Library and Information Science Commons^™

Accommodating Employees With Disabilities: Perceptions Of Irish Academic Library Managers, Anne-Marie O'Neill, Christine Urquhart

Articles

In recent years a significant amount of the literature in the field of librarianship has focused on providing greater access to library facilities to clients with disabilities. There has been constructive debate about accessible buildings, ergonomic design of library facilities, and assistive technologies; but, what of individual people with disabilities who wish to work in libraries? Does the concern for accessibility extend to their employment in the library workplace? What is happening in Irish academic libraries to accommodate them in their employment and achieve equality of opportunities?

The Role Of Audiobooks In Academic Libraries, Catherine Stern

Publications and Research

The decision by the library of LaGuardia Community College to add audiobooks to its collection led librarians to examine the scope and the nature of audiobook use at other college and university libraries. The author created, distributed, and tabulated a survey that recorded a number of traditional uses for these materials as well as a number of interesting new possibilities and challenges.

Following The Evidence: Approaches To Assessment In Academic Libraries, Gregory A. Smith

Faculty Publications and Presentations

In an environment of strained budgets and heightened accountability, academic libraries need to base their planning, decision-making, and advocacy on evidence more than ever before. Fortunately, the resources required to collect, analyze, and visualize data—thus turning it into evidence—are increasingly accessible. This session will challenge participants to grow in their handling of evidence by exposing them to a range of data sources and analysis tools. In order to accomplish this goal, the presenter will share brief sketches of a number of recent library assessment efforts, focusing on projects with which he has been involved personally. The session’s brevity will preclude …

Digital Curation Education In Practice: Catching Up With Two Former Fellows, Samantha Guss, Lisa Gregory

University Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications

From 2008-2010, as part of the grant: ‘DigCCurr I: Preserving Access to Our Digital Future: Building an International Digital Curation Curriculum’ (DigCCurr I) funded through the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a number of fellows at the School of Information and Library Science (SILS) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) were comprehensively trained by library and archive professionals in digital curation theory and practice. This paper examines the curriculum skill areas matrix of the DigCCurr I program from the perspective of two former fellows, now employed in professional positions that utilize digital curation principles. Each …

Community Users In North American Academic Libraries, Wanda V. Dole, J.B. Hill

Faculty Scholarship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report the results of a two-year experiment at one NorthAmerican academic library with extending free borrowing privileges to community users.

Design/methodology/approach – The paper reviews previous research on services to unaffiliated community users by academic libraries and employs quantitative measures to examine the costs and benefits of providing such services at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR), Arkansas,USA.

Findings – The data indicate that services can be provided to unaffiliated community users with minimal effort and cost. However, the benefits to the organization, such as increase in good will …

Differently Able: A Review Of Academic Library Websites For People With Disabilities, Mary Cassner, Charlene Maxey-Harris, Toni Anaya

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries: Faculty Publications

This research is based on the Library Services for People with Disabilities Policy, which was approved by the American Library Association in 2001. The policy identified focus areas for libraries including library services, facilities, collections, and assistive technology. Library websites frequently convey this information to users. Our study examined and compared academic library websites for the differently able. What services do academic libraries offer to the differently able? Is there a basic level of services that libraries identify or should offer? Are websites for people with disabilities easily located from the library’s home page?

Standards For Libraries In Higher Education, Patricia A. Iannuzzi, Tom Abbott, Jeanne Brown, Susan Gibbons, Lynne King, Sharon Mccaslin, Mary Reichel, Joan Ruelle, Lisa Stillwell, Mary Jane Petrowski, Lori Goetsch

Library Faculty Research

The Standards for Libraries in Higher Education are designed to guide academic libraries in advancing and sustaining their role as partners in educating students, achieving their institutions’ missions, and positioning libraries as leaders in assessment and continuous improvement on their campuses. Libraries must demonstrate their value and document their contributions to overall institutional effectiveness and be prepared to address changes in higher education. These Standards were developed through study and consideration of new and emerging issues and trends in libraries, higher education, and accrediting practices. These Standards differ from previous versions by articulating expectations for library contributions to institutional effectiveness. …

Web Scale Discovery: The User Experience, Julia Gross, Lutie Sheridan

Research outputs 2011

Purpose – This study aims to look at how a small group of university students used the new library web scale search discovery tool, “Summon”, and whether they encountered any difficulties pertaining to navigation, ease of use and the quality of the search results. Design/methodology/approach – Researchers conducted a series of usability studies in which students were observed as they conducted some typical library resource searches using the new discovery search platform. Findings – The paper analyses the data, describes and reports the findings of the usability tests. The study found that the new homepage design of providing a single …

