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The general research paper, despite its prevalence in higher education, has had limited success in the classroom for decades. Although academic librarians recognize the value of source-based writing and have continually partnered with faculty on this type of assignment, we are equally aware of the inherent limitations and difficulties of this traditional writing requirement. This column argues for an alternative vision to the general research paper, one that embraces a rhetorical context and offers academic librarians a more prominent role in assignment design on their campuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Making scholarly information visible to web search engines is an ongoing challenge, and undergraduate research is no exception. Using a sample of award-winning undergraduate history papers and journals, the authors searched Google, Google Scholar, Microsoft Academic, and the authors' institutional repository to gauge the difficulty of locating these works. Given that many of these works were not easily found, results suggest that libraries and their institutions could be doing more to increase the discoverability of undergraduate research. Based on the success stories observed in this study, we offer strategies to libraries and librarians for increasing the visibility of undergraduate student research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a follow-up to their 2001/2002 study on printing services in academic libraries, the authors explore how the provision of printing services has changed over the last twelve years. This article explores how libraries are choosing to fund printing services as well as how technology, such as scanning and mobile devices, has changed the way printing services are provided. The results of the 2013 survey find a greater percentage of libraries are using a fee-based system for printing, and, while some technology is providing greater data and control for printing services, other technological advances are having unintended consequences for libraries’ printing infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Virtual Reality (VR) devices are now more accessible than ever before and academic libraries are well-positioned to provide democratized access and enhance library services with the technology. In this case study, faculty and staff of the J. Willard Marriott Library at the University of Utah transformed a traditional classroom into a dedicated VR classroom. The paper will cover five key points: a short literature review of VR trends and uses, a discussion of the methods used to identify a need and secure funding, highlights of the design process, preparation and installation of technology, and an initial look at how the VR classroom is being used today. The paper concludes with an overview of plans to study the effectiveness of the space as use increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to discuss how academic libraries can directly contribute to campus student success initiatives through student employment programs. Case studies from the perspectives of two supervisors demonstrate how library student employment programs can intentionally incorporate the characteristics of High-Impact Practices. This paper builds upon a previously published systematic review of the academic library literature on student employment, which found a significant gap in the discussion of employment as a mechanism for learning and retention. This paper aims to address this gap by focusing on practical applications for creating more learner-centered student employment programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of an augmented reality library orientation on first-year undergraduate students' feelings of anxiety toward the library and confidence using the library. This paper also reviews the best practices and theoretical foundation used for designing an augmented reality library orientation. The specific goals of the orientation are to increase students' comfort and confidence with the library and librarians as measured by a pre- and post-orientation survey. After taking the orientation, students reported an increased belief in the librarians' desire to help them and an increased confidence in knowing how to use an academic library but reported no change in viewing the library as a welcoming place, feeling overwhelmed by the library, or levels of comfort asking for help. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper reports the findings of a grounded theory analysis of undergraduate perceptions of academic libraries serving their university community. The qualitative researchers employed long interviews to interview forty-one participants at various stages in their undergraduate career in order to determine how they perceive the academic library as an institution. Three theoretical categories emerged from the data analysis: (1) Constructing the Academic Library as Geographic Space, (2) Constructing the Academic Library as Idea, and (3) Constructing the Library Worker. The researchers found that participants may simultaneously view the academic library as physical geography and idealistic abstraction, and that the physical navigation of the library may remain hindered despite normative perceptions of the academic library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first in a series of columns intended to report on the progress of the Open Access (OA) movement in scholarly communication, chart the changes OA brings to the methods libraries and library users employ to acquire information, and estimate the value of OA materials for undergraduate library collections. At this point, it is not clear how long commercially published academic journals will be a sine qua non for college libraries. However, it is already obvious that undergraduate instruction can benefit from the scholarship available through Open Access at the same time that our libraries need the budget relief such resources offer. Librarians who work with undergraduates have very good reasons to stay current with the range and quality of OA