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The European Universities Initiative (EUI) was established in 2017. Its aim is to strengthen strategic partnerships between higher education institutions across the EU by building networks of universities. At the end of 2023, there were already 50 European University Alliances gathering 430 higher education (HE) institutions. In each of these Alliances, academic libraries are members, too. These libraries are already involved in intra-alliance projects, and these alliances will probably happen more often due to the EU's project-driven approach. This practice paper is, to the authors' knowledge, the first attempt to describe another challenge that European academic libraries currently face i.e., project management practice. The alliance partner universities operate under distinct national laws and institutional practices, making it challenging to easily align them for effective cross-university collaborations. Familiarity with the theoretical principles of EU project management and project management methodology greatly facilitates the preparation of the proposal and the work of the project. It also allows more effective management of the project as a whole or its individual parts. This paper maps the challenges that work in international projects brings and provides suggestions on how EUI libraries can utilize project management techniques, while also aiming at showing the paths to facilitate cooperation. Drawing from an analysis of the literature on project management that might apply in library-led projects to strengthen communities of purpose, the paper is based on the example of the work experience on the project TRAIN4EU, that was co-led by the academic librarians from the University of Warsaw Library, Poland, and run by 4EU + universities. The paper concludes with a set of recommendations based on TRAIN4EU practices, lessons learned, as well as pitfalls to avoid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed checkout data from hardback and paperback volumes in the BYU library to determine if there was a difference in circulation rates. Based on usage from 2000 through 2020, hardback volumes are no more likely to circulate than paperbacks over that 20 year range, regardless of when the book was added to the collection or its subject (i.e. humanities, sciences, or social sciences). Also, the average number of circulations for these volumes was low enough that damage to a paperback book was unlikely. Given the lower price of paperbacks, academic library budgets may be better served buying paperbacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing integration of AI tools like Yewno Discover, Scholarcy, and Grammarly in academic libraries, undergraduate research has witnessed transformative changes. These tools, while elevating the research process, also bring forth challenges rooted in ethics and application. This paper explores the synergy between modern technology and academic exploration, highlighting the benefits and potential pitfalls of using AI in the research workflow. It emphasizes that while Yewno Discover and similar tools offer streamlined navigation of vast information databases, it is imperative for undergraduates to remain cognizant of potential biases and other ethical considerations. This paper underscores the need for proactive measures in academic settings, including specialized training and policy development, to ensure that undergraduate researchers harness the power of AI responsibly and efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as an innovative technology with the potential to revolutionize various industries including libraries and information science. Academic libraries are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance services, improve efficiency, and enhance user experience. This study utilizes a bibliometric approach to comprehensively analyze current research on AI in academic libraries (AI in ALs). This study employed bibliometric indicators to identify key trends, patterns, and research gaps in the existing literature. A comprehensive dataset of 373 research papers on AI in ALs published between 2002 and 2022 was collected and analyzed using the Scopus database. Various bibliometric tools, such as Biblioshiny, VOSviewer, and BibExcel, have enhanced this analysis. The findings of this study provide important insights. By 2022, there were 64 publications, constituting 17.16% of the total corpus, accompanied by 65 citations. In contrast, 2019 witnessed only 33 publications yet accumulated a substantial number of citations, amounting to 294, representing 8.85% of the overall citations. Conference papers exhibited the highest frequency among different publication types, with 165 publications, whereas journal articles had the highest citation count, accumulating 217 citations. Geographically, China emerged as the leading contributor with 119 publications, and Wuhan University stood out as the most prominent affiliation. Notably, the "Lecture Notes in Computer Science" series emerged as the most prolific source title, publishing 15 articles, of which eight were cited. The authors Wang J., Wang C., and Wang X. from China demonstrated significant contributions, consistently publishing four papers annually from 2010 to 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigated the usage of mobile technology in marketing academic libraries in developing countries. The main purpose, apart from awareness, is to look at how researchers are studying mobile technology in marketing academic libraries, what are the current issues investigated and what has to be the direction of the topic globally. The paper employed 23 research papers for systematic review. The findings reveal that academic libraries are aware of mobile technology and use it at various levels for academic library promotion, visibility, and teaching and learning. Factors influencing the use of mobile technology in marketing academic libraries were identified and further noted that little has been studied regarding mobile technology in marketing academic libraries and its performance in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a case study of a book reduction project undertaken by an academic library. The project aimed to reduce the size of the library's monograph collection by 61% and maintain a relevant and accessible print collection that best serves the needs of its users. To achieve this goal, the library outsourced technical services work and relied on temporary student workers to assist in the project. The paper discusses the challenges faced in onboarding and training temporary workers, as they had varying levels of experience and lacked knowledge of library