Library Education Research Articles

An evaluation of digital library education in library and information science curriculum in Nigerian universities

Purpose The purpose of this study is to evaluate the library school’s curriculum in Nigeria with the aim of comparing it with international and national library and information science (LIS) guidelines regarding provision of “digital libraries” course. Design/methodology/approach This study covered 31 universities offering LIS approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC). The main instrument for data collection for the study was analysis of departmental documents containing the LIS curriculum. Second, some library and information science educators from universities that were yet to integrate the course digital libraries in their LIS curriculum were interviewed. Findings This study revealed that majority of the library schools offer the course “digital libraries” or related areas as core course in their curricula. However, only few library schools have computer laboratories for students to enhance digital library skills. Some LIS educators in the library schools identified challenges such as lack of qualified information and communication technology (ICT) staff to handle the course coupled with lack of computer laboratories equipped with modern computers with stable internet facilities in the LIS departments in Nigeria. Practical implications The findings from this study may inform curriculum revision and updating efforts to make it more relevant by incorporating a stand-alone course on “digital libraries” and provision of computer laboratories in the LIS departments to produce future ICT/digital librarians. Originality/value If university administrators, decision-making body in the departments and LIS educators understand the factors that are currently standing in the way of integrating a course on digital libraries, then those barriers can be removed or lowered. If the enabling factors are appreciated, then actions can be taken to stimulate the implementation of the Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN)/NUC recommendations in all library schools in Nigerian universities.

Culture of assessment in academic libraries in Kuwait: investigating the current situation and future prospects

PurposeUsing the Association of Research Libraries' SPEC KIT 303 library assessment framework, this study examines and evaluates academic libraries' efforts toward establishing a culture of assessment.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative questionnaire is employed to collect data. The sample comprises 70 library staff working in eight academic libraries in public and private universities in Kuwait.FindingsThe findings document a readiness to create a culture of assessment in Kuwaiti academic libraries, though this was greater in private universities. Resources to develop this culture, such as assessment and analysis methods and the requisite skills and knowledge, are available, but commitment from academic leaders and plans for a shift toward culture of assessment were not evident. Overall, participating academic library staff acknowledged the value of developing a culture of assessment, but this seems not to be an institutional priorityPractical implicationsThe methodology and findings address gaps in library and information science education and library management on creating a culture of assessment and suggest future research avenues.Originality/valueLibrary assessment is a core function of libraries, but guaranteeing the continuity and consistency of related activities requires an organizational culture that facilitates and supports such assessment. While many articles have focused on the requisites for building a culture of assessment in higher education, few, if any, have assessed academic libraries in the cultural context of the Middle East.

Practicing Intellectual Freedom in Libraries

"Practicing Intellectual Freedom in Libraries." Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, 61(3), pp. 399–400

Optimalisasi Layanan Perpustakaan di Era New Normal

Government policy in implementing the New Normal Era is a hope for people to rise from adversity in facing the Covid-19 pandemic. The enthusiasm and hope in welcoming the new life order provides an opportunity for the community to start carrying out activities that were previously restricted or stopped. The application of new normal is welcomed with a positive attitude in various sectors. In the library education sector welcomed positively with the new order of life that began to be applied gradually. How is the preparation done by the library to open services for users in this New Normal Era? The normal concept in library services must be really prepared, both in terms of human resources and collections. Three important things that must be considered to prepare library services are 1. Services must prioritize the health of librarians and users 2. Design services and facilities in the library 3. Make policy access to the library.

Library's personnel resources development as an integral part of its successful activity

The article is devoted to the problem of development of human resources of libraries as an integral part of their successful activity, as well as the peculiarities of advanced training system in Ukrainian libraries. It was found that the basis of providing libraries with professional staff is a system of continuing information and library education as a purposeful process of training and retraining of library staff, that involves updating, expanding knowledge, learning modern information technology, retraining and obtaining additional specialties. The main characteristics of a new type of library staff are considered, including the ability to organize and conduct project activities; possession of communication skills; possession of new social and intellectual technologies; comprehensive erudition, knowledge of modern literature, innovative methods of promoting reading; computer literacy, awareness in the field of information technology and their active use in professional activities. Particular attention is paid to organization of advanced training system for employees in Odessa National Scientific Library. In addition to traditional forms of learning, which are widely used in ONNB, distance education is becoming increasingly popular. A wide range of home online platforms is provided, which gives library staff effective tools for professional development, acquisition of new knowledge and useful skills. There are six information resources that offer training courses: Prometheus, EdEra, Diia.Digital Education, Culture and Creativity, European Space, VUM. Eighteen online courses (series) have been singled out in author's opinion to be useful for librarians. Emphasis is placed on increasing the importance of self-studying and shifting the priority in the system of professional development towards the responsibility of each employee for independent acquisition of professional knowledge and skills.

