Malaysian Libraries Research Articles

Copyright issues faced by libraries in the time of corona: An insight into the position under Malaysian Copyright Law

The COVID-19 outbreak has brought substantial disruption to life and many sectors at one stroke. The pandemic has forced the closure of many schools and universities across the world. With teaching and learning activities being shifted to an entirely online environment, libraries too, undergo dramatic changes in the way they deliver and supply materials. Libraries may meet the need and request for resources when people stay or work at home by either scanning the physical books in their collections, or to make available e-Books to a greater number of users. Nonetheless, the said two acts may trigger copyright issues. This research aims to explore the copyright challenges encountered by libraries when engaged in the said activities and seeks to suggest the possible approaches to be pursued by libraries in doing so. This research employs the doctrinal research methodology, the typical methodology for legal research. With the findings of this research, it is hoped that this paper may clear the air on the copyright concerns faced by libraries during the pandemic. In addition, the paper also strives to offer guidance to the libraries in Malaysia as to how they may perform their role during a virus outbreak without infringing copyright.

Description of Manuscripts of Kitab Al- Kifayah in Library Collection in Malaysia

The study of Malay manuscripts with Islamic theme must be intensified to explore the thoughts of past scholars. One of the books written by scholars in the 17th century is written by Sheikh Abdul Malik bin Abdullah. The book is recognized as one of the first books of jurisprudence in Malaya written by local scholars. Kitab al- Kifayah has never been printed and is not available in our country's market or abroad. Therefore, this article aims to introduce the author's background, the background of this book and its storage location in libraries in Malaysia. In addition, a complete description of the manuscripts that have been found by the researcher is also explained in this article. The result of this writing found that Sheikh Abdul Malik is a scholar in Terengganu who was very helpful in developing Islam in Terengganu. He founded the school system and write short papers for the purpose of teaching religion in the school as well as a reference for Muslims in Malaya then. A total of 4 copies of Kitab al- Kifayah have been found by the author in two libraries in Malaysia and descriptions for each copy have been made. It is hoped that this description will be of great benefit to researchers in the field of manuscripts as well as the Muslim community in Malaysia.

THE ECONOMIC BURDEN OF FRAILTY AMONG ELDERLY PEOPLE: A REVIEW OF THE CURRENT LITERATURE

Life expectancy from birth is increasing dramatically. Due to this increase, the population of elderly people will increase. Consequently, geriatric related illnesses will increase leading to increased necessity to build up comprehensive and coordinated cost effective health care services appropriate for elderly people. Frailty is not a disease, but rather considered as a syndrome requiring comprehensive and multidisciplinary care approach. It is a prevalent reversible pathological transitional stage between healthy aging and disability. Frailty is associated significantly with increased health care utilization, mortality, and comorbidities such falls, hospitalizations, physical dependence, and poor perception of health. The aim of this review is to compile existing literature on the economic cost of frailty syndrome among elderly people in the recent years. Search queries were constructed to look for articles related to the economic cost of frailty in the electronic databases available at the National University of Malaysia library for articles published between the years 2011 and 2019. The accessed electronic database included New England journal of medicine, Science Direct, SCOPUS, BMJ, Cochrane, and Wiley Online Library. Articles included in this review when they were original research, participants were defined as frail elderly, manuscripts written in English language, and involved clearly described measures of frailty cost. Among the literature, twenty one articles were found to satisfy the inclusion criteria of the review process. The cost of care for frail elderly was ranging from US $ 8,620 to 29,910 per patient per year. The cost of health care was ranging from US $ 2,540 to 221,400. The health care cost was accounting for 40% to 76% of the total care cost. Hospitalization cost was the highest, it was ranging from US $ 806 to 152,726. Outpatient cost was ranging from US $ 200 to 18,000. Medications cost was ranging from US $ 7 to 3,434 per frail elderly patient per year. Home help cost was ranging from US $ 804 to 19,728 per frail elderly patient per year. In conclusion, frailty is a costly syndrome. It can be considered as a cost effective target for health promoting interventions to contain future elderly cost.

