Library and Information Science Commons^™

The Many Faces Of Instruction: An Exploration Of Academic Librarians’ Teaching Personas, Elena S. Azadbakht

Communications in Information Literacy

While several studies explore whether librarians think of themselves as teachers, how librarians construct their teacher identities has received less attention in the literature. This project used semi-structured interviews with eighteen academic librarians in the United States to gain a sense of their teaching personas and how these have developed and evolved over time. The participants valued authenticity but were also able to quickly adapt their personas to different contexts. Librarians wish to be seen as friendly experts and develop their values-based teaching personas slowly over the course of their careers. The results of this study can help shape professional …

Introducing Critical Librarianship To Information Professionals: Using Critical Pedagogy And Critical Information Literacy In An Lis Graduate Course, Marcia Rapchak

Communications in Information Literacy

Critical librarianship, which critiques the role of libraries and information professionals in maintaining systems of oppression, has been growing in popularity in the profession, and instructors in Library and Information Science (LIS) have begun to address critical librarianship in their coursework. While critical pedagogy and critical librarianship have influenced approaches to LIS education, the intersection of these two has not been as thoroughly addressed. Additionally, the literature on critical information literacy focuses largely on library instruction. This case study explores a critical pedagogy approach in a critical librarianship class that prepares students for critical information literacy instruction. The instructor implemented …

Investigation Of The Validity Evidence Of The Information Literacy Self-Efficacy Scale (Ilses) Among Undergraduate Students, Max Sommer, Angela M. Kohnen, Albert D. Ritzhaupt, John Hampton

Communications in Information Literacy

The purpose of this research was to provide validity evidence for the Information Literacy Self-Efficacy Scale (ILSES), a widely used instrument that was constructed in 2006. The researchers were interested in investigating the validity of this instrument due to the evolution of the information environment that has taken place since the scale’s original development, mostly as a result of the prominence of the Internet. Data were collected from N = 253 undergraduate students participating in a broader information literacy research study. Data were subjected to descriptive analyses, internal consistency reliability, and a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). After evaluating three different …

“We’Re A Little Different:” Business Information Literacy Perspectives On The Acrl Framework, Amanda B. Click, Claire Walker Wiley, Meggan A. Houlihan

Communications in Information Literacy

The introduction of the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy in Higher Education in 2015 inspired many librarians to rethink how they offer information literacy instruction. This multi-method study, using data from a survey and five focus groups, explores the use of the Framework in business information literacy (BIL). The study research questions focus on how librarians engage with the Framework in supporting the information needs of business students. Participants indicate that they make implicit, direct, and institutional use of the Framework. They also use a variety of tools aside from the Framework when designing their BIL instruction. Limitations of …

“This Is Just What We Do”: Phd Students On Becoming Scholars In A Community Of Practice, Linds Roberts

Communications in Information Literacy

Increasingly librarians are interested in how the Community of Practice (CoP) framework can provide a more complete picture of how information literacy practices are influenced by situated and social learning. Doctoral students are socialized into the practices of the academy and gradually take on the identity and work of a scholar in their field. As an illustration of the CoP framework among doctoral students, the author shares data from a qualitative study with a small group of early-career education PhD students who are developing their information literacy skills within their disciplinary and social contexts, using the CoP as a source …

The Library Language Game: Information Literacy Through The Lens Of Wittgenstein's Language Games, Kathleen A. Langan

Communications in Information Literacy

Labeling information is a precarious and risky enterprise. Catalogers have the task of fitting unique concepts within established and rigid language frameworks while also minimizing personal bias. The way information literacy librarians interact with labeled information also influences how users interact with information. Labeling moves beyond the role of categorizing, it also contributes to meaning making and knowledge building. Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations serves as a philosophical footing to illustrate how the labeling of things, in this case information, shapes the way we give things meaning. Critical librarianship and philosophy of information theory add to the discussion by considering how personal …

Review: Games And Gamification In Academic Libraries Edited By Stephanie Crowe And Eva Sclippa, Janna L. Mattson

Communications in Information Literacy

No abstract provided.

The First-Year Library Instruction One-Shot: A Place For Caring, Leah Morin

Communications in Information Literacy

An academic librarian providing one-shot instruction sessions to first-year students is uniquely positioned to enact a feminist ethic of care in the classroom. First-year university students are particularly in need of caring. The library instruction session is often their introduction to and first impression of the library and an opportunity to inspire a relationship with the librarian and library. The instruction session, then, should be seen as an open door to a future relationship between librarian and student. The librarian is not the professor and, therefore, has the freedom to focus a primary learning objective on caring.

