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The introduction of ChatGPT 3.5 in November 2022 ignited a sensation in the academic community, leaving many astounded by its capabilities. This new release more closely emulates human responses than its predecessors. Among its remarkable capabilities, it can answer questions, catalog items in MARC21, recommend reading lists, and make suggestions on a wide array of topics. To assess ChatGPT’s efficacy in aiding library users, the authors of this paper conducted an experiment comparing ChatGPT’s performance with that of librarians in answering reference questions. Thirty questions were randomly selected from the transaction log of the reference inquiries between June 1, 2023 to July 31, 2023 at the Rider University Libraries. These queries constituted 34% of the total user questions during this two-month period. The authors compared the answers by ChatGPT and those by reference librarians for their accuracy, relevance, and friendliness. The findings indicate that reference librarians markedly outperformed their robotic counterpart. An evident issue arises from ChatGPT’s deficiency in understanding local policies and practices. This consequently hinders its ability to provide satisfactory answers in those areas. OpenAI posits that ChatGPT’s proficiency can be enhanced through targeted fine-tuning using locally specific information. At the moment, ChatGPT remains a great tool for librarians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of libraries in preparing students to thrive during their studies and innovate after university is growing in importance. Information is more easily accessible through digital channels and is increasingly abundant. Generative Artificial intelligence (AI) adds to this reality and increases the need for digitally driven information literacy skills. This paper aims to guide librarians by discussing the digitalization of information creation, retrieval, and use. It recommends the training of both digital and information literacy for students. Librarians are called upon to provide clear guidelines to their universities to steer the use of generative AI. The implications of digital information sources and generative AI are discussed with the role of librarians in context. Information literacy and digital literacy are related. Academic libraries should include digital topics in information literacy training. Information literacy should be trained at the start of university education and before students begin dissertation writing. University libraries should propose guidelines for the use of generative artificial intelligence tools by students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes two datasets of virtual reference interactions via a library chat service at the University of Mississippi: one from the COVID-19 pandemic period 2020-2022, and another from the pre-pandemic period of 2017–2019. By comparing the chats' length, distribution across days, weeks, and months, as well as word frequency analysis, it concludes that the pre-pandemic and pandemic chats appear to be fundamentally similar aside from a 16% drop in chat usage between the period from 2017–19 to the period from 2020–22. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This column shares the experience of using QQ, a Chinese social messaging tool, by Sichuan University Library in China, to provide an alternative informal reference service in addition to more traditional and formal methods of reference desk, telephone, online message/comment, and instruction, without additional funding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the virtual reference service (VRS) queries made by library users and to determine whether there are any differences in the types of queries made by them. 1,472 email threads of VRS received from users of Global Library, O. P. Jindal Global University, India, during 2022 were collected and analyzed. The study's findings reveal that the most frequently requested VRS queries are related to research articles, followed by database access and off-campus access issues. The authors suggest that libraries should prioritize providing training on accessing the online database and use chat, chatbot, and WhatsApp to provide virtual reference services to users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study surveys members of an Illinois state-wide consortium to chart changes to the instructional practices of academic librarians in response to the conditions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey findings and analysis provide insights into changes made to multiple aspects of participants' teaching, such as modality, technology use, instructional design, and adjustments to students' socioemotional needs at a time of rapid change, disruption, and stress. In addition to exploring instructional adaptations of librarians, the study identifies gaps in institutional support that might be addressed at the consortial level. While librarians initially altered their teaching and instructional services in "emergency mode," their reflections reveal that many changes could be beneficial and long-lasting, given adequate and sustained support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the twenty-first century, many users seek instant gratification when searching library resources: if it is not online, it is not worth pursuing, even if the answers sought may be found in material available in print only. The digitization of older scholarly and related resources is far from complete, and may not happen for years, if ever. It is incumbent upon professional librarians to alert users to this large array of critically important material, available in hard copy only. As these resources may be difficult to find, we must be there to help with this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability of big data is increasing in various sectors of the economy worldwide. Consequently, opportunities for data services are expanding in special, academic and public libraries. Librarians' cataloging, archiving, research, and reference skills remain especially suited for the provision of big data services. In this article the authors examine the literature on big data and libraries to identify major themes as well as highlight possibilities and problems with the management of large datasets. Librarians can utilize this information to develop or improve data services in their institutions' libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Answering user questions quickly and effectively is necessary for the continued success of reference services yet it is not sufficient. What should the strategic goals of reference services be for the long-term? We explore two different strategies—the first focusing on community building and the second on student belongingness. We