iDEA Collection: Library Staff Research and Publications

Optimizing Intellectual Workflow

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:50:15 GMT

Title: Optimizing Intellectual Workflow

Authors: Dominy, Margaret; Bhatt, Jay; Siftar, Tim; Denick, Dana

Abstract: Several new platforms designed to support collaboration between researchers have launched in the past year, giving rise to a need for evaluative criteria and a basis for recommendation by Drexel Librarians. Faculty and PhD researchers in the Drexel University community were surveyed for their intellectual workflow habits and collaborative platform preferences. The data collected from the survey was then analyzed to establish any trends among researchers.

The relationship between calorimetry and thermal analysis

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:54:47 GMT

Title: The relationship between calorimetry and thermal analysis

Authors: Dominy, Margaret; Smith, Alan L.

E-Repository at Drexel University (iDEA): Vision and Evolution

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:29:17 GMT

Title: E-Repository at Drexel University (iDEA): Vision and Evolution

Authors: Bhatt, Jay; Martin, Kevin; Sieczkiewicz, Robert

Abstract: The Drexel E- Repository and Archives (iDEA) is an institutional repository designed to capture and permanently store scholarly output of Drexel University. iDEA provide open access to the work of Drexel’s academic community, including the work of faculty and students, both undergraduate and graduate. iDEA documents both published and unpublished intellectual output, ranging from research publications to theses and dissertations to events such as the Annual Research Day and Biomedical Technology Showcase, Built on DSpace, the open source software developed by MIT and Hwelett-Packard, iDEA is searchable by author, keyword, college/school and department. Indexed by Google and other search engines, iDEA is an effective open access tool for sharing the results of research. Administered by the Drexel Libraries, iDEA represents a commitment to providing permanent open access to Drexel digital works.

Description: Presentation for the International Symposium on Emerging Trends and Technologies in Libraries and Information Services, ETTLIS-2008, December 18-20, 2008

Using Web 2.0 Applications as Information Awareness Tools for Science and Engineering Faculty and Students in Academic Institutions (slides)

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:29:05 GMT

Title: Using Web 2.0 Applications as Information Awareness Tools for Science and Engineering Faculty and Students in Academic Institutions (slides)

Authors: Bhatt, Jay; Chandra, Smita; Denick, Dana

Abstract: As new academic research initiatives become increasingly interdisciplinary, it is imperative that science and engineering librarians develop and implement new approaches to the dissemination of library research tools and techniques. At Drexel University, several such initiatives have resulted in collaborative research in areas such as Nanomedicine, Engineering Cities, Plasma Medicine, Nanoscale Science and Technology, Microfluidics, and Bionanotechnology. In addition, Drexel's emphasis on team-based, interdisciplinary engineering design projects requires students to develop critical understanding of multidisciplinary engineering content. Faculty and students need to be aware of how to access information from a variety of resources that cover a broad spectrum of academic disciplines. How can Web 2.0 tools function as information awareness tools for faculty and students in an academic community? Why is 'Information Awareness' so crucial? Increased cognizance of new resources such as IEEE Xplore, Knovel, Web of Knowledge, ScienceDirect and Engineering Village, is the crucial first step in their effective use by faculty and students. This presentation outlines current case studies using Web 2.0 applications such as blogs, feeds, bookmarking services, aggregators and social networking services to illustrate their roles as information awareness tools. The examples of such attempts with information awareness give rise to the exploration of Web 2.0 use in country specific settings. The internet user community in India, mostly comprising of the younger generation, stands to gain from such information technology tools and information awareness initiatives. The response of the library sector with respect to implementation of the Web 2.0 technologies is further discussed. This is followed by suggestions to the library community from the various experiments at Drexel for the engineering student community. The authors wish that more faculty and students realize the potential of Web 2.0 applications in keeping up-to-date with new information and information resources. More instruction and outreach in the set up and management of feeds from different databases is crucial. In other words, training our faculty and students to learn new Web 2.0 features is important for them to fully realize the potential of such tools.

