Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Publication Year
- Publication
- File Type
Articles 1 - 26 of 26
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Relationship Building Advice For Liaison Librarians: Putting It Into Practice And Troubleshooting, Bettina Peacemaker, Kelsey Cheshire, Janet M. Reid, Carla-Mae Crookendale, Julie Arendt, Sergio Chaparro, John Glover, Stephani Rodgers, Erin Carrillo
Relationship Building Advice For Liaison Librarians: Putting It Into Practice And Troubleshooting, Bettina Peacemaker, Kelsey Cheshire, Janet M. Reid, Carla-Mae Crookendale, Julie Arendt, Sergio Chaparro, John Glover, Stephani Rodgers, Erin Carrillo
VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications
Liaison librarians depend on communication and cooperation to be successful, so professional publications about liaison librarianship regularly include discussions of relationship building methods. As a department of experienced liaison librarians, we identified the relationship-building ideas from previous publications that were proactive in nature and had worked for us. Even though the advice has been helpful, we faced challenges or heard about challenges from other librarians when we discussed implementing the ideas. To improve on the published ideas, we have added tips for putting them into practice and answered troubleshooting questions based on our experiences. Adapting to and working around challenges …
Forging A Liaison Team For The Future Through Renewed Onboarding Practices, Bettina Peacemaker, Emily Hurst
Forging A Liaison Team For The Future Through Renewed Onboarding Practices, Bettina Peacemaker, Emily Hurst
VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations
Welcoming new employees is one of the most important jobs of a manager, but it is not an easy one. Guidance from the literature specific to academic liaison librarian onboarding is minimal and fails to address current workforce and workplace realities. This poster will explore how a team of liaison librarian managers used reflective and informed feedback to build a strong onboarding process to successfully welcome eight liaisons in two years and detail how the managers recently renewed their onboarding process to account for new, hybrid work environments and prepare new liaisons for the future of work in academia.
Vcu Libraries Liaison Work Group Final Report, Bettina Peacemaker, Emily J. Hurst, Hillary Miller, Patricia D. Sobczak
Vcu Libraries Liaison Work Group Final Report, Bettina Peacemaker, Emily J. Hurst, Hillary Miller, Patricia D. Sobczak
VCU Libraries Task Force Reports
The Liaison Work Group convened in September 2019 to articulate the liaison model at VCU Libraries (VCUL) with a focus on strengthening collaboration and communication. This report reflects an environmental scan of liaison work at VCU Libraries.
Social Media Best Practices In Academic Libraries (2018), Bettina Peacemaker, Sue Robinson
Social Media Best Practices In Academic Libraries (2018), Bettina Peacemaker, Sue Robinson
VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Data
In order to understand current trends and use of social media in libraries, VCU Libraries created and conducted an online survey using SurveyMonkey. Our approach was informed by the study of social media and public relations practice conducted by Wright and Hinson (Wright, Donald K. and Michelle Drifka Hinson. 2015. “Examining Social and Emerging Media Use in Public Relations Practice: A Ten-Year Longitudinal Analysis.” Public Relations Journal 9).
The VCU Libraries survey consisted of 23 multiple-choice, multiple-answer, and open ended questions. The survey was distributed to email discussion lists frequented by library professionals involved in management or communications. The data …
Life After Reference: Casting A New Liaison Model, Bettina Peacemaker, Carla-Mae Crookendale
Life After Reference: Casting A New Liaison Model, Bettina Peacemaker, Carla-Mae Crookendale
VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations
Learn how to find life after reference and forge deeper connections with academic departments. This poster will detail how a liaison department adapted the Business Model Canvas to solve problems, design services, and innovate practice. Participatory team-building exercises and a focus on user priorities will help you redefine your mission to effectively articulate your value to administrators, faculty, and students. This process helps liaisons strategically recast themselves to engage their users in a more meaningful way.
