The University of Baltimore's Langsdale Library underwent its five-year review in FY2016 (1 July 2015-30 June 2016). A basic, integral and necessary element of this process was the development of an assessment plan. Langsdale Library developed a five-year assessment plan based on the five-year review. The plan aligns the library's collections and…

There is a great deal of literature exploring the subscription and purchase models available for streaming video. However, explorations into the use of streaming video and how it compares to that of DVDs have not been done. The author identified a sample set of films at Penn State University Libraries owned in DVD format and available on the…

Organizations are being called upon to take responsibility for the ways their operations impact societies especially the marginalized sectors. Libraries are not exempt from such social responsibility. The paper proposes a theoretical framework for Library Social Responsibility. The paper briefly traces the history of library services for the poor.…

Describing, preserving, and providing access to data is now the purview of many science librarians, although the emphasis has been on data in electronic format. Data in paper or analog format might be found in many places around our campuses. At the University of Minnesota we conducted a preliminary investigation of analog data through discussions…

In this article, the author examines the need of the Future Ready Librarians (FRL) initiative. The FRL Framework helps define how librarians might lead, teach, and support schools based on the core research-based components defined by Future Ready. The framework and initiative are intended to be ways to change the conversation about school…

Since 1992, a growing body of research known as the school library impact studies has consistently shown positive correlations between school librarians and library programs and student achievement. The authors review the findings from these studies and discuss how school leaders can ensure they are making the best use of their librarians'…

This article describes the ongoing efforts at University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Libraries to evolve the role of the institutional repository (IR) and to effectively position it within the context of the Libraries' collections, research support, and scholarly communication services. A major component of this process is re-examining the…

Research has been conducted within academia about faculty members and students who have experienced mental illness from a variety of theoretical perspectives, including disability studies. While this research acknowledges that the stigma surrounding mental illness keeps people from sharing their experiences, there has not been research that…

In small branch libraries, patrons seeking assistance from library staff outside of the dedicated single-service desk often results in large staffing inefficiencies. This paper presents a case study in which the authors applied behavioral psychology models to a branch library's space arrangement to identify possible factors influencing patron…

With flexible access and permission features, LibGuides and LibGuides CMS offer an adaptable platform for hosting patron-created content. This paper highlights how librarians at Georgia Southern University opened their LibGuides CMS platform to host faculty and student projects and portfolios. Employing similar techniques, libraries can host a…

A popular starting point for libraries engaging in research data management (RDM) services is a needs assessment (NA); a preliminary count identified more than 50 published NA case studies. However, no overarching analysis has yet been conducted. The authors compared assessments to characterize the case study institution types; establish the…

This descriptive study analyzes results from an 18-item survey that assessed students' usage and perceptions of library reference services at a comprehensive public metropolitan university. Among 235 surveys completed between November 2016 and January 2017, the majority of respondents represented the "Generation Z" population of college…

The provision of service to students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) at university libraries in the UK differs based on the types of positions that are being used to staff these programs. This study finds that although nondedicated staff tended to provide services that required fewer specialized skills, they seemed to place a higher priority…

The South African Library for the Blind (SALB) contributes to the quality of life of print-impaired people encouraging independence through access to information, informed decision making, and taking pleasure in the enjoyment of recreational reading. In realizing the vision, SALB implemented two strategic models; agent mini-libraries and…

With new program additions and changes to existing graduate programs, librarians at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas were interested in investigating if students taking online courses were successful in accessing the library services and instruction. A survey was created that included all types of graduate students (fully online to fully…