Library Environment Research Articles

Changing behavior of academic libraries and role of library professionals

PurposeThis paper aims to discover the key challenges and identifies reasons for the changing behavior of academic libraries and the role of library professionals, and how can they manage those challenges in a time of change. The paper reveals the most important competencies in a reshaping environment of libraries and the best ways of dealing with change. Library professionals are struggling to reform their traditional ways of working and trying to boost their knowledge and skills as current demand for higher education. Organizations can play an important role to develop willingness for accepting change and reduce stress among employees and prepare them to accept new systems and reality by creating collaborative and supporting environments that provide opportunities for growth and improvement. All library professionals must have the eagerness to keep up with the emerging trends and prepare themselves to accept changes that would have a direct impact on the libraries and the role of library professionals. Academic libraries have similar issues and challenges around the world, those are outcomes of technological advancement, digital resources, innovative services and diversity in higher education; therefore, the role of library professionals is changing.Design/methodology/approachThe research method is built on literature reviews from offline and online. The systematic literature review method is used to review full-text databases such as EBSCO, ProQuest, Library Literature and Information Science databases. Basic search options for keyword searching and advanced searching options have been used to retrieve the relevant papers on the right topic. A total of 113 papers were collected at the initial stage, but after their analysis in detail, they were reduced to 52 scholarly and peer-reviewed papers because the rest of the papers did not exactly express relevant content on the topic.FindingsLibrary professionals are struggling to keep up with the new competencies and adopt the innovative system and reality because diversity is rapidly changing. The best ways of dealing with change include reform the traditional ways to new ways of working and create collaboration at all levels. Librarians are under pressure to develop new skills to deal with the current scenarios that are affecting the role of library professionals. Academic libraries have similar challenges in a rapidly reshaping environment that are needed to address by researchers and library professionals for the present and future of academic libraries.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper is a piece of opinion, 52 appropriate papers on the topic have been reviewed from the peer-reviewed journals, not all publications were included. The existing literature described that there is a need for growth and improvement of academic libraries and workforce in financial crises because they play fundamental roles in society by offering services and information resources, so library professionals need to be very aware of these implications.Originality/valueThe literature on this particular topic is relatively limited. Therefore, this paper is the first to offer a systematic literature review on the changing behavior of academic libraries and the role of library professionals. This paper provides insights into the concept of adopting change and dealing with challenges in a time of change. It adds value to the library and information sciences literature and delivers outlines for the library professionals.

Resilience in the Aftermath: School Libraries Rebounding After Trauma

This systematic literature review of librarians’ responses to traumatic and tragic events in the school ecology curates the existing anecdotal and empirical evidence to identify gaps in the research and suggest areas for future research. Using resilience as the conceptual framework, the authors implemented a review protocol to plan, conduct, and report on the role of librarians across the profession and more specifically within the school ecology and school library environment when faced with unforeseen circumstances. Results show that while the field lacks empirical studies on the topic, information available through the popular and professional media can begin to provide some background to inform future research.

Conversing with Readers: A Framework for the Reading Experience Conversation

ABSTRACT Based on the critical analysis and creative synthesis of the existing approaches to conversing with readers in libraries, this article proposes a new three-pronged framework for facilitating the reading experience conversation. The reading experience conversation goes beyond supplying reading and other leisure suggestions to readers and seeks to understand the desired reading experience holistically. The framework proceeds from general to specific, starting with open-ended questions eliciting narrative information about the reader’s history and the reading context; moves to exploring the type of story sought through factual contextualized questions; and ends with closed-ended or other concrete questions to narrow down a choice of possible titles, be it books, other reading matters, cinematic production, and so on. The changing library environment and the more informed reader frequenting the library call for a more strategic and sophisticated approach to discussing leisure and reading matters. By introducing the new framework, this article offers one possible way of helping librarians in all types of libraries to converse with readers more effectively.

