Chief Librarians Research Articles

Censorship issues: awareness and preparedness among university librarians

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to assess the awareness and preparedness level of the chief librarians (CLs) of the universities of Punjab and the Federal area in Pakistan concerning censorship. The study also aims to identify the preferred sources the respondents use to update their knowledge about censorship.Design/methodology/approachThe research work is based on the survey method. A questionnaire was used to collect data from the CLs of 105 universities. The collected data was analysed descriptively.FindingsThe major findings of the study are that there is a dire need to improve the awareness level of the university library CLs regarding censorship. It was also found that a majority of the CLs do have not any formal written policy to handle censorship issues. However, religion was the main cause of censorship in a majority of cases. The study also indicated that social media was the most preferred source CLs use to update their knowledge.Research limitations/implicationsThe current study covers only the CLs of universities of Punjab and the Federal area. Therefore, its findings cannot be generalized to all the library professionals of Pakistan.Practical implicationsThe study will help to understand the awareness level of CLs about censorship-related issues and provide an opportunity for university authorities to arrange training programs for the CLs to enhance their capabilities to deal with censorship issues.Originality/valueThe study will provide awareness and preparedness status of CLs regarding censorship issues.

What leadership qualities are necessary for productive librarianship? Explore coaxial traits of academic librarians in the twin cities of Pakistan

Academic libraries are experiencing significant changes, and leadership plays an essential role in successfully implementing those changes. The study analyzed the leadership practices in academic libraries in Pakistan's twin cities (Islamabad and Rawalpindi). Another important purpose of the study was to shed light on the adopted practices in decision-making and motivating staff. The qualitative research approach was used to achieve the objectives. A structured interview method was employed to collect data from twenty chief librarians or directors of university libraries in Rawalpindi and Islamabad (twin cities). A purposive sampling technique was used. Open-ended questions were used to collect the data by considering the research objectives. The consent was taken from the selected LIS professionals as prior permission for the interview. NVivo was used to analyze the data, which was then presented using thematic content analysis. The findings revealed that most university library leaders were practising and following the participatory leadership style, also known as democratic leadership.The study will create awareness among academic professionals about the adopted leadership styles and practices and the benefits that can be obtained by implementing them. It will also attract the attention of associated bodies towards this dilemma and result in a positive initiative to build leadership skills in LIS professionals. To our knowledge, no prior study has been conducted to analyze the leadership practices in academic libraries in the Twin Cities, Pakistan. This study will fill that niche.

Digital Information Literacy Skills for University Librarians in Pakistan: A Proposed Framework

This study aims to establish a comprehensive Digital Information Literacy (DIL) skills model tailored for librarians across diverse Pakistani universities. Employing content analysis, the research conducted a literature review to identify contextually relevant DIL skill statements. An expert panel evaluated a draft list of DIL skills, informing the development of a research questionnaire using a Likert scale. Chief librarians from various universities constituted the study population. Out of 160 distributed questionnaires, 132 were returned and analyzed using ANOVA. The study resulted in a DIL skill model comprising fifty-six validated and ranked skill statements, categorized into five groups: Use of Personal System (PC), Digital Tools Utilization, Ability in Digital Services, Skills in Technology Applications, and Digital Innovative Technologies. The study recommends integrating these DIL skill contents into the LIS curriculum and encourages librarians in university settings to adopt the model to enhance their proficiency in digital information literacy.

Approaches to Negotiating Change Through Evolving Library Management Styles in Australian University Libraries

