Effective outreach techniques for the promotion of library information resources in academic libraries in Tanzania: A case of Sokoine National Agricultural Library
This study examines the techniques for promoting library information resources and services through outreach activities and how librarians and other library patrons perceive the techniques for promoting the resources and services, and the factors affecting the perceptions regarding effectiveness of techniques used. Read More
Collaboration and Academic Libraries: An Overview and Literature Review
The chapter provides an overview and an extensive literature review of collaboration and academic libraries. There is consideration of different aspects of internal collaboration including: collaboration within the library service; collaboration of academic libraries with faculties, other support departments, and students; convergence and superconvergence; the role of liaison/subject librarians; embedded librarianship; information literacy; research support; and collaboration on library buildings and learning spaces. Coverage of external collaboration includes: local and regional collaboration; joint procurement; shared storage; joint-use libraries; work with the community; and national and international collaboration. Read More
Rights instruction for undergraduate students: Needs, trends, and resources
As librarians are increasingly identified as rights experts on campus, it is essential that they understand rights issues and how best to communicate them to a multitude of users. While scholarly literature contains many examples of librarians working with faculty on copyright issues regarding course materials, reserves, e-reserves, and intellectual property, there is far less documentation of the need for students, especially undergraduates, to understand their rights as creators and consumers of information. This article reviews relevant literature on librarian copyright skills, the need for copyright instruction, and current case studies and examples of copyright instruction for undergraduates. Read More
How Can the University Library Better Meet the Information Needs of Research Students? Experiences From Ulster University
This article investigates academic library needs of doctoral students. The study identifies PhD students’ information literacy training needs and explores current levels of library engagement, barriers to use, and gaps in existing services. First-year PhD students at Ulster University (UU) were surveyed and interviews were undertaken with three students. Read More
Going digital: Challenges and opportunities in transforming face to face ALL workshops into online versions
This paper reports on the experience of transforming the face-to-face workshop ‘Writing a Literature Review’ (WLR) into an online version. This genrebased pedagogy workshop guides HDR students through the process of finding, synthesising and evaluating sources and structuring this content effectively to build a coherent argument. The paper focuses on the pedagogical and technological challenges and opportunities arising from this process from the perspective of an experienced academic literacy educator with limited expertise in developing online materials. Read More
Virtual reality content for higher education curriculum
Virtual Reality content has quickly become embedded into popular culture and everyday purposes. Interaction within a virtual environment has enormous possibilities for a number of different industries such as business, healthcare, entertainment, architecture, engineering and all levels of education. This paper will discuss the important role of Virtual Reality within higher education, and how Virtual Reality was explored as a result of a collaborated research project between the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Library and ProQuest in an endeavour to provide high quality Virtual Reality content and resources to the staff and students within QUT Faculties and beyond. Read More
Making It Work for Everyone: An Evolving Reference Service
At an academic health science center, librarians identified problems, weaknesses, and strengths in reference services. The on-call reference schedule was discontinued and a question flowchart was developed for circulation staff. Only research questions were referred to librarians, who would respond if available. Circulation staff perceived the unscheduled, voluntary model was not working well for the patrons or the staff. After two months, the schedule was reinstated with a hybrid version of the previous on-call format. In the process of changing the service model, the library staff also underwent a cultural change. Read More
Re-Framing Library Liaison Roles Around Research Collaboration
Re-think it: Libraries for a New Age is a national conference that brings together academic, public and K-12 librarians, administrators, technologists, architects, designers, furniture manufacturers, and educators. Participants gathered to collectively re-think the increasingly important role libraries play in the communities they serve. The conference was held January 8-10, 2018 at the University of Texas and other locations in Austin. In its second edition, Re-think it 2018 is co-hosted by The UT Libraries, the Austin Public Library, the Austin Community College Library Services, and seven additional local library partners. Read More
Librarians’ Perspectives on the Factors Influencing Research Data Management Programs
This qualitative research study examines librarians’ research data management (RDM) experiences, specifically the factors that influence their ability to support researchers’ needs. Findings from interviews with 36 academic library professionals in the United States identify 5 factors of influence: 1) technical resources; 2) human resources; 3) researchers’ perceptions about the library; 4) leadership support; and 5) communication, coordination, and collaboration. Findings show different aspects of these factors facilitate or constrain RDM activity. The implications of these factors on librarians’ continued work in RDM are considered. Read More
Exploring the efficacy of training and development for liaison librarians at Deakin University, Australia
Australian universities are operating in a complex, dynamic and competitive global market. Increasingly university administrations are seeking the competitive edge over rival institutions. In order to support their institution’s strategic agenda and maintain their relevance to their institution, libraries will need staff who are highly skilled and able to adapt to the rapidly changing digital world. At Deakin University Library, senior librarians understand the imperative of developing liaison librarians’ capabilities in order to meet the information needs of teaching and research academics. A scaffolded training program (the Program) was developed and a Training Needs Analysis was administered prior and post training programs to determine training priorities. Read More