Papers by Shannon Oltmann
Interviews are a staple method used in qualitative research. Many authors hold face-to-face inter... more Interviews are a staple method used in qualitative research. Many authors hold face-to-face interviews to be the gold standard, or the assumed best mode in which to conduct interviews. However, a large number of research projects are based on conducting interviews via telephone. While some scholars have addressed the advantages and disadvantages of using telephones to conduct interviews, this work is scattered across multiple disciplines and lacks a cohesive, comprehensive framework. The current article seeks to rectify this gap in the literature, by explicitly developing the constructs of the interviewer context and the respondent context. By examining key components in each of these contexts, the qualitative interviewer can make an informed, reflective decision about the best interview mode to use for a particular project.
Click here to let us know how access to this document benefits you. Recent popular and academic d... more Click here to let us know how access to this document benefits you. Recent popular and academic discussions regarding the Internet have raised the question of whether and how networked intermediaries have (dis)integrating social effects. In this study, we use public records of configurations of Internet filters in Alabama public schools and libraries to show how different institutions implement nominally consistent content standards inconsistently. We argue that these varying implementations are both significant and troubling for two reasons: first, they overreach the stated goals of the legislation with which they in principle comply; second, they may contribute to a broader epistemic breakdown by fragmenting the kind of information made available through and across public institutions.
This research examines school librarians' perspectives on collecting LGBT materials. Based on... more This research examines school librarians' perspectives on collecting LGBT materials. Based on qualitative interviews with thirty-one school librarians, this project found generally strong support for collecting LGBT materials. School librarians discussed serving their communities, having resources for all students, and meeting the needs of diverse students. In addition, they shared several ways that school libraries can counter bullying: creating a bully-free zone in the library, collecting LGBT and anti-bullying materials, collaborating with guidance counselors and teachers, suggesting particular books for certain students, being a supporter of students, and positioning the school library as a safe space.
Research is divided about the potential of e-service to bridge communication gaps, particularly t... more Research is divided about the potential of e-service to bridge communication gaps, particularly to diverse user groups. According to the existing body of literature, e-service may increase or decrease the quality of service received. This study analyzes the level of service received by different genders and ethnic groups when public librarians answer online reference queries. Quality of e-service was evaluated along three dimensions: responsiveness, reliability, and courtesy. This study found no significant differences among different user groups along any of these dimensions, supporting the argument that the virtual environment facilitates equitable service and may overcome some challenges of diverse user groups.
The Library Quarterly, 2022
College & Research Libraries, 2017
In this study, deans and directors of academic libraries were surveyed about intellectual freedom... more In this study, deans and directors of academic libraries were surveyed about intellectual freedom. The survey found that most respondents said they rarely think about intellectual freedom yet said it was "somewhat" or "very" important in their libraries. Most did not have formal intellectual freedom policies; they often relied on statements from the American Library Association or other library organizations. Copyright/intellectual property, privacy, plagiarism, and academic freedom were the most important concerns related to intellectual freedom. Although this study shed some light on intellectual freedom in academic libraries, further work remains to be done.
Journal of Information Ethics, 2016
This paper reports preliminary results of a survey of 458 US public library staff members regardi... more This paper reports preliminary results of a survey of 458 US public library staff members regarding their perceptions of drag queen storytimes (DQS) and the ways in which these storytimes influence child development. The majority of respondents from libraries that have hosted at least one DQS agreed that DQS support healthy child development and positively influence children’s understanding of gender and/or sexuality, while respondents from libraries that have not hosted DQS were more likely to disagree or report being undecided. Specific ways in which respondents perceive DQS to influence child development are also analyzed. Cet article présente les résultats préliminaires d'une enquête menée auprès de 458 membres du personnel de la bibliothèque publique concernant leurs perceptions des heures du conte de drag queen (HCDQ) et la manière dont ces heures du conte influencent le développement de l'enfant. La majorité des répondants des bibliothèques qui ont hébergé au moins un...
Information access has been identified by several scholars as an important research area within i... more Information access has been identified by several scholars as an important research area within information science; with intellectual, physical, and social components, genuine access to information can be difficult to secure. According to the theory of democratic accountability, information access is particularly important for citizens in a democracy, who must have access to public policy information—and the information that informs policy decisions—in order to hold their elected officials accountable. This research conducted two case studies into the accessibility of climate change research utilizing qualitative semi-structured interviews. Respondents indicated that citizens’ intellectual, physical, and social access to the information in question was curtailed, thereby hindering their ability to practice democratic accountability. This research extends previous work done in information access and scientific research and demonstrates a need for further investigation into citizens’...
