Effectively Evaluating the Accessibility of Electronic Monographs Using VPATs and Other Resources at the College of Staten Island Library- CUNY

Abstract

This study, building upon previous research work at the College of Staten Island (CSI) library, attempts to evaluate the accessibility of select digital monograph platforms and file formats utilized at the City University of New York (CUNY). The usability of CSI library’s locally developed ER-ACT tool to assist librarians with limited technical knowledge to review VPATs and to perform simple testing was also evaluated with challenges and successes reported. It was determined that the use of color-coded results in this study can help identify serious accessibility issues within ebooks and to communicate the results within libraries to assist with collection development decision-making. The study also includes a review of new court rulings related to accessibility issues in higher education and discusses where accessibility staffing reports in terms of job roles and duties held by university professionals. The testing of the accessibility of library ebooks, with various accessibility tools, are reviewed within the context of Section 508 revisions and new VPAT standards.     

“He’s Not Good at Sensing That Look That Says,I’m Drowning Here!” Academic Mothers’ Perceptions of Spousal Support

Abstract

Research consistently shows that, regardless of increased parental involvement in child-rearing over the last few decades, the ‘lion’s share’ of childcare and housework is still undertaken by women rather than men. Academia is known to have no fixed working hours as such. As a result, the pressure on academic mothers tends to be inflated, and this has repercussions on women’s promotional paths, publishing outcomes and general professional and personal well-being. The positive effect of working women having spousal support is well documented in many employment areas. This paper looks at perceived spousal support which academic mothers, living and working in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), report. While some of the women did report their spouses to be supportive, this was often theoretical rather than practical. The ways in which this spousal support situation has affected the academic mothers’ lives is discussed.     

Scholarly Communications Training: Professional Development for the Next Generation of Scholars

Abstract

Many campuses are seeing increased needs for support in scholarly communications areas such as open access, research identity management, scholarship metrics, and related topics. This article discusses a professional development program that addresses scholarly communications needs for online and in-person graduate students and faculty at UNC Greensboro (UNCG), through a collaborative, interdepartmental effort that brings together librarians from the departments of Research, Outreach, and Instruction (ROI) and Technical Services. The authors provide a brief overview of the literature related to scholarly communications needs and training in academic libraries and discuss the UNCG program’s inception, modules, format, assessment, and future directions.     

科技期刊面对学术诚信危机

我国科技期刊论文相似率、重复率较高,论文造假现象相当严重,学术诚信已显危机。造价成本低廉、官本位的科研机制,及期刊界的利益驱使与道德缺失,是目前学术诚信危机的主要原因。广大编辑应立刻觉醒,自觉遵守学术道德,坚守学术诚信,严格审稿程序,堵住学术危机蔓延之源头,并建立科技期刊质量预警系统及信用评级制度及严格的失信惩罚机制。     

Document Delivery as a Supplement or Replacement for Serial Subscriptions

Abstract

Increasing serials costs and shrinking budgets present challenges for academic libraries to continue providing sufficient access to scholarly articles. Rapid document delivery services can serve as an effective means to fill the gap caused by serials cancellations. This column examines several of the existing document delivery service providers and addresses issues involved in their implementation.     

Social Policy's ‘Greatest Hits’

The ‘age of metrics’ or ‘the metric tide’ in the form of bibliometrics has largely by‐passed Social Policy. This study aims to broaden the focus from the most cited articles in Social Policy journals to discover the most cited works in Social Policy or ‘Social Policy's Greatest Hits’. It finds some 24 works with over 2000 Google Scholar citations, but only nine of these are by social policy writers. In terms of total citations, Gosta Esping‐Andersen's The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism is the clear leader by a significant margin, with the most cited Social Policy (or Social Administration) writers being Peter Townsend, Richard Titmuss, Ruth Lister and Jane Lewis. In addition to total citations, it presents citations per year, and ‘Social Policy citations’ (i.e. the use made of the work within the discipline of Social Policy). This list is headed by Gosta Esping‐Andersen and Paul Pierson, with the leading social policy writer being Jane Lewis. This article presents a set of the ‘most plausible contenders’ for the works with greatest influence within Social Policy or ‘Social Policy's Greatest Hits’. It is concluded that, even with its flaws, bibliometrics is an important approach to exploring the vast field of Social Policy.     

The relationship between financial strain,perceived stress,psychological symptoms,and academic and social integration in undergraduate students

ABSTRACT

Objective: Financial strain may directly or indirectly (i.e., through perceived stress) impact students’ psychological symptoms and academic and social integration, yet few studies have tested these relationships. The authors explored the mediating effect of perceived stress on the relationship between financial strain and 2 important outcomes: psychological symptomology and academic and social integration. Participants: Participants were 157 undergraduate students. Data were collected from December 2013 to March 2014. Methods: Cross-sectional data collection conducted using online survey software. Results: It was found that perceived stress mediated the relationship between financial strain and (a) psychological symptomology and (b) academic and social integration. Both models included first-generation status as a covariate. Conclusions: Results suggest that perceived stress is an important intervention target for reducing psychological symptoms and improving academic and social integration for undergraduate students. Implications for university health centers and mental health professionals include incorporating a public health model to minimize stress risk.     

硕士学位点评估工作探究

本文简单介绍了省级学位委员会及其主要职能,探讨了硕士学位点的评估办法,讨论了硕士学位点评估的主要观测点,对硕士学位点评估的一些问题进行了思考。     

关于高校学报与学术道德建设的几点思考

当前的学术环境发生了很大的变化,高校学报自身也时有学术失范现象发生。在学术道德建设中,高校学报应该发挥作用,匡正学术功能定位,并采取积极措施遏制学术不端行为。     

西方大学教授会的起源与发展探析

教授会是大学中的学者团体组织,它的萌芽可以追溯到大学的起源时期.在千余年的大学发展史中,教授会扮演了非常重要的角色.在大学的早期,它以行会组织的方式领导大学的自治管理;在漫长的发展期,它铸就了大学“教授治校”的管理模式,坚定地捍卫着学术自由的权力;在现代大学中,它的功能在“共治结构”下进一步专门化,但依然不可或缺,举足轻重.教授会是大学中最古老的机构,它是大学自治、学术自由以及学术生活的天然践行者与捍卫者.