Collection Development and Management Commons^™

Library Services For Patrons Experiencing Homelessness: An Examination Of Three Urban Libraries, Jason Lefebvre, Mlis

SLIS Connecting

The need to consider the most equitable way to provide services to people experiencing homelessness must also be balanced by how these services will affect staff in their daily duties. What can realistically be expected from a staff member when dealing with more complex social service issues? At times, the staff is tasked with answering questions that may fall outside their education and training. It is necessary to establish which needs in the community can successfully be provided by someone with an educational or professional background relating primarily to the Library and Information Science field, and which are better facilitated …

Teen Programming On Virginia Public Library Websites, Melissa Howley, Mlis

SLIS Connecting

communities they serve. As such, teen programs offer an assorted range of experiences tailored to the interests and needs of the local teen population. The state of Virginia, with a diverse geographical landscape, presents a unique case study from which teen programming can be examined. This study examined teen programming in public libraries across six different public library regions, as recognized by the Virginia Library Association (VLA) (The Library of Virginia [LVA], n.d.). Exploring these regional variations revealed valuable insights into how public libraries effectively adapt teen services as well as how these services can be enhanced to empower teens …

Internet Archive Website: Pulp Fiction Mystery Collection Analysis, Ramona Elder, Mlis

SLIS Connecting

Detective magazines were a source of entertainment and fascination for the working-class readers of the early 20th century (Smith, 2000). Their illustrated covers drawn by pulp artists, such as Dalton Stevens and Jerome Rozen, were made to be attractive. Caronia (2019) tells how weekly periodicals continued to circulate as the rise of detective stories grew in popularity before the first detective magazines were printed and published. It was the American writer Edgar Allen Poe who is credited with having written the first detective story when he published The Murders of the Rue Morgue in Graham’s Magazine in April 1841 giving …

Lgbtq+ Content In The Ala Top Most Challenged Books, Kaelynn Edmondson, Mlis

SLIS Connecting

2,571 titles were challenged in 2022, double what was recorded in 2021, but it was noted that 45.5 percent of all those titles were LGBTQ+ books (Perfas, 2022). The rise in challenges and the fact that almost half the books contained LGBTQ+ topics indicates that, within recent years, there has been a shift in the type of content and the speed at which challenges are happening in the United States. Books like Obie is Enough by Schuyler Bailar are banned in states that do not allow books that discuss gender identity, and in turn, these books cannot reach the audiences …

Graphic Novel Censorship, Tiffany Buono, Mlis

SLIS Connecting

Graphic novels have been growing in popularity and demand since they were first introduced as a format in 1978 by Will Eisner with his publication of A Contract with God (“Will Eisner”, n.d.). Graphic novels (GN) are a format of writing and illustration that spans fiction and non-fiction genres with many classic works being adapted into the format to encourage more young adult engagement. Yet, many libraries nationwide, including school and public libraries, lack a strong graphic novel collection. The American Library Association (ALA) is a national authority on issues related to intellectual freedom including the increase of challenges and …

Historical Use Of Libraries In Inpatient Psychiatric Treatment In The United Kingdom, Jessica Buckey, Mlis

SLIS Connecting

In the 19th and 20th centuries, libraries were a common amenity in psychiatric hospitals, particularly private ones. This paper sheds new light on the history of these libraries in inpatient psychiatric treatment centers. The prevailing medical philosophy held that occupation and moderate intellectual stimulation were important for recovery, a mode of thought culminating in the 20th century bibliotherapy movement. This is not a clinical study, and it assumes no stance on the therapeutic value of reading. Instead, it is a historical study of libraries in inpatient psychiatric centers: how these libraries were curated; how patient libraries, throughout their history, responded …

Mental Health And Well-Being In Academic Libraries: A Bibliometric Survey Of Scholarly Publications, 1994-2024, Rebecca Arthur, Mlis

SLIS Connecting

Academic libraries are crucial pieces of the higher education system; national accreditation standards for colleges and universities require the existence of accessible library collections and knowledgeable, trained staff. Traditionally, the academic collections, both physical and digital, of these libraries have been their focal point, and the importance of the academic library on campus has been derived from its ability to provide instructional materials and support to students, faculty, and staff. However, the educational paradigm of academic librarianship has shifted as higher education has evolved throughout the twentieth century. Previously long-established pedagogies have become insufficient in the face of changing technologies …

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

SLIS Connecting

Includes book reviews by the graduate assistants for Gigi Shin Is Not a Nerd, Wild Dreamers, and The Blonde Dies First. Highlights what SLIS faculty are reading, alumni updates, faculty publications and presentations, and student congratulations.

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

SLIS Connecting

Meet Dr. Kaeli Gretter, alum Miranda Loper, and learn about the keynote speakers for the 2025 Fay B. Kaigler Children’s Book Festival.

