Bridging the Spectrum:

The 16th Annual Symposium on Scholarship and Practice

Online, Friday, March 1, 2024

The Department of Library and Information Science at Catholic University of America invites researchers, practitioners and students to submit proposals for the 2024 Bridging the Spectrum Symposium, a forum for sharing research findings, best practices, and works in progress in library and information science. The 16th Symposium will be a virtual event. 

Registration is now open! The registration and program information can be found from https://lis.catholic.edu/symposium2024. Please include any disability accommodations or special dietary needs when you register. Contact the Symposium Committee at: cus-slis-symposium@cua.edu if you have questions. 

This year we are excited to have Emily Drabinski, the President of the American Library Association and Associate Professor at the Queens College Graduate School of LIbrary and Information Studies as our keynote speaker.

In addition, we have briefing presentations on academic libraries, marketing and outreach, archives and special collections, and evaluation of library services and librarians. Two panels include academic and school library partnerships and the diffusion of new ideas. We have great poster presentations lined up this year.

We look forward to seeing you at the Symposium!

Symposium Committee: Sue Yeon Syn, Kevin Gunn, Shane MacDonald, Maria Daniela Thurber, Heather Wiggins

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February 05, 2024

We are excited to announce that the WRLC Annual Meeting will take place on May 21-23rd, 2024.

This three-day event is an opportunity for us to come together as a community and celebrate our achievements, share our experiences, and plan for the future.

We are planning a packed agenda filled with engaging discussions and opportunities for networking. Whether you are a new member or a long-time supporter, you won't want to miss this chance to connect with your colleagues and peers.

In next month’s newsletter, we will be sharing more information about the program, and how to sign up to be a presenter. In the meantime, we encourage you to mark your calendars and plan to join us for this exciting event.

We look forward to seeing you in May!

- WRLC Sharing Expertise Committee

Twice per year, Ex Libris refreshes all Sandbox environments. A refresh means that all data and configurations are copied from the corresponding production environment to the sandbox; these replace any data and configurations already existing in the sandbox.

Our first refresh of the new year is scheduled for Sunday, February 11th, 2024.

WRLC will do its best to recreate all consortial user accounts created in the past six months (login information will be emailed to all applicable users), but if you find that you do not have access to the sandbox after Tuesday, February 13th, you can fill out the WRLC Sandbox Access Request Form to request a new sandbox user account.

American University Library is awarded inaugural INSIGHT Into Diversity LEAD Award

INSIGHT’s Library Excellence in Access and Diversity (LEAD) Award acknowledges initiatives to make academic libraries diverse, equitable, and accessible spaces. From increasing diversity in our hiring to countless DEIA focused events, the library is excited to share the initiatives that are being recognized by this esteemed award.

Learn more about the award here: https://www.insightintodiversity.com/lead-award/

Reparative Cataloging Update for January 2024

Each month, members of the WRLC Reparative Cataloging Subgroup take turns sharing news related to reparative cataloging and recent updates to the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSHs).

There have been no updates to LCSH in the last month. There are, however, a number of tentative lists of headings awaiting approval by the Library of Congress. These headings are not yet valid for use in cataloging until they have been approved. Here are some highlights from the tentative lists:

• Africanfuturism - referring to the literary genre distinct from Afrofuturism

• Black towns - referring to municipalities in the United States or Canada established in the 19th to early 20th centuries by or for freed persons and Black people

• Fat shaming

• Fat acceptance

Also, please check out news related to critical cataloging from across the profession collected by Violet Fox at the Cataloging Lab website: https://cataloginglab.org/2024/01/02/critcatenate-critcat-in-december-2023/.

As always, if you see headings or descriptions that you feel should be updated or changed, please submit the Reparative description heading reporting form created by the subgroup or join us at our next meeting on February 21, 2024.

Job Opportunity at WRLC

WRLC is seeking an SCF Specialist to work in our Upper Marlboro headquarters.  This is a great job for a recent graduate of a WRLC partner institution or a part-time librarian seeking a full-time job with benefits.  More information is below:

JOB TITLE: Shared Collections Specialist

SUMMARY:

The Shared Collections Specialist plays a key role in ensuring the success of the WRLC by accessioning, shelving, retrieving, scanning and fulfilling requests for books, journals, archival boxes and other library materials housed in the WRLC Shared Collections Facility (SCF). The Shared Collections Specialist reports to the Shared Collections Supervisor and provides guidance to the temporary processing staff and to the courier staff, as needed.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Processes books, journals, audio-visual media, archival boxes and microforms into the WRLC Shared Collections Facility. Unpacks, inspects, and sorts materials. Assembles and labels trays. Uses the WRLC’s processing website to update item records for inventory control and to cross-check accessioning to ensure 100% data accuracy.

• Retrieves and refiles requested materials from the SCF and microforms collection. Shelves materials in the SCF using an automated lift and portable scanner. Careful attention to accurately refiling materials is essential. Use of the lift requires OSHA certification.

• Fills requests for loans by printing out requests; pulling materials from the SCF shelves or microform cabinets, scanning and electronically transmitting articles and preparing physical materials for delivery.

