Current Issue: November 2025
Article • November 2025
Defining Engagement for Academic Librarians
Erin L. Ellis and Jill K. Becker
The purpose of this article is to establish a distinct definition of engagement for academic librarians and describe how a definition supports a clearer understanding of what is expected of librarians with engagement responsibilities. In observing a growing use of the term “engagement” over the last two decades, the authors noted how the term is frequently conflated with “outreach” and is rarely used in any discernibly distinct manner. This article traces the development and use of the term engagement in academic libraries, proposes a definition to disambiguate the term from outreach, and articulates the work of engagement for academic librarians. ...
Article • November 2025
Impact of Library Collections on Faculty Teaching, Research, and Retention: A Mixed-Methods Study
Sarah LeMire and Shanna Bodenhamer
In recent decades, college and university libraries have been called to demonstrate their impact on their institutions’ teaching and research missions. One way that libraries can demonstrate their impact is by evaluating how library collections can influence faculty recruitment and retention decisions. This study builds upon an existing study aimed at evaluating this impact. The authors apply a mixed-methods approach to an existing data set to identify differences in impact based upon faculty discipline and rank. The authors found that tenured faculty, as well as faculty in the Arts and Humanities were significantly more likely to include the library as part of their recruitment and retention decision making. ...
Article • November 2025
More Alike than Not: The Open Access Preferences of Humanities Scholars
Rachel Elizabeth Scott and Ana Dubnjakovic
Several studies have noted that humanists have not been as quick or enthusiastic in their adoption of Open Access (OA) as their colleagues in other disciplines. This article leverages the Ithaka S+R US 2021 Faculty Survey to provide contextualized analysis of the OA and Open Education Resources (OER) preferences of humanities scholars, as well as some practices related to OA and OER, relative to their colleagues in other disciplines. Findings suggest that although humanists do stand apart in many OA preferences, the small effect sizes render these differences less important than previously suspected. The implications of these findings are considered alongside the lower rates of OA publication among humanists. ...
Article • November 2025
Transfer Student Expectations for Affordable Course Materials
Zach Welhouse, Beth Filar Williams, and Stefanie Buck
This qualitative study examines transfer-related course material affordability challenges faced by undergraduate students at our four-year university. Due to their diverse educational backgrounds and previous exposure to low-cost course materials, transfer students from community colleges have different needs than traditional first-year students. Through focus groups, student surveys, and outreach, we determine that academic librarians at four-year institutions can help ease students’ transition through flexible, targeted outreach and by partnering with other units on campus. We conclude with a discussion of actions librarians have taken at our institution and recommendations for librarians at other institutions. ...
Article • November 2025
Preparing Academic Librarians to Prioritize Privacy in Learning Analytics Projects: An Evaluation of a Professional Development Course
Kyle M. L. Jones and Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe
As institutions of higher education further develop their learning analytics efforts, academic library practitioners are called upon to participate in these efforts and have opportunities to shape their campus strategies. Nonetheless, library practitioners may not be prepared with the knowledge, skills, and strategies to engage with campus stakeholders. This article documents the effectiveness of an online training course that developed librarian skill and confidence. Details discuss opportunities to replicate and extend the course. ...
Article • November 2025
Scholarly Communication Work: On the Ground Perspectives
Allegra K. Swift and Annie K. Johnson
This survey investigates the experiences of scholarly communication workers in North America, with a total of 282 responses. Previous studies on scholarly communication work in academic libraries have tended to focus on organizational structure and necessary competencies. This study aims to put the focus back on workers’ own experiences on the job, to better understand the contributing factors to burnout and attrition that can arise for those in these positions. Five main areas are investigated: newness of the position, scope of the work, support and resources, feelings of one’s expertise being unvalued or dismissed, and the impact of administration. The study concludes with recommendations for library administrators on how to fortify a more sustainable environment for scholarly communication workers. ...
Book Review • November 2025
Student Success Librarianship: Critical Perspectives on an Evolving Profession
Reviewed by Kathleen James
Student Success Librarianship: Critical Perspectives on an Evolving Profession, edited by Melody Lee Rood and Olivia Patterson, explores the role of student success librarians within academic libraries. As a newly hired student success librarian, I found it validating that many contributors grapple with defining and measuring student success. The question, “What does it mean to be a student success librarian?” would likely resonate with anyone in this or in a related role. The authors also highlight that there is a messiness in defining and articulating the work, which can lead to burnout from the ever-evolving nature of the role, along with the potential for performativity. ...