2015
26
Aug
and

Archives Alive!: librarian-faculty collaboration and an alternative to the five-page paper

In brief: The short research paper is ubiquitous in undergraduate liberal arts education. But is this assignment type an effective way to assess student learning or writing skills? We argue that it rarely is, and instead serves as an artifact maintained out of instructor familiarity with and unnecessary allegiance to timeworn conceptions of “academia.” As...
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2015
12
Aug
and

New Grads, Meet New Metrics: Why Early Career Librarians Should Care About Altmetrics & Research Impact

In Brief How do academic librarians measure their impact on the field of LIS, particularly in light of eventual career goals related to reappointment, promotion, or tenure? The ambiguity surrounding how to define and measure impact is arguably one of the biggest frustrations that new librarians face, especially if they are interested in producing scholarship...
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2015
29
Jul
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Why Diversity Matters: A Roundtable Discussion on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Librarianship

In Brief:  After presenting together at ACRL 2015 to share research we conducted on race, identity, and diversity in academic librarianship, we reconvene panelists Ione T. Damasco, Cataloger Librarian at the University of Dayton, Isabel Gonzalez-Smith, Undergraduate Experience Librarian at the University of Illinois, Chicago, Dracine Hodges, Head of Acquisitions at Ohio State University, Todd...
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2015
1
Jul
, , and

Revising Academic Library Governance Handbooks

Original Image by Flickr user Sasquatch 1 (CC BY 2.0), with minimal modification by C. Strunk (10 June 2015). In Brief Regardless of our status (tenure track, non-tenure track, staff, and/or union), academic librarians at colleges and universities may use a handbook or similar document as a framework for self-governance. These handbooks typically cover rank...
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2015
3
Jun

Soliciting Performance, Hiding Bias: Whiteness and Librarianship

Image by Flickr user tweng (CC BY-SA 2.0) In Brief: Despite the growing body of research on our professional demographics and multi-year diversity initiatives, librarianship in the United States remains overwhelmingly white. I suggest the interview process is a series of repetitive gestures designed to mimic and reinforce white middle class values, which ultimately influence...
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2015
6
May
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Editorial: As the World Turns So Do We: A New Publication Strategy

In Brief: Announcing an update to In the Library with the Lead Pipe’s publication strategy. By Editorial Board, Erin Dorney, Lindsey Rae, Brett Bonfield, Ellie Collier, and Hugh Rundle In the Library With the Lead Pipe began in the fall of 2008 with lofty publication goals. Six librarians launched the site as a peer-reviewed blog, with plans to publish an article...
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2015
22
Apr

Adopting the Educator’s Mindset: Charting New Paths in Curriculum and Assessment Mapping

Throwback Thursday for June 18, 2015: In the Library with the Lead Pipe welcomes Bethany Messersmith to our Editorial Board!  In honor of Throwback Thursday, we’re highlighting Bethany’s recent piece on curriculum and assessment mapping.   In Brief: The greatest challenge that I faced in my role as Information Literacy Librarian occurred as a result...
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2015
8
Apr

Randall Munroe’s What If as a Test Case for Open Access in Popular Culture

  In Brief: Open access to scholarly research benefits not only the academic world but also the general public. Questions have been raised about the popularity of academic materials for nonacademic readers. However, when scholarly materials are available, they are also available to popularizers who can recontextualize them in unexpected and more accessible ways. Randall...
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