Library Work Research Articles

Influence of Professional Competence on Users Satisfaction of Colleges of Education Libraries in Lagos State, Nigeria


 
 
 Satisfaction is a driving force that makes a library user determined to use the library repeatedly. Satisfaction cannot be achieved in the library without a competent professional in the field of information management to manage the library resources and respond to users professionally although library employ graduate but there still exist the issue of users‟ dissatisfaction with some library workers. The study investigated the influence of professional competence on users' satisfaction with college library. The study adopted survey research design. The study population comprised 12,450 users of libraries in colleges of education in Lagos State, Nigeria. the sample size of 378 was derived from Krejcie and Morgan table of 1970. A validated questionnaire was used for data collection. The Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient of the construct ranged from 0.909 to 0.934. The response rate of 62% achieved. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings showed that professional competence has significant influence on users satisfaction if colleges of education libraries in Lagos State, Nigeria (R2= 0.268, β= 0.518, t = 9.207, p<0.05). Participants were satisfied with the level of library services in colleges of education in Lagos State, Nigeria was (x̅ =3.21). Library resources (x̅ = 3.15) and findings reveal that the colleges of education employ library staff with of B.Sc. (x̅ =3.36) with high level of communication skills (x̅ =3.19). In conclusion the study found that library environment and staff attitude contribute to users' satisfaction therefore professional with good working attitude and a good environment including complete infrastructure enhances satisfaction. 
 
 

Structured Interviews Reveal That Reference and Liaison Librarians—as Engaged, Proactive Partners—are Vital to the Academic Enterprise

A Review of: Johnson, A.M. (2020). Reference and liaison librarians: Endangered species or “vital partners?” Views of academic library administrators. Journal of Library Administration, 60(7), 784-799. https://doi.org/10.1080/01930826.2020.1786979 Abstract Objectives – To investigate the current state and prospects of reference and liaison librarianship. Design – Structured interviews consisted of 10 questions that lasted between 30 and 75 minutes. Setting – Fourteen medium-sized, urban universities geographically spread across the United States of America. Subjects – Fifteen library administrators with at least 10 years of experience. Methods – The author contacted academic library leaders from 17 benchmark institutions and head librarians from other R1 institutions whose libraries were members of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) or whose campus size and characteristics mirrored the author’s institution in that they were medium-sized urban universities. The study examined five primary questions and included an appendix with the 16-item survey instrument. The structured interviews included 10 questions about the current state and prospects of reference and liaison librarianship, along with questions related to demographics. The author transcribed the interviews and removed all identifying information. Since the interviews were structured and thus thematically similar, coding software was not used. The author compiled and analyzed the responses to the questions. Main Results – The concepts of connecting, discovering, listening, and partnering were inherent in the definition of being a liaison librarian. In general, the library administrators, all of whom had been in the profession for 10 years or more, felt that liaison librarians should be active in furthering scholarly activities in such areas as grant-writing, generating scholarship, or data curation. There was an emphasis on outreach, being proactive, and engaging with faculty, which raised an important question for administrators: Is this skill set too broad for any one person, and if so, how can the library profession collaborate to draw upon each other’s strengths? There was a consensus that while the work of reference and liaison librarians is vital to the academic enterprise, this work need not be situated at a central reference desk. Rather, librarians would be physically embedded or electronically linked to students and faculty, helping them to formulate answerable questions, locate high-quality, evidence-based information in specialized databases, or provide support in such areas as open educational resource development, augmented reality, or scholarly communications. Conclusion – In the view of current library administrators, being a reference and liaison librarian means partnering proactively with students and faculty to ensure a deep understanding of their teaching, learning, and research needs while also maintaining a thorough knowledge of the libraries’ collections and resources. To accomplish this, the librarian must be visible to their constituencies, tell memorable, authentic stories of what they have to offer, and build lasting relationships. Reference and liaison librarians require traditional knowledge of library functions and systems and teaching skills and possess qualities such as collaboration, communication, and flexibility. Overall, library leaders believe that liaison librarians will continue to be vital partners and that without a central reference desk, there will be a deeper integration within the academic enterprise.