A Review of:Gunapala, M., Montague, A., Reynolds, S., & Vo-Tran, H. (2020). Managing change in university libraries in the 21st century: An Australian perspective. Journal of the Australian Library and Information Association, 69(2), 191-214. https://doi.org/10.1080/24750158.2020.1756598 Objective – Investigating current change management practices to create a conceptual management framework for the 21st century. Design – Interviews using a qualitative constructivist approach. Setting – Australian university libraries. Subjects – Chief university librarians of 18 public universities out of 37 in Australia. Methods – Chief university librarians in more than half of the public university libraries in Australia were interviewed. The interviews were completed face-to-face using a semi-structured questioning approach, based on themes and concepts derived from the literature review. Observation data were also gathered through physical visits to the libraries. The data analysis was conducted using two Microsoft Excel matrices, one grouped thematically and the other populated with relevant literature review commentary when it aligned with interviewee commentary. The conceptual framework used to guide the research is made up of six fundamentals of performance improvements to effectively manage change: resources, relevance, stakeholders, strategy, government policy, and university infrastructure. The research focused on current change management practices of chief librarians as they address these issues. Main Results – The research revealed that the influence of, or the relationship between, the factors affecting changing university library environments creates a complex administrative environment where decision making addressing one of the fundamentals can have negative unintended consequences in one or more of the other key areas. The authors note that the literature and views of the informants show a change in the objectives of the future academic library characterized by, but not limited to, initiatives that are designed to meet changing needs of a diverse group of stakeholders. These objectives must be “innovative” and “add value to the university business rather than continue to do what was traditionally done” (Gunapala et al., 2020, p. 203). Conclusion – The authors profess that the study provides theoretical insight to help library leaders address the many challenges currently in place and emerging across the Australian university library landscape. They assert that the research reveals the need to shift focus from a more traditional transactional oriented model to an engagement orientated model, due to the introduction of market forces coupled with declining public funding. They conclude by claiming to provide a theoretical framework that when practically implemented will allow library leaders to successfully navigate and negotiate emerging changes across the spectrum of higher education.

Artificial intelligence application in university libraries of Pakistan: SWOT analysis and implications

PurposeThe purpose of this study Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the important emerging trends in information technology and is slowly being implemented in libraries. The researchers have presented a brief strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis of the application of AI in Pakistani university libraries.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses an ethnographic approach for data retrieval. Five chief librarians were interviewed by phone, during which they were asked to identify one key strength, weakness, opportunity and threat in terms of introducing AI technologies. The researchers have used a standard SWOT matrix to report the respondents’ comments.FindingsAI is already slowly being introduced into Pakistani university libraries. While commenting on ways in which AI could help their libraries deliver more innovative services and better meet user needs, respondents expressed concern about the investment required in funding, time and staff.Research limitations/implicationsFurther study is indicated to identify existing AI implementations in Pakistani university libraries and to assess relevant library users’ perspectives. This study is limited to brief, qualitative data; its main purpose is to validate the use of a SWOT analysis.Practical implicationsGiven that AI-based tools are already being used in libraries to some degree regardless of location, now is an opportune time to develop strategies for implementing AI technologies more widely. A SWOT analysis can be used to identify and categorize challenges and risks specific to AI in a logical way to support strategic decision-making.Originality/valueTo date, no SWOT analysis has been conducted in the context of AI applications in libraries, let alone specifically university libraries in Pakistan.

Work and Progress Together to Create a Reading Paradise for High Schools

During 1990s, traditional senior high school education encountered challenges of social transitions, information explosion while entering a learning-oriented society. Educational reforms and policies were conducted and enforced nation-wide. School libraries was situated in a turning edge to cope with the education reforms. Two major projects have impacted heavily on the development of high school (including vocational high schools) librarianship. One was the subsidy for collection development from the Ministry of Education that enriched the high schools’ library holdings, the other one was the establishment of “The Senior High School Library Guidance Committee (SHSLGC)”. SHSLGC consists of scholars of Library and Information Science Education, educational administrators, and selected high school library directors. The SHSGC Team started consulting jobs by selecting high school libraries as demonstrative models in different regions of the Island, conducting library symposiums, having published “The Handbook for Senior High School Libraries”, hosting forums for high school principals and chief librarians, establishing professional courses for chief librarians, and paying on-site visits to high school libraries around the Island. The on-site visits created inter-library cooperation and exchange of professional experiences among high schools and vocational high schools.
 Efforts continued and when the “ Library Law” was effected in year of 2002, SHSLGC gained its legal stands and became a regular organization to officially provide its services to senior school libraries. In addition to its original services 2 during the years, SHSLGC expanded its services to conduct researches on current-status of senior school libraries, posting e-Paper on the Internet, composing a high school e-learning data bank, helping high school libraries to delivery services to communities. This paper addresses the development of SHSLGC, the history, milestones, the implementation, and its impact as well.

