Scholarly Publishing Commons^™

Promoting Crisis-Ready Data Policies In Science Publishing: Implementing Unesco’S Open Science Guidance For Resilient Preservation, Response, And Recovery, Francis P. Crawley

FORCE 2026

Crises disrupt not only societies but also the continuity of scientific data and publications essential for evidence-based decision-making. Preserving the integrity, accessibility, and long-term usability of these resources during disruptions has become a global priority. In response, UNESCO, with the support of CODATA, has developed a suite of Open Science Toolkit instruments (Factsheet, Guidance, and Checklist) on ‘Developing Data Policies for Times of Crisis Facilitated by Open Science’. This presentation examines how these instruments can strengthen data preservation, response, and recovery within scholarly communication. By promoting crisis-ready data policies supported by AI-enabled systems in science publishing, the UNESCO approach connects …

The Spring 2026 Issue, Destiny Dehart, Sara Gonzalez, Crystal Walker, Karen Winstead, Anthony Toledo, Lauren Nimon-Viola, Tristan Mioduszewski, Fatima Al Jaberi

Fonds and Feathers

The theme of this issue is "we explore what matters" – what matters to us, what matters to archives, and what matters to libraries. Different voices are reflected by writers in the formats of poetry, artwork, research, and articles.

Writing As A Process Of Inquiry In Autoethnography For Meaning-Making: Reflections And Some Points For Consideration, Niroj Dahal

The Qualitative Report

This article explores writing as a process of inquiry and meaning-making in the autoethnographic tradition, offering reflections on the recursive, emergent, and dialogical/dialectical nature of writing, along with some points for consideration. Drawing on perspectives from qualitative research and narrative inquiry (Riessman, 2008), I argue that autoethnographic writing serves as a method of inquiry and/or discovery, generating ontological, epistemological, and axiological-driven cultural meaning that functions as a site of reflection, interrogation, and re-storying of lived experiences. This recursive, often messy, and reflexive act allows researchers to excavate, analyze, and interpret their lived experiences. Rather than viewing writing as a final-stage …

Book Review: Social Justice Design And Implementation In Library And Information Science Edited By Bharat Mehra, Ellie F. Kawada

School of Information Student Research Journal

Social Justice Design and Implementation in Library and Information Science, edited by Bharat Mehra, is an engaging volume that explores the pursuit of social justice in its many forms in the field of Library and Information Science (LIS). The included chapters cover case studies of social justice implementation in library services, theoretical frameworks for subversive methods of research and education, and the future of library advocacy for social justice. While the volume is centered on English-speaking countries and lacks the perspective of paraprofessional library staff, the themes and examples presented in the book are invaluable to any LIS students, professionals, …

Decolonizing The Academic Library: Examining The Successful Indigenization Of Ubc And Unm’S Library Services, Emily T. Villars

School of Information Student Research Journal

This article examines decolonization and indigenization initiatives at two academic libraries: the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the University of New Mexico (UNM). It asks how these institutions have implemented indigenization in their libraries and what lessons can inform broader reconciliation work across North America. Through a comparative lens, it analyzes how national and organizational frameworks, such as the Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA-FCAB) Truth and Reconciliation Report and Recommendations and the American Indian Library Association’s (AILA) organizational goals, can shape these efforts. The study highlights three core strategies: decolonizing access and classification, transforming library spaces, and expanding …

Book Review: Academic Librarian Burnout: Causes And Responses Edited By Christina Holm, Ana Guimaraes, And Nashieli Marcano, Brianna Gaffney

School of Information Student Research Journal

No abstract provided.

A Reflection On Research Limitations And Conclusions, Pearl Kim

School of Information Student Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Entire Vol. 13, Iss. 1

SLIS Connecting

No abstract provided.

Gamification In Libraries: A Bibliometric Study, Alice Bessette

SLIS Connecting

This bibliometric research proposal addresses the use of gamification in libraries. Articles for this proposal can be divided into the following subtopics: patron orientation and engagement, information literacy, library instruction, and staff training. Readers of this bibliometric study will be able to locate some of the more impactful articles about gamification in libraries. Library & Information Science Source, a database located within EBSCOhost’s collection of databases, was used to collect data for this study.

