Library and Information Science Commons^™

Toward A Nevada Digital Collaborative, Jason Vaughan

Library Faculty Research

In mid-2008, through Library Services and Technology Act funding, the Nevada State Library and Archives brought together members for a newly established Nevada Statewide Digital Advisory Committee (hereafter referred to as “NSDAC”) to engage in a comprehensive, statewide digital planning process. As stated in the charge, “Advisory committee members participate in the identification of issues regarding digitization in Nevada, collaborate in the planning and development of a statewide digital initiative . . . and contribute to effective communication among the key digital stakeholders in Nevada.” The full charge is provided in Appendix A. By design, the committee included members from …

Why Not Just Google It? An Assessment Of Information Literacy Skills In A Biomedical Science Curriculum, Karl Kingsley, Gillian M. Galbraith, M. Herring, Eva Stowers, Tanis Stewart, Karla V. Kingsley

Library Faculty Research

Background: Few issues in higher education are as fundamental as the ability to search for, evaluate, and synthesize information. The need to develop information literacy, the process of finding, retrieving, organizing, and evaluating the ever-expanding collection of online information, has precipitated the need for training in skill-based competencies in higher education, as well as medical and dental education.

Methods: The current study evaluated the information literacy skills of first-year dental students, consisting of two, consecutive dental student cohorts (n = 160). An assignment designed to evaluate information literacy skills was conducted. In addition, a survey of student online search engine …

Consortia Efforts: The Colonial Academic Alliance Undergraduate Research Journal, Laura Burtle

Giving Undergraduate Research a Worldwide Voice: Institutional Repositories as Publishers

A presentation on CAA Undergraduate Research Journal, housed at Georgia State's institutional repository.

More information at http://digitalarchive.gsu.edu/caaurj

National Writing Project: Internet Resource, Priscilla Finley

Library Faculty Research

The National Writing Project (NWP) is a federally funded program that focuses on the teaching of writing, and coordinates and supports professional development for writing teachers (K-16) at over 200 college and university partner sites.

Understanding Online Knowledge Sharing: An Interpersonal Relationship Perspective, Will W.K. Ma, Allan H. K. Yuen

Support & Other Units (THEi)

The unique features and capabilities of online learning are built on the ability to connect to a wider range of learning resources and peer learners that benefit individual learners, such as through discussion forums, collaborative learning, and community building. The success of online learning thus depends on the participation, engagement, and social interaction of peer learners, which leads to knowledge sharing. Thus, without frequent and persistent interaction, it is doubtful whether knowledge sharing can take place in online learning. This study argues that theories about the development and maintenance of social relationships provide a theoretical foundation for understanding the motivation …

Betwixt And Between Collaborative Online Spaces: Editing And Publishing A Collection Of Essays, Rebecca Tolley-Stokes

Collaborative Librarianship

No abstract provided.

Librarianship Presence In Virtual Worlds, Jenny M. Baum, Kate Lyons

Publications and Research

Librarianship has stereotypically been about books, communities, and the connection between the two. With the emergence of new media and technology, the concept of books has expanded to include information of all types and in multiple formats: eBooks, DVDs, videogames, electronic databases, et cetera. Meanwhile, the idea of community has stayed the same. For example, public libraries primarily serve communities defined by geographic lines; academic libraries serve their campus communities. In non-profit, medical or corporate libraries, communities are defined by their organization’s particular mission. However, now that virtual worlds are becoming mainstream, librarians are redefining community, just as they redefined …

Students' Perceptions Of A Mobile Application For College Course Management Systems, Roopa Mathur

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Higher education administrators need data on student perceptions to support their decision making regarding mobile learning (m-learning) applications. There is a lack of research addressing students' perceptions of mobile applications for course management systems (CMS). The findings of this study may help administrators understand students' perceptions of a CMS m-learning application, Blackboard Mobile Learn (BML). This m-learning application is available on mobile devices, such as the iPad, iPod Touch, iPhone, Android, and Blackberry smartphones. The purpose of this quantitative survey study was to explore the linear relationship between the independent variables of students' perceptions of usefulness and students' perceptions of …

