University Libraries faculty members showcase stories of library impact
Recent publications highlight the breadth of library science such as historical analysis, modern advances and future preparation
The University Libraries serves as a main hub of information sharing for the 嫩田研究院官网 community as students utilize its resources to engage with research and learn new skills. While Libraries faculty are involved in providing crucial services for academic success, they also play a role in creating new knowledge in the field of librarianship. Every year, 嫩田研究院官网 Libraries faculty engage in their own research and publish findings demonstrating the direct impact of their efforts and the broader contributions to the profession and to the world.
This past year, three publications explored the past, present and future of library application in the world. These publications include how libraries have been affected at a point in time in history, how the creation of updated practices as it relates to digitization is a vital need, and how libraries can provide a safeguard for the preservation of our natural resources for the future.
By Jeremy Dibbell, special collections librarian
Imagine needing to trace books not just on the shelves today, but back to a specific moment in history. Dibbell鈥檚 article explores this challenge by looking at what happened in 1776, when books were seized from the private libraries of Boston鈥檚 loyalists during the Revolutionary War. The article follows how these books were taken, how they were classified and where they ultimately ended up. By uncovering little-known records from the Massachusetts Archives, this study shows how war shaped the fate of books and the stories they carried. It鈥檚 a compelling read for historians and anyone interested in the Revolutionary era.
By Erin Rushton, head of digital initiatives and resource discovery; Caitlin Holton, digital preservation staff assistant; and Jamey McDermott, digital preservation graduate assistant
As the modern library adjusts to new technologies that change and improve how libraries interact with its collections, it is important to explore new processes and standards and to share best practices with colleagues in the profession. When the University Libraries digitized its pre-1978 dissertations in 2023, intentional decisions were made to address challenges and ensure its success. This overview provides a behind-the-scenes look at how information is made accessible through digitization and provides a helpful blueprint to researchers and modern librarians alike.
By Jennifer Embree, subject librarian and sustainability hub coordinator, and Neyda Gilman, sustainability/STEM engagement and health sciences librarian
The Sustainability Hub has been a feature in the Science Library since 2021 and includes the ever-popular seed library. The concept of this resource is that someone can take some seeds, plant them, and return harvested seeds back into the catalogue, hence making it a 鈥渓ibrary鈥 of seeds. The concept of seed sharing is not a new practice having deep connections with indigenous communities. But as society looks toward an uncertain agricultural future due to climate change, seed libraries can be a tool that preserves biodiversity and cultivates community. This impactful and inspiring research examines how libraries not only preserve the past, but help ensure a future of knowledge and resource sharing.
To learn more about the 嫩田研究院官网 Libraries faculty and explore their research areas, visit faculty librarian profiles on the Libraries staff directory: