An International Collaboration: Establishing an Education Collection in a Library in Qatar

ABSTRACT

Texas A&M University has a history of international collaboration, cooperation and global outreach. Texas A&M University at Qatar provides engineering students in the Middle East with an education, and ultimately, a degree comparable to that found on our home campus in College Station. The Texas A&M University Libraries have provided curricular and research support in all of these endeavors, and currently maintain library facilities in Santa Chiara, Bodrum, and Doha, Qatar. In 2004, a noteworthy collaboration between the Colleges of Education at Texas A&M University (TAMU) and Qatar University (QU) in the development of a primary teacher preparation program at Qatar University offered another opportunity for the TAMU Libraries to support our campus community. As the education librarian at the Texas A&M University Libraries, I participated in this collaboration by recommending materials, equipment and supplies for a resource library collection and an instructional materials preparation room. This article describes the collection development involved in the establishment of the resource library, the trips to Qatar to set up the library, and the cultural and logistical challenges encountered in the endeavor.     

Juggling a New Format with Existing Tools: Incorporating Streaming Video into Technical Services Workflows

ABSTRACT

The University of Northern Colorado (UNC) Libraries have experienced a surge in streaming video requests in the past few years. Like others, UNC’s Technical Services department has found new ways to manage procedures and workflows associated with this format. This session covered the experiences and strategies of the presenters for handling streaming video databases, licensed content ripped from DVD, firm orders, and multiyear streaming licenses.     

To Hybrid or Not to Hybrid,That is the Question! Incorporating VoiceThread Technology into a Traditional Communication Course

Courses: This exercise can be applied to any course or discipline, particularly those that utilize public speaking techniques, interviewing skills, or media

Objectives: ? Students will identify key concepts from course readings and deliver verbal responses to the instructor's question, photo, and/or video example.

? Students will learn to effectively communicate and organize ideas around the course readings.

? Students will engage with technology that will enhance the in-class learning experience.

? Students will produce competent communication dialogue and discussion in an asynchronous online format.

     

Syndicating Rich Bibliographic Metadata Using MODS and RSS

Abstract

Many libraries use RSS to syndicate information about their collections to users. A survey of 65 academic libraries revealed their most common use for RSS is to disseminate information about library holdings, such as lists of new acquisitions. Even though typical RSS feeds are ill suited to the task of carrying rich bibliographic metadata, great potential exists for developing applications that can exploit metadata exposed to Web services via RSS. Using the MODS metadata format, entire catalog records can be seamlessly embedded in RSS 2.0 feeds. Existing tools, such as Library of Congress Java toolkits and XSLT stylesheets, can facilitate this process, while a new XSLT stylesheet may be used to create the RSS feeds complete with MODS records. As an example of the added functionality these MODS/RSS feeds can offer, records from a MODS-enriched RSS feed can be ingested into a non-RSS application such as Zotero. As more emerging library technologies use Web services architectures to handle data objects, the ability to syndicate catalog records will become more critical to providing innovative library Web services.     

Negative video as structure: Emotion,attention, capacity,and memory

This paper uses a limited capacity information processing theory of television viewing to investigate the effects of graphic negative video at four levels of processing (attention, capacity, encoding, and retrieval) and on two dimensions of emotional experience (arousal and valence). Results indicate that the presence of negative video in news stories increases attention, increases the amount of capacity required to process the message, increases the ability to retrieve the story, facilitates recognition of information presented during the negative video and inhibits recognition for information presented before the negative video. Results also indicate that the introduction of negative video increases the self‐reported negative emotional impact of the story — making it more arousing and more negative.     

Cataloging Digitized Continuing Resources in a Shared Record Environment

ABSTRACT

Cataloging digitized continuing resources is a challenging task for many libraries because of their complex cataloging rules and characteristics of format. As libraries provide their digitized content and catalog records in shared environments, like HathiTrust, and use them as an access point, libraries also have to work with holdings and item records created by each contributing institution's local practice. This article discusses common challenges imposed on libraries when creating and providing access to digitized continuing resources available in a shared environment, stresses the importance of having shareable holdings and items records, and suggests possible ways to work with those challenges.     

