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Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to understand the emergence of digital reformatting as a technique for preserving information within the cultural heritage preservation community by reviewing historical trends in modern preservation research. Design/methodology/approach: This paper analyzes secondary sources, reviews and historical texts to identify trends in the intellectual and technological histories of preservation research, beginning with the first applications of the scientific method to combating book decay in the early nineteenth to the emergence of digitization techniques in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Findings: This paper identifies five major historical periods in the development of preservation knowledge: the early experimental era; era of microfilm experimentation; era of professionalization; era of digital library research; and the era of digital reformatting and mass digitization; and identifies three major trends in its development: empirical inquiry, standardization and centralization. Research limitations/implications: Findings reflect broad trends in the field of preservation, primarily in a United States context and are limited to the modern era of preservation research. Practical implications: This paper's broad historical overview provides a reference for preservation professionals and students in library science or archives programs. Identifying historical trends enables practitioners to critically examine their own preservation techniques and make better decisions when adopting and using new preservation technologies. Originality/value: This paper provides a unique perspective on the history of preservation knowledge that synthesizes existing historical research in order to identify periods and trends that enable a clearer understanding of digital reformatting in its historical emergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stamp collectors frequently donate their stamps to cultural heritage institutions. As digitization becomes more prevalent for other kinds of materials, it is worth exploring how cultural heritage institutions are digitizing their philatelic materials. This paper begins with a review of the literature about the purpose of metadata, current metadata standards, and metadata that are relevant to philatelists. The paper then examines the digital philatelic collections of four large cultural heritage institutions, discussing the metadata standards and elements employed by these institutions. The paper concludes with a recommendation to create international standards that describe metadata management explicitly for philatelic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutrality in librarianship is a nonsensical concept that libraries of all kinds (e.g., public, academic, special, etc.) should not strive to embody in any shape or form. The following paper investigates the intricate relationships between neutrality and racism as they are demonstrated by tangible and intangible forms in library and information science (LIS) spaces. Ian Williams' book chapter, "More Than Half of Americans Can't Swim", from his book, Disorientation: Being Black in the World (2021), is utilized to critically reflect on Blackness as identity and some ways in which antiracist practices clash with neutrality within LIS spaces. I conclude with urgent reminders of how detrimental neutrality can be if it is not thoroughly rooted out and supplanted with antiracist practices that the LIS field is in dire need of. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Book banning is sweeping schools and libraries across the United States. This paper targets the book ban affecting children and young adult literature. I want to provide a cohesive look at the various attributes that play a role in book banning and censorship of children and young adult books. This paper touches on the process of banning/censoring books, whom these challenges are affecting, readers' rights, and the relevancy of this topic. Briefly, in my introduction, I address the history of book banning and where the motivation for this was initially encouraged. Moreover, the effects of book banning and/or censorship could have serious consequences for generations to come if the population is not made aware of this ever-growing pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present a quantitative analysis of the Library and Information Science (LIS) scholarly literature published worldwide. Design/methodology/approach: The ISI Web of Science database was used as a source for extracting the data of published documents during the period 2003–2017. The analysis of the published literature was based on the following indicators: research productivity of each county, annual publications, annual citations, highly cited articles, highly cited LIS journals, most productive institutions in the field of LIS and most prolific authors. The types of documents included in this study were research articles, conference proceeding papers, book reviews and editorials. Findings: The findings revealed that the USA had the highest overall output of LIS scholarly publications. The year 2016 was identified as the most productive year for the number of publications, whereas 2017 was identified as the most productive year for the number of citations. "Impact of data sources on citation counts and rankings of LIS faculty: Web of Science versus Scopus and Google Scholar" was the most highly cited article. The Journal of Medical Library Association was the most highly cited journal in LIS. Indiana University from the USA was the most productive LIS research institution. Mike Thelwall, from the UK, is identified as the most prolific author in LIS. Originality/value: The study will be of interest for those researchers, who intend to conduct bibliometric research studies in LIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Textbook affordability programs and the promotion of OER are well-established priorities for many academic libraries, but few studies have examined the prevalence of such programs either in general or across institution types. This paper presents the results of a study designed to gather information about textbook affordability initiatives at university libraries that are members Association of Research Libraries. It uses information from the publicly available websites of ARL libraries in the United States to determine how many of those institutions maintain textbook affordability programs, with those figures further broken down by status (public/private) and membership in the Open Education Network. In addition, the findings reveal some notable characteristics of textbook affordability programs, including an overall lack of visibility on institutional websites, a marked variety in financial incentives, and evidence of programs that have been discontinued. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to highlight how North Western University (NWU) Library used Facebook and Twitter to inform, educate and communicate with library users during the students’ protests #FeesMustFall Campaign.Design/methodology/approach This paper follows a case study approach to examine how Facebook and Twitter were used to inform, educate and communicate with library users during the #FeesMustFall Campaign. Data was obtained from the NWU Library’s Facebook Insights, the Facebook page itself and Twitter account, after which content was analysed.Findings The paper provides insights that the teaching and learning (educational) aspect still lags behind on social media usage in libraries. Given the period in question, the expectation would have been a higher percentage of posts that could be categorized as educational.Research limitations/implications The study is confined to one campus library of the NWU Libraries and the results cannot be generalised to the NWU.Practical implications Social media use policies should be developed and awareness created on their availability and meaning/implications to users.Originality/value This paper fulfils an identified need to study how social media can be used by academic libraries. The literature currently focuses on how Twitter has been used in library campaigns. This paper shows how Facebook can be used in a university setting during crises time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the purposes for the formation of the United Nations, sophistication of institutions like the Security Council must be evaluated based on the provision of peace and how they guarantee human rights. Therefore, in case Security Council does not follow these two mentioned factors, its function would be itself a threat to the international peace and security. This analytical research is based on collecting library theoretical data related to different field studies which investigated the effects of sanctions issued by the Security Council, the United States and the European Union on citizens' health and tried to assess both their efficiency and legitimacy. The right to health is connected with the right of living. In case enough drugs, appropriate treatment and medical equipment are not provided at the proper time, both physical and mental health might be threatened and this can cause death of a large number of people. Considering the Security Council as an institution which is expected to take into account the citizens' basic rights and not to ignore its own initial objective, the present paper was an attempt to provide explanations for the above concepts and their relationships and to analyze the findings of previous field studies. The paper concluded that sanctions issued by the Security Council and the United States are potentially functioning as threats to the international peace and so these sanctions are violating the citizens' right to health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a snapshot of some major collections-related trends and issues in current academic libraries today. These include using collection development policies; demand-driven acquisition (DDA) models; big deals; using the collections budget; rationalizing legacy print collections; stewarding local digital collections; and demonstrating value.Design/methodology/approach A web survey was developed and sent to 20 academic librarians via e-mail during the summer of 2016, along with a statement on the purpose of the study.Findings The findings are as follows: the collections budget is used to fund many costs other than content (such as memberships and MARC records); most libraries are experimenting with DDA in one form or another; most libraries financially support open access investments; most libraries participate in at least one collaborative print rationalization project; and libraries have diverse methods of demonstrating value to their institutions.Research limitations/implications This was a very selective survey of North American academic libraries. Therefore, these findings are not necessarily valid on a broader scale.Practical implications Within the limitations above, the results provide librarians and others with an overview of current practices and trends related to key issues affecting collection development and management in North America.Originality/value These results are quite current and will enable academic librarians engaged in collection development and management to compare their current policies and practices with what is presented here. The results provide a current snapshot of the ways in which selected libraries are coping with transformative challenges and a rapidly changing environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decade, libraries have taken advantage of emerging technologies to provide new discovery tools to help users find information and resources more efficiently. In the wake of this technological shift in discovery, privacy has become an increasingly prominent and complex issue for libraries. The nature of the web, over which users interact with discovery tools, has substantially diminished the library's ability to control patron privacy. The emergence of a data economy has led to a new wave of online