Provision of library services to visually impaired persons in Central University Libraries of North India

The paper examines provision of library and information services to the visually impaired persons in Central University libraries of North India. It looks into the various issues that are involved in the provision of library and information services to the visually impaired students in the libraries. The study employed survey method of research and data was collected from chief librarians of six central university libraries namely, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jawaharlal Nehru University, University of Delhi, Aligarh Muslim University, Banaras Hindu University and Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University by using a structured questionnaire. Findings revealed that all the libraries have provision of services to visually impaired persons but there is a lack of dedicated budget and accessibility policy for such users in the libraries. Aligarh Muslim University Library has the highest collection of braille books and daisy books followed by Delhi University library. Services such as audio book recording, transcription service and scanning assistance are available in most of the libraries. Further, it is revealed that the libraries of JNU and BBAU are fully accessible to the visually impaired persons, while the other university libraries lack some such arrangements. However basic facilities such as ramps and accessible washrooms are available in all the libraries. The study also revealed the barriers faced by the librarians in providing the special services to visually impaired persons. It is found that inadequate funds is the major barrier in provision of library services to visually impaired persons followed by the lack of reading materials in accessible format and lack of trained staff to serve such users.

Formation and Open Access of Institutional Electronic Research Corners for Promotion of Communication Facilities and Quality Research

Indian higher education institutions (HEIs) are struggling hard to get a berth among top-rated HEIs in the world. One of the important parameters that restrict our HEIs from the list of top-notch global HEIs is ‘contribution to research’. It does not mean that Indian HEIs don’t have quality researchers to produce world class research output. Had that been the case, Indian researchers doing research abroad would not have done miracles with their unique research output in varied domains. The hindrance for researchers in India could be owing to improper communication facility that fails to exchange ideas and outcomes of research among peers. Thus, the urge for formation of sound institutional electronic repositories, i.e., electronic research corners (e-research corners) has crop up. Mere formation of e-research corners won’t suffice to address the issue. Besides formation, e-research corners need to be open accessed. University Grants Commission (UGC) of India has established an Inter-University Center called Information and Library Network Center (Inflibnet), which is the best example of open access institutional repositories. While some HEIs of India do have their research corners that are accessed by only the internal stakeholders, some other HEIs don’t have any such repositories as such. On the backdrop of the necessity of formation and open access of institutional electronic repositories, this paper focuses on unfolding how open access to sound e-research corners promote quality education. Besides, it will also design a framework that will assist the HEIs to build sound e-research centers. For the purpose, in-depth interviews will be conducted with 50 researchers working in reputed HEIs in Bhubaneswar to ascertain how open access e-research centers facilitate quality research. Focus Group Discussion will also be conducted among experts in the field like research heads of selected HEIs, Chief Librarians of established Libraries and reputed educationists of the State for designing the framework to form e-research centers. The findings of this research will help in communicating ideas and findings of researchers to all the corners that matter for quality research.

Public libraries, arts and cultural policy in the UK

PurposePublic libraries in the UK are increasingly expected to provide arts activities and events as part of their usual operations. The purpose of this paper is to summarise recent policy trends in this direction from both the perspective of libraries’ and the arts sector. A touring theatre project aimed at children and families is discussed in further detail to examine some of the outcomes of these policies.Design/methodology/approachThe paper will present a brief history of policy developments and debate in this area. Mixed method findings from the research element of “Among Ideal Friends” will be discussed, having used surveys and interviews with audiences and librarians, geodemographic profiling, box office records and library card data.FindingsPublic funding across both libraries and the arts has decreased at a national and local level, though both sectors are encouraged to work together to share expertise and community knowledge.Research limitations/implicationsThe primary funding for the project was an arts funding body. While a holistic approach to evaluation was taken, this limited any specific focus that might have been given to educational outcomes or cost-benefit analysis compared to other interventions.Practical implicationsPublic libraries can see the results and challenges of a successful regional touring theatre project for consideration in their own activity planning, especially those related to families and younger users.Social implicationsLibraries and Arts organisations have different priorities in regards to these areas. Though co-operative, the situation is not without tension. The topic is illustrative of some wider debates around cultural value, everyday participation and cultural democracy.Originality/valueThis paper offers a timely discussion of cultural policy in relation to libraries, e.g. The Society of Chief Librarians “Universal Cultural Offer” (October 2017).

