LIS Professionals Research Articles

Digital Language Archiving: Reuse and Adaptation of Non-LIS Learning Materials in LIS Education

As a digital repository type of growing prominence, language archives need qualified information professionals to maintain and provide access to their rich collections. Yet, awareness of digital language archives among the US LIS professionals and educators is currently low. Our project’s analysis of available relevant training materials for linguists and community members informed the development of a graduate course that prepares LIS professionals for effective and ethical stewardship of digital language archives. In this paper, following a brief literature review of the latest relevant research and publications, results of examination of three major sources of language archiving learning materials are presented and discussed. This discussion’s focus is on the ideas for reuse and adaptation of these materials in LIS education and on implementation of some of these ideas in our project-developed course at the University of North Texas.

LIS Curriculum Coverage of Sustainability

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Edcuation calls for higher education to be effective change agents and drivers of sustainability innovation. The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions has advocates for libraries’ unique and important contributions to the global sustainable development efforts (2016). In 2019, the American Library Association added sustainability as a core value of librarianship. Under this environment, LIS publications on libraries and sustainable development identified a lack of the awareness and knowledge of sustainability among librarians and called for it to be covered in LIS curriculum. This study explores the coverage of sustainability in LIS curriculum and aims to explore how LIS profession understands sustainability, whether sustainability should be in LIS curriculum, and what competences it develops in LIS students. Findings from this study will further the discussion on libraries’ roles in society and how to equip LIS professionals with needed knowledge and skills to act on those roles.

Guest Speakers as Mentors: What Classroom Experiences Mean to Them

Resulting from the collaboration between five practicing professionals and an LIS faculty member, this article illuminates the experiences of librarians and archivists who engage with LIS students on a continuous basis as guest speakers in LIS classrooms. The phenomenological approach helps to elicit first-hand accounts that encapsulate practitioners’ priorities and concerns. The free-floating narratives are combined with an extensive literature review related to mentorship practices in professional fields; they are used to produce a blended viewpoint-analytical article that places empirical data in the context of the three-pronged framework of mentorship motivations, focusing on outcome-oriented, student-oriented, and personal-learning-oriented motivations. These types of mentorship motivations focus on transmitting professional knowledge, socializing LIS students to become responsible professional citizens, and learning about the state of the field and the workforce from students themselves. The article provides suggestions for future empirical research into the motivation of LIS professionals who choose to mentor LIS students through classroom engagements and other avenues.

Between Choice and Compulsion: The Dynamics of Bibliographic Reference Styles Preferred by Library and Information Science Professionals

The substantial surge in the publication of journal articles across diverse academic disciplines on open and online platforms globally has given rise to the challenge of effectively managing bibliographic references. Accordingly, the study will focus on reference styles in library and information science, particularly concerning their awareness, availability of online citation tools, standardization, and comprehensive overview of all commonly preferred styles among LIS professionals. The study explored the reference styles adopted by publishers publishing LIS journals indexed in prominent global databases such as SCOPUS, Web of Science, LISA (Proquest), LISTA, and UGC-CARE (India). The top ten LIS journals indexed in SCOPUS and their reference styles were identified. The preferences of reference styles including Indian Bibliographic Standard, preferred publishers, and the rationale behind their choices were found through a global survey conducted among LIS professionals. The result shows, among LIS professionals, APA style, followed by MLA style and Harvard style, were the most preferred reference styles. Elsevier, followed by Springer, Taylor & Francis, Emerald, and other were among the most preferred publishers. The Indian Bibliographic Standard is used less due to a lack of awareness and adaptability by journals and their publishers and the non-availability of automatic citation tools. This paper provides information to LIS professionals about reference styles used by leading LIS journals indexed in global databases published by different publishers to inform, promote, make early decisions, and enhance knowledge in preparing references or bibliographies for writing research papers or theses ahead of time.

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.

