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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.

Student Textbook Survey - Fall 2025 Executive Summary And Key Findings, James Thibeault

Open Educational Resources Publications

Between September 29 and October 10, the Bentley University library conducted a student textbook survey. The purpose of the study was to gather data from students on textbook affordability. Students responded to 15-20 questions covering topics like how course materials influence their purchasing decisions, their total expenditures of course materials during Fall 2025, and the potential effects of these purchases. The library aimed to gather insights into:

• Students’ views on current textbook prices
• Openness to adopting more affordable educational resources on campus
• Likely responses and behaviors if faced with high-cost educational materials
• The impact of demographic factors related to textbook …

Himmelfarb Headlines - November/December 2025, The George Washington University, Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library

Himmelfarb Headlines (2009 - present)

News, information, and resources relating to Himmelfarb Library that is of interest to patrons.

Book Review: William Faulkner In Holly Springs, Austina Jordan

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

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 …

Fall 2025, Georgia Library Quarterly

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

Georgia Library Spotlight: Fayette County Public Library Hosts Open Discussion On Grief: Death Café Offers Comfort And Connection, Cintia Listenbee

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

Georgia Library Spotlight: Honoring Women’S History Through Art At Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Library, Lesley Paulk

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

My Own Private Library, Harikleia Georgiou Sirmans

Georgia Library Quarterly

My personal library reflects my Greek heritage and creativity. My books fuel my passion for textile arts, Greek literature and language, English literature and language, and the writing craft. The figurines and souvenirs that fill empty spaces reveal my emotional connection with my homeland and creative interests.

Remembering Dr. Gordon Baker, Ashley T. Hoffman

Georgia Library Quarterly

Dr. Gordon Baker, an integral part of the Georgia Library Association and a lifetime champion for libraries, passed away in June. These are some of his colleagues’ memories of him.

2025 Georgia Library Association Library Staff Division Grant Recipients, Rhonda Boozer

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

Georgia Library Association Advocacy Round-Up, Angela Cortellino

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

The Atlanta University Center (Auc) Robert W. Woodruff Library Takes Its Annual International Games Day To A Whole New Level, Patrice Williams, Bryan A. Briones

Georgia Library Quarterly

The Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library successfully expanded its 2024 International Games Day (IGD) into a two-day event featuring gaming recreation and career-focused programming that included presentations from faculty, students, and industry professionals on topics ranging from VR projects and esports to digital humanities and professional streaming. Through enhanced campus partnerships and targeted outreach, the event achieved a 21.1% increase in attendance with 230 total participants and high satisfaction ratings, demonstrating how academic libraries can effectively engage their communities through programming that combines recreational gaming with professional development in emerging technology fields.

Galileo Celebrates Thirty Years Of Library Innovation, Joy Woodson

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Georgia's Historical Recipes: Seeking Our State's Oldest Written Foodways And The Stories Behind Them, Autumn Johnson

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

Sailing Into And Against The Wind: Principled Opposition To And Acceptance Of Transformative Agreements, Rachel Scott, Mitchell Scott, Ben Rawlins, Lindsey Skaggs

Faculty and Staff Publications – Milner Library

This session explores different approaches to transformative agreements (TAs) at a Carnegie R1 University and a Carnegie R2 University, offering a comparative look at how these agreements shape faculty publishing experiences and the management of article processing charges (APCs). The R2 has adopted TAs to expand read access and support open access (OA) publishing, while the R1 has taken a principled stance against TAs, citing concerns about their role in perpetuating the serials crisis and questions of long-term sustainability.

Presenters from both institutions will share institutional and library motivations, as well as faculty feedback, highlighting real-world challenges related to APC …

2026 Georgia Library Association Election Results, John Mack Freeman, Casey Wallace

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

New Library Ai Research Tool, Joanne Romano

TMC Library Newsletter (2015-)

To access Consensus, go to A-Z Databases and click on C, scroll down to find Consensus

Bibliotech, November 2025, Dr. C.C. And Mable L. Criss Library, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

BiblioTech

Criss Libraries' Digital Newsletter, BiblioTech, November 2025 Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

From The Editor, Ashley T. Hoffman

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

From The President, Ben Carter

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

From Unfamiliar To Indispensable: Supporting Systematic Reviews With Free Tools, Ai, And Evidence-Based Thinking Across Disciplines, Kathryn Junco

Georgia Library Quarterly

As systematic reviews become increasingly common in graduate education—particularly in health sciences programs—librarians are often called upon to support students and faculty undertaking these complex research projects. This article outlines a practical, evolving approach to building librarian support for systematic reviews, developed in response to program needs and professional learning. It highlights strategies for designing low-barrier instruction, guiding students through foundational concepts like structured research questions and transparent search methods, and introducing free tools such as Rayyan and Mendeley to streamline the process. The article also explores the emerging role of artificial intelligence in evidence synthesis, offering a cautious but …

Eugene Talmadge’S Library Book Purge Of 1941, David B. Parker

Georgia Library Quarterly

In Summer 1941, Governor Eugene Talmadge ordered a purging of 23 books from Georgia’s public school libraries. The books covered several subjects: race relations, sex education, evolution, South-bashing, states’ rights, communism, and more. He was planning on running for a US Senate seat in 1942, and perhaps he did this to attract voter support—showing that he would protect the state’s traditional values from various modern threats. There was immediate opposition, with many people comparing Talmadge’s ban to German Nazism.

Notes For The Stalled, V18n03, November 2025, University Of Northern Iowa. Rod Library.

Rod Library newsletter: Notes for the Stalled

Contents:

--- Exhibit Opening
--- Duck Hunt
--- Celebrate UNI ScholarWorks
--- Spring Classes

November 2025 Table Of Contents Newsletter - Archives, Bethany Fiechter

Table of Contents Newsletter

From illuminated manuscripts to miniature books, you can find it in the Archives! Take a look at our new Special Collections and Rare Books LibGuide, which will be updated on a continual basis. We’re happy to provide a tour or an instructional session for your group or class. For more information, visit the Teaching with Archives and Special Collections LibGuide.

University Library Services Innovation: Strategic Ai Integration And Evidence-Based Insights, Liping Yang, Jun Wang, Lulu Wang, Zixuan Zhang

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

Purpose

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is reshaping higher education. In response, university libraries are gradually adopting these tools to enhance service capability and foster user engagement. Aligned with Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University’s “Education + AI Strategic Framework”, specifically the strategic goal of AI for Research and Innovation, this study examines how the Library leverages AI technologies to support scientific discovery and provide more inclusive, responsive library services.

Design/methodology/approach

This study provides a comprehensive perspective on the XJTLU Library AI-enhanced service framework. This framework consists of the LibAI Portal, a unified service platform that includes the LibAI Chatbot, LibAI Database Navigator, and …

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.

Sparking Collaborative Connections Through Immersive Technologies, Jacky Wong

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

NIE Library created an innovative space called LIBytes to connect people and ideas through immersive technologies— Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Mixed Reality(MR), and AI robots—and to widen equitable access to digital experiences. LIBytes is both a space and a service: we co-design with departments to integrate immersive learning into teaching, research, and outreach.

For instance, we partner across NIE to build shared experiences:

• English Department – Digital Literature: VR for immersive narrative exploration and perspective-taking, with multimodal discussion.
• Asian Languages & Cultures Department – Digital Storytelling: co-creating VR stories that surface linguistic and cultural perspectives and support authentic …

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 …