Martin Library Leadership survey: development, reliability and validation

Purpose An effective measurement of library leadership is crucial to understanding the current state of library leadership and to developing library leaders. This study sought to validate and measure the reliability of the Martin Library Leadership survey.Design/methodology/approach This survey is based on the Martin Library Leadership Definition, an evidence-based definition of library leadership. The first version of the survey consisted of 28 questions plus questions on respondent and library leader demographics. Each question measured one of the three components of the definition. This version of the survey was distributed to multiple ALA listservs and after analysis 16 items were removed. The resulting 12 question version of the survey was sent to the same ALA listservs and completed by 291 librarians and library staff from various library types and library work areas. The responses were analyzed using SPSS.Findings Exploratory factor analysis found three factors that align with the three components of the Martin Library Leadership Definition, and questions loaded in their expected factors at least 0.7. Cronbach's alpha was used to determine internal consistency. The alpha for the entire survey was 0.956. The Martin Library Leadership survey was validated and found to be reliable.Originality/value The results of this study provide strong and consistent evidence the Martin Library Leadership survey is valid and can be used in further library leadership research and professional development.

The influence of organizational learning on library service innovation

PurposeThis article intends to explore how organizational learning affects innovation in public library services, and the role of public librarians in innovation in library services.Design/methodology/approachThis study collected 375 valid questionnaires from 19 public libraries in Shanghai and Zhejiang based on organizational learning, organizational innovation and employee psychological empowerment theory. Additionally, SPSS and HLM are used to analyze the relationship among the three processes of organizational learning: knowledge acquisition, knowledge sharing and knowledge application, and public library service innovation.FindingsResults show that organizational learning has a significant positive effect on the service innovation of public libraries. Knowledge acquisition and knowledge application in the process of organizational learning have a significant positive influence on the service innovation of public libraries, but the impact of knowledge sharing on service innovation is weak. Employee psychological empowerment has a negative regulating influence on knowledge sharing–public library service innovation, but no significant influence on knowledge application–public library service innovation and knowledge acquisition–public library service innovation.Originality/valueThis research explores the effectiveness of the theory of organizational learning in the field of public libraries and also confirms the role of librarians in the work of public libraries. Together, they promote the innovation of public libraries.

How artificial intelligence might change academic library work: Applying the competencies literature and the theory of the professions

AbstractThe probable impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on work, including professional work, is contested, but it is unlikely to leave them untouched. The purpose of this conceptual paper is to consider the likelihood of the adoption of different approaches to AI in academic libraries. As theoretical lenses to guide the analysis the paper draws on both the library and information science (LIS) literature on librarians' competencies and the notions of jurisdiction and hybrid logics drawn from the sociological theory of the professions. The paper starts by outlining these theories and then reviews the nature of AI and the range of its potential uses in academic libraries. The main focus of the paper is on the application of AI to knowledge discovery. Eleven different potential approaches libraries might adopt to such AI applications are analyzed and their likelihood evaluated. Then it is considered how a range of internal and external factors might influence the adoption of AI. In addition to reflecting on the possible impact of AI on librarianship the paper contributes to understanding how to synthesize the competencies literature with the theory of the profession and presents a new understanding of librarians as hybrid.

BAME employees' work experience in the UK public sector: an empirical study of academic and research libraries

PurposeThe research was aimed at gauging the experiences of Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) staff working in academic and research libraries across the UK, part of the higher education and public sector significantly under researched.Design/methodology/approachUsing an essentially qualitative approach involving a focus group and in-depth interviews, the research design aimed to capture the lived experiences of BAME library employees.FindingsBAME employees are very conscious of their ethnicity due to a feeling of being monitored and under pressure to perform to a higher standard. BAME staff are subjected to verbal racism including microaggression from co-workers. There is no adequate mechanism in place to address the concerns of BAME staff and represent their interests. BAME employees are overrepresented at lower ends of the profession and are not encouraged by line managers to pursue promotion opportunities leading to a distinct lack of diversity at the top level of academic libraries.Research limitations/implicationsThere are implications for the work experience and career development of BAME library staff, for the leadership and management of libraries and the wider higher education sector to reflect upon.Originality/valueBased on real life experiences of BAME staff, this research plugs a gap in a neglected area of the public and higher education sector and provides an opportunity for managers of academic libraries to reflect on the issues raised and consider interventions.

