Evidence Based Library and Information Practice (Journal)
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Ongoing and Multifaceted Assessment of Academic Library Professional Development Programs Enhances Their Efficacy
No full textA Review of:
Harker, K. R., O\u27Toole, E., & Sassen, C. (2018). Assessing an academic library professional development program. portal: Libraries and the Academy, 18(1), 199-223. https://doi.org/10.1353/pla.2018.0010
Abstract
Objective – To analyze various measures of need, participation, satisfaction, and impact of an academic library professional development program.
Design – Multi-modal; surveys, curriculum vitae (CV) analysis, and attendance statistics.
Setting – Academic library in the United States.
Subjects – Library faculty of all ranks.
Methods – Assessment of the Career Development Program began with an interest survey conducted at the beginning of the fiscal year in which participants ranked their interest in professional development topics. Attendance statistics were collected at all program sessions and participants were emailed post-event surveys comprised of three Likert-scale questions and an open-ended question. Participants in the peer-review service were emailed a survey with two Likert-scale questions and an open-ended question. All programs and surveys were voluntary.
An “activities survey” attempted to document counts of scholarly publications and presentations according to geographic scope, format, and peer-review. However, due to low response rates, the activities survey was replaced after two years with an analysis of library faculty member CVs on a publicly-accessible university website. The final assessment was a narrative annual report that drew on and summarized all of the previously conducted assessments.
Main Results – Multi-modal assessment of the professional development program improved its relevance and quality while also documenting its impact.
Conclusion – Continuous and multi-faceted assessment of professional development programs not only leads to improved efficacy, but also provides accountability and details the value of the program to stakeholders. Professional development programs promote scholarly productivity, which has implications for the career satisfaction of academic librarians. Further research should investigate the validity of professional development program assessment instruments and identify which assessment methods are most effective for evaluating professional development programs and measuring the impact of this programming on scholarship
Social Scientists’ Data Reuse Principally Influenced by Disciplinary Norms, Attitude, and Perceived Effort
No full textA Review of:
Yoon, A. & Kim, Y. (2017). Social scientists’ data reuse behaviors: Exploring the roles of attitudinal beliefs, attitudes, norms, and data repositories. Library & Information Science Research, 39(3), 224–233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2017.07.008
Abstract
Objective – To propose and test a model grounded in constructs from psychology and information systems to explain data reuse behaviours and practices in the social sciences.
Design – Electronic survey.
Setting – ProQuest’s Community of Science Scholars database.
Subjects – Included 2,193 randomly selected social scientists associated with U.S. academic institutions.
Methods – An electronic survey was distributed to a random sample of U.S.-based social science scholars from ProQuest’s Community of Science Scholars database. The survey adapted 21 measurement items for constructs taken from the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and the technology acceptance model (TAM), including perceived usefulness, perceived effort, and the subjective norm surrounding data reuse.
Main Results – There were 292 valid responses received, giving a response rate of 14.91%. Survey data largely validated the authors’ theoretical model. Attitudinal, normative, and resource factors all influence social scientists’ intended data reuse. In particular, perceived usefulness of reusing data and subjective norms surrounding data reuse in one’s discipline positively correlate with intentions to reuse data, and perceived concern of reusing data negatively correlate with intentions to reuse data.
Conclusion – Data reuse in the social sciences is influenced by the perceptions and beliefs held by social scientists. Social scientists reuse others’ data when they perceive that doing so would improve their research productivity and when their discipline has strong norms of data reuse. They avoid reusing others’ data when they believe that doing so is problematic (e.g., if they believe reusing infringes on copyright). Supporters of data sharing, including librarians, are encouraged to apply these findings by proactively educating researchers on the benefits, potential obstacles, and methods of data reuse
Older Adults’ Internet Use Is Varied, Suggesting the Need for Targeted Rather Than Broadly Focused Outreach
No full textA Review of:
van Boekel, L.C., Peek, S. T., & Luijkx, K.G. (2017). Diversity in older adults’ use of the Internet: Identifying subgroups through latent class analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 19(5:e180), 1-10. doi: 10.2196/jmir.6853
Abstract
Objective – To determine the amount and types of variation in Internet use among older adults, and to test its relationship to social and health factors.
