Library Employees Research Articles

Exploring the factors affecting employees’ adoption of digital libraries in Bangladesh

Purpose: Digital library adoption plays a crucial role in the career success of library employees in today's technologically driven world. As libraries evolve to meet the demands of the digital age, employees who embrace and effectively utilize digital library resources and technologies are better positioned for professional growth and advancement. In line with the sociopolitical agenda of making digital Bangladesh (now smart Bangladesh) employees dealing with digital libraries have enough potential to get priority for career progression by showing an upgraded knowledge base along with compatible skills to the proper authority in Bangladesh. This study attempts to figure out the in-depth factors influencing employees' adoption of digital libraries in Bangladesh. Methodology: Qualitative method was employed where qualitative data were collected through interviews and analyzed with a thematic approach. Findings: The analysis found that organizational culture and managerial intervention as organizational factors, IT innovativeness, self-efficacy, compound knowledge as individual characteristics, digital library usefulness, and subjective norms play as external factors in influencing digital library adoption among its employees. Perceived job success and perceived satisfaction found as mediating factors in the adoption process.

Artificial Intelligence in Academic Libraries: Foreign and Ukrainian Experience

The objective is to determine the direction of implementing artificial intelligence (AI) in the activities of foreign and domestic academic libraries. Methods. The research is based on a combination of the method of analyzing the content of publications with the methods of systematization, generalization, surveying employees of academic libraries in Ukraine, and the method of comparative analysis. Results. It was found that the general directions for practical application of AI technologies in academic libraries of foreign and Ukrainian countries are: training, reference work, intelligent user service, and collection management. The main direction of the ChatGPT application is: to study this tool, and its application in reference and advertising activities. It was established that in libraries of foreign universities, the following are being initiated: the creation of intellectual spaces (USA); the use of robotics (Canada, China); and the formation of a smart library (USA, China). Conclusions. The importance of implementing AI technologies in the activities of academic libraries, which create new opportunities for scientific research and education, is confirmed. At the same time, the research confirms the insufficient level of AI implementation by university libraries to provide innovative alternative services. It is urgent to develop a strategy for the university library regarding implementing AI technologies and developing employees' relevant competencies.

Community College Libraries and Professional Development

The inception of this research inquiry showcases the PI’s past academic library and current LIS faculty experiences, which focuses on the need to provide continuous learning opportunities for community college library employees. With that in mind, the PI will distribute an online invitation to various lists of community college library employees to participate in this study. In this mixed-methods study. The online survey will have two portions: Likert-scale questions and open-ended inquiries to assess participants' preferences and perceptions of professional development at their respective institutions. The platform used to obtain the respondents' data will be Qualtrics. Each research method will be assessed for commonalities and differences. Any data triangulation will be presented and disclosed in a future peer-reviewed publication. Gaining a better understanding of community college library employees concerning professional development can assist current leaders and provide additional research opportunities.

“Begging to be heard”: The Profession’s Exclusion and Marginalization of Neurodivergent Librarians

While libraries are increasingly implementing practices and services designed to serve neurodivergent patrons, such efforts have not yet been extended to neurodivergent library employees, resulting in a lack of research or best practices for workplace neuroinclusion. This research addresses that gap by investigating neuroinclusion in public and academic library workplaces and identifying barriers to and enablers of inclusion and empowerment. This work highlights the voices of neurodivergent librarians and their journey of negotiating identity and deploying embodied knowledge to navigate the barriers and enablers they encounter in their workplace and profession. This study will inform how libraries can alter their workplace environment, practices, and professional norms to improve the recruitment, retention, and advancement of neurodivergent librarians. Historically, neurodiversity research has been conducted on neurodivergent people from a medicalized perspective, focusing on diagnosis and characteristics of individuals and proposing interventions or changes to the individual or their behavior. This study instead centers neurodivergence by adopting a neurodiversity paradigm and critical disability approach to conducting research with and by neurodivergent people themselves, in accordance with their priorities and values. This study will expand library literature by attending to the various intersecting identities of neurodivergent people and analyzing the impact of professional norms and expectations on the workplace experiences of neurodivergent librarians. Through the development of this unique critical approach to ‘centering neurodivergence,’ this work will also contribute a new research paradigm for future research on neurodiversity. Furthermore, this dissertation will highlight neuroinclusive workplace practices that librarians can enact in their library workplaces.

