Evidence-based Library Research Articles

The classification of citing motivations: a meta-synthesis

Citation analysis has been a prevalent method in the field of information science, especially research on bibliometrics and evaluation, but its validity relies heavily on how the citations are treated. It is essential to study authors’ citing motivations to identify citations with different values and significance. This study applied a meta-synthesis approach to establish a new holistic classification of citation motivations based on previous studies. First, we used a four-step search strategy to identify related articles on authors’ citing motivations. Thirty-eight primary studies were included after the inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied and appraised using the Evidence-based Librarianship checklist. Next, we decoded and recoded the citing motivations found in the included studies, following the standard procedures of meta-synthesis. Thirty-five descriptive concepts of citation motivations emerged, which were then synthesized into 13 analytic themes. As a result, we proposed a comprehensive classification, including two main categories of citing reasons, i.e., “scientific motivations” and “tactical motivations.” Generally, the citations driven by scientific motivations serve as a rhetorical function, while tactical motivations are social or benefit-oriented and not easily captured through text-parsing. Our synthesis contributes to bibliometric and scientific evaluation theory. The synthesized classification also provides a comprehensive and unified annotation schema for citation classification and helps identify the useful mentions of a reference in a citing paper to optimize citation- based measurements.

Cardiorespiratory strain during stroke rehabilitation: Are patients trained enough? A systematic review.

Rehabilitation is a mandatory component of stroke management, aiming to recover functional capacity and independence. To that end, physical therapy sessions must involve adequate intensity in terms of cardiopulmonary stress to meet the physiological demands of independent living. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the current level of cardiopulmonary strain during rehabilitation sessions in stroke patients. Three electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL and Embase. com) were searched to identify observational studies that documented cardiopulmonary strain during rehabilitation sessions in post-stroke patients (last search performed in February 2019). A manual cross-referencing search was also performed. To be included, articles needed to report data related to both cardiopulmonary strain (heart rate, oxygen consumption or energy expenditure) and active therapy time. The methodological quality of each study was assessed with the Evidence-Based Librarianship Critical Appraisal Tool. Data related to both cardiorespiratory strain and active therapy time were extracted from selected articles. Four of 43 full-text articles assessed for eligibility met the inclusion criteria. Results extracted from these articles suggested that the intensity of rehabilitation sessions was insufficient to induce a cardiopulmonary training effect in a post-stroke context as measured by metabolic stress. Patients were inactive from 21% to 80% of the therapy time. The Evidence-Based Librarianship tool scores ranged from 65% (15/23) to 91% (21/23), which indicates questionable to good quality. The current literature on cardiopulmonary solicitation during stroke rehabilitation sessions is poor in terms of both the number of studies available and their methodological quality. Summarized results tend to support previous claims that rehabilitation sessions offered to stroke patients are of suboptimal cardiopulmonary strain, which can interfere with their capacity to regain functional independence.

Using Evidence-Based Library Space Planning for Long-Term Student Success

Recent ethnographic research of physical academic library spaces demonstrates that students often utilise these spaces quite differently than the library’s staff may have originally intended. Student feedback in library remodelling efforts improves design outcomes and helps to foster a sense of student engagement with the larger academic community. This article reports the results of a library building space study at the William Allen White Library building, Emporia State University. The study had three objectives: 1) To learn more about the present utilisation of the library building by students in terms of its physical space; 2) To discover how students’ library space preferences for individual and group study, recreation, cultural programmes/events, and other aspects of academic life are influenced by the current library building space; and 3) To provide qualitative and quantitative evidence from students for more informed decisions about future library building projects.

Understanding Library Users via Surveys and Other Methods—Best Practices for Evidence-Based Library Development

A survey was performed over all university libraries within the Association of European Research Libraries (LIBER) in order to study how different methods of user input are utilized. Libraries using analysis based on explorative methods—such as UX and process mapping—report significantly increased user knowledge and perceived well-function. Over three-fourths of the respondents reported performing general user surveys. Surveys offer ease of collection, effectively gather researcher user group input and generate data suitable for communicating library value to stakeholders. However, it is resource-demanding to transfer findings into service changes, especially for smaller libraries, and results often support stepwise improvements rather than discovery of new services.

Call for Peer Reviewers for Evidence Based Library and Information Practice (EBLIP)

No abstract.

