(FINAL) ResearchProposal OGrady

8/13/2019 (FINAL) ResearchProposal OGrady

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Running head: PODCAST USE AT THE MARYLAND STATE LIBRARY RESOURCECENTER 1

Podcast Use at the Maryland State Library Resource Center

Ryan P. OGrady

Towson University


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PODCAST USE AT THE MARYLAND STATE LIBRARY RESOURCE CENTER 2

Abstract

This research roosal is !or a concurrent "i#ed "ethods study that ai"s to collect $uantitative

data on library custo"er use o! si# sa"le instructional odcasts includin% how these odcasts

are bein% used and !or what urose. &t also ai"s to collect $ualitative data on custo"er

ercetions o! odcasts and ossible !uture uses !or this technolo%y. The literature review section

within the research roosal critically analy'es the relevant e"irical research literature on

odcast use in libraries ublished in the United States and around the world. &t e#a"ines( throu%h

a social value lens( what services custo"ers see) out !ro" libraries( and it loo)s at how the

research de!ines the essential characteristics o! the contribution o! odcast *eb +., technolo%y

to library usability. The overall %oals o! the research roosal are to learn which odcasts

custo"ers re!er and !ind use!ul( !or what reasons( and rovide library ad"inistrators at the

Maryland State Library Resource Center -!ro" now on re!erred to as SLRC with in!or"ation

that is relevant( co"rehensive( and u to date. This research roosal serves not only as a

collection o! in!or"ation on what is currently available in research on this toic( but also as a

%uide to the value and si%ni!icance o! these studies and i"lications !or !uture odcast use.

Keywords:odcast( *eb +.,( library usability


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Podcast Use at the Maryland State Library Resource Center

Introduction

Background

Libraries are strivin% to "aintain relevance durin% this resent day ti"e o! increased

technolo%ical advance"ent and inte%ration( conse$uentially in!luencin% the way custo"ers

access( erceive( and see) out in!or"ation. As Triathi and /u"ar -+,0, note( libraries have

traditionally been lace1based institutions o! )nowled%e where custo"ers co"e to consult

hysical collections o! "aterials such as boo)s( audio recordin%s( and historical docu"ents.

2lectronic resources are raidly relacin% and outacin% hysical ones( and custo"ers are

!re$uently loo)in% to di%ital1based in!rastructures3the internet( online databases( and di%ital

social "edia3in order to access in!or"ation and resources. Libraries are assessin% how to

address the dual educational leadershi roble" o! a rovidin% di%ital in!or"ation to custo"ers

and b "a)in% library use easier !or custo"ers. My research roosal see)s to answer the

!ollowin% $uestions4 What kind of library instructional podcasts do customers find useful? How

do customers perceive the current and potential uses of podcasts?

5Podcast6 is one o! the "a7or ter"s and )eywords !ro" this research roosal that needs

to be de!ined. A odcast is a downloadable "ulti"edia !ile in a di%ital !or"at ublished to a

website that can be trans!erred to another device i! desired. Podcasts can be used !or educational

uroses( "ost notably in the iTunes University section o! iTunes by the Ale Cororation

-Cra"ton( 8anniasin)a"( 9 Milic( +,0,. Podcastin% is one o! the "any *eb +., tools

available to libraries in order to educate custo"ers( disse"inate i"ortant in!or"ation( and

showcase events that haen at the library -Chua 9 Goh( +,0,.


