Library Community Research Articles

Exploring the utilisation of ChatGPT in academic libraries: a self-reflection perspective

Rationale of Study – Exploring the utilisation of ChatGPT in academic libraries, with a focus on ChatGPT's views, not only addresses immediate concerns within the library community but also advances an understanding of the evolving relationship between artificial intelligence and information services in contemporary society.Methodology – The study focused on the unique perspectives or viewpoints of ChatGPT itself. The main objective of the study was to explore ChatGPT's selfawareness and understanding of its role within the academic library context, including its perception of challenges, limitations, and contributions in facilitating information access and user support. The principal theory for this research study was grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), which proposed that the perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness of technology are critical determinants of users' intentions to adopt and use that technology.Findings – The findings revealed that ChatGPT demonstrated an understanding of its function in this context, enhancing the user experience, addressing information queries, and navigating the diverse needs of library patrons. It acknowledged both its contributions and limitations. It recognised challenges in facilitating information access and user support, indicating a nuanced understanding of its role in assisting library patrons.Implications – This research contributes to the field of library and information science and offers insights into the broader implications of incorporating AI in information service settings.Originality – The study is one of the few exploring the perspectives on how it can help improve library services.

Made Free and Thrown Open to the Public: Community Libraries in Pennsylvania from the Colonial Era through World War II

Made Free and Thrown Open to the Public: Community Libraries in Pennsylvania from the Colonial Era through World War II

The Ponto de Partida Group: Theatre and Music unite Communities in a Restored Silk Factory in Barbacena

Based on concepts from Nogueira and Cruz, Bezelga, and Menezes, this article examines the practices of the theatre group which is based in a former silk factory in Barbacena, helping to make these listed buildings sustainable. After the factory closed government agencies took over the buildings. However, in the 1990s, the buildings were unoccupied until taken over by the Ponto de Partida Group in 1998. To restore the deactivated industrial heritage, the group involved the community of Barbacena in fund-raising and competitions, moving into Pavilion 1 in 2004. After the restoration of Pavilion 2, Bituca Music University was opened there, a tribute to the musician Milton Nascimento. Finally, the group established a community library in Pavilion 3.

Pasar Rebo Street Library Community Alternative Education Empowerment Model for School Out-of-School Children

The problem of dropping out of school experienced by students in Kampung Tengah, East Jakarta raised the social concern of the Pasar Rebo Street Library Community to Apply the concept of empowerment throught alternatie education activities as an effort to overcome the phenomenon of students dropping out of school. This research aims to describe the internal and external factors causing dropouts, the alternative education empowerment model and the supporting and inhibiting factors in its implementation. This research uses descriptive qualitative method with purposive sampling technique to determine informants. Data were collected throught interviews, observation and documentation. The data were analyzed using structural functionalism theory, specifically Talcott Parsons’ AGIL concept and Max Weber’s Social Action theory. The results show that the internal factor that causes children to drop out of school is the desire of children to help parents work, while the external factor is the lack of parental attention to children’s education. There are five alternative education empowerment models carried out by the Pasar Rebo Street Library Community, namely the history model of the formation of teaching staff, the book collection model for teaching materials, the student data colletction model, the student classification model and the altenative education learning model. Supporting factors in alternative education activites are motivation, commitment and a supportive environment, while the inhibiting factors are the time of organizing activities, the inconsistency of some teaching staff, and the lack of interest in learning from some students. Based on the results of the research, alternative education activities carried out by the Pasar Rebo Street Library Community for school dropouts in Kampung Tengah, East Jakarta are included in the concept of empowerment, where students are given learning, knowledge and knowledge like in formal education, and there are plans to create PKBM so that students get proof of learning or diplomas.

The Fr John Wall Community Library

The Fr John Wall Community Library

Application of ChatGPT in Information Literacy Instructional Design

Recent developments in generative artificial intelligence tools have prompted immediate reactions in the academic library community. While most studies focus on the potential impact on academic integrity, this work explored constructive applications of ChatGPT in the design of instructional materials for courses in academic information literacy. The starting point was the use of openly licenced information resources or content infrastructure as facilitators in the creation of educational materials. In the first phase, course teaching material was developed using a prompt engineering strategy, predefined standards, and a prompt script. As a second step, we experimented with designing a custom chatbot model connected to a pre-defined corpus of source documents. The results demonstrated that the final teaching material required careful revision and optimisation before use in an actual instructional programme. The experimental design of the custom chatbot was able to query specific user-defined documents. Taken together, these findings suggest that the strategic and well-planned use of ChatGPT technology in content creation can have substantial benefits in terms of time and cost efficiency. In the context of information literacy, the results provide a practical and innovative solution to integrate the new technology tool into instructional practices.

