Pennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice
https://palrap.org/ojs/palrap
<div>A peer-reviewed, open access journal, sponsored by the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.palibraries.org/?page=CRD" target="_blank">College and Research Division of the Pennsylvania Library Association</a></span> (CRD-PaLA).</div><br /><div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.palibraries.org/general/register_member_type.asp"><strong>Membership in PaLA</strong></a></span> helps to support <em>PaLRaP.</em> <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.palibraries.org/donations/donate.asp?id=10777">Donations</a></strong></span> are<em></em> also encouraged to sustain and grow this publication.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.palibraries.org/donations/donate.asp?id=10777" target="_blank"><br /></a></strong></span></div><div><hr /><div><strong>Authors:</strong> Please review the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/ojs/index.php/palrap/about/editorialPolicies" target="_blank">Section Policies</a></strong></span> and <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/ojs/index.php/palrap/about/submissions" target="_blank">Submissions Page</a></strong></span> to upload your manuscript(s). 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Use our new <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1LWUL8re8hvFf3ZI6ftsd3MjcBcg9uG7Ccr1OOwbzvG0/viewform" target="_blank">submission form for news items</a></strong></span>.</div><hr /></div>University Library System, University of Pittsburghen-USPennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice2324-7878<p>Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:</p><ol><li>The Author retains copyright in the Work, where the term “Work” shall include all digital objects that may result in subsequent electronic publication or distribution.</li><li>Upon acceptance of the Work, the author shall grant to the Publisher the right of first publication of the Work.</li><li>The Author shall grant to the Publisher and its agents the nonexclusive perpetual right and license to publish, archive, and make accessible the Work in whole or in part in all forms of media now or hereafter known under a <a title="CC-BY" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License</a> or its equivalent, which, for the avoidance of doubt, allows others to copy, distribute, and transmit the Work under the following conditions:<ol type="a"><li>Attribution—other users must attribute the Work in the manner specified by the author as indicated on the journal Web site;</li></ol>with the understanding that the above condition can be waived with permission from the Author and that where the Work or any of its elements is in the public domain under applicable law, that status is in no way affected by the license.</li><li>The Author is able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the nonexclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the Work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), as long as there is provided in the document an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.</li><li>Authors are permitted and encouraged to post online a prepublication manuscript (but not the Publisher’s final formatted PDF version of the Work) in institutional repositories or on their Websites prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work. Any such posting made before acceptance and publication of the Work shall be updated upon publication to include a reference to the Publisher-assigned DOI (Digital Object Identifier) and a link to the online abstract for the final published Work in the Journal.</li><li>Upon Publisher’s request, the Author agrees to furnish promptly to Publisher, at the Author’s own expense, written evidence of the permissions, licenses, and consents for use of third-party material included within the Work, except as determined by Publisher to be covered by the principles of Fair Use.</li><li>The Author represents and warrants that:<ol type="a"><li>the Work is the Author’s original work;</li><li>the Author has not transferred, and will not transfer, exclusive rights in the Work to any third party;</li><li>the Work is not pending review or under consideration by another publisher;</li><li>the Work has not previously been published;</li><li>the Work contains no misrepresentation or infringement of the Work or property of other authors or third parties; and</li><li>the Work contains no libel, invasion of privacy, or other unlawful matter.</li></ol></li><li>The Author agrees to indemnify and hold Publisher harmless from Author’s breach of the representations and warranties contained in Paragraph 6 above, as well as any claim or proceeding relating to Publisher’s use and publication of any content contained in the Work, including third-party content.</li></ol><p><span style="font-size: 75%;">Revised 7/21/2020. Revision Description: Updated to APA 7th style. <br /></span></p>Table of Contents
https://palrap.org/ojs/palrap/article/view/314
Roseanne Perkins
Copyright (c) 2025 Roseanne Perkins
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
2025-05-132025-05-1313110.5195/palrap.2025.314In the PaLRaP Spotlight: Emily Reed, Reference and Instruction Librarian
https://palrap.org/ojs/palrap/article/view/312
<p>An interview with Emily Reed</p>Denise Wetzel
Copyright (c) 2025 Denise Wetzel
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
2025-05-132025-05-131311210.5195/palrap.2025.312Supporting Doctoral Research in Sociology in the BTAA
https://palrap.org/ojs/palrap/article/view/303
<p>The purpose of this study is to examine the core journals used by graduate students in doctoral research in sociology at 16 institutions within the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA). Citation studies in dissertations are often limited to exploring core journals based on local or aggregate multi-institutional use and rarely provide metrics for comparing local use within a discipline. Our study explores the nuances of finding core journals based on local priorities and aggregate use in dissertations. It also examines how well each institution supports graduate research by examining the institutional holdings for these core lists. </p>Stephen WoodsRuth Kitchin Tillman
Copyright (c) 2025 Stephen Woods, Ruth Kitchin Tillman
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
2025-05-132025-05-1313110.5195/palrap.2025.303Do More Micro-credentials Equal Better Grades?
https://palrap.org/ojs/palrap/article/view/306
<p>This study investigates the impact of information literacy digital badges on student course grades. Despite the growing popularity of digital badges in higher education, empirical evidence regarding their effect on academic performance remains limited. This research aims to fill that gap by analyzing the relationship between badge earning and student success, addressing the overarching question: What is the impact of badge earning on student course grades? The study utilizes data from over 900 students who participated in the digital badge program, which offered information literacy badges as co-curricular activities. The data analysis examined correlations between the number of badges earned and student grades, as well as differences based on gender and class standing. The findings indicate a significant positive correlation between earning at least one digital badge and higher course grades. The study’s findings support the potential of digital badges as a meaningful tool for enhancing student learning and success.</p>Emily RimlandAnne BehlerWendy Pothier
Copyright (c) 2025 Emily L. Rimland, Anne C. Behler, Wendy Pothier
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
2025-05-132025-05-1313110.5195/palrap.2025.306Noteworthy
https://palrap.org/ojs/palrap/article/view/313
Jacob Gordon
Copyright (c) 2025 Jacob Gordon
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
2025-05-132025-05-1313110.5195/palrap.2025.313