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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
University Libraries Reopening Plan July 2020, Melanie Smith Farrell
University Libraries Reopening Plan July 2020, Melanie Smith Farrell
Research, Publications, and Presentations
No abstract provided.
Academic Librarians And Labor Unions: Attitudes And Experiences, Ian Mccullough
Academic Librarians And Labor Unions: Attitudes And Experiences, Ian Mccullough
Research, Publications, and Presentations
This research project investigates librarians’ attitudes toward unions and collective bargaining through data collected from a nationwide survey of 359 academic librarians in the United States. We found that academic librarians have a generally positive view of unions and collective bargaining agreements, a notable result in a national political atmosphere that is demonstrably anti-union. Union membership is strongly bound to faculty status. Our research results imply that unionization and collective bargaining provide stronger job protections and higher wages than faculty status alone, and suggest that discussions of faculty status in academic libraries may not have provided best possible way to …
Even You Can Afford Affordable Learning!: Grace Under The Pressure Of Open Educational Resources, Melanie Mcgurr, Michael Monaco
Even You Can Afford Affordable Learning!: Grace Under The Pressure Of Open Educational Resources, Melanie Mcgurr, Michael Monaco
Research, Publications, and Presentations
Presentation on adding Open Educational Resources to the University of Akron catalog in support of the affordable learning initiative.
Challenges And Opportunities: One Academic Library, Seven Hospitals And A Consortialmove, Melanie Mcgurr, Demetria Patrick
Challenges And Opportunities: One Academic Library, Seven Hospitals And A Consortialmove, Melanie Mcgurr, Demetria Patrick
Research, Publications, and Presentations
This presentation explores a three-phase project that involved switching from a shared server hosted in a state consortia to a hosted service with Innovative Interfaces, along with a long overdue upgrade to Sierra. Phase I and II were the most challenging and work intensive and involved the most planning by the NEOMED staff. These challenges also brought our problem areas within the consortia to light. Throughout phase I and II, we improved our communication, stressed the importance of autonomy at the hospitals, and encouraged the staff to work directly with their IT and vendors. We created checklists for the hospitals …
Journal Usage At Department And Research Group Level (Postprint), Ian Mccullough
Journal Usage At Department And Research Group Level (Postprint), Ian Mccullough
Research, Publications, and Presentations
Journal usage in the Department of Polymer Science at the University of Akron from 2006-2011 was determined by counting citations within faculty-supervised dissertations and faculty publications. Ranked title lists were created and correlations between journal usage in faculty publications and faculty-supervised dissertations were measured using Kendall’s rank-correlation coefficient. Dissertations and faculty publications were also organized by research group and correlated within groups. Dissertations and faculty publications were found to have a much stronger positive correlation within the group than within the department. Individual groups were found to have highly variable correlation with each other. Examining journal usage at group level …
Shifting Sands - Forum Notes.Pdf, Ian Mccullough
Shifting Sands - Forum Notes.Pdf, Ian Mccullough
Research, Publications, and Presentations
No abstract provided.
Worksheet For Collection Microclimates Poster, Ian Mccullough
Worksheet For Collection Microclimates Poster, Ian Mccullough
Research, Publications, and Presentations
How to sheet for the data collection method used in the Collection Microclimates poster
Collection Microclimates – Citation Study Of Journal Usage Differences At Department And Research Group Level, Ian Mccullough
Collection Microclimates – Citation Study Of Journal Usage Differences At Department And Research Group Level, Ian Mccullough
Research, Publications, and Presentations
Citations from journal articles and dissertations from the Department of Polymer Science (DPS) at the University of Akron from 2006–2011 were examined and journals ranked in order of usage frequency. Journal usage of dissertations and articles was also ranked within research groups. 85 dissertations and 464 faculty publications that included 378 publications from 16 dissertation advisors were examined. Citations to 1422 journals were counted and recorded. Findings demonstrate that individual groups vary wildly in journal usage representing microclimates for collection development purposes.
