Academic Libraries Research Articles

Exploring the open-source impact on Bangladesh academic library service sustainability

Purpose This study investigates the impact of open-source software (OSS) on the sustainability of academic library services in Bangladesh. It aims to understand how OSS can address budget constraints, technological demands and the need for enhanced service delivery in these libraries. Design/methodology/approach An in-depth qualitative research approach was used, involving semi-structured interviews with library administrators, IT staff and librarians from various academic institutions across Bangladesh. Findings The study reveals that OSS adoption is primarily driven by financial imperatives and the need for flexible, customizable solutions tailored to specific institutional needs. Key benefits identified include significant cost savings, improved customization and flexibility of services and enhanced community support and collaboration. However, challenges such as a lack of in-house technical expertise, resistance to change among staff and stakeholders and inadequate IT infrastructure impede successful OSS implementation. Practical implications To harness the full potential of OSS, academic libraries must invest in capacity building through targeted training programs, improve IT infrastructure and foster a culture of collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the library community. These strategies are essential to overcoming existing barriers and ensuring long-term sustainability. Originality/value This research contributes to the understanding of OSS’s role in enhancing the sustainability of academic library services. It provides practical recommendations for academic libraries seeking to leverage OSS for improved service delivery and operational efficiency.

Exploring relationships among leadership behaviors, organizational citizenship behaviors, organizational justice and person–organization fit in Vietnamese academic libraries

Purpose This study aims to examine the relationship between leadership behavior, organizational justice, person–organization fit and organizational citizenship behavior in the context of Vietnamese academic libraries. Using social exchange theory, this research indicates the impact of leadership behavior on organizational citizenship behavior. This study also examines the mediating role of organizational justice and person–organization fit in the relationship between leadership behavior and organizational citizenship behavior. Design/methodology/approach A total of 248 responses are obtained from academic library personnel in Vietnam, which are used to examine the research hypotheses. Findings The findings partially support the hypotheses because two leadership dimensions significantly influence organizational citizenship behavior, and organizational justice mediates the relationship between relationship-oriented leadership and organizational citizenship behavior. However, person–organization fit does not mediate the relationship between leadership behavior and organizational citizenship behavior. Practical implications Results indicate that two types of leadership behavior can significantly impact the organizational citizenship behavior of the librarians. Academic libraries should provide opportunities to librarians to engage in citizenship behavior by implementing organizational justice intervention. Originality/value This research contributes to the social exchange theory by integrating leadership behaviors, organizational justice, person–organization fit and organizational citizenship behaviors. Given that no prior studies have investigated the associations among four constructs, the obtained findings are a new exploration.

Nurse training to enhance adherence counselling for HIV-tuberculosis coinfection in South Africa: Integrative review

Background: South Africa has seen strides in reducing HIV and tuberculosis (TB); however, adherence counselling for people living with HIV (PLHIV) coinfected with TB remains a challenge, particularly in specific sub-districts like Cape Town. Understanding the attributes of existing training programmes is crucial.Objectives: This study explored attributes of training programme development for nurses and other health professionals to enhance adherence counselling for PLHIV coinfected with TB in Cape Town.Method: An integrative literature review was conducted in five steps following PRISMA guidelines. Electronic searches encompassed multiple databases: COCHRANE, PsycINFO, PUBMED, ENMBASE, Science Direct, SCOPUS, SocINDEX, Academic Search Complete, Eric, SABINET, Health Resources and World Health Organization Global Health Library Regional Indexes. Inclusion criteria encompassed English language, peer-reviewed full-text studies on training programme development, qualitative and quantitative, published between January 2012 and May 2021. Exclusion criteria included non-English articles, conference proceedings and irrelevant studies. Thematic data analysis synthesised findings.Results: Three main themes emerged: participant identification, key programme content and programme implementation process, crucial for effective training programme development.Conclusion: Identifying participants, defining programme content and outlining implementation processes are pivotal in enhancing nurses’ adherence counselling skills. This approach could stabilise patient treatment adherence, potentially reducing treatment default, loss to follow-up and mortality rates.Contribution: These findings lay the groundwork for developing effective training programmes aimed at improving adherence counselling among nurses.

