Information Technology In Libraries Research Articles

Differential Effects of Alcohol Policies Across Race/Ethnicity and Socioeconomic Status.

Sociocultural characteristics, including race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES), may affect individuals' attitudes and norms regarding alcohol use and treatment as well as their access to emerging health knowledge, innovative technologies, and general resources for improving health. As a result of these differences, as well as social determinants of health such as stigma and uneven enforcement, alcohol policies may not benefit all population subgroups equally. This review addresses research conducted within the last decade that examined differential effects of alcohol policies on alcohol consumption, alcohol harm, and alcohol treatment admissions across racial/ethnic and socioeconomic groups. The authors used the following Boolean phrase search terms to assess the association between race/ethnicity and outcomes: ("alcohol policy" OR "alcohol policies") AND ("race" OR "ethnicity" OR "first nations" OR "African American" OR "Hispanic American" OR "Latino American" OR "Asian American" OR "Native American"). Association with SES was assessed using these terms: ("alcohol policy" OR "alcohol policies") AND ("socioeconomic" OR "class") AND ("effect" OR "impact" OR "outcome"). Both searches were conducted on August 28, 2023, using advanced search in seven EBSCOhost research databases: (1) EBSCO Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate; (2) EBSCOhost E-Journals; (3) EBSCO MEDLINE Complete; (4) SocINDEX with Full Text; (5) APA PsycInfo; (6) LISTA (Library Information Sciences and Technology Abstracts); and (7) GreenFILE. Inclusion criteria for both searches were: (1) publication dates between 2014 and 2023; (2) peer-reviewed research articles; (3) data disaggregated by racial/ethnic and/or SES subgroups; and (4) English language only. The racial/ethnic search produced 64 articles, of which 14 were reviewed as relevant to this study and 50 were excluded. The SES search generated 100 articles, of which 18 were reviewed as relevant to this study and 82 were excluded. Eight of the studies identified by these two searches overlapped (i.e., included both racial/ethnic and SES outcomes), resulting in a total of 24 articles included in this review. Relying upon data from both U.S. and international research, the identified studies focused on differential effects of financially focused alcohol control policies (e.g., taxation and minimum unit pricing policies) as well as access/availability reduction policies (e.g., those governing outlet density, on-/off-premise sales, and establishment licensing). Several studies concluded that price increases via taxes or minimum unit pricing might be particularly effective in reducing the risk of alcohol-related harms in low-income/low-SES populations. Limitations of the present review include lack of standardization in the ways that SES was measured and the difficulty of measuring policy enforceability. Studies focused on differential effects of alcohol control policies across racial/ethnic groups demonstrated complex associations and the need to conduct further research that identifies better ways to reduce policy-induced health disparities across diverse populations.

Addressing Language and Ableism in Information Technology: A Call to Action for Academic Librarians

This column explores the pervasive influence of information technologies in academic libraries and underscores the critical role of librarians and professional staff in navigating and thriving within this technology-rich environment. As libraries increasingly integrate advanced technologies such as AI, digital asset management systems, and online communication platforms, addressing ableism and ensuring accessibility becomes paramount. The paper highlights key areas where ableism can manifest, including Zoom meetings, information technology, digital asset management systems, community of practice documents, instructional design, collection development, library programming and events, reference and research services, scholarly communications, information literacy, and artificial intelligence. For each area, practical strategies are provided to decrease ableism and promote inclusivity. By fostering an environment that prioritizes accessibility and inclusivity, librarians can better connect users to information resources and ensure that all individuals, regardless of ability, can fully engage with and benefit from library services. This column aims to equip librarians with actionable insights and tools to create more equitable and just academic libraries.

Trends in Academic Library Publications for the 2014-2023 Period in Scopus Database

Background:Every university has a library to support the academic community. The academic library does not only function to meet the informational needs of the academic community, but also plays crucial roles in education, research, information, recreation, and preservation. The importance of the academic libraries has led to numerous studies being conducted in this field. However, research developments in the field of academic libraries are not yet comprehensive due to the limited number of studies focused on its development. Purpose: The purpose of this research is to identify publication trends in the field of academic libraries within the Scopus database from 2014 to 2023 and to provide recommendations for research novelty in this field. Method: The research method used in this study is bibliometric analysis. The bibliometric method employed is co-word analysis (keywords) using VOSviewer software. Result: The trending keywords in publications on academic libraries from 2014 to 2023 included Academic libraries, Libraries, Information literacy, Library, Academic library, Human, Collection development, University libraries, Assessment, Higher education, Covid-19, Digital libraries, and Collaboration. Conclusion: The trending keywords in the field of academic libraries are related to the process of library’s adaptation to technological advancements, user needs, and the global impact of the pandemic. In addition to trending keywords, numerous less frequent keywords have emerged, including bibliometric analysis, digital skills, information literacy skills, digital collection, digital reference, digital repositories, technology transfer, technology adoption, remote access, information systems, library design, and academic library websites. These keywords offer valuable insights for future research in the field of academic libraries, particularly in the development of information technology in academic libraries so that libraries can continuously adapt to technological developments.