Challenging The "Good Fit" Narrative: Creating Inclusive Recruitment Practices In Academic Libraries, Jennifer Stout, Sojourna Cunningham, Samantha Guss
Challenging The "Good Fit" Narrative: Creating Inclusive Recruitment Practices In Academic Libraries, Jennifer Stout, Sojourna Cunningham, Samantha Guss
VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications
As a profession, we talk the talk of valuing diversity and inclusion, but do we walk the walk with our hiring practices? The profession stresses the importance of “a good fit” when hiring, but we rarely interrogate the fact that “a good fit” can be a reflection of our implicit biases. Academic librarians conducted a survey of hiring policies with a focus on the processes (or lack thereof) of recruiting candidates from underrepresented groups. This session will report on their findings and recommend the implementation of specific practices designed to create an inclusive candidate pool and an equitable search
Social Media Best Practices In Academic Libraries (2016), Sue Robinson, Bettina Peacemaker, Emily J. Hurst
Social Media Best Practices In Academic Libraries (2016), Sue Robinson, Bettina Peacemaker, Emily J. Hurst
VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Data
In order to understand current trends and use of social media in libraries, VCU Libraries created and conducted an online survey using SurveyMonkey. Our approach was informed by the study of social media and public relations practice conducted by Wright and Hinson (Wright, Donald K. and Michelle Drifka Hinson. 2015. “Examining Social and Emerging Media Use in Public Relations Practice: A Ten-Year Longitudinal Analysis.” Public Relations Journal 9).
The VCU Libraries survey consisted of 22 multiple-choice, multiple-answer, and open ended questions. The survey was distributed to email discussion lists frequented by library professionals involved in management or communications. The data …
Professional Development In Libraries: One Size Does Not Fit All, Patricia D. Sobczak, Agnes K. Bradshaw
Professional Development In Libraries: One Size Does Not Fit All, Patricia D. Sobczak, Agnes K. Bradshaw
VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications
With the constantly changing landscape in 21st century libraries, it would seem that professional development would be more important than ever. However, research indicates that few libraries have formal professional development programs and there are mixed messages from library leaders regarding the necessity and importance of professional development. It is no secret that libraries always seem to be facing budget cuts and funding for professional development is often seen as a low priority. We were curious to understand how professional development is viewed and executed in other academic libraries.
Professional development means different things to different people. To some, professional …
Creating A Sustainable Graduate Student Workshop Series, Bettina Peacemaker, Martha Roseberry
Creating A Sustainable Graduate Student Workshop Series, Bettina Peacemaker, Martha Roseberry
VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications
Purpose - This paper reports on librarians’ experience creating and sustaining a workshop and webinar series for graduate students over the course of four years.
Design/methodology/approach - Difficulties hosting and promoting stand-alone graduate workshops and a collaborative method for planning workshop days and webinars are described in this case study. Attendance data were collected and recorded for each event and additional quantitative data were collected via registration forms and post-event surveys.
Findings - Working collaboratively as a department eased planning and promotional responsibilities, allowing for a sustainable workshops series. Focusing on a limited number of events per semester and developing …
Claiming A Seat At The Table: Inclusive Paths To Leadership In Academic Libraries And Beyond, Megan Hodge, Patricia Sobczak
Claiming A Seat At The Table: Inclusive Paths To Leadership In Academic Libraries And Beyond, Megan Hodge, Patricia Sobczak
VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations
The topic of leadership development in academic libraries is recent area of interest for the profession. There is nascent scholarship in the areas of how to prepare librarians to advance into a first formal management position as well as in the area of leadership capacity-building for librarians and library organizations. This poster combines two independent research projects with the common theme of leadership development in academic libraries. It is not often that separate scholarship integrates effectively and cogently, but these studies coalesced in such an impactful way that all parties felt the need to share the content as well as …
Connecting Best Practices In Public Relations To Social Media Strategies For Academic Libraries, Bettina Peacemaker, Sue Robinson, Emily Hurst
Connecting Best Practices In Public Relations To Social Media Strategies For Academic Libraries, Bettina Peacemaker, Sue Robinson, Emily Hurst
VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications
Academic libraries worldwide use social media to inform and connect with users. VCU Libraries is no different and must keep up with rapidly evolving platforms and user expectations. When our presence stretched across 22 channels, we needed to ensure social media efforts were managed in the most effective and efficient manner possible. To develop a research-based, unified vision for communication for new media, we scanned the literature in the library and public relations fields and then surveyed librarians to address identified gaps. Based on results, we offer recommendations focused on best management practices and strong content strategies.
Keytag It: An Exploration Of A Creative And Customizable Research Guide Promotion, Martha Roseberry, Bettina Peacemaker
Keytag It: An Exploration Of A Creative And Customizable Research Guide Promotion, Martha Roseberry, Bettina Peacemaker
VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications
The research guide is a common tool librarians use to communicate with and instruct their audiences. Despite their prevalence and value to users, research guides remain underused. There are many examples of efforts encouraging guide use, but few studies have measured the effectiveness of that promotion. Academic Outreach librarians at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) promote research guides through inexpensive and small keytags--similar to retail customer loyalty keychain tags. Findings of a quantitative analysis suggest the keytags have positively influenced guide use and support anecdotal reports of increased interaction with intended audiences.
