Information Science Degree Research Articles

Institutional Factors as Precursors of Consortium Building Readiness among University Libraries in Southwestern Nigeria

In many countries, especially developing ones like Nigeria, university libraries face tremendous challenges in meeting the needs of the ever-growing world of knowledge and information, particularly the demands of their users. These challenges result from diminishing budgets and the galloping cost of subscriptions to periodicals, purchasing materials, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools, and they have warranted the need for building consortia among university libraries as an approach to address the foregoing problems. University libraries must, therefore, be ready for consortium building by providing institutional factors within them. The study investigated institutional factors as precursors of consortium building readiness among university libraries in Southwestern Nigeria. It adopted the survey design of the correlational type. Total enumeration was used to sample all 643 library personnel in the 45 university libraries in Southwestern Nigeria. The library staff sampled possess at least a diploma or degree in Library and Information Science, even a PhD. There are 45 universities located in Southwestern Nigeria. 549 copies of the questionnaire were returned and used for the study, giving a response rate of 85.4 per cent. The self-constructed questionnaire and interview schedule validated and tested on 30 library personnel at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria, were used for data collection. The data was analysed qualitatively and quantitatively using descriptive and inferential statistics, correlation, and regression analysis. Findings revealed that organisational culture (=3.20; std dev. =0.66) was the most prevalent institutional factor for consortium building. It was followed by ICT literacy skills (=3.18; std dev. =0.64), electricity (=3.16; std dev. =0.73), automation/digitisation (=3.09; std dev. =3.95), training (=2.91; std dev. =0.83), Internet connection (=2.90; std dev. =0.78), finance (=2.89; std dev. =0.81), and organisational policy (formal written document) (=2.79; std dev. =0.81). The findings also reveal that institutional factors altogether (r = .508; p<0.05) have a significant positive relationship with consortium building readiness among university libraries in Southwestern Nigeria. Institutional factors aid consortium building readiness among university libraries in Southwestern Nigeria. The study recommends that university libraries must provide institutional factors to show their readiness for consortium building.

Disparities in access to U.S. quantum information education

Driven in large part by the National Quantum Initiative Act of 2018, quantum information science (QIS) coursework and degree programs are rapidly spreading across U.S. institutions. Yet prior work suggests that access to quantum workforce education is unequally distributed, disproportionately benefiting students at private research-focused institutions whose student bodies are unrepresentative of U.S. higher education as a whole. We use regression analysis to analyze the distribution of QIS coursework across 456 institutions of higher learning as of Fall 2022, identifying statistically significant disparities across institutions in particular along the axes of institution classification, funding, and geographic distribution suggesting today’s QIS education programs are largely failing to reach low-income and rural students. We also conduct a brief analysis of the distribution of emerging dedicated QIS degree programs, discovering much the same trends. We conclude with a discussion of implications for educators, policymakers, and education researchers including specific policy recommendations to direct investments in QIS education to schools serving low-income and rural students, leverage existing grassroots diversity and inclusion initiatives that have arisen within the quantum community, and update and modernize procedures for collecting QIS educational data to better track these trends. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Experiences, Benefits, and Challenges of Virtual Teamwork for Public Libraries in the US Midwest during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Experiences, Benefits, and Challenges of Virtual Teamwork for Public Libraries in the US Midwest during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Book Club Kit Program: An Evaluation

Background: Book clubs consist of groups of people reading and discussing the same books. Some book clubs are organized by public librarians. A far smaller number of health sciences librarians are involved with coordinating book clubs. Objectives: This case report employed a survey and phone interviews to determine why a book club kits program organized by health sciences librarians did not generate more enthusiasm. Lessons Learned: The investigators found that direct phone interviews rather than a survey elicited the needed information. Many public libraries, particularly those in rural areas, are directed by people not even possessing a Master’s degree in library or information science. Strategies for promoting use of the book club kits to these public librarians required different approaches. Conclusions: Through a deeper understanding of rural public librarians' circumstances and needs, the investigators gained new insights on how health sciences librarians might possibly reach public librarians more effectively.

