Shannon Cary
Cycle of Success Spotlight: Mariah Newton’s Spreadsheet Sparks Curriculum Mapping at Zalk Vet Med Library
Have you ever wished for a master list of “those things”—sorted twelve different ways, cross-listed, and checked for duplication? So have we. And thanks to Mariah Newton at the Zalk Veterinary Medical Library, that wish is becoming reality.
Mariah, Library Specialist Sr., recently created a comprehensive spreadsheet mapping the Veterinary Medical Library’s reserve collection. This wasn’t just a list—it was a data-rich tool that captured which textbooks are used in which courses, by which instructors, in what formats, and how frequently. Her work unexpectedly launched a curriculum mapping project, giving the library team a powerful resource to analyze instructional periods, identify overlapping materials, and explore cost-saving opportunities.
This data also opens the door to deeper conversations with faculty and stakeholders about integrating library instruction at key points in the curriculum—ensuring students graduate as information-literate veterinarians. Future additions to the map will include textbook edition updates, faculty assignments, and connections to student organizations like SAVMA and journal clubs.
Daylight Saving Time Ends This Weekend
Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 2. That means you should move your clocks back one hour on Saturday night before going to bed. It is also recommended that you use this as a reminder to change all batteries in fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
In the News
Mizzou Libraries Closed on November 11 to Observe Veterans Day
The Mizzou Libraries will be closed on Tuesday, November 11. Ellis Library will close at 10 p.m. on Monday, November 10, and reopen at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 12. For a complete list of hours, visit library.missouri.edu/hours.
Kline Wins Missouri Library Association Award
The Missouri Library Association (MLA) has named Jill Kline, student success librarian at the Mizzou Libraries, as the recipient of this year’s Outstanding New Librarian Award. This prestigious recognition celebrates early-career librarians who have made significant contributions to advancing library and information services in Missouri.
Since joining Mizzou two years ago, Jill has made a remarkable impact on student engagement and academic success. Through instructional sessions and campuswide events, she has reached thousands of students, helping them navigate library resources with confidence. Her efforts have led to the development of innovative learning tools and the acquisition of grant funding to support a new well-being book collection.
Jill’s commitment to excellence extends beyond the university. She has presented at regional conferences, including the Missouri Library Association annual conference, and her instructional sessions consistently receive high praise—more than 95% of surveyed students reported they are more likely to use library tools thanks to her guidance.
Her outreach includes leading sessions for middle and high school students and co-developing a new graduate-level library workshop. Jill also serves on university-wide committees focused on first-generation student success and AI literacy, further demonstrating her dedication to inclusive and forward-thinking education.
Congratulations to Jill Kline for her outstanding achievements and for setting a high standard for the future of librarianship in Missouri.
Protect Yourself and Your Research from Predatory Journal Publishers
Predatory publishing doesn’t just take advantage of authors by misrepresenting review, editorial, and fee structures. It also hinders access to the work itself, hurting the overall enterprise of research. The epidemic of predatory journals reached serious enough heights in 2016 that the Federal Trade Commission charged OMICS, one such publisher of hundreds of predatory journals, for its deceptive practices.
“If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” says Janice Dysart, Science Librarian and creator of the Where to Publish Your Research guide. “Be wary of these email solicitations from publishers trying to get you to submit articles to their journals.” She recommends using the Think Check Submit checklist to determine whether a publisher is legitimate.
Anyone can fall victim to predatory journal publishers. Jung Ha-Brookshire, professor and department chair for the Department of Textile and Apparel Management, relates her experience after a graduate student recommended a journal a few years ago. She says, “I didn’t think twice about it. We submitted our paper and got accepted without any revisions. Then they were asking us to send money somewhere in Pakistan.” She still didn’t realize what was happening because she hadn’t even heard of “predatory journals.”
That all changed about a year later when she learned of a list of predatory journals from her colleagues. “We found out that our journal was on that list,” she says. They tried to withdraw their work from the publication but couldn’t. Because the journal wasn’t legitimate, the article could only be found via the specific URL and not by searching, so they pulled the publication information from their CVs. Jung says, “We had to take that manuscript as a loss because we couldn’t even take that paper to other publishers since, technically, it is already published.”
After that experience, Jung now checks with her subject librarian, Gwen Gray, every time she encounters a journal she hasn’t heard of, “no matter how good the website looks.” Jung advises, “Be careful with choosing the right journals. Do not get fooled by address, location, a beautiful website, and a wonderful set of editorial board names. Check with your librarian first when in doubt!”
In recent news, a team of computer scientists led by a University of Colorado researcher is developing an AI tool for identifying predatory journals. This tool is not currently publicly accessible, but may be in the future.
For more information on how to spot predatory journal publishers, see our Where to Publish Your Research guide or contact your subject librarian
Highlighted Posts of the Week
Mizzou Libraries Sign Agreement to Become Steward of Ag Statistics
In September 2025, the University of Missouri Library signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) to become a Preservation Steward for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual data publication, Agricultural Statistics. This commitment will help ensure that scholars across Missouri will have access to this vital printed set now and in the future. The Mizzou Library recently led the Midwest National Collections Service Area (NCSA) steering committee for the Federal Depository Library Program, working to establish printed document retention policy for 290 libraries in twelve states. Through the NCSA, it encouraged Preservation Stewardship as the most effective model to sustain this work in the Midwest.
The U.S. GPO produces and distributes information products for all three branches of the government, including the official publications of Congress, the White House, and other Federal agencies in digital and print formats. GPO provides digital access to this information at no charge through www.GovInfo.gov, and partners with approximately 1,100 institutional members of the Federal Depository Library Program to support access to physical materials. For more information, visit www.gpo.gov.
Watch Out for Fake Citations from ChatGPT
ChatGPT, one of the most popular artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots, uses a language model to respond to questions and compose various written content. Many college students use ChatGPT to help them complete assignments. While there are times when this can be helpful, it has limitations as a reliable research assistant. One thing you need to watch out for is that ChatGPT will sometimes “hallucinate” (fabricate) citations. The citations may sound legitimate and scholarly, but they are not real. If you try to find these sources through Google or the library, you will search in vain.
If you need help finding resources on a topic, just Ask a Librarian to help you find real resources so you can be successful on your next assignment!