What’s to Argue? A Comparison of Opposing Viewpoints in Context to the Updated Points of View Reference Center, with a Nod to the Original Points of View Reference Center

As one of the traditional rhetorical modes – along with narration, description, exposition, etc. – argument, or persuasion, has long been a staple in the curricula of speech and English at the secondary and higher education levels. Students are given an assignment in which they must select an issue or topic and argue in support of or opposition to it, marshaling evidence to support their position. While it has always been possible for students to locate evidence through standard searches in library catalogs for books and print periodical indexes for magazine and journal articles, such searches can be unwieldy. Some publishers saw this as an opportunity to serve what they perceived as a specific market demographic, and created book series designed to offer pro and con viewpoints on various social issues or “controversial” topics. Among these are H.W. Wilson’s The Reference Shelf, which dates as far back as 1924, and Greenhaven Press’s Opposing Viewpoints series. Reference Shelf titles select articles from respected publications while offering abstracts of twenty to thirty additional articles and a bibliography of other sources. Opposing Viewpoints follows the same pattern of offering articles culled from reputable sources which cover a topic from various points of view in a pro/con format. Gale Group, not yet Gale/Cengage Learning, introduced Opposing Viewpoints (OV) in digital format as the Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center (OVRC) database, which in mid-2010 was “enhanced” and renamed Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Between Gale’s introduction of Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center and its repackaging as Opposing Viewpoints in Context, EBSCOhost rolled out its Points of View Reference Center database. While there is a common purpose shared by the two databases, because of their proprietary nature duplication of content is minimal, and each database possesses unique strengths and weaknesses

#Socialtagging: Defining its Role in the Academic Library

The information environment is rapidly changing, affecting the ways in which information is organized and accessed. User needs and expectations have also changed due to the overwhelming influence of Web 2.0 tools. Conventional information systems no longer support evolving user needs. Based on current research, we explore a method that integrates the structure of controlled languages with the flexibility and adaptability of social tagging. This article discusses the current research and usage of social tagging and Web 2.0 applications within the academic library. Types of tags, the semiotics of tagging and its influence on indexing are covered

Musselman Library Updated Strategic Priorities 2016-2018

This document updates Musselman Library’s 2013 Strategic Plan, retaining the strategic directions that still require attention and adding new priority areas. This update grew out of an all-staff discussion on November 3, 2016, in which library employees identified areas of success/completion and pinpointed unfinished business from the 2013-2016 plan. The staff also suggested other areas to develop. In response to these suggestions, department heads updated the 2013-2016 plan. In this update we have: Retained three strategic directions from the original plan with some changes and additions: Lifelong Learning, Sustainability, and Assessment. Reframed the Leadership plank in the context of Scholarly Communications priorities. Added a fifth strategic priority: Diversity and Inclusion

Fighting Censorship In America, Who Are The Real Censors?

During the last half of the 20\u2711 century, the American Library Association- through the Office of Intellectual Freedom, the Freedom to Read Foundation and the Intellectual Freedom Action Network (ALAs Office 1995, 13) has emerged as one of America\u27s leading opponents of censorship and advocates of free speech. The American Library Association\u27s opposition to censorship is so absolute that it stands firmly against any library restrictions on access to books, magazines or internet sites even by children (Intellectual 1996, 84-94; cf. Berry 1998, 6; Mason 1997, I 04). There is some evidence, however, to suggest that there is a gap between the official ALA position and actual practice. This essay will survey the American Library Association\u27s position on censorship and will examine the evidence that librarians are among the chief censors

Christian Academics Need to Increase their Publishing: A Study of CCCU Teaching Faculty and Librarians

This is the second of two articles that explains the results of an in-depth research study of teaching faculty and librarian scholarship within the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). The first article examined the nature and extent of that scholarship and this article examines its necessity

Christian Librarians and the Library Bill of Rights: A Survey of Opinions and Professional Practice

This study used a survey methodology to discover how Christian librarians working in academic libraries responded to the American Library Association’s (ALA) ethical standards as embodied in the Library Bill of Rights (LBR). The results showed that while the Christian librarians surveyed largely support the LBR and adhere to it professionally, their interpretation of its sometimes ambiguous language is made through the lens of a Christian worldview and can conflict with the ALA’s interpretation. Of particular concern to the respondents were issues of collection development and access to content like pornography, violence, or other similar material that conflicts with Christian morality

Spiritual Literacy: a New Concept for a New Reality

The idea of literacy is prevalent in today’s society, especially among librarians.There is much discussion of technological literacy and the digital divide. There are volumes written on cultural literacy and how we interact with different groups such as younger generations. There are books dedicated specifically to literacy in the 21st century. There are growing specialized “literacies” but none dealing with religion, per se. It is critical that librarians are aware of spiritual undertones inherent in information, in order to provide balanced information to patrons