Managing Library Electronic Resources Using Google Sites

After attempting to use a home-grown Drupal database to administer electronic resources and later a vendor-provided electronic resources management (ERM) system, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Libraries created a Google Site that quickly proved to be more efficient than either previous system. Although this new system may not be a permanent solution, as ERM software continues to evolve, this original answer to a complex problem streamlines workflow, allows for further innovation and development and, best of all, comes with a Google mail account, and no formal training is needed

No More Liaisons: Collection Management Strategies in Hard Times

Collection development in medium to large academic libraries typically involves multiple subject librarians or “liaisons.” The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) Libraries have lost significant numbers of personnel in the last four years due to attrition and retirements, including most of the professional liaison librarians whose positions will not be replaced in the foreseeable future. In addition to this challenge, collection budgets have been severely reduced due to the State of Alaska's ongoing budget crisis, necessitating large cancellation projects. This article examines UAF Libraries’ collection strategies used to sustain a research-intensive collection without liaisons and with a drastically reduced budget

Data-Driven Decisions for Library Liaisons: Exploring Strategies for Effectively Managing Diminishing Monograph Collections

Many academic libraries have liaison programs as a means of building relevant and useful library collections and to promote library resources to campus users. Librarians have long served as liaisons without the benefit of much data to guide decisions. In this age of library budget cuts, librarians need to make every dollar count. What collection and use data help liaisons build a quality monograph collection that better meets the needs of library users? This article offers some ideas for providing the data needed by liaisons for more informed decision making and collection management and, ultimately, for ensuring that library materials purchased are needed and used.Ye

Inspirational Teaching: Beyond Excellence and Towards Collaboration for Learning with Sustained Impact

Within higher education, there is a continued focus on teaching quality, with teaching excellence often linked to the idea of engaging and motivating students. This article examines the concept of ‘inspirational’ teaching, going beyond notions of excellent teaching, and proposes that inspirational teaching is defined by being transformational in the sense that it has a sustained positive impact on student learning. By exploring current literature on inspirational teaching, including some literature on teaching excellence, four overarching themes are identified as constituents of inspirational teaching: knowledge and passion for the subject, understanding learning and knowledge, constructive and challenging learning environment and students as individuals, partners and colleagues. The practices of the inspirational teachers presented are characterised by their focus on student learning rather than teacher performance and so indicate that inspirational teaching is an outcome that cannot be reduced to a set of characteristics or practices. Finally, we conclude that collaborative and scholarly relationships between students and teachers underpin these four themes and are central to creating inspirational learning experiences

UAF Libraries Undergraduate Student Library Use Survey Fall 2007 

Triennial campus-wide UAF libraries use survey, summary of results for undergraduate students

UAF Libraries Undergraduate Student Library Use Survey Fall 2010

Triennial campus-wide UAF libraries use survey, summary of results for undergraduate students

UAF Libraries Faculty and Researchers Library Use Survey Fall 2010

Triennial campus-wide UAF libraries use survey, summary of results for faculty and researchers

UAF Libraries Graduate Student Library Use Survey Fall 2010

Triennial campus-wide UAF libraries use survey, summary of results for graduate students