• In the absence of the Shared Collections Supervisor, organizes and revises the work of the temporary processing staff and coordinates the delivery service to ensure timely receipt of materials requested by faculty, students and others in the Consortium libraries.

• Professional Development, Training and other Initiatives: Serves on committees and task forces. Participates in meetings and departmental planning. Provides constructive input for enhancements to services or revisions to policies and procedures. Serves as backup to other positions as necessary. Undertakes special projects and performs other duties as assigned. Seeks new knowledge and updates skills to enhance performance in all areas of responsibility.

QUALIFICATIONS

Expected: A high school diploma. Strong oral and written communication skills. Knowledge of Windows desktop, word processing, e-mail, and scanning software.  Ability to adjust to periods of increased workflow and varying responsibilities; flexible; ability to work as part of a team in a changing environment. Ability to handle heavy loads (lift 50 lbs. regularly; 80 lbs. on occasion.)

Desired: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience. Experience using Ex Libris’ Alma. Familiarity with the role of academic libraries meeting the information needs of students, faculty and staff; library or document delivery experience preferred.

To apply, please send cover letter and resume to personnel@wrlc.org.

• Benefits Summary

• WRLC Employee Handbook

A Review of Generative AI Tools for Research

2/9/2024 - 12:00:00 PM

With the advent of ChatGPT and AI in general, doing library research has never been more complicated! Come and test drive several 'new' products that will dramatically assist you in your research. We will explore such tools and platforms as Perplexity, Elicit, Consensus, Lateral, ScholarAI, OpenAlex, and Scite and how they can streamline your research workflow.

Instructors: Kevin Gunn, Coordinator of Digital Scholarship and Charles Gallagher, Research and Instruction Librarian.

- Kevin Gunn, CU
gunn@cua.edu

Open@WRLC $2,000 Faculty Course Transformation Program Request for Proposals and Information Webinars

Wednesday, February 14th, 2024 : 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM - https://open.wrlc.org/events/wed-02142024-1200

Thursday, February 22nd, 2024 : 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM - https://open.wrlc.org/events/thu-02222024-1300

Webinars Via Zoom

The WRLC is excited to launch the second pilot year of the Open@WRLC Faculty Course Transformation Program with a  Request for Proposals! The $2,000 OER Adoption stipend is intended to support faculty who wish to replace a commercial textbook with OER. Those who adopt a resource will be using existing resource(s) as-is or with minimal editorial changes. Selected faculty will be expected to adopt the selected material during the 2024-2025 academic year. Final submissions are due Monday, March 4, 2024 11:59 (EST).

In addition to Open@WRLC Faculty Curse Transformation Program, please join the WRLC's Textbook Affordability Working Group (TAWG) to learn more about the faculty stipend program in which workshop attendees can earn $200 for writing a review of a textbook in the Open Textbook Library. More details about how to register for upcoming informational webinars and contact your campus TAWG representative can be found here on the Open@WRLC Events page. We look forward to seeing you!

https://open.wrlc.org/events

CORE Interest Group Week

Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures (a division of ALA) is the national association that advances the profession of librarians and information providers in central roles of buildings & operations, leadership & management, metadata & collections, and technology. It is made up of 45 interest groups covering an increasingly broad range of areas. Interest Group Week happens the first full week of March each year. It consists of 30 discussions and programs over 5 days, all free and open to everyone. Each session lasts one hour. Each year's schedule is posted the first week in February, and registration links are added as information is submitted by the individual interest groups. Recordings are posted the second week in March. The Library Storage Interest Group presents two brief discussions from library storage professionals on Tuesday, March 5th at 4:00 PM. WRLC’s Aaron Krebeck and Princeton University’s Ian Bogus will discuss high-density deaccessions and Amy Boucher from Harvard University will be talking about what happens when you are given an old coffin factory as a library storage facility!

View CORE’s full list of interest groups to join year-round discussions and activities.

• Acquisitions Coordinator - Georgetown Law Library

• Shared Collections Specialist - WRLC

• Information Literacy Librarian - The University of the District of Columbia

• Librarian, Electronic Resources - Gallaudet University

• Librarian, Instruction and Research - Gallaudet University

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Computers in Libraries 2024 Discount for WRLC Members

Computers in Libraries, organized and produced by Information Today, Inc., provides a unique, annual opportunity for library and information professionals from all over the world to gather and discuss the myriad of ways technology impacts libraries and the people who use them. Join them in Arlington, VA this March 12 - 14 to learn, share, and celebrate the technologies and people that are shaping the future of libraries.

As a member of the WRLC, you are eligible to receive a discount towards the cost of attendance.  

Use the code below to receive up to $250 off registration.

Your discount code: 24WRLC

Program: https://computersinlibraries.infotoday.com/2024/Program.aspx

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January 08, 2024

From all of us at the WRLC, we wish you a happy new year!  We are looking forward to our continued partnership with you and the exciting initiatives planned for the year ahead.

The second year of the two- year Open@WRLC Faculty Course Transformation program is officially open with a Request for Proposals beginning January 3, 2024.

