Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Optimizing A Library Website For Student Research: Comparing User Metrics Between Encore And Google Scholar, Lindsay Ozburn, Ryan Bushman, Kade Stevenson, Margaret Winward, Liz Woolcott

Library Faculty & Staff Presentations

The paper addresses the methods and general conclusions portion of an experiment that evaluated user preference and search experience using Google Scholar and Utah State University (USU) Libraries' Encore discovery layer as a starting point for research. USU's 2019 Ithaka S+R Faculty survey highlighted that our faculty utilize Google Scholar more as a starting point for their research. To triangulate these findings, the experiment attempts to identify which search methods undergraduates prefer.

Analyzing Discoverability In An Mplp World: How Levels Of Description Impact Findability, Anna-Maria Arnljots, Paul Daybell, Kurt Alan Meyer, Andrea Payant, Becky Skeen, Liz Woolcott

Library Faculty & Staff Presentations

Libraries and archives have differing opinions on how much effort to put into content description. Yet, descriptive practices meant to reduce processing time and increase exposure to collections can have unintended impacts on long-term user discovery. This project tests minimal and full description to determine the effects on discoverability.

Level Down To Level Up: The Impact Of Item-Level Description On Finding Aid Discoverability, Paul Daybell, Andrea Payant, Becky Skeen, Liz Woolcott

Library Faculty & Staff Presentations

Utah State University Libraries Cataloging and Metadata Services unit investigated the discoverability of local Encoded Archival Description (EAD) finding aids using different levels of description. The research team created two nearly identical versions of the same finding aid for five collections and posted them online. The only difference in the finding aids was the level to which the collection contents were described. For each collection, one version of the finding aid was described at the file (box or folder) level and the other version was described at the item level. Over a year later the team pulled the analytics for …

Media Moguls: Finding And Using Creative Commons Media In The Classroom, Erica Finch

Library Faculty & Staff Presentations

Pictures, videos, music, and other types of media can help engage your class, but how do we find and use media in a way that sets a good example for students? As students navigate the confusing landscapes of copyright, citation, and media use in their course work, can we help them chart a path to success by engaging in practices they can emulate?

Creative Commons licenses make it easy to use media with confidence and avoid copyright pitfalls. This session will explore what Creative Commons licenses are, how they work, and how to find Creative Commons media. Come ready to …

Open Educational Resources: Wherever, Whenever, Forever, Stephanie Western

Library Faculty & Staff Presentations

"OER are teaching, learning, and research resources that reside in the public domain or have been released under an intellectual property license that permits their free use and repurposing by others. Open educational resources include full courses, course materials, modules, textbooks, streaming videos, tests, software, and any other tools, materials, or techniques used to support access to knowledge." (William and Flora Hewlett Foundation)

Avoiding A "Level Of Discontent" In Finding Aids: An Analysis Of User Engagement Across Ead Levels, Paul Daybell, Andrea Payant, Becky Skeen, Liz Woolcott

Library Faculty & Staff Presentations

USU Libraries Cataloging and Metadata Services unit investigated the discoverability of local Encoded Archival Description (EAD) finding aids. The research team put two versions of the same finding aid online with one described at the file (box or folder) level and the other described at the item level. Over a year later the team pulled the analytics for each guide and assessed the descriptive level most frequently accessed as well as the search terms patrons utilized and where they were found in finding aid tags. Presenters will discuss the methodology of the project and research outcomes.