Challenges Faced by Subject Librarians in an Academic Library and Initiatives Toward Overcoming Them: UPM Library Experience

ABSTRACTSubject Librarians play an important role in an academic library, a role which it is crucial to study. There have been many published studies that have highlighted the lack of evidence on the competencies of Subject Librarians. This paper discusses the challenges faced by the Subject Librarians of the Universiti Putra Malaysia Library. The aim was to gather information from published documents regarding the experiences and practices carried out in efforts to increase the competencies of Subject Librarians. The outcomes from this conceptual paper serve as an important instructional tool for the training and development of Subject Librarians. The results might also provide guidance for the implementation of a similar program or relevant problem-solving plans for other libraries in the region.

Acceptance of Koha Open Source System among Librarians in the Malaysian Academic Libraries: An Exploratory Qualitative Study

This paper reports on a study that explores the requirements and level of acceptance for the Koha open source software implementation in Malaysian academic libraries. This is a qualitative study based on interviews with system librarians from library application and system divisions in 5 Malaysian universities. The interviews were conducted to understand the technology acceptance, system quality and system information, beliefs and attitude of librarians and to provide insight into a user and open system relations. These factors can be critical in order to understand what may hinder the acceptance of open source systems in Malaysia academic libraries. The findings disclose that the level of acceptance of the Koha open source system among Malaysian librarians is high as they are satisfied with the information quality, system quality and system platform. They have positive intentions to use this system and believe it meets their current and future information needs. The requirements of its implementation are focused on perceived usefulness (technology), attitude toward using (users), and perceived ease of use (system). The subsequent influencing factors are a reflection of Koha system stability and users’ acceptance of this system’s information quality, system quality, librarians’ awareness, satisfaction, user confidence level, support for library standards, highly integrated modules, a web-based solution, intention to use a system, and actual usage of an open-source system. Practical implications include cost savings, outsourced system maintenance, and accessibility of the system after office hours. The Koha open-source system is a new paradigm in system solutions for libraries in Malaysia. The results of the current study are applicable to other library settings.

M-Learning for Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET)

Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) plays an important role in shaping human workforce to meet the requirements set by the job market. As to equip the manpower with necessary skills to perform in the job market, the education and training delivery system must be improved. Therefore, TVET institutions take up the challenge by changing the curriculum content and the delivery system to produce students who have both the knowledge and skills. Teaching and learning are not only practiced traditionally where teachers focus on activities in the classroom solely, but it must in accordance with the latest technologies. Therefore, teachers’ must be up-to-date with the latest technologies such as the use of mobile devices for the delivery of instruction and they also need to have the necessary knowledge to plan and deliver the content. Specifically, this paper discusses the concepts of mobile learning in technical and vocational contexts, devices used in Mobile Learning, benefits of Mobile Learning, and challenges that exist in the implementation of Mobile Learning. This paper is technically reviewed using document analysis. The documents reviewed are from journal article, conference proceedings, concept paper; accessed via Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Library web portal (www.psz.utm.my). From the review, the researchers provide insights to the need of implementing Mobile Learning in the context of TVET and at the same time improving the quality of education in the vocational context.

Analysis of Mould Growth Causes in Higher Education Library Indoor Environment

This paper presents an analysis of mould growth causes that be found in an indoor library environment. The visual inspection had been conducted to identify visible mould in the indoor library environment. Three higher education institution libraries in Malaysia were selected as a case study. The identified mould species on the site were analysed using mould growth germination factors and possible causes that related to the growth. The result confirmed mould species such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Stachybotrys’s identified as a common mould growth found in the three library buildings. The analysis of mould growth causes is important for this study as is to confirm the relationship with the mould found in this building which may result in adverse health impact, environment, material and archive in the library. The result also can become guidelines and best practices for library management regarding good indoor environmental quality.

