Elkins, Susan
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11875/4670
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Item Scholarly Innovation Summit - Poster Presentation(2023-09) Albert, Donald Patrick; Elkins, Susan; Solomon, Mason; Purifoy, MatthewThe Pitcairn Islands Research Station (PIRS) functions as a portal for our studies involving the mutiny on the HMAV Bounty (April 28, 1789) and its aftermath. Our affiliate investigators include Donald Albert (Department of Environmental & Geosciences), Susan Elkins (Newton Gresham Library), Matthew Purifoy (Geography Major), and Mason Solomon (History Major). The purpose of PIRS is to disseminate our studies (abstracts, posters, magazine and journal articles) online through Scholarly Works @ SHSU to Bounty/Pitcairn enthusiasts worldwide.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 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 What Do You Want from Us? Evaluating Student Interest in Technology-Based Services in Academic Libraries(College & Research Libraries, 2019) Elkins, Susan; Hwang, Soo-yeon; Kim, Dianna; Manolovitz, Tyler; Mueller, Kat Landry; Owens, ErinFollowing two previous studies in 2010 and 2013, this study intends to identify current trends of Sam Houston State University students’ technology and communication needs and preferences regarding library services and resources. Drawing comparisons to two previous local studies and national datasets, such as those from Pew Internet Research and the EDUCAUSE Center for Analysis and Research (ECAR), the findings revealed, among other things, a decline in tablet usage and interest, continued need for library computers, and a complex relationship between social media usage and engagement with the library. The results of this survey will inform and guide the library and the profession to most efficiently and effectively offer desired library services and engage students on appropriate social media platforms.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.