Description: Paper presented at the International Conference of Asian Special Libraries: Shaping the future of special libraries: beyond boundaries, November 27th, 2008

Using Web 2.0 Applications as Information Awareness Tools for Science and Engineering Faculty and Students in Academic Institutions (text)

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 20:51:32 GMT

Title: Using Web 2.0 Applications as Information Awareness Tools for Science and Engineering Faculty and Students in Academic Institutions (text)

Authors: Bhatt, Jay; Denick, Dana; Chandra, Smita

Abstract: As new academic research initiatives become increasingly interdisciplinary, it is imperative that science and engineering librarians develop and implement new approaches to the dissemination of library research tools and techniques. At Drexel University, several such initiatives have resulted in collaborative research in areas such as Nanomedicine, Engineering Cities, Plasma Medicine, Nanoscale Science and Technology, Microfluidics, and Bionanotechnology. In addition, Drexel's emphasis on team-based, interdisciplinary engineering design projects requires students to develop critical understanding of multidisciplinary engineering content. Faculty and students need to be aware of how to access information from a variety of resources that cover a broad spectrum of academic disciplines. How can Web 2.0 tools function as information awareness tools for faculty and students in an academic community? Why is 'Information Awareness' so crucial? Increased cognizance of new resources such as IEEE Xplore, Knovel, Web of Knowledge, ScienceDirect and Engineering Village, is the crucial first step in their effective use by faculty and students. This presentation outlines current case studies using Web 2.0 applications such as blogs, feeds, bookmarking services, aggregators and social networking services to illustrate their roles as information awareness tools. The examples of such attempts with information awareness give rise to the exploration of Web 2.0 use in country specific settings. The internet user community in India, mostly comprising of the younger generation, stands to gain from such information technology tools and information awareness initiatives. The response of the library sector with respect to implementation of the Web 2.0 technologies is further discussed. This is followed by suggestions to the library community from the various experiments at Drexel for the engineering student community. The authors wish that more faculty and students realize the potential of Web 2.0 applications in keeping up-to-date with new information and information resources. More instruction and outreach in the set up and management of feeds from different databases is crucial. In other words, training our faculty and students to learn new Web 2.0 features is important for them to fully realize the potential of such tools.

Description: Paper presented at the International Conference of Asian Special Libraries: Shaping the future of special libraries: beyond boundaries, November 27th, 2008

Innovative Applications of Social Software in Reaching Out to Engineering Students

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:14:43 GMT

Title: Innovative Applications of Social Software in Reaching Out to Engineering Students

Authors: Gurke, Sasha; Bhatt, Jay; Roberts, Josh

Abstract: The past few years have seen several new engineering initiatives develop at Drexel University. Some of these initiatives are in emerging fields such as Nanoscale Science and Technology, Microfluidics, and Bionanotechnology. The rapid growth in research in these and several other subject areas motivated Drexel's engineering librarians to experiment with new ways of reaching out to faculty and students. Drexel's emphasis on team based engineering design projects requires students to develop critical understanding of engineering subject areas. Developing awareness of core electronic resources such as Knovel and Engineering Village is crucial for them to use such resources efficiently. This poster outlines innovative experiments aimed at increasing information awareness using social software such as Facebook, Del.icio.us, and blogs. Having an engineering librarian's presence on Facebook is useful since many engineering students at Drexel are heavy Facebook users. Organizations such as Drexel's IEEE student chapter and ASME are on Facebook as well. Drexel Engineering Information Awareness Campaign Group is a librarian-created group aimed at increasing awareness of new and existing resources. The poster also includes an example of using Facebook's Notes application to receive automated feeds of new information resources from an engineering blog (Englibrary) and an illustration of automatically importing new engineering information related bookmarks from Del.icio.us into Facebook. Judging by the number of engineering students on the engineering librarian's Facebook, it appears that this innovative experiment is succeeding, a required first step before our users can embark on learning how to use engineering information resources more efficiently.

Description: This poster was presented at the 2008 Special Libraries Association (SLA) Annual Conference in Seattle.