tracking and surveillance, in which multiple third parties collect and share user data during the discovery process, making it much more difficult, if not impossible, for libraries to protect patron privacy. In addition, users are increasingly starting their searches with web search engines, diminishing the library's control over privacy even further. While libraries have a legal and ethical responsibility to protect patron privacy, they are simultaneously challenged to meet evolving user needs for discovery. In a world where "search" is synonymous with Google, users increasingly expect their library discovery experience to mimic their experience using web search engines.1 However, web search engines rely on a drastically different set of privacy standards, as they strive to create tailored, personalized search results based on user data. Libraries are seemingly forced to make a choice between delivering the discovery experience users expect and protecting user privacy. This paper explores the competing interests of privacy and user experience, and proposes possible strategies to address them in the future design of library discovery tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing body of research examines teens' use of digital technologies to meet their academic and personal information needs, but few studies have considered how public and school libraries fit into modern teens' information practices. This study uses data from surveys of and interviews with 25 teens enrolled in a highly technological urban US high school to consider how the prevalence of technology in their daily lives has influenced their perceptions and use of libraries. The results indicated that this group of students tended to think of libraries as largely outdated institutions with little connection to their technology-focused daily information practices. Thus, libraries might better serve teens with high levels of technology access by reframing their services in terms of promoting social interaction and community building as well as focusing less on providing materials and technology access and more on teaching how to search and evaluate information housed outside of libraries' physical and virtual boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Context: Computational thinking (CT) is an essential skill for all youth to succeed in our technology and information-rich world. While CT has a growing presence within K-12 classrooms, libraries play an essential role in introducing these critical skills to all. Objective: Assessing learning in libraries is difficult given their informal nature. This is especially true when trying to assess a new and ill-defined construct like CT. A first step towards better supporting informal educators is to identify the motivations for bringing CT into informal spaces and to understand the current state of assessing CT in public libraries. Method: Thirty-seven interviews with library staff from across the United States were conducted and analyzed. Findings: This work reveals the variety of motivations justifying the inclusion of CT programming for youth in libraries, the challenges associated with assessing CT in libraries, and identifies the assessments library staff would like to be able to conduct for their own CT-related programming. Implications: This work advances our understanding of the current state of CT assessment in public libraries and lays the groundwork for future work seeking to meet the needs of those tasked with bringing CT to youth beyond the classroom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper draws attention to the public policy opportunities created by the spatial characteristics of urban historic districts. Using the Kentucky cities of Louisville and Covington as case studies, the research uses geographic information systems (GIS) to demonstrate that Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) units developed in historic districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places are closer to libraries, transit stops, parks, and schools than are LIHTC units developed in ‘non-historic’ areas of these cities. The findings are particularly relevant for policy-makers adopting a neighborhood-oriented approach to improving the quality of affordable housing, and for those seeking strategies for bringing new life to declining urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Librarians in many types of libraries frequently find themselves positioned as instructors in formal and informal educational settings. Librarians can help ensure that learner needs are better defined and addressed by gaining basic competency in instructional design (ID), an intentional process used to create effective, efficient educational and training programs. Additionally, instructional design skills have the potential to benefit librarians in nonteaching roles. This paper examines existing library literature to determine how librarians can benefit from ID skills and to identify core ID competencies for the profession, and suggests opportunities to investigate how librarians might best acquire these skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the Salman Rushdie papers deposited in the Robert W Woodruff Library [Manuscript, Archives and Rare Books Library] of Emory University. Although at first glance this is by and large an old fashioned archive (of 215 boxes and 55 oversized papers), it is also a digital archive in the sense that much of the author's drafts, letters and sundry material are preserved in computers. The archive has managed to preserve the hard disks in their original form by simulating and incorporating these disks into a PC. The paper examines how the Rushdie archive has been catalogued and what a researcher trained in research methods and textual criticism may do with the archive. Its theoretical template comes from Derrida's short monographArchive Feveras it reads the Rushdie archive as a repository as well as a ‘consignment’ which exists within certain laws and power structures. To explore an archive's concealed or repressed items, the paper