Massive Open Online Courses in Social Sciences and Their Implementation at Universities in Delhi

Universities around the world have successfully incorporated Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) intotheir curricula and have facilitated credit transfers. The present study examines the integration of MOOCs inseven Indian universities. Moreover, the study focuses on the level of amalgamation of MOOCs, perceptions ofinstitutions regarding the provision of online courses, and transition of MOOCs from informal to formal education. Furthermore, the study investigates the hindrances faced by higher educational institutions in providing services to MOOC learners. Purposive sampling technique was employed to facilitate selection of institutions. The responses were collected using a structured questionnaire. The study found moderate level, low level and very low-level integration of MOOCs in all seven universities. Six out of seven institutions namely, JNU, JMI, DU, GGSIPU, DBRAUD and NLU, adopted “Explain the perceived usefulness” as a strategy to influence the affordability uptake of MOOCs. Five out of seven institutions educate users about different MOOC platforms in the information literacy events. Surprisingly, two institution libraries out of seven revealed that their library services align with MOOCs. Surprisingly, majority of libraries of the seven institutions have not formulated any noteworthy strategy to foster the uptake of MOOCs among the academic community. Therefore, LIS professionals ought to grasp the nuances of various MOOC platforms. Also, library strategies should include MOOCs so that users can benefit.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications and usage among the LIS professionals of Pakistan

Artificial intelligence (AI) is an important and emerging sub-discipline in information technology that is progressively being implemented in every field. It is gradually being introduced to support new forms of research, discovery, and reuse of library contents in advanced and interesting ways. University libraries have the potential to substantially improve their library services through the implementation of sophisticated AI tools. This study explored the application of AI tools in the university libraries of Pakistan, as well as draw a comparison in the usage of AI tools between public and private sector universities. This is a quantitative study and data is collected through survey methodology. We used purposive sampling to collect the data from 175 university libraries. The collected data was analyzed using a statistical package for social sciences (SPSS-version 22). Findings indicate that while AI-based services are starting to be introduced into university libraries in Pakistan, no university library has implemented the full suite of AI-based tools. Natural language processing, voice searching, and chatbots are the most familiar and popular tools currently used in libraries. However, robotics technology is rarely used with a mean value of (1.62) because of the financial investment and high level of IT skills required. We found that private university libraries are using AI tools more as compared with public sector university libraries. The study concludes with several key recommendations, including closer collaboration between the library and the respective university IT department for technical support and assistance; improved financial support and ICT infrastructure to establish AI technology-based library services; and training development plans for library staff. Insights gained from this study should contribute to the capacity of Pakistani University librarians and their staff to maximize the full potential of AI within their institutions. The research implications are helpful to library leaders and policymakers in building a policy for AI-based technology in their respective university libraries.

For Optimal Inclusivity in the Research Process, Researchers Should Reflect Early and Often on How to Create Welcoming Research Environments

A Review of: Muir, R., & Coe, M. (2023). ‘Out of sight, but not out of mind’: A collaborative reflective case study on including participants with invisible disabilities in LIS research. Journal of Australian Library and Information Association, 72(1), 26–45. https://doi.org/10.1080/24750158.2023.2168115 Objective – To reflect on what it means to include people with invisible disabilities as research participants in research projects. Design – Collaborative, reflective case study using interviews. Setting – Doctoral-granting institution in Australia. Subjects – 2 LIS professionals who were also pursuing doctorates (practitioner-researchers) interviewed each other, each participant fulfilling the role of both interviewer and interviewee. Methods – The researchers did a reflective case study, each reflecting on their own past experiences of including people with invisible disabilities (PwID) as research participants in projects for their doctoral theses. They then interviewed each other and engaged in collaborative discussions. Each interviewer audio recorded and transcribed their own interview, which they also coded individually. The researchers then reviewed the individual coding together and subsequently created a single collaborative codebook that described the emerging themes. The researchers used NVivo software in the development of both the initial codes and final codebook. Main Results – The authors discuss four broad themes that emerged from their coding: “ethical approval for research,” “creating welcoming research environments,” “disclosure of invisible disabilities,” and “use of data.” Key topics in the discussion include questioning assumptions about research subject vulnerability, the value of being sensitive to individual participant voices, the difference between formal disclosure of invisible disabilities (ID) and disclosure that emerges organically throughout the course of an interview, and how research designs that do not consider PwID can create limitations on the use of data from PwID. Conclusion – The article authors noted that researchers should expect that those who participate in their research studies may be PwID, whether or not it is disclosed or explicitly relevant to the project. Thus, they suggest that when researchers shape the research design of their projects, they should thoughtfully engage in questioning their own values regarding inclusivity and not rely exclusively on ethics boards to support ethical and welcoming research environments. Thoughtful engagement might include researching what is involved in creating a safe space by considering such elements as lighting, seating arrangements, colors, and accessibility to restrooms and parking areas. In addition, the authors suggest that researchers should ensure flexibility and responsiveness within the research design and approach the project with full awareness of the impact ID may have on the research processes and the data. They indicate that researchers should remain open to acknowledging their own knowledge gaps, as well as educating others when opportunities arise. Additionally, they suggest that creating welcoming environments for research participants with ID is best done from the very beginning of a project, when it can be integral to the study design and should remain present throughout the course of the research process.

