Newton Gresham Library

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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, Zachary
The 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.
Austin MacCormick: A Champion for Texas Prisoners
(Journal of South Texas, 2020) Elkins, Susan; Kim, Dianna; Shotwell, Trent
Austin 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.
Beyond Citation-Counting: Metrics and Altmetrics for Demonstrating Scholarly Impact
(2019-03-19) Owens, Erin
As 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.
Beyond the Library: The Role of Academic Libraries’ Chat Reference in Answering Campus Questions
(Taylor & Francis (The Reference Librarian), 2024-04-22) Owens, Erin; Arce, Vanessa; Del Bosque, Darcy; Fowler, Robin; Sheffield, Silvia
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic drove most users online, chat was establishing itself as a core service for asking library-related questions of many types, from basic directional and reference to research queries of a more sophisticated nature. This investigation seeks to provide insight into how academic libraries are seen not only as a source of library assistance, but also as a means of filling an information gap on a wider subject: the university campus at large. The study’s methods involved analyzing chat transcripts from five large four-year public universities during a two-year period (2019-2021), noting the frequency of campus-related chat questions and coding the specific topics of those inquiries. The findings show that library reference services, particularly live virtual chat, are consistently valuable to the campus community and may be especially important to supporting less privileged student populations.
Biz of Acq - LibGuides: Changing the Game for Technical Services Procedures & Policies
(Against the Grain, 2015-09) Mueller, Kat Landry; Thompson, Molly; Flinchbaugh, Michelle
While 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.
Books & Bytes, Volume 01, Issue 01
(Sam Houston State University. Newton Gresham Library, 2005-09) Nevins, Jess (editor)
Books & Bytes, Volume 02, Issue 01
(Sam Houston State University. Newton Gresham Library, 2007-11) Nevins, Jess (editor)
Books & Bytes, Volume 03, Issue 01
(Sam Houston State University. Newton Gresham Library, 2008-10) Martinez, Michelle (editor)
Books & Bytes, Volume 03, Issue 02
(Sam Houston State University. Newton Gresham Library, 2008-11) Martinez, Michelle (editor); Dickens, Marsha; Jerabek, Ann; Korah, Abe; Carter, Laura; Cassidy, Erin
Books & Bytes, Volume 03, Issue 03
(Sam Houston State University. Newton Gresham Library, 2008-12) Martinez, Michelle (editor); Carter, Laura; Dickens, Marsha; Strickland, Susan; Kusch, Leif; Skains, Jennifer
Books & Bytes, Volume 04, Issue 01
(Sam Houston State University. Newton Gresham Library, 2009-01) Martinez, Michelle (editor); Manolovitz, Tyler
Books & Bytes, Volume 04, Issue 02
(Sam Houston State University. Newton Gresham Library, 2009-02) Martinez, Michelle (editor); Skains, Jennifer
Books & Bytes, Volume 04, Issue 03
(Sam Houston State University. Newton Gresham Library, 2009-03) Martinez, Michelle (editor); Cassidy, Erin; Dickens, Marsha
Books & Bytes, Volume 04, Issue 04
(Sam Houston State University. Newton Gresham Library, 2009-04) Martinez, Michelle (editor); McMain, Lynn; Hall, Bruce
Books & Bytes, Volume 04, Issue 05
(Sam Houston State University. Newton Gresham Library, 2009-05) Martinez, Michelle (editor); Cassidy, Erin; Goodwin, Carolyn; Flood, Beverly; Dickens, Marsha
Books & Bytes, Volume 04, Issue 06
(Sam Houston State University. Newton Gresham Library, 2009-06) Martinez, Michelle (editor); Griffin, Glenda; Cassidy, Erin; Manolovitz, Tyler
Books & Bytes, Volume 04, Issue 07
(Sam Houston State University. Newton Gresham Library, 2009-07) Martinez, Michelle (editor); Dickens, Marsha
Books & Bytes, Volume 04, Issue 08
(Sam Houston State University. Newton Gresham Library, 2009-08) Martinez, Michelle (editor); Britsch, James
Books & Bytes, Volume 04, Issue 09
(Sam Houston State University. Newton Gresham Library, 2009-09) Martinez, Michelle (editor); Cassidy, Erin; Manolovitz, Tyler; Britsch, James; Carter, Laura; Skains, Jennifer; Conrad, Jackie; Craig, Bette; Lange, Janice
Books & Bytes, Volume 04, Issue 10
(Sam Houston State University. Newton Gresham Library, 2009-10) Martinez, Michelle (editor); Shen, Lisa; Hall, Bruce; Dickens, Marsha