ALA 2021 Council Updates

This session provides an update on the recent ALA Council meeting at the 2021 Annual Conference. Topics will include the new governance structure proposals, a new standard to the core values, and updates on proposed and passed resolutions

Taking the Class out of the Classroom: Libraries, Literacy, and Service Learning

In the fall of 2013, the University of Minnesota, Morris (UMM) offered a First Year Seminar class focused on libraries and literacy with a service learning component. The students in the class spent part of class time learning about library science theory and the other part implementing that theory in three different service learning projects: leading storytimes for K-3 ESL students, offering computer literacy sessions for senior citizens, and assessing library use for the UMM campus library. The service learning component was a valuable tool in helping the students better understand the importance of libraries and literacy, especially in a small, rural community

Rolling the Dice in an Academic Library

Discusses game nights at an academic library

Re/envision, Re/imagine: Student and Employee Assessment for a Library Space Redesign

Purpose and goalsThis paper focuses on creative methods to gather employee and student opinions for use in a possible interior redesign of a 50-year-old academic main library, and to generate useful and shareable data for administrators and architects. The UNC Libraries Assessment Committee partnered with a campus research unit, the Social Research Lab (SRL), to create interactive and visually compelling ways to engage both employees and students, moving beyond the traditional questionnaire, to learn what features, design elements, and services are desired in a remodeled library. This partnership utilized a variety of hands-on activities for library employees and an online survey for students. Design, methodology, or approach Our approach was based on previous UNC Libraries space assessment projects and existing literature about working with architects and gathering student feedback for remodels. We also partnered with colleagues in SRL, who are experts in survey instrumentation and data analysis. These resources were invaluable for determining the best approaches for soliciting feedback in a fun, creative, and engaging way. The first method focused solely on library employees. During a monthly all staff meeting, employees had four activities to help reimagine the building’s interior: draw or mark up blank floorplans; place comments or stickers on printed images of public and staff spaces to express likes and dislikes; write their top three priorities on a form; and comment anonymously through an online form. Employees were encouraged but not required to participate, and their responses were anonymous. Three months after this meeting, we deployed an online survey to collect student feedback. The survey ran for two weeks and asked students to rank images, comment on their selected images, and upload other images they would like to see included in a newly designed space. The Assessment Committee distributed the survey via signs and posters throughout campus, sharing with classes and groups, and tabling at the dining hall during lunch hours. As an incentive, students could enter a drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card. FindingsNearly 500 students responded to the survey. Based on guidance from SRL, we had set a goal of 100 student responses; therefore, based on these high participation numbers, we think the interactive and visual approaches worked for persuading students to complete the survey and demonstrates the importance of the building to students. Preliminary results show that students want more private study spaces and seating, and offer insights into popular (and unpopular) design elements. Practical implications or valueThis work provides useful examples and information for gathering employee and student data about space redesign, working with an on-campus research entity, and sharing information with an architect. By the conference date, we will have solid conclusions from the survey and will be able to address the types of information useful for an architect and which data was used for architectural renderings

Undergraduate Student Success and Library Use: A Multimethod Approach

How libraries affect student success has become an increasingly important question to many academic librarians. To investigate this phenomenon, we explored student success via two approaches in this multimethod study: 1) through individual student interviews to capture the student voice; and 2) through hierarchical linear and logistic modeling of institutional data to capture the institutional perspective. Through the qualitative component, students articulated how they define success and how the library contributes to their success, especially in terms of providing a sense of belonging and facilitating the work of a community of scholars. The quantitative data provides additional context by demonstrating a small positive correlation between use of library resources and student persistence, further highlighting the community building impact of the libraries

Executive Summary Undergraduate Student Success and Library Use: A Multimethod Approach

Executive summary of a research project done on library use and student success

Undergraduate Student Success and Library Use: A Multimethod Approach

In order to better understand the relationship between library use and academic success, members of the Libraries faculty and administration partnered with a member of UNC’s institutional research team to answer the following questions: • How does use of specific library services correlate to persistence for undergraduate students?  • Is there a positive correlation between the number of uses of library services and academic achievement for undergraduate students?  • How does use of library services correlate to academic achievement for undergraduate students? • How do students define academic success? • What role can or does the library play in student academic success? Using both quantitative (circulation statistics, computer use, information literacy class attendance, and research consultation participation) and qualitative (individual interviews) methods, the group was able to analyze the role the University Libraries plays in student academic success. The qualitative results showed a positive correlation between library use and increased student persistence. The quantitative data revealed themes about how the Libraries’ space, place, people, and resources contribute to student life. Student interviewees indicated that they find University Libraries to be a safe and welcoming communal space as they pursue their scholarly ambitions