Skip to main content
Mobile
  • Finance, Accounting & Economics
  • Global Business Management
  • Management, Leadership & Organisation
  • Marketing & Sales
  • Strategy
  • Technology & Operations
HS Talks HS Talks
Subjects  
Search
  • Notifications
    Notifications

    No current notifications.

  • User
    Welcome Guest
    You have Limited Access The Business & Management Collection
    Login
    Get Assistance
    Login
    Forgot your password?
    Login via your organisation
    Login via Organisation
    Get Assistance
Finance, Accounting & Economics
Global Business Management
Management, Leadership & Organisation
Marketing & Sales
Strategy
Technology & Operations
You currently don't have access to this journal. Request access now.
Practice paper

From tradition to transformation: Academic librarians as key players in online education

Brad Garner, Tiffany Snyder, Jay Wise and Rachel Walters
Advances in Online Education: A Peer-Reviewed Journal, 2 (4), 278-293 (2024)
https://doi.org/10.69554/OQXC4912

Abstract

The role and function of academic libraries have undergone dramatic changes in the midst of a shifting digital world and a chaotic higher education landscape. Library personnel have made significant progress in staying abreast of these developments and creating new and different ways of engaging with online students and faculty. This paper summarises current research related to the historical roots of academic libraries in higher education, the influences of digital technology (particularly generative artificial intelligence [GenAI]), connections between faculty and academic libraries, relationships between students and academic libraries, and possible courses of action as library personnel continue to make academic libraries a pivotal resource for online faculty and students.

Keywords: academic libraries; student engagement; academic research; embedded librarians; artificial intelligence (AI)

The full article is available to subscribers to this journal (subscription is free).

Author's Biography

Brad Garner serves as Digital Learning Scholar in Residence at Indiana Wesleyan University. Prior to moving into higher education, his career was focused on programme and faculty development in K-12 public school settings where he worked as a classroom teacher, school psychologist and administrator. Brad is a frequent presenter at conferences and workshops and has authored several publications including Teaching Millennial Learners (2007), Teaching Adult Learners (2009), Teaching in the First-Year Seminar (2012), Creating Engaged Learners and Digital Citizens (2016), Students as Digital Content Curators (2019) and Inclusive Hospitality in Online Learning (2023). Brad also serves as editor for an electronic newsletter, eSource, for the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition at the University of South Carolina. He is a co-host, with Tiffany Snyder, of the ‘Digital2Learn Podcast’.

Tiffany Snyder is the Director of Faculty Enrichment at Indiana Wesleyan University, overseeing the professional development of both full-time and adjunct faculty for the National & Global Campus with a focus on hybrid and online programmes. Since the release of Chat GPT 3.5 in autumn 2022, Tiffany has invested in leading generative artificial intelligence (AI) training and teaching, from facilitating professional learning communities, delivering conference and university presentations, teaching graduate courses and consulting on graduate research to hosting on-site and online training for over 500 full-time and adjunct faculty. Tiffany has co-hosted the Digital2Learn podcast since 2018, launching weekly episodes featuring global scholars and exploring critical topics about technology, teaching and learning. In 2021, she earned a PhD in psychology with an emphasis on the integration of technology and learning. Her investment in academia underscores her hope to see technology and education harmonised, creating meaningful and impactful learning experiences for students and educators alike.

Jay Wise joined Indiana Wesleyan University’s (IWU) National & Global Campus administrative faculty in October 2011 as an Online Campus Library Services (OCLS) Reference Librarian. He accepted the opportunity to become the second Director of Off Campus Library Services in 2019, and IWU’s first Dean of University Libraries in 2023. With over two decades’ experience in academic libraries, Jay is passionate about the future of libraries and leveraging the many ways academic librarians help students succeed in higher education’s changing landscape. In addition to duties as Dean, Jay actively supports IWU’s residential and online students, partnering with faculty and staff to provide an excellent educational experience for his stakeholders. He enjoys assisting administrators and faculty with course development, documentation and research needs, collaborating with colleagues and serving as the Seminary Librarian for Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University. Jay holds the Master of Divinity from Wesley Seminary (2015), the Master of Library and Information Science from Kent State University (2006), and the Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts in history (both with High Honours) from Ohio University’s Honors Tutorial College. To better meet his stakeholders’ needs, he began doctoral studies in organisational leadership in July 2019; as of January 2024, he is ABD.

Rachel Walters Before joining Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) as an Online Librarian for the National & Global Online Campus, Rachel completed her academic journey as an adult exclusively through online education, earning an Associate of Science from IWU in 2011 and a Bachelor of Science from IWU in business in information systems (Cum Laude) in 2014. Subsequently, she obtained a Master of Library and Information Science from San Jose State University in 2019. She transitioned to the field of academic libraries in 2015. She is currently focused on providing library services to online adult college students. In her current role, she brings her expertise in online education, support for neurodivergent students and skills in graphic and web design, content creation and marketing and communication. Guided by the principle of meeting students where they are, Rachel is devoted to helping them realise their full potential. Her role as a librarian is marked by a profound understanding of the challenges and opportunities presented by online education, coupled with a steadfast commitment to facilitating student success.

Citation

Garner, Brad, Snyder, Tiffany, Wise, Jay and Walters, Rachel (2024, June 1). From tradition to transformation: Academic librarians as key players in online education. In the Advances in Online Education: A Peer-Reviewed Journal, Volume 2, Issue 4. https://doi.org/10.69554/OQXC4912.

Options

  • Download PDF
  • Share this page
    Share This Article
    Messaging
    • Outlook
    • Gmail
    • Yahoo!
    • WhatsApp
    Social
    • Facebook
    • X
    • LinkedIn
    • VKontakte
    Permalink
cover image, Advances in Online Education: A Peer-Reviewed Journal
Advances in Online Education: A Peer-Reviewed Journal
Volume 2 / Issue 4
© Henry Stewart
Publications LLP

The Business & Management Collection

  • ISSN: 2059-7177
  • Contact Us
  • Request Free Trial
  • Recommend to Your Librarian
  • Subscription Information
  • Match Content
  • Share This Collection
  • Embed Options
  • View Quick Start Guide
  • Accessibility

Categories

  • Finance, Accounting & Economics
  • Global Business Management
  • Management, Leadership & Organisation
  • Marketing & Sales
  • Strategy
  • Technology & Operations

Librarian Information

  • General Information
  • MARC Records
  • Discovery Services
  • Onsite & Offsite Access
  • Federated (Shibboleth) Access
  • Usage Statistics
  • Promotional Materials
  • Testimonials

About Us

  • About HSTalks
  • Editors
  • Contact Information
  • About the Journals

HSTalks Home

Follow Us On:

HS Talks
  • Site Requirements
  • Copyright & Permissions
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
© Copyright Henry Stewart Talks Ltd

Personal Account Required

To use this function, you need to be signed in with a personal account.

If you already have a personal account, please login here.

Otherwise you may sign up now for a personal account.

HS Talks

Cookies and Privacy

We use cookies, and similar tools, to improve the way this site functions, to track browsing patterns and enable marketing. For more information read our cookie policy and privacy policy.

Cookie Settings

How Cookies Are Used

Cookies are of the following types:

  • Essential to make the site function.
  • Used to analyse and improve visitor experience.

For more information see our Cookie Policy.

Some types of cookies can be disabled by you but doing so may adversely affect functionality. Please see below:

(always on)

If you block these cookies or set alerts in your browser parts of the website will not work.

Cookies that provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. If not allowed functionality may be impaired.

Cookies that count and track visits and on website activity enabling us to organise the website to optimise the experience of users. They may be blocked without immediate adverse effect.