Survey Says…?: Assessing Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery Use and Awareness for Responsive Service Delivery

Abstract

The object of this study is to assess Texas A&M University (TAMU) students/faculty/staff members’ use and awareness of the Libraries’ free document delivery and interlibrary loan service, branded as “Get It For Me.” Since 2010, we have continued to see a decline in new user registrations each year. Previous Get It For Me user surveys conducted in 2003 and 2011 indicated that the overall satisfaction of registered users was high and customer feedback gleaned from these surveys was used to initiate a number of service improvements. But what about the large percentage of the campus community who do not use the Get It For Me service? Are they aware of what this service has to offer? If so, why might they choose not to use it? If they are not aware of the service, might they use it if they knew more about how it can assist them in their scholarly endeavors? Instead of only surveying those customers who have used this service, we invited everyone on TAMU College Station campus to participate in the survey. Promoting the service is a vital component of service delivery.     

Do Holdings Have a Future?

Summary

Holdings are multipurpose data which libraries use to acquire and control publications, display information to users, and manage physical and sometimes virtual items. This workshop focused on how the various functions interact, what further services librarians will demand from automation of their holdings, and what they can do in the meantime to make their holdings more useful. The workshop gave special attention to the USMARC Format for Holdings Data (MHFD), its features, advantages and difficulties, and its particular role in conveying serials information. It explored possibilities for adapting the format to solve the special problems associated with multiple versions and title changes.     

Historically Black College and University Libraries in the 21st Century

Abstract

The strategic stewardship of the nation's cultural resources assumes the existence of a national strategy to preserve and protect those resources. As we work to develop that strategy, we should be reminded that stewardship involves responsibility at the local level for the daily security and preservation of the vast historical and intellectual records of human experience. Any national strategy to preserve and protect must be based on the defining issue of selection-selection based upon common approaches, values, and prioritization across the research library and scholarly community-as well as on the choice of format for preservation.     

Evaluation of adverse drug reaction formatting in drug information mobile phone applications

Objective:To evaluate the differences in presentation (formatting) of adverse drug reaction (ADR) information within drug monographs in commonly used drug information (DI) mobile device applications.Methods:A cross-sectional analysis of ADR formatting of twenty commonly prescribed oral medications within seven DI mobile applications was performed. Databases were assessed for ADR information, including presence of placebo comparisons, severity of ADR, onset of ADR, formatting of ADRs in percentile (quantitative) format or qualitative format, whether references were used to cite information, and whether ADRs are grouped by organ system. Data was collected by two study investigators and discrepancies were resolved via consensus.Results:The seven DI mobile applications varied significantly on every analyzed ADR variable with the exception of ADR onset, which was absent in all databases. Significant differences were found for variables known to impact clinical judgment such as placebo comparisons and qualitative versus quantitative formatting. Placebo comparisons were most common among monographs in Lexicomp (30%) but were absent among monographs within other applications. Quantitative information was commonly used in most databases but was absent in Epocrates. Qualitative formatting was present in all Epocrates and Micromedex applications but absent in the majority of other applications. Substantial variations were also found in severity and grouping information.Conclusion:Substantial variation in ADR formatting exists among the most common DI mobile applications. These differences may translate into alternative interpretations of medical information and thus impact clinical judgment. Health care librarians and clinicians should consider ADR formatting when choosing between DI applications.     

Getting on the Fast Track,or How to Get an MLIS Through Distance Education,with a Specialization in Medical Librarianship

Abstract

The article describes an innovation in MLIS education for medical librarianship, with an introduction to the FastTrack, the distance education program at the University of Pittsburgh's library and information science school, together with an overview of a model program linking the biomedical library at Vanderbilt University with the School of Information Sciences in Pittsburgh. Admissions requirements and specific curriculum for the distance education master's degree are detailed in an FAQ format.     

Grasping the Nettle

Abstract

The increasing utilization of computer technology in the public and private sectors, particularly since the mid-1980s, has brought about significant changes in the way organizations do their business. It has led to improvements in productivity, more timely delivery of services, and more efficient business communication; it has also had significant cultural impact. The technology has transformed our working environments, but there has not been an equivalent transformation in records and archival practice.