Taking our own medicine: Applying librarian expertise to improve organizational health through knowledge management

Turnover in academic institutions has become an increasing problem for a variety of reasons, one of which is widely discussed in library science literature: the increasing rate of retirement. The intersection of knowledge management (KM) and library science can assist in part with this challenge. Implementing KM can capture institutional knowledge and transfer it to existing and new personnel. Successful KM systems are supported by administrators and can result in innovations in workflows and services. KM and Librarians' Library & Information Science degrees and expertise can provide guidance not only in their departments and libraries, but can assist at the institutional level.

Information Referral System in the Health System

Information Referral System in the Health System

Health Sciences Librarianship's Status as a Profession Is Unclear, According to Its Members

A Review of: Koenig, R. A., Rodriguez, V. A., & Sima, A. P. (2021). Attitudinal attributes of professionalism in health sciences librarians. Journal of Library Administration, 61(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/01930826.2020.1845544 Objective – To determine health sciences librarians' attitudes toward professionalism and to examine relationships between professionalism attributes and participant characteristics as defined by the Richard H. Hall Professionalism Inventory. Design – Cross-sectional online survey using the Richard H. Hall Professionalism Inventory. Setting – Electronic mailing lists of the Medical Library Association (MLA), the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL), the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Health Sciences Interest Group, and the Canadian Health Libraries Association (CHLA). Subjects – There were 430 participants. Methods – The online survey, created in REDCap, was distributed electronically across multiple mailing lists during June and July of 2019. Quantitative analysis included descriptive statistics and ANOVA conducted in R with reliability determined by Cronbach's alpha. Main Results – Professionalism scores for health sciences librarians were lowest in public service and self-regulation, and highest in professional organization as referent, autonomy, and sense of calling. Individuals with a degree in health sciences scored lower on a sense of calling than individuals with Library and Information Science (LIS) degrees. Faculty benefits such as tenure decreased sense of calling. There were statistically significant differences according to role (e.g., archives, administration). Subject specialty librarians had lower scores in most attributes. Conclusion – Health sciences librarianship does not clearly meet the criteria of a profession. Its heterogeneity of specializations and receptiveness to diverse backgrounds and perspectives are possible threats to its ability to create a cohesive identity. Further, duties that can be considered non-library work appear to correlate with lower professionalism scores, even when they are associated with faculty status.

Changes in the Library Landscape Regarding Visible Minority Librarians in Canada

Objective – As a follow-up to the first 2013 survey, the Visible Minority Librarians of Canada (ViMLoC) network conducted its second comprehensive survey in 2021. The 2021 survey gathered detailed information about the demography, education, and employment of visible minority librarians (VMLs) working in Canadian institutions. Data from the 2021 survey and the analysis presented in this paper help us better understand the current library landscape, presented alongside findings from the 2013 survey. The research results will be helpful for professional associations and library administrators to develop initiatives to support VMLs. Methods – Researchers created online survey questionnaires using Qualtrics XM in English and translated them into French. We distributed the survey invitation through relevant library association electronic mail lists and posted on ViMLoC’s website, social networking platforms, and through their electronic mail list. The survey asked if the participant was a visible minority librarian. If the response was “No,” the survey closed. Respondents indicating "Yes" were asked 36 personal and professional questions of three types: multiple-choice, yes/no, and open-ended questions. Results – One hundred and sixty-two VMLs completed the 2021 survey. Chinese remained the largest ethnic identity, but their proportion in the survey decreased from 36% in 2013 to 24% in 2021. 65% were aged between 26 and 45 years old. More than half received their library degree during the 2010s. 89% completed their library degree in Canada, a 5% increase from 2013. The majority of librarians had graduated from University of Toronto (25%), followed closely by University of British Columbia (23%), and Western University (22%). Only 3% received their library degree from a library school outside North America. 34% of librarians earned a second master’s degree and 5% had a PhD. 60% of librarians had less than 11 years of experience. Nearly half worked in academic libraries. Most were located in Ontario and British Columbia. 69% of librarians were in non-management positions with 5% being senior administrators. 25% reported a salary above $100,000. In terms of job categories, the largest group worked in Reference/Information Services (45%), followed by Instruction Services (32%), and as Liaison Librarians (31%). Those working in Acquisitions/Collection Development saw the biggest jump from 1% in 2013 to 28% in 2021. 58% of librarians sought mentoring support, of whom 54% participated in formal mentorship programs, and 48% had a visible minority mentor. Conclusion – 35% more VMLs responded to the 2021 survey compared to the 2013 survey. Changes occurred in ethnic identity, generation, where VMLs earned a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) or equivalent degree, library type, geographic location, and job responsibilities. The 2021 survey also explored other aspects of the VMLs not covered in the 2013 survey, such as librarian experience, salary, management positions, and mentorship experience. The findings suggested that the professional associations and library administrators would need collaborative efforts to support VMLs.

