Library Management Research Articles

The development of a comprehensive and efficient library catalogue system is essential for improving accessibility to information in modern educational environments. This research addresses the inefficiencies of manual cataloguing methods at Universitas Muhammadiyah Jambi’s library by proposing an Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)-based E- catalogue system. The system, developed using Visual Basic and Microsoft Access, streamlines the book-searching process, enhancing user access to book details such as authors, titles, and synopses. The system’s user-friendly interface supports features like search, administration, and data backup, improving both search efficiency and user satisfaction. This research contributes to the advancement of library management systems, demonstrating the potential of OOP-based design for future applications in similar academic institutions. Future research can build on this work by integrating machine learning techniques for personalized book recommendations and expanding the system's scalability.

Background/ Objective of the Study: The study examined the Impact of Information Communication Technology (ICT) applications in enhancing library services usage in selected Ugandan universities. The objective of the study was to propose a framework and evaluate its effectiveness for ICT applications in enhancing library service usage. Research Methods: The research adopted a deductive approach using SERVQUAL and UTAUT to guide the formulation of data collection instruments. The descriptive survey research methodology was used where the study population involved 148 Library staff and 16 student leaders. The total sample size was 116 determined with the use of Sloven’s formula. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire and analysis done using SPSS 21.0 to generate descriptive statistics, correlations and model evaluation. Findings/Discussion: Descriptive statistics revealed that respondents believe ICT significantly enhances service quality and standard deviation of 1.49 reflected a moderate variability in these perceptions. When evaluating the effectiveness of proposed strategies for ICT implementation, varied opinions were given. In this study, the Automatic Linear Modeling (ALM) was employed to validate the Integrated framework adopted from both UTAUT and SERVQUAL and assess how well the identified predictors contribute to explaining user satisfaction. Conclusions: The ALM confirmed the robustness and relevance of the framework for predicting user satisfaction with ICT services in libraries. By confirming the relationship between ICT service quality and user satisfaction, this framework provides valuable insights for library management, offering a pathway to enhance ICT resources through user trainings and support systems, ultimately improving the overall user experience in university libraries

Agricultural libraries play a vital role in supporting research, education and extension by providing access to reliable information resources. With the rapid growth of information and communication technologies (ICT), automation has become central to modernising these libraries and enhancing their efficiency. This review paper explores the evolution, functions and services of agricultural libraries in the context of automation, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges. It synthesises literature from academic databases, policy documents and case studies to analyse the contributions of automation in cataloguing, digital repositories, resource sharing and information dissemination. Challenges faced without automation, such as manual inefficiencies, limited accessibility and higher operational costs, are also discussed. Furthermore, the review identifies emerging trends, including AI-powered knowledge management, cloud-based systems, IoT-enabled services, voice-assisted retrieval and blockchain for secure information management, that promise to reshape the future of agricultural libraries. The paper emphasises that automation not only improves access and resource management but also strengthens agricultural knowledge networks, supporting farmers, researchers and policymakers alike. Recommendations are provided for policymakers, agricultural library managers, researchers and technology developers to foster sustainable and inclusive automation strategies.

The study investigates the empowerment of academic librarians in Imo State, Nigeria, through Continuous Professional Development (CPD). The work adopted a mixed-methods design, the research assesses librarians' participation frequency in CPD, the impact of networking and CPD opportunities, and the role of knowledge-sharing culture in enhancing service quality. The study sampled 96 professional librarians from four academic libraries in Imo State, employing stratified random sampling. Data were collected via structured questionnaires and interviews, analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic methods. Findings reveals CPD participation: 2.69 (mean score) of librarians engage in CPD occasionally, 1.97 participate rarely, suggesting institutional or motivational barriers. Networking and Mentorship shows low engagement in mentorship programs (0.96 mean) and advanced certifications (1.71 mean) highlights gaps in structured professional growth. Digital Proficiency indicates a low mean score (0.63) in digital tool confidence underscores technophobia, impeding adaptation to modern library demands. The result also shows knowledge-sharing culture with a grand mean of 0.88 which reveals weak collaborative learning environments, linked to distrust and lack of institutional policies. The study concludes that there is the urgent need to institutionalize CPD, foster knowledge-sharing networks, and address technological skill gaps among librarians. Recommendations; universities and library management should sponsor CPD initiatives, including workshops, conferences, and advanced degree programs, implement mentorship frameworks and digital literacy training to bridge competency gaps, promote policy-driven knowledge-sharing practices to enhance service delivery and librarian expertise.

