Poster Sessions

"A Gentle Introduction": Strategies and Best Practice for Designing Hybrid Instruction

Cadence A Cordell @ University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Poster (.pdf)

As universities and libraries encourage online and hybrid instruction as new methods for reaching learners, how can instructors design and lead hybrid instruction effectively? This poster focuses on a series of hybrid workshops about a variety of digital humanities topics at UIUC in Fall 2023 and how the presenters implemented hybrid learning strategies that were accessible, inclusive, and intelligible for both in-person and online listeners. This poster also offers recommendations for how to develop and document your own hybrid instruction strategies based on your local resources.

Budding Voices in Information Literacy: The Information Literacy Collab, a Journal by Students, for Students

Emily S Warfield @ Syracuse University
- Poster (.pdf)

The Information Literacy Collab (ILC) is an upcoming publication presented by Syracuse University Libraries and an exciting opportunity for budding information professionals. This journal, run by and for graduate students, seeks to address two gaps in scholarship by giving a platform to new voices in the field and placing a spotlight on information literacy. This poster highlights the process behind the project, takeaways from our editorial board comprised of Syracuse University Libraries’ Information Literacy Scholars, suggested readings and resources beneficial to anyone looking to create their own journal, and steps for current MLIS students and recent graduates to get involved.

Olivia Russo, Syracuse University, co-created this poster.

Digital Literacy Taking Root through Gameful Pedagogy and Design Thinking Strategies

Isabel Q Ryan and Isabela Oliveira @ University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Graduate students enter their program with varying levels of information literacy: how can a University Library present their online resources more widely and in engaging, memorable ways? We integrate approaches in design thinking and gameful pedagogy to propose the design of a web-based escape-room centered on navigating to library research resources on the University Library website. Finding fresh ways to involve and motivate students to build self-efficacy in their research endeavors creates a culture rooted in lifelong learning, as well as helps librarians learn about the evolving instructional needs of their users.

Enhancing First-Year Writing: An AI-Powered Approach to Selecting and Narrowing a Topic

Matt Armstrong @ San Jose State University/Brigham Young University and Nathan Standing @ Brigham Young University

The recent advancements in AI technology have provided a unique opportunity to support students when selecting and narrowing research topics. Our team this year created and tested an AI-based chatbot focused on helping students who did not know what to write about or how to narrow their topics. We have conducted a qualitative study to determine students’ perceptions of the chatbot. Our poster covers what we learned from the study and provides information about how the chatbot was built, tool limitations, student perceptions, and potential future improvements for those who want to implement similar tools for their students.

"Following" a New Path: Rebecca Crown Library's Social Media Overhaul

Megan B Hoppe @ Dominican University
- Poster (.pptx)

Social media can be an overwhelming place for an academic library, but as a popular source of information for students, it has become a necessary space for conducting outreach. This poster explores Rebecca Crown Library’s (RCL) social media marketing strategy overhaul that began July 2023. The team has revitalized accounts that previously were outdated and underutilized. This shift involved more than content creation—it included increasing librarian buy-in, posting consistently each week, introducing short-form videos, and switching to service-oriented messaging. The marketing campaign has also resulted in continual assessment and communication with students on what they expect from their library.

Nurturing Diversity: Empowering BIPOC Voices FOR Wellbeing in Library and Information Science   

Ariana Cook @ Syracuse University

This poster session seeks to foster solidarity and cultivate sustainable resistance within the BIPOC student community through the power of storytelling, emphasizing themes of wellbeing and burnout prevention. Through storytelling about the struggle BIPOC graduate students of color face in library science programs participants will explore ways to speak up and share experiences, with peers, working professionals, and faculty. Ensuring that students' feedback is taken seriously encourages students to keep speaking without the concern of being dismissed. This session hopes to provide graduate students and faculty with a platform to speak freely and discuss their concerns without fear of retaliation.

Old Technologies Made New: How Cycloramas Can Be Used in the Classroom

Rylyn Monahan @ University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign   

- Poster (.pdf)
- Handout (.pdf) 

As early as the 18th century, 360-degree paintings known as cycloramas advertised and supplied an immersive experience of historical events and natural landmarks, but how might that relate to today’s classroom? Compared to modern-day IMAX theaters, the cycloramas of old engaged the viewer in a multi-sensory way, with paintings, sculptures, and audio recordings that encouraged perambulatory viewing. This poster will dive deeper into defining cycloramas and how they worked, and it will present some ways that the format of the cyclorama can be employed for library instruction to create a similarly captivating and engaging lesson.

Pruning STEM Search Strategies Using Scopus

Sophia Fiumano @ Syracuse University

There is a lack of effective database searching skills within STEM majors. This is due to complicated terminology, an increased spread of misinformation, and new interdisciplinary studies being published (Cruickshank, 2019). In libraries’ research guides, links to many different databases may overwhelm students. To address this, a research guide was created to be a suite of learning objects specifically geared towards navigating Scopus and Scopus-specific advanced search methods. To accommodate a variety of learning styles, video tutorials are included. This LibGuide will be an essential tool to aid in increasing the confidence of searching within Scopus for STEM fields.