Colleges and universities have come to realize that student wellness is a factor in student retention and success. While academic libraries have not generally been included in wellness initiatives they are strategically placed on college campuses to play an essential role. By parlaying their reputations as trusted information providers and community centers, academic libraries can partner with more traditional campus health providers to be active and effective participants in this essential form of outreach.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of library resources and services by degree-seeking older adult students (aged 50 years and over) and it is driven by the role of libraries in serving this often overlooked student population. Older adult students bring many benefits to the life of college campuses; nevertheless, many of these students also face challenges in meeting their information needs in academic libraries. Design/methodology/approach – The authors surveyed degree-seeking older adult students at a comprehensive metropolitan university in the western USA. Surveys were distributed to 579 students enrolled in the spring semester 2013, 134 students completed the 15-question online survey about the use of the library, information-seeking behaviors and use of other university services. Findings – The self-reported findings confirmed that the library meets most of the information needs of this student population. Students commented on satisfaction with the library services, barriers to using the library, areas in need of improvement and use of other university services. Research limitations/implications – Survey participants were gathered from one university and a corresponding sample size of 18-24-year-old students were not surveyed. More research is needed to demonstrate how this particular group varies from their traditional aged counterparts. Practical implications – This paper can be used as a starting point for future research into the information-seeking behaviors and needs of degree-seeking older adult students to develop greater understanding of this diverse population and their unique strengths and challenges. There is an absence in the literature on this demographic group in academic libraries. Originality/value – The article includes recommendations for further study and suggests outreach opportunities directed to older adult students that can also benefit the growing diversity of college students.

Texas 6 are just a few of the many libraries that include iPads in their suite of tools and services. Librarians use the mobile device in all aspects of their work, and they are an ever-present part of our patrons' lives. As a result, there is a growing need for library staff members to be familiar with the technology. This article describes Boise State University Albertsons Library's use of mobile technology, specifically iPads, and the internal shifts that occurred as the library made mobile devices accessible to all library employees.

This is an author-produced, peer-reviewed version of this article. AbstractThis study looked at the degree to which the online availability of U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps affects academic libraries' decisions to withdraw the print versions of those maps. Other factors in making the decisions, such as usage, user preferences, support of academic programs, user discovery, shelving location, and printing options, were also investigated. Results show that while in 40% of the cases the online USGS historical topographic maps influenced the decision to weed, the need for space was the overwhelming driver of print USGS topographic map collection weeding within the past ten years.