This book contains 16 chapters by academic librarians who explain how to foster student success through academic, social, and financial initiatives, particularly in the context of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and at-risk students. They describe examples of supporting students as remote learners and in rapidly changing learning environments, including creating makerspaces, integrating information literacy instruction into STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) courses, addressing inequities among rural community college students, practicing instruction based on warmth and empathy, supporting students at predominantly black institutions, and teaching faculty to reframe existing services for greater accessibility; library programming that fosters inclusion, including implementing library services at a dorm for first-generation students, creating interactive programming in remote learning to foster cultural competencies and inclusivity, supporting the physical and mental well-being of students, and mentoring student employees; and providing financial support through paid library internships and work, an open-textbook program, free hot spots and personal librarians, and laptops for low-income students. Annotation ©2022 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)
This book provides real-world advice and ideas drawn from case studies to help academic libraries support students academically, socially, and financially, especially those who are facing barriers.
Academic libraries are confronting a myriad of challenges, including consequences stemming from the pandemic, the changing demographics of student bodies, and the financial obstacles that many students are struggling to overcome. What’s needed is practical guidance on how to effectively serve students’ needs amidst rapid change. The contributors in this collection share several approaches to bolstering their success, with guidance that can be tailored to your own institution. Inside, you’ll learn about
- methods for reimagining learning and interactive programming during times of disruption;
- using technology to provide personalized support for vulnerable students, from free wifi hotspots to inclusive programing;
- promoting data skills through a makerspace;
- facilitating information access and STEAM learning for first-generation students;
- ensuring accessibility for rural community college students;
- responding to challenges brought about by systemic racism and COVID-19;
- impactful mentoring;
- expanding an open textbook program;
- supplying laptops for students through an academic/public library partnership; and
- paid internships and work/study positions for low-income students.
Introduction
Part I Support in Rapidly Changing Learning Environments
Chapter 1 Taking a Byte Out of the Data Divide: How an Academic Library
Made Data Skills More Accessible by Creating a Makerspace Joyce Garczynski
Chapter 2 Small Victories in STEM Librarianship: Taking on the Big Problem
of Missing Information Literacy Instruction in Science Curricula and the Case
of First-Generation Students Elizabeth Pickard and Michelle R. Desilets
Chapter 3 Identifying and Addressing the Evolving Accessibility
Limitations of Rural Community College Students Heather VanDyne and Rachel
Koszalka
Chapter 4 Together from the Ground Up: Deconstructing the Research Process
for First Semester Students at Louisiana State University Sarah Simms,
Narcissa Haskins, and Ebony McDonald
Chapter 5 So Close and Yet So Remote: Using Technologies to Provide
High-Touch, Personalized Support for Vulnerable Students Rosalind
Fielder-Giscombe and Gabrielle Toth
Chapter 6 Reenvisioning Learning in a Time of Disruption Jennifer
Matthews and Deborah Gaspar
Part II Programming That Fosters Inclusion
Chapter 7 Information Privilege and First-Generation Students: A
Librarian-in-Residence Program to Facilitate Information Access at the
University of Wyoming Kristina Clement
Chapter 8 Aflame and Unafraid: A Case Study on Creating Interactive
Programming in Remote Learning Karina Kletscher and Jennifer Tirrell
Chapter 9 Inclusive Programming: Empathy, Support, and Access as
Foundational Tools Tariana Smith
Chapter 10 Student Well-Being and Libraries: Addressing Systemic Racism
and COVID-19 Jason Coleman, Lis Pankl, and Leo S. Lo
Chapter 11 Employing the Disenfranchised Student for Mentoring and
Empowerment Michelle Reale
Part III: Libraries Providing Financial Support
Chapter 12 Loving Libraries: Stanford University Librarys Paid Summer
Internships Felicia A. Smith
Chapter 13 Throwing the University Wide Open: Textbook Affordability and
COVID-19 Zara Wilkinson
Chapter 14 Bridging the Digital Divide in Appalachia: Lending Technology
with a Personal Librarian Jonathan Roy Wilson
Chapter 15 Laptops for Students: An Academic and Public Library
Partnership Shannon L. Dew, Gretchen Mitchell, and Susan B. Mythen
Chapter 16 Paid Positions for Students: A Win-Win for Everyone Involved
Paizha Stoothoff
About the Editor and Contributors
Index
Sigrid Kelsey is director of scholarly publications at Louisiana State University. An award-winning librarian, she has coedited five books and written numerous articles. Kelsey has served on the ALA Publishing Committee and the American Libraries editorial advisory board. She is currently on the editorial board of Library Diversity and Residency Studies and is the general editor of Catholic Library World.
