Overcoming imposter syndrome: the adventures of two new instruction librarians

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 331-342
Author(s):  
Jessica Martinez ◽  
Meredith Forrey
Keyword(s):  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Library Science ◽  
Work Environments ◽  
First Year ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Library Instruction ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Imposter Phenomenon

Purpose New librarians rarely feel fully prepared for academic library instruction. This could be attributed to many factors in both Master of Library and Information Science programs and work environments. Imposter syndrome or imposter phenomenon is a common way this insecurity manifests. Imposter phenomenon, first defined in 1978, is an individual’s feeling that they will be exposed as a fraud, regardless of how qualified or knowledgeable they actually are. Throughout the first year as new instruction librarians, the authors tracked their experiences with instruction and the imposter phenomenon. This paper aims to illuminate how imposter phenomenon impacts library instruction, provide suggestions for individual librarians and identify what academic libraries can do institutionally to mitigate feelings of fraudulence among their employees. Design/methodology/approach This paper outlines the history and symptoms of imposter phenomenon, focusing on its presence in libraries. The authors draw on existing literature in psychology and library science, their own experience and a survey of 172 librarians. Suggestions for best practices for easing imposter phenomenon are then discussed based on the experiences of the authors and survey respondents. Findings This paper suggests several ways to ease the feelings of imposter phenomenon among those employed in academic libraries. Research limitations/implications This paper is based on the authors’ experiences, as well as a survey of 172 librarians. The survey was self-selecting, so the results may be skewed, but the themes apparent throughout the responses indicate that imposter phenomenon in libraries is pervasive and warrants further research. Practical implications The recommendations presented in this paper will provide new librarians and library administrators with concrete ways to identify and ameliorate imposter phenomenon among new instruction librarians. Originality/value Though imposter phenomenon has gained popular attention in wider society, extant research has not sufficiently addressed its role in the realm of academic library instruction. Given that most MLIS programs focus on theory rather than practice, finding ways to give new instruction librarians confidence in their positions is an area of research that warrants more exploration.

Exploring academic libraries’ use of Twitter: a content analysis

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 1002-1015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sultan M. Al-Daihani ◽  
Suha A. AlAwadhi
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Science Literature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Patterns Of Communication ◽  
Library Marketing

Purpose – This research aims to analyze academic libraries’ Twitter content and present a categorization framework for the study of their tweets. Design/methodology/approach – The research adopted a statistical descriptive analysis in addition to a content analysis of the tweets. Consequently, many categories and subcategories were created to classify the tweets according to different aspects. A total of 17 academic library accounts were examined. Findings – The findings show that academic libraries used Twitter as a multifaceted tool. “News and announcements” received the highest score as the type of information most often posted on Twitter by libraries, followed by “library collections” and “library services”. The subcategories that received the highest scores were “library marketing and news”, “answers and referrals” and “books”. Academic libraries showed a penchant for posting links more often than other content. Other results show different patterns of communication and interaction between libraries and their Twitter followers. Practical implications – The categorization of tweets provides a framework for understanding how academic libraries use Twitter. Originality/value – As little research can be found in the library and information science literature on Twitter content analysis, this research is expected to contribute significantly. It will also support academic libraries and librarians in using Twitter more efficiently and effectively.

scholarly journals User agreements and makerspaces: a content analysis

2015 ◽  
Vol 116 (7/8) ◽  
pp. 358-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Michele Moorefield-Lang
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
The Body ◽  
Library Science ◽  
Learning Space ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Qualitative Data Analysis Software

Abstract – The purpose of this paper is to analyze the user agreements of makerspaces in public and academic libraries. User agreements, also known as maker agreements, user forms and liability forms, can be very important documents between library patrons, staff and faculty. User agreements are similar to the earlier creation of acceptable use policies for technology use in libraries. The author of this study will delve into the user agreements created for public and academic libraries across the USA. Design/methodology/approach – The researcher used content analysis to investigate 24 different user agreements written for public and academic library makerspaces. NVivo qualitative data analysis software was integrated into this research to aid in the breakdown of commonalities across terms, themes and purpose within the user agreements. Findings – Although makerspaces are a very exciting topic in the field of library science at this time, the implementation of a maker learning space is still new to many libraries. Creating a user agreement for a makerspace is newer still. Most user agreements in this study were six months to a year old. Some consistencies found across makerspace user agreements include liability waivers, permissions for minors, safety, copyright and technology replacement costs. Originality/value – At this time, most publications on makerspaces are held in the realm of popular publications (blogs, magazines, zines, etc.). The body of peer-reviewed and scholarly research on makerspaces is growing. Makerspace user agreements are new to this growing field of interest, and a content analysis of these documents will pave the way for the writing of future forms.

