Category Archives: Peer-Reviewed Article

In “Heinsight”: Breaking Ground on Advocacy for Academic Library Database Trials Using HeinOnline

Peer-Reviewed Article, , ,

by Joe Lee
Reference Library Services Specialist
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
JLee75@umbc.edu

Jasmine Shumaker, MLIS
Reference & Instruction Librarian
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
jshumake@umbc.edu

Abstract

HeinOnline is a legal research database much like NexisUni or Westlaw. HeinOnline is a commercial legal research database used for searching case law, law review articles, proceedings, government documents and more. The Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery (AOK), which is the heart of the research campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), which, at the time of writing this piece, subscribed to 446 databases, only one of which covered legal research. Though not a law library, AOK had been formerly using NexisUni from July 2017 to June 2023. The two authors, a faculty librarian and a library services specialist–decided to address this deficit by closely documenting the onboarding process of HeinOnline from trial to acquisition. At their institution, there has been little to no documentation recorded that outlined the necessary steps and checkpoints needed for a database trial. The Reference team noted that the previous database, NexisUni, was not only costly (especially at a university without a law program), but that the user interface and search functions could be improved. The authors recognized that, by closely documenting the process of offering a new database and measuring faculty and student engagement, they could establish the groundwork for standardizing database trials as well as provide insights for other librarians as they consider evaluating or adding new databases.
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Musical Maps of the World in the 21st Century: Leveraging Librarian Expertise in the Development of Visualization Tools for Music Research and Pedagogy

Peer-Reviewed Article, , ,

by M. Nathalie Hristov, MLIS
Professor and Music Librarian
University of Tennessee

Kathryn A. Linton
Music Librarian for Instruction and Outreach
Vanderbilt University

Joshua Ortiz Baco
Assistant Professor and Digital Scholarship Librarian
University of Tennessee

1. Impetus for the Development of Emerging Digital Tools and Technology for Musicological Research and Pedagogy

Currently, traditional scholarly resources enable musicologists to trace the origins of numerous musical systems, styles, and instruments through the painstaking process of wading through physical volumes from several world regions to find commonalities. While there has been a significant rise in the digitization of music archives, the content represents only a small fraction of the vast collections of historical documents related to music in libraries across the globe.[1] Furthermore, digital collections in music are stored differently among thousands of libraries with their own unique set of finding aids and organizational structure. Considering the limited amount and fragmented nature of digitized historical documents in music, the time-intensive process of extracting content from multiple sources poses challenges for researchers looking for connections between musicians and musical ideas. Thus, major discoveries in musicological research are few and far between when compared to those in other disciplines. In a variety of ways, music scholarship has lagged in terms of digitized resources and technological innovations. [2] Nevertheless, music scholars and digital humanists in the last couple of decades have begun exploring methods for moving musical research forward into the technological era with greater global access and emerging technologies.[3]
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Out With the Old, In With the New: Revitalizing a Leisure Reading Section in an Academic Library

Peer-Reviewed Article, , , , ,

By Alexandra Boris
Orcid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0276-9281
University Libraries, University of Tennessee

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Alex Boris, University of Tennessee Libraries, 1015 Volunteer Blvd., Knoxville, TN 37996. Email: aboris1@utk.edu.

Abstract

Every university has a different way of providing its patrons with popular or leisure reading titles. In academic libraries, mission statements and collections policies focus on resources supporting research and teaching. A leisure reading collection within academic libraries may be tended with care or fall by the wayside when resources are needed elsewhere. It can be overwhelming to find oneself responsible for a collection that has not been the priority.

This case study will discuss how a relatively stagnant leisure reading collection was revived to engage users with library spaces and collections. While such a task can seem challenging at the beginning, intentional selection, care, and marketing can increase the accessibility, visibility, and usability of the collection. Over five years, the leisure reading collection at the University of Tennessee Libraries became a tool for engagement and a visible connection to library values.

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How a library faculty Retention, Tenure, and Promotion Mentorship Group was established, how it operated, and how it fared  

Peer-Reviewed Article, , , ,

By Samuel T. Barber
Cataloging and Metadata Librarian
California State University, Fullerton

Sarah Parramore, MSIDT, MLS
Director of Teaching, Learning and Research Support
Interim Director of Special Collections and College Archives
Occidental College

Introduction

This article reports events experienced by the department of faculty at Pollak Library, California State University, Fullerton (CSUF), between 2018 and 2024. This period was marked by notable changes and challenges, and in particular several that directly impacted probationary tenure-track faculty. This article focuses on the efforts and attempts made to mentor, support, and guide colleagues as they began their Retention, Tenure, and Promotion (RTP) journeys at CSUF.
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Championing Change: The EDI Scholars-in-Residence Program at UBC Library

Peer-Reviewed Article, , , , , ,

By Allan Cho, Community Engagement Librarian, University of British Columbia (UBC) Library

Lisabelle Tan, Master’s in Library and Information Studies (MLIS) Candidate, University of British Columbia, School of Information

Abstract

The University of British Columbia (UBC) Library’s EDI Scholars in Residence Program, initiated in 2022, addresses equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in academia. This innovative program fosters inclusivity by providing scholars from historically marginalized backgrounds with research opportunities and access to library resources. The article explores the program’s genesis, principles, and impact, highlighting its significance in dismantling systemic barriers. A review of EDI concepts and institutional strategies underscores the importance of nuanced approaches. By promoting collaboration and research, the program exemplifies a transformative initiative in advancing EDI within academic libraries and higher education institutions.

Keywords: Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Academic Libraries, Programming
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