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Academic Librarians and Systematic Reviews: an emerging role in the social sciences
(2017-05-31) Stapleton, Jackie; Brown, Sarah
This conference presentation was delivered at CAPAL Conference on May 31, 2017, Toronto, Ontario. Abstract: Systematic review support is expanding beyond health and medical librarianship. The rise of knowledge translation in the social sciences has resulted in a corresponding increase in the number and type of review studies conducted by researchers and supported by granting agencies such as SSHRC. Academic librarians in the social sciences are poised to position themselves as collaborators in the research process, providing guidance and bringing valuable expertise to the research team. Relating from personal experiences, the speakers will address three points related to systematic reviews in the social sciences: 1) Role of the librarian on a systematic review project; 2) Professional expectations including authorship and adherence to systematic search/reporting standards; 3) Specific challenges faced by the social sciences librarian.
Evolution of a summer research/writing workshop for first‐year university students
(Emerald, 2008) Guise, Janneka L.; Goosney, Janet; Gordon, Shannon; Pretty, Heather
Purpose: To describe a framework for a summer research/writing workshop for new university students, and its evolution over time and across institutions. Design/Methodology/Approach: The University of Toronto at Scarborough (UTSC) has successfully offered its award-winning two-day Summer Learning Institute on Research, Writing and Presentation Skills for four years (2004-2007), to increasing enrollments. Memorial University of Newfoundland (Memorial) adapted the UTSC model and successfully piloted its four-day workshop, SPARC (Summer Program in Academic Research and Communication), in August 2006. Both programs were low-cost, non-credit summer workshops for new students to help them prepare for university-level research and writing. Memorial offered its program a second time in August 2007. This paper focuses on the Memorial experience. Findings: The success of these programs is attributed to a common framework used in each case: program planning, marketing, and delivery and assessment. Practical implications: The framework described in this paper could be adapted by other institutions wishing to implement such a program. In addition, the SPARC team will continually improve the program by reflecting on each part of the framework. Originality/value: Much research has been done to identify and address the specific needs of first-year university students. For example, some institutions offer “first year experience” courses for credit, while others place first year students into Interest Groups. Most academic libraries offer information literacy sessions to groups of undergraduate students during the regular semester. This paper presents a model for reaching first year students before they take their first class at university.
Fighting Impostor Syndrome: How Librarians Are Bridging the Gap Between the Humanities and the Sciences
(2017-02-01) Carter, Caitlin A.; Mercer, Kate
While many librarians possess undergraduate degrees in the humanities, increasingly, there are excellent job prospects emerging in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. New graduates and librarians who are going through a career change are faced with what seems like an insurmountable challenge: how to build the skills to transition successfully into positions outside of their backgrounds. This session will demonstrate how two librarians with humanities degrees obtained fulfilling careers in the sciences. Caitlin Carter is the Pharmacy Liaison Librarian at the University of Waterloo, and Kate Mercer is the Systems Design Engineering Liaison Librarian and a PhD Candidate in Pharmacy, also at the University of Waterloo. Caitlin and Kate will share how they transitioned into STEM fields, provide tips for getting started in the sciences with a humanities background, how to integrate yourself into a science faculty, and offer best practices for identifying and using transferable skills. Outcomes – Strategies and tools for making the transition from the humanities to the STEM fields. - Insight into collaborating with science faculty on research, embedded instruction, and information services.
OMG I can IM the QEII: Networking Through chat
(2007-05-22) Gordon, Shannon
Presentation slides as presented at the Newfoundland and Labrador Library Association (NLLA) Conference, 2007. Outlines virtual library reference program in the context of the QEII, a chat program offered at Memorial University. Provides outcomes and statistics on types of questions asked by patrons and discusses future applications and trends within virtual reference.
One box to search them all: Implementing federated search at an academic library
(Emerald, 2009) Gibson, Ian; Goddard, Lisa; Gordon, Shannon
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present how, in May 2008, the Ad Hoc Committee on Federated Search was formed to prepare a preliminary report on federated searching for a special meeting of Librarians Academic Council at Memorial University Libraries. The primary purpose is to discuss current implementation of federated searching at this institution, explore what other institutions have done, examine federated search technologies, and offer recommendations for the future of this resource. Design/Methodology/Approach: Information was drawn from a recent usability study, an informal survey was created, and a literature/technology review was conducted. Findings: These four recommendations were proposed and unanimously accepted: actively develop the current federated search implementation by developing a web presence supporting “federated search in context”, re-evaluating the need for consortial purchase of a federated search tool, continuing to assess the current federated search marketplace with an eye to choosing a next-generation federated search tool that includes effective de-duping, sorting, relevancy, clustering and faceting, and that the selection, testing, and implementation of such a tool should involve broad participation from the Memorial University Libraries system. Originality/Value: Provided is an inside look at one institution’s experience with implementing a federated search tool. The paper should be of interest to anyone working in academic libraries, particularly the areas of administration, public services, and systems.