Notes for Notes

Notes for Notes Misti Shaw, Melissa A. Weber, Maristella Feustle, Kristina Krämer, Jane Gottlieb, and Jonathan Sauceda During the 2022 Music Library Association virtual annual meeting, the following awards were given: The Diversity Scholarship offers candidates from under-represented groups the opportunity to pursue a master’s degree in library and information science with financial support. The goal of the scholarship is to recruit students from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups into music librarianship by providing support for master’s-level LIS education. The first is Michelle Rivera. The second is Jade Vaughan. The Kevin Freeman Travel Grant supports travel and hotel expenses to attend the Music Library Association's annual meeting along with gratis registration. This year’s recipients will be permitted to apply their travel grants to the next in-person conference. The four recipients are as follows: Margaret Cuddihy, George (Geo) Flores, Jackson Harmeyer, and Mia Watts. This year we are gratified to be offering a brand new award, for Paraprofessionals and Public Librarians. As with the Freeman award, our five recipients will use their travel grants for the next in-person conference, and we heartily welcome them now. Our five recipients are: Rita Alfaro, Abigail Bass, Jennifer Eltringham, Kathryn Kuntz, and Amanda Steadman. The Walter Gerboth Award and the Carol June Bradley Award were combined into one award committee last year, while maintaining two separate awards to support research. No Gerboth award was chosen this year. We do have two Bradley award recipients for research in the history of music library collections and they are: Carolyn Doi for her project, “Sounds of Home,” documenting local music collections across Canada. Patricia Sasser for her project, “Documenting Music among Russian Jewish Kharbinsty, 1910–1929,” with research at the New York Public Library. The Dena Epstein Award supports research in archives or libraries internationally on any aspect of American music. This year’s recipients include Michael Cooper, for his book-length biography project about [End Page 50] Margaret Allison Bonds (for the Master Musicians series of Oxford University Press), Michael Kramer, for his book project, “This Machine Kills Fascists: What the Folk Music Revival Can Teach Us About the Digital Age,” David Rugger, for his book project, “Simple Man: Klaus Nomi’s Life and Art,” and Emmalouise St. Amand, for her dissertation on semi-professional and amateur Black girl groups in New York City between 1950 and 1965. The Vincent H. Duckles Award is the Music Library Association’s annual prize for the best book-length bibliography or reference work in music. This year’s recipient is Alexander Sanchez-Behar, for John Adams: A Research and Information Guide (Routledge, 2020). The Richard S. Hill Award is an annual award for the best article on music librarianship or article of a music-bibliographic nature. This year’s Hill Award goes to Elizabeth Berndt-Morris and Sandi-Jo Malmon for their article, “Surveying Composers: Methods of Distribution, Discoverability and Accessibility of their Works and the Corresponding Impact on Library Collections,” which appeared in Fontes Artis Musicae. The Eva Judd O’Meara Award honors the best review published in Notes. This year’s recipient is K. Dawn Grapes for her review of The Norton Guide to Teaching Music History. The MLA Citation, the Association’s tribute for lifetime achievement, is awarded in recognition of distinguished service to music librarian-ship over a career. It is the highest honor we bestow. This year, we have one recipient of the MLA Citation. As a true champion of the music of African Americans and of paraprofessionals in music libraries, she has positively contributed to the work of MLA’s members and their patrons. Her decades-long, groundbreaking work has produced a multifaceted body of research and performances of African-American vocal music. Her websites, including “Afrocentric Voices in ‘Classical’ Music,” “The Spirituals Database,” and “Afrocentric Sounds Radio,” document the work of Black musicians and increase access to oft-neglected bodies of literature. Her published articles, presentations at many national and regional conferences, and her first book, “So You Want to Sing Spirituals,” demonstrate the breadth of her authority, as do recognitions of her expertise, such as grants and requests for interviews. She is...

