Library Holdings Research Articles

The conundrum within “caveat lector”: Unraveling the dissoi logoi in the book banning controversy

ABSTRACT Having just passed the 90th anniversary of the book burnings in Nazi Germany, which began May 10, 1933, and the 70th anniversary of the publication of Ray Bradbury’s classic novel Fahrenheit 451, it doesn’t take much imagination or hyperbole to conclude that controversies surrounding book banning in public schools and libraries across the country are very evident today. This essay argues that the book banning issue in the United States can most effectively be understood through dissoi logoi. We examine both sides of the book banning controversy: those entities that advocate for very restricted access to books and other materials, and those that offer a more unfettered approach. First, we look at the historical provenance of book banning. Then we examine Supreme Court, Appellate Court, and District Court opinions related to book banning from 1969 to 2009. In the current analysis, we look specifically at Florida, which has exerted a significant amount of influence in restricting access to books. And, finally, we look at policies that will afford decision-makers the opportunities to make thoughtful and reasonable choices about the books used in school curricula and holdings in public libraries.

The Role of the Practitioner in Curating LGBTQIA+ Safe Spaces in Libraries

ABSTRACTThe LGBTQIA+ community has come under increasing hostility in the North America through policy and challenges to library holdings and funding. These challenges to professional jurisdiction have prompted renewed scrutiny of the library‐as‐institution's responsibility toward society and the LGBTQIA+ community specifically. Safe spaces for this community remains a nebulous and contested concept. This paper reports preliminary findings of conceptualizations of LGBTQIA+ safe spaces in scholarly and practitioner literature in library and information science. Undertaking a critical literature review, this work outlines conceptualizations of the librarian's role in cultivating safe spaces and contrasts the theme of safe spaces as consisting of in‐group safe spaces. This paper collocates discussions of sociocultural contexts informing the ideas within literature alongside critical appraisals of and tensions with lived experience of queer folks. Surfaced is the gap between the two bodies of knowledge and conceptual and practice‐oriented approaches to reduce this gap.

The First Sale Doctrine and Public Library Provision of Print and Electronic Books

Abstract Libraries deliver the majority of US book consumption, and library costs are kept low by the first sale doctrine's guarantee that libraries can lend print books without additional compensation to publishers. However, publishers' decisions to restrict ebook access may threaten libraries. We measure impacts of holdings on circulation; and library holdings choices suggest that library managers value instances of ebook circulation more than print. We use a structural model of patron demand and library holdings to show that more restrictive print book terms would have ten times the negative patron welfare impact of an equivalent restriction on ebooks.

PhD Thesis Citation Analysis to Evaluate the Success of Collection Development Policy Implementation: An Institutional Case Study

ABSTRACT This institutional case study analyses 1723 sources referenced in five PhD theses awarded at Alphacrucis University College between 2017 and 2021. The purpose was to demonstrate that the library’s collection development policy is successfully guiding purchasing decisions in order to provide students with the resources they need to complete their research at high levels. Sources were extracted from each thesis and grouped according to type. Library holdings were then checked, revealing that, overall, 70.2% of all cited sources were available from the AC library collection. This research-in-practice paper shows that AC library’s shift in focus for its collection development policy is adequately providing required resources to research students.

Manuscript Treasures from Najaf in Carl Brockelmann’s Geschichte der arabischen Litteratur

Abstract In the 1890s, Carl Brockelmann (d. 1956) embarked on a mission to compile single-handedly a bibliography of the entire extant Muslim literary tradition in the Arabic language. Though the task proved impossible to accomplish in full, the supplement volumes (published in 1937, 1938, and 1942) and the second edition (published in 1943 and 1949) that eventually replaced the original Geschichte der arabischen Litteratur (GAL) remain an indispensable tool for Arabists and Islamicists today, especially for the mid-fifth/eleventh century and later. Little is known about how Brockelmann went about his work in the decades between the publication of the original GAL and the late 1930s and 1940s, when he was preparing the supplements and the second edition. Access to the relevant primary and secondary material proved challenging and variable over the course of Brockelmann’s career. The difficulties he encountered in consulting the relevant materials were partly alleviated by the support he received from colleagues, especially Hellmut Ritter (d. 1971), who was based in Istanbul and had access to the rich manuscript holdings of the local libraries. However, the importance of Ritter’s contributions to Brockelmann’s work goes beyond these manuscripts. For example, Ritter provided Brockelmann with two documents concerning the manuscript treasures of Najaf: a letter he had received in March 1936 from a young scholar in Najaf, ʿ⁠Alī al-Khāqānī (d. 1400/1979 or 1980), in which the latter described a selection of locally held manuscripts, and a handwritten catalogue by one Najafābādī. Eventually Brockelmann also had access to the first two volumes of Āghā Buzurg al-Ṭihrānī’s (d. 1389/1970) al-Dharīʿ⁠a ilā taṣānīf al-Shīʿ⁠a, his third important source for the manuscripts of Najaf. The present study analyses Brockelmann’s usage of these three sources.

