Information Professionals Research Articles

Are we ready? Generative AI and the LIS curriculum

The US Department of Education’s 2023 report highlights the importance of AI literacy for educators and other stakeholders (Cardona, Rodriguez & Ishmael, 2023). Analyzing this report, Lo (2023) notes that “for librarians, AI literacy could involve understanding how AI tools work, how they can be used to enhance library services, and how to navigate potential ethical issues related to AI” (p. 2). Southworth et al (2023) observe that technical aspects of AI are covered in the traditional STEM curricula but are largely absent outside of it. While there are efforts currently to provide education and training opportunities for librarians in addressing AI in their work, as well as literature that talks about how AI will impact various aspects of work in libraries, few have touched on the need for curriculum development to effectively address such disruptive technologies by identifying the competencies or threshold concepts that will be affected by them. The ubiquitous impact of AI has included applications in medical research as well as law, design, economics, and humanities, to name just a few. Agile practice and improved dissemination of best practices are called for, moving forward. How should LIS curriculum address AI and related issues to prepare future librarians and information professionals? This poster covers an in-progress scoping review of literature and a content analysis of the publicly available course descriptions of ALA accredited LIS programs, as well as their current mission statements and objectives to provide a snapshot of extant integration of this new and challenging technology.

Developing Graduate Curriculum for Digital Language Archive Stewardship

Our interdisciplinary team including information and language scholars and educators and practicing information professionals at University of North Texas (UNT) and Indiana University (IU) is developing an evidence-based practice-oriented online curriculum to train library, archives, and museums (LAM) professionals in the archiving, curation, and ethical dissemination of resources that provide the means to revitalize community memory and language. During this 2-year project, over 30 LAM students will complete the project-developed UNT graduate course INFO 5385 Community Language Archiving and Curation for Information Professionals, and additional estimated 100 students at UNT and IU will complete individual project-developed learning modules integrated into other courses. Development of the learning materials is informed by digital language archive practices, research, and existing training materials for archive depositors. Resulting open-access adaptable learning resources are expected to be widely used by academic programs and educators for training LAM students and by participatory archives as continuing education resources.

Exploring Perspectives on Data Science Competency: Insights from Students, Professionals, and Employers

Graduate-level data science programs at iSchools have increased in recent years in response to growing needs in the field and demand for professionals with data-related skills due to technology advancements and the ubiquity of information and data. However, a perception gap still exists regarding skills taught in classrooms and those needed in the workplace. Hence, we systematically analyzed graduate-level data science programs and courses and conducted a survey of relevant stakeholders (current students, data professionals, and employers) on their perceptions of the skills and knowledge necessary for an effective data science professional or data librarian. In the questionnaire, 116 participants rated the importance of data science competencies and topics using a seven-point Likert scale. The survey participants rated most data competency areas as important, very important, or extremely important, indicating a strong consensus among respondents regarding the significance of technical skills like data analysis, foundational skills like problem-solving, and soft skills like communication. Overall, students rated the importance of most technical skills higher than employers and professionals did. However, employers rated the importance of soft skills, such as communication, higher than students. A Kruskal-Wallis H test confirmed significant differences in the rating of multiple data competency importance among the three groups. When asked about the importance of data topics, participants rated topics like data ethics, privacy, and access as important. These findings could inform and assist administrators and faculty at LIS and iSchools with curricula design for graduate programs while working to prepare students for careers in the information professions.

Gastric cancer in Spain: evaluating productivity loss and economic impact

Introduction In 2018, gastric cancer (GC) was estimated to account for over 1.03 million new cases globally, making it one of the most frequently diagnosed malignancies. In Spain, about 6,913 new cases were diagnosed in 2022. GC is an aggressive cancer originating in the stomach and ranks fifth in cancer incidence and third in cancer-related deaths worldwide. Despite treatment, only 25% of patients survive more than 5 years after diagnosis. Methods To estimate the economic impact of premature mortality due to GC, the human capital method was employed. This approach involved collecting data on mortality rates, average salaries, and unemployment rates. The study spanned a 10-year period, from 2013 to 2022, to integrate the latest and most pertinent data for analysis. The goal was to quantify the economic consequences GC-related deaths, providing valuable information for policy makers and healthcare professionals. Results GC caused 51,814 deaths over the study period with a slight annual decline, predominantly affecting men. Approximately 23% of deaths occurred among people of working age, amounting to a total of 122,632 YPLL. In economic terms, GC deaths accounted for costs of €1,239.34 million in 2013, rising to €1,242.04 million by 2021, for a total of €11,469.07 million over the study period. Conclusions The incidence of gastrointestinal cancers has decline in some types, but they remain a substantial public health challenge. These findings underline the significant health and economic challenges posed by GC, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to mitigate its impact on both individuals and healthcare systems.

