Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Choosing A Repository Platform: Open Source Vs. Hosted Solutions, Hillary Corbett, Jimmy Ghaphery, Lauren Work, Sam Byrd

VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications

Discusses selection of a locally hosted, open-source system (DSpace/Fedora) versus a cloud-hosted, proprietary system (Digital Commons), it is important to note that these examples are merely illustrative. Libraries have a range of choices for repository software that includes open source and proprietary in any number of support environments, and exemplary repositories are flourishing on a variety of systems, both open source and proprietary. This chapter focuses on the differences between proprietary and open-source solutions, but also demonstrates how and why libraries choose a repository system. In writing about this process, we realized that it was important to acknowledge that there …

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.

Data Management Roles For Librarians, Margaret E. Henderson

VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications

In this Chapter:
● Looking at data through different lenses
● Exploring the range of data use and data support
● Using data as the basis for informed decision making
● Treating data as a legitimate scholarly research product

The Right Place At The Right Time: Creative Spaces In Libraries, Eric Johnson

VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications

Purpose

This essay explores the recent trend in libraries: that of the establishment of spaces specifically set aside for creative work. The rise of these dedicated creative spaces is owed to a confluence of factors that happen to be finding their expression together in recent years. This essay examines the history of these spaces and explores the factors that gave rise to them and will fuel them moving forward.

Design/Methodology/Approach

A viewpoint piece, this essay combines historical research and historical/comparative analyses to examine the ways by which libraries have supported creative work in the past and how they may continue …

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.

Embedding Information Literacy In An Mfa Novel Workshop, John Glover

VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications

No abstract provided.