SLIS Student Research Journal

Demonstrating the Value of the Public Library: Economic Valuation and the Advocacy Imperative

Tracy L. Micka — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:25:33 PDT

Promising developments in the field of library valuation over the last fifteen years are providing new options for demonstrating library value. Metrics-gathering has moved away from counting inputs and outputs toward measuring the value of the public library in monetary terms using increasingly sophisticated quantitative methods formerly reserved for business and industry. While it is premature to draw a firm conclusion as to the impact of economic valuation efforts on the success of library advocacy, the adoption of private sector concepts represents a new window of opportunity for library advocates. This critical review synthesizes the library valuation literature, exploring the various frameworks through which library value is being articulated, and finds that econometrics will be most useful to advocates when: 1) library valuation efforts are united with advocacy plans; 2) library services are linked to the achievement of public policy goals; and 3) public libraries are able to connect to a wider funding base.

Embedded Librarians and the TEACH Act

Anthony N. Burik — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:25:31 PDT

Embedded librarians who work in online courses in American post-secondary institutions should embrace the Technology, Education, and Copyright Harmonization Act, or TEACH Act, the federal law that governs online teaching and learning. As embedded librarians take on online instructional assignments, knowledge of TEACH will provide guidance in their role as online instructors. In addition, as they come to a better understanding of TEACH and copyright issues the law covers, based in part on their knowledge of copyright concerns in library-related situations, embedded librarians will have more clarity about the work they can and cannot do in an online environment. Finally, as embedded librarians increase their presence in online classes in varied ways, the embedded librarian position evolves into a version of Bell and Shank's "blended librarian" who serves as both a librarian and educator, and becomes a more valuable member of the academic community. The current lack of discussion about the provisions of the TEACH Act among embedded librarians who write about the work they have done in online courses, however, is a troubling sign. Knowledge of the TEACH Act will help protect embedded librarians and others from copyright infringement and aid in the further development of embedded librarianship.

Library Cartoons: A Literature Review of Library-themed Cartoons, Caricatures, and Comics

Julia B. Chambers — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:25:30 PDT

To understand differing views of past events, historians, political science scholars, and sociologists have analyzed political and editorial cartoons with themes ranging from elections to fiscal policy to human rights. Yet scant research has been dedicated to cartoons with library themes. The author of this paper examines peer-reviewed literature on the subject of library cartoons, including historical background, analysis of recent themes, and arguments for promoting library-themed cartoons, caricatures, and comics. The author finds a significant gap in the literature on this topic and concludes that information professionals would benefit from a comprehensive content analysis of library-themed cartoons to enhance understanding of the significance of libraries during historic events, assess public perception of libraries, and identify trends over time.

Definition

Elyse Meyers — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:25:29 PDT

Using Technology to Connect Public Libraries and Teens

Susan M W Aplin — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 12:50:42 PST

Today’s teens use technology in most aspects of their lives: 95% of teens go online; 80% of online teens use social media (Lenhart et al., 2011); and 87% of older teens have a mobile phone (Lenhart, 2012). This article explores how public libraries can use technology to effectively connect with and serve their young adult patrons. A review of current literature suggests that librarians begin by involving teens in the planning of young adult services and teen library spaces. These services should include librarians trained in working with teens as well as access to technology and gaming. Libraries must understand how and why teens use technology and the Internet. They should then use this knowledge to plan and develop an online presence. Today’s librarians should use library websites and social networking sites to connect with teens. In addition, libraries must address other technologies that interest teens such as mobile devices and e-reading. Technology changes rapidly, and librarians must stay current on best practices for reaching out to and serving today’s teens.

Preserving Film Preservation in the Digital Era

Becca Bastron — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 12:50:40 PST

This paper explores the current controversies surrounding film preservation in the digital era. Questions address the benefits of new technologies and the potential sacrifices to a film's authenticity and designation as a valued historical, social, and cultural artifact. Issues examined include film's frail format, archives's financial and storage limitations, the concept of "the original film," and how current digitization methods affect each of these areas. This paper addresses the recent restorations of two particular films—Fritz Lang's Metropolis (1927) and Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo (1958)—and concludes that digital technologies are not stable enough to replace traditional preservation methods, but they can greatly increase exposure to lesser-known films and support the general preservation of film.

Consider the Source: The Value of Source Code to Digital Preservation Strategies

Michel Castagné — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 12:50:38 PST

One of the major challenges in the digital preservation field is the difficulty of ensuring long-term access to digital objects, especially in cases when the software that was used to create an object is no longer current. Software source code has a human-readable, documentary structure that makes it an overlooked aspect of digital preservation strategies, in addition to a valuable component for the records of modern computing history. The author surveys several approaches to software preservation and finds that, by supporting open source initiatives, digital libraries can improve their ability to preserve access to their collections for future generations.

Information Literacy Instruction for Upper-Year Undergraduate Students: A Stratified Course-Integrated Approach

Stacey Nordlund — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 12:50:37 PST

Undergraduate students face many potential barriers to learning about the process of conducting research. Information literacy instruction provided through faculty-librarian collaboration in an effort to expand the abilities of the “novice researcher” can ease the experience of undergraduate students. In addition, information literacy instruction may invoke increased student participation in the scholarly discourse of their chosen discipline. The implementation of a stratified course-integrated approach may be particularly valuable to upper-level undergraduates in preparation for completing a thesis or other culminating project in their final year of study. This claim is examined within the context of an instruction session observed as a component of a third-year undergraduate Materials Science and Engineering course.

