All Posts By

Conrad Woxland

Qualitative Data Analysis Software Options at the Library

Two cartoon researchers interact with graphs and charts that swirl around them

Nvivo Cancelation:

After careful consideration, St. Thomas Libraries will cancel our on-campus physical subscription to Nvivo. This means that the Nvivo product will not be available on St. Thomas Library computers in Spring 2024.

However, the St. Thomas Libraries will continue to offer resources, software training, and general support surrounding Nvivo and other Qualitative Data Analysis (QDA) software products to help you plan a qualitative research project and collect, analyze, and share qualitative data.

More information about Qualitative Data Analysis Software:

Qualitative data is non-numeric data gathered from sources like interviews, questionnaires, focus groups, participant observation, open-ended surveys, and recordings. Generally, qualitative data is used to understand opinions and experiences. Manual analysis of qualitative data is often very time-consuming and challenging but QDA software makes the data easier to understand, interpret, and process.

QDA software helps with:

Data coding, categorization, and assisting researchers in recognizing themes and categories
Text search and retrieval by finding specific information in large data sets
Visualization including graphs and charts created in seconds

Qualitative research support is open to all students, researchers, faculty, and staff interested in using qualitative software and in qualitative research in general.

St. Thomas students can purchase Nvivo for their personal computers at a reduced student rate. A similar QDA product such as Taggette, Dedoose, ATLAS.ti, or MAXQDA may also be cheaper and more relevant to your needs.

Questions? Reach out to Conrad M. Woxland, Academic Services Librarian. Learn more here.

December 8, 2023 by Conrad Woxland

News & Events

Sunsetting Leisure Reading Collection

cartoon images of books on a blue background

The St. Thomas Libraries regret to announce the Leisure Reading Collections at the St. Paul O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library and the downtown, Minneapolis Keffer Library are being retired. The Leisure Reading Collections started in 2008 and provided popular fiction and non-fiction titles to the St. Thomas community.

The St. Thomas Libraries encourage patrons to visit and support local public libraries to find popular reading titles. If patrons have a permanent address within the Twin Cities area, they may be eligible to sign up for a library card at the St. Paul Public Libraries, the Hennepin County Libraries, or the Ramsey Country Libraries. These library systems also offer ebooks and audiobooks on the popular Libby app, which can be accessed through an e-library card. Check out your local library’s webpage to learn more.

Questions? Reach out to Meghan Manahan, the Associate Director for Collection Management & Services, at mkmanahan@stthomas.edu

by Deb Juarez Wohlert

August 24, 2023 by Conrad Woxland

Art, Database Highlights & Trials, New Materials, News & Events

JSTOR: It’s not just for articles anymore!

Two films strips appear horizontally with different images from the JSTOR collections inside the film strip. Images include drawings of plants, art, newspapers, and photos

When we hear the name JSTOR, scholarly journal articles often come to mind. However, over the years, the platform has evolved into so much more than a database of academic journals.

JSTOR is still expanding! It currently contains a vast array of resources, making it an indispensable tool for students and academics across 75 different disciplines. It also includes electronic books from over 300 academic publishers and, by August 2024, will fully integrate the ArtSTOR database into its platform.

Recognizing the significance of primary sources in academic research and exploration, JSTOR has ventured into the realm of primary source collections. The Collections section offers a compilation of images and primary sources contributed by libraries, museums, and archives from around the world. This inclusion broadens the scope of research possibilities and enhances the depth of insights.

Beyond the expansion of its core content, JSTOR sponsors several unique collections that cater to specialized interests and research fields. While you will need a St Thomas ID and password to explore, some noteworthy collections include:

19th Century British Pamphlets : This collection houses over 26,000 important pamphlets held in research libraries in the United Kingdom. It is a valuable resource for the study of sociopolitical and economic factors impacting 19th-century Britain.
Struggles for Freedom : Southern Africa : Comprising of over 190,000 pages of documents and images, this collection documents the liberation of Southern Africa and the dismantling of the Apartheid regime in South Africa.
World Heritage Sites : Africa : Linking visual, contextual, and spatial documentation of African heritage sites, this collection houses over 57,000 objects, ranging from photographs and 3D models, to historical maps, and research.
Global Plants : With nearly 3 million objects, it is the largest community-contributed database in which herbaria share their plant-type specimens. Experts determine and update the names of plants, making it an invaluable resource for botanists and researchers in the field.

With these integrations, JSTOR is truly living up to its tagline “Explore the world’s knowledge, cultures, and ideas.”

By: Ann Kenne, Head of Special Collections and University Archivist

Images in the above media are from JSTOR expanded collections

August 3, 2023 by Conrad Woxland

SMART board room in O'Shaughnnesy-Frey Library with table, white board, and SMART board

Services

Study Room Renovations!

New features are available in O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library study rooms 321 and 322! The St. Thomas Libraries and The Susan S. Morrison School of Nursing collaborated to renovate the third-floor study rooms and added smart boards, whiteboards, and converted walls into drawable surfaces.

Dr. Sheila Yeh, the Associate Vice Provost for University Libraries and Online Education, was pleased with this collaboration. She said “It’s important that we advanced these two group study rooms based on student feedback. These types of spaces, that support broader student successes, also align with Gen Z’s preferences.”

Jessica Nelson, the Student Success Director at the Susan S. Morrison School of Nursing, said “We encourage our students to utilize a variety of learning techniques when they approach their studies. The large writing spaces allow for kinesthetic and visual learners to mind map, chart, and illustrate course materials in an engaging way that will support long-term retention of information.”

All students are welcome to reserve and use this space. Need whiteboard markers? The O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library has whiteboard markers available for check out.

Interested in reserving one of these study rooms for your next study session? Here’s how!

From the library homepage, click on “Reserve a Study Room” on the top right hand corner:

Choose the study room location that works for you:

Red sections of the calendar are already reserved. Green sections are available – the revamped study rooms are on the bottom of the calendar under OSF Smart boards:

Select the time you’d like to reserve – the calendar will mark it in yellow as “pending”, slick “submit times”:

Double-check that the hours are what you wanted, and review the terms & conditions

You’ll be able to reserve the booking under any name you decide – many students choose a name their study group will recognize. Click “submit my booking” and your reservation will be confirmed via email.

When you get to the library, head to the front desk and let the friendly library staff person know that you have a booking – they’ll get you a key to the study room. Happy Studying!

February 22, 2023 by Conrad Woxland