terminology. To address these issues, the library provided onboarding and training, regular 1 + 1 meetings, and the effective use of project management software. The use of data analysis provided by LibraryIQ allowed for an objective assessment of which items to retain or remove. While removing materials could have negative implications, the project's emphasis on clear communication and ongoing evaluation of the collection's relevance and accessibility ensured that the library continues to meet the evolving needs of its users. The paper highlights the importance of effective project management, clear communication, and ongoing evaluation in managing library collections. The project's strategies and insights can provide valuable guidance for other libraries looking to undertake similar collection management projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on a study on delinquent acts in three academic libraries in northern Ghana. A survey method was used for the study and a questionnaire was used to collect data. The study population consisted of staff in the Reader Service Sections of the three libraries. The study found that failure to observe library regulations, keeping overdue materials, eating in the library, littering, reserving seats unjustifiably, and hiding of books for the purpose of monopoly are examples of delinquent acts practiced by library users. According to the participants, the main reasons for delinquent acts are inadequate orientation to users, insufficient copies of books, and indiscipline among library users. The respondents further reported that these actions led to a reduction in library resources and low patronage. To curb deviant behaviors in libraries, the study recommends the adoption of pragmatic approaches including massive orientation for users, imbibing positive library culture that fosters respect, bolstering commitment and cooperation among library users and the staff, increasing library budgets as well as finding more creative ways of acquiring more copies of books, such as using Open Educational Resources (OERs), belonging to consortia and building and/or enhancing existing Institutional Repositories (IR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A review of library social responsibility is presented in this study to offer an understanding of the future direction of library social responsibility, and to bridge the knowledge gap regarding research patterns and trends in social responsibility of libraries. The purpose of this review was to provide a systematic review of social responsibility in libraries adopted between 2010 and 2021. Searches were conducted on databases in English and Arabic. An analysis of the papers revealed four themes of library social responsibility: workplace and employees, stakeholders, environment, and community. Themes had different levels of attention. The results of this study may contribute to future research. Further highlighting the gaps in the literature could be valuable for future research. In-depth qualitative empirical studies of library social responsibility are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the results of an online survey that benchmarked the organization of information technology (IT) functions in academic library members of the Association of Research Libraries. The survey investigated whether responsibility for 14 key areas resided in the libraries or in an institution-level information technology department, whether responsibilities have shifted over the past 20 years, satisfaction with services provided, assessment methods used to evaluate information technology services, and top challenges facing library IT. This paper considers the survey results addressing where the responsibility lies, satisfaction with the support, and whether and when the responsibility changed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OhioLINK, one of the leading academic library consortia in the US, marks its 30th anniversary in 2022. This paper, the second of two parts, reviews the organization's history through selected formative milestones and provides observations about the evolution of the consortium from its current executive director, revealing the importance of expanding cost-effective and easy access to scholarly resources, economies of scale, pushing technology, and a focus on the user. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The University of California, Irvine's (UCI) Innovation and Entrepreneurship Librarian partnered with UCI's New Venture Competition to provide embedded research support for teams participating in the competition, including a research workshop and individual team research consultations. To assess the impact of these library services, a quantitative study of three years of competition scores was conducted involving a control group and two experimental groups; the difference in the experimental groups was the mode in which the services were provided: in-person and virtually. The study hypothesized that teams who received information literacy training (i.e., attended a research workshop and/or participated in a research consultation) earned higher Concept Paper scores, as well as higher evidence question scores (i.e., scores for a rubric question related to providing evidence in support of claims made in the Concept Paper), than teams who did not receive information literacy training. Statistical analysis showed significant increases in both Concept Paper scores and evidence question scores for both experimental groups when compared to the control group, indicating that information literacy training positively impacted teams' performance. Additional analysis revealed no statistically significant differences in teams' scores based on training delivery mode, in-person or virtual. The results are of value to librarians seeking to initiate partnerships with entrepreneurship competitions on campus, as well as entrepreneurship educators interested in enhancing existing entrepreneurship competitions by incorporating research and information literacy training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Since its academic inception in the 1960s, Germany's general practice has seen numerous dissertations, many of which are housed in the 'Archive of German language General Practice' (ADAM). Aim: This study aims to provide the first comprehensive overview of dissertation topics from the discipline of general- and family medicine in Germany, establishing a foundation for advancing research. Method: We employed a systematic review approach, examining 801 dissertations from both ADAM and online sources. Each topic was identified, categorized, and finalized through consensus by two independent reviewers. Results: