Hosting a Super Smash Bros. Tournament at the Hudson County Community College Library

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Devlyn Thomas Courtier ◽  
John DeLooper
Keyword(s):  
Community College ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Free Play ◽  
Student Feedback ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Community College Libraries ◽  
College Libraries ◽  
Hudson County ◽  
College Library

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe how the Hudson County Community College Library hosted a Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Tournament as part of its Fall 2015 and Spring 2016 programming, and discuss what it learned from hosting the event. Design/methodology/approach This paper details how a community college library planned, hosted and learned from its experience running a Super Smash Bros. for the Wii U Tournament. It will also describe how the library continued to use this experience to plan additional video game-based programming. Findings The Super Smash Bros. for the Wii U Tournament was generally well received by student attendees. However, student feedback revealed a preference for less-competitive “friendly” events instead of tournaments. Students also requested the option of having several games available instead of one. Originality/value Thus far, there has been little research on academic or community college libraries organizing video game-based programming and activities event. There have also been few studies about whether gaming events work better in libraries as tournaments or “free play” activities.

scholarly journals Management: A Community of Collaboration

2019 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 73
Author(s):  
Andie Craley
Keyword(s):  
Community College ◽  
Human Resources ◽  
Library Services ◽  
The Third ◽  
Job Functions ◽  
Community College Libraries ◽  
Library Staff ◽  
College Libraries ◽  
College Library

Most of us are familiar with the scenario of institutional belt-tightening and the effect that it sometimes has on staffing. Reductions and reallocations of human resources can make it difficult to accomplish our work and can affect morale—but not always. In this column, Andie Craley describes the net positives of that experience at her institution. While still facing the reality of doing more with less, Craley identifies how its inherent challenges can present definite opportunities and foster a community of collaboration.—EditorHaving started as a library technician at Harford Community College Library (HCC Library) just seventeen years ago, I already find myself the third in seniority. Library staff size seems to diminish as additional job functions are assimilated into existing positions, reallocated as new library services are introduced, redeployed to other departments, or completely eliminated as staff retire or resign. The concept of wearing many hats is common, as is the expectation to take on “other duties as assigned.” From networking with colleagues at other Maryland community college libraries, I know this situation is not unique. The current staffing reality both mirrors the evolution of the library’s facilities and demands doing more with less, but it also provides individual and collective opportunities for growth, supporting a community of collaboration.

Competing eBook acquisition models: which model best serves a community college library?

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 33-40
Author(s):  
Michael LaMagna ◽  
Erica Swenson Danowitz ◽  
Andrea Rodgers
Keyword(s):  
Community College ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Library Community ◽  
College Library ◽  
Usage Data

Purpose Academic libraries continue to invest in eBooks to ensure access to content in various formats. This paper aims to examine eBook acquisition models, including patron-driven acquisitions, one-time purchases, focused collection subscriptions or large-scale subscriptions, to better understand how users engage with this content based on usage data. Design/methodology/approach Usage data provide insights into eBook acquisition and how access models influence use. This study defines the acquisition model for each eBook purchase. Data were examined to determine usage by acquisition model and cost-per-use. Findings This paper finds that for a large suburban community college, a large-scale subscription model has the lowest cost-per-use and serves the largest portion of students. Focused collection subscriptions supported small, specialized programs in the Allied Health, Emergency Services, and Nursing fields. Originality/value This paper examines how eBooks are acquired to determine which model best serves an academic library community, specifically a community college library, which is currently underrepresented in the literature.

Removing barriers: textbook affordability and OER at Sinclair community college

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 385-396
Author(s):  
Andrew Joseph Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Community College ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Open Educational Resources ◽  
Valuable Contribution ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
College Population ◽  
College Library

Purpose This paper aims to examine the role of the library at a large, urban community college in the institution’s textbook affordability initiatives. Design/methodology/approach This case study details the contributions of the Sinclair Community College library to affordability on campus, including participating in a major open educational resources (OER) grant initiative; providing consulting and support for faculty and staff; and providing leadership for training and outreach relating to other affordability measures. Findings The library’s efforts have significantly contributed to Sinclair’s widespread adoption of OER and other alternate textbook models that have saved over $1.5m for students annually. Originality/value This paper is a valuable contribution to the affordability discussion because of the degree to which Sinclair has adopted OER; the role of librarians collaborating with key stakeholders; and its focus on the community college population, a diverse and fast-growing sector with particular needs and challenges.

A close look: roving reference in a community college library information commons

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-285
Author(s):  
Eileen Hali Kramer
Keyword(s):  
Community College ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Commons ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Digital Divides ◽  
Academic Technology ◽  
College Information ◽  
Reference Service ◽  
Student Workers ◽  
College Library

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to answer the questions: What challenges do students face in an information commons and how does roving reference help?. Design/methodology/approach The author recounts her work roving in her community college information commons and supplements this with an analysis of 1,500 records from her detailed reference log that compares roving reference results with conventional references and with reference questions as a whole. Findings Her autoethnography and data reveal that roving substantially increases the number of reference encounters. In addition, her data sheds light on students’ struggles with common, productivity software, academic packages and malfunctioning hardware. More importantly, these findings show that roving reference data identify problems that librarians, as stakeholders, can solve. Research limitations/implications Roving reference in a community college information commons brings students in one library into sharper focus. Roving reference increases the number of reference encounters and the reach of reference service. It also exposes a use-based digital divide that calls for collaboration in the long run and increased point-of-need service immediately. Practical implications Even data that points to digital divides, hardware issues or other shortcomings and offers empirical evidence of problems for which library staff, unlike student workers, can find long-term solutions. This study shows that it is possible to gather rich and extensive data with minimal personnel and off-the-shelf software. Social implications A college degree is vital to social mobility and easing inequality. Fluency with academic technology and information is necessary for completing college. Roving reference means more opportunities to teach information and computer fluency at point of need and more opportunities for librarian stakeholders to find and remove obstacles to student learning. Originality/value This is one of the few, recent studies, autoethnographic or otherwise, on roving reference in a community college library’s information commons.

Online induction programme with webinar: a case study

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-132
Author(s):  
Sharon Warren ◽  
Patricia Black ◽  
Elizabeth Mills
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Student Feedback ◽  
The Other ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The University ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe the introduction of an online induction programme including an interactive webinar on a distance learning course and to present student feedback on the programme. It focuses on lessons learnt and implications for others implementing similar induction programmes. Design/methodology/approach – A self-completion questionnaire was sent to all students enroled on the programme, including those who did not attend the webinar or participate in the online induction programme. This was followed up with a semi-structured interview. The analysis focused on the student experience of the induction programme. Findings – Overall, students reported to be satisfied with the online programme. The webinar encouraged engagement with some elements of the online workshop and was felt to complement the other learning opportunities available online. The webinar was particularly valued for providing a “face” to the course, facilitating interactivity among tutors and students and helping the students to feel part of the University. Students also reported that the webinar had the advantage of allowing a social interaction between them. Practical implications – A number of key changes related to multiple offerings of the webinar and the timing of activities in the online workshop were highlighted to encourage participation. Greater clarity on what is required in the induction and how long it would take would also encourage participation. Originality/value – This case study is one of the few to evaluate the inclusion of webinar technology within an online induction programme and, therefore, has value in this context.

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