School librarians online: integrated learning beyond the school walls

PurposeThis study aims to explore preservice school librarians’ ability to develop and deliver integrated library lessons under remote teaching and learning conditions. This study will help school library educators identify the preparation required in coursework to effectively implement blended learning practices as well as identify perceived barriers and opportunities for implementing effective remote school library practice.Design/methodology/approachA participatory action research approach was used to explore online teaching strategies in coursework then implement them in K-12 practice.FindingsThe findings include six criteria selected, developed lessons and the analyzed reflections of the preservice candidates. These discussed findings identify trends in developed online inquiry lessons and suggest considerations for school library educators when scaffolding instruction in preparation coursework. Future planning also explores considerations of access and technology instruction prior to practice.Research limitations/implicationsThe COVID-19 crisis presented a unique challenge ideal for exploration by an educator and candidates in a school librarian preparation program. Using a revised assignment to facilitate a deliberate, authentic experience designed to blend theory and practice (Grossman, 2011), the evidence presented in the sample lessons and participant reflections documents that candidates are able to develop online learning and articulate the American Association of School Librarians Learner Competencies through work samples. According to this brief exploration, this preparation program was able to adapt the requirements of the assignment and prepare candidates to develop quality instructional lessons when online teaching pedagogy was embedded along with scaffolded instruction on collaborative teaching and instructional design. The limitation to this study is that the COVID crisis was accepted as the problem in the participatory action research model.Practical implicationsWhen provided instruction on embedded librarianship models and pedagogy practices of online instruction and scaffolded instruction, school library candidates successfully integrated online K-12 instruction. These instructional supports provided the integration of theory and practice necessary for effective preparation. Additional challenges remain to include considerations of access and student motivation which should be addressed in preparation coursework.Originality/valueNever before have we seen all schools closed and instruction moved online without warning. School library preparation programs must look anew at how well they are preparing school librarians for practice across a variety of circumstances. This study looks at the preparation for online instruction K-12 schools were faced with in Spring 2020.

A Citation Analysis about Scholarship on Zines

INTRODUCTION Zine scholarship is a relatively new academic field that has emerged since the late 1990’s. Now that two decades have passed since the publication of Stephen Duncombe’s seminal text, Notes From Underground, it is possible to take a landscape view of how and why zine scholars have studied zines in peer-reviewed journal publications. Knowing how scholars have studied zines can teach us about how zines and zine culture have contributed to academic knowledge. We can also learn which subjects are understudied as zine scholars continue to investigate these curious ephemeral print objects. METHODS This study uses citation analysis to uncover how scholars have explored zines and zine culture as objects worthy of academic inquiry between the dates of 1990 and 2018. The purpose of this study is to examine whether (and how) zines have held influence as objects worthy of study over time, to determine which disciplines tend to treat zines as a valuable academic pursuit, and to reveal what subtopics those scholars tend to focus on. RESULTS& DISCUSSION This study analyzes 163 peer-reviewed articles published between 1990 and 2018, and finds that a) scholarly interest in zines has increased steadily and by 1,700% over 28 years; b) that scholars in the fields of Library Science, Education, Feminist Studies, and Media Studies are most likely to study zines; and c) that zine scholars pursue a wide and varied range of subtopics most prominently concentrated in “riot grrrl” studies, “collection development,” “music criticism,” and a suite of articles about aspects of art. More nuanced analysis based on discipline and subtopic are discussed in the findings. CONCLUSION This study makes clear that zines are influential and worthy objects of study, not just as a form of print media, but as educational and pedagogical tools in the classroom, as evidence of activism, political movements, third-wave feminism, cultural critiques, cultural movements, and much more. Future scholars may use this study to build upon more established topics as well as those that are understudied.