Textbook affordability continues to be a serious concern for our students. What is the result of the unchecked commercial textbook publishing market? Research shows that most students are unable to purchase the required textbook- directly informing student success, retention and equity in the classroom. Two months before the onset of the pandemic caused university campuses to temporarily close, The Washington Post published an article detailing how local DMV university students are managing the textbook crisis. One student shared, “I’ve definitely went in three ways with two other people and we just shared a textbook because it was cheaper for us to do that…Textbooks are seen as little things, but the amount of money that they’re costing nowadays is really outlandish.”                                

Source: Textbooks are Pricey. So Students are Getting Creative.

Open Education Resources (OER) for post-secondary education have made significant progress over the last few decades and peer- reviewed textbooks and instructional material are now routinely and successfully used by instructors at fellow research universities across the country- including your own! A large-scale study at the University of Georgia has found that college students provided with free course materials at the beginning of a class get significantly better academic results than those that do not.

Source: The Impact of Open Educational Resources on Various Student Success Metrics

Please join the WRLC's Textbook Affordability Working Group (TAWG) to learn more about the faculty stipend program in which workshop attendees can earn $200 for writing a review of a textbook in the Open Textbook Library.

In addition, the WRLC is excited to launch the second pilot year of the Open@WRLC Faculty Curse Transformation Program with a  Request for Proposals . The $2,000 OER Adoption stipend is intended to support faculty who wish to replace a commercial textbook with OER. Those who adopt a resource will be using existing resource(s) as-is or with minimal editorial changes. Selected faculty will be expected to adopt the selected material during the 2024-2025 academic year. Join us to learn more about this new opportunity and how you can promote OER advocacy on your campus!

Check out the Open@WRLC Events page for more details about how to register for upcoming informational webinars and contact your campus TAWG representative or grants@wrlc.org if you have any questions.

- Angelique Carson (WRLC)

On behalf of the Textbook Affordability Working Group (TAWG)

As of January 1st, 2024, a wealth of works from 1928 have entered the US public domain. These works include Mickey Mouse’s first appearance, but also the sixth appearance of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot in “The Mystery of the Blue Train” and some of the last silent films to be created in Hollywood before the “talkies” truly took over. Also sound recordings from 1923 (recordings being subject to a slightly different law/timeline) like performances by Bessie Smith and W.C. Handy are now among the works that can be shared without permission for free.These works are free to provide what Duke University’s Center for the Study of the Public Domain describes as a “wellspring for creativity.” Copyright law protects the rights of the original authors, but allowing copyright to expire ensures that “future authors can legally build on the past—reimagining the books, making them into films, adapting the songs and movies.”

Last year, Aaron Krebeck of WRLC mashed up the Hardy Boys and one of the most notable stories from the Case-book of Sherlock Holmes to show a tiny example of what is possible with new public domain content. This year, he has created a short film to celebrate the end of the silent era and to reimagine the artistic work of Agatha Christie and WC Handy. Please enjoy Hercule Poirot’s new adventure! It is important to note that these texts are readily available for re-use because they have been widely preserved as part of our shared cultural heritage. Countless other less-famous works from 1928 and earlier only exist for that same purpose because of the hard work of the librarians like all of you and shared print organizations like WRLC, the Partnership for Shared Book Collections, HathiTrust, and others.

https://youtu.be/nCa01ZUGHxg

APAC's Idea of the Month

The January Idea of the Month is an enhancement suggested by American University’s Matt Smith. Our consortium would like circulation desk staff to have the ability within Alma to renew items on loan from other institutions from under a user's network activity tab (renew all and renew selected, though renew all being more helpful if both are not possible). Currently, only the user has access to a renewal option via their Primo VE My Library Card.

Please consider adding some votes for “Ability for fulfillment staff to renew patron loans from other institutions under network activity in Alma”

https://ideas.exlibrisgroup.com/forums/308173/suggestions/38221921

Open@WRLC $2,000 Faculty Course Transformation Stipend Information Webinar Series

Wednesday, January 17th, 2024 : 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Wednesday, January 31st, 2024 : 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Wednesday, February 14th, 2024 : 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Thursday, February 22nd, 2024 : 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Webinars Via Zoom

Textbook affordability continues to be a serious concern for our students. What is the result of the unchecked commercial textbook publishing market? Many students will never purchase the required textbook- directly informing student success, retention and equity in the classroom. 

Open Education Resources (OER) for higher education have made significant progress over the last few decades and peer-reviewed textbooks and instructional material are now routinely and successfully used by instructors at fellow research universities across the country - including your own! 

Workshop attendees will be introduced to the WRLC $2,000 Faculty Course Transformation Stipend program, which is intended to support faculty who wish to replace (adopt) a commercial textbook with OER. Those who "adopt" a resource will be using existing resource(s) as-is or with minimal editorial changes. Grantees will be expected to adopt the selected material in the 2024-2025 academic year. 

In addition, the presentation will feature one or more faculty who received Faculty Course Transformation Stipends who will talk about their experience adopting OER for their course, followed by a Q&A with all presenters.