In the era of Education 5.0, higher education institutions are increasingly required to ensure quality assurance mechanisms that promote academic excellence and global competitiveness. Libraries, as knowledge management hubs, play a strategic role in supporting institutional quality by providing access to information, facilitating digital literacy, and enhancing research productivity. This study aims to examine how strategic library management and digital literacy initiatives contribute to strengthening quality assurance frameworks in higher education. Using a library research method, this paper synthesises findings from 52 international journal articles, books, and reports published between 2018 and 2024. The results indicate that universities implementing innovative library management strategies such as the integration of digital repositories, open-access scholarly databases, and user-centred services significantly improve teaching quality, research visibility, and accreditation performance. Furthermore, initiatives to develop students’ and faculty members’ digital literacy competencies contribute to enhanced learning outcomes and institutional ranking. The findings highlight the necessity of integrating strategic library policies with quality assurance systems to meet international accreditation standards and ensure sustainable institutional development.

This research aims to predicting the delay of book return in the Airlangga University library by using machine learning algorithms. With the consideration of approximately 1600 circulation documents from January to December 2023, several algorithms including Naïve Bayes, Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest, Logistic Regression, Neural Networks, and Gradient Boosting are utilized. The Naïve Bayes model prove to be the most effective model by 92.7% accuracy and 97.7% precision in predicting return delay. The analysis of feature importance has demonstrated that a handful of features, especially days overdue, loan duration, and return date, are the main predictive variables for delay prediction in book returns outcomes. From this study, the Naïve Bayes can be an effective predictor of book return delays in Airlangga University library in order to improve user satisfaction, potentially notifying user in advance and offering alternatives. This study provided a promising picture about machine learning applications in library management systems for practical resource allocation and service quality improvement related to book return delays.

This study explores the interdisciplinary application of inventory management principles in English literature, focusing on how techniques such as ABC analysis, Economic Order Quantity (EOQ), and demand forecasting can optimize literary resource organization and thematic analysis. Drawing from both logistics and digital humanities, the paper examines how these quantitative models can enhance library management, improve access to high-demand texts, and support data-driven literary studies. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research analyzes quantitative data on library usage patterns and qualitative insights from scholars and librarians to illustrate the transformative potential of inventory systems in academic contexts. Findings suggest that inventory-based methods not only streamline resource allocation but also foster thematic discovery across literary corpora. This interdisciplinary synthesis highlights how operational strategies from management sciences can inform and enrich humanities research in the digital age.

This study analyzes book borrowing patterns at the East Java Provincial Library and Archives Service using the Apriori algorithm. Data from borrowing transactions between January 16 and March 10, 2023, were analyzed to identify relationships between book titles. This data mining study involves data preprocessing, checking for missing values and duplicates, as well as transforming data into a binary matrix. The analysis results show that item combinations with a minimum support value of 1.2% can be identified. Association rules such as AC, AE → AG have a support value of 0.012 and a confidence level of 40.9%. Further analysis reveals more complex patterns, such as AE, AJ → AC, with a confidence level of 57.1%. This research contributes to understanding book borrowing behavior and offers solutions to improve library management efficiency, such as book recommendation systems and more appropriate collection arrangement strategies. Thus, libraries can develop services that are more responsive to community needs.

The publication bases on the results of the analytical study of the regional policy regulatory framework in the field of library management. The purpose of the article is to indicate the role of regulations in libraries’ interaction at the level of constituent entities of the Russian Federation (RF). The works of domestic theorists and practitioners on issues of legislation in the field of library science are under analysis. The analysis of document flows (Federal regulatory legal acts, publications, data from electronic databases of reference legal systems), regional legal acts (laws of constituent entities of the Russian Federation, constituent documents of libraries – charters) has been carried out.The statistical results of the factual analysis of regional laws and regulations in the field of library management in the Federal districts of the Russian Federation on 01/01/2024 are presented.The analysis of above-mentioned documents and the study of peculiarities of their organizational structure and functioning will help to define more exactly the place and role of central libraries of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation in the society. The results will help to clarify the participation of the State in the processes of library activities, and to expose the patterns of development of interrelations between regional authorities and libraries.

