Satisfaction Level of Librarians Regarding Research Support Services: A Comparative Survey of Private and Public Universities of Pakistan

This study aims to identify current offerings of research support services (RSS) by Pakistani university libraries to their research community at various phases of the research lifecycle. It also offers data on the future planning of libraries about RSS and compares the results with international studies to gauge the progress of Pakistani university libraries in this direction. This study used a quantitative design to collect data from 138 reference/head librarians of university libraries across four research lifecycle stages. The Cronbach alpha reliability of the questionnaire was 0.95, and the data were analyzed through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Frequency analysis and the Chi-square test were used to draw inferences. The results indicated that more than 50% of university libraries in Pakistan were providing most of the research support services associated with all stages of the research lifecycle. The majority of libraries offer traditional research support services as compared to advanced services which have been developed in recent times across the globe. The results of the study further indicated that private-sector university libraries were offering a higher level of research support services than public-sector university libraries. Furthermore, libraries associated with public sector universities showed more inclination toward offering these services as a part of their future planning. This study examined the current status of Pakistani university libraries’ research support services, grouped according to each stage of the research lifecycle. The study is an amalgamation of traditional and advanced research support services in order to give new dimensions to this area and the structured instrument designed for this study may be used by other researchers to conduct similar studies in their social setting. The findings will aid public sector university libraries in their efforts to provide their research communities with greater research support services. The results will be valuable to university and library administrators for strategic planning to meet the community’s need for research-based services.

Research support services (RSS) play an essential role in the lives of academics and researchers. The study focused on availability of RSS and doctoral students’ satisfaction with RSS provided in public university libraries in Kenya. The success of doctoral students is often determined by the extent of RSS provided by the university libraries. Every library system's main goal is to satisfy its patrons. Specifically, the paper was guided by these objectives: to assess the extent of provision of RSS in university libraries and to determine the level of satisfaction of doctoral students on available RSS. A sample size of 372 doctoral students were selected using stratified sampling and simple random sampling techniques, and 32 librarians were selected purposively from selected public universities in Kenya. This study adopted a descriptive research design and used an online survey research technique to collect data from doctoral students and librarians. Microsoft Excel and the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) were used to analyse the data. Findings indicate that a wide range of RSS were provided in the selected universities and that while doctoral students are satisfied with the availability of materials, they are not happy with the currency of the materials in the library. The study concludes that there were significant differences in the provision of RSS for doctoral students across the selected public university libraries and that doctoral students have varying levels of satisfaction with the research support services provided to meet their information needs at selected public universities. The study findings will help university libraries to improve their services, provide targeted services to doctoral students and develop frameworks that will guide in resource allocation.

The number of requests for research support services in academic libraries has been steadily growing over the past several years. This trend has been seen consistently. As a result of, queries concerning the competencies of librarians in the provision of research support services in university libraries in Delta State, Nigeria, have been recommended as a result of the notion of offering such services. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of competence that A librarians working in university libraries in Delta State, Nigeria, possess concerning research support services. This study employed both descriptive and correlational research designs. descriptive research design aims to gain a comprehensive understanding of phenomena or groups. In contrast, correlational research is a strategy that explains and forecasts the natural relationship between variables in the real world without the researcher seeking to manipulate them or establish causation. This was done to ensure more accurate results. The population/sample of the study is 97 librarians using the total enumeration sampling technique. A questionnaire was used to collect the data, and the data were further analysed using statistical measures such as frequencies, mean (X), standard deviation (SD), and Pearson's Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). The study revealed that librarians who work in university libraries offer research support services. The findings of the study revealed that there is a substantial association between the competencies of librarians and the provision of research support services at university libraries in Delta State. The paper concluded that as modern library services evolve, university libraries in Delta State are on the right path as they render several research support services to their users. Librarians, on their part, have an encouraging level of competency required to render such support to researchers. Librarians should be encouraged to improve the research support services that they render in university libraries in Delta State. One way to achieve this is by participating in additional self-development training programmes to enhance one's proficiency in contemporary research support services. The implication of the study is that it is the librarians will be capable of evaluating resources and finding the best resources for addressing different questions or issues and the ability to quickly and professionally search databases, internet resources, and catalogs to find needed information.

