This article discusses findings from a longitudinal research study that examined the way graduate students carry out the literature review and how they were impacted by attending a library literature review workshop. The literature review research process serves as an important gateway for graduate students’ into their scholarly communities’ practices,...
A library’s Web site is well-recognized as the gateway to the library for the vast majority of users. Choosing the most user-friendly Web architecture to reflect the many services libraries offer is a complex process, and librarians are still experimenting with what works best for their users. As part of...
In Spring 2017, I was tasked with analyzing and providing feedback on the Web of Science and Scopus databases from an advanced researcher point of view. At Oregon State University (OSU), we currently have a subscription to Web of Science, and we wanted to see if switching to Scopus might...
As a research-intensive institution with an emphasis on STEM fields, our collections and instruction reflect the scholarly communication of these fields. Typically, we highlight our collection’s academic resources such as journals and discipline-specific reference sources. While these sources provide a research-focused foundation for our students, they might not always spark...
As mobile technologies continue to evolve, libraries seek sustainable ways to keep up with these changes and to best serve our users. Previous library mobile usability research has examined tasks users predict they might be likely to perform, but little is known about what users actually do on a mobile-optimized...
Many libraries offer workshops on research topics such as data management and information organization for graduate students and faculty. We recommend that library workshops focus on teaching skills rather than principles or theories, especially if the goal is to improve data management practices. At Oregon State University Libraries, we have...
This study explores how researchers choose a bibliographic management tool and what makes them continue using this tool. This exploratory, observational study combined a naturalistic work-practice method, interviews, and journal reflections to collect qualitative research data from researchers actively using a bibliographic management tool. The unified theory of acceptance and...
Background
Today’s college students, though stereotyped as technology savvy, still require instruction to develop robust information seeking and management skills. While library instruction at Oregon State University has historically been tied to single-session lectures for individual courses provided upon teaching faculty request, this model ensures that some students receive multiple...
The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the current state of worldwide mobile usage; mobile technologies; libraries' use of mobile technologies including a review of library mobile catalog options, both vendor-supplied and in-house created; perspectives from current library leaders and innovators on the importance of incorporating...