Beyond The Checklist Approach: A Librarian-Faculty Collaboration To Teach The Beam Method Of Source Evaluation, Jenny Mills, Rachael Flynn, Nicole Fox, Dana Shaw, Claire Walker Wiley

Communications in Information Literacy

Evaluating information is an essential skill, valued across disciplines. While librarians and instructors share the responsibility to teach this skill, they need a common framework in order to collaborate to design assignments that give students multiple opportunities to learn. Librarians and First Year Seminar faculty at Belmont University collaborated to design a unit of instruction on source evaluation using the BEAM method. BEAM requires students to apply a use-based approach to evaluation, to read and engage with sources more closely, and to think about how they might use a source for a specific purpose. Structured annotated bibliographies that included BEAM …

On "Developing Information Literate Abilities": Uncovering Whiteness At The Center Of The Acrl Framework For Information Literacy, Anders Tobiason

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

What does it mean to be information literate? Who is the model information literate individual? Taking its cue from Critical Discourse Analysis and Antiracist Black Language Pedagogy, this presentation questions the foundational image of the information literate individual lying at the heart of the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy. Using critical race theory and an understanding of how whiteness functions as a presumed neutral background in our society, we begin to understand the whiteness of this individual. In this presentation, I briefly outline how whiteness functions and then move on to show how whiteness functions within the Framework more specifically. …

Engaging Conversations: Foregrounding Twitter Feeds In Library Guides As A Way To Critically Promote Discussions Of Social Justice, Anders Tobiason

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

Academic librarians have often been hesitant to foreground real time engagement with social justice in our public facing library guides. The guides, more often than not, serve merely to provide access points to “academic” materials and traditional news sources. Perhaps there is a different path. Driven by the events of the past year (though these issues are not new), I have been working on ways to point patrons towards the real conversations happening outside (and sometimes inside) academia that are missed when we rely on traditional news sources. The real critical engagement with social justice issues such as race and …

Open Education Week: Open Pedagogy And Student Content Creation, Shane Abrams, Frank Granshaw, Veronica Hotton

Open Education Week 2021

Open Pedagogy is the practice of engaging students in content creation through "renewable assignments" so that their work lives on beyond the course and has an authentic audience. In this workshop, you will learn about how to structure an Open Pedagogy assignment and will see examples from faculty who have designed their own renewable assignments.

How Does Oer Meet Our Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Goals?, Jenny Ceciliano, Lisa Notman, Karen Bjork, Jaime R. Wood, Scott Robison

Open Education Week 2021

Eliminating textbook costs through the use of Open Educational Resources may seem like a simple change, but it's one that can have a big impact. Research has shown that using OER in place of traditional textbooks helps to create more equitable and inclusive learning experiences for marginalized students. In this workshop, learn more about how OER is a DEI tool and how PSU faculty are using OER in their courses.

Counter 5: Lessons Learned And New Insights Achieved, Jill Emery, Lorraine Estelle, Stephanie J. Adams

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

COUNTER (Counting Online Usage of NeTworked Electronic Resources) Release 5 has brought many improvements to reporting usage of e-resources. This session covered the three main developments which are the ability to see both total and unique downloads, the default exclusion of Gold Open Access usage in Standard View reports, and the introduction of the Unique_Title metric for reporting e-book usage. Examples of the manner in which different types of e-journal and e-book usage are reported with the new metrics as well as recommendations for calculating cost per use were also provided. Detailed information on Release 5 can be found in …

From Story To Research: Storying Human Experience Narratives, Emily Ford

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

This presentation discusses the qualitative research methodology narrative inquiry. It then presents some of the background theory to Coralie McCormack's storying stories approach to narrative analysis of interview transcripts. Finally, the speaker uses examples from her own research using storying stories to reflect on the relationship that power has to the particular methodology and methods discussed in the presentation. This presentation was given as part of the 2021 Institute for Research Design in Librarianship's (IRDL) Speaker Series: Thinking Critically about Research and Power.

