QR Codes: What Are They and Why Should You Care?

QR (quick response) codes are two dimensional images that when scanned by a smart phone\u27s camera, prompt the smart phone to open a web-page or display an image, video, or text. QR codes are, therefore, essentially pictographic hyperlinks that can be embedded in the physical environment. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the way libraries deliver instruction, connect patrons to information about library materials, and market their services. Although use of QR codes has not yet become prominent in Kansas communities, there are several reasons to believe that it soon will be. These reasons include burgeoning popularity of QR codes on the coasts, rapid increases in smart phone use in our communities, and expected enhancements in cellular data capacity in much of Kansas. By implementing QR codes now, academic libraries in Kansas can help expedite the adoption of this exciting technology and can concomitantly enhance their reputations as user-centered, innovative, sites for discovery and exploration. In this paper I describe how individuals with smart phones can download free QR code reading applications and use their phone’s camera to read the code; show several examples of creative ways libraries and other organizations are using QR codes to provide rich, point-of-need information to patrons, customers, and prospective user; describe in detail the process of creating QR codes and distributing them throughout physical and online environments; and highlight some of the recent literature discussing the relevance of QR codes for libraries and for education in general

Exploring Relationships Between Parenting Style, Perceived Stress, Coping Efficacy and Coping Strategies in Foster Parents

Removing a youth from the care of their biological family can place them at heightened risk for behavioral, emotional, social, and academic problems, and contribute to parenting stress. Foster caregivers with a high burden level may be impeded in their ability to function effectively. Our study investigated relationships between foster parent stress, coping efficacy, coping strategies, and parenting style to identify effective coping strategies in 178 foster parents. Current foster parents completed self-report measures assessing parenting styles, Coping Self Efficacy Scale (CSE), Brief COPE, and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Results indicated foster parents with more than three years of experience fostering endorsed significantly higher levels of perceived stress in comparison to foster parents with less than three years’ experience fostering, however there were no significant between group differences in coping self-efficacy. Problem focused coping strategies and problem focused coping strategies with support were found to significantly predict level of coping efficacy. Results suggest foster parents can still experience high amounts of stress even if they have effective coping strategies, however they remain confident in their abilities to manage their stressors. Results also indicated foster parents that specifically implemented problem focused coping strategies with support, as compared to other coping strategies, experienced higher confidence in their coping abilities. Implications of this study for foster care agencies are discussed

The Career Choices We Make: Balancing Ambition, Personal Fulfillment, and Life as an Academic Librarian

This chapter is for those among us who reach the midpoint of our careers and contemplate taking a higher-level position or doing the opposite and moving to positions that involve less leadership responsibility. We suspect that the ideas we express will apply to many in the profession. However, we acknowledge that gender, race, and identity play a strong role in career paths and opportunities. Yet, who among us has not felt that we could make significant improvements, if only we were in charge? And who among those who are in charge has not once yearned for a release from feeling responsible for the performance of others? Our advice will not apply to everyone; however, we feel that our combined experience is likely to ensure that it is relevant to the majority of professionals in librarianship. We begin by describing our career paths, both of which are quite nonlinear. Our exposition includes reflection on our motivations for the twists and turns we have navigated. We then describe the nature of the work as well as the ways this work has impacted us in the many positions we have had, which collectively span the gamut from library liaison to unit head to department head to dean. Given our diverse experience, we expect that these narratives will resonate with many of you and thereby serve to provide insights relevant to your own situation. Additionally, the contrasting approaches we offer may create opportunities for those who are undecided. After sharing our experiences in academic libraries, we provide practical advice based on the lessons we have learned from our journeys and conversations with many colleagues. Here we present guidance for deciding whether to pursue a position with more or less leadership responsibility. This takes the form of actionable strategies and motivational mindsets. We end with tips for successfully transitioning into a new position and taking full advantage of the opportunities it can provide for growth and fulfillment. Through our explorations and conversations, we conclude that career trajectories depend on highly personal and situational factors for everyone

Using Primo Search Logs to Improve User Services

Citation: Coleman, Jason & Greene, Mira. (2016). Using Primo Search Logs to Improve User Services. Education and Behavioral Sciences Section, Research Committee Poster Forum, American Library Association Annual Conference, Orlando, FL.Using search logs to customize Primo responses to user needs, Greene and Coleman discovered patterns of information seeking which lent itself to configurations to help with the discovery experience, make customizations that could possibly improve the user experience, and measure the impact of the customization.  In this will include discussion and conclusions drawn about the first customization which is meant to improve requests for interlibrary loan

Emerging technologies of polymeric nanoparticles in cancer drug delivery

Polymeric nanomaterials have the potential to improve upon present chemotherapy delivery methods. They successfully reduce side effects while increasing dosage, increase residence time in the body, offer a sustained and tunable release, and have the ability to deliver multiple drugs in one carrier. However, traditional nanomaterial formulations have not produced highly therapeutic formulations to date due to their passive delivery methods and lack of rapid drug release at their intended site. In this paper, we have focused on a few “smart” technologies that further enhance the benefits of typical nanomaterials. Temperature and pHresponsive drug delivery devices were reviewed as methods for triggering release of encapsulating drugs, while aptamer and ligand conjugation were discussed as methods for targeted and intracellular delivery, with emphases on in vitro and in vivo works for each method

Recent Changes to Reference Services in Academic Libraries and Their Relationship to Perceived Quality: Results of a National Survey

A national survey of academic librarians was conducted to examine relationships among reference service staffing changes, reference service innovations, adoption of reference technology, library type and size, and service quality. Analysis of the 606 response sets reveals trends toward reduced use of librarians and increased use of student staff at in-person service points, widespread increases in appointment-based and self-service reference, intensive efforts to reduce demand for reference by improving library instruction, and general improvements in reference service quality. Factors strongly associated with decreases or increases in quality are discussed in detail and implications for reference managers are provided.Citation: Jason Coleman, Melissa N. Mallon & Leo Lo (2015): Recent Changes to Reference Services in Academic Libraries and Their Relationship to Perceived Quality: Results of a National Survey, Journal of Library Administration, DOI: 10.1080/01930826.2015.110987

Nothing is Permanent but Change: The Journey to Consolidation and Back

Responding to a staffing shortage and assessment of usage data, eight of Hale Library's nine service desks were consolidated into one service point. Fourteen months later, the Libraries conducted an assessment of the consolidation using reference transaction data, responses to a survey administered to Libraries’ staff, and responses from a student focus group. The assessment revealed many logistical and staffing challenges with the new desk. As a result, a separate service point for reference was created directly outside the consolidated desk. Our statistics indicate that this was a successful change