Innovative Model of Project-Based Teaching of High School Teachers: A Best Practice of ULSIT, Sofia

The article shares a best practice of the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies, Sofia, related to the successful transfer of new fundamental knowledge from science to secondary education. It consisted of developing a new model of teaching of high school teachers, including the preparation of content and teaching aids, its practical testing through a training course and its evaluation. The article describes the design and analyzes the results of the course, emphasizing the individual and institutional impacts such as developing competencies and increasing the motivation of the learners. The newly created model is characterized as innovative, project-based and interactive, and the immediate effects of its testing and the possible long-term prospects for its future use are commented on.

Manajemen Perpustakaan Sekolah/Madrasah: Strategi, Tantangan, dan Implementasi Teknologi

Library management is a crucial aspect to ensure efficient and effective access to information resources for users. It involves planning, organizing, directing, and controlling the library's information resources, including collections, staff, budget, and information technology. The main objective of library management is to support and enhance learning, research, and knowledge development by providing high-quality and relevant information services. The principles of library management include planning, organizing, leadership, control, collection development, user services, and technology utilization. Libraries play a significant role in supporting the learning process in schools and madrasas by providing various learning resources, facilitating independent learning, enhancing information literacy, supporting student research and projects, promoting a reading culture, collaborating with teachers, providing access to digital resources, and offering reference and consultation services. Collection development is a critical aspect of library management, involving the systematic selection and acquisition of library materials based on user needs, curriculum relevance, and the latest developments in various fields of knowledge. The maintenance and preservation of library collections are also essential to ensure their longevity and accessibility. Effective library management strategies, including the development, maintenance, and preservation of collections, are vital to providing diverse and high-quality resources that support learning, research, and knowledge development in educational environments.

ПЕРСПЕКТИВИ / МОЖЛИВОСТІ ЗАСТОСУВАННЯ CHAT GPT ДЛЯ СТВОРЕННЯ МЕТАДАНИХ БІБЛІОТЕЧНИХ РЕСУРСІВ

Advanced natural language processing technologies empower the development of intelligent systems capable of analyzing and comprehending text across various domains, including scientific publications, books, and other informational resources. This paper delves into the potential application of the artificial intelligence model ChatGPT within academic libraries, specifically focusing on metadata creation processes for library resources. Given the substantial resource investment required for metadata creation, description, cataloging, and adherence to globally recognized standards, the viability of leveraging modern technologies for such tasks is paramount. ChatGPT offers broad applicability in automating and enhancing the cataloging and description process of diverse documents. Serving as an artificial intelligence-based text generation system, ChatGPT can automatically generate metadata from textual descriptions of resources using sophisticated natural language processing algorithms. This capability streamlines and expedites resource cataloging processes, ultimately assisting library staff and information technology professionals in saving valuable time and effort. Furthermore, this paper discusses the potential of ChatGPT in generating metadata for various material types, ranging from scientific articles to websites and audio-visual recordings, while adhering to standards such as Dublin Core, MARC 21, and UNIMARK. Additionally, the article addresses potential challenges and limitations associated with using the ChatGPT model for metadata generation, including considerations of accuracy and text quality. Overall, this article explores a crucial aspect of applying artificial intelligence in the library field and highlights features and considerations concerning the use of the ChatGPT model for automatic metadata generation in library resources.

Assessment of the use of Open Educational Resources at five European Library and Information Science higher education institutions during and post-COVID-19 pandemic.

