Institute Library Research Articles

Research Data Preservation Practices of Library and Information Science Faculties


 Digitisation of research data is widely increasing all around the world because it needs more and development of enormous digital technologies. Data curation services are starting to offer many libraries. Research data curation is the collective invaluable and reusable information of the researchers. Collected data preservation is more important. The majority of the higher education institutes preserved the research data for their students and researchers. It is stored for a long time using various formats. It is called research data preservation. Without proper research data management plan and implementation cannot curate the research data. The aim of the study is to identify the Asian Library and Information Science (LIS) faculties’ experiences in the research data preservation and curation during their research. Data management, curation and preservation all are interlinked. For reuse of the research data; data curation is an essential role. For this research, we adopted a survey method and an online questionnaire was shared with 1400 LIS professionals, belonging to the Asian region but the completed study respondents are 125 university faculties from various Asian countries. The study findings are 76.8 per cent generated statistical data followed by 58.4 per cent textual files. By far, the most preferable data analysis tool is Microsoft Excel 82.4 per cent. Moreover, the result shows that generated data is mostly stored by personal computers and laptop hard disks. This study concludes LIS faculties having adequate skills and knowledge on data curation and preservation even though they are expecting more services from their academic institute libraries.

System bibliotek publicznych a regres czytelnictwa w Polsce po akcesji do Unii Europejskiej

The purpose of this article is to present the development process of library networks and readership in the period after Poland's accession to the European Union, in the context of selected determinants and correlations of readership levels, as well as to examine the issue of the relationship between the systematic decrease in the number of libraries and their collections and the decline of readership in Poland, especially in the period after accession to the EU. The article presents, mainly in terms of statistics, an analysis of the development processes of library networks, library resources, and readership. Through an analysis of development trends, the authors attempted to demonstrate that extending the social range of readership may require, in particular, the development and appropriate exploitation of the potential of libraries (mainly public ones), which, during the process of development of new forms of activity, should try to maintain basic, conventional functions, essential to their further existence. At the same time, the authors wanted to show changes in readership preferences, especially as a result of the opportunities offered by modern technologies. The first part of the paper presents general trends in the development of the public library base (including changes in the size of library resources - both conventional and modern), followed by an analysis of quantitative and structural changes in readership in public library institutions. Statistics for the analysis of the trends were taken from the annual publications by Statistics Poland (GUS). The analysis covers the period after Poland's accession to the EU, extended, for reference purposes, by the year preceding the EU accession (2003).

Patterns of Two-Year College Library Websites

Trends in website design among libraries of two-year academic institutions have been under-studied. These libraries are a unique population because they have different goals and challenges than other types of academic libraries. Data were gathered from the library websites of 264 randomly-selected, two-year, nonprofit colleges in the United States. The data were then analyzed to assess the frequency of multiple basic web design elements. Some were common across the sample, such as database lists, and some were infrequent, such as social media integration. The data also showed some relationships between features, for example the presence of a database list tended to be a good indicator of whether a website would have course guides or subject-specific research guides.

A collaboratory model for creation of digital language archives in India

PurposeThis paper aims to explore a model of digital language archiving based on a collaboration between under-resourced indigenous communities and an institutional library. The model’s effectiveness is assessed in creating resources and digital language archives to support speaker communities and language documentation programmes for endangered and lesser-known languages in India.Design/methodology/approachThe model of SiDHELA, the first indigenous language archive developed in India at Sikkim University by the Centre for Endangered Languages in collaboration with the Central Library, is described.FindingsThis study finds that localised repositories developed in collaboration with institutional libraries work as a more effective and accessible resource centre for indigenous communities, rather than the centralised data stores that collate all language data, which is the dominant method of language documentation in the world.Social implicationsIt is the authors’ belief that the active role of libraries in language documentation and preservation of indigenous knowledge will open future gateways for language revitalization for under-resourced languages of the world.Originality/valueSiDHELA is a novel attempt at localised digital language archiving in collaboration with indigenous communities of Sikkim and the North Bengal region of India.