The Library Quarterly, 2021
W hile we hate to evoke memories of bad 1990s sitcoms, we feel it is necessary to inform you that... more W hile we hate to evoke memories of bad 1990s sitcoms, we feel it is necessary to inform you that we consider this a “very special episode” of Library Quarterly. Not only do we have two particularly timely guest editorials to feature, we are also introducing new members of our editorial board, saying goodbye to a valued and important member of our editorial team, andwelcoming a new associate editor. Nevertheless, no one (that we know of ) will be experiencing amnesia, experimenting with drugs, or shoplifting (note: it’s possible at least onemember of this editorial teamwatched toomuch Full House and Saved by the Bell as a child). The first change is the hardest—this is the first full issue in which Ursula Gorham was no longer involved as an editor of the journal. We feel like Ursula’s impact on the journal is far too great to sum up in a few lines, so we’ve dedicated a separate farewell immediately following this introduction. The good news is that a wonderful new voice has joined our editorial team. With this issue, Paul, Natalie, and Karen officially welcome Shannon Oltmann—a former member of the Library Quarterly editorial board, a regular reviewer, and a frequent contributor to the journal—as our new associate editor. She has been contributing to editorial reviews and decisions since fall 2020 and will be offering her own words of introduction in our next issue. In the meantime, here is a short bio:
School Libraries Worldwide, 2018
Two foundational documents from the American Library Association, the Code of Ethics and the Core... more Two foundational documents from the American Library Association, the Code of Ethics and the Core Values of Librarianship, are meant to guide the actions of all U.S. librarians. However, their relevance to school librarians has not been studied to date. In this research, U.S. school librarians were surveyed to evaluate the significance of these documents. Generally, strong support was indicated for both. Respondents expressed less support for the ethical principles of intellectual freedom/censorship and privacy/confidentiality and for the core values of preservation, the public good, and democracy. Additional respondent comments suggest that some school librarians have difficulty applying these statements in their school settings.
First Monday, 2021
In 2016, following the election of President Donald Trump, dozens of Twitter accounts emerged, pu... more In 2016, following the election of President Donald Trump, dozens of Twitter accounts emerged, purporting to represent a network of resistance within the U.S. government. These alt- and rogue- Twitter accounts, known as Rogue Twitter, shared tweets aiming to rebuke the administrations new information restrictions on federal agencies. Using established social movement theories, we investigated if Rogue Twitter is an online social movement. We qualitatively analyzed 43,569 original tweets from 102 Rogue accounts. We evaluated the tweets on three dimensions: Their attempts to challenge state institutions (macro-level), their organizing and mobilizing strategies (meso-level), and their shared understandings (micro-level). We found that the Rogue Twitter Movement exemplifies how online social movements engage in coordinated contentious activity via an online platform. Members of this network collectively framed as their main grievance the State’s control of information. Accordingly, thei...
This research examines school librarians’ perspectives on collecting LGBT materials. Based on qua... more This research examines school librarians’ perspectives on collecting LGBT materials. Based on qualitative interviews with thirty-one school librarians, this project found generally strong support for collecting LGBT materials. School librarians discussed serving their communities, having resources for all students, and meeting the needs of diverse students. In addition, they shared several ways that school libraries can counter bullying: creating a bully-free zone in the library, collecting LGBT and anti-bullying materials, collaborating with guidance counselors and teachers, suggesting particular books for certain students, being a supporter of students, and positioning the school library as a safe space.
Interviews gehoren zur Grundausstattung qualitativer Sozialforschung; insbesondere Face-to-Face-I... more Interviews gehoren zur Grundausstattung qualitativer Sozialforschung; insbesondere Face-to-Face-Interviews erachten viele als Gold-Standard zu deren Durchfuhrung. Dennoch werden in vielen Projekten auch Telefoninterviews genutzt. Und auch wenn verschiedentlich Vor- und Nachteile von Telefoninterviews diskutiert werden, geschieht dies verstreut uber unterschiedliche Disziplinen; es fehlt eine zusammenhangende und umfassende Einordnung. In diesem Beitrag versuche ich, zu einer systematischen Reflexion beizutragen, indem ich mich dezidiert mit dem Konzept des Kontextes aufseiten der Interviewenden bzw. der Interviewten auseinandersetze. Denn nur durch die Prufung der zentralen Kontextdimensionen konnen Interviewer/innen informierte und reflektierte Entscheidungen daruber treffen, welche Interviewart in einem Projekt zum Einsatz kommen sollte. URN: http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs1602156
Recent popular and academic discussions regarding the Internet have raised the question of whethe... more Recent popular and academic discussions regarding the Internet have raised the question of whether and how networked intermediaries have a (dis)integrating social effects. In this study, we use public records of configurations of Internet filters in Alabama public schools and libraries to show how different institutions implement nominally consistent content standards inconsistently. We argue that these varying implementations are both significant and troubling for two reasons: first, they overreach the stated goals of the legislation with which they in principle comply; second, they may contribute to a broader epistemic breakdown by fragmenting the kind of information made available through and across public institutions.
Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 2021
Historically, information professionals have advocated for intellectual freedom, specifically the... more Historically, information professionals have advocated for intellectual freedom, specifically the rights to free speech and expression. The unrestricted flow of information has been foundational to library and information science practice. Yet, free speech at times is protected to the detriment of vulnerable communities. In this panel discussion, four library and information science researchers discuss the scholarly and pragmatic tensions surrounding LIS ethics and anti‐hegemony. Using Chatman's (1996) concept of information poverty and Gibson and Martin's (2019) theory of information marginalization as discursive guides, the panelists will describe how they negotiate ethical principles, information justice, LIS professionalization, and social inclusion.
Uploads
Papers by Shannon Oltmann