The role of libraries in teaching doctoral students to become information-literate researchers:A review of existing practices and recommendations for the future

Purpose This paper aims to review current literature pertaining to information literacy and digital literacy skills and practices within the research workflow for doctoral students and makes recommendations for how libraries (and others) can foster skill-sets for graduate student research workflows for the twenty-first century scholarly researcher. Design/methodology/approach A review of existing information literacy practices for doctoral students was conducted, and four key areas of knowledge were identified and discussed. Findings The findings validate the need for graduate students to have training in information literacy, information management, knowledge management and scholarly communication. It recommends empirical studies to be conducted to inform future practices for doctoral students. Practical implications This paper offers four areas of training to be considered by librarians and faculty advisers to better prepare scholars for their future. Originality/value This paper presents a distinctive synthesis of the types of information literacy and digital literacy skills needed by graduate students

The Changing Role of Digital Tools and Academic Libraries in Scholarly Workflows: A Review

In this paper, we review the literature on how information literacies are manifested in scholarly workflows for undergraduates, graduate students, and scholars, and the need to support integrating library resources into their knowledge practices, and how available tools support their needs. We argue that research is needed on how libraries and digital tools both support, and indeed teach, knowledge-building practices across the entire lifecycle of knowledge. Finally, we advocate for studying researcher and student workflows as a way to both improve the tools we make available, and more importantly, to inform us on the role(s) libraries can play in the shifting practices of research in an information-rich world

Nursing Education Workflows in EHR Training

A need for improvement in nursing education regarding inpatient workflows and informatics skills was identified at this project site. Upon hire, nurses were required to complete a 4-hour basic class on the electronic health record (EHR) system, but this class did not include inpatient-nursing workflows needed to provide and facilitate care for patients. This project addressed the lack of EHR education on inpatient nursing workflows. The focus of this staff education project was an education class on inpatient nursing workflow provided to a nurse residency class. Sources of evidence were obtained through a literature search and pretest/post test data analysis. The literature used to support the project included articles on best practices for EHR education for nursing. The pretest and post test design was used to determine if there was an increase in EHR knowledge after the education. Benner\u27s novice-to- expert model served as the framework. The mean total proficiency scores on inpatient nursing workflows in the EHR improved from pretesting to post testing, (6.8 to 7.8, p = 0.048). The study findings showed improvement in participants\u27 average proficiency, knowledge, and clinical skills in the EHR. This project findings demonstrated the need for an inpatient nursing informatics workflow class for all nursing staff, and the findings supported an increase in education to facilitate workflow and care safety. This project promotes positive social change by improving curricula, raising awareness of how technology affects clinical care and practice, and encouraging continuous quality improvement through informatics education

Graduate Student’s Productivity Tools for Literature Review Research and Writing in the Age of AI

In the fast-evolving world of academia, it is not hyperbole to say that generative AI and algorithm-based productivity tools like ChatGPT, Research Rabbit, and LitMap are quickly becoming transformative forces, reshaping the way graduate students (among many groups) approach the research and writing of thesis/dissertation literature reviews. But while the plethora of possibilities engendered by generative productivity tools is in many ways remarkable, the technology itself can often be overwhelming—not only for the graduate students, but also for us as librarians and information professionals supporting independent researchers from any discipline. Indeed, the ever-growing number of AI tools on the market suggests that the era of artificial intelligence is here. For this reason, it is critical that we develop the skills necessary to provide support and guidance to the increasing number of graduate students engaging with these advanced technologies. In this session, we will focus on providing librarians with the skills necessary to effectively communicate with graduate students about productivity tools enabling the creation of original research and writing. We will begin by presenting a structured framework (predicated heavily on established educational and LIS research) that can be used to categorize productivity tools. In a sense, this framework will provide librarians and other information professionals with a useful wayfinder that enables the diverse range of productivity tools available to be contextualized situationally, making them easier to understand. After discussing the framework, we will then explore a curated selection of AI/generative and other tools, showcasing their potential to facilitate various stages of independent and original graduate research. Finally, we will address the ethical and legal considerations entwined with the recommendation and implementation of these tools, thus fostering a culture of informed and ethical LIS research and practice. After attending this session, librarians will arguably have a better understanding of the tools that are out there, empowering them to match these tools with the specific needs of the graduate students that they serve

Examining Mendeley: Designing learning opportunities for digital scholarship

Researchers have widely adopted computer programs for reference management, such as Mendeley, due to their ability to support a variety of research practices, including organization and storage of pdfs. These programs also afford participation and networking within new scholarly information landscapes. This paper uses a survey and semi-structured interviews to explore use of Mendeley at the University of Colorado and to provide an initial snapshot of scholars’ adoption of new digital practices. Because these new practices call for different capacities, the authors then used the results to design meaningful learning opportunities for scholars and students

A Comprehensive Study of Library-Led Textbook Affordability Initiatives in the United States

This study presents findings from a survey and interviews investigating library-led textbook affordability initiatives in the United States. The results document diverse considerations and divergences in workflows, challenges librarians face in establishing and maintaining textbook affordability programs, and the intersection of these initiatives with library and institutional strategies. Findings suggest that these programs have grown in number and scale over the past few years, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, and are sustained—even without permanent, designated funding—due to consistently positive perceptions about their impact on student success, just-in-time delivery, and alignment with library and institutional goals

The Problem of Data

Jahnke and Asher explore workflows and methodologies at a variety of academic data curation sites, and Keralis delves into the academic milieu of library and information schools that offer instruction in data curation. Their conclusions point to the urgent need for a reliable and increasingly sophisticated professional cohort to support data-intensive research in our colleges, universities, and research centers

(E-book) Patron Driven Acquisitions (PDA): An Annotated Bibliography

Patron Driven Acquisitions (PDA), also known as Demand Driven Acquisitions (DDA) and Purchase on Demand (POD), has been used by libraries since the early 1990’s. PDA allows libraries to acquire items based on the immediate needs of their patrons, often without library intervention. With the arrival of e-books in the late 1990’s, libraries soon began including them in their PDA workflows. PDA is controversial for several reasons, and PDA of E-books adds further issues to the debate. This bibliography covers PDA and the issues academic libraries face when devising a PDA program. Articles outline the benefits and problems of print and E-book PDA and the debate they elicit. They also document the response of libraries to address these problems. Only peer-reviewed articles that express current thought on the subject (as of this writing) have been used

(E-book) Patron Driven Acquisitions (PDA): An Annotated Bibliography

Patron Driven Acquisitions (PDA), also known as Demand Driven Acquisitions (DDA) and Purchase on Demand (POD), has been used by libraries since the early 1990’s. PDA allows libraries to acquire items based on the immediate needs of their patrons, often without library intervention. With the arrival of e-books in the late 1990’s, libraries soon began including them in their PDA workflows. PDA is controversial for several reasons, and PDA of E-books adds further issues to the debate. This bibliography covers PDA and the issues academic libraries face when devising a PDA program. Articles outline the benefits and problems of print and E-book PDA and the debate they elicit. They also document the response of libraries to address these problems. Only peer-reviewed articles that express current thought on the subject (as of this writing) have been used

E-Book Program Development Study: Annual Report (June 1, 2013 - May 31, 2014)

This report summarizes the preliminary results of the first year of the E-Book Program Development Study. The objective of the first year was to document the e-book landscape at Columbia University (CU) and understand how current challenges fit into the larger context of collection development within the academic community. The second objective was to develop sustainable methodologies that can be used across CU to evaluate e-book holdings in a standardized fashion. The work completed over the past year provides a context for study results and suggests how e-book collection aligns with CU's overarching mission to support research, teaching, and learning activities across campus