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*eb +., is the second %eneration o! websites( desi%ned to !acilitate collaboration and

sharin% o! data( in!or"ation( resources( and !or other uses. *eb +., tools and sites are not static(

they are ever1chan%in%. 2#a"les o! *eb +., tools include but are not li"ited to social

networ)in% sites( blo%s( wi)is( RSS( &M( and odcasts. A *eb +., tool has the intrinsic

advanta%e o! deliverin% in!or"ation directly to custo"ers: the "ore eole that use it( the better

it %ets at delivery -OReilly( +,,;. Thou%h odcastin% has %ained oularity as libraries have

%rown in electronic resources( there is currently a lac) o! research !ocused on odcastin% in

libraries -


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PODCAST USE AT THE MARYLAND STATE LIBRARY RESOURCE CENTER

Literature Review

Theoretical Framework

This research roosal ai"s to trace the e!!ect o! an innovation -odcast use( the

indeendent variable on an institution -SLRC in order to "easure the de%ree o! di!!erence o!

library usability -the deendent variable. The establish"ent o! a relevant theoretical !ra"ewor)

!or the research roosal will hel to do this( and it will also rovide a lens throu%h which earlier

e"irical research studies can be analy'ed. This theoretical !ra"ewor) is Ro%ers di!!usion o!

innovations theory. &n earlier wor)( Ro%ers -0?=@ !ra"ed the adotion o! new technolo%y in a

way that !ocused on or%ani'ations( whereas revious research studies !ocused "ainly on

individuals. Thou%h the e"hasis was shi!ted to or%ani'ations( individuals still had a role to lay

in deter"inin% or re1en%ineerin% the innovation -Ro%ers( 0?=@( . 0=. Bears later( these ideas

were concentrated into an ori%inal theory4 Ro%ers di!!usion o! innovations theory describes the

5rocess by which an innovation is co""unicated throu%h certain channels over ti"e a"on% the

"e"bers o! a social syste"6 -Ro%ers( +,,( . . The theory elaborates on a !ra"ewor) that

illustrates !ive %rous o! adoters4 innovators( early adoters( early "a7ority( late "a7ority( and

la%%ards -Ro%ers( +,,. Alyin% Ro%ers di!!usion o! innovations theory to odcast use at the

Maryland State Library Resource Center reveals that the library is in a hase o! early "a7ority.

Methodology

The intent o! this literature review is to use e"irical research studies in eer1reviewed

7ournals( ublished boo)s( and research handboo)s on the sub7ects o! the social value o! libraries(

library usability( and odcast use in libraries. A total o! !i!teen e"irical research studies ta)en

!ro" nine 7ournals and two research handboo)s were selected to include in this review. These

e"irical research studies ori%inate !ro" ublic( acade"ic( and research libraries.


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PODCAST USE AT THE MARYLAND STATE LIBRARY RESOURCE CENTER !

Findings

The review o! the research literature e#a"ines the e"irical evidence that su%%ests the

characteristics o! the contribution o! *eb +., odcast technolo%y to library usability. The *eb

+., tool o! odcastin% is a %ood !it !or this analysis because it has the otential to enhance

co""unication !ro" the library to custo"ers( to e#and the use o! online resources !or

custo"ers( and is an innovation -De Sar)ar( +,0+( . 0?+. To better understand odcast use in

libraries and in!luence on usability( this literature review divides under two $uestions4 Through a

social value lens, what library services do customers seek out? How does research define the

essential characteristics of the contribution of podcast Web 2! technology to library usability?

Social value lens li!rary services customers seek out" The !irst research $uestion

reviewed was4 What services do customers seek from a library?This $uestion was addressed

!ro" a social value standoint( as in4 what services do libraries rovide that have social value:

services that library custo"ers also see) outE As art o! the rearation !or their $ualitative study

on ublic libraries( Fuys"ans and Oo"es -+,0 identi!ied !ive do"ains o! library i"act( one

o! the" bein% the social do"ain( which states that a library is a neutral and invitin% lace that

can serve as center !or "eetin%s and act as a host.