Professional safety management in libraries of Ukraine

The article is devoted to understanding the issue of occupational safety management in Ukrainian libraries from the point of view of social and psychological safety. The problems and trends of library safety management are revealed in the issues of regulatory and legal support in the library sphere.
 It is indicated that the socio-psychological aspect of labor safety management needs special attention, since there is a contradiction between the inconsistency of norms and standards of the professional library environment with the conditions for the functioning of libraries, on the one hand, and the need to improve the efficiency of staff, on the other.
 It is determined that currently labor protection is at the stage of significant transformations. Along with well-known forms and methods of management, new models and principles of security management are widely distributed. The concept of hygiene and safety management, based on internationally recognized standards and recommendations, replaces the formed traditional forms and methods of labor protection management in Ukraine. 
 It is concluded that innovative activities in the field of social protection should be aimed at continuous improvement and development of a regulatory framework that promotes the identification and neutralization of negative factors of library labor. Priority areas of activity have been proposed that should be reflected in terms of measures to prevent, identify and neutralize the negative factors of library labor, to which: continuous improvement of working conditions, bringing them to indicators close to regulatory; reduction of professional risk to actually acceptable levels; The formation of corporate and behavioral culture in the teams, the principle is to work safely more importantly, than to work is profitable or productively different.
 It is concluded that changing the conditions of library work in the further development of the information society require special research and development of a set of relevant legal documents to create conditions for safe work in the library.

The experiences of the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina’s Library Working Group on COVID-19 Prevention

This article presents a brief overview of the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of Brazilian university libraries, as well as the efforts made by those institutions. It aims to report the experiences of the University Library Working Group at the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, located in southern Brazil, in COVID-19 prevention. It describes the guidelines that the Working Group established and the perspectives for returning to face-to-face work. It considers the relevance of the role of libraries in accessing and disseminating science information. It highlights the opportunities for change and advances in study, research and services aimed at libraries in general. The article concludes that the University Library at the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, through the Working Group fulfilling its role of supporting teaching, made it possible to articulate an information exchange network about COVID-19 with public servants, where the Working Group has carried out research and guided the management of the University Library in conducting the provision of face-to-face and remote services securely, both for users and the BU/UFSC staff (or employees).

More Critical, Less Managerial: Addressing the Managerialist Ideology in Academic Libraries

Managerialism is an ideology that presents management as the center of organizations, shifting power and agency away from workers. This ideology allows more control and power to reside at the top of an organization, rather than allowing shared power in decision-making and everyday work. This structure can create inequitable and oppressive work environments that devalue the agency and intelligence of library staff and librarians. Managerialism, while considered an ideology on its own, has been building stronger roots in academic library practices due to influence from neoliberalism in the university environment. While managers can help with achieving organizational goals, it is important to critically examine library management practices to ensure that managers address instances of exclusion and inequity that may arise in these practices. This article introduces managerialism by providing a brief history of management and its expansion. It also identifies academic library practices that have been and continue to be susceptible to managerialist influences, such as consumer surveys, the demand for managers, strategic planning, leadership institutes, and merit pay. The article also provides some suggestions for addressing managerialism in the profession to ensure equity and inclusion are prioritized in library work. This includes practicing critical reflection, embedding critical perspectives in LIS education and training, and introducing critical perspectives on leadership.