Measurement of climate change-related food (in)security and food sovereignty in Canada’s northern communities and the circumpolar region: a scoping review protocol

IntroductionClimate change impacts the circumpolar region (including northern Canada) at a greater magnitude than other parts of the world. This affects food (in)security as well as food sovereignty. This scoping...

Collection Policies and Requests for Reconsideration in Academic Libraries – a Kansas Perspective

Collection Policies and Requests for Reconsideration in Academic Libraries – a Kansas Perspective

Integrating a digital pedagogy approach into online teaching: are academic librarians at Universities of Technology in South Africa prepared?

Purpose This paper aims to explore whether academic librarians at the Universities of Technology (UoTs) in South Africa have the pedagogy and digital skills to implement a digital pedagogy approach for online teaching. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-method approach in the form of a sequential explanatory design was selected to explore the topic in which the quantitative was followed by the qualitative phase. Instruments used included an online questionnaire and semi-structured interviews to explore the pedagogy and digital skills of academic librarians at UoTs in South Africa. Findings The quantitative results and findings revealed that academic librarians lacked the pedagogy and digital skills for online teaching. Similarly, results and findings in the qualitative phase also showed academic librarians lacking these skills for online teaching. Consequently, the results and findings derived from both phases were triangulated and the cohesive nature of the data was absolute. Research limitations/implications (i) Library schools include an elective module covering pedagogy and teaching with technology for librarians; (ii) library professional bodies create opportunities for academic librarians to develop pedagogy and digital skills; and (iii) higher education libraries need to create knowledge-sharing opportunities to improve the pedagogy and digital skills of academic librarians with teaching portfolios. Practical implications Higher education libraries and library schools must promote the teaching identity of academic librarians by helping them improve their pedagogical and digital skills for online teaching. Social implications This topic requires further exploration as academic librarians are fast becoming integrated into the teaching and learning agenda of institutions globally. Originality/value The current study is novel in that it explores the pedagogical and digital skills of academic librarians at UoTs in South Africa for online teaching.

Other Duties as Assigned: Reaching New Heights Through Changes

One of the primary aspects of librarianship is how our roles can and will change. Melissa Brooks, Michelle Colquitt, and Kayla Whitehead discuss change management in their new positions, including changes from smaller institutions to larger ones and into positions with increasing responsibilities at the same institution. In addition, we discuss strategies we have found helpful while undergoing great periods of change. Our perspectives include managerial (Brooks), career-change (Colquitt) and moving from a sole practitioner to team member (Whitehead). This session focuses on theory-versus-practice regarding what we learned in library school versus the realities of working in academic libraries. We examine change management and the growth mindset—particularly in planning projects versus their actual execution and implementation—as well as staffing levels and their impact on workflows.

USE OF INSTAGRAM FANPAGES IN POLISH ACADEMIC LIBRARIES IN 2015-2023

Thesis/Objective – This article presents the results of a quantitative comparative analysis of the activity of 65 Polish public university libraries on a social media platform known as Instagram between 2015 and 2023. The aim of the study was to assess the use of Instagram by academic libraries and to evaluate the popularity of the content shared by these institutions (including the number of posts shared and user reactions to them). Research methods – The commercial online tool Fanpage Karma, a social media monitoring service, was used to collect data from individual fanpages. This service also facilitated the processing of the collected data for statistical purposes. Data were gathered separately for different types of libraries. The critical analysis of the relevant literature and bibliographic sources was also conducted. Results/Conclusions – The results showed that only 33 out of 65 public academic libraries use Instagram in their everyday work. This activity is generally independent of the library type. The social media platform in question is present in various types of libraries. In some cases, Instagram complements communication via Facebook, particularly in the libraries which are most active on social media. It is worth noting that two libraries use Instagram as their sole social media platform. The highest number of posts was published by university libraries – and those posts received most user reactions.

