The latest issue of the SJSU School of Information’s Student Research Journal presents student-authored research on a diversity of topics and the articles discuss emerging technologies across all aspects of the library and information science field.

The latest issue of the San José State University (SJSU) School of Information’s Student Research Journal (SRJ) has been published, and the issue presents student-authored research on a number of hot topics in the library and information science (LIS) field. The student-run, peer-reviewed, open-access journal is published semiannually, and the issue is the second in the journal’s fifth volume since it was inaugurated in 2011.

According to Adrienne Mathewson, a candidate in the online Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree program at the SJSU School of Information (iSchool) and editor-in-chief of the SRJ since June 2013, the diversity of topics covered in the journal and the way the current issue’s articles discuss emerging technologies across all aspects of LIS are notable. “The best part of my job as editor-in-chief of the Student Research Journal is reading submissions from students from our own School of Information and other LIS programs,” she remarked. “It underscores the breadth of LIS research and the ways information professionals are creating technology to meet users’ needs.”

Articles by four current SJSU iSchool students are featured in the issue. MLIS candidate Melissa Anderson contributed an article on the assessment of information literacy instruction in today’s academic libraries. MLIS candidate Catherine Lucy’s article examines research methods and technology trends in genealogical research. Gina Nichols, who was also just appointed managing editor of the journal, contributed an article on the merging of geospatial technology with historical materials in library special collections. First-year MLIS student Tamarack Hockin’s article explores microblogging and the information community of “tumblarians,” or librarians using Tumblr.

Each issue of the student-run research journal also features an invited contribution from an information professional with expertise in a particular area of LIS research. Dr. Ziming Liu, professor at the SJSU iSchool, is the featured invited contributor in the latest issue. Liu’s article, “Information Behavior in the Mobile Environment: An Overview,” discusses trends in mobile device use and his recent research on the mobile information behavior of undergraduate students in China.

Dr. Anthony Bernier, associate professor at the SJSU iSchool and faculty advisor for the SRJ, noted the important role the journal plays in promoting LIS research at the university. “The SRJ exists to deepen our students’ exposure to and engagement with research,” he stated. “In that regard, the SRJ contributes to the iSchool’s overall research-based profile along with our Gateway PhD program, and our faculty’s robust record of peer-reviewed publications.”

Bernier also commented on the profile of the research journal itself at the SJSU iSchool. “As the journal’s inaugural faculty advisor, and in speaking for the faculty, we are continually thrilled and proud of the SRJ—and it remains the only graduate-level, peer-reviewed, entirely student-governed research journal on campus.”

Mathewson also expressed great satisfaction with the latest issue of the SRJ and the high quality the journal has been able to maintain since it began. “I’m very pleased with the quality of the submissions published in this issue,” she stated. “I encourage everybody to download these articles and, if you haven’t already, read the past issues as well.”

All published articles are available for download on the SRJ website. A call for submissions, instructions for graduate student authors, and other information about the journal are also published on the website. A printable copy of the complete issue is also available for download.