Evaluating the WISE (Women in the South-East) Telehealth Network: A Model of Healthcare and Health Promotion at Rural Libraries.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the WISE (Women in the South-East) Telehealth Network. A follow-up survey design was used to determine the impact of the program on access to healthcare. WISE provided preventive care to women and gender expansive people at local libraries and the Mobile Library in the rural South Carolina Lowcountry. In 1year (February 2021-2022), WISE reached 523 individuals with 151 agreeing to participate in the study. Most participants identified as white (66%) or Black (22%). A Community Health Worker provided health education, connection to telehealth services, referrals, and connected individuals with community and social services. The Telehealth Usability Questionnaire (TUQ), changes in knowledge, satisfaction with WISE, Acceptability of Intervention measure (AIM), and sociodemographic characteristics. Participants with a high telehealth usability score were significantly more likely to be under the age of 35 (OR 4.60 [95% CI 1.21-17.52]), married (OR 10.00 [95% CI 2.19-45.64]), or white (OR 4.00 [95% CI 1.06-15.08]). The intervention earned a high acceptability score 4.46 (± .61)/5.0 by helping participants obtain necessary medical care and resources, as well as meeting their educational needs. This study offers practical suggestions to expand the use of telehealth initiatives to improve health outcomes by engaging libraries in rural communities.

Library in the Space of Social Transformations: Preservation of Cultural Heritage and Challenges of Digitalization

The purpose of the article is to reveal, in the genre of a personal interview, the opinion of the Director General of the Russian State Library, V.V. Duda, about the challenges that cultural heritage institutions face today, without which it is impossible to form the identity of the peoples of Russia. The peculiarity of the current moment lies not only in the need to perform its traditional function of collecting, preserving and making available the books and documents stored in the library, but also in modernization, taking into account the possibilities of digitalization, acceleration of traditional processes, diversity of services and increasing the level of comfort in serving users.The use of the interview method has certain advantages in the context of social transformation, as it is essentially a method of qualitative analysis of the situation. Targeted questions focus on specific areas of the library’s activities in the development of artificial intelligence, digital bibliography, the importance of constant contact and discourse between humanities scholars and IT staff. What kind of specialists should work in a library today, what should be the system of library staff training, how and what can help libraries in new territories, how to be creative but remain on the foundation of traditional values and creativity — these and other questions were echoed in V.V. Duda’s answers.It is important to emphasize the need to unite the efforts of the library community within the framework of the Russian Library Association, to increase its organizational role and project activity in solving the state task of developing the country’s intellectual capital.

Library in the Space of Social Transformations: Preservation of Cultural Heritage and Challenges of Digitalization

The purpose of the article is to reveal, in the genre of a personal interview, the opinion of the Director General of the Russian State Library, V.V. Duda, about the challenges that cultural heritage institutions face today, without which it is impossible to form the identity of the peoples of Russia. The peculiarity of the current moment lies not only in the need to perform its traditional function of collecting, preserving and making available the books and documents stored in the library, but also in modernization, taking into account the possibilities of digitalization, acceleration of traditional processes, diversity of services and increasing the level of comfort in serving users.The use of the interview method has certain advantages in the context of social transformation, as it is essentially a method of qualitative analysis of the situation. Targeted questions focus on specific areas of the library’s activities in the development of artificial intelligence, digital bibliography, the importance of constant contact and discourse between humanities scholars and IT staff. What kind of specialists should work in a library today, what should be the system of library staff training, how and what can help libraries in new territories, how to be creative but remain on the foundation of traditional values and creativity — these and other questions were echoed in V.V. Duda’s answers.It is important to emphasize the need to unite the efforts of the library community within the framework of the Russian Library Association, to increase its organizational role and project activity in solving the state task of developing the country’s intellectual capital.