Orientation tactics and associated factors in the digital library environment: Comparison between blind and sighted users

AbstractThis is the first study that compares types of orientation tactics that blind and sighted users applied in their initial interactions with a digital library (DL) and the associated factors. Multiple methods were employed for data collection: questionnaires, think‐aloud protocols, and transaction logs. The paper identifies seven types of orientation tactics applied by the two groups of users. While sighted users focused on skimming DL content, blind users concentrated on exploring DL structure. Moreover, the authors discovered 13 types of system, user, and interaction factors that led to the use of orientation tactics. More system factors than user factors affect blind users' tactics in browsing DL structures. The findings of this study support the social model that the sight‐centered design of DLs, rather than blind users' disability, prohibits them from effectively interacting with a DL. Simultaneously, the results reveal the limitation of existing interactive information retrieval models that do not take people with disabilities into consideration. DL design implications are discussed based on the identified factors.

Reaching academic library users during the COVID-19 pandemic: New and adapted approaches in access services

The COVID-19 pandemic, which hit academic libraries in the United States during the spring semester of 2020, forced librarians and staff to redouble their efforts to reach out to users in light of newly enforced safety measures such as building closures, quarantine periods, enforced social distancing, etc. This article describes three services—one adapted, one newly developed, and one a collaboration across several units on campus—to allow users to continue receiving the assistance and the materials they needed despite the obstacles inherent to the pandemic. Unexpectedly, these changes also helped streamline processes in a post-pandemic academic library environment.

Research data services from the perspective of academic librarians

Purpose This study aims to investigate the perceptions of academic librarians regarding research data services (RDS) in academic library environments. This study also examines a range of challenges in RDS from the perspectives of academic librarians. Design/methodology/approach A nationwide online survey was administered to academic librarians engaged in data services at research universities around the USA. The collected survey responses were analyzed quantitatively using descriptive statistics, hierarchical clustering and multidimensional scaling. Findings Academic librarians perceived that consultation services would be more valuable to users than technical services in offering RDS. Accordingly, skills associated with consultation services such as instructional skills and data management planning were perceived by participants to be more important. The results revealed that academic libraries would need to seek collaboration opportunities with other units on campus to develop and offer RDS, especially technical services. Originality/value This study contributes to the existing body of research on the topic of data services in research universities. The study investigated various types of specific professional competencies and used clustering analysis to identify closely associated groups of service types. In addition, this study comprehensively examined both relevant resources for and barriers to RDS.

Library Services for Youth with Autism

At least 1 in 166 children are born with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), but few school libraries provide resources and services explicitly targeting this population. This paper explains the characteristics and educational challenges of children with ASD; and provides ways to create an inclusive library environment that offers a rich variety of resources and services that engage these children. Tips for training library staff relative to ASD are also given.

Information literacy: The Backbone of Curricular School Reforms in Croatia

The paper will examine how new information and educational environments are build in an EU candidate country, Croatia, and whether information literacy is an integral element of the launched strategies and reformal efforts. A crucial element for the intended transformations is the educational sector, which is thriving for curricula modifications, but also for reconceptualizations of pedagogical processes with a focus on student-centeredness and the quality of education. The authors will investigate information literacy perceptions in the Croatian school library environment, specifically in relation to computer literacy, and the actual current state of influence of libraries on the creation of constructivist classrooms.

Serving the child: A human rights approach to literacy and learning

School libraries have an excellent position to contribute to the development of skills of children, young people and teachers and educational staff to access sources for information and learning. Even if resources are limited, an active school librarian is an indispensable link between different parts of the whole school community. Therefore they need to work on their own literacy development. Applying human rights of children in the educational context of today means to respect their right to information, to have access to materials, to education, to values as human beings, as stated in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989). Rights of equal access to literacy services and social inclusion must also be applied in hybrid library environments. New tools in school library services developed in the Netherlands, include digital school library services, a reading and information literacy curriculum and promoting programmes. They help (young) people to participate in society and take responsibility for their own (learning) lives. IASL could partner with other international organisations and institutions, which work for equal rights and basic skills and services for children and young people.