Institutional Repositories in Russia and Abroad: Review of Publications

In contemporary information space, repository formation is one of the urgent tasks of libraries of scientific and educational institutions. Institutional repositories (IRs) provide unhindered access to scholarly works posted by scientists and specialists for general user, increasing the demand for the library's information resources.The article represents the review of foreign and domestic publications on the formation and development of institutional repositories. The authors consider the advantages of forming Open Access (OA) Repositories both among prospective authors and potential users: archiving and keeping materials in the IR up-to-date, ensuring visibility and possibility of using scientific research through global access, rapid dissemination of research results, increasing the citation of submitted materials, growth of prestige of the organization, the development of scientific communication, etc. The authors found out that placing publications in international archives (arXiv, BioXiv, etc.) or corporate projects (BASE, HathiTrust) has a greater impact on the visibility and potential citation of publications.The article identifies the problems of formation and use of repositories: labour intensity of content placement process, the complexity of data exchange, copyright management, the lack of incentives in providing information about their scientific work, the need for additional time and labour resources when maintaining the IR, the financial costs of maintaining the repository, and the difficulties of search in the IR. The authors note that the IR functionality depends on the software capabilities. The paper gives the examples of new generation repositories and presents their features: self-filling, automatic classification based on text mining and machine learning, data management processes between different systems, easy-to-use interfaces.

Library Digitalisation as a Mainstream of Scientific Discourse

Since 2017, the Russian State Library (RSL) has held annually scientific and practical seminars of the cycle “The Role of science in the development of libraries: theoretical and practical aspects”, addressed to library specialists and scientists in the field of library science, bibliography science and book studies. The main targets of the events of the cycle are to activate research work in the field of library science, bibliography science and book studies; to discuss current problems of scientific activity of federal and regional library centres; to acquaint library specialists with the results of scientific research. One of the thematic blocks of the cycle consists of seminars devoted to the problems of digitalisation of librarianship. The latest scientific and practical seminar of this block devoted to the topic “Digital transformation of libraries as a subject of scientific research” was held on February 10, 2022. The speakers of the seminar were the leading scientists of the Centre for Study of Library Development Problems in the Information Society of the RSL. The seminar program included two questions. M.Y. Neshcheret presented the results of studying the remote reference and bibliographic services offered on the websites of national libraries around the world. Y.N. Stolyarov analysed the content of publications on the study of digitalisation problems in Russian professional journals. The seminar noted the significant role of practical librarians in the implementation of digital technologies in the work of libraries, as well as demonstrated achievements, proving the need for social library institute. The speakers called on contemporary researchers to intensify scientific research aimed at theoretical understanding of the ongoing processes of digitalisation. The seminar aroused considerable interest of library specialists.

Library Technology – Between Local Tools and Global Solutions

Abstract Digital information infrastructures such as Google or Wikipedia are often compared to libraries. As traditional libraries, they support the circulation of knowledge resources. However, they are neither operated by nor designed for library institutions. In order to describe the contribution of libraries to the digital infrastructures of the 21st century more precisely, the term Library Technology is applied in this text. Library Technology will be demarcated from terms such as Digital Libraries, a frequently used concept in Computer Science and colloquial language. The focus lies on present and future developments of infrastructures in science, such as the European Science Cloud (EOSC). It is suggested that the original contribution of libraries to current and future data infrastructure is present but not explicitly visible or referenced in communications. This rather hidden, implicit role is interpreted to be detrimental to the library identity in the 21st century. It is recommended to reference the role of the library more explicitly.

Building a Culture of Reuse: An Analysis of Reusable Software and Policies for Institutional Libraries

Building a Culture of Reuse: An Analysis of Reusable Software and Policies for Institutional Libraries

Lack of concern for institutional libraries and its effects

Lack of funding has remained one of the most crucial resources for libraries worldwide because most library policy makers are not librarians themselves. There has been a major decline in the funding of institutional libraries. This is attributed mainly to economic reasons, from founders who view libraries as less relevant in a world where google can search for any book. The current remuneration and salary packages together with incentives for the ordinary librarian has dwindled. The rank of the librarian in some tertiary institutions are seen as a lecturer though the rank is synonymous to the pro-vice chancellor or next after the vice chancellor of a university. This has made it very difficult for staff working within the library institution to upgrade into different disciplines reducing the number of library staff gradually. Important facilities needed by every library such as printers, papers, toners, photocopiers, computers, laptops, scanners, internet accessibility etc. is mostly ignored by policy makers leaving the library under resourced. The library can take the role of most search engines if it is equipped with the need facilities to operate as such.

