Recent ucsd_libraries items

Academic Library Succession Planning in Research Universities in the United States

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigated succession planning activities in U.S. academic libraries at doctoral-granting institutions with high research activity (R2) and Doctoral/Professional Universities (D/PU). It deployed a previously validated survey instrument to a random cluster sample of librarians (n = 309) to determine the extent to which their libraries engage in succession planning, defined broadly to include training, development, and career planning, to develop internal leadership capacity and who has access to these development opportunities. Analysis confirmed the instrument’s strong psychometric properties for this new population (α = 0.93, ω = 0.92), comparable to the original study on ARL institutions (α = 0.91, ω = 0.92). Findings indicate that a librarian’s knowledge of and participation in succession planning significantly correlates with their demographic groups (e.g. race/ethnicity, neurodivergence), professional characteristics (e.g. faculty status, years of experience),...

Why PIE-J & KBART Matter? Title Level Metadata and E-Resources Discovery

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

题名级元数据与电子资源的发现 Why PIE-J & KBART Matter? Title Level Metadata and E-Resources Discovery. A presentation co-authored by Bie-hwa Ma, Shi Deng, and Susan Xue, and presented in Chinese by Bie-hwa Ma on July 12 at 2016 International Conference on Chinese Digital Publishing and Digital Libraries (July 11-12, 2016) organized and hosted by CNKI.

出版界和图书馆界的一个共同的目标是服务读者。出版界和图书馆长期以来依靠书目信息帮助读者查找利用所需资源从事各领域的教研活动。随着近年来数字出版的快速发展，书目信息中的元数据变得越来越重要，它关系到出版的数字资源是否能被充分发现和利用。出版社和内容数据库商利用书目元数据提供数据包的题名列表和数字资源网站的展示，辅助服务商如链接解析器服务商、发现系统商利用书目元数据提供OpenURL或其他链接助推检索和开放发现，图书馆利用书目元数据进行数字资源管理、编目与资源发现。所有这些努力，使得读者可以从各种不同渠道检索访问图书馆数字资源。因此，提供全面、准确及不断更新的高质量的书目元数据是数字资源被成功发现利用的关键。数字内容供应商应该把做好高质量的元数据作为未来数字出版的战略之一。出版的数字资源内容只有被充分发现和利用才能体现其最高的市场价值和图书馆的投资回报率。此演讲探讨题名级元数据对读者能否成功发现所需资源的作用与影响，建议采用美国国家信息标准组织出版的相关元数据标准与规范PIE-J和KBART，以及介绍北美东亚图书馆和国内高校图书馆的合作项目。希望借此机会能够和国内出版社、内容数据库商以及相关服务商开展更多的合作，借鉴美国先进的元数据标准规范，发展符合中国特色的元数据标准规范，以提供高质量的元数据，进而促进中文数字资源的成功发现和利用。

Publishers...

tRNA-Derived Fragments as Post-Transcriptional Regulators of Oncogenes and Tumor Suppressor Genes in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Thu, 7 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Honorable Mention 2024 Data & GIS Category, nominated by Weg M. Ongkeko (Department of Surgery).

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is a common cancer in which the role of transf RNA derived fragments (tRFs), a relatively novel class of small non-coding RNA, has yet be widely explored. It has been proposed that tRFs influence cancer proliferation by binding to mRNA transcripts and inducing their degradation through the recruitment of cleaving proteins. This study aims to characterize the expression of tRFs, oncogenes, a tumor suppressor genes in PTC with respect to the following subtypes: classical PTC, follicular variant PTC, and tall cell PTC. Across all cohorts, we found that tRFs are significantly dysregulated (p<0.05), and that their expression is anticorrelated with dysregulated oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Binding affinity analysis further revealed that significant pairs of anticorrelated tRFs and genes have sufficient complementarity to form heteroduplexes,...

Show Me: Performance-Focused Assessment in One-Shot Instruction

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This presentation was delivered at SCIL Works 2026: Assessment is Constructed and Contextual: Measuring What Matters in Information Literacy, February 2026.

Instruction librarians rarely have access to the student course work needed in order to evaluate the effectiveness of a workshop or assess student learning as a result of a one shot instruction session. In this session, we will demonstrate how we have effectively gathered actionable student output from a library instruction session in order to make meaningful changes to instruction content (assessment) and/or delivery (evaluation) using Google Forms. We will have examples of how we have done this for tutorial content and curriculum-integrated one-shot workshops, ranging from small capstone courses to large (300+ students) writing program courses.

Sally T. WongAvery Digital Collections for Chinese Materials

Tue, 7 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Sally T. WongAvery Digital Collections for Chinese Materials

1980s China in the Eyes of an American Artist and an Art Historian: Two Digital Collections at UC San Diego Library

Tue, 7 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

1980s China in the Eyes of an American Artist and an Art Historian: Two Digital Collections at UC San Diego Library

The History and Future of Bioethics: A Sociological View

Wed, 1 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Seemingly every day society faces a new ethical challenge raised by a scientific innovation. Human genetic engineering, stem cell research, face transplantation, synthetic biology – all were science fiction only a few decades ago, but are now all are reality. How do we as a society decide whether these technologies are ethical? For decades professional bioethicists have served as a mediator between a busy public and decision-makers, helping people understand their own ethical concerns, framing arguments, discrediting illogical claims and lifting up promising ones. These bioethicists operate in multiple venues such as hospital decision-making, institutions that conduct research on humans, and recommending ethical policy to the government. While functioning quite well for many years, the bioethics profession is in crisis. Policy-makers are less inclined to take the advice of bioethics professionals, with many observers saying that bioethics debates have simply become partisan...

The Red and the Real: An Essay on Color Ontology

Wed, 1 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This book offers a new approach to longstanding philosophical puzzles about what colors are and how they fit into the natural world. The author argues for a role-functionalist treatment of color — a view according to which colors are identical to certain functional roles involving perceptual effects on subjects. The author first argues (on broadly empirical grounds) for the more general relationalist view that colors are constituted in terms of relations between objects, perceivers, and viewing conditions. He responds to semantic, ontological, and phenomenological objections against this thesis, and argues that relationalism offers the best hope of respecting both empirical results and ordinary belief about color. He then defends the more specific role-functionalist account by contending that the latter is the most plausible form of color relationalism.

This book is freely available in an open access edition thanks to the generous support of the University of California...

Develop Assignment-Oriented LibGuides

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

What do students need from LibGuides pages embedded within faculty course websites? To answer this question, we conducted three rounds of user studies and performed user flow analysis to better understand students’ needs and behaviors. Based on these findings, we designed and implemented an assignment-oriented LibGuides module tailored to course contexts. This presentation discusses the UX design process used to translate user insights into a practical, scalable LibGuides solution.
Design for Digital Conference, Austin, TX, Apr. 2023.

