Digital Commons Network^™

Issues Of Description And Access For The Graystone And Other Collections At The Detroit Sound Conservancy, Daniel Joseph E. Kelly

School of Information Sciences Student Scholarship

In this mixed case study research paper, I examine how Community Archives deal with issues of access and difficulties of description, especially with hard-to-describe materials. I first discuss the general role of a community archive. I then discuss some of the issues faced by community archives through the lens of three collections at the Detroit Sound Conservancy (DSC) that are complicated when it comes to matters of description. The case study part of this project is based on my own experience working on collections at the DSC and from interviews with Michelle McKinney, the Archivist at the DSC. The first …

Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Insider’S Perspective In Public And Academic Libraries, Ryan N. Lamberts

School of Information Sciences Student Scholarship

The purpose of this paper is to bring to light the social issue of the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and how public and academic libraries are making strides to better serve this branch of the population. Definitions will be provided to better explain what challenges ASD patrons face. In turn, librarians across America, specifically in Illinois and Ohio in recent years, have come together to discuss in both literature and national forums what they are continually doing to better serve, educate, and support their patrons and train their librarians. ASD is a complex social issue faced by millions; one widely …

Systematic Review Search Strategies: Non-Arthritic Hip Diseases And Psychosocial Factors, Jenn Monnin

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

The following search strategies were built for a systematic review addressing non-arthritic hip diseases and psychosocial factors. An a priori protocol for this review was developed and registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021248562). The search was originally designed in PubMed, then translated to the other databases searched (Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus). Search peer review was performed by Anna Crawford using a modified version of the Peer Review of Electronic Search Strategies guideline. The original search was run on July 12, 2021, with a search update performed on June 21, 2023.

Arbiters Of Ugliness: A Review Of Strategies For Describing Offensive Archival Materials, Leah Minadeo

School of Information Sciences Student Scholarship

As archivists increasingly concede that neutrality is impossible, we suggest that non-action is still action. It follows that to treat reasonably offensive records as any other record is to apply an interpretation that they are innocuous, unremarkable, and uncontroversial. Archivists may perceive the stakes of describing these materials as particularly high, but they lack a comprehensive set of descriptive strategies in consideration of interpretive ethics. As a result, existing practices are likely to be local or ad hoc. This research aims to identify and explore descriptive strategies archivists use which serve to construct (or concede) the meaning that certain historical …

Representing Historically Marginalized Communities In Archives: Moving Beyond Lcsh To Create More Inclusive Subject Headings, Melissa A. Ewing

School of Information Sciences Student Scholarship

The Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) are widely used around the world in libraries and archives to add access points for users searching their collections. This can be problematic because LCSH has many embedded issues including inconsistency and complexity, the myth of neutrality that surrounds it, systemic biases, and how slow it is to change. These problems lead to poor descriptions of people, especially those who belong to historically marginalized communities. Archives can move beyond LCSH to create local thesauri, crowdsourced vocabularies, and collaborative partnerships with historically marginalized communities to create more inclusive subject headings.

Decolonizing Descriptions In Library Archives, Michael J. Daronco

School of Information Sciences Student Scholarship

Descriptions in a library archive are the anchoring guide to all information that’s available to those who are researching a subject of their choosing. For hundreds of years, estates, historical documents, artifacts, moving images, and sound material have been donated to libraries and universities for the use of higher education, but without a tool to help one navigate the endless amount of information, knowledge will become doormat if there’s no organizational means of looking it up. With the use of Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS), this system can help provide direction towards what you’re looking for to the point …

Genrefication In Secondary School Libraries, Lindsay E. Pulsipher

School of Information Sciences Student Scholarship

Most school libraries organize fiction books alphabetically by an author’s last name. In order for a student to find and compare potential fiction reading material, the traditional school library model would have the student either search the library system for the topic and then go from stack to stack looking for books about the topic from any number of locations or seek advice from school library staff who would direct the student to potential titles as part of a reader’s advisory. In an effort to make fiction book selection easier for students, some school librarians have turned to genrefied fiction …