carefully traces Rushdie's interest in the Islamic genesis of secrecy with reference to the available holograph notes and related material on the ‘satanic verses’ in the archive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demand-Driven Acquisition (DDA) has been commonly adopted by academic libraries in the United States for acquiring e-books in recent years. Implementation of the e-book DDA model varies by library. This paper introduces and demonstrates a scenario analysis approach for libraries to evaluate, identify, and select a DDA plan that works best for them based on their DDA program data. This approach helps address some key questions facing libraries with a DDA e-book program: How may a DDA program be evaluated under different scenarios? Does a short-term loan (STL) option make sense? And, is the current DDA implementation a good fit for the library? The implications and related issues are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally libraries, including and perhaps especially Bulgarian ones, are very conservative institutions. Libraries indeed have many reasons to be conservative, but this does not mean that they have been inactive. They have to find the proper modus operandi in order to act appropriately, responsibly, and for the greater good of society. Through funds, grants, and projects, Bulgarian libraries have began recovering. This is not to say, however, that they do not have more work ahead of them. The National Academic Library and Information System (NALIS) and the American Bulgarian Library Exchange (ABLE) projects helped pull libraries in Bulgaria out of the ashes and brought them into the twenty-first century. The aim of this paper is to briefly trace the development of Bulgarian libraries over the course of the last twenty-five years. Throughout this period, there were two decisive factors influencing library development: the rapid expansion of information technologies, and, at the same time, the acute social and economic crisis besetting the country that impeded its modernization of library science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically, the majority of digital assistants, including chatbots, have been assigned names, voices, visual representations, and even "personalities" that are stereotypically feminine and reflect patriarchal ideology. This cross-sectional descriptive study of chatbots associated with large academic libraries in the United States found that there are few extant library chatbots, and in a major departure from trends, there are even fewer that are gendered. This is promising, in that it signals—whether intentionally or not—that the practices of creators and adopters are countering entrenched tendencies to typecast digital assistants as women, which may signal more feminist and gender-inclusive technology design to come. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study seeks to extend wicked problems analysis within the context of a library's support for virtual reality (VR) and the related extended reality (XR) emerging technologies. The researchers conducted 11 interviews with 13 librarians, embedded IT staff, and/or faculty members who were involved in administering, managing, or planning a virtual reality lab or classroom in a library (or similar unit) in a higher education setting. The qualitative analysis of the interviews identified clusters of challenges, which are categorized as either emergent (but solvable) such as portability and training; complicated (but possible) such as licensing and ethics: and/or wicked (but tameable). The respondents framed their role in supporting the wickedness of VR/XR in three basic ways: library as gateway, library as learning partner, and library as maker. Five taming strategies were suggested from this research to help librarians wrestle with these challenges of advocating for a vision of VR/XR on their respective campuses. This research also hints at a larger role for librarians in the research of technology diffusion and what that might mean to their role in higher education in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the general consensus that field experience during library school is important for applying theory to practical situations, there is a lack of understanding about what students want from, and the barriers they face to acquire, graduate employment. A survey was sent to ALA accredited Master of Library Science programs in the United States, asking students about their library employment status and to rank factors that influenced their decision to accept their positions. Patterns emerged when results were grouped by various life factors. The results of this study show what students are looking for from employment, which could help employers recruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors present a mixed-methods research study that has resulted in a framework to characterize public programs offered by US libraries. This categorization lays the foundation for long-term study of the impact of library public programming. Using an iterative approach with library expert panels as well as seeking broad, representative input from across the library field through a validity survey and case studies, this work benefits from a level of consensus not previously achieved at this scale. The resulting framework considers library profile, program characteristics, audience characteristics, and program administration—each with various subdimensions—to understand who programs affect, how those people are likely to be affected, and the institutional impact of library public programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article, the author discusses how librarians and library administrators can resolve issues on digital poverty and broadband inequality in the U.S. amidst the COVID-19 pandemic as of September 2020. Also cited are the move by libraries to offer online programs like story time and summer reading to continue providing services to their communities, and the effectiveness of curbside pick-up service in serving library users during the pandemic.