Serials Analysis Directions Part 2: Finding Gems, Pulling Weeds, and Reclaiming Space: Case Studies from GreenGlass for Serials

The presenters of the session, "Serials Analysis Directions Part 2: Finding Gems, Pulling Weeds, and Reclaiming Space: Case Studies from GreenGlass for Serials" provided attendees with valuable perspectives on using GreenGlass for Serials to conduct serials collection review projects effectively, efficiently, and with more confidence. The first two presenters, Katy Gabrio and Ann Roll, are librarians who have used GreenGlass for Serials. They shared their reasons for reviewing serials collections, their libraries' goals for the projects, and the results. The third speaker, Andy Breeding, a senior product manager at OCLC, spoke about the history of GreenGlass and GreenGlass for Serials, as well as the time savings gained from using GreenGlass for Serials, and trends he noticed in serials holdings of libraries through the years.

Mold in Paradise: A Review of Fungi Found in Libraries.

Libraries contain a large amount of organic material, frequently stored with inadequate climate control; thus, mold growth represents a considerable threat to library buildings and their contents. In this essay, we review published papers that have isolated microscopic fungi from library books, shelving, walls, and other surfaces, as well as from air samples within library buildings. Our literature search found 54 published studies about mold in libraries, 53 of which identified fungi to genus and/or species. In 28 of the 53 studies, Aspergillus was the single most common genus isolated from libraries. Most of these studies used traditional culture and microscopic methods for identifying the fungi. Mold damage to books and archival holdings causes biodeterioration of valuable educational and cultural resources. Exposure to molds may also be correlated with negative health effects in both patrons and librarians, so there are legitimate concerns about the dangers of contact with high levels of fungal contamination. Microbiologists are frequently called upon to help librarians after flooding and other events that bring water into library settings. This review can help guide microbiologists to choose appropriate protocols for the isolation and identification of mold in libraries and be a resource for librarians who are not usually trained in building science to manage the threat molds can pose to library holdings.

Enriching Library Holdings for English Language Learners: Applying Traditional Readability Formulas and Modern Cohesion Methods to Film

ABSTRACTThis study evaluates the effectiveness of various readability measures when assessing the difficulty of film materials for English Language Learners (ELLs). Library materials catering to ELLs are frequently limited to formal instruction texts and fiction materials. This study explores the feasibility of less laborious, computational text assessment methods to better understand library holdings from the perspective of ELL appropriateness. The investigation applies traditional formulaic readability measures and modern cohesion methods to film subtitle data. While text difficulty assessment with readability measures has been widely studied, there is a need to investigate which measures are most suitable for film application. In addition to evaluating existing readability measures, a more robust composite score is also presented, combining aspects of traditional readability formulas and modern cohesion methods. The experiments were conducted on real‐world datasets and tested on film data marked for difficulty by ELLs.

Institute library and more: the Library of the Ruhr

The Ruhr Foundation was established 25 years ago as a public-private partnership by bringing together three libraries and an archive. The foundation's purpose then, as well as now, is to document the history and present of the Ruhr region and to preserve and make its historical library holdings available to the public.

ON THE ROLE OF O. P. PAVLOVSKY’S SPELLING SYSTEM IN THE HISTORY OF EVOLUTION OF THE MODERN UKRAINIAN LANGUAGE

The problems of evolution of the modern Ukrainian literary language as well as of linguistic normalization are relevant in modern linguistics. The article is devoted to a famous linguist of the 19th century, researcher of the Ukrainian language, author of Grammar book of Little Russian Dialect Oleksiy Pavlovich Pavlovsky (c. 1770/1773 – after 1826). His work is of exceptional importance being the first attempt to systematize the spelling of the Ukrainian colloquial language, which was based on the phonetic principle. The article analyzes and discloses the ownership marks of copies of Grammar book by O. P. Pavlovsky, stored in the Scientific Library of the Odessa I. I. Mechnikov National University. The author managed to trace a copy of Grammar book (1818) that entered the library holdings of the Richelieu Lyceum (predecessor of the Odessa I. I. Mechnikov National University – until 1865) and three copies of an offset print. Two of the latter belonged to Professor Artemiy Amvrosiyovych Moskalenko and Associate Professor Fyodor Pavlovich Smaglenko, well-known Odessa linguists of the 20th century who kept Grammar book in their personal book collections and used it for their scientific research. Grammar book of the Little Russian Dialect by O. P. Pavlovsky opened a new page in the history of Ukrainian linguistics. Despite certain shortcomings, for a long time it had been the only thorough manual that contained the basics of Grammar and spelling of the modern Ukrainian language. It was O. P. Pavlovsky’s work that laid the foundations for the formation of Ukrainian Grammar books and contributed to the development of the written Ukrainian literary language.

