Research Data Needs from Academic Libraries: The Perspective of a Faculty Researcher

Guzman, Laura
Fall 2016

Keil, D. E. (2014). Research data needs from academic libraries: The perspective of a faculty researcher. Journal of Library Administration, 54(3), 233-240.

Summary:

In this article a faculty researcher explains what she ideally would like from a modern university library.  Keil (2014) starts the article by talking about how her work has been easier since she no longer needs to haul heavy journals to her office to do research.  She can find everything she needs for her research on the databases.  Despite this convenience, Keil says that she has come to realize that libraries are much more than just a source for books and journal subscriptions.

The rest of the article centers around the growing phenomenon of “big data.” Keil says that faculty researchers have a growing problem of managing, preserving, and sharing their data.  She would love for university libraries to assist in this process.  She encourages libraries to partner with researchers in order to deposit this raw data into manageable repositories.  More funding agencies are requiring that raw data be available via open access.  The emerging trend requires raw data to be included with the manuscript for medical journal submission.  This data can be linked in online appendices to data repositories supported by the journal or an academic library.

Kiel believes that a large part of future academic libraries should be involvement with “big data.” She urges more university libraries to “step it up” and help faculty researchers with this issue.  She says that valuable data is being left behind. 

Evaluation: 

I agree that we are moving past the era where libraries primarily collect articles and books for faculty.  "Big data" is a new area of information and it will only continue to grow as the Internet and research grows.  It would be ideal for all academic libraries to study the areas of linked data, digital repositories, and scholarly communication.  

   

 

To 3D or not to 3D: Is practicality the question?

Guzman, Laura
Fall 2016

Becker, B. W. (2016). To 3D or not to 3D: Is practicality the question?. Behavioral & Social Sciences Librarian, 35(2), 83-86.

Summary:

This article talks about the differing opinions concerning 3D printing in academic libraries.  When a new technology is introduced into a library, controversy usually arises shortly after.  One new technological trend is 3D printing.  The maker culture is increasing in popularity, which is a do-it-yourself approach to creating objects with open-source software and hardware.  Certain librarians have objected to this trend saying that 3D printing has nothing to do with the business of libraries which is information storage and retrieval.  

While there is not much academic literature out there on the subject, academic libraries have started to use case studies to defend their use of 3D printing.  The case studies have shown that 3D printing can bring more students into the library and introduce them to other library services.  The studies also show that students are using the printers in direct relation to assignments and research projects and that their experiences can apply to job training. 

The academic library is no longer bound to traditional information storage and retrieval; it has become in addition to this a collaborative work and social space.  Students are using 3D printing to support their studies, collaborate with others, and visualize big data.  

Evaluation: 

I think that libraries are certainly more than just information storage and retrieval and that an important emerging aspect of libraries deals with providing collaboration spaces and resources.   Makerspaces, media labs, data visualization labs, and any other kind of technological labs will be of great importance to college students.  

Staying in the Know: Tools you can use to keep up with your Subject Area

Guzman, Laura
Fall, 2016

Wray, C. C. (2016). Staying in the know: Tools you can use to keep up with your subject area. Collection Management, 41(3), 182-186.

Summary:

In this article, Wray (2016) outlines some methods that information professionals can use to keep up with their subject area for collection management.  She recommends using research management, mind mapping, and RSS readers and organizational suites. 

New reference managers are more complex and helpful than they used to be.  Managers like Mendeley, ReadCube, and My Library in Google Scholar help users stay organized, suggest additional articles and sources, and even connect with researchers in the field.  These research management tools allow a librarian to keep current on a specific area in a paperless way. 

Another helpful source of information organization is mind-mapping.  New applications like Connected Mind and Text 2 Mind Map help users organize information in order to see the big picture for a specific discipline. 

Information professionals can use RSS readers and social media sites in order to keep current about the library field and collection management.  The author recommends using Feedly, FlowReader, and any e-mail client as possible readers for new information. 