Development of a Professional Identity Scale for Information Professionals

Professional identity is generally defined as one’s interpretation of self as a professional in connection with the personal and professional experiences, attitudes, and aspirations. The research used the framework developed by Pierson et al. (2019), value statements from major professional associations, library and information science (LIS) literature to revise a professional identity scale for counseling profession developed by Woo and Henfield (2015). The developed instrument will be reviewed by small number of experts (N≈20) for content validation. The instrument will be sent out to LIS professionals via mailing lists for construct validation. LIS professionals who have just transitioned from school to work (graduated from LIS programs in the last 5 years) will be invited to participate in the study. The final instrument will include demographic questions (e.g., age, gender), highest degree achieved, employment status, and LIS job experience. Exploratory factor analysis will be carried out to identify the factor structure of the scale and relevant tests (e.g., Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin, Bartlett's test of sphericity) will be performed to investigate and assess the professional identity constructs that will emerge from the data. Confirmatory factor analysis will be conducted to obtain additional measures of fit and possibly explore additional changes. As the profession goes through a transformation and recalibrates itself to stay relevant and better address the needs and expectations of users, having a validated and reliable instrument to assess the professional identity of the professionals in the field will help address this gap.

Digital Language Archiving: Reuse and Adaptation of Non-LIS Learning Materials in LIS Education

As a digital repository type that is gaining prominence, language archives are in need of information professionals to maintain and provide access to. Yet, awareness of digital language archives among the US LAM professionals and educators is currently low. Our project’s analysis of available relevant training materials for linguists and community members informed development of a graduate course that prepares LAM professionals to effective and ethical stewardship of digital language archives. This paper provides a brief literature review of the latest relevant research and publications. Next, results of examination of three sources of language archiving learning materials are presented and discussed. This discussion’s focus is on the ideas for reuse and adaptation of these materials in LAM education and on implementation of some of these ideas in our project-developed course at the University of North Texas.

Digital Language Archiving: Reuse and Adaptation of Non-LIS Learning Materials in LIS Education

As a digital repository type that is gaining prominence, language archives are in need of information professionals to maintain and provide access to. Yet, awareness of digital language archives among the US LAM professionals and educators is currently low. Our project’s analysis of available relevant training materials for linguists and community members informed development of a graduate course that prepares LAM professionals for effective and ethical stewardship of digital language archives. In this paper, following a brief literature review of the latest relevant research and publications, results of examination of three major sources of language archiving learning materials are presented and discussed. This discussion’s focus is on the ideas for reuse and adaptation of these materials in LIS education and on implementation of some of these ideas in our project-developed course at the University of North Texas.

Where Theory and Practice Converge: Community-Based Learning as a Pedagogical Approach for Teaching AI Ethics

As artificial intelligence (AI) technologies continue to inundate the current information landscape, questions surrounding the ethics of AI and its responsible use in teaching and learning remain firmly on the forefront of the pedagogical discourse in the LIS field. Indeed, one implication of the ongoing AI revolution for LIS education that has become evident from these conversations is the pressing need to develop an ethical instructional framework that would enable students and educators alike to successfully navigate the rapidly evolving generative AI universe. This poster discusses the effectiveness of several pedagogical approaches that are currently being implemented to help students identify and address the ethical challenges associated with these technologies across a wide range of graduate level LIS courses, spanning such key areas of the professional practice as library and information center management, academic librarianship, and community-engaged librarianship. The common denominator in these courses is an emphasis on community-based learning that constitutes the core of complex sequential semester-long course projects students are asked to complete by designing and performing various community outreach, observational, and analytical exercises in an information organization of their choice. Based on the data collected from the above-mentioned courses during the past four semesters, the presenter demonstrates the value of the community-based learning component present in these activities for developing in LIS students a higher level of critical thinking about AI-related ethical dilemmas, all the while preparing soon-to-be information professionals for real-world applications of ethical considerations in their current and future professional roles.

