Library and Information Science Commons^™

From Burnout To Belonging: Reintroducing Joy Through Collaborative Library Culture Change, Jason D. Phillips, Chereeka Garner, Cindy Dancel

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Libraries are often expected to create joy for others, yet many library workers continue to experience burnout, dissatisfaction, and disconnection. This session explores how one academic library implemented a staff-led, administration-supported approach to rebuilding workplace culture through collective, low-cost, and capacity-aware strategies. Centered on the work of an internal advisory group, this model creates structured opportunities for feedback, collaboration, and shared decision-making while introducing small, intentional interventions that foster connection, recognition, and belonging. Rather than relying on individual resilience or one-time morale boosts, this approach emphasizes sustainable, iterative practices that respond to staff needs and organizational realities. Attendees will leave …

Generative Ai Peer Tutoring To Support Peer-Reviewed Source Identification And Evaluation, Rae Mair, Michelle Kelley, Taylar Wenzel, Andrea C. Borowczak, Yuqing Li, Mike Borowczak

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This chapter explores the design and evaluation of a generative artificial intelligence peer tutor prompt to support college students in identifying and evaluating peer-reviewed sources for academic research. Grounded in literature on peer tutoring, Socratic dialogue, and AI-supported learning, the authors describe an iterative prompt engineering process designed to transform large language models (LLMs) into Socratic-style peer tutors capable of scaffolding student reasoning without completing tasks for them. Five guiding criteria for an effective peer tutor shaped development and evaluation: cognitive congruence, step-by-step guidance, avoiding giving answers, adaptability to student level, metacognitive transparency, and following assignment directions. Across multiple human-centered …

Practical Strategies For Instructional Faculty And Librarians Designing Accessible Instructional Materials, Rachel E. Trnka

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

While discussions of the accessibility of instructional materials are not new, librarians and instructional faculty are facing increased pressure to ensure the accessibility of their materials in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic’s rapid shift to online education. Many faculty and librarians, however, do not receive adequate training and support in the area of accessible design. In addition, there is often confusion about who is responsible for ensuring the accessibility of instructional materials in higher education environments. This paper presents practical strategies for librarians and instructional faculty to identify readily available resources, create inventories of their own instructional materials, identify …

Partnering For International Student Success: Opportunities For Academic Librarians And Esl Faculty To Support Research And Information Literacy Skills, Rachel E. Trnka

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Presentation at the Graduate Student Forum of the TESOL Virtual Conference

With the growing number of international students attending American universities in recent years, academic librarians recognize the importance of serving the needs of that population. However, many librarians acknowledge that they feel unprepared to support international students, due to a lack of training or experience working with multilingual or second-language learners. This presentation offers a review of the literature exploring collaborations between librarians and instructors to better support ELLs in a college and university setting and presents recommendations for both librarians and faculty. While this session focuses on academic …

Collaborative Opportunities Between Academic Librarians And Esl Faculty To Support International Students, Rachel E. Trnka

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Session for the Sunshine TESOL Conference

This session will explore ways academic librarians and ESL faculty can collaborate to support not only the research skills of international students but also out of classroom learning opportunities for students. As an academic librarian working on a TEFL certificate, I hope to highlight the value of librarians learning about teaching and outreach techniques targeted to English language learners and faculty learning about unique challenges international students face using American academic libraries and conducting research.

Team Approach To Increase Staff Happiness, Cindy Dancel, Chereeka Garner, Jason D. Phillips, Christopher Saclolo

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

"Having fun isn't hard when you've got a library card" (Arthur Read) but can be quite a challenge when you work at the library. Check out this session to discover ways an employee driven, administration supported library committee has worked to increase employee morale, build community among new and veteran library staff members, and provide off campus networking opportunities with minimal planning, building wide collaboration, and budget limitations.

Ucf Libraries 2025 Faculty Research Showcase, Jasmine George, Patrick Green, Joe Bizon, Kristine Shrauger, Ying Zhang, Renee Cole Montgomery, Rachel Trnka, Mary Rubin, Min Tong, Arielle Petrovich, Jeanne Piascik, Sai Deng

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The University of Central Florida (UCF) Libraries’ Faculty Research Showcase is a longstanding tradition that celebrates the scholarly achievements, research, and creative work of library faculty.