Nowe kierunki kształcenia w instytutach bibliotekoznawczych uniwersytetów polskich. Studium przypadku: Instytut Nauk o Informacji Uniwersytetu Pedagogicznego w Krakowie


 This article consists of a diagnosis and in-depth analysis of the factors that influenced the change in the field of library studies in Poland based on the example of a selected academic center with a long tradition of library education, together with an attempt to evaluate the current field of study. The article presents the results of research in which an attempt was made to find an answer to the following question: Are the didactic offering in the field of information management and second-degree digital publishing at the Institute of Information Sciences of the Pedagogical University in Krakow tailored to the needs and expectations of the recipients to whom it is addressed?

DEVELOPMENT OF LIBRARY EDUCATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN

Library as an ancient institution of written language, enlightenment, culture and education ever took a significant part in social life hence the library profession and training highly skilled specialists for the library sphere deserve special attention. Training of librarians in the constantly changing information society demands specialized government policy. The Republic of Uzbekistan government, in every possible way, favors the modernization of higher education in general and library education in particular, thus the formation of the young generation of specialists with high professional culture is one of the most important tasks for the republican government. The development of all social spheres, active implementation of up-to-date information technologies and intensively developing industry call for the creation of a flexible and coordinated system of training of well-qualified specialists. The necessity of elaboration and realization of a new model in library and information education in the Republic of Uzbekistan, which could meet the modern society needs and effectively respond to their changes, promoting the national library education accession to the world scientific and informative space is a long-term pressing question. Nowadays, higher library education in the Republic of Uzbekistan still experiences many difficulties and has many urgent problems to solve, e.g.: – to implement step training of specialists, – to organize the system of personnel retraining, – to improve the selection of entering educational institutions, – to widen the sphere of making use of graduates, etc. The article presents the experience of reforming library and information education in the Republic of Uzbekistan in different periods (since1970s – up to the present time). It has revealed both positive and negative sides of library education reformation in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

A study on the changes in librarians' perception before and after user privacy education

The focus of this study is to investigate the perception of librarians towards user privacy in libraries. This study measures the change in perception after providing education related to the privacy of library users. The change in perception regarding privacy issues in libraries in the past 5 years by comparing its results with those of a 2013 study was also examined. The results show that librarians' level of interest and awareness of the privacy of library users in 2019 is significantly higher than that of 2013; awareness of the danger in collection of user data increased significantly after education; and finally, after education, there was greater receptivity to the education courses and willingness to recommend them to their colleagues. In order to increase awareness of privacy violations and for greater protection of library user privacy libraries and professional associations must strive to provide standardized and regular privacy education for librarians and library staff.

Внесок Української бібліотечної асоціації у формування сучасної бібліотечної освіти в Україні

Внесок Української бібліотечної асоціації у формування сучасної бібліотечної освіти в Україні

Natural Disaster Accessibility of Small and Rural Libraries in Northwest Florida

ABSTRACT Public libraries are critical community facilities through which librarians support their communities before, during, and after natural disasters such as hurricanes. In their disaster responses, public librarians work to effectively restore library buildings, provide library materials, and, most critically, provide services that strengthen community resiliency and sense of safety. However, a neglected aspect of disaster policy and response is the lack of documentation regarding library transportation accessibility. In this study, the researchers used geographical information systems (GIS) approaches to investigate the extent to which public libraries are sited to serve vulnerable, rural populations in Northwest Florida. Results suggest that many public library branches are inopportunely sited relative to pockets of high-need populations, indicating that disaster services may need to be offered outside of the library building or transportation options be made available to residents of disaster-prone, inaccessible areas. The study’s findings have the potential to inform library and information studies education, multidisciplinary research and policy-making, and to develop a public library disaster preparedness and response.

Critical Library Instruction as a Pedagogical Tool

The opportunity to expand pedagogy is an especially good thing for library educators, particularly when library professionals do not have formal training as teachers and instructors. We have a responsibility to ourselves and our students to grow intellectually and share growth and new knowledge with others. We should be promoting and practicing critical self-reflection and thinking critically about and even critiquing the information we consume and the sources from which it originates. This is an ongoing and iterative process that requires that we consistently read and remain abreast of new and interdisciplinary ideas that can challenge and inform our practice. This perspective essay details my personal journey of critical self-reflection, or conocimiento, that facilitated the strengthening and deepening of my critical library instruction and pedagogy.