Academic Libraries’ Obstacles and Problems During Covid-19 pandemic: Librarians’ Response to Service Model

This research articles explore about problems and obstacles faced by academic librarians due tocovid-19 outbreak through analysing of multiple data volumes. Covid-19 outbreak raised multiple problemsnot only for entire society but also for academic librarians, to explore the pattern of obstacles and problemswhich were faced by academic librarian a survey approach was utilized to get data needed for the currentresearch paper. The Covid-19 pandemic had an impact on how all associations and institutions operated,which led to the emergence of numerous issues and challenges that human had never before faced,similarly academic librarians also faced many problems such as total shut down of academic libraries,budget constraint, problems in collection development, mentally health of library employees, providingstandard services during covid-19 outbreak and many more. In response to these obstacles and problemacademic librarians adopted new approach to provide standard services to library patrons. The outcomeof this research will definitely help the academic librarians to deal the situation like SARS 2 pandemic inthe future.

Women and men in library and information science scholarship: Authorship trends from 2003 to 2021

Library and information science (LIS) has long consisted of more women than men, at least in sheer numbers of library employees, but men are the primary authors of library literature. This study explores LIS literature published between 2003 and 2021 to identify if there are differences in the publishing patterns of women and men. The authors used content analysis to code the entire sample to identify overall subject trends after authors were categorized as women or men by mainly automated methods, using two R packages, genderize and ssa. The results show that there are overall inequities when compared to the profession as whole between the publishing rates of women and men in LIS, as well as differences in publication patterns by subjects and within specific journals. Shifts in subjects over the period under investigation did not increase the percentage of women publishing in the selected LIS journals. The authors conclude more research needs to be conducted to determine the cause of inequities in publishing not just among women and men, but all underrepresented voices in LIS.

Successfully Managing a Library Employee’s Leave: Some Considerations

This column article examines the complexities surrounding employee leaves due to disabilities, pregnancy, or other extended absences. Also discussed are some of the legal considerations around employee leave, including a brief review of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The author advocates for proactive planning when possible and a person-centric approach to effectively support employees during absence and upon return. These strategies aim to foster an inclusive and supportive environment for individuals requiring leaves within library settings, promoting equitable representation and effective support.

Conditions for Creativity and Innovation in the Work Environment of Academic Libraries in the United States and Canada

Creativity, the development of a new product, idea, or problem solution that is valuable within the local context, is vital to innovating, problem-solving, and facilitating change. An individual’s ability to be creative largely depends on whether their environment supports creative work. This study explores how academic library employees in the United States and Canada perceive their work environment to better understand whether current academic libraries facilitate creative work in relation to management practices, organizational motivation, resources, and outcomes. The study finds that academic libraries fall at or below the median in all four categories.

ILead with an EDI Lens

ABSTRACT This conceptual paper introduces the joint San José State University, School of Information and Simmons University, School of Library and Information Science, IMLS grant planning project: iLead: Preparing Tomorrow’s Library Leaders. During 2023–24, the grant team project members are designing an asynchronous online program where library employees may earn micro-credentials. The online program focuses on developing leadership skills with an equity, diversity, and inclusion lens. Contributions from national, state, and local library partners during the development of this curriculum will assist in applying for a future IMLS implementation grant. For more information on iLead: https://www.ileadedi.org/.

Library Internal Reviews for Value Description and Strategic Planning

In between university level assessments, the BYU Library conducts internal reviews of each library department, describing its value to the library and university, and providing recommendations for improvement. The process used a team of library employees in departments not under review and an external reviewer to conduct the internal review. Using a case-study approach, the development of an internal review system, its meta-evaluation at the end of its first cycle, and the on-going efforts to improve the internal review process are described. Using a graduate level evaluation class followed by a task force, changes were made to the internal review process that has standardized assessment, allowed flexibility for each department, and solidified training for both the department under review and the review team. Each of the findings and recommended changes helped to address the internal review’s first-round weaknesses and struggles. The result is a stronger, consistent process that provides additional training and guidance for each internal review. This article is a case study that describes a library wide process used by an academic library to describe the value of each department and to provide feedback for improvement between university reviews. The process engages all library employees as each department is reviewed and helps to create a culture of assessment. This article reviews the history and progress of a LIR to evaluate an academic library’s value and to provide data for improvement. The process may be used or adapted by other libraries.