The Sally T. WongAvery Digital Collections of Chinese Materials at the UC San Diego Library

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000
Presented at the 45th EASL (European Association of Sinologiical Librarians) Conference, the British Library on September 12, 2025, this presentation provides an overview of a three-year collaboration (June 2023–June 2026) between Cambridge University Library and UC San Diego Library. It describes the project's three components: digitization and metadata, scholarly exchange, and librarian exchange. Both UCSD and Cambridge created the Sally T. WongAvery Digital Collection of Chinese Materials. This presentation focuses on the digital collections UCSD created.

Redesigning Web Page Flow to Reduce Decision Fatigue

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This presentation was delivered at Designing for Digital Conference, March, 2019 .
Library websites can create decision fatigue when navigation, language, and structure reflect internal organization rather than user needs. This project describes a UX redesign of interlibrary loan (ILL) web pages at UC San Diego Library to reduce cognitive load and simplify task completion. Through website analysis, user journey mapping, and interviews with staff and users, the project identified duplicated content, clutter, and library jargon. Solutions included reflowing page structure, streamlining information architecture, consolidating content, and rewriting text in user-centered language, resulting in clearer pathways and improved access to services.

Advancing Open Monograph Opportunities at UC: November 2025 Public Report

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000
The University of California (UC) Libraries Advancing Open Monograph Opportunities at UC public report provides a comprehensive strategic framework for advancing open access (OA) monograph publishing across the University. It recognizes that UC, as a global research leader, is uniquely positioned to influence the future of open monograph publishing by fostering sustainable, equitable, and high-impact models that align with the University’s mission of research excellence, equity, and public service. This report, which was developed through a multi-track open monographs initiative launched by the UC Libraries in Spring 2025, builds on the foundation of the 2018 Pathways to Open Access toolkit. While that earlier work analyzed open models, frameworks and strategies broadly, this 2025 analysis addresses the distinct challenges and opportunities associated with OA monographs and supporting UC authors at scale.

Really Baking It in: Integrating the UX Design Process with a Website Redesign

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The UX design process seeks to create meaningful and effective user experiences while also supporting an organization’s strategic and operational goals. The UC San Diego Library intentionally applied this process throughout its most recent website redesign, from initial project planning through design and development. This presentation examines our decision-making process in selecting and applying multiple UX tools and methodologies, and reflects on how this integrated approach influenced both the project outcomes and team collaboration.
Designing for Digital Conference, Austin, TX. April, 2017

Expanding the Impact of the Conference on Academic Library Management: Identifying Gaps and Opportunities in Professional Development Support for Managers

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000
This white paper presents the methodologies, findings, and recommendations for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant RE-254898-OLS-23, “Expanding the Impact of the Conference of Academic Library Management: Identifying Gaps and Opportunities in Professional Development Support for Managers.”

Collaborating with a team of student volunteers on Ux projects or … How to kill two birds with one stone

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000
When UX capacity is limited, academic libraries must find creative ways to advance user-centered design. This reflective case study examines a collaboration between a solo UX librarian and a team of undergraduate UX students at the University of California, San Diego Library. The partnership supported a comprehensive UX study of the library’s online help environment while simultaneously building organizational UX maturity and providing students with hands-on professional experience. Despite challenges related to project scope, timelines, and mentorship, the collaboration led to tangible service improvements and long-term institutional change. This article offers insights for libraries seeking sustainable, low-cost approaches to expanding UX practice through student partnerships.

It Takes a Village: Managing Disruption Constructively and Authentically

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000
co-presented at California Academic Reference Librarians Discussion Interest Group - South (CARL-DIG), December, 2020

Develop a Library-wide User Research Hub

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This poster highlights the University of California San Diego Library’s development of a Library-wide User Research Hub grounded in UX design principles. Across the library, various programs and units collect data on user interactions with resources and services, as well as preferences and behaviors. However, without a consistent mechanism for sharing these datasets, efforts were often duplicated, and opportunities for collaboration or data-driven decision-making were missed. Our project focused on creating a user-friendly platform for collecting, organizing, and sharing library user research to support informed decision-making across the institution.
2024 Library Assessment Conference, Portland, Oregon, November 6–9, 2024

Understanding Users and Improving Your Website With Google Analytics

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This presentation demonstrates how Google Analytics can be used to understand user behavior and improve website content and design. By examining reports on top content, traffic sources, keywords, and navigation paths, the session shows how analytics data can inform decisions about information architecture, content priorities, and user-centered services. Examples from library websites illustrate practical applications for improving usability and aligning content with users’ top tasks.
Internet Librarian 2011, Monterey, CA, October 17, 2011

Better Together: Diversity and Inclusion in UX Design

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000
Designing library websites for diverse academic communities involves balancing competing user needs and institutional priorities. This article examines the 2017 UC San Diego Library website redesign, which prioritized diversity and inclusion as core UX principles. Using user research, personas, and audience prioritization, the project applied the “Middle Way” philosophy and progressive enhancement to balance accessibility, usability, and representation. Visual inclusion was emphasized through images reflecting the university’s racial and ethnic diversity. The case study shows that inclusive UX is achievable through reflective practice and equitable design decisions.

Diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Using a Robust 14 Species Signature

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

First Place Winner 2023 Life Sciences, Physical Sciences and Engineering Category, nominated by Weg M. Ongkeko (Department of Surgery).
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are disorders of the gastrointestinal system affecting a considerable portion of Western populations. With nearly 6.8 million individuals affected globally, the ability to accurately and efficiently diagnose the disease in patients is crucial. The gastrointestinal microbiome composition has been associated with several diseases, disorders, and cancers. Several microbial signature-based machine learning IBD predictive models have been developed but have yet to be implemented clinically due to poor external accuracy. This study analyzes the microbial compositions of 1612 stool samples from 665 patients across seven distinct shotgun metagenomic cohorts in constructing an IBD diagnostic model capable of high predictive accuracy and robustness. We created a 14-species diagnostic ML panel and validated the...

Uncovering History through Archival Poetry: Susan Howe’s The Midnight

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Winner 2024 Special Collections & Archives Category, nominated by Ameeth Vijay (Department of Literature).
Analysis of Susan Howe's poem, "The Midnight," which considers the history of the poet's mother and Howe's use of dialetheism.

Permeating Racial Boundaries: The Multiracial’s Deconstruction of Colonial Racialization

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Winner 2025 Social Sciences, Arts & Humanities Category, nominated by Andrea Mendoza (Department of Literature).
In this thesis, I analyze the work of Nina Mingya Powles through a critical mixed race lens. Powles is a multiracial author and poet who writes about her experiences navigating multiracial girlhood as she travels to and lives in various locations tied to her heritages. Focusing on Powles’s use of water imagery, I examine how both her prose (Small Bodies of Water) and poetry (Magnolia) illustrate the multiracial body’s fluid nature. I argue that the multiracial body is a fluid entity that permeates racial boundaries via its occupation of peripheries, allowing it to exist beyond the rigid classification of colonial racial categories. Through this occupation, multiraciality exists in and moves through the contested in-between space, deconstructing socially constructed categories of identity that dictate power hierarchies within the colonial framework. Although...

