Recent Publications

Targeted Research Guides to Improve Student Engagement

Friday, November 1, 2024

Presented at Brick and Click 2024 Conference – NW Missouri State

Research Guides play an integral role in library instruction and often serve as students’ introduction to library materials and resources. While a majority of research guides are developed to be specific to a given subject or discipline such as Biology, English Composition or History, evidence exists that supports the development of course or assignment specific guides. Guides developed in this manner provide students with resources and materials that aid in the completion of a specific assignment or course unit. These guides can be integrated directly into the learning management system to provide students with relevant information at the point of need. This paper documents a scenario in which such a guide was developed and used over the course of Spring Semester 2023 to provide business students with resources to complete a major course project.

“Pivots and Tables” – Using Excel Data Visualization to Make Informed Decisions in Circulation and Access Services

Monday, October 7, 2024

Presented at Back in Circulation 2024 – Univ. of Wisconsin

This presentation provides a brief overview on how to use simple pivot tables and charts in Excel to turn raw data into meaningful visualizations that can be used to make informed decisions that can have positive impacts on marketing efforts, utilization of space, and delivery of services to patrons. The methods demonstrated in this presentation are simple and direct with no need for specialized training on the part of the attendees. The first half of the presentation will focus on how to format data and create visualizations including data dashboards using pivot tables in Excel. The second half of the presentation will demonstrate how this methodology is being used in the CTR Library at the University of Nebraska at Kearney to make informed circulation management decisions.

Integrating Library Research Guides into Your LMS for Maximum Effect.

Tuesday, June 11, 2024

Presented at the ASCUE 2024 Conference

This paper provides a model for instructional designers, faculty, and librarians to contribute to the integration of research guides into the learning management system (LMS) through the use of modules to maximize student access to relevant library resources. This approach allows Librarians to create modules in Moodle, Canvas, or Blackboard to easily share the entire research guide or relevant portions of the guide and/or modules with Faculty and Instructional designers.

Textbooks 101: What You Really Need to Know About Textbook Access Codes, Inclusive Access, Open Access, and More!

Tuesday, June 12, 2022

Presented at the ASCUE 2022 Conference

Over the past decade there has been a lot of discussion about the rising cost of textbooks in higher education, which has resulted in an increased interest in electronic textbooks and digital coursework. When classes moved to a virtual environment in 2020, due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, many campuses needed to quickly provide students with alternatives to traditional print texts and course materials. This scenario resulted in many challenges for faculty, course management administrators, librarians, and campus IT to provide students with access to online and electronic resources. This session will examine the need for affordable and accessible materials and provide a basic overview of textbook options including open education resources (OERs), inclusive access resources, course access codes, and more. In addition, there will be discussion about the benefits and challenges these formats provide students, faculty, and information professionals.