Susan J. Beck, President
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As I begin my first presidential column, I believe what is upmost on everyone’s mind is the state of the economy. (more…)
49, no. 1
This Is Our Time to Shine: Opportunities in a Recession
Academic Freedom in Post–September 11 America: A Research Guide
Neal Wyatt, Editor
Janet Beuthe Anderson, Guest Columnist
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One only has to pick up a newspaper to learn of the continuing implications of September 11 on our political lives, but the terrorist attacks have had far reaching cultural and academic consequences as well. (more…)
What We Talk About When We Talk About Repositories
Diane Zabel, Editor
Mike Furlough, Guest Columnist
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In this column, Mike Furlough writes about repositories from a user services perspective. His engaging and accessible article provides a fascinating history of repository hype, a primer on technical tools, and thoughtful reflections on the future of institutional repositories. (more…)
Your Brain on Fiction
Barry Trott, Editor
Duncan Smith, Guest Columnist
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In our daily practice as readers’ advisors, we generally focus on the immediate issue at hand—getting a book into the hands of a particular reader. This is as it should be, and we need to be facile at providing our readers with appropriate suggestions that are based on our discussion with them about what appeals to them about their reading. (more…)
Best Free Reference Websites: Eleventh Annual List
RUSA Machine-Assisted Reference Section (MARS)
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Welcome to the eleventh annual “Best Free Reference Websites List.” In 1998, the Machine-Assisted Reference Section (MARS) of RUSA appointed an ad hoc task force to develop a method of recognizing outstanding reference websites. (more…)
First Impressions and Rethinking Restroom Questions
Diane Zabel
Lorraine J. Pellack, Guest Columnist
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In her inspirational article in the Winter 2008 issue of RUSQ (“A Personal Choice: Reference Service Excellence”) Marie Radford reminds us that reference service excellence begins with the initial patron interaction, whether it is face-to-face or virtual. (more…)
Best Historical Materials
RUSA History Section Historical Materials Committee
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Welcome to the annual review of “Best Historical Materials.” Each year members of the Historical Materials Committee, RUSA History Section identify and review numerous bibliographies, indexes, and websites to offer our recommendations of English-language resources in the field of history. (more…)
Best of the Best Business Websites (Free Resources): The 2009 Selection
Business Reference and Services Section Education Committee
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Welcome to “Best of the Best Business Websites (Free Resources),” the first annual selection and review of three of the most highly relevant business websites as selected by Business Reference and Services Section (BRASS) Education Committee members. (more…)
Lending and Borrowing Across Borders: Issues and Challenges with International Resource Sharing
Sharing and Transforming Access to Resources Section International Interlibrary Loan Committee
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The charge of the RUSA Sharing and Transforming Access to Resources Section (STARS) International Interlibrary Loan Committee is to evaluate trends in international interlibrary loan (ILL) and resource sharing, to develop materials and resources for international ILL practitioners, and to promote international ILL resource sharing efforts. (more…)
Describing Vernacular Literacy Practices to Enhance Understanding of Community Information Needs: A Case Study with Practical Implications
Denice Adkins, Jenny Bossaller, and Kim M. Thompson
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Key documents guiding U.S. library service, including Reference and User Service Association (RUSA) guidelines and the American Library Association (ALA) Code of Ethics and Bill of Rights, focus on equitable public library service. (more…)
Transforming the One-Shot Library Session into Pedagogical Collaboration: Information Literacy and the English Composition Class
Heidi LM Jacobs and Dale Jacobs
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This article examines the programmatic and philosophical changes that resulted from a collaboration between a librarian and a composition and rhetoric professor. (more…)
Libraries: Partners in Linking College Students and Their Communities Through Service Learning
April K. Heiselt and Robert E. Wolverton
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With decreased funding and personnel reductions in many libraries across the United States, local librarians are searching for innovative methods to create sustainable partnerships in the community. (more…)
Applying Universal Design to Information Literacy: Teaching Students Who Learn Differently at Landmark College
Lisa O’Connor, Editor
Ted Chodock and Elizabeth Dolinger, Guest Columnists
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Our classrooms now include an increasing number of students who learn differently, including those that have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD), dyslexia, or other diagnosed or undiagnosed learning differences. This spectrum of students challenges academic librarians to develop new approaches to delivering information literacy instruction. (more…)
Creating Online Tutorials at Your Libraries: Software Choices and Practical Implications
Judith M. Nixon, Editor
Maribeth Slebodnik and Catherine Fraser Riehle, Guest Columnists
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As this is the last “Management” column I will be editing, some comments on the articles in this new column are in order. Three years has passed very quickly. During my tenure as column editor, I have looked for a variety of practical articles on how to improve reference services and increase opportunities to teach research strategies to our users. (more…)