Understanding Faculty Perceptions Of The Future: Action Research For Academic Librarians, Kara Josephine Malenfant

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The intent of this study was to aid academic librarians in examining their perceptions of the future of higher education, engaging disciplinary faculty members to understand their views, and determining actions to take to shape the future. In this mixed methods study, scenarios about the future of higher education served as the basis for collecting quantitative (survey) and qualitative (focus group) data at one institution. During this study, staff, faculty, and administrators at one library developed new ways to craft strategies and make decisions, shifting their focus from strategic planning as an event to strategic thinking as a process, a …

Bam! Pow! Graphic Novels Fight Stereotypes In Academic Libraries: Supporting, Collecting, Promoting, Beth Jane Toren

University Libraries Faculty Scholarship

This study examines the launch of a graphic novel collection in an academic library and presents a study analyzing the increase of titles in Association of Research Libraries with the subject heading “Graphic Novels” between fall 2008 and fall 2009. Statistics show a 40% increase, averaging 62 additional titles, during a year of global financial crisis. Exploring the prejudice against comics lingering in more traditional corners of academia, this paper encourages librarians to counter stereotypes and therefore bring more people, including other librarians, to view graphic novels as literature. This study includes recommended practices for supporting, collecting, and promoting these …

From Forgotten Intranet To Successful Wiki, Darcy C. Del Bosque, Kristen Costello

Library Faculty Research

Communication within an academic library can be challenging. The collective nature of wikis and their ability to allow multiple people to edit them have made wikis an ideal technology to help address communication issues within organizations. A successful wiki implementation can help to improve communication issues, but only if staff adopt the new technology. University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) libraries implemented an internal staff wiki in 2007 to replace the staff intranet. Information routinely stored on the wiki includes meeting minutes and committee work, policies and procedures and training materials. This paper illustrates the implementation process by providing an …

Building And Designing Bridges - Enabling Bilingual Academic Learning Experiences, Eileen Bosch, Valeria Molteni

Faculty and Staff Publications

Attendees will have an opportunity to learn and discuss with two librarians from California State University System about the challenges and issues experienced in implementing bilingual services in reference and instructional sessions to bilingual speaking students on their campuses. In addition, attendees will be able to learn about a strong partnership developed between both librarians as well as empowering a curriculum relationship with faculty in Foreign and Romance Languages Departments. Presenters will also address how to create an ambiance of support to first generation students who often experience a lack of confidence necessary to be academically successful.

After the presentation, …

Not On The Same Page: Undergraduates’ Information Retrieval In Electronic And Print Books, Selinda Adelle Berg, Kristin Hoffmann, Diane Dawson

Western Libraries Publications

Academic libraries are increasingly collecting e-books, but little research has investigated how students use e-books compared to print texts. This study used a prompted think-aloud method to gain an understanding of the information retrieval behavior of students in both formats. Qualitative analysis identified themes that will inform instruction and collection practices.

Esl Students Cross The Academic Threshold: How Interpreting Demographic Data Builds Information Literacy Skills - Three Perspectives, Penny Bealle, Kathleen Cash-Mconnell, Bernadette Garcia

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2008

Our successful English as a Second Language (ESL) project at Suffolk County Community College (SCCC) fosters academic literacy by infusing information and computer literacy skills into an advanced speaking course. In our presentation, library and ESL faculty, plus an ESL administrator will share insights on how advanced ESL students construct a demographic study. The demographic assignment requires students to synthesize information and images into oral presentations. Each student’s final project is the culmination of an incremental process that includes four library workshops. During the workshops, students research U.S. cities and form a learning community as they discuss trends in demographic …

Improving Teaching And Learning Through Instructional Partnerships: Building Librarian Relationships With One-On-One, In-Depth Conversations, Rebecca Payne, Sheila Stoeckel

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2008

How can librarians work to improve their teaching and student learning and build relationships and community? One solution at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries is the creation of an Instructional Partnerships Program. The Program enables librarians to work on individual instructional goals with the help of a partner. Partner librarians help each other improve their teaching through self-directed activities of reflection, discussion, and observation. Presenters will discuss how the Program was developed and how partnerships are currently helping librarians improve their teaching skills and build supportive relationships with colleagues. With input from attendees, presenters will consider how the Program might …