• Information Literacy Librarian - The University of the District of Columbia

• Librarian, Instruction and Research - Gallaudet University

• Librarian, Electronic Resources - Gallaudet University

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December 04, 2023

Call For Proposals

The Department of Library and Information Science at Catholic University of America invites researchers, practitioners and students to submit proposals for the 2024 Bridging the Spectrum Symposium, a forum for sharing research findings, best practices, and works in progress in library and information science. The 16th Symposium will be a virtual event held on Friday, March 1, 2024.

The Symposium will include three types of presentations: briefings, posters and panels.

• Briefings are 15-minute presentations of an innovative practice, project, or research activity.

• Posters are exhibits describing a practice, project, or research activity.

• Authors can organize panels of speakers to present and discuss an emerging theme or topic.

Proposal topics may include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Community engagement and outreach, including marketing and advocacy for library and information services

• Information services against misinformation and propaganda

• New developments in information organization (linked data, semantic web, etc.)

• Preservation and management of born-digital and digitized resources 

• Management and analysis of data and information

• Library networks and international collaboration

• Technology trends and impact on information services

• Management of information services in cultural institutions

Important Dates

• Proposals due: January 5, 2024

• Notification of acceptance: Late January 2024

• Symposium: March 1, 2024

The submissions can be made through

https://catholic.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6EwiScDCkUg125w

Overviews of past symposia are available on the Symposium website at https://lis.catholic.edu/news-events/symposium/index.html

Please feel free to contact the Symposium Committee at cua-lis-symposium@cua.edu if you have questions.

Symposium Committee: Sue Yeon Syn, Kevin Gunn, Shane MacDonald, Maria Thurber, Heather Wiggins

APAC's Idea of the Month

The December Idea of the Month is similar to last month - another addition to the Central Discovery Index. The Faculti* Streaming Platform gives users instant access to thousands of relevant and up-to-date academic and professional research insights. This continually expanding media library of research news and analysis includes insights from The United Nations, the Federal Reserve, Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge and academic and research institutions worldwide.

The Faculti audience is predominantly the higher education, academic and research community, but also associated professional organizations such as financial institutions, policy organizations, think tanks, hospitals and schools. Faculti is an inclusive platform that works with new PhD students through to Nobel Laureates.

*Faculti pronounced exactly the same as the word faculty.

The December Idea of the Month is to add Faculti to 360/Alma/SFX knowledge bases and Central Discovery Index

https://ideas.exlibrisgroup.com/forums/574345-content/suggestions/47314280-add-faculti-to-360-alma-sfx-knowledge-bases-and-ce

Reparative Cataloging at the WRLC

Each month, members of the WRLC Reparative Cataloging Subgroup take turns sharing news related to reparative cataloging and recent updates to the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSHs).

The Library of Congress does not have any updates or changes to LCSH for November 2023.

The request to change the term Orthodox Jews to Orthodox Jewish People in the WRLC catalog was discussed by the Reparative Cataloging Subgroup; further discussion regarding the possible change is scheduled for our January meeting.

Recent news related to reparative work:

• These American birds and dozens more will be renamed, to remove human monikers (NPR)

  • Get ready to say goodbye to a lot of familiar bird names, like Anna's Hummingbird, Gambel's Quail, Lewis's Woodpecker, Bewick's Wren, Bullock's Oriole, and more. That's because the American Ornithological Society has vowed to change the English names of all bird species currently named after people, along with any other bird names deemed offensive or exclusionary. "Names have power and power can be for the good or it can be for the bad," says Colleen Handel, the society's president and a research wildlife biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Alaska.

As always, if you see headings or descriptions that you feel should be updated or changed, please submit the Reparative Description Heading Reporting Form created by the Reparative Cataloging Subgroup or join us at our next meeting on January 24, 2024.

• Librarian, Instruction and Research - Gallaudet University

• Librarian, Electronic Resources - Gallaudet University

• Library Systems Coordinator - American University

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November 06, 2023

For over 35 years, the Washington Research Library Consortium has taken decisive action to empower students and faculty in our member institutions. Through our collaborative partnership, WRLC consistently achieves substantive outcomes by:

• Hosting a preservation-quality space for print materials.

• Actively promoting college affordability through open access books, journals, and textbooks.

• Ensuring a secure environment for digital content.

• Strengthening partner library staff through centralized training, support, and professional development initiatives.

• Skillfully negotiating group discounts for shared purchases

Collaborative investments from our partners within WRLC empower us to collectively achieve ambitious objectives on a scale that would be cost-prohibitive when pursued independently. Our shared vision underscores the principle that each financial contribution to WRLC not only yields substantial returns but also fortifies our community of trust. This interdependent relationship serves as a cornerstone for the advancement of pedagogy, scholarship, and research, profoundly benefiting our academic ecosystem.

APAC's Idea of the Month

Platino EDUCA is an innovative platform that uses audiovisual and cinema as educational tools, both for schools and universities. It has the support of more than 7,000 Spanish and Latin American producers and has more than 240 works and a potential catalog of more than 400,000.

The selection of audiovisual works and the development of the pedagogical material offered by Platino EDUCA are developed in collaboration with renowned institutions in the field of cinema and education.