Reflective Peer Mentoring: Evolution of a Professional Development Program for Academic Librarians
(The Editorial Board of Partnership: The Canadian Journal of Library and Information Practice and Research, 2014) Goosney, Janet; Smith, Becky; Gordon, Shannon
For librarians engaged in teaching and learning, reflection has the potential to create opportunities to examine one’s instructional practice, identify and address challenges, and find new instructional pathways. It can also lead to a deeper understanding of one’s teaching. As valuable as it is, it can be challenging for librarians to find time to deeply contemplate instruction experiences. In the fast-paced environment of academic libraries, reflection is too often passed over as we rush from one teaching experience to the next. Recognizing the value of reflective practice, a team of academic librarians at Memorial University created a peer mentoring program for librarians involved in information literacy and other forms of teaching. The goal was to create an inviting and collaborative environment for exploring and developing instructional self-awareness by working with librarian colleagues. The resulting Reflective Peer Mentoring (RPM) program requires minimal librarian time yet offers satisfying opportunities for brainstorming, problem solving, and reflection by bringing colleagues together into small co-mentored learning communities. This paper explores the successful evolution of this peer-based, collegial approach to reflection. It describes the inspiration and experimentation that led to the eventual creation of the RPM model, including Reflective Teaching & Observation (RTO), an earlier program founded on peer observation and collaborative exploration. It also describes the foundational principles that form the basis for the RPM program as well as the three-step framework on which it is structured. Finally, the article examines the information gathered and lessons learned from assessment of the program during the first year of implementation.
Seeing Double at Memorial University: Two WorldCat Local Usability Studies
(2011-05-01) Fahey, Sue; Gordon, Shannon; Rose, Crystal
Presentation slides as presented at the Atlantic Provinces Library Association (APLA) Conference, 2011, St John's Newfoundland. Provides an overview of a usability study conducted on WorldCat Local (WCL), a catalogue for Health Sciences research. Summarizes research question, methodology, participants, observations and conclusions, and offers a comparison between Classic catalogue and WCL.
SPARC! Preparing First-Year Students for Information Overload
(2008-05-02) Goosney, Janet; Gordon, Shannon; Pretty, Heather
Presentation slides as presented at the Newfoundland and Labrador Library Association (NLLA) Conference, 2008. Outlines the SPARC (Summer Program in Academic Research & Communication) offered by Memorial University Libraries. Includes planning, marketing, delivery and assessment of the information literacy summer program designed for highschool students new to University.
Systematic Search and Reporting Techniques Applied to the Gray Literature: A Review of Canadian School Breakfast Program Guidelines
(2015-01-30) Godin, Katelyn Marina; Stapleton, Jackie; Kirkpatrick, Sharon I.; Hanning, Rhona M.; Leatherdale, Scott T.
This poster was presented at the Mosaic ’16 (Medical Library Association) Conference on May 17, 2016, Toronto, Ontario. Abstract: Methods: A grey literature search plan was developed to incorporate four different searching strategies: i) grey literature databases, ii) customized Google search engines, iii) targeted websites; and, iv) consultation with contact experts. These complementary strategies were used to minimize the risk of omitting relevant sources. Since abstracts are often unavailable in grey literature documents, items’ abstracts, executive summaries, or table of contents (whichever was available) were screened. Screening of publications’ full-text followed. Data were extracted on the organization, year published, who they were developed by, intended audience, goal/objectives of document, sources of evidence/resources cited, meals mentioned in the guidelines, and recommendations for program delivery. Results: The search strategies for identifying and screening publications for inclusion in the case study review was found to be manageable, comprehensive, and intuitive when applied in practice. The four search strategies of the grey literature search plan yielded 302 potentially relevant items for screening. Following the screening process, 15 publications that met all eligibility criteria remained and were included in the case study systematic review. Conclusions: This presentation demonstrates a feasible and seemingly robust method for applying systematic search strategies to identify web-based resources in the grey literature. The search strategy we developed and tested is amenable to adaptation to identify other types of grey literature from other disciplines and answering a wide range of research questions. This method should be further adapted and tested in future research syntheses.
Toward core competencies for entrepreneurship librarians
(Taylor and Francis, 2018-03-26) Toane, Carey; Figueiredo, Rachel
This article shares results of a survey of North American academic librarians supporting campus entrepreneurship to identify the job responsibilities and tasks, skills and experience they employ, and the impact of campus context on engagement with this community. A contextual approach draws on a variety of sources to identify competencies which were adapted and then ranked. Research services and outreach; market and industry research; innovation and problem solving are identified as key competencies. While the frameworks that guide business and liaison librarianship provide a starting point, the combination and application of these established skills sets the entrepreneurship librarian apart.

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Browsing Waterloo Library by Subject "Academic libraries"