Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

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 …

Enhancing Student Engagement And Learning Outcomes Through Microlearning In Academic Libraries, Kate Lora Cruz, Robert Vallente, Kelvin Samson

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

The rapid evolution of educational technologies and student learning preferences has prompted academic libraries to explore innovative strategies for instruction and engagement. One such approach gaining traction is microlearning—a method that delivers concise, targeted learning content designed to meet specific objectives in a short period. This research proposes to investigate the integration of microlearning in academic libraries, focusing on its impact on student engagement, information literacy, and the overall effectiveness of library instruction. The study aims to (1) assess the current awareness and use of microlearning in academic library settings, (2) suggest content and factors to consider in implementing microlearning …

Free-Dom In Creativity: Cost-Accessible Ai Tools For Makerspaces In Academic Libraries, Marvin Factor, Kate Lora Cruz, Yugosto Balbas

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into academic library makerspaces presents emerging opportunities for enhancing innovation, creativity, and user engagement. However, financial considerations often influence the adoption of advanced technologies, particularly in academic institutions located in developing regions. This study systematically reviews freely available AI tools applicable to makerspace environments in academic libraries, providing a descriptive and comparative analysis of their functionalities and potential applications.  By mapping the current landscape of open-access on a gratis level,  this research identifies key categories of AI applications such as design generation, image generation, language processing, and data visualization, highlighting the strengths, limitations, and …

Reimagining Library Services In The Age Of Ai: A Case Study From A Canadian Academic Library, Wei Xuan, Christine Shaw

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

As artificial intelligence reshapes higher education, academic libraries are reimagining their services to meet emerging challenges and opportunities. This article presents a case study of the University of Manitoba Libraries (UML), a Canadian academic library actively integrating AI to improve service delivery, enrich research support, and enhance user engagement while upholding core values of access, equity, and scholarly integrity.

Four key initiatives are discussed: (1) the development of an in-house AI chatbot built on Microsoft Azure services, offering real-time conversational assistance grounded in trusted library content; (2) the implementation of Ex Libris’ Primo Research Assistant to enhance discovery with GPT-based …

Strategic Collection Management In Academic Libraries - Balancing Digital Resources, Print Collections, And Study Spaces, Xiaolu Guo, Trish Wilson

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

In the time of digital transformation and constrained resources, academic libraries must align collections with institutional priorities. This paper presents how Victoria University of Wellington Library’s strategic approach to balancing physical collections and student needs for study space. By sharing practical approaches and lessons learnt from collection evaluation initiatives, this paper will explore how an academic library seeks to align collections with institutional goal s in a sustainable, user-cantered way. Key discussion points include collection budget and usage trends; stakeholder engagement and UX; data driven approaches; and staff capability building.

Generative Ai As Disruptor And Driver For Library Data Services, Shahira Khair

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

Over the past decade, academic libraries around the world have focused on developing new services to support data-intensive research and open science. This shift has been driven by funder and publisher mandates emphasizing transparency, reproducibility, and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) research l data. Just as these services are maturing, the rapid rise of generative AI tools and their application in research presents a disruptive l force, but also a transformative opportunity for library data services. This paper addresses the evolving impact of generative AI and library data services, contextualized by the experiences of researchers captured in a series of …

Ai Empowerment Of Medical Libraries For Promoting Accessible Reading Of Evidence-Based Health Guidelines, Wenjing Ding

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

In an age marked by overwhelming information and a rapidly aging global population, the need for accessible, comprehensible health information has never been more urgent. Although evidence-based health guidelines play a crucial role in supporting informed medical decision-making, their dense medical language and structural complexity often render them inaccessible to lay audiences. This study investigates the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in enabling medical libraries to serve as dynamic platforms for promoting the accessible reading of such guidelines, thereby advancing public health literacy and equity.

A dual challenge emerges: on one hand, the expanding volume and sophistication of clinical …

Navigating Transformation: Staffing, Structure, And Strategy In The Ai-Integrated Academic Library, Renji Jacob, Beth Russell

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

The rapid integration of AI, automation, and digital transformation necessitates a strategic evolution of academic libraries in staffing, structure, and strategy. At NYU Abu Dhabi, a global campus navigating a transient, multicultural environment, workforce development is paramount for sustained innovation, service excellence, and future readiness.