content as well as with the best means of providing access to that body of scholarship. In addition, faculty teaching undergraduates depend upon librarians to keep them informed about changes in the information environment. With that in mind, “Out in the Open” is an attempt to introduce readers to the people, resources, and trends identified with the rise of Open Access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today's virtual reality (VR) technologies enable students to traverse immersive learning environments populated with highly engaging course content that closely resembles real-world artifacts and sites, scientific specimens, and otherwise inaccessible training scenarios. The relative affordability of the latest generation of VR hardware has further increased the uptake of VR across academic, but careful consideration must be given to how the technology is deployed for classroom use. This paper draws on a range published research literature, and the authors' experiences implementing VR in an academic library, to present guidelines and case studies that can be used by library practitioners to craft effective VR course assignments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3D printing services are an increasingly popular offering in many academic library makerspaces. However, failed prints, and simply the printing process itself, can generate substantial waste. Through a grant from a regional library consortium, the feasibility of recycling waste 3D plastic and reconstituting it into new 3D printing filament was explored and tested. Other 3D printing makerspaces on campus have asked about recycling waste filament or providing that material to the library to recycle. This paper will discuss the methodology, benefits, and challenges of recycling 3D printing filament in an effort to make 3D printing more sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic libraries offer educational outreach surrounding their technology services available to users. When using those same technology services for internal projects, librarians can better understand the mechanisms behind these technologies, allowing for meaningful outreach efforts in which librarians serve as both primary users and facilitators of use. This paper highlights a case study of leveraging an institutional license to Overleaf, a collaborative LaTeX editor, to rebuild documentation on the use of KiltHub, an institutional repository. This requires a complex mix of text, images, tables, and even videos, and presented a tremendous challenge to format in Microsoft Word and Google Docs. In leveraging the library's own technologies, the KiltHub team gained a greater understanding of how to use and teach with these platforms, ultimately better serving campus users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Podcasting is a recent phenomenon on the Internet, which offers academic libraries an alternative channel for communication with faculty and students. This paper describes podcasting, and offers examples of its use in academic and public libraries. The paper concludes with a description of the University of Texas at Arlington Libraries' experiences in creating a podcast and suggestions for libraries considering podcasting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given that graduate employment is a clear outcome of education success, there is an urgent need to conceptualize course design strategically to maximize students' chances of employment. In this paper, we present an Australian case study in which we used a structured career information literacy learning approach to build employability in a biological sciences capstone course, through collaboration between the university library, academics, and career service. We report the context, method, measurement, outcomes of collaboration, and roles of contributors in this partnership. This case study lends itself to potential ways of incorporating career information literacy into an academic context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How can librarians at college and undergraduate libraries contribute to digital humanities research? This study describes The Greek Key, a working prototype Virtual Research Environment (VRE) for the analysis of texts and manuscripts. This paper explains how the VRE functions through a case study of passages in Plato and the Book of Genesis. The Greek Key VRE is a collaborative, scalable, multidisciplinary project that has the potential to engage librarians in participatory strategies such as crowdsourcing. The VRE will make it possible to pursue perennial questions in innovative ways and to use new technologies to respond to questions that do not lend themselves to more traditional methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millennials, or Generation Y learners, are one of the largest constituencies academic libraries serve today. Understanding how and why these technology-savvy students learn increases the efficacy of information literacy instruction and ensures that libraries remain relevant in the digital age. This article addresses the complexity of the millennial learning phenomenon and its implications for instructional design and teaching in physical and virtual library environments. To situate millennial learning in the context of academic library instruction, this paper takes a large-scale, holistic approach that includes consideration of millennials’ learning styles, emerging technologies, and a multitude of other issues affecting Generation Y learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition from information to learning commons is an important step in the transformation of the academic library; yet, it is important that the commons movement not lose its momentum. The learning commons may be considered as a stage in the transformation of the academic library as a whole to a communicative commons whose objective is to insure that all members of the academic community can exercise their right to communicate, that is, to be informed and to inform. However, to advance further on this transformative trajectory, there is a need to