The Authority File Round-Up – June 2021

A quick overview of last month's episodes, in case you missed them

Posted on July 13, 2021 in Blog

In June, beach days, sunset concerts, and vacation getaways fill our calendars. Autumn becomes nothing more than an ocean buoy on the horizon, too far off to worry about. But fall will greet us sooner than we think—how can we use the summer to prepare for an inevitably busy September?

Last month, we covered pressing topics in academic librarianship essential to a successful fall semester. With a whopping six guests and three series, we dug into meeting e-content demands, supporting diverse students on and off campus, and acquiring global research to suit patron needs. Despite the different subjects, our guests all emphasized learning from the past year to lay the groundwork for the future. Will you join them?

Here’s a quick round-up of the discussions, in case you missed them. We hope you find the episodes useful, informative, and inspiring. Thanks for listening!

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The Academic Library (Not Quite) Post-Pandemic

Steven Rosato of OverDrive Professional charts library trends during the COVID-19 pandemic and their implications as students, faculty, and staff make the trek back to campus. Steven highlights the ways in which librarians have adjusted their services to reflect the demand for e-content, and how recent COVID aid passed through the American Rescue Plan Act can help institutions recover hit budgets. Brought to you by OverDrive Professional.

Episode one: Tracking E-Content Engagement

• How has COVID-19—and subsequent shuttered campuses—affected circulation trends? Will the demand for audio and ebooks continue post-pandemic? Listen to episode one here.

Episode two: How to Do More with Less

• How can OverDrive Professional help alleviate the task of collection development—especially in the wake of tightened budgets? Plus, Steven talks OverDrive’s acquisition of RBdigital and previews hopes for future partnerships. Listen to episode two here.

Episode three: Taking Advantage of COVID Aid

• How has the March 2021 American Rescue Plan Act impacted higher education? Can university libraries reap any benefits in support of their patrons? Listen to episode three here.

Episode four: Making the Most out of User Data

• How can librarians make the most out of their metrics to justify purchases and champion resources? Can understanding lending patterns lead to smarter, more cost-effective choices? Listen to episode four here.

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Preparing Diverse Students for Success in the Academic and Private Sectors

In this series, Dr. Pamela Queen of Morgan State University, Dr. Rihana Mason of Georgia State University, and Todd Baldwin and Miranda Nunhofer, both of SAGE Publishing, join us to discuss supporting diverse students through the academy and beyond. Our four guests highlight inclusive policies and programs, unpack the complexities of the “leaky pipeline,” and unveil new practices in publishing to better recruit, engage, and publish diverse students. Brought to you by SAGE Publishing.

Episode one: The PhD Project and GSU’s DEI Database

• Pamela discusses her return to academia with the aid of The PhD Project, and Rihana digs into the development of Georgia State University’s Diversity Database. Todd and Miranda highlight projects at SAGE in support of DEI. Listen to episode one here.

Episode two: The “Problem” of the Leaky Pipeline

• Is the move to outside the academy all that bad? Why do students leave academia in the first place? What programs or initiatives can help keep them engaged and supported in scholarship? Listen to episode two here.

Episode three: Fostering DEI in Publishing and Beyond

• What can scholarly publishers and university presses do to retool outdated, exclusionary practices? Our guests touch on outreach initiatives, pipeline programs, university partnerships, and more. Listen to episode three here.

Episode four: Updating Structures of the Scholarly Ecosystem

• Pamela, Rihana, Todd, and Miranda zoom out to examine longstanding incentive structures built into the scholarly ecosystem. How can faculty, librarians, and publishers dismantle patterns in academia that disadvantage students from diverse backgrounds? Listen to episode four here.

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A conversation with the Head of the OECD’s Washington Office, Will Davis, on Priorities and Processes

In this jam-packed episode, Will Davis, head of the OECD’s Washington office, chats about what the OECD is, how it got started, and how it works. Will also covers the organization’s research and how it’s used by businesses, government agencies, and academics. Brought to you by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

• Listen to the episode here.

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Missed May’s episodes? We’ve got you covered.

In May, Paula Krebs, Executive Director of the Modern Language Association, stopped by virtually to discuss MLA’s latest Handbook, the Bibliography’s 100th anniversary, and MLA’s role in advancing information literacy. Paula also offers a vehement defense of the Humanities—is it really the Humanities in crisis, or the culture? Listen to the first episode here.

What’s Coming Up in July

This month, we have two fascinating series. First, Simon Rolston, author of Prison Life Writing: Conversion and the Literary Roots of the U.S. Prison System, dives into the conventions, themes, and authors of prison life writing. How does the genre reflect the history of America’s prison and criminal justice systems? Click here to listen to the first episode.

Next, Alan Brill, Senior Managing Director in the Cyber Risk practice of Kroll, walks through the timely, critical issue of cybersecurity. Topics include: how to implement effective cybercrime prevention, why universities have become a hotbed of cyberattacks, and what librarians can do to help protect their campuses’ digital information. You can find the first episode here.

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You can find more episodes of the Authority File here on our website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Thanks for listening! See you next month.

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