Theft- An Artist's Book

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Honorable Mention 2025 Special Collections & Archives Category, nominated by Anna Joy Springer (Department of Literature)
The artist's visual directions for recreating the artwork includes textual content used in the book and images of the process and completed work.

The Immune Landscape of COVID-19 and Cardiovascular Disease

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

First Place Winner 2022, nominated by Weg M. Ongkeko (Department of Surgery)
Patients with cardiovascular disease display significant similarities with inflammation-related genes in COVID-19. Immune dysregulation provides specific explanations for increased COVID-19 disease severity. Coronary artery disease patients display the most similarity to COVID-19 immune landscape. Identifying immune targets vital to treating COVID-19 patients with CVD comorbidities.

Seasonal Cycle of Arctic Cloud Cover based on AVHRR Satellite Data

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

First Place Winner 2021, nominated by Amato Evan (Scripps Institute of Oceanography)
The role of clouds in climate remains unknown. Arctic regions are the first places to experience climate change. This project hopes to identify the relationship between Arctic Sea ic melt and Arctic cloud cover changes. Findings included maximum precipitation occurs in Summer, and cloud cover minimum occurs in late Winter; there is large annual change in cloud cover in the Northeast edge of Greenland; and large annual change in cloud cover in Arctic Ocean.

Examining Instructor Conceptions of Diversity

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

First Place Winner 2022, nominated by Stanley Lo (Department of Cell and Developmental Biology)
The goal of this study is to develop a quantitative survey informed by education field research to examine the conceptions of diversity in a larger population of faculty across the nation. The results of this survey could serve as a reflection tool for instructors that would allow them to better understand their own conceptions of diversity. In doing this, we hope to increase instructors' awareness of their biases and perceptions of diversity in order to encourage conceptual change as well as positively promote equity and inclusive classrooms.

The Role of Gut Microbial Bile Acid Deconjugation on PCOS

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Second Place Winner 2022, nominated by Amir Zarrinpar (Department of Gastroenterology)
Polycystic ovary syndrome is the leading cause of infertility and is often ineffectively treated. The LET mouse model replicates PCOS phenotype. Exposure to healthy gut microbiome ameliorates PCOS in mice. Gut microbes that express BSH can modify bile acids. BSH-expressing ENB facilitate bile acid deconjugation in mice. Mice with BSH-expressing ENB have improved insulin response. BSH does not affect normal mouse estrous cyclicity. Mice with BSH-expressing ENG have decreased androgen levels. BSH-expressing bacteria might have potential to prevent human PCOS.

Domestic Abuse and Women's Legal Consciousness: Cases from Magazines and Newspapers in China in the 1930s

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Winner 2024 Social Sciences, Arts & Humanities Category, nominated by Weijing Lu (Department of History)
This research delves into legal consciousness and women’s agency during the early 1930s in China. In 1931, the Nationalist government implemented the Civil Code of the Republic of China, which granted women important legal rights, such as expanded property ownership and marriage autonomy. Notably, the Code unprecedentedly allowed individuals to be granted divorce by the courts on the grounds of intolerable domestic abuse. While existing literature have suggested an increase in divorce litigations initiated by abused women, indicating a rise in their legal awareness, there has been limited discussion on how abused women leveraged available resources to resist abuse and oppressive sociopolitical conditions prior to taking formal legal action. How did women experiencing domestic abuse navigate their situations in the years following the 1931 Civil Code? Through...

A Blood-Based Diagnostic Approach for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Winner 2024 Life & Health Sciences Category, nominated by Weg M. Ongkeko (Department of Surgery)
Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) is a cancer of the mucosal epithelium in the oral cavity, larynx, and pharynx. It is the 6th most common cancer worldwide and is typically diagnosed at later stages, resulting in lower survival rates compared to other major cancers. Current diagnostic methods include tissue biopsy, lymph node biopsy, ultrasound, immunochemistry, CT, MRI, and PET. The goal of this project is to develop a blood-based diagnostic test for HNSCC less invasive and more cost-effective than current methods. The test utilizes the microbiome and genomics to effectively diagnose patients in early stages. The blood microbiome showed many species to be differentially abundant between cancer and normal samples, with significant overlap between blood and tissue microbiomes. The microbiome shows promising potential as a diagnostic tool in blood samples for...

Enhancing Historical Understanding with Retrieval Augmented Generation

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Winner 2024 Data & GIS Category, nominated by Professor Colin Jemmott (Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute)
Although the amount of resources available on the internet seems to be growing daily, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to navigate the sea of information. While one might expect the influx of articles to make it easier to answer questions, the information accessible is often written well after the historical events have concluded, reflecting modern perspectives and interpretations. When answering historical questions, people often tend to rely on a simple Google search, which leads to websites such as Wikipedia. These sites can be problematic due to the unreliability of sources and the tendency to project 21st-century viewpoints onto historical information. These tools provide users with a surface-level summary that lacks the historical nuance and contextualization that is needed for a thorough understanding of the matter at hand. This project aims to...

Racial, Ethnic, and Socioeconomic Disparities in COVID-19 Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

First Place Winner 2021, nominated by Weg M. Ongkeko (Department of Surgery)
African American and Hispanic individuals are more likely to test positive for COVID-19. African American, Hispanic, and Asian American individuals are more likely to face hospitalization, infection, and death due to COVID-19. We found that racial and ethnic minorities face a higher risk of COVID-19 ICU admission, hospitalization, and positivity. Soscioeconomic deprevation is a moderating variable for worsened COVID-19 outcomes in racial and ethnic minorities. Public health policies should address socioeconomic and racial disparities to reduce exposure and fatality due to COVID-19 in underrepresented populations

The Circle of Violence: Eigner’s Poetry amid the Socio-political Unrest of the 1960s

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Honorable Mention 2024 Special Collections & Archives Category, nominated by Ameeth Vijay (Department of Literature)
The United States of America in the 1960s was characterized by big changes in the socio-political scenario, owing to the rapidly changing view of technology, science, and cultural art,marking the advent of the counterculture. With the Civil Rights Movement at its climax, there was a heavy division of race and among the people who remained conservative in the rising popularity of liberalism. This gave way to new movements in art, with localized artistic styles and innovations gaining popularity through close-knit, academically, and artistically associated groups of poets, painters, philosophers, etc. Larry Eigner, being one of them, linked to the Black Mountain school of poets, focused his poetry during this time mainly on literary-historical topics with special attention to the placement of words on the page and the creation of an environment through...

Realizing 2D and 3D Single-Crystal Perovskite Devices

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Second Place Winner 2022, nominated by Sheng Xu (Department of Nanoengineering)
Perovskites could be used for solar cells, LEDs, lasers, photodetectors and much more, but there are programs that need to be solved: their lifetime, efficiency, and toxicity. Examines the feasibility of making devices by growing single crystal perovskites.