Level of Satisfaction with the Library Resources and Services of Education Faculty and Students in Lone Agricultural State College in Bulacan

Academic libraries are an integral part of learning institutions, serving as crucial hubs for meeting the information and research needs of students and faculty. The study aimed to determine the level of satisfaction of users with library resources and services at a lone agricultural state higher education institution (HEI) in Bulacan, Philippines. A survey research design was employed to quantify the responses from education faculty and students, who were selected using a purposive sampling technique. The findings reveal that respondents are generally satisfied with the library’s resources, including the availability of printed materials, accessibility of online resources, provision of ICT equipment, and overall conduciveness of the learning environment. Both faculty and students expressed satisfaction with the quantity and quality of the library’s online and print materials in supporting their respective fields of study. Regarding library services, majority of respondents were satisfied with the institution’s library orientation, instruction, guidelines for borrowing books, service hours, reference support, reader’s advisory, information and referral, current awareness, indexing, and internet access. These services enable college librarians and staff to facilitate effective utilization of the library’s resources, allowing students to engage with books, journals, and other vital educational materials, as well as conduct individual and group studies. The degree to which the college community utilizes the library’s services and resources can serve as an indicator of the library's function and value in supporting the academic and research needs of the institution. Generally, this study provides valuable insights to guide the library in enhancing its offerings and ensuring sustained user satisfaction.

Beyond Boundaries: Charting the Academic Library Landscape in the Wake of COVID-19 – A Systematic Review of Services and Strategies

Beyond Boundaries: Charting the Academic Library Landscape in the Wake of COVID-19 – A Systematic Review of Services and Strategies

Board Performance of Fisheries Graduates: Logistic Regression Analysis for Curriculum Enhancement

This study investigates the factors affecting the board performance of Bachelor of Science in Fisheries (BSFi) graduates in the fisheries technologists licensure exams in a specific region of the Philippines. The impetus for this research arose from observed variations in exam performance among graduates, prompting an examination of educational and institutional influences on success. The study used a purposive sampling technique to gather data from 138 respondents across State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) who took their first licensure exam from October 2018 to October 2023. A validated online survey questionnaire assessed academic performance, teaching methods, curriculum, faculty qualifications, library resources, laboratory facilities, and student characteristics. Logistic regression analysis was employed to analyze the relationship between these independent variables and licensure exam performance. The findings of this study are of profound importance, as they reveal strong correlations between faculty qualifications and exam outcomes, emphasizing the need for continuous professional development. Moreover, the study identifies improved laboratory facilities and a robust curriculum as critical factors contributing to student success. These insights have the potential to significantly impact stakeholders, informing them about essential areas for intervention and improvement. Ultimately, they aim to elevate the educational experience and licensure performance of BSFi graduates, thus supporting their professional trajectories in the fisheries sector.

Copyright administration in academic libraries: Challenges of library patrons

The application of stricter copyright laws in academic libraries leaves users of reprographic materials at the mercy of rightsholders thereby inhibiting knowledge acquisition and dissemination. This study interrogated the copyright challenges faced by academic library users in Ghana using data from 530 postgraduate students in two private and two public universities. Among the major challenges faced by students were: (i) Digital technology has made it easier to access, reuse and share content (ii) Unintentionally exposing the institution or library to the risk of copyright infringement (iii) Piracy (iv) Undue concerns of authorities about copyright infringement, (v) Publishers and other intermediaries put impediments in the provision of learning resources, (vi) Difficulties in locating the rightsholder to seek permission for the use of material, (vii) Difficulties in supervising content use, (viii) Content is available from many different sources, including the open web, and (ix) Rights licensing are not always straightforward, easy or efficient. The support by some students (i.e., those at the Writing of findings/results or Discussion stage of their thesis writeup as well as fourth-year PhD students) of the commercial interests of publishers may be a positive contribution in promoting copyright compliance in academic libraries.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in STEM Academic Librarianship: Perspectives and Practices in Canada

This research explores the perspectives and practices of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in Canadian Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) academic librarianship. Research data were collected from Canadian STEM librarians through an online survey and one-on-one interviews. Findings indicate that the majority of participants' libraries and institutions have integrated EDI into their strategic plans, policies, or guidelines. These STEM librarians shared their perspectives, experiences, opportunities, and challenges in achieving their EDI goals. Besides providing examples of practices, the research sheds light on potential improvements to encourage STEM academic librarians to effectively integrate EDI into their professional practices. Establishing a supportive organizational culture for EDI is identified as a crucial motivational factor.