The November Idea of the Month is to add Platino Educa to 360/Alma/SFX knowledge bases and Central Discovery Index

https://ideas.exlibrisgroup.com/forums/574345-content/suggestions/47314295-add-platino-educa-to-360-alma-sfx-knowledge-bases

OA vs OER, and CC Licensing

Wednesday, November 8th, 2023 : 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Webinar Via Zoom

Misty Trunnell, George Washington University

Join the Washington Research Library Consortium Textbook Affordability Working Group for a brief introduction to open textbooks. Attendees will have the opportunity to earn a $200 stipend by posting a review of an open textbook!

This workshop includes:

• A brief overview of Open Educational Resources (OER)

• The benefits of adopting OER in your course

• A look at the Open Textbook Library

• Methods to evaluate OER to see if it is the right fit for your course

• Library Systems Coordinator - American University

• Cataloging Librarian - Jacob Burns Law Library

• Resource Sharing Technician - The Catholic University of America

• Metadata and Cataloging Management Librarian - American University

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October 23, 2023

Please join Howard University as they discuss open-source textbooks and tools being used to develop resources for writing open-source textbooks, resources and share research on how students and faculty use highly interactive textbooks.

Friday, October 27th

4:10- 5:00 PM (EST)

Zoom - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2249179385?pwd=bGJHdXZYZHZ6YlFaZVhGMzlzTjFYdz09

Meeting ID: 224 917 9385
Passcode: 4GhhAL

Abstract:

The quantity and quality of open-source mathematics textbooks has grown considerably in the past decade. Not only are open-source textbooks less expensive than commercially published textbooks, but many open-source textbooks can be of equal or even better quality than their commercial counterparts. The focus of the UTMOST Project, funded by the National Science Foundation, has been to develop resources for writing open-source textbooks and conduct educational research on how students and faculty use highly interactive textbooks. Products of the UTMOST Project include PreTeXt, CoCalc, and the Sage Cell Server. PreTeXt is a markup language that allows an author to produce textbooks and all scholarly work in any discipline and in any format, including PDF, HTML, ePub, Jupyter Notebook, and braille. Currently, there are 80+ books and projects written in PreTeXt. Moreover, books written in PreTeXt can be hosted on Runestone, a platform for hosting interactive textbooks on the Internet. This presentation will focus on what we have learned about open-source textbooks and tools from the beginning of UTMOST to the present day as well as a brief look into the future.

Thomas W. Judson, Stephen F. Austin State University

Dr. Judson received his PhD in 1984 from the University of Oregon under Richard Koch and is a Professor of Mathematics at Stephen F. Austin State University. Dr. Judson taught at U. of Portland from 1984 to 2001, was Preceptor in Mathematics at Harvard University from 2002 to 2008 and has been teaching at Stephen F. Austin State University since 2008. His research interests are Mathematics Education, Differential Geometry, Lie Algebras and Lie Pseudogroups. He published about twenty articles on Mathematical Education articles and authored the following open-source textbooks: "Logic and Proofs for Teachers", "The ODEs project" and "Abstract Algebra: Theory and Applications". He was a PI from 2010 to 2022 in the NSF-funded project UTMOST (Undergraduate Teaching in Mathematics with Open Software and Textbooks).

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October 13, 2023

Sponsored by the WRLC Sharing Expertise Committee*

Join us for an engaging and informative discussion on the cutting-edge world of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on the field of librarianship. Presented by Trevor Watkins, Teaching and Outreach Librarian at George Mason University, the SEC is excited to bring this presentation to the members of the WRLC.

Date: Friday, October 13th

Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Location: Zoom - https://wrlc-org.zoom.us/j/81236965829?pwd=mUQLnAo005buP9MvoaBhsBflg4Sa77.1

Event Highlights:

1. Introduction to AI (5 minutes):

Get started with a brief introduction to the fascinating realm of artificial intelligence. Learn about its origins, evolution, and its growing importance in various fields, including libraries.

2. AI in Libraries (5 minutes):

Discover how AI is reshaping the landscape of libraries and information services. Explore its applications and the exciting possibilities it offers for enhancing library operations.

3. AI Hype and Generative AI (5-7 minutes):

Dive into the world of AI hype and understand why generative AI, particularly ChatGPT and other innovative tools, is currently at the forefront. Explore the impact of these technologies on libraries and beyond.

4. Ethics in AI (5-7 minutes):

Delve into the critical topic of ethics in AI. Explore the ethical considerations that librarians and AI practitioners must navigate in the ever-evolving world of technology.

5. AI in Research (10 minutes):

Uncover recommended methods and tools for leveraging AI in research. Learn about prompt engineering, the importance of subject specialty knowledge for subject librarians, and how to create multi-layered search strings.

6. AI in the Classroom (10 minutes):

Explore the integration of AI in educational settings. Discover effective lesson planning strategies, AI literacy initiatives, and the role of information literacy in preparing students for an AI-driven world.

7. Potential of AI and Common Myths (5 minutes):

Unmask the true potential of AI while debunking common myths and misconceptions. Gain insights into the strengths and limitations of AI technology.