Produção Acadêmica sobre Financiamento da Educação de Jovens e Adultos (2000-2018)

Este trabalho investiga a producao academica sobre financiamento da modalidade Educacao de Jovens e Adultos (EJA) a partir de anais das reunioes cientificas nacionais da Associacao Nacional de Pos-Graduacao e Pesquisa em Educacao (Anped) e artigos cientificos disponiveis na biblioteca virtual Scielo, no periodo entre 2000 e 2018. O objetivo e averiguar como as discussoes sobre financiamento da EJA sao compreendidas na producao academica. Trata-se de estudo documental, com analise a partir da leitura integral dos trabalhos selecionados. Os resultados indicam a predominância de investigacoes sobre programas ou politicas especificas e negligenciamento do Estado no adequado financiamento; os repasses de verbas publicas para a modalidade EJA permaneceram infimos ao longo do periodo. Conclui-se que, para a garantia do direito constitucional a educacao, necessita-se da ampliacao nos investimentos na area, manter a resistencia e nao aceitar retrocessos no campo educacional.

Library Education – Bracing for the Future?

Abstract Over the last three decades, the societal changes caused by digitization have been monumental and libraries in many countries are among the institutions that were affected from the beginning. In this changing landscape of globally and rapidly evolving information technologies and upcoming social media with an abundance of readily and easily available information and data. This buffet is delivered through increasingly developed broad band networks, soon via 5G, so with the intense fight for attention by all information providers and mediators, it is no wonder that many libraries have engaged in change processes that are profoundly transforming library services, programs, organization, spatial layout, and the job content of library staff. A general movement away from libraries as transactional, book-and-collection focused institutions towards relational user and community focused organizations has been evident in this period. Not all libraries have taken a proactive stance to the change; a more reactive and reluctant approach to the societal and technological changes is not entirely uncommon, still, no library has been unaffected by the development. And the societal changes are continuing relentlessly as are the persistent speculations in and outside the library sector about the future of libraries. These societal changes and the transformation in library practices raise the question whether these changes are duly reflected in the library and information science education. This article examines the processes that have led to this ongoing transformation and discusses the choices we as library professionals are facing.

Educating Librarians in the Contemporary University: An Essay on iSchools and Emancipatory Resilience in Library and Information Science. By Joacim Hansson

"Educating Librarians in the Contemporary University: An Essay on iSchools and Emancipatory Resilience in Library and Information Science. By Joacim Hansson." Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, 61(2), pp. 294–295

"IT-librarians": searching ways of innovation, labor mobility, or change of professional principles development?

The article is devoted to identifying trends in scientific thought regarding the role and functions of the library in the digital society, as well as the considerations of domestic scientists regarding IT technologies in library education. The views of national scholars on the content of the IT education of librarians are analyzed, the proposals on their preparation with the focus on future activity not in libraries and possible functions of the library as a "forge frame" for IT companies are emphasized. The term "Cybrarians" used in foreign publications is emphasized. It is concluded that the desire to provide the future library specialist with all the digital competences in full, which in practice is often accompanied by unsystematic, formal filling of the curricula of IT disciplines without a scientifically methodically justified level and depth of their presentation to students. The current situation is characterized by the spontaneity of innovations, which are justified by the terms "innovation", "mobility of the specialist in the labor market" (outside library institutions), theses about the "archaic" of the library and the unpopularity of the profession among modern entrants. The content of the librarian's IT education in modern conditions should be aimed at the free use of modern technologies, the ability to set tasks before the IT specialists and the systematic formation of social and pedagogical communicative competences in the field of IT technologies, which corresponds to the axiology of library activity and the needs of the state and the individual overcoming digital inequality.

