New ACRL publication: Informing Innovation

Contact: Kathryn J. Deiss


ACRL Content Strategist


(312) 280-2529


kdeiss@ala.org

NEWS


For Immediate Release


May 5, 2009

CHICAGO – The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) announces the publication of a new title, “Informing Innovation: Tracking Student Interest in Emerging Library Technologies at Ohio University” by Char Booth.

“Informing Innovation” examines one institution’s efforts to move away from “technolust” and toward a culture of assessment in developing and implementing technology initiatives. Booth presents findings from a study conducted at Ohio University investigating the convergence of students and libraries with emerging information, communication and academic tools. The study uses survey data to test generational and demographic assumptions that often guide technology development in academic libraries.

“I believe that this research report is a ‘must read’ for academic librarians,” writes Joan K. Lippincott, associate director of CNI (Coalition for Networked Information), in the forward to “Informing Innovation.” “Char Booth has succeeded in providing us with a snapshot of the major issues involved in thinking through Web 2.0 services in academic libraries, as well as a model for implementing a local research design in order to better understand your own institution’s users’needs.”

Identifying student behaviors related to emerging and social technologies, and the implications of those behaviors, are central to Booth’s study. The need for local user assessment is a fundamental to the work, which shares practical research strategies and methods with the reader. The case study, and its appended survey instrument template, can be used as a model by other college and university libraries to conduct similar investigations on their campuses.

“Informing Innovation: Tracking Student Interest in Emerging Library Technologies at Ohio University” is available as a free digital download on the ACRL publications Web site at
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/publications/digital and for purchase in print through the ALA Online Store (
http://www.alastore.ala.org) and by telephone order at (866) 746-7252 in the U.S. or (770) 442-8633 for international customers.

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ACRL is a division of the American Library Association, representing more than 13,000 academic and research librarians and interested individuals. ACRL is the only individual membership organization in North America that develops programs, products and services to meet the unique needs of academic and research librarians. Its initiatives enable the higher education community to understand the role that academic libraries play in the teaching, learning and research environments.