Seeking Justice: Limited Tribal Jurisdiction in Cases of Sexual Violence

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

First Place Winner 2023 Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities Category, nominated by Mary Klann (Department of History)
Using a hypothetical case, examines the legal options available to a Hopi woman raped by her non-Indian husband in the Hopi reservation in Coconino County, Arizona. The Hopi Tribal Government has no jurisdication over this crime and recommends filing either a Civil Protection Order or a Domestic Violence Restraining Order with the state of Arizona. The paper examines the pros and cons of either choice

Characterization of the age-associated intratumoral microbiome in pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Second Place Winner 2021, nominated by Weg M. Ongkeko (Department of Surgery)
Examines the influence of the microbiome on pancreatic adenocarcinoma, with the goal to identify and characterize the microbes contributing to PAAD progression and to elucidate why age is such a big risk factor.

Laying the Groundwork: A Historical Study of Place Attachment and Community Resilience of Groundwork Books

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Winner 2025 Special Collection & Archives Category, nominated by Adena Schachner (Department of Psychology)
At UC San Diego (UCSD), student-run cooperatives—Groundwork Books, Food Co-Op, General Store, and Che Café - function as hubs for cultural expression, activism, and community connection. Focusing on Groundwork Books, this study examines how place attachment, the emotional bond individuals form with meaningful space and community resilience, and the capacity to adapt and recover from adversity are displayed in the past fifty years since its conception as a student cooperative. Through a mixed-methods approach, this study explores the quantifiable levels of place attachment and community resilience within UCSD’s student cooperatives and specifically unearthing Groundwork Books legacy in being a functional space. Archival data and document analysis, surveys, and interviews with past and current Groundwork Books members are implemented in understanding the lived...

Disparities in Access to Health Care for Autism in the Latino Community

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Second Place Winner 2021, nominated by Leslie Carver (Department of Psychology)
Among disparities that the Latino Community experiences, the largest of them outlined in this presentation is the lack of access to care. Quality medical help exists, however lower socioeconomic status Latin Families experience a significant difference in the quality of care they receive versus that of their white counterparts. There were multiple factors my research outlines; however, the most prevalent is how blocked access to quality care leads to late diagnosis & treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

When Walls Can Talk: People Make Social Inferences from Town’s Protective Features

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Honorable Mention 2025 Social Sciences, Arts & Humanities Category, nominated by Adena Schachner (Department of Psychology)
Human towns are shaped by intentional design. Here we ask whether people use societal features to make social inferences, specifically focusing on how the presence of protective architectural features influences people’s intuitions about towns’ residents. U.S. adults (N = 100) were presented with two novel societies – a 'protected' town with walls, locks, and gates, and an 'unprotected' town lacking such features. We manipulated whether residents had chosen or been randomly assigned where to live. Across both conditions, people judged that unprotected society residents felt safer, happier, and were nicer; and that protected society residents dressed more similarly, stayed inside more, and had more rules. Most people preferred to live in the unprotected society. Positive attributions and preference for the unprotected society were associated...

Assessing the Quality of the Primo AI Research Assistant for Use in Library Instruction and Research Consultations

Wed, 8 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000
This was presented at the LOEX 2025 conference in Pasadena, CA in May 2025. The presentation discussed a study conducted by a librarian research team at an R1 university that began testing the new Ex Libris Primo AI Research Assistant in 2024. The research team created a framework to assess the quality of results produced by this tool by inputting one year of research assistance queries from undergraduate writing program students and further comparing the output of a basic search to a prompt-engineered approach. Study findings will be presented along with a discussion of how librarians adapted their practice to integrate this AI tool into instruction and consultations.

Using Generative AI to Improve Your LibGuides

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000
Presented at the 2025 Generative AI in Libraries (GAIL) Virtual Conference. This lightning talk shares the presenter's experience and experiments with using generative AI tools like Microsoft Copilot and Perplexity to create and improve LibGuides text such as database descriptions, guide introductions, and topical overviews. The presenter also shares experiments with using generative AI to identify and locate sources to include on LibGuides.

Project LEND Service Plan

Thu, 29 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000
Project LEND Service Plan

Developing Scalable Library Research Training: Search Protocols, Modular Learning, and AI-Assisted Support

Tue, 20 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

University of California San Diego Library launched a project to transform health sciences library instruction – traditionally delivered in classroom settings – into a scalable, self-directed learning model that fosters independent research skill development. The project developed a structured search protocol to support systematic literature searches and library resource navigation. It follows a linear workflow, incorporating problem-solving actions, systematic search templates, an information needs taxonomy, and worked examples to support information retrieval. Unlike general library research guides, this protocol helps users apply search heuristics and methodologies to support System 1 (intuitive) and System 2 (analytical) problem-solving for more effective search strategy development. Its modular design enabled the development of instructional content in multiple formats, including videos, web-based guides, infographics, quizzes, and instructor resources, supporting diverse...

Preserving Government Information: Past, Present, and Future

Mon, 12 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The book examines how preservation practices of the past affect the preservation of digitally published government information today, analyzes publishing and preservation data to characterize the current gaps in preservation, and looks to the future by charting a path to a distributed Digital Preservation Infrastructure for government information.
The book addresses technical issues without unnecessarily technical jargon. It is designed to be used by LIS students, front-line librarians and archivists, managers of libraries and archives, government workers who publish and preserve government information, and policy makers who design laws and regulations that affect the production, dissemination and preservation of government information.

A Benchmarking Survey of Open Access Funds at the University of California

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000
Objective – The purpose of this study was to examine the status and viability of application-based open access funds (OAFs) across the University of California (UC) Libraries to assist with long-term planning for this type of funding at UC. Methods – In 2022, the authors surveyed the 10 UC campus libraries about both the outcome of an earlier UC-wide OAF pilot and the current status of application-based OAFs to support article processing charges (APCs), book processing charges (BPCs), and open educational resources (OERs). Five campuses reported having a current OAF. These five campuses responded to additional questions about their budgets and their sustainability, the number of publications funded, policies, and staffing resources for managing the OAF. Results – Five UC campuses had an active application-based OAF, with budgets or expenditures ranging from $20,000 - $271,000 annually. Only two campuses felt their budget was sustainable. One of the five campuses closed its fund...

Is the Library One-Shot Effective? A Meta-Analytic Study

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000
Is the Library One-Shot Effective? A Meta-Analytic Study

Making an impact: the new 2024 Medical Library Association research agenda

Mon, 3 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000
Objective: This research project sought to identify those subject areas that leaders and researcher members of the Medical Library Association (MLA) determined to be of greatest importance for research investigation. It updates two previous studies conducted in 2008 and 2011. Methods: The project involved a three-step Delphi process aimed at collecting the most important and researchable questions facing the health sciences librarianship profession. First, 495 MLA leaders were asked to submit questions answerable by known research methods. Submitted questions could not exceed 50 words in length. There were 130 viable, unique questions submitted by MLA leaders. Second, the authors asked 200 eligible MLA-member researchers to select the five (5) most important and answerable questions from the list of 130 questions. Third, the same 130 MLA leaders who initially submitted questions were asked to select their top five (5) most important and answerable questions from the 36 top-ranked...

