Information Science Community Research Articles

Uncertainty in Automated Ontology Matching: Lessons from an Empirical Evaluation

Data integration is considered a classic research field and a pressing need within the information science community. Ontologies play a critical role in such processes by providing well-consolidated support to link and semantically integrate datasets via interoperability. This paper approaches data integration from an application perspective by looking at ontology matching techniques. As the manual matching of different sources of information becomes unrealistic once the system scales up, the automation of the matching process becomes a compelling need. Therefore, we have conducted experiments on actual non-semantically enriched relational data with the support of existing tools (pre-LLM technology) for automatic ontology matching from the scientific community. Even considering a relatively simple case study—i.e., the spatio–temporal alignment of macro indicators—outcomes clearly show significant uncertainty resulting from errors and inaccuracies along the automated matching process. More concretely, this paper aims to test on real-world data a bottom-up knowledge-building approach, discuss the lessons learned from the experimental results of the case study, and draw conclusions about uncertainty and uncertainty management in an automated ontology matching process. While the most common evaluation metrics clearly demonstrate the unreliability of fully automated matching solutions, properly designed semi-supervised approaches seem to be mature for more generalized application.

Fostering effective collaboration between library and information science academics and practitioners in Bangladesh: Insights, challenges and recommendations

Effective collaboration between library and information science academics and practitioners is vital for the professional growth and success of individuals working in the field. It facilitates the exchange of knowledge, skills and innovative practices, which, in turn, enhance the quality of library services. It allows for the integration of theoretical knowledge with practical experience, resulting in more effective and efficient library operations. However, the lack of studies on fostering collaboration between library and information science academics and practitioners in Bangladesh presents a notable research gap. Addressing this gap is critical as it directly impacts the career success of library and information science professionals and the development of library services, particularly in a rapidly developing nation like Bangladesh. This study utilized a qualitative approach to gather data through semi-structured, unstructured, and focus group interviews with renowned Bangladeshi academics and experienced library practitioners. The research has broader implications for the global library and information science community, adding a valuable perspective from a developing nation. The results highlight the significance of mindset and attitude in influencing collaborative efforts, urging academics and practitioners to adopt an open-minded approach without ego-related conflicts. The study identifies the strengths, weaknesses, barriers and opportunities in relation to effective collaboration between library and information science academicians and practitioners. Additionally, the research proposes viable solutions and outlines the potential for academic and professional success through collaboration.

From seeking to learning: Understanding contextual factors associated with users’ self-regulated learning on medical Q&A platforms

Based on the expectancy-value theory, contextual factors related to users’ self-regulated learning (SRL) on medial Q&A platforms were investigated. A theoretical model was developed and validated through an online survey involving 483 participants with experience in health information-seeking on medical Q&A platforms. The empirical analysis yielded three main findings. First, a significant positive relationship existed between searching for health answers and SRL. Second, perceived usefulness of health answers was also positively related to SRL. Third, user satisfaction with the medical Q&A platform partially mediated the relationship between searching for health answers and SRL, as well as the relationship between perceived usefulness of health answers and SRL. This study bridges the gap between the field of self-regulated learning and medical Q&A research, providing valuable insights for improving the well-being of online health information consumers and advancing the information science community.

Are We on the Same Page about Data Sharing? A Bibliometric Comparison Between Biomedicine and Information Science Literature

ABSTRACTData sharing has been an extensively discussed subject in both the information science and biomedicine communities. However, the two communities do not seem to speak to each other. Such an absence of exchange of perspectives can lead to siloed knowledge, duplicated work, and hindered collaboration. To uncover existing knowledge gaps, this poster depicts the bibliometric relationships between relevant literature in the fields of information science and library science (ISLS) and biomedicine and health sciences (BMHS). The findings demonstrate stronger bibliographic couplings within ISLS publications and between ISLS and multidisciplinary science publications, compared to the BMHS group. In addition, the examined ISLS and BMHS publications exhibit distinct topical foci on open science. This poster is expected to serve as a first step toward stimulating more conversations in the information science community, as well as bringing the discussions to the biomedicine community in the near future.

Global AI Initiatives: from Theory to Practice

ABSTRACTInformation Sciences is deeply invested in improving the future of AI globally. Information science researchers provide a critical voice in the growth of AI by bringing in perspectives related to AI Ethics, diversity, equity, inclusion, and AI education for all. AI is seeping into everyday life and is often a source of concern for people whose lives are impacted. The concerns of losing employment, inequitable access, and biases create a fear of AI among people. Library and information science educators and researchers have a rich history of working with local communities and representing local contexts. This experience places us in an important position to understand and evaluate AI applications and their varied impact in different contexts; for example, the same library‐related AI application would have different results in Europe versus Africa. However, AI and its applications in the global context are yet to be discussed and understood in the information science community.