To make every pupil stronger, a curriculum in information and documentation in every French CDI


 
 
 The FADBEN is the national association of professeurs documentalistes (teacher-librarians) in France. The professional association sees in the implementation of a curriculum in information and documentation the achievement of a triple convergence: first, epistemological, with the synthesis of information, media and digital literacies; secondly, professional, in contributing to the training and self-training of the professeurs documentalistes and thirdly operational, in programming the implementation of this teaching. This communication, divided into three parts, aims to show how this curriculum fits into the learning environment of the French school library. We will first explain the French context and then present the project of curriculum, with examples of teaching sessions integrated in this curriculum.
 
 

Kindness Counts: Encouraging Empathy in Secondary School Library Programs

What is the role of the school library in creating a compassionate school culture? How can we forge a stronger connection between empathy and literacy? Why are libraries the best place to teach the communication skills that facilitate empathy? Inspired by recent research proving the connection between literacy and empathy (Castano and Comer 2013), we decided to make empathy a priority in our library services.
 Our two primary goals were to 1) create literacy-based programs that would encourage empathy 2) to encourage the exhibition of empathetic behaviors by training a library volunteer corps. We designed simple activities to encourage both empathy and literacy simultaneously. Our anecdotal survey positively reflected that students and staff noticed a more caring, empathetic library environment.

Razzle dazzle

Creating an interactive and engaging school library environment for your school community is an important prerequisite to establishing a creditable identity with teaching staff, which in turn, leads to opportunities to develop collaborative curriculum programs. The library and its personnel must be perceived as a hub for learning and part of the core business of the school by the whole community, including senior administration, teachers, students and parents. Such an environment demonstrates the value adding to the curriculum, literacy, information literacy and student learning outcomes that occur when professional library staff are part of the staffing equation in a school.

Popularization of Graphic Novels in Russia and the Role of the Russian State Library for Young Adults in Formation of Loyal Library Environment

The article presents the attempt to generalize the experience of working with graphic novels (comics, manga, etc.) available in the domestic book sector. The author considers the main stages of development in the historical perspective of forms and methods of popularization and distribution of graphic novels in Russia. At the first stage, formation of the segment of graphic novels in Russia was associated with the development of the festival movement. At the second stage — with the publishing boom and distribution of publications. Later — with work with a reader of graphic novels in libraries. Development of the festival movement was carried out due to the interest, first, in Japanese cartoons (anime) and Japnese graphic novels (manga), and secondly, in American comics and European graphic novels.The author presents the festival movement in the context of the main directions: anime festivals and comics festivals (with special emphasis on the work of the ‘KomMissia’ [ComMission] festival). The article gives general characteristics of these types of festivals and reveals the degree of their involvement in the processes of forming the readership and professional environment at a certain evolutionary stage.Bookstores and public libraries are the traditional operators of book dissemination and popularization of knowledge. The author explains why the integration of graphic novels into these spaces was delayed. The article notes the importance of reader communities in social networks in creating alternative channels for selling the products of publishers of graphic novels. In 2010, the Russian State Library for Young Adults (RSLYA) established the Centre for comics and visual culture, collecting graphic novels and providing methodological assistance to libraries that use graphic novels in their work. At present, it is the Centre for graphic novels and images that provides comprehensive support to libraries. The author highlights the role of the RSLYA as a methodological centre for library services to young people in the formation of loyalty to the new phenomenon among Russian library professionals. Based on the studied processes, the article gives characteristics of graphic novels as a new segment of the Russian book market with its inherent features of positioning in the reader’s environment.