highlight possible themes to explore in this area including diversity, equity, inclusivity, and accessibility, alignment with campus goals, and developing new methods to assess efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the concept of visual design as it applies to academic library webpages. There exist multiple unsettled aspects of visual design on library websites, prompting a need to critically examine and update current design practices. This paper presents aspects of layout, graphics, and navigation where no consensus for an effective design allowing students to interact with a library website has been achieved among librarians. It suggests areas of research whose investigation would strengthen the design of academic library webpages, and make them both more usable and more esthetically pleasing to a student population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cycle of scholarly communication is perpetuated by those who create, evaluate, disseminate, and consume research. This paper distinguishes that the stakeholders most directly involved in this process are researchers, academic publishers, and university libraries. Whereas researchers and libraries often submit and disseminate work for free, academic publishing companies monetize their product. In this instance, the product is research, and the clientele is university libraries, who are coerced into multiyear contracts with publishers, often costing in the upwards of millions, to tens of millions of dollars. With university library budgets squeezed thin, it could be advisable to seek alternative accessible sources, beyond that of the costly subscription journal. This exploratory study surveyed 110 academic professionals to investigate how these users engage with scholarly communication and use open access (OA) resources. The study found that though outcomes of commercialized academic publishing have disrupted the transfer of research, users are hesitant to rely solely upon OA sources, despite the perception that they are of equal value to traditional commercial sources. The author concludes that in order for research to be transferred fairly between all actors of scholarly communication, that both researchers and university libraries must strive to make OA resources commonplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates if physical libraries are popular for research by students in the internet age post COVID-19. The study used a descriptive survey research design. The population consisted of 3457 Adeleke University undergraduates. Descriptive statistic was used to analyze data. The findings suggested that physical libraries are increasingly less popular among students for research purposes, owing mostly to the development of the internet era. Other reasons cited include physical library congestion and excessive surveillance, a preference to read with friends outside of the physical library, and a lack of motivation to visit the physical library. It was also discovered that students have a culture of completing their own research rather than paying professionals to do it for them. The study concluded that physical libraries are less popular for research among students, majorly due to the popularity of the internet. As a result, the study recommends that library management make physical libraries the strongest internet hub on campus, where all students would want to come for research. More efforts should be made to expand physical libraries and provide a variety of quiet reading options for those who detest crowds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the perspectives of librarians on the awareness and readiness of academic libraries to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) for library operations and services in Nigeria. Six libraries were drawn from the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. An open-ended questionnaire posted to the respondents through the mail was used for data collection. Collected data was analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings reveal that the Nigerian academic libraries are aware of the integration of AI systems in libraries and how it is now being adopted and used in many academic libraries around the globe. However, this is not so in the Nigerian context. The findings also reveal that the librarians have mixed feelings about the readiness of academic libraries to integrate AI systems into library operations and services. Based on the librarian perception, the result implies that integration of AI in library operation and services will take the library to the next level by reducing human errors due to repetitiveness in library tasks, and if care is not taken, AI system might take their job role. The challenges reported that academic libraries in Nigeria may likely face the problem of funding, inadequate experts, limited power supply, limited budget to procure the technology and training personnel that will be in charge of the system maintenance. The study recommends the need for adequate funding for libraries to be able to procure, AI and other information and communication technology infrastructure; and recruitment of librarians with relevant requisite skills to work with the technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carol Tenopir et al. published a landmark study of research data services librarians in 2013. The object of this study is to determine if and how librarians' attitudes about RDS and their perceptions of their own preparedness to provide RDS have changed as the apparent need for and importance of RDS has continued to grow since the publication of Tenopir's research. This research project was completed by surveying academic librarians in ARL libraries. The survey was distributed to the deans & directors of ARL libraries, to be disseminated to the librarians there most directly involved in RDS. After analyzing the data, I was able to determine that there has been a measurable increase in the perceived importance of RDS among librarians working with data. There has also been a significant increase in the proportion of librarians working with RDS who feel that they have the skills and support needed to do their work. It is my conclusion that RDS seems to be gaining traction within academic libraries, but it is unclear if this is due to libraries placing additional importance on these services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As academic institutions nationwide experience higher online enrollment rates, virtual research consultations present online students with an opportunity to connect meaningfully in a personal interaction with a librarian and receive direct instruction. As libraries transition this staple of information literacy instruction from an in-person to an online offering, analysis of impact in the online environment is key. Little is known about the impact of this service on student outcomes, such as program completion. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of participation in a research consultation on program completion among doctoral students working on their dissertation at an online university. A quantitative methodology and causal-comparative design were employed. Findings showed that, although they had a significantly higher GPA in their dissertation courses than a matched sample, students who participated in a research consultation were not significantly more likely to complete their program. This finding is significant, as it suggests that library research consultations should not be viewed as retention/completion initiatives. Instead, given the higher GPAs of students who participated in a research consultation, they might more appropriately be considered as initiatives that can enhance learning, especially in relation to information literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic libraries providing chat reference services have a range of options for where and how library users can engage with chat providers. These entry points can be static or proactively invite users into the service. The study compares the URLs from which users entered chat reference at three large public research libraries in the United States. The URLs show where users were when they sought assistance with library tasks. This exploratory investigation is important for extending knowledge of user help-seeking behavior and how chat service configuration may impact use. Data are variables related to chat interactions (n = 19,839) at Bowling Green State University (BGSU), University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), and University of New Mexico (UNM) in three semesters 2019–20. Findings show users originated most chats from either the library website or discovery layer; chat initiations from other resources are minimal; chat traffic increased at all three during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After a full year of providing fully remote library reference due to the COVID-19 pandemic campus closures, this exploratory study looks at reference practices of libraries, and librarian response to those practices, at a large, urban, public university. This article focuses on the impact COVID-19 had on reference services themselves, as well as the perceptions of those who provide them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Big data technology has gained prominence among academia and organizations around the world. As libraries continue to receive data from different sources like physical and electronic books and journals, recordings, maps, field trip documentation, and a host of others, big data technology becomes essential in managing all these datasets. However, much is unknown about its adoption among library personnel in academic libraries in Nigerian tertiary institutions. Thus, the research examined librarians' behavioral intentions to adopt big data technology in Nigerian universities. Data were collected through a questionnaire distributed to 317 library personnel. The hypothesized relationships in the model were tested using the Covariance-Based Structural Equation Modeling (CB-SEM). The results show that performance expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions influence behavioral intention to adopt big data technology. Contrarily, effort expectancy does not influence behavioral intention to adopt big data technology. With 50% of the variance in library personnel's intention to use big data technology explained by this model, it could help determine factors that could influence big data technology acceptance and use in academic libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the nature of queries posed by library patrons during a regular reference interview, within the conceptual framework of Internet reference services in an academic library. The users of the reference desk in a typical university setting usually range from the freshmen to the faculty, with researchers from the corporate sector occasionally dropping in. Presented here will be the viewpoint of a reference librarian indicating that library users, armed with the newly acquired knowledge of Internet/electronic tools, leave the reference desk with a vastly different perspective on carrying out a literature search than they arrived with. The observation is that while the basic theme and nature of queries remain pretty much the same, it is the role of the reference librarian in responding to these queries that has undergone an immense change. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The authors sent a survey about building and maintaining webliographies to two library listservs and mailed it to ASERL (Association of Southeastern Research Libraries) members. Librarians from 19 colleges and universities and 18 ASERL institutions responded. The guides are a logical extension of the pathfinders most libraries maintain for their patrons' use. This paper shows what importance librarians from all over the country place on creating and maintaining webliographies. Members of ASERL institutions are devoting as many or more librarians to create and maintain Web guides as are their colleagues in other geographic areas. The final results of the survey are outlined in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The University of Nebraska at Omaha's Library expanded its reference services to an underserved area/curriculum at the Peter Kiewit Institute, a building on the University's South Campus. The Library chose videoconferencing to deliver library services to the Institute. This method included Web cameras, microphones, and Polycom software for a real-time interaction between the patron and librarian. The paper describes the planning process, hardware, software, problems, marketing, staff training, and ideas for future applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines questions submitted to Ohio State University Main Library's Ask-A-Librarian e-mail reference service over a two and one-half year period. Data were gathered on type of patron, type of question, and librarian response. Analysis showed that 48% of questions were submitted by university affiliates. Types of questions were similar to those asked at the reference desk, with patrons not affiliated with the university being most likely to ask in-depth questions. Librarian responses included complete, partial, and negative answers to questions as well as referrals to other libraries or organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper will examine the motivations, considerations, and experiences of librarians at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey's (UMDNJ) Health Sciences Library at Stratford (HSL@S), an academic library participating in Q and A NJ, the first 24/7, statewide interactive reference service. This library is in a unique position as the sole health sciences library participating in a statewide project of this scope and breadth. The author gives a unique perspective and demonstrates how multi-type libraries can work together to provide a multitude of benefits to all participants. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Many institutions overwhelm the first year seminar with “one-shot” library instruction sessions, which are not necessarily linked to any form of assignment or assessment. So how can librarians maintain information literacy instruction throughout a student's academic career? Data collected by the Rivier University librarians showcases the ability to implement information literacy more effectively by streamlining and leveling it out over a four-year period. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

