Investigations on the help-seeking behavior of academic library patrons have to date primarily focused on the undergraduate experience, most often in the context of reference interactions. This study seeks to explore the help-seeking behaviors of a different audience - faculty in the natural and physical sciences at an R2 land-grant university. Eighteen faculty in the natural and physical sciences at the University of Idaho were individually interviewed using an in-depth qualitative interview format and all transcripts were coded and analyzed using an open transcript data visualization tool created at the University of Idaho Library. Responses revealed that faculty are seeking help from colleagues; peers outside the university, via connections formed in graduate school or professional circles; and through DIY solutions like "just googling it," but less often through university resources and programs. Using the results of this project as a starting point, we will explore how libraries might better understand the help-seeking behavior of research faculty, with an eye towards developing services and sources that better meet faculty research needs.
The University of Idaho Library seeks the support of a National Digital Infrastructures and Initiatives Planning Grant in the amount of $99,873 to refine, test, and promote CollectionBuilder, a lightweight, flexible tool for creating digital collection and exhibit websites driven by metadata, and powered by modern static web technology.CollectionBuilder programmatically generates polished and engaging websites from spreadsheets of collection metadata, creating interactive visualizations for users to discover content and understand context-from maps and timelines to data downloads. Unlike currently available platforms, CollectionBuilder is uniquely focused on providing information professionals with the mechanisms and support needed to independently create digital collections and exhibits without highly specialized IT systems or expertise. The project is guided by the values of GLAM institutions, and pragmatically designed to lower barriers to development, deployment, and participation in digital initiatives.The project team will use the IMLS grant over the course of one year to 1) refine and expand the development of CollectionBuilder, focusing particularly on optimizing the code base and developing workshops, documentation, online tutorials, and other content to facilitate the tool's use; 2) build a community of collaborators and advisors to test CollectionBuilder and contribute to its refinement; and 3) map the creation of future web publishing tools that situate libraries and information professionals at the forefront of their development and implementation.At its core, CollectionBuilder leverages librarians' specialized skills in metadata creation and subject analysis to create web publications, shifting the focus from click-on buttons and forms to creating high quality structured data. Following a "collections as data" model, the tool processes collection data, exposes it in reusable formats, and consumes it to generate accessible user interfaces and interactive discovery methods. Powered by modern static-web technologies and deployed on minimal infrastructure, CollectionBuilder uses Jekyll and a " JAM " stack approach to build complete websites from three basic components: a spreadsheet with well-formed metadata, a directory of digital objects, and a configuration file. This data-driven, minimal computing-based approach offers secure and sustainable solutions for libraries and cultural institutions that lack the resources, time, and expertise required to implement commercially marketed library platforms for digital collections and related web publications.To make this tool as widely accessible and usable as possible , we intend to collaborate with 3-4 institutions, including one that serves diverse communities, during the grant period. These institutions will receive a stipend from the grant in return for installing and using the tool and allowing us to visit the institution in-person to assist and observe their usage. We have also assembled an advisory board whose members have a broad range of experience i...
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