An Analysis of the Effect of Saturday Home Football Games on Physical Use of University Libraries

Objective – Library science literature lacks studies on the effect of external events on the physical use of libraries, leaving a gap in understanding of would-be library patrons’ time use choices when faced with the option of using the library or attending time-bound, external events. Within academic libraries in about 900 colleges and universities in the US, weekend time use may be affected by football games. This study sought to elucidate the effect of external events on physical use of libraries by examining the effect of Saturday home football games on the physical use of the libraries in a large, academic institution. Methods – This study used a retrospective, observational study design. Gate count data for all Saturdays during the fall semesters of 2013-2018 were collected for the two primary libraries at East Carolina University (main campus’ Academic Library Services [ALS] and Laupus, a health sciences campus library), along with data on the occurrence of home football games. The relationship between gate counts and the occurrence of home football games was assessed using an independent samples t-test. Results – Saturday home football games decreased the gate count at both ALS and Laupus. For ALS, the mean physical use of the library decreased by one third (34.4%) on Saturdays with a home game. For Laupus, physical use of the library decreased by almost a quarter (22%) on Saturdays with a home game. Conclusion – Saturday home football games alter the physical use of academic libraries, decreasing the number of patrons entering the doors. Libraries may be able to adjust staffing based on reduced use of library facilities during these events.

A University as the Center of Change: Preparing Educational Activists and Change Leaders

The East Carolina University International EdD supports school leaders in the United States and across the globe to address local educational equity challenges. To achieve this, we prepare and support school and district leaders to use evidence as practitioner-researchers together with members of their educational community. As a result, the reimagined EdD harnesses the power and utility of participatory action and activist research to address a contextualized, equity-focused dissertation in practice. We explore how two doctoral students have transformed their practices during and after their EdD experience.

Who are Millennials? And what they want from libraries, bookstores, and librarians

Understanding a generation’s “peer personality” provides librarians a unique opportunity to develop services and programs tailored to the needs and unique attributes of a group of individuals. Master of Library Science students enrolled in a graduate research class at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, surveyed 245 18-to 24-year old members of the Millennial generation at various locations throughout the state to ascertain their use and perception of libraries and bookstores. Most important to Millennials are helpful library staff, good collections, and convenient hours. Least important are bargain items for sale, coffee, and the library or bookstore as a place to be with others.

Editorial: Special Issue on Interdisciplinary and Experiential Entrepreneurship Education

A group of six colleges and universities (East Carolina University, Iona College, John Carroll University, Millikin University, Rowan University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute) partnered up to co-host the January 2020 USASBE Conference in New Orleans, LA, with the theme Interdisciplinary & Experiential Entrepreneurship Education. The conference thematically aligned its overall program with this special issue, which features scholars and programs representing the arts, design, engineering, liberal arts, physical sciences, STEM, and – yes – business. This editorial further discusses the importance of interdisciplinary entrepreneurship education as an inherent feature of itself to truly evolve as a discipline.

Training for Virtual Exchange

The article describes the training program introduced at East Carolina University (ECU) for the Global Understanding (GU) program and the Global Partners in Education (GPE) consortium. The aim of the training was to reinforce instructors’ intercultural skills and build on the well-known methodology of virtual exchange. Over one semester, the instructors attended face-to-face training sessions. These two-hour meetings focused on several pre-identified areas which needed increased instructor awareness: Cultural Intelligence (CQ), reflections, and classroom management, as well as teamwork and collaboration. The general outcomes of the training have seen an improvement in program delivery, classroom interaction, and student support. Additionally, the work in ECU highlights the need for intercultural training to be part of virtual exchange preparation alongside the well-known guides which provide instructors with the structure for conducting this type of modality. As is shown in this report, increased instructor awareness leads to more successful virtual exchange program delivery, pastoral support, and learner outcomes.

Doing the work: Crafting and implementing liaison competencies

Recently at Joyner Library, the main library for West Campus at East Carolina University (ECU), three heads of service completed a project to revise the library’s liaison competencies. The head of collection development, the head of research and instructional services, and the scholarly communication librarian took the competencies from a task-oriented document and turned them into one that allows liaisons to choose what and how they want to learn. The new document is built around learning statements, is goal-oriented, and serves liaison librarians much better than the previous document. This article will cover the creation and use of the new liaison competencies document.