, serving as an information …

Artificial Intelligence In Special Libraries In Africa For Selective Dissemination Of Information: Any Need?, Emmanuel Chidiadi Onwubiko

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study applied a descriptive survey design with a sampled population of 48 special librarians selected through purposive sampling techniques from 24 special libraries in Africa. The study was guided by four research objectives. The main instrument used for data collection was a 4 point scaled questionnaires scaled in that 1 = “strongly disagree” and 4 = “strongly agree”. The instrument was validated by three experts in measurement and evaluation from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria and further subjected to internal consistency test using Cronbach’s alpha. Result was coefficient α=.80 showing that the instrument was reliable. Data administration and …

“We’Re Librarians”: Using Tiktok To Connect Students With Information Literacy Skills, Hannah Krauss

All Musselman Library Staff Works

This poster presentation details the ways that Musselman Library has utilized TikTok and other short form video apps to engage with their users and teach bite-sized information literacy concepts. The poster reviews relevant pedagogy and gives suggestions to other libraries looking to start their own TikTok accounts.

Review Of News Literacy Across The Undergraduate Curriculum, Edited By Amy M. Damico And Melissa M. Yang, Taylor J. Greene

Library Articles and Research

A review of News Literacy Across the Undergraduate Curriculum, edited by Amy M. Damico and Melissa M. Yang.

I Have To Pay To Keep My Job: Examining Financial Barriers To Promotion And/Or Tenure, Amanda Koziura, Faith Bradham, Maura Seale

Library Faculty Research

Drawing from data collected in 2020 and 2023 through national surveys, this paper will illuminate financial barriers faced by academic librarians in tenure-track or professional positions with a promotion requirement related to service, scholarship, or other professional engagement.

Reframing Information Seeking In The Age Of Generative Ai: A Critical And Humanistic Approach, Joseph Kevin Sebastian

Library Faculty Research

Information-seeking has long been the subject of theoretical modeling, often drawing from cognitive, behavioral, computational, and even evolutionary perspectives to explain how individuals navigate, filter, and utilize information. Several dominant frameworks—Carol Kuhlthau’s Information Search Process, Marcia Bates’ Berrypicking Model, Peter Pirolli & Stuart Card’s Information Foraging Theory, Kiyohiko Nakamura’s Information Criteria framework, and Ian Ruthven’s Information Shaping Theory —have provided structured ways of understanding how people interact with information environments. However, while these frameworks offer valuable insights, they often operate within mechanistic or efficiency-driven paradigms, which risk overlooking the complex, embodied, and socioculturally situated nature of human information behaviors. These …

Not Red Or Blue, But Green: The Political Economy Of Media Bias For Librarians And Educators, Becka Cooling

All Student Capstones

This capstone was completed in fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts in Sociology.

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

Library & Learning Newsletters

PDF version of the April 2025 (Volume 3, Issue 6) Library & Learning Newsletter.

Navigating The Integration Of Ai Literacy In Library Instruction, Stephanie Ward

University Libraries Publications

As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes academia, librarians can play a crucial role in preparing students to navigate this evolving information landscape. This presentation will explore practical strategies for integrating AI literacy into library instruction that align with current trends in librarianship. We’ll delve into examples of lessons and activities on essential AI concepts, the variety of AI tools, critical evaluation, and ethical considerations. Join me as I share my journey of developing AI-focused instruction for both credit and course-embedded classes and how it has shaped my role as a campus resource on AI.

Developing A Pandemic-Related Mental Health Micro-Collection For An Academic Library, Dee Anna Phares

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

Academic library patrons dealing with the impact of trauma, depression, anxiety, or addiction spawned or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic require materials that address the unique conditions that have shaped mental health since late 2019. This paper demonstrates how one academic library endeavored to address patrons’ needs for mental health resources by developing a “Coping and COVID-19” micro-collection.

On The Provenance Of Software Systems: Automating Software Traceability With Knowledge Graph And Large Language Model Synergy, Tyler Procko

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The present dissertation delineates a system that enables those engaged in software development to automatically generate and maintain project life cycle provenance. All projects are implemented and made manifest with the development of artifacts, e.g., papers, code files, etc. Tools exist to accelerate artifact creation, but little focus is paid to the processes that produce them. In terms of Ontology, or, from Ancient Greek, the study of being, the two most basic entities in reality are Continuant and Occurrent, or, roughly, “Artifact” and “Process”. This dissertation posits that for any created artifact, its process of creation, i.e., its life …

Online Psychiatry And Psychology Resources, Joanne Romano

TMC Library Newsletter (2015-)

Psychiatry Online offers premium content from the American Psychiatric Association (APA) including specialized textbooks, journals, patient guides and professional development tools, and the indispensable DSM-5.

Also included is the Psychotherapy Library, a collection of over 20 ebooks on behavioral health and therapy, along with accompanying instructional videos. PsycARTICLES nearly 200,000 full-text, peer-reviewed articles published by the APA.

For more information and a complete list of psychiatry and psychology resources, visit the library blog.