Survey of bioinformatics courses and concentrations in ALA-accredited master's programs.

IntroductionThe interdisciplinary field of bioinformatics is considered an information-based discipline by many. Yet, it is unclear how Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degrees prepare librarians to apply their expertise in this unique, often non-textual information environment. The goal of this study is to identify the availability of MLIS-based bioinformatics educational opportunities to provide an update to the current bioinformatics landscape in North American MLIS programs or iSchools.MethodsWe conducted a survey of available bioinformatics courses and program concentrations within 69 ALA-accredited master’s programs. Using course catalogues and program descriptions on department websites, we identified the existence of courses and concentrations specific or related to the field of bioinformatics. We also surveyed the availability of associated certificate programs or degree alternatives.ResultsOnly two library and information science (LIS)-based bioinformatics courses are currently offered to MLIS students in ALA-accredited programs. There are no bioinformatics concentrations offered in the programs surveyed, however two graduate certificates could be applied towards an ALA-accredited master’s degree. Students interested in related fields can pursue degree alternatives, including eight dual degree options.DiscussionThe scarcity of LIS-based bioinformatics courses and program concentrations may suggest that LIS has not adopted bioinformatics into their field nor curricula. As a result, students interested in pursuing careers in bioinformatics and related disciplines must actively seek out opportunities for education and professional development. Bioinformatics degree options within MLIS or iSchools points towards an increased dialogue and acceptance of the connection between bioinformatics and information science, but the lack of ALA -accreditation limits possibilities for emerging librarians.

Ensuring More Inclusive Hiring Processes

Ensuring More Inclusive Hiring Processes Carmen Cole (bio) and Emily Mross (bio) The American Library Association (ALA) considers demonstrating “the principles of effective personnel practices and human resource development” a core competency of librarianship.1 Yet, few librarians receive specific training to serve on hiring committees as part of their degree studies, though most find themselves asked to participate in searches, sometimes frequently, depending on their institution. As early career librarians, the authors have served on multiple committees in a large academic library, gaining more experience about the process each time. Their work on search committees sparked an interest in implementing best practices to ensure a good experience for job candidates and successful searches that improve services to the university community. Their experience also inspired a research interest. Search committees are gatekeepers. Who is kept out, and why? Exploring library hiring from an academic perspective brings to light uncomfortable truths. Each person on a search committee has biases that must be confronted to minimize preconceived ideas, and the group must work together so that each candidate receives a fair evaluation based on objective criteria. This decision-making can be complicated and challenging, depending on many factors.2 A successful search not only means that a good candidate is hired but also requires that the search committee works together, communicates well, develops and uses a fair rubric to assess the applicant pool, gives candidates proper and equal consideration, and chooses a well-qualified finalist who accepts the job offer. It is not impossible, but it is not easy. What further complicates the hiring task is the lack of diversity in librarianship. Homogeneous libraries create homogeneous search committees. Without thoughtful, introspective work, such committees can perpetuate a homogeneous library rather than a diverse, inclusive one.3 The authors are not experts in diversity or hiring. They are practitioners who strive to improve the library hiring process for everyone involved, toward the goal of equitable, inclusive libraries for employees and users. Their responsibilities necessitated much questioning, reading, and research. Members of current and future search committees [End Page 507] at any library should take a similar perspective toward their work. Without a collective understanding of the barriers to equity, diversity, and inclusion in library hiring, nothing will change—and change is far overdue. “Fit” and Academic Librarianship The need to diversify librarianship and the lack of progress toward this goal are common topics of conversation in formal and informal spheres of the profession.4 Similar conversations take place throughout academe as well. A culprit often examined in the literature and in practice is the nefarious yet ubiquitous concept of “fit” in hiring.5 Those who serve on search committees have tried to quantify the notion in nonsubjective ways, but the perennial problem is that fit tends to be ineffable. Committee members may declare that a candidate “feels right,” but they often say so because the applicant shares many similarities to them.6 These resemblances tend to reinforce homogeneity and hegemony because librarianship, much like academe as a whole, is overwhelmingly White. The problem does not begin at the hiring stage.7 The notion of fit tracks back much further and can cause people who do not conform to that image to decide against librarianship as a career long before they would ever apply for a job.8 The Librarian Pipeline Frequently, librarians blame the pipeline of new librarians for lacking diversity. The pipeline myth is the persistent idea that diversity remains a challenge for library hiring because of a shortage of qualified, degree-holding persons from historically minoritized groups to fill vacancies.9 Most students pursuing a master of library and information science (MLIS) degree and most recent MLIS graduates are White. In 2020, approximately 60 percent of MLIS students were White, even though the number has dropped approximately 15 percentage points since 1990; currently nearly 40 percent of degree candidates come from other racial or ethnic groups.10 Data from the Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) show that in 2020, 62 percent of those receiving a master’s degree from an ALA-accredited program were White.11 The overall percentage of Whites holding a graduate degree in library...