Library Therapeutic Landscape Quality Approaches in Public Libraries: A Pilot Study

Consideration of user satisfaction should be the main business in the public libraries business. It serves as evaluating benchmarks on the library performance. Satisfaction is depends, it could be the overall library as a service provider including on user expectation of place, services and facilities. The purpose of this study is to identify the elements of a public library therapeutic landscape quality for measuring the level of library therapeutic satisfaction available in the library of past and present. With a focus on the public library, this study examines user perception of the quality of their therapeutic landscape provided. Using a developed therapeutic landscape quality questionnaire, 30 users were randomly selected to answer. It was analyzed with therapeutic landscape dimension (natural/built environment, social environment and spiritual environment). A 108- item, 5 domain questionnaire excluding the respondent information on the view of library user regarding the library therapeutic landscape quality and satisfaction was developed based on a literature, theories and empirical study. This paper aims to describe the process involved and outcomes in undertaking a pilot study as a preparation for the real data collection which is to study library therapeutic landscape quality and satisfaction among the well established and modern public libraries in Malaysia. Data analyses were conducted with the use of statistical software. Output from the analysis, shows that the instruments are reliable and there is no abnormality on the data.

Bibliographic Control and Resource Description Access Standard in Malaysia

Technological advances and emergence of digital information present a significantly different challenge than libraries had before. With abundance of digital formats of information available in libraries, a new standard of cataloging has been introduced. The standard for cataloging that emphasized on the content of metadata which can support the discovery, identification and employment of information resources in library or known as Resource Description and Access (RDA) is designed for the digital environment. It is expected to have full implementation in all libraries in Malaysia by 2017. This announcement has been made by the former director of National Library of Malaysia. To accomplish this mission, training is considered a basic requirement for every librarian before the introduction of RDA. However, it is found to be great challenges in conducting training and implementation of RDA in many libraries. With regards to this matter this study focuses on literatures on RDA pertaining to; training, costs, cataloging procedures and integrated library system. The framework may become foundation for libraries in supporting RDA in bibliographic control. The insight will inspire and inform a wide array of new research agenda in the cataloging and metadata literature.

Youth development in rural library: ICT gratification as mediating effect

This study investigates the relationship between ICT facilities and behavioural factors with positive youth development among rural youth in Malaysia, considering gratification of ICT usage in rural library as the mediating effect. The youth in rural areas are inclined to involve in negative affairs due to non- established beneficial activities. Therefore, the government has taken initiatives to equip rural libraries with ICT facilities and services to support social and academic activities amongst youth. A total of 400 respondents comprising rural library users in Peninsular Malaysia aged between 15 to 40 years were surveyed through multi-stage cluster simple random sampling. A survey method was employed and the analysis was conducted using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The results revealed that gratification of ICT usage among youths in rural library do not significantly mediates the relationship between ICT and specific behavioural factors in positive youth development. The finding indicates that respondents were not entirely depending on ICT facilities provided in the rural libraries in their undertakings. This study highlights several implications and recommendations for policy makers and practitioners towards improving ICT provisions in rural libraries in Malaysia.

Transformation strategies in community engagement

This paper examines initiatives developed in Malaysian libraries to enhance library roles in promoting knowledge and technology exchange as well as community wellbeing. It explores how libraries in Malaysia are transforming society through community engagement and highlights initiatives undertaken by libraries that promote community access to collections, services, and events. The success of the initiatives is demonstrated in seven transformation strategy themes, namely; (i) embedded services; (ii) bridges and web technology; (iii) strategic and institutional partnering; (iv) rural libraries; (v) community libraries; (vi) asset-based community development; and (vii) international librarianship. While it is often cited that public libraries are those that serve the community at large, this paper provides the perspective from other types of library viewpoints, emphasizing that such community outreach services should not be limited to public libraries. The library science community at large, and especially academic libraries, must play a role in community engagement.

Adaptive Equipment Technology and Services for Supporting Disabled Users: A Case Study in the Central Library, University of Malaya

technology and services. This research could then help the library aware the needs of the disabled and to improve and implement the adaptive technology in the library especially in the Central library, University of Malaya. It is significant to explore the relationship between the implementation of the technology and services that suitable to be used in the library with the user or the disabled student in their performance. It is known that this group of disable students is facing double difficulties to retrieve the materials and services in a library due to their limitations. This study could enhance libraries to consider the proper needs of the disabled user’s in the library. This study discusses regarding the technology and services which needed by the disabled user’s in the library.A total of three respondents had been interviewed which include two disabled users and one librarian that manage the disabled user’s in the Central Library, University Malaya. Results indicate the Central Library concern and providing the basic needs of the disabled user in the library. The disabled user also expressed their feelings and opinion on how the library could serve them more. The library was being said as the best Library in Malaysia in terms of providing sufficient services and facilities for their disabled users compared to the other local University library. The paper demonstrates one of the few attempts to examine the performance of the Central library, University Malaya in serving their disabled user and also the effects of the implements towards their daily task as a student. Specifically, we was also reconfirmed the efforts being made by the library itself in providing the most adequate and suitable facilities for their user even though there are few budget constrain to implement the certain services and facilities.

