Teresa Welsh

Information Literacy in the Digital Age: An Evidence-Based Approach is based on content, resources, and exercises developed for an academic information literacy course that is grounded in and based on research related to information literacy.

According to the American Library Association (www.ala.org), “information literacy is a set of abilities requiring individuals to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.” Information literacy forms the basis for lifelong learning and is common to all disciplines, to all learning environments, and to all levels of education.

Information literacy is an umbrella term that includes a variety of important, specific competencies addressed by chapter topics such as: definitions of and research related to information literacy, cultural literacy, library literacy, ethical literacy (copyright, plagiarism), computer/Internet/Web literacy, network/database literacy, media literacy, government literacy, financial literacy, and a chapter on the basic types of research papers and how to structure and write an objective research paper.  Appendices in the book include an instrument for measuring information competency and three research papers related to the topic of information literacy.

The focus of this study was to compare Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts (LISTA), Library Literature & Information Science Full-Text Articles (LLISFT), and Information Science & Technology Abstracts (ISTA) scholarly databases. Five different search strategies were used to identify differences among the three library and information science (LIS) databases’ coverage of selected topics and the degree of overlap in the coverage of those topics. This study used similar search strategies as a previous LIS database comparison study by Read and Smith (2000) so that results over time selected topics among the three LIS databases. While LISTA has the widest range of subject coverage, ISTA has greater strength of coverage of technology-related topics, and LLISFT has greater strength of coverage in more traditional library-related topics. Since LISTA has the broadest range of coverage, it would be a logical choice for libraries that can only afford a subscription to one LIS database. Libraries that support LIS degree program should consider subscription to all three databases to ensure coverage of technical topics as well as more traditional topics related to library programs and services.

In the late 1970's, there was an increased interest in quantifying the number of books that needed preservation attention in academic libraries (Brown, 2005, p. 1). As major libraries established preservation programs, they needed ways to identify priorities, allocate resources, and determine policy that would guide their efforts to mitigate collection damage (Brown, 2006, p. 1).

This Complete Issue is brought to you for free and open access by The Aquila Digital Community. It has been accepted for inclusion in SLIS Connecting by an authorized administrator of The Aquila Digital Community. For more information, please contact Joshua.Cromwell@usm.edu. ... Recommended Citation Creel, Stacy and Welsh, Teresa (2012) "Entire Issue SLIS Connecting Volume 1 Issue 1 February 2012," SLIS Connecting: Vol. 1: Iss. 1, Article 11. Available at: http://aquila.usm.edu/slisconnecting/vol1/iss1/11

Abstract Presents updates and news from the Southern Miss Student Archivists Association (Southern Miss SAA) and the Library and Information Science Student Association (LISSA) along with upcoming events of interest including but not limited to The Children's Book Festival, Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries International Conference (QQML 12), and British Studies.

Purpose–This paper aims to explain the nature of quick response (QR) codes and their possible applications in libraries. Design/methodology/approach–Existing uses, applications, and functionality of QR codes are looked at, before turning to the limited existing use of QR codes in libraries. The author then suggests many different ways QR codes could be used in our libraries.

This case study reports results from a federally funded home telemedicine program in rural Grainger County, Tennessee. Patients, family caregivers, and providers were generally satisfied with this low-cost, user-friendly telemedicine program that used the plain-old-telephone system. Mileage and nurse drive time were reduced and nursing productivity was improved during this demonstration project.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine formal and informal communication and documentation related to the creation and development of the Katrina Research Center (KRC) including its mission, vision, organizational structure, funding, collection development, community outreach, research, and educational activities.

Design/methodology/approach – This paper takes the form of a qualitative case study.

Findings – Recurrent themes identified in the study include multi-disciplinary affiliation of KRC faculty and staff; cooperation and resource-sharing with other university departments and faculty; and networking with community groups such as local historical societies, public schools, and libraries.

Practical implications – The documentation of the creation and development of the KRC can be useful as a model for other research centers and/or subject repositories affiliated with academic libraries.

Originality/value – The documentation and examination of factors related to a multi-disciplinary research center and subject repository can form the basis for further, more comprehensive studies.

Purpose – This review reports on the first Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries International Conference held in Chania, Crete, Greece.

Design/methodology/approach – The methodological approach is anthropological participant observation.

Findings – Approximately 150 attendees from 50 different countries participated and exchanged ideas, methodologies, and techniques related to library research.

Practical implications – Presentation of research related to various types of libraries is a way to disseminate research results as well as promote and stimulate further research.