8. Hands-on Exercise (20 minutes):

Participate in a hands-on exercise where you'll have the opportunity to interact with AI tools such as ChatGPT, DALL-E, Bard, and more. Learn how to effectively prompt engineer generative AI tools and witness their capabilities firsthand.

9. Interactive Q&A (18-20 minutes):

Engage in a lively and interactive Q&A session with our expert speaker. Ask questions, address concerns, and explore the fascinating world of AI in depth.

This event promises to be an engaging journey into the world of AI and its significance for librarianship, research, and education. Whether you're a seasoned librarian, an AI enthusiast, or simply curious about the future, this discussion has something for everyone.

Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to explore the intersection of AI and libraries. Save the Zoom link to your calendar and join us for an insightful and thought-provoking discussion!

Note: For more details about the ALA panel discussion that inspired this event, you can read the full article here.

*Fun Fact: this article was completely written using AI.

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October 02, 2023

Sponsored by the WRLC Sharing Expertise Committee*

Join us for an engaging and informative discussion on the cutting-edge world of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on the field of librarianship. Presented by Trevor Watkins, Teaching and Outreach Librarian at George Mason University, the SEC is excited to bring this presentation to the members of the WRLC.

Date: Friday, October 13th

Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Location: Zoom - link: https://wrlc-org.zoom.us/j/81236965829?pwd=mUQLnAo005buP9MvoaBhsBflg4Sa77.1

Event Highlights:

1. Introduction to AI (5 minutes):

Get started with a brief introduction to the fascinating realm of artificial intelligence. Learn about its origins, evolution, and its growing importance in various fields, including libraries.

2. AI in Libraries (5 minutes):

Discover how AI is reshaping the landscape of libraries and information services. Explore its applications and the exciting possibilities it offers for enhancing library operations.

3. AI Hype and Generative AI (5-7 minutes):

Dive into the world of AI hype and understand why generative AI, particularly ChatGPT and other innovative tools, is currently at the forefront. Explore the impact of these technologies on libraries and beyond.

4. Ethics in AI (5-7 minutes):

Delve into the critical topic of ethics in AI. Explore the ethical considerations that librarians and AI practitioners must navigate in the ever-evolving world of technology.

5. AI in Research (10 minutes):

Uncover recommended methods and tools for leveraging AI in research. Learn about prompt engineering, the importance of subject specialty knowledge for subject librarians, and how to create multi-layered search strings.

6. AI in the Classroom (10 minutes):

Explore the integration of AI in educational settings. Discover effective lesson planning strategies, AI literacy initiatives, and the role of information literacy in preparing students for an AI-driven world.

7. Potential of AI and Common Myths (5 minutes):

Unmask the true potential of AI while debunking common myths and misconceptions. Gain insights into the strengths and limitations of AI technology.

8. Hands-on Exercise (20 minutes):

Participate in a hands-on exercise where you'll have the opportunity to interact with AI tools such as ChatGPT, DALL-E, Bard, and more. Learn how to effectively prompt engineer generative AI tools and witness their capabilities firsthand.

9. Interactive Q&A (18-20 minutes):

Engage in a lively and interactive Q&A session with our expert speaker. Ask questions, address concerns, and explore the fascinating world of AI in depth.

This event promises to be an engaging journey into the world of AI and its significance for librarianship, research, and education. Whether you're a seasoned librarian, an AI enthusiast, or simply curious about the future, this discussion has something for everyone.

Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to explore the intersection of AI and libraries. Save the Zoom link to your calendar and join us for an insightful and thought-provoking discussion!

Note: For more details about the ALA panel discussion that inspired this event, you can read the full article here.

*Fun Fact: this article was completely written using AI.

In January 2023, the WRLC launched the first year of a two-year pilot Open Educational Resource (OER) program grant program. Across the WRLC, thirteen faculty received a $2,000 Open@WRLC Faculty Course Transformation grant to provide support as they worked to adopt OER courseware material into their curriculum and provide low to no-cost courses at their university.

The Textbook Affordability Working Group (TAWG) is thrilled to share that the  program is estimated to yield $124,018.00 in student textbook savings in the 2023-34 academic year. The second year of the pilot program will begin with a Call for Proposals this coming January 2024. Learn more here: Open@WRLC Faculty Course Transformation Program.

The following OER transformed courses will be offered, at zero cost, in the 2023-24 academic year:

