YUL research and professional contributions
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Research conducted by York University Library Faculty members can be found in this collection, along with professional contributions such as presentation slides and instructional videos.
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Browsing YUL research and professional contributions by Subject "Academic libraries"
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Item Open Access Enhancing Student Participation at Steacie Library Using New Web Technologies: TRY 2007(2007-05) Nariani, RajivDescribes some Web 2.0 technologies that are being used at Steacie Science and Engineering Library to engage students and librarians in various knowledge sharing activities. Includes the new books blogs; RSS feeds for keeping up-to-date, and an internal librarians wiki.Item Open Access Keeping Up With RSS: OLA 2009(2009-05-12T02:49:52Z) Nariani, RajivPresented at OLA Super Conference in Jan 2009. RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds can be used by researchers to keep up with the latest developments in a particular field. They can be used as a tool to gather information from different sources including blogs, web sites, online journals, and databases and bring all related information at one location.Item Open Access Life of the Library: An Exploration of Public Space Use and Meaning(York University, 2009-07-31) Wakaruk, AmandaLibraries have a long history of adapting to environmental factors for the benefit of their users. Recent technological advances and pedagogical shifts are creating fundamental changes in the way academic libraries are perceived and utilized. As a result, librarians are increasingly concerned with ensuring that the physical library remains relevant and meaningful to its users. To that end, this paper explores the academic library as a dialectical place of enlightenment and engagement through the words and actions of library users at York University. Library behaviour was documented and interpreted to better understand user needs. Reflections about memorable library experiences were analyzed to gain greater insight about the role of the library as place in the broader context of students’ lived experiences. It was recognized that the creation and support of flexible yet differentiated library spaces allows for the development of multiple and convergent places of meaning. The students’ library is a place of belonging, one in which librarians and library staff are increasingly marginalized. This empowering shift of control from professional to student marks a transition from a highly controlled venue for book storage and solitary study to a student space that supports social learning and other types of engagement. In order to remain relevant and meaningful the academic library must be a successful, and public, place for students to learn and engage.Item Open Access Scholr 2.0: a white paper by Scholars Portage(2007-08) Allison-Cassin, Stacy; Williams, MitaThis document was created to highlight opportunities and drive discussion for the OCUL consortium in both the short term through the launch of a new Scholars Portal server in 2008, and in the long term by incorporating more 'social' means of sharing and organizing information within OCUL's Scholars Portal and the larger academic community that it serves. It was created by Scholars Portage librarians subgroup of the Scholars Portal Public Services Advisory Group. With the implementation of Scholars Portal 2, a replacement for the existing online journal hosting service of Scholars Portal, comes a great opportunity to incorporate new features and new services to the OCUL community of students and researchers. This document was created with the intention of starting a discussion among OCUL librarians about what we would like to see be made available.Item Open Access Usability Testing of an Online Information Literacy Tutorial(Emerald, 2005-01) Oud, Joanne; Bury, SophiePurpose – Usability testing can play a valuable role in improving the effectiveness of online information literacy instruction, while forming a core component in a wider assessment plan. This article aims to discuss the usability testing of an online information literacy tutorial for freshman undergraduates at Wilfrid Laurier University Library. Design/methodology/approach – Two librarians, working to fulfill an important mandate of the Library's Information Literacy Task Force, defined goals, created and implemented a modest, though effective, approach to usability assessment. Findings – The testing provided detailed information on the ease of use of the tutorial, as well as users’ satisfaction levels with content and design. These findings informed subsequent revisions and enhancements to the online tutorial. Originality/value – Student evaluation questionnaires distributed subsequent to the tutorial overhaul indicate the success of usability testing in the development of a more effective learning tool.