Deciding how to decide: Using the Digital Preservation Storage Criteria

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000
The Digital Preservation Storage Criteria (hereafter, the Criteria) grew out of a community discussion at the 12th International Conference on Digital Preservation (iPRES 2015) on the evolving landscape of digital preservation storage approaches. A Working Group convened to develop guidance for organizations that either use or provide digital preservation storage. The first version of the Criteria was presented at an iPRES 2016 workshop and outlined the Working Group’s preliminary results and sought feedback. The Working Group has shared iterative versions over the last three years that have been informed by community feedback gathered through conference sessions, online review and a survey. Possible uses of the Criteria include helping organizations to develop requirements for their digital preservation storage, evaluating digital preservation storage solutions, raising awareness about digital preservation storage, and providing training materials to inform practitioners and...

Energy, Digital Preservation, and the Climate: Proactively Planning for an Uncertain Future

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000
Energy, Digital Preservation, and the Climate: Proactively Planning for an Uncertain Future

UC Love Data Week as a Model for Building Grassroot Data Communities at Scale

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000
UC Love Data Week as a Model for Building Grassroot Data Communities at Scale

Systematic review of exercise for the treatment of pediatric metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Steatotic liver disease affects approximately 1 in 10 children in the U.S. and increases the risk of cirrhosis, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Lifestyle modification centered on increased physical activity and dietary improvement is the primary management approach. However, significant gaps in the literature hinder the establishment of exercise as a targeted therapeutic strategy for pediatric metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We performed a systematic review of studies assessing the impact of exercise interventions on validated hepatic outcomes in children with NAFLD. METHODS: We searched CENTRAL, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Google Scholar on June 5 and 6, 2023, for studies in English involving children aged 0 to 19 years diagnosed with NAFLD or at increased risk for NAFLD due to overweight or obesity. We updated the search on August 8, 2024....

Emotional intelligence and happiness: Varied perspectives of supervisors and employees

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000
Emotional intelligence and happiness: Varied perspectives of supervisors and employees

Evaluating One-shot Asynchronous, Online Primary Source Instruction: a Case Study Using Student Feedback

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This poster explores how librarians can evaluate students’ perceptions of their ability to apply skills about how to evaluate and use primary sources taught via an online tutorial for a large-scale (250+ students each quarter) writing program course that does not provide access to student work products. We reviewed data from a writing program course taught in two quarters with a combined enrollment of 574 students. Students completed an online tutorial where they learned skills required to analyze primary sources and an evaluation to determine their perception of the effectiveness of the tutorial format to teach these skills. Our data show students preferred the online tutorial format and 75% feel very confident or confident about their ability to analyze a primary source after completing the tutorial. This is significant because only 50% were able to demonstrate their abilities in completing the tutorial activities. While we are pleased students have confidence to proceed...

Evaluating How Library Employees Apply Their EDI Training

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

PURPOSE & GOALS: At UC San Diego Library, we are committed to continuously improving equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in our services and team. We aim to inspire all employees to actively advance EDI through a multi-faceted training initiative. This program includes comprehensive training for all staff, with additional leadership development for managers and supervisors. After the training, we evaluated how staff applied what they learned in their roles and in delivering Library services. This feedback is essential for shaping future EDI strategies and ensuring every employee can meaningfully contribute. Rather than focusing solely on learning recall or satisfaction, we prioritized understanding how employees applied the training in real-world settings. This evaluation guides the Library’s strategic planning, fostering continuous improvement by integrating training, evaluation, and employee-driven enhancements.
DESIGN & METHODOLOGY: We used the CDC’s “Recommended...

Scholarly Communication Work: On the Ground Perspectives

Thu, 3 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000
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

Teaching Instruction Librarians by Design

Thu, 3 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000
Teaching Instruction Librarians by Design

An agile approach to managing a Data and GIS Lab

Wed, 2 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Presented at the Western Association of Map Librarians (WAML) Annual Conference, Albuquerque, NM, Sept. 25-27, 2024
At UC San Diego, our Library’s Data & GIS Lab employs between four and six student workers. These students not only serve as the front line to patrons who drop by the lab with geospatial or data analysis questions, they also have them work on Library related projects. We will discuss how we’ve taken Agile principles and applied them to help us manage our Lab and the projects our students work on. While Agile methodologies and principles emerged as a response to challenges and limitations observed in traditional software development and project management practices, we are applying them as a flexible and adaptive approach to managing projects and delivering value to our end users. We leverage weekly standups, a Trello kanban, and allocate time to reflect and make changes to how we operate and can continue to improve as a Lab. Taking these approaches have...

Addressing Equity and Affordability in Digital Study Tools for STEM and the Health Sciences: Possibilities for Library Involvement

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000
Students in STEM and the health sciences have unique learning needs, including preparation for exams required for entering a STEM or health sciences profession. Students in these areas thus often seek, in addition to or instead of traditional course materials and library resources, digital study tools that utilize techniques such as spaced repetition. However, such tools are often sold as individual subscriptions that may be prohibitively expensive. The article outlines four approaches libraries may consider to help make digital study tools in STEM and the health sciences more equitable and affordable: assess, adopt, adapt, and create.

Mapping the pathways to health sciences librarianship: reflections and future implications from an immersion session

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000
Objective: Many health sciences librarians enter the profession without specific health sciences training. Some LIS programs have health sciences courses or tracks, but health sciences training within an LIS program is only one path to entering health sciences librarianship. To develop a map of pathways into health sciences librarianship, an immersion session at the Medical Library Association conference in 2022 asked health sciences librarians to share how they entered the profession. Methods: The immersion session was structured in three parts: facilitator introductions, small group discussions, and a whole group summary discussion. Guided by questions from the facilitators, small groups discussed what pathways currently exist, how to promote existing pathways, what new pathways should be created, and how to develop and promote pathways that make the profession more equitable, diverse, and inclusive. Results: Through in-the-moment thematic analysis of the small group discussions,...

Reflecting on the Impact of Hybrid Work on an Academic Library Using the Socio-Ecological Model

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000
Covid-19 led to a dramatic change in the academic library work environment, with many workers shifting to a hybrid work schedule once they returned to in person work. The authors describe the impact of this schedule shift through the novel use of the socio-ecological model. The socio-ecological model looks at the impact of choices through varying circles or levels. The authors discuss the individual, interpersonal, community, and societal levels of impact that the switch to hybrid work had within their context and discuss their role as unit leaders and the decisions made to address these varying impacts.

An Actionable Guide to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Scholarly Communication

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Libraries strive to increase diversity in the workforce and foster equity and inclusion through the resources and services we provide. Recognizing the inequities and biases that exist within the scholarly publishing ecosystem, the authors created a publicly accessible online resource on the University of California Office of Scholarly Communication website to guide stakeholders to actions they could take to create more equitable scholarly communication environments. The resulting site offers distinct sections for peer reviewers, editorial boards, authors, scholarly publishers, and libraries, each summarizing research into the equity challenges for that group and suggesting actionable steps for addressing these challenges. We hope that, by interacting with this resource, scholarly communication stakeholders will gain a better understanding of the landscape and know how to take action. This poster will present our model for raising awareness of the inequities in the scholarly...

