Aline Soules

Faculty perception of Wikipedia in the California State University System

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore whether faculty perceptions of Wikipedia have changed over a five-year period. Design/methodology/approach – A survey was conducted of four universities in the California State University System – California State University, East Bay; Humboldt State University; Cal Poly San Luis Obispo; and California State University, Fresno. Following the survey, respondents who volunteered their contact information were interviewed about their perceptions and/or their assignments/projects involving Wikipedia. Findings – The study showed that, overall, faculty perceptions of Wikipedia have shifted in Wikipedia’s favor and that some faculty members create interesting and unique assignments that involve Wikipedia or Wikipedia-like work. Research limitations/implications – This study sampled 4 of 23 campuses in the California State University System. Practical implications – The growing acceptance of Wikipedia has implications for course work with students both in terms of...

New Types of E-books, E-book Issues, and Implications for the Future

ABSTRACT This article describes examples of new types of e-books, discusses issues involved in these new creations, and incorporates materials from interviews with authors/creators, editors, publishers, vendors, and librarians, leading to a consideration of the role of librarians and libraries in this evolving content and the potential for the future.

Embedding Multiple Literacies into STEM Curricula

In fall 2012, an interdisciplinary team of science, English, and library faculty embedded reading, writing, and information literacy strategies in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) curricula as a first step in improving student learning and retention in science courses and aligning them with the Next Generation Science and Common Core State Standards. The authors present their reading, writing, and information literacy contributions, explaining the importance of introducing these concepts and strategies into science courses.

Where's the bio? Databases, Wikipedia, and the web

Purpose – This paper aims to compare biographical content for literary authors writing in English among Biography Reference Bank, Contemporary Authors Online, Wikipedia, and the web.Design/methodology/approach – A sample of 500 names was gathered from curricula and textbooks used in English courses and searched in the Contemporary Authors Online portion of Literature Resource Center, Biography Reference Bank, Wikipedia, and the web; the results and content were compared.Findings – Each source has core content plus its own unique offerings and specific challenges, as evidenced in searching, evaluative techniques such as authority and currency, and content.Research limitations/implications – This study can only offer a small part of the picture of what information resides where and a single snapshot in time.Practical implications – This study will help librarians decide whether to subscribe to a biographical database. It also reinforces the need for evidence‐based practice in librarianship.Originality/value...

Navigating the MLA Bibliography: Performance Across Vendor Platforms

In this article, the authors compared the MLA International Bibliography database (MLAIB) across five vendor platforms to determine how and why seemingly comparable searches produced varying results. A number of tests were conducted using a variety of fields, terms, and parameters, and examples of results are provided. The authors’ findings are designed to illustrate the impact of these differences on users, from undergraduates to faculty researchers, whether they work individually or collaboratively and regardless of the platform to which their institution subscribes.

Collections, selection, access

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review current strategies in collections, selection and the access libraries provide, to present scenarios that illustrate the roles libraries are beginning to play and to discuss viable strategies for libraries in the future. Design/methodology/approach – An extensive review of the literature was conducted to identify current strategies in collections and selection, and to explore innovations in access strategies that reveal future directions. Findings – Librarians are redefining collections and selection, implementing new strategies to provide information that is more relevant to today’s needs, focusing more intently on niche collections and experimenting in access strategies to market information and increase use. Practical implications – Libraries’ survival depends on re-thinking the philosophy and approach to collections, selection and access. Social implications – Libraries need this shift in thinking and approach to find their place in the new information w...

Navigating the MLA Bibliography—Redux: Performance Across Vendor Platforms and Discovery Tools

ABSTRACT The authors updated their 2009 article on the MLA International Bibliography (MLAIB) by comparing it across three vendor platforms to determine if seemingly comparable searches continued to produce varying results. As much as possible, the authors tested the same searches as were tested in the original article and added additional ones for further exploration. Findings illustrate that while there are fewer differences than was the case previously, differences still exist. The authors also investigated discovery services to identify factors affecting MLAIB searches. The authors discuss the impact of their findings on users, from undergraduates to faculty researchers.

Managing Copyright in a Digital World

The article begins with a brief overview of copyright law and an examination of those laws that have been enacted in recent years to delineate appropriate uses of information in the electronic environment. Also discussed are copyright movements such as Creative Commons and Open Access. The impact of copyright is then discussed in relation to various types of electronic information and resources, and their delivery. Examples include course management systems, e-reserves, and streaming video and key copyright cases are discussed. The article ends with a discussion of future copyright trends.