Our analysis encompassed 486 dissertations from ADAM, 176 from the German national library, and 139 from university libraries. A total of 167 unique research topics were identified. The predominant themes included medical education (n = 49), medication orders (n = 39), frequent consultation issues (n = 33), complementary medicine (n = 32), and screening measures (n = 29). The use of qualitative methods was constantly rising, from no qualitative methods used from 1965–1974, up to 22% of dissertations in recent years. Conclusion: The diversity of 167 research topics underscores the vastness and complexity of general practice in Germany. This structured overview is pivotal for facilitating focused and interconnected research endeavors in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on finding the criteria adopted by users to select free information retrieved from the Web for academic use. A close-ended questionnaire was formulated to record the opinions of the respondents. A survey for various categories of users such as post graduate students, research scholars and faculty members from five universities of Chandigarh, Haryana, and Punjab was administered. The category-wise and discipline-wise analysis depicted that quite a good number of respondents applied various parameters while referring to Web resources, but a reasonable number of users did not apply certain parameters to verify the nature of free information being used for educational purposes. The convenience factor leads them to depend on free Web resources which can be accessed anywhere and saves time. The findings of the study suggest that user education programs should be conducted to create awareness regarding the credibility of the subscribed library resources and their effectiveness in enhancing the quality of teaching, learning, and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasingly complex and demanding research landscape has seen university libraries rapidly evolve their services. While research data management, bibliometrics, and research impact services have predominantly featured in the literature to date, the full scope of support libraries are currently providing to their institutions is unknown. This paper aims to present an up-to-date view of the scope and extent of research support services by university libraries across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. A coding process analyzed content data from university library websites. Eleven research support areas were identified. Service delivery is split between synchronous and asynchronous modes. This paper describes a lived experience of an evidence-based library and information practice approach to improving research support services at two Australian university libraries, and while it highlights continued maturation of research support services, more research is needed to better understand influences on service development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Librarians are concerned about patron privacy and the confidentiality of library records. Many libraries also have other types of sensitive or restricted data. One of the biggest risks to the data a library maintains is a cyberattack. These attacks can be of many different types but one of the most common and impactful is a ransomware attack. This paper looks at the issue of cybersecurity in libraries and offers some recommendations of steps librarians can take in order to better protect their libraries from the risk of a cyberattack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many colleges and universities use Turnitin, SafeAssign, and other "plagiarism detection" software to detect, and deter, academic dishonesty. Since 2005, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries have provided students direct access to SafeAssign and Turnitin as teaching tools to help them identify improper citation of sources. Students appreciate having free access to these products when similar software can be cost-prohibitive. However, Turnitin commonly finds false positives in student papers, and students may find Turnitin's originality reports difficult to understand. Therefore, it is unclear how helpful it is to offer this library service to students, versus focusing on teaching proper citation of sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OhioLINK, one of the leading academic library consortia in the United States, marks its 30th anniversary in 2022. This paper, the first of two parts, reviews the organization's history through selected formative milestones and provides observations about the evolution of the consortium from its current executive director, revealing the importance of expanding cost-effective and easy access to scholarly resources, economies of scale, pushing technology, and a focus on the user. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

Librarians are frequently consulted on various topics, a central one being the proper citation of sources. Information literacy sessions, taught by librarians, are usually taught in less than an hour and may not cover the use of visual resources. To support teaching and research, outside the classroom, librarians develop research guides to provide scholarly resources and guidance on how to properly cite them. Often, the use of visual resources and proper citation for them are absent from research guides dealing with citation styles. This paper presents a study of research guides on image use and citation by determining which U.S. libraries in the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) currently maintain guides on the legalities of citing copyrighted works, provide citation guidance, as well as examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not a new technology, as many industries have been using it for years. Recently, it has become a more available asset to university students and faculty. Due to this interest, guidelines and practices are being established in universities and academic libraries on how best to use AI. This paper covers some of the challenges currently facing academia when it comes to AI and the various ways AI can benefit academic libraries in teaching, collection services, and aspects of accessibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article narrates the archival history of how and why the papers of W. E. B. Du Bois found their way to Fisk University in 1961. It considers Du Bois' own collecting practices in conjunction with historian Herbert Aptheker's custodial oversight of the materials and writer Shirley Graham Du Bois' curatorial arrangement of the manuscripts. The efforts of Fisk University librarian Arna Bontemps as a memory keeper of Black history and culture are highlighted.