Fallacy as Foundation of Post-Truth Knowledge and Knowing in LIS

How can library and information science (LIS) better promote epistemic vigilance and critical ethics toward post-truth (i.e., harmful; false; mis/dis/mal) information? This preliminary critical philosophical investigation argues LIS must go beyond considering mis/dis/mal information, and instead examine how post-truth shapes the process of producing mis/dis/mal epistemology through fallacies. Drawing from insights related to epistemicide and epistemic injustice in LIS, we reconsider post-truth and the modes of justification validating false beliefs as knowledge. We operationalize Fallacy 1 (“deceptively bad arguments”) and Fallacy 2 (“false popular belief”) to consider post-truth knowledge production. LIS faces an immediate pedagogical imperative of preparing information professionals to equitably mitigate fallacious harms inflicted by fake news proliferation, wavering information literacy, and the largely uncritical popularization of AI systems and tools which forcefully facilitate knower interactions with post-truth information. The evolving notions of post-truth information requires a critical ethical revolution for LIS.

Positioning LIS Students for Career Success

There is an assumption that students enter graduate programs with a certain level of knowledge and awareness about the field they have chosen to study and their career plans post-graduation. However, the literature shows that even graduate students benefit from services and programming related to career exploration and preparation. This is especially true in the library and information science (LIS) field, which offers myriad career paths and settings for graduates. Despite resources such as the ALISE Statistical Report, San José State University iSchool’s Career Trends report, and research on the core knowledge and skills desired of information professionals, extant literature examining career services provided to and desired by LIS graduate students is lacking. This project examined career planning services and programming in LIS graduate programs using a descriptive research approach. Data was collected via surveys of current LIS program administrators and enrolled graduate students. As LIS job seekers report such long and frustrating job search experiences that they consider leaving the field entirely, insights from this research will inform the creation or improvement of career services for LIS students, advance discussion of career services for graduate students, and identify exemplars that can be used to guide programming efforts. This paper will share preliminary findings from surveys completed by 25 program administrators and 400 current students.

Digital Language Archiving: Reuse and Adaptation of Non-LIS Learning Materials in LIS Education

As a digital repository type of growing prominence, language archives need qualified information professionals to maintain and provide access to their rich collections. Yet, awareness of digital language archives among the US LIS professionals and educators is currently low. Our project’s analysis of available relevant training materials for linguists and community members informed the development of a graduate course that prepares LIS professionals for effective and ethical stewardship of digital language archives. In this paper, following a brief literature review of the latest relevant research and publications, results of examination of three major sources of language archiving learning materials are presented and discussed. This discussion’s focus is on the ideas for reuse and adaptation of these materials in LIS education and on implementation of some of these ideas in our project-developed course at the University of North Texas.

Learning From Community-Based Efforts Toward Shared Responsibility for Climate and Environmental Justice

In this exploratory inquiry, the research team investigates community-based data practices in climate and environmental justice initiatives. We set out to learn from the long history and current activities of communities seeking to hold corporate and government actors responsible to enact care for the climate and environment (e.g., monitoring air quality and waterways affected by petrochemical industries). Through a critical intersectional care ethics lens, we follow how groups respond to harms to ecosystems and seek healing, positioning their epistemic authority as they work with data (e.g., Ottinger, 2023; Puig de la Bellacasa, 2017). This work draws insights from inquiries which have examined how communities engage with climate action and efforts toward environmental sustainability (e.g., dos Santos et al., 2024; Kaczmarek, 2023; Nathan, 2012). Through a poster reporting on preliminary research, we share early analyses highlighting communities’ labor of resisting corporate delay, denial, and other dis- and mal-information practices, which slow or block urgently needed action and truth-telling. Methods involve analysis of archival records created by and about communities affected by the Love Canal toxic waste crisis in Western New York. The project aims to appreciate differences and similarities in community-based data practices, identifying further possibilities for information professionals and libraries, archives, and museums to uphold these data practices and associated knowledge and memory work, research, and storytelling. In turn, the team proposes future work to trace the development of community-based practices with climate and environmental data over time.