At a time when many libraries have decided that the creation and maintenance of individual virtual reference service requires too great an investment of time and effort for too small a return, Oregon State University Libraries recently deepened their commitment to virtual reference. Since 2003, OSU has participated in L-Net, Oregon's statewide virtual reference service. As a participant, OSU is eligible to use the Tutor.com software to create a local virtual reference service for the OSU community and has been encouraged by the state to do so. In this paper we share OSU libraries' reasons for creating a separate queue for our community, our experiences with it so far, and our plans for the future of L-Net OSU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ball State University Libraries' collections of audiovisual materials are unclassified and kept in closed stacks. Users must search the OPAC to find these materials, which is difficult for users who don't know what sorts of searching options are available or what materials the libraries have. The libraries have developed a series of Web forms that provide guided search options for various types of media, including feature films, non-classical music, and spoken recordings. The Media Finders provide better exposure for and more convenient searching of subsets of library materials. This paper describes the development of the Media Finders, their benefits and drawbacks, and background information on the technical elements and searching strategies used by the Media Finders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the unveiling of Google Scholar (GS), academic libraries have struggled with the question of how and where (and in some cases, whether) to integrate GS into the suite of research resources they present to their users. This paper presents a critical evaluation of GS, examining its arrangement, authority, content, comparability with traditional indexing services, creation and currency, and usability, and offers tentative conclusions about its "fit." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This bibliography lists state-of-the-art publications in the area of real-time reference interview. The author makes no claim that the list is exhaustive. Rather, it is hoped that this bibliography can help in finding if there is any focus in the emerging literature in this area. Being a first attempt to list the primary sources, it is expected that this will lead to exhaustive annotated and evaluative studies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The focus of this research study is a web-based reference tracking tool called Gimlet. Surveys were sent to State University of New York at Oswego (SUNY Oswego) librarians and to librarians and staff in the United States and abroad. Results indicated that SUNY Oswego librarians find Gimlet a useful and convenient tool that helps them feel productive while generating informative statistics. Respondents outside SUNY Oswego found Gimlet easy to administer and customize, but required improved functionality to generate reports. The reports are valuable to librarians and administrators for evaluating programs. Although Gimlet is user friendly, a library's needs vary according to customizable options and in the generating of reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined ease-of-use, user-friendliness, and cloud computing adoption for Web-based service in academic libraries in Kwara State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study identified the types of cloud computing adopted for delivering Web-based services; examined the user-friendliness of cloud computing; identified the benefits of cloud computing; examined the ease-of-use of cloud computing and established the relationship between ease-of-use and user-friendliness and adoption of cloud computing for delivering Web-based services; and identify the challenges encountered by academic libraries in their adoption of cloud computing for delivering Web-based services. The study adopted a survey design using a sample of thirty-five (35) librarians drawn through the total enumeration method from three universities in Ilorin, Kwara State. Data were collected through a questionnaire and collected data were analyzed using frequency count and percentages. The hypotheses of the study were tested using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). The findings demonstrate that respondents confirmed the ease-of-use and user-friendliness of cloud computing for delivering Web-based services in academic libraries. The findings also reveal that cloud computing is flexible and not vulnerable to computer breakdowns and loss of data; easy to integrate existing work with the cloud-based services, saves time, and enables the accomplishment of tasks more quickly. The study recommends based on the findings that academic libraries should be provided with a reliable source of powers as backup against epileptic power supply with a strong Internet connection and broad bandwidth to further support the adoption of cloud computing in academic libraries in Kwara State, Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chat operators sometimes struggle to find a communication style that balances approachability and warmth with professionalism and authority. Both formal and informal communication styles have benefits and drawbacks that may affect patron satisfaction. Consequently, it may be difficult for chat operators to decide how to communicate with users, and for chat service managers to decide if communication style should be part of a service's training and policies. This article reports on a study of chat transcripts from a collaborative chat reference service in Ontario, Canada. We compared operator communication style with users' willingness to return, and included user and query type as moderating variables. The study used two samples: 299 randomly selected