Toward Enhanced Reusability: A Comparative Analysis of Metadata for Machine Learning Objects and Their Characteristics in Generalist and Specialist Repositories

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000
Objective: The rapidly increasing prevalence and application of machine learning (ML) across disciplines creates a pressing need to establish guidance for data curation professionals. However, we must first understand the characteristics of ML-related objects shared in generalist and specialist repositories and the extent to which repository metadata fields enable findability and reuse of ML objects. Methods: We used a combination of API queries and web scraping to retrieve metadata for ML objects in eight commonly used generalist and ML-specific data repositories. We assessed both metadata schema and characteristics of deposited ML objects, within the context of the widely adopted FAIR Principles. We also calculated summary statistics for properties of objects, including number of objects per year, dataset size, domains represented, and availability of related resources. Results: Generalist repositories excelled at providing provenance metadata, specifically unique identifiers,...

Remixing the Government:Mashups and Government Information

Wed, 3 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000
Library and information science (LIS) scholarly communication is rife with discussion of web two-point-this and library two-point-that and how we can dramatically change the library paradigm with new technology. As trendy-and (two-point-) oh-so-easy to poke fun at-as the new jargon is, Web 2.0 is fundamentally about web technology giving users individual choices in how they access and use information. This is embodied in interactive tools like blogs (users publishing information themselves), wikis (users creating and editing information they access), personalized portals and widgets (users customizing their online services), and social networking (users sharing their content with others who are somehow like them).

Three-Step Data Searching

Wed, 3 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000
Three-Step Data Searching

Bountiful Harvest: Batch Searching and Distribution of Electronic State Document MARC Records

Wed, 3 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000
Time wasted is time lost. What better way to make use of a document cataloger’s time than to automate the searching processin OCLC? This is what we are doing at the University of California (UC) San Diego. The key component of this strategy is the up: search command in OCLC. This command only became available to OCLC Connexion users in April 2008 and has remained largely undiscovered.

Filling the Gaps: Data and GIS Services for the Undergraduate Researcher

Wed, 3 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000
Filling the Gaps: Data and GIS Services for the Undergraduate Researcher

Emerging Leaders Ask: Is It Accessible?

Wed, 3 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000
Emerging Leaders Ask: Is It Accessible?

Census

Wed, 3 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000
Census

The Personal, Political, and a Little Bit of Everything Else: Girls, Grrrls and Perzines

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000
Using her own zine story as a vehicle, the author relates the history of the riot grrrl subculture, describes the girl zine genre and its history, and examines zinester subculture and networking. She also explores zinesters’ motivation and discusses the purpose girl zines fill in female zinesters’ lives.

Red Flag Signs and Symptoms for Patients With Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer

Thu, 6 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000
Importance: Early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC), defined as a diagnosis at younger than age 50 years, is increasing, and so-called red flag signs and symptoms among these individuals are often missed, leading to diagnostic delays. Improved recognition of presenting signs and symptoms associated with EOCRC could facilitate more timely diagnosis and impact clinical outcomes. Objective: To report the frequency of presenting red flag signs and symptoms among individuals with EOCRC, to examine their association with EOCRC risk, and to measure variation in time to diagnosis from sign or symptom presentation. Data Sources: PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science were searched from database inception through May 2023. Study Selection: Studies that reported on sign and symptom presentation or time from sign and symptom presentation to diagnosis for patients younger than age 50 years diagnosed with nonhereditary CRC were included. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Data extraction...

Acute rotenone poisoning: A scoping review

Sat, 27 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000
Context: Rotenone is a toxic chemical found in various plants, including some used as food. Rotenone poisoning can be fatal and there is no antidote. Mechanistically, rotenone inhibits mitochondrial complex I, leading to reduced ATP production, compensatory glycolytic upregulation and secondary lactate production, and oxidative stress. Our literature review examined acute rotenone poisoning in humans, including exposure scenarios, clinical presentations, and treatments. Methods: We searched five databases for relevant literature from database inception through the search date: July 12, 2022, pairing controlled vocabulary and keywords for "rotenone" with terms relating to human exposures and outcomes, such as "ingestion," "exposure," and "poisoning." We included all peer-reviewed reports found using the search terms where the full English text was available. Data abstracted included the number, age, weight, and sex of the exposed person(s), country where exposure happened, exposure...

Systematic Review of Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Risk for Metachronous Advanced Neoplasia in Patients With Young-Onset Colorectal Adenoma

Mon, 8 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000
BACKGROUND & AIMS: The incidence and mortality of early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC) are increasing. Adenoma detection, removal, and subsequent endoscopic surveillance might modify risk of CRC diagnosed before age 50 years (early-onset CRC). We conducted a systematic review of young-onset adenoma (YOA) prevalence, associated risk factors, and rate of metachronous advanced neoplasia after YOA diagnosis. METHODS: We performed a systematic search of multiple electronic databases through February 12, 2019 and identified studies of individuals 18 to 49 years old that reported prevalence of adenoma, risk factors for adenoma, and/or risk for metachronous advanced neoplasia. Summary estimates were derived using random effects meta-analysis, when feasible. RESULTS: The pooled overall prevalence of YOA was 9.0% (95% CI, 7.1%-11.4%), based on 24 studies comprising 23,142 individuals. On subgroup analysis, the pooled prevalence of YOA from autopsy studies was 3.9% (95% CI, 1.9%-7.6%),...

Inclusive Team Visioning: Building the Leadership Muscles to Get Beyond the Groan Zone

Wed, 3 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Structural changes in library leadership and services impact how librarians experience their work. When faced with externally imposed change, our public services team did more than adapt and navigate. We partnered management with organizational development to build a more inclusive team through shared visioning. Recognizing that everyone’s experience of change is unique, we employed a variety of tools and techniques to discover factors underlying motivation and resistance. We will share how we built our leadership skills to move a large team through change while respecting the identities, professional values, and experiences of each individual in the team.

Unit costs of needle and syringe program provision: a global systematic review and cost extrapolation

Wed, 6 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000
BACKGROUND: Needle and syringe programs (NSPs) are effective at preventing HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among people who inject drugs (PWID), yet global coverage is low, partly because governments lack data on the cost and cost-effectiveness of NSP in their countries to plan and fund their responses. We conducted a global systematic review of unit costs of NSP provision to inform estimation of cost drivers and extrapolated costs to other countries. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review to extract data on the cost per syringe distributed and its cost drivers. We estimated the impact of country-level and program-level variables on the cost per syringe distributed using linear mixed-effects models. These models were used to predict unit costs of NSP provision, with the best performing model used to extrapolate the cost per syringe distributed for 137 countries. The total cost for a comprehensive NSP (200 syringes per PWID/year) was also estimated for 68 countries with PWID...