American University

Dr. Krisztina Domjan

• ELTA 081 Intro to Grad Academic Writing
  Fall 2023 and Spring 2024

Dr. James Quirk

• GOVT 210 Public Policy and Public Policy Writing

  Fall 2023, Spring 2024 and Summer 2024

Catholic University of America

Dr. Kathryn Degnan

• PSY 705 Statistical Methods I and PSY 706 Statistical Methods II

  Fall 2023 and Spring 2024

Gallaudet University

Dr. Adebowale Ogunjirin

• BIO 233 Human Anatomy and Physiology and BIO 333 Human Anatomy & Physiology II

  Spring 2024

George Washington University

Dr. Elizabeth Chacko

• GEOG 1001 Introduction to Human Geography

  Spring 2024

Howard University

Dr. Roberto De Leo

• MATH 156 Calculus I and MATH 157 Calculus II

  Fall 2023 and Spring 2024

Dr. Jermaine Young

• POLS 003 Introduction to Comparative Politics

  Spring 2024

Dr. Sosanya Jones

• ELPS 606 Higher Education Administration & Governance

  Fall 2023

Marymount University

Dr. Larry Clay

• MGT 451 Strategic Management

  Fall 2023, Spring 2024 and Summer 2024

Dr. John Jamison

• MGT 304 Organizational Management

  Fall 2023 and Spring 2024

Dr. Judith Fruiterman

• NU 333 Health Promotion and Illness Management in the Childbearing Years

  Fall 2023, Spring 2024 and Summer 2024

Dr. Stephanie Chalk

• CE (TBD): Mental Health Treatment of Trauma and Violence

  Spring 2024 and Summer 2024

University of the District of Columbia

Dr. Ronnie Brown

• CCEN 101C Introduction to Engineering - Python Programming Text

  Fall 2023 and Spring 2024

Save the Date: TAWG $200 Open Textbook Library Review Stipend + Webinar Series

TAWG is ready to begin its Fall 2023 Open Textbook Library OER workshop schedule. As in previous years, the workshop series will cover a wide variety of OER topics and feature faculty from across the WRLC faculty, who have adopted OER into their courseware, and will join us to share their experiences and answer questions.

If you’re interested in how OER can inform retention efforts, improve classroom experiences, assist our most vulnerable students, and respond to DEI challenges, join us at one of our upcoming Fall 2023 presentations. And, of course, encourage your faculty to attend and take advantage of the $200 OpenTextbook Library Stipend Review opportunity! We look forward to seeing you there and are eager to hear how we can assist your campus’ OER advocacy efforts.

• October 11th, 2023 1:00 PM: Evaluating OER: Different Tools and Resources

• October 26th, 2023 12:00 PM: How OER Enables and Aligns with DEI Values

• November 8th, 2023 1:00 PM: OA vs. OER, and CC Licensing

Learn more and register here! Open@WRLC Upcoming Events

LibreTexts’ OER Collection Added to Primo

Last year, the Open Textbook Library, a peer-reviewed collection of post-secondary OER textbooks and courseware material, was added to Primo, making it even easier for WRLC faculty and students to find and access high quality OER material for their courseware and study needs.

This September, Libretexts, another collection of OER post-secondary courseware material, authored by faculty and published by colleges and universities, was added to Primo, as well. Libretexts provides an opportunity for faculty and subject experts to collaborate and build freely available OER and currently offers twelve widely accessed college-level disciplines from STEM to Humanities. Boasting 154 available courses, the Libretexts project  has supported over $31 million in textbooks savings to university and college students across the country.

Be sure to contact your TAWG representative or email open@wrlc.org with any questions about Open@WRLC programming or assistance with locating relevant OER material for your courseware needs.

Reparative Cataloging at the WRLC

Each month, members of the WRLC Reparative Cataloging Subgroup take turns sharing news related to reparative cataloging and recent updates to the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSHs). There were no new headings or updates from LCSH, but there were updates in the Library of Congress Demographic Group Terms (LCDGT:

• Bisexual people, CHANGE from Bisexuals

• Gay people, CHANGE from Gays

• Gay men, UPDATED to include references to newly updated headings

• Lesbians, UPDATED to include references to newly updated headings

• Multiracial people (NEW)

• Orthodox Jews (NEW)

In other news, ExLibris is planning to add Homosaurus terms to CZ records. They hope to have this implemented no later than December 2023

Upcoming webinars and news related to reparative work:

• ACRL LDG: Maintenance as a Core Value: Recommendations for Increasing Gender Equity on Digital Scholarship Teams -- October 5, free

• Best of Core at ALA Annual Conference: Sustainable Reparative Description and You -- October 11, $

• ATLA: Less Talk, More Action: Adventures in Inclusive Metadata. October 11, 2023, free.

• “Getting Started with Accessible User Experience (UX) Research.” 2023. Choice 360 (blog). September 25, 2023. https://www.choice360.org/libtech-insight/getting-started-with-accessible-user-experience-ux-research/.

• “Making GW’s Library Catalog Express and Reflect Our Community’s Values | GW Today | The George Washington University.” n.d. GW Today. https://gwtoday.gwu.edu/making-gws-library-catalog-express-and-reflect-our-communitys-values.

As always, if you see headings or descriptions that you feel should be updated or changed, please submit the Reparative description heading reporting form created by the subgroup or join us at our next meeting on October 25, 2023.

At a Glance: Consortium Loan Service Savings

APAC's Idea of the Month

Add all Enumeration and Chronology fields to the Import Profile

The Alma/Primo Advisory Committee's (APAC) October Idea of the Month recommendation seeks to add all Item Enumeration and Chronology fields to an import profile.

Currently, only Enumeration A - C and Chronology I - K are listed in the Inventory Information tab of Import Profiles. The WRLC uses Enumeration A-D; Enumeration D specifically is used for free-text phrases that do not conveniently fit into the category of volume, number or issue; so "index", "part", "box", etc. are all written in EnumD. This is why it is frustrating that this enumeration field cannot be imported via an import profile.