Design – Representative longitudinal survey panel of households
Setting – The Netherlands
Subjects – A panel with 1,418 members who were over 65 years of age had answered the survey questionnaire that included Internet use questions, and who reported access to and use of the Internet.
Methods – Using information about the Internet activities the respondents reported, the authors conducted latent class analysis and extracted a best-fitting model including four clusters of respondent Internet use types. The four groups were analyzed using descriptive statistics and compared using ANOVA and chi-square tests. Analysis and comparisons were conducted both between groups, and on the relationship of the groups with a range of social and health variables.
Main Results – The four clusters identified included: 1) practical users using the Internet for practical purposes such as financial transactions; 2) social users using the Internet for activities such as social media and gaming; 3) minimizers, who spent the least time on the Internet and were the oldest group; and 4) maximizers, who used the Internet for the widest range of purposes, for the most time, and who were the youngest group. Once the clusters were delineated, social and health factors were examined (specifically social and emotional loneliness, psychological well-being, and two activities of daily living (ADL) measures). There were significant differences between groups, but the effect sizes were small. Practical users had higher psychological well-being, whereas minimizers had the lowest scores related to ADLs and overall health (however, they were also the oldest group).
Conclusions – The establishment of four clusters of Internet use types demonstrates that older adults are not homogeneous in their Internet practices. However, there were no marked findings showing differences between the clusters in social and health-related variables (the minimizers reported lower health status, but they were also the oldest group). Nevertheless, the finding of Internet use heterogeneity is an important one for those who wish to connect with older adults through Internet-based programming. The different patterns evidenced in each cluster will require differing outreach strategies. It also highlights the need for ongoing longitudinal research, to determine whether those who are currently younger and more technologically savvy will age into similar patterns that these authors found, or whether a new set of older adult Internet use profiles will emerge as younger generations with more Internet experience and affinity become older
EBLIP Panel Presentation at 2018 American Library Association Annual Conference
No full textNo abstract
Digging in the Mines: Mining Course Syllabi in Search of the Library
No full textAbstract
Objective - The purpose of this study was to analyze a syllabus collection at a large, public university to identify how the university’s library was represented within the syllabi. Specifically, this study was conducted to see which library spaces, resources, and people were included in course syllabi and to identify possible opportunities for library engagement.
Methods - A text analysis software called QDA Miner was used to search using keywords and analyze 1,226 syllabi across eight colleges at both the undergraduate and graduate levels from the Fall 2014 semester.
Results - Of the 1,226 syllabi analyzed, 665 did not mention the library’s services, spaces, or resources nor did they mention projects requiring research. Of the remaining 561, the text analysis revealed that the highest relevant keyword matches were related to Citation Management (286), Resource Intensive Projects (262), and Library Spaces (251). Relationships between categories were mapped using Sorensen’s coefficient of similarity. Library Space and Library Resources (coefficient =.500) and Library Space and Library Services (coefficient-=.457) were most likely to appear in the same syllabi, with Citation Management and Resource Intensive Projects (coefficient=.445) the next most likely to co-occur.
Conclusion - The text analysis proved to be effective at identifying how and where the library was mentioned in course syllabi. This study revealed instructional and research engagement opportunities for the library’s liaisons, and it revealed the ways in which the library’s space was presented to students. Additionally, the faculty’s research expectations for students in their disciplines were better understood
Quantitative Methods and Inferential Statistics: Capacity and Development for Librarians
No full textNo abstract
Studying the Night Shift: A Multi-method Analysis of Overnight Academic Library Users
No full textAbstract
Objective – This paper reports on a study which assessed the preferences and behaviors of overnight library users at a major state university. The findings were used to guide the design and improvement of overnight library resources and services, and the selection of a future overnight library site.