This presentation outlines our library's transition from a traditional repository to a dynamic knowledge facilitator and inclusive community hub. We are actively redefining roles to include AI competencies, creating professional development pathways that support AI literacy, and fostering hybrid positions that promote flexibility and growth. Key initiatives include cross-training, peer mentoring, and comprehensive AI literacy …

Ethical Governance Framework For Artificial Intelligence In Library Contexts——A Comparative Analysis Of Ifla Guidelines And Chinese Implementation, Xu Shan, Chengyu Zhang

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in libraries is becoming increasingly widespread, bringing with it not only enhanced service effectiveness but also various ethical challenges. This study constructs a framework for responsible AI ethical practice in libraries based on the AI ethics guidelines of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), contextualized within China's national conditions. The paper first deconstructs the 14 key issues in IFLA's ethical framework, categorizing them into three dimensions: technical risks, social risks, and governance risks, and analyzes the application limitations formed within the Western context. It then explores the policy adaptability of …

An Academia-Community Partnership Aiming To Benefit The Well-Being Of Shelter Cats And Promote The Learning Outcomes Of College Students, Shlomit Flaisher-Grinberg

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

More than three million cats enter U.S. animal care and control facilities annually. Although many are adopted, others spend a prolonged amount of time at the animal shelter while facing a variety of stressors. The current project explored the possibility of creating an academia–community partnership aiming to establish a college-based foster program that will allow undergraduate students to socialize and train shelter cats as a part of an academic course. It was hypothesized that the program will positively impact the well-being of shelter cats, improve their adoption outcomes, and support students’ learning outcomes. Students enrolled in the Learning course at …

Indiana At A Glance: County Trends, 2025 Edition, Roberto Gallardo

Purdue University Press Books

Indiana at a Glance: County Trends, 2025 Edition provides an overview of macro socioeconomic and demographic trends based on county-level data in ten-year periods in Indiana, the upper Midwest region, and the nation. Analyzing data primarily from 2013 through 2023, this book presents information that contextualizes the design and implementation of specific policies enacted by elected officials and community leaders, and reveals the impact these initiatives have on the public.

Inspired, in part, by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural America at a Glance reports, as well as the author’s more than twenty years of work in the field, …

Incorporating An Innovative Kennel In A Guide Dog Program Based On The Health And Welfare Of Dogs And Humans, Naoko Koda, Miwa Murata, Sakura Mizuta

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

During guide dog training, dogs live in kennels and lack house training. The demand for guide dogs that can live easily with their users who are visually impaired is increasing. The Kansai Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (KGBDA) in Japan built an innovative wooden kennel (Mokka Terrace) that is more similar to homes than general kennels and that efficiently controlled dogs and reviewed their operations. This study conducted a literature survey, participant observations, and semi-structured interviews with staff to clarify the background and consensus-building process involved in creating the Mokka Terrace, corresponding efforts, and its strengths, issues, and prospects. …

Reference At A Remote Field Station: A Case Study Of Ecology, Environmental Science And Geology Fieldwork At An Embedded Library, Thomas Gerrish

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

Purpose Field station libraries, particularly those serving biological and marine research stations, represent a unique but understudied class of special libraries. This case study investigates reference services at the remote University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) to provide a baseline assessment of how such services support the information needs related to research in ecology, geology and environmental science.

Design/methodology/approach The study recorded, coded and analyzed 209 reference transactions from the 2022 and 2023 summer sessions, revealing trends in patron inquiries and the role of the reference desk. Further, the case study examined the organizational structure, community interaction and mission of …

Paws And Effect: Canine Companionship And Outcomes In The Chronic Health Condition Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Kimberley C. Schenke, Joanna Foster, Danielle Stephens-Lewis

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Emerging research suggests canine companions may support the management of health conditions, yet evidence within complex, long-term conditions like hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) remains limited. hEDS is a multifaceted condition often associated with social withdrawal. Thus, the current research provided a high-powered investigation into whether the nonjudgmental support of canine companions could improve health and well-being outcomes for individuals with hEDS. An online survey of 401 participants was utilized to compare differences in health and well-being among individuals with hEDS who have a canine companion to those who do not. Results revealed that participants with canine companions experienced fewer difficulties …

The Potential Benefits Of Co-Design In Dog-Assisted Treatment Programs For Veterans Seeking Mental Health Care, Parvin (Pary) Bahmanyari, Pauleen Bennett, Tiffani Howell

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Veterans are more likely than the general population to experience a range of mental health problems. While many veteran mental health support programs are available, veterans may struggle to access and engage with these services for various reasons (e.g., a stigmatized perception of mental health disorders, mistrust). Animal-assisted services have become more popular in civilian and military health care settings where traditional therapies (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy) may not always be effective. Assistance dogs, for example, which live with veterans to provide disability support, have been successfully employed for veteran mental health. Unfortunately, a subgroup of veterans may miss out …

Hmongcentric Niche Charter Schools: The Role Of Social Capital On Students’ Perceived Academic Competence, Zha Blong Xiong, Ting Xu, Kyle Nickodem, Malina Her