‘The Supposed Paradise of Pen and Ink’: Self-education and Social Mobility in the London Public Library (1880–1930)

ABSTRACTBorrowing from prosopography, collective biography, sociology and genealogy, this article describes the ‘bookish’ workplace experiences of 90 chief and deputy public librarians to revisit debates around the upwardly mobile metropolitan lower middle class in the long nineteenth century. It finds that the border between the manual and white-collar classes was more easily (and enduringly) breached than previously supposed. It also suggests that those moving from the former group to the latter retained elements of their ‘working class’ origins and character across the late-Victorian period. These discoveries complicate historical assessments of the lower middles, but support sociological surveys that propose more fluid and open class borders from the mid-nineteenth century.

Academic Library Leaders’ Challenges, Difficulties and Skills: An Analysis of Common Experiences

Abstract The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of academic library leaders of Pakistan about library leadership. Qualitative research design was used with phenomenology approach as the present study aims to investigate what library leaders commonly perceive to be challenges, fundamental difficulties and needed skills to be successful. Data were collected through in-depth interviews from 15 senior academic library leaders. Major challenges found were identity crises followed by communication issues, financial constraints, CPD and administrative issues. The most challenging aspects of being an academic library leader were identified as trying to create awareness, lack of self-development culture and technological issues. The required leadership skills were communication, vision, social interaction, team building, organisational understanding and knowledge sharing. The findings of the study are helpful for current, young and future chief librarians to understand the challenges they may face and to develop the leadership skills needed to cope with these challenges. The study will also be helpful to academic institutions during their recruitment processes; professional associations for training purposes; and library schools for arranging and offering leadership courses.

Implementing knowledge management in university libraries of Punjab, Pakistan

PurposeKnowledge management (KM) is an emerging method of management. This study aims to explore the various aspects of implementing KM in university libraries of Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachA survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire, and data were collected from 75 chief librarians and reference librarians of 48 university libraries of Pakistan. A total of 60 valid responses received and analyzed using SPSS version-21.FindingsThe results disclose that a majority of respondents are familiar with KM, and literature reading is the major source of their awareness. The Pakistani academic librarians believe that KM can be applied, in the reference services, resources sharing, networking and information literacy programs of libraries. While, need for professional training and KM education are also reported. KM can be implemented in libraries through, use of ICT, developing knowledge sharing culture and developing mentorship in organizations. A lack of staff training, lack of expertise in KM, lack of knowledge gaining and sharing culture, lack of understanding of KM concept and its benefits and a lack of IT infrastructure are the major challenges faced by library and information science (LIS) professionals. Communication skills, information management skills, IT skills, leadership skills, human resource management skills are identified as key skills for the implementation of KM.Practical implicationsThis study provides a base to develop a KM strategy and implementation plan for academic libraries in Pakistan. It will facilitate to constitute an important step toward the management of intangible assets in Pakistani libraries.Originality/valueThe results of the study will unveil the perceptions of academic librarians toward KM. It will help to understand the relationship between KM and LIS. The study will also identify the challenges faced by librarians and skills required for the implementation of KM in libraries.

"ЗАБУТИЙ ДИРЕКТОР" (О.А. НАЗАРЕВСЬКИЙ І БІБЛІОТЕКА КИЇВСЬКОГО УНІВЕРСИТЕТУ В 1920-Х – НА ПОЧАТКУ 1930-Х РОКІВ)

The history of Kyiv university library of the educational experiments period (from 1920 to beginning 1930th) is presented in this article. The research is based on archived materials. The author described structures, the main directions of work and ways of library funds refill. The basic obstacles of the normal functioning of library are found out in an indicated period. Information about the chief librarians of the 1920s – 1930s was specified. The term of work of V. Kordt in the Kiev Institute of Public Education was specified, his successors are indicated. Main attention is paid to the difficult period of 1925-1929, related to the library reorganization, allocation of a significant part of funds and transfer of them to the National Library of Ukraine and other educational and scientific institutions of Ukraine. The activity of О. Nazarevskyi on the post of library director has been analyzed. It was accentuated the efforts that had been made by the administration of institute and Nazarevskyi as a senior librarian for the purpose of decreasing the negative consequences of library funds distribution during the second half of 1920th.

Are community-managed libraries effective?