Establishment of Malawi Institute of Procurement and Supply Library and Learning Resources Center: Challenges and Opportunities

The objectives of the project of establishing the library and learning resources center at Malawi Institute of Procurement and Supply (MIPS) were to draft recommendations on the kind of infrastructure in terms of hardware, software, and networking required to establish the library systems; Koha and DSpace, to develop user training manual for e-library systems, to develop a user manual for a recommendation for additional training resources for the library, to install e-library systems, link the elibrary systems to Members Management Information System (MMIS), to create catalog records for information resources and to conduct training on the functionality of the e-library system. The study was a descriptive account of the processes of establishing a library and learning resources center in an organization. Monitoring and reporting of the project activities were done which led to the development of reports, library manuals, and deliverables for the project. The scope of the work involved the establishment of the library currently operational. The period for the entire project was 6 months. Some of the major achievements for the project were the installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) system for the resource center, installation of e-library systems, purchase of new textbooks and subscription to electronic journals, training of MIPS management and users on the functionalities of e-library systems, and recruitment of a qualified Librarian to manage the resource center.

The Sidney Sperry/Heber Snell Debates: Critical Biblical Scholarship and Mormon Tradition

The Sidney Sperry/Heber Snell Debates: Critical Biblical Scholarship and Mormon Tradition

A bird's eye view on Kantakari Avaleha

Avaleha (linctus) is a unique dosage form of Ayurveda pharmaceutics, which is frequently used in various disorders and especially in respiratory disorders. Kantakari Avaleha (KA) is one such formulation being used extensively for Shwasa (asthma) and Kasa (cough) along with its classical use in various other disorders too. Because of its demand in clinical settings, many pharmaceutical companies are also preparing this, and hence freely available in market. This review was carried out to get thorough idea related to its composition, method of preparation, and therapeutic uses along with its pharmaceutical standards. For this review, classical and compiled texts having subject of Ayurveda pharmaceutics were screened from Central Library of Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Jamnagar. Out of total 15 texts screened, 7 texts had mentioned KA, and hence reviewed for its ingredients, dose, Anupana, and therapeutic uses. Synonyms, Rasapanchaka (Ayurveda principles of drug action), and Dosha Karma (therapeutic action) of ingredients were compiled from Bhavaprakasha Nighantu. Pharmaceutical parameters of KA were compiled from original research articles from peer-reviewed journals through Google Scholar, PubMed, ResearchGate, and J-Gate portal. After review, it was found that Acharya Sharangdhara (12th Century) had described this formulation for the first time. There are four variations available in formulation composition. Milk or water should be the Anupana for this drug as per Ayurvedic Formulary of India and Pharmacopoeia of India (API). Almost all references have recommended its use in Shwasa and Kasa, along with Arati (distress), Shula (colicky pain), Gulma (a type of lump), Hikka (hiccup), and Hradroga (heart disease) mentioned in one and the other classics. Maximum ingredients of this formulation possess hot potency (12 out of 18 drugs) and pungent biotransformation property (11 out of 18 drugs). As per available original research works, two laboratory samples and one market sample of KA had fulfilled almost all analytical parameters, mentioned in API. The current review work may be helpful as stepping stone for various researches on KA such as network pharmacology, in silico, pharmacology, and longitudinal cross-sectional, clinical study.

Challenges of Digitalizing Institutional Libraries in North-East Nigeria; A Survey of Four Selected Federal Polytechnic Libraries (2017-2022)

The study examined the challenges of digitalizing institutional libraries in Nigeria`s North-East region with reference to four selected Federal Polytechnic libraries in the region. It was conducted with the used of quantitative method of data collection. The study identified the challenges bedeviling the digitalization of institutional libraries and investigated the current nature of institutional libraries in four selected Federal Polytechnics in North-East Nigeria. The study found that, inadequate fund, lack of political will and expertise are some of the challenges bedeviling the digitalization of institutional libraries in North-East Nigeria. It also found that the current nature of institutional libraries in the region is traditional. The study recommended that, adequate fund, retraining of library professional and more commitment from the part of political leaders are necessary for digitalizing institutional libraries in Nigeria`s North-East region.

