Education Commons^™

Building Belonging: The Library Supporting A Hub For Graduate Research, Elizabeth Dawson, Genova Boyd, Drake Jesse

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

Three librarians are working to create the ideal library space for graduate students to achieve their academic goals and connect with other grad students. The Graduate Research Support Hub (GRSH) at UAF Rasmuson Library started with an inspired idea and an examination of how other universities support graduate student research. We wanted to provide a flexible space to meet the distinctive needs of graduate students as they prepare for conference presentations, thesis work, publication, and dissertation defense and serve as a specialized area that is dedicated to graduate students. We surveyed graduate students from a variety of disciplines on campus, …

Teaching Evidence-Based Practice In Social Work: Practical Instructional Design Approaches For Graduate Students, Nicholas D. Bambach

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

Across the social and health sciences, evidence-based practice (EBP) serves as a cornerstone of professional education and links research-based knowledge to real-world decision-making. Students are expected to integrate empirical findings with client needs, ethical considerations, and professional best practices. Yet many graduate students struggle to translate theoretical concepts into applied practice. Academic librarians, particularly those serving as subject liaisons and specialists, are well positioned to partner with social work faculty to design scaffolded instructional experiences that integrate research literacy with social work’s ethical and humanistic frameworks. Through librarian–faculty partnerships, librarians can help students critically engage with research evidence while honoring …

The Open Knowledge Fellowship: An Opportunity For Transformative Learning At The Doctoral Level, Elvis Bakaitis, Jill Cirasella

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

How can we integrate the principles, practicalities, and complexities of open educational resources (OER) and open access scholarly literature into graduate-level education? At the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY), the popular and successful Open Knowledge Fellowship offers a much-needed intervention in doctoral education by addressing these topics and associated debates. Between 2020 and 2025, the intensive six-week Fellowship program was offered 12 times and trained over 200 doctoral students from across the disciplines in the selection and use of openly licensed resources in the courses they teach. These 200+ students then taught their revamped courses …

Reshaping Library Programming For Graduate Students Through Strategic Partnerships And Adaptation, Brian Vetruba, Caroyn Bishoff, Kate Peterson

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

In the wake of Covid-19, support structures dedicated to graduate student success at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMN) underwent dramatic shifts. Centralized in-person events for graduate students were discontinued, departmental identities strengthened, and library outreach responsibilities were reshaped by institutional changes, including a reduction of library staff. This panel examines how academic libraries can adapt and innovate with decreased capacity to meet the diverse needs of graduate students. Panelists will share strategies for expanding campus partnerships and sustaining and scaling initiatives that equip graduate students – especially first-year, international, and BIPOC students – with essential research skills and …

Rethinking The Search: A Review Of Ai Tools For Graduate Students’ Literature Reviews, Elise Georgulis

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

Literature reviews are notoriously one of the most challenging and complex components of academic work. Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools offer many options that aid in literature review development, such as identifying relevant sources, offering connections between studies, summarizing key findings, and highlighting gaps in the existing research. AI tools can aid students in locating and critically evaluating scholarly literature more efficiently.

Given the growing adoption of AI in academia, it is crucial that educators, librarians, and graduate students understand how to harness these tools responsibly and ethically. The proposed presentation will provide a comprehensive review of current AI tools that …

From Research To Writing: How Collaboration Strengthens Thesis Preparation, Carly Mcleod, Ben Lee Taylor

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

Graduate students have unique learning needs that often require simultaneous support from multiple service areas to be successful. From navigating scholarly sources to developing strong academic writing skills, students benefit most when guidance is provided at critical points through intentional collaboration and shared expertise.

