2025 PASCAL Member Conference

A panel of library personnel working in faith-based institutions will offer their reflections on the following questions: 

1. How does the library support and advance the institution’s faith-based mission, vision, and values? 
2. How does your faith inform your work in the library? 
3. What unique challenges has the library encountered as part of a faith-based institution, and how have you handled them?

Attendees will be encouraged to join in the discussion.  

Library instruction presents valuable opportunities for outreach and partnership. This presentation showcases innovative collaboration between the Tri-County Technical College Learning Commons and the college’s Freshman Seminar program. Through an interactive workshop, students develop critical and media literacy skills by engaging in the evaluation of information. This presentation will highlight how the workshop is an example of the benefits of library-faculty partnerships and effective outreach strategies as well as provide an overview of my approach to critical and media literacy. Key elements include analyzing multiple perspectives on a topic, applying Mike Caulfield’s SIFT method of source evaluation, and identifying bias. Additionally, I will discuss how the workshop addresses emerging trends in academia, currently using artificial intelligence ethically in undergraduate learning. This presentation will offer attendees practical insights on identifying partnership opportunities within their institutions, developing outreach through library instruction, and integrating critical and media literacy into their instructional efforts.  

In May 2024, the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB) initiated a comprehensive renovation of its Bluffton library, aimed at transforming the space to better serve students, faculty, and staff. Collaborating with the consulting firm Buro Happold, formerly BrightSpot, the project focused on key objectives, including the creation of dynamic gathering spaces, the integration of advanced technology, reducing the prominence of books and shelving units, and enhancing access to services by co-locating with the USCB Makerspace, Information Technology and Support Services (ITSS), and the Innovative Media Center (IMC). While the renovation promised to address these goals, it also presented a series of unforeseen challenges, requiring flexibility and rapid decision-making. This presentation will explore critical aspects of the renovation process, including strategies for managing inevitable delays, negotiating with architects and contractors, and maintaining clear communication throughout all stages of the project. By examining the “dos and don’ts” of the renovation process, attendees will gain practical insights on how to navigate similar challenges in their own projects. Additionally, the presentation will highlight the achieved outcomes of the renovation and share feedback from students, faculty, and staff regarding the impact of the new space on their academic and collaborative experiences.  

All libraries collect data to report out to ACRL, accrediting bodies or other entities. How can this often-collected information be used? This presentation seeks to show how libraries can put this information into action locally. The presenters will focus on effectively gathering and utilizing comparative, qualitative, and quantitative data to successfully advocate. Presenters will share real scenarios in which this information successfully led to advancements in funding, services, and facilities. The presenters will also provide opportunities to engage with the audience by asking participants to share examples from their institutions. The intent is that participants take away from the session the importance of maintaining a wide range of data along with ideas of how to leverage it to advance services and fill needs at their institutions.

Like many libraries, our librarians have been aiming to navigate the challenges of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and glean its’ potential academic advantages.  With the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT and other GenAI tools, we recognized that we were faced with two obvious challenges.  First, how was the university going to pull together to foster constructive discourse about AI, and second, how would the library be involved?  At Coastal Carolina University Libraries, we already coordinate events to create awareness and understanding of information literacy within our community with week-long programming for Open Access Week, National Library Week, and Banned Books Week.  Therefore, we decided to plan an AI Week for the university to approach this latest disruptive technology collaboratively, with the library as a leader in fostering these conversations.  This presentation will discuss our experiences with launching this new initiative, covering the entire process from planning to post-event assessment.  

Traditional library orientations can often feel overwhelming or unengaging for first-year students. Instead of passive tours and boring lectures, we decided to have students embark on an epic quest through the library, guided by wizardly mentors and enchanted tomes. This presentation explores the transformation of a first-year library orientation into an immersive, fantasy-themed adventure. By incorporating gamification elements such as character roles, magical artifacts (library resources), and spell-casting (research skills), students engage with library services in a way that fosters curiosity, exploration, and retention. Attendees will learn what led to this innovative approach, how it was designed, implemented, and assessed for effectiveness in boosting student engagement and information literacy. This session will provide insights into best practices, challenges faced, and lessons learned, equipping participants with strategies to incorporate interactive storytelling and game-based learning in their own orientations. Join us on this magical journey to reimagine library instruction through the power of fantasy!