Community College Library Digital Branches And Their Communities, Helen Cozart

SLIS Connecting

Community Colleges have long been a staple of American life. They offer an affordable education that is transferable to a four-year school or certification in a trade. Since they are in the community, costs can be further lowered by allowing traditional students to live at home and non-traditional students to be with their families and workplaces (Princeton Review, n.d.). Many community colleges actively engage with their communities, encouraging attendance and offering community enrichment programs. Community college libraries can occupy a powerful position in this relationship, creating an environment for the public that is inviting and encouraging through their physical offerings …

Beyond The Tropes: Viewing The Horror Genre Through The Lens Of Bipoc Readers, Kimberly Wade

SLIS Connecting

Horror novels have been and continue to grow in popularity among all age demographics in the United States. According to a 2020 Book Ad Report study, horror novels were the fifth highest-grossing genre, topping $79.6 million in 2020 (Herold, 2019, para. 16). With the growing popularity of horror novels within the market, authors and publishers have pushed for inclusion and diversity in who is writing the material, who is reading the books, and who is represented within the pages. This drive to include “Black, Indigenous, People of Color” (BIPOC) and other diverse authors and characters is necessary in allowing young …

Disobedient Women: A Quantitative Analysis Of Females In The Lowndes County, Mississippi Circuit Court Felony Criminal Cases Housed At The Columbus-Lowndes Public Library System Billups-Garth Archival Room, 1830-1899, Mona Vance-Ali

SLIS Connecting

This study concentrates solely on the court records dating from 1830 to 1899, comprising 4,740 individual cases. The date range covers local population shifts and larger historical events such as the Institution of Slavery, the American Civil War, and the rise of Jim Crow in the American South. Mississippi became a state in 1817 (Ownby, 2017, Mississippi Statehood). In 1830, Lowndes County formed out of Monroe County (Ownby, 2017, Lowndes County). At that time, the total population of the county was 3,173. A decade later, the population jumped over 357 percent to include 14,513 people. The number continued to rise …

A Citation Analysis Of Post-Postmodern Fiction Scholarship In Proquest Dissertations And Theses Global From 2000 – 2024, Jaren Swann

SLIS Connecting

The purpose of this study is to conduct a citation analysis of theses and dissertations on post-postmodern fiction published from 2000 – 2024, as indexed in ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, to identify significant contributors, relevant resources, and important publication venues on this contemporary subject, helping academic librarians to enhance collection development and provide support for teaching, learning and research services.

Tattoo Archives: A Collection Analysis, Jennifer Neville

SLIS Connecting

Tattooing and body modification have been a part of human existence for thousands of years. Although for much of the 20th century, tattoos in America were seen as part of a subculture, in the late 20th century and into the 21st, they gained popularity and more widespread cultural acceptance. Despite the historical lack of mainstream acceptance, tattooing has a wide and varied history. Tattooing was and remains important to many indigenous people, it has always been popular within the military, especially during wartime, and it has a fascinating place in sideshow history. Even though many people now wear tattoos, the …

Subjective Cataloging And Acquisitions In Relation To Controversial Titles: A Collection Analysis Of Challenged Lgbtq+ Titles In Louisiana Libraries, Madeline Moghimi

SLIS Connecting

In late 2022, the Attorney General of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, began a campaign to block access to books considered sexually graphic in Louisiana libraries (Landry, 2023). In a report released in February 2023, Landry called for a system that would prevent minors from being able to access objectionable books (Landry, 2023). Despite Landry’s claim that this is not censorship or an attempt at banning books, this can prevent access, effectively censoring titles for a subsection of the population. While Landry did not call for books to be moved to a different collection, this attempt at blocking access has made censorship …

Miss Me With That Misinformation: A Content Analysis Of Library Websites’ Resources Against Misinformation, Cheyenne Brady

SLIS Connecting

From the C.R.A.A.P. test to webinars and videos on how to fact-check properly, it is now more important than ever that librarians aid patrons in sharpening their critical analysis skills, especially through passive means. However, on that front, are all library websites created equal? This research examined programming and resources related to information and digital literacy through a content analysis of public and academic library websites.

Comparing Library Websites At Four-Year Public Universities In Arkansas, Alice Bessette

SLIS Connecting

From accessibility to website architecture and everything in between, academic libraries can have a profound impact on the students of their institutions. Simmonds and Andaleeb (2001) argue that academic libraries are “the heart of the learning community” (p. 626). They go on to explain that the support librarians offer students and staff is vital to the community’s search for knowledge. Reitz (2017) said a variation of this as well, stating that academic libraries are “integral” parts of the institutions they support. In an increasingly digital world, websites serve as primary entry points for individuals looking to access their college or …

From The Gas: Publications, Congratulations, And Presentations, Stacy L. Creel, Ph.D.

SLIS Connecting

Includes book reviews by the graduate assistants for The Story Factory, Strong Like Me, and Lily the Pond Mermaid. Also, includes a list of what the faculty are currently reading.

Spotlights: Faculty, Alumni, Festival, Stacy L. Creel, Ph.D.

SLIS Connecting

Learn about keynote speakers at the Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival and updates from Dr. Ashley Marshall and alumni Jennifer Ottinger.

Slis Director's Report, Stacy L. Creel, Ph.D.

SLIS Connecting

Welcome to Vol. 13, No. 1 issue of SLIS Connecting.