An Analysis of Organizational Citizenship Behavior and its Impact on Employee Well-being and Task Performance among Library Employees

Employees at the library have opinions about things like equality, processes, and how people should act around each other at work. Library workers are more likely to show organizational dedication, do their jobs, take on extra tasks, and be happy with their jobs when they think the workplace is fair. According to an Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) study, library workers who feel unfairly treated are likelier to do bad things like not doing their jobs or trying to get something they do not deserve. To find out what makes library management work, a poll is given to librarians and the library management system to see how well organizational backing, Employee Well-Being (EWB), work liberty, Task Performance (TP), job expectations, and job stress are met. The results show that library management can be improved by giving workers more useful comments on their work and improving how they feel about the organization's help and their level of freedom. Executives make their workplaces more fair using methods focusing on library support, autonomy, and assessment. These methods aim to minimize views of inequality among workers

Building Workplace Camaraderie Through Library Employee Programming

ABSTRACT Employees at libraries of all types are looking for ways to form and strengthen relationships between colleagues who may be physically and socially disconnected after a period of remote work or staff turnover. At East Tennessee State University’s Sherrod Library, some library faculty and staff formed a committee to plan monthly events to encourage community among library employees. Events have included craft and poetry workshops, music and book discussions, potlucks, and professional development sessions. Recommendations to the reader for planning similar events include considering accessibility and scheduling, drawing from local talent and resources, and experimenting with a variety of activities. The committee’s efforts have strengthened relationships among library employees, improved leadership skills for early career librarians, and inspired new outreach projects to engage the campus community.

Satisfaction with Remote Work Options Among Academic Library Employees: Implications for Recruitment and Retention

This article discusses results from a study of U.S. academic library employees’ satisfaction with their remote work options, the conditions under which they would consider leaving their position for one with remote work or better remote work options, and the extent to which they agree or disagree that remote work options can play a positive role in academic library employee recruitment and retention. The study’s Qualtrics-hosted survey was distributed through 18 listservs serving a range of library professional areas and was open for responses for one month in the autumn of 2022. The survey results reveal that 47% of participants were satisfied with their job’s remote work options or lack thereof and that approximately 83% of participants who do not have remote work options expressed dissatisfaction with their lack of options compared with approximately 43% of those who do have some remote work options. Also, approximately 27% of participants indicated that they would consider leaving their current position for one with remote work options or more remote work days, and a smaller percentage would even consider leaving for less pay. Further, 97% believed that providing employees with remote work options could play a positive role in academic library recruitment and retention. These findings address a gap in the academic library literature and may serve to inform recruitment and retention strategies among libraries.

Brand conceptualization for academic libraries: A grounded theory approach

Marketing and branding are still regarded as aspects of the business world irrelevant to libraries. Understanding the impact of brand and its evolution on the success of academic libraries necessitates elucidating the meaning of brand and its contributions to libraries. The lack of a comprehensive definition of marketing and branding and their functions in Iranian libraries also confirms the idea that they are unnecessary in libraries and prevents libraries from moving in the right direction in marketing and branding. To this end, this study aimed to investigate the brand concept of academic libraries in Iran. This qualitative study employed the grounded theory (GT) methodology based on two of the three coding steps suggested by Strauss and Corbin (1998): “open coding” and “axial coding”. Twenty experts in fields such as branding, marketing, and librarianship, among others, were interviewed for data collection purposes. Out of these experts, nine were faculty members, three were researchers, and eight were library employees. Using the MAXQDA software, the content of the interviews was analyzed qualitatively. In addition, the academic library brand was also conceptualized with 12 dimensions, including brand identity, brand associations, brand awareness, brand imagery, brand compatibility, brand quality, brand credibility, brand superiority, brand security, brand excitement, behavioral loyalty, and attitudinal attachment. Therefore, it made sense for the brand to focus on providing its customers with the best possible library experience. This study is the first to define the brand concept for academic libraries in order to shed light on the concept and its significance in these libraries.

Description of A.N. Minh’s trip from Volga to the Caucasus in 1868 as a source on the history of Russian regions and everyday life

A review of the publication «Trip to Pyatigorsk in 1868» by the famous local historian, cultural and educational figure A.N. Minh is presented. The manuscript is stored in the State Archives of the Saratov Region. Before publishing, it was available only to a narrow circle of researchers. Now, thanks to the efforts of the workers of the State Archives of the Saratov Region and their assistants, numerous historians and specialists in other fields of scientific knowledge, employees of museums, libraries and other cultural institutions, students of higher and secondary schools, all those who are interested and fascinated by history Russia and its regions can familiarize themselves with it in detail. Minh’s work combines the characteristics of a personal diary, guidebook, statistical, geographical, historical and ethnographic researches. It is an interesting source and gives food for thought to everyone involved in the history of Russian regions (Saratov and Volgograd regions, Don and Stavropol territories, Pyatigorsk, Kislovodsk, Yessentuki and all Caucasian Mineral Waters), the history of everyday life and culture (especially related to travel, spa treatment and relaxation). There is extensive literature on the issues raised in the new publication, but Minh’s book clarifies and supplements the accumulated information with important details. The information was obtained as a result of personal observations, conversations with contemporaries, attention to materials of folklore, «oral history», archival documents, books and periodicals, inspection of museum collections, historical and natural attractions. The publication provides an opportunity for a wide range of specialists and readers to study “Trip to Pyatigorsk in 1868” by Minh.