construct a conceptual framework that is in accord with the emerging communicative context of the academic library. This paper proposes a communicative commons framework based on the human right to communicate. The framework's implications for the transformation of the academic library and its services are examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using "ready-to-go" assessment tools to gauge student learning outcomes makes practicing assessment a whole lot easier and less daunting. This article offers one librarian's experience using four pre-constructed assessment tools in 80% of all the classes taught during one academic year. The four assessment tools are included in this paper with instructions for use and hints to maximize utility. Discussion includes one element of data from each assessment tool that meaningfully provided feedback about successes or indicated areas in need of improvement. At the end of the pilot project, an assessment portfolio composed of synthesized evaluations was organized into a note book binder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper revisits the concept of a core collection for college libraries. Is there a set of books which should be in every college library collection? Does anyone know what it is? As state university libraries become more integrated within their university systems, perhaps the notion of a list of indispensable titles is no longer relevant. In the University System of Georgia, for example, it might be assumed that at least one of its 34 institutions could supply nearly any book requested, and that it will be delivered quickly enough. Yet, the idea of core titles in each library still seems important, not only for the convenience of having valued books on the shelves, but also because "core" suggests books of importance. In this paper, the author looks at one likely source of "core titles"-lists of best books published in library journals-and examines the rate at which they have been purchased by six state universities. Percentages of titles purchased from best book lists will be compared with percentages of titles purchased from Choice `s Outstanding Academic Books, Books for College Libraries, 3rd edition, and Best Books for Academic Libraries, 2002. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses the training of student workers on the techniques in handling libraries and do simple things such as refilling the printer paper, help in navigating areas in the library and handing over to expert librarians on various research inquiries.

When a campus has not integrated information literacy education into the curriculum, many students will not have the opportunity to learn these necessary skills before they embark on their career paths. This pilot study explores the possibility of teaching information literacy skills to students enrolled in a writing-designated course offered to mathematics majors who are about to complete their undergraduate studies. Outcome-based objective evaluations were used to guide teaching strategies as well as to gauge student progress. Embedded one-on-one consultations were found to be critical in strengthening these students’ information literacy abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Makerspaces have become increasingly common in academic libraries, but libraries are not alone in their enthusiasm for the creative and innovative culture known as the maker movement. As more libraries develop makerspaces, so do other campus units and universities. This article presents a case study of the Indiana University Libraries' makerspace initiatives and their role in a larger network of makerspaces on the IU Bloomington campus. The author synthesizes examples from several institutions to make recommendations for libraries looking to contribute to the maker culture at their institution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Students acquire, communicate, share, and create knowledge through more than the printed word. Libraries are in a position to provide equitable access to a variety of multimodal resources enabling students in this learning process. Embracing this process, one medium-sized public academic library, in a state with major, well-publicized budget cuts to higher education, was determined to open a makerspace. Through collaborative relationships, intentional communication, and creative repurposing of what was available, the librarians successfully implemented a makerspace. This article focuses on communication strategies used to manage perceptions of such an undertaking in a climate of austerity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The LibQUAL+® survey has been completed by numerous users at academic libraries in the U.S. and abroad. While there is often great momentum both internally and externally to participate in the survey, working with survey results can present a challenge for college and undergraduate library staff who may not have the time or the technical know-how to extract meaningful insights from the data. This paper discusses some of the efforts undertaken by previous survey participants, proposes simple steps that participants can take to get the most out of their LibQUAL+® survey results, and includes suggestions for additional readings and resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a study of academic libraries with sites at MySpace. From a selection of academic libraries with MySpace sites, the author brings to light the most common types of information and styles used to attract and inform patrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Binghamton University Libraries implemented an IM reference service using the Trillian client to monitor multiple IM accounts at two distinct reference service points. This paper addresses the process and practical considerations of implementing the service including selection of the appropriate software, creation of IM accounts for each service, development of a staffing schedule, and training of reference staff. Also included is an outline of future plans for improving IM services for students and academic library