scholarly journals The Internationalization of the Academic Library: A Systematic Review of 25 Years of Literature on International Students

2017 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda B. Click ◽  
Claire Walker Wiley ◽  
Meggan Houlihan
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
International Students ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
The United States ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Original Research ◽  
Journal Articles ◽  
Conference Papers

This study is a systematic review of the library and information science (LIS) literature related to international students and academic libraries. A systematic review involves the methodical collection and analysis of a body of literature and is growing in popularity in the LIS field. Three well-known LIS databases were systematically searched for articles related to the topic, and manual bibliography searches were conducted to find additional publications. Journal articles, book chapters, and conference papers were included or excluded based on established criteria. Findings show that articles published about international students and academic libraries have increased steadily between 1990 and 2014. The majority of authors are affiliated with universities and institutions in the United States, although an increase in represented countries is apparent. Fewer than half of the articles can be considered original research, and surveys are the most popular method for data collection. The LIS field—and international students—would benefit from further exploration of this topic, particularly from original research with practical implications.

The correct language of cataloguing local publications in East Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 116 (9/10) ◽  
pp. 517-526
Author(s):  
Eliz Nassali State ◽  
Isaac M.N. Kigongo-Bukenya ◽  
Constant Okello-Obura
Keyword(s):  
East Africa ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
The Body ◽  
Library Science ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Subject Term ◽  
The Subject

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the subject cataloguing of local publications and subject access to local publications. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative approach was used. Methods included interviews, document reviews and observations. Findings – Adherence to cataloguing standards takes precedence over subject access. Rarely is a user the focus of choice of the subject term in the process of cataloguing. The terms assigned to local publications are generally too broad and, at times, border on inappropriateness. The situation is exacerbated by a lack of documented cataloguing policies and a waning interest in cataloguing matters from the profession. Originality/value – This study is intended to benefit the librarians who provide subject representation to local publications by way of streamlining the process of subject cataloguing, hence, enhancing access to these uniquely held resources. The outcome of this study, hence, will provide insight in the process of cataloguing local publications. In addition, the findings of this study will benefit the teaching of subject cataloguing in library and information science programs. The findings from this study are expected to contribute to the body of library science by enabling a localized view to subject assignation. Ultimately, the significance of the study lies in its contribution to cataloguing education and research, especially with a perspective from Africa.

scholarly journals The Training of Academic Library Staff on Information Technology within the Libraries of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System

1998 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa E. Kirkpatrick
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Private Sector ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Colleges And Universities ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
State Colleges ◽  
Time And Energy ◽  
Training Practice

There is much discussion in the literature of library and information science on the need for training, and it is generally recognized that libraries do not devote as much time and energy to training their staff as they should. However, the surveys of training practice that are common in the private sector seldom are done in the library world. The purpose of this study was to survey academic libraries within the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system to find out what the current training practices are within these libraries. Seventeen out of twenty-three libraries responded to a survey that attempted to determine (1) the types of technologies on which staff receive training, (2) the methods being used to train staff on technology, and (3) whether any differences exist in the training that professional and paraprofessional staff receive.

Research productivity of library scholars

2015 ◽  
Vol 116 (7/8) ◽  
pp. 433-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Munazza Jabeen ◽  
Liu Yun ◽  
Muhammad Rafiq ◽  
Misbah Jabeen
Keyword(s):  
Bibliometric Analysis ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Average Rate ◽  
Library Science ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Journal Citation Reports ◽  
Mapping Software ◽  
Library Professionals

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore, by a quantitative analysis, growth rates of, and trends in, global publications in the field of library and information science (LIS) produced by library science professionals. Design/methodology/approach – A survey approach was used in this paper. Journal Citation Reports 2010 was the major source for selecting 40 LIS core journals. A bibliometric analysis was conducted. Visualization and mapping software was utilized to present a picture of the growth in and trends relating to LIS publications. Findings – A total of 18,371 research articles were published from 2003 to 2012. A significant growth rate (11.37 per cent) was found in 2009. Self-citation tendencies have been increasing, with an average rate of 38.56 per cent. Of all publication types, “article” was the most popular among LIS researchers. China has contributed remarkably in terms of collaborative publications. Practical implications – The present study could be helpful for library professionals, subject specialists and policy makers. These findings may encourage library professionals to integrate and monitor library functions through bibliometric analysis. Originality/value – This paper identifies growth and trends in publications by LIS researchers through use of bibliometrics.