The Library Management Systems (LMS) are crucial in the promotion of efficiency, access, and delivery of services in academic libraries, especially in the universities of Tanzania. With the digitalization of the education sector, the utilization of competent LMS tools is a necessity due to the needs of students, faculty, and researchers during the process of transformation. This paper discusses the importance of LMS in the university libraries in Tanzania regarding the functionality of such systems to the process of cataloging, circulation, acquisition, user accesses, and use of digital resources. The given research uses a sample of 120 respondents in different universities so as to examine how effective is the usage of LMS, challenges related to their usage, and the perceived benefits of their usage. The results demonstrated that LMS can enhance user satisfaction, automate information retrieval, complement an academic progression, and minimize the amount of workload that has to be undertaken manually by the library personnel. It also scales up the idea of inter-library cooperation and surplus supply of resources and resources, filling the breakage between the physical and digital libraries. Though these prove to be beneficial, there are challenges that are faced including inept ICT infrastructure, limited librarian technical expertise, and variable funding to complete LMS implementation and functions. The paper identifies the persistence of problems with the lack of necessity and out datedness of LMS implementation, inefficient organization of information and the delivery of services as the most frequent ones. These weaknesses are detrimental to academic purpose of universities and generate inequality in access to information. The study highlights the importance of giving a high priority to the development of LMS and overcoming the existing obstacles and provide equal access to information and subsequent enhancement of the performance of libraries. It offers findings that policymakers, librarians, university management can utilize in order to advance LMS systems, and create more sustainable open, and user-friendly academic libraries in Tanzania.

Academic libraries in Ghana have made progress in the adoption of integrated library management systems. This study sought to find out the application of systems and standards in cataloguing information resources in Ghanian Academic libraries. Interviews and questionnaires were used to solicit response from four academic libraries in Ghana. The study identifies lack of implementation of the current international cataloguing standard; Resource Description and Access (RDA) and also low level of knowledge and use of BIBFRAME and Dublin Core metadata standards.

This study investigated career motivation and attitude as determinants of job commitment of library personnel in selected university libraries in Ogun state, Nigeria. The study adopted descriptive survey research design of the correlational type with a study population of 104 library personnel in three selected universities in Ogun State, Nigeria which made up of professionals and paraprofessionals. Total enumeration was used for the study. The questionnaire used was adopted and adapted and was the main research instrument used for data collection. Out of 104 copies of questionnaire administered, a total number of 93 copies of questionnaire were retrieved and used for data analysis. A statistical package for social science application was used in analyzing the results using percentages, mean and standard deviation for descriptive analysis while Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and multiple regression analysis were used for hypotheses. Findings revealed that the level of career motivation of library personnel was high (x ̅=3.38) , it also showed a positive career attitude of library personnel (x ̅=3.10) and moderate level of job commitment of library personnel (x ̅=2.76). The study further found that the most potent factor was career motivation (β=.251, t=2.459, p<0.05), career attitude was not a potent factor of job commitment of library personnel (β=.050, t=.487, p>0.05). Findings also revealed a significant relationship between career motivation and job commitment (df=91, n=93,r=.252*, p<0.05), there is no significant relationship between career attitude and job commitment (df=91,n=93, r=.054, p>0.05), there is no significant relationship between career motivation and career attitude (df=91, n=93, r=-.019, p>0.05), there was a significant combined effect of career motivation and attitude on job commitment of library personnel (F(2,90)=3.166,p<0.05). The study concludes that there is a significant influence of career motivation and attitude on job commitment. Based on these findings, it was recommended that library management should motivate their employee by ensuring they are rewarded duly and not deprived of any benefit due them. Also, library personnel should ensure they are committed to their job as this will enhance their progress on the career and help develop positive attitude towards their job which will lead to their recommendation and promotion in the library.

Public libraries have long been found successful supporting vulnerable populations, likely due to a high level of community trust. This paper explores current harm reduction information needs and provision in libraries, collaborative relationships between libraries and opioid-related harm reduction organizations, and how these relationships are different between types of communities. A mixed-methods survey was sent out to library directors in counties with the highest rates of drug overdose deaths across the US, divided equally by urban and rural communities. A qualitative content analysis demonstrated patterns in the data that describe current library harm reduction needs, practices, and collaborations, which we compared, employing quantitative statistics, with the availability of local harm reduction organizations and community type. Many of the 35 libraries that responded already engage in harm reduction information provision and have active collaborative relationships with harm reduction organizations. Urban libraries report being more affected by the crisis, while rural libraries report more community collaboration. In addition to our analysis of these collaborative relationships, our poster will also present our findings on what the library director believe are the harm reduction information needs of the people who have opioid use disorder, based upon their interactions and requests with library staff.