users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study that explores the leisure reading habits and leisure collection use patterns of university students in the United States and United Kingdom. Ninety-eight students on ten university campuses (five in each country) were interviewed about their reading habits and observations were conducted at each campus. Results demonstrated that most university students interviewed do read for leisure, despite the persistent narrative in academic literature and popular media to the contrary. It does not necessarily follow that student readers will use their university library for this purpose simply because it has a leisure collection. Future research on student reading and practical recommendations for academic libraries with leisure collections are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Definitions of the termdigital humanitiesvary, and its place in the academic library is still being explored. Yet exploration is indeed taking place, at large research institutions as well as, increasingly, at smaller colleges and undergraduate libraries. This article details an innovative digital humanities project carried out at an institution of 2,300 undergraduates, where a creative institutional partnership was the key to its success. The project has provided an outstanding opportunity to address the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education, while embracing the growing trend on many campuses to showcase student research. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The new Framework for Information Literacy is a dramatic break from the previous Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Information Literacy Competency Standards, but it does not depart as radically from actual library practice. Many librarians have already been trying to help students acquire a deeper, more contextual understanding of “information” and research. In this article, we review some of the practice-based literature on information literacy instruction that reflects efforts to teach this more nuanced view of “information,” and we highlight examples of ongoing instructional practices from a number of college and university libraries that teach in ways that are compatible with the new Framework. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Internal communication—communication among those working in the library—is vital to the engagement, success, and functioning of library employees and departments. However, it has received far less attention than external communication (e.g., promotional and outreach efforts to the academic community). This exploratory study surveyed academic libraries in the United States to determine common themes and potential ways to improve internal library communication. Recurring themes around challenges and effectiveness of internal communications remained consistent, regardless of library size or librarian role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recognition of the greater need for institutional data collection and monitoring of scholarly communication on campus, the Hiram College Library began hosting a Web page, Scholars@Hiram (http://library.hiram.edu/index.php/publications/scholars-hiram), to provide a public window into the scholarly activities of the campus. Begun in 2010, the library systematically began collecting bibliographic information on scholarly activities with the intention of simultaneously improving the quality control of monitoring mechanisms and making information publicly available to the campus, potential students, trustees, and accrediting agencies. Results have been positive, problems identified, and feedback from campus members provides the basis for future improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article describes a two-year pilot program in which instruction librarians introduced a common assignment to measure information literacy in freshman composition courses. The resultant artifacts showed discrepancies between course sections and indicated the need to design an assignment collaboratively with instructors from the ground up. The process revealed nuances of collaboration, and it exposed assumptions about sharing learning goals across multiple sections of a course taught by a diverse group of instructors. Although the first year of the pilot did not result in usable data, it revealed key factors for success in programmatic assessment that we were able to implement in the second year, resulting in a much stronger leadership role for the library. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect first-year college students' library experience and how did their experience affect their GPA? By employing both quantitative and qualitative data collected at a public research university during spring 2021, this article found that first-year students rarely used the physical library, used the online library more often than other undergraduates, perceived the library as having a positive impact on their coursework, and determined that the online library resources and services were a primary contributor to their academic performance. Recommendations on how to improve library service and avenues for future research are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic libraries provide value to their institutions on many levels, one of which is information literacy (IL) instruction. Librarians have the opportunity to guide students through the research process, teach students how to think critically, evaluate resources, and use resources ethically. It is beneficial for librarians to assess student learning after these sessions to demonstrate how libraries support the academic mission of their institutions. This article will address ways to assess the effectiveness of integrating information literacy into college courses by taking a close look at a partnership developed between a professor and two librarians at a small, private four-year institution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 2011–2012 school year, the instruction librarians at Augustana College, Illinois, changed their assessment