Museum Preparedness In The Digital Age, Mary Jatkowski

School of Information Sciences Student Scholarship

In 2001, Neil Beagrie coined the term, “digital curation” at the Digital Preservation Coalition sponsored conference in London. This new term launched a field of study which has since beenadopted by various disciplines within the sciences and humanities. Cultural heritage organizations like libraries and archives adapted the new field, by refining and formalizing standards and practices of digital curation to cater to their diverse cultural and historical collections. LIS graduate programs have embraced the field of study with rigorous curricula like DigCCurr which trains students in the various aspects of curation and preservation, from metadata standards to selection and …

Content Analysis And Applicability Of Zipf’S Law In Technical Writing In The Domain Of Library & Information Science, Pallavi Ramkrushna Dhoke Miss, Mohan Kherde Dr

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Through content analysis of articles published in library and information science journals, this work aims to analyse, determine, and apply Zipf's Law in the technical writing of library and information science. DESIDOC Journal of Library and Information Technology, Annals of Library and Information Studies, and Library Herald are the journals that were picked for this research. The examination of the 573 articles that were published in the three mentioned journals during the years 2013 to 2017 is the primary focus of the study. If we assume that an abstract should be between 100 and 200 words in length, then 342 …

Utilisation Of Mobile Library Technologies And Library Service Delivery In Public And Private Universities In South West, Nigeria, Daniel T. O. Kolawole, Udauk U. Enang, Affiong E. Effiong

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study examined the differences between the utilisation of mobile library technologies and library service delivery in public and private universities in south west, Nigeria. In addition to stating the purpose of the study and the associated research questions and hypotheses, two models and one theory were used which include the technology acceptance model, service quality models and diffusion of innovation theory. The technology acceptance model suggests that the acceptance of any technology is based on the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of the introduced technology. Diffusion of innovation theory suggests ways mobile technologies can be introduced and …

Assessment Of The Implementation Of Information And Communication Technology (Ict) Tools Among Library Educators In Tertiary Institution In Anambra State, Ngozi Celestina Uzoagba Dr, Eliezer Chukwuyere Agim, Victoria Obianuju Ezejiofor Dr

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study was designed to assess the implementation of information and communication technology (ICT) tools among library educators in tertiary institutions in Anambra state. A descriptive survey research design was used. The sample population comprised of 50 library educators selected randomly from 5 tertiary institutions in Anambra state which are Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Federal Polytechnic Oko, Pauls University Awka, Federal College of Education (T) Umunze, and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Igbariam. A structured questionnaire was used for collection of data for this study. Data collected from the study were analyzed using mean scores. The study found that tertiary institutions …

“Now, What’S One Story I Wanted To Tell You?”: Oral History Exhibition Archives At The Chicago History Museum At The Turn Of The 21st Century, Arianne Nguyen

Swarthmore Undergraduate History Journal

Starting in the 1970s, American history museums have undergone a shift away from seeing themselves collections-focused historical societies acting as “temples to the past.” In the face of broader political challenges—civil rights, increasingly multicultural urban audiences, and the “culture wars” of the 1980s, public historians have sought to reclaim their institutions’ relevance by seeking to share their authority and mission with those “publics” they serve.

While secondary literature on public history has generally agreed that museums pulled off this shift—and museums themselves have touted successful exhibits and outreach—this essay uses a specific case study to complicate the narrative. The Chicago …

Digital Literacy Skills And Job Performance Of Library Personnel In State-Owned Universities In Rivers State, Nigeria., Godwin Otu

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The primary objective of this study is to ascertain the level of expertise held by university library staff members working in Rivers State University libraries with regard to digital technology. This investigation was founded on a series of research questions as well as three hypotheses that were proposed to explain the data. Because the population of the study consisted of 32 librarians working at RSU and IAUE, the researchers compiled their findings through the use of a correlational survey design and a census sampling technique. The reliability of the questionnaire was demonstrated using Cronbach's alpha, which indicated a value of …

Lanthorn, Vol. 58, No. 11, January 22, 2024, Grand Valley State University

Volume 58, August 7, 2023 - April 15, 2024

Lanthorn is Grand Valley State's student newspaper, published from 1968 to the present.

Legal Research And The Declining Usefulness Of Google Search, Olivia Smith Schlinck

Library Staff Online Writings

A new year-long study on internet search engine results has rocked the librarian and information worlds: yes, Google really is getting worse.

