Advanced Library Research Articles

Identifying runtime libraries in statically linked linux binaries

Vulnerabilities in unpatched applications can originate from third-party dependencies in statically linked applications, as they must be relinked each time to take advantage of libraries that have been updated to fix any vulnerability. Despite this, malware binaries are often statically linked to ensure they run on target platforms and to complicate malware analysis. In this sense, identification of libraries in malware analysis becomes crucial to help filter out those library functions and focus on malware function analysis. In this paper, we introduce MANTILLA, a system for identifying runtime libraries in statically linked Linux-based binaries. Our system is based on radare2 to identify functions and extract their features (independent of the underlying architecture of the binary) through static binary analysis and on the K-nearest neighbors supervised machine learning model and a majority rule to predict final values. MANTILLA is evaluated on a dataset consisting of binaries built for different architectures (MIPSeb, ARMel, Intel x86, and Intel x86-64) and different runtime libraries (uClibc, glibc, and musl), achieving very high accuracy. We also evaluate it in two case studies. First, using a dataset of binary files belonging to the binutils collection and second, using an IoT malware dataset. In both cases, good accuracy results are obtained both in terms of runtime library detection (94.4% and 95.5%, respectively) and architecture identification (100% and 98.6%, respectively).

The Exploration and Practice of Library Think Tank Construction and Think Tank Service

This paper aims to discuss the importance of library think tank construction and think tank service, and provide some practical experience and suggestions. Think tank refers to an institution that provides professional research, consultation and policy suggestions for decision makers and researchers. With the development of the information age, libraries, as one of the main carriers of information resources, should actively participate in the construction of think tanks and provide think tank services to meet the society's information needs and decision support. This paper first introduces the concept and characteristics of think tank, and then discusses the role and advantages of library as a think tank. Then, through the practical case analysis, the key elements and successful experience of think tank construction are summarized. Finally, this paper puts forward the problems and prospects that library should pay attention to in the aspect of think tank service.

Library and Information Education in the Digital Age: Students’ Expectations

In the context of an evolving digital environment of library education, it is important to study the needs and expectations of students as participants of the educational process and the direct consumers of educational services. This paper presents the results of a questionnaire survey of students studying on the specialty “Library and Information Activities” at the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts. The objective of the survey was to determine the students’ vision of new trends in educational practice and the prospects for the development of library education associated with digitalization. The study was conducted by the working group as a part of the contract research “Explore trends and ways of development of library and information education in the digital age”. The survey touched upon such research areas as a promising vector for the development of library education, students’ readiness for library activities in a digital environment, and the use of information and communication technologies in the learning process. It was found that the students consider the information and technological courses as a promising vector for the development of library education (information courses as the basis for training). In the courses taught at the Faculty of Information and Document Communications, students would like to focus on remote user service, programming, data analytics, digital technologies, neural networks, nanotechnologies, digital marketing, web design basics, the creation and design of electronic resources, the basics of working with graphic editors and other. Assessing the importance of various types of library work in the digital environment, students marked “Working with electronic catalogs and databases” as the most important one. Least of all, students consider themselves ready for the “Work to create electronic information resources” and “Work to provide access to electronic information resources”. In the process of distance learning during the epidemic COVID-19, the greatest difficulty was the increase of the workload, the complication of the learning process. Of less significance were the technical communication problems. А set of measures from the viewpoint of students to improve the quality and competitive advantages of library and information education in the digital age is defined.

Dynamics of management between special-purpose governments and privatization of public libraries

PurposeThis research focused on the management dynamics between library districts' discretion and privatization of library management. Previous research has reported conflicting effects of this dynamic. However, few studies have investigated privatization of library management by library districts. Additionally, previous research has accepted the premise that when public libraries change from general-purpose government to library districts, they will not implement privatization prior to forming districts. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether conflicting effects arise in the dynamics between library districts' discretion and privatization in library management.Design/methodology/approachTo address research gaps, an in-depth case analysis was conducted of the Jackson County Library District in Oregon, where library management has been privatized both before and after library district formation. The analysis divided the study period into three phases, which differed by legal basis and operating body. To clarify the characteristics of library management in each phase, changes in finances, staff hiring and library services were analyzed.FindingsIn Phase 1, privatization was implemented in response to the financial difficulties of the public library run by the county government. In Phase 2, the library district was formed with the aim of stabilizing revenue and securing management autonomy. During Phase 3, the library district and operating body were both operated by a private company. Although the financial resources of the library district were stable, it was unable to implement autonomous library management. This demonstrates that privatization cannot facilitate autonomous management, an advantage of library districts.Originality/valueBy investigating the conflicting effects of the dynamics between library district discretion and privatization, this research contributes to greater understanding in the fields of public management and library science.