Finally, Wray (2016) suggests organizing thoughts and ideas with suites like Google Drive, OneNote, and Evernote.  The author concludes by saying that each user has to find the tools that work the best for each situation.  

Evaluation:

It can be very overwhelming trying to stay updated with librarian news and especially dealing with collection development and new library resources.  I have found that an RSS reader works the best for me at this point.  I currently use Feedly in an attempt to stay up-to-date with library news.  After reading this article, I would also like to try one of the mind-mapping applications as well.  

Weeding Guide!

Tracy, Anna

INFO 266, Fall 2016

This book is literally a shelf by shelf guide to weeding. It breaks it down by sections within Dewey and even has chapters specific to Youth collections as well as problems in weeding with potential issues. What I particularly loved in reading this title is its constant reference to how hard it can be to get rid of different materials for different people. There is so much subjectivity in Collection Development. I relate to the authors self-proclaimed love of weeding.

“Library is an ever changing organism” as so should the collection be.

My boss bought me this book as a helpful guide to a task I have jumped into with literally no training what so ever. I am thankful to have Edelweiss to help me construct weeding lists for materials that are not circulating, and to generally enforce our weeding policies. However, there is an art to collection development and as mentioned in one of my other blog posts, it is good to be informed by science, while still keeping the finesse of personal touch.

I found this book to be particularly helpful within specific sections of Dewey in order to evaluate the importance of prioritizing want versus need. It helped me to feel my decisions were more informed and not just gut instincts, though I was happy to find that my gut is fairly scientifically accurate.

Vnuk, R. (n.d.). The weeding handbook: A shelf-by-shelf guide.

Juvenile science collections of public libraries

Tracy, Anna

INFO 266, Fall 2016

Juvenile science collections of public libraries

This article posed 6 questions to determine the differences and similarities between three public libraries within the same county but that have varying demographics and locations from a rural, suburban and urban. The proportion of J 500s to overall nonfiction were looked at, as well as the type and caliber of science materials offered at these three different locations. A good portion of this article discusses the importance of nonfiction, not only for school work but for leisure reading and how different libraries do their nonfiction selection and weeding.

I chose this article because it sounded similar to what sections I had chosen for our collection mapping project. Just as I mentioned in my infographic, this article relates the importance of nonfiction science sections to schools and the natural relationship between schools and public libraries in offering a valued service to their community. It suggested a partnership with local science teachers to bridge the gap in knowledge for librarians who, more than likely, do not have a scientific background, to cease any discomfort in lack of knowledge and the ability to order effectively.

Approximately 20% percent of the three libraries nonfiction sections was dedicated to Science. I thought this was interesting considering 20.02% of my nonfiction collection is dedicated to STEAM materials which I consider to be too low, given their high circulating nature.

Colom, H. M. (2010). Juvenile Science Nonfiction: A Comparison of the Collections of a Rural, a Suburban, and an Urban Public Library. Current Studies In Librarianship, 30(1/2), 79-94.

The value of money in collection development

Tracy, Anna

INFO 266, Fall 2016

Maintaining a model that accurately reflects user demands and taste is what is covered in this article as well as how to create benchmarks for both replacement and value for the money in purchasing and measure success.

You can establish a baseline using the following data:

“Number of acquisitions per year, represented as a

Stock budget per year, represented as b

Number of loans, represented as I

Load period in weeks, represented as p

Average cost of an item: c=b/a”

This article goes on to describe other formulas of measuring value for the money when it comes to collection development in public libraries.

Budgeting according to what is wanted, novel idea? Or apparently it was several years back as the demand increased from local government agencies to justify their investment in libraries. This required many libraries to adjust policies for selection in order to reflect the collection development processes geared towards user demands. I can’t imagine doing it any other way, but I am new, and I have a teeny tiny budget, so really this method is the only way to keep things flowing and everyone happy.

Stanton, J. (2001). MEASURING VALUE FOR MONEY IN PUBLIC LIBRARY COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT. Aplis, 14(2), 58.