Originality/value – There is a need to expand the body of both qualitative and quantitative LIS research related to library research, particularly the evaluation of library services.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze the Hurricane Katrina-related narratives of Library and Information Science students at the University of Southern Mississippi's School of Library and Information Science, in order to gain insight into the role of public libraries post-Hurricane Katrina.

Design/methodology/approach – Qualitative NVivo software was used to code the narratives for themes related to public libraries post-Hurricane Katrina.

Findings – Post-disaster problems include physical damage or destruction of the libraries and inundation of the libraries by refugees and evacuees seeking communication and information. Post-disaster services provided by public librarians include providing communication and information, helping fill out aid forms, listening, offering comfort, volunteering, and donating.

Practical implications – This study can inform practitioners of the value of the public library as a quality of life issue since providing people with information and communication in public libraries played a crucial role in light of a catastrophic circumstance.

Originality/value – The unique context of local rural and small-town public libraries faced with devastating catastrophic circumstances can add to the body of literature related to the value of public library services post-disaster and form the basis for further, more comprehensive studies.

This survey addressed the experience of receiving tenure through the personal narratives of directors of Library and Information Science schools in the USA. Fifty-five respondents were asked, based on their experience, to rank the emphasis of the variables operating in tenure. Participants agreed that the granting of autonomy via tenure was an opportunity to exercise academic freedom. With tenure came the responsibility to contribute as a citizen of the institutional and disciplinary communities of the profession. The most prominent factor in determining tenure and promotion decisions for LIS faculty is demonstration of research productivity through peer-reviewed publications: articles, books and conference proceedings. Teaching and service are also important components of academic life. It was found that collaboration underpinned collegiality and created an environment conducive to research. In turn, the stability and collegiality of a tenured position made the institution work as a teaching and learning environment.

Geographers and Library and Information Scientists have similar perspectives on information access. There is an opportunity for technologies to be shared by the two disciplines, such as a geographic information system or GIS. GIS has the potential of offering technological advances to library and information scientists as well as to their partnering institutions. This investigation examines the publishing trends of articles on GIS indexed in Library Literature & Information Science and Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts databases during a 16-year span from 1990 to 2005 to determine growth in the quantity of articles published on the subject as well as author affiliation.

A specialized body of telemedicine/telehealth literature has developed in recent years, fueled by research and the development of telemedicine as a field of study. This bibliometric study examines the publishing and citing patterns of telemedicine literature indexed by the Telemedicine Information Exchange (TIE), an online database maintained by the Telemedicine Research Center (TRC) with major support from the National Library of Medicine. Citation counts in the TIE bibliographic database trace the growth and development of telemedicine literature and identify the most prolific authors. Citation counts in SciSearch® cited reference science database indicate the most cited telemedicine journals and authors and are used to compute journal impact factors. Seventy percent of the telemedicine literature was published since 1995; 86 percent was published since 1990. Core telemedicine journals, Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare and Telemedicine Journal, are peer-reviewed, research-oriented, highly cited in SCI®, and have a high Journal Impact Factor. The most prolific authors are not necessarily the most cited (only 30 percent of top ten most prolific tele medicine authors are also among the top ten most cited in SCI).

The purpose of this study is to make recommendations for a sustainable telemedicine system by examining the structural attributes of telemedicine across and within different types of organizations.  A survey instrument with two categories, background questions and evaluation questions, was developed and used as a guide to interview eight key informants from four different types of telehealth systems.  The eight transcribed interviews were coded using NUD*IST qualitative software. Research publications, archival documents, and government reports were collected to triangulate, or cross check, interview data.  Multi-case study methodology was used as a guide to design the research, analyze date, compare results, and make recommendations.    A telehealth typology is proposed as well as a simplified conceptual telehealth model and a diffusion of telemedicine model. 
While there are some structural differences among the different types of programs, there are many more similarities.  All receive funding from multiple sources, and all employ a combination of full and part-time employees.  Three core staff categories include administrative, medical, and technical support. Additional categories may include evaluation researchers and project coordinators.
Major barriers to the development or maintenance of a telehealth system are identified as telecommunication costs and lack of infrastructure; physician participation, both referring and providing; concerns about profitability and liability; and lack of internal support and resistance to change.
Factors of organizational structure identified as conducive to growth and sustainability of a telehealth network include: development of a statewide, multi-use network; an advisory oversight group composed of key players in state government, higher education, telecommunications, and healthcare educators; integration of the network into desktop environments; multiple funding strategies; internal support and marketing and external marketing.
Recommendations for developing, growing, and sustaining a teleheatlh network are provided as well as recommendations for further research.