Library and Information Science Commons^™

Critique, Postcritique And Libraries, Mark E. Eaton

Publications and Research

This paper, adopting a perspective from the recent literature of “postcritique”, finds that criticism in librarianship can be constructively supplemented with other methodological approaches. Instead of exclusively using criticism to analyze, dismantle and find fault with texts, librarianship can expand its perspectives to find new reparative possibilities of care. Following the work of Nicholas Holm, Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, Bruno Latour, Rita Felski and others, we can see that while criticism has thrived as a disposition in librarianship and elsewhere, recent scholarly interventions suggest that it is not the only possible approach. This paper ultimately argues that a postcritical disposition can …

Slis Notes: The Ai Elephant In The Room, Stacy Creel, Andrew Sims

Mississippi Libraries

Notes and updates from the Director of the School of Library and Information Science at The University of Southern Mississippi. This column discusses the emergence of new AI tools and their potential effects on libraries.

Law Library Blog (August 2025) : Legal Beagle's Blog Archive, Roger Williams University School Of Law

Law Library Newsletters/Blog

No abstract provided.

Data Please!: Expanding The Role Of Libraries In Data Science Through Digital Scholarship, Halie Kerns

Library Scholarship

Objective: As data science becomes more integrated into research and teaching, libraries are well-positioned to support this work. This study examines how a digital scholarship team at Binghamton University enhanced engagement with data science by assessing faculty, staff, and graduate student needs. Through focus group interviews, the study identifies key support gaps and outlines strategic initiatives to strengthen interdisciplinary data science programming within the library.

Methods: A qualitative approach was used, involving 26 focus group interviews with faculty, staff, and graduate students across STEM and related fields. Participants discussed their data science work, tools, training, and perceived resource …

An Analysis Of Hybrid/Remote Work Eligibility In Academic Librarian Job Advertisements, Ruth S. Connell, Meris Mandernach Longmeier

Library Faculty Publications

This paper seeks to capture changing policies and approaches to hybrid and remote work in academic libraries following the COVID-19 pandemic. For this study, job advertisements were gathered and those hiring managers surveyed. Results show hybrid/remote positions have competitive salaries, many types of academic library positions have hybrid eligibility, and campus and library policies regarding hybrid/remote work and their inclusion in job postings continue to evolve. Despite the potential recruitment benefits of these flexible work arrangements, many who offer them are not including this information in their job advertisements; therefore, job candidates should ask or negotiate for this benefit.

Ai Literacy Is Not Optional: Libraries, Learning, And The Human-Ai Future, Jessica Scott, Jen Jones

Presentations

The AI Tech Services Workshop series consisted of Lunch & Learn sessions led by Jessica Scott and Jen Jones that explored the application of artificial intelligence in library technical services. The workshops examined practical tools, emerging trends, and broader impacts of AI relevant to technical services work in academic libraries. (These summaries were drafted with assistance from Microsoft Copilot (AI-generated text), with human review and editing.)

Waring Library Society Newsletter, Summer 2025, Waring Library Society, Waring Historical Library, Medical University Of South Carolina, Jude Arendall, Robert Ball, Jerry Reeves, Joann Livingston Zeise, Tabitha Samuel

The Waring Library Society Newsletters

In this issue, Waring Library Society President Robert Ball, M.D. highlights the accomplishments of Dr. Randolph D. Smoak, Jr., emphasizing his leadership in medical organizations, advocacy for health reform and anti-smoking efforts, and recognition as a distinguished alumnus of MUSC. Jerry Reves, M.D., shares a brief new history of the Medical College. The Waring’s staff also provide updates: JoAnn Zeise, provides updates on the Waring’s restoration project, including the asbestos; Tabitha Samuel shares the new Spring 2025 titles added to MEDICA@MUSC, Jude Arendall makes a return to the Waring.

Nsu Library Link - Summer 2025 - Volume 2.1, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Florida Link Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Degrees In Action: Utilizing Public Relations Students' Expertise To Expand The Reach Of Oer, Taylor "Lainie" Allen, Shelley Wigley

UTA Libraries Staff Publications - Archive

Students' expertise plays a crucial role in promoting Open Educational Resources (OER). The “Degrees in Action: Utilizing Public Relations Students' Expertise to Expand the Reach of OER” poser presentation highlights a collaboration between a Public Relations (PR) Campaigns Course and OER and Digital Scholarship Department. PR students were empowered to apply their skills in developing and executing a public awareness campaign that highlighted the benefits and availability of OER on the University of Texas in Arlington campus.

