Biz of Acq--LibGuides: Changing the Game for Technical Services Procedures & Policies

Column describing the process of putting Technical Services procedures on LibGuides.While librarians are stereotypically excellent at preserving and ensuring access to library materials for patrons, there tends to be noticeable lack of instructions when it comes to documenting their own workflows and procedures. Librarians at Sam Houston State University’s Newton Gresham Library are trying to “change the game” when it comes to efficient and effective documentation of Technical Services department’s policies and processes. Springshare’s LibGuides has thus far been an beneficial system for documenting SHSU Library internal practices and systems. As with most technical documentation structure, continued success depends upon routine updates, maintaining access, and widespread adoption by personnel.Librar

Where’s the EASY Button? Uncovering E-Book Usability

E-book platforms have multiplied among vendors and publishers, complicating not only acquisitions and collection development decisions, but also the user experience. Using a methodology of task-based user testing, the researchers sought to measure and compare user performance of eight common tasks on nine e-book platforms: EBSCO eBooks, ProQuest Ebook Central, Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL), Oxford Reference, Safari Books Online, IGI Global, CRCnetBASE, Springer Link, and JSTOR. Success and failure rates per task, average time spent per task, and user comments were evaluated to gauge the usability of each platform. Findings indicate that platforms vary widely in terms of users’ ability and speed in completing known-item searches, navigation tasks, and identification of specialized tools, with implications for library acquisition and user instruction decisions. Results also suggest several key vendor design recommendations for an optimal user experience. The study did not aim to declare a “winning” platform, and all the platforms tested demonstrated both strengths and weaknesses in different aspects, but overall performance and user preference favored ProQuest’s Ebook Central platform.Librar

SHSU Recreational Reading Survey

This online survey was sent to Sam Houston State University students, faculty, and staff on April 2, 2014 on behalf of several SHSU librarians. The purpose of the survey was to gain insight into recreational reading habits and preferences of the University communityLibrar

Ready, Set, Hire! Perceptions of new technical services librarian preparedness

This study explored the perceived preparedness of entry-level technical services librarians upon graduating from a Master of Library Science/Information Science (MLS/IS) degree program and collected employment data on technical services librarians, including hiring, retiring, and position consolidation and elimination. An electronic survey was distributed to library administrators and technical services librarians from public and academic libraries located across the United States. The investigators identified discrepancies between how prepared entry-level technical services librarians felt upon graduating, and how prepared administrators perceived them to be. Data gathered from both administrators and entry-level technical services librarians suggest both groups felt current MLS/IS degree programs do not fully prepare technical services librarians for their first professional jobs, yet desired skills and areas of knowledge identified as lacking varied between the two groups. The investigators discovered employment trends which indicate relatively low turnover or consolidation and support projections of low-moderate growth over the next decade

Patron Preferences: Recreational Reading in an Academic Library

Originally published in Journal of Academic Librarianship. The survey can be found at http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11875/3Research background and method In 2014, Sam Houston State University Library librarians distributed a survey to students, faculty and staff to better understand how the university community was using library materials for recreational reading. The survey found that patrons had preference for print materials with a growing interest in other formats. A significant number of respondents did not view the library as a source of recreational reading materials; those who did read across a broad swath of genres. Greater understanding of patron recreational reading preferences empower the library to expand the library collection to meet all patron demands.Librar

What Do You Want from Us? Evaluating Student Interest in Technology-Based Services in Academic Libraries

Article originally published in College & Research LibrariesFollowing two previous studies in 2010 and 2013, this study intends to identify current trends of Sam Houston State University students’ technology and communication needs and preferences regarding library services and resources. Drawing comparisons to two previous local studies and national datasets, such as those from Pew Internet Research and the EDUCAUSE Center for Analysis and Research (ECAR), the findings revealed, among other things, a decline in tablet usage and interest, continued need for library computers, and a complex relationship between social media usage and engagement with the library. The results of this survey will inform and guide the library and the profession to most efficiently and effectively offer desired library services and engage students on appropriate social media platforms.Librar

Collecting Sex Materials for Libraries

This is a copy of the survey instrument created by Michelle Martinez and Scott Vieira. This survey and article are complete and the results were published in 2017.This article analyzes data gathered over a year-long survey of library employees’ opinions of sexually related materials in library collections. Surveys generally examine patron attitudes rather than the attitudes of library employees, whose attitudes and beliefs can have a strong effect on the collection. The researchers discovered themes in the data such as: varying definitions and differences between pornography and erotica, legality issues and misconceptions, differing perceptions of censorship dependent on library type, and a possible unacceptance of non-heteronormative material. The survey and analysis serve as a contribution to the ongoing discussion of the appropriateness of sexually related materials in librariesLibrar