Faculty Research
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Browsing Faculty Research by Department "Library"
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Item Are Serials Worth Their Weight in Knowledge? A Value Study(Journal of Academic Librarianship (Elsevier), 2015-09) Jones, Glenda Flanagan; Cassidy, Erin Dorris; McMain, Lynn; Strickland, Susan; Thompson, Molly; Valdes, ZacharyThe researchers aimed to use qualitative measures to define value as applied to print and electronic serial publications held at Sam Houston State University. Researchers examined faculty key activities—namely, Research, Publishing, Course Preparation and Development, Service, and Personal Interests—and also asked about the perceived extent of support that library journals provided for these key activities. The results of a survey sent to the faculty of two major colleges, Education and Criminal Justice, emphasized the importance of electronic over print serials for research, publishing, and teaching. Many respondents reported that they never used print serials for key activities but have recently used electronic serials. The print serial collection was reported to provide only minor support for the key activities whereas the electronic serials collection was reported to support those to a major extent. Most faculty respondents reported that they would drop subscriptions to personal interest journals if the Library obtained electronic access.Item Austin MacCormick: A Champion for Texas Prisoners(Journal of South Texas, 2020) Elkins, Susan; Kim, Dianna; Shotwell, TrentAustin Harbutt MacCormick (1893-1979) spent much of his professional career serving as a proponent of prison reform. Beginning with his 1915 college graduation essay focused on the subject and continuing throughout the majority of his life, he arduously fought for improvements in prison conditions and the education of incarcerated Americans. His impact on Texas prisons is still felt today. MacCormick investigated 110 of 114 prisons throughout the United States and in 1944 was asked to visit and evaluate the Texas prison system. He was appalled by the conditions he observed. Prisoner dormitories, called “tanks” were reminiscent of slave ships. In rebellion from either being forced to work from sunrise to sundown or from the dismal quality of life in the tanks, prisoners frequently (nearly 100 incidences per year) mutilated themselves by slicing through their Achilles tendons or by threading their arms through their cell bars to break their bones with a twist. MacCormick met teenage boys who had cut off most of their fingers in despair. Others cut holes in their skin and poured lye into the wounds. Sometimes prisoners did the mutilating themselves; other times they forced fellow prisoners at knifepoint to do the deed. The self-mutilation taking place in Texas was like nothing McCormick had ever seen in any other prison system. MacCormick’s assessment of the Texas State Prison resulted in the issuance of an internal report identifying countless problems: ineffectual administration, inadequately-trained personnel, terrible living conditions, outmoded farming techniques, vicious discipline, poor medical services, lack of industry and a complete void of rehabilitative procedures. The situation was so grave that MacCormick rated the Texas prison system as one of the worst in the United States. Although he revisited the Walls on several occasions hoping to observe improvements, it soon became apparent that without public outcry Texas would do nothing to change their miserable circumstances. Finally, in 1947 when 45 prisoners escaped from the Walls within one month (more escapees than the Federal Prisons had experienced in a year), MacCormick wired Governor Beauford Jester in anger. The result? With widespread support from both the press and public, Jester lobbied for reform and received the backing of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice. Texas prisons then initiated comprehensive reforms which made Texas one of the top prison systems in the country. The reforms set into motion by MacCormick had a massive impact on the Texas prison system. He truly was a champion for Texas prisoners.Item Beyond Citation-Counting: Metrics and Altmetrics for Demonstrating Scholarly Impact(2019-03-19) Owens, ErinAs librarians, we understand how a citation shows the influence of one scholarly work on another. But citations are only one way to gauge the impact that scholarship has in its field and in the wider world. Starting from the context of traditional citation-based metrics, this session will explore a variety of alternative metrics that offer new and diverse ways for researchers to tell the story of their scholarship.Item Biz of Acq - LibGuides: Changing the Game for Technical Services Procedures & Policies(Against the Grain, 2015-09) Mueller, Kat Landry; Thompson, Molly; Flinchbaugh, MichelleWhile librarians are stereotypically excellent at preserving and ensuring access to library materials for patrons, there tends to be noticeable lack of instructions when it comes to documenting their own workflows and procedures. Librarians at Sam Houston State University’s Newton Gresham Library are trying to “change the game” when it comes to efficient and effective documentation