Sara P. Robinson and Catherine Westwood
The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the BOBCATSSS 2010 conference held in Parma, Italy in January 2010.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the BOBCATSSS 2010 conference held in Parma, Italy in January 2010.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper presents an outline of the content of the conference proceedings including a description of the presentations, workshops and social events.
Findings
The theme focused on the role of libraries and other cultural institutions and the challenges they face in providing access for all. Participants explored the concept of “Bridging the digital divide” through presentations, workshops, and posters.
Originality/value
A brief conference report of value to library and information professionals and students of library and information science‐related disciplines with an interest in overcoming challenges presented in a digital environment.
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The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the main contents of the 18th BOBCATSSS Symposium, held in Parma, Italy in January 2010, dedicated to the main theme…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the main contents of the 18th BOBCATSSS Symposium, held in Parma, Italy in January 2010, dedicated to the main theme “Bridging the digital divide: libraries providing access for all?”
Design/methodology/approach
The report provides a concise presentation of the main themes discussed during the conference.
Findings
The topics presented focused mainly on the fields of access and delivery, community support and collections, with some others focusing on leadership and management.
Originality/value
This symposium is one of the few conferences in the world where students are the main characters and participate as organisers, reviewers and presenters of the contributions. Reports on such conferences are of interest to both students and to teachers and professionals.
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The Bureau of Economics in the Federal Trade Commission has a three-part role in the Agency and the strength of its functions changed over time depending on the preferences and…
Abstract
The Bureau of Economics in the Federal Trade Commission has a three-part role in the Agency and the strength of its functions changed over time depending on the preferences and ideology of the FTC’s leaders, developments in the field of economics, and the tenor of the times. The over-riding current role is to provide well considered, unbiased economic advice regarding antitrust and consumer protection law enforcement cases to the legal staff and the Commission. The second role, which long ago was primary, is to provide reports on investigations of various industries to the public and public officials. This role was more recently called research or “policy R&D”. A third role is to advocate for competition and markets both domestically and internationally. As a practical matter, the provision of economic advice to the FTC and to the legal staff has required that the economists wear “two hats,” helping the legal staff investigate cases and provide evidence to support law enforcement cases while also providing advice to the legal bureaus and to the Commission on which cases to pursue (thus providing “a second set of eyes” to evaluate cases). There is sometimes a tension in those functions because building a case is not the same as evaluating a case. Economists and the Bureau of Economics have provided such services to the FTC for over 100 years proving that a sub-organization can survive while playing roles that sometimes conflict. Such a life is not, however, always easy or fun.
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This study aims to explore how power dynamics affect research with children, focusing on how the projected and perceived role of the researcher and the use of participative…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore how power dynamics affect research with children, focusing on how the projected and perceived role of the researcher and the use of participative techniques, can mediate power relationships between the researcher and child, and impact children’s agency.
Design/methodology/approach
The research formed part of a wider study on children’s digital device use, with children aged 4 to 11 in a UK school. Eight pairs of children participated in buddy interviews, completing several creative and arts-based activities using a choice of equipment and materials, including PlayDoh, LEGO and most innovatively, Minecraft.
Findings
The study found the researcher’s projected role, and children’s interpretation of this, impacted the power relations in the interviews. A consistent projection was challenging however, and it was necessary for the researcher to adapt their role according to children’s needs and behaviour. Offering children a choice of activities was an effective power sharing strategy, and children’s absorption in these tasks provided a wealth of data from observations and children’s on-task “chatter”.
Originality/value
Using Minecraft as a participative method enabled the children to use their superior technical abilities to take power in the interview, and show their own personal geographies virtually in 3D, and offers potential for other qualitative researchers in conducting research with the agentic child.
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Wayne Martino, Jennifer Ingrey, Shailja Jain and Malcolm Macdonald
In this chapter, we draw on trans-informed theoretical frameworks to provide insights into gender justice and gender democratization in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC)…
Abstract
In this chapter, we draw on trans-informed theoretical frameworks to provide insights into gender justice and gender democratization in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC). Our purpose is to illuminate the systemic impact of cisgenderist and cissexist beliefs which refer to the legitimation of birth-assigned gender identity and what this means for embracing a critical project of gender expansiveness in the ECEC classroom. More broadly, we explicate how our engagement with trans studies informs a critique of existing debates about masculinities, boys and male teachers in the early years. We draw on the work of trans scholars in the first part of this chapter to ground an epistemological basis for our understanding of gender expansiveness and masculinities that challenges a cisnormative framing of gender justice in ECEC. In the second part, we draw specifically on scholars in the field who have been pivotal in elaborating what we understand to be gender expansive identities and what this means for thinking about gender justice in the early childhood classroom. In the third part, we reflect on the pedagogical implications of boyhood sissiness through a trans-informed lens and explicate its implications for understanding boys and masculinities in the early years. Finally, we draw on transgender studies-informed perspectives on masculinity which call for ‘de-essentializ[ing] masculinity as grounded in a cis-male body’ (Gottzén & Straube, 2016, p. 217) and explore their implications for re-envisioning masculinities as a gender-transformative project in ECEC.
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John H. Bickford III and Cynthia W. Rich
Common Core State Standards Initiative mandates increased readings of informational texts within English Language Arts starting in elementary school. Accurate, age-appropriate…
Abstract
Common Core State Standards Initiative mandates increased readings of informational texts within English Language Arts starting in elementary school. Accurate, age-appropriate, and engaging content is at the center of effective social studies teaching. Textbooks and children’s literature—both literary and informational—are prominent in elementary classrooms because of the esoteric nature of primary source material. Many research projects have investigated historical accuracy and representation within textbooks, but few have done so with children’s trade books. We examined children’s trade books centered on three historical figures frequently incorporated within elementary school curricula: Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, and Helen Keller. Findings revealed various forms of historical misrepresentation and differing levels of historicity. Reporting such lacunae is important for those involved in curricular decisions. We believe children’s books, even those with historical omissions and misrepresentations, provide an unique opportunity for students to incorporate and scrutinize diverse perspectives as they actively assemble historical understandings. All secondary narratives, even historically representative children’s books, can benefit from primary source supplementation. We guide teachers interested in employing relevant and rich primary source material.