Introducing Transliteracy: What Does It Mean To Academic Libraries?, Thomas A. Ipri

Library Faculty Research

Transliteracy is recent terminology gaining currency in the library world. It is a broad term encompassing and transcending many existing concepts. Because transliteracy is not a library-centric concept, many in the profession are unsure what the term means and how it relates to libraries’ instructional mission and to other existing ideas about various literacies. Transliteracy is such a new concept that its working definition is still evolving and many of its tenets can easily be misinterpreted. Although this term is in flux, academic librarians should watch developments in this new field to continually assess and understand what impact it may …

A Digital Repository At Loyola University Chicago, Eben English

University Libraries: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Loyola University Libraries propose to develop a suite of services, systems, and online tools for the purpose of collecting, storing, organizing, and providing access to digital assets produced by Loyola University related to research, teaching, and learning. Functioning collectively as a “digital repository,” these initiatives will work in concert to facilitate a wide range of scholarly and archival activities, including content creation, collaboration, resource sharing, author rights management, digitization, preservation, and access by a global academic audience. This open-access repository will provide for increased discoverability, visibility and access to scholarship created at Loyola, and support the management and long-term preservation …

Metadata For Digital Audio Collections, Eben English

University Libraries: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Slides from a webinar presented on October 12, 2010 as part of the "Metadata Matters" educational series sponsored by the Digital Collections Users' Group (DCUG) of the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI).

This session covered how standard metadata schemas such as Dublin Core and METS can be applied to digital audio collections, as well as the embedded metadata fields in digital audio file formats such as WAV, BWF, and MP3. The session also discussed how the unique characteristics of archival audio materials – such as oral histories, lectures, radio broadcasts, and musical performances – can best …

Dlo To Go: Fostering Instructional Use Of New Media, Sandra G. Yee, Nardina N. Mein, Joshua Neds-Fox, Jonathan Mcglone

Library Scholarly Publications

In partnership with Michigan cultural institutions, and state and national funding agencies including the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Library of Michigan, the Wayne State University Library System's New Media & Information Technology unit has been a pioneer developer of digital library collections, including the Virtual Motor City, Digital Dress, and Herman Miller Collections. These collections are accessed thousands of times per month. However, technological barriers and an ad-hoc knowledge base result in hit-and-miss use in online instruction by both faculty and students. This problem is not unique to Wayne State: nationally, it has resulted in widespread …

Library Home Page Design: The Artist-Librarian Perspective, Virginia C. Feher

Georgia Library Quarterly

The article focuses on a library home page that is designed from the artist-librarian perspective. It cites the need to include promotional features on a page to advertise resources available from the Web site and sponsored events. It notes that the application of the basic principles of art such as emphasis, harmony and movement is important for a successful composition of the page. Also stated is the use of color on a home page which, according to the author, can result in a page that is vibrant while supportive of the delivery of information.

Google Analytics: Analyzing The Latest Wave Of Legal Concerns For Google In The U.S. And The E.U., 7 Buff. Intell. Prop. L.J. 135 (2010), Raizel Liebler, Keidra Chaney

UIC Law Open Access Faculty Scholarship

The next wave of concern regarding Google involves web analytics. Web analytics is the measurement, collection, analysis, and reporting of Internet data for the purposes of understanding and optimizing web usage. The concerns of web analytics use touches on issues of online user privacy, government use of personal information, and information on website user activity. While Google Analytics is not the sole web analytics product on the market, it is widely used by corporate, non-profit, and government organizations. The product has been reported to have a 59% market share among web analytics vendors in a 2008 study.

Web analytics technology …

Save Gas Using Your Office Computer From Home, Steve Duckworth, Damon Armour, Jeff Heck

Georgia Library Quarterly

The article discusses the protocols used to establish remote computer connections from home. The Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) used in Windows 7 connecting to a Windows 2008 server reportedly allows the playing of high-definition video using Media Player. It is stated that commercial product connections which may bypass security infrastructure are risky because of the home computer's possible insecurity and that home devices used for business purposes may be legally searched by the state.