of Technical Services department’s policies and processes. Springshare’s LibGuides has thus far been an beneficial system for documenting SHSU Library internal practices and systems. As with most technical documentation structure, continued success depends upon routine updates, maintaining access, and widespread adoption by personnel.Item Collecting Sex Materials for Libraries(Taylor & Francis Group, 2017-02-21) Martinez, Michelle; Landry Mueller, Kat; Cassidy, Erin Dorris; Shen, Lisa; Thompson, Molly; Valdes, ZachThis article analyzes data gathered over a year-long survey of library employees’ opinions of sexually related materials in library collections. Surveys generally examine patron attitudes rather than the attitudes of library employees, whose attitudes and beliefs can have a strong effect on the collection. The researchers discovered themes in the data such as: varying definitions and differences between pornography and erotica, legality issues and misconceptions, differing perceptions of censorship dependent on library type, and a possible unacceptance of non-heteronormative material. The survey and analysis serve as a contribution to the ongoing discussion of the appropriateness of sexually related materials in librariesItem Faculty-Librarian Micro-Level Collaboration in an Online Graduate History Course(Elsevier (Journal of Academic Librarianship), 2013-11) Hendrickson, Kenneth E.; Cassidy, Erin Dorris;This paper describes a micro-level faculty-librarian collaboration implemented at the authors' state university to address students' information literacy deficiencies in a graduate-level history research methods course. The setting, implementation, and evolution of the partnership are described in detail to suggest a model for other instructors. Additionally, consideration is given to issues of working in an online course environment and the benefits of micro- versus macro-level librarian support. Consideration is given to future steps for strengthening the partnership and measuring its impact on student outcomes.Item Featured Library: Newton Gresham Library, Sam Houston State University (Huntsville, TX)(Informed Librarian, 2019-11) Elkins, Susan; Hwang, Soo-yeon; Shotwell, TrentAn informational article about the Newton Gresham Library, Special Collections, and a class project. This project involved students from a public history class to interact with primary research materials to learn more about the types of materials in archives.Item Head First into the Patron-Driven Acquisition Pool: A Comparison of Librarian Selections Versus Patron Purchases(Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship (Taylor & Francis), 2011) Shen, Lisa; Cassidy, Erin Dorris; Elmore, Eric; Griffin, Glenda; Manolovitz, Tyler; Martinez, Michelle; Turney, LindaAlthough many recent studies have been conducted on the implementation and results of patron-driven acquisition (PDA) initiatives at academic libraries, very few have focused on whether, or how, patrons’ selections vary from selection choices librarians would have made. This study compares titles selected by patrons during a PDA pilot program against titles chosen by subject librarians from the same PDA list. The findings may serve as a starting point for other researchers interested in the impact of user-oriented selection initiatives on a library’s collection development.Item Higher education and emerging technologies: Shifting trends in student usage.(Journal of Academic Librarianship (Elsevier), 2014-03) Cassidy, Erin Dorris; Colmenares, Angela; Griffin, Glenda; Manolovitz, Tyler; Shen, Lisa; Vieira, ScottThis study serves as an update to a previous study by Sam Houston State University librarians about the use and preferences of Internet, communication, and educational technologies among students. Since the previous study was initiated in 2010, the iPad has made its debut and significantly altered the educational technology landscape. In this new landscape, this study investigates student usage of such technologies as instant messaging, cell phones, e-readers, social networking, RSS feeds, podcasts, and tablets. In addition, this study aims to determine which technologies students prefer the library to utilize for a variety of services, such as reference assistance or book renewals, and which technologies may not be worth the investment, such as geosocial networking. The information gained from this survey is intended to provide guidance for libraries looking to provide services utilizing the most popular technologies with the most efficient use of resources. Survey results show an increasing use and dependence on educational technologies and a desire for basic library services to be available on a variety of platforms and technologies.Item Higher Education and Emerging Technologies: Student Usage, Preferences, and Lessons for Library Services(Reference and User Services Association of the American Library Association (Reference & User Services Quarterly), 2011) Cassidy, Erin Dorris; Britsch, James; Griffin, Glenda; Manolovitz, Tyler; Shen, Lisa; Turney, LindaThis study examines the utilization and preference of popular Internet and communication technologies among students at Sam Houston State University (SHSU), a Carnegie Research Doctoral university in East Texas. The