This paper provides information on the characteristics of the research output from the chemistry and biochemistry faculty publications at the University of Arkansas over a ten-year period (2011–2020). The faculty publications were used to identify (a) a core set of journals and other resources they are publishing in and citing over this period; (b) the characteristics of the journals in which they publish and cite (i.e., scatter of publications, Bradford distribution, major publishers, ranking and subject categories based on the Journal citation Reports (JCR); (3) the degree of openness of their publications; their citation advantage, if any, using both the Web of Science and SciFinder; and (4) the age of resources that are referenced. Based on the findings, the authors were able to gain a very good overview of the characteristics of the research publications and were able to identify how well the library is catering to those needs. We were able to demonstrate based on information obtained from both Web of Science and SciFinder, that the non-OA papers from this department had higher citations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Daniel Rostenkowski papers became the first Congressional papers collection at Loyola University Chicago in 1995. The papers of a high profile alumnus, the University Libraries decided to create a stand-alone archive for the collection. This article describes the history of the collection, several attempts to create a stand-alone archive, and the collecting policy that was eventually created to guide the development of the archive. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper is the first segment of a two-part article detailing the transition process of Northeastern State University Library's migration from OCLC's interlibrary loan automation system, ILLiad to its first cloud-based ILL management system, Tipasa. The transition planning process began in the fall of 2018 with the transition period beginning in early 2019. This article provides a framework for the successful implementation process of shift to a new interlibrary system in one semester. The authors explore the challenges and lessons learned while providing a structure that may be beneficial for other libraries preparing for a similar transition process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Countless academic libraries are unable to commit staff time to handle the multiple workflows required by a music library, such as ordering, procurement, and cataloging. Music librarians often rely on support from staff in other departments with limited musical backgrounds. Drawing from resources offered by the central library, a University of Tennessee music cataloger created guidelines for training non-musical library staff in identifying various musical formats. The training was meant to improve the workflow of music materials from acquisitions, cataloging, and processing departments. The training focused on illustrating the differences between a variety of commonly found musical score formats. The goal was to increase staff effectiveness and reduce errors in ordering and processing music materials. Ultimately, the training enabled library staff to identify best options and apply sound judgment when fulfilling order requests. These guidelines included illustrations with examples of different formats with cover images, title pages, music notation pages, and a brief bibliographic description of MARC fields 100, 245, 240, 250 and 300. By evaluating bibliographic records from WorldCat and showing physical examples of various musical manifestations, non-musical library staff were able to contribute more effectively to the operations of the music library. Furthermore, during the process of training and following up with staff, it became clear that the need for basic music training was greater than initially perceived and that numerous other units within the library needed this training. This paper offers guidelines for music library training from both the University of Tennessee and the music library literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term "world music" has been used for decades as a catchall genre to describe any form of music outside of the Western classical tradition. Its use furthers a Eurocentric bubble that others or ignores other cultures and their music. By examining the public-facing catalogs of thirteen university libraries across ten different countries to determine to what extent Non-Western music is included in the collection, how it is classified, and if the term "world music" is used to do so; the specific practices and norms that perpetuate a bias toward Western art music can be identified and highlighted. Correcting this bias requires university libraries to both collect a larger volume of Non-Western music materials and alter how their music collections are described. This paper concludes by suggesting some best practices for classifying music collections using faceted vocabularies that afford Non-Western music and cultures the same respect given to Western art music. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the role of Alexander J. Rolich (1923–2014), the first Slavic Bibliographer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) Libraries. He was appointed as UW-Madison's first Slavic Bibliographer in October 1964 and remained for 37 years until his retirement in 2001. He was instrumental in guiding the development of the libraries' Slavic, East European and Central Asian collections in a period of rapid growth. It was estimated that the University's Slavic and East European collection had increased by ten-fold during his time as Slavic Bibliographer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the opportunities and challenges associated with the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in academic library operations. In the quest to render fast, effective and efficient services, academic libraries have adopted different technologies in the past. Artificial intelligence technologies is the latest among the technologies currently being introduced in libraries. The technology which is considered an intelligent system, come in the form of robots and expert systems which have natural language processing, machine learning and pattern recognition capabilities. This paper examined the features of AI, the application of AI to library operations, examples of academic libraries with AI technologies