Comparison of Random Forest and Support Vector Machine Classifiers for Regional Land Cover Mapping Using Coarse Resolution FY-3C Images

The type of algorithm employed to classify remote sensing imageries plays a great role in affecting the accuracy. In recent decades, machine learning (ML) has received great attention due to its robustness in remote sensing image classification. In this regard, random forest (RF) and support vector machine (SVM) are two of the most widely used ML algorithms to generate land cover (LC) maps from satellite imageries. Although several comparisons have been conducted between these two algorithms, the findings are contradicting. Moreover, the comparisons were made on local-scale LC map generation either from high or medium resolution images using various software, but not Python. In this paper, we compared the performance of these two algorithms for large area LC mapping of parts of Africa using coarse resolution imageries in the Python platform by the employing Scikit-Learn (sklearn) library. We employed a big dataset, 297 metrics, comprised of systematically selected 9-month composite FegnYun-3C (FY-3C) satellite images with 1 km resolution. Several experiments were performed using a range of values to determine the best values for the two most important parameters of each classifier, the number of trees and the number of variables, for RF, and penalty value and gamma for SVM, and to obtain the best model of each algorithm. Our results showed that RF outperformed SVM yielding 0.86 (OA) and 0.83 (k), which are 1–2% and 3% higher than the best SVM model, respectively. In addition, RF performed better in mixed class classification; however, it performed almost the same when classifying relatively pure classes with distinct spectral variation, i.e., consisting of less mixed pixels. Furthermore, RF is more efficient in handling large input datasets where the SVM fails. Hence, RF is a more robust ML algorithm especially for heterogeneous large area mapping using coarse resolution images. Finally, default parameter values in the sklearn library work well for satellite image classification with minor/or no adjustment for these algorithms.

CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS OF ODESA NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC LIBRARY AS WAYS OF PROMOTION LITERATURE, BOOKS AND READING IN MODERN SOCIETY

Libraries play an important role in the system of public institutions that ensure the right of citizens to information, knowledge, education, use of cultural achievements and public access to information resources, popularization of books and reading as a way of learning about the world, education of educated and comprehensively developed individuals with critical, panoramic thinking. The introduction of systematic measures to promote books and reading in modern society remains an extremely important mechanism of cultural, professional and intellectual enrichment, and in general – the development of human capital, its sustainable economic and social progress, increasing the competitiveness of the state in global political, economic, cultural and information space. The work of libraries, which are constantly looking for innovative forms of their activity, is inextricably linked with the process of raising the level of education and culture. The aim of this work is to examine the innovative experience of cultural and educational projects of Odesa National Scientific Library, which made the library an important center for the promotion of literature, reading and books. Currently, there is no single study that would reveal the experience of unique cultural projects of Odesa National Scientific Library. Thus, the systematization and analysis of information about these innovative projects implemented by the library is incredibly relevant.

Substance Use and Overdose in Public Libraries: Results from a Five-State Survey in the US.

In the U.S., overdoses have become a health crisis in both public and private places. We describe the impact of the overdose crisis in public libraries across five U.S. states, and the front-line response of public library workers. We conducted a cross-sectional survey, inviting one worker to respond at each public library in five randomly selected states (CO, CT, FL, MI, and VA), querying participants regarding substance use and overdose in their communities and institutions, and their preparedness to respond. We describe substance use and overdose patterns, as well as correlates of naloxone uptake, in public libraries. Participating library staff (N = 356) reported witnessing alcohol use (45%) and injection drug use (14%) in their libraries in the previous month. Across states surveyed, 12% of respondents reported at least one on-site overdose in the prior year, ranging from a low of 10% in MI to a high of 17% in FL. There was wide variation across states in naloxone uptake at libraries, ranging from 0% of represented libraries in FL to 33% in CO. Prior on-site overdose was associated with higher odds of naloxone uptake by the library (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1–5.7). Although 24% of respondents had attended a training regarding substance use in the prior year, over 90% of respondents wanted to receive additional training on the topic. Public health professionals should partner with public libraries to expand and strengthen substance use outreach and overdose prevention efforts.

