Academic Library Services Research Articles

Open research data in African academic and research libraries: a literature analysis

PurposeThe paper presents a literature review on research data management services in African academic and research libraries on the backdrop of the advancing open science and open research data infrastructures. It provides areas of focus for library to support open research data.Design/methodology/approachThe literature analysis and future role of African libraries in research data management services were based on three areas as follows:open science, research infrastructures and open data infrastructures. Focussed literature searches were conducted across several electronic databases and discovery platforms, and a qualitative content analysis approach was used to explore the themes based on a coded list.FindingsThe review reports of an environment where open science in Africa is still at developmental stages. Research infrastructures face funding and technical challenges. Data management services are in formative stages with progress reported in a few countries where open science and research data management policies have emerged, cyber and data infrastructures are being developed and limited data librarianship courses are being taught.Originality/valueThe role of the academic and research libraries in Africa remains important in higher education and the national systems of research and innovation. Libraries should continue to align with institutional and national trends in response to the provision of data management services and as partners in the development of research infrastructures.

Data librarianship in South African academic and research libraries: a survey

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to establish the current skills base of librarians working in research data management services in academic and research libraries in South Africa. The purpose was also to determine the relevance of courses and programmes that are currently being offered by library and information studies programmes in response to the needs of research data management services and make recommendations on curriculum improvement.Design/methodology/approachAbout 13 institutions which were considered early adopters of research data management services were identified as participants in an online survey. In addition, a review of Web pages of existing library and information studies schools was carried to establish courses that would support research data management services. Data collected through the two approaches were analysed and presented quantitatively and qualitatively.FindingsThe findings reveal an environment in a developmental stage, with limited skilled personnel to run research data management services. The findings also show an absence of specific data librarianship courses within existing library and information studies programmes and a very limited scope for the full range of data management courses within professional development programmes.Originality/valueThe paper provides information on approaches to further develop existing curriculum and contribute to the data management needs and support governments, funders and publishers' requirements for the discoverability and re-use of research data across research domains.

Nurturing customer service culture in an experience economy: employees' assessment of the UWI, Mona Library service model

PurposeIn an experience economy, the alternative options for higher education are varied; resulting in competition and a deliberate focus on student experience to create competitive advantage. In this regard, the various constituents of the university, including the library, are required to transform the organisational culture, specifically, the service culture, to engage students in a way that creates a memorable experience. In response, The UWI, Mona Library re-launched its Customer Service programme: using an in-house inspired 10 element service model, with initiatives aimed at realising each element, the library purposed to build a service culture. This paper seeks to assess employees' perception of the impact of the initiatives of this model.Design/methodology/approachThis survey research employed individual interviews to assess employees' perception of the impact of the initiatives of the service model, with the objective of refining the model, where needed, for continued use in the Mona Library, and for use in libraries desirous of implementing the model.FindingsThe initiatives of the service model are creating the desired customer service culture and aspects have been identified for refinement.Research limitations/implicationsThe model is based on the needs, experiences, history, culture and strategic priorities of one Caribbean university library. It centres on the employees and their perception. As such, it focuses less on the product, space and the external customer; but it is hoped that by focusing on the employees (specifically creating a service culture amongst them) that this will ultimately impact product, space and the overall customer experience.Practical implicationsProvides the top priorities and considerations for a practicing Caribbean / developing country academic library manger, with an interest in a model for nurturing service culture amongst the employees.Originality/valueThis paper is of value as it centres on creating a service culture, rather than on the usual customer service satisfaction survey, offers a service model and adds to the literature on customer service in academic libraries.

Maker Services in Academic Libraries: A Review of Case Studies

Makerspaces and maker-centered learning have surged in popularity in higher education and particularly academic libraries in recent years, following trends that initially emerged in primary and secondary education and public libraries. As academic libraries develop services around maker activities and technologies, many case studies have emerged to share examples, best practices, and lessons learned from these endeavours. The purpose of this literature review is to summarise the information from the available case studies to answer the following research questions: How are academic libraries implementing makerspaces? What can we learn from case studies of academic library makerspaces? What are the prevailing gaps in the published literature on academic library makerspaces? The results of this review of case studies will be a guide for library staff who wish to implement makerspaces in their libraries, and will also serve to identify avenues for future research and scholarship on creative spaces in academic libraries.

Entrepreneurship Initiatives in Academic Libraries

Academic library spaces and services have widely broadened their missions away from providing only traditional research services and quiet spaces for study. Today, academic libraries are increasingly repurposing space and redesigning services to become the hub of innovation on university campuses. The literature explores entrepreneurship and academic libraries from many perspectives but with a common theme of the library as a leader in support of entrepreneurship initiatives on campus.