in Sub-Saharan Africa, the need for AI in libraries and the challenges associated with the adoption of AI in libraries. The study concluded that AI holds a lot of prospects for the improvement of information services delivery in African academic libraries. Consequently, its adoption is a sinequanon to delivering robust library services in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper brings light to the existing practice of cataloging in the college libraries of Assam in terms of utilizing the MARC 21 standard and its structure, i.e., the tags, subfield codes, and indicators. Catalog records from six college libraries are collected and a survey is conducted to understand the local users' information requirements for the catalog. Places, where libraries have scope to improve and which divisions of tags could be more helpful for them in information retrieval, are identified and suggested. This study fulfilled the need for local-level assessment of the catalogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a literature review of academic library collection activities related to the provision of streaming video content in support of higher education curricula. It reviews the budgetary, collection management, licensing, technology, and acquisition processes and associated challenges that the provision of streaming video content poses for academic libraries in offering this much needed content to their patron base. The authors present a recent history of developing academic video collections, the transition to and increased demand for the streaming video format, and the evaluations required of funding models and vendor supply models to make the availability of streaming video content sustainable in the academic environment. The article also reviews current and future research and planned collaboration which hold great promise in addressing the current challenges academic libraries face in offering streaming video content to their patrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article will compare results from two surveys sent to the university libraries at Valdosta State University and Florida State University. The initial survey in 2016, asked patrons to describe their format preferences when looking for library materials and indicate if their format preferences changed when looking for pleasure reading or academic research. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced people out of physical libraries and onto online libraries visited from home, two of the authors wondered how this would change a patron's preference regarding electronic formats, leading to a second survey in 2022. The conclusion gives insight on how this information should impact collection development policies in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the paper was to consider the current experience of metric evaluations of serial publications carried out by employees of academic libraries and to develop recommendations for conducting such evaluations. To achieve this objective, relevant publications were reviewed and the relevant experience of the Scientific Library of the Belarusian National Technical University was summarized. Two trends of such evaluations were analyzed, viz. both evaluation for the purpose of improving library collections or information services for library users and evaluation for the purpose of making managerial decisions, assessing the scientific performance of the university, research organization or their units. As for the first trend, the viewpoint that this area of research has lost its relevance has been refuted. Using for evaluation such indicators as disciplinary impact factor and disciplinary susceptibility factor (which is used for the selection of those non-specialized serial publications that cite specialized journals—not are cited by them; herewith the citing activity of an average article from the citing non-specialized serial is calculated) is considered. As for the second trend, the paper demonstrates the important role of metric evaluation of serial publications in which employees of universities and research organizations have published as well as of those serials that are published by academic organizations under analysis in the assessment of universities and research organizations themselves. The approaches to such evaluation, its examples and the experience of the Scientific Library of the Belarusian National Technical University in evaluating Belarusian journals indexed by the Emerging Sources Citation Index™ are considered. The issue of improving the scholarly communication of employees of the university or research organization using the results of metric studies of serial publications is considered as well. Recommendations are given on the use of a number of citation indicators for serial publications evaluations by academic library employees including evaluation for comparative analysis of serials that are indexed in the Science Citation Index Expanded™ and by the Emerging Sources Citation Index™. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The final paper is Research-in-Practice paper and explores the B I Use of social media by academic libraries in Australia i b . Finally, there is also a Research-in-Practice paper describing the use of social media by academic libraries in Australia. We kick off 2023 with a rich issue consisting of diverse research papers that cover many aspects of Library and Information Science, including library history, library accessibility, library research and LIS education, and also a paper by a researcher and user of academic libraries detailing a complicated project about compiling sociology PhDs in Australia, which involved expert help from some amazing academic libraries and librarians. [Extracted from the article]