Content of Regional Library Communities on the VKontakte Social Network

Social networks are one of the platforms for posting official content and interacting with users, as well as providing remote access to information resources. The purpose of analyzing the content of communities in the VKontakte social network of the Oryol regional libraries (public, children’s and special) was to identify the structure and typology of communities, their characteristic features, and types of labels. The reason for choosing the accounts of regional libraries as the object of research was the social function they perform: regional libraries are the flagships of the development of the library system of a certain territory. The popularity of publications in communities was measured using the Engagement Rate coefficient. A direct correlation has been revealed between the type of publication and its popularity: the more popular the publication, the more publications of this type are posted in the community. For more effective functioning of library communities, it is necessary to develop a content plan that is based on the theory of management and marketing of social networks.

Librarians’ attitudes toward library’s roles in environmental sustainability

The library community has been committed to environmental sustainability. The Green Library Movement calls for libraries to green their building, operation, and services. The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) calls for libraries to actively contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in which environmental sustainability was one of the three aspects of sustainability in addition to social and economic sustainability. The American Library Association (ALA) has also added sustainability as one of the core values of librarianship. However, previous research identified a gap between librarians’ perceived importance of environmental sustainability and the actual practices adopted in their libraries that contribute to environmental sustainability. This current study focuses on examining librarians’ attitudes toward the roles of libraries in environmental sustainability advocated by IFLA and ALA by surveying librarians from California, Florida, and Georgia identified from the state library association listservs and the individual library websites. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and the Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial analysis. Findings from this study will add to the understanding of the previously identified gap by comprehending the roles that librarians identify with regarding libraries’ contribution to environmental sustainability. The findings will also inform professional organizations on what support their members might need the most in promoting environmental sustainability in society and community. Lastly, the findings could inform curricular development for Library and Information Studies programs interested in preparing librarians with environmental awareness.

Investigating the role of human resource management practices on employee performance through PLS-SEM approach: a case study of academic libraries in India

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the association between select human resource management practices and employee performance in academic libraries in India. Design/methodology/approach The current study uses the quantitative method of research. Partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyse the results. The current study uses a cross-sectional approach by using a convenient sampling method. The sample size of the study was 163, which was adequate for conducting PLS-SEM analysis. Findings The study found a significant positive correlation between human resource management practices and employee performance in academic libraries. This suggests that the implementation of effective human resource management practices has a beneficial impact on various aspects of employee performance. Research limitations/implications The study’s cross-sectional design may limit the ability to establish causality or determine the direction of the relationship between human resource management practices and employee performance. The study may have limitations regarding the sample size and its representativeness. If the sample is small or limited to specific academic libraries in India, it may not be possible to generalise the findings to a broader population of academic libraries in the country or to libraries in other regions or countries. Practical implications The study has practical implications for academic libraries in India. By recognising the significant correlation between human resource management practices and employee performance, libraries can prioritise the implementation of effective human resource management strategies. This includes aligning human resources practices with organisational goals, focusing on employee development and engagement and adopting best practices in recruitment, training and performance management. Social implications This study can have broader social implications by promoting a supportive and productive work culture that positively impacts the academic library community. Originality/value The paper focuses on a quite important and largely unexplored area of human resource management within the academic libraries sector.

EPDFpy: A Python-based interactive GUI tool for electron pair distribution function analysis of amorphous materials

ePDFpy is an interactive analysis program with a graphical user interface (GUI), designed to process the electron Pair Distribution Function (PDF) analysis of diffraction patterns from Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), to identify the local atomic structure of amorphous materials. The program offers a user-friendly Python-based interface, providing a straightforward and adaptable workflow for PDF analysis. Various optimization and fitting processes were implemented to accurately reduce the electron diffraction data, including center-fitting and elliptical correction of diffraction data. An improved parameter-estimation feature is available to enhance the efficiency of the fitting process, along with an interactive GUI. ePDFpy will be freely distributed for academic purposes, with additional features, including a beam mask drawing module. Program summaryProgram Title: ePDFpyCPC Library link to program files:https://doi.org/10.17632/sym3sfnh7w.1Developer's repository link:https://github.com/GWlab-SKKU/ePDFpyLicensing provisions: GNU GPLv3Programming language: PythonNature of problem: The general process of pair distribution function analysis consists of two major steps: image process on diffraction pattern and fitting appropriate parameters. Both of the procedures are affected by the user's proficiency, which can be responsible for producing inconsistent results and inefficiency. Thus, accurate calculation methods along with fully automated feature are required to enhance the quality of the analysis result.Solution method: ePDFpy offers an unbiased automated image process based on a computer vision algorithm to produce the consistent output of intensity profiles from diffraction patterns. In addition, converting the data structures into a multi-dimensional array enables efficient multi-parameter fitting features by performing parallel computation. All of these features are accomplished using various open-source libraries in the Python community, along with an interactive GUI.