(Talking About) Failing Better in Research: The First Rule of Failure Club Is…You Don’t Talk about Failure Club

ABSTRACTFailure in research is an underexplored topic in the information science literature. Many instances of research failure go unreported due to the success‐oriented nature of academic culture, and academic publishing in particular. In not discussing, or failing to enable the discussion and reporting of research failures, important learning opportunities are being missed by the information science community. The aim of this panel is to explore these missed opportunities and to consider the need for approaches to research design, research collaboration and relationships, community engagement, publishing, mentorship, and teaching that will make room for such discussions to take place. The panel will bring together prominent information researchers to discuss failure in research in a series of short themed provocations and moderated group discussion activities.

Reflecting on Two Decades of Information Horizons Theory and Method: Applications and Innovations

ABSTRACTInformation horizons is a theory and method that embraces behavioral, cognitive and social aspects of information seeking, sharing, and use. As the first method originating in information science that uses a graphical data collection technique (Hartel, 2016), it has served as the underpinning methodology for numerous investigations for over 20 years. The method is often applied in studies of diverse communities not traditionally included in research, such as lower socio‐economic populations. Information horizons is also valuable in teaching master's and doctoral students about information behavior and importance of theoretical constructs. For example, over 700 master's students at the University of Toronto have completed exploratory, empirical studies using the method. A strength of the method is its extensibility; researchers have extended and adapted the method for use with different populations and to investigate different types of information behavior. This panel will explore the varied applications of the information horizon method, engage the audience in open discussion about the information horizons method for research and teaching, and explore how theoretical and methodological approaches can be more effectively shared across the information science and related communities.

Pilgrim's progress? A field ethnography of multimodal recording, curating and sharing of the Camino de Santiago experience

PurposeReligious and secular pilgrimages present rich opportunities for investigating information activities in an original and intriguing context. While the Information Science community has previously shown interest in digital expressions of religion and spirituality, discussion on pilgrimage is at a nascent stage. The purpose of this study is to conduct an in situ investigation of how pilgrims record, curate, and share their experiences.Design/methodology/approachA field ethnography was conducted while walking with, observing and interviewing pilgrims along the Camino de Santiago, a popular European pilgrimage and UNESCO World Heritage route. Data collected from 25 semi-structured interviews and participant observations were thematically analysed within a theoretical framework combining Stebbins' contemplation and Nature Challenge Activity in serious leisure and Hektor's model of information behaviour.FindingsThis study expands the interpretation of pilgrimage by introducing new insights into pilgrims, different types of mobilities, spaces and objects, and social interactions. By using field ethnography and close-up observations of praxis, pilgrimage is analysed as a socio-technical process and discussed literature within and beyond Information Science. The work presents new understandings of the interplay between spirituality, embodied information practices, physical and online social interactions, analogue and digital media before, during and after these journeys and legacy aspirations.Originality/valueThe study is original in its combination of theoretical models and their ethnographic in situ application. It contributes to a more in-depth, in-the-field understanding of how pilgrims document their experiences via a rich palette of old and new media, the dynamics of using digital technologies during such physical and inner journeys and pilgrims' sharing practices. Implications for serious leisure and information practices are discussed, from theoretical to practical challenges and opportunities offered by pilgrimage experiences.

G4CMP: Condensed matter physics simulation using the Geant4 toolkit

G4CMP simulates phonon and charge transport in cryogenic semiconductor crystals using the Geant4 toolkit. The transport code is capable of simulating the propagation of acoustic phonons as well as electron and hole charge carriers. Processes for anisotropic phonon propagation, oblique charge-carrier propagation, and phonon emission by accelerated charge carriers are included. The simulation reproduces theoretical predictions and experimental observations such as phonon caustics, heat-pulse propagation times, and mean charge-carrier drift velocities. In addition to presenting the physics and features supported by G4CMP, this report outlines example applications from the dark matter and quantum information science communities. These communities are applying G4CMP to model and design devices for which the energy transported by phonons and charge carriers is germane to the performance of superconducting instruments and circuits placed on silicon and germanium substrates. The G4CMP package is available to download from GitHub: github.com/kelseymh/G4CMP.

