Library Association Research Articles

Archiving the Past, Citing the Future

The Association of Professional School Librarians in Indonesia (“APISI”) is a self-funded private organization established in 2006. Starting with a small group of enthusiastic school librarians, APISI now maintains hundreds of members nationwide and actively seeks opportunities to collaborate and partner with schools, businesses, government, not-for-profit organizations, etc. However, after seventeen years of serving school librarians in Indonesia, the APISI leader decided it was time for a change. This article aims to help leadership teams in similar associations conduct change in their organization, especially those dealing with library and librarianship: the preparation for change and the steps to be taken.

Leveraging community engagement to contribute to Sustainable Development Goals 8 and 11

The aim of this study was to determine the ways in which academic libraries in South Africa use community engagement as a strategy to advance the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals – specifically Sustainable Development Goals 8 and 11 – in the context of the study. It followed a multi-methods approach to interview and hold focus group discussions with heads of libraries and librarians, respectively, in South African public university libraries. It was found that the libraries advance these Sustainable Development Goals in various ways, such as by employing library student assistants and interns from different backgrounds, and by serving as employers themselves. Furthermore, the libraries serve as custodians of local culture and heritage by curating, digitising and preserving local collections for posterity. However, collaborative efforts between the libraries and other heritage institutions, such as museums, archives and galleries, are few and far between, which is deemed a missed opportunity for more meaningful cultural and heritage impacts for these institutions. More collaborations and partnerships between these institutions are recommended, especially with regard to the digitisation of cultural heritage collections. Therefore, a clarion call is made for libraries to think more expansively about their role and consider including sustainable thinking as part of their mission in line with the American Library Association. The results demonstrate that libraries are uniquely positioned to advance the Sustainable Development Goals.

Collaboration Between an Academic Library and Library Association in Jamaica: Digitization of the Association’s Publication

The purpose of this paper was to discuss the collaborative initiative between the Mona Library (ML) and the Library and Information Association of Jamaica (LIAJA) focused on digitizing the Association’s peer-reviewed publications, specifically the Jamaica Library Association (JLA) Bulletin and the LIAJA Bulletin, for enhanced access and preservation. The paper also addressed the compilation of a second index for the LIAJA Bulletin, covering the period from 2007 to its electronic publication in 2014. This second index was intended to complement the first index, which was compiled from 1950 to 2006. This collaborative project presented numerous challenges and benefits, offering valuable insights for future initiatives. Key benefits for the library included the enhancement of staff competencies, strengthening of institutional reputation, increased growth and visibility, and the preservation of Jamaican and Caribbean librarians’ scholarly output for future generations.

Visibility of Librarians from the Federal Universities in The National Conferences Of The Nigerian Library Association: 2010 To 2019

Visibility of Librarians from the Federal Universities in The National Conferences Of The Nigerian Library Association: 2010 To 2019

Visual communication design students’ self-perception of their visual literacy competency in determining, retrieving, interpreting, and evaluating visual materials

In today’s world, visual competence plays an increasingly important role. Proficiency in visual literacy is an essential competency in various fields, including marketing, design, education, and journalism. The competency to convey messages effectively, attract audiences, and promote engagement is crucial for success in these industries. At the university level, visual literacy is an essential competency for university students studying visual communication. A lack of sufficient visual literacy leads to several key challenges. Research indicates that most university students in China do not have sufficient visual literacy competencies. However, there has been a dearth of scholarly inquiry looking specifically into the visual literacy competency standards of students studying visual communication design in China despite its close association with visual literacy. The study aimed to evaluate the visual literacy competency of students majoring in visual communication design in Shanghai, China, through interviews. The interview questions utilised in this study were developed based on four visual literacy standards created by the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). This study includes the competencies to determine visual materials needed, efficient image retrieval, interpret visual materials’ meanings, and evaluate image credibility when performing visual artworks. The study’s results indicate that students face difficulties in analysing and evaluating images due to their limited exploration of images related information, background, technology, and design elements. Consequently, they encounter challenges such as an inability to distinguish authenticity and judge reliability. These findings are valuable for the curriculum development of students majoring in visual communication design.