The rising costs of textbooks and course materials are becoming more of a barrier to student success than ever before. More students than ever are having to find more creative was to obtain materials or go without them. This trend is affecting academic performance, which is resulting in higher withdrawals, failures and lower grade point averages. Higher Education Institutions are formulating new ways to use Open Educational Resources (OER), Affordable Education Resources (AER), and Open Access Resources (OAR), collectively referred to as affordable course materials. Knowing that using and gathering these resources puts added work on faculty, the Daniel Library has created a program in which most of the work falls on the library. It is a simple program that incorporates workflows that are already in place. Even with the loss of perpetual licenses in Proquest, Ebook central, the program is still firm on its foundation.

As AI reshapes education and the workforce, rural community colleges must navigate unique challenges and opportunities in fostering AI literacy. This session explores how rural students engage with AI tools, highlighting real-world examples of AI integration in learning, problem-solving, and career preparation. We’ll discuss strategies to enhance student understanding and ethical use of AI, equipping them with the skills needed for academic success and workforce readiness. Attendees will gain practical insights into supporting students in becoming proficient, responsible AI users, ensuring they are prepared for the evolving demands of the digital age.

Recognizing a rise in mental health concerns among college students, employees at a university library searched for ways to destigmatize mental illness and support mental health on campus. These efforts opened the door to broader conversations about student employee wellness, neurodiversity, and faculty/staff wellbeing. This session will cover the library’s different initiatives including a book collection, wellness kits, and outreach and partnerships across campus and the community. In this interactive experience, attendees will get hands-on with sensory toys, weighted stuffed animals, and meditation tools in a wellness kit petting zoo. Then, the founder of an arts-based suicide-prevention organization will lead a watercolor painting mini-workshop. Come get creative and explore opportunities to support student, faculty, and staff wellbeing at your library!

Join members of the eResources & Acquisitions Working Group for Electronic Resources Management 101. This workshop will draw from Pesch’s Life Cycle of Electronic Resources as well as the NASIG Core Competencies for Electronic Resources Librarians to present helpful information around the areas of 1) Resource Acquisition, 2) Ensuring Access, 3) Resource Administration, 4) Support, and 5) Evaluation/Monitoring. The presenters will provide several resource management tips, including best practices. We imagine that this workshop will consist of group exercises that will be worked on during this workshop. This workshop is appropriate for both complete newbies and seasoned professionals seeking a refresher course on electronic resources management. Attendees will receive helpful resources (Padlet, handouts, access to other resources) upon completion of the workshop.  

The Lightning Talks session will feature four 20-minute presentations back-to-back in a 80 minute time slot, with a moderator for introductions, Q&A, and time keeping. Each speaker will give a 15-minute presentation with 5 minutes for Q&A.

Closing the Gap: How a community college balanced accreditation goals and a flat budget with one project
Prompted by a 3-yr cycle for SACSCOC administrative unit requirements, the Learning Commons (LC) at Tri-County Technical College, devised a Program Outcome Assessment Plan (POAP), which allowed the LC to better ascertain the state of their overall database environment, while accounting for a static acquisitions budget and limited digital resources. Structured around a curricular mapping project and gap analysis, the POAP revealed key areas of strength and weakness relative to the curriculum and created openings for in-depth liaison conversations with academic departments. The presentation will chronicle the project from initial planning to final execution, touching on several points of struggle that needed to be addressed. Those issues include data collection challenges, statistical relevance and comparability, and fiscal constraints, as well as stakeholder expectations. As a result of this initiative, the LC is better prepared to meet accreditation goals and has gained a more targeted approach to collection development.