The Catholic Research Resources Alliance (CRRA) is a membership association with a mission "to provide enduring global access to Catholic research resources in the Americas." This article shares the history of the CRRA from its founding by eight Catholic academic research libraries through today with a membership of 45 institutions. Signature projects include the Catholic Portal, CRRA Subject Guides, the Catholic Newspapers Program, and the Catholic News Archive. The article focuses on how the mission has remained a constant anchor for the organization through projects, membership, and governance have changed overtime and in tandem to fulfill that mission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A group of faculty and staff of the Missouri State University (MSU) Libraries, assisted by an anthropologist, conducted a survey and then an ethnographic study using direct observation and semi-structured interviews of a broad sample of MSU faculty members to explore faculty scholarly information seeking habits and behavior. Research questions explored where faculty researched, what they used, and whom they consulted for assistance. Building upon background and findings concerning content in an introductory article, this companion article will discuss findings related to services and spaces used or desired by faculty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this column, we will share the benefits and challenges of adopting two EdTech tools (Scholarcy and Grammarly) to support library users' research workflows. We share how we introduced Grammarly and Scholarcy to the college community through a marketing campaign via ConvertKit, an email marketing tool, and the benefits and challenges of Grammarly and Scholarcy's vendor-supplied usage statistics to support student success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An essential component of the academic knowledge infrastructure is the services provided by the library to its community of students, staff, and stakeholders. The University of Queensland library recently transitioned from a service model of individual discipline focused librarians to one where Outreach Librarians and Learning & Research Librarians deliver services with an explicit team approach, enabling the future vision of the Library to be seen as an essential component of the academic knowledge infrastructure of UQ. The transition took place over an extended 18-month period, with ten project groups formed from the librarian group to focus on service review and to reconsider the operational processes to implement the required changes. This paper is about the whole approach of transition to change, and the intention of sharing so others will find practical help, as methodical management of the transition was a key factor to enable the change. [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]

Using survey data collected in 2023, this study explores issues around comics collections in academic libraries. In addition to gaining an understanding of the origins of several major academic library collections and current resource support for these collections and associated services, the study looks at the extent to which institutions are implementing measures for the long-term sustainability and preservation of these collections. The researchers found that the historic indifference to comics in an academic setting has resulted in the creation of hodgepodge collections with inconsistent approaches to collection development, staffing, outreach, and long-term growth. Considering the increased acceptance of comics in such settings, Flota, Thacker, and Larsen suggest that it is past time for institutions to be more intentional in planning and sustaining comics collections and services in academic libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic Social Network Sites (ASNS) have grown to become a preeminent location for sharing full text scholarly research articles. This paper examines ASNS within the context of open access by suggesting that the framework of "gray open access" best describes ASNS as sites for the dissemination of published research. To understand why authors share their work on ASNS, this paper reviews library and information science literature, finding trends around desire to expand their works' reach, appreciation of the ease of using ASNS, lack of knowledge regarding copyright restrictions, and desire to share only the final published version of their work. The paper concludes by suggesting avenues academic libraries can take to address the growth of ASNS as de facto repositories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an assessment coordinator with a non-library educational background, the author discusses her perspectives on how an academic library builds and promotes a culture of assessment since joining a public research library in 2018. She also presents key insights gained while working on strategic plans and assessment plans. This column may be beneficial to library leadership and administrators regarding practical aspects to consider while fostering a culture of assessment in their organization. This column may be also useful for individuals who desire to broaden their position in library assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last few decades, there have been multiple peer-reviewed articles that suggest academic libraries do not establish appropriate succession plans, nor do they develop the required leadership capacity in their librarians. This article discusses (a) the development of a survey instrument to measure the frequency with which succession planning activities take place in libraries, and (b) the results of a survey study that explored succession planning practices in the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) in the United States. This study utilized a cross-sectional design with a stratified random sample (n = 353) of academic librarians and administrators employed by ARL member libraries. After data analysis, validity and reliability analyses revealed the survey instrument demonstrates acceptable psychometric properties and produced a strong alpha coefficient of.91. Findings also suggest that several factors impact respondents' knowledge of and/or participation in succession planning activities, including their sexual orientation, primary job duties, layers of management in their library hierarchy, and whether or not managers identify and prepare interims for critical positions in their library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A group of faculty and staff of the Missouri State University (MSU) Libraries, assisted by an anthropologist, conducted a survey and then an ethnographic study using direct observation and semi-structured interviews of a broad sample of MSU faculty members to explore faculty scholarly information seeking habits and behavior. Research questions explored where faculty researched, what they used, and whom they consulted for assistance. This article will discuss the methodologies of the study, as well as its findings on content used by faculty, to be followed by a companion