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the effectiveness of community-managed libraries (CMLs) in England. It traces their history and considers the evidence base in respect of their effectiveness.Design/methodology/approachThrough quantitative research (web surveys) with volunteers and chief librarians, the study establishes: the range of services being delivered; the perceived need for and extent of training given to volunteers; the criteria through which public library effectiveness can be measured, and the extent to which CMLs are able to deliver against these criteria.FindingsThe study found widespread variation in the range of services offered and the extent of training received. Further, it found significant differences of opinion and priorities between the research groups in respect of the relative importance of various effectiveness criteria and the ability of CMLs to deliver against these criteria. The evidence from this study points to a fragmented and inconsistent network of volunteer delivered libraries. A key reason is the variation in approach and level of support from local authorities. The paper concludes that the lack of national standards and consistently applied professional advice could be contributing to this variation and points to the Welsh Public Libraries approach, based on their standards framework, as a model that could be replicated.Originality/valueThese findings have implications for policy makers in respect of the case made for the reintroduction of a standard/quality framework to reduce service variability. The findings will also be of value to local authorities that are considering implementing a community-managed library model.

2016 top trends and issues in Jamaican academic libraries

PurposeBiennially, the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL), a division of the American Library Association, publishes a report on the top trends and issues affecting academic libraries in higher education. Harris (2016) used the trends and issues reported by the ACRL to inform a document and thematic analysis of publications written on Jamaican academic librarianship 2010-2016, to investigate the trends and issues in Jamaican academic librarianship. Harris’ (2016) paper however noted that a survey of the chief librarian in each library, regarding their perceptions of the trends and issues would be a useful follow-up to her study, and cited this as a limitation/implication of her paper. The purpose of this paper is to address the above limitation and is therefore the follow-up to Harris’ (2016) paper.Design/methodology/approachThe chief librarians in five of the six local university libraries were surveyed to provide insights into the trends and issues in Jamaican academic libraries at the university level.FindingsAcquisitions, budget, staffing, communicating value, digital preservation and curation, mobile environment, collaboration, scholarly communication, information technology, space, higher education, user behaviour and expectations and information literacy are the top trends and issues in Jamaican academic libraries at the university level.Research limitations/implicationsThis survey seeks to complement rather than contest Harris’ (2016) research. Perhaps a useful follow-up to both papers would be biennial updates. Additionally, a survey of the trends and issues in all types of academic libraries throughout the English-speaking Caribbean would be a useful follow-up.Originality/valueThis paper is of value, as it is the first survey of trends and issues in Jamaican academic librarianship. It enriches the existing document and thematic analytical research on trends and issues in Jamaican academic libraries by adding an empirical component. It also increases the number of publications, on trends and issues in Jamaican academic librarianship, from one to two, and allows voices from the English-speaking Caribbean (Jamaica) to be incorporated into the literature dedicated to trends and issues in academic libraries.

Facilities and Services of the Career Information Centres of Public Libraries in Karnataka: A Study

The paper focuses on the various information services being offered by the competitive examination and career information centres of the public libraries in Karnataka. Altogether, there are 27 competitive examination and career information centres attached to the city central libraries in Karnataka which are catering to the information needs of youths who appear for competitive examinations and also seek job opportunities. The study has also covered aspects pertaining to the library infrastructure facilities being extended to the users of the centres. The responses pertaining to the facilities and services have been elucidated from the chief librarians of the public libraries through the questionnaire method.

Trends and issues in Jamaican academic libraries 2010-2016

Purpose Observing trends and issues plays a key role in the success of any industry. Since 2010, the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) has been publishing papers on top trends and issues in academic libraries in the USA, allowing for reflection, tracking, lesson drawing, adaptation, planning and direction. Such a publication is absent in the Jamaican library industry. This paper aims to examine the extent to which these trends and issues, as reported by ACRL, are evident in Jamaican academic librarianship. Design/methodology/approach Through document and thematic analysis of publications written on Jamaican academic librarianship 2010-2016, this paper highlights trends and issues in Jamaican academic librarianship. Findings There are similarities in the trends and issues in Jamaican academic librarianship and American academic librarianship; the similarities sometimes vary, however, in focus. Additionally, there are trends and issues in Jamaican academic librarianship not mentioned in the literature reviewed on American academic librarianship and vice versa. Research limitations/implications A survey of the chief librarians’ perceptions regarding the trends and issues would be a useful follow-up. Practical implications This paper allows for reflection, comparison, benchmarking, lesson-drawing, planning and direction for academic libraries and other types of libraries in Jamaica and the rest of the developing world. Social implications The gaps highlighted, particularly those with the most potential, can be discussed with the objective of exploring how these can be translated into new or revised services for the community of users. Originality/value This paper is of value, as there is no publication with an explicit focus on trends and issues in Jamaican academic libraries; this paper will be the first publication on trends and issues in Jamaican academic librarianship. In this regard, this paper makes an important contribution to the literature on academic librarianship generally, and to the literature on Caribbean and Jamaican academic librarianship, specifically.