Evidence Based Library and Information Practice (EBLIP) is seeking an Editorial Intern

No abstract.

Applied and conceptual approaches to evidence-based practice in research and academic libraries

Evidence-based practice is an approach to professional practice that involves a structured process of collecting, interpreting and applying valid and reliable research and evidence to support decision-making and continuous service improvement in professional practice. This paper reports on emerging initiatives in evidence-based practice at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) Library, a regional multi-campus university in Australia. It demonstrates how evidence-based practice forms part of our organisational strategy to engage with our community and society. The case study describes a new model of embedding evidence-based practice through a role explicitly dedicated to developing the library’s evidence base. While other libraries may have a person responsible for assessment, performance metrics or data analysis, the Coordinator (Evidence-Based Practice) has a broader mandate – to work with library staff to develop tools, skills and expertise in evidence-based practice. The paper will describe why this role was created and how the Coordinator is working to engage with library staff to understand their business and the evidence needed to support service improvement for the Library. By doing this, USQ Library is building the capacity to demonstrate value to stakeholders, gain a deeper understanding of clients’ needs and experiences, promote robust decision-making and improve service delivery. The paper also outlines an initiative led by the Coordinator (Evidence-Based Practice) to develop a conceptual model of evidence-based practice within academic libraries at the organisational, rather than individual level. Current models of evidence-based library and information practice apply predominantly to individuals. Informed by relevant literature and 16 semi-structured interviews with library professionals from Australian and New Zealand university libraries, three themes emerged to describe how evidence-based practice might be experienced at the organisational level. The lived experience at USQ Library and our research investigations suggest that being evidence-based provides benefits to an academic library’s culture, practice and impact.

Adoption and implementation of evidence-based library acquisition of electronic resources

Evidence-based librarianship (EBL) has been in the literature for around 20 years, and has received a mixed level of acceptance and adoption in its implementation. The purpose of this study is to identify the determinants of EBL adoption and implementation in library acquisition decision of electronic resources. The Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) model, Innovation Diffusion Theory (IDT) theory and EBL model were used to form the research framework in order to investigate the adoption and implementation of evidence-based acquisition (EBA). Questionnaires were used as data collection tool. Data were collected from 250 respondents comprising librarians from academic, public and special libraries. The data were analyzed descriptively using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) v24. The assessment of the measurement and structural model was executed using Smart-PLS (SEM) 3.0. The reflective model was found to be valid and reliable with the Cronbach’s Alpha above 0.70, CR value and AVE of 0.80-0.90. Fornell-Larcker Criterion and Item Cross-loading recordings revealed that the constructs did not discriminate each other. Path coefficient analysis was performed to test the hypothesis in the identification of significant relationship that resulted in Relative Advantage, Compatibility and Top Management Support as the determinants of EBA of electronic resources Although no significant relationship was found between EBL Adoption and Implementation, an indication of practice was recorded in the level of implementation analysis. Further action and future research for libraries were suggested.

Understanding EBLIP at an Organizational Level: An Initial Maturity Model

Abstract
 Objective - Existing research around evidence based practice in the LIS (library and information science) professional context over the past two decades has captured the experience of individual practitioners, rather than the organization as a whole. Current models of evidence based library and information practice (EBLIP) relate to, and apply predominantly to, individuals or specific scenarios. Yet despite a growing demand from institutional and library leaders for evidence to demonstrate why investments in libraries should continue, little is known about how an organization can enhance its maturity in evidence based practice. This paper addresses this gap by seeking to understand what an evidence based university library looks like and answering the questions: how does a university library leader know the library’s service and practice is evidence based? How can a university library measure and progress its maturity in evidence based practice?
 Methods - Sixteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with library professionals employed at Australian and New Zealand university libraries. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis techniques. The interviews, combined with a literature review and environmental scan of evidence based practices in university libraries, informed the development of a draft capability maturity model as a framework for developing evidence based practice in university libraries.
 Results - The model identifies and describes characteristics at five different levels of evidence based practice maturity from least mature (Ad hoc/Sporadic) to most mature (Transforming). Three dimensions of experience help to define the characteristics at each level of maturity and provide a framework to understand how a university library might develop its organizational capacity in evidence based library and information practice.
 Conclusion - Library leaders and practitioners will benefit from the model as they seek to identify and build upon their evidence based practice maturity, enabling more robust decision-making, a deeper understanding of their clients and demonstration of value and impact to their stakeholders.