article discussing findings on services and spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the gap between library users' expected and perceived library services and to examine the role of library services in developing user satisfaction and loyalty. A quantitative research design using a questionnaire was used to investigate the research objectives. Undergraduate students were selected as the population from the Information Technology University. The questionnaire was adopted from previous literature. It was pilot tested with 50 undergraduate students and found reliable. Data was collected from 304 respondents and were analyzed using SPSS (v.20) software. The study found that library users expected a high level of service in three categories, i.e., Affect of Service, Information Control, and Library as a Place, as all mean scores were higher than 7 when rated against a scale from 1 to 9. The participants reported that they were likely to consult the library and recommend it to others. The structural equation model confirmed that better services will increase users' satisfaction with the library resources and services and will lead to winning users' loyalty. The findings from the study provided useful insight into the determinants of user satisfaction and loyalty and could be useful for other academic libraries seeking ways to increase user loyalty and user satisfaction with library resources and services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a landscape of uncertain budgets, it is more important than ever that libraries make the best decisions for their collections. Overlap analysis is an essential part of that decision-making process. In the previous decades, overlap analysis and tools have evolved to meet the challenges associated with analyzing today's complex resources. This case study outlines the overlap analysis workflows and tools utilized by the University of Arkansas Libraries. The paper also discusses the Libraries' processes for creating overlap reports for both full-text and citation-only resources and provides an appendix that details how the Libraries completed select functions outside of vendor-supplied tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As libraries and communities consider institutional values and ethical standards, there is a need to scrutinize how those values and standards connect with collections decisions. An existing body of literature about the contents of the collections exists, with respect to issues like decolonization and open access, but little about the business relationships libraries maintain in order to acquire these collections. In this paper, librarians from Purdue University take a critical approach to identifying the values of their institution at multiple levels, including a newly released Libraries strategic plan, to create a values-based evaluation tool for future collection assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the further promotion of "Double First-Class" construction of universities in China, the new goal of all universities is building the first-class discipline. Academic library is the literature center of university, subject services of library should follow the pace of discipline development. In this paper, the citation frequency, which is considered as one of the important indicators of scientific research evaluation and academic evaluation, is taken as the breakthrough point. We take pharmacology as an example, take Web of Science as the platform, analyze the journal articles of this discipline in 2006–2016, reveal the characteristics of highly cited articles and the causes of zero cited articles. From publishing journals, publication year, research direction, fund and scientific research institutions to reveal academic library how to optimize journal navigation and collection structure and how to help researchers select periodicals, propagate research productions, explore the potential themes, control discipline trends, track disciplinary hot spots, obtain funding, strengthen research cooperation, etc. in order to make the subject services of library further expand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses in detail the content of the collection The Zygmunt Haupt Papers, 1907–1976, held in Special Collections at Stanford University Libraries. In particular, it describes the Voice of America broadcasts prepared by the writer, as well as his life and writings, and provides a summary of the research conducted on Haupt. It briefly discusses The Zdzisław Ruszkowski Papers, the supplemental collection linked recently to Haupt's archives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On May 1, 2020, the Needs Assessment Committee submitted their final report of findings and recommendations to the dean of the Oral Roberts University Library, Dr. Mark Roberts. The report represented the culmination of approximately six months of a broad-based investigation of the Library, including an internal examination of the Library and an external study of Library resources, services, and staff. This Needs Assessment was unique in that a team of Library faculty and staff conducted it. Internal members of an organization rarely perform needs assessments for many reasons, including inherent bias and the potential distrust of those not on the assessment team. Further complicating matters for the Needs Assessment team was the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing shutdown of Oral Roberts University's (ORU) physical campus at the end of March 2020 during the period of data collection. Even before the campus shutdown created new challenges, the university administration and board of trustees mandated the significant revision of faculty promotion and appointment due by the end of February 2020. This mandate also posed some difficulties for the Needs Assessment team in managing the assessment workload and stress. This paper discusses some of the rationales for performing an internal Needs Assessment and the Needs Assessment team's process. The authors also describe how they navigated the tensions inherent in an internal assessment, the additional demands of a university mandate, and the COVID-19 pandemic impact. Finally, the authors present some of the Needs Assessment team's recommendations that the Library has already implemented and some proposals that have been postponed due to the pandemic's effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]