Through strategic planning, creative messaging, event coordination, and student/faculty surveys, the PR students gained hands-on experience in communication and advocacy while addressing the …

Library At The Concert Hall: An Interdisciplinary Library Outreach Strategy For Unexpected Spaces, Michael J. Duffy Iv, Jessica M. Abbazio

University Libraries Faculty & Staff Presentations

This poster highlights strategies for staging pop-up libraries aligned with campus events. The presenters share perspectives on connecting with campus affiliates and community members at performing arts venues at two separate institutions, and share longitudinal data that illustrates the value of this outreach strategy for engaging a range of potential library users. Attendees will explore ideas for highlighting connections between potential visitors’ interests and library collections, and discover strategies for collaborating with library colleagues across disciplines to meet these needs. Participants will learn methods for leveraging this flexible approach to fit their own capacity and collection parameters. Objective 1: Explore …

Healing Histories: Implementing Trauma-Informed Care Practices In Libraries To Support Resilience And Recovery, Cearra Harris

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigated the impact of public library closure on the Edgewood community in Columbia, South Carolina, an area with a rich history and significant ties to the two nearby historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Benedict College and Allen University. It explored the intergenerational effects of historical trauma through the lens of collective memory, as documented in oral histories from community members and public library staff. The research aimed to understand the implications of the library's absence in a marginalized community context, emphasizing how such closures can exacerbate existing vulnerabilities. Through oral histories, questionnaires, and interviews, the findings reveal …

The Library As A Hospitable Place: Hospitality And Welcoming Volunteers, Geesje Duursma, Erwin Losekoot, Gjalt De Jong

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Libraries use volunteers. Research indicates various barriers to volunteering. After these barriers have been overcome, it is of great importance that the volunteer is welcomed into the organization. Therefore, hospitality is not just about receiving patrons but also receiving (new) volunteers. For this study, concepts from volunteering were synthesized with hospitality concepts. This case study took place at a library in the northern part of the Netherlands. Data was collected from interviews with management and volunteers in a focus group discussion. The findings were triangulated with official documents from the library. A matrix of hospitality practices is proposed to help …

Ai In Our Library: Some Serious Reflections And A Few Curiosities, Evan Rusch, Nat Gustafson-Sundell

Library Services Publications

At Minnesota State University, Mankato, we’ve undertaken several experiments and initiatives focused on Generative AI. We provided several examples at the Generative AI in Libraries (GAIL) conference and Northern Ohio Technical Services Librarians (NOTSL) Fall General Meeting. This presentation provided a revised and expanded overview of our initiatives for the Creativity in Technical Services Interest Group (CITSIG). We briefly reviewed how we’ve tested Gen AI to improve data visualization for collections outreach. We provided an overview of limitations on how library-licensed resources can be used with AI, including a foray into retrieval augmented generative AI tools such as the Primo …

Strategies For Enhancing Funding Approaches By Parent Institutions For Effective Service Delivery In Academic Libraries, Nsanta George Egbe, Samuel Otsonu Aboh

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The aim of this study is to investigate the strategies by which parent institutions can enhance funding approaches to improve service delivery in academic libraries in Nigeria. Utilizing a descriptive survey research design, the study involved 88 library staff members from seven federal university libraries situated in the North Central region, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja-Nigeria. Given the manageable and accessible nature of the population, no sampling method was employed. Data collection utilized three instruments: questionnaires, observation checklists, and structured interview schedules devised by the researcher. Quantitative analysis of questionnaire data utilized mean and standard deviation to address research …

Staff Attitude, Library Policies And Service Delivery In University Libraries In Ogun State, Nigeria, Ilori Edeole Maria Mrs, Owolabi Ruth O Dr, Oden Abigail N. Mrs, Ogungbade Aderonke A. Mrs

