In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, digital literacy has become a fundamental skill for active participation in society. Maine's public libraries recognize this reality and have taken steps to provide digital literacy education to their communities. However, these efforts are hindered by a lack of resources necessary to meet the…

This exploratory and qualitative study examined the appraisal practices of archivists in university special collections, including how archivists define appraisal, decide what to keep and discard, apply a collection policy in their decision process, and contend with problematic aspects of the practice. The first part of this study examined the…

Employability is key to libraries as they continue to diversify their services to include career services to meet the job seeking needs of community members. In fulfilling this crucial role, public libraries face challenges in providing career services for their community members. This dissertation probed and sought ways to continuously improve…

The purpose of this study was to examine K-12 School librarians' perceptions of specific patron resources as those perceptions relate to student patrons for whom English is not the first language spoken, those exposed to trauma, and those with different sexual orientations in Alabama's public schools. A quantitative phase using a 5-point Likert…

Public libraries, important spaces for accessing assistance and resources, are increasingly focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) and hands-on learning (Lee & Phillips, 2019). While they are promising spaces for STEAM learning that supports marginalized communities and multi-generational engagement, this…

Informal learning constantly happens all around us. Informal learning approaches often stand in stark contrast to school practices and standards, receive little attention in the formal study of education, and present a great deal of untapped opportunity to support learners. Mendoso Community Library (MCL) is a particularly interesting illustration…

Collection development is at the core of the work of children's librarians, an ongoing activity that shapes collections as well as library spaces, services, programming, and communities. The process of collection development includes the consideration of several factors that impact the evaluation, selection, and acquisition of books available for…

Academic libraries in the United States often have difficulty recruiting for technology-focused positions. This mixed-methods study examines what technology skills libraries are seeking in entry-level technology positions and explores ways to increase interest in library employment. Utilizing Lent's (2013) social cognitive career theory (SCCT)…

Pennsylvania has experienced a significant reduction in certified K-12 school librarian positions. This exploratory sequential mixed methods research study explored principal decision-making impacting K-12 school library programming. 30 survey participants and 8 interview participants located across 3 IUs in PA took part in this research study.…

Undergraduate university students experience a knowledge gap when required to use unfamiliar software applications without the benefit of direct instruction. As a solution, students often turn to online support, particularly video, but little is known about students' perceptions of the effectiveness of support videos. As libraries are a principle…

For members of the dominant culture, libraries produce largely positive affective responses (Farkas). However, researchers and practitioners in the field of library science have identified a need to make library resources more accessible to patrons from marginalized communities who are excluded from library spaces by institutional policies and…

The purpose of this case study was to discover the perceptions of the role and programs in school libraries that support academic achievement in the school community for educational professionals at National Blue Ribbon Schools in the United States. Perceptions regarding the role of school librarianship surrounding academic achievement were…

This study examines how school librarians in Georgia's K-12 public schools foster positive reading cultures. Using qualitative research, it explores how librarians promote reading engagement by creating inviting library spaces, curating diverse collections, developing programs that encourage reading for pleasure and academic growth, and…

The importance of early literacy to later academic achievement has been well documented, as has the positive impact of high-quality early literacy environments. One stumbling block to achieving improvements in literacy skills for school-aged children appears to be inequities in access to high-quality early literacy environments. Public libraries,…

First-generation college students (FGCS) are an increasingly significant population at institutions of higher education in the United States. While only one aspect of college student identity, first- generation students collectively enter higher education without parent(s) who have obtained, at minimum, a bachelor's degree. As such, FGCS tap into…