Library Services Research Articles

Application of Artificial Intelligence for Library Services: A Systematic Literature Review

Artificial intelligence (AI) revolutionizes traditional library services by offering opportunities for effective and quality service delivery through AI-powered systems. Artificial intelligence has the potential to automate many library operations and services to provide 24/7 assistance to library users in meeting their information requirements. Hence, libraries tend to integrate artificial intelligence into their operations and service delivery. This can be further verified by reviewing the current state of knowledge regarding artificial intelligence and libraries. Therefore, the objectives of the study were to find the current status of knowledge regarding the application of artificial intelligence for library services and to investigate the research gaps in the application of artificial intelligence for library services. The study followed the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) methodology and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.The review revealed that extensive research studies were focused on discovering different library services and operations where AI can be utilized to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery, and challenges faced by libraries in using AI tools. The study further recognized areas where studies are lacking which include different AI tools for library service delivery, smart libraries, natural language processing, AI-powered Chatbots, ethical considerations of AI, education and personalized learning, digital library and Distributed Artificial Intelligence, AI for participatory library service, future of libraries in the age of AI, AI Literacy. Hence, the findings provide some implications for future research regarding artificial intelligence and libraries.

Collaborations to Support the SJ4A Curriculum in Archival Studies and Social Justice Intersections: Training of Community-Embedded Paraprofessional Archivists Who Are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color

The Institute of Museum and Library Services’ Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program recently awarded a $463,238 grant titled “Training of Community-Embedded Social Justice Archivists” (SJ4A) to the School of Library and Information Studies atthe University of Alabama. The grant’s goal is to recruit/train 17 community-embedded paraprofessional archivists who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color to complete their master’s degree part-time from January 2023 – December 2024 in the SLIS’ synchronous distance education program. SJ4A meets an urgent need to diversify the professions and for archivists to apply social justice competencies in work experience and community-embedded practice with graduate instruction and curriculum support. This paper identifies ongoing collaborations to support curriculum development in the SJ4A phases, including recruitment of students,needs assessment of archives-related professionals about social justice services, implementation of educational activities, mentoring, evaluation of program outcomes, dissemination of results, and post-graduation career tracking.

Collaborations between Public Library Educators and Practitioners to Apply a Theory of Change and Promote Civic Engagement for Racial Justice in the American South

The Institute of Museum and Library Services’ National Leadership Grants for Libraries program recently awarded a $332,939 grant titled “Civic Engagement for Racial Justice in Public Libraries” (RJ@PL) to the University of Alabama and the Chicago State University. The grant’s purpose is to build the capabilities of public librarians and selected communities to promote civic engagement for racial justice and achieve the following objectives: 1) Assessment of public library efforts to advance racial justice (externally and internally); 2) Operationalization of strategic participatory planning process using a theory of change to develop roadmaps and action plans that further racial justice in select community domains (economy, education, health, etc.); 3) Implementation of key strategic components of information-based offerings in six/eight library settings. This paper reports ongoing collaboration to further the three design components via applying a theory of change for an intended impact of increased community wellbeing resulting from improved racial climate.

Youth Services: Culture, Community, & Learning

The ALISE Youth Services Special Interest Group (SIG) presents a panel exploring the ways in which youth services in libraries empower youth and families and how youth programs address learning and incorporate culturally-relevant approaches. The session will begin with presentations of papers (15 minutes each) plus a themed question and answer portion to conclude. Attendees will be able to share their own experiences and work in progress on these topics in the discussion. Cahill, Joo, Minniear, LeFebvre, & Garcia will present “Math Talk in Public Library Virtual Storytime Programs.” This work presents an analysis of mathematics content integrated in public library virtual storytime programs. Cahill et al. characterize the mathematics environment of public library virtual storytime programs, discuss whether there are differences in the virtual storytime mathematics environment based on the population density of the community the library serves (i.e. urban, suburban, town, rural) and on library size. Preliminary findings suggest substantial differences in the amount of mathematics-related talk across virtual storytime programming for children. Kim, Choi, & Kang will present “Family Makers: A Culturally Relevant Online Engineering Programming for Youth Through Research-Practice Partnership with Public Library Professionals.” This work details research-practice partnership with seven rural libraries across the U.S using co-design and culturally-relevant pedagogy to develop the Family Makers program and strengthen library staff to deliver engineering learning opportunities. Kim et al. will discuss the importance of leveraging families’ cultural practices of making and forms of everyday sensemaking to design for family learning in engineering and highlight that rural library staff can support family learning in engineering by drawing on their personal experiences, relational knowledge, and non-engineering expertise as resources. Zalot will present “The kids are alright:” Understanding Youth Agency in Book Banning Discourse.” This presentation will discuss some of the factors influencing the absence of young people in book banning discourse and how social media operates as a means of access for young people in both book banning and political discourses. Youth services can nurture youth, community, and support learning and family connection. This presentation and the subsequent attendee discussion will explore the ways that the LIS field can work to address these and other community needs through excellent youth services.