researchers wished to study the local relevance of various technology trends reported in librarianship literature and then to use the survey data to inform decisions regarding library service development. A survey was conducted to investigate student ownership of electronic devices and student usage of technologies such as text messaging, Twitter, RSS, podcasts, social networks, SecondLife, and others. Survey results indicated that, while students do not wish to experience an overwhelming library presence on all social networking and Internet media, most do wish to have basic library services easily accessible through a few of the most popular social networking and Internet technologies. The investigators did identify some unique trends in usage among their local population and have adjusted certain library services and plans in accordance with their findings. Other libraries are encouraged to study their own users and develop new services based on those users' needs rather than popular trends or surveys which may be based on radically different user groups.Item Impostor Phenomenon and Skills Confidence among Scholarly Communications Librarians in the United States(ACRL (College & Research Libraries), 2021) Owens, ErinThis survey-based study sought to measure the experience of impostor phenomenon among library personnel supporting scholarly communications in academic libraries in the United States. Additionally, the survey sought to assess confidence levels in key, professionally defined competencies and the factors most significantly affecting those confidence levels. Results indicated that, on average, scholarly communications librarians experience impostor phenomenon more frequently and intensely than academic librarians more broadly. The length of time spent working in libraries was negatively correlated with levels of impostor phenomenon, as were hours spent in specialized continuing education activities and number of research publications. Implications for improving training and mentoring opportunities to decrease impostor phenomenon are discussed.Item Institutional repository promotion: Current practices and opinions in Texas academia(New Review of Academic Librarianship, 2019-04-26) Hwang, Soo-yeon; Elkins, Susan; Hanson, Michael; Shotwell, Trent; Thompson, MollyPromoting an institutional repository (IR) to both faculty and end-users can be challenging. We surveyed academic libraries with an IR in Texas, and asked both library administrators and IR managers about their efforts to promote and grow their IR in both size and downloads. In addition, we studied the websites of Association of Research Libraries and Texas academic libraries to see how other institutions place links to their IRs on the websites and name them in different ways to draw attention. We probed and discuss findings regarding active marketing to faculty in order to grow the IR size, and passive promotion efforts such as linking on the library website, custom branding to help people find and remember the IR, and so on. We found that most marketing was geared towards faculty, and little active marketing efforts were made to the end-users.Item Not in Love, or Not in the Know? Graduate Student and Faculty Use (and Non-Use) of E-Books(Elsevier (Journal of Academic Librarianship), 2012) Cassidy, Erin Dorris; Martinez, Michelle; Shen, LisaThis study focuses on usage of electronic books (e-books) among advanced researchers, including graduate students and faculty, at a four-year academic institution. The researchers aimed to highlight differences in behavior, perception, and attitude between users and non-users of e-books. The survey findings suggest that, while a majority of these researchers do not necessarily favor e-books over print books, they do appreciate the convenience of the electronic format. Moreover, the results also indicate that many researchers may be entirely unaware of the library e-books available in their areas of study or may not fully realize all the features already being offered by some of these e-books, such as highlighting, note-taking, accessibility options, and downloading. These findings provide timely and practical applications for librarians interested in increasing library e-book usage with focused marketing plans targeting the needs of specific patron segments.Item Off the Shelf: Trends in the Purchase and Use of Electronic Reference Books(Taylor & Francis (Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship), 2009) Korah, Abe; Cassidy, Erin Dorris; Elmore, Eric; Jerabek, AnnWhat is the future direction of reference books? What types of policies are libraries implementing regarding the purchase of electronic reference books? Are libraries still buying hard copy reference items when an electronic equivalent is available? This paper discusses a national survey of libraries regarding the purchase and use of electronic reference books by information professionals and patrons.Item Open Education, Open Opportunities(2017-03-09) Cassidy, Erin DorrisItem Patron Preferences: Recreational Reading in an Academic Library(The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 2017-01) Mueller, Kat Landry; Hanson, Michael; Martinez, Michelle; Meyer, LindaResearch background and method In 2014, Sam Houston State University Library