iSchool Student Research and Papers
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://digital.lib.washington.edu/handle/1773/37298
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Item type: Item , Digital Books in Libraries: Moving Towards a Sustainable & Equitable System of Access to Information(2022-08-02) Rosenfeld, Megan; Andreassi, ErinOver the past ten years, tensions have grown between libraries and the publishing industry as digital books have become more popular and as digital book costs have risen. As library workers, the researchers of this paper are motivated by the core mission of libraries to provide access to information, which is threatened by current licensing models. The researchers assessed the current practices and power imbalances of digital book licensing through interviews with 40 stakeholders. This research suggests that legislation is one of many possible strategies to achieve a sustainable and equitable system of access to information for future generations.Item type: Item , Strategies for Sustainable Funding: A metadata review of the Independent Library District Model(2017-05) Goldman, MatthewPublic libraries have seen a decline in public funding, relying on a mixture of external types of funding to keep services running. With state and local governments continuing to face financial pressures, some libraries have explored alternative ways to maximize funding, by forming library districts. This report aimed at exploring library districts in three states; Colorado, Michigan and Oregon, which have similar funding structures. The report found more stable and predictable funding patterns in library districts versus their counterparts and provides evidence that is a strong alternative for public libraries seeking a change in the way they obtain funds.Item type: Item , Zero-rating in emerging mobile markets: Free Basics and Wikipedia Zero in Ghana(2016-10) Gebhart, GenevieveDespite widespread controversy surrounding zero-rating—that is, the practice of subsidizing mobile data—the field suffers from a lack of inquiry into user understanding of and experience with zero-rated services. This paper explores how Ghanaian mobile users interact with zero-rated mobile applications Free Basics and Wikipedia Zero. Based on semi-structured interviews with users and non-users of the applications, I discuss how mobile phone users perceive Free Basics and Wikipedia Zero, what motivates them to use or not use the applications, and how the availability of the applications influences their data-buying strategies. Findings suggest that respondents, including those who did not actively use the applications, understood and experienced Free Basics and Wikipedia Zero in ways divergent from the providers’ aim of expanding access to online content and services.