Survey Respondents Suggest that Some Academic Library Professionals without a Graduate Degree in Librarianship Have Prior Library Experience and Do Not Plan to Pursue a Library Degree

A Review of:
 Oliver, A., & Prosser, E. (2018). Academic librarianship without the degree: Examining the characteristics and motivations of academic library professionals. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 44(5), 613-619. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2018.07.006
 Abstract
 Objective – To examine the motivations and career paths of professionals outside the field of library science who work in academic library settings, including their reasons for not pursuing a graduate degree in librarianship.
 Design – Multiple-choice survey questionnaire.
 Setting – Not clearly stated.
 Subjects – 193 adults without graduate degrees in librarianship employed in professional positions in academic libraries.
 Methods – A nineteen-item multiple-choice questionnaire hosted on Select Survey and a previous study by the same authors. Filtering excluded survey respondents who did not currently work in academic libraries, who had graduate degrees in librarianship, or who do not identify as an academic library professional.
 Main Results – Most of the survey respondents (n=115, 59.9%) had positions in a library prior to pursuing a professional academic library career. Of those with prior library experience, most (n=98, 85.2%) had gained experience in academic library settings. The two top reasons cited for becoming an academic library professional were an interest in employment in academic library settings (n=59, 52.2%) and meeting position requirements (n=54, 47.8%). A fifth of respondents both met the requirements for their position and had an interest in working in academic libraries (n=23, 20.4%). Most respondents had less than five years’ experience (n=41, 36.6%) or six to ten years’ experience (n=43, 38.4%) in an academic library. Less than half of respondents had became academic library professionals after applying as an external candidate (n=83, 44.6%) and a number of respondents had applied as an internal candidate (n=52, 28%). Several respondents had become academic library professionals because they were promoted, appointed, or recruited within their academic libraries (n=35, 18.8%). Few respondents were actively working on a graduate librarianship degree (n=21, 11.3%) and most expressed that they did not need such a degree (n=112, 67.9%). Those who were pursuing a graduate degree in librarianship did so because of their desire to advance their careers (n=17, 81%). Respondents’ current positions were mostly categorized in areas such as administration (n=77, 31.2%), scholarly communications (n=34, 13.8%), technical services (n=27, 10.9%), and information technology (n=20, 8.1%).
 Conclusion – Having prior experience working in an academic library served as a notable motivating factor for entry into the position of academic library professional. Two main pathways towards obtaining such positions included positions without graduate library degree requirements and the transition of paraprofessionals into professional-level jobs. Most survey respondents noted their lack of interest in pursuing an advanced degree in librarianship, as they did not see the significance of having one. These findings may help library education programs to better understand growing needs in librarian education and prepare the future library workforce to meet these new demands.

Identifying new roles for academic libraries in supporting data-intensive research

Reacting to the appearance of data-intensive research prompts academic libraries to become service providers for scholars, who work with research data. Although this is an imperative for libraries worldwide, due to the differences between countries and institutions, the level of readiness to engage in related activities differs from country to country. While some of the related tasks are fairly novel, others heavily build on librarians’ traditional, well-known skills. To identify these tasks, as well as making an inventory of the required skills and abilities, this paper, based on a non-exhaustive review of the recent literature, presents both theoretical and practical issues. It is demonstrated that the most obvious directions of the service development in academic libraries to support data-intensive science are research data management, data curation, data literacy education for users, and data literacy education for librarians.

The competence approach as the basis to form training system for library professionals in the Republic of Cameroon

The article deals with the attitude of specialists to the competence approach in higher education, the stages of the “competence” formation concept are shown. The authors share the point of view of specialists, who emphasize the practical orientation of competences, and the competence approach itself is based on the practical orientation of education. After the analysis of publications, the authors come to the conclusion that the training of librarians in the Republic of Cameroon should ensure the formation of the following three groups of competences: 1) academic competencies, including basic knowledge and skills; 2) social and personal competences, including cultural and value orientations connected with the attitude of a person to himself as a personality (personal competence) and related to the person as a subject of interpersonal communication (communicative competence); 3) professional competencies. The authors show the basic technological competences required by Cameroonian library staff and believe that they should be incorporated into special academic disciplines and curricula of the department of documentary information. The authors conclude that academic, socio-personal and professional competences should be the basis not only for the educational standard of higher library education (getting bachelor’s and master’s degrees), which should be developed in Cameroon, but also for the entire system of training of highly qualified library personnel in the country.