Read about MLIS student Gabrielle Brydges here.
Dalhousie Libraries intern profiles: Hilary Lynd
Read about MLIS student Hilary Lynd here.
Dalhousie Libraries intern profiles: Alison Manley
Read about MLIS student Alison Manley here
SIM alumnus David Michels successfully defends his Interdisciplinary PhD dissertation
SIM alumnus David Michels, Head of Public Services, Sir James Dunn Law Library, has successfully defended his Dalhousie University Interdisciplinary PhD dissertation titled Seeking the will of God: The information seeking experiences of leaders of Nova Scotia churches in transition.
“Christian Churches in Nova Scotia are facing economic, social, and theological stresses. In response many are engaged in processes of restructuring and renewal. Leaders are initiating and managing these change processes, and they are seeking information to make their decisions, and to “seek God’s will for their churches.” Very little is known about how church leaders seek, gather, evaluate, and use information in their decision-making. In this study I asked the question: “what are the information seeking experiences of leaders of Nova Scotia churches in transition?” Using ethnographic methods at three church sites, I explored this particular everyday life information-seeking context. I gathered data on church information sources and leaders’ source selections, identifying critical themes such as the impact of new technologies, prayer as a source of information, and the theology of information seeking. I developed a model of church information seeking behaviour that can be used a foundation for further research on information seeking in church contexts.”
Congratulations, Dr. Michels.
Sandra Toze successfully defends her PhD dissertation
On behalf of the School of Information Management, I would like to extend my congratulations to Sandra Toze, who successfully defended her doctorate today before her examination committee. Dr. Toze’s (what a nice ring that has) dissertation is titled Examining group process through and information behaviour lens: How student groups work with information to accomplish tasks. Details about the dissertation may be found here. We all look forward to watching Dr. Toze walk across the stage in the Fall Convocation to be formally hooded.
Professor Sandra Toze is set to defend her PhD
SANDRA L. TOZE
BA Honours (Political Science and History), Queen’s University, 1988
MLIS, University of Toronto, 1996
INTERDISCIPLINARY PHD PROGRAM
EXAMINING GROUP PROCESS THROUGH AN INFORMATION BEHAVIOUR LENS: HOW STUDENT GROUPS WORK WITH INFORMATION TO ACCOMPLISH TASKS
TIME/DATE: 10:00 am, Thursday, July 31, 2014
PLACE: Room 3107, The Mona Campbell Building, 1459 LeMarchant Street
EXAMINING COMMITTEE:
Dr. Gunilla Widén, Information Studies, Åbo Akademi University (External Examiner)
Dr. Binod Sundararajan, Rowe School of Business, Dalhousie University (Reader)
Dr. Kirstie Hawkey, Faculty of Computer Science, Dalhousie University (Reader)
DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE: Dr. William Barker, Interdisciplinary PhD Program, Dalhousie University
CHAIR: Dr. Hal Whitehead, PhD Defence Panel, Faculty of Graduate Studies
Abstract
Organizations increasingly rely on groups of knowledge workers to make decisions, design products, manage projects, and develop strategy. Information is central to group task accomplishment. Typical models of information seeking have focused on the individual, or on social or collaborative seeking. Groups represent a unique level, with specific attributes (interaction, interdependence, awareness and shared understanding) that need to be better understood and supported. The objective of this research was to understand information needs, seeking and use in groups.
Group work was deconstructed to identify how groups, working on multiple tasks over time, identified their information needs, found and used information. Seven groups were observed as they spent 60 hours in 25 different sessions in a Group Work lab completing course assigned projects independent of this study. Group interactions were recorded on video, and computer-based activities were captured in log files. This method addressed a key methodological challenge of studying groups, allowing the complex details of group work to be captured as they unfolded naturally over time.
The first phase of analysis examined the procedural aspects of group work and found that groups shifted between three phases: Planning, Doing, and Monitoring. Within each phase the following elements of group information process were identified and described: the information tasks, information task goals, information activities, sources, tools, artefacts, roles and shifts in participation. Groups looked for information to satisfy eight different goals, requiring 19 different information activities, as well as specific sources and tools to generate new artefacts. Ten roles were observed within the groups to manage their information activities, and participation fluctuated from individual through to the group. The relationship between these elements was described.
Finally integrative analysis revealed that the groups did not have good mechanisms for managing information needs, and encountered the greatest difficulties trying to use information. Suggestions were made for tools and processes to facilitate more effective group work. Group information process was defined and conceptually modelled extending our understanding of information use by groups, and adding to theories and models in Information Science and Group Research. Additionally this research contributed a new method for studying groups.
Please join me in wishing Professor Toze all the best for this very exciting day.
SIM alumna Heather Berringer featured in local media
MLIS alumna Heather Berringer, Chief Librarian at UBC Okanagan Campus Library is featured in this article in Kelowna Now.