Generating Molecular Fragmentation Graphs with Autoregressive Neural Networks.

The accurate prediction of tandem mass spectra from molecular structures has the potential to unlock new metabolomic discoveries by augmenting the community's libraries of experimental reference standards. Cheminformatic spectrum prediction strategies use a "bond-breaking" framework to iteratively simulate mass spectrum fragmentations, but these methods are (a) slow due to the need to exhaustively and combinatorially break molecules and (b) inaccurate as they often rely upon heuristics to predict the intensity of each resulting fragment; neural network alternatives mitigate computational cost but are black-box and not inherently more accurate. We introduce a physically grounded neural approach that learns to predict each breakage event and score the most relevant subset of molecular fragments quickly and accurately. We evaluate our model by predicting spectra from both public and private standard libraries, demonstrating that our hybrid approach offers state-of-the-art prediction accuracy, improved metabolite identification from a database of candidates, and higher interpretability when compared to previous breakage methods and black-box neural networks. The grounding of our approach in physical fragmentation events shows especially great promise for elucidating natural product molecules with more complex scaffolds.

MENINGKATKAN MINAT BACA ANAK-ANAK DI DESA SILIWANGI

Reading gardens (community library) are one of the factors that can foster an interest reading in children. The low interest in reading in children is on of the obstacles to the lack of desire and willingness of children to read. In an effort to foster an interest in reading in children, a student helped by establishing a reading garden in a village, Pelawan distric, Sarolangun distric. Learning to read will not achieve satisfactory result for children if it is only carried out by reading. Textbooks only provide specific, narrow, and limited experience in certain fielsd or subjects. While children in their development really need broader experiences so they can see further into their world. Therefore, students prepare or provide places and books that suit the needs of children’s reading interest. In this case, the reading garden has a strategic role, especially in supporting efforts to build a childern’s reading culture. For that, reading gardens must be managedso that they are able to support efforts to foster children’s reading interests and awareness that books are a source of knowledge.

Impact of Predatory Journal Publishing on Scholarly Practices among Academic Librarians in Nigeria: A Systematic Review of Literature

The rise of predatory publishing poses a concerning trend among academics, including librarians, in Nigeria. This study explores the essential aspects and consequences of predatory publishing within the realm of Nigerian academic librarians. It delineates the characteristics of predatory publishers and journals, shedding light on their subtle methods of enticing unwitting authors. The discussion navigates the intricate dimensions of predatory publishing and its detrimental impacts on research and scholarship within the librarian community. Emphasizing the devastating effects on the future of research and scholarship, the paper concludes by presenting intervention strategies and urging relevant authorities in Nigeria to take proactive measures in curtailing predatory publishing, particularly among academic librarians. The paper recommends that academic libraries and librarians should lead the awareness campaign, and individual institutions should organize periodic seminars and workshops on the consequences of predatory publishing.

Prejudice but no pride: The Portuguese Universal Decimal Classification’s labelling of sexual orientation

Critical cataloguing aims to study cases of social injustice, misrepresentation, negative biases, offensive terminologies, and hegemonic and oppressive hierarchical structures in the representation of communities and identities in knowledge organization systems. The aim of this study is to provide a critical analysis of the representation of sexual orientation in the Portuguese Universal Decimal Classification, grounded in a qualitative content analysis method. The results show that the principle of exhaustiveness does not manifest itself in the representation of sexual orientation. The absence of the term ‘heterosexuality’ mirrors the heteronormative hegemony, while the minoritization of ‘lesbianism’, but not of ‘male homosexuality’, reflects the patriarchal hegemony. The representation of sexual orientation carries the historical pathologization of sexual orientations other than heterosexuality. The Portuguese Universal Decimal Classification conveys negative biases and misrepresents sexual orientation in a way that is irreconcilable with present-day reality. Critical thinking must be encouraged within the library community and the Universal Decimal Classification should be promptly revised and updated.