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) as Catalysts of Educational Transformation in the Higher Education Sector of Sri Lanka: A Systematic Literature Review

This systematic literature review evaluates the transformative effects of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in Sri Lanka’s higher education and library services. It explores how MOOCs democratize education by broadening access to previously costly and limited educational infrastructure and integrating them into library practices for enhanced access and professional development. The review synthesizes various sources to assess MOOC utilization, challenges like low completion rates, inconsistent quality, and digital divides. Strategic improvements are proposed to align MOOCs with educational and socio-economic goals in Sri Lanka. The findings highlight MOOCs’ current uses, barriers, and potential as supplements to traditional education, aiming to optimize learning outcomes and support educational transformation in both academic and library environments.

Generative AI-ChatGPT’s Impact in Health Science Libraries

This study explores the integration of ChatGPT into library services, as well as the perceived benefits and challenges associated with its utilization. Through qualitative research methods, including semi-structured interviews with eleven health science librarians, insights were gained. The findings highlighted the challenge of building trust in the reliability and accuracy of ChatGPT, emphasizing the need for evaluation, monitoring, and addressing data privacy concerns. Integrating generative AI ChatGPT into library systems was found to enhance efficiency and assist patrons, but technical challenges such as glitches and downtime were reported. Librarians recognized the importance of caution and transparency when delivering ChatGPT-generated results to patrons. Balancing efficiency with accuracy and security emerged as a critical consideration. This study contributes to our understanding of the integration of generative AI in health science librarianship, providing insights that can inform future research and guide practical implementations in this field.

IMLS Early Career Research: A Dialogue with Program Officers and Awardees

External funding presents an opportunity for early career scholars to jumpstart their research agenda post-PhD. One funding opportunity available in the library and information science (LIS) field is the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian (LB21) Early Career Research award. What is the IMLS LB21 Early Career Research (EC) award? Learn more in this 90-minute interactive session that will include five primary activities: IMLS Funding Overview, Panelist Presentations, Attendee Breakout Discussion, Panel Discussion, and Reporting Back. Attendees will gain a better understanding of the EC funding opportunity available at IMLS; learn about first-hand experiences from EC awardees; reflect on their own career trajectories with peers; and evaluate potential next steps for funding their research agenda.

READCON: A Curriculum for Library Readiness, Advocacy, and Community Empowerment During Challenging Conditions

This panel introduces the READCON curriculum: Library Readiness, Advocacy, and Community Empowerment During Challenging Conditions The curriculum equips library workers with soft skills to develop relationships with their communities, partnering more effectively for advocacy. Building on the highly successful Get Ready Stay Ready Community Action Toolkit (GRSR), this curriculum builds foundational skills for library workers to engage in constructive dialogue on potentially divisive aspects of library programming, service, and material challenges. READCON takes Get Ready Stay Ready a step further by providing library workers with the soft skills needed to encourage community members to use the action steps included in the GRSR toolkit. Both resources are highly adaptable, multi-lingual, open-source learning tools developed by experts in academic, public, and school librarianship, education and family law, crisis communications, community advocacy and relations, and youth leadership.

Evaluating The Value and Impact of Makerspaces on Public Libraries

This study addresses the need to evaluate the value and impact of a public library makerspace broadly at the organizational level. Since they first appeared in U.S. libraries in 2011, once viewed as a trend or an emerging service, nowadays a number of libraries incorporate makerspaces or maker programs as part of their core, regular services. While existing literature on makerspace evaluation primarily focuses on individual learning outcomes (e.g., STEM learning), our study found the value of makerspaces to their libraries. Thirteen focus groups were conducted in three public libraries in Illinois, engaging forty-two participants including users, non-users, teens, staff members, and community stakeholders. Data unveiled that makerspaces support libraries' missions in new and expanded ways, upholding core values of librarianship; change people's perceptions of libraries and increase pride in their libraries; and attract new community members and encourage broader usage of library services.