The relationship between common risk factors and the pathology of pressure ulcer development: a systematic review.

The aim of this systematic review was to examine the associations and relationship between commonly cited risk factors and the pathology of pressure ulcer (PU) development. Using systematic review methodology, original research studies, prospective design and human studies written in English were included. The search was conducted in March 2018, using Ovid, Ovid EMBASE and CINAHL databases. Data were extracted using a pre-designed extraction tool and all included studies were quality appraised using the evidence-based librarianship critical appraisal. A total of 382 records were identified, of which five met the inclusion criteria. The studies were conducted between 1994 and 2017. Most studies were conducted in hospital and geriatric wards. The mean sample size was 96±145.7 participants. Ischaemia, recovery of blood flow and pathological impact of pressure and shear was mainly found as the cited risk factor and PU aetiology. This review systematically analysed five papers exploring the relationship between risk factors for PU development and aetiology. It identified many risk factors and underlying pathological mechanisms that interact in the development of PU including ischaemia, stress, recovery of blood flow, tissue hypoxia and the pathological impact of pressure and shear. There are several pathways in which these pathological mechanisms contribute to PU development and identifying these could establish potential ways of preventing or treating the development of PU for patients.

The prevalence of pressure ulcers in Europe, what does the European data tell us: a systematic review.

The main aim of this systematic review was to establish the prevalence of pressure ulcers (PU) within published studies from Europe. Using systematic review methodology, quantitative design studies which explored prevalence data and/or the epidemiology of PUs in Europe were considered. The primary outcome was PU prevalence. The search, conducted in April 2019, using Cochrane, Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases, returned 3065 records, of which 79 met the inclusion criteria. Data were extracted using a pre-designed extraction tool, and validity analysis was undertaken using the Evidence-Based Librarianship (EBL) Critical Appraisal Checklist. We included 79 articles in this review. Across the studies, the median prevalence was 10.8% (standard deviation: 7%; range: 4.6-27.2%). The highest PU prevalence reported was from the Netherlands (27.2%; n=17,494 participants), and the lowest was reported from Finland (4.6%; n=629 participants). Almost 32.4% (n=151,195) of the PUs were category I and the most common site for PUs was the sacrum. The prevalence data is consistently high. These data indicate the continued need for further resource allocation into PU prevention and management.

Evidence reversal: Towards awareness of the phenomenon in library and information science

Evidence-based library and information practice (EBLIP) was adapted from evidence-based medicine (EBM). In doing so, problems of EBM might affect EBLIP. One issue already known in medicine which may eventually reach the field of library and information sciences (LIS) is the phenomenon of “evidence reversal”. An evidence reversal (ER) occurs when original information supporting a practice is contradicted by newer information concluded from a study of higher quality, meaning the study was more rigorous and less biased. Knowledge of ER will allow librarians and information specialists to improve the guidance they provide to professionals and researchers in other fields. For example, health librarians who support clinicians and health researchers and need to understand ER. Also, librarians and information specialists should be aware of this phenomenon as they are bound to eventually encounter conflicting evidence to inform their practice.

Visualization of the Scholarly Output on Evidence Based Librarianship: A Social Network Analysis

Abstract
 Objective – This paper aimed to analyze worldwide research on evidence based librarianship (EBL) using Social Network Analysis (SNA).
 Methods – This descriptive study has been conducted using scientometrics and a SNA approach. The researchers identified 523 publications on EBL, as indexed by Scopus and Web of Science with no date limitation. A range of software tools (Ravar PreMap, Netdraw, UCINet and VOSviewer) were utilized for data visualization and analysis.
 Results – Results of the study revealed that the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US) occupied the topmost positions regarding centrality measures, clearly indicating their important structural roles in EBL research. The network of EBL research in terms of the degree of connectedness showed low density in the co-authorship networks of both authors (0.013) and countries (0.214). Seven subject clusters were identified in the EBL research network, four of which related to health and medicine. The occurrence of the keywords related to these four subject clusters suggested that EBL research had a greater association with the setting of health and medicine than with traditional librarianship elements such as human resources or library collection management.
 Conclusion – This study provided a systematic understanding of topics, research, and researchers in EBL by visualizing the networks and may thus inform the development of future aspects of EBL research and education.