interactions and 217 interactions with negative or neutral exit survey responses. Chi square tests of independence showed a significant relationship between communication style and willingness to return in the dissatisfied sample, but not the random sample. There was a significant relationship between informality and willingness to return for faculty members and for research questions but only in the dissatisfied sample. We conclude that an operator's choice to communicate either more formally or informally will not make users more satisfied, but it can help avoid leaving them dissatisfied, especially for faculty members and during research-intensive questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the findings of an exploratory study of education graduate students’ information-seeking behavior and attitudes. Qualitative data included interviews with education students, focusing on their research habits, and analyzed from phenomenographic approach that focused on variations in individuals’ experiences. The quantitative analysis stemmed from participants’ responses to the survey of their information-seeking behavior. A comparison of interview participants and survey respondents’ search skills, research strategies, and attitudes toward previous library instruction illustrate the wide variation in students’ abilities and experiences between the groups. This suggests the need for further analysis of these students’ information seeking behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the design and assessment of a proposed library training unit for education graduate students. A literature review of graduate students' information-seeking behavior and training initiatives supports the selection of the course content as well as the assessment of student learning. In addition, research on behaviorist and constructivist learning theories and related instructional design strategies directed the development of the learning environment. The proposal represents a collaborative effort between an institution's librarian and a department faculty member in a required Ethics and Laws in Education class for beginning students. The objectives for the pilot project were to teach students how to use scholarly resources, to mirror the Association of College and Research Libraries' (ACRL) Information Literacy Competencies, and to include hands-on database demonstrations as well as inquiry-based learning exercises. The learning environment supports students' diverse learning styles and offers opportunities to utilize technology, underscoring its importance to information use and especially to libraries in the digital era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Library guides to Google Scholar reveal the concerns and fears of librarians as they watch their users slip further and further outside of their domain of influence. Comparing these fears against data from recent surveys and studies of students and faculty suggests that a profound change in the role of the library in relation to how users search for and discover information has been underway for some time, and that Google Scholar is only the most recent and visible manifestation of that revolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study into the continued use and relevance of email reference examines 15 years of questions (N = 3026), contextualized by an extensive review of literature, looking at volume and associations between patron affiliation and status, question type, question length, and time received. A subset of data (n = 1066) was used to examine changes over time for the same variables. The study also considered the effect of the presence or absence of other virtual services. Results show that volume and patterns remained remarkably stable throughout the study period, with significant associations noted between several variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the summer of 2014, the Research and Instructional Services Unit of Meyer Library reviewed services offered on-campus, and concluded a consultation service for distance students was missing. A face-to-face research consultation service has been utilized for more than 10 years. Due to the success of this existing service, the unit wished to offer it to students unable to come to campus. The goals of virtual consultations are to give distance students the same options for research assistance as on-campus students. Namely, help students find materials, provide a degree of information literacy instruction, and establish a positive view of the library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colleges and universities across the United States have seen increases in the number of students of traditional college age choosing to enter college and the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) simultaneously to attain college degrees and begin their military careers. ROTC students, cadets, will benefit from knowledge of library services and resources and from specialized library outreach and instruction. Librarians who understand the military system and culture, and who examine their own attitudes toward military service, will be better prepared to work with military science faculty and ROTC cadets. The outreach session to the Department of Military Science/ROTC and the one-session library instruction provided to ROTC cadets by librarians at a Midwestern, comprehensive university are described and assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

What if the ideal tools for teaching undergraduate students the most critical information literacy concepts have been sitting in the stacks all along collecting dust? Reference sources are an optimal medium to introduce all six of the Association of College & Research Libraries' (ACRL) Framework's central concepts for information literacy. Additionally, by understanding a reference source's place in the information search process, students learn to consciously avoid the common pitfall of neglecting exploratory research before specifying research inquiries. Thus, incorporating reference sources thoughtfully into instructional design contributes to the development of both information literacy and metacognition. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