Exploring the research domains, gender gap and labour market perspectives of doctoral research in library and information science in India

The present study aims to analyse the research domains, gender gap, and labour market perspectives of doctoral research in LIS in India. Sodhganga, a digital repository of Indian thesis and dissertations, was used for extracting doctoral thesis information and Jarvelin & Vakkari classification system was used for categorising the doctoral research topics. A total of 808 doctoral dissertations awarded between 2016 and 2020 were analysed using IBM SPSS and Tableau. The study's findings revealed that the growth of doctoral research in LIS is on rising trends with 150 PhD awarded in LIS every year. Information seeking (33.8%), library and information service activities (30.7%), and scientific & professional communication (16.5%) were found to be the preferred research themes among doctoral students during the study period. Furthermore, it is revealed that there is a gender gap in the number of PhDs conferred, with more men than women receiving these degrees. LIS professionals with a doctorate have the highest employment rate, at 96.2%, and most are in government jobs. Besides, only 40 percent of doctoral candidates reported receiving an incentive after the doctoral degree.

The Scenario of Human Resources in Public Libraries: A Pakistani Perspective

ABSTRACT This study analyzed the human resources of public libraries in Pakistan. It was observed that LIS professionals administered most libraries; nevertheless, a sizable number of libraries were managed by personnel with no professional background. There needed to be more staff in public libraries, including LIS, IT, and nonprofessional staff. In the information age and global economy, our libraries fall short of preparing the population for the future, let alone the present. The concerned authorities should enhance the library’s workforce; professionals should administer the library to offer better services and IT experts should be hired to solve IT related issues.

Empowering women LIS professionals: A comprehensive guide to essential skills and competencies

Empowering women LIS professionals: A comprehensive guide to essential skills and competencies

In search of a coherent theoretical foundation for LIS ethical principles: an appraisal of Floridi's Information Ethics

PurposeThis study aims to examine the potential of Information Ethics (IE) to serve as a coherent ethical foundation for the library and information science profession (LIS profession).Design/methodology/approachThis study consists of two parts: the first part present IE’s central theses and the main critiques it has received; the second part offers the authors' own evaluation of the theory from the LIS perspective in two steps: (1) assessing its internal consistency by testing its major theses against each other; (2) assessing its utility for resolving frequently debated LIS ethical dilemmas by comparing its solutions with solutions from other ethical theories.FindingsThis study finds that IE, consisting of an informational ontology, a fundamental ethical assertion and a series of moral laws, forms a coherent ethical framework and holds promising potential to serve as a theoretical foundation for LIS ethical issues; its inclusion of nonhuman objects as moral patients and its levels of abstraction mechanism proved to be particularly relevant for the LIS profession. This study also shows that, to become more solid an ethical theory, IE needs to resolve some of its internal contradictions and ambiguities, particularly its conceptual conflations between internal correctness, rightness and goodness; between destruction, entropy and evil; and the discrepancy between its deontological ethical assertion and its utilitarian moral laws.Practical implicationsThis study alerts LIS professionals to the possibility of having a coherent ethical foundation and the potential of IE in this regard.Originality/valueThis study provides a systemic explication, evaluation and field test of IE from the LIS perspective.