Persistence, vision, networks, collaboration - leadership in information retrieval research

The library and information science community has its share of inspirational research pioneers building a corpus of knowledge to influence and construct the future. Intuitive search interface design, the psychology and mechanics of information retrieval and information seeking behaviour are key development priorities. In December 2021, Ian Ruthven, Professor of Information Seeking and Retrieval at the Department of Computer and Information Sciences, University of Strathclyde, presented the seventh annual Strix Memorial Lecture entitled: ‘Google’s what you use when Alexa doesn’t know the answer, Uncle Ian.’ It was inspired by an innocent comment made by his young niece. People create their own models of how information works for them. Information seeking behaviour is social and shaped by life, so there are infinite iterations of queries and limitless perceived solutions to perceived problems. We explore Ian’s work and his observation that there is so much potential to progress research by placing information seeking and retrieval within the broader societal and cultural framework of what people or populations want from or do with information.

Fetching Automatic Authority Data in ILS from Wikidata via OpenRefine

Authority data is vital for effective library and information services. It serves a major purpose in realizing the collocation function of library catalogues and indexes. Unfortunately, however, authority control has been neglected in library catalogues and other bibliographic databases in India. This paper seeks to demonstrate how authority data can be fetched automatically from Wikidata, a sibling project of Wikipedia. For this purpose, the query language SPARQL is required to formulate the names of persons of Indian origin along with their date of birth and place in Wikidata. The collected datasets are processed and implemented as MARC21-based authority data in KOHA, an open-source library management software. The ways in which the library and information science community can use these free, open-source platforms to gather, organize and share data and how they enhance the retrieval efficiency are shown.

Research Frameworks for Multiple Ways of Knowing

The COVID-19 pandemic, the treatment and death of George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter and the MeToo movements, and restrictive immigration policies have more recently brought to the forefront the inequities in our everyday lives. From the inequity of access to COVID-19 vaccines across the globe, inequities of the treatment of people of color and women and access to broadband and online information, social justice issues have prompted not only increased media attention but also an increase in scholarly research. “There are five goals of social justice: access to resources, equity (provision of equitable resources that focus on the needs of communities and their members), diversity, participation in policy making by diverse groups, and human rights regardless of socioeconomic status (freedom of speech, voting rights, and other basic rights)” (Connaway and Radford, 2021, 442). These also correspond to the underlying principles of librarianship – access to information and the technology to obtain this information regardless of religion, political affiliation, gender identity, race, or economic and educational levels and intellectual freedom. The digital divide, the disparity between those who have access to technology and those who do not based on educational and economic levels, creates an imbalance of access to information. Equal access to broadband, information, healthcare, education, and socio-economic opportunities are critical issues in engaging social justice in LIS pedagogy and research. Social justice research is not new to the scholarly community, including the library and information science (LIS) community. However, the current social and economic environments have increased the awareness of inequitable practices and policies and the shortcomings of LIS offerings, programming, collections, procedures, and practices. These biases are present in our classification systems, knowledge management, vocabularies, algorithms used for discovery and access, and in our hiring, promotion and retention practices and policies in regard to diversity, equity, and inclusion in an international and development context. Integrating inclusive and equitable policies and practices into the LIS curricula also is imperative for preparing future professionals to meet the continually changing needs of diverse staff and communities. The panelists will discuss how LIS researchers and educators are integrating social justice into their scholarship and teaching, within a context of decolonizing research and advancing multiple ways of knowing. They then will highlight LIS social justice research, methodologies, and frameworks as well as future directions for research. Examples of how these research findings can be translated into LIS curricula will be highlighted. Lynn Silipigni Connaway will provide an overview of some of the social justice research topics being addressed in the LIS literature. She also will discuss ways to include diversity in research sampling and to be more inclusive in our participant recruitment and collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of our findings. Clara M. Chu will introduce the scholarship of dialogue framework for LIS research that engages the voice of the research participants to provide them agency and enhance equity throughout the research process. She will discuss the perils of drive-by and helicopter research when studying the Other, including conducting research in marginalized and Global South communities. Dick Kawooya will discuss information policy research, why it is important, and how to integrate it into LIS curricula. Information policy research provides a unique opportunity to address social justice and inequality because it focuses on identifying social problems associated with information, segments of society affected by the problems, recommends solutions in the form of policy choices and if policy choices are implemented, it informs distribution of public and private resources (Braman, 2011). Information policy research focuses on issues such as the digital divide, library funding (school and public), censorship, privacy, net neutrality, data protection and integrity, intellectual property, and others. He will show why and how the above policy issues should be integrated across the LIS curriculum and which marginalized communities should be the center for each policy issue. Andiswa Mfengu will provide a discussion on socially just research impact assessment support from the LIS discipline. Research and research impact assessment have been greatly transformed over the years and thus providing an opportunity for the LIS discipline to explore equitable and context-sensitive approaches that cater for marginalized groups; and how these approaches can be embedded in LIS scholarship and education. She will discuss challenges and propose solutions on how research impact assessment support from the LIS discipline can be more inclusive, flexible, and equitable in practice and in curricula.

