Three Indiana universities receive PALNI library grant
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The Private Academic Library Network of Indiana, or PALNI, is awarding grants to the libraries of three Indiana institutions. The grants are used to fund library programs, projects and initiatives, including access to collections through controlled digital lending, developing interactive online tutorials, and improving physical learning spaces.
The 2022 PALNI Library Innovation Grant recipients are DePauw University, Taylor University and the University of Saint Francis.
“PALNI Library Innovation Grants aim to optimize library resources and services in ways that significantly expand the ability of PALNI schools to support teaching and learning at their institutions,” said Kirsten Leonard, PALNI executive director. “This year’s grant recipients submitted projects that the review committee believes will have a lasting impact on student success and retention across supported organizations.”
DePauw University is being awarded $10,000 for its controlled digital lending infrastructure project. According to DePauw, the emerging method allows libraries to loan print books to patrons digitally in a “lend like print fashion.” Through the project, DePauw aims to provide digital access to all items in its collection and create equitable access to the collection not just to their university but all of PALNI.
“We saw the need for digital reserves due to the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown of campus, as well as the closure of our main library due to a renovation project,” said Victoria Peters, scholarly communication and cataloging librarian at DePauw. “However, the academic publishing community has made creating digital copies of textbooks and other course materials difficult due to licensing and cost barriers.”
Taylor University is being awarded $8,275 for its project to provide quiet study space for its students. Taylor says it will use the funds to purchase state-of-the-art, individual study pods that are soundproof, moveable and equipped with electric air circulation and LED lighting.
“While libraries have evolved to become more active and open environments, research continues to show that students most frequently come to the library to study individually,” said Shannon Eaves, director of Taylor’s Zondervan Library. “By installing individual study pods, Zondervan Library hopes to alleviate the tension between those wanting to do collaborative group work and those who desire a place for quiet individual study. We believe the library can successfully provide both.”
The University of Saint Francis is being awarded $2,596 for its project to create innovation, interactive, and engaging online tutorials. Project organizers will use the funds to purchase licenses for Articulate, software that allows users to create online courses.
“One of the biggest advantages the new tutorials will offer is interactivity—we want users to be engaged, active participants in the material,” says Kerri Killion-Mueller, Reference and Instruction Librarian at USF’s Lee and Jim Vann Library. “Features that can be embedded into the tutorials include timelines, flash cards, quizzes and much more. Users will receive immediate feedback after each interactive component, so they know right away how they are performing.”
The projects are supported for up to one year, and recipients are expected to present their results and share ideas for further collaboration at the end of the granting period.
You can connect to more information about PALNI by clicking here.