The 2025 Showcase features eight engaging presentations covering a diverse range of topics:

• Jasmine George – Student Engagement Initiatives Around Florida Academic Libraries

• Jasmine George & Patrick Green – Student Wellbeing at the Library

• Joe Bizon, Kristine Shrauger, Ying Zhang & Renee Cole Montgomery – Roadmapping Leganto Successfully

• Rachel Trnka – Florida Library History

• Mary Rubin – Escape the Ordinary: Escape Rooms as Active Learning Magic

• Min Tong …

Censorship Is Still A Drag: Lgbtq Materials And Programming Under Siege In Libraries, Jason D. Phillips, Jordan Ruud, Kestrel Ward, Amanda Melilli

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The presentation Censorship Is Still a Drag explores the escalating challenges facing libraries as they strive to uphold intellectual freedom amid rising censorship efforts targeting LGBTQ+ materials and programming. Drawing from the book Censorship Is a Drag: LGBTQ Materials and Programming Under Siege in Libraries, the presenters—Jason D. Phillips, Jordan Ruud, Kestrel Ward, and Amanda Melilli—offer a comprehensive overview of the legal, political, and institutional pressures threatening inclusive library practices. Through case studies and firsthand accounts, the presentation examines the impact of both external censorship and internal resistance within libraries, and introduces the concept of “queer battle fatigue” to …

The Fundamentals To Reintroducing Fun At Work: A Collaborative Team Approach To Addressing Library Staff Dissatisfaction, Unhappiness, And Burnout, Chereeka Garner, Cynthia Dancel, Jason D. Phillips, Christopher Saclolo

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

"Having fun isn't hard when you've got a library card" (Arthur Read) but can be quite a challenge when you work at the library. Check out this session to discover ways an employee driven, administration supported library committee has worked to increase employee morale, build community among new and veteran library staff members, and provide off campus networking opportunities with minimal planning, building wide collaboration, and budget limitations.

Evidence Synthesis And Graduate Researchers: Benefits And Barriers, Corinne Bishop, Sarah Norris, Jason D. Phillips

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Detailed Description:

With the increased interest in evidence synthesis research in social sciences and fields outside of the health sciences, more librarians are actively involved in consulting and collaborating with researchers, with some also participating as co-authors on projects (Chapman, 2021; Kogut, Ramirez, & Foster, 2022). Based on individual requests, librarians may conduct comprehensives searches, document and report searches to ensure reproducibility, and/or assist with question refinement, protocol development, citation management tools, and evidence synthesis software.

To support evidence synthesis researchers, libraries are identifying support models and deciding on the scope of assistance they can provide. Within this process, …

Building And Defending Lgbtq+ Collections, Jason D. Phillips, Jordan Ruud

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This chapter explores the critical role of collection development policies in libraries, particularly in supporting and defending LGBTQ+ collections. The authors argue that a robust, regularly updated, and transparent collection development policy is essential for ensuring equitable representation and resisting censorship. They emphasize that such policies must account for the needs of historically underserved communities, including LGBTQ+ populations, and serve as tools for advocacy and defense against internal and external challenges.

Using real-world examples, the chapter highlights the consequences of outdated or ineffective policies, including instances of hidden censorship and administrative interference in material acquisition. The authors advocate for retrospective …

At What Cost? The Personal Stakes Of Intellectual Freedom, Jason D. Phillips, Jordan Ruud

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This chapter explores the emotional, professional, and political costs faced by librarians advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusion and intellectual freedom within libraries. Through personal narrative and critical reflection, the authors introduce the concept of "queer battle fatigue"—a framework for understanding the cumulative psychological toll on LGBTQ+ individuals who are consistently placed in advocacy roles within predominantly cisheteronormative institutions. A case study of a drag storytime event at a university library illustrates the social backlash, institutional pressures, and moral injury experienced by organizers, demonstrating how well-intentioned programming can become flashpoints for political controversy. The authors highlight the intensifying hostility toward LGBTQ+ representation …

Introduction, Jason D. Phillips, Jordan Ruud

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This introductory chapter sets the stage for a collection addressing the censorship and resistance surrounding LGBTQ+ materials in libraries. The editors, drawing from personal experiences and professional challenges, reflect on the increasing sociopolitical hostility toward LGBTQ+ communities and the parallel rise in restrictions within library spaces. They argue that libraries cannot remain neutral as targeted attacks on marginalized groups intensify, and they position this book as both a chronicle of current struggles and a practical toolkit for resistance. Highlighting contributions from a diverse group of librarians across various library types and geographic locations—including voices from Canada, Ireland, and the Philippines—the …

Enemies Within The Gates: Contending With Internal Censorship Challenges, Jason D. Phillips