Skills and qualifications for the special library environment in Jamaica: a job advertisement analysis

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to examine what employers seek when recruiting library and information professionals for a special library environment in Jamaica.Design/methodology/approachA content analysis of a sample of 47 advertisements for information professionals in a special library environment in Jamaica from 2013 to 2019 was collected.FindingsThe findings indicated that a variety of professional, generic and personal attributes were in demand for these professionals. There was a strong emphasis on advanced computer skills as well as communication and interpersonal skills.Research limitations/implicationsWhile job advertisements offer some insight into skills requirements and qualifications for employment, it may not reflect the actual person employed.Practical implicationsThis paper will provide useful information for library school educators, existing information professionals and those interested in entering the field as it provides an overview of the skills and requirements for jobs in the special library environment in Jamaica.Originality/valueDespite there being a plethora of job advertisements studies in librarianship, few studies examine advertisements for information professionals in a special library environment. To the best of the author's knowledge, there is no study focusing on Jamaica.

USING INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AND LIBRARY OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

This paper argues that the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and library operations has become inevitable to sustain higher education institutions (HEIs). The deteriorating state of educational standards in Africa, amidst other prevalent factors of nonpolicy formulation and implementation; increasing student enrolment; competition among HEIs for academic excellence; poor technological tools for teaching and learning; inadequate skills among professionals (academics and non-academics); and the changing nature of best practices in the teaching profession are all reasons for this. Both qualitative and quantitative research approaches were applied in this study of Delta State, Nigeria IHEs. The qualitative approach made use of interpretive content analysis of documents harvested from the databases of Scopus and Web of Science, while the quantitative approach applied the survey research method through a questionnaire for data collection. The findings revealed that different types of ICTs and library operations were key pillars in the sustainability of higher education institutions in Delta State and that the scientific value of available ICTs and library operations was embedded in transitioning from a traditional to a virtual platform for efficient and effective service delivery, restructuring the library environment, and unending accessibility. The study recommends continuous acquisition of recent digital technological tools to sustain and enhance library operations and quality service delivery in HEIs, since ICTs and library operations are the bedrock of HEIs.

RFID based Authorization Method for Computer Systems in Smart Library Environments

In recent years, intelligent systems have emerged with the concept of the Internet of Things. The purpose of intelligent systems is to use technological innovations to improve the quality of life of people. Smart systems are now being used almost everywhere. Concepts such as smart city, smart classroom, smart library, smart hospital and smart transportation have emerged. With the cameras, sensors and many other devices used in smart systems, data from the environment can be analyzed and remote control operations can be performed. In this study, RFID based authorization system has been developed in the publicly available computers used in smart libraries. In many places, as in universities, there are common computers or laboratory devices that can be used by everyone. The aim of this study is to ensure the common use of devices belonging to common use against existing users. The devices are controlled by an RFID based system developed for these devices. Using the ID cards of the students or staff, the person is authorized to use the devices for the defined period of time. This study has two main contributions. First, a modular system compatible with all electronic devices except the computer has been made by using RFID technology. The second is to provide a more efficient working environment by ensuring fair use of computers and other devices accessible.

90-th anniversary of the Sci-tech Library of R. E. Alekseev State Technical University in Nizhny Novgorod

The publication coincides with the 90-th anniversary of the Sci-tech Library of Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University. The history of the Library is described; the Library was established as a result of merging several universities, in particular it comprises the collections of Warsaw Emperor Nickolas II Polytechnic Institute. The Library’s collections have been supporting educational and research activities of the University. The continuing process of collection development is based on modern technologies which meets the user demands.The most recent data on library services, collections and users is provided. The library processes are computer-based; the e-catalog and e-library databases are available. The library collections support the learning process in 1,623 courses and disciplines. The role of the library in the educational process and university’s research programs is emphasized. The library environment has become more comfortable for the users.The Library contributes to cultural and social activities and to students’ personal development and social adaptation, humanistic education of the young adults. Innovative activities are described.The author concludes that the Sci-tech library plays a significant role in educational, research and social processes and offers its users various and relevant information products and services.