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

University library services aim to meet the information needs of the university community, fostering learning and research. Quality service, particularly in tangible aspects and reliability, leads to user satisfaction. Staff attitude significantly impacts library service utilization, as does library policy, which guides library operations. The study adopted survey research design. The study population comprised 80,247 university library users in Ogun State, Nigeria. A sample size of 1,513 was determined using the Krejcie and Morgan (1970) method. Universities were stratified into federal, state, and private categories, and respondents were purposively selected. The findings indicate high-quality service delivery in university libraries in …

The Need For Collaboration In Nigerian Libraries, John Ogonu, John Gibson Ogonu Dr

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This paper depicts the importance of collaboration of libraries in mitigating the challenges facing the Nigerian Library System. It explains that libraries are facing financial set back as a result of low subvention, currency devaluations, hiking prices of books, journals and databases and changing nature of the library users which always lead to increasing client expectations, changing technologies etc., and these threats can only be overcome through library collaboration. The paper examined three forms of collaborations that exist in Library system. The paper revealed areas for collaboration which includes cooperative acquisition, cooperative cataloguing, cooperative referencing, staff development, library exchange and …

The Disinformation Vaccine: A Case For Integrating Comprehensive Disinformation Education Into First Year Writing Classes, Benjamin F. Jackson

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Students’ exposure to disinformation and misinformation is far greater than it has ever been. As the ability of generative AI to produce image, video, and audio deepfakes grows more sophisticated, disinformation will become even easier to spread and harder to detect. The rapid spread of social, political, scientific, and medical disinformation has been deadly and its potential is disastrous. Security experts now warn that dis/misinformation is the greatest threat to national security. Americans at large and students in particular have a demonstrated lack of information literacy when it comes to detecting false information, and bad actors nationally and globally are …

Libraries As Community Bridges: A Global Journey, Chloe Vicente

Faculty and Staff Publications – Milner Library

This lecture reflects on the transformative role of libraries as cultural bridges in an increasingly interconnected world, through a comprehensive review and analysis of international library systems. Employing a qualitative methodology combining institutional ethnography with comparative case analysis across European, Asian, and Latin American contexts, the research examines how libraries work as catalysts for cross-cultural understanding. The investigation reveals four significant findings for libraries as dynamic cultural institutions: regional approaches to library service delivery, successful frameworks for balancing digital transformation with cultural preservation, emerging paradigms for international collaboration, and the critical importance of multilingual and multicultural competencies in modern libraries. …

Bridging Worlds, Leading Libraries My Global Latin Way: Exploring Cross Cultural Leadership In A Connected World, Chloe Vicente

Faculty and Staff Publications – Milner Library

This lecture presented at Texas Woman’s University in January 2025 examines the evolution of cross-cultural leadership in libraries through an innovative theoretical framework that synthesizes Goleman's emotional intelligence model (Goleman, 1995), Morin's theories (Morin, 2001), and Olarongbe's cross-cultural leadership paradigm (Olarongbe, 2023). Through a mixed-methods approach combining autoethnographic analysis with comparative case studies across French, Chilean, and American library systems, the study describes the emergence of my "Latin Way" leadership model mainly characterized by adaptability and community-centeredness and identifies three key dimensions of effective cross-cultural library leadership: the critical role of cultural competency in institutional transformations; the integration of traditional …

U-Stressed? Do Library Employees Experience More Technology Eustress Or Distress?, Abigail Raper

Library Services Publications

Based on professional conversations regarding library technology usage and its impact on workrelated stress, I inquire whether library employees experience more technology eustress or distress on the job. This question was inspired by Tarafdar et al.’s (2019) Technostress Trifecta. My study explores a facet of this theoretical framework, specifically the relationship between motivating (eustress) and discouraging (distress) technology stress. The research project used a mixedmethods approach. I implemented the Information and Communication Technology Demands, the Eustress-Distress Emotion Regulation questionnaires, and a follow-up semi-structured interview. Study participants received a recruitment email through a professional newsletter read by people who work in …

Disability As Identity, Jessica Schomberg

Library Services Publications

This chapter will focus on disability as an identity category: who gets to claim it, who gets to refuse it, and who has it thrust on them against their will. It will also talk about the power that comes from claiming disability identities and being in community with disabled people. This chapter will not discuss nondisabled as an identity category, nor will it discuss caregiver identities. With that basic understanding, we can work to move conversations about disability in libraries beyond the minimal expectations of inclusion and to a more joyous celebration of disabled people as full participants in library …