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

SLIS Connecting

Welcome to the Spring/Fall issue of SLIS Connecting.

Book Review: Decentering Whiteness In Libraries: A Framework For Inclusive Collection Management, Andrea Jamison, Shala K. Howell

School of Information Student Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Redefining Reference Services In The 21st Century, Johanna Tunon

School of Information Student Research Journal

The role of reference services in libraries has evolved significantly in the 21st century, driven by technological advancements and changing user needs. This paper explores how reference services have transitioned from traditional, desk-centric interactions to encompass a wide array of platforms and tools, including digital innovations and generative AI. The decline in reference transactions has prompted librarians to adapt, shifting focus towards more complex consultations and instructional roles, while also navigating the blurred boundaries between reference assistance and formal instruction. The paper also examines the updated definitions and limitations of reference services by the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), …

The Importance Of Graduate-Student-Led Academic Journals Within Library And Information Science, Odin Halvorson

School of Information Student Research Journal

Graduate-student-led academic journals play a crucial role in fostering early career researchers' engagement with scholarly discourse within the field of Library and Information Science (LIS). This paper highlights the significance of these journals by examining their contributions to professional development, peer review practices, and inclusivity. Through a case study of the Student Research Journal (SRJ) at San Jose State University’s iSchool, I demonstrate how student-led journals provide invaluable experiential learning opportunities in leadership, organization, and research skills. The SRJ exemplifies these benefits by achieving international recognition with minimal resources, showcasing its impact-to-cost ratio. This paper also discusses the journal's role …

Ischool Student Research Journal, Vol.14, Iss.2

School of Information Student Research Journal

Article citations within.

The Meaning Of Collections For The Identity Of University Libraries: The Document Concept As A Tool For Understanding, Hanna Hallnäs

Proceedings from the Document Academy

Historically, university libraries have been defined by the collections they housed and it was the collection that formed the basis of their identity and organization. However, societal developments have shifted this focus, leading to significant changes in both the content and conditions of these collections. What was once predominantly characterized by printed materials has now transitioned to primarily electronic resources. This paper explores how the concept of documents can be utilized to examine the identity of contemporary university libraries. Specifically, it employs David Levy’s notion of documents as ‘talking things,’ examining their relationship to various genres and rhythms. Furthermore, the …

Harnessing Synergy: Galloping Together To Achieve Common Goals, Katie Richardson Mlis, Kathryn Renton Phd, Janice Gunther Martin Phd, Katrin Boniface Abd

Journal of Western Archives

“Harnessing Synergy: Galloping Together to Achieve Common Goals'' is a case study focusing on how the Head of Cal Poly Pomona University Library Special Collections and Archives joined forces with the founding board members of the Equine History Collective to drive research and advancement in the study of equine history–a key collecting area of the University Library Special Collections and Archives unit. Through sharing expertise, jointly producing events, and developing longer-term strategies together, these collaborative efforts have enhanced outreach of Cal Poly Pomona Special Collections and Archives and associated scholarly activities, enriched perspectives on equine cultural heritage, and facilitated innovative …

Rightsizing Technical Services: Practical Adaptations For Rapidly Evolving Libraries, Kathaleen Mccormick, Kristy White, Tracie Ballock

Library Faculty Scholarship

After years of downsizing physical collections and upsizing electronic collections, the traditional technical services areas at Duquesne University’s Gumberg Library reinvented and streamlined workflows and job responsibilities. As traditional technical services functions changed or faded away, duties in support of access and management of both electronic resources and unique special collections continued to grow and change at a rapid pace. Duties that supported physical collections had to be transitioned to the access and management of electronic resources and unique digitized content. To make these electronic collections accessible, new systems and other emerging technologies were investigated, mastered, and integrated with existing …

Five Newly Processed Dentistry Collections, Arthur Fowler

TMC Library Newsletter (2015-)

Five dental collections have been processed and are now available for research at the McGovern Historical Center collection search site.

These collections were processed by Arthur Fowler, while interning at the McGovern Historical Center this summer. These collections are almost 12 cubic feet of material. Materials included books, scrapbooks, papers, ephemera, plaques, and personal items belonging to dental professionals spanning 110 years from 1902 to 2012.

Tmc Library Holiday Hours, Beatriz Varman

TMC Library Newsletter (2015-)

Happy holidays from The TMC Library!

Toxic Medicines Exhibit, Kelsey Koym

TMC Library Newsletter (2015-)

The medicines used for the Toxic Medicines and Toxic Books exhibit were selected based on their historical use to treat various ailments and diseases; however, these treatments are now known today to be quite harmful to human health. It is important to remember that the ideology around how the body works and how to treat disease has greatly changed over the last several centuries.

Also, check the McGovern Historical Collection Blog story written by Kelsey L. Koym, Archivist and Special Collections Librarian.