Attempts to censor library materials and services are on the rise, with new data indicating that it ties most of library censorship to organized campaigns. The American Library Association (ALA), the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, and their ALA affiliates recognize that the education of librarians about intellectual freedom is important in defending First Amendment rights. A dominant response to the need for teaching about intellectual freedom in libraries invokes a critical inquiry into library and information science content and pedagogy used in intellectual freedom teaching and learning as an authentic expression of protecting legal rights to give and receive information. The voices of enrolled students in a new intellectual freedom course at Emporia State University, School of Library and Information Management, are authentic expressions of their new awareness of how policy and law are central to effective education, communication, and efforts to unite and protect the freedom to read and support library workers at a critical time in American history. The Unite Against Book Ban campaign and Law for Librarians and Lawyers for Libraries (L4L) programs are highlighted in their active pursuit to provide excellent educational opportunities and resources, and as examples of pedagogical and curricular resources for intellectual freedom education.

This paper examines innovative pedagogical practices in Library and Information Science (LIS) that integrate evidence-based practice with humanistic, decolonizing approaches. Based on interdisciplinary research conducted by the “Libraries and Resilient Communities” group, we critique traditional LIS curricula for prioritizing technical competencies and quantitative measures over the complex realities faced by librarians serving diverse communities. Through participatory insights from public library directors and findings on libraries’ roles in fostering community resilience, we propose a reimagined framework that embeds critical inquiry into the Evidence-Based Practice cycle. This approach incorporates culturally responsive assignments structured in five phases (Articulate, Assemble, Assess, Agree, Adapt), enabling students to address both technical challenges and the lived experiences of patrons. By fostering equity-driven, trauma-informed practices, this model prepares future librarians to navigate the intersection of technological expertise and social engagement, equipping them to advance scientific rigor while championing social justice in contemporary library practice.

This year, the SIG session embraces the theme of authentic inclusion, that is, inclusion not equated with compliance and implemented out of fear of repercussions and legal consequences. It is inclusion motivated by the genuine belief that workplaces, educational environments, and social settings welcoming to disabled and neurodiverse individuals are richer, more vibrant, more positive, and more creative. In the spirit of inclusion, this session will feature four 10-min lightning talks followed by an interactive audience engagement that will build on the delivered talks and allow session attendees to hone the newly acquired knowledge and implement some practical advice. Rathbun-Grubb will report on the results of a 2024 survey of library managers and supervisors, the goal of which was to elicit their perspectives on individual and organizational support for employees with disabilities, as well as the respondents’ corresponding training and information needs. While confident in their abilities to support their employees with disabilities, managers desire more structural support such as clear policies and formal training, and there is interest in creating employee resource groups such as those created for others by race or veteran status. The research indicated the need for more robust organizational strategic plans for supporting employees and their managers. The session will then move from the field of practice into higher education. In their IMLS- and university-funded study focused on Blind, Visually Impaired and Print-Disabled (BVIPD) students, Copeland, Kawooya, Robinson, Swartzendruber, Reisz, and Stitz will explore how disability services can work with university libraries and instructors to maximize access to content in accessible formats. They also examine how such collaborations can be facilitated through the Campus Accessibility Partnership Model developed by the authors. Tobin, Copeland, and Lucas Walling will examine the notion of accessibility beyond physical spaces and propose potential opportunities for integrating accessibility education more broadly in existing MLIS curricula. Based on their teaching experiences in MLIS programs, the presenters will introduce practices for creating inclusive, accessible collections for children and youth. The impetus for the presentation derives from the fact that numbers of students receiving special education services due to disabilities have increased significantly, with every indication that the trend will continue. This reality, coupled with the fact that many students in our schools and libraries have undiagnosed disabilities and accommodation needs, has resulted in an increasing and critical need for accessible collections, spaces, and services in school libraries. To wrap up this discussion and focusing on asynchronous online education, Smith will identify the problems related to perception, organization, and reading by students with disabilities, some of whom may not have formalized their disability accommodations. He will propose the ways in which course adjustments could be made to aid students in understanding the course structure, managing time and successfully completing course assignments. The lightning talks will be followed by four interactive engagements whereby attendees will have the chance to interact with all four groups of presenters, should they so desire, or to maintain a longer interaction with fewer presenters.