The Difference Between Passive Subjects and Autonomous Actors: Proposing an Orientation Toward Consent in Library and Information Science

To participate in most aspects of society, individuals are constantly required to share their data. From students in LIS courses to patients forced to enter information into third party software to check into medical appointments, we all have to “consent” to live our lives. While we are presented with consent forms full of legalese constantly, opportunities to opt out are rare. This critical essay posits that to prepare our students to become ethical members of information professions, LIS educators must center consent as a core ethical value. Using a scoping review approach, we explore consent as a distinct topic in LIS literature. We then propose an orientation towards consent that can center human rights, individual autonomy, and care in LIS work.

Primary Care Informatics: Vitalizing the Bedrock of Health Care.

Primary care informatics (PCI) professionals address workflow and technology solutions in a wide spectrum of health, ranging from optimizing the experience of the individual patient in the clinic room to supporting the health of populations and augmenting the work of frontline primary care clinical teams. PCI overlaps uniquely with 2 disciplines with an impact on societal health-primary care and health informatics. Primary care is a gateway to health care access and aims to synthesize and coordinate numerous, complex elements of patients' health and medical care in a holistic manner. However, over the past 25 years, primary care has become a specialty in crisis: in a post-COVID-19 world, workforce shortages, clinician burnout, and continuing challenges in health care access all contribute to difficulties in sustaining primary care. Informatics professionals are poised to change this trajectory. In this viewpoint, we aim to inform readers of the discipline of PCI and its importance in the design, support, and maintenance of essential primary care services. Although this work focuses on primary care in the United States, which includes general internal medicine, family medicine, and pediatrics (and depending on definition, includes specialties such as obstetrics and gynecology), many of the principles outlined can also be applied to comparable health care services and settings in other countries. We highlight (1) common global challenges in primary care, (2) recent trends in the evolution of PCI (personalized medicine, population health, social drivers of health, and team-based care), and (3) opportunities to move forward PCI with current and emerging technologies using the 4Cs of primary care framework. In summary, PCI offers important contributions to health care and the informatics field, and there are many opportunities for informatics professionals to enhance the primary care experience for patients, families, and their care teams.

Assessing the capacity building programs pursued by university libraries in Meru County, Kenya

Changing user demands require libraries to develop unique capabilities for supporting the delivery of quality teaching, learning, and research. This shift further requires librarians to develop competencies in handling emergent technologies, dissemination of information, scholarly communication, and strategy formulation. Nevertheless, there has been an overreliance on conventional ways that have stifled innovation and creativity in most libraries, raising questions on continuous training programs for information professionals. The purpose of the study was to assess capacity-building programs pursued by university libraries in Meru County. The study used a qualitative approach and employed a case study research design. The Technology Organization Environment Model guided the study. The units of analysis were KeMU and MUST university libraries, and the unit of observation was 15 university library staff, specifically, 2 university library heads and 13 heads of library sections who were selected through the purposive sampling method. The study interviewed university librarians and conducted Focus Group Discussions [FGDs] with library heads of sections. The two FGDs comprised 5 and 7 participants in KeMU and MUST respectively. Validity of the instruments was established by conducting a pretest at Chuka University Library to appraise the dependability of interview and FGDs questions. One librarian and 2 library section heads participated. Data was analysed using content analysis and thematic categorization. The study identified several capacity-building initiatives undertaken by libraries which included leadership training, customer care training, information retrieval skills development and training on reference management systems. This led to a conclusion that library staff were prepared to deliver quality services through a combination of skill enhancement. Notably, the study highlighted opportunities for library personnel to engage in ongoing professional development. It urges library management to organize seminars and workshops periodically to help its staff to keep abreast with latest developments and innovations in the field of library science.

Radiation information, protection and awareness of healthcare professionals in terms of occupational health and safety: a two–center survey study

Abstract The objective of this study was to assess the level of knowledge, protection and awareness of radiation among healthcare professionals. A total of 413 healthcare professionals from two major training and research hospitals in Istanbul took part in the study. The sample consisted of 26.6% physicians and 73.4% other healthcare professionals. There was considerable variation in the knowledge of radiation content in imaging techniques, with correct response rates of 89.3% for Computed Tomography, 80.1% for digital x-ray, and 52.8% for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. While 69.5% of respondents provided correct answers to questions regarding radiation protection principles, 64.4% demonstrated a lack of sufficient knowledge in this area. It is noteworthy that 48.4% of respondents incorrectly identified the medical imaging technique to which the public is most exposed. It was concluded that further training on radiation-related issues should be provided at the university level and through in-service training for healthcare professionals.