Wild Figurations

Sara Maston is a multi-disciplinary artist who creates paintings, ceramics, textiles, and site-specific installations. Her work attends to alternative forms of knowledge found in the vantage points of animals such as insects, single-celled organisms, domestic horses, birds and rodents. Maston holds an MFA from York University and is pursuing a degree in Information Science at the University of Toronto with a specialization in Environmental Studies. Her research there focuses on the corporeal and digital knowledge production of other-than-human beings undertaken in processes of world-building. Maston’s practice is situated within the context of multi-species kinship relationships informed by scholars and artists such as Taiwanese choreographer Lin Lee-Chen, Inuk artist Shuvanai Ashoona, American anthropologist Anna Tsing as well as Potawatomi Botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer.

Effects of Covid-19 on the Online Library and Information Science Degree at the University of León (Spain)

The Degree in Library Science and Documentation of the University of León started during the 1990–1991 academic year. This first curriculum suffered from a strong presence of subjects from the humanities, with a low fraction of experimental work in many subjects because of its inclusion within the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters. The first years attracted large numbers of students. However, the subsequent decrease in the number of students pursuing the degree drove us to initiate a change toward blended and online modalities.The Librarianship and Documentation Area of the University of León (ULe) already has a long history in blended teaching, starting with the Degree in Librarianship and Documentation, which has used the platform aul@unileon since the 2006–2007 academic year; the Degree of Information and Documentation has used the blended modality since the 2010–2011 academic year, and it has been offered in the distance learning modality since the 2014–2015 academic year.These new technologies have been fully introduced into university education and have facilitated the teaching–learning process through the use of interactive programs via the Internet.The main objective of this column is to determine and study the kind of multimedia tools used by professors of the Bachelor of Information and Documentation at the University of León during the teaching–learning process and in virtual teaching before the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to report which new tools were introduced by the university for this reason. We study the student–teacher and student–student interactions to help promote communication and participatory learning through chats, forums, email, hangouts, Skype, Meet, videoconferences, etc.To carry out this study, two types of methodology were applied: satisfaction surveys implemented by the Quality Office of the ULe to determine the degree of satisfaction of students and teachers, and a study of annual reports.