Building Pathfinders With Screen Capture Tools, Patrick Griffis

Library Faculty Research

This article outlines freely available screen capturing tools, covering their benefits and drawbacks as well as their potential applications. In discussing these tools, the author illustrates how they can be used to build pathfinding tutorials for users and how these tutorials can be shared with users. The author notes that the availability of these screen capturing tools at no cost, coupled with their ease of use, provides ample opportunity for low-stakes experimentation from library staff in building dynamic pathfinders to promote the discovery of library resources.

Georgia Library News Now On Twitter

Georgia Library Quarterly

The article informs that the Georgia Public Library Services (GPLS) has created a Twitter account, Georgialibs. According to GPLS Webmaster Darin Givens, the GPLS Twitter feed will be useful communications tool for getting brief reminders about upcoming library events, conferences and workshops. Given adds that it will also be used for linking public library news items.

Dirt: Digital Research Tools Wiki, Priscilla Finley

Library Faculty Research

This wiki listing of Web-based tools and commercial software is geared to humanities/social sciences researchers. Users can identify tools for specific research tasks. Project organizers are the only editors, but they actively solicit suggestions.

Ageism In Academic Librarianship, Melanie Chu

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

Background

Nearly one out of every ten librarians is under the age of thirty. The average age of a graduate student in library and information science is 30-35 years old. Between 2010-2020, 45% of librarians will reach the retirement age of 65 years old. The relative age of the profession will continue to decrease as retirements increase. Statistically, the population of young librarians is a growing minority.

Young, new librarians face age discrimination, including disrespectful treatment in the workplace and unrealistic expectations of performance. Ageism in academic libraries results in job dissatisfaction and loss of retention for these new librarians. …

Overhauling Of A Science Library Web Area, Daniel S. Dotson

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

Abstract

This article covers the revamp of a science library’s web area. The library’s web area contained outdated web pages, unused files, and an architecture that made it hard to maintain. All of these issues with the web area resulted in an examination and revamping of several aspects of all the files on the web area. Server statistics were used to determine the usage of the files in the library’s web area. Files containing textual information were categorized according to their topic and the usage of each topic area was examined to determine the distribution of usage amongst the topic …

E-State Practices In Turkey: Evaluation Of Governmental Web Sites, Feryal Turan, Özlem Bayram

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

Introduction

The development of information technologies (IT) supports significant transformations in the conventional working mechanisms of the Turkish State and affiliated public institutions.

E-State is defined by World Bank as the reformulation of the relations between citizens, businesses and State authorities through use of information technologies (such as Wide Area Networks, Internet, and mobile communication) by public administrative units.

Whereas important steps have been taken in e-State practices within the framework of the infrastructure of the institutional and national information networks, Turkey is still at the starting point with regards to meeting the information and communication technology-based needs of its …

Embedding An Im [Instant Messaging] Widget In Research Databases: Helping Users At Their Point-Of-Need, Kwabena Sekyere

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

Introduction

The rapid growth of internet users has made libraries eager to introduce online services for this new community, in addition to their traditional reference services. Virtual reference service has become a convenient and easily accessible option for the online community, particularly with increasing amounts of libraries resources now available electronically as well (Lou, 2007).

Virtual reference began in many libraries as email reference service (Janes, 2002) with a move to live chat reference as technology advanced. These live reference services were offered through chat software developed in-house or by vendors. Due to the high cost of purchasing and maintaining …

Open House In The Ivory Tower: Public Programming At An Academic Library, Rochelle Smith, Ben Hunter

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

Abstract

Public programming, a frequently used outreach tool for public libraries, is far less common in academic libraries. This article examines the University of Idaho Library’s efforts to attract both university and community members with public programming, delving into detail for three specific grant-funded discussion series: one on Jewish literature, one on graphic novels, and one on jazz. Strategies for location selection, advertising, scheduling and funding are all discussed with commentary on what worked well, what didn’t, and how public programming fits into the mission of an academic library.