Combine Journal Data to Support Reference and Instruction

This paper describes how to match journal lists from different data sources efficiently in four steps. The description is offered as an introduction to data matching techniques using Microsoft Excel and Access. An example application is offered to demonstrate why journal data matching is relevant for reference and instruction. The example is a comparison of two indexes, Social Services s and Applied Social Sciences Index and s. The indexes are compared to each other, and both are compared to library holdings and interlibrary loan data.

Digital Preservation in Libraries: Preparing for a Sustainable Future. By Jeremy Mynetti and Jessalyn Zoom. [Review

With the advent of digital technologies, long-term preservation of library holdings has challenged information professionals for the better part of three decades, if not longer. Much has been written on the topic of digital preservation, and this book reflects the perspectives of libraries, archives, and museums (LAMs). While not specifically a “how-to” manual on digital preservation, those seeking a useful overview will find a balanced selection of writings exploring the topic as practiced primarily in the United States, other English-speaking countries, and Europe since the 1990s. Organized into six sections containing a total of 18 chapters, the writings naturally build upon each other in discussing key developments in best practices, workflows, and institutional programs.

Seeing birds: Dr Casey Wood's (1856–1942) second career

In 1920, Casey Albert Wood (1856–1942), a prominent Canadian ophthalmologist and bibliophile, began what was essentially a second career as an amateur ornithologist and author. This paper examines the path Wood followed as he learned more about birds and developed a network of colleagues that aided his transition to a respected member of the American Ornithologists’ Union (AOU) and prolific author on ornithology. It also seeks to place Wood's ornithological writings within the contemporary scientific and popular literature on birds. After his retirement from medical practice in 1920, Wood and his wife Emma (née Shearer) (1859–1951) travelled extensively and Wood's ornithological observations were published in journals varying from scientific publications like the AOU's The Auk and the Cooper Ornithological Society's The Condor, to more popular magazines like the Audubon Society of the Pacific's The Gull. Wood's contributions often combined natural history observation with literary allusions and personal reminiscence. Towards the end of his second career, Wood turned to his bibliophile interests, publishing a catalogue of the McGill Library holdings in vertebrate zoology as well as a translation co-authored with his niece Florence Marjorie Fyfe (1892–1965) of Frederick II of Hohenstaufen's De arte venandi cum avibus. Wood was representative of an earlier generation of gentlemen ornithologists, eulogized in his obituary in The Auk as “probably the most broadly cultured and deeply learned of his generation in our Union”.

Digitization Techniques Most Commonly Used for Promoting the Conservation of Library Collections

This paper delves into what digitization is, why it's useful, and how library materials may be digitized. As examples, we looked at the "cognitive flexibility," "relational," and "non-verbal immediacy" theories. It also covers the planning and policy implications of common problems faced throughout digitalization. Documents and works of art are digitized when they are transformed into digital pictures. By "digital images," we mean digital reproductions of paper documents. The term "digitization" refers to the process of transforming paper documents into digital files. The primary goals of digitization are to increase accessibility and improve longevity of library holdings. The process of digitizing library items presents a variety of obstacles. Human and technological difficulties are involved, with repercussions for strategy and policymaking. Due to the aforementioned issues and the necessity to become digital, i.e. offer online services, it was determined that digitization is an important role in contemporary libraries.

Library of the Royal Grammar School in Osijek from 1851/52 to 1929

The aim of this paper is to investigate and follow the development and operation of the Library of the Royal Grammar School (Velika gimnazija) in Osijek from its formal foundation, in the school year 1851/52, to its closure in 1929. For the purposes of this research, the analysis of the contents of the printed annual reports of the Royal Grammar School, which are in the possession of the Library Department of the Museum of Slavonia, was carried out, as well as the analysis of the archival material of the State Archives in Osijek. Given that, at the time, schools were obliged to provide status reports for the libraries, the relevant reports represent a significant contribution to the continuous monitoring of the increase in the Teachers' and Student Library holdings, as well as an insight into the work of the teachers who served as librarians. Finally, in addition to a clearer insight into the educational, social and historical frameworks in which the secondary education in Osijek developed, the analysis of the archival material and the Grammar School annual reports have also shown that, through-out the observed period, the Grammar School Library operated continuously, the books arrived regularly, either by purchase or donation, and that its holdings contained valuable and rare specimens from various fields of science. Given that today the old library holdings of the former Royal Grammar School are located in the Library Department of the Museum of Slavonia, where they were successfully stored in 1943 during World War II, this certainly gives it the legitimacy of a significant cultural and historical source for further research and interpretation of the cultural and educational history of the city of Osijek.

