Tag Archives: sustainability

Toward a Pedagogical Model of Academic Library Makerspaces as Digital Scholarship

Peer-Reviewed Article, , , , , ,

Heejoung Shin
Clinical Assistant Professor and Digital Scholarship Librarian
Digital Scholarship Hub, University of Illinois Chicago

Abstract

This article attempts to bring academic library makerspaces into conversation with digital scholarship by attending to their shared methods and methodologies: focus on process and labor, iterative making through the mediation of digital technology, interdisciplinary collaboration, and reflective pedagogy and practice. The relationship between academic library makerspaces and digital scholarship has been underexplored, with fabrication activities placed as adjacent to, rather than constitutive of, digital scholarship or treated as separate from discussions of the field, digital scholarship. Using the Digital Fabrication Lab at the University of Illinois Chicago Library, situated in an R1 research university, as a case study, the article aims to demonstrate how makerspaces can operate as indispensable components in library-led digital scholarship when its operations are structured through equity-centered program design and reflective and critical pedagogy and practice. The article first outlines a brief history of the DFL, followed by a review of relevant literature on the relationship between makerspaces and digital scholarship. It then traces the DFL’s strategic evolution, including the development of its governing philosophy, and presents three examples that illustrate digital scholarship in practice in the academic library makerspace. Although grounded in the context of an academic library, the pedagogical model proposed here may also offer useful implications for school and public library makerspaces, particularly because curiosity and habits of inquiry that underpin research often begin well before learners enter higher education.

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Building Sustainably: A Collaborative Partnership for New Student Orientation

Peer-Reviewed Article, , , , , ,

LaTiffany Davis
Student Success Librarian for First Year Engagement
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

and

Sarah McCarter
Student Success Librarian for Professional Literacies
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Introduction

To continue our support in the onboarding and transition of new students, this case study will demonstrate how the University of Tennessee, Knoxville Libraries (UT Libraries) has consolidated efforts to maximize the impact we have on students and their transition to college. With the overall goal of creating a seamless onboarding experience  for first year students, the following pages will outline a campus-level redesigned new student orientation pathway, UT Libraries’ collaborative integration into the orientation program, and practical lessons learned that librarians could use in similar partnerships. Continue reading Building Sustainably: A Collaborative Partnership for New Student Orientation →

Harnessing Library of Things for Citizen Livelihood Sustenance in Nigeria: Role of Librarians’ Social Entrepreneurship

Essay, , ,

By Adebowale Jeremy Adetayo, Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
and
Olateju Abayomi Adeleke, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria has been facing a severe economic crisis, which has led to a sharp increase in poverty rates. The rising cost of essential commodities has further compounded the problem, making it increasingly difficult for citizens to sustain their livelihoods. In light of these challenges, librarians can play a critical role in ensuring that citizens are better equipped to cope with these economic pressures by engaging in social entrepreneurship and harnessing the library of things. By adopting collection development practices that prioritize items of critical societal relevance, librarians can build a robust library of things that can be made available to citizens through purchases, donations, and gifts. Given their customer-focused training, librarians are well-positioned to play a key role in delivering these services and ensuring that citizens have access to the tools and resources they need to sustain their daily lives. The article argues that leveraging the library of things as a social enterprise is a profitable and effective strategy for supporting the daily lives of ordinary Nigerians. To achieve this goal, policies must be developed that encourage the development of library of things and seek government support to ensure its success and expansion. By doing so, librarians can contribute to building a more sustainable and equitable future for all Nigerians.

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The Making of the Mass Aggie Seed Library: A Gardening How-to for Others

Essay, , , , ,

By Paulina Borrego
Science & Engineering Librarian
University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries

Seed Libraries have been sprouting up in public libraries across the country, but what about a seed library in an academic library? Is such an idea in line with the mission of the library or even a viable option?

A seed library offers excellent opportunities to highlight University strategic plans and connect with academic departments and extension services, along with student and community groups. What follows is the story of the Mass Aggie Seed Library, how it came about, lessons learned, and steps to set up a seed library within an academic library.

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