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PODCAST USE AT THE MARYLAND STATE LIBRARY RESOURCE CENTER "

boo)s( "ulti"edia( and in!or"ation. Hurther"ore( they deter"ined that 5Custo"ers were in the

library atte"tin% to acco"lish a set tas) layered with social "eanin% and technolo%y

instruction -e.%.( alyin% !or a 7ob online6 -Arnason 9 Rei"er( +,0+( .,. 2ven thou%h


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PODCAST USE AT THE MARYLAND STATE LIBRARY RESOURCE CENTER #

+., tools libraries are usin% the "ost. Chua and Goh -+,0, sa"led 0+, libraries3ublic and

acade"ic3!ro" Iorth A"erica( 2uroe and Asia in their $uantitative study( identi!yin% blo%s(

RSS( and instant "essa%in% -&M as three ri"ary *eb +., tools whose underlyin% !unction is to

assist custo"ers and enhance library e#erience -. +,?. &n their $uantitative research o! +;;

university acade"ic libraries in the U/( US( Canada( and Australia( Triathi and /u"ar -+,0,

discovered that &M was the "ost used *eb +., tool( blo%s were second( !ollowed in descendin%

order by RSS( wi)is( and odcasts -. 0??. Chua and Goh -+,0, insist that the value o! *eb

+., tools is due to enhance"ent o! custo"er virtual e#erience -. +0, while Triathi and

/u"ar -+,0, write that the use o! *eb +., tools is an innovation that allows librarians to o!!er

traditional services in a new way -. +,K1+,.

The research also reveals where odcasts !it into libraries use o! *eb +., tools and

de!ines the essential characteristics o! the contribution o! odcast technolo%y to library usability.

De Sar)ars -+,0+ study o! 0, ublic and acade"ic libraries in !our continents !ound that +;

use odcast while >ier"an and 8alentino -+,00 !ound that rou%hly o! A"erican research

libraries were odcastin%. ier"an and 8alentino -+,00 !ound that in decreasin% order odcasts are

used to !ind resources in the library( !or events and lectures( tours( interviews( and oral histories.


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PODCAST USE AT THE MARYLAND STATE LIBRARY RESOURCE CENTER $

The research !urther de!ines the essential characteristics o! the contribution o! odcast

technolo%y to library usability.


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PODCAST USE AT THE MARYLAND STATE LIBRARY RESOURCE CENTER 1%

odcast users( esecially !or youn% learners who are still develoin% hysically and "entally(

%oin% so !ar as to label it a 5crisis6 -Fealy( 0??0. Additionally( doubts re"ain as to the level o!

e!!ectiveness co"uters have on learners and whether or not co"uters are the current

centeriece o! instruction and instructional activities ->ec)er( +,,,. Research studies based on

library data disute this3"any e"irical studies note the e#tent to which co"uter1based access

and instruction are increasin% in de"and and the need !or libraries to increase their di%ital

resence -Chua and Goh( +,0, and De Sar)ar -+,0+. A study !ro" the cororate world also

%ives evidence to the contrary. Stehens -+,,? writes that daily co""unication has chan%ed

!ro" !ace1to1!ace interaction and now relies heavily on electronic "eans -. @0.

So"e o! the e"irical research studies discussed in this literature review re"ain

so"ewhat s)etical as well357ust ri%ht6 conditions need to be in lace !or odcasts to wor). &n

three di!!erent "edical1based studies in which the researchers "easured the e!!ects o! odcast

availability with relation to student achieve"ent( odcastin% did not increase e#a" scores !or

students -8o%t( Scha!!ner( Ribar( and Chave'( +,0,( another study by Cra"ton( 8anniasin)a"(

and Milic -+,0, concludes that there are it!alls to i"le"entin% online and co"uter1based

initiatives in a conte#t where !ace1to1!ace interaction usually revails( and another study by

Abate -+,0 !ound little di!!erence when co"arin% the "ean scores o! nursin% students

listenin% to odcasts -MK and traditional lecture -MK.