Safeguard Plan for E-resources : Specifying Licensing Terms for Perpetual Accessand Exploring Means of Data Preservation

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000
The presentation discussed the current and potential issues we faced with electronic resources, especially Chinese e-resources like ebooks from Apabi, which filed bankruptcy (and we've bought a lot of books there!), and databases from CNKI, which are suspended until further notice due to government audits. Brings up a lot of questions on how to handle these situations from perpetual access rights in licensing terms to safeguard plans for preservation and activating perpetual access.

You Only Get One Shot: Critically Exploring and Reimagining the One-Shot Instruction Model

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000
You Only Get One Shot: Critically Exploring and Reimagining the One-Shot Instruction Model

Intellectual Property Legislation and Litigation Update: Copyright Claims Board / Copyright and AI

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000
Intellectual Property Legislation and Litigation Update: Copyright Claims Board / Copyright and AI

Anything but Routine: A Selectively Annotated Bibliography of William S. Burroughs 5.0

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000
This is a comprehensive bibliography of works by and about William S. Burroughs, annotated so as to assist students and scholars in distinguishing between distinctive, and distinctively different, printings of individual works.

The Most Disruptive Publications in Plastic Surgery

Wed, 9 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000
The Most Disruptive Publications in Plastic Surgery

Academic librarians: Their understanding and use of emotional intelligence and happiness

Mon, 3 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000
Academic librarians: Their understanding and use of emotional intelligence and happiness

Pooled 3-Anatomic-Site Testing for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Sat, 24 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000
BACKGROUND: Pooled testing for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) may be a cost-saving solution to increase screening by simplifying testing procedures and reducing resource burdens. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the performance of pooled 3-anatomic-site testing (pharyngeal, rectal, and urogenital sites) for CT and NG in comparison with single-anatomic-site testing. METHODS: We conducted a systematic literature search in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science to identify original evaluation studies of the performance of pooled testing for CT and NG infections and identified 14 studies for inclusion. Each study was systematically evaluated for bias. We conducted bivariate fixed-effects and random-effects meta-analyses using a full Bayesian method of the positive percent agreement and negative percent agreement. RESULTS: The combined positive percent agreement for CT was 93.11% (95% confidence interval [CI], 91.51%-94.55%), and...

A Bibliometric Analysis of Clinical and Translational Research in Pediatric Gastroenterology From 1970 to 2017

Sat, 20 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000
OBJECTIVES: Pediatric gastroenterology is a clinical and research discipline principally developed over the past 50 years. Bibliometric methods provide quantitative analysis and identify research trends. Study aims were to characterize the growth and trends in pediatric gastroenterology clinical and translational research using citation analysis. METHODS: Using citations analysis software, a search strategy specific for pediatric gastroenterology was implemented for the years 1970 to 2017. The 50 most-cited research articles per decade were identified. These 250 articles were coded for topic and study attribute. Analysis included authors, affiliations, journals, countries, and funding sources. RESULTS: Overall average annual growth rate for pediatric gastroenterology publications was significantly higher than that for general pediatrics (51.7% vs 6.2%; P < 0.05). Among the top 250 cited articles, the distribution of study focus was epidemiology (43%), pathophysiology (18%),...

The global lake area, climate, and population dataset

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000
An increasing population in conjunction with a changing climate necessitates a detailed understanding of water abundance at multiple spatial and temporal scales. Remote sensing has provided massive data volumes to track fluctuations in water quantity, yet contextualizing water abundance with other local, regional, and global trends remains challenging by often requiring large computational resources to combine multiple data sources into analytically-friendly formats. To bridge this gap and facilitate future freshwater research opportunities, we harmonized existing global datasets to create the Global Lake area, Climate, and Population (GLCP) dataset. The GLCP is a compilation of lake surface area for 1.42 + million lakes and reservoirs of at least 10 ha in size from 1995 to 2015 with co-located basin-level temperature, precipitation, and population data. The GLCP was created with FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable) data principles in mind and retains unique identifiers...

A model for data ethics instruction for non-experts

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000
The dramatic increase in use of technological and algorithmic-based solutions for research, economic, and policy decisions has led to a number of high-profile ethical and privacy violations in the last decade. Current disparities in academic curriculum for data and computational science result in significant gaps regarding ethics training in the next generation of data-intensive researchers. Libraries are often called to fill the curricular gaps in data science training for non-data science disciplines, including within the University of California (UC) system. We found that in addition to incomplete computational training, ethics training is almost completely absent in the standard course curricula. In this report, we highlight the experiences of library data services providers in attempting to meet the need for additional training, by designing and running two workshops: Ethical Considerations in Data (2021) and its sequel Data Ethics & Justice (2022). We discuss our interdisciplinary...

Collective efficacy measures for women and girls in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000
BackgroundPrior research has shown collective efficacy to be a key determinant of women’s well-being. However, much of the work around measuring this construct has been done in high-income geographies, with very little representation from low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). To fill this gap, and guide future research in low resource settings, we aim to summarize best evidence measures of collective efficacy for women and girls from LMICs.MethodsFollowing PRISMA guidelines, we systematically searched five databases for English language peer-reviewed literature on measures of collective efficacy, published between 1 January 2009 and 25 August 2020. In addition, we sought expert input for relevant papers in this area. Research staff screened titles, abstracts, and full-text articles in a double-blind review. Inclusion criteria were: (i) original quantitative analysis, and (ii) sample limited to women/girls only (≥ 100), residing in LMICs.ResultsWe identified 786 unique articles,...

Blueprint 2030: The Digital University in the Next Decade

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000

In 2009, the original Blueprint for the Digital University set the stage for UC San Diego’s many accomplishments in cyberinfrastructure over the following decade. Many contemporary services and infrastructure used across campus have their origins in this document and subsequent projects. But research evolves, new needs arise, and new requirements are placed on researchers. Thus, campus leadership recognized the need for a new, updated Blueprint, helping point the way to the next generation of support.
To compile this new Blueprint, the Research Computing and Data Services Governance Committee engaged in a multi-year process to obtain expert input into the future of research and research technology, including consulting a faculty advisory group, surveying campus faculty, engaging in in-depth interviews with UC San Diego administrators such as the Executive Vice Chancellor and Vice Chancellor for Research, and conducting faculty focus groups.
This document outlines...

Blueprint for the Digital University: A Report of the UCSD Research Cyberinfrastructure Design Team

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000

This report provides the rationale and design for a campus‐wide research cyberinfrastructure (RCI) that will meet federal mandates for research data preservation, improve UCSD’s academic competitiveness, and achieve economies‐of‐scale savings through centralization of core infrastructure elements, while at the same time recognizing the diverse and distributed nature of UCSD’s research enterprise.

Informed by a campus survey conducted in 2008, as well as a number of case studies analyzed by the Research Cyberinfrastructure Design Team (RCIDT), our design focuses primarily (but not exclusively) on digital data. Driven by proliferating high throughput instruments, wireless sensor nets, and supercomputer simulations, the amount of digital data at the heart of the modern research enterprise is growing exponentially at UCSD and around the world. Our proposed data‐centric RCI will not only allow us to cope with the data deluge, it will position UCSD to prosper from...