Enablers to Information Search and Use in Higher Learning

Information search and use hold a key to knowledge building process in higher learning. A qualitative study was conducted to explore the role of various personal skills that empower students’ information search and use in higher learning. The study involved 30 lecturers, librarians and students who participated in student information skills programs run by a public university library in Malaysia. The study used semi-structured interview to collect data which was analyzed using qualitative data analysis approach. The study found personal skills, i.e., computer, higher order thinking, language, and communication skills facilitate students’ information search and use in higher learning. The study suggested that universities must help students to develop necessary skills that enable them to strategically search and use information in knowledge building process in higher learning.

Assessing the Awareness of Public Libraries in Providing Sexualrelated Information for Adolescents

This paper is an attempt to describe the level of awareness among public libraries on their roles, challenges and the effort of the public libraries in providing sexual-related information for adolescents. Since the sexual-related information remains taboo in the context of this study, the public libraries seem not ready to provide such information to their users. In order to gather rich data, a qualitative type of study is chosen. Three participants purposively selected for interview sessions. The participants are librarians who work with public libraries; in charge of library activities. Further analysis shows that generally public libraries in Malaysia are not well prepared or ready to provide sexual related information due to cultural factor.

Users Satisfactions Measurement and Evaluation at the Academic Libraries

The paper aims to get the real scenario of measurement and evaluation practices in Malaysian Academic Libraries. The scope is on the users’ satisfactions towards the services provided by the academic libraries in Malaysia. This is meant to fulfill the needs and expectations of the academic libraries’ users. The study, which focusing on the measurement and evaluation practices of users’ needs and expectations in Malaysian academic libraries highlights how libraries establish their measurement and evaluation exercises. It includes the perspectives of librarians who directly involved in measurement and evaluation activities in the academic libraries. It may serve a baseline in a general sense for academic libraries of all sizes that could leverage the ideas of fulfilling the needs and expectations of the users.

Librarians’ behavioral performance on chat reference service in academic libraries: Perceived importance vs actual practices

This study reports a comparison study between perceived importance and actual practice of guidelines for chat reference service among academic librarians. Behavioral Performance of Reference and Information Service published by the Reference and User Service Association (RUSA) was used in the development of the survey instrument. The study employed a quantitative approach to address the following research objectives: i) to determine academic librarians’ perceived importance and current practices of behavioral performance in the interaction during the chat reference service; and ii) to assess the association between academic librarians’ perceived importance and actual practices of behavioral performance in the interaction during the chat reference service. A survey was administered to 92 librarians from six academic libraries in Malaysia which providing chat reference service to their users. A response rate of 84.8 percent was achieved resulting in 78 usable questionnaires to be analysed. The finding in general demonstrates majority of the respondents rated their perceived importance higher than actual practices. The mean gap difference between perceived importants of RUSA guideline and the level of practices among librarians is beneficial to identify areas in chat reference services that need improvement. The finding could provide an empirical benchmark for evaluating chat reference services.

Organizational Factors Influencing the Adoption of EBL Practices

Evidence-based librarianship (EBL) refers to librarian approach to encourage and practice evidence-based activities in library, employs the best available evidence in decision making. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between organizational factors with EBL adoption in Malaysian academic libraries from academic librarian perspective. The paper utilizes quantitative methodology and use survey form as the instrument; 234 survey forms were distributed to all Malaysian Public Institution of Higher Education. Finding of the study highlight that the organizational factor is significantly predicted EBL adoption of academic libraries in Malaysia and the results demonstrated that organizational factor was found to be a significant of EBL adoption. The paper employs statistical method to administrate the relationship between organizational factor and evidence based librarianship. It only covers Malaysian academic librarian from public university, however, and as such the outcomes are merely represents only to this group. This paper portrays librarian standpoint in regards the connection between organizational factor with evidence based librarianship and it may benefits to evidence based practitioners and library community, or other researcher with interest in the subject matter.