Two Decades of Futility: The Decline of Medical/Health Science Librarian Salaries

While medical and health science librarians’ median salaries have increased over the last forty years; however, inflation-adjusted salaries are lower than in 2008. Utilizing data from the Medical Library Association’s salary surveys from 1983 to 2023, this column explores median salary changes over time by discussing the median salary’s performance against inflation and how the 2008 recession and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic impacted salaries. From 2017 to 2023, the median salary increased by 18%, but after adjusting for inflation, the median salary decreased by almost 6%. The findings have serious implications for recruitment and retention in medical and health sciences librarianship.

Cooperative Collection Development: Current Practices among ARL Libraries for Area Studies Collections

abstract: This study examines cooperative collection development (CCD) for area studies and foreign language collections at Association of Research Libraries (ARL) libraries, based on a 2020 survey. Respondents provided details about cooperative collection initiatives (CCIs) at their libraries and their attitudes toward CCD. Most respondents had a favorable opinion of CCD, citing access to a broader collection of materials and cost savings as primary reasons. Challenges include the work and time involved in managing CCIs. This composite picture of how libraries build collaborative collections and the perceived benefits and challenges of CCD will inform librarians and administrators alike as they consider how best to build area studies and foreign language collections.

Adapt and advance: the Medical Library Association's journey through innovation and change.

Adapt and advance: the Medical Library Association's journey through innovation and change.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the Medical Library Association: a look back at the last twenty-five years.

Over the past twenty-five years, the Medical Library Association (MLA) has pursued a range of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. This article, written by members of the Journal of the Medical Library Association (JMLA)'s Equity Advisory Group (EAG), outlines significant measures taken to raise awareness about specific concepts, opportunities, and challenges related to DEI among MLA members. Topics discussed include the impact of influential Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) leaders, the establishment of DEI and social justice-focused membership communities, and specific initiatives led by various working groups and committees which have served to strengthen MLA's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion during the last three decades.

The evolution of our profession and association from 1998-2023: reflections from four Medical Library Association leaders.

On the occasion of the Medical Library Association's 125th Anniversary, four librarian leaders with a combined 105 years of engagement in MLA collaborated to reflect on the changes in our profession and our association. We draw on an examination of the last 25 years of the MLA Janet Doe Lectures, our own personal histories, and scholarship we produced for MLA publications and presentations. We offer this compilation as an invitation for readers to reflect on their experiences of changes within the profession, inspiration to engage in the issues around our place in society, and a source for additional exploration into researching and learning from our collective history.

Twenty-five years of Medical Library Association competencies and communities.

Professional associations provide resources to support members' career development and facilitate ways for members to engage with and learn from one another. This article describes Medical Library Association (MLA) activities related to the revision of professional competencies and the restructuring of the organization's communities during the past twenty-five years. Grounded in MLA's Platform for Change, the MLA competency statement underwent two revisions with core themes remaining consistent. Major efforts went into rethinking the structure of MLA communities, and it became a strategic goal of the association. Numerous groups spent considerable time guiding the changes in MLA's community structure. Sections and special interest groups were transformed into caucuses. Domain hubs were established to facilitate project coordination across caucuses and create more leadership opportunities for MLA members, but their implementation did not meet expectations. Member engagement and leadership are ongoing challenges for MLA. The next twenty-five years will undoubtedly see additional revisions to the competencies and continued iterations of the community structure.

Library and Information Science Professionals’ Awareness, Competencies, Institutional Support, and Application of AI-Powered Tools in Research Writing in South-South, Nigerian Universities

This study investigates Library and Information Science professionals’ awareness, competencies, institutional support, and application of AI-powered tools in research writing in South-South Nigerian universities. Four research questions guide the investigation. The study adopted a mixed (two-step) approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative methods in a sequential exploration design. A 55-items researcher-developed structured questionnaire titled: Library and Information Science Professionals’ Awareness, Competences, Institutional Support and Application of AI Powered Tools in Research Writing Questionnaire (LISPACIAAIPTRWQ) with a reliability index of .804 determined using Cronbach’ reliability coefficient and semi-structured interview schedule were used for data collection. The questionnaire was designed using Google Doc platform and administered through major Nigerian Library Association (NLA) WhatsApp groups of the six states in South South zone of Nigeria – Akwa Ibom State, Bayelsa State, Cross River State, Delta State, Edo State and Rivers State. The interview was conducted through private WhatsApp calls to 20 respondents within the study area. A total of 133 targeted participants from twelve university libraries, one federal and one state university per state were involved in the study. The professional librarians considered in this study were those with at least LS/LIS degree and a year of work experience. This group of participants were purposively considered taking into account that they are professionals and expected to conduct cutting-edge research and publish findings in reputable journals for personal and professional growth. The collected data, analyzed descriptively using frequency counts, mean, and standard deviation were used to answer research questions. The interview responses were qualitatively analyzed using the narrative method in order to deeply understand the respondents’ experiences with AI-powered tools and to also reduce the impact of individual bias. The findings revealed a low awareness level and a relatively high level of competencies of LIS professionals towards AI and its applicability to research writing. It also revealed low institutional support and high application index of AI-powered tools to mostly library services but not research writing by LIS professionals. The study recommended that the university administration should encourage more research on AI and formulate a workable policy to guide its applicability, among others.