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This chapter explores the rarely discussed but impactful issue of internal censorship within academic libraries, focusing on challenges to LGBTQ+ materials. Drawing on personal experiences at a regional public university in the American South, the author recounts multiple instances where library staff and leadership acted in ways that undermined the inclusion of LGBTQ+ resources. These incidents ranged from quietly removing or hiding books to resisting the addition of LGBTQ+ periodicals and graphic novels, and even denying purchase requests without explanation. The chapter underscores how fear of controversy, personal bias, and institutional conservatism can result in "soft censorship," despite the profession's …

Strategies For Identifying Collaborators: ​Writing & Presenting Collaboratively​, Rachel E. Vacek, Sarah A. Norris

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

A presentation for the University of Central Florida library faculty meeting that highlighted best practices and strategies for effectively collaborating with colleagues on scholarly activities, such as writing journal articles and other publications and presentations.

Helen V. Stelle And The Tampa Public Library: A Case Study In The Development Of Florida Public Libraries During The 1920s, Rachel E. Trnka

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Presentation at the Florida Historical Society Annual Meeting and Symposium.

As has been discussed by many historians, the nineteen twenties were a complex period in Florida, marked by the promise of the great land boom and increased migration to the state, which was countered by the challenges of the land bust, two major hurricanes, and the subsequent depression. The career of Helen V. Stelle, who served as the director of the Tampa Public Library from 1917 to 1949 and helped to establish the Florida Library Association (FLA) in 1922, provides one example of how Florida libraries were affected by these …

A Literature Overview: Ai, Oer, And Implications For Scaling Innovation, Rebecca Mcnulty, Lily Dubach, Sarah A. Norris, Amanda Major

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Conference Presentation for the 2024 Open Education Conference.

The intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and open educational resources (OER) holds significant potential for transforming education and scaling innovation. This presentation will offer an overview of the existing scholarly literature to describe the current landscape, including the opinions, opportunities, challenges, risks, and emerging trends. AI can play a pivotal role in enhancing the adoption, adaption, and authorship of OER, both through small experiments and larger theoretical discussions. However, AI also presents challenges and risks, including data privacy concerns, algorithmic bias, and ethical implications, in addition to a broader potential impact on …

Rethinking Digital Scholarship: Integrating Innovation, Ai, And Evolving Research Practices, Sarah A. Norris, Rachel Vacek

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Presentation from the Library 2035 Mini-Conference.

As we approach the next decade, libraries are poised to undergo significant transformations driven by evolving research practices, emerging technologies, and shifting societal needs. Given this, advocating for the library's engagement in the research enterprise becomes increasingly critical. This session will explore how we can design forward-thinking digital scholarship services and models from the ground up, leveraging the lessons learned by others while envisioning novel solutions to help us rethink and innovate our approach to enhancing research encompassing digital publishing, data visualization, the digital humanities, data science, and data analysis.

The presenters will highlight …

Two Academic Libraries, One Study: Using Project Outcome For Assessment And Advocacy Across Partner Institutions, Katy Miller, Karen Kaufmann, Rachel E. Trnka

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Slides from a webinar presentation hosted by ACRL Project Outcome promoting the publication of the book, Assessment and Advocacy: Using Project Outcome for Academic Libraries. The book collects case studies demonstrating how a variety of libraries have used Project Outcome to make improvements in their practice and highlighting the value the toolkit has brought to institutions and the academic library profession.

Two Academic Libraries, One Study: Using Project Outcome For Assessment And Advocacy Across Partner Institutions, Rachel E. Trnka, Karen F. Kaufmann, Katy Miller

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Assessment and Advocacy: Using Project Outcome for Academic Libraries is a collection of case studies to mark the fifth’s anniversary of Project Outcome and share how various institutions have utilized the toolkit to improve their services. This chapter provides details on a cross-institutional study conducted at the University of Central Florida (UCF) and Seminole State College of Florida, the second largest feeder school of transfer students to UCF. During the Spring 2022 semester, students in English composition II courses are both institutions completed the Project Outcome immediate instruction survey. The chapter details the results of the surveys and discusses how …

Transforming Libraries Through Engagement: Lessons From A Library Ai Interest Group, Lily Dubach, Rachel Vacek

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Learn how one academic library is engaging with its employees to explore the latest trends, tools, and topics in AI through an interest group (IG). Through stimulating discussions, webinars, guest speakers, demos, and sharing of experiences with AI, the IG empowers its library community to explore and become more comfortable with AI. This session caters to varying levels of AI expertise. Challenges, successes, and valuable insights for deeper engagement will be shared so you can learn how to establish a similar initiative in your library.