Are we ready? Generative AI and the LIS curriculum

The US Department of Education’s 2023 report highlights the importance of AI literacy for educators and other stakeholders (Cardona, Rodriguez & Ishmael, 2023). Analyzing this report, Lo (2023) notes that “for librarians, AI literacy could involve understanding how AI tools work, how they can be used to enhance library services, and how to navigate potential ethical issues related to AI” (p. 2). Southworth et al (2023) observe that technical aspects of AI are covered in the traditional STEM curricula but are largely absent outside of it. While there are efforts currently to provide education and training opportunities for librarians in addressing AI in their work, as well as literature that talks about how AI will impact various aspects of work in libraries, few have touched on the need for curriculum development to effectively address such disruptive technologies by identifying the competencies or threshold concepts that will be affected by them. The ubiquitous impact of AI has included applications in medical research as well as law, design, economics, and humanities, to name just a few. Agile practice and improved dissemination of best practices are called for, moving forward. How should LIS curriculum address AI and related issues to prepare future librarians and information professionals? This poster covers an in-progress scoping review of literature and a content analysis of the publicly available course descriptions of ALA accredited LIS programs, as well as their current mission statements and objectives to provide a snapshot of extant integration of this new and challenging technology.

New approaches to improving the student experience at Aberystwyth University libraries: from library surveys to cognitive mapping

PurposeThe findings are based on experience at Aberystwyth Universities libraries using surveys and user experience (UX) activities to identify and understand user requirements.Design/methodology/approachThis paper was initially conceived and developed as a presentation for the LibPMC Conference in July 2023. It is included in this special conference issue for this conference.FindingsThere are challenges to successful integration of UX into user engagement processes across the library and IT services. To improve shared analysis and collaborative ideas generation we developed an interactive data dashboard.Originality/valueThe research is based on practical approaches to improving our understanding of student use and requirements at Aberystwyth University libraries. It explores mechanisms used to collect findings from all areas of UX, including library surveys, focus groups and UX activities to be able to analyse and share all student experience data – to be able to analyse themes and generate ideas and actions for development.

Mandatory Employment Requirements: An Investigation of the Hidden Barriers for New Generation Professionals in the Library and Information Services Sector

ABSTRACT This paper will discuss ALIA NGAC’s explorations of the impact of mandatory employment requirements within the library and information services sector, with a focus on the challenges faced by new generation professionals. Using a qualitative research approach, we uncovered the real-life experiences faced by individuals encountering hidden barriers to employment, particularly those related to drivers licence requirements and the need to work across multiple locations. In late 2023, we conducted a survey which allowed respondents to express their feelings about these requirements and offer suggestions for how the library and information services sector could address them. Our findings reveal that these requirements often act as exclusionary barriers, especially for individuals with disabilities, leading to difficulties in job applications, the burden of disclosing disabilities, and feelings of underrepresentation and discrimination. Our research has identified several pathways to alleviate the impact of these mandatory employment requirements, fostering a more inclusive and equitable workforce in the LIS sector.

Developing a foundation information and academic skills programme for potential Student Nursing Associates.

This article outlines the development of 'Prepare to Progress', a preapplication programme for potential Student Nursing Associate (SNA) applicants at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Created collaboratively by the Trust's Library and Knowledge Services and Professional Education teams, the programme aims to provide realistic course expectations, teach study skills and boost confidence in using library services. Evaluation results indicate increased understanding of the SNA course, improved application decision-making, and enhanced academic confidence among participants. The programme demonstrates the valuable role of library services in preparing healthcare support workers for further education and addressing library anxiety. The study suggests benefits for both participants and library services.

Tata Kelola Administrasi Kurikulum dan Perpustakaan : Analisis Kualitas Layanan untuk Mahasiswa di SMK Plus Nahdlatul Ulama Sidoarjo

Education plays a crucial role in shaping competent and competitive human resources. At SMK Plus Nahdlatul Ulama Sidoarjo, the success of education relies not only on a quality curriculum but also on effective administrative management and supporting facilities such as libraries. This study aims to analyze the quality of curriculum administration and library services using a descriptive qualitative approach. Data were collected through observations, interviews, and document analysis. The findings indicate that good governance in curriculum administration and library services significantly impacts student satisfaction. Recommendations are expected to assist further development in the management of the curriculum and library, enabling students to optimally utilize educational resources.