These Books Matter

In recent years there has been an increase in book banning in public schools, which denies students access to texts. Therefore, it is essential that individuals become advocates against censorship in public school libraries. An educational/advocacy event was held on a university campus as part of the nationwide events highlighting the American Library Association’s Banned Books Week. The focus of this event was for participants to read/listen to readings of banned books, learn about the types of books that are banned in K-12 public schools across the country, understand the process (or lack thereof) by which books are typically banned, and discuss ways to advocate against banning books in public school libraries. Each of the six event engagements was thoughtfully designed to engage participants with banned books. Individuals/groups who desire to host their own event for Banned Books Week (or any anti-censorship event) can use this framework to develop their event to advocate against censorship.

Is the Library a Leisure Centre or a “Humanistic Stronghold of the Nation”?

The Russian Library Association (RLA) Manifesto “Library — a Humanistic Stronghold of the Nation” was adopted at the 24th RLA Annual Conference in Tula (2019). It was planned that the main ideas of this document would be included in the “Concept of the Development of Librarianship in Russia”, becoming the basis for analyzing the ways of development and transformation of the country’s libraries. Of all official documents on librarianship, the clause that “humanism is the world outlook basis of the library profession” is present only in the Code of Ethics of the Russian librarian. This is not enough. The idea of humanism as the basis of the library profession should be concretized in all documents of the branch and included in library textbooks.In Russia, the printed book firmly holds its position, and readers expect from libraries full-fledged collections. The issue of improving bibliographic literacy of users is acute.At the same time, librarian V.K. Stepanov has been trying to replace the essence of the library for the second decade. He proposes to consider it a social institution, deprived of the fund and readers, and to put unrelated tasks before librarians and material and technical base. He sees the purpose of the library in providing the cognitive and creative activity of the community served through the organization of intellectual interaction, the implementation of educational and leisure programmes, the provision of public use of the necessary space, hardware and software tools and access to information sources. From the scientific point of view, this postulate is far from the requirements of logic to the distinctive features of a scientific definition. In numerous articles V.K. Stepanov uses the same arguments, refers to the same facts, far from clarifying the actual situation of the country’s libraries. All of V.K. Stepanov’s theses have long been rejected by the library community.

Digital Projects in the Library Field of Ukraine

The purpose of the article is to identify their features, effectiveness, and problems of implementation based on a study of digital projects in the library sector of Ukraine in the early 20s of the twenty-first century. Research methods. The general scientific methods of analysis, synthesis, generalisation, and information methods were applied, which made it possible to achieve the goal. The scientific novelty of the results obtained is a comprehensive study of digital projects in the library sector of Ukraine; clarification of the peculiarities of digitalisation of Ukrainian libraries in times of war; clarification of the main categories, such as digital, electronic and virtual library; introduction of information about projects from online sources into scientific circulation. Conclusions. In the current conditions of rapid development of information technologies, the principles of library space organisation, methods of library and information activities, and resource support for library collections are being rethought; libraries are striving to use all the possibilities of digitalisation in their activities. This is facilitated by digital library projects focused primarily on the digitisation of documentary heritage, the digitalisation of user service processes, and the creation of new types of libraries: digital, electronic, virtual, etc. Libraries are becoming new modern information hubs and digital education centres for users. Library projects have become especially important and widespread since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and full-scale Russian aggression. The article focuses on the joint projects of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Library Association in the development of digital literacy within the framework of the national project “Diia. Digital Education”, the projects “Digitalisation of Libraries” and “Capacity Building of Libraries – Digital Education Hubs”, etc. However, in the process of implementing the projects, there are difficulties and problems related to the digital divide, the lack of computers and special digitisation devices in a number of libraries, and the lack of qualified staff capable of working with virtual users in the new conditions of digitalisation of society, which requires the organisation of training and retraining courses. The problems of digitalisation of Ukrainian libraries of various types in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war require further research.