librarians distributed a survey to students, faculty and staff to better understand how the university community was using library materials for recreational reading. The survey found that patrons had preference for print materials with a growing interest in other formats. A significant number of respondents did not view the library as a source of recreational reading materials; those who did read across a broad swath of genres. Greater understanding of patron recreational reading preferences empower the library to expand the library collection to meet all patron demands.Item Ready, Set, Hire! Perceptions of new technical services librarian preparedness(Library Leadership & Management, 2015) Mueller, Kat Landry; Thompson, Molly; Valdes, ZachPrevious studies have investigated technical services librarian job availability and preparedness, but have not compared library administrators’ and librarians’ assessments of entry-level technical services librarian preparedness. In this study, the researchers explore the perceived preparedness of entry-level technical services librarians upon graduating from a Master of Library Science/Information Science (MLS/IS) degree program, and assess library administrators’ employment projections for technical services librarians, including hiring, retiring, position consolidation, and elimination. An electronic survey was distributed to library administrators and technical services librarians from public and academic libraries located across the United States. The researchers identified discrepancies between how prepared entry-level technical services librarians felt upon graduating, and how prepared administrators perceived them to be. Data gathered from both administrators and entry-level technical services librarians suggests the majority of respondents feel entry-level technical services librarians are adequately to exceptionally qualified for their first entry-level position upon graduating from a MLS/IS degree program. However, both groups felt current MLS/IS degree programs do not fully prepare technical services librarians for their first professional jobs, yet the desired skills and areas of knowledge which were identified as lacking varied between the two groups. The researchers discovered employment data which indicate relatively low turnover or consolidation for technical services librarians, and which support projections of low to moderate growth for this area of librarianship over the next decade.Item Rethinking the Role of Circulation Staff in Academic Libraries(Taylor & Francis, International Information & Library Review, 2021-04) Owens, ErinThe traditional functions of Access Services shrink as many academic libraries see physical circulation rates continue to decline, but the need for staff trained in customer service skills does not diminish. This column reflects on how one academic Access Services department partnered internally with other library departments to expand our definitions of who we serve and find new ways to prove our value to the library. Other academic libraries may find inspiration to rethink old habits, forge new connections, and determine what success looks like.Item Scholarly Communication Outside the R1: Measuring Faculty and Graduate Student Knowledge and Interest at a Doctoral/Professional University(Pacific University Libraries (Journal of Librarianship and Scholarly Communication), 2021) Owens, Erin; Manolovitz, TylerThis study explores the baseline knowledge and interest of faculty and graduate students at a Carnegie-classified Doctoral/Professional University regarding different components of scholarly communication. A survey was developed to inquire about such topics as scholarly research, scholarly publishing, access to research, copyright, measuring impact, promoting research, and open educational resources. Responses more significantly represented the humanities and social sciences versus the natural and applied sciences. Results showed some hesitancy in embracing the open access publishing model, especially the use of article processing charges (APCs). Faculty largely collect original data and believe public access to original data is important, but this varies by college and includes almost one fourth of faculty who do not feel that sharing data is important. The areas in which respondents expressed the highest level of knowledge correlate directly with the areas in which respondents expressed the most interest in professional development. Preferences in professional development modality were split between virtual and in-person sessions. With virtual sessions specifically, graduate students prefer synchronous sessions while faculty prefer pre-recorded sessions. Respondents were generally aware of the library’s current scholarly communications services, but additional promotion and marketing is still needed, especially for colleges with the lowest areas of engagement.Item SHSU Recreational Reading Survey(2014-04-02) Landry Mueller, Kat; Meyer, Linda; Martinez, Michelle; Hanson, MichaelThis online survey was sent to Sam Houston State University students, faculty, and staff on April 2, 2014 on behalf of several SHSU librarians. The purpose of the survey was to gain insight into recreational reading habits and preferences of the University community