Promoting Library Employee Wellness & Community Building with a Creativity Wellness Challenge

ABSTRACT During the pandemic, in an effort to improve employee wellness, the Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library (EHSL) launched a series of virtual wellness challenges. Participation counts toward a university-wide wellness initiative that provides a discount on the employee health care plan. Following several successful movement, mindfulness and nutrition challenges, the Wellness Committee developed a challenge centered on creative projects and community building for a change of pace. Participants engaged in creative pursuits, periodically reflected on their progress and regularly attended Craft Club meetings to connect with colleagues and friends while working on their projects.

지역문화매개인력의 근로실태와 근로환경 개선 방안

This study aims to investigate the working conditions of cultural mediators in Jeonbuk and explore ways to improve their working environment as a specialized professional group. The study surveyed 203 individuals, excluding public library employees, among the entire staff of cultural facilities, including employees (5 cities and counties, 1 in Jeonbuk), with proportions determined by facility and institution.
 When compared to the results of the 2012 survey, the total monthly salary in 2023 has increased by 52.5%. The total number of working hours decreased with time. While the legal maximum working hours used to reach 208 hours in the past, it decreased to a level similar to the average working hours of other occupations in 2023.
 Under the same conditions, men had a total monthly salary of 195,342 won higher than women in the 2012 survey, indicating gender discrimination. However, there was no statistically significant difference in total monthly salary based on gender in the 2023 survey. There was a wage gap based on education in the 2012 survey, which was interpreted as an indicator of professional recognition. However, there was no statistically significant difference in total monthly salary based on education in the 2023 survey.
 Based on the results of the working conditions survey, interviews with workers, and relevant literature research, this study recommends two strategies for enhancing the working environment of cultural mediators. First, it suggests establishing the identity of the professional occupation and creating an environment where they can act as professionals. Second, it recommends realizing fair compensation and strengthening welfare benefits.

Children in the Workplace

Children in the workplace are becoming a more common discussion in various work environments, including libraries. Since the university has no policy addressing this issue, a task force was charged to draft a recommended policy for the university library regarding bringing children to the workplace. The task force reviewed existing policies and conducted a survey and interviews with library employees. The resulting policy provided guidelines for employees and their supervisors without being overly prescriptive. This article provides a case study of how the task force used assessment methods and tools to create an appropriate and inclusive policy. While the specific policy and results are unique to this institution, the framework used to create a policy can be more broadly applied to all types of libraries.

Management of cyber risks in the library: analysis of information security awareness of Estonian library employees

PurposeThis article surveys why libraries are vulnerable to social engineering attacks and how to manage risks of human-caused cyber threats on organizational level; investigates Estonian library staff awareness of information security and shares recommendations concerning focus areas that should be given more attention in the future.Design/methodology/approachThe data used in this paper is based on an overview of relevant literature highlighting the theoretical points and giving the reasons why human factor is considered the weakest link in information security and cyber security and studying how to mitigate the related risks in the organisation. To perform the survey, a web questionnaire was designed which included 63 sentences and was developed based on the knowledge-attitude-behaviour (KAB) model supported by Kruger and Kearney and Human Aspects of Information Security Questionnaire (HAIS-Q) designed by Parsons et al.FindingsThe research results show that the information security awareness of library employees is at a good level; however, awareness in two focus areas needs special attention and should be improved. The output of this study is the mapping of seven focus areas of information security policy in libraries based on the HAIS-Q framework and the KAB model.Originality/valueThe cyber awareness of library employees has not been studied in the world using HAIS-Q and KAB model, and to the best of the authors’ knowledge, no research has been previously carried out in the Estonian library context into cyber security awareness.

Efektivitas Pembuatan Sistem Informasi Manajemen Perpustakaan SMPN 1 Pantai Labu Berbasis Digital oleh KKN 110 UINSU

This application is built with a user-friendly user interface, so that users i.e. library employees can use it easily. The purpose of developing this system is to improve the operational efficiency of the library and support SMP N 1 Pantai Labu in becoming a public school that focuses on information technology in the future. The methods in this research are field research (field research) and literature research (library research). The results show that the implementation of the library management information system in the SMP N 1 Pantai Labu Library will already be carried out but still has constraints on infrastructure and human resources.