Toward Positive Retention In Academic Libraries: A Conceptual Framework, Jennifer Stout, Sojourna Cunningham, Samantha Guss

VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations

It’s been nearly 25 years since ACRL and ARL named recruitment and retention of BIPOC librarians a priority for the profession, but the numbers have stagnated or even decreased. One reason for this could be that research on "recruitment and retention" in academic libraries tends to conflate these concepts and focus on recruitment, which can be more easily quantified. As a result, less attention has been paid to defining, measuring, and improving retention. Here, the researchers present a framework to better define the multiple dimensions of retention and how retention is related to organizational culture in academic libraries.

Rising To Meet The Needs Of All Our Students: The Inclusive Service Excellence Working Group At Vcu Libraries, Jennifer A. Stout, John T. Glover, Laura Crouch, Isabella Pence-Lanctot

VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations

VCU Libraries’ Inclusive Service Excellence Working Group was established to enrich the patron experience with public service units. Equity and inclusion were its guiding principles as its members reviewed the literature, sought user feedback, and engaged with focus groups. Stop by to learn about the group’s work and long-term impact.

Interrogating The Sacred And Special: Engaging Students In Diversifying Special Collections, Susan Falciani Maldonado, Sharon L. Albert

Faculty Contributions to Books

The answer to the question “What is the future of special collections?” is one that has evolved in scope over the past twenty-five years. Through the late twentieth century, the role of the special collections librarian seemed largely curatorial: to conserve these precious, unique resources—rare books, archival material, and other unique collections— for posterity and for “serious” researchers. While it remains true that the nature of its special collections can distinguish an academic library in ways that its database and print holdings may not, what emerged in the late 1990s and early 2000s was a movement to put rare books …

We’Ve Got A Lot Incommon: Sailing Into Electronic Resource Access Protection… One Vendor At A Time, Joni Addis, Michelle E. Colquitt, Chris Morris

Presentations

No abstract provided.

Electronic Resources Management 101, Michelle E. Colquitt, Cassidy Carter, John Felts, Chris Vidas

Presentations

No abstract provided.

Introduction, Amanda Koziura, Amy Tureen

Library Faculty Research

Introduction to the book Making Values-Based Decisions in the Academic Library.

Book Challenges And Censorship Attempts In Louisiana: A Case Study, Jennifer E. Steele

Faculty Publications

Book challenges and censorship have long played a significant role in the cultural and educational landscapes of the United States. In recent years, Louisiana has become a focal point in national conversations about intellectual freedom, public and school library governance, parental rights, and the political pressures surrounding children and young adult literature. This dynamic environment has led to significant debates about what materials should be accessible to young people, how libraries should be managed, and what role the state and local governments should play in determining the availability of information. The rise in book challenges across Louisiana reflects national trends …

How Do Selected Biomedical And Health Sciences Journals React To Submissions Of Artificial Intelligence (Ai) Assisted Manuscripts?, Misa Mi, Lin Wu, Yingting Zhang, Wendy Wu

Library Scholarly Publications

Background and Objectives: Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) increasingly impacts research and scholarly communication. Given the evolving application of ChatGPT and other AI tools in scholarly communications, health sciences librarians must become cognizant of any existing journal publishing guidelines for AI-created or assisted manuscripts. The study aims to examine how scholarly biomedical and health sciences journals and publishers respond to submissions of these manuscripts and what requirements or policies have been put in place to guide and instruct authors on AI use.

Methods: We first retrieved and consolidated a list of journals representing disciplines in biomedical and health sciences from four …

Liberating The Library: Alternative Libraries And Counterpublics, Gabby Diaz

Honors Theses

As the current state and future of libraries remains uncertain, scholars across the Library and Information Science (LIS) are emphasizing the need to examine the social, political, and economic conditions and implications of our climate in the context of libraries. Seeing as libraries are situated within, and often reflect, socio political landscapes, this study aims to examine how groups relegated to the margins, develop spaces to intentionally address the needs of underserved communities through unconventional strategies, programming, and materials through what I call, alternative libraries. Through a qualitative exploration of alternative libraries through four different case studies, this research aims …