&onclusion

8iewed throu%h Ro%ers -+,, di!!usion o! innovations theory( the aro#i"ate , o!

libraries usin% odcastin% as a *eb +., tool are early adoters o! this technolo%y3a tiin%

oint needs to be reached in order !or the early and late "a7ority to arrive. &n a social value

conte#t( the research reorts the !ollowin% characteristics o! libraries4 while rovidin%


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in!or"ation is no lon%er the "ost i"ortant !unction o! the library( custo"ers still rate the

i"ortance o! libraries as hi%h -eir"an and 8alentino( +,0+. An essential characteristic o! the contribution

o! odcast technolo%y to library usability is that a custo"er can consu"e a odcast while

en%a%ed in another activity3a si%n o! ease o! use -


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odcasts are4 a library orientation tour( !indin% secial collections( %rantwritin% resources(

searchin% !or lar%e rint boo)s( how to !ind a 7ob in Maryland( and downloadin% e>oo)s.

'esign

The research desi%n is descritive4 a concurrent "i#ed "ethods study that ai"s to collect

$uantitative data on library custo"er use o! instructional odcasts includin% how those odcasts

are bein% used and !or what urose. &t also ai"s to collect $ualitative data on custo"er

ercetions o! the odcasts and ossible !uture uses !or this technolo%y. The rationale !or the

desi%n is that the revious study !ro"


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"iniature relication o! the ori%inal !ro"


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out which odcasts articiants listened to( and the usa%e will be trac)ed throu%h Goo%le

analytics. The data will then be collected online and in erson over a !our wee) eriod in early

+,0K and analy'ed $uantitatively in a si"ilar "ethod to ier"an and 8alentino -+,0+( Cra"ton( 8anniasin)a"( and Milic -+,0+( De Sar)ar -+,0+(

and 8o%t( Scha!!ner( Ribar( and Chave' -+,0,. Hro" these research studies( there are nu"erous

i"lications !or !urther study in teachin% and learnin%( as well as !uture( otential research

studies3one which this aer has outlined.

Implications for Teaching and Learning

The i"lications !or teachin% and learnin% lie in the !act that odcasts are "alleable( can

easily be roduced( and can be tailored to !it seci!ic educational %oals !or teachin% and learnin%

-Cra"ton( 8anniasin)a"( and Milic( +,0+. The !le#ibility o! odcasts "eans that students are

not con!ined to a classroo" at a certain date and ti"e( havin% to learn bits o! in!or"ation in a

re1deter"ined se$uence and "anner4 they can en%a%e in asynchronous and non1seci!ic lace1

based learnin% settin%s. The availability o! odcasts online or on the co"uter "eans that


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students can 5s)i around6 and listen to -or view( i! there is a video ele"ent connected to the

odcast odcasts in whatever order they lease( even i%norin% ones they !ind less use!ul.

Paert -0??@ succinctly su""ari'es the role o! co"uters in the classroo" in tal)in%

about a student( >ill( who was able to succeed in school by !indin% re!u%e in usin% a co"uter.

>ill ac$uired )nowled%e 5not because it haened to be 0, ocloc) on the ;th o! May in his !i!th

%rade year3or whenever the curriculu" says to learn that !ra%"ent o! )nowled%e6 -Paert(

0??@ but because he reco%ni'ed the need to ac$uire the )nowled%e to suit his urose. Paerts

e#a"le o! co"uters in the classroo" can be e#tended to odcasts3they are tools !or learnin%

that are available any ti"e -li)e a co"uter and can be used to !it the needs o! learners. Fe %oes

on to write o! >ill4 5Fe wor)ed with a co""unity o! eole with diverse )nowled%e rather than

with the ho"o%eni'ed( a%e1se%re%ated co""unity called a class6 -Paert( 0??@. This is one o!

the uni$ue advanta%es o! co"uter1based( online learnin%3articiants are hetero%eneous and

e#ist as "e"bers o! a diverse co""unity that reresent various levels o! )nowled%e and

e#erience in a ran%e o! sub7ects.