This Idea Exchange post asks for the ability to import all of the enumeration fields that are available in the item record in Alma, not just a handful.

Ex Libris hosts the Idea Exchange to enable customers to influence the development of new features and solutions. Anyone with an Idea Exchange login can use their 25 votes to support their favorite ideas. Each month, the WRLC Alma/Primo Advisory Committee (APAC) highlights an idea and encourages you to vote for it to raise its visibility.

If you don't have an Idea Exchange account, just find the "New here? Create an account" link on the idea page. Then enter your email address to start the account creation process.

APAC welcomes nominations for future Ideas of the Month. Anyone can highlight an idea on the WRLC Idea Exchange Basecamp or you can submit ideas to your APAC representative.

- Jackie Saavedra (WRLC)

On behalf of the Alma/Primo Advisory Committee

Evaluating OER: Different Tools and Resources

Wednesday, October 11th, 2023 : 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Webinar Via Zoom

Meghan Kowalski, UDC

Brianna Chatmon, Marymount University

Join the Washington Research Library Consortium Textbook Affordability Working Group for a brief introduction to open textbooks. Attendees will have the opportunity to earn a $200 stipend by posting a review of an open textbook!

This workshop includes:

• A brief overview of Open Educational Resources (OER)

• The benefits of adopting OER in your course

• A look at the Open Textbook Library

• Methods to evaluate OER to see if it is the right fit for your course

Gale Digital Scholar Lab

Friday, October 13, 2023 : 12:00 PM
Webinar Via Zoom

Instructor: Kevin Gunn, Coordinator of Digital Scholarship, CUA

Learn how to use the lab for locating, analyzing, and visualizing texts. Using Gale’s Primary Sources archive, we will demonstrate the workflow process in building, cleaning, and analyzing content. We will explore some of the tools including document clustering, Named Entity Recognition, Ngrams, parts of speech, sentiment analysis, and topic modeling. No previous experience necessary. Instructor: Kevin Gunn, Coordinator of Digital Scholarship

WRLC Fall Forum: Exploring the Future of AI in Libraries

Friday, October 13th : 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Webinar Via Zoom

Sponsored by the WRLC Sharing Expertise Committee

Join us for an engaging and informative discussion on the cutting-edge world of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on the field of librarianship. Presented by Trevor Watkins, Teaching and Outreach Librarian at George Mason University, the SEC is excited to bring this presentation to the members of the WRLC.

(See the article above for additional information)

Legal and Ethical Issues in Text Data Mining

Monday, October 23, 2023 : 12:00 PM

Webinar Via Zoom

Instructor: Kevin Gunn, Coordinator of Digital Scholarship, CUA

I am not sure if I can text data mine a particular dataset. How can I determine what my rights are? We will explore best practices in copyright, fair use, licensing agreements and terms of use, privacy and ethical issues, digital rights management, and other issues involving non-consumptive use of text for research.

How OER Enables and Aligns with DEI Values

Thursday, October 26th, 2023 : 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Webinar Via Zoom

Rachel Borchardt, American University

Tricia Clarke, UDC

One of the primary benefits of OER is their ability to save students money on classroom materials, but did you know that OER use can also have a variety of other benefits? The integration of OER in educational settings not only removes economic barriers to student engagement, fostering inclusive pedagogy, but also aligns with the principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in several ways. In an upcoming session, Tricia Clarke from UDC and Rachel Borchardt from American University will delve into the multifaceted connections between OER use in the classroom and DEI values. This session will also provide an introduction to OER and offer guidance on locating OER materials for your specific course needs. There will be plenty of time for questions as well!

• Library Systems Coordinator - American University

• Cataloging Librarian - Jacob Burns Law Library

• Resource Sharing Technician - The Catholic University of America

• Metadata and Cataloging Management Librarian - American University

• Assistant Director for Resource Management Services - Jacob Burns Law Library

• Head of Legal Technology & Instructional Services - Jacob Burns Law Library

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September 08, 2023

NOTE: The date for the “Using AI to Expand Your Research Toolbox” webinar has been updated. Please see below.

Starting a Text Data Mining Project

9/18/2023, 12:00 PM

Webinar Via Zoom

Shared by Kevin Gunn, CUA

Planning a text data mining project is an involved affair. This workshop will establish best practices by walking you through the process of determining your research question, how to locate and acquire texts, selecting the right tools for cleaning and analysis, and the potential legal issues involved.

Using AI to Expand Your Research Toolbox

9/29/2023, 12:00 PM
Webinar Via Zoom

Shared by Kevin Gunn, CUA

Tools such as ChatGPT, Elicit, Bing, and Bard can be effective in the research process but discovering, evaluating, and citing resources can be challenging. Come broaden your information literacy skills by understanding the best practices for using these new technologies,

Information Literacy for the ChatGPT Age

Coming Soon

Shared by Trevor Watkins, teaching and outreach librarian at George Mason University

Hosted by the Sharing Expertise Committee, join us to learn more about  generative AI, its role in higher education, and what it means to librarianship.  Look for more information in our next newsletter.

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