Type of Presentation
Poster Session
Conference Strand
Outreach and Partnership
Target Audience
Higher Education
Second Target Audience
K-12
Relevance
In the age of AI, when content can be easily fabricated without authority or merit, it is crucial that our students have access to the library for authentic scholarly content and a librarian to assist with library materials and services.
Proposal
Transactional distance is defined as the gap between the learner and the teacher in online classes. In other words, how far away does the learner feel from the teacher or the ability to get help. This definition is applied to how far away the learner feels from the library and the ability to get help from a librarian.
Two important issues in transactional distance are structure and dialogue. Librarians should be aware of the structure of learning materials and have clear visible pathways so that students may reach out to ask for assistance. Websites must have logical structure and students must have a way to communicate with a librarian to get help if needed.
We examined the homepages of academic libraries across 6 Southeastern states to determine the number of movements one must make to reach the library from the university/college homepage and then reach an academic librarian for assistance.
Being aware of the placement of links on the university homepage to get to the library along with ensuring a clear path to connect with a librarian for help on the library homepage, should be a concern for academic librarians so that patrons may connect to get assistance. Awareness of these links or lack of a clear pathway should inform librarians of the need to advocate for a better presence on university and library homepages so that patrons may have better access to collections and help from a librarian.
In the age of AI, when content can be easily fabricated without authority or merit, it is crucial that our students have access to the library for authentic scholarly content and a librarian to assist with library materials and services.
Short Description
Academic websites should be logical and students must have a way to reach a librarian. Academic library homepages in 6 Southeastern states are examined to determine the number of steps to reach the library and librarian for assistance. In the age of AI, when content can be easily fabricated without authority or merit, it is crucial that students have access to scholarly content and librarians.
Keywords
transactional distance, library web pages, university homepages
Publication Type and Release Option
Presentation (Open Access)
Recommended Citation
Stoupenos, Viki and Woods, Christine Dr., "How many steps to connect with the library and a librarian in academic libraries in the Southeast" (2024). Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy. 17.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gaintlit/2024/2024/17
Included in
Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Information Literacy Commons, Work, Economy and Organizations Commons
How many steps to connect with the library and a librarian in academic libraries in the Southeast
Transactional distance is defined as the gap between the learner and the teacher in online classes. In other words, how far away does the learner feel from the teacher or the ability to get help. This definition is applied to how far away the learner feels from the library and the ability to get help from a librarian.
Two important issues in transactional distance are structure and dialogue. Librarians should be aware of the structure of learning materials and have clear visible pathways so that students may reach out to ask for assistance. Websites must have logical structure and students must have a way to communicate with a librarian to get help if needed.
We examined the homepages of academic libraries across 6 Southeastern states to determine the number of movements one must make to reach the library from the university/college homepage and then reach an academic librarian for assistance.
Being aware of the placement of links on the university homepage to get to the library along with ensuring a clear path to connect with a librarian for help on the library homepage, should be a concern for academic librarians so that patrons may connect to get assistance. Awareness of these links or lack of a clear pathway should inform librarians of the need to advocate for a better presence on university and library homepages so that patrons may have better access to collections and help from a librarian.
In the age of AI, when content can be easily fabricated without authority or merit, it is crucial that our students have access to the library for authentic scholarly content and a librarian to assist with library materials and services.