From request to assess: using cloud-based tools for the library instruction lifecycle

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 14-20
Author(s):  
James Parrigin
Keyword(s):  
Liberal Arts ◽  
Research University ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Liberal Arts College ◽  
Instruction Scheduling ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Library Instruction ◽  
Graduate Assistant ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Large Research

Purpose The author first gained experience with library instruction scheduling at a large research university library as an Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) graduate assistant. Design/methodology/approach The author would occasionally shadow the faculty librarians as they received instruction requests, which were vetted by an administrative assistant and entered into some mystical technology that would facilitate the reservations and populate a library staff calendar. Findings The author remembers it as a fairly mundane process that he did not think much of at the time. Social implications The author soon became an instruction librarian who was put in charge of orchestrating the multitudes of course-integrated one-shots at a small, private four-year liberal arts college. Originality/value The author thinks back to this experience and marvels at the humble instructional requests (e.g. “just show them JSTOR”) and the primitive tool that their library used for scheduling their sessions: a spreadsheet on our network drive.

Library and Information Science Education and Graduate Programs in Academic Libraries

2016 ◽  
pp. 218-229
Author(s):  
Lyu Na
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Graduate Education ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Graduate Programs ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Entrance Examination ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Training Experience

In academic libraries, there are two main types of education activities: information literacy, serving all university students and staff, and graduate education, focusing on LIS students. Academic libraries bear the responsibility of teaching information literacy to university students and staff, so the libraries develop a variety of training programs to help them with literature retrieval and resource utilization in order to improve their academic abilities. The first library to offer graduate education in library and information science independently was Shanghai Jiaotong University, which received authorization to offer an information science master's degree in 1996. In 2003, academic libraries began to offer graduate education and library and information science training more widely. After ten years, academic libraries had developed their own graduate education and training experience as distinct from LIS schools. This chapter investigates and analyzes academic library web portals in terms of education patterns, fields of study, entrance examination subjects, and curriculum.

Adapting to change in academic libraries

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Aslam
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Academic Community ◽  
Library Science ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Ways Of Working ◽  
Library Professionals

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discover the main reasons for change, why change is necessary and how library professionals can adapt to change. Academic institutions are rapidly changing around the world where libraries are facing similar challenges and adapting change is a demand for growth and improvement. Library administrators need a clear vision and strategic plan to meet the upcoming challenges, they must have self-confidence, ability to work with diversity. Library professionals need to show flexibility and a willingness to develop new skills, they also need to adopt new ways of working and dealing with the academic community. Design/methodology/approach The literature review is built on resources from offline and online full-text databases such as ProQuest, EBSCO, Emerald, Library Literature and Information Science databases. This paper is based on a systematic literature review method which includes 50 research articles and 5 print books. A total of 109 articles were collected at the beginning stage but after their analysis in detail, they were reduced to 50 articles as the rest of the articles did not exactly focus on adapting to change in academic libraries. Basic keyword and advanced searching options have been used to retrieve the relevant literature on the topic from peer-reviewed and scholarly resources. Findings Changes are the result of organizational restructuring, user expectations and accessibility to a growing range of digital content, so library professionals are under pressure to adopt change in academic libraries and introduce new services and technology. Library professionals need to change traditional ways of working and boost their knowledge and skills, collaborative attitude, redesign and policies and procedures and create a willingness to adapt to the change. Challenges can be managed if an individual has a keen interest and eagerness to keep up to date with the current knowledge and emerging trends in academic libraries. Research limitations/implications Appropriate literature on the topic was reviewed systematically, not all publications were included. Literature on this topic is relatively limited so more research and publications are needed to deal with current and future scenarios of academic libraries. Practical implications This paper offers a useful overview of the ways and approaches used to adopting change by library professionals and the approaches that can be used in the current and future settings of academic libraries. Suggestions and recommendations can be used in the field of LIS, as well as library professionals may apply in the academic and research libraries to effectively change. Originality/value This paper focuses on the concept of adapting to change in academic libraries, rather than responding to change. This piece of opinion contributes to library science in the area of how to manage and implement change, suggests ways and frameworks which can be used to adopting change by library professionals.

Interpretative phenomenological analysis for LIS research

2015 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 338-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy VanScoy ◽  
Solveig Beyza Evenstad
Keyword(s):  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Information Service ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Phenomenological Method ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Information Professionals

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview and evaluation of interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) for the library and information science (LIS) community, as this method has only recently been used for exploring experiences of various phenomena related to LIS. Design/methodology/approach – IPA is discussed within the phenomenological tradition. Two examples of recent IPA studies are examined in parallel to show application of the IPA method. Issues and challenges of applying IPA to LIS research questions are discussed. Findings – IPA is an alternative phenomenological method, adding to the repertoire of qualitative methods used for LIS research. It was an effective method for exploring experience among information professionals: it was equally suitable for studying reference and information service work for academic library professionals and burnout experience for information and communication technology workers. Originality/value – Only a few LIS studies have used IPA and no discussion or evaluation of the method has been published for this field. This paper provides a discussion of the method for LIS researchers interested in this emerging phenomenological method.

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