Continuing Professional Development for Lis Professionals in University Libraries of Punjab

A study was conducted to assess the competencies, needs, and trends in continuing professional development for Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals in university libraries in Punjab, Pakistan. The study covered both public and private sector universities and included sub-campuses. Data was gathered through convenience sampling using questionnaires distributed through various methods. The findings revealed that LIS professionals were well-versed in certain aspects of their field, such as library advocacy, ethics, and collection management. However, they exhibited a moderate level of familiarity with other areas, including the lifecycle of information, cataloging standards, and organizational principles. The study identified areas where LIS professionals required further training, including communication skills, knowledge of library history, problem-solving techniques, awareness of social and cultural policies, legal frameworks, and various aspects of information lifecycle management. Additionally, the study identified several barriers to continuing professional development, such as a lack of interest, limited resources, a shortage of experts, inadequate infrastructure, time constraints, unsupportive work environments, and a scarcity of training opportunities in the country. In summary, the study highlighted the need for targeted professional development opportunities for LIS professionals in Punjab, Pakistan, while recognizing the challenges they face in accessing such opportunities.

Librarians’ Self-Efficacy in Digital Literacy Skills: An Investigation of Librarians Working in Libraries of Government-Aided Colleges in West Bengal

ABSTRACT This study aimed to assess digital literacy skills possessed by academic librarians working in government-aided degree colleges in West Bengal, India. An online questionnaire was designed using Google Forms to gather data from 176 academic librarians practicing in government-aided degree colleges in West Bengal. The study revealed that the majority of librarians were assessed to be quite competent in subscribing electronic resources, searching and downloading information from several databases. This study also found that the technological adaptation into library management and services integrates e-mail conversations, uploading documents on online platforms, building digital collections, self-archiving, utilization of social networking sites for marketing library services and digital preservation of the library materials. Library website development skills, indexing electronic resources, ability to apply security firewalls and protecting the intellectual property were indicated as average and poor. This is the first study to assess the digital literacy skills of academic librarians working in government-aided degree colleges in West Bengal. The findings may be useful to develop strategies to acquire competent digital skills of LIS professionals.

Dismantling structural and individual cisgenderism in Illinois libraries: a descriptive research study on cisnormativity, transprejudice and biases against transgender and nonbinary populations

PurposeRecent library and information science literature suggests transgender and nonbinary populations are not treated, served and represented on an equal or equitable basis as cisgender populations are in libraries. This article aims to assess the prevalence of bias and inclusion efforts in Illinois libraries.Design/methodology/approachThis quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive study utilizes a critical queer theory lens and includes a Likert scale survey with a demographic question on gender identity to measure four constructs and determine if there is a relationship between gender identity and bias, inclusion efforts, and knowledge of transgender and nonbinary user needs.FindingsResults suggest respondents' biases reinforce structural cisgenderism in Illinois libraries and may account for the unequal conditions trans and nonbinary populations experience. Additionally, there is a correlation between cisgender-identifying Illinois LIS professionals and biased attitudes and behaviors, use of inclusive practices, and knowledge of transgender and nonbinary user needs.Originality/valueThis study contributes quantitative data, analysis and practical implications to a body of predominantly qualitative library literature on transgender and gender diverse experiences in libraries.

Սյունիքի մարզում գործող գրադարանների վիճակագրական վերլուծություն (2010-2021 թթ.)

From the statistical analysis of the activities of the libraries of Syunik region, it becomes clear that many problems are accumulated in this field. The development of the information and communication systems has contributed to the expansion of book-library-reader connections, but it is also clear that there is a reduction in the number of readers in various libraries of Syunik.According to the statistics the number of readers has decreased from year to year. The biggest quantity of library patrons from Syuni region by age are 15 years and older. The statistical analysis reveals many problems of replenishment of the library collections, as well as certain reductions in the number of employees. The question of having librarians graduated from the “Library and information Science” faculty is actual, It is also important to create a flexible information-access-database environment abetween regional libraries, which requires the implementation of elaborate actions. It is very important to implement life-long learning programs for the LIS professionals, which will certainly have a positive role in increasing the professional training of workers and acquiring certain skills. It is imperative to hold courses, seminars, interesting programs in regions that will promote the development of library work.