Implications for #ducational and Instructional Technology in a Li!rary Setting

Podcasts e#ist in the real" o! online and co"uter1based learnin%. As the research

shows( the , o! libraries this roosal cate%ori'es as early adoters -Ro%ers( +,, have

already started to i"le"ent odcasts. These institutions are utili'in% odcasts as electronic

resources that are always available because they e#ist online and on co"uters. Hor e#a"le( i! a

librarian is not able to "eet in1erson with a custo"er( the custo"er can !ind an answer to their

$uestion about library resources !ro" a short odcast roduced by the library and osted on its

web site. &! a custo"er wants to ta)e a wal)in% tour o! the library( and librarian availability does

not coincide with a convenient ti"e !or the custo"er( the custo"er can trans!er the odcast to a


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PODCAST USE AT THE MARYLAND STATE LIBRARY RESOURCE CENTER 1!

"obile device( and wal) around the library listenin% to the audio tour indeendent o! !ace1to1!ace

interaction. &n this "anner( the library solves the dual educational leadershi roble" o!

rovidin% di%ital in!or"ation and "a)in% library use easier !or custo"ers.

At SLRC( we have aro#i"ately =? odcasts that are currently available throu%h our

website and on our iTunes University site. *e 5ush6 new odcasts out throu%h RSS to our

subscribers and o!ten advertise our new odcasts on other social "edia lat!or"s( such as

Haceboo)( Twitter( and our blo%( The Pratt Chat. *e could be doin% "ore with odcasts to

increase the ease o! use o! our library !or our custo"ers( and to have a ositive i"act on our

library usability. There is evidence to suort that inclusion o! *eb +., tools in a library website

is not as "uch about roducin% hi%h $uality content( as it is about enhancin% custo"ers online

e#erience -Chua and Goh( +,0,( . +0,. This research roosal as)s the $uestion3why not

bothE This aer rooses to e#a"ine the i"act odcasts have on custo"ers online and

co"uter1based learnin% e#eriences( as well as the e!!ect hi%h $uality odcasts have on

co"uter1based e#eriences in a library settin%. &n Ro%ers earlier writin%s about or%ani'ational

and individual chan%e( even thou%h his ideas were "ore !ocused on or%ani'ations chan%in% and

adotin% innovations( roo" was le!t !or individuals to use the innovation rocess by "atchin% it

to a erceived roble" within the or%ani'ation -Ro%ers( 0?=@. The roble" & erceive is the

underutili'ation o! odcasts( a ower!ul learnin% and teachin% tool( at "y wor)lace. This

research study would e#a"ine the librarys current use o! odcasts and "a)e reco""endations

!or how to i"rove library usability !or custo"ers. &! the research hyothesis is con!ir"ed(

!urther odcast use could have a ositive i"act on custo"ers durin% the librarys !ive to si#

year renovation eriod3these si# sa"le odcasts will serve as a 5test run6 to deter"ine i!

custo"ers !ind the" hel!ul and use!ul.


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PODCAST USE AT THE MARYLAND STATE LIBRARY RESOURCE CENTER 1"

Re!erences

Abate( /. -+,0. The e!!ect o! odcast lectures on nursin% students )nowled%e retention and

alication.(ursing )ducation "erspectives( %*-( 0=+10=.

doi4 htt4JJd#.doi.or%J0,.K=,J0@1,[email protected]=+

Arnason( F.( 9 Rei"er( L. -+,0+. Analy'in% ublic library service interactions to i"rove

ublic library custo"er service and technolo%y syste"s.)vidence +ased &ibrary nd

'nformation "ractice( --0( ++1K,. Retrieved !ro"4

htt4JJe7ournals.library.ualberta.caJinde#.hJ2>L&PJinde#

>ec)er( F. -+,,,. Hindin%s !ro" the teachin%( learnin%( and co"utin% survey4 &s Larry Cuban

ri%htE)ducation "olicy nalysis rchives( .-0( 010. Retrieved !ro"4

htt4JJeaa.asu.eduJo7sJ

>ier"an(


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PODCAST USE AT THE MARYLAND STATE LIBRARY RESOURCE CENTER 1#

Gon%( F.(


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PODCAST USE AT THE MARYLAND STATE LIBRARY RESOURCE CENTER 1$

Paert( S. -0??@( October +@. Co"uters in the classroo"4 A%ents o! chan%e. The Washington

"ost )ducation 1eview.