Awareness And Perception Of Ethical Issues In Libraries As Predictors Of Service Delivery By Library Personnel From Selected Polytechnics In South-West, Nigeria, Kathleen Phillips, Kathleen Chinyere Phillips

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Abstract

Polytechnic libraries exist because they deliver services to the patrons. However, reports of previous studies, personal observations and anecdotal evidence have shown that the level of service delivery in some polytechnic libraries in Nigeria is low. Out of the several factors that could enhance the level of service delivery, compliance with ethical issues appears to be the least studied. This study therefore examined the contributions of awareness and perception of ethical issues in libraries to service delivery by library personnel in selected polytechnics in Southwest Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design of the correlational type was used and the total …

Negotiation: One Library Spills The Beans, Nat Gustafson-Sundell

Library Services Publications

Nat Gustafson-Sundell describes 7 factors contributing to his practice of license negotiation, including examples from actual negotiations.

Royster Receives Lifetime Achievement Award, Retires From Nebraska

Copyright, Fair Use, Scholarly Communication, etc.

Paul Royster, coordinator for scholarly communication, completes his 19-year career at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Elsevier Digital Commons for work on behalf of the faculty and students in the growth of the Universityʼs institutional repository (IR) and his innovations that have shaped the development of the platform.

Computer Self-Efficacy, Computer Anxiety And Information Retrieval Skills As Correlate Of Electronic Library Use Among Lis Undergraduates In Southern Nigeria Universities., Lucky O. Akpojotor

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study examined computer self-efficacy, computer anxiety and information retrieval skills as correlate of electronic library use among library and information science undergraduates in universities in Southern Nigeria. One research question guided the study while one hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance. The correlational research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was 10,345 library and information science (LIS) undergraduates from ten federal, seventeen state and eight private universities in Southern Nigeria. The study explores purposive and quota sampling technique to determine the sample size which arrived at 1, 006 used for the study. …

A Study On General Degree College Library Websites In Purba Bardhaman District In West Bengal, Partha Sarathi Mandal, Dr. Sukumar Mandal

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Website is the mirror of an academic institution. It is not only a reflection of an institution but also acts as a beacon that steers one to find the right path in right time from any place at any time. It shows various information related to academic, administrative and services or facilities. So, it is the best time to evaluate the content of the websites. This is a study on the content of general degree college websites under the University of Burdwan with special reference to the Purba Bardhaman districts in West Bengal. A check list with 54 criteria is …

Assessing Digital Proficiency Requirements For Library And Information Services Professionals (Lis) In The Digital Age: Library Heads' Perspective In Tanzania., Joseph Solomon Daudi Dr., Mabel Majanja Prof

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The objective of this study was to ascertain the digital competencies that Library Heads’ in the library and information services (LIS) sector in Tanzania expect in prospective Library and information science (LISc) graduates. In order to accomplish this objective, a quantitative research methodology was utilized, involving a survey of 50 Library Heads’ in the field of LIS in Tanzania. An online survey was conducted and a response rate of 39 respondents, equivalent of 78% of the entire selected sample.

The findings of this study underscore the importance of digital skills and competencies in effectively managing digital information, digital technical skills …

Digital Phobia: An Inquiry For Mapping The Unseen Dimension Of New Digital Anxiety, The ‘Digiphobia’, Amarjit Kumar Singh ,Library Assistant, Md. Arshad Ali , Professional Assistant, Dr. Pankaj Mathur, Deputy Librarian,

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Background: As technology continues to advance, individuals' interactions with digital platforms have become integral to daily life. Amidst this technological evolution, a novel concern emerges—Digital Phobia, hereafter referred to as “Digiphobia.” This phenomenon, although not previously explored in scholarly literature, necessitates an in-depth investigation due to its potential impact on individuals' well-being. Our research employs a two-step methodology to investigate its existence, implications, and manifestations.