Comparative Study of Academic Library Websites Using Web Content Management Systems

This study aimed to investigate and compare the features and functionality of academic library websites built on Web Content Management Systems (CMS) at four universities in Africa. The specific objectives included examining design and layout, identifying content types and resources, assessing interactivity and engagement, evaluating accessibility and usability, and reviewing performance and maintenance. Analysis of the four websites revealed that the University of Cape Town Libraries stood out for its excellent quality in design, layout, content availability, interactivity, accessibility, usability, and performance. In contrast, the Makerere University Libraries showed areas needing improvement, particularly in design, content accessibility, interactivity, and usability. The University of Pretoria Libraries exhibited high-quality performance across all categories, ensuring a positive user experience. Meanwhile, the University of Nairobi Libraries demonstrated potential for enhancement in design, interactivity, and accessibility, while maintaining strong performance and security. Based on these findings, several recommendations were made to enhance the websites' quality and user experience. For Makerere University Libraries, suggestions included improving design and layout, addressing content gaps, implementing accessible forums, and enhancing responsiveness. For the University of Nairobi Libraries, recommendations focused on improving design, providing accessible resources, incorporating online chat or forums, and enhancing overall accessibility and usability.

Leadership styles and collection development practices of librarians in academic libraries: a case of Ekiti state, Nigeria

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of leadership styles on collection development practices in academic libraries within Ekiti State, Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach The research used a survey research design, using a questionnaire as the primary data collection instrument. The study encompassed 86 library personnel selected from six academic libraries in Ekiti State. Findings The study’s findings revealed a notably high level of engagement in collection development practices within the academic libraries under investigation. In addition, the library managers exhibited a blend of leadership styles, with the democratic style being the most frequently used, followed by autocratic and laissez-faire styles. Furthermore, the research identified a significant influence of leadership styles on collection development practices, with evidence suggesting a collective impact when considering various leadership styles together. Social implications The study implies that effective leadership plays a crucial role in realizing the overarching objectives of academic libraries, and a well-informed leadership approach positively impacts the library’s ability to meet its collection development goals and serve its academic community effectively. Originality/value This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by shedding light on the intricate relationship between leadership styles and collection development practices in academic libraries. The identification of a predominant democratic leadership style and its implications on library practices provides a nuanced understanding of leadership dynamics in this context.

Gauging growth in undergraduate information literacy: A case study in library-faculty collaboration

How do academic librarians and teaching faculty assess the impact we exert on students' capabilities as researchers? This paper describes the authors' unique six-week approach to incorporating library instruction into a research assignment for students in introductory Teacher Education and American Politics classes. We constructed a pre- and post- instruction survey that measured change in students' attitudes toward 1) their own level of information literacy, 2) their skills as researchers, and 3) the usefulness of the library's resources. The survey consisted of statements regarding students' attitudes toward the aforementioned categories, measuring agreement on a 6-point scale. We conducted this survey over three consecutive semesters (N = 208). We find that students began the project with high degrees of confidence in their own knowledge and abilities, but also increased their confidence in all categories. Moreover, the change between the pre- and post-project survey was statistically significant on all questions, as assessed by a difference of means test.

Stakeholder communication in academic libraries: An exploration of annual reports and Instagram

Annual reports are an opportunity to demonstrate transparency and communicate with stakeholders. This article presents an exploratory content analysis of library annual reports and Instagram accounts in a state university system. The researchers synthesized common themes in content and structure developing archetypal formats of annual reports. These archetypes clarify the interplay between audience, purpose, content and design in developing a cohesive product. Findings indicate that libraries are neglecting opportunities to repurpose content between Instagram and annual reports. Information collected for the annual report provides content that can be tailored for Instagram posts, which in turn directs interested audience members to the full annual report. Finally, the best practices and strategies to improve communication and engagement with stakeholders identified by the researchers will be shared.

Integrating Pop Culture into the Academic Library

Integrating Pop Culture into the Academic Library

The Decline of the Traditional Reference Desk: How Library Reference at Francis Marion University is Adjusting to the Shifting Trend Compared to Other Academic Libraries

The Decline of the Traditional Reference Desk: How Library Reference at Francis Marion University is Adjusting to the Shifting Trend Compared to Other Academic Libraries

A Career Turning Point in an Academic Library

A Career Turning Point in an Academic Library