Libraries Support First-Generation Students through Services and Spaces, but Can Do More

A Review of:
 Arch, X., & Gilman, I. (2019). First principles: Designing services for first-generation students. College & Research Libraries, 80(7), 996–1012. https://doi.org/10.5860/crl.80.7.996
 Abstract
 Objective – To provide recommendations for academic libraries in supporting first-generation college students, defined by the study’s authors “either as those whose parents have no college experience or did not graduate with a bachelor’s degree” (p. 996).
 Design – Multidisciplinary literature review and two qualitative survey questionnaires.
 Setting – United States secondary and post-secondary schools.
 Subjects – College Counsellor Survey: 300 private/parochial, private/secular, public, and charter secondary/high schools in rural, suburban, and urban areas randomly selected from across all 50 states. Academic Library Survey: Academic libraries at 100 four-year institutions.
 Methods – College Counsellor Survey: An online survey was sent to potential subjects via email. The survey included basic demographic questions and open-ended questions about counsellors’ perceptions of the challenges faced by first-generation college students, the types of institutional support they need, and how academic libraries could offer support. The answers were analyzed in NVivo using a combination of inductive and axial coding in order to develop a set of themes reflecting the most commonly-mentioned challenges and support needs.
 Academic Library Survey: A survey invitation was sent directly to library deans and directors at 100 four-year institutions and to two academic library electronic mailing lists. The survey included questions about services academic libraries offer for first-generation students. The data were analyzed to determine whether academic libraries were offering services that matched the thematic areas identified in the College Counsellor Survey.
 Main Results – College Counselor Survey: The response rate was 24% (n=78). There were six themes which were identified regarding challenges and support needs for first-generation students: Academic and Tutoring, Social and Cultural, Home and Family, Navigating College, Financial, and Mentoring and Advising. Recommendations for library support included library participation in first-generation student orientations, library instruction in research methods, and conveying that librarians are welcoming and friendly.
 Academic Library Survey: Out of the 59 responding libraries, 19 reported offering services designed for first-generation students, while 6 additional libraries reported offering services they believed would be useful for first-generation students, though they were not designed for them specifically. The library services addressed needs relating to the Academic and Tutoring, Navigating College, and Financial themes. The library services did not address the needs relating to the Social and Cultural, Home and Family, and Mentoring and Advising themes.
 Conclusion – Based on the surveys and literature review, the authors provide recommendations for academic library services for first-generation students that address each of the six thematic areas of need. The recommendations include, but are not limited to, assigning liaisons for first-generation programs, working to create an inclusive and affirming library environment, designing library spaces that support the multiple social roles and identities of first-generation students, helping family members of first-generation students become aware of the library as a resource, providing training on applying for financial aid, and having librarians either provide outreach to mentorship programs or become mentors themselves.

An Overview of Application of E-Resources as Strategies for Enhancing Effective Library Services in Academic Libraries

Libraries of the present age cannot grow without proper application of e-resources (electronic resources) and ICT facilities to its services. The advent of new technology has drastically transformed the way and manner information professionals provide services to their clients. Digital libraries are the new developments in the ever-growing technological era. E-resources are conveniently accessible outside the four walls of the library. This paper focuses on the way e-resources can be applied as strategies for enhancing effective library services. It also considers the benefits and challenges of applying e-resources to library services. Literature review method was adopted in the study by randomly reviewing articles that were related to the study. The study showed that application of e-resources is very paramount to library services and as such every impediment to its effective use should be taken into considerations. Keywords: Application; e-resources; strategy; library services; academic library DOI: 10.7176/IKM/10-2-09 Publication date: March 31 st 2020

Assessing Adoption and Implementation of Mobile Technology-Based Library Services in Academic Libraries

Mobile Technologies (m-tech) have been embraced by stakeholders of academic libraries globally in recent times as a medium that can offer convenient library services to library patrons. This study was to ascertain the potentials of adopting and implementing m-tech based library services in academic libraries in Ghana. The study was a descriptive survey and the mixed-method approach was used. The major findings were that there were a strong awareness and deep appreciation for the use of m-tech library services among library management and students, however, m-tech based library services have not been implemented in the libraries due to diverse reasons. These include inadequate ICT infrastructure, skills gap as a result of lack of training, lack of policy framework for the adoption of the technology and clearing the hurdle of convincing university management to accept the technology. As a result, it was recommended that the libraries need to invest more in ICT infrastructure specifically m-tech infrastructure and build on their human resource base through recruitment and professional training on emerging technologies

