On November 1st the library sent out a message to the university about unpurchased titles being removed from our catalog. Many titles in the catalog are books that are leased titles, but not yet purchased from the vendors. When our patrons click on those items and use them more than 2 or 3 times, we purchase them and they become a permanent part of the collection. This is a new trend called “patron driven acquisitions” and has pretty much replaced traditional methods of adding to the collection. This has allowed libraries to move from a “just in case” method of purchase to a “just in time” model. With the expiration of Tech Fee money, the materials in the catalog that have not been purchased or used by patrons are going to be removed, so some things that have been in the catalog will no longer be there. However, items that have been used by patrons or for classes will be purchased before the expiration date. The librarians in Collections & Discovery are doing that analysis and selection now. We are hopeful that new Tech Fee money will be awarded so that we can continue to enhance our monograph selection. That being said, items that are e-books needed for courses and part of the textbook affordability program will continue to get high priority and will be purchased, along with requests from faculty and students that support research. If there are books that you need that you are worried could disappear, please send us a list of titles, and we will ensure that they are or have been purchased so that you do not lose access. Thank you for your support. If you have any questions, please contact Laura Pascual at lcpascua@usf.edu.
The EdLib Report
Library Hours During Winter Break
From December 10-14th the library will be open 7:30 AM to 6 PM. On Saturday the 15th hours will be 10 AM-6 PM. On Sunday December 16th hours are 12 PM-6 PM. From December 17-21st the library will be open 7:30 AM-6PM. The library will be closed over the winter break from December 22nd until January 2nd. The calendar for library hours is located here.
The Tapestry of American Public Education: How Can We Create a System of Schools Worth Choosing for All?
A recent report published by Peter W. Crookson Jr., Linda Darling-Hamond, Robert Rothman and Patrick Shields from the Learning Policy Institute discusses school choice — the movement to find alternatives to publicly funded and publicly operated school districts — is not an end in itself but rather a means to an end. In the words of the authors, it exists to “create a system in which all children choose and are chosen by a good school that serves them well and is easily accessible. “ It has been the subject of debate, particularly as seen by the post by Carol Burris and Diane Ravitch. They look at the issue of governance and why it matters who is in charge. This is a very interesting discussion for all those interested in policy that affects public schools and choice.
How Students Engage with News: Five Takeaways for Educators, Journalists and Librarians
Project Information Literacy produced a research report about how students access and consume current news stories and events. The report identifies the many pathways for students to obtain news information, the influence of social media, the role of news and media in student lives, why students share news items, and more
InterLibrary Loan Services Over the Holidays
Often the holidays are the time when many faculty members catch up on their research activities. This is just a reminder that many libraries close their services at that time of year,. Thus, if you need to use Interlibrary Loan services from USF Libraries to obtain materials for research, be aware that those services will be suspended from December 20th until January 2nd.
Changing the Citation Conversation
This piece by Alexandra Gold discusses ways to rethink how faculty talk to students about the issue of plagiarism. Also, keep in mind that the library can offer extra credit workshops on plagiarism for your courses, along with embedded modules we can place into Canvas.
Identifying Fact vs. Fiction: Pew Study Results
A new analysis from the Pew Research Center indicates that younger Americans are better than their elders at separating factual from opinion statements in the news. In a recent survey from Spring of 2018 adults were asked to categorize five factual statements and five opinion statements. Results showed that overall, 44% of the population from 18-49 got all five correct, while the above age 50 group managed only 26% correct.
Citation: What is it and Why Does it Matter?
Students often get confused about citing their sources and where to get help with APA, MLA and other citation formats. This video overview about citing sources might help. Please encourage students to talk to the writing center tutors or a librarian if they need assistance!
Visual Archive of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”: Race and Visuality in American Literature, Arts, Crafts, and Objects
From Monday, October 15th until January 31st, USF Libraries, Humanities Institute, and English Department present Dr. R. Ellis’s rich collection of visual art and other objects related to the 19C American abolitionist novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” by Harriet Beecher Stowe. The exhibit features surprising and unusual competing interpretations of race and ethnicity, and prompts viewers to explore the diverse understanding of race relations, the abolitionist movement, and later civil-rights movements in the United States. This historical and literary exhibit is the largest collection of objects related to Stowe’s novel. Visit the Grace Allen Room, 4th Floor, USF Library, Tampa Campus. 4202 E. Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL
Cabell’s Blacklist is Here
There currently exists a black market economy of publishing scams, typically referred to as “predatory journals.” These are journals designed to look like genuine scholarly sources, but they publish whatever an author submits in return for payment of an article processing charge (APC). The purpose of a predatory journal blacklist is to identify and call attention to such scam operations so that unsuspecting authors are not fooled into publishing in these journals. Cabell’s has been a well regarded journal directory and now offers a blacklist which the USF Libraries has purchased. It is a welcome development for scholars. Criteria for inclusion on this list are clearly set out and publicly available. Blacklist ratings are given at the journal level with indicators about violations of Cabell’s criteria. This resource should help USF Scholars in avoiding predatory, questionable, or low-quality journals.