http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12164/3 Materials produced by the Library faculty and staff. 2026-03-27T03:01:50Z http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12164/3465 Title: Person-Centered Appraisals for Encouraging Growth and Development Authors: Williams, Satasha; Zamora, Leah Marie; Matthew Hutchinson, Judy; Weiner, Nancy J. Abstract: The libraries of today are not just buildings that house books. Rather they are institutions where library staff champion efforts and initiatives to provide access to resources, support communities, promote literacy, and protect the public’s right to freedom of information. As the director of the Los Angeles County Library System Skye Patrick aptly noted, “Libraries are not about books, they’re about people.” Library staff build and sustain sound, interpersonal relationships with the public and the communities they serve. Library employees should therefore possess the appropriate social and interpersonal skills to serve their respective communities. Work practices should help library employees build and hone their interpersonal skills. A performance appraisal, although evaluative in nature, represents a model of communication that can provide opportunities to inspire employees and build upon their existing skills. 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12164/3436 Title: Inviting Knowledge: Enhancing Archival Discovery through Information Design Authors: Williams, David J. Abstract: Information design—incorporating research in graphic design, typography, visualization, and usability—is a user experience practice directly applicable to contemporary museums, libraries, and archives. Information design principles and guidelines improve engagement at every point of service, effectively and efficiently complementing the mission of knowledge organizations. This historical survey explores information design in the context of contemporary user experience design, and provides an overview of information design principles and guidelines developed over 40 years of research and professional application. Applying elements of information design to archival finding aids enhances usability, while also preserving descriptive and contextual structures. 2024-05-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12164/3314 Title: A Press of One's Own: Hosted versus Outsourced Pressbooks Authors: Williams, David J. Abstract: Open Educational Resources (OER) support is increasingly common among college libraries. Pressbooks is an open source content management system for creating and publishing digital books. The software is available in two basic ways: (a) self-hosted on your own servers (pressbooks.org), or (b) as an externally hosted subscription (PressbooksEDU). Both approaches provide solutions for OER textbook production and other zero-cost materials. This session compares self-hosted and outsourced Pressbooks services to help inform your evaluation process. Description: A New Jersey Library Association NJLA-ACRLNJ 2023 Conference Presentation 2023-06-02T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12164/3313 Title: Beyond Academia: Designing Archives Outreach for Non-traditional Users Authors: Williams, David J. Abstract: The University of Pittsburgh Library System has a robust outreach focus and frequently brings our Archives and Special Collections materials out to the broader Pittsburgh community. The August Wilson Archive was acquired in 2020 and due to the strong cultural and sociological relevance in its home city of Pittsburgh and a generous grant, we are launching extensive community engagement efforts. August Wilson, one of American's greatest playwrights, celebrated the lives and culture of African Americans in the 20th century through his ten plays titled the American Century Cycle. The Wilson Archive consists of over 450 boxes of materials, which illustrated how his plays evolved from handwritten drafts of dialogue and notes through the final promptbooks that were used in the Broadway productions. There are also over 700 writing tablets and legal pads where Wilson first jotted down his ideas for the American Century Cycle plays alongside his everyday notes on his daily meetings, phone calls, and drafts of correspondence. Through data visualization and descriptive diagrams, our team will provide other access points that allow users to explore the collection in visual and engaging ways. A discussion of Information Design principles and practices, incorporating research in graphic design, typography, visualization, and usability, will illustrate how archives can improve engagement at every point of service, effectively complementing the institutional mission while enhancing individual user experience. Description: A Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Spring 2023 Conference presentation. 2023-04-27T00:00:00Z