Search

To study library guides, as published on Springshare's LibGuides platform, new approaches are needed to expand the scope of the research, ensure comprehensiveness of data collection, and reduce bias for content analysis. Computational methods can be utilized to conduct a nuanced and thorough evaluation that critically assesses the resources promoted in library guides. Web-based library guides are curated by librarians to provide easy access to high-quality information and resources in a variety of formats to support the research needs of their users. Recent scholarship considers library guides as valuable resources and as de facto publications, highlighting the need for critical study. In this article, the authors present a novel model for comprehensively gathering data about a specific genre of books from individual LibGuide pages and applying computational methods to explore the resultant data. Beginning with a pre-selected list of 159 books, we programmatically queried the titles using the LibGuides Community search engine. After cleaning and filtering the resultant data, we compiled a list of 20,484 book references (of which 6,212 are unique) on 1,529 LibGuide pages. By testing against inclusion and exclusion criteria to ensure relevancy, we identified a total of 281 titles relevant to our topic. To gain insights for future study, citation analysis metrics are presented to reveal patterns of frequency, co-occurrence, and bibliographic coupling of books promoted in LibGuides. This proof-of-concept could be adopted for a variety of applications, including assessment of collections, public services, critical librarianship, and other complex questions to enable a richer and more thorough understanding of the information landscape of LibGuides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In terms of utility and technical quality, open-source software solutions have become a common option for many libraries. As barriers to adoption have been reduced and systems such as FOLIO appear poised to change the landscape of LIS technology, it is worth examining how the use of open source can support the normative core values of librarianship and to outline a strategy for critical engagement with the technology that is beneficial to patrons and libraries. Such a strategy will require further codification, institutionalization, and investigation of open source at many levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Library and information science has been at an infant stage in Pakistan, primarily in resource management, description, discovery, and access. The reasons are many, including the lack of interest and use of modern tools, techniques, and best practices by librarians in Pakistan. Finding a solution to these challenges requires a comprehensive study that identifies the current state of libraries in Pakistan. This paper fills this gap in the literature by reviewing the relevant literature published between 2015 and 2021 and selected through a rigorous search and selection methodology. It also analyzes the websites of 82 libraries in Pakistan through a theoretical framework based on various aspects. The findings of this study include: Libraries in Pakistan need a transition from traditional and limited solutions to more advanced information and communication technology (ICT)-enabled, user-friendly, and state-of-the-art systems to produce dynamic, consumable, and sharable knowledge space. They must adopt social semantic cataloging to bring all the stakeholders on a single platform. A libraries consortium should be developed to link users to local, multilingual, and multicultural collections for improved knowledge production, recording, sharing, acquisition, and dissemination. These findings benefit Pakistani libraries, librarians, information science professionals, and researchers in other developing countries. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of its kind providing insights into the current state of libraries in Pakistan through the study of their websites using a rigorous theoretical framework and in the light of the latest relevant literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a mixed-methods study of the methods and maturity of user experience (UX) practice in academic libraries. The authors apply qualitative content analysis and quantitative statistical analysis to a research dataset derived from a survey of UX practitioners. Results reveal the type and extent of UX methods currently in use by practitioners in academic libraries. Themes extracted from the survey responses also reveal a set of factors that influence the development of UX maturity. Analysis and discussion focus on organizational characteristics that influence UX methods and maturity. The authors conclude by offering a library-focused maturity scale with recommended practices for advancing UX maturity in academic libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