Methods – A multi-method design used descriptive and correlational statistics to analyze data produced by a multi-sample survey of overnight library users. These statistical methods included rankings, percentages, and multiple regression.
Results – Results showed a strong consistency across statistical methods and samples. Overnight library users consistently prioritized facilities like power outlets for electronic devices, and group and quiet study spaces, and placed far less emphasis on assistance from library staff.
Conclusions – By employing more advanced statistical and sampling procedures than had been found in previous research, this paper strengthens the validity of findings on overnight user preferences and behaviors. The multi-method research design can also serve to guide future work in this area
“Just-in-Time” Unmediated Document Delivery Service Provides Fast Delivery, Helps Identify Collection Gaps, but Incurs Extra Costs
No full textA Review of:
Chan, E. K., Mune, C., Wang, Y., & Kendall, S. L. (2016). Three years of unmediated document delivery: An analysis and consideration of collection development priorities. Medical Reference Services Quarterly, 35(1), 42-51. Retrieved from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02763869.2016.1117288
Abstract
Objective – Examine the collection development opportunities and challenges of an unmediated document delivery service.
Design – Case study.
Setting – Large comprehensive public university in the United States of America.
Subjects – 11,981 document delivery requests.
Methods – This library implemented Copyright Clearance Center’s Get It Now (CCC-GiN) service in November 2011 to supplement existing holdings, provide access to embargoed content and help support two new programs. The CCC-GiN service was offered in addition to regular ILL service. Statistical analysis was done using usage data collected for the academic years 2012-2013, 2013-2014, and 2014-2015 (excluding June and July). Usage data included: order date and time, fulfillment date and time, publication name, publication date, article name, article author, publisher name, cost, delivery e-mail address. Taylor and Francis publications were added to the CCC-GiN service in November of 2014.
Main Results – The average yearly cost of titles with the largest number of CCC-GiN requests was compared to the annual subscription cost of the same titles. If the annual subscription cost was less than the average yearly cost of CCC-GiN requests, the library purchased a subscription. Patrons ordered older journal content through CCC-GiN requests. This suggested that backfile subscriptions could be cost effective means of providing content. The authors are in the process of analyzing what historical journal content should be purchased.
The addition of Taylor and Francis publications resulted in an increase in the average cost per article. Taylor and Francis publications were popular with patrons, helping boost the total number of requests. The date of the Taylor and Francis materials ordered through CCC-GiN tended to be more recent compared to other publishers. The authors suggest CCC-GiN is a possible solution for acquiring embargoed material. Average fulfillment time increased during the three year time period from 1:34 (hr:min) to 3:52. The percentage of requests outside of ILL working hours was consistent across all three years (62% each academic year). The authors note CCC-GiN service provided the most expedient way for patrons to receive requested material.
A number of the most requested CCC-GiN publications were also available in print format. The quality of print serials data was uncertain hence the decision was made to not upload this data to the CCC-GiN service. This resulted in some overlap in requests with the library’s print holdings. Older content was requested through CCC-GiN rather than through traditional ILL. This resulted in increased costs from copyright fees that would have been avoided using traditional ILL services.
Conclusion – The authors reference the impact of e-commerce on library patron expectations about ease of access and just-in-time delivery. They found that the CCC-GiN service meets these expectations as patrons were able to access a broad selection of materials in a timely and easy to use manner. From the analysis come suggestions to help reduce costs associated with the service. They include adjusting system settings to cap spending limits, limiting who can use the service, selecting only titles that cover a gap in the collection, and including quality print serials holdings data to prevent purchase of already owned material. The authors also discuss using a mediated rather than unmediated service to help lower costs but they note this would slow down turnaround time. The authors close by saying each library will have to consider its own needs and those of its patrons with respect to ease of use, delivery time, and cost