In response to a faculty request for supplementary workshops for mechanical engineering students, the Teaching and Learning unit within the library partnered with the Writing and Academic Skills Centre to design timely instruction that aligns with students’ academic goals as they enter the thesis preparation stage. Rather than delivering separate sessions, we recognized this would be …

Recalibrating Library Research Support Workshops For Graduate Students: Addressing Skill-Gaps Through Targeted, Collaborative Workshop Design, Ekaterini Papadopoulou, Jason B. Hall

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

Creating library support for graduate services can and should take many forms to meet the specific and varied needs of the student populations and graduate programs at any given institution. However, there are often common threads and needs that can be met through some carefully targeted centralized library services. We will present our approach to providing a suite of workshops that provide skills and transferable knowledge across multiple graduate student needs at our institution, where the majority of graduate students are pursuing professional graduate degrees.

Three challenges that we aimed to address with our workshop series:

A perception that library …

It's A Stretch: De-Customizing To Provide Better Support To All, Jean Cook

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

The University of X's graduate programs are its fastest growing sector. The College of Education is the third largest public university in the county, due largely to its graduate programs and partnerships with local school districts. Many programs across the disciplines have a heavy research aspect, with a focus on evidence-based practice. To meet the needs of these programs, the library has taken the counter-intuitive approach of widening the focus on its instruction and liaison programs. Previously, each program had specific librarians assigned to that program’s needs. Tools like videos, research guides, and workshops were tailored to each individual class …

Beyond The Tour: Designing Graduate Library Orientations That Build Research Confidence And Belonging, Megan York

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

Graduate student orientations often lean heavily on logistics: where to find resources, how to log in, and which services the library offers. While this information is important, it rarely addresses the deeper needs of graduate learners. Many of the students I work with arrive on campus already balancing careers, families, and demanding academic programs. At the University of Arkansas, graduate orientations in the College of Education and Health Professions frequently take place on weekends, serving students who travel from out of state and receive an overwhelming amount of information in a short time. For them, orientation is not simply a …

Day 1 Login And Welcome, Wendy Doucette

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

History and highlights of the TLGS (Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students) Conference

Lanthorn, Vol. 60, No. 13, March 16, 2026, Grand Valley State University

Volume 60, August 4, 2025 – April 20, 2026

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

Building A Better Landscape For Research Dissemination, Scott Horowitz

Chemistry and Biochemistry: Faculty Scholarship

Let’s take a moment to think about where we’ve come to in scientific publishing. Once upon a time, journals and their publishers played an absolutely critical role in science’s growth and successes.  Many journal publishers are for-profit enterprises, and they still want to make profits even if they no longer serve an important purpose. By controlling the information, they can still force people to pay for services that are obsolete and manipulate the system in ways that stymie progress to maintain their market. Open access did not have the power to change this. Altogether, things are in bad shape. I …

From One-Shots To Gems: Building Scaffolded Microcredentials In Information Literacy, Layla Barati, Kevin Sebastian

Library Faculty Research

Discover how UNLV Libraries redesigned first-year information literacy instruction into the GEM Knowledge Series—scaffolded microcourses awarding stackable badges. Learn how this model moves beyond traditional one-off library lessons, embeds assessment, and empowers students to Gather, Evaluate, and Make knowledge across academic, professional, and civic contexts.

Lanthorn, Vol. 60, No. 12, March 2, 2026, Grand Valley State University

Volume 60, August 4, 2025 – April 20, 2026

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

“It’S A Lot More To It Than Just Research”: Integrating Critical Data Literacy And Reasoning With Data Into A Stem Summer Camp, Marc T. Sager, Saki L. Milton, Candace Walkington

Publications

Purpose: This study explores how middle-grade girls from predominantly underrepresented and underserved racially and ethnically minoritized (UUREM) backgrounds developed critical data literacy (CDL) through participation in a week-long residential STEM camp. Given the increasing importance of data science education in a data-driven world, this research examines how informal learning environments can support CDL development among youth from historically marginalized groups.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The study draws on qualitative interview data from eleven participants, and their group-produced artifacts to investigate how the camp experience supported engagement with data and the development of CDL. Interviews explored participants' experiences with data collection, organization, analysis, and …

Notes For The Stalled, V18n06, March 2026, University Of Northern Iowa. Rod Library.