Modern University Libraries as Centres of Communication: Scientific Aspect

The purpose of the article is to study modern university libraries as centres of communication through the prism of scientific and social aspects. Research methodology. To implement this task, some theoretical and general scientific research methods were used, among which we note the analysis, synthesis, induction and deduction, and concretization. Equally important was the method of comparison, which was used to compare the practice of using university libraries in Ukraine and other European countries. The method of abstraction used in the analysis of general theoretical approaches and the formation of recommendations for the use of university libraries in modern higher education institutions in Ukraine involves the ascent from abstract ideas to concrete facts. Scientific novelty. For the first time, an important and underestimated development vector of the scientific space of university libraries was noted, which will allow optimizing their activities in the future, transforming them from ordinary reading rooms into a creative scientific space, profitable and accessible to visitors. Conclusions. The article considers the peculiarities of the modern university libraries functioning through the prism of the communicative function. The main focus is on the transformation of the library space and its focus on modern requirements for the formation of creative “territory” for scientific conferences, including international, free exchange of views during student tournaments, excursions and celebrations, seminars or lectures, etc. It has been established that university libraries in modern conditions are universal institutions that perform much broader functions of information retrieval than previously thought. Until now, the academic community has not been sufficiently aware of this process. As the analysis of several projects has shown, in modern conditions it is possible to further develop this aspect.

LIBRARIES OF UKRAINE IN INFORMATION AND ANALYTICAL PROVISION OF USERS

The article highlights general trends and prospects for further development of information and analytical activities of libraries of higher education institutions. Some indicators of the work of University libraries are analyzed on the basis of annual statistical and written reports. Emphasis is made on integration projects of University libraries, which provide an opportunity to supplement information for their users, creating so-called cooperative projects both at the regional, national and international levels. The results of this activity are displayed on websites of University libraries, which have ease of navigation, efficiency of updating and filling with information resources. The work of the library community has also undergone transformations making the emphasis on readers with remote access (over the past events, namely quarantine restrictions and war). Filling the institute repositories, consisting of qualifying and dissertation works as well as articles, monographs, textbooks, etc. is progress; The popularization of own funds is also transferred to the virtual forms (exhibition activity, exhibiting results of activities to public, that is indexes, various databases, monographs, etc.). All these changes are reflected in the news both on own webpages of University libraries and social networks, as well as by sending information to all departments of the University. The results of the article can be useful to the heads of libraries and departments for further planning of their activities, distinguishing between strengths and weaknesses of their logistics and the ability to provide quality information services. Thus, the library is a constantly updating structure of the University, which keeps pace with the times, adapts to different needs of scientific community, whose staff not only does not lose their professionalism, but also constantly improves it by participating in various activities.

Service Performance Evaluation of ITS Library Institution Repository Website

The ITS library as a unit that supports the ITS industrial revolution 4.0 strategy must make improvements to the application of information technology services to users. The ITS library repository website as a portal for storing scientific works of the ITS academic community is one of the information technology services that is often used by the ITS academic community (siva), but there has been no development for more than 5 years. For this reason, it is necessary to research evaluating the service quality of the ITS library repository website using webqual 4.0, which includes 3 (three) dimensions, namely: usability, information quality, and service interaction quality. The method used is a survey of distributing questionnaires to ITS final semester students who use the repository's independent upload service. As many as 100 students use the repository's independent upload service, then an IPA analysis (importance performance analysis) is carried out to determine the level of user satisfaction. The measurement results of the evaluation of the ITS Library repository website show a gap of -0.7, meaning that user satisfaction with the ITS Library repository website has not yet been achieved, while the IPA matrix diagram shows 2 (two) service indicators that are prioritized for quality improvement, namely interaction with the ITS repository website, which is safe from viruses and hackers when accessed via a PC or smartphone, and a quick search menu (title, author, supervisor, department) that gives inaccurate search results.

Current Trends in the Development of Higher Library and Information Education in Germany