Vanderbilt Visions: An Exercise In Collaboration, Melinda Brown, Lee Ann Lannom, Amy Stewart-Mailhiot

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2008

Five months before the Fall 2007 semester the Committee on Undergraduate Information Literacy (CUIL) and Vanderbilt Libraries were notified their proposal to present one of the weekly sessions for Vanderbilt Visions, the university’s first-year orientation program, was accepted. Through a collaborative effort, over 30 staff from 5 libraries, the Center for Teaching, the Writing Studio and the Learning Resource Center worked together to design and present a session that focused on intellectual engagement at Vanderbilt and explored the differences between college and high school research. This was the first opportunity for the Libraries to work with our campus partners on …

Fantasy Sports: The Road To Information Literacy Championships, Paul Waelchli, Sara Holladay

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2008

19.4 million fantasy sports players, many college students, rely on information literacy to succeed in fantasy sports leagues, but do not realize it. This session analyzes the connection between fantasy sports and information literacy and how librarians can use fantasy sports to make information literacy meaningful to students. A background on fantasy sports, media and research is provided. One library, University of Dubuque, connected information literacy skills to fantasy football for incoming student athletes. The planning, implementation, and assessment of those instruction sessions are outlined, which included the following steps:

1. Fantasy sports and fantasy football skills were mapped to …

Cn U Hlp? Collaborative Chat Reference And Instruction, Gayatri Singh, Kenneth Furuta

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2008

Not only has the use of chat reference created new learning spaces, studies have shown that instruction regularly occurs during the virtual interactions. However, these studies have focused on a single institution’s experience and do not address the additional challenges faced by a consortium of libraries. Ask a UC Librarian, staffed by seven of the ten University of California campuses, is an example of a consortium exploring this new learning space together. We will present the challenges, rewards, and what we have learned in building a supportive literacy learning environment that provides instruction to students via collaborative chat reference.

Building And Designing Bridges - Enabling Bilingual Academic Learning Experiences, Eileen K. Bosch, Valeria E. Molteni

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2008

Attendees will have an opportunity to learn and discuss with two librarians from California State University System about the challenges and issues experienced in implementing bilingual services in reference and instructional sessions to bilingual speaking students on their campuses. In addition, attendees will be able to learn about a strong partnership developed between both librarians as well as empowering a curriculum relationship with faculty in Foreign and Romance Languages Departments. Presenters will also address how to create an ambiance of support to first generation students who often experience a lack of confidence necessary to be academically successful.

After the presentation, …

Function Before Form: Designing The Ideal Library Classroom, Diane Dallis, Carrie Donovan

LOEX Conference Proceedings 2008

At Indiana University-Bloomington, the libraries house many rooms that are used for instructional purposes, but none represents the characteristics of an ideal learning environment. In order to address the growing instructional needs of the IUB libraries and the lack of appropriate space in which to provide IL instruction, the libraries created a committee that was charged with making recommendations for new library classrooms. The group started this task by conducting a literature review on the concepts of classroom design and best practices. Finding surprisingly little research or practical information published about classroom design with which to guide them, the committee …

Using Emotional Intelligence To Get Through The Tough Times: Why Feelings Matter More Than Ever To 21st Century Libraries, Joan Giglierano, Emily A. Hicks

Roesch Library Faculty Presentations

During times of tight resources, cultivating the emotional intelligence (EI) of employees at all levels, in all areas of the library, can be a way to maintain service quality, reduce stress, and cope with change. Emotional intelligence includes characteristics such as self-awareness, adaptability, empathy, ability to work collaboratively, and communication skills. While the concept of EI has been a standard component of leadership development and management literature for almost two decades, relatively little research has been done on its applicability in libraries. Recent studies of library job ads have found demand for EI competencies, though they are seldom labeled as …

Weeding Or "Collection Refreshment", Brian Gallagher, Andrée Rathemacher, Loraine Winthrop

Technical Services Faculty Presentations

Powerpoint presentation slides for the session "Weeding or 'Collection Refreshment'" at the ACRL New England Chapter Access Services Interest Group program, The Many Hats of Access Services. The program took place on October 28, 2010 at The University of Massachusetts Boston in Boston, MA.

Developing A Library Value Indicator For A Disciplinary Population, Jeanne M. Brown

Library Faculty Presentations

Three different ways of documenting library value were presented to fourth year landscape architecture students in the UNLV School of Architecture: a contingent valuation survey, a library calculator, and a survey to rate importance and impact of library services and features. Students used the three approaches, then discussed their experiences with the author. Their input suggested improvements in the instruments and provided feedback on possible positive and negative consequences of inviting this kind of valuing. Working with a focused collection and population provided a relatively safe environment to explore concerns about negative consequences.

