Articles

History on the Move: Relocating Special Collections and Archives

Pamela S. Hackbart-Dean et al. — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 08:16:01 PST

The focus of this article is on the preparation and execution of a move. In it, we highlight the level of attention to detail entailed, which in turn necessitates an amazing amount of planning. And even then, contingencies arise. We share experiences that demonstrate the likelihood of obstacles along the way, problems to be resolved and the potential scope of post-move recovery projects. A successful move will ensure that the collections are undamaged by either the move or their new surroundings and that they are available to researchers as soon as possible. While the goal is straightforward, the reality can be a challenge for any special collections center.

Hal W. Trovillion's Role in Preserving the History of "Bloody Williamson"

Melissa A. Hubbard — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 09:31:01 PST

This article examines the efforts of Hal W. Trovillion, newspaper editor and private printer, to document the controversial history of his southern Illinois coal mining town in the early twentieth century. As a historical case study, it explores some of the challenges inherent in preserving original documents and cultural knowledge without institutional support, and with active interference from community members who worked to suppress information. Trovillion used his printing presses and contacts in the historical community to ensure that the turbulent events occurring in his town in the 1920s would be preserved in the archival record.

Leaving the Big Deal: Consequences and Next Steps

Jonathan Nabe et al. — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 11:40:04 PDT

Many libraries are facing difficult fiscal climates with serials inflation, budget cutbacks, and reductions in allocations requiring difficult collection management decisions. Libraries may find their flexibility to plan and react unduly restricted due to being contracted to one or more Big Deals, in which they are obligated to buy large, inflexible title lists from big publishers for a set price. This presentation discusses the experience of Southern Illinois University Carbondale and the University of Oregon in leaving Big Deals, provides data on impacts on interlibrary loans, community response, and collection budgets, details the steps required before and after the decision, and describes the benefits that other libraries could achieve by following the example of these two members of the Association of Research Libraries.

Buying from Secondary Markets: Acquiring Dollars and Sense

Julie Mosbo et al. — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 09:11:05 PDT

Between 2004 and 2008, Morris Library’s monographic budget was reduced by over $400,000 representing a fifty percent reduc- tion. The increase in serial prices forced the shifting of monograph funds to the serials budget. Despite this shift, the increase in serials costs, combined with an otherwise flat budget, resulted in two serials’ cancellation projects in a span of four years.

Faced with these economic realities, the acquisitions unit at Southern Illinois University’s Morris Library has sought alternative schemas to save money. One decision was to consider purchas- ing materials from secondary and used-book sources. For fiscal year 2009, a database was constructed of purchases to track how much money was saved buying from these resources versus buying from commercial vendors. The authors then tracked how often the preservation unit within the library was consulted to determine whether the materials were in acceptable condition and/or could be reasonably repaired. From this tracking, we hoped to deter- mine and evaluate the trade-offs between the money saved and the additional burden placed on Preservation resulting from this approach to purchasing.

Student Workers: The Untapped Resource for Library Professions

Charlene Maxey-Harris et al. — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 15:00:08 PDT

For years libraries have hired hundreds of student workers to maintain crucial functions in the library. Without student workers, libraries cannot provide essential services to the university community. Yet limited research exists on how libraries have developed professional career tracks for student workers and library staff. Investigators from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Southern Illinois University Carbondale developed a survey to determine what portion of library employees started as student workers and to what extent there is career mobility within academic libraries. Librarians and staff were surveyed and participated in focus groups to share stories about their start in libraries. The study also explored what behaviors, opportunities, and experiences encouraged them to stay in library work. Based on the comments from the survey and focus groups, libraries do not actively promote library careers for student workers and staff. This research showed the student worker experience is an untapped strategy to develop library professionals. It also provides insight into specific strategies libraries can use to encourage student workers and library staff to develop a career in libraries.

What's Next for Collection Management and Managers? Changing the Organization of Collection Development

Jonathan Nabe — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 09:03:02 PDT

There have been considerable changes in publishing and information dissemination over the last decade. However, the structure and process of collection development at many libraries have not kept pace. In 2006, Morris Library at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC) undertook a restructuring, in order to address the changing nature of collection development. This resulted in the creation of three new positions, more opportunities for planning and analysis, and new roles for liaisons. While there are drawbacks, the new structure has provided clear benefits, and may serve as a model for other academic libraries.