None Of Our Business: Examining The Economics And Business Dynamics Of The Library And Information Industry, Jason Folkman, Alex J. Sundt, Robert Heaton, Erica Finch, Stephanie Western, Nick Gittins

Library Faculty & Staff Presentations

Librarians are often referred to as information professionals and talk of the "information industry," but how much do we actually know about the business side of publishing and library vendors? As vendors and publishers continue to consolidate, and costs increase for libraries and our communities, the business side of libraries deserves greater scrutiny from the library community which often shies away from critically examining our role in the greater information industry. Building our awareness and engaging in critical discourse of the library industry is essential for securing our bargaining power, navigating our role as stewards of our collections, and situating …

University Treasure – Collections Of Secrets: How Utah State University Libraries Modernized Their University Archives, Paul Daybell, Quinn Gerber, Heather Housley, Kelly Rovegno, Becky Skeen, Liz Woolcott

Library Faculty & Staff Presentations

Starting in 2018, Utah State University Libraries undertook a largescale cataloging project to modernize the University Archives. Before 2018 the University Archives was largely inaccessible to patrons with only 2% of collections having online finding aids and no existing electronic shelf list inventory. Using a workflow-driven approach, a team of catalogers, archivists, and student technicians embarked on a four-phase journey to inventory over 21,000 items, create EAD finding aids and MARC catalog records for over 2700 unique collections, and ingesting all collections into the Library’s newly implemented archival management system. Presenters will discuss the process developed, tools used, and outcomes …

Research Impact Fluxkit: A Playful Exploration Of Research Assessment, Erica Finch

Library Faculty & Staff Presentations

Librarians sure do love their toolkits—but what happens when the tools we use reinforce systems of discrimination and exclusion? The Research Impact Fluxkit is a playful and interactive interpretation of the library toolkit intended to spark discussion about how we assess the impact of our research.

On Your Marc, Get Set, Code!, Anna-Maria Arnljots, Paul Daybell, Kurt Alan Meyer, Andrea Payant, Becky Skeen, Liz Woolcott

Library Faculty & Staff Presentations

How are MARC records performing in our search environment? This presentation will look at the process and results of a research project that analyzed how users’ search terms matched up with MARC fields, as well as how and where MARC records were displayed in search results lists. Presenters will discuss the process, the results of the project, and outline how attendees can implement similar research projects at their institutions, including tools and techniques they can use to analyze how their own records are surfacing in a search environment.

Engaging ≠ Engagement: Assessing Students' Behaviors Following Gamified Orientation, Katie Strand, Makenzie Boatright, Pamela N. Martin

Library Faculty & Staff Presentations

What do students retain from first-year workshops? In fall 2019, Utah State University Libraries assessed our interactive orientation when it became optional rather than required for USU’s first-year seminar, creating two populations to study, participants and nonparticipants. By convening focus groups and analyzing campus data, we investigated if the orientation helped freshmen engage with library spaces, services, and materials. Findings revealed workshop strengths and weaknesses, as well as broader student preferences, behaviors, and expectations. Join librarians and students to discuss first-year students’ anxieties and needs concerning not only the library, but also campus belonging and student independence.

You Feel Special When You Get A Library Card: Replicating Latinx Students' Public Library Feelings In Academic Library Spaces, Niki Fullmer

Library Faculty & Staff Presentations

The goal of academic and public libraries is to support the community by contributing to life-long learning, access, and knowledge. However, the feelings produced by these institutions are dissimilar although both use similar practices to reach their communities. Researchers administered surveys and interviews at a university to understand Latinx students’ perceptions of the academic library. Many of the questions inquired about their feelings towards public libraries as well as cultural affirmation wishes they wanted implemented in academic libraries. In our proposed presentation, we will share how Latinx students view public and academic libraries in relation to their culture and ethnicity.

Teamwork Makes The Dream Work: Collaboratively Navigating Information Literacy Instruction In The Classroom, Niki Fullmer, Katie Strand

Library Faculty & Staff Presentations

Teaching students to critically think and effectively research and write is a tall task, but an important one in ensuring students become informed citizens. The good news is we don’t have to face these challenging concepts alone. In Spring 2022, USU Librarians conducted a research study to better understand information literacy instruction that is occurring in our local high schools as well as understand teacher/librarian collaborations. Presenters will share key findings from this study and facilitate a discussion about how our expertise as teachers and librarians might intersect in ways that will better support our students. Participants will also discover …