Using A Permanent Usability Team To Advance User-Centered Design In Libraries, Jane Nichols, Alison M. Bobal, Susan Mcevoy

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

Abstract

Usability, user studies, and evaluating user experiences have been a part of academic libraries for many years. In the last 20 years libraries have created ad hoc usability teams to do user studies. Oregon State University (OSU) Libraries started its ongoing team in 2006, resulting in an increased focus on user experience throughout the libraries. This article explores the team’s history from formation to work it took on. The merits and challenges usability teams bring to an organization are also discussed. To date the literature describes usability methods and shares findings from libraries’ usability studies but none discusses benefits …

If You Build It, They May Not Come: The Case Of Questionpoint, Lynette Ralph

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

Abstract

The Knowledge Base (KB) of QuestionPoint (QP) is a Knowledge Management (KM) tool capable of capturing the collective knowledge of reference librarians for future use. The goal of the study was to determine if this KB is an effective KM tool. Descriptive research was the methodology used and included an unobtrusive study, a survey instrument, and interviews. This study revealed that despite the technological capabilities of this KB, librarians who had access to the system failed to utilize it.

Permanent Electronic Access To Government Information: A Study Of Federal, State, And Local Documents, Claudene Sproles, Angel Clemons

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

[First two paragraphs]

Even before the conception of electronic-only documents, providing permanent public access to government information was challenging. Since 1813, federal depository libraries have acquired and maintained tangible items to ensure continued access for the public. Fugitive documents, or government-produced information which escapes distribution through the Federal Depository Library System (FDLP), have always been a major concern. In our current environment, where the vast majority of government information is distributed electronic-only, this problem has only worsened. That, coupled with the ability to completely destroy electronic documents with the click of a mouse, has made the task of finding and …

Encouraging Faculty Requests For Library Materials: Midwest’S New Book Selection Service, Lydia F. Knight

Georgia Library Quarterly

The article discusses the use of Midwest Library Service's notification scheme by Dalton State College in Georgia. It offers a New Book Selection Service, which replaces the notification slip as a medium of distributing announcements on forthcoming titles. This information is sent by electronic mail instead. The lists can be profiled using the Library of Congress Subject Classification.

Permanent Electronic Access To Government Information: A Study Of Federal, State, And Local Documents., Claudene Sproles, Angel Clemons

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Even before the conception of electronic-only documents, providing permanent public access to government information was challenging. Since 1813, federal depository libraries have acquired and maintained tangible items to ensure continued access for the public. Fugitive documents, or government-produced information which escapes distribution through the Federal Depository Library System (FDLP), have always been a major concern. In our current environment, where the vast majority of government information is distributed electronic-only, this problem has only worsened. That, coupled with the ability to completely destroy electronic documents with the click of a mouse, has made the task of finding and ensuring permanent public …

Gresham's Law In The 21St Century, Joshua Finnell

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

Abstract

Research indicates that most people today satisfy their information needs through the Internet. As we move deeper into the information age, librarians must embrace the role of inculcating information literacy skills lest Gresham’s Law of economics becomes a reality in our information economy. This article discusses the probabilistic nature of the Internet against the backdrop of Gresham’s Law.

Vodcasting, Itunes U, And Faculty Collaboration, Jason Paul Michel, Susan Hurst, Andrew Revelle

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

Introduction

In the summer of 2008, the Miami University Libraries began a pilot project to integrate Web video tutorials (vodcasts) into a multiplicity of access points to enhance and extend library services. By the end of the project, Web video tutorials had been embedded in specific course sites in the course management system Blackboard, as well as in our institution's iTunes U site. The libraries were, in fact, the first entity on campus to feature publicly-available content on iTunes U. This brief article will delineate the project and explain why we believe this effort has helped position the library within …