Creating a Popular Science Collection to Support Interest, Research, and Curriculum at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries

In 2016 the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries opened the Adele Coryell Hall Learning Commons in the main library (Love Library) with the intention of creating an informal user space for study and social interactions. Within the Learning Commons, a popular science collection was curated based upon patron interest and to organize a scattered collection into a more discoverable location. The collection has been highly used by patrons, and new content is regularly added each year. In addition to general interest, the popular science collection supports on-campus classes and colloquial talks. In this presentation, the history of the collection and which courses and speaking series it supports are discussed. Also included is an analysis of the collection to determine strengths and gaps, including diverse, equitable, and inclusive materials. Furthermore, this presentation offers where information can be found to help develop a popular science collection, including such resources as professional associations, partner libraries, booksellers, publishers, and websites, thus demonstrating our best practices to combine these resources to continue building an updated popular science collection

The Silent Battle on the Budget: The Effect of Centralized Indexing on Collection Analysis in Primo and EBSCO

Significant cuts to the collections budget and a fire in the main library at Kansas State University transitioned the Libraries toward an increased focus upon electronic resources management. As electronic resource discovery continues to be hampered by market competition between Ex Libris and EBSCO library vendors, difficulties were identified in obtaining accurate usage statistics for resource renewal reviews, particularly EBSCO products. Kansas State University Libraries use the ALMA URM in combination with Primo discovery service, which experiences known resolver complications when paired with EBSCO resources. Technical services librarians and information technology staff tested several workarounds, but the question remains whether any proposed resolutions can be truly effective in avoiding collection usage biases and analytical discrepancies, resulting from exclusive indexing. Crunching the numbers, monetarily and analytically, the Ex Libris and EBSCO rivalry is an onerous battle on the budget and resource renewal process

Bringing DEI to the Forefront in University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries’ Collections

UNL Libraries’ recently released strategic plan codifies a longstanding organizational commitment to advancing principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Diversity of collections and equity of access are important components of the objectives articulated in this plan. This poster presents an overview of holistic efforts to incorporate considerations of DEI, as well as universal accessibility, into the mainstream of ongoing collection development and acquisition work at UNL Libraries. It covers topics including: the development of a set of guiding principles along with a diversity rubric for acquisitions; departmental reorganization; participation in consortial initiatives; optimizing use of support from Libraries\u27 administration; training and professional development; electronic resources accessibility; and support for Open Access publishing and infrastructure

Digital Humanities and Librarians: A Team-Based Approach to Learning

This chapter details the development and implementation of an Introduction to Digital Humanities course (ENGL 695) at Kansas State University (K-State). The course originated with a tenure-track professor with a research specialty in British Romantic-period Literature and the digital humanities. In conjunction with a host of librarians at K-State Libraries, a course was developed that drew on both library resources and librarian knowledges and skills. Over the course of the semester, the professor and the students worked closely with librarians in many areas of the library, including public services, technical services and special collections. The result was four innovative and sustainable digital projects that highlighted the resources and research interests at K-State. In addition to introducing students to the digital humanities, the course also served to establish a framework for future initiatives, including hosting a digital humanities symposium and establishing a digital humanities center

Practicing Digital Humanities in the Classroom: Tools and Methods

As an extension of the first workshop, we will focus on integrating digital humanities in the classroom by exploring a variety of digital humanities related resources available at Kansas State University as well as introducing a specific pedagogy intervention, students writing Wikipedia articles for classroom assignments. Often replacing research papers and/or literature reviews, these assignments ask students to practice disciplinary research and writing skills to fill gaps for a public audience. This workshop will explore the tools available through the Wikipedia Education Program, common assignment design concerns, example assignments run by faculty at Kansas State University in the departments of English and Art, examination of how the program\u27s lessons learned can be applied to other digital assignments, and provide time for developing a Wikipedia assignment for your own classroom. Examples will be focused on humanities topics, but faculty in all disciplines are welcome. Stinson\u27s presentation, DH Student Projects Anyone Can Edit: Planning for and learning from Wikipedia in the Classroom, and Hoeve and Pankl\u27s presentation, Practicing Digital Humanities in the Classroom, are combined as one file available from the download button