Collaboration as an Essential Tool in Information Literacy Education 9-16: Context, Qualities and Implications

Samantha Godbey — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 12:50:35 PST

This article addresses the research question of how contemporary school librarians can best surmount the challenges of limited funding and high expectations. The author argues that in order to provide effective information literacy instruction, school librarians should increase collaboration with academic librarians. A review of the literature identifies numerous articles describing individual collaborations and lamenting information literacy skills gaps among college students. This article intends to serve as a call to action to school and academic librarians. This literature review explores the context for collaboration in libraries, discusses examples of school library collaborations, and examines the implications of various aspects of collaboration.

Crisis Informatics: Perspectives of Trust – Is Social Media a Mixed Blessing?

Christine Hagar — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 12:50:34 PST

This paper highlights one of the key concerns in the emerging area of crisis informatics: issues of trusted information in crises/disasters and how the unregulated nature of social media affects information creation and dissemination. Deciding which information providers to trust and what sources of information to trust in crises is critical as acting upon trusted information can shape and influence the nature of the crisis. Social media is a powerful tool for sharing information during crises and can be used to improve emergency management capabilities, however, it has the power to misinform and to hinder response efforts.

Getting Better

Elyse Meyers — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 12:50:32 PST

International Legal Collections at U.S. Academic Law School Libraries

Camelia Naranch — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:47:46 PDT

This study examines how law librarians are participating in the process of creating new fields of international legal research and training. It investigates the current state of international legal collections at twelve public and private U.S. academic law school libraries, illuminating in the process some of the significant shifts that characterize the nature of professional librarianship and information science in the twenty-first century. Included in the study is a discussion of the reference works, research guides, and databases that make up these international legal collections. This is followed by a brief assessment of the trends and challenges that librarians face who work in the field of professional legal education and scholarship.

Using Organization Theory to Explore the Changing Role of Medical Libraries

Kathy J. Fatkin — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:47:45 PDT

This historical research review uses organization theory to describe and interpret the evolution of American hospitals, medical libraries, and the role of the professional librarian. Various organization theories are applied to explain changes in hospitals and medical libraries over time. The interaction between the organization and the environment as described in organization theory shaped the emergence of today's information services. For readers unfamiliar with health sciences libraries, the study will provide a glimpse into the social forces that framed the development of this type of special library.

An Exploratory Study of Online Information Regarding Colony Collapse Disorder

Meredith K. Boehm — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:47:44 PDT

The cause or causes of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) are uncertain. CCD defines specific characteristics of the nationwide deaths of honey bee colonies in the last decade. Adult bees often disappear from the hive and die, leaving the colony weak and vulnerable to disease. Environmental scientists and agriculturalists have developed many different theories about CCD and its origins. The different theories create challenges regarding the effective dissemination of information about CCD to the different realms of public information seekers. There is a need for an exploration of the online communication of CCD information using federal environmental agency web resources. CCD research information dissemination practices are one example of the trans-disciplinary complexity surrounding many current environmental issues. The study addresses different information “packages” offered or not offered for different types of CCD information seekers. The goal of the study is to inform future research addressing the comprehensive construction of federal e-government science information by finding strengths and weaknesses in the current information landscape of CCD resources on the web.

Certification of Librarians: An Unproven Demand

Jonathan Pacheco Bell — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:47:43 PDT

This paper examines whether certification of librarians is necessary to ensure high quality service. The paper explains the purpose of professional certification and provides a synopsis of the history of national librarian certification initiatives in the U.S. A literature review evaluates arguments supporting and opposing certification. Arguments in favor of certification are unconvincing and reveal certification supporters’ professional insecurities, failure to consider the certification bureaucracy that would be created, and lack of evidence to support their claims. Given these findings, the paper concludes that librarian certification is unnecessary. Library professionals are encouraged to take other proactive steps to expand their role, importance, and impact in the 21^st century.

Value of the Research Methods Course: Voices from LIS Practitioners

Lili Luo — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:47:43 PDT

Closing the Research/Practice Gap: The Journey from Student to Practitioner

Stacey Nordlund — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:47:42 PDT

Power and Practice in Academic Library Materials Selection Paradigms

Elena S. Smith — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:30:28 PST

This article examines the theoretical and practical implications of three methods of materials acquisitions in an academic library. First, it evaluates how traditional collection development, electronic patron driven acquisitions (PDA) and other older forms of PDA affect materials storage, preservation, purchase speed and usage. Then this paper employs Foucault’s theories about power to discuss the ramifications of these acquisitions methods for librarians and three major user groups: faculty, graduate students and undergraduates. The article concludes that each method presents different practical and theoretical advantages and disadvantages.

A picture is worth a thousand words: The perplexing problem of indexing images

Lindsay L. Marlow et al. — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:30:25 PST

Indexing images has always been problematic due to their richness of content and innate subjectivity. Three traditional approaches to indexing images are described and analyzed. An introduction of the contemporary use of social tagging is presented along with its limitations. Traditional practices can continue to be used as a stand-alone solution, however deficiencies limit retrieval. A collaborative technique is supported by current research and a model created by the authors for its inception is explored. CONTENTdm® is used as an example to illustrate tools that can help facilitate this process. Another potential solution discussed is the expansion of algorithms used in computer extraction to include the input and influence of human indexer intelligence. Further research is recommended in each area to discern the most effective method.

Health Literacy: An overview of an emerging field

Mary Grace Flaherty — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:30:21 PST

According to the National Adult Literacy Survey, nearly 90 million American adults test below a high school level for literacy skills (Kirsch, Jungeblut, Jenkins & Kolstad, 1993).Because most health materials are written at least at the high school level, this finding has major implications in terms of health care provision in this country (Helitzer, Hollis, Cotner & Oestreicher, 2009). This paper attempts to give an overview of the field of health literacy and includes: a brief background with current definitions; a description of screening and measurement tools; a discussion of aspects of limited literacy; the implications for quality health care; what role libraries might play; and areas of future research.