College and Research Libraries
May 2009, Vol. 70, No. 3
The full-text of these articles are available to current ACRL members only. You will need your password to access them.
Leveraging Lean Six Sigma to Culture, Nurture, and Sustain Assessment and Change in the Academic Library Environment
Sarah Anne Murphy
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This paper explores the application of Lean Six Sigma, a business improvement philosophy and methodology, in the academic library environment as one means to nurture and sustain a culture of assessment and change. It includes an overview of the philosophy and an example of an actual virtual reference improvement project that was conducted using Lean Six Sigma tools and principles at The Ohio State University Libraries. It concludes with a discussion of the benefits and limitations of deploying a Lean Six Sigma initiative within a library organization.
How Scholarly Is Google Scholar? A Comparison to Library Databases
Jared L. Howland, Thomas C. Wright, Rebecca A. Boughan, and Brian C. Roberts
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Google Scholar was released as a beta product in November of 2004. Since then, Google Scholar has been scrutinized and questioned by many in academia and the library field. Our objectives in undertaking this study were to determine how scholarly Google Scholar is in comparison with traditional library resources and to determine if the scholarliness of materials found in Google Scholar varies across disciplines. We found that Google Scholar is, on average, 17.6 percent more scholarly than materials found only in library databases and that there is no statistically significant difference between the scholarliness of materials found in Google Scholar across disciplines.
The Role of Academic Libraries in Mentored Undergraduate Research: A Model of Engagement in the Academic Community
Anthony Stamatoplos
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Mentored undergraduate research is an emergent pedagogy in higher education. It differs fundamentally from course-related student research and is largely independent of the curriculum. Academic libraries should engage formally with the undergraduate research community. To do so, librarians will need to think and work beyond traditional models of library service, most notably in information literacy programs. The intent of this article is to raise awareness about opportunities for library involvement with undergraduate researchers and programs. Lessons from one university, including a formal partnership between a library and an undergraduate research center, suggest some general strategies that academic libraries might explore.
The Presence of IT Skill Sets in Librarian Position Announcements
Janie M. Mathews and Harold Pardue
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What skills do librarians need in today’s world with its Google-esque movement toward ubiquitous instant information? Anecdotal evidence suggests librarians are acquiring a wider range of information technology (IT) skills. This study examines the IT skills employers deem essential by conducting a content analysis of randomly selected job ads from ALA’s online JobList over a five-month period. We found a substantial need for Web development, project management, systems development, and systems applications. This suggests that librarians are incorporating a significant subset of IT professionals’ skill sets. This trend poses challenging questions for their identity and profession.
Serving Generation 1.5: Academic Library Use and Students from Non–English-Speaking Households
Curt Asher, Emerson Case, and Ying Zhong
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This study examined ways in which the library is utilized by students of Generation 1.5. Generation 1.5 refers to those students who appear fully conversant in English but are in reality still learning the language. The study is based on a survey of 1,396 students at California State University, Bakersfield. Patterns of library use between Generation 1.5 students and their non–Generation 1.5 counterparts were found to differ. The results indicated that, to Generation 1.5 students, the library is a particularly important provider of a physical space, unstructured social learning, and technology.
Job Satisfaction among Academic Cataloger Librarians
Joan M. Leysen and Jeanne M. K. Boydston
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This article details the results of a May 2007 study of job satisfaction of cataloger librarians at ARL member libraries in the United States. Eighty-eight percent of the cataloger librarians studied were satisfied with their current job and the majority would make the same career choice again. Job facets that cataloger librarians found most important were the benefits package, relationships with coworkers, and opportunities to learn new skills. Catalogers wanted to be treated fairly, be consulted about issues directly related to their work, be informed about current activities in their department, have their opinions respected and considered, and have an administration that supports catalogers. Topics for future research are suggested.