Communicating Effectively in Rapidly Changing Times

This presentation explores communication in academic libraries that experienced rapid changes during the Great Recession and its aftermath. The investigator conducted a multi-case study, in which she interviewed library and university participants in three U.S. academic libraries in 2010. Results show that communication existed for the most part in the three libraries, all of which were maintaining strategic priorities while experiencing dramatic changes

The Knowledge Base as an Extension of Distance Learning Reference Service

This study explores knowledge bases as extension of reference services for distance learners. Through a survey and follow-up interviews with distance learning librarians, this paper discusses their interest in creating and maintaining a knowledge base as a resource for reference services to distance learners. It also investigates their perceptions about the feasibility and practicality of a reference knowledge base. Primary findings indicate that the majority of participants view a knowledge base as an extension of distance learning reference services positively but see issues related to workload and quality control, in particular, which might hinder the development and maintenance of this type of repository

Making A Difference : Service User and carer involvement in Social Work Education – a mixed methods approach within a participatory paradigm.

Social work is committed to challenging inequality and discrimination, supporting social justice and valuing diversity throughout the world. Unique to the United Kingdom is the formal recognition of the involvement of those in receipt of services or providing informal carer support as an essential part of social work training. Since this commitment to involvement was established in 2003 with the introduction of the new degree in social work, a wide and variable range of activities has developed across universities to involve people with experiences of social work services. Research to evaluate the effectiveness of involvement has found that evidence of practice impact is limited. Further, research has identified that university structures have not been inclusive of those most marginalised in society. This qualitative research study explores a key question emanating from those with lived experiences who have contributed to social work education, as well as researchers who have identified a knowledge gap; what difference does involvement make in social work education? Five focus groups, predominantly including those who have contributed to social work education from their lived experiences, social work students , qualified social workers and lecturers, were conducted across the UK. The methodological design employed a triangulated approach to evaluate the impact of involvement through the university curriculum and to introduce an innovative ‘Mend the Gap’ participatory action research (PAR) approach. Three PAR projects involving participants with lived experiences who felt most excluded from traditional structures in society along with social work students and qualified social workers, promoted methods of mutual learning leading to transformative outcomes. Both research methods align with a pedagogical idea that people need to step out of dichotomous categories, such as ‘social workers’ ‘service users’, to close the division which maintains people in roles as ‘expert’ professional and person ‘being helped’ with the problem. The work of Paulo Freire (1970) provides the pedagogical framework to explore core themes of power, empowerment, oppression and critical awareness. The findings have demonstrated how the contradiction Freire highlights between the ‘oppressor and oppressed’ is overcome through the mutual learning process. The triangulated research findings cohere through application of Braun and Clarke’s (2006, 2019) reflexive thematic analysis resulting in the identification of core themes. A new method for co-producing knowledge and learning and recommendations that build upon existing research for instigating change within social work educational structures is presented. The transferability of findings to other professional contexts adds to the value of the research contribution within the social sciences. The benefits of substantive mutual learning and how boundaries can be transcended through sharing experiential knowledge is emphasised. Most significantly, outcomes of the research demonstrate how transformation is achievable when those who feel most marginalised and stigmatised initiate the agenda. Altogether, the findings present a strong case for restructuring social work education, promoting outcome based meaningful engagement of diverse communities by putting service user- led organisations in control of an academic dominated agenda

Phase Three Data

Most colleges and universities have courses or orientation sessions designed to help first-year (FY) students successfully transition to higher education. An introduction to the library is generally included. However, it may be difficult to discern whether the library introduction in a first-year orientation has an impact on student success. These datasets were derived from surveys conducted in 2018 and supplement a case study that describes the assessment of the library module in a semester-long FY orientation course (UNIV 101) at a private STEM-focused university

Taking Our Seat at the Table [Part of the Article Titled, ACRL in Orlando: ACRL Programs at the ALA Annual Conference]

A summary about the program presented at the ACRL University Libraries Section meeting held during the 2016 ALA annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, June 23-28, 2016. The presentation for the section was titled, Taking Our Seat at the Table: How Academic Librarians Can Help Shape the Future of Higher Education

Grassroots Strategic Planning: Involving Library Staff from the Beginning

Strategic planning is often considered a managerial tool. The management of an organization surveys the environment and develops a plan that they introduce to the organization as a whole. Most modern organizations seek employee involvement in the planning process and feedback to some degree with varied results. But for one academic library, employee involvement in the development and execution of the strategic plans has been a vital part of the processes. The Hunt Library at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has been developing strategic plans for several years with active input from the librarians and staff. This case study chronicles the different approaches the library staff have used to create new plans. One method was to hold a set of retreats where all library staff provided ideas for new initiatives to explore and old processes to retire. Another involved the SOAR approach, which uses appreciate inquiry to determine strengths, opportunities, aspirations, and results. A third method employed scenarios to encourage staff input into the next strategic plan. Each of the different approaches yielded interesting results; some failures and many successes. Some processes were more positive than others but they all included mutually agreed-upon strategies that the guided the library as it planned future innovations

Exploring Men\u27s Motivations and Restraints in Repeated Extramarital Sex

The influence of extramarital sex (EMS) on marriage has been a topic of discussion in the research community for over 30 years. This thesis explored the influences that drive the EMS participants’ decisions, whether to abstain, continue while in the marriage, or to leave the marriage, and, those influences that affect whether they later participate in EMS or not. This study also used individual semi-structured interviews of ex-husbands who have participated in EMS in the past, as well as husbands who are participating in EMS currently. The four men interviewed were from southwest Missouri. The interviews were reviewed to identify recurring influences on the participating spouses’ decisions regarding EMS, which included employment influences, physiological elements, logistical details, and social/emotional processing. The goal of the study was to increase knowledge of factors influencing a participating husband’s choices following the initiation of EMS. A significant finding was that social/emotional processing was the leading theme in motivations and restraints of EMS. Participants could recall motivations more than restraints. A strong motivation toward EMS was when participants believed their spouse was not as invested as they were in their marriage. While participants recalled what was labeled as “more powerful” motivations and restraints prior to EMS, they shared a higher number of motivations and restraints that were highlighted through EMS. These were, generally, EMS partners meeting needs that arose from the previously mentioned motivator

Who Will Do the Job? Hiring Older Workers to Fill Library Labor Gaps

This article discusses the potential shortage of librarians as baby boomers retire. Drawing from other industries that hire retirees for part time or seasonal work, the author discusses this as a possible solution to labor shortages in the field of librarianship