PurposeThe aims of this research are to present a comprehensive and holistic view of talent management (TM) at universities by exploring the current practices of TM among private and public universities in Jordan and make a comparison between the two sectors in regard to how they recruit, retain, train and develop, and measure the performance of talented people. Moreover, the practice of recruitment and selection, or so-called reflective or process-oriented practices, has given special attention to see how both public and private universities differ in regard to this process in particular.Design/methodology/approachA structured questionnaire was utilized to elicit responses from participants on five selected constructs, recruitment and selection reflective or process-oriented practices, retention, training and development, and performance management. A convenient sampling approach was used to source participants for the study. The data has been analyzed, structured and organized utilizing SPSS software to analyze the results. Frequency tests have been used to test the demographic variables. Descriptive analysis was used to check the standard deviation and mean for total items. The reliability, discriminate validity, convergent validity and correlation matrix of all the questions have been tested using various methods. Moreover, exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory (CFA) tests were performed. For testing the hypothesis and to examine whether or not there is a significant difference in TM practices between public and private universities in Jordan, independent sample t-tests have been employed.FindingsThe results show that the means of TM practices differ slightly between public and private universities. The public universities demonstrate a higher level of TM practices compared to private universities in all practices except that of performance management. However, while there are visible differences in TM practices between public and private universities, these differences were not statistically significant. On the other hand, we revealed a significant difference in the reflective or process-oriented practices between public and private universities. The results show that HR departments in public universities are more likely to have less power in performing the recruitment and selection processes as compared to private universities. We also compared the extent to which elite academics in public universities select candidates congruent with their own personal and scientific preferences to the extent their counterparts do so in private universities and the results indicate that this practice differs significantly between public and private universities being far more common in private universities. Finally, we compared the practice of academic talents being recruited through informal networks of scouts between private and public universities. The results show a slight and insignificant difference between private and public universities concerning this practice.Originality/valueThis study is built on the concept of “new managerialism” in higher education, which supports collaboration between HRM professionals and academics to enhance TM practices. This research contributes to the body of knowledge by combining “reflective or process-oriented practices” with other TM practices in an attempt to make a comparison of public and private institutions’ practices and provide a more comprehensive view of the TM process. However, the overwhelming majority of study on TM has been carried out in Western countries, with limited attention paid to non-Western contexts. Even though this growing body of research has advanced our theoretical and empirical knowledge of TM, there is still a need to comprehend TM practices in the rest of the globe, particularly when one considers the cultural and institutional disparities that exist between countries. Moreover, according to the researcher’s best knowledge, no previous studies have compared public and private universities regarding talent management, and it would be of great importance to investigate the implementation of TM practices in this vital sector.

It has empirically been proved that teacher job satisfaction is an important measure of school efficacy which enhances student achievement. The objective of this study is to identify and compare different factors that contribute to the levels of job satisfaction among the private and public sector university employees. A sample size of 158, conveniently selected, included teachers of private sector universities and public sector universities, located in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Descriptive statistics, t-test, and One Way Variance Analysis (ANOVA) were used to analyze the data. It is concluded that public sector university teachers are more satisfied with the factors of autonomy, social status, recognition, social service, ability utilization, achievement, job security and relationship with their colleagues where as private sector university teachers are more satisfied with aspects of variety, responsibility, creativity, advancement, university policies, working conditions and compensation policies of their job. Significant mean difference was found between the overall job satisfaction of public and private sector university teachers; however private sector teachers are more satisfied with the overall job satisfaction. The mean difference among all the factors affecting job satisfaction of public and private sector university teachers is significant except those of the variety and achievement factors and factor concerning the relationship with their supervisor. Job security is the most important factor contributing to job satisfaction for public-sector teachers, whereas compensation is the most important factor for university teachers in the private sector. This suggests that, despite higher pay, private sector teachers lack the job security that public sector teachers have because of their permanent positions. To improve job satisfaction, private universities should consider implementing policies that provide permanent employment for their faculty. On the other hand, public universities should increase their compensation packages.

