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Open Access and Citation Impact: Modality, Funding, Publisher, and Disciplinary Trends at the University of Kentucky
No full textAs publishers and libraries attempt to align business models and collection strategies to an everincreasing open access (OA) publishing landscape, both have found that the message of open access citation advantage (OACA) resonates with current and prospective authors. Despite its widespread promotion and acceptance, however, OACA is not universal and is subject to ongoing debate. This quantitative study contributes to the OACA debate and research with a longitudinal focus on citation data from journal articles published 2018–2021 by University of Kentucky-affiliated authors.The article and citation data for University of Kentucky-affiliated authors are supplemented withUniversity of Kentucky College and departmental data, providing valuable local context. In additionto author-level departmental data, this study also considers traditional confounding variables ofteninvestigated in OACA studies, such as OA modality, funding, and funding source, and introducesjournal publisher as a variable for OACA analysis
Summer at the Library: A Shining Star in the Confidence Constellation
No full textGrowing research shows a crisis in our youth’s confidence and a marked increase in stress and anxiety.1 Summer at the library is vital for addressing opportunity gaps in learning and fostering interest-driven reading and learning, but what about the critical role library programs play in helping youth become confident learners? As youth services library staff build, deliver, evaluate, and advocate for summer programs, an essential aspect of summer programming should be the deliberate focus on building confidence in young people. In a time that has exploded as that of the “anxious generation,2” building confidence can help children flourish
Stitching Solutions: The Bureau of Home Economics as a Fashion Influencer
No full textIntroductionWhen starting a research project in fashion studies, you mightfirst turn to the library’s fine arts section, specifically the Libraryof Congress call number ranges NK4700–4890 or NK8800–9505.5, or the TT490–695 range covering clothing manufacture,dressmaking, and tailoring. The government documentssection is likely the last place you’d consider, as fashio
Public Awareness and Advocacy Committee: Cultivating Partnerships and Collaborating with the Community
No full textRecently, I realized that I have used the term “partnership” somewhat loosely when I talked about other libraries or non-profits with which I worked. Over my years as a school librarian, I have built up partnerships with our local libraries, independent bookstores, and local groups and organizations such as the New Orleans Opera, Project 826, and the Congo Square Preservation Society, among others. We partnered by working together to host an event or program
Research Roundup: Post-COVID Storytimes: What’s Happening and Planning for Success
No full textAcross the country, children’s librarians have reported a marked change in their audiences since COVID. Before the pandemic, for the most part, preschoolers generally could sit still and focus during storytime. But now, children of all ages find it difficult to stay in one place for an extended period of time, and as a result, programming can be a struggle.In this column, we have provided some resources that explain what is happening and some materials and suggestions for adapting programs to appeal to restless audiences
Membership Committee: ALSC Member Profiles
No full textLinda L. Ernst, King County (WA) Library System Children’s Librarian, RetiredMary Schreiber, Branch Manager, Cuyahoga County (OH) Public LibraryBeatriz Barreca, Librarian II, Head of Children and Teen Services, Okeechobee Blvd Branch Library, Palm Beach County (FL) Library Syste
Review: Foundations of Information Law
No full textFoundations of Information Lawlooks like a textbook but reads like historicalnonfiction with some practical,professional slants. The authors’tone and stylistics choices make it moreengaging than expected. Rooted in thereal world of where law “is” (was, at thetime of writing), its straightforwardapproach provides American librarianswhat they need to know whentheir world bumps into the law. Theonly caveat—it’s changed
Active Learning in UX Instruction: A Four-Step Approach for Teaching Budding UX-ers
No full textActive learning strategies are a prominent method of instruction designed to encourage learner engagement through concrete application of concepts and deep reflection to facilitate meaningful learning experiences for library professionals. Despite documented benefits, however, there is limited published literature on the implementation of active learning to user experience (UX) instruction. In this paper, we provide an example of our approach to active learning within the context of a guerrilla testing instructional workshop for library staff using a four-step lesson plan identifying tasks; writing scenarios; running tests; analyzing results). We focus attention on the importance of small group work, the role of facilitators in providing participant support, and the use of self-reflection as central aspects of the workshop design. Sample active learning strategies are highlighted throughout along with key lessons learned and recommended improvements for future workshops tailored to library contexts
Behind the Desk: Washington State Community and Technical College Librarians’ and Library Workers’ Perspectives on Student Reference Needs during the COVID-19 Pandemic
No full textAcross Washington State, community and technical college librarians and library workers struggled to meet student reference needs as they grappled with swift and often detrimental changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic—which we define as the period between March 2020 and 2021, in keeping with return-to-campus trends of Washington State higher education institutions. Through a framework of the authors’ backgrounds and experiences along with the existing literature, this article situates the impact of COVID-19 in the broader context of academic reference pre- and post-pandemic. This article likewise examines prominent issues COVID-19 brought to the fore and trends that persisted through the end of 2022, when we conducted our research. The authors highlight the gap in this research area to demonstrate and better understand the many challenges Washington State students encounter in their pursuit of higher education, to promote the study of community and technical colleges more broadly, and to shed light on the challenges librarians and library workers continue to wrestle with in 2025
From Niche to Norm: A Case Study of Zines in a Circulating Collection
No full textZines present unique opportunities and challenges across traditional library functions: access,cataloging, preservation, digitization, and special collections. They also provide incredible possibilitiesto redefine what research looks like and to engage students in a new way. This article tracks ourgoals and process for conceptualizing and implementing a social justice-focused zine collection. Wecontextualize our case study with both a literature review and a survey to establish current practicesand reflect on how former practices have changed. Our findings indicate that zines are becoming morereadily incorporated into library collections and are more frequently cataloged and allowed to circulatethan in previous years