Pixey Anne Mosley

Creating a Library Assignment Workshop for University Faculty

Abstract In cooperation with the universitys Center for Teaching Excellence, an interactive Library Assignment Workshop was developed to educate teaching faculty on designing effective library related assignments. Feedback from workshop attendees was positive and supported repeating the workshop several time per year, with a focus on new faculty.

Moving Away from Overdue Fines: One Academic Library's New Direction

ABSTRACT As student fees, print vs. electronic access, service quality expectations, and basic economics have an increasing impact on library operations, some academic libraries are taking a second look at the process of charging overdue fines. This article explores the contemporary environment on this issue. It offers as an example a compromise solution implemented in Spring 2003 by Texas A&M University Libraries. The solution maintains fines for some materials but uses an “inconvenience” motivator to prompt timely renewal or return of regular stacks materials.

Assessing the Comfort Level Impact and Perceptual Value of Library Tours.

Abstract With the recent emphasis toward active learning techniques and technology tools, many libraries seem to be discontinuing the traditional, guided walking tours. A survey of university students taking non-course related library tours focused on defining the students expectations and on assessing the students comfort level in the library environment as a result of the tour. The survey sought to identify whether the student had perceived the tour to be time wasted or time well spent. Results showed that most of the respondents felt that the tour was highly informative and significantly increased their overall comfort in the library environment.

Error 404 : or, what is the shelf-life of printed Internet guides?

Many publishers are producing books loaded with directions for finding useful Internet sites in a particular subject area. The moderate costs make them seem to be attractive additions to a collection. However, given the ephemeral nature of the World Wide Web, can a print resource be published with sufficient shelf life to justify purchase? This study evaluates some of these Internet guides for post-publication accuracy. In evaluating nine books published between two and three years ago, the researchers checked 3,941 URLs. In reviewing the data, the authors found that some books retained their value quite well, whereas others did not. The article presents the details of this study and offers selection criteria for identifying those web guidebooks that will increase the value of the collection.

Shedding the Stereotypes: Librarians in the 21st Century

Summary While it is very difficult to predict exactly what a librarians job will entail in 50 years, there is no doubt in the authors mind that the profession will be a successful one. Exploring todays societal and technological trends allows one to propose an idea of patterns and expectations typical of the next generation of librarians and the challenges that come in managing this talented, yet demanding, group.

Making library instructional handouts accessible through the World Wide Web

Abstract Making library instructional handouts available via the World Wide Web benefits students and researchers in many ways. Unfortunately, some librarians may feel overwhelmed by the perceived resource commitments for a project of this type. This article is based on a successful handout conversion project implemented at Evans Library, Texas A&M University and suggests ways of dealing with time, staffing limitations, HTML skills, and additional software purchases. Additionally, it offers some technical recommendations based on lessons learned throughout the conversion process.

Defining History for Library Statistics, or Everything Has a History.

Although libraries frequently act on the assumption that a correlation exists between topicality and call number range for collection management decisions, the recent rise in interdisciplinary scholarship challenges that practice. This study measured the subject area and call number correspondence for the discipline of history in an academic library.