The purpose of the current research is to determine the correlation between the Pakistani university librarians’ information literacy skills (ILSs) and their provided research support services (RSSs) to faculty/researchers. To collect data from the respondents a purposive sampling technique was used. A questionnaire was managed offline as well as online to collect data from 259 librarians of the universities of Pakistan. The tool consisted of eight dimensions of ILSs and four of RSSs. The Pearson correlation coefficient test was applied to gauge the strength of the correlation between ILSs and RSSs. The findings reveal that there is a strong positive significant correlation between all of the factors of ILSs and RSSs except for three sub-factors whose correlation is medium. The value of the overall correlation between ILSs and RSSs is r = .80 which indicates a strong positive significant correlation. The study reveals that ILSs of the university librarians are imperative and a precondition for offering better RSSs.

Job satisfaction plays a significant role in the success of higher educational institutions. It boosts the skills and abilities of academic employees. However, there are few studies on academic employees’ job satisfaction in higher education institutions in developing countries, including Ethiopia. Previous studies also did not examine and discuss comparing job satisfaction among academic employees between private and public sector universities in Ethiopia in general and Addis Ababa in particular. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the job satisfaction of academic employees between private and public sector universities in Addis Ababa. A quantitative research approach with a descriptive survey research design was used. Full-time academic employees were the study population.The study used a self-administered structured questionnaire to collect data from 319 respondents selected by a proportional stratified random sampling method in private and public universities. The data were analyzed by mean, one sample t-test, and independent samples t-test at p < 0.05. The findings of this study indicated that academic employees in higher education institutions in Addis Ababa were dissatisfied with their jobs, except for the work itself. Concerning the employment sector, this study also showed that academic employees were satisfied with pay and supervision in private universities. Academic employees in public universities, however, were satisfied with job security. Based on the findings, this study recommended further research relevant to the issue under investigation to provide directions for policy amendment and implications for practice.

University libraries provide a wide range of services that are meant to contribute to research excellence for the university community. The study assessed the research support services provided by selected public universities in Southwest Nigeria. The survey research design was adopted using a questionnaire as an instrument for data collection. The population of the study comprised 12 librarians from 12 different public university libraries. All 12 copies of the questionnaire were distributed and 11 were usably retrieved. Findings reveal that the services provided are under general services, training services and publishing services which show that up to 50% of the research support services listed in the study are provided. Also, results show the services provided by the selected university libraries reveal the extent to which the services are being provided for research support. For general services, training services and publishing services, the university libraries provided about 50% of the services under study at about 50% high extent. The recommendation is that public universities should commit more funding to further providing and sustaining research support tools, and facilities in the selected libraries.

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine approaches used by university libraries to enhance the visibility and utilization of research support services (RSSs) among doctoral students and to assess the competencies of library staff in delivering research support services.Design/methodology/approachThis study used qualitative design approach, purposively sampled 40 librarians (8 university librarians and 32 librarians) in charge of RSSs and use of structured interview.FindingsThe findings of this study revealed three major themes: offline and online strategies, the need for upskilling and professional development programs and proactive empowerment.Research limitations/implicationsThis study focused on research support services in chartered public universities in Kenya; private universities were not included.Practical implicationsThe need to enhance library staff's ongoing professional development programs, increasing funding to university libraries and proactivity by the libraries to improve the provision and promotion of RSSs to doctoral students in Kenya.Originality/valueThere are limited existing literature in the Kenyan context. This study will fill a knowledge gap and contribute to the literature on academic libraries support and doctoral students experience in Kenyan context.

The issue of academic staff levels of job satisfaction has become a major issue of concern globally based on the fact that the academic staff play a significant role in the day-to-day affairs of the university. Both external and internally generated drivers determine the levels of job satisfaction. However, several studies have pointed out remuneration as the most critical driver to the academic staff's levels of job satisfaction falling short of examining the same issue with related issues in the light of a comparative analysis between private and public universities. This study, therefore, is determined to bring out a clear cross-cutting discussion in public and private universities and recommend possible policy action to improve on the academic staff levels of job satisfaction and consequently output. Guided by the pragmatism research paradigm and the Herzberg two-factor theory, the study employed a concurrent mixed research method design. The target population for this study was the members of the academic staff in a selected private and public university. Participants were purposively identified and selected; therefore, the sample size for public university was 115 participants, while that of private university was 60. Data was collected, evaluated, and analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively, giving an in-depth examination into the subject matter. The study found out that there is a strong relationship between work environment and the academic staff levels of job satisfaction; further, it discovered that there is a strong difference in the levels of job satisfaction between the academic staff in public and private universities in relation to the levels of academic staff job satisfaction. The study therefore proposes policy reforms in both public and private universities to ensure a favorable working environment is created for the members of the academic staff in order to increase staff output. For ethical consideration, the selected public university is referred to as University Alpha, while the private university is University Beta.