The Lightning Talks session will feature four 20-minute presentations back-to-back in a 80 minute time slot, with a moderator for introductions, Q&A, and time keeping. Each speaker will give a 15-minute presentation with 5 minutes for Q&A.

Empowering Student Employees via Guerilla-Style Usability Testing
We needed to capture data from our students about our website while empowering our student assistants with additional growth opportunities. We wanted to make it known that we value their insight and recognize them as key contributors. We were inspired to conduct – guerilla-style usability testing (on the spot, quick questions) as an innovative approach to how we gather information. During this lightning talk, we will discuss why the usability testing project was initiated, each phase of the project – from planning to implementation, and how students played a crucial role. Finally, we’ll discuss the next steps in the project. We’ll also present the changes we applied based on student response through this multi-year-long project.

The Lightning Talks session will feature four 20-minute presentations back-to-back in a 80 minute time slot, with a moderator for introductions, Q&A, and time keeping. Each speaker will give a 15-minute presentation with 5 minutes for Q&A.

Promoting the Library Through Social Media
As a Gen Z librarian, Amanda Caldwell knows the importance of having a social media presence. Funny videos recorded in the library, eye-catching advertisements for upcoming events, and collaborations with other departments brings students in and keeps them coming back for more. Amanda will discuss not only the importance of promoting the library through social media, but how to do so successfully.

The Lightning Talks session will feature four 20-minute presentations back-to-back in a 80 minute time slot, with a moderator for introductions, Q&A, and time keeping. Each speaker will give a 15-minute presentation with 5 minutes for Q&A.

User-Centered by Design: Enhancing User Experience and Engagement at MUSC Libraries
How can academic libraries create more meaningful connections with their users? At the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Libraries, the Department of User Experience and Engagement is reimagining library services through a user-centered approach that prioritizes innovation and connection. This presentation will highlight key engagement initiatives, including data-informed service enhancements, strategic outreach efforts, and collaborative programming that fosters deeper user engagement. Attendees will gain insights into practical strategies for improving library experiences, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring that libraries remain essential, user-focused spaces. Join us for a discussion on challenges, successes, and future directions in designing library experiences that truly meet the needs of diverse academic communities.

With the launch of the Primo Research Assistant, libraries are exploring how AI-driven tools can enhance the discovery experience. What has the impact been so far? What challenges and opportunities have emerged? This panel will bring together voices from PASCAL libraries that have implemented or explored the Primo Research Assistant to share their experiences with adoption decisions, user feedback, and practical considerations for libraries thinking about enabling the tool. Attendees will gain insights into how the Primo Research Assistant is shaping discovery and what to consider when evaluating it for their own institutions.

Collections are just one more tool in the toolbox to help students succeed. There are several advantages to creating and organizing collections in Alma. The use of collections is another source that can benefit both students and faculty. Collections can be basic or very complex. Using this resource in Alma can reduce time spent by students and faculty searching for materials and can be used in conjunction or in place of course reserves

In Spring 2024, USC Lancaster held the first-of-its-kind student research showcase on the campus. The new “Celebration of Lancer Excellence” featured a poster session, student presentations and performances, and awards announcements. The event was a success among the campus community, leading to an expanded annual student research showcase in April 2025. In this session, librarians share their experiences planning and hosting this successful celebration of student achievement. We will cover lessons learned and tips for librarians interested in creating similar events. This successful collaboration demonstrates the importance of positioning the library as a research center at all stages of the process. This event’s success highlights the importance of cross-campus collaboration with faculty, campus offices, students, and community groups.

There are often not enough librarians or enough time to provide adequate face-to-face instruction in information and media literacy with the populations served by our libraries. A potential solution to this dilemma is to design and provide an online asynchronous instructional tutorial system that can be used on demand. In this session, attendees will review two examples of these types of systems, learn how to access and adapt the content for use within their own libraries, discuss how to promote usage within the university's curriculum, and explore assessment and data collection options.