The purpose of the article is to explore the experience and identify best practices for modernizing the content and organizational structure of the librarians’ graduate training in Germany.
 The methodology. The research was conducted using a set of theoretical and empirical methods of scientific knowledge. These allowed to identify the main stages of evolution of the higher library education system in Germany, the establishment of classical and innovative models of its modern development. The following scientific approaches were cognitive tools for achieving this goal: system, historical, comparative, as well as research methods: statistical, modelling, content analysis of the 19 German Universities’ 30 educational programs for Bachelors, Masters and Doctors of Philosophy in “Library and Information Sciences”.
 The results. The generalization of the study’s empirical basis allowed us to conclude that 19 German Universities offer more than 30 educational programs to their applicants for “Library and Information Sciences” higher education at various levels, including 45% bachelor’s, 35% master’s, and 20% doctoral degrees. Terms of bachelor’s educational programs are 3–3.5 years, master’s — 2–2.5 years, doctoral — 3–4 years. In the context of the global communication space digitalization the most popular are universal educational programs in “Information Systems”, “Information Science”, and “Information Management”, which train professionals for all types of information institutions and provide extensive opportunities for profiling with a focus on scientific information management or solutions tasks of library, cultural and educational management with a focus on work in school, university and public libraries.
 The topicality. Germany has a long tradition of forming a national book culture and training high-quality librarians, which contributed to the development of one of Europe’s most powerful library, publishing and bookselling industries. Germany’s accession to the Bologna Process made adjustments to the national system of training librarians, identified new vectors of its European integration development, formed modern models for the educational process optimization through the implementation of levelling, succession, flexibility, and interdisciplinarity of education programs in library. In the context of the higher library education system modernization in Ukraine, these innovative practices need to be studied to determine the possibilities of borrowing the most effective of them.
 The practical significance. The results of the analysis of the profiling of modern bachelor’s and master’s degrees in German universities show their interdisciplinarity and focus on training a universal information specialist capable of performing professional tasks in all types of document communication institutions (libraries, archives, media libraries, publishing houses, news agencies, mass media, etc.). Starting with the 3rd semester most bachelor’s degree programs provide their applicants with a choice of a particular specialization, deepening professional competencies through a wide range of optional disciplines and training through participation in the implementation of real interdisciplinary projects. This experience of German colleagues should be borrowed by Ukraine as well.

Sociological Research of a New Model of Professional Development of Library and Information Specialists in the Samara Region

The article is devoted to the results of a sociological study conducted within the framework of the innovative educational project “Federal Innovation Platform “Academy of Library and Information Skills” of the Samara State Institute of Culture. This innovative educational project is aimed at creating a new model of the professional development system and developing the creative potential of library and information specialists in the Samara region.The article highlights the advantages and disadvantages of the organization of professional development of library and information specialists in the region, outlines the prospects for the development of this activity, allowing the design of a new additional educational program “Modern library in the digital space”.The problem of improving the system of advanced training of library and information specialists of municipal libraries in the context of the formation of new professional competencies in the digital environment and the influx of specialists with non-core education to library institutions needs to be solved.

Art library collections at research universities: Challenges and opportunities for collaborative collection development

Collection development for the arts at large research universities presents certain issues that can be challenging for the librarians responsible. Some of these issues include: collaborating with other selectors, managing multiple library locations, preventing unnecessary duplication, acquiring non-traditional material, working with non-academic publishers, and varying circulation policies. In this article, the Librarian for the Fine Arts and the Head of the Institute of Fine Arts Library at New York University will discuss their experience navigating these challenges in the first two and a half years of their collaboration. The authors will present strategies for leveraging these challenges as opportunities and will share the benefits they have experienced from this effort.

Activity of Libraries of Vocational Education Institutions in Information and Communicative Space

The aim of the article is to systematise, summarise new knowledge on the activities of libraries of vocational education institutions in the information and communication space, to consider specific activities in terms of present and prospects for their development. The research methodology was based on the general scientific principles of unity of theory and practice, systematics, complexity, and comprehensiveness of knowledge. The use of general scientific (description, analysis, synthesis, comparison, generalisation) and special (bibliographic, sample observation, grouping, content analysis) methods at the empirical and theoretical levels of research contributed to achieving this goal. The scientific novelty of the research is to generalise and systematise new and known knowledge concerning the activities of libraries of vocational education institutions in the information and communication space in terms of nowadays and prospects for its development within one research. Conclusions. Current conditions of transformation of the learning process focused on distance education and the rapid development of digital technology pose new challenges to the libraries of vocational education institutions. The quarantine constraints that libraries faced in 2020-2021 demonstrated the need to reformat rapidly various types of library services into an online format. The most promising channel for promoting any information or resources today is the Internet. The use of Internet technology in libraries is now mandatory for every librarian. Librarians should not only focus on information and communication resources and technologies, including the Internet but also apply this knowledge in practice. Thus, the introduction of Internet tools in the activities of libraries of vocational education institutions is an urgent necessity. Librarians can effectively use a great variety of Internet services in their daily work and bring vocational education institutions’ information and library services to a qualitatively new level.