This article presents an analysis of the impact of Open Educational Resources (OER) during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as their potential use in the post-pandemic, in Library and Information Science (LIS) higher education institutions. The research explored how OER were used and created, what were the main barriers and drivers in practice and some main lessons learned that can help to improve the quality and increase the use of OER beyond times of crisis. The research was based on fieldwork carried out in the LIS departments of the universities of Barcelona (Spain), Hildesheim (Germany), Osijek and Zagreb (Croatia) and the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies in Sofia (Bulgaria). The methodology approach was qualitative and was based on interviews with faculty and focus groups with students. Results show that faculty members were still hesitant to adopt OER since they generally did not consider them. Moreover, those who did use them did so on their own initiative and as additional resources. We discuss the different speeds of OER implementation that have been observed depending on the faculty's prior level of knowledge, and on whether their institutions and countries are prepared to support the use of OER. The promotion of post-pandemic OER involves greater capacity building, as well as collaboration and institutional support. Students' attitudes about the usefulness of OER focus on their availability. The large number of teachers and students who participated in the study, as well as the international scope of the study, constitute a strength in the treatment of a topic such as the use of OER where the user perspectives and LIS context have been little addressed in the literature.

Cluster of the e-Libraries of the Students’ Scientific Society at the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies in Sofia, Bulgaria

The information resources of the Students’ Scientific Society (SSS) at the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (ULSIT) in Bulgaria are presented in the current article as an example of reference-information mapping. The retrospective channel of this modeling, structured in 29 e-libraries (2005–), designed for universities, libraries and civil society, was defined as an interdisciplinary cluster of the informatization in Bulgaria with wide international resonance. The methodology of development of the e-libraries and the used terminology define them as a secondary-documental resources. The semantic aspects of the е-libraries are shown as a unified system that is rooted in the universal humanitarian studies and virtually organized around the model of theoretical and practical methodological directions for organization of reference information retrieval databases. The perspectives of the development of similar information resources in the future are revealed. The creation of these e-libraries was part of a pedagogical practice through which students of Library Studies and Information Technologies learned information modeling in an open laboratory environment.

The Application of Information and Communication Technology in Libraries: Library Services, Effects and Challenges

The moments using computer technology to manage library resources, managers must actively summarizes and learn from prior experiences and scientific practices, combining library science with computer science. Information and communication technology (ICT) is becoming a critical component of how library services will grow in the future. To find out how ICT skills are applied by LIS professionals and to modernize the libraries, a study on the use of ICT tools in libraries has been conducted for this paper. The study was conducted in pharmacy, management, agricultural, engineering, and arts and science colleges, as well as how ICT tools are applied to offer cutting-edge services to the users. ICT is becoming a major driving force in libraries. The administration of resources or housekeeping tasks, as well as the manner services are provided, has all been significantly altered by the use of ICTs in libraries. The application of ICT in using library services is covered in this essay, along with the benefits of library services to users, the effects of ICT, resources for ICT application, and challenges integrating it into library services. There are conclusions and advice.

It Takes a Village

The introduction of Large Language Models (LLM) to the chatbot landscape has opened intriguing possibilities for academic libraries to offer more responsive and institutionally contextualized support to users, especially outside of regular service hours. While a few academic libraries currently employ AI-based chatbots on their websites, this service has not yet become the norm and there are no best practices in place for how academic libraries should launch, train, and assess the usefulness of a chatbot. In summer 2023, staff from the University of Delaware’s Morris Library information technology (IT) and reference departments came together in a unique partnership to pilot a low-cost AI-powered chatbot called UDStax. The goals of the pilot were to learn more about the campus community’s interest in engaging with this tool and to better understand the labor required on the staff side to maintain the bot. After researching six different options, the team selected Chatbase, a subscription-model product based on ChatGPT 3.5 that provides user-friendly training methods for an AI model using website URLs and uploaded source material. Chatbase removed the need to utilize the OpenAI API directly to code processes for submitting information to the AI engine to train the model, cutting down the amount of work for library information technology and making it possible to leverage the expertise of reference librarians and other public-facing staff, including student workers, to distribute the work of developing, refining, and reviewing training materials. This article will discuss the development of prompts, leveraging of existing data sources for training materials, and workflows involved in the pilot. It will argue that, when implementing AI-based tools in the academic library, involving staff from across the organization is essential to ensure buy-in and success. Although chatbots are designed to hide the effort of the people behind them, that labor is substantial and needs to be recognized.