Analysis and Research on Digital Reading Platform of Multimedia Library by Big Data Computing in Internet Era

Digital reading promotion service is a service way for libraries to provide readers with a series of digital resources, enjoy the service functions, and share the experience of using them in various digital reading platforms, which is to meet the reading interests and reading needs of more readers, and is also the focus of the current library work. In the era of new media, the characteristics of digital reading are subtly changing the readers’ needs for reading environment, reading content, and reading style. Libraries should keep pace with the development of the times and provide readers with diversified, intelligent, and targeted digital reading platforms. The digital reading platform should continuously improve the digital reading service functions, broaden the service scope and dissemination channels, and finally realize the diversification, interest, and intelligence of digital reading service. This paper takes the digital reading platform of libraries in the region as the research theme and carries out research work on libraries. The province is divided into three regions according to the geographical map: southeastern region, central region, and northwestern region. The digital reading platforms of 14 prefecture-level public libraries and 58 libraries of higher education institutions in each region were accessed. Firstly, we check the construction of digital resources within the library websites, secondly, we count the opening of digital reading platform functions, and finally, we check the opening of digital reading platforms. Through the research, it is found that there are problems of unbalanced distribution of digital reading resources in regional libraries; unattractive design of readers’ interface and inadequate reading service functions; lack of continuous training of readers’ guidance; insufficient publicity and promotion; low efficiency of staff in responding to consultation; and low degree of platform openness and weak awareness of sharing. Finally, the problems found in the research are summarized, and the solution measures for the regional digital reading platform are proposed. Libraries in the digital era should give priority to systems that can manage all library resources comprehensively and effectively, adapt to more flexible library workflows, and enable libraries to provide better services to users.

Liaison Librarianship in Shiny Packages: An Exploration of Product Ownership in Academic Libraries

This column investigates the emerging role of the product owner (PO) – an individual tasked with ensuring that a specific service meets the needs of users – in academic libraries. It explores the PO role at the intersections of functional specialization, public services, and technical services, as well as from critical perspectives on gendered labor in librarianship. By examining how our library used the PO model to address pressing problems with our library’s institutional repository (IR), we demonstrate the value that the PO approach can bring to improving library products, especially when the PO is appropriately positioned to advocate for user needs. We also interrogate the overlap in responsibilities between the PO and liaison librarian and argue that the role of the product owner is a rebranding of the liaison librarianship model in an effort to make the emotional and relationship labor more masculinized. By emphasizing traditionally masculine work such as technology and innovation, the PO model allows libraries to market these specialized liaison librarian roles in ways that are more prestigious and aligned with corporate culture, while also downplaying traditionally feminized library work, such as service.

Agile project management workflow for libraries

With the onset of COVID-19, the information access patterns have completely transformed. The lockdowns and closures have changed the way librarians work and interact. Working in a virtual manner requires new ways to connect and collaborate in a time bound manner for library staff. Agile project management workflow has been a buzzword in industry and corporations for a considerable amount of time now. Adopting Agile methodologies will help librarians work in an effective and quick manner to better serve their patrons and meet their growing information needs in both traditional, virtual and hybrid libraries. Collaborating across cross functional teams on a daily basis with a planned list of tasks and goals to achieve can maximize the impact of libraries. A well planned sprint allows the staff to meet short term goals and keep a track of the ongoing operations and tasks. This study explores the application of Agile Project Management methodologies for libraries, with use cases for library housekeeping operations and day to day activities to meet user needs. Use cases and examples have been traced as a blueprint to adopt these methodologies in libraries allowing teams to customize the workflow as per their users and libraries.

Developing Competencies for Outreach Work in Academic Libraries

This research study investigates the behaviors, knowledge, and skills necessary for academic library outreach work. Through a review of published literature, job advertisements, and a survey of library practitioners conducted in the fall of 2020, the authors define and prioritize 18 competencies for outreach. Hiring managers, LIS instructors, and practitioners can use the results of this study to structure and lay out the essential areas of outreach work in academic libraries.

