UH Faculty, Staff, and Student Works
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10657/22
The collection gathers research products generated by University of Houston faculty, staff, and students
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Browsing UH Faculty, Staff, and Student Works by Department "Libraries"
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Item A Virtual Linked Data Study Group: Our Experiences and Perspectives(2024-02-15) Crane, Jill; Hood, Martha; Pappas, Jodene; Ramirez, Ada Laura; Vandale, SusanAt the University of Houston Libraries in 2018, a virtual Linked Data Study Group took root and grew to include a total of seven librarians from multiple institutions across the country. This presentation highlights a collaborative model for learning and professional growth in technical services.Item Accuracy & Cost Assessment for Archival Video Transcription Methods(2019-10-24) Vinson, EmilyIn order to make archival audiovisual collections more accessible, I have been exploring ways to transcribe content for the University of Houston Libraries Audio/Visual Repository in order to add closed-captioning, utilize synchronized audiovisual-transcript systems, and make available transcripts as data sets. This study examines the accuracy and return on investment of various methods of transcription, including vendor services, artificial intelligence-based software, and library employee-created transcripts. Many libraries and archives are struggling with enormous backlogs of audiovisual content that could be more accessible with transcripts. This small study specifically serves this audience because it includes various types of content common to archives and represents differing quality levels.Item Acknowledging the Personal Among Digital Library Users and Reuses(2016-06-15) Reilly, Michele; Thompson, SantiTechnology has allowed libraries to expand access to their rare and unique special collections content for over twenty years. Since that time, librarians have also tried to evaluate the value of these efforts. Librarians have primarily focused their assessments on the usability of digital library platforms. In more recent years, others have also attempted to address how these materials were being used and reused -- a concept that is also known as “ultimate use.” Building on this previous studies, the researchers developed a project that utilized reverse image lookup (RIL) tools to better understand who uses digital library materials and for what purposes.Item Advancing Textbook Affordability: Considerations for Open and Affordable Course Materials(Against the Grain, 2019-11) Santiago, ArianaThis article provides an overview of the Alternative Textbook Incentive Program at the University of Houston, compares the use of open educational resources (OER) and library-funded resources, outlines pros and cons, and provides practical advice for other libraries considering similar programs.Item Agile Skunks: Interdisciplinary collaboration in support of digital research outputs(2021-01-28) Boehm, Reid; Davis-Van Atta, TaylorDigital research outputs are increasingly common and accepted across academic disciplines, and often constitute vital components of researcher publications and portfolios. As such, research libraries are faced with challenges around providing adequate stewardship for these products. At University of Houston Libraries, an interdisciplinary, cross-departmental team is engaged in a model of collaboration aimed at building shared understandings, workflows, and open infrastructures that provide a foundation for services that meet this need. This presentation outlines the process this team developed in working toward solutions for the preservation, access, and reuse of bespoke research outputs. Central to these efforts is understanding areas of convergence in our collective library expertise that are not often acknowledged, communicated, or fully known. This work applies principles found in OCLC’s Social interoperability in research support and Bethany Nowviskie’s skunkworks approach—principles we believe are fundamental to meeting challenges inherent to complex technological service development. We will also share our application of Agile development as an organizing tool for technical work, as well as strategies we have identified to keep us moving forward while maintaining the spirit of inquiry with which we started. By opening up this dialogue to the community, we hope to share our collaborative experience and gain feedback and perspective from others who are exploring such approaches or who may be interested or are engaged in similar inquiry.Item Alternative Access: A Creative Solution to an Imperfect Digital Library(2016-08-06) Vinson, EmilyThe University of Houston Libraries is currently undergoing a transition in Digital Asset Management systems. With current limitations of the Digital Library making video playback difficult, this presentation discusses use of Omeka, a free exhibit software, paired with YouTube video streaming to provide improved access to one small portion of the KUHT Collection, the work of Dr. Richard I. Evans.Item American Library Association GLBT Roundtable 50th Anniversary Archival Digitization Project(2017-06-23) Santiago, Ariana; Ettarh, Fobazi; Grissom, Andrew; McKeever, Lucas; Van Cleve, StewartThe Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT) will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2020. Founded in 1970 as the Task Force on Gay Liberation, it was the first gay and lesbian professional organization in the United