Assessment of the use of Open Educational Resources at five European Library and Information Science higher education institutions during and post-COVID-19 pandemic

This article presents an analysis of the impact of Open Educational Resources (OER) during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as their potential use in the post-pandemic, in Library and Information Science (LIS) higher education institutions. The research explored how OER were used and created, what were the main barriers and drivers in practice and some main lessons learned that can help to improve the quality and increase the use of OER beyond times of crisis. The research was based on fieldwork carried out in the LIS departments of the universities of Barcelona (Spain), Hildesheim (Germany), Osijek and Zagreb (Croatia) and the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies in Sofia (Bulgaria). The methodology approach was qualitative and was based on interviews with faculty and focus groups with students. Results show that faculty members were still hesitant to adopt OER since they generally did not consider them. Moreover, those who did use them did so on their own initiative and as additional resources. We discuss the different speeds of OER implementation that have been observed depending on the faculty’s prior level of knowledge, and on whether their institutions and countries are prepared to support the use of OER. The promotion of post-pandemic OER involves greater capacity building, as well as collaboration and institutional support. Students’ attitudes about the usefulness of OER focus on their availability. The large number of teachers and students who participated in the study, as well as the international scope of the study, constitute a strength in the treatment of a topic such as the use of OER where the user perspectives and LIS context have been little addressed in the literature.

The Impact of ChatGPT for Enhancing Knowledge Management in University Libraries

This study examines the integration of ChatGPT into university libraries to enhance knowledge management practices. Employing a qualitative case study approach, twelve respondents from six universities, including Library and Information Science (LIS) and Information Technology (IT) professionals, were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The research explores the processes, user experiences, challenges, and perceived benefits of ChatGPT in these academic settings. Findings indicate that ChatGPT significantly improves user interactions by providing a more intuitive and accessible information retrieval interface. The study also highlights the critical role of interdisciplinary collaboration between LIS and IT professionals in successfully implementing ChatGPT, which aligns with existing literature emphasizing user-centric design in knowledge management. Challenges such as data privacy and ongoing system refinement were identified, underscoring the need for robust security measures and continuous improvement. The study concludes that while ChatGPT offers considerable benefits in enhancing knowledge management and user interaction, it requires careful integration and ongoing management to realize its full potential. Future research should broaden the scope of institutions studied and explore longitudinal impacts to enhance generalizability and understand long-term effects.

LIBRARY SKILLS REQUIRED BY THE PARAPROFESSIONAL STAFF IN USER SERVICES DEPARTMENT

This paper provides a review on the library skills that are required by the paraprofessional staff in user services department, explore the specific types of paraprofessional staff for user service department, and their roles. The study put together comparatively the user service information resource and service delivery responsibilities and the information utilitarian service support roles of the paraprofessional library staff and examines that, the more befitting type of paraprofessional library staff for user services are the “page”, “library aides”, and “library Services Assistant”. The types of responsibilities of user services paraprofessional staff was examined to be the middle level complementary roles in a way that relates to ‘user assistance’, and ‘library support’ in user management, information retrieval and access, shelve management, circulation desks services, reading area management and close access information services, among others. It also examined the library skills required by the user service paraprofessional library staff, who are expected to have the soft library – skills, hard library – skills, and the library information technologies use – skills, among others. The study concludes by stressing the existence of differing practices in the labelling paraprofessional library staff as “library support staff”, “library nonprofessional”, “not-certified” or “non-licenced librarians”, “post-secondary school” or “diploma certificate holders” in consistently, as well as confusion in their schedule of responsibilities. The study suggests the need for library regulatory agencies/parastatals and the libraries themselves to review the existing library staffing pattern/nomenclature and responsibilities to suit the current changing library environment, development in knowledge acquisition and certificates, changing users’ information needs and seeking behaviour and the changing trends in information services, among others.

Discussion on the Construction of SWPU Smart Library Evaluation Indicator System

With the rapid development of information technology, especially the wide application of artificial intelligence, big data and cloud computing and other technologies, the management mode of libraries is also undergoing a profound change. From the traditional management mode based on paper books, it is gradually transformed into a smart library mode characterized by digitization and intelligence. In this context, the construction of SWPU smart library has become an important issue. In order to ensure that the construction of SWPU smart library can keep pace with the times and meet the needs of teachers and students, this paper adopts the Delphi method to construct the evaluation indexes as well as the weights of the indexes, aiming to provide scientific and reasonable guidance for the construction level of SWPU smart library. In this paper, we first determined the evaluation index system of SWPU smart library, including smart technology and facilities, smart resources, smart services and other aspects. Then, we invited experts in the fields of library management and information technology to evaluate these indicators and their weights using the Delphi method. Through several rounds of solicitation and feedback, the experts reached a relatively unanimous opinion on the evaluation indicators and their weights of SWPU's smart libraries. On this basis, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the construction level of SWPU Smart Library and put forward corresponding suggestions for improvement. These suggestions will provide strong support for the future development of SWPU Smart Library so that it can better serve the students and faculty and promote the development of university education.