Social Media Best Practices In Academic Libraries 2015, Sue Robinson, Bettina Peacemaker, Emily Hurst
Social Media Best Practices In Academic Libraries 2015, Sue Robinson, Bettina Peacemaker, Emily Hurst
VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Data
While academic libraries worldwide have embraced social media as tools to inform and connect with users, behaviors and expectations are evolving and platforms are growing. In order to understand current trends and use of social media in libraries, VCU Libraries created and conducted an online survey using SurveyMonkey. Our approach was informed by the study of social media and public relations practice conducted by Wright and Hinson (Wright, Donald K. and Michelle Drifka Hinson. 2015. “Examining Social and Emerging Media Use in Public Relations Practice: A Ten-Year Longitudinal Analysis.” Public Relations Journal 9).
The VCU Libraries survey consisted of 21 …
Bring Out Your Dead: Digging Up Print Reference Issues To Recommend What Is Next For A Collection, Julie Arendt, Nell J. Chenault, John Glover
Bring Out Your Dead: Digging Up Print Reference Issues To Recommend What Is Next For A Collection, Julie Arendt, Nell J. Chenault, John Glover
VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations
With the rise of online resources and discovery systems, the question of whether print reference is dead yet has been raised. In response to collection changes, VCU librarians assessed usage and issues in Cabell Library’s print reference collection—revealing trends, challenges, and leading to proposed collection designs.
Can You Spare 2 Hours? Target Your Audience With Customized E-News, Bettina Peacemaker, Patricia D. Sobczak, Martha Roseberry, Sue Robinson
Can You Spare 2 Hours? Target Your Audience With Customized E-News, Bettina Peacemaker, Patricia D. Sobczak, Martha Roseberry, Sue Robinson
VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations
E-newsletters (built in an affordable or free online mail platform) allow librarians to reach faculty with pointed, subject-based information. This poster features a sample from a series of e-newsletters created by liaison librarians, as well as tips for producing custom newsletters and discussion of impact.
Moving Users, Moving Results: Exploring Customer Engagement For Deeper Relationships, Bettina Peacemaker, Jill Stover Heinze
Moving Users, Moving Results: Exploring Customer Engagement For Deeper Relationships, Bettina Peacemaker, Jill Stover Heinze
VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications
Successful businesses know that customers make purchase decisions based on a complex bundle of rational and emotional factors that vary in degree and importance depending upon the context. In crowded markets where potential customers have many comparable options, it is often the emotional relationships that they have with businesses that influence where they spend their dollars. Recognizing this reality, businesses have been shifting from transacting with customers to “engaging” with them. This paper outlines the need for librarians to understand engagement more fully, and it points to guidance from the business literature on how to define and create engagement.
Help Your Students Land A Job With Career Services, Bettina Peacemaker, Kim Hanneman
Help Your Students Land A Job With Career Services, Bettina Peacemaker, Kim Hanneman
VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications
Nothing is more relevant for students than the job search. It is also an area where business librarians can easily add value with their broad knowledge of company and industry resources and research strategies. With this in mind, a business librarian and career adviser partnered to create and promote research guides to help students land a job.
Research Data Management On A Shoestring Budget, Margaret Henderson, Regina Raboin, Yasmeen Shorish, Steve Van Tuyl
Research Data Management On A Shoestring Budget, Margaret Henderson, Regina Raboin, Yasmeen Shorish, Steve Van Tuyl
VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications
In response to mandates from the federal government, many academic librarians face a new challenge to become service providers for research data management. A panel at RDAP14 convened representatives from Virginia Commonwealth University, James Madison University and a collaboration of seven New England libraries to discuss their strategies in response to the regulations when faced with limited resources. A common theme was to take advantage of work already done by others, including faculty surveys and existing data management resources such as DMPTool and Data Curation and Profiles Toolkit. Spreading the word on data issues to spark collaboration and gaining the …
Beyond Description: Converting Web Site Usage Statistics Into Concrete Site Improvement Ideas, Julie Arendt, Cassie Wagner
Beyond Description: Converting Web Site Usage Statistics Into Concrete Site Improvement Ideas, Julie Arendt, Cassie Wagner
VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications
Web site usage statistics are a widely used tool for Web site development, but libraries are still learning how to use them successfully. This case study summarizes how Morris Library at Southern Illinois University Carbondale implemented Google Analytics on its Web site and used the reports to inform a site redesign. As the main campus library at a research university with about 20,000 undergraduate and graduate students, the library included resources from multiple library departments on a single site. In planning the redesign, Morris Library's Virtual Library Group combined usage reports with information from other sources, such as usability tests …
Location, Location, Location: A Transaction Comparison Of Catalog Searches Originating From The Library Homepage And Aleph, Jimmy Ghaphery, Thomas Mcnulty, Susan Teague Rector
Location, Location, Location: A Transaction Comparison Of Catalog Searches Originating From The Library Homepage And Aleph, Jimmy Ghaphery, Thomas Mcnulty, Susan Teague Rector
VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations
Jimmy Ghaphery, Head, Library Information Systems, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU); Thomas McNulty, Integrated Library Systems Librarian, VCU; Susan Teague-Rector, Web Applications Manager, VCU. We will analyze several weeks of search terms from February 2009 in order to determine how different points of entry impact user searches. Specifically we will compare user searches originating from a search tool on the library homepage and searches originating directly from Aleph. This session should be of interest to those who are involved with usability and OPAC design as well as system administrators tasked with measuring OPAC activity.