Healing Histories: Implementing Trauma-Informed Care Practices In Libraries To Support Resilience And Recovery, Cearra Harris

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigated the impact of public library closure on the Edgewood community in Columbia, South Carolina, an area with a rich history and significant ties to the two nearby historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Benedict College and Allen University. It explored the intergenerational effects of historical trauma through the lens of collective memory, as documented in oral histories from community members and public library staff. The research aimed to understand the implications of the library's absence in a marginalized community context, emphasizing how such closures can exacerbate existing vulnerabilities. Through oral histories, questionnaires, and interviews, the findings reveal …

The Library As A Hospitable Place: Hospitality And Welcoming Volunteers, Geesje Duursma, Erwin Losekoot, Gjalt De Jong

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Libraries use volunteers. Research indicates various barriers to volunteering. After these barriers have been overcome, it is of great importance that the volunteer is welcomed into the organization. Therefore, hospitality is not just about receiving patrons but also receiving (new) volunteers. For this study, concepts from volunteering were synthesized with hospitality concepts. This case study took place at a library in the northern part of the Netherlands. Data was collected from interviews with management and volunteers in a focus group discussion. The findings were triangulated with official documents from the library. A matrix of hospitality practices is proposed to help …

Perceptions Of Artificial Intelligence (Ai) In The Construction Industry Among Undergraduate Construction Management Students: Case Study--A Study Of Future Leaders, Jonghoon Kim, Soomin Park, Sarah H. Moukhliss, Kwonsik Song, Dan Koo

Library Faculty Presentations & Publications

This study investigates the perceptions of artificial intelligence (AI) among undergraduate construction management students who are poised to become future leaders in the construction industry. As the industry increasingly adopts AI technologies to enhance project planning, design, site management, and safety, understanding students’ attitudes toward these innovations becomes crucial. This research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative survey data with qualitative data to capture the students’ insights on AI’s potential applications, benefits, and challenges within the construction sector. Findings indicate that while students recognize AI’s transformative potential to improve efficiency and safety in construction processes, they also express concerns regarding …

Politics, Traditional Librarianship, Progressive Librarianship, And Conflicting Visions Of Services For Children, Bill Crowley

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The paper addresses the ongoing challenges within public library youth services between programs of Traditional Librarianship, heavily influenced by local religious and political realities, and Progressive Librarianship, a secular approach aiming to remedy perceived past library failures. At the risk of oversimplification, Traditional Librarianship, the original American public library philosophy, long prioritized helping youth develop into educated citizens with a strong moral foundation. Within the limits of generalizing, Progressive Librarianship can be considered a change-oriented philosophy seeking to provide youth services committed to social justice and a reversal of power relationships to the benefit of those previously underserved. The effects …

Lanthorn, Vol. 59, No. 13, March 17, 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.

Primary Source Analysis: Using Digitized Time-Motion Study Films In The Undergraduate Business Classroom To Build Primary Source Literacy, Annette Bochenek, Renusree Varma Mudduluru

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

This paper details a study conducted in the context of a large Midwestern university’s undergraduate business class, employing the ACRL RBMS-SAA Guidelines for Primary Source Literacy in a guided in-class activity using digitized primary sources. Students participated in an introductory lesson pertaining to primary sources and their connection to business, followed by viewing and analyzing digitized clips from Frank and Lillian Gilbreth’s time-motion studies. In addition, they completed a reflective discussion board post, illuminating their connections to the ACRL RBMS-SAA Guidelines for Primary Source Literacy core ideas of the analytical, ethical, theoretical, and practical. Potential affective experiences were also examined …

Everyday Life Information Behavior, Health Information Seeking, And Hiv And Sti Awareness Among People Who Inject Drugs (Pwid), Nafiz Z. Shuva, Radia Taisir, Parvez Sazzad Mallick

Publications and Research

This study aims to explore the everyday life and health information behavior of people who inject drugs (PWID) in Bangladesh, as well as the effectiveness of HIV and STI informational programs in promoting safe injecting and sexual behavior. The study received 97 completed survey responses and conducted two focus group discussions (FGDs) with 13 PWID. Using de Certeau's everyday life practices framework, the study aims to understand the tactical information strategies of PWID in the context of a developing country where access to government services and trust in authorities may be significantly limited among marginalized populations. PWID's information needs focused …

Pdxscholar Multi-Year Annual Report (2022-2024), Julia Stone, Sherry Buchanan, Bertrand Robinson, Stacey Schlatter, Carolee Harrison

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

We are excited to share our 2022-2024 PDXScholar Multi-Year Annual Report. This multi-year report covers the period between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2024. PDXScholar, Portland State University's institutional repository, provides access to the scholarly and creative output of PSU faculty, students, and staff. In this report, we aim to highlight PDXScholar’s growth and impact through readership data, new content and collections, and feedback from our users.

Influence Of Attitude As A Catalyst On The Productivity Level Of Cataloguers In Tertiary Institutions’ Libraries In Edo State, Nigeria, Olalekan Ola

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

As soon as librarians are productive based on their positive attitude, it is expected that libraries will perform optimally. In circumstances where catalogers are less productive or lack a good attitude, the long-lasting effect will be felt by end users. It is in this regard, that this study investigates the influence of attitude as a catalyst on the productivity level of catalogers in tertiary institutions’ libraries in Edo State, Nigeria. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for this study. The population was comprised of 81 catalogers in Edo State. The study made use of a total enumeration sampling technique. …

[Whm] Women's History Month 2025, Raquel Estrada, William Flores

Library Display Posters

Poster showcasing films and books pertaining to women's history month. As well as a curated list of articles and dissertations/theses found in our institutional repository.

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

Library & Learning Newsletters

PDF version of the March 2025 (Volume 3, Issue 5) Library & Learning Newsletter.

Creative Arts Therapies Week, Raquel Estrada, William Flores

Library Display Posters

Creative Arts Therapies Week is observed during the third week of March. It is a collection of posters that has been designed to highlight library resources in celebration of Creative Arts Therapies Week. Poster topics include: General Books, Streaming Films, and Research Resources. Book and video covers are hyperlinked.