An intelligent mobile location-aware book recommendation system that enhances problem-based learning in libraries

Despite rapid and continued adoption of mobile devices, few learning modes integrate with mobile technologies and libraries' environments as innovative learning modes that emphasize the key roles of libraries in facilitating learning. In addition, some education experts have claimed that transmitting knowledge to learners is not the only educational goal, as cultivating problem-solving skills is also essential. By integrating the problem-based learning (PBL) model with book resources in libraries, one can identify the advantages of libraries in supporting e-Learning, resulting in innovative and valuable research. Therefore, this study presents a novel intelligent mobile location-aware book recommendation system (IMLBRS) with map-based guidance to support cooperative PBL in a real-library environment. Using map navigation and book recommendation functionalities, learners can search for books associated with problem-solving with increased ease and efficiency, thereby helping learners increase their PBL performance in a library environment. Experimental results reveal that learning performance during PBL supported by the proposed IMLBRS for book searches is superior to learning performance during PBL supported by the online public access catalogue (OPAC). Experimental results also show that the proposed system facilitates better learning performance for learners with a field-dependent learning style than for learners with a field-independent learning style. Moreover, the proposed system facilitates learner contemplation, cooperative learning, and library user education as learners interact with a real-library environment and peers during cooperative PBL.

Good libraries are expensive libraries?

PurposeThe ideas surrounding which institutional attributes make for good libraries vary radically based on patron review, professional association rankings, size of overall collections, and other measures. The purpose of this article is to provide insight into argumentation for establishing how libraries gain the compliment of “good” in an increasingly digital age.Design/methodology/approachAn analysis of the general effect digital content available on the internet has on the mind of the consumer frames the debate on how libraries can be seen as both relevant and good for their communities despite being expensive.FindingsLibrary leaders always need to advocate for their services and collections, but it is only through true reflective discourse with key stakeholders and governing bodies that enlightenment on the key advantages of libraries can be found.Originality/valueLibrary popularity and use rises and falls solely based on the conscious user evaluation of collections and services. Focusing this consciousness away from the myth that all material of worth is digital and available online is the key to helping users and governing bodies understand that investments in library infrastructure, technology and (most importantly) raw collections is what makes libraries good for all.

The Analysis of Environmental Education in Library

with the increasingly serious environmental pollution, great importance is attached to the environmental education. Analyzing the necessity of environmental education, the paper explores the function and character of library to reveal the responsibility and advantages of library in environmental education. Given the fact that many problems exist in environmental education of library, this article sets up a national environmental education network by learning relative experience from Russia.

Digital Object Identifiers and Their Use in Libraries

Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) are persistent identifications that are assigned to any entity in order to manage intellectual content on digital networks. The DOI system has been managed by an open membership consortium, the International DOI Foundation (IDF), founded in 1998. Usage of the DOI system is cross-industry beyond academic publishing. This article provides an overview of what a DOI is; the structure of DOI; DOI registration agencies (RA); metadata associated with DOIs, and advantages for libraries.

Digital Object Identifiers and Their Use in Libraries

Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) are persistent identifications that are assigned to any entity in order to manage intellectual content on digital networks. The DOI system has been managed by an open membership consortium, the International DOI Foundation (IDF), founded in 1998. Usage of the DOI system is cross-industry beyond academic publishing. This article provides an overview of what a DOI is; the structure of DOI; DOI registration agencies (RA); metadata associated with DOIs, and advantages for libraries.

Report on Luton Public Library (1908)

Louis Stanley jast (1868 – 1944) was one of the most progressive and respected public librarians of his day. As Chief Librarian of Croydon, and later of Manchester, and as a writer on the advantages of libraries, he exercised a considerable influence over his contemporaries.1 In 1908 he was invited by Luton Borough Council to examine and report on the state of their public library. Luton was hardly a go-ahead library authoritY, but the Council was willing to take advice and act upon it. Luton Library had a curious history. Established by the Council in 1877, with a new building opened in 1883, the Public Libraries Acts were not adopted until 1894, by which time only a resolution of the Council was necessary. The Library relied purely on money raised from wellwishers. As a consequence the stock was small and poor, and initially only subscribers could borrow books. The first librarian, David Wootton, had been hired as a caretaker, and ‘librarianship’ was exercised by its Committee. Jast's views are clear in this report and show him well in the vanguard of contemporary library thinking. He opposed the purchasing of newspapers and the provision of separate reading rooms for ladies, and favoured open access and card catalogues, all contentious topics in their time. Within days of receiving Jast's report the Committee had applied to Andrew Carnegie for funds for a new library. This was granted, the unqualified chief librarian was dispensed with, and, in a new building, Jast's recommendations could be implemented. Luton soon had a public library to be proud of.2 Jast's printed, but previously unpublished, report is a revealing source for the history of the Edwardian public library, both as it was in reality and as it ought to be,according to one of the leading practioners of the day.

Library trust funds

Abstract The benefits for libraries of establishing trust funds to receive monies donated by public and private donors are discussed. Included are steps for establishing a legal, tax‐exempt foundation and foundation board to administer the trust fund and assist in fund raising. The advantages for libraries of a source of funds separate from the jurisdiction of city or county government are pointed out. In conclusion, the author provides a survey of a number of library foundations in communities of various sizes throughout the United States.