Embedded Librarians: Building Relationships With The Honors College, Jenna Rinalducci

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

This year long collaboration between the Honors College and the Library began with an instruction session for Honors College teaching assistants. Our collaboration focused primarily on the student’s first class on research methods. In their Honors 110: Research Methods class, students are introduced to research practices, including the development of research topics, the analysis of sources, and the organization of evidence. As our collaboration increased we developed new strategies for meeting the information needs of the students and their teachers. We were able to work with teachers and students both in person and online. We are building an online presence …

Electronic Reserve Copyright And You, Martin Dunlap

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Electronic Reserve (eReserve) systems are a boon for students and faculty alike: having only one online place where professors can post class readings, homework, the solutions, class notes, film, music, as well as any other materials students need to do well in class. The online system also offers the faculty an easy way to update and disseminate course materials to students. The goal of any efficient eReserve system is to make life a little easier for both students and faculty while not over-burdening the staff who are tasked with running it. However, making a system easy for faculty to use …

Bringing Library Resources To The Online Classroom: Building Faculty-Librarian Partnerships, Sofia Slutskaya, Rebecca Rose, Amelia Glawe

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

The number of students taking online classes has risen substantially over past several years. Many traditional colleges offer online and hybrid classes as an alternative to traditional face-to-face instruction. Face-to-face faculty are encouraged to learn and use course management systems (CMS) to publish syllabi and assignments, track student grades and supplement traditional interactions with chat and electronic discussion boards. Often overwhelming to instructors, digital educational tools proliferate throughout the academic landscape. Determining which tools will work for your classroom environment can be daunting, in addition to the hours of training so as to effectively use those tools. Partnering with librarians …

Multiple Partnerships For Student Information Literacy: Library, Writing Center, Faculty, And Administrators, Barbara Alderman, Andrew Todd, Barbara Rau Kyle

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

In May, 2007, a University of Central Florida regional campus team comprised of teaching faculty, librarians, administrators, and writing center coordinators received a three year Quality Enhancement Plan grant to study the impact of a library/writing center partnership on student information literacy. This presentation will share our project’s results and benefits. Using the ACRL Information Literacy Standards, the team developed modifications and interventions designed to improve students’ ability to gather, evaluate, and use information, and to enhance their technology literacy and critical thinking. The project’s development included ongoing discussions of progress, obstacles, program collaboration, and single location of services. Targeted …

Lost In Translation: Creating A Common Language For Information Literacy Across Disciplines, Emily Frigo, Mary O'Kelly, Jodi Tyron

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

The Libraries of Grand Valley State University (GVSU) crafted an Information Literacy Core Competencies document during fall 2008 for adoption by the larger GVSU community (http://main.gvsu.edu/library/information-literacy-core-competencies-168.htm). The philosophy of information literacy is embedded in all learning environments, but the term information literacy is most prevalent in the context of libraries. The competencies document was an attempt to clarify these concepts in a manner that speaks to the broader academic community. Every effort was made to use inclusive language and to make concepts applicable to a wide variety of academic disciplines. Focus groups were chosen as the lead vehicle to roll …

Hang Gliding From Bi To Il, Kelly Rhodes Mcbride

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Information Literacy Librarians in Belk Library and Information Commons are mapping a new strategy in response to a new academic focus in General Education on the campus of Appalachian State University. Belk Library’s Information Literacy and Instruction Program is moving from the traditional one-shot bibliographic instruction (BI) session to a curriculum integrated information literacy (IL) approach, which begins with students in the first year and extends through their capstone experience. This presentation will outline the process, which includes a revision and implementation of the University’s General Education Program, the development of academically-centered First Year Programs, and the building of partnerships …

Ic @ Ghc: Assessing Information Literacy Skills Across The Curriculum And On A Budget, Cindy Wheeler, Teresa Hutchins

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Information Competency at Georgia Highlands College (IC @ GHC) is a curriculum-wide plan implemented at a two-year college to increase student information competency levels. This presentation will discuss strategies which allowed the college to successfully meet the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) requirements of SACS through the use of innovative assessment and implementation measures which garnered enthusiastic faculty involvement and also managed to stay within a first year, $14,000 shoe-string budget. The plan was born out of a grassroots effort that involved