US history has featured many periods of greatly enhanced efforts to ban books, such as during the Comstock era, World War I, and the McCarthy era of the 1950s. Similar to previous periods, the book banning movement that has arisen during the novel coronavirus pandemic of the 2020s has featured widespread efforts to ban many books, particularly those representing certain marginalized experiences, from schools and libraries. However, this current tidal wave of ban booking has added the new and disturbing dimension of laws being considered in state legislatures that would actually create civil and criminal penalties for librarians if banned books were available in the library. These proposed laws are part of much broader legislative efforts at the state and national levels to limit the ability of libraries to construct collections and provide services that meet the needs of their communities. Though there have been some lingering, but unfounded, concerns that librarians might be criminally liable for incorrect information in the library collection and some national security laws have created potential legal jeopardy for librarians in extremely specific circumstances, these new proposed laws are the first that would create widespread legal liabilities for librarians. This article considers the nature of these proposed laws, the larger context that has generated them, and the implications if passed into law, including the Missouri law that has gone into effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Librarianship is constantly confronted with unexpected and quickly evolving sociotechnical challenges, yet the documents that define the core professional competencies for librarians are infrequently updated. Based upon survey responses collected from 383 working librarians located in the United States, we describe a set of gaps between current competency guidelines and current library realities with regard to practice, management, communication, career development, relations, and personal attributes. We argue that professional library organizations, educators, and policymakers could formulate more relevant and impactful core competency documents by deliberately integrating the on-the-ground insights of librarians’ lived experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As librarians consider ways to engage students in research, particularly those who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), it's increasingly apparent that the transactional nature of the one-shot instructional model is inadequate for fostering thoughtful and critical discussions about information literacy and the scholarly publishing cycle. The one-shot also amplifies librarians' attendant anxieties related to quantitative data collection and capitalistic work expectations. Additionally, socially constructed ideas around time, along with narrow epistemic perspectives that center Western thought, stanch librarians' abilities to critically teach students about the research process. Incorporating autoethnography to exemplify the concepts discussed in the paper, the authors argue for a slow, relational approach that deprioritizes widget-like technical training in favor of student and librarian reflection, redresses epistemic injustices in scholarly research, and, most importantly, celebrates multiple epistemologies and expertise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented wherein the author discusses various reports within the issue on topics, including the one-shot library instruction model, relationality and care between library instructors and students, and the essential condition for institutional reciprocity of care in education.

This piece examines the parallels between one-shot library instruction and one-off equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) workshops. Library and Information Science/Studies (LIS) as a field problematically frames both information literacy and EDI as add-ons or afterthoughts to the work of library and information workers. This framing tells on itself when the field/profession turns to one-shots, one-off EDI workshops, or other band aid solutions to larger systemic and structural issues. Without actually "solving" anything, these types of neoliberal solutions become part of what enables and extends white supremacy's hold on LIS (Hudson, 2017; Leung & López-McKnight, 2021). What are we hoping to accomplish with the one-shot? What are we hoping to accomplish toward and with information literacy and EDI? In other words, what's the point of information literacy and EDI? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many academic libraries have implemented personal librarian programs, seeking to improve relationships with students and reduce library anxiety. This pilot study, in which a personal librarian was assigned to sections of a general education course, aimed to expand upon the personal librarianship literature by assessing whether a personal librarian influences student academic outcomes and information literacy confidence. Results from the pilot suggest that the presence of and engagement with the personal librarian had minimal and not statistically significant effect on academic outcomes, but engagement with the personal librarian somewhat correlated with growth in information literacy confidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores The Wheeler School is a coeducational independent school located in Providence, RI, that works with students from Nursery through Grade 12. An estimated 33% of Rhode Islanders identify as Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), and approximately 67% of Providence residents do. Only 29% of Wheeler's student body identify as BIPOC. The Prescott Library at the Wheeler School has four full time librarians.

Libraries are increasingly searching for and employing librarians with significant technology skill sets. This article reports on a study conducted to determine how well prepared librarians are for their positions in academic libraries, how they acquired their skills and how difficult they are to hire and retain. The examination entails a close look at ALA-accredited LIS program technology course offerings and dovetails a dual survey designed to capture experiences and perspectives from practitioners, both library administrators and librarians who have significant technology roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important component of the academic health librarian role is the establishment of interventions to support the development of student skills in evidence-based practice. It is important for practicing librarians to evaluate their activities to determine effectiveness and to inform decision making and best practice in librarianship. A series of six online modules was developed for a core first-year Bachelor of Nursing unit. Modules were subsequently investigated for impact on student learning of evidence-based practice by determining any correlation between students' completion of the modules and their academic performance. The level of students' interest and engagement was also examined through a survey about their experiences of and attitudes toward the modules. A positive correlation was found between module completion and attainment of higher grades by students. Feedback from the survey indicated that students engaged positively with the modules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents author's views on academic librarians as target in library science and incorporation of students. Topics discussed include metadata course in digital libarary course and academics; requirement of educators and classes contain students; and information resources for content services.