Replicable services for reproducible research: a model for academic libraries

Over the past decade, evidence from disciplines ranging from biology to economics has suggested that many scientific studies may not be reproducible. This has led to declarations in both the scientific and lay press that science is experiencing a “reproducibility crisis” and that this crisis has consequences for the extent to which students, faculty, and the public at large can trust research. Faculty build on these results with their own research, and students and the public use these results for everything from patient care to public policy. To build a model for how academic libraries can support reproducible research, the authors conducted a review of major guidelines from funders, publishers, and professional societies. Specific recommendations were extracted from guidelines and compared with existing academic library services and librarian expertise. The authors believe this review shows that many of the recommendations for improving reproducibility are core areas of academic librarianship, including data management, scholarly communication, and methodological support for systematic reviews and data-intensive research. By increasing our knowledge of disciplinary, journal, funder, and society perspectives on reproducibility, and reframing existing librarian expertise and services, academic librarians will be well positioned to be leaders in supporting reproducible research. Citation: Sayre F., Riegelman A. Replicable services for reproducible research: a model for academic libraries.

An environmental scan of virtual and augmented reality services in academic libraries

PurposeThe growing popularity of virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR) technologies, and increased research into their educational uses, has seen them appearing in a significant number of academic libraries. Little is known, however, about how many libraries have actually adopted these technologies or how they have structured library services around them. The purpose of this paper is to answer these questions.Design/methodology/approachThe authors surveyed the websites of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member libraries to gather information about the availability of VR and AR equipment as well as information about how access is provided. Recorded details about these services included information about staffing, dedicated space, software, what type of technology was offered and whether or not the technology was lent out or only made available for in-library use.FindingsResults of the research project showed that a significant number of ARL-member libraries do offer access to VR technology. AR technology was much less widespread. The most common technologies offered were the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. The technology was most typically offered for in-library use only. There were few details about staff or what software was offered to be used with the technology.Originality/valueWhile there is growing research around how VR and AR is being used in education, little research has been undertaken into how libraries are adopting these technologies. This paper summarizes the research that has been done so far and also takes the next step of providing a larger picture of how widespread the adoption of VR and AR technologies has been within academic libraries, as well as how access to these technologies is being provided.

Digital services in academic libraries: present and future

With the development of digital technologies, academic libraries tend to prove a broad scale of digital services for faculty members and students. This column describes challenges for some common digital services in academic libraries and suggests potential collaborating strategies that might enhance the promotion of such services.

Evaluating the Single Service Point Using the Person-Environment-Occupation Model

An academic library's single service point, where users can get answers and help with their library needs in one place, is often the first and most popular place used by students. Studies assessing desk design are rare but needed to help guide planning for renovation or service model change. This study investigated an academic library's service point and identified major themes related to its physical and social environments, staff, and activities and tasks. The study used an ethnographic methodology, in which the investigator closely observed the library staff and users. The study framework was based on the Person-Environment-Occupation Model, which explores how occupational performance is shaped by the interaction between a person, environment, and occupation. The findings revealed themes of patron interactions, physical relationships to the furniture, socializing, and arrangements that may inform choices about service point design to improve staff satisfaction and efficiency.

Two Case Studies of Topic-Related Multidimensional Reading Services in China

This article provides a brief summary of the development of topic-related multidimensional reading services in academic libraries in China. The authors mainly introduce the methods and practices that Tongji University Library has developed for this type of service. The authors also include a briefing about a multidimensional reading service event called “Reading the city Jinling - the Red Mansions” which was hosted by Nanjing Agriculture University Library in 2017. Theoretical and practical explorations suggest that academic libraries could integrate more resources from different areas to promote a deeper understanding of reading, and to make more contributions to knowledge transformation and innovation in China.

What Do You Want from Us? Evaluating Student Interest in Technology-Based Services in Academic Libraries

Following two previous studies in 2010 and 2013, this study intends to identify current trends of Sam Houston State University students’ technology and communication needs and preferences regarding library services and resources. Drawing comparisons to two previous local studies and national data sets, such as those from Pew Internet Research and the EDUCAUSE Center for Analysis and Research (ECAR), the findings revealed, among other things, a decline in tablet usage and interest, continued need for library computers, and a complex relationship between social media usage and engagement with the library. The results of this survey will inform and guide the library and the profession to most efficiently and effectively offer desired library services and engage students on appropriate social media platforms.