Airborne Fungi in Library Environment and Human Health Risks

Objetive: This review aims to approach the impact that airborne fungi have in collections, mainly in libraries, and also their impact in the health of the people who works and visiting there. Methodology: The search was made with the most recent papers, with free access in online databases: Pubmed (National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes), Lilacs (Latin-American and Caribbean Literature in Health Science, acronym in Spanish) and Scielo (Scientific Electronic Library Online), by using key words related with the proposed theme. Results: Libraries have substrates and residuals that allow the presence and proliferation of airborne fungi. These fungi are biodeteriorators that attack the collections but also can cause respiratory diseases, mycoses, or even systemic diseases. The most common genera are Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium, Alternaria, Acremonium and Fusarium. These fungi have asexual reproduction by producing tiny dry spores that can remain viable by long periods on the air and can also be transported on it. Preserve collections demands control of air temperature and humidity, to inhibit the airborne fungi proliferation and thus, decreasing the risks to human health. Conclusion: The knowledge about airborne fungi as contaminants in libraries environment it is of utmost importance for the development of preventive actions for preservation of the collections and also for the health of people who works in or visit them.

Situational Perception Information Fusion Technology of Internet of Things for Smart Library

With the rapid development of microelectronic technology and communication technology, the traditional computer-based computing model is gradually transformed into a human-centered universal computing model. This led to the idea of the Internet of things, which allows people to access information about their surroundings on demand through different terminals. Library is an indispensable part of human life. How to provide a more comfortable library environment to better meet people's family requirements is a place where the Internet of things plays its role. The purpose of this paper is to solve the difference between the data fusion of library environment and the data fusion of other environments by the method of data fusion oriented to library, objectively reflect the change of library environment, and consider the influence of people in the environment, which also puts forward some new problems for the data fusion. In this paper, the process of data fusion middleware from obtaining data to informing the upper module of the changed family environment after deploying the smart library system in a library includes data collection and processing, how to judge whether events are triggered, how the system reacts, and the acquisition and update of user preferences. In the end, this paper presents a general technical framework of situational awareness for smart library system. This paper presents an effective data fusion model and algorithm for library.

ВИКОРИСТАННЯ ПРИНЦИПІВ ЕМОЦІЙНОГО ДИЗАЙНУ ТА ІНФОРМАЦІЙНИХ СИСТЕМ У ТРАНСФОРМАЦІЇ ШКІЛЬНИХ БІБЛІОТЕК УКРАЇНИ

This article examines and analyzes the role of school libraries in shaping the artistic and emotional worldview of students within the concept of the New Ukrainian School. In today's global educational space, there is a clear trend aimed at transforming school libraries into multiservice interactive centers that are designed to fully meet the growing information needs of users. The purpose of the study is to review and analyze modern creative concepts, principles and approaches of emotional design and informatization in the transformation of school libraries in Ukraine. A literary review of modern Ukrainian and foreign studies devoted to the emotional design and informatization of school library spaces has been made. An analysis of the historical context of the development of school and public libraries in the world and in Ukraine has been carried out. The current state and place of school libraries in the educational process of the New Ukrainian school and in the world have been studied. More than 50% of the principals say that the computers available at schools do not meet the needs of the educational process due to their physical and moral obsolescence. This article analyzes and systematizes the existing modern principles of emotional design of educational spaces on the example of school libraries. Three levels for evaluating and transforming school library space have been considered and analyzed: reflexive, intuitive, and behavioral. Achieving a pleasant successful experience for a student from visiting the school library is ensured by combining these levels. This comprehensive study has allowed to deepen knowledge and highlight a range of new opportunities for the formation of communicative and information environment of school libraries as socio-cultural environments.Modern school libraries within the new Ukrainian school are on the threshold of inevitable transformation processes in accordance with the conditions of the information society and the informatization of all spheres of life.