Library Stuff

BISG Press Release – “A first ever survey of college faculty perceptions toward classroom materials found that professors continue to equate their own and their students’ successes in the classroom to the use of materials such as textbooks and most prefer print formats. Faculty Attitudes Toward Content in Higher Education, led by the Book Industry Study Group (BISG) and powered by Bowker Market Research, reveals that 93 percent of faculty feel students who use required course materials receive higher grades in class. An even higher percentage feel the use of these materials by students enables professors to be more effective teachers.”

Boston Globe – “Digital textbooks are a no-brainer for many, and sales are up this year.”

Associated Press – “On Friday afternoons between work and rugby practice, Brittany Wolfe would rush to the campus library hoping copies of her advanced algebra textbook had not all been checked out by like-minded classmates. It was part of the math major’s routine last quarter at the University of California, Los Angeles: Stand in line at the reserve desk in the library’s closing hours with the goal of borrowing a copy for the weekend. The alternative was to buy a $120 book and sell it back for far less. If she could sell it back at all.”

Columbus Dispatch – “A Virginia Tech advisory committee has recommended that the university cut funding to all campus media unless the student newspaper bans anonymous comments on its Web site. The University Commission on Student Affairs, mostly made up of students, decided that the way the newspaper monitors online comments is irresponsible, lacks accountability, victimizes students and misrepresents the university.”

USATODAYCollege admissions officials, keenly aware that their target audience grows more tech-savvy with every passing year, appear to be getting the hang of social media such as Twitter and Facebook. (via)

The Daily Iowan – At the Main Library, checkout-desk employees said they’ve seen people come in with bags, suitcases, and boxes stuffed with books to renew. “I’ve had people bring in, literally, more than 100 at once to renew,” said UI senior Jessi Phillips, who works at the circulation desk. But for some, 100 books is nothing.”

ACRL LogFor the past three years or so, there has been on and off discussion of social networks on ili-l@ala.org. The thrust of these discussions has usually had to do with how academic libraries can exploit Facebook/MySpace/Whatever to connect with college students. It used to be that corporate entities couldn’t have presence on Facebook. You had to be a person. But, some of those restrictions now have workarounds of various types. A common thread with most of these discussions, including the one last week (4/20-4/24), was whether it is appropriate for ’authority figures’ to be on these social networks, and whether students welcome our presence in their playground.”

Wired Campus – “Many colleges have adopted text alerts as part of their emergency notification plans. That’s because text-messaging technology is very efficient at mobilizing large groups of people quickly. Unfortunately, that efficiency can have a dark side, as the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga discovered last night.”

Jason Griffey (who works there) is bookmarking relevant videos/news stories on delicious.

Inside Higher Ed – “Stop the presses: Today’s college students are using more technology than ever.”

Consumerist: “The cost of textbooks is rising faster than inflation and Hammond doesn’t feel right forcing his students to purchase ever more expensive books on top of their already expensive tuition and fees.” (via)