Experiences of the Ukrainian adolescents during the Russia-Ukraine 2022 War

PurposeThe study aims to explore the current experiences of Ukrainian adolescents affected by the Russia-Ukraine war. The study focused on the changes in adolescents’ lives caused by the war, adolescents’ emotional reactions to the disruptions caused by the war, coping strategies employed by adolescents in dealing with disruptions and the role of information technology in supporting new realities and coping strategies of adolescents.Design/methodology/approachThis study relied on semi-structured interviews conducted on Zoom with 27 Ukrainian adolescents ages 10-18. Participants were recruited using the snowball sample and came from various regions of Ukraine. The interview notes and partial transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify the common and unique patterns in participant responses.FindingsThe interview data revealed the signs of traumatic experiences and various stages and methods of coping with them. Participants’ resilience was supported by external factors, including families, communities, continuous schooling, ability to talk to friends, information technology, as well as internal skills, including social competence, problem-solving, critical consciousness, autonomy and a sense of purpose. Participants shared specific recommendations for improving information platforms and online content, e.g. making them more accessible and affordable for Ukrainian users, improving content curation and personalization, creating and promoting Ukrainian content and others.Research limitations/implicationsResearch relied on convenience sample of participants who had access to information communication technology (ICT), were aware and had an ability to participate. Field work is needed to reach out to participants without access to ICT.Practical implicationsThis study contains broad recommendations for improving information technologies for the use of Ukrainian adolescents.Social implicationsThis research offers three timely account of the first-hand experiences of Ukrainian adolescents affected by the Russia-Ukraine war and can inform future work aimed at improving life conditions for teen population.Originality/valueThis study relied on first-hand reports of Ukrainian adolescents’ experiences, feelings and coping strategies during the first three months of Russia-Ukraine war. The study applied war trauma and resilience frameworks to interpret the findings and translate some of the findings into practical recommendations for the information science community.

Implementing Indigenous Data Sovereignty: Insights from Legislative Reform in Aotearoa New Zealand

ABSTRACTAchieving data sovereignty is a critical concern for Indigenous communities worldwide and should be considered essential for an information‐resilient society. Māori‐led initiatives in Aotearoa New Zealand have successfully raised awareness of the issues concerned and led to considerable progress being made towards implementing Māori data sovereignty principles in the public sector. The process of updating the statute requiring the collection and use of official data and statistics has provided the opportunity to embed those principles in legislation. Analysis of the submissions made on the draft Data and Statistics Bill provides a unique window on very different perspectives with regard to Indigenous data sovereignty and how it should be realised. Findings show a range of views expressed by key stakeholders, provide insight that will be relevant for Indigenous data sovereignty initiatives in other countries, and raise awareness of issues that deserve attention from the information science community.

You Oughta Know: Examining Author Geography and Gender in Information Science

AbstractPublication is a vital part of the career of any researcher. There is an increasing awareness that the presented gender of authors can impact their acceptance at competitive venues, and also influence the support they receive to participate in conferences. Similarly, geography and the associated costs of travel to conferences also impact the likelihood a potential author will submit to a conference. Recent research has examined these impacts in the context of related disciplines within computing and considered the gender profile of reviewers and authors at the iConference. This paper examines the impact of gender and geography on the representation of authors in the ASIST Annual Meeting and the JASIST journal. Through an evaluation of the first authors of accepted papers or articles, we assess the relative representation of genders, and the degree to which conference location impedes or enables authors from different regions. Our findings provide a foundation for the information science community to work towards better representation of female and international authors.

Information Intermediaries and Information Resilience: Working to Support Marginalised Groups

ABSTRACTInformation resilience has become a topic of interest to the information science community in recent years. The COVID‐19 pandemic has shone a light on the vulnerability of information and other networks and the impact on information providers and the information seekers who rely on them. In an exploratory study, we interviewed support workers who act as information intermediaries as part of their work roles about their experiences of providing information to vulnerable and marginalised people during the UK COVID‐19 lockdown. We present findings organised in three themes: shifting client information needs and support provisions, adjusting information sharing and communication practices and workarounds for physical information work. Throughout the themes, information resilience is evident as information intermediaries adapt their work practices to ensure they can continue to serve their clients. In this first stage of research our findings provide insight into the changes to information intermediaries' information behaviour and information work during a crisis, as well as the impact of these changes on the services they provide.