Journal Impact Factor - The Worst Metric In Science, Ian Mccullough
Journal Impact Factor - The Worst Metric In Science, Ian Mccullough
Research, Publications, and Presentations
Presentation on the origins and proper use of the journal impact factor, followed by a critical look at the deficiencies and misuses of the metric - specifically the use for evaluating individual research output.
Improving Engagement By Creating A Peer Environment, Tammy Stitz
Improving Engagement By Creating A Peer Environment, Tammy Stitz
Research, Publications, and Presentations
It is well documented in literature that engineering students seek information by asking their peers before seeking information from other sources, such as asking a professor or performing a literature search. Social networking and other technologies, such as short message service, instant messaging, and even e-mail can be used to foster a peer type of relationship between educators and students. An online student survey can be used for this purpose as well. Assessment of library instruction sessions is important to ensure that students are learning what is intended. Surveying students can ensure instructional relevancy, reveal missing lecture information, and highlight …
A Path To Providing User-Centered Subject Guides, Tammy Stitz, Shari Laster, Frank Bove, Casey Wise
A Path To Providing User-Centered Subject Guides, Tammy Stitz, Shari Laster, Frank Bove, Casey Wise
Research, Publications, and Presentations
The experience at the University of Akron illustrates a transitional path from static Web sites to dynamic, user-centered Web design. Starting with Web-based subject resource guides that were difficult to maintain and navigate, University Libraries migrated to a content management system that solved existing maintenance issues and created the opportunity for interactive resource lists. Subsequent usability testing found that users needed librarian-designed subject guides to understand and access resources. Consequently, University Libraries redesigned its Web site functionality. In the course of this article, it is shown that ease of maintenance and ease of use need not be mutually exclusive.
Transitioning From Marketing-Oriented Design To User-Oriented Design: A Case Study, Shari Laster, Tammy Stitz, Frank Bove, Casey Wise
Transitioning From Marketing-Oriented Design To User-Oriented Design: A Case Study, Shari Laster, Tammy Stitz, Frank Bove, Casey Wise
Research, Publications, and Presentations
The transition to a new architecture and design for an academic library Web site does not always proceed smoothly. This case study describes the experiences of a library at a large research university that hired an outside Web development contractor to create a new architecture and design for the university’s Web site using dotCMS, an open source content management system. The library participated in the design and development process along with other campus units. Because the university-wide process focused on marketing the university to prospective students, parents, and donors, the fact-finding process that the contractor used for the library’s site …
Learning From Personal Experience What’S Needed In Information Literacy Outreach: An Engineering Student Returns To Her Alma Mater As An Engineering Librarian, Tammy Stitz
Research, Publications, and Presentations
An engineering background may not be required for successful outreach projects, however, when coupled with a review of the relevant literature of sci-tech librarianship; it can certainly facilitate “buy in” from the faculty in a way that promotes the American Board of Engineering and Technology mandates to foster lifelong information literacy skills in their students. After having established rapport with the faculty through providing them with specially tailored research and current awareness support, library outreach was then directed towards their graduate students. Success with these two influential groups is now being used to expand both in-person and wireless opportunities to …
Improving The Flow Of Materials In A Cataloging Department: Using Addie For A Project In The Ohio State University Libraries, Melanie Mcgurr
Improving The Flow Of Materials In A Cataloging Department: Using Addie For A Project In The Ohio State University Libraries, Melanie Mcgurr
Research, Publications, and Presentations
The Cataloging Department at the Ohio State University Library continuously reviews workflow to see which areas need improvement. In 2004, the Cataloging Department began receiving complaints about the time it took to locate unprocessed materials within Technical Services. Locating these materials was difficult and time consuming, causing problems for both patrons and staff. The author reports on a project that examined the workflow of unprocessed materials in the Cataloging Department at Ohio State. Using the instructional design ADDIE model, a new workflow was designed and implemented to ensure that items could be located, processed, and delivered to patrons in a …