In an era where knowledge is a critical asset, effective management of knowledge resources is vital to enhancing service delivery in academic institutions. Service delivery in the university library aims to meet the diverse information needs of users, thereby supporting the core objectives of fostering learning, teaching, and research. However, the extent to which knowledge acquisition practices, utilization, sharing practices, and knowledge preservation enhance service delivery has not been established. This study explored the impact of knowledge utilization practices on service delivery in university libraries in Meru County, Kenya. The research used the SERVQUAL theoretical framework. Using the descriptive survey research design with a cross-sectional approach, the census technique allowed the collection of qualitative data from 25 library staff members and 2 library heads working in Kenya Methodist University and Meru University of Science and Technology. The research instrumentation involved the administration of open-ended questionnaires among the library staff members while library heads were interviewed. The qualitative data collected were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results showed limited use of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, data mining, and the semantic web, for enhancing knowledge utilization practices and service delivery in university libraries in Meru County. The study concluded that adopted knowledge utilization practices positively impacted service delivery in the university libraries in Meru County. The findings also highlighted the integration of emerging technological tools to promote efficient knowledge utilization in the university libraries. The study recommends that university libraries leverage emerging technologies for efficient knowledge utilization practices as a strategy to enhance service delivery. Policy makers should enact policies that advocate library management to develop clear standards that support tacit knowledge management and integration of emerging technologies to enhance knowledge utilization and service delivery in university libraries.

The advent of the big data era has not only advanced the informatization of libraries but also opened unprecedented opportunities for their sustainable development. Libraries are no longer limited to traditional resource management; instead, they have embraced emerging technologies such as Web 2.0, mobile solutions, cloud computing, resource discovery systems, and big data platforms. While these developments provide a solid technological foundation, libraries must further enhance their ability to conduct data analysis, semantic processing, decision-making, and visualization in order to respond effectively to evolving user demands and complex information environments. This study contributes to that goal by discussing the application of multi-source data fusion in science and technology decision-making. It presents a comprehensive decision support framework that integrates semantic preprocessing techniques—including data cleaning, partition segmentation, and synonym merging—supported by Python’s Pandas library and Jieba’s text-cutting functions. Through this approach, the research successfully identified six science and technology text clusters and three mass technology-related clusters, thereby providing a refined view of user information needs and thematic structures within large-scale datasets. The findings demonstrate that a decision support framework based on multi-source data fusion can proactively detect and respond to user needs, moving libraries from passive service providers to active, intelligent participants in knowledge dissemination. This proactive transformation enriches the quality of information services, enables accurate and personalized decision support, and aligns with the demands of the new era defined by innovation-driven and intelligence-first strategies. Ultimately, this work highlights the value of integrating big data technologies into library management and decision-making systems. By bridging semantic analysis with multi-source data fusion, libraries can evolve into dynamic hubs of innovation, offering precise, context-aware services that not only enhance user satisfaction but also strengthen their role in supporting scientific research, technological advancement, and informed decision-making in the digital age.

Abstract Open Source Software (OSS) has emerged as a transformative tool in libraries, offering cost-effective, flexible, and community-driven alternatives to proprietary systems. The objective of this paper is to examine the application of OSS in library services, focusing on its role in library automation, digital collection management, institutional repositories, and discovery services. The study adopts a descriptive and review-based approach, drawing on existing literature, case studies, and practical examples to evaluate the scope, benefits, and challenges of OSS adoption in libraries. Key open-source solutions such as Koha and Evergreen for integrated library management, DSpace and Greenstone for digital libraries and repositories, and VuFind for discovery services are highlighted as major contributors to the modernization of library operations. Findings reveal that OSS enhances resource accessibility, supports open access initiatives, and enables libraries to deliver innovative user services while reducing costs. However, challenges such as limited technical expertise, maintenance issues, and staff resistance remain. The paper concludes that OSS offers sustainable pathways for advancing library services, provided adequate training and collaborative support are ensured. Keywords Open Source Software, Library Services, Koha, DSpace, Greenstone, Institutional Repositories, Library Automation

ABSTRACTMany libraries have AI pilots, such as Chatbots and automated metadata pipelines, but librarians often feel unsure about integrating these tools into everyday service. This study presents preliminary results from an investigation into defining what “AI readiness” means for libraries. A systematic review and qualitative analysis of 46 publications, combined with five pilot interviews, yielded 145 open codes that were synthesized into a three‐layer, fourteen‐pillar framework. The technological layer emphasizes computing access, usable data, and a secure sandbox; the organizational layer encompasses explicit AI goals, leadership support, staff AI literacy, and clear guidelines; the environmental layer comprises privacy regulations, peer pressure, user feedback, public policy, and professional organization backing. Interviews revealed gaps in data quality, bias checks, and user feedback routines, while leadership engagement and a culture of small‐scale experiments appear as key factors. Our next phase will include interviewing at least twenty additional librarians, developing survey instruments based on the framework, and testing interactions among pillars. The framework aims to serve as a practical checklist for library managers to evaluate AI readiness and identify areas needing development before committing resources to full AI deployment.