approach in the college's required first-year sequence to focus on higher-level information literacy concepts. The librarians replaced a quantitative assessment instrument with performance assessments, which they integrated into their first-year library sessions. Although the sequence is taught by many faculty with diverse assignments, these new assessments could be applied organically across sections yet provide generalizable results. This case study describes that assessment project and its initial findings, analyzes the project's implications, and suggests how other college libraries might adopt similar qualitative assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the ever-growing range of media types, formats, and information-access options, students are often instructed to only use specific sources in their research. They are sometimes even given strict guidelines, prescribing how many of each they need to, or may, cite. It is important not to lead students to believe there is a formula for the ideal works cited for all research topics. In contrast, students should learn to think critically about the content and appropriateness of each potential source rather than choosing it only because it is a book, a journal article, a Website, etc. This article argues that requiring students to use, or not use, a source based solely on its format or media type encourages students to choose sources for wrong reasons, pushing critical thinking and source-content evaluation to the periphery of their research processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plagiarism's evolution, growing cultural acceptance, and sustained presence in student writing has overwhelmed deficient, outdated academic integrity policies. Cultural differences present in today's Net-generation students require academic librarians and teaching faculty to develop a partnership in order to reassess beleaguered and vague plagiarism definitions and compromised prevention strategies. Current ACRL policies and strategies on plagiarism prevention are examined to reveal their inadequacies. As instruction sessions often fail to consistently address the ethical use of scholarly sources and the Net-generation student's injudicious uses of technology, a new direction is offered, one that is centered not on punitive online detection policies or acquiescence to wavering ethical standards, but rather on the collaborative efforts of the entire academic community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current focus on libraries as place involves the collaborative needs of library users for features such as movable furniture, group work areas, and amenities such as coffee shops. Additional attention needs to focus on how the technology infrastructure can support collaborative work in academic libraries. The one-user-one-machine setup common in many academic libraries does not do this. A collaborative workstation that is inexpensive and readily assembled is described along with equipment needs and costs. The impact of such a collaborative workstation for both reference work and public use is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article contends that it is essential for academic librarians to identify and remain mindful of the unique needs of an increasingly diverse student demographic to ensure that academic libraries are a welcoming place for all students. It is through diversity initiatives that we can expect to improve the educational outcome for students by presenting the library as a vital part of their college experience. The article defines diversity in the most "elastic" sense of the word—including minority racial groups, but expanding the term to include international students, graduate students, returning students, distance learners, transfer students, "at-risk" students, and lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Science library internships at academic libraries serving diverse student populations may increase the visibility of science librarianship as a career path for undergraduates in the sciences and may help to attract students from diverse backgrounds to the profession. While internships are a "high-impact practice," there is little direct assessment of student learning in the literature that measures both perceived and demonstrated learning during an internship. The aim of this case study is to describe how librarians at one university library used multiple direct and indirect learning assessments to evaluate and make curricular changes to a science library internship program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this case study, the University of Idaho Library describes how advance planning, research, creativity, and collaboration enabled them to reopen to students during the summer of 2020 during the global COVID-19 pandemic and with reduced staff. By creating staging plans for computer labs and tables, a system for regular cleaning, backup staffing plans, eye-catching signage, quarantine protocols for library materials, and enforcing safety measures, the library was able to continue to provide services while keeping staff and patrons safe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite curtailed budgets, academic libraries can create new or augmented instructional platforms and expand their institutional offerings with low-cost collections acquisitions obtained from commercial internet auction sites, flea markets, and retail sites. Using these low cost acquisitions, librarians can create numerous interactive, primary research exercises that result in enhanced special collections use and improved student engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Summer 2020, Stony Brook University Libraries had to envision an online library orientation strategy for incoming students due to COVID-19. As part of a virtual welcome program, librarians and staff collaborated across departmental lines to design and create a virtual library escape room called "Study Room Time Machine" (SRTM), a time travel narrative using Google products that incorporated different library resources and Special Collections and