Graduate students present at conferences
Research is a prominent activity of the School of Information Management and both masters and doctoral students are active participants in individual and team projects supervised by faculty members. These students often participate in conferences locally, nationally, and internationally, as the following list of over twenty presentations confirms. Congratulations to each student on these achievements.
Masters Students
Dwayne Jones, MIM student, presented the paper “Managing Knowledge in the Dalhousie Faculty of Medicine,” based on a project supervised by Prof. Sandra Toze, at the Canadian Conference on Medical Education, Ottawa, 28 April 2014.
Lee Wilson, MLIS student, presented the paper “Not All MOOCs are Created Equal: A Comparative Evaluation of Popular MOOC Platforms” (co-authored with Dr. Anatoliy Gruzd) at “Fostering Deep Learning with Technology,” the 2014 Dalhousie Conference on University Teaching and Learning” in Halifax, 29-30 April 2014.
Nicole Bloudoff, MLIS student, presented the paper “The Current Digital Curation Environment and Recommendations for LIS Education: A Study of Canadian Archives and Special Collections” (co-authored with Dr. Fiona Black) at “Current Directions in Book History: Borders without Boundaries,” the 2014 annual meeting of the Bibliographical Society of Canada, at the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, Brock University, 26-27 May 2014.
Alison Froese-Stoddard, MLIS student, presented the paper, “Reaching Out to Community: Re-thinking Community Engagement as a Sustainability Strategy,” based on a thesis project supervised by Dr. Fiona Black, at “At Your Service: Balancing Access and Outreach in Archives,” the annual conference of the Council of Nova Scotia Archives, Halifax, 29-30 May 2014.
Maria Bartlett, Andrea Kampen, Carlisle Kent, and Hilary Lynd, MLIS students, presented the poster “Art in the Age of Digital Reproduction,” based on a project supervised by Dr. Mike Smit, to “Step into the Light / Prenez l’avant-scène,” the annual conference of the Atlantic Provinces Library Association, Moncton, 3-6 June 2014.
Mingyue Chen, MLIS student, presented the poster “A Pilot Study of International students’ Online Health Information Seeking Behaviours,” based on a project supervised by Prof. Sandra Toze, to “Step into the Light / Prenez l’avant-scène,” the annual conference of the Atlantic Provinces Library Association, Moncton, 3-6 June 2014.
Valerie Collins, MLIS student, presented the poster “Social Media and Scientific Communication: Case Studies of Twitter Use by Contemporary Scientists,” based on a project conducted with Lou Duggan, Dr. Anatoliy Grudz, and Dr. Bertrum MacDonald, to “Step into the Light / Prenez l’avant-scène,” the annual conference of the Atlantic Provinces Library Association, Moncton, 3-6 June 2014.
Roger Gillis, MLIS student, was a speaker in a session on “Engagement and Outreach in Scholarly Communications Initiatives” at “Step into the Light / Prenez l’avant-scène,” the annual conference of the Atlantic Provinces Library Association, Moncton, 3-6 June 2014.
Gayle Graham, MLIS student, presented the poster “The Halifax Explosion and the Spread of Rumour, 1917 to the Present,” based on project supervised by Dr. Bertrum MacDonald, to “Step into the Light / Prenez l’avant-scène,” the annual conference of the Atlantic Provinces Library Association, Moncton, 3-6 June 2014.
Marc Harper, MLIS student, presented the poster “Information Access: A Study of the Potential for an Information Revolution in North Korea” to “Step into the Light / Prenez l’avant-scène,” the annual conference of the Atlantic Provinces Library Association, Moncton, 3-6 June 2014.
Andrea Kampen and Carlisle Kent, MLIS students, presented the paper “Demystifying the Library: Using a Mobile App to Empower Library Users,” based on a project supervised by Dr. Anatoliy Gruzd, to “Step into the Light / Prenez l’avant-scène,” the annual conference of the Atlantic Provinces Library Association, Moncton, 3-6 June 2014.
James Ross, MLIS student, presented the poster “What Do Users Want from a State of the Environment Report? A Study of the State of the Scotian Shelf Report,” based on a thesis project supervised by Dr. Bertrum MacDonald, to “Step into the Light / Prenez l’avant-scène,” the annual conference of the Atlantic Provinces Library Association, Moncton, 3-6 June 2014.
Vanja Avdic, 2014 MREM graduate, presented the poster “The Value of Global Overview Reports: A Case Study of the Use of The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture Published by the Food and Agriculture Organization,” (co-authored by Dr. Bertrum MacDonald and FAO staff members, Tina Famer, Maria Kalensits, and Richard Grainger) at “Our Coasts: Legacies & Futures,” the biennial Coastal Zone Canada conference, Halifax, 15-19 June 2014.