Ucf Libraries 2024 Faculty Research Showcase, Michael Furlong, David Benjamin, Renee Cole Montgomery, Chereeka Garner, Andy Todd, Peggy L. Nuhn, Jeanne Piascik, Tina H. Buck, Sara Duff, Sai Deng

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The University of Central Florida (UCF) Libraries’ Faculty Research Showcase has been a tradition of the library to highlight the publications, research projects, and scholarly accomplishments of library faculty members. The 2024 Showcase features seven presentations: "Alas, Babylon Afterword, Centipede Press (1959/2024)", "Throwback to Throwback Thinking: Integrating Archives into Student Engagement Activities", "Recent Research Activity: A Tale of Two Studies", "I Think I Can… I Think I Can…: Lessons in Persistence and Relationships from The Little Engine that Could", "A Hybrid Approach to Library Deaccessioning: A Case Study from the University of Central Florida", "KBART Automation vs Manual …

Evidence Synthesis, Corinne Bishop, Jason D. Phillips, Andy Todd

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This presentation introduces evidence synthesis, a structured method of systematically identifying, evaluating, and synthesizing research to inform healthcare interventions and policy decisions. Spearheaded by the UCF Libraries' Evidence Synthesis Group, activities have included developing resource guides, collaborating with faculty on systematic, scoping, and qualitative reviews, and attending professional training institutes. The session highlights best practices, essential resources, typologies of review types, librarian roles, and emerging tools like JBI SUMARI and PRISMA guidelines. Current and future initiatives, such as workshops, credit-bearing courses, and internal training programs, aim to expand support for faculty and students engaged in evidence synthesis projects at UCF. …

“Evidence Synthesis” Reviews And Library Support Models: Lessons Learned And Next Steps, Corinne Bishop, Jason D. Phillips, Andrew Todd

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Outcomes: Participants will learn about academic library models used to support systematic reviews for course assignments or potential scholarly publications. Timelines and resources about planning reviews will also be shared.

Proposal: Join us in a discussion of the “what, when, and why” of planning various types of evidence synthesis reviews (scoping, systematic, umbrella, etc.). We will share what we have learned during the past year as we have received training, assisted faculty and students with reviews, and next steps toward establishing a formal Evidence Synthesis Reviews service from UCF Libraries.

Batch Withdrawing Items In Alma, Jeanne Piascik, Sai Deng, Robin Chan, Suphi Ogreten

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This workflow is used for the University of Central Florida Libraries’ deaccession project to batch withdraw single and/or multiple items and volumes in records in Ex Libris’ Library Management System, Alma. It comprises several parts, including creating to-be-withdrawn list and considering different scenarios, batch withdrawing items in Alma, batch updating the MARC 996 field used for local statistics in the bibliographic records, creating the batch import profile, importing the updated records, unlinking bibliographic records from the Network Zone, and copying all the 035 fields (OCLC number) for Connexion update. It shed light on an academic library’s deaccessioning project and will …

Creating Accessible Instruction Materials, Rachel E. Trnka

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Webinar for the Tampa Bay Library Consortium (TBLC)

Have you attended multiple webinars and trainings on accessibility and feel a little overwhelmed with information and resources? Join me as we focus on specific strategies for making your library instruction materials accessible. Rather than offering generalized information about web accessibility, this presentation will address accessibility issues related to specific types of instructional materials, including presentation slides, LibGuides, and videos. In this session, we’ll discuss

• Interpreting common accessibility standards and vocabulary
• Creating an inventory to help plan your approach to updating materials
• Specific tools to help you evaluate and improve the accessibility …

Embedding Information Literacy Practices In An Upper Division Chemistry Lab Class At A University In The United States Of America, Christopher Randles, Matilynn Lamm, Katy A. Miller

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This poster discusses the implementation of information literacy into an upper division inorganic chemistry lab and the strategies employed to develop students’ information literacy in the laboratory course.

Oer For Libraries And Textbook Affordability Partners, Lily Dubach, Sarah Norris

Open Ed Live

Join us for an interactive workshop that explores the synergies between libraries and Open Educational Resources (OER). This session will highlight libraries’ role in OER; explore how textbook affordability partners and libraries can exchange ideas, strategies, and best practices; provide a five-fold approach to open education in libraries; and include an active discussion about new technologies to streamline OER adoption, adaptation, authorship.

Diamond's Hidden Gems - Introduction, Diamond R. Williams

Libraries' Documents

No abstract provided.

Diamond's Hidden Gems - Academic Engagement, Diamond R. Williams

Libraries' Documents

No abstract provided.