Designing Search: Effective Search Interfaces For Academic Library Websites, Susan Teague Rector, Jimmy Ghaphery
Designing Search: Effective Search Interfaces For Academic Library Websites, Susan Teague Rector, Jimmy Ghaphery
VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications
Academic libraries customize, support and provide access to myriad information systems, each with complex graphical user interfaces (GUIs). The number of possible information entry points on an academic library Web site is both daunting to the end user and consistently challenging to library Web site designers. Faced with the challenges inherent in designing online search interfaces and the ever-growing amount of resources available online, VCU Libraries sought to explore how to build effective search interfaces that, at the same time, support a wide variety of computer users and provide comprehensive access to assorted collections of electronic resources. Over a 9 …
Growing Adult Readers: Promoting Leisure Reading In Academic Libraries, Renée Bosman, John Glover, Monique Prince
Growing Adult Readers: Promoting Leisure Reading In Academic Libraries, Renée Bosman, John Glover, Monique Prince
VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications
This article provides an introduction to the recreational reading promotion tools at VCU Libraries, including a book review blog, book swap, and bulletin board, as well as the libraries’ involvement with VCU’s summer reading program and Richmond’s citywide “One Community One Book” initiative. Policies and operating procedures will be examined, and these services will be discussed in the context of other libraries’ offerings. We will also discuss why there is a need for these services–which have traditionally been the purview of the public library–on a college campus. Reading among American adults is in dramatic decline, and the academic library is …
Too Quick? Log Analysis Of Quick Links From An Academic Library Website, Jimmy Ghaphery
Too Quick? Log Analysis Of Quick Links From An Academic Library Website, Jimmy Ghaphery
VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications
Since the summer of 2001, Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries has offered a “Quick Links” menu in the top right-hand side of many of its pages. Transaction log files have been run in order to analyze the use of the Quick Links, and several changes have been made based on those logs. This article will discuss those findings and offer contextual ideas for the use of Quick Links in comparison to the rest of the library website.
My Library At Virginia Commonwealth University: Third Year Evaluation, Jimmy Ghaphery
My Library At Virginia Commonwealth University: Third Year Evaluation, Jimmy Ghaphery
VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications
My Library is a personalization tool that allows the library user to consolidate frequently used library resources and services. Since 1998, My Library has been available as a web page to users of the Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries. An evaluation of My Library use at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) was completed and published in 2000. This article reports on a follow up study that took place between March 2000 and December 2001. The article also discusses the value of My Library as a teaching tool at VCU.
Advanced Searchers???, Jimmy Ghaphery
Advanced Searchers???, Jimmy Ghaphery
VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations
Log analysis from 2001 focused on use and popularity of advanced search features of an online library catalog (OPAC).
Vcu's My Library: Librarians Love It. . . . Users? Well, Maybe, Jimmy Ghaphery, Dan Ream
Vcu's My Library: Librarians Love It. . . . Users? Well, Maybe, Jimmy Ghaphery, Dan Ream
VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications
Virginia Commonwealth University's My Library project (circa 1998-1999) has chosen "ease of use" as its primary design criteria. The development of this tool using Perl scripting is described, and reports derived from usage logs are analyzed here. My Library tends to appeal a great deal to a small number of users as a personal tool. Librarians have found it popular as a class teaching tool, with pages designed for specific classes in library instruction receiving the heaviest use.