Tag Archives: Librarians

Top Five Hidden Resources at The Ames Library: #1. Librarians

Posted by on October 5, 2018 No comments

Contrary to popular belief, librarians don’t spend our 9 to 5 shelving books. Our main job is to help you succeed during your time here at IWU! We’ll help you find sources for your research papers and projects, manage those citations that you’re swimming in, and develop information-literacy skills. Studies from ACRL Assessment in Action (AiA) programs found that library use increases student success. A study at California State University, East Bay showed that “[s]tudents who participated in course integrated library instruction were much more likely to use library resources and were also more likely to have a higher GPA than students who did not receive the instruction.” (Source.)

Each of the librarians at The Ames Library is responsible for different subject areas, like biology or religion, meaning that we know all the best sources in those areas to make your life easier. And if you’re not sure which librarian to turn to? Not to worry, you can approach any of us with questions! Our email addresses, office locations, and phone numbers are all under our pictures on The Ames Library homepage.

Ames Library’s Stephanie Davis-Kahl Makes Reading List

Posted by on August 30, 2018 1 comment

Earlier this month, Credo profiled “4 Essential Summer Reads for Librarians” on their blog. Second on the list? The Ames Library’s own Scholarly Communications librarian Stephanie Davis-Kahl with her co-edited book Undergraduate Research and the Academic Librarian: Case Studies and Best Practices. Says Credo:

This edited volume contains over 50 contributions on how academic libraries can plan new services and resources, and collaborate across departments to support new modes of research including the creation of undergraduate journals, managing data services, or organizing undergraduate research conferences. These activities can be considered high-impact practices to support student success and retention as well.

Whether you’re a librarian or an undergraduate research yourself, you’re sure to find this book helpful. To read it, drop by Archives and Special Collections on the 4th Floor and ask for call number Z682.4.C63 U534 2017!

Are Libraries Better Than the Internet?

Posted by on December 20, 2017 No comments

Source: Paul Lowry (Flickr) https://www.flickr.com/photos/paul_lowry/2266388742

Yesterday, journalist Marcus Banks published the provocatively titled “Ten Reasons Libraries Are Still Better Than the Internet” for American Libraries. As he states in his opening line, you’ve probably heard some form of this argument before: “Thanks to the internet, we no longer need libraries or librarians.” But is there any truth to that statement? After all, information abounds on the internet—information that previously you often had to seek out in a library.

As you probably know if you’ve been been a student in one of our instruction sessions, you can’t find everything on the internet. The full text of many academic articles is shrouded behind paywalls; copyright laws prevent you from reading more than a few pages of a book on Google Books; and complex search-engine algorithms bury the piece of information you need on the fifth (or in some cases, fiftieth) page of search results where you won’t see it. Don’t get us wrong; we love the internet. At The Ames Library, however, you never have to pay for the book, article, or e-resource that you need.

Librarians at Ames are also on hand to assist you with points #7 and #8 in Banks’ essay:

7. Librarians can help you sort the real news from the fake. While a plethora of useful, accurate, and engaging content is available online, the web is filled with inaccurate and misleading information. “Click bait” headlines get you to click on the content even if the underlying information is superficial or inaccurate. Misinformation is the spread of deliberate falsehoods or inflammatory content online, such as the Russian-backed ads placed on social media during the 2016 US presidential election. Librarianship has always been about providing objective, accurate, and engaging information that meets the needs of a particular person. This has not changed, and it is why librarians are experts in information literacy.

8. Librarians guide you to exactly what you need. Google is an impressive search engine, but its results can be overwhelming, and many people do not know to filter them by content type (such as .pdf) or website source (such as .gov). Google offers many search tips, which are useful but generic. A conversation with a librarian can clarify exactly what you are looking for and figure out the best way to use Google—or many other resources—to find it.

To learn more about why libraries and librarians are more important than ever, check out the rest of Banks’ article here—or stop by The Ames Library and talk to one of our subject librarians about how to get the information you need to be successful in your classes, grad-school application, and beyond!

Ames Librarian Stephanie Davis-Kahl Co-Edits New Book

Posted by on November 6, 2017 No comments

The Ames Library is proud to announce the publication of a new book, Undergraduate Research and the Academic Librarian: Case Studies and Best Practices, co-edited by our very own Scholarly Communications librarian, Stephanie Davis-Kahl.

Published by the American Library Association and available both in print and as an e-book, this new collection explores research as an integral part of undergraduate learning.

“In 25 chapters featuring 60 expert contributors, Undergraduate Research and the Academic Librarian examines how the structures that undergird undergraduate research, such as the library, can become part of the core infrastructure of the undergraduate experience. It explores the strategic new services and cross-departmental collaborations academic libraries are creating to support research: publishing services, such as institutional repositories and undergraduate research journals; data services; copyright services; poster printing and design; specialized space; digital scholarship services; awards; and much more. These programs can be from any discipline, can be interdisciplinary, can be any high-impact format, and can reflect upon an institution’s own history, traditions, and tensions.”

Source: http://www.alastore.ala.org/detail.aspx?ID=12283

Illinois Wesleyan students will no doubt find the book a vital resource as they undertake original research during their four years on campus. Similarly, faculty overseeing that research will benefit from the book’s detailed case studies. As we’ll mention in an upcoming blog post tomorrow, one of the many advantage of The Ames Library is that outstanding undergraduate research can be deposited with Digital Commons @ IWU. Stay tuned to find out more! In the meantime, Davis-Kahl’s edited collection will soon be available for checkout through Ames, so be sure to keep an eye on our catalog.