Journal of Southeast Asian American Education and Advancement

Using Coleman’s (1988) social capital theory, this study investigated the connection between family and school social capital and the perceived academic competence of students enrolled in Hmongcentric niche charter schools. The study analyzed 124 participants consisting of third, fourth, and fifth-grade students residing in Minnesota, with 93% identifying as Hmong. Results of structural equation modeling showed that school social capital, as measured by school attachment and school connection, is significantly linked to students’ perceived academic competence. Further analyses suggested that school attachment, especially in charter schools that focus on culture and language, plays a more crucial role in shaping students’ …

Use Of Eagala Model–Based Psychotherapy For Youth Psychological Disorders, Kimberley D. Ryan, Tammy L.B. Mckenzie

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Global youth psychological disorder prevalence has increased exponentially. Therefore, a drastic increase in mental health care utilization is expected. Since traditional approaches to the treatment of adult psychological disorders are ineffective with youth, alternative approaches to treatment of youth psychological disorders must be considered. One such approach is equine assisted psychotherapy (EAP), a person-centered, experiential approach using horses during the treatment of psychological disorders and the basis of the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (Eagala) model–based programming. This article presents the quantitative research findings of a study investigating the effectiveness of the Eagala model–based EAP programming in the treatment …

Flowing Progress: Transforming The Danube Through Infrastructure, Stefan Dorondel, Luminita Gatejel

Central European Studies

Flowing Progress: Transforming the Danube Through Infrastructure focuses on how different political regimes and forms of governance have imagined and technologically transformed the most international river in the world. Multidisciplinary and drawing on methodologies of history, anthropology of infrastructure, and science, technology, and society, this collection explores the tensions between the river and its natural pulses, the humans that populate its floodplains, state agencies, and infrastructure. The book engages the concept of disturbance to point out the circular and spiraling dynamics between hydrological processes and technopolitical and economic practices. Disturbance denotes a specific type of long-term dynamic between human attempts …

Reviewing The Need For Subject-Specific Regional Professional Development Opportunities For Business Librarians, Annette Bochenek, Heather A. Howard

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

This paper reviews the need for regional professional development opportunities for business librarians, examining the benefits and drawbacks that business librarians experience when attending national, subject-specific, and regional conferences, from the perspective of the creators and organizers of the Midwest Business Librarian Summit (MBLS). Using information gained regarding what benefits librarians seek when considering conference attendance as well as the obstacles or challenges experienced, this paper offers information about extant regional conferences for business librarians as well as suggestions for developing an in-person, subject-specific regional conference targeted toward business librarians.

From Policy To Pedagogy: Applying Infodemic Governance To Instructional Design, Bethany S. Mcgowan

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

This article presents a Delphi study that defines key ethical and regulatory principles underpinning Finland’s national strategy for managing infodemics. Drawing on three rounds of consultation with Finnish experts from health, policy, and library sectors, the study surfaces foundational elements of national infodemic management—including transparency, accountability, inclusion, and adaptability—as well as gaps in digital equity, curricular responsiveness, and cross-sector collaboration. These expert-defined priorities are analyzed alongside the World Health Organization’s Infodemic Management Agenda, which serves as a pedagogical scaffold for identifying instructional tensions in health information literacy education. Findings are further interpreted through four information diplomacy anchors: agenda-setting, persuasive framing, …

Unveiling Food Waste Patterns At Purdue University, Katherine S. Chiparus, Abigail S. Engelberth, Valentina Negri, Louis Tay

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Ever wondered how much food waste is generated at Purdue University—or how we compare to other Big Ten schools? This project aims to both evaluate existing practices and behaviors across major universities, and administer a survey to collect data on Purdue’s campus. AI-assisted photo deconstruction and demographic data collection is used to analyze Purdue’s food waste composition and behavior patterns. Concurrently, a comparative analysis of food waste strategies - including categorization of effectiveness, reach, and transparency of waste management efforts while focusing on composting, diversion programs, and dining hall operations - across Big Ten institutions was conducted. To date, the …

Evaluation Of Physical, Mental, And Mechanical Aspects Of An Extreme Military Training Event: A Continuous Monitoring Approach, Tirthankar Chatterjee, Debojyoti Bhattacharyya, Roshani Meena

Journal of Human Performance in Extreme Environments

Soldiers receive extensive training at extremes of environments and simulated terrains to improve their battle efficiency. A study was designed to evaluate the actual cost of a military physical efficiency test consisting of several physically engaging activities to quantify physiological, mechanical, and subjective demands. Sixteen Indian soldiers participated in a military training session consisting of events such as a 5-km run, 4-m vertical rope climbing, a 2.75-m jump, a 60-m dash, and a 9-m horizontal rope climbing with 6.5 kg of equipment in a hot dry environment. Their physiological status was monitored continuously. National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load …