Time to Move EBLIP Forward with an Organizational Lens

No abstract.

Enhancing Collection Development with Big Data Analytics

ABSTRACTMore and more organizations are using Big Data to support evidence-based, customer-centric decisions and public libraries are following suit. This article presents the reasons behind a rise in Big Data and discusses the solutions that public libraries can apply to add value to the patron experience.

How are we Measuring Up? Evaluating Research Data Services in Academic Libraries

INTRODUCTION In the years since the emergence of federal funding agency data management and sharing requirements (http://datasharing.sparcopen.org/data), research data services (RDS) have expanded to dozens of academic libraries in the United States. As these services have matured, service providers have begun to assess them. Given a lack of practical guidance in the literature, we seek to begin the discussion with several case studies and an exploration of four approaches suitable to assessing these emerging services. DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM This article examines five case studies that vary by staffing, drivers, and institutional context in order to begin a practice-oriented conversation about how to evaluate and assess research data services in academic libraries. The case studies highlight some commonly discussed challenges, including insufficient training and resources, competing demands for evaluation efforts, and the tension between evidence that can be easily gathered and that which addresses our most important questions. We explore reflective practice, formative evaluation, developmental evaluation, and evidence-based library and information practice for ideas to advance practice. NEXT STEPS Data specialists engaged in providing research data services need strategies and tools with which to make decisions about their services. These range from identifying stakeholder needs to refining existing services to determining when to extend and discontinue declining services. While the landscape of research data services is broad and diverse, there are common needs that we can address as a community. To that end, we have created a community-owned space to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and existing resources.

Evidence Based Library and Information Practice (EBLIP) is Seeking an Editorial Intern

No abstract.

Libraries in the Era of Socio-Cultural Transformations: Modern Challenges and Grounds for Evidential Library Science

The processes of informatization and globalization, development of information technologies, mass media and electronic communication are the major factors that caused socio-cultural transformations. Under these conditions, all social institutions, including libraries, are being transformed and modernized. The article discusses the problem of library “To be or not be in the era of Internet” and the place and role of library in the period of socio-cultural transformations. There are described publicistic and scientific works of library scientists devoted to the modern library. Their position is compared with the interpretation of library as a social institution in the abstracts of dissertation theses defended in the Russian Federation in the period of 2000—2013 in three branches of knowledge — “Philosophical Sciences”, “Cultural Science”, and “Sociological Sciences”. On the basis of their analysis, there are revealed four entities of library as a social institution: “Library as a cultural phenomenon”, “Library as a heart of significant social and cultural information”, “Library as a foundation for the development of science and advanced ideas”, and “Library as a stabilizing social factor”. The author substantiates the need for evidence-based library science as a special approach to library practice, where the management decisions at any level (government, regional, municipal) shall be made on the basis of available evidence, based on the interests of readers (users) and society as a whole, taking into account possible social risks and requirements of social safety. Philosophers, culturologists and sociologists give special attention to the characteristics of the advantages that libraries possess in comparison with the Internet. Library provides selection, systematization and cataloguing of significant social and cultural information; represents knowledge in a documentary and observable form; does not impose on the user the patterns of mass culture and behavioral templates, and encourages readers to spiritual growth by reading and addressing to valuable and relevant cultural information.

Experiencing Evidence-Based Library and Information Practice (EBLIP): Academic Librarians' Perspective

This study investigates practitioners’ involvement in Evidence-Based Library and Information Practice (EBLIP) at an academic library. Through focus group interviews, the study reveals that most of the evidence-bases decisions in academic library practice are considered “Know-what (works)” and serve the “instrumental” purpose, seeking to determine what actions will lead to desired outcomes in addressing a specific problem. Practitioners use a wide range of evidence sources to support their decision making. Challenges they encounter in EBLIP related to time, mentoring/training, availability and accessibility of evidence, organizational culture, and personality. Study findings will help increase the awareness of evidence-based practice in academic libraries, deepen the professional understanding of EBLIP, enrich the literature on the topic, and identify important issues pertinent to EBLIP for further exploration.

Being Evidence Based in Library and Information Practice

In this work, Koufogiannakis and Brettle bring together “recent theory, research and case studies from practice environments across the broad field of librarianship to illustrate how librarians can incorporate the principles of evidence-based library and information practice (EBLIP) into their work”