COMPARAÇÃO ENTRE DIFERENTES ÓLEOS COMO FLUIDOS DE CORTE: UMA REVISÃO BIBLIOGRÁFICA

This work presents a comparative analysis among different types of oils used as cutting fluids in the machining industry. The research aimed to address the comparison of mineral, synthetic, and vegetable oils, considering their physicochemical properties, machining performance, and environmental impacts of these fluids. The proper choice of cutting fluid is essential to optimize the cutting process of metallic materials, directly influencing the operation efficiency, the quality of machined parts, and production costs. The results indicate that each type of oil has distinct characteristics that should be considered in selecting the most suitable cutting fluid for each application. This study contributes to the understanding of the importance of choosing the correct oil as a cutting fluid and provides valuable information for professionals and researchers in the machining field.

Integrating Jun Porcelain Culture into Modern Information Management Systems: A Study on Expanding Cultural Diplomacy Through Innovative Symbol Reconstruction and Digital Communication Techniques

This study explores the relationships between Jun porcelain cultural heritage, modern information management systems, and cultural diplomacy in the digital age. The purpose is to understand how these variables intersect and influence contemporary cultural dynamics, shedding light on the complexities of tradition, innovation, and technology in shaping cultural practices and identities. Through qualitative interviews with 13 experts from cultural institutions, information management professions, and diplomatic spheres, and a comprehensive literature review encompassing databases such as JSTOR, ProQuest, and Google Scholar, this research seeks to elucidate how these variables intersect and influence contemporary cultural dynamics. The choice of qualitative interviews and literature review was made to provide a nuanced understanding of Jun porcelain cultural heritage, information management systems, and cultural diplomacy, leveraging the strengths of qualitative inquiry in capturing rich insights and contextual nuances. These methods offer advantages in uncovering the multifaceted nature of cultural practices, identifying key themes and patterns, and providing new insights into the dynamics of cultural heritage preservation, communication, and diplomatic exchange. The qualitative interviews and literature review revealed several key insights into the relationships between Jun porcelain cultural heritage, modern information management systems, and cultural diplomacy. Themes such as democratization of cultural access, digital inequalities, and cross-cultural dialogue emerged from the analysis, shedding light on the complex dynamics at play. The study builds upon existing research by offering nuanced perspectives on the intersections between tradition, innovation, and technology in shaping cultural practices and identities in the digital age. This research provides recommendations for cultural institutions, policymakers, and information professionals, including developing ethical frameworks for digital preservation, promoting inclusive cultural access, and fostering cross-cultural dialogue through digital diplomacy. Future studies should explore social media's impact on cultural diplomacy, the role of digital archives in preserving intangible cultural heritage, and emerging technologies' implications on cultural heritage interpretation. These efforts will advance understanding in cultural heritage preservation and information management in the digital age.

British Gynaecological Cancer Society and British Menopause Society guidelines: Management of menopausal symptoms following treatment of gynaecological cancer.

These guidelines have been developed jointly by the British Gynaecological Cancer Society and British Menopause Society to provide information for all healthcare professionals managing women treated for gynaecological cancer. Menopausal symptoms can have a significant impact on quality of life for women. Cancer therapies, including surgery, pelvic radiotherapy, chemotherapy and endocrine therapy, can all affect ovarian function. The benefits and risks of using hormone replacement therapy are considered by cancer type with guidance on the type of HRT and optimal time of commencement after cancer treatment. Vaginal estrogens can be very effective for improving urogenital symptoms and are safe for the majority of women, including those for whom systemic HRT is contraindicated with rare exceptions. Alternative options to HRT are reviewed including pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches.

The power of the many: how retail investor attention reshapes corporate trade credit and bank loans

Our study on China-listed firms from 2011 to 2022 reveals that heightened retail investor attention significantly decreases corporate trade credit and boosts bank loan accessibility. This effect is consistent across different robust checks, such as propensity score matching and industry/regional shock controls. We find that this attention enhances information transparency, influencing both trade credit and bank loans. Notably, the impact is more pronounced in the absence of professional information intermediaries. This research deepens the understanding of retail investor attention's economic impact, shedding light on the substitutive relationship between trade credit and bank loans.