Developing Humanities Collections in the Digital Age: Exploring Humanities Faculty Engagement with Electronic and Print Resources

Wed, 8 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000
This article is based on quantitative and qualitative research examining humanities scholars' understandings of the advantages and disadvantages of print versus electronic information resources. It explores how humanities' faculty members at Florida State University (FSU) use print and electronic resources, as well as how they perceive these different formats. It was carried out with the goal of assisting the authors and other librarians in choosing between electronic and print formats when performing collection development responsibilities. © 2014 Sarah Buck Kachaluba, Jessica Evans Brady, and Jessica Critten.

The Pornographic Digital Divide: Libraries and Forbidden Knowledge

Wed, 8 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000
The Pornographic Digital Divide: Libraries and Forbidden Knowledge

Walk It Off: Assessing Use of WalkStations in the Library

Wed, 8 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Presented at the 2016 (Fall) Library Assessment Conference in Arlington, VA.
In October 2014, the UC San Diego Library installed two WalkStations in its popular East Learning Commons (also the overnight study space) after receiving on-going requests from library users for furnishings that allow active seating and working, and in light of studies showing that exercising while studying helps maintain alertness and focus.

Each WalkStation features a treadmill (up to two mph), a safety clip to stop the treadmill if the user falls, an adjustable-height worksurface, and a tabletop electrical outlet to power a laptop or other devices. Lightweight mesh screens are positioned near the machines to provide for additional privacy for users.
During service desk hours, student workers at the nearby Learning Commons desk tally the number of times they see users on the WalkStations, providing at least a limited picture of overall use. With the exception...

Identifying ECIP Partner Needs: Survey Results on ECIP Set-Up

Wed, 8 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000
The Electronic Cataloging in Publication (ECIP) Cataloging Partnership Program began in 2004. It is a collaboration between the Library of Congress (LC) Cataloging in Publication (CIP) Program, publishers, and libraries across the United States. System set up for the program proved challenging for library partners. A survey was conducted during February 8-March 6, 2018 to learn about ECIP partners’ ECIP set up experience. The findings show that communication and training documentation are two key elements for program to be effective and successful. The survey result helped LC CIP program develop new and improved ECIP system.

Web archiving: Policy and practice

Wed, 8 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000
The UC San Diego Library has been collecting and providing access to archived web content since 2007. Initial collections were created on an ad hoc basis, with no highlevel plan to identify websites and content of interest, and there was little documentation of how early collection decisions were made. As time passed, the library’s web archiving efforts increased in scale, and outgrew this informal approach. Efforts were made to standardise web archiving processes and policies via collection request forms and standardised metadata, eventually culminating in the creation of a web archive collection development policy, and collection and quality control workflows and tracking. This article outlines the process of creating these tools, including establishing institutional needs and concerns, evaluating the wider landscape of web archiving policies and norms, and considering sustainable use of available resources. The article also discusses future areas of work to ensure that web...

University of California Libraries Digital Reformatting Guidelines

Wed, 8 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000
University of California Libraries Digital Reformatting Guidelines

Transcribing Oral Histories for Race and Oral History, Spring 19

Wed, 8 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000
Librarians Alanna Aiko Moore and Cristela Garcia-Spitz participated in the Race and Oral History class by teaching a workshop on the transcription process. More information on the UCSD Race and Oral History Project is available at https://knit.ucsd.edu/rohp/

Elvis and Bears: A Semiotic Approach to the Red Elvises and Rokenrol (American Studies Honors Thesis)

Wed, 8 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000
Elvis and Bears: A Semiotic Approach to the Red Elvises and Rokenrol (American Studies Honors Thesis)

Library Services to the Masses When No One Knows What We Do

Wed, 8 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000
Library Services to the Masses When No One Knows What We Do

Tell Us How UC It: Social Impact through Digital Initiative Projects

Wed, 8 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000
Panel presentation at the University of San Diego 2019 Digital Initiatives Symposium called "Having a Social Impact: Supporting Social Justice and Open Access through Digital Initiative Projects." Digital infrastructures and tools allow organizations and institutions to create opportunities for projects, information transfer, learning, and platforms for a range of voices. It also creates opportunities that promote open access, social justice, and social impact. Panelists who are directly involved in digital initiative projects that specifically seek to impact society, either by opening up information resources to everyone, or by giving people the digital resources they need to be self-supportive, will talk about their projects and the beliefs that underpin their efforts. From libraries, to online content providers, to digital skills educators, the panel represents a wide range of organizations that are employing digital initiatives for social good. Organizations participating...

Drosophila Muller F Elements Maintain a Distinct Set of Genomic Properties Over 40 Million Years of Evolution

Tue, 7 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000
The Muller F element (4.2 Mb, ~80 protein-coding genes) is an unusual autosome of Drosophila melanogaster; it is mostly heterochromatic with a low recombination rate. To investigate how these properties impact the evolution of repeats and genes, we manually improved the sequence and annotated the genes on the D. erecta, D. mojavensis, and D. grimshawi F elements and euchromatic domains from the Muller D element. We find that F elements have greater transposon density (25-50%) than euchromatic reference regions (3-11%). Among the F elements, D. grimshawi has the lowest transposon density (particularly DINE-1: 2% vs. 11-27%). F element genes have larger coding spans, more coding exons, larger introns, and lower codon bias. Comparison of the Effective Number of Codons with the Codon Adaptation Index shows that, in contrast to the other species, codon bias in D. grimshawi F element genes can be attributed primarily to selection instead of mutational biases, suggesting that density...

Open Educational Resource Program Development: A View from Two Institutions

Tue, 5 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

As affordability continues to be a growing concern in higher education, more institutions are building programs to not only bring down course materials costs for undergraduate students, but to align affordability with student success and retention. In this presentation, two institutions will share their program development around open and affordable course materials. One institution is just at the beginning of developing their program and has created a robust program for gathering data on student and course instructor needs and desires on their campus. The other institution has a much more well-established initiative with a focus on both OER and open educational practices, leveraging the impact of the program to advance the goals of access, equity, and student success. In both cases, campus partnerships ranging from undergraduate students to high-level administrators are a critical component to success. We will reflect on lessons learned for beginning and expanding programs,...

Creating an Emotional Intelligence Community of Practice: A Case Study for Academic Libraries

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000
Creating an Emotional Intelligence Community of Practice: A Case Study for Academic Libraries

¡Presente!: Affirming Latinx voices within health sciences library scholarship

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000
Increasing diverse author representation within medical librarianship scholarship among BIPOC information professionals is an important endeavor that requires closer examination. This commentary looks to examine the ways in which the profession can support Latinx librarians and library workers in fully participating within the scholarly pipeline by exploring our unique and authentic voices, structural barriers, hesitation and fears, Whiteness in the profession and knowledge production, bias in the peer review process, lack of resources and support, and finally, a call to action.