University Archival materials. This case study details the development of the game, the thinking behind it, and an overview of the game's initial eight weeks. Included is an assessment of the game's use by the targeted audience and lessons learned about implementing this type of game within a library setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Student engagement opportunities allow undergraduate students to pursue their interests, grow into engaged citizens, and connect their disciplinary knowledge in an applied context. Academic libraries are still investigating the ways they can support, enhance, and provide these opportunities. This exploratory, qualitative research project used semi-structured, in-depth interviews to learn more about undergraduate student engagement experiences and the student's perception of the role of the library in these opportunities. The authors explore and amplify how students see the library and provide suggestions on how libraries can continue to contextualize their work in student engagement opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the range of undergraduate students' natural language preferences for library resources when shown verbal and visual representations of those resources. The results indicate little consensus for preferred language although participants generally preferred natural language over library jargon. The majority of participants did not use the same language to describe a resource between the visual and verbal exercises. Furthermore, prior library instruction had no meaningful effect on participants' language preferences. More research is needed to explore the significance of recurring library instruction on students' language preferences and if these language preferences impact their ability to complete library research-based tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes citations by first-year students to determine what content they were citing and whether it was available through the open web or the library. Examining the role of these two places as content providers for academic work fills a gap in the literature. Most of the cited works were available through the library and the open web. As the line between content providers continues to blur, these results can help academic libraries prioritize what to teach students about information literacy, where to focus collection development efforts, and how to promote the discovery of library resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Web design standards have evolved considerably since the introduction of smartphones and tablets, but many academic library websites have fallen behind, perhaps due to a lack of internal user experience (UX) research and design practices. This article presents a discussion of various UX research and design methods undertaken by the Pratt Institute Libraries via collaboration with courses in Pratt's School of Information. Projects discussed include web analytics, user testing, online surveys, personas definition, card sorting, and prototyping. The insights gained from this study may be of assistance to other academic libraries planning to redesign and improve their online experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of social networking sites has been significant among academic libraries. Although various studies have investigated the use of social media platforms, studies that analyze the use of Instagram by academic libraries are still limited. This study investigates and analyzes academic libraries' Instagram posts and presents a categorization scheme to group these posts. The Cronbach α was also used as a measure to test the reliability of the categorization scheme proposed in this study. Results showed that posts of library news and information were the largest category at 29%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The creation of digital content is increasingly expected in higher education for both students and faculty, but campus facilities supporting this work are often inaccessible to the community. By implementing digital media labs—spaces that house the technology to create digital content—academic libraries can position themselves to meet this need for their patrons. This article presents a case study of implementing a digital media lab at a mid-sized regional comprehensive university, the planning that went into it, the lessons learned, and how the experiences can inform other academic libraries interested in implementing a similar service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many libraries have deployed discovery layers to bring various library resources under a single search interface. These tools, which mostly rely on keyword indexing, do not easily bring together items on similar topics described under different thesauri. Michigan State University Libraries (MSUL) undertook an experimental project to enhance subject discovery through subject knowledge cards that utilize subject authority data and linked open data (LOD). Subject knowledge cards are currently deployed in the MSUL digital repository to improve the subject discovery experience by displaying contextual information on the subject, links to repository items on broader, narrower and related subjects, and links to external library resources on the same subject. This approach demonstrates a new way to enhance the subject discovery experience through LOD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a case study in which one library designated Product Owners to steer a website redesign project. The Product Owner, commonly used in agile approaches to software development, plays an important leadership role in the development process. In the case described here, two faculty librarians were selected to co-lead the project. This article outlines the benefits of using Product Owners and the factors that led to the two librarians being put on the project. The authors explore the challenges related to faculty librarians becoming Product Owners—a recognized leadership role without formal management responsibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]