A Multi-Institutional Model For Advancing Open Access Journals And Reclaiming Control Of The Scholarly Record, Christopher V. Hollister, Karen Bjork, Stewart Brower

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

The open access journal Communications in Information Literacy (CIL) began publication in 2007. After ten years of continuous growth, CIL migrated from Online Journals Systems (OJS) and a commercial web host to Portland State’s Digital Commons (bepress) publishing platform, PDXScholar. The presenters provide brief overviews of CIL and PDXScholar, and they detail the challenges and ultimate successes of this multi-institutional model for advancing open access journals and reclaiming control of the scholarly record. They highlight the content migration process from OJS to PDXScholar, post-migration actions to correct metadata, the introduction of functioning DOIs, and coordinating with both …

Pdxscholar Annual Report 2020, Karen Bjork, Sherry Buchanan, David Coate, Bertrand Robinson, Stacey Schlatter

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

This report details the tenth year of operation for PDXScholar, Portland State University's institutional repository. The report covers the period between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020.

The 2020 report highlights the exponential growth of PDXScholar with almost 2.1 million (2,094,796) full text downloads. This is an increase of approximately 800,000 downloads from 2019, representing a 62% increase.

The report also focuses on our work to bring online new collections and to highlight research impacting our communities, academics, and personal lives.

Beyond “No”: Best Practices For Responding To Resource Requests, Kerry Wu

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

At a recent BRASS Virtual Discussion, business librarians commiserated over the shared frustration of having to say “no” regularly to resource requests (RUSA_BRASS, n.d.). As a midcareer business librarian, I still feel the discomfort after having said “no” numerous times. In this article, I will share some of the practices I have found helpful in responding to requests from business faculty for new databases or journals, especially when I have to say “no” without burning bridges.

Assessing The Potential For Critical Thinking Instruction In Information Literacy Online Learning Objects Using Best Practices, Mandi Goodsett

Communications in Information Literacy

Critical thinking, while often used as a mere buzzword, is clearly relevant to the mission and expertise of librarians who teach. Even in online information literacy instruction, critical thinking remains an important goal. This study attempts to determine the ways and extent to which online information literacy learning objects follow best practices for teaching and assessing critical thinking. In this study, the researcher evaluated a sample of information literacy online learning objects in the Association of College and Research Libraries repository of peer-reviewed instruction materials, PRIMO, using a literature-based rubric. The resulting analysis provides evidence of the extent to which …

Information Literacy Practices And Perceptions Of Community College Librarians In Florida And New York, Heidi Julien, Don Latham, Melissa Gross, Lindsey Moses, Felicia Warren

Communications in Information Literacy

An online survey in Florida and New York of community college librarians with responsibility for information literacy instruction provides a snapshot of instructional objectives and practices, including librarians’ beliefs about students’ information literacy needs, strengths, and weaknesses. Survey results point to the influence of the Association of College and Research Libraries Framework in the community college context, the challenges librarians face as they work to implement it, and their successes in doing so. These data reveal opportunities to support and improve instruction and to prepare future librarians to work successfully in community college contexts.

Analyzing Information Sources Through The Lens Of The Acrl Framework: A Case Study Of Wikipedia, Trudi E. Jacobson

Communications in Information Literacy

Might the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education be used to analyze information resources? Would a Framework-focused analysis of one commonly used resource, Wikipedia, yield valuable insights for the teaching and learning of key information literacy concepts? Each of the six frames is explored in the light of Wikipedia, and metaliteracy, a founding principle of the Framework, is introduced when it provides additional scaffolding in connection with the goals of a particular frame as a way to enhance student learning opportunities. There are a number of components in Wikipedia that align with the Framework …

A Noteworthy Next Class: Making Learning Objectives Work For You, Amy B. James

Communications in Information Literacy

The creation of learning objectives is often considered imperative for semester-length courses, yet unimportant or irrelevant for information literacy instruction one-shot sessions. However, the Association of College and Research Libraries Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education calls librarians into action by instructing each library and campus to develop learning outcomes in line with the six frames that make sense for their individual communities. By reviewing the recognized taxonomies and selecting one that resonates with their teaching, librarians can follow the principles of backward design developed by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe to create learning objectives that work for their …

Not A Blank Slate: Information Literacy Misconceptions In First-Year Experience Courses, Michelle Keba, Elizabeth Fairall

Communications in Information Literacy

Information literacy is the primary instructional focus of many librarians. With the development of a core set of information literacy threshold concepts, librarians often strive to impart these concepts to undergraduate students during their years of study. However, when students come to school, they are not blank slates. They arrive with preconceived ideas or misconceptions which can impede this process. In this article, the authors report on the results of focus groups held with first-year students at a private, liberal arts university. During the focus groups, participants were asked to share their perceptions of the misconceptions identified by Hinchliffe et …

