It's Academic

Imagine not having access to printed works due to blindness, a visual impairment, or a perceptual or reading disability, such as dyslexia. Imagine not having the ability to focus your eyes on printed material or not being able to handle or manipulate a book in your hands due to autism or Parkinson’s disease. The miracle of picking up a book, reading it, comprehending the material on the page, and filing it away for future access and dissemination is something which the majority of us simply take for granted. A trip to your local public library might reveal a selection of audiobooks and large print titles, which certainly are accessible alternatives to the standard print format. Be that as it may, astonishingly less than 7% of published books are made available globally in these alternative formats, which in addition to audio and large print, also includes Braille and Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY) formats.

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, declares that this lack of equal accessibility has been a key factor of the book famine which plagues our world. The Marrakesh Treaty, which states that “without books, journals, and magazines, people are cut off from life,” was developed by the WIPO in 2013 and later entered into force in September of 2016. It created obligatory changes which, by becoming national law, would grant equal access to printed materials. Since then, many countries have been bringing their copyright laws into accordance with the Marrakesh Treaty on the grounds that they are either party to the Treaty or because they intend to join the Treaty in the near future. Obstacles due to copyright law are a partial reason behind the limited access to alternative formats of printed materials, and the Marrakesh Treaty seeks to address these obstacles.

We believe that the Marrakesh Treaty is the most significant development in the lives of blind and visually impaired people since the invention of Braille, nearly 200 years ago.”

Penny Hartin, Chief Executive Officer 

World Blind Union

The World Blind Union (WBU) first proposed a draft of the treaty to the WIPO members. The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), along with other library partners, strongly supported negotiations which lasted over five years at the WIPO, and participated in the Diplomatic Conference in Marrakesh, Morroco, which saw the Treaty’s implementation. Hence, libraries are really at the forefront of this necessary accommodation.

The Marrakesh treaty may be accessed here.

Information has been retrieved from the document Getting Started: Implementing the Marrakesh Treaty for persons with print disabilities: A practical guide for librarians.

Hi all, just an update from the Connect and Communicate Team!
We are working hard to coordinate our spring programming, but do have a session scheduled on Nov 16! More details about that will be coming soon.

In the meantime, our page contains some of the past sessions from this group, and since it’s the season, I’m just going to leave the link for Mark’s “Haunted Libraries” (2017) talk here:

Enjoy your Halloween candies and parties!
~Erin

Although most people have heard of Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia, Lewy Body Dementia is a type of dementia that few people have heard of, yet 1.4 million people have been diagnosed in the United States.   As academic librarians, we can help to make more people aware of this disorder, so that more people with LBD can be accurately diagnosed.   Even within the medical profession, many people have little knowledge of this disease so educating our students enrolled in the health sciences is  extremely important.

A correct diagnosis is required so that proper treatment can begin.   Many medications, which improve other forms of dementia, can make Lewy Body Dementia worse.  Sadly, many people can see multiple doctors over several years before they are correctly diagnosed with LBD.  In addition, there are physical symptoms not present in other types of dementia and so physical, occupational, and speech therapy may be necessary.  There is no cure, but proper treatment can significantly improve the quality of a patient’s life.

October is Lewy Body Dementia Awareness month.  For more information, contact the Lewy Body Dementia Association.

Earlier this year SPARC®, the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition, announced its theme for International Open Access Week: “designing equitable foundations for open knowledge.” The Advisory Committee also fixed the dates as October 22-28.

Image courtesy of SPARC® Website.

Falvey, the library for Villanova University, has for many years held events highlighting Open Access, but we’re frequently a bit freer about it. So, it’s more like Open Access month.

However during the official week this year Falvey will have an Open Access Week information table in a public space in the library for sharing information about getting full text fast via unpaywall.com and openaccessbutton.org. We will be screening “Paywall: The Business of Scholarship,” and co-sponsoring with Villanova University’s Lepage Center for History in the Public Interest a discussion of the documentary elsewhere on campus the next day.