The challenging and critical role of information professionals in combating AIDS in India

Sun, 02 Apr 2006 22:58:59 GMT

Title: The challenging and critical role of information professionals in combating AIDS in India

Authors: Ghosh, Maitrayee; Bhatt, Jay

Abstract: The nature of work for librarians/information professionals is undergoing a profound transformation, due to the arrival of deadly diseases like AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) and the change in information needs of the local community. This change necessitates much more professional expertise, updated knowledge, critical thinking and involvement in developing effective AIDS literacy programs. Information professionals serving in different libraries or potential information dissemination centers can provide dedicated services to society by helping to access AIDS information not only in urban settings but also in rural environments. This paper outlines strategies for effective collaboration in the context of AIDS literacy promotion efforts. It identifies a number of obstacles in the process of empowering the community and suitable measures essential for success.

Science and technology libraries partnering with Knovel

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Science and technology libraries partnering with Knovel

Authors: Bhatt, Jay; Paulsen, W. Charles; Dunn, Lisa G.; Van Epps, Amy S.

Abstract: The engineering library plays a critical role in initiating and maintaining the conduit between vendors of engineering information and the users of that information—faculty, students, and researchers. Likewise, vendors play a key role in supporting library and faculty efforts to promote science and engineering information resources, beyond just supplying content and interface. Science and engineering libraries and vendors can effectively work together to get the most from electronic resources for both large and small institutions. The case studies here show how Knovel Corporation, a sci-tech e-book vendor, has worked with librarians at large and small institutions and with faculty members to promote awareness and usage of Knovel’s interactive library of electronic books for science and engineering education. Librarians and Knovel partner at a large institution like Drexel University to give on-site workshops for faculty and students. At these workshops important features of Knovel’s content and software are discussed and demonstrated in a live format. Questions are encouraged to ensure participants understand the technology, and short assignments reinforce learning. Knovel works with librarians to promote these sessions and continues the dialogue with attendees afterward. On-site demonstrations are one of the most effective ways to educate users about new technologies and new content. Librarians at smaller institutions often do not have the time and resources to devote to a full-scale on-site workshop. They need an "out-of-the-box" solution that is quick to deploy with an interface that is self-evident to users. Complete integration of e-book titles into the institution’s information toolbox is the key here. Knovel provides resources to promote ready access to meet the needs of smaller institutions, including MARC records for the library's catalog. Finally, librarians and Knovel work directly with faculty to integrate Knovel's content into their courses. An example is Purdue University’s "treasure hunt" assignment given in the Mechanical Engineering Technology program which includes questions which leverage Knovel titles to answer. By supporting outreach and access strategies appropriate for institution size and need, librarians and Knovel illustrate how to create an effective partnership with engineering libraries to increase awareness, usage and, ultimately, cost-effectiveness of electronic resources.

What the user wants: Drexel engineering perspectives

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 22:58:59 GMT

Title: What the user wants: Drexel engineering perspectives

Authors: Papazoglou, Elisabeth S.; Gadkari, Siddharth B.; Sunkari, Chetana; Bhatt, Jay

Innovative approaches to information literacy instruction for engineering undergraduates at Drexel University

Tue, 29 May 2007 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Innovative approaches to information literacy instruction for engineering undergraduates at Drexel University

Authors: Roberts, Joshua C.; Bhatt, Jay

Abstract: As information professionals, engineering librarians have the primary responsibilities of providing access to engineering information resources and giving instruction in how to use these resources. In the case of undergraduate engineering students, this extends to building their information literacy skills, an important component in helping them become lifelong learners; to be curious and independent, and to take greater responsibility for their own learning. The challenge in building information literacy in engineering students is to acquaint the students with the array of library resources available to them and to help them intelligently navigate the systems that contain the information. Too often, information literacy instruction is presented as a set of procedures for locating a hypothetical resource in the library. However, students are not interested in finding some resource randomly chosen as an example; they want to find resources that they perceive as being important and useful. During the 2005-2006 academic year, the engineering librarians at Drexel University took this into consideration and employed a new methodology for information literacy instruction: combining an online tutorial covering basic library skills with face-to-face consultations between student design teams and the engineering librarians. By utilizing varied instruction techniques aimed at different learning styles, with a strong active learning component delivered at the student's point of need - when they have a concrete, perceived information need - information literacy instruction can be improved so that engineering students retain more and develop lifelong learning skills.

Description: Preprint version