States. As part of the celebration for the upcoming anniversary, the GLBTRT has embarked on a three-year project to collect, digitize, and make accessible documents and materials pertaining to the history of the Round Table as a digital archive. The 2017 cohort of Emerging Leaders chosen for this project gathered information, created and bolstered community connections, and laid the foundation for a robust archive that this groundbreaking organization deserves.Item An Analysis of Evolving Metadata Influences, Standards, and Practices in Electronic Theses and Dissertations(Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, 2016-04) Potvin, Sarah; Thompson, SantiThis study uses a mixed methods approach to raise awareness of divergences between and among current practices and metadata standards and guidelines for electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs). Analysis is rooted in literatures on metadata quality, shareable or federated metadata, and interoperability, with attention to the impact of systems, tools, and practices on ETD date metadata. We consider the philosophies that have guided the design of several metadata standards. An examination of semantic interoperability issues serves as an articulation of the need for a more robust ideal moving forward, rooted in lifecycle models of metadata and concerned with the long-term curation and preservation of ETDs.Item Analyzing data consultations: What liaisons can learn about users' data needs and use of tools(2017) Gao, Wenli; Ke, Irene; Martin, LisaAs data services gain momentum in academic libraries, liaison librarians are expected to be part of the education force for data literacy. Nonetheless, due to the broad scope of data literacy, training librarians to improve data-related skills can be challenging. This article used consultation statistics to identify tools and resources employed to solve users’ data questions. The results offered insights into users’ data needs and provided librarians with a clear direction to further develop data skills in their assigned disciplines. The methodology used in this study can be replicated at other institutions to identify needs and to direct professional development.Item Analyzing monograph usage of approval and firm orders for collection development(2015) Ke, Irene; Gao, Wenli; Bronicki, JacquelineThe poster describes a collection assessment project that compares the use of monographs purchased on an approval plan with those acquired via subject librarians’ selections. The goal is to reveal the usage trends between the two different selection processes. The analysis is based on LC classifications and subject groupings. We hypothesize that the usage patterns vary among subjects. The findings will inform collection managers in their effort to establish an effective and sustainable collection strategy.Item And Justice for All: Women’s Liberation and the Feminist Movement during the 1970s and 1980s(2013-05-23) Lee, VinceThe rich social, cultural, and political aspects of women’s history are often scattered among collections that are not prominently visible unless they are specifically highlighted and promoted. Presenters of this session will discuss their archives’s efforts to acquire,to interconnect and to increase awareness of their women’s collections in the areas of education, service to the military, and the political arena. Topics to be covered include establishing good relations with donors and developing new sources of contact, making such valuable collections accessible, and exploring different methods of outreach to our patrons through the employment of EAD finding aids on the Texas Archival Resources Online (TARO) website, writing blogs, maintaining Facebook pages, creating online exhibits and Wiki subject pages,and other modes of academic pursuit.Item API Authority Control: Leveraging Programmatic Access to Legacy Data(2015-11-14) Weidner, AndrewCleaning up legacy authority data in content management systems can be a daunting task, especially in the absence of tools for batch processing of existing records. This talk will describe a workflow for harvesting name and subject metadata from the CONTENTdm API using Ruby scripts, processing the data with AutoHotkey apps, and reconciling terms with controlled vocabularies published on the web. Although the specifics of this presentation pertain to CONTENTdm, the methodology can be applied to any content management system with a robust API using a variety of scripting languages and tools.Item Apps in Facebook & Google OpenSocial: Why Librarians Should Pay Attention(2008-06-25) Vacek, RachelLooking at Google OpenSocial & Facebook Apps (in their early stages) and what it means for libraries.Item Assessing Your Library Website Using User Research Methods and Other Tools(2015-11-06) Vacek, RachelThis is a presentation given to the Oklahoma chapter of the Association of College and Research Libraries. It's about using web analytics and content audits as well as a variety of user research methods to better understand your users and assess and improve your website.Item Automated Enhancement of Controlled Vocabularies: Upgrading Legacy Metadata in CONTENTdm [Conference Paper](International Conference on Dublin Core and Metadata Applications, 2014-10) Weidner, Andrew; Wu, Annie; Thompson, SantiTo ensure robust, reliable, retrievable and sharable metadata, the University of Houston (UH) Libraries initiated a Metadata Upgrade Project in 2013 to systematically audit and refine the quality of the metadata in the University of Houston Digital Library (UHDL). Still in progress, the Metadata Upgrade project has already produced significant improvements in the UHDL’s legacy metadata. The final phase of the Metadata Upgrade Project includes aligning controlled vocabulary terms with appropriate authorities and adding and revising descriptive content in the digital library. This is a time intensive process that requires careful evaluation and entry of name and subject authority terms. To improve efficiency and accuracy during the data entry process, the metadata librarian at UH Libraries developed name and subject authority applications that automatically transform legacy controlled vocabulary terms into authorized forms. This project report will provide an overview of the University of Houston’s Metadata Upgrade Project, a discussion of how the UHDL’s upgraded metadata improves discoverability of our collections, and an in-depth look at the custom tools that automate the authority alignment process in the CONTENTdm Project Client.Item Automated Enhancement of Controlled Vocabularies: Upgrading Legacy Metadata in CONTENTdm [Presentation](International Conference on Dublin Core and Metadata Applications, 2014-10) Weidner, Andrew; Wu, Annie; Thompson, SantiTo ensure robust, reliable, retrievable and sharable metadata, the University of Houston (UH) Libraries initiated a Metadata Upgrade Project in 2013 to systematically audit and refine the quality of the metadata in the University of Houston Digital Library (UHDL). Still in progress, the Metadata Upgrade project has already produced significant improvements in the UHDL’s legacy metadata. The final phase of the Metadata Upgrade Project includes aligning controlled vocabulary terms with appropriate authorities and adding and revising descriptive content in the digital library. This is a time intensive process that requires careful evaluation and entry of name and subject authority terms. To improve efficiency and accuracy during the data entry process, the metadata librarian at UH Libraries developed name and subject authority applications that automatically transform legacy controlled vocabulary terms into authorized forms. This project report will provide an overview of the University of Houston’s Metadata Upgrade Project, a discussion of how the UHDL’s upgraded metadata improves discoverability of our collections, and an in-depth look at the custom tools that automate the authority alignment process in the CONTENTdm Project Client.Item Automated Enhancement of Legacy Metadata in the CONTENTdm Project Client(2014-08-18) Weidner, AndrewAuthority control is essential for creating high quality, interoperable metadata. Reworking legacy data to bring it in line with recognized vocabularies is a time consuming process that presents many challenges. The Metadata Unit at the University of Houston (UH) Libraries has developed custom AutoHotkey applications that automate name and subject authority control workflows in the CONTENTdm Project Client for improved speed and accuracy during data entry. This presentation will provide a brief overview of the metadata upgrade process at UH and an in-depth look at the tools that automate the metadata enhancement process.Item Automating the Audit: Updates from the Metadata Upgrade Project at the University of Houston Libraries(2014-05-21) Weidner, Andrew; Thompson, Santi; Wu, AnnieSince 2009 the University of Houston Libraries have expanded access to the rare and special collections through the University of Houston Digital Library (UHDL). Five years and 50,000 digital items later, UHDL is a powerful resource for researchers of all kinds. Users rely on UHDL metadata to be robust, reliable, retrievable and sharable. Over time, metadata standards applied to the digital library have varied. In 2013, the Metadata & Digitization Services Department implemented a Metadata Upgrade Project to audit and upgrade the existing metadata produced for the UHDL. This presentation provides an update to the Metadata Upgrade Project and introduces automation tools recently implemented to streamline the work in the CONTENTdm Project Client. The presentation will offer suggestions to other institutions interested in conducting a metadata audit, particularly those institutions operating CONTENTdm.Item Backwards in Heels: Partnering for Learner-centered Pedagogy in Online Modules(EDUCAUSE, 2015-10-28) Lierman, AshleyThis poster describes the process by which librarians at the University of Houston collaborated with one another and with teaching faculty in the English department to develop and pilot a learner-centered online learning module on research question development with first-year composition students. It describes the various roles played by collaborators, the software used to develop the module, the content of the completed module, and the results of assessment and student feedback.Item Basic Querying with SPARQL(2015-04-23) Weidner, AndrewThe SPARQL Protocol and RDF Query Language is an essential linked data technology used to create, maintain, and retrieve RDF information. This session will provide an introduction to basic SPARQL query syntax including SELECT, FILTER, UNION, and the use of variables. Attendees will learn how to write simple SPARQL queries that reveal what kinds of data a triple store holds, and how to develop triple patterns that retrieve data in useful ways. The presentation will demonstrate the use of the Apache Jena ARQ tool to query local datasets and online SPARQL endpoints, and provide pointers to online resources for practicing SPARQL queries and working with linked data.