Using the iPad for Reference Services

Megan Lotts et al. — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 06:50:14 PDT

The article looks at the use of iPad for reference services at Morris Library at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. It says that these devices have allowed librarians to access information, such as a call number, without asking a student to find and log into a desktop. iPads have also provided mobility to the librarians assigned to virtual reference service. However, librarians have reported that they are uncomfortable using the iPad as a replacement for a traditional laptop, while some of them are concerned about the fragility of the touch screen.

Copyright, Fair Use, and the Creative Commons in the 21st century

Megan Lotts — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 12:11:29 PDT

As our daily lives become consumed with the World Wide Web and all it has to offer, I question how we view or engage the notion of intellectual property. Is there a better way to share our ideas in our current technological climate without misusing or breaking the laws of Copyright? Is Creative Commons licensing a solution? This paper will briefly look at the World Wide Web and how Copyright law, fair use, and the Creative Commons apply in the 21st century.

What Liaisons Say about Themselves and What Faculty Say about Their Liaisons, a U.S. Survey

Julie Arendt et al. — Mon, 21 May 2012 11:52:25 PDT

Liaison librarians and faculty in chemistry, English, and psychology departments at colleges and universities in the United States were surveyed. They answered questions about services provided by the liaison and satisfaction. Liaisons’ satisfaction with their performance was associated with active liaison service, such as recent contact with the department and more time spent on liaison work. Faculty satisfaction with liaisons was associated with contact with their liaisons. We did not find associations between liaisons’ descriptions of their work and faculty satisfaction with their liaisons for the pairs of faculty and their liaisons we were able to match.

Virtual Question Changes: Reference in Evolving Environments

Julie Arendt et al. — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 11:58:57 PDT

Purpose – As virtual reference and online discovery tools evolve, so do interactions with patrons. This study aims to describe how synchronous virtual reference transactions changed over a six-year period at a university library.

Design/methodology/approach – Transcripts from October and February from October 2004 to February 2010 were coded for question type, interlibrary loan discussions, and referrals. Subcategories for holding types and referrals were also recorded.

Findings – The number and types of questions changed with the virtual reference platform used, both increasing and decreasing. The number of questions more than doubled from the beginning to the end of the six-year study period. The number of holdings questions at the end of the study period was six times higher than the number at the beginning. Patterns relating to interlibrary loan discussions and referrals were noted.

Research limitations/implications – The study examined transcripts from one university library. Findings cannot be generalized but provide examples that may be similar in other libraries. Practical implications – The number and type of online reference questions that a library receives can change dramatically in a short time. Libraries should monitor question transactions, especially after software changes. Libraries also should consider how the placement of chat widgets changes the quantity and nature of questions and train staff appropriately.

Originality/value – This study examines transcripts across a longer time span than previous studies. It is unique in its examination of virtual reference widgets embedded in proprietary databases and link resolvers.

Digital Books and the Salvation of Academic Publishing.

Roger Cross — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:10:10 PDT

Digitization was not, nor ever will be, the solution to problems faced by Academic Libraries. Digitization cannot be downplayed, however no amount of digitization will ever address the systemic issues that lie at the heart of academic library’s difficulties. Digitization is merely a means of data delivery and as such does not address foundational defects within the academic system. The true salvation through digitization will not be found in libraries, but in commercial publisher’s bottom line.

Ripe for the Plucking: Centralized and Consolidated Library Budgets as Revenue Streams for Profit.

Roger Cross — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:10:07 PDT

The accumulation and centralization of fiscal and selection power into the hands of library professionals could have benefited all, but inherent flaws were bound to arise. In particular the failure to adapt to increased large profit-driven publishers business. Libraries and universities failed to adequately foresee the extent of publishing monopolization. The academic library, as provider of campus-wide journal subscription, reduced demand by reducing the need to maintain individual departmental and faculty subscriptions. The end result was that a small number of publishers were able to fix pricing according to desired profit margins.

Budget Allocation Formulas: Magic or Illusion?

Roger Cross — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:10:04 PDT

Budget allocation formulas claim objectivity, and hence fairness. But factors composing the formula are limited to supply, demand, and cost. Attempts to correct for this imbalance of empirical data like usage have led to the use of weighted values in the formulas. This paper seeks to argue that assigning “weight” in a formula introduces value judgments and subjectivity, leaving only the misplaced illusion of objectivity.