Rod Library newsletter: Notes for the Stalled

Contents:

--- March Book Madness
--- RodCon 2026
--- Research Award
--- Upcoming Events

News Briefs, Marvin H. Jeter Iii, Joyce Shaw

Mississippi Libraries

News updates from Gunter Library at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory and from the Mississippi Library Commission.

Curriculum Materials Cataloged For Browsing, Michelle Emanuel

Library Publications

When the University of Mississippi Libraries acquired a collection of state-adopted school textbooks for K-12 from its School of Education, a decision was made to catalog the collection for browsing to anticipate the needs of its primary users, both “in service” and “pre-service” teachers. The textbooks would be grouped according to their grade level, and cuttered by subject area, instead of being classed according to its subject area. As the collection would be integrated into the regular circulating collection, and not into a curriculum materials center, issues arose for both technical services and access services throughout the process, from cataloging …

Lanthorn, Vol. 60, No. 11, February 9, 2026, Grand Valley State University

Volume 60, August 4, 2025 – April 20, 2026

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

From The Stacks To Student Success: Findings From A Study Of Faculty Perceptions Of Collection Development, Jessica L. Swaringen, Alyshia K. Bagley, Payton Sapp, James Mayes

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Effective collection development is essential for a library’s ability to support the evolving needs of its academic community. Faculty perceptions of library resources will undoubtedly influence how students engage with and benefit from these collections. This research explores how faculty at Georgia Southern University (GS) Libraries understand collection development practices and how their views shape teaching, research, and collaboration with librarians.

Following a review of existing literature, a mixed-methods survey was distributed to faculty via email. The survey combined quantitative and qualitative questions to capture faculty attitudes toward library collections, their use in course curricula, and their role in supporting …

Addressing The Pitfalls Of Misinformation In The Classroom Through Game Based Learning, Taylor S. Strong, Jerome Bingham

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

As instruction librarians we must strive to strengthen students' literacy when it comes to research. Only a 3rd of American high school students are graduating with the necessary reading and math skills needed for college-level classes. In conjunction with these low reading levels.The current and incoming students are a part of the Gen-Z or Zoomer generation.One of the largest problems Gen Z students face in their daily lives is combating misinformation. The University of Virginia in conjunction with the University of Cambridge conducted a recent study about generations and misinformation. Only 11% of 18 to 29 year olds earned a …

Empowering Research Topic Development With Generative Ai Prompts - A Pilot Study For First-Year Writing Students, Yanling Liu, Yan He

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

As generative AI tools like ChatGPT become increasingly embedded in academic and everyday contexts, educators have a timely opportunity to leverage these technologies to support foundational research skills. In general education writing courses, students participate in library sessions with librarians to support their research projects. A central challenge is formulating a focused and relevant research topic, as many struggle to identify and develop ideas and refine them into viable research topics that are suitable for college-level writing and align with assignment requirements. This study explores how generative AI tools - specifically ChatGPT - can be integrated into library instruction to …

Leveling Up: Introducing High School Students To The College Library, Lisa Nichols, Helen E. Bischoff

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

For many high school students, visiting a college campus can inspire future aspirations and reduce anxiety by allowing them to visualize themselves as college students. This presentation highlights our experiences as academic librarians collaborating with local high school teachers and librarians to introduce students to the foundations of academic research and critical inquiry while also exposing them to both the college library and the campus environment. Through interactive workshops held on site in the high school library and then on a college campus in an academic library, students had the opportunity to engage with college-level research tools, explore the academic …

Fostering Agency In Future Educators: Redesigning Instruction For Children's Literature Discovery Amidst Policy Changes, Rae Mair