If the 1980s was the decade in which the tidal wave of electronic change hit us, the 1990s has seen the gradual realization that the new technology alone, without appropriate information and records management strategies, generates substantial risks. While the technology is promoted as the solution to all information management requirements, this message glosses over some critical issues. These issues go to the heart of the preservation of the corporate memory of our society.

In this article the author introduces us to major issues in electronic records management from an archival perspective. He illustrates these points through reference to policy development at the Australian Archives.     

When Archives Have Artifacts: From Inventory to Cataloging at the Associated Press Corporate Archives

Abstract

The Associated Press Corporate Archives, located at its New York City headquarters, is the repository for the organization’s permanently valuable records, regardless of format. One important component of the holdings is a collection of 275 artifacts, spanning the years 1892 to 2017, which document the history of The Associated Press’s news technology and tell the stories of its staffers. This paper describes the project to catalog, describe and secure the artifact collection and to facilitate discovery for staff and outside researchers. It examines the process from preliminary spreadsheet to a complete cataloging initiative and the creation of digital images of each item.     

Cost Effective Legal Research

Abstract

Legal researchers need to be able to efficiently retrieve information in a cost effective manner. To do this, they must be familiar with the various information formats and be able to evaluate these formats. This article reviews the various information formats, discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each format, suggests research strategies, and reviews Internet sites that provide legal information.     

Rediscovering the Russian National Bibliography

ABSTRACT

East View Information Services is now providing online access to nine serial publications from the Russian National Bibliography, beginning with 1998 issues. Though East View has been successful with large full-text databases for newspaper and journal articles, images, and statistical tables for several years, this was our first project dealing specifically with bibliographic data. Building a platform for bibliographic records has been more difficult than previous projects. The article discusses why the project was so challenging, how various problems were solved, advantages of the online format, and plans for future improvements.     

BCL3 and notis: An automated collection analysis project

The availability of the third edition of Books for College Libraries in machine-readable format opens up new possibilities for using computer technology for collection analysis, particularly if a library's holdings are also in machine-readable format. Preliminary results from a collection analysis project at the Kent State University Libraries are presented. The project features a database created from the Books for College Libraries file that includes local subject categories and holdings status. Initial automated matching of records from the database against the Libraries' holdings was performed by a microcomputer workstation wired to the online catalog. Nonmatching records are being searched manually as a follow-up.     

Discoverability of information on clinical trial data-sharing platforms

Objective:This study was intended to (1) provide clinical trial data-sharing platform designers with insight into users'' experiences when attempting to evaluate and access datasets, (2) spark conversations about improving the transparency and discoverability of clinical trial data, and (3) provide a partial view of the current information-sharing landscape for clinical trials.Methods:We evaluated preview information provided for 10 datasets in each of 7 clinical trial data-sharing platforms between February and April 2019. Specifically, we evaluated the platforms in terms of the extent to which we found (1) preview information about the dataset, (2) trial information on ClinicalTrials.gov and other external websites, and (3) evidence of the existence of trial protocols and data dictionaries.Results:All seven platforms provided data previews. Three platforms provided information on data file format (e.g., CSV, SAS file). Three allowed batch downloads of datasets (i.e., downloading multiple datasets with a single request), whereas four required separate requests for each dataset. All but one platform linked to ClinicalTrials.gov records, but only one platform had ClinicalTrails.gov records that linked back to the platform. Three platforms consistently linked to external websites and primary publications. Four platforms provided evidence of the presence of a protocol, and six platforms provided evidence of the presence of data dictionaries.Conclusions:More work is needed to improve the discoverability, transparency, and utility of information on clinical trial data-sharing platforms. Increasing the amount of dataset preview information available to users could considerably improve the discoverability and utility of clinical trial data.     

Evidence-Based Collection Management: A Discipline-Specific Usage Analysis of PsycBOOKS

This study examines usage patterns of psychology e-books and equivalent print titles held in Texas A&M University (TAMU) Libraries collections. The authors sought to determine how well PsycBOOKS, a specialized subject-based collection, serves users' needs. Results support evidence-based collection acquisition and management decisions of books in print and electronic formats. Major findings indicate that PsycBOOKS is a critical and cost-effective resource supporting the TAMU user community and that hybrid print and electronic collections should coexist to support a variety of user information needs.