Top IT Challenges in ARL Libraries

The practice of information technology (IT) in academic libraries is changing rapidly, not only with new and evolving developments in the technologies themselves but also with the organization and management of IT at both the library and institution levels. This study presents the results of an online survey of Association of Research Libraries (ARL) academic library members to identify the biggest challenges they perceive in the area of information technology organization and management. This article compares their responses with challenges reported in earlier studies to identify new and changing trends as well as ongoing challenges that remain.

Status of ICT Application/Library Automation in Selected Government Libraries in Delhi: A Study

The application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in libraries and the automation/computerisation of libraries play a vital role in providing timely and effective information services to users. This paper examines the status of libraries attached to select ministries of the Government of India. This study examines the status of automation, availability of e-resources and use of IT in the select libraries.

Post-COVID-19 assessment of the use of Open Educational Resources at five European Library and Information Science higher education institutions

This article presents an analysis of the impact of Open Educational Resources (OER) during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as their potential use in the post-pandemic, in Library and Information Science (LIS) higher education institutions. The research explored how OER were used and created, what were the main barriers and drivers in practice and some main lessons learned that can help to improve the quality and increase the use of OER beyond times of crisis. The research was based on fieldwork carried out in the LIS departments of the universities of Barcelona (Spain), Hildesheim (Germany), Osijek and Zagreb (Croatia) and the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies in Sofia (Bulgaria). The methodology approach was qualitative and was based on interviews with faculty and focus groups with students. Results show that faculty members were still hesitant to adopt OER since they generally did not consider them. Moreover, those who did use them did so on their own initiative and as additional resources. We discuss the different speeds of OER implementation that have been observed depending on the faculty’s prior level of knowledge, and on whether their institutions and countries are prepared to support the use of OER. The promotion of post-pandemic OER involves greater capacity building, as well as collaboration and institutional support. Students’ attitudes about the usefulness of OER focus on their availability. The large number of teachers and students who participated in the study, as well as the international scope of the study, constitute a strength in the treatment of a topic such as the use of OER where the user perspectives and LIS context have been little addressed in the literature.

Current Situation and Development Perspectives of the National Library of Azerbaijan Named After M. F. Akhundov

In the era of the modern information society, the eminent librarian scientist, Honored cultural worker, professor K.I. Ismayilov gave a special place to the problems of scientific and theoretical analysis of the formation of library funds in his wide-ranging scientific heritage and made deep generalizations. The scientist writes in his book "Library-information technologies": "Libraries, as an institution that fulfills the function of meeting the document-information needs of society, play the role of a necessary tool in the formation of civil society. Information resources of libraries have no time and space limitations. On the other hand, in addition to being a place where existing documents are stored, libraries play the role of a door to the world of information thanks to modern technologies. The article provides brief information about the history of the National Library named after M.F. Akhundov, and mentions the scientific-theoretical basis of the formation of the library fund.

Implementation of information technology in academic libraries in Nigeria: Benefits, challenges and solutions

Information technology has undergone tremendous advancement in recent decades. The power brought forward by the developments in information technology (IT) has seen its adoption across all sectors of the economy, with its implementation resulting in unprecedented efficiency. In Nigeria, implementing IT, especially in the education sector, remains one of the library’s objectives to enhance human capacity through access to digitized information. Academic libraries’, being at the forefront of providing information, implementing IT are inevitable and enhances service delivery. However, the implementation of information technology in Nigerian academic libraries has been characterized by numerous challenges affecting their capacity to efficiently deliver services to their users. The established processes for implementing information technology in these institutions include inadequate funds to purchase and maintain IT equipment, power interruptions, low computer literacy among librarians, and poor internet connectivity. Fortunately, adequate staff training and exploring alternative energy sources include some appropriate solutions to the identified challenges.

Challenges to the implementation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in university libraries in Bangladesh

Purpose: The study discovers the present conditions of using ICT by the university libraries in Bangladesh. This study also finds the challenges for applying ICT in Bangladesh's public and private university libraries. Design/methodology/approach: The study is based on one structured questionnaire from ten selected university librarians. Findings: The study demonstrates how to improve these libraries’ entire condition and services by adopting modern technology. This investigation reveals the state of these libraries, including the problems they encountered in applying information technology, and puts forward necessary recommendations. Originality/value: This study focuses on the challenges of implementing ICT in university libraries in Bangladesh. It will prompt further research on ICT-based library services in academic libraries globally.