Innovative strategies for intelligent services in smart libraries in the information age based on linear discriminant analysis

With the advent of the information age, to provide better services and ensure the security management of libraries, intelligent facial recognition technology has gradually become a hot research direction in library management. Meanwhile, to further improve the comprehensive performance of facial recognition, this study attempts to integrate principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis on the basis of analyzing the framework of recognition technology. Afterwards, it introduced support vector machines for recognition and classification, and proposed a new recognition model. The experimental results show that the recognition accuracy of the proposed model is up to 97 % in the ORL dataset and 94 % in the Yale dataset. The recognition error rate is as low as 0.1 % when the number of training samples is 215 and the number of iterations is 200. The model has the best recognition performance when the image size is 25 × 25 mm and the number of noises is 10. In addition, the model is particularly effective in recognition on single person color or gray images, with the highest P-value of 98.7 %, the highest R-value of 98.8 %, and the highest F1-value of 97.5 %. These results show that the proposed model significantly improves the accuracy and robustness of face recognition, and provides strong technical support for intelligent service innovation in smart libraries.

Scholarly apps: enhancing research mobility and accessibility

Purpose This paper aims to explore how scholarly apps are changing the landscape of academic research by increasing mobility, accessibility and user engagement. It assesses the role of mobile-based applications in supporting research activities, enabling access to scholarly content and facilitating seamless communication between researchers and libraries. Design/methodology/approach A brief content analysis of prominent scholarly apps was performed to evaluate their prime features and usability. Findings Scholarly apps improve research mobility by offering on-the-go access to academic resources, databases, communication tools, personalized content recommendations and integrated automated citation tools. The integration of AI and machine learning into these apps holds potential for further personalizing and streamlining research processes. Research limitations/implications Although certain discussed mobile apps are well known and frequently used by users, their value in the field of mobile technology remains significant. Despite their vast popularity, these apps continue to play a significant part in the mobile app ecosystem due to their proven efficacy, widespread acceptance and continuous relevance in meeting user demands. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first studies to comprehensively evaluate the scholarly apps and contributes to the literature on mobile-based library services.

Aren’t we All Student Success Librarians? Defining Your Public Services Role for Your Community (and Your Sanity)

Public services librarians play a pivotal role in the effective functioning of libraries, serving as intermediaries between the library and its community. The scope of their responsibilities is expansive, though often not well defined in their job title or understood by the communities they serve. In this column, the author delves into the intricate tapestry of a public services librarian’s duties and explores different strategies for defining and effectively communicating the specific responsibilities associated with the role and the inherent value they bring to the community. By conducting an in-depth examination of best practices in the field, the author draws on established models that have proven successful in enhancing the visibility and impact of public services librarians while calling upon their own experience in defining their title and role as a Student Success Librarian.

A Case Study Analysis of Library Services for Adults Experiencing Chronic Homelessness in Harrison County, Mississippi

ABSTRACT The author partnered with the Harrison County Library System (HCLS) to create a multilevel program plan for expanding library services to the growing number of homeless people who seek refuge in the library’s facilities. The research for this program plan involved evaluating existing library resources such as collections, programming, and available staff resources; identifying the best practices for providing services to people experiencing homelessness; identifying staff perceptions of working with the homeless; and identifying potential partners for expanded service offerings. The author used document analysis to research data on the library system (IMLS 2021 and reviewed library policy to identify barriers to providing service for the homeless. The author applied qualitative and humanistic research methods involving personal narratives (scenarios) provided through two separate one-on-one interviews with the library director to discuss the library system in general, and one one-on-one interview with six library staff working in the three libraries with the highest use by people experiencing homelessness. This paper discusses the findings from this mixed methods research project and their application to expanding services for chronically homeless patrons who use the HCLS.

An Investigation of Current Research Support Services in Hungarian Academic Libraries

An Investigation of Current Research Support Services in Hungarian Academic Libraries

Library Social Services: How Relevant Are Social Services to the Existing Library Missions?

ABSTRACTGiven the increasing prevalence of patrons with diverse social, physical, and psychological needs, public libraries are beginning to explore ways to address these community needs by offering social services. However, questions remain about whether social services should be part of the library's service domain and how libraries can effectively fulfill these needs. This poster presents insights from community members and librarians on the relevance of integrating social services into library missions, offering implications for a potential library social service.