In July of 2013, the first Ready2Learn library card was issued in Eastern Oregon. At the time, Project Ready2Learn had the support of the Library Services and Technology Act, Governor Kitzhaber, Oregon College Savings Plan (OCSP), Greater Oregon Behavioral Health Inc. (GOBHI) and a committed team of librarians ready to prove that frequent library use is directly connected to success in school. Fast forward to today and what you have left is GOBHI, the librarians, and some pretty compelling evidence that what we are doing is working. On paper, the purpose of Ready2Learn was to increase kindergarten readiness. However, the program had a larger goal: to demonstrate that the services already being provided in libraries for children ages 0-6 were giving kids a leg up when they entered kindergarten. This article provides an overview of the program from its launch in 2013 to its evolution in 2016. As a longtime member of the Ready2Learn coalition, I will outline the struggles and successes of the program, concluding with the results of the Kindergarten Assessment conducted this fall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on emergence of libraries as most rapidly expanding educational institution in the U.S. It mentions that adult education researcher Gordon Darkenwald has defined nontraditional students by sociocultural responsibilities instead of age. It also discusses responsibilities that includes full-time employment, parenthood, and financial responsibilities.

The article discusses the trend of library and information technology (IT) mergers in the late 1990s and early 2000s in the United States. It highlights the challenges and failures of these mergers, including the negative impact on librarians and the dissolution of merged departments after the departure of the chief information officer (CIO). The article questions the reasons behind these mergers and criticizes the negative portrayal of librarians in a 1996 article that influenced the perception of the profession. It emphasizes the advancements and contributions of librarians in managing technology, promoting diversity and inclusion, and defending intellectual freedom. The article concludes with a call to support and defend libraries and librarians in the face of current threats and challenges. [Extracted from the article]

Libraries in the United States handle sensitive patron information, including personally identifiable information and circulation records. With libraries providing services to millions of patrons across the U.S., it is important that they understand the importance of patron privacy and how to protect it. This study investigates how knowledge transferred within an online cybersecurity education affects library employee information security practices. The results of this study suggest that knowledge transfer does have a positive effect on library employee information security and risk management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions of how to sustain interest in the history of medicine and broader health sciences (HOM/HS) in a changing institutional environment, and how to collaborate with stakeholders to offer activities to do so, are on the radar for many academic health sciences centers and their libraries. This essay is an initial exploratory study of non-curricular HOM/HS efforts at United States medical schools ranked in the top thirty in primary care or research. In 2019, we collected public information pertinent to any presence of an on-campus HOM/HS community and the group's structure, including funding, activities, and the library's involvement with the group. Seventeen of forty-five institutions in the sample presented information about an institutional HOM/HS group. All posted a mission statement. Their funding varied in nature; some collected fees from members, while others relied on university support. Half were student-led. Most groups hosted regular lecture series, with fifteen groups hosting at least one annually. Six groups sponsored publications or awards. These findings indicate that several institutions with active programs offer potential models and lessons for sustaining HOM/HS communities. Beyond providing a physical or digital space in which HOM/HS groups connect, libraries play an active role in fostering some of these communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our nation's military veterans share a connection through their service, making them a distinctive community with unique information requirements. Community-based solutions are crucial to meet veterans where they are, and libraries of all types are in a position to help. In recognition of this, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded a grant to Texas A&M University, which held a forum attended by 250 librarians from across the United States. The discussions covered how veterans are currently being engaged, what services and programs are working, and where improvements could be made. Toolkit committees were then formed to brainstorm service and program ideas for veterans that can be utilized in various library settings, including medical facilities. These toolkits were uploaded to a freely available repository so that librarians can use and adapt these resources to develop their own veteran-oriented programming. Results from this collaboration among librarians have led to new connections, friendships being formed, and the generation of even more creative solutions to reach veteran populations. While considerations such as respecting copyright and dealing with grant funding appropriations are present, this should not keep librarians from utilizing these resources. This project is