What is a Professional Cataloger? Perception Differences between Professionals and Paraprofessionals

Elizabeth J. Cox et al. — Fri, 13 May 2011 18:27:20 PDT

This paper examines the roles of professional and paraprofessional catalogers as they are perceived within the cataloging community. A survey was sent to all catalogers in member libraries of the Association of Research Libraries. In presenting these results, the authors consider whether a difference still exists between professional and paraprofessional catalogers beyond the master of library and information science degree and, if so, the nature of any such difference. In the process, the authors also examine issues such as whether catalogers feel that their work is valued and how cataloging work is evaluated.

Unions and Labor Archives

Pamela S. Hackbart-Dean — Tue, 10 May 2011 10:01:32 PDT

"Unions and Labor Archives" identifies the overlapping roles and the development of good and trusting relationships with unions that is vital to building strong labor collections. While the needs of both the unions and the repository are many, one of the most significant is demonstrating that the proper care of union records will provide a "historical memory" of union actions that can not only preserve the evidence of past decisions, but inform present and future efforts as well. This article provides practical suggestions, as well as how several important repositories and unions have worked together to document working class culture and experiences.

Not So Fast! Economic Principles and Across-the-Board Cuts

Roger L. Cross — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 08:25:02 PST

The purpose of this paper is to address the irrationality of making budget decisions without awareness of the economic foundation of these decisions. It aims to propose that, in lieu of a universal economic principle, librarians should at least adopt the maxim, “first, do no harm.”

The paper argues the need to review budgetary distribution models in terms of economic principles and the argument incorporates the author's recent implementation of material cuts at his institution. The paper argues that sound economic principles are being ignored in budget decision making. The paper finds that application of across-the-board materials cuts is inequitable and resembles a regressive flat-tax.

Hunting in the Shadows for Savings: Reevaluating Standing Orders

Roger L. Cross — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 08:24:50 PST

Standing orders are remnants of an early period of library acquisition, and while they can provide a useful service in limited cases most have outlived that usefulness and should be cancelled. In a period of restricted funding and increased digital reliance the need for standing orders has diminished; indeed often the standing orders received are no longer relevant to an institution's mission. However, identifying standing orders is complicated by the nature of their classification as a serial rather than a book or monograph. This paper aims to describe the various types of standing orders and how to identify them.

JSTOR Perspectives Essay

David H. Carlson — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 09:15:20 PST

An essay that reflects on the value of JSTOR as a highly regarded resource by faculty and scholars in academe.

Bringing Rare Books to Light: The State of the Profession

Melissa A. Hubbard et al. — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 11:54:52 PST

This article considers changing approaches to rare book cataloging in response to the recent focus on “hidden collections” in special collections departments of academic libraries. The authors analyze the results of a survey of rare book cataloging professionals regarding reactions to the hidden collections discourse, with a particular emphasis on changing policies and practices. A case study of backlog reduction efforts in the rare book unit of Morris Library, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, is also presented.

Foreign LIS Degrees in Contemporary US Academic Libraries

Melissa A. Hubbard et al. — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 11:42:57 PDT

Purpose – The purpose of this case study is to summarize a task force's efforts to change the educational degree requirements for open librarian positions at a large university in the Midwestern USA.

Design/methodology/approach – The paper reviews the literature on degree requirements in academic libraries and the nature of LIS degrees from countries outside the USA. It analyzes 136 position advertisements for academic librarians by required terminal degree and the type and Association of Research Libraries (ARL) status of the institution.

Findings – The paper concludes that, while most position advertisements do not specifically address foreign Library and Information Science (LIS) degrees, many advertisements, especially those at ARL libraries, contain flexible language that allows for degrees that are “equivalent” to the American Library Association (ALA) accredited LIS degree.

Research limitations/implications – The data collected from the relatively small sample of 136 job advertisements for academic librarians posted on the ALA Joblist and Chronicle of Higher Education web sites were largely meant to be anecdotal.

Practical implications – The paper provides useful information for academic libraries in the USA, receiving applications for professional positions from applicants with foreign LIS degrees.

Originality/value – Although the literature on the ALA-accredited Master's of Library and Information Science (MLS) degree is extensive, no study considers the availability of positions to those with MLS degrees from other countries.