Improvement in the Energy Efficiency Label level – PBE Edifica: Case Study of the Community Library of the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) – São Paulo - Brazil

This article describes the application of a method of environmental certification of buildings used in Brazil and named as Brazilian Labelling Program PBE–Edifica. The method was developed by Procel, National Electric Energy Conservation Program, which confers, four Labels of the Energy Efficiency levels of a building, covering the Envelope; the Lighting System; the Indoor Air Conditioning; and the building Overall, which includes all previous levels and bonuses. The levels and scope of the Label apply both in the design phase and after construction or existing building in accordance with the Technical Quality Regulation for the Level of Energy Efficiency for Commercial, Service and Public Buildings, RTQ-C. The efficiency level ranges from A to E, where A is the most efficient and E the least efficient. The method also considers Bonuses that allow improvements in the Overall Classification efficiency. Thus, the objective of the research carried out was to identify the classification of the level of energy efficiency of an existing building on the campus of the Federal University of São Carlos, the Community Library, called BCo, Brazil built in 1995 with an area of 6,947.48 m2. The guidelines of the PBE Edifica using the prescriptive method were applied, and the characterization of the level of energy efficiency was carried out based on data obtained from plans and technical drawings of the building, and through a technical visit to obtain the data for entry into an application, WebPrescriptive. To obtain specific information about the wall's thermal transmittance and roof solar absorbance the PROJETEE application was used. All information processed so the building obtained an Overall classification C. For envelope and lighting level E, and air conditioning level B. To improve the level of efficiency, through bonuses, improvements in the lighting system and the elevator were suggested, resulting in level B for both Lighting and Overall efficiency. Notice that the building, due to its design and construction system does not have the conditions to reach level A of efficiency. In conclusion, we would like to point out that it is feasible to submit the building to the formal labelling process, since the proposed improvements resulted in an Overall Energy Efficiency Rating B. As a contribution for EFFICACY Project, some guidelines to be considered for buildings rehabilitation will be stated, as simulation of thermal insulation in facades and others improvements.

Educational Continuity in Emergencies: The Role of Offline Digital Libraries in Under-Connected Communities

Aim/Purpose: This article explores the critical need for adaptable educational models in times of crisis, focusing on strategies to overcome infrastructural and digital inequalities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Background: By examining a case study of an offline digital library project implemented in South Sudan, this paper seeks to examine the impact of an offline digital educational solution for low-resource and crisis situations. Methodology: The authors utilize a mixed-methods approach, integrating both qualitative interviews and quantitative data analysis, to evaluate the use and impact of the SolarSPELL Initiative’s offline digital libraries in South Sudan. Contribution: This study contributes to our understanding of digital and information literacy within crisis contexts, highlighting the vital role of localized, offline content. Findings: The findings demonstrate that offline digital solutions can effectively mitigate educational disruptions by providing an accessible means to continue education during emergencies. Recommendations for Practitioners: Recommendations for practitioners include the adoption of robust offline digital learning solutions to promote educational continuity. Recommendation for Researchers: The authors recommend that researchers continue investigating the potential of offline digital educational solutions for low-resource and crisis situations. Impact on Society: Ultimately, this article finds that offline digital libraries, when paired with skill-building, are a viable means to lessen digital disparities and promote educational continuity in times of crisis and beyond. Future Research: The study suggests further exploration into the long-term impacts of such interventions on learning outcomes.

Factors influencing the incorporation of web technologies by university libraries in Southern African Development Community

The role of web technologies into the service delivery in university libraries cannot be overemphasised. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the factors that influenced the incorporation of web technologies into the services of university libraries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The study was underpinned by the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) and triangulated quantitative and qualitative research strategies in data collection and analysis. The population of this study comprised librarians from university libraries in the SADC region whose language of communication is English. A questionnaire, administered with the research electronic data capture (REDCap) software, was employed to collect quantitative data from 54 librarians, while an interview protocol was used to collect qualitative data from 6 librarians. Results showed that university libraries in the SADC region have incorporated web technologies in services. The results further revealed that the UTAUT constructs, namely, performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions played a part in decisions by the university libraries to incorporate web technologies into their services and that librarians were influenced by these factors to use such tools to provide web-based library services.