meant to be an ongoing and evolving effort. New ideas and collaborations are not just welcomed but encouraged to best serve these veterans who have so selflessly sacrificed for their country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The following article analyzes the current wave of book bans in the United States of America. Book banning has a long history; the modern predominant focus on young people's reading materials grew around fifty years ago with the increased publication of realistic depictions of the lived experiences, identities, and personhoods of children and young people. Nonetheless, the current form of censorship is different: bigger, more politicized, and more targeted at those living with marginalized identities, particularly people of color and those with LGBTQ+ identities. This article argues that book banning places a unique burden on adolescent development and is particularly harmful to those living with marginalized identities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haitian immigrants are a socially excluded growing demographic in the United States that deals with racism, anti-immigrant sentiment, anti-Haiti rhetoric, and language barriers. Information professionals need to understand Haitian information behavior, their cultural preferences, and barriers in order to successfully fulfill their information needs. This article examines other disciplines' relevant and scholarly research literature on Haitian immigrants in the United States to discover their trends of information behavior and barriers so that the Library and Information Science field can create effective information pathways to support their community. Haitian immigrants turn to their families and trusted individuals for their information needs, due to their high-context oral culture. They utilize the radio and ICT networks to connect transnationally. The challenges to their information needs include information overload, language barriers, a bias for face-to-face communication, racism, and culture clash issues. Information professionals can mitigate these barriers by providing outreach, access, excellent programming, bilingual resources and reference, and culturally competent staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Librarianship is constantly confronted with unexpected and quickly evolving sociotechnical challenges, yet the documents that define the core professional competencies for librarians are infrequently updated. Based upon survey responses collected from 383 working librarians located in the United States, we describe a set of gaps between current competency guidelines and current library realities with regard to practice, management, communication, career development, relations, and personal attributes. We argue that professional library organizations, educators, and policymakers could formulate more relevant and impactful core competency documents by deliberately integrating the on-the-ground insights of librarians’ lived experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vendor keynote speaker Caitlin Trasande addressed the practical and applied implications of how government mandates and regulations drive innovations and research information management technologies, while tying in remarks made by Jane Marks, the publisher keynote speaker, and Scott Plutchak, the librarian keynote speaker. She is uniquely positioned to do this as she has been at Digital Science for 5 years, most recently as Head of Research Policy; holds a PhD in Neurobiology; and was very recently appointed Senior Strategy Editor at Nature. Trasande used products developed by Digital Science as examples to demonstrate how all sectors of the scholarly community are finding solutions to help enable compliance with mandates, such as those on data and Open Access. She also provided a futuristic look at how the UK government has begun to ask funded researchers to document the social impact of their research; how Digital Science worked with the UK government, and how likely this is to also happen in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This comparison seeks to determine if the three documents addressing information literacy skills and competence developed by professional library associations for postsecondary education in four predominantly English-speaking countries--the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand--have similar or varying conceptions of information literacy. In a globalized society, postsecondary institutions not only prepare students to live and work within local, regional, or national contexts but also equip them to function in a global society. If conceptions of information literacy vary between countries, then graduates might not be well prepared to function successfully within this global society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the constant changes to periodical and several members of the periodical's editorial board. Topics discussed include the changing landscape of the libraries in the U.S.; the diversity problem in the periodical's staff; and the editorial board members, such as Michelle Caswell, Ricardo L. Punzalan and Michael Crandall.

The article discusses the transition to e-government by more and more government resources and process in the U.S. with local and state agencies eliminating some paper processes altogether. Topics discussed include U.S. President Barack Obama's memorandum directing government agencies to reform records management practices and the role of libraries in promoting the growth of access and adoptability of digital services and develop programming and services with the individual community in mind.