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Recent changes in Florida policy led to the removal of several locally developed library resources. These resources had supported the discovery of children’s literature reflecting a range of cultural and social perspectives, along with the lesson plans created by students and faculty to accompany them. The shift placed greater emphasis on helping undergraduate teacher education students locate books on their own using advanced search strategies and available tools. Strengthening these skills has become increasingly important for supporting student agency in selecting materials for their classrooms. However, motivating students to engage with advanced search techniques in library catalogs and databases can …

Assessing The Information Literacy Skills Of Faculty And Students In Using Open Educational Resources In Nigerian Universities, Adeniran Adetoro

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Access to Open Educational Resources (OERs) by university libraries and through online sources is trending among academics and students in Nigeria, particularly given the emphasis on it by the National Universities commission in recent times. Extant literature points to low level of use of OERs among faculty and students, and there is an urgent need to understand the extent to which their information literacy (IL)skills can explain this and how IL drives OERs practical use for academic purposes. Thus, the paper investigates the perceived information literacy of faculty and graduate students in using open educational resources in federal universities in …

Teaching Ourselves Ai Literacy, Kelly Jones, Chandler Christoffel

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

To prepare to teach and support AI literacy, we organized an internal mini-conference for our Academic Engagement department. During each session, librarians taught one another various AI-related modules (e.g., ethics, prompt design, tools) as though leading a real class with students. We encouraged the use of active learning strategies and asked participants to submit session proposals in advance so we could offer feedback. This approach to professional development allowed us to rapidly test and refine our instructional methods and deepen our AI expertise. This mini-conference also helped us generate valuable content—including lessons, slides, assessments, and activities — for an AI …

The Generative Ai Game Is Afoot: A Workshop Series, Denise A. Wetzel, Elliott Rose

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how we create, learn, and solve problems, making it essential for students to engage with these tools both skillfully and ethically. This presentation introduces “The Generative AI Game is Afoot,” a themed workshop series designed to explore generative AI through the lens of detective work inspired by Sherlock Holmes. Using the metaphor of digital sleuths and their trusted partners, the series invites participants to unravel the mysteries of generative AI with curiosity, critical thinking, and practical know-how.

The series consists of four interactive workshops followed by an open forum. The first workshop, "Writing Effective …

Recreating The Magic: Designing Serendipitous Discovery Experiences In 100% Online Libraries, Stephanie Garrett

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Traditional libraries excel at serendipitous discovery—patrons browse shelves, stumble upon unexpected titles, and make chance connections between materials. But how do we recreate this magic in purely digital environments? This presentation showcases a successful transformation of a 100% online library that achieved over 90% increased asset usage in just 12 months through strategic implementation of serendipitous discovery features.

Using Springshare's LibGuides CMS as the foundation, we redesigned the digital library experience around three core discovery spaces: Visual Course Reserve Guides that mirror physical browsing through thumbnail displays and thematic clustering, a comprehensive Reference Section that encourages exploration beyond immediate research …

Teaching The Future: Incorporating Generative Ai Use In An Information Studies Course, Annette Bochenek

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Generative AI has impacted the creation, consumption, and dissemination of information across disciplines. Information, Culture, and Society is an online undergraduate course that is foundational to the Information Studies minor at Purdue University. In this course, students examine how information, culture, and society have shaped and affected one another in the past, present, and how they might continue to influence one another in the future. In order to enhance the lessons pertaining to the future of information, culture, and society, specifically focusing on AI, the instructor participated in a university-led AI Academy program to learn about available AI tools and …

Beyond The Buzzwords: Working With Faculty To Create Ai-Informed Personal Information Literacy Frameworks, Scott E. Shumate, Jenny Harris, Stephanie Bandel

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools have become increasingly integrated into the classroom, requiring faculty across disciplines to reconsider how critical thinking skills are being impacted by AI. Academic libraries, long the centers of information access and literacy, are well positioned to confront the issues surrounding AI and address its influence on the wider information landscape. Three academic librarians have taken the lead at their university in encouraging faculty to be thoughtful and intentional about their own understanding of information literacy by developing a personal information literacy framework. This reflective process codifies the mental models all users create when interacting with information …