Milner Library Makerspace Working Group Final Report

The Makerspace Working Group was created in 2016 with the following charge: To investigate the development of a makerspace in Milner Library’s uLab space. Specifically, the project team will explore the professional literature, perform a needs assessment, gather feedback from campus and external users and identify potential campus and off-campus partners to define what should be included in the makerspace. The team will produce a schedule for development of the makerspace, ascertain short- and long-term expenses, identify potential staffing and corresponding professional development and training needs, and develop an assessment plan for makerspace usage. Interest in a potential makerspace grew out of discussions by former Milner Library Dean Dr. Dane Ward with a number of other college deans who approached him about the development of such a campus space in Milner Library. In addition, the library was re-considering the use of the uLab computer lab space which has experienced a precipitous drop in usage—over 88% in the last sixteen years. Since Milner Library was beginning to consider a comprehensive space planning process, the results of the working group will inform that process in FY18. Lastly, campus currently does not provide a centralized developmental support center for students’ use of technology for classroom and extracurricular projects. Typical IT help desk technical support (e.g. configuring email, installing MS Office, removing malware, replacing a broken screen) is provided by the Technology Support Center and TechZone. Their scope does not include instruction on how to use or apply software or specialized equipment. The working group utilized a design thinking process that stresses iterative and participatory planning. Following this method, the working group developed proposed solutions only after completing a discovery phase that involved considerable information gathering.https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/mlp/1002/thumbnail.jp

If It Pleases the Court, I Present Exhibit One: An Evidence-Based Law Collection Evaluation

Describes the evidence-based evaluation of a law collection supporting a paralegal program. It applies the Koufogiannakis & Brettle\u27s Evidence Based Library and Information Practice (EBLIP) framework to review the law collection development evaluation process

Accessing Digital Libraries: A Study of ARL Members\u27 Digital Projects

To ensure efficient access to and integrated searching capabilities for their institution\u27s new digital library projects, the authors studied Web sites of the Association of Research Libraries\u27 (ARL) 111 academic, English-language libraries. Data were gathered on 1117 digital projects, noting library Web site and project access, metadata, and project types

Posters, Programs, and Perspectives on Democracy

Kahl and Paterson provide an example of collaboration around a specific, one-time program that both units were interested in bringing to their university, in this case an art installation on the theme of democracy. Although the authors spearheaded the program, they tapped the expertise of colleagues in their units and across campus in order to accomplish their goals. Kahl and Paterson\u27s work also serves as an example of combining active programming, in this case three lectures by campus faculty, with passive programming, an approach where professionals create exhibits or educational displays in a centrally located venue for students and others to browse and absorb at their convenience

Accessibility of ARL Academic Libraries\u27 Digital Library Projects

Discover results of a study focusing on accessibility of over 1,000 digital library projects from 100-plus academic members of the Association of Research Libraries. Study noted number, titles, types and URLs of projects; type of access; terminology; level of access from the library’s homepage; whether content was restricted, and if so, was it explained; whether metadata was included, and if so, was it searchable; was the project developed through a partnership; and was the project affiliated with a library unit. Learn more about surprising findings that digital library resources, despite considerable funding and resources, are not easily accessible

Learning Style Dimensions and Professional Characteristics of Academic Librarians

Do librarians with different characteristics, such as type of work responsibilities or age, have different learning styles? The authors analyzed results from over 1,500 responses to a version of the Index of Learning Styles (ILS) questionnaire based on the Felder-Silverman Learning Styles model. This model consists of eight dimensions paired on four scales: Active/Reflective; Sensing/Intuitive; Visual/Verbal; and Sequential/Global. In addition to their scores on the ILS questionnaire, respondents were also asked about demographic and professional characteristics. Statistically significant differences in learning style scores were found to exist between librarians with different types of position responsibilities. In particular, for three out of four scales, catalogers have statistically different learning styles than other librarian groups. Recognition of different learning styles and thoughtful integration of appropriate teaching styles may improve workplace interpersonal communication, enhance professional development and staff training, and strengthen teaching.Publisher allows immediate open acces

International Political Economy Reference Sources: An Annotated Bibliography

International political economy is an emerging yet specialized field that combines political analysis with the study of markets, trade, and development. With the global economy having an interdependent effect on politics, environment, and society, and with several major economic events of the last 20 years, the authors perceived a need to provide a guide to the sources in this field. This paper seeks to address this issue. The authors identified resources using WorldCat and standard reference sources, such as American Library Association\u27s Guide to Reference Books; the annual American Libraries’ “Outstanding Reference Sources” articles; American Reference Books Annual (ARBA) volumes; Booklist\u27s Editor\u27s Choices articles; and Choice\u27s “Outstanding Academic Titles”. Sources were selected from 2000 to the present, concomitant with development of the global economy in the twenty-first century

What is Out There? Data Services Offerings at R1 and R2 Doctoral University Libraries

As librarians at a comprehensive university, we sought to understand the data service offerings among R1 and R2 university libraries to guide initial data services development at our institution. To do so, we undertook an environmental scan to discover the services, information, and resources promoted on R1 and R2 library’s websites, and aggregated our findings into a database for use by other librarians and data services professionals. During the session, we’ll share our methodology and findings and make the data available to attendees. We’ll highlight how attendees can use this information as a tool for further development of data services at their own institutions, including how it may be used as a comparison point for lobbying for additional services or a professional development tool that can aid in identifying areas for professional growth

Civic Engagement at Milner Library

Learn how libraries are serving as safe and neutral places to promote engagement and civic discourse. Nancy Kranich, Chair of the American Library Association\u27s Center for Civic Life Advisory Board presents an overview of civic engagement programs taking place in libraries today. Librarians from across the field will share specific examples of different types of successful civic engagement programming that can work for you

Town and Gown: First Steps in a Campus-Community Civic Engagement Partnership for Deliberative Democracy Forums

Presentation focused on a joint effort between Illinois State University\u27s Political Engagement Project and a community organization, The Living Democracy Project of Bloomington-Normal, to bring a deliberative democracy forum to campus. The forum, titled What Are Schools For? What is the 21st Century Mission for Our Public Schools, was designed to attract both community and campus participants to a deliberative democracy forum setting. Presentation will examine the challenges of coordinating an event with campus and community groups; efforts to ensure student involvement; and how this event hopefully acts as the first step in a broader town-gown collaboration on civic and political engagement