Drawing on a subset of data from a larger survey study of immigrant and migrant Spanish-speaking readers in the United States and Canada, this article explores their pre-immigration reading histories; the role of reading in their lives and personal identities; specific day-to-day characteristics of their reading behaviors, including the frequency and places of reading; and the sources of information that readers use to select their new reads. This study places reading practices in the context of readers' migration experiences and pressures of adjustment and resettlement. Supported by the review of reading practices in selected countries of origin and by the analysis of the Spanish-speaking communities in the diaspora, this article contributes to the body of knowledge about immigrant and migrant readers. By so doing, it begins to address the gap in knowledge about Spanish-speaking readerships. This gap exists despite the extensive previously published research on Hispanic and Latinx library users, which has focused on their information-seeking behaviors, use of public libraries, language learning programming, and collection development in the Spanish language, without touching on reading practices. It is hoped that this study will contribute to more culturally sensitive reader services in libraries and a better understanding of Spanish-speaking community members by librarians in all types of libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on reference services offered in the libraries to provide one-on-one support to members of the community that the library serves. It mentions that Joan Durrance, retired professor at the School of Information at the University of Michigan, developed the Willingness to Return model for reference success. It also highlights relationship building as part of the personal reference interaction for vocation and avocation as service professionals and librarians.

The 2016 presidential election in the United States was unprecedented in the extent of bitter divisiveness between the candidates' campaigns, the complex factors attributed to the unexpected results, and the difficult years in which the nation will reel fromthe short- and long-term effects. In its aftermath, an aggravated, broken nation extends rural libraries an extraordinary charge to help mend the splinters and move forward in their local environments. They have an opening to take ownership of a compelling responsibility as agents of democracy toward political, economic, and civic recovery. This think piece analyzes the implications of the 2016 presidential election for rural libraries primarily as information service providers that can aggressively further political information literacy, fluency, and advocacy and economic development as tools to nurture a more refined, responsive, respectful, and relevant form of democracy in the twenty-first century than what we have seen recently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author argues on the meaning of diversity for libraries in the U.S. She is critical on its meaning as a verb. She also mentions the white paper "The Importance of Diversity in Library Programs and Material Collections for Children" by Jamie Campell which stresses position on diversity and areas of focused, such as programming and collections, by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC).

The Information Literacy Unit at Michigan State University Libraries is tasked with providing teaching and learning support to 70+ librarian colleagues at MSU. The unit was asked to conduct a needs assessment to determine supportive needs, attitudes toward teaching and learning, and to lay groundwork for expanding the ability of the unit to provide support through building trust and strengthening relationships with librarian colleagues. An interview-based method grounded in social sciences rather than an assessment with a management focus was employed to accomplish these diverse tasks, which yielded actionable insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We sought to determine how many abstracts presented at the 2012 and 2014 Medical Library Association (MLA) annual conferences were later published as full-text journal articles and which features of the abstract and first author influence the likelihood of future publication. To do so, we replicated a previous study on MLA conference abstracts presented in 2002 and 2003. The secondary objective was to compare the publication rates between the prior and current study. Methods: Presentations and posters delivered at the 2012 and 2014 MLA meetings were coded to identify factors associated with publication. Postconference publication of abstracts as journal articles was determined using a literature search and survey sent to first authors. Chi-squared tests were used to assess differences in the publication rate, and logistic regression was used to assess the influence of abstract factors on publication. Results: The combined publication rate for the 2012 and 2014 meetings was 21.8% (137/628 abstracts), which is a statistically significant decrease compared to the previously reported rate for 2002 and 2003 (27.6%, 122/442 abstracts). The odds that an abstract would later be published as a journal article increased if the abstract was multi- institutional or if it was research, specifically surveys or mixed methods research. Conclusions: The lower publication rate of MLA conference abstracts may be due to an increased number of program or nonresearch abstracts that were accepted or a more competitive peer review process for journals. MLA could increase the publication rate by encouraging and enabling multi-institutional research projects among its members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article looks at the work of library science scholar John Carlo Bertot, outgoing editor of "Library Quarterly." It focuses on his work in assessing public libraries' Internet connectivity and engaging in a range of efforts to promote Internet use and digital access for the public through libraries. Topics include the 1990s Maryland state library network called Sailor and partnerships between libraries and related entities at the local, state, and national level in the U.S.