Managing the Personnel in University Libraries: A Developing Country Perspective

Column Editor's NotesLet's face it, these days leading and managing a library workforce is a complex task, as many competing factors influence the values, behaviors, and culture of library workplaces. This feature column, written by Nosheen Fatima Warraich and Kanwai Ameen, focuses on academic libraries in Pakistan, as the workplace setting; but the research also has implication for the management of library human resources in other contexts and in other countries.Reading this contribution caused me to think about the issues relating to human resource management in a broader global context. This article is a timely reminder that library workplaces are pretty much the same across the world—something I was reminded of recently when I spent some time at an academic library in Malaysia. Local context and issues are important in any consideration of library human resource challenges and opportunities with local factors (such as enterprise agreements, workforce composition, etc.) never far from the focus of library leaders. However, leaving aside local context, library workplaces are also impacted by global factors (including information and communications technologies, global economic conditions, etc.). More so than ever before, the challenges and opportunities playing out when it comes to leadership and management of library human resources, have many things in common. This feature column highlights this point well as it brings a nice mix of applied research and professional practice experience. Based on some large scale research, its findings may be helpful to library leaders in contexts beyond Pakistan.I am pleased to feature this contribution to help highlight the global nature of our practice of professional skills in librarianship and the leadership of library human resources. As always, I invite contributions to the column on topics broadly addressing themes or issues for library workers throughout their career lifecycle. Please submit articles for this column to the editor at vicki.williamson@usask.ca. Please mark the subject line of your submission “IILR contribution.”

The impact of copyright law on the digitization of library collections in academic libraries in Malaysia

The advancements made to digital technology have enabled academic libraries today to digitize their collections as a continuing process of improving their services to the academic community. Various factors determine whether a library should embark on a digitization project and the extent of the digitization. These include the policy of the institution, its financial resources, its manpower, its technical capability and the legality of digitization under the copyright law of each country. The objective of this study is to examine how Malaysian copyright law impacts on the digitization of collections in academic libraries in this country. The focus is on materials which are in the form of literary works as these represent the bulk of most academic libraries’ collections. The study discusses the principles of copyright law that have a direct bearing on digitization, the potential liability of libraries for copyright infringement, the circumstances under which digitization is exempted from copyright infringement and the options available to academic libraries to embark on digitization projects without infringing copyright law. The methodology used is the doctrinal research methodology in the discipline of law. The findings of this study serve to expand the current body of knowledge on how digitization of library collections in academic libraries may be carried out within the confines of copyright law. The recommendations are two-fold. First, academic libraries may digitize materials if the purpose is to cater to the needs of those who are visually or hearing impaired. Secondly, in other cases, digitization may only be carried out after obtaining a licence or an assignment of copyright from the copyright owner. It is hoped that the study would provide librarians with a better understanding of the copyright issues that arise from digitization and the principles of copyright law that govern digitization so that libraries can act within the confines of copyright law.

The Relationship between Organizational Learning Capabilities (OLC) and Knowledge Performance among Academic Librarians

This paper shows the results of a study that examine the relationships between OLC’s dimensions (shared vision and mission, organisational culture, teamwork cooperation, transfer of knowledge, systems thinking, leadership, employees skills and competencies, ICT) and knowledge performance. A set of questionnaire was personally distributed to academic librarians in selected university libraries in Malaysia. A total of 186 (78%) of the respondents returned the questionnaire for further analysis. Result showed that all the dimensions were correlated with the degree of weak to moderate correlation with knowledge performance. The results also indicated that employees’ skills and competencies was moderately correlated with knowledge performance (p < 0.01, r = 0.637). The outcome of the study is expected to assist the librarians and academic libraries for improving the skills of acquiring knowledge and learning capabilities toward enhancing the knowledge performance.