Introduction: This research paper introduces and proposes the term "Digiphobia" as a comprehensive conceptualization of anxiety arising from interactions with digital spaces, applications, and environments. The proliferation of digital technologies has led to the emergence …

Ischool Student Research Journal, Vol.13, Iss.2, Student Reseach Journal

School of Information Student Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Innovation And Responsibility: Librarians In An Era Of Generative Ai, Inequality, And Information Overload, Odin H. Halvorson

School of Information Student Research Journal

In an era marked by generative AI, widening inequality, and information overload, librarians with LIS training find themselves at the forefront of a changing landscape. The traditional paradigm in academia is challenged by new technologies and social shifts, prompting a reassessment the librarian's role as a public leader. This article discusses three perspectives on these issues, placing them within the larger conversation of the LIS field. Dr. Norman Mooradian lays the groundwork for a paradigm shift by exploring the intersection of knowledge and ethics in a knowledge economy. Boheme Morris delves into the complexities of inequality within the high-tech knowledge …

Book Review: The Promise Of Access: Technology, Inequality, And The Political Economy Of Hope, Daniel Greene, Boheme Morris

School of Information Student Research Journal

In The Promise of Access: Technology, Inequality, and the Political Economy of Hope, Daniel Greene provides a comprehensive, approachable evaluation and critique of the concept of the “access doctrine” and how it has permeated American policy and organizations.

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Analysis Tools For Timely Audits: Two Case Studies Of Carlsbad Libraries, Sarah Wilson

School of Information Student Research Journal

When libraries explore how their youth collections can be more diverse, equitable, and inclusive (DEI), it is beneficial to first identify where representation gaps exist amongst their holdings. Digital DEI audit tools can quickly target areas for improvement. The following studies use digital instruments to analyze the DEI representation in two youth library collections in Carlsbad, California. The fiction picture book collections were probed at both a Carlsbad elementary school in Encinitas Union School District (EUSD) and the Georgina Cole public library (Cole). Three digital instruments were used: Diverse BookFinder Collection Analysis Tool, TeachingBooks Collection Analysis Toolkit, and collectionHQ Diversity …

Knowledge Ethics: Conceptual Preliminaries Scope And Justification, Norman Mooradian

School of Information Student Research Journal

This paper lays out the conceptual groundwork for a long-term project examining ethical issues raised when addressing the value of knowledge to a knowledge economy. The project includes a series of papers on specific topics that interrelate to the subjects of knowledge, ethics and organizations. While some of the planned articles for the project will have a practical focus, others, such as this one, will be conceptual in nature. The following outlines selected key concepts for an ethics of knowledge and their relationship with cognate areas of inquiry and practice.

Information Seeking Behavior Among The Final Years Students Department Of Lisas At The University Of Sindh Jamshoro, Pakistan, Inam Magsi, Dr. Muhammad Akhtar Rind, Arif Ali Bhatti

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Abstract

Present study investigates the Information Seeking Behavior among the Final Years Students Department of LISAS at the University Of Sindh Jamshoro Pakistan the main objectives of the study were 1. To Know how Frequently LIS Student visit library 2, To investigate purpose of seeking information of LIS students and what type of information resources they usually access. 3. To identify which type of information formats used by LIS students. 4. To find out the problems faced by the LIS students while seeking information the study is based on survey method. The researchers have created a well-structured questionnaire after analyzing …

The Role Of Women Librarian In Eradicating Gender Based Violence In Rivers State, Nigeria., Roseline Omolola Oladipupo, Eberechi Ejuh, Princess Solomon, Princess

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study examined the roles of women librarians in eradicating gender based violence in Rivers State, Nigeria. Four (4) objectives were formulated to guide this study. A descriptive survey design was adopted for the research. The population for the study comprised 70 women Librarians in Rivers State. Census sampling was adopted. The instrument for data collection was questionnaire. Mean and percentage were used for analyzing the elicited responses. Based on the findings, the various forms of gender based violence are; emotional violence, sexual violence, physical violence, socio-economic violence, amongst others. The study also identified the roles of women librarians in …

Gen Z And Millennials Have An Unlikely Love Affair With Their Local Libraries, Kathi Inman Berens, Rachel Noorda

English Faculty Publications and Presentations

A phone fixation may seem at odds with an attraction to books. But the latter may offer a much-needed reprieve from the former. In our recent study of American Gen Z and millennials, we discovered that 92% of them check social media daily; 25% of them check multiple times per hour. Yet in that same nationally representative study, we also found that Gen Z and millennials are still visiting libraries at a healthy clip, with 54% of Gen Zers and millennials trekking to their local library in 2022. Our findings reinforce 2017 data from the Pew Research Center, which showed …