Asian/Pacific Librarians Career Choices: A Mixed Method Study

This is a mixed method study of Asian/Pacificlibrarians career choices related to leadershippositions. The statistical analyses are based ondata from 91 librarians in survey Q1 distributedto 600+ CALA and APALA members. Thecorrelation, prediction of association, cross-tabbing,and ANOVA tests were applied to the survey.The result shows that the leadership position iscorrelated with number of years worked in thelibrary profession, number of publications,number of voluntary job changes, and nationalprofessional association’s involvement. Therewas a suggested correlation between leadershippositions and additional advanced degrees andover half of librarians with a doctoral degree arein chief librarian positions. The study also nullifiesthe hypothesis that achieving leadership position is less likely for first generation immigrants orimmigrants who did not receive k-12 orundergraduate education in the North America.In addition, the differences in professional,community, and political involvement areexamined among professional librarians,supervising librarians and chief librarians.The comments from the quantitative surveyQ1 contain rich data which can’t be interpretedby existing statistical methods. The Q1 commentsbecame the first section of a follow-up qualitativestudy using situation coding and subjectperspective coding method. A separate qualitativesurvey Q2 was sent to 12 Asian/Pacific chieflibrarians only. Eight chief librarians completedQ2 covering biographical information andin-depth questions on perceptions of leadershipachievement gap among Asian/Pacific Americanlibrarians. Comparison of comments of Q1for professional librarians and Q2 for chieflibrarians suggested many similar themesemerged. The triangulation from differentAsian/Pacific librarian population validatedthe finding.

Perceived factors influencing the choice of leadership styles of heads of academic libraries in Delta State

The study is on perceived factors influencing heads of libraries’ choice of leadership styles in academic libraries in Delta State. The design for this study is descriptive survey design. The population of the study consisted of 75 librarians. No sample was used because the population was small. The questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection. Findings revealed that generally, all the items on perceived factors influencing heads of libraries’ leadership styles were accepted. The highest mean score recorded is 3.88 representing the position power a leader has (a leader with a relatively strong and stable position); female respondents were more favourably disposed towards the perceived factors influencing heads of libraries choice of leadership styles; there is a significant difference between male and female librarians on choice of perceived factors influencing their leadership styles. It was recommended that since librarians are aware of the factors, chief librarians should be mindful of the way they go about the influencing process so as to get positive attitude from staff. Keywords: leadership styles, academic libraries, choice of leadership styles, heads of libraries, leadership behaviour

Decolonization, Language, and Identity: The Francophone Islands of the Pacific

This article is both an introduction to this special issue of The Contemporary Pacific and a more general reflection about francophone research in the Pacific Islands and about their cultures and populations. The common topic of the essays selected here is the difficulty of maintaining an indigenous identity within the French colonial system in the French or francophone islands of the Pacific (New Caledonia, French Polynesia, and Wallis and Futuna). Four contributions from contemporary scholars of New Caledonia and French Polynesia bring their research on the cultural, social, and political struggles of their interlocutors to better visibility for a broad, largely anglophone audience in Pacific studies. The Resources section, produced by the chief librarians of the University of New Caledonia and the University of French Polynesia, provides a very useful overview of bibliographic and research materials about these two territories. Putting things in broader perspective, this introduction discusses what may be a common denominator in research work produced by francophone scholars that makes it distinctly different from the work of Anglophones. As well, it raises the epistemological issue of the political commitment of researchers born in the francophone Pacific Islands or living there on a permanent basis.