The article offers information related to restructuring the Library of Congress. It discusses how reorganization of the work of the Library of Congress changed the world of information in the U.S. at the end of the nineteenth century by subsidizing the operations of libraries as well as the growing publishing industry. it is also evident that the classification system of the Library of Congress has been adopted only by larger and more academically oriented libraries.

Despite interest in the application of design thinking and methods in librarianship, there seems to be a disconnect between application and education to support it. This study used an online questionnaire to elicit feedback from library workers in the United States about interest in and use of design thinking and methods in library practice, and the need for design skills and abilities in library education. We found that practicing librarians perceive design thinking and methods have relevance to library work, but opinions vary based on library type and nature of the work. Design thinking and methods were used mostly for space planning and program development, with applications emphasizing empathy and user/community understanding aspects—despite myriad other possibilities. Most respondents were in favor of including design thinking and methods in MLIS programs, which can support more robust applications through inclusion of the theoretical, philosophical, and epistemological underpinnings from which design thinking and methods emerge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores how a three‐way collaboration between a University library, writing centre and faculty created avenues of training and support for students within a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program in an American University. The role of each partner involved in the collaboration is discussed alongside the profile of the DNP students. Lesson planning and classroom techniques for DNP information literacy classes are described and feedback from the partners and the students are discussed. The study confirms that collaboration is effective in improving research and writing skills. D.I. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In both library reference work and dementia care, communication between personnel and service recipients can be both complex and complicated. Professionals in both fields have therefore developed protocols and standards to assist personnel in handling these interactions. In this article we detail an exploratory comparative study that used an ethic of care framework to compare prominent guidelines for reference librarians (American Library Association's Reference and User Services Association's Guidelines for behavioral performance of reference and information service providers) with guidelines for workers in long-term dementia care settings (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's Guideline on supporting people with dementia and their carers in health and social care). We explored how both sets of Guidelines frame the act of communication as a combination of regulated procedure and empathetic discourse to determine how the similarities among and differences between these two guidelines provide useful insights into each other. Our examination was structured using an ethic of care lens, which emphasizes the importance of interpersonal relationships, reciprocity, and empathetic benevolence. Using specific phrases in each set of Guidelines that align with and are evidence of Tronto's four moral principles of care, we ultimately discovered, in both sets of Guidelines, an underlying ethic of care: a repeated insistence upon embedding procedures within behaviour that manifests attentiveness, responsibility, responsiveness, and competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As populations grow more diverse and different cultural identities become increasingly prevalent, intercultural competence will be a requirement for successful communication and cultural harmony. Community colleges host the most diverse population of students in the United States, often considered a reflection of the communities they serve. As centers of institutional learning, libraries at community colleges have a responsibility and an opportunity to provide service grounded in the tenets of intercultural competence. These service standards are having and following a diversity policy; providing a welcoming and accessible environment; offering services and materials that match students needs and backgrounds; communicating in a way that is "culturally humble;" and lastly, hiring practices that ensure a diverse staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Across the United States, one in five children has or will have a serious mental illness. This project intended 1) to determine current efforts among rural school libraries and communities to promote mental health literacy, and 2) to determine rural school libraries' capacity to promote community health literacy. This project used a mixed method design, including activities such as a quantitative survey of mental health support administered to rural school librarians, counselors, and administrators; qualitative interviews and focus groups with rural school librarians, counselors, and administrators; environmental analyses of school libraries where best practices are happening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reflects on the past and future of the Library Information Technology Association (LITA). It offers a historical background on the founding of LITA and looks back at the impact of technological change on libraries and librarians. It discusses the four areas of focus of LITA's strategic plan which are member engagement, organizational stability, education and professional development, and advocacy and information policy.