Interview with Lazare W. Zoungrana

Lazare W. Zoungrana has been doing humanitarian work for the Burkinabe Red Cross Society for more than twenty years and has been its secretary-general since 2010.Trained in sociology, with a research master's degree in information and communication science, Mr Zoungrana has brought his skills to a range of humanitarian activities, from development and emergency programmes to the organizational development and capacity-building of the Burkinabe Red Cross. He is specialized in project management, gender and education, international humanitarian law and training trainers in various aspects of humanitarian action.Mr Zoungrana has coordinated several operations led by the Burkinabe Red Cross, including: providing assistance to victims of the Ouagadougou floods in 2009, victims of terrorist attacks in Ouagadougou, Malian refugees and people affected by armed violence in the country; and carrying out activities in response to meningitis epidemics and, most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic.At the international level, Mr Zoungrana has sat as a committee chairman or a panellist on various round tables. He was a member of the multinational team charged with assessing and coordinating the humanitarian response to the earthquake in Haiti and has been a member of several multinational working groups, including one tasked with developing the restoring family links strategy for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

Alignment of archives and records management to the business processes

This paper is a synopsis of the findings of a PhD Degree in Information Science that sought to develop the archives and records management framework by using the University of Venda and the University of the Witwatersrand for comparison. The study sought to assess the state of archives and records management at selected universities. The study was based on the records lifecycle model and the findings indicated that poor archives and records management programmes at universities have been a source of risk exposure leading to inefficiency in business processes. The results revealed a significant lack of alignment of archives and records management programme with business processes. The study recommends the adoption of Archives and records management framework.

Alignment of archives and records management to the business processes

This paper is a synopsis of the findings of a PhD Degree in Information Science that sought to develop the archives and records management framework by using the University of Venda and the University of the Witwatersrand for comparison. The study sought to assess the state of archives and records management at selected universities. The study was based on the records lifecycle model and the findings indicated that poor archives and records management programmes at universities have been a source of risk exposure leading to inefficiency in business processes. The results revealed a significant lack of alignment of archives and records management programme with business processes. The study recommends the adoption of Archives and records management framework.

Perceptions of the Skills of Graduates in the Library and Information Science and Technology Degree of P. Porto, Portugal: A Statistical Data Analysis of the Alignment Between Students, Teachers, and Employers

Objective – The objective of this research was to identify the four professional competences of graduates in Library and Information Sciences and Technologies (LIST) considered most pertinent, from the points of view of students, teachers, and employers. We also sought to compare the perceptions of the different groups. The study was based on the premise that alignment of these perceptions may enhance the employability of LIST graduates. Methods – A questionnaire, used and validated by Arias-Coello et al. (2014), was further translated by Martins and Carvalho (2018). The questionnaire consisted of a set of questions regarding four dimensions: Information Management; Communication and Interpersonal Relationships; Domain and Application of Information Technologies; Organization Management. We sent the survey by email to the target audience; it was available to complete in April and May 2018. Data analysis included calculating mean and standard deviation, as well as Shapiro Wilk normality tests, statistical tests for multiple comparisons, ANOVA, Kruskal Wallis test, Friedman test, Wilcoxon test, and Pearson's correlation. Results – In relation to certain dimensions, one could think that age would be a determining factor, but this has not been proved. In fact, results showed that age is not a factor that influenced the importance attributed to different competences in the several dimensions. The respondents' academic degrees and areas of knowledge were linked to significant differences transversally. The Kruskal Wallis test indicated that students, teachers, and employers perceived the importance of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) skills equally. As for the other competences, overall there were significant differences between students and employers, and there were significant differences between students and teachers regarding the perceived importance of organization management skills. There were also significant differences between teachers, students, and employers regarding the perceived importance of communication skills. We also found that responses within the teacher group had less dispersion of answers, therefore there was greater internal agreement. The opposite occurred in the employer group. Conclusion – The differences detected in the perception of the different groups were minor. However, it is necessary to create initiatives for the alignment of the perceptions of students and employers, because if all groups have the same perception, they will develop and value the same skills, responding to the needs of the labor market, thus promoting the employability of LIST graduates. The inclusion of a curricular internship, even one of short duration, in the first year of the degree could also be a way of endeavoring to bring together the expectations of both groups. These suggestions are part of a proposal to change and update the study plan and enhance the performance of course management.