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The aim of my chapter is to draw on conceptualisations of sexism, racism, epistemology of white ignorance and critical race theorists’ critiques of white feminism to examine…
Abstract
The aim of my chapter is to draw on conceptualisations of sexism, racism, epistemology of white ignorance and critical race theorists’ critiques of white feminism to examine critical management studies (CMS) practices. The purpose of the chapter is to acknowledge the contribution of CMS feminists and look to how we can go beyond current practices to include antiracism in our feminisms. In particular, I show how sexism, racism and white ignorance are collectively produced in CMS and operate through mundane, and avoidable, organisational and pedagogical processes. I respond to the editors’ call for chapters by offering a practical politics through the idea of a killjoy manifesto, taking inspiration from the writings of Sara Ahmed. An important part of is that is for white feminism in CMS to attend to critiques from racially minoritised academics, activists and workers. Whilst challenging, I hope the chapter provides practical and theoretical resources and encouragement.
Sara Schumacher and Hillary B. Veeder
This article unpacks the construction of authority in architectural trade journals as multimodal disciplinary communication and how librarians can use these journals to engage…
Abstract
Purpose
This article unpacks the construction of authority in architectural trade journals as multimodal disciplinary communication and how librarians can use these journals to engage student's critical thinking in information and visual literacy instruction.
Design/methodology/approach
An analysis of project articles was done in two consecutive issues of ten architecture print trade journals including tracking details about the building types, geographic locations, firms represented, visual coverage, and visual categorizes and conventions.
Findings
The projects represented in the analyzed trade journals were predominately public buildings built by established firms in Europe, North America and Asia. The journals employed various methods for crediting and captioning visuals, showing marked differences in conferring authority on architectural photographers and descriptive versus analytical analysis of visual communications. Overall, visuals in architecture trade journals dominate the article space, with photographs being the most prominent type; however, individual journals differ in disciplinary conventions such as presence of people, use of color and indications of scale and compass direction.
Research limitations/implications
These findings strengthen the case for library print subscriptions to trade journals as useful when facilitating student exploration of disciplinary communication to identify markers of authority, examine bias and apply disciplinary conventions in their own scholarly output.
Originality/value
By interrogating the value of print journals in architecture, findings of this study may influence further research into the significance of print journals in other disciplines and a larger professional discussion about the implications of library trends to providing digital-only journal access.
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Ana Junça Silva and Sara Martins
Although (tele)work is increasingly being adopted and employees’ behavior is recognized to be key for organizational outcomes (e.g. performance), the current literature on…
Abstract
Purpose
Although (tele)work is increasingly being adopted and employees’ behavior is recognized to be key for organizational outcomes (e.g. performance), the current literature on counterproductive work behaviors (CWB) in telework settings is fragmented, and a valid measurement instrument is lacking. This study aims to address this gap and starts by presenting a review of the current literature on counterproductive work behavior in flexible work arrangements (i.e. telework). Based on this study, eight categories of work behavior that appear to be frequent under telework settings were identified.
Design/Methodology
Next, four studies aimed at developing and validating a measurement instrument that captures employee counterproductive work behavior when teleworking: the counterproductive [tele]work behavior scale (CTwBS).
Findings
In Study 1, the CTwBS was created, and in Study 2, its factorial validity was examined (N = 350). In Study 3, using a sample of teleworkers (N = 289), the convergent and discriminant validity of the CTwBS was tested using self-ratings of (positive and negative) affect, attitudes toward telework and frequency of CWB in general. In Study 4, a daily-diary study across five workdays (N = 232 × 5 = 1,160) examined the criterion validity of the CTwBS.
Practical implications
The results indicated that the CTwBS is a valid and reliable instrument for capturing employee counterproductive work behavior in telework settings. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Originality
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, CTwBS is the first measure aimed at assessing counterproductive work behavior in telework settings.
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The Wicked Queen in both the Grimm and Disney versions of Snow White exists as a cautionary tale of female vanity. Despite these nefarious beginnings, contemporary versions of the…
Abstract
The Wicked Queen in both the Grimm and Disney versions of Snow White exists as a cautionary tale of female vanity. Despite these nefarious beginnings, contemporary versions of the character in children's and young adult fiction reimagine the Wicked Queen as pitiable. She is still a villain, but her actions are explained as the result of loneliness, parental abuse, and a persistent belief that she is not beautiful enough to be worthy of love. This change in the Wicked Queen's motivations from innate to circumstantial is reflected in the tagline for Valentino's Disney Villains series, ‘Evil Is Made, Not Born’. My reading of these new sympathetic depictions of the Wicked Queen builds on Cristina Santos's discussion of patriarchy and reproduction, as well as other critical discussions of fairy tales and gendered bodies. Focusing specifically on the magic mirror as metaphor, I discuss these new depictions of the Wicked Queen in the context of body dysmorphia. While these novels undo the good/bad and maiden/crone dichotomies of the fairy tale, these readings also shift much of the blame for the Wicked Queen's actions from innate failings of her gender (vanity) to the cultural structures surrounding female body image (dysmorphia). As contemporary reworkings of fairy tales seek to disrupt these narrative patterns and move away from harmful portrayals of gender, sexuality, aging, and physical disability, they risk falling into existing patterns linking mental illness to violence or evil.