Andrew Roy, MLIS/JD student, presented the poster “A Community in Decline: Citizen Engagement and the Whites Point Quarry and Marine Terminal Project, Digby, Nova Scotia,” based on a project supervised by Dr. Bertrum MacDonald, at “Our Coasts: Legacies & Futures,” the biennial Coastal Zone Canada conference, Halifax, 15-19 June 2014.
James Ross, MLIS student, presented the paper “Awareness and Use of State of the Environment Reports: A Case Study of the State of the Scotian Shelf Report” (co-authored with Heather Breeze, Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans), based on a thesis project supervised by Dr. Bertrum MacDonald, in a special session organized by the Environmental information: Use and Influence research program at “Our Coasts: Legacies & Futures,” the biennial Coastal Zone Canada conference, Halifax, 15-19 June 2014.
Eman Alyami, MEC student, presented the paper “International University Students’ Online Shopping Behaviour,” based on a thesis project supervised by Dr. Louise Spiteri, at the 27th International Business Research Conference, Toronto, ON, 12-13 June, 2014.
Doctoral Students
Elham Alghamdi, an IDPhD student who completed a course with Prof. Sandra Toze on Information Seeking Behavior, will present the paper “Social Media Based Businesses in Saudi Arabia” at the Social Media & Society Conference in Toronto on 27-28 September 2014.
Lama Khoshaim, an IDPhD student supervised by Dr. Anatoliy Gruzd, presented the poster “The Second Screen Experience: An Experiment on Tweeting and watching Bones TV show” at the annual meeting of GRAND, Graphics Animation and New Media, Ottawa, 13-16 May 2014; she will also present the paper “Understanding Second Screen Experience: the Use of Social Media and Mobile Devices while Watching Live Television” at the Social Media and Society, conference, Toronto, 27-28 September 2014.
Suzuette Soomai, an IDPhD student supervised by Dr. Bertrum MacDonald, presented the paper “Measuring Use of Fisheries Information in Policy-Making for Fisheries Management” in a special session organized by the Environmental information: Use and Influence research program at “Our Coasts: Legacies & Futures,” the biennial Coastal Zone Canada conference, Halifax, 15-19 June 2014. Suzuette is also a co-author along with James Ross (MLIS student) of the paper “Lobbying for Grey Literature in Policy and Decision Making: The Necessity of Understanding the Processes,” (co-authored with Dr. Bertrum MacDonald and Dr. Peter Wells, of the Environmental Information: Use and Influence team) that will be presented at “Grey Literature Lobby: Engines and Requesters for Change,” the sixteenth international conference on grey literature, Washington DC, 8-9 December 2014.
Bernard Vavrek Scholarship
One of the slated purposes of the Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services is “to contribute to the education and training of library staff working in the area of bookmobile and outreach services.” To help fulfill this goal, ABOS has created the Bernard Vavrek Scholarship.
It will be awarded annually to a student who has been accepted into or is currently enrolled in a Library and/or Information Science graduate degree program, and who is interested in this particular field within the library profession.
Dr. Bernard Vavrek, Professor of Library Science, Chair of the Library Science Department at Clarion University, recently retired after teaching at Clarion from 1971-2008. He co-founded with John Philip the “Great American Bookmobile Conference,” running it for many years until ABOS was formed and took over management of the conference. This scholarship honors Dr. Vavrek’s profound commitment to library science and, in particular, bookmobile and outreach services.
For further information, please go here.
Ethics review assistant
Position: ETHICS REVIEW ASSISTANT
Location: Dalhousie University, Faculty of Management
Hourly wage: $20.11 per hour
Workload: 420 hours (July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015)
The Faculty of Management offers a series of courses that require primary data collection, and as such, individual student project must go through an ethics review process. The ethics review of course related student project follows similar guidelines as the Dalhousie Research Ethics Board, but it is delegated to the faculty level.
The Ethics Review Assistant will work closely with the Assistant Dean of Research for the Faculty, and with the instructors of the individual courses. The tasks include: (i) an update of the course based ethics application process during the months of July and August 2014; (ii) an explanation of the process to students in each relevant course in class and as needed on an individual basis; and (iii) the review of course based student project ethics applications (including feedback and review of revisions).
The ideal candidate will have a Master’s level degree and experience with the process of ethics application and review. A superb understanding Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans must be demonstrated. Current enrolment in a PhD program at Dalhousie University would be an asset.
To apply, please submit a cover letter along with a current CV to Dr. Dominika Wranik, 3012 Rowe Building, or electronically to dwl@dal.ca. The cover letter should mention why you think you are the ideal candidate for the position, including a description of your involvement with research and research ethics in the past. Also attach a current Tri-Council TCPS 2: CORE certificate. The deadline for applications is June 15th, 2014.