The Declaration of Arbroath: Georgian Editions, Libraries and Readers, and Scotland’s ‘Radical War’ of 1820

This paper explores an aspect of the legacy of the Declaration of Arbroath and expands upon earlier research into tensions surrounding the commemorations in 1814 of the battle of Bannockburn. It considers the evidence for connections between those radical artisans and their leaders who attempted to rouse popular insurrection in 1820, Scotland’s so-called ‘radical war’, and Bruce’s now-celebrated missive to the papacy of 6 April 1320, five centuries before. Did the armed workers moving on Carron Shore Iron Foundry on 5 April 1820, routed by troops at Bonnymuir, seek to coincide with the Declaration’s anniversary? To what extent was the radicals’ own declaration, the Address to the Inhabitants of Great Britain and Ireland, influenced by the text of 1320? If so, did this represent a continuation, a renewal or a debut for the Declaration as an inspiration for popular political participation in modern times? A survey of the holdings of early working-class subscription, circulation and public libraries in central Scotland c. 1790– c. 1830 can be made to identify both known and previously unnoticed published works which reproduced, translated and/or discussed the Declaration, as well as any radicalised readers. This reveals public awareness of Arbroath in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries to have been potentially far more widespread than hitherto recognised by historians, if still marginal as a catalyst to political agitation.

Review: A Nation of Descendants: Politics and the Practice of Genealogy in U.S. History, by Francesca Morgan

Review: <i>A Nation of Descendants: Politics and the Practice of Genealogy in U.S. History</i>, by Francesca Morgan

Copyright in digitizing documents of the 20th century by libraries of Ukraine: legislative and technical and technological aspects

Introduction. The use of digital technologies for the preservation of cultural heritage and the dissemination of culture in society is a trend that is recognized throughout the world. Digitization allows significant library collections to be revealed and made available to the public. Problem Statement. Libraries and other institutions are forced to comply with the law on copyright and related rights, and therefore do not have the opportunity to freely dispose of documents from their own holdings for use for the needs of society. Purpose. Identification of priority directions for solving this issue in Ukraine, in order to provide libraries with legal grounds to digitize documents of the 20th century subject to copyright, out-of-commerce works and orphan works. Materials and Methods. During the research, we used information and data obtained during the processing of scientific papers on this issue; analysis of international documents, legal acts of the European Union, national legislation of the EU Member States and Ukraine; study of the practical experience of world libraries in digitizing these groups of documents. Comparative and systematic approaches, source analysis, and other general scientific methods (analysis, synthesis, generalization) were used in the process of research. Results. The research has given grounds to determine the priority directions for solving the problem of digiti­zation of documents by libraries in Ukraine. The main directions include: 1) the introduction of exceptions to copyright law which libraries and other institutions could use to digitize documents of historical and cultural significance by the state; 2) the creation of national orphan works and out-of-commerce works registers; 3) the active use of modern technical means of document protection by libraries in organizing various modes of user access to documents. Conclusions. The study has confirmed the need for a systematic solution to the problem of digitizing copyright documents and orphan works. Providing legal grounds to digitize documents will not only reveal valuable collections from library holdings but also lead to the cultural and economic well-being of the country in the future.

Vistas of the field: examining quality indicators of health and physical education journals

ABSTRACT In this paper, we use the field of Health and Physical Education (H/PE) to explain the limitations, nuances, and inconsistencies of three global, digitally available, and regularly updated systems: library holdings, metrics, and altmetrics. We understand these systems through the analogy of seeing different vistas of a landscape when driving a car: looking in the rear-view mirror (i.e. library holdings as past indicators of quality) and out the side windows (i.e. metrics and altmetrics as current indicators). Before examining these measures, we acknowledge the neoliberal audit culture and outline our understanding of the H/PE ‘field’. To identify H/PE journals, we searched databases, websites, and literature, generating a list of 202 potentially relevant journals. After three rounds of refinement, 13 journals remained that: (1) focused on health and/or physical education as a school subject (including H/PE teacher education), (2) had official metrics, and (3) self-identified as ‘Social Sciences – Education’ and had more than 20% of the papers in the last two volumes focus on H/PE. For each of these journals, we provide the WorldCat library holdings, metrics (i.e. Journal Impact Factor, Journal h-index, CiteScore, SCImago Journal Rank, and Source Normalized Impact per Paper), and altmetrics. We explain how to understand these measures, as well as their contested, problematic and, often, confusing dimensions. Overall, we argue that it is crucial for scholars to understand these measures so that they can critically reflect on how measurement shapes their research and professional lives.

The Challenges of Global Church History for Those outside the United States of America

The Challenges of Global Church History for Those outside the United States of America