Tuition Related Library Fees Information

Tuition related library fees information, supplemental to the article \u27How Libraries are Funded: Transparency Issues in Student Tuition and Fees Among ARL Libraries\u27 in Journal of New Librarianship (2023) by Casey Hoeve and Kiyomi D. Deards. The data were collected by Ted Naylor and enhanced by Casey Hoeve and Kiyomi D. Deards

UNL’s Wiley Journal Downloads: 2014-2020

Because the field of librarianship has been examining its relationship to commercial academic publishers and their \u27Big Deal\u27 journal packages, the authors elected to examine one such package, Wiley\u27s. The authors\u27 hoped to determine whether the University of Nebraska-Lincoln\u27s usage was concentrated enough and consistent enough over a multi-year interval for download data to be useful in identifying journals for hypothetical individual subscriptions or for inclusion in a hypothetical smaller, UNL-specific package

Management of content development and subject engagement through an arts matrix model: A case study

From 2007 - 2009, Kansas State University Libraries (K-State Libraries) committed to strategically assess and redevelop their organizational structure. The Libraries’ Strategic Plan and position redistributions commenced in 2007 and 2009 respectively, with adjustments in 2010 to accommodate the university’s “K-State 2025” Strategic Plan. Together, these plans changed the roles of former subject librarians, dividing and transferring responsibilities for outreach, reference, instruction, and collection development. Among the more significant changes was the creation of departments devoted to patron groups, rather than specific academic disciplines. Illustrating how the reorganization changed the roles of traditional library services, this chapter will outline the responsibilities of three librarian positions: Undergraduate and Community Services, Faculty and Graduate Services, and Content (collection) Development. The librarians are also founding members of the K-State Libraries Arts Matrix, an ad hoc team operating within the new organization to enhance communication and expand subject expertise in the visual and performing arts. These transitions presented both opportunities for engagement and specialization, and challenges to communication and subject identity. These issues are addressed, including solutions offered by the matrix model. Although this study is limited by the neoteric existence of this model, and lack of precedents for comparison, K-State Libraries’ example may offer a viable model for institutions adapting to fiscal realities. Additionally, matrices may supplement the traditional subject librarian model for those seeking to enhance engagement and collaboration. This chapter offers further insight into a strategic planning process, as well as a transparent, inclusive strategy for librarians adjusting to organizational change

Wiley Journal Package: UNL Download Activity by Subject

Because the field of librarianship has been reconsidering its relationship to commercial academic publishers and their \u27Big Deal\u27 journal packages, the authors decided to review the University of Nebraska-Lincoln\u27s usage of Wiley\u27s package. In this report, the authors looked into whether UNL\u27s downloads by subject were such that subscribing to a number of hypothetical smaller, subject-specific packages, rather than to the entire Wiley package, might be a viable strategy

Leveraging Library Ecology: Growing Beyond Boundaries to Cultivate a Sustainable Knowledge Community Through Team-Based Librarianship

Higher education increasingly challenges libraries to thrive while adapting to fiscal realities, imploring institutions to accomplish more with less, and leverage assets creatively. When competing demands vie for attention, interdisciplinary concepts such as sustainability may be neglected, or simply absent from a library’s mission. A team-based community of librarians can galvanize existing assets wherever they reside within an organization. This approach requires that librarians transcend traditional boundaries to reveal untapped or underutilized expertise. Interdepartmental teams within a library can address topics difficult to assign to one designated specialist, and access the education, interests, or networks possessed by multiple individuals across an organization. A matrix model addressing this concept has been administered at K-State Libraries, and the following paper provides expanded insight into how such concepts have been handled within the organization