Ro%ers( 2. M. -0?=@. 8ommunication technology: The new media in society. Iew Bor)( IB4

The Hree Press.

Ro%ers( 2.M. -+,,.#iffusion of innovations-th ed.. Iew Bor)( IB4 The Hree Press.

Stehens( R. T. -+,,?. &nte%ratin% *eb +., technolo%ies within the enterrise. &n .( Ribar( A.( 9 Chave'( R. -+,0,. The i"act o! odcastin% on the

learnin% and satis!action o! under%raduate nursin% students.(urse )ducation 'n "ractice(


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PODCAST USE AT THE MARYLAND STATE LIBRARY RESOURCE CENTER 2%

Aendi# A

Research Proosal Podcast Survey

Podcast Survey

1. I found the library instruction podcasts on the following topics usefulStronglyAgree

Agree Neutral DisagreeStronglyDisagree

Didn'tListen

LibraryOrientationSLRC Tour

Finding SpecialCollections

GrantwritingResources

Searching orLarge !rint"oo#s

$ow to Find a%ob in &aryland

Downloadinge"oo#s

!lease coent on the ain points that inluenced your decision as towhether the podcasts were useul or not( !lease indicate which podcast youare reerring to in your coent(

2. I would be interested in listening to podcasts on the following topics:StronglyAgree


"oo# re)iews


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StronglyAgree


Guest spea#ers

News about theLibrary

News aboutCentral Libraryreno)ation

*)entsprootion

&ar#eting

Tips orresearching inthe databases

$ow to use theLibrary catalog

%ob see#ing

assistance

3. Please comment on any other topic the library could provide as apodcast that you would find useful. Separate each answer with asemicolon ;

. !he following are advantages I gained from using the librarypodcasts:

StronglyAgree


+,-. a)ailability


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StronglyAgree


!ortability

Fle/ibility

Asynchronous learning0learn at a dierenttie to when lesson isbeing taught1

Listen whene)er 2 want0including when theLibrary is closed1

Listen where)er 2 want0don't ha)e to bephysically in theLibrary1

Can ultitas# whilelistening

Can listen repeatedlyto the saeinstructions

!laybac# speed can bealtered

Good or auditorylisteners

List any other ad)antages or beneits you got ro podcasts that are notentioned abo)e( Separate each answer with a seicolon3

". Please comment on any disadvantages# frustrations# or difficultiesyou found when downloading or listening to the podcasts. Separateeach answer with a semicolon ;


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$. !he content of the podcasts made effective use of the podcastmediumStronglyAgree


Didn'tListen






Downloading

e"oo#s

%. !he length of the podcasts was about rightStronglyAgree


Didn'tListen






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StronglyAgree


Didn'tListen


Downloadinge"oo#s

&. Please rate the following:StronglyAgree


Didn'tListen

2 li#ed the libraryinstructional podcasts

The recorded 4uality othe podcasts was good

Listening to the librarypodcasts has been abeneit to e

2t is good to ha)e)arious library stapresenting the podcasts

2 the library continues

a#ing instructionalpodcasts 2 ainterested in listening tothe

The library shouldcontinue to in)est inproducing instructionalpodcasts

'. (ow would you rate the )ibrary podcasts overall**/cellent

5ery Good


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A)erage

&ediocre

"ad

1+. Please add any comments on how the )ibrary could improve on thepodcasts. Please add any further comments you may have.

Done

!owered by Survey,on-eyChec# out oursaple sur)eysand create your own now6

Aendi# >

Survey !ro"


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PODCAST USE AT THE MARYLAND STATE LIBRARY RESOURCE CENTER 2!


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(FINAL) ResearchProposal OGrady

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