An increasingly complex and demanding research landscape has seen university libraries rapidly evolve their services. While research data management, bibliometrics, and research impact services have predominantly featured in the literature to date, the full scope of support libraries are currently providing to their institutions is unknown. This paper aims to present an up-to-date view of the scope and extent of research support services by university libraries across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. A coding process analyzed content data from university library websites. Eleven research support areas were identified. Service delivery is split between synchronous and asynchronous modes. This paper describes a lived experience of an evidence-based library and information practice approach to improving research support services at two Australian university libraries, and while it highlights continued maturation of research support services, more research is needed to better understand influences on service development.

How corporate social responsibility affects brand equity and loyalty? A comparison between private and public universities

PurposeThis paper aims at understanding the current situation of research support services offered by academic libraries in world-leading universities and providing useful implications and insights for other academic libraries.Design/methodology/approachOf the top 100 universities listed in the QS World University Rankings in 2017, 76 libraries were selected as samples and a website investigation was conducted to explore the research support services. The statistical method and visualization software was used to generalize the key services, and the text analysis and case analysis were applied to reveal the corresponding implementation.FindingsResearch support service has become one of the significant services of academic libraries in the context of e-research and data-intensive research. The research support services can be generally divided into seven aspects, as follows: research data management (62, 81.58 per cent), open access (64, 84.21 per cent), scholarly publishing (59, 77.63 per cent), research impact measurement (32, 42.11 per cent), research guides (47, 61.84 per cent), research consultation (59, 77.63 per cent) and research tools recommendation (38, 50.00 per cent).Originality/valueThis paper makes a comprehensive investigation of research support services in academic libraries of top-ranking universities worldwide. The findings will help academic libraries improve research support services; thus, advancing the work of researchers and promoting scientific discovery.

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study is to compare the service levels of in-depth reference and research support services in Chinese university libraries. The samples in this study included three groups: 20 libraries from the top 100 Chinese universities, 20 midwest provincial university libraries in China, and 20 coastal provincial university libraries in China. The in-depth reference and research support services of these libraries were studied through online investigation, case study, and analysis. The results revealed that the reference services of the libraries from the top 100 Chinese universities rated superior to those of the provincial university libraries. The midwest provincial university libraries had fewer reference services than the coastal provincial university libraries. The reference services supplied by the agricultural university library were rated as the most useful, followed by science and technology, engineering, and medical university libraries, respectively. And, WeChat and QQ were useful tools that had Chinese characteristics.

This study compares the direct and indirect effects of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on brand equity and brand loyalty between public and private universities. Additionally, this study compares the direct effect of CSR on brand reputation, brand equity, and brand loyalty; and role of brand reputation as a mediator between CSR, brand equity, and loyalty between public and private universities. Data were collected from one public and one private university in Malaysia, with 600 questionnaires collected from students of Taylor’s University and University of Malaya, both top private and public universities in Malaysia, respectively. Partial least squares - structural equation modeling has been used to assess the measurement model and for hypothesis testing. The findings showed positive and significant effects for CSR on reputation, brand equity, and brand loyalty, either directly or indirectly, for private and public universities. Significant differences were seen in the direct and indirect effects of CSR on brand loyalty, and the effects of brand reputation on brand loyalty, between public and private universities. This study makes a unique theoretical contribution to the literature by comparing the direct and indirect effects of CSR on brand reputation, brand equity, and brand loyalty between public and private universities; in assessing the mediation role of brand reputation between CSR, brand equity, and loyalty through brand reputation; and in comparing this mediation effect between public and private universities. Moreover, this study provides practical implications for public and private higher education institutions to develop their branding strategies.