Academic Library Instruction in the Time of a COVID-19 Pandemic – Lessons Learned

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-30
Author(s):  
Nancy Shin ◽  
Sally Pine ◽  
Carolyn Martin ◽  
Tania Bardyn
2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 76-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Somaly Kim Wu ◽  
Heather McCullough

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to presents the very recent development of e-journal publishing services at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Charlotte. In 2011, the J. Murrey Atkins Library at UNC Charlotte created a new unit in the library, the Digital Scholarship Lab (DSL), which partners with faculty and graduate students in the use of digital and networked research tools to create, disseminate and store new knowledge. E-journal publishing and hosting are among the suite of services offered by the DSL, and we currently publish three journals (https://journals.uncc.edu/). Design/methodology/approach – This report provides an overview of the context of our library’s decision to begin publishing journals, including a discussion of our university’s becoming more research-intensive, our university system mandating increased efficiencies and sharing research with the state citizens, and the library’s own goals of raising awareness of and supporting open access. Also outlined are the technical and procedural choices made, important activities undertaken to develop, define and publicize the new services, campus response to the service and next steps. Findings – This report provides detailed accounting of how a large academic library implemented an electronic publishing service to support open access scholarship. Important activities such as marketing communication, policies development and technical/procedural activities are defined and results described. The report provides observation and lessons learned for academic libraries in development and support of electronic journals. Originality/value – Library as the publisher is a new concept. This report will be of interest to many libraries who are considering offering publishing services and to libraries that currently offer publishing services.


2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 169
Author(s):  
Calantha Tillotson

Melissa Bowles-Terry and Cassandra Kvenild present Classroom Assessment Techniques for Librarians as a toolbox for instruction librarians seeking to create an assessment program in their academic library. Beginning by providing a basic introduction to educational assessment theory, Bowles-Terry and Kvenild build a foundation of understanding with their fellow instruction librarians regarding what assessment means and why it should be used in any library instruction program.


Information technologies have changed the way people search for information inside and outside the library environment. As a result, one of the core functions of librarians—instruction—has changed. Initially, library instruction, also known as bibliographic instruction, focused on teaching patrons how to find library resources. Databases and the Internet with keyword searching abilities shifted the focus of library instruction away from library resources to search techniques that are applicable in a variety of information settings. Web 2.0 technologies have further impacted information literacy instruction as they have helped make the searching for, use of, and creation of information nearly seamless. These technologies have changed user expectations and librarians have adjusted the way they provide instruction services to patrons. This chapter examines the impact of new technologies on how librarians frame their relationship with patrons, specifically students and faculty in the academic library context. Librarians use new technologies to compliment their existing instruction sessions and as a tool to frame themselves as information experts.


2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 554-562
Author(s):  
Beth Seyala ◽  
Erin Burns ◽  
Shannon Richie ◽  
Amy L. Deuink ◽  
Valerie Lynn

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate Chromebooks as an alternative to the traditional computer laboratory for library instruction in an academic environment. The results of this study could help inform the creation of a mobile instruction lab that students and librarians quickly construct inside any classroom with minimal effort and no software to manage. Design/methodology/approach An online survey was distributed to student participants. The survey contained two demographic questions followed by seven user experience questions related to the in-classroom use of Chromebooks; most questions were quantitative in nature. Findings The majority of respondents (84 percent) strongly or somewhat agreed that Chromebooks were easy to use, and 15 percent of the respondents reported some difficulty accessing the university’s Wi-Fi system while using the devices. Research limitations/implications This introductory study was limited to a survey population primarily comprised of lower-level undergraduate students in their first two years of study. Additionally, Chromebooks were not tested in an educational environment using G Suite for Education, which could increase the opportunities for use in an academic setting. Practical implications The study’s findings, combined with the portability and long battery life of Chromebooks, make them a candidate for a mobile instruction lab. Originality/value This research seeks to explore the viability of Chromebooks as an affordable and easy to manage alternative to wired instruction rooms, using a light laptop technology that is becoming increasingly familiar to college students.


Publications ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 28
Author(s):  
Aster

Service management—the entirety of activities undertaken by an organization to design, plan, deliver, operate, and control information technology (IT) services offered to stakeholders—has long been applied successfully by the government and commercial sectors. In this article, service management is discussed in the context of open-source software developed in an academic library setting, by exploring the creation and growth of the Spotlight at Stanford service framework. First, service management is briefly introduced as a guiding principle and philosophy, within the Stanford Libraries context. Second, the Spotlight at Stanford software is described. Third, people who are key players in both the delivery and use of the software are discussed. Fourth, processes including goals and activities of the Spotlight at Stanford service team are reviewed. Fifth, various accomplishments are listed, including how the service team has contributed to the successful adoption and development of the web application at Stanford University. Finally, lessons learned are discussed and directions are shared for the future development of the Spotlight at Stanford service framework.


2017 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gayle Schaub ◽  
Cara Cadeno ◽  
Patricia Bravender ◽  
Christopher Kierkus

To effectively access and use the resources of the academic library and to become information-literate, students must understand the language of information literacy. This study analyzes undergraduate students’ understanding of fourteen commonly used information-literacy terms. It was found that some of the terms least understood by students are those most frequently found in faculty-created research assignments and syllabi and that are used by librarians during library instruction. It is recommended that librarians work with faculty to make them aware of students’ lack of understanding of information literacy terms and that librarians also reinforce their meaning during library instruction and in one-on-one consultations.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document