Социокультурная деятельность в контексте библиотечно-информационного образования и требований работодателей

The growing importance of sociocultural activity as a public value, its opportunity and potential in the work of libraries is indicated. That causes the need to build and develop suitable professional competences of librarians. The major features of building the competences are revealed according to educational grounding (college, higher education or extended education) of the Republic of Belarus. Competences in sociocultural activity of current educational standard of undergraduate degree in specialty 1-23 01 11 Library and Information Activity of the Republic of Belarus and the research insights «The development of competency-based model of a graduating student with a degree in Library and Information Activity based on studying employers’ requirements» are correlated. Topical issues and solutions of organizing the educational process in the context of developing competences in sociocultural activity on the Faculty of Information and Document Communications of the educational establishment «The Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts» are defined.

Chelsea Heinbach, Rosan Mitola, and Erin Rinto. Dismantling Deficit Thinking in Academic Libraries: Theory, Reflection, and Action. Sacramento, CA: Library Juice Press, 2021. 160p. Paper, $28.00 (ISBN 978-1634000956).

Dismantling Deficit Thinking in Academic Libraries is designed to—in a brief 160 pages—give the reader an introduction to how pedagogical literature that critiques or challenges deficit thinking and its racist consequences can be applied to teaching in academic libraries. More practical than exhaustive, the book is broken into three main sections. Each section includes “reflections from the field” (short quotations from library workers who are applying these concepts to their work) and reflection questions for the reader. The first of these sections reviews the literature on the detriments of deficit thinking in higher education and academic libraries; the second details five pedagogical approaches that the authors identify as addressing issues of deficit thinking; and the third outlines strategies that academic librarians can use in their own teaching to dismantle deficit thinking.

BIPOC librarians and retention: Mentorship and supportive relationships in the workplace

Academic Library Workers in Conversation is a bimonthly C&RL News series focused on elevating the everyday conversations of library professionals. The wisdom of the watercooler has long been heralded, but this series hopes to go further by minimizing barriers to traditional publishing with an accessible format. Each of the topics in the series were proposed by the authors and they were given space to explore. We encourage you to follow and share these conversations about transforming libraries with ideas from the front lines. This issue’s conversation with Annmarie Magurany and Elizabeth Dill focuses on mentoring and supporting BIPOC library workers. —Dustin Fife, series editor

Творчество А. П. Чехова и современные читательские ориентации: к вопросу о деканонизационных культурных тенденциях

The works of Anton Chekhov have been established in the Russian cultural canon and perceived as its integral part. At the same time, if we look at the history of the beginning of Chekhov’s texts in canonical corpus (starting with the October Revolution) we get a contradictory picture. In 1920–1930s writer's works, although marked by the presence of anti-Chekhov tendencies in literary criticism, were popular among mass readership. Surveys among library workers and soldiers of the Red Army attest to that fact. Since 1960, when anti-Chekhovism was over, we can see the opposite trend: a gradual decline of A. P. Chekhov's works popularity among readership. Chekhov's status of the classical writer remained unswerving until the 1990–2000s, however, the gap between “reverence” and “reading” was widened, resulting in periodical absence of his name in surveys on favorite and prominent Russian writers at the beginning of the 20th century. This referred to the street interviews among random respondents. That's why in January-April 2018 the author conducted a survey among the targeted audience — visitors of the A. P. Chekhov House-Museum in Moscow. Respondents were asked to name their favorite Chekhov works, quotes, and tell if they had Chekhov's books in their home libraries. Moreover, the author asked respondents when they were rereading the texts of the writer. Results of the survey showed an uneven acquaintance with Chekhov’s works with the prevalence of negative trends among museum's visitors: respondents read the writer’s works irregularly even if they have Chekhov`s books at home. They were not able to remember when and which texts of Chekhov they were rereading. All respondents had the greatest difficulties answering the question about favorite quotes of Chekhov's works. These facts combined with research from the early 2000s, sustain a conclusion about the nominal nature of presence of A. P. Chekhov in the list of “canonized” authors, and his actual “decanonization” that occurred at the turn of the 21st century.