Why librarians need to develop their information scientist identity in the age of COVID-19 and climate change

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to challenge librarians to reconceptualize their professional self-image and practice so that it more closely aligns with the information science discipline that is part of the Masters of Library and Information Science degree. Design/methodology/approach This column is primarily theoretical and philosophical but is also draws on the author’s observations of trends and patterns in both librarianship and changes in information needs in recent years. Findings Urgent, high-cost information needs created by COVID-19 and climate change coexist in a reality where technological change has made traditional librarian roles and functions less critical. By developing their information science skills and strengthening their professional identity as information scientists, librarians have the opportunity to address the urgent information needs of the day while remaining highly relevant professionals. Practical implications Librarians will need to strengthen their science-related skills and knowledge and begin to promote themselves as information scientists. Social implications Librarians are in a position to make a meaningful contribution to two of the most pressing challenges of the day, climate change and dealing with COVID-19. Originality/value This paper is relevant to all librarians at any stage of their career. It will help them to reflect on both their skillset and career path and to make any needed adjustments so that they can remain relevant in a volatile and demanding information environment.

International requirements for harmonizing educational programs for training specialists in library and information science

The aim of the article is to determine the Ukrainian higher education institutions’ opportunities for improving educational programmes in 029 Information, Library and Archival Studies specialty in the context of their compliance with IFLA Guidelines for Professional Educational Programs in Library Science and Information Science.
 The methodology. The study’s methodological tool is a comparative approach to the content and quality criteria of foreign and domestic educational programs for bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Library Science and Information Science. A systematic approach to the educational programs’ cognitive component has allowed to establish compulsory and optional educational components blocks and to determine the efficiency for their content in terms of complication the system of the modern library and information specialist’s general and professional competencies.
 The results. In the research we have characterized the IFLA Guidelines for Professional Library and Information Science (LIS) Educational Programs, described and presented for public discussion by IFLA Building Strong LIS Education Working Group (Building Strong LIS Education (BSLISE)) in 2021. The study defined international requirements to the content, organizational and methodical bases of the bachelor and master training in Library and Information Science, as well as established the conformity degree of the Ukrainian higher education institutions’ educational programs to IFLA Guiding principles. There were substantiated the opportunities for improving the content and structure of the domestic educational programmes in 029 Information, Library and Archival Studies specialty as to meeting the international criteria for assessing their quality and modern teaching and learning educational methods used in the educational programs.
 The topicality. For the first time in scientific circulation there has been introduced the content of the IFLA Guidelines for LIS professional educational programmes. These guidelines summarize the international requirements for cognitive, organizational and methodological components of the modern library and information specialists training; allow to establish the compliance degree of domestic educational programs with the world quality criteria.
 The practical significance. The results of the study may be used by Ukrainian higher education institutions implementing educational programs in the specialty 029 Information, Library and Archival Studies and looking for their compliance with international requirements and quality criteria for the library and information professionals’ training and competitiveness in the processes of Ukraine’s integration into the European educational space.

A study of librarians' perceptions and adoption of Web 2.0 technologies in academic libraries in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This paper surveyed the librarians' perceptions and adoption of Web 2.0 technologies in academic libraries in public institutions in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The study specifically examined the constructs of librarians' perceptions of Web 2.0 Technologies in line with a model modified by the researcher; assessed the Web 2.0 tools adopted in the libraries; and identified the constraints to the adoption of the Web 2.0 technologies in the six (6) academic libraries in public institutions in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The entire population was 60 professional librarians with at least a bachelor's degree in Library and Information Science. The study targeted professional librarians because it is assumed they have the qualifications, experience and exposure needed in the adoption of Web technologies. The population was used as sample since the size was small and manageable. The data collected using researcher-developed questionnaire was analyzed with descriptive statistics in form of frequency counts, simple percentage and chart. The findings revealed that majority of librarians have the perception that Web 2.0 technologies are useful and could enhance their job performance; that Web tools are clear and easy to understand; that fellow librarians, library users, host institutions, etc., expect them to use the tools. However, the result showed a low level of web technologies adoption across the libraries. The major constraints to adoption of Web 2.0 technologies in academic libraries in Akwa Ibom State include high cost of technology, poor access to web tools, budget constraints, inadequate training for librarians, and restrictive ICT policies. The recommendations made were proper funding, staff training and re-training, update of library facilities to include web 2.0 offerings, etc. Areas for further studies were also suggested.