With this May’s issue, the Student Research Journal celebrates its 10th anniversary. As the only fully student-run, double-blind peer-reviewed open access journal at San José State University, the Student Research Journal’s contributions to the scholarship of the university and the School of Information, and opportunities for students—both to work as an editor and to publish as an author— have become an integral part of the graduate student experience.

The 21^st issue of the research journal not only recognizes the achievements of the journal and its authors, editors, and faculty advisor, but also highlights work of a faculty member and several students who published pieces ranging from improving human-to-computer verbal communication of AI systems to the history of segregation of libraries in the American South.

“The journal has undoubtedly come a long way in the last ten years. I am beyond pleased and proud of what our current editorial team and all of our predecessors have accomplished.” — Catherine Liebau-Nelsen

The full issue can be found on the Student Research Journal’s website.

Authors and Articles

• Catherine Liebau-Nelsen: 10 Years of Excellence: Celebrating the Journal, Authors, Editors, and Readers. Outgoing Editor-in-Chief Liebau-Nelsen discusses a brief history of the Student Research Journal, including the first editorial team and Dr. Anthony Bernier’s first invited contribution on escape velocity—a piece read by every SRJ incoming editor during their training. Liebau-Nelsen reached out to alumni who reflected on their experiences as editors on the journal; unanimously, the experience of serving on the SRJ’s editorial team is unforgettable!
• Dr. Ruth Huard: Student Research Journal: A Decade of Building a Global Community of Scholars. The dean of the College of Professional and Global Education reflects on the outstanding accomplishments of the SRJ since its inception 10 years ago. Dean Huard highlights several exceptionally relevant publications that withstand the test of time and recognizes the hard work and dedication of all alumni who have served on the editorial team.
• Dr. Souvick Ghosh: Designing Human-Computer Conversational Systems using Needs Hierarchy. In this invited contribution, Assistant Professor Ghosh discusses the framework for improving how voice-based AI systems meet the needs of human users. Fascinating and at the forefront of research, this piece offers examples of how current voice-based AI fail to meet the needs of users, as well as explanations of how these failures can be amended by referencing the Maslow’s Needs Hierarchy.
• Samantha Hamilton: What’s Mine is Yours: History of U.S. Tool-Lending Libraries. Recipient of the SJSU School of Information’s Ken Haycock Award for Exceptional Professional Promise, recent graduate Samantha Hamilton reviews the history of the tool-lending libraries in the U.S., their place in library history, and the importance of tool-lending libraries from their founding up to today.
• Laura Maw: Central-Peripheral Information Behavior Theory. In this truly intriguing article, SJSU School of Information student Maw explains a combination of theories used to determine how best to meet the needs of information communities. In particular, Maw focuses on tourists. Maw discusses how the CPIB Theory can be applied to tourists to determine how libraries can serve this example community.
• Laura Wertz: The Right to Read: The Fight to Desegregate Southern U.S. Public Libraries. SJSU School of Information alumna Wertz discusses the historical fight against segregation of public libraries in the American South, including the Greenville Eight, the Tougaloo Nine, and several other incidents which sparked public outrage that would lead to the desegregation of public libraries. Wertz’s poignant article not only offers an historical overview but also steps to be taken in the future to acknowledge and address the past wrongs of Southern public libraries.
• Samantha Hamilton: Book Review: Rebekkah Smith Aldrich’s Sustainable Thinking: Ensuring Your Library’s Future in an Uncertain World. SJSU School of Information alumna Hamilton breaks down Aldrich’s Sustainable Thinking into critical sections for readers and pinpoints the usefulness and applicability of the book for library professionals. Despite some authorial decisions which Hamilton questions, she describes the book as a “rare gem in the crowded library literature” (Hamilton, 2021, p. 66).
• Jessie Stoner: Foundations of Information Ethics Book Review. After a clear description of the book’s organization, SJSU School of Information student Stoner dissects the book and pinpoints the areas which have been only touched upon. While Stoner acknowledges that the book “does what it set out to do: provide an overview of the history and evolution of information ethics” (Stoner, 2021, p. 72), they also elaborate on how the content and coverage of the book could have been expanded to offer readers a fuller understanding of the topics.
• Sarah Wilson: User Experience Desires Personalization from Academic Library Websites. Outgoing SRJ Managing Editor Wilson’s evidence summary critically reviews research from Desmarais and Louderback’s “Planning and Assessing Patron Experience and Needs for an Academic Library Website.” Offering insightful commentary, Wilson ties the research of Desmarais and Louderback to current library and patron needs due to the shift to online services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

About the Student Research Journal

The Student Research Journal promotes graduate and professional research in the library and information science field and asks crucial questions on current and emerging professional issues from a local, national and global perspective. By advocating for the value of research to further intellectual inquiry and innovation in our field, SRJ contributes critical insights to inform everyday professional practice in the field and specifically cultivates robust graduate student research through a rigorous peer review process. As SJSU’s only fully student-run, double-blind peer-reviewed, open access research journal, SRJ leads the way for the university, the College of Professional and Global Education, the School of Information, and LIS graduate research.

Editorial Team

Outgoing Editor-in-Chief Catherine Liebau-Nelsen applauds the dedication and spectacular work of all SRJ editors who contributed to this issue: Managing Editor Sarah Wilson; Content Editors Ariel Dyer, Marian Griffin, Kristen Jacobson, and Dorianne Shaffer; and Copy Editors Shelly Sarfati and Molly Wunderli. Liebau-Nelsen will be graduating in August and would like to recognize all other editors who have finished their term with the journal and are moving on: Sarah Wilson, Marian Griffin, Dorianne Shaffer, and Shelly Sarfati. 

Welcome to incoming Editor-in-Chief Tierra Holmes, Managing Editor Kari Lease, Content Editors Benjamin Brown and Amber Morrell, and Copy Editor Stephanie Sandoval! 

Call for Submissions

SRJ invites original research, book reviews, critical review essays, and evidence summaries from graduate students at any university on topics in the fields of librarianship and information science and archives and records management and related theory, policy, ethics, application, case studies and professional practice. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis and undergo rigorous peer review. Questions about the submission process can be emailed to the incoming Editor-in-Chief, Tierra Holmes, at sjsu.ischool.srj@gmail.com. Volume 11, Issue 2 is slated to be published in December of 2021.

Editorial team positions are open to SJSU School of Information students. More information is available on the SRJ website. SRJ is also on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.