Users’ Expectation of Library Services and Resources in the COVID 19 Pandemic Era: A Comparative Study of Two Academic Libraries in Nigeria

The study was carried out to examine users’ expectation of library services and resources in this COVID-19 pandemic era. The descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprises library users of College of Education Library, Agbor and Federal University of Petroleum Resources Library, Effurun, Delta State. 210 respondents were selected each from the two academic libraries via purposive sampling technique making a total of 420 respondents used for the study. The instrument used for data collection was an online questionnaire designed through Survey Monkey. The study revealed that the respondents from both academic libraries indicated they expect services such as electronic access to services and resources, virtual reference services, accurate COVID-19 information to keep them updated, online user education programmes, selective dissemination of information via email, display of library services on social media, research help services online, and a spacious study hall to enable them observe the physical distancing while studying in the library. Also, users from both academic libraries indicated they expect to have access to electronic databases, e-zines and online newspapers, internet sources, e-journals, e-books and government publication in this COVID-19 pandemic era. On the channels of accessing services and resources in this COVID-19 pandemic period revealed that the respondents from both academic libraries agreed that they access library services and resources majorly through Email Service, while only respondents from College of Education, Agbor indicated that the also access their academic library services and resources through their library social media platforms. It can be observed also from the study that the respondents from both academic libraries were averagely satisfied with their academic library though they expect more incorporation of information communication technology in service delivery to boost their access in this COVID-19 pandemic era.

Academic Library Services in Post Covid-19 Era

Academic libraries are considered the backbone of the institutions to which they are attached. It is seen in the past, a lot of services were being provided by them-either in manual mode or online in the digital era but Covid19 disease has completely changed the scenario. It is not sure how long it will take time to become normal and as per WHO and other sources, we have to live with it for a long time. So, it is expected that academic libraries will also have to reform their services and environment to provide services in the post Covid-19 environment. This paper suggests some measures that can be fruitful to cope with the effect of Covid-19 and to sustain the libraries in post Covid-19 era.

P.G Students satisfaction with academic library resources and services: Manonmanimum sundaranor university library experience

The study is an attempt to examine the use of library resources and services among postgraduate students in Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli Library. Questionnaire was used as the core research instrument. 75 copies of the questionnaire were circulated to the students; the return rate was 68%. The major findings were; majority of the postgraduate students use the library regularly. Their main purpose of visiting the library is to consult research materials. They used more internet sources and their major challenge was lack of time. They were also satisfied with the library services. Suggestions were offered to improve the library services

Use of Social Media Platforms in Promoting the Academic Library Services of City College of Angeles among Students

Use of Social Media Platforms in Promoting the Academic Library Services of City College of Angeles among Students

A Rapid Review of the Reporting and Characteristics of Instruments Measuring Satisfaction with Reference Service in Academic Libraries

Abstract
 Objective – The objective of this review was to examine research instrument characteristics, and to examine the validity and reliability of research instruments developed by practicing librarians, which measure the construct of patron satisfaction with academic library reference services. The authors were also interested in the extent to which instruments could be reused
 Methods – Authors searched three major library and information science databases: Library and Information Science Technology Abstracts (LISTA); Library Science Database (LD); and Library Literature & Information Science Index. Other databases searched were Current Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL); Education Resources Information Center (ERIC); Google Scholar; PubMed; and Web of Science. The authors identified studies of patron satisfaction with academic library reference services in which the researcher(s) developed an instrument to study the satisfaction construct. In this rapid-review study, the studies were from 2015 and 2016 only. All retrieved studies were examined for evidence of validity and reliability as primary indicators of instrument quality, and data was extracted for country of study, research design, mode of reference service, data collection method, types of questions, number of items related to satisfaction, and content of items representing the satisfaction construct. Instrument reusability was also determined.
 Results – At the end of the screening stage of the review, a total of 29 instruments were examined. Nearly all studies were quantitative or mixed quantitative/qualitative in design. Twenty-six (90%) of the studies employed surveys alone to gather data. Twelve publications (41%) included a discussion of any type of validity; five (17%) included discussion of any type of reliability. Three articles (10%) demonstrated more than one type of validity evidence. Nine articles (31%) included the instrument in full in an appendix, and eight instruments (28%) were not appended but were described adequately so as to be reusable. 
 Conclusions – This review identified a range of quality in librarians’ research instruments for evaluating satisfaction with reference services. We encourage librarians to perform similar reviews to locate the highest-quality instrument on which to model their own, thereby increasing the rigor of Library and Information Science (LIS) research in general. This study shows that even a two-year rapid review is sufficient to locate a large quantity of research instruments to assist librarians in developing instruments.

Awareness of Research Data Management Services at Academic Libraries in Jordan: Roles, Responsibilities and Challenges

Research data management services require new skills and collaboration among library staff to work with both researchers and end-users as they manage data going forward. However, there is an urgent need to increase awareness of the new trends about the partnership between research community and academic libraries, there is also a need for new research data management (RDM)-related skills among librarians. And therefore, this research aims at investigating requirements, roles and responsibilities as well as challenges of RDM services in academic libraries in Jordan. A questionnaire was developed and used to collect the required data from 21 academic libraries in Jordan. The results indicate high perception and awareness of libraries roles and responsibilities of RDM as well as requirements and challenges in academic libraries in Jordan to provide RDM services. It was noted that all factors such as job title, experience and library type had no effect on the results.