The author offers information on how to create productive relationship between librarians and their managers. She reflects on views of Anna Elizabeth, an experience associate at a large public library consortia, who thinks that managing relationship with managers should be taught as part oflibrary science professional development and through mentorship. She also mentions importance of communication between librarians and supervisors.

The article looks at several librarians who have changed from one type of librarianship to another. Hailey McCollough left her position as a college librarian in 2017 before becoming department head of adult services at a public library. Cathy Mayer was a high school librarian before becoming director of the library at Trinity Christian College. Theresa Cahill Agostinelli was a graduate assistant in a university library before working as an academic reference librarian in New Jersey.

What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet. So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, Retain that dear perfection which he owes Without that title. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the radical transition in special collections librarianship as of November 2015. Topics covered include the time when scholar librarians dominated special collections, how techie librarians have taken over, and the relation between librarians and the users of the collections. Also mentioned are librarianship as a service profession, technical skills, and internships.

This article examines the perception of management curriculum in library schools from the perspective of practicing professional librarians and information specialists with a master's degree in library science. The authors surveyed degreed librarians in academic, public, and special libraries in a variety of job types about their management training in library school, how useful they feel those courses were to them professionally, and whether they would have or wish they would have taken additional management courses if they had been offered. The results of this survey show that a decisive gap in management training is being felt by practicing librarians, and highlight the need for making management courses in library schools meet the real world demands of today -- and tomorrow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Becoming an essential or indispensable librarian will allow new librarians to have increased job stability and other benefits. Based on personal experiences and research, I have compiled a list of six steps to becoming an essential librarian: find a mentor, read the literature, collaborate, adapt, become a leader, and be persistent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In June 2009, the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services Heads of Technical Services in Large Research Libraries Interest Group established the Task Force on Cost/Value Assessment of Bibliographic Control to address recommendation 5.1.1.1 of On the Record: Report of the Library of Congress Working Group on the Future of Bibliographic Control, which focused on developing measures for costs, benefits, and value of bibliographic control. This paper outlines results of that task force’s efforts to develop and articulate metrics for evaluating the cost and value of cataloging activities specifically, and offers some next steps that the community could take to further the profession’s collective understanding of the costs and values associated with bibliographic control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article looks at a study that attempts to identify what resources might be reusable in digital reference responses by looking at the Internet Public Library archive of answered reference questions. Data related to the issue is discussed including what resources were used in response to digital reference questions, whether or not these resources were valid for use in future responses, and what the predicted lifespan of the resources provided might be. Particular focus is given to the impact this change could have on library professionals, efficiency and cost.

The article discusses the Resource Description and Access (RDA) library cataloging code, providing information particularly for librarians not familiar with cataloging. It focuses on the development of RDA as well as the significance of RDA for library science and library information. Differences between RDA and its predecessor, the Anglo-American Cataloging Rules, second edition (AACR2), are examined. Other topics discussed include the history of 19th- and 20th-century cataloging codes, the Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (FRBR) conceptual model, and the advantages of RDA.

This paper examines the roles of professional and paraprofessional catalogers as they are perceived within the cataloging community. A survey was sent to all catalogers in member libraries of the Association of Research Libraries. In presenting these results, the authors consider whether a difference still exists between professional and paraprofessional catalogers beyond the master of library and information science degree and, if so, the nature of any such difference. In the process, the authors also examine issues such as whether catalogers feel that their work is valued and how cataloging work is evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author reflects on the potential for librarians to create enduring relationships that have a positive impact on another person. She relates her experience of having the honor of turning the high school ring of a high school graduate for its final twenty-first turn. She mentions the role of her love for research and literature in her decision to be a librarian. She cites her realization that serving people is the most important part of her profession.

The article considers the sheer volume and multiplicity of information published by national governments, intergovernmental and the full range of international organizations on the web as a challenge to librarians who are working to connect content and users. It estimates that 80 percent of web sites are providing databases in addition to audio clips and video clips. It mentions that information users have no possibility to contextualize, contribute or respond to information as they are browsing a bibliographic tool or benefit from insights of other users of that tool.

If we live in an attention economy, where it is not information that is in short supply but the human attention needed to make sense of it-and we do; if librarians have always played a central role in organizing this attention-and you have; then why is it that Google seems to be eating your lunch? One way to frame this question is to discriminate more clearly than we usually do between the two markets: the free market of stuff and the free market of ideas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]