Learn from Others: A Look at Collections Policies from ARL Member Institutions

University of Houston Libraries established a new organizational structure in October 2021 and created the new Collections Strategies & Services department. This unit undertakes a more programmatic, collaborative approach to collections and begins to address the need for a broad, enterprise-wide document that clearly articulates its philosophy and priorities. In order to learn from other libraries and help develop collection plan or policy, an investigation about Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member institutions’ collections policies was conducted. This paper detailed the methodology used to collect these policies, different types of policies and guidelines found on ARL member institutions’ websites, and indications and suggestions for future policy development. The authors also called for collective efforts to build and maintain a collections policies bank for the broad library information science community to facilitate further collaboration and communication across institutions.

A mapping review of literature on Blockchain usage by libraries: Challenges and opportunities

The Library and Information Science (LIS) community has started discussing some possible uses of Blockchain (BC) technologies in solving library-related problems and increasing the overall efficiency of libraries. This study aimed to systematically collect and review the relevant literature to comprehend the scope of BC for libraries, its benefits, as well as the challenges, and implications related to its use. The authors explored six reputed databases (Web of Science, Scopus, LISTA (Library, Information Science and Technology Abstracts), LISA (Library and Information Science Abstracts), IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), and Google Scholar) to conduct this review. This study was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. After the final data extraction, 21 documents were considered eligible for the systematic review. A systematic review of the selected works indicated that the usage of BC in libraries ranged from record-keeping to processing payments and ensuring security and transparency. Some of the opportunities that can be hunted from BC were the elimination of corruption, enhanced security, improved efficiency of services, and better time management. Literature also indicated that a lack of awareness of technology, unskilled staff, and financial constraints could impede the adoption of BC by libraries. It is hoped that this study would provide a holistic overview of BC technologies for libraries, thus improving the effectiveness of the decision-makers. This study is first that collected (systematically) and reviewed the literature on BC usage in libraries. The review will help educational institutions and library professionals understand the usage, challenges, and benefits of BC for libraries.

A call for the library community to deploy best practices toward a database for biocultural knowledge relating to climate change

PurposeIn this paper, a call to the library and information science community to support documentation and conservation of cultural and biocultural heritage has been presentedDesign/methodology/approachBased in existing Literature, this proposal is generative and descriptive—rather than prescriptive—regarding precisely how libraries should collaborate to employ technical and ethical best practices to provide access to vital data, research and cultural narratives relating to climate.FindingsCOVID-19 and climate destruction signal urgent global challenges. Library best practices are positioned to respond to climate change. Literature indicates how libraries preserve, share and cross-link cultural and scientific knowledge. With wildfires, drought, flooding and other extreme or slow-onset weather events presenting dangers, it is imperative that libraries take joint action toward facilitating sustainable and open access to relevant information.Practical implicationsAn initiative could create an easily-accessible, open, linked, curated, secure and stakeholder-respectful database for global biocultural heritage—documenting traditional knowledge, local knowledge and climate adaptation traditions.Social implicationsOngoing stakeholder involvement from the outset should acknowledge preferences regarding whether or how much to share information. Ethical elements must be embedded from concept to granular access and metadata elements.Originality/valueRooted in the best practices and service orientation of library science, the proposal envisions a sustained response to a common global challenge. Stewardship would also broadly assist the global community by preserving and providing streamlined access to information of instrumental value to addressing climate change.

Makerspaces Designed for All: Creating Equitable and Inclusive Learning Environments in Libraries

AbstractIn this Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) funded study, the authors investigate ways in which to bring about more inclusive and equitable makerspaces in public libraries (Brady, Salas, Nuriddin, Rodgers, Subramaniam, 2014; Yi & Baumann, 2018). Public librarians, librarians with disabilities, and disability self‐advocates were interviewed and took part in focus groups. In doing so, researchers worked to hear directly from members of the disability community and to learn from librarians at the intersection of disability, through their work or through personal experiences. This work‐in‐progress study has completed the majority of its data collection and is beginning in‐depth data analysis. Although still developing themes and takeaways, there has been initial findings that can be of benefit to the larger library and information science (LIS) community. Individuals with different needs and abilities should be represented when designing and providing a makerspace. While this study focuses on public libraries, it has implications for makerspaces in all libraries and similar learning environments.