No Money For Oer Program? How To Support Oer And Students In A Time Of Covid, Karen Bjork, Amy Hofer

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

Open Educational Resources (OER) ensure students have equal and immediate access to course materials needed to succeed. The pandemic has left institutions in a budget crisis as they scramble to safely deliver a quality educational experience. Students face unemployment in increasing numbers. Libraries need low cost and no cost tactics to ensure quality OER content and programs continue to meet growing demand. This hour-long webinar will provide viewers with tactics and information libraries need to continue to deliver quality OER materials to students and faculty.

Key topics:

• Conversation about copyright guidance and deals regarding textbooks
• Textbook statements and adding open …

Reimagining Peer Review, Emily Ford

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

As you may recall, the 2020 Critical Library and Pedagogy Symposium instituted an open peer review process—not masking submitters’ names and other identifying information—to review proposed sessions. This decision came after the committee noted a lack of diversity in accepted sessions using a closed review process. Using open peer review allowed the committee to balance accepted proposals and offer a diverse range of views and experiences among presenters. This hour-long facilitated discussion will examine bias and power structures inherent in peer review. It will be an interactive session that allows participants to critically examine their views and previous experiences with …

Publishing During The Pandemic: Strengthening Relationships, Removing Barriers, Reaching New Heights, Sherry Buchanan, Maika Yeigh

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

Library-supported open access journal publishing has been flourishing amidst the pandemic, but we recognize that our work is rapidly evolving and will never be “business as usual” as we extend our services to meet new needs and challenges. PSU Library has always been empathetic and service-oriented, but now we find ourselves going the extra mile for editors and authors whose lives have been disrupted ‒ doing whatever it takes to maintain sustainable publishing and highlight social justice. Our focus is directly aimed at helping the underdogs and fostering change, reasserting our relationship with readers by working with authors and editors …

Building On What We've Learned: Approaches To Library Publishing From Three Different Universities, Johanna Meetz, Karen Bjork, Annie Johnson

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

Panelists from Portland State, Pacific University, and Temple University will discuss three different models for library publishing, with a focus on collaboration, sustainability, and accessibility. Panelists come from small programs with one or two people at the helm, as well as a program that includes people with diverse publishing backgrounds. We will discuss how our programs grew out of different priorities within our libraries, including a desire to address the high cost of textbooks for our students, as well as an interest in advancing open access more generally. Other things that shaped our programs include a repository platform that supported …

Crafting A Closure And The Art Of Deconstruction: Lessons Learned From The Oregon College Of Art And Craft Library’S Final Days, Elsa Loftis, Dan Kelley

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

After the disheartening news of a full closure of the Oregon College of Art and Craft in 2019, the librarian and partners had the unpleasant task of dismantling and distributing the library’s unique collection. This article outlines that process in the context of other library closures and offers ideas for best practices and project management procedures for other libraries to consider if facing such a situation. The article is also a tribute to the unique collection and space that needed to be disassembled and how the collection lives on to make contributions at other institutions.

A Multi-Institutional Model For Advancing Open Access Journals And Reclaiming The Scholarly Record, Christopher V. Hollister, Karen Bjork, Stewart Brower

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

Numerous factors contributed to the development of the journal Communications in Information Literacy (CIL), which began publication in 2007. Countering the monopolistic and exclusionary practices of commercial journal publishers was a leading concern. The co-founders were motivated by the possibilities of what was then an awakening open research environment to create a truly open access journal, filling a gap in the literature, and helping the library field to commence with reclaiming control of its scholarly record. There were many challenges to this undertaking; among them was the lack of institutional capacity to host or support a library publishing initiative. Accordingly, …

The Library Has Infinite Streaming Content, But Are Users Infinitely Content? The Library Catalog Vs. Vendor Platform Discovery, Jian Wang, Elsa Loftis

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

Despite the widespread adoption of streaming video by academic libraries, there has been little discussion about how video content is discovered and accessed through the library catalog as compared to vendor platforms. This article explores the current status of video resources in the library catalog to better understand how users find and access streaming content. MARC records were evaluated, and searches were performed to gauge issues related to metadata quality and its impact on discovery. The study reveals new trends in how users access streaming content for teaching, learning, and research.