Searching Smarter, Connecting Better, Abby Veiman

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries: White Papers

In Searching Smarter, Connecting Better, Abby Veiman reflects on her experience as a data-driven researcher to reimagine the future of research libraries. Drawing from her work as an Ameritas Research Assistant in Actuarial Science and Risk Management, she highlights how modern research is increasingly digital, analytical, and dependent on technological infrastructure rather than physical materials. Veiman argues that libraries must continue evolving beyond access to databases by strengthening technological capacity, supporting responsible AI integration, and providing clearer guidance on the effective and ethical use of emerging research tools. She emphasizes the need for libraries to serve as trusted institutions …

The Fall 2025 Issue, Destiny Dehart, Crystal Walker, Tritan Mioduszewski

Fonds and Feathers

The theme of this issue is "community in shared memory." The past, present, and future of a community's history binds people together through generations and stories,

The Hunt For "Dragon Shards Of Knowledge": A Study On The Information Needs Of The Mmorpg Community, Jessamy Hallie

School of Information Student Research Journal

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the information needs and information-seeking behaviors of the massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) information community. To evaluate and define these needs and behaviors a literature review of research contributions published by established information professionals studying MMORPG and video game players was performed. The results showed that the MMORPG community is considerably understudied and lacking sufficient library programming and educational opportunities compared to other communities. It also revealed their dependence on collaboration and the promotion of social connection between members. Their shared goals and common interests helped to facilitate members’ information-seeking and …

Why Every Librarian Is A Ux Librarian, Alison Johnson

School of Information Student Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Guiding Scholarship, Together: A Collaborative Accomplishment, Pearl Kim

School of Information Student Research Journal

No abstract provided.

1 Repository, 26 Campuses, 10 Years: Strength (And Chaos) In Numbers, Jojo Karlin, Jill Cirasella

Publications and Research

In the ten years since its inception, the CUNY Academic Works repository has grown to house and provide public access to more than 33,000 scholarly, pedagogical, and creative works by affiliates of the City University of New York, the largest urban public university in the United States. Representing all 26 CUNY campuses — community colleges, four-year colleges, and graduate/professional schools, with legacies as old as 1847 (The City College of New York) and as young as 2018 (CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies) — CUNY Academic Works has flourished thanks in large part to a system that combines central …

Investigating The Relationship Between Noun Classes And Plant Folk Taxonomy In Chasu Language Of Kilimanjaro Region In Tanzania, Peter Rabson Mziray

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

The current study investigates the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu (G 22). The study focuses on two objectives: the first objective is to describe the plant folk taxonomy in Chasu and the second objective is to determine the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu. Data were collected from rural villages in Same and Mwanga districts by using free listing, field interviews (jungle-walk-and-identify), and written texts containing Chasu plant names. The findings reveal that Chasu folk taxonomy reflects different ethnobotanical categories; including a unique beginner which is mmea/mimea ‘plant(s)’, and three life …

Tracking Removed And At-Risk Government Information, Molly Blake, Sanga Sung, Ben Amata, Jenny Mcburney

SJSU Open Access Conference

The current U.S. administration is intentionally undermining public access to information as well as scholarly research by removing documents, reports, datasets, images, and language from government websites. In doing so, this administration is withholding publicly-funded information that we have a right to access, including data from government-sponsored research, historical information about marginalized groups, and speech transcripts. In removing these materials, the government is also deliberately sabotaging research related to topics it does not like, such as LGBTQ health, COVID, and climate change.

It is difficult to grasp the scope of this problem: how do we know when something is gone, …

Access Denied: Defending Research In A Shrinking Scholarly Landscape, Emily Kingsland

SJSU Open Access Conference

In early 2025, the U.S. Department of Education announced a reduction in the indexing of key journals in the ERIC database. As government censorship increasingly threatens the accessibility of educational research, librarians are emerging as critical defenders of open access and research transparency. This presentation reports on the proactive efforts of a Canadian academic librarian who developed actionable workarounds to address the disappearance of articles from ERIC. These missing records pose a significant challenge to researchers conducting knowledge syntheses, who face a reporting and reproducibility crisis when search results fluctuate or shrink without explanation. The implications are profound: systematic reviews …

Navigating Nih’S Revised Public Access Policy: On-The-Ground Experiences From Librarians And Researchers, Anneliese Taylor, Katie Fortney, Tim Vollmer

SJSU Open Access Conference

The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) rolled out its revised Public Access Policy on July 1, 2025, in accordance with the 2022 Office of Science and Technology Policy Nelson Memo. The Nelson Memo calls on all U.S. federal funders to implement a policy requiring immediate public access to published articles and supporting datasets resulting from federal grants. On the surface, NIH’s new policy is a public good, ensuring that federally funded research outputs will no longer be held back from public access for 12 months after publication. But the implementation mechanisms of this new policy for researchers and publishers …