First-Year experience (FYE) courses have become increasingly implemented in higher education institutions in recent years to help drive student retention. Although many of these FYE courses include library components, Mississippi State University (MSU) sought to have a library-centric FYE course; this study details the process MSU Libraries used to propose this FYE course. The goal of this case study is to provide practical information on the process of proposing a FYE course and to inspire other institutional libraries to consider implementing their own FYE course. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article discusses providing information literacy to interior design students, specifically how over a few years, and several assignment iterations, we moved from a more traditional one-shot library instruction session to a creative Association of College and Research Libraries Framework-inspired assignment using Pinterest as the medium for the students' professionally relevant research project. The outcome of our instruction relied on flexible assignment planning, collaboration as faculty and librarians changed roles, and a focus on information literacy skills needed by professional designers. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study examines and categorizes common next steps patrons take with information received during reference encounters and examines implications for practice. In a qualitative user study, patrons at a large academic library were interviewed to investigate the criteria they used to evaluate the completeness and accuracy of individual reference encounters and to uncover what they did after the encounter with the information they received. Results indicate practical directions for staff training, marketing, outreach, and design of reference services to accommodate the full life cycle of patron research needs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article discusses student use of and feedback on LibGuides in an academic library. The authors conducted interviews and usability tests with on-campus and distance students to determine their preferences and expectations, as well as to identify specific pain points. Based on the findings, the authors changed LibGuides best practices at their institution and overhauled the LibGuides index page. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

To determine if undergraduate student information desk assistants were effectively staffing the library's chat reference service, librarians at Bowling Green State University embarked on a chat transcript analysis project, comparing the performance of librarians to student assistants. Although student desk assistants generally did not perform as well as librarians, it was concluded that with a renewed emphasis on continual oversight and training, students were a very viable option for staffing a chat reference service. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In order to encourage more active learning in the library classroom, the college librarians at the Tidewater Community College/City of Virginia Beach Joint-Use Library turned one of their library instruction classrooms into a dynamic and flexible space using movable seating and iPads. This article explores the reasons for making such a change, the benefits of doing so, how the new classroom has affected librarians' teaching methods, and gives specific information about apps used for class activities. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The practice of hip hop music sampling can provide a meaningful and relatable example in discussing proper attribution in research writing. In the context of a one-shot library instruction session with first- and second-year students, this article details the use of a culturally relevant example of hip hop production as a model for understanding the academic research process. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article discusses an approach toward designing and delivering one-shot information literacy sessions around the acquisition of threshold concepts. By pairing the Association of College and Research Libraries Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education with the Attention, Relevance, Confidence, and Satisfaction Model of Instructional Design, librarians at the University of Virginia have prioritized designing sessions around the acquisition of threshold concepts, providing students with a relevant, engaging classroom experience and a foundation for further learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case study describes how librarians at Radford University use Prezi, a free, cloud-based, online presentation software, as a platform to structure the content of short online videos focused on various research skills. By utilizing Prezi's flexible formatting, templates, and panning and zooming features, librarians are able to visually illustrate the relationships between varying concepts. This article discusses the online video creation process, best practices, and lessons learned from delivering structured information literacy instruction in the video medium. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The purpose of this research study is to identify whether academic librarians teach upper-division students about print reference resources, and how they teach students to use them. Questionnaires were sent to library instruction and reference services e-mail discussion lists. After analyzing results, researchers found that responses focused on the themes of pro-print, pro-electronic, relevance to instruction, collection development, and marketing. Using print reference in library instruction is related to the type of research assignment and electronic format availability. Librarians may want to consider engaging students in hands-on use of print and electronic reference material, so students are able to navigate the breadth of information sources. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Academic libraries gain information about their users in many ways. Long a standard practice in the technology industry, studies in the form of usability tests and other user-centered methods seek to determine if software products meet end user needs. Libraries have availed themselves of user-centered techniques borrowed from technology to test webpage interfaces and other library technologies. This article aims to describe the technology foundations of user-centered techniques and their evolution in libraries. Snapshots of position postings, user experience departments, comparisons of methods, library-centric thinking, and service design efforts illustrate libraries’ status in addressing user experience for their patrons. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article presents a systematic review of the current practices of creating, maintaining, using, and evaluating East Asian studies guides across North America. We examined 137 East Asian studies subject guides published by 44 major East Asian libraries and surveyed the East Asian librarian community. In this article, we discuss the common issues and unique challenges faced by East Asian studies librarians and propose recommendations. Our aim is to provide insight for East Asian studies librarians in order to help them better manage their subject guides and serve the evolving needs of users in this digital age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]