Another event for Open Access Week this year is a Brown Bag for faculty led by librarians on Open Access scholarship and publishing where a major topic will be SOAR, Falvey’s Scholarship Open Access Reserve fund initiative.

Whether event’s are during the official week or not, it is helpful to remember SPARC’s “official hashtag of Open Access Week is #OAweek.” For more information go to: www.openaccessweek.org.

With only two days away from PaLA’s annual conference we will take one last look at sessions being sponsored by CRD this year.  These sessions revolve around the idea of the librarian as more than just a keeper of knowledge, and discuss how a librarian can be at the front of social activism, community service and campus inclusion.

Title: Unpeeling the Onion: Using Participatory Design Processes to Discover First Generation Students Experiences Using the Library

Presenters: Hailley Fargo, Student Engagement & Outreach Librarian, Penn State University, University Park
Steve Borrelli, Head of Library Assessment, Penn State University, University Park
Carmen Gass, User Services Training Coordinator, Penn State University, University Park
Elpidio De La Cruz, Student, Penn State University, University Park

Abstract: The University Library strives to make the library a place for everyone by keeping diversity and inclusion at the forefront of research and services. Intrigued by results of a 2016 Ithaka study of undergraduates which showed differences in use and perceptions of library services and resources of first generation students at Penn State University, researchers conducted a case study investigating the library experiences of first-generation students at the University Park campus. During the spring 2018 semester, researchers used a participatory design approach called “gamestorming” with a group of six first-generation students to discover their experiences in the library. Gamestorming is an approach where design activities are used to ideate through game play. The process allows for a group to get to know one another by first developing trust, then working together through the challenge space, discovering problems along the way. The process ends with evaluating ideas surfaced during the process. This presentation will describe the process of gamestorming, share results, insights, and lessons learned from this study, highlight the student experience from one of our first-generation student participant-researchers, and will give the audience a chance to try out a gamestorming activity that could be used with their library community.

Time: Tuesday, October 16th 2:15pm-3:30pm

 
Title: Bringing the Critical Librarianship Movement into the Classroom

Presenter: Samantha Bise-Schultz, Reference & Instruction Librarian, Central Penn College

Abstract: Have you heard of the Critical Librarianship movement and want to know what it’s all about? Are you part of the conversation already, but don’t know how to turn theory into practical instruction activities? Find out how librarians are linking their work as information literacy educators to social activism. Attend this session for a brief introduction to critical theory as it relates to librarianship and information literacy, suggested resources to get you involved in the Critical Librarianship conversation, and various critical instruction methods and activities. The presentation will be followed by a guided group discussion on ways librarians can turn critical librarianship theory into action to engage students as creators and users of information.

Time: Wednesday, October 17th 9:00am-10:00am

Title: What do Libraries Have To Do With the YMCA, Humane Society, Fair Trade, and Undergraduate Research?

Presenters: Jen Jones, Associate Professor and Department Coordinator, Communication, School of Business, Seton Hill University
Theresa R. McDevitt, Government Information/Outreach Librarian, Indiana University of PA Libraries
Amy Podoletz, Undergraduate Student, Communication, Seton Hill University

Abstract: New teaching practices, such as experiential learning and service-learning, are becoming more and more important on college campuses. This pedagogical approach leads to improved understanding and ability to apply theory, and also growth in areas like acceptance of diversity, increased compassion and caring for others, self-confidence, and growth in social responsibility and civic engagement. This session begins with win-win stories, written by librarians, university faculty and students who have successfully employed service based or experiential learning experiences for students in higher education. In each case, the course or educational event developers have intentionally included service to a partner, real work applications of theory, mutual benefit for all involved, and opportunities for thoughtful reflection. Presenters will describe activities, motivations, curriculum materials, and outcomes in enough detail to assist others in building upon their experience to bring this positive practice to their institutions. Participants in the session are then invited to share their own success stories in a welcoming and creative environment.

Time: Wednesday, October 17th 10:15am-11:30am