Kesiagaan menghadapi bencana di Perpustakaan Kementerian “X” di Jakarta

Introduction. This study aims to identify disaster preparedness conducted by the Library of the Ministry of "X" through disaster preparedness standards by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). Data Collection Methods. Using a qualitative case study method, the data collection was carried out through observation, interviews, and document studies. Data analysis. Data from interviews and observations were reduced using transcripts and coding. The data was analyzed based on the five aspects of disaster management by IFLA. Results and Discussion. The results of the study show that among the five stages of IFLA disaster preparedness, almost all of the stages did not meet the standard and comprehensive manner. Based on the risk assessment, it is known that the biggest threat comes from the internal environment, one of them is library human resources. Lack of awareness of library human resources affects the absence of an optimal budget and disaster preparedness activities. Conclusion. The Ministry Library "X" in Jakarta had carried out disaster preparedness according to IFLA standards, however, it is still in the early stage.

Improve Thermal Performance and comfortable Design of Public Library Located in Middle Eastern Regions Facing Drastic Climate Change

Abstract Public libraries have important functions as information hubs and cultural institutions, drawing a variety of user groups. As user experience, contentment and general productivity are greatly improved by the thermal comfort of interior spaces, libraries are committed to providing suitable temperatures for both human thermal comfort and for preserving books. The standards for the handling and care of library resources established by the International Federation of Library Associations in 1999 specify the need for constant temperature and humidity in the safekeeping of library items. The recommended temperature range for sedentary activities including reading, is 20-22 °C, comfortable for people in cold regions. Hot climates prevalent in Middle Eastern nations, challenges achieving thermal comfort for library visitors. According to ASHRAE Standard 55 (2020), the most comfortable temperature in hot and humid environments is 24°C, +/- 1°C. Three methods were used in this study. First, this study gives an overview of the history of libraries in Middle East regions, and analyses the development of design elements in controlling temperatures and book preservation of this region’s libraries before and after air conditioning. Second, comparative case studies of Qatar National Library and King Fahad Library showcase differing thermal comfort approaches. Third, interviews with the two libraries users and administrators. Interior temperature, design choice and clothing preferences of patrons are examined in relation to thermal comfort in libraries. The results show that public libraries in hot regions often struggle to provide the temperatures needed to give user comfort and preserve books. This study identifies factors and design approaches to improve the thermal comfort and sustainability of Middle Eastern libraries, intersecting quantitative factors (air temperature and flow) with qualitative factors (colour, material finish and architectural and interior design). It exposes tensions between these approaches to book conservation and user comfort, to develop guidelines for effective design strategies in libraries.

Book Censorship in Public Schools: Examining Florida HB 1467 (2022)

Several pieces of legislation have sprung up in recent years in Florida aiming to restrict public school library books and curricular materials. Notably, this coincides with other state legislative moves to restrict what students read and learn in school with partisan purposes. Library associations have reported that nationally, removed books disproportionately contain LGBTQ and racial minority themes. One law at the heart of these restrictions, Florida HB 1467 (2022), empowers community members to challenge and remove public school books and adds bureaucratic obstacles to the access of previously allowable materials. The vague and broad language of the Florida law leads to erratic application by school districts across the state, resulting in the suppression of protected speech. This article examines a key constitutional tension: Under what circumstances does the students’ right to receive information under the First Amendment outweigh school officials’ authority, and, by extension, parental authority over local education under the Tenth Amendment? The U.S. Supreme Court in Board of Education, Island Trees Union Free School District v. Pico (1982) offers one answer, holding that political orthodoxy is an unacceptable rationale for removal, but pervasive vulgarity and educational unsuitability are acceptable. These three standards are useful, yet entangle in ways Pico is not fully suited to address. This article argues HB 1467 (2022) is unconstitutional under the political orthodoxy Pico standard, strict scrutiny analysis of content-based regulations, and the vagueness and overbreadth doctrines of the 1st Amendment.

Thank you to the Journal of the Medical Library Association reviewers in 2023

Thank you to the Journal of the Medical Library Association reviewers in 2023

Top IT Challenges in ARL Libraries

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