Practical Academic Librarianship: The International Journal of the SLA Academic Division

Best Practices for Serving LGBTQ+ Library Users in the 21st Century

M. Elizabeth Turner — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In order to best serve LGBTQ+ library users, it is necessary to develop a list of best practices. While there is ample literature on the topic of the needs of LGBTQ+ library users and how to address those needs, there is no readily accessible list of evidence-based best practices for general implementation. To address this need, the author identified an initial pool of 210 articles published in library journals between the years of 2000 and 2022. Of those 210 articles, 109 articles met all conditions for further review. A total of 21 articles within the review pool contained specific recommendations for serving LGBTQ+ library users. Those 21 articles were assessed, and their findings compiled to create a list of evidence-based best practices for serving LGBTQ+ library users.

Searching for Answers

Sarah K. Mazur — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This case study looks at trends in FAQ organization and title composition in corporate and university library FAQs. Similarities and differences between the two groups were noted and analyzed. The patterns discovered in this research prompted changes to one university library’s FAQ page to test user engagement and discovery of relevant FAQ articles. User engagement for the library’s FAQ page overall and for popular articles was tracked before and after the changes were made. This data was analyzed for the impact the changes made and recommendations for best practices in organizing and composing titles for library FAQ are developed and presented.

Balancing, Prioritizing, and Reimagining

Grace Therrell — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Academic instruction librarians and library instruction programs have been turning to online instruction in recent years as an option for creating a more sustainable presence. Developing online learning opportunities often requires various considerations outside of identifying learning needs. Librarians may consider designing for students both in-person and online; creating online instruction to replace or supplement one-shot sessions; and marrying chosen technology with a pedagogical approach. These are common to instruction librarians as they create online learning, but they are also sometimes challenging to address simultaneously. This process-focused article details one librarian’s experience balancing all three of these considerations while reimagining asynchronous library instruction for large-enrollment introductory public speaking courses. This article shares an iterative process for determining needs and addressing multiple considerations. It also details how the author practically addressed considerations as well as how the redesigned instruction was implemented. There is discussion on the idea of “comprehensive” design and what it means to balance multiple priorities in practice. The article ends with recommendations for librarians who are designing or redesigning online instruction who are holding many interests and goals in mind.

Keywords: online learning, information literacy instruction, asynchronous instruction, academic libraries

Introduction to Volume 13, Issue 2

Stacey Greenwell; Jennifer A. Bartlett — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction to Volume 13, Issue 2 of Practical Academic Librarianship: The International Journal of the SLA Academic Division.

Apologia pro Bibliotheca: More than Information

James Donovan — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

A recurring assumption about libraries is that its work can equated with information. It becomes no surprise, then, when libraries are argued to be redundant and easily replaceable with online holdings. The present piece suggests ways in which this position, common even among librarians, fundamentally misrepresents the deeper project of the library.