Tackling the Challenges of Plagiarism in the Age of Information Overload by LIS Professionals in Nigerian Academic Institutions

The advancement in information and communication technologies (ICTs) has increased the generation and dissemination of information. This has created a remarkable shift from the previous promulgation of information explosion to the concept of information overload in this age, which seems to be characterised by the ease of intellectual theft in various forms. The sophistication of ICTs and the overwhelming availability of information have subjected many research outputs to the affliction of ‘copy-and-paste’ syndrome and copyright abuse; and there appears to be a dearth of literature on efforts being made by LIS professionals to tackle the challenges in Nigerian academic institutions. This study, therefore, sought to draw attention to how the challenges of plagiarism are tackled by LIS professionals in the age of information overload in Nigerian academic institutions. The study adopted the phenomenological research design of qualitative methodology, using semi-structured written interview that was developed by the researchers and sent electronically to the respondents. The data were presented textually with the insertion of verbatim quotations where necessary while the research findings were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings from the 45 respondents across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria revealed a high level of plagiarism and a moderate level of engagement in curbing the menace by LIS professionals. The study recommends a multifaceted approach to curb plagiarism; comprising information literacy instructions in academic institutions, institutionalised adoption and access to plagiarism detection software and advocacy programmes that promote ethical writing and ICT skills for LIS professionals.

Performance based assessment of LIS professionals toward digital data sets management in university libraries: A TAM model approach

In recent times, computer systems have acquired the capacity to gather, process and analyze massive quantities of data, as well as techniques for distributing, transmitting, and computing estimates. Therefore, the study is conducted with an objective to ascertain the performance-based assessment of LIS professionals toward digital data sets management DDSM in university libraries. A six-factor measurement model was tested based on the 28-valid items obtained from the literature. The hypothesized research model was validated through the application of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and structural equation modeling (SEM) technique. LIS professionals in research-oriented organizations possess the necessary data analytical skills and technical expertise to extract insights from the data. The findings indicated that analytical skills have a significant positive impact on PEOU (β =246, SE = 0.54, p < 0.000). Perceived usefulness (PU) of digital data management practices is significantly influenced by analytical skills (AS) (β =0.443, SE = 0.077, p ⩽ 0.000), PEOU significantly influence the attitude of LIS professionals toward digital data management practices (β =0.215, SE = 0.214, p ⩽ 0.000), and attitude of LIS professionals has a positive impact on their performance in managing digital data sets in university libraries (β =0.584, SE = 0.178, p ⩽ 0.005). The study reports primary data gathered through survey on constructs given in technology acceptance (TAM) model. The study provides a valuable insight for organizational leaders, stakeholders, and planners to enhance and refine DDSM practices and methodologies in academic libraries. This will enable them to effectively utilize library resources and services through the implementation of DDSM techniques.

Services of Public Libraries in the Age of Technology: A Pakistani Perspective

The research evaluated public libraries in Pakistan concerning their ICT resources, services and use of various ICT tools in service delivery. The research was quantitative and relied on a survey to collect the necessary data. The study’s population was all the public libraries in the country that were run by any department or directorate. A census-based survey was done to get information from the whole population. The data was collected from the heads of the libraries through questionnaire, and then it was analyzed with the help of SPSS version 23. The public libraries were governed by various bodies, and variations were also found in the nomenclature of the libraries’ heads. Most libraries’ heads were LIS professionals; however, many were operated by non-professional employees. Most libraries offered services like circulation, reference, orientation, open shelf and photocopying facilities. It was also identified that most libraries did not offer some common services such as document reservation services, OPAC, indexing and abstracting services, interlibrary loans, SDI and audiovisual services, scanning and CD/DVD writing facilities. Since this is the first study of its kind, its findings could prove useful to the government of Pakistan in improving public library services. In addition, it will fill a gap in the literature and direct researchers to investigate other facets of public libraries.

An Instructional Binary: Analyzing How Accessibility Is Taught in Graduate‐Level Library and Information Science Programs

ABSTRACTWhile accessibility is a core value of the American Library Association (ALA) and represents an important factor in striving for diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and social justice (DEIASJ), coverage of accessibility varies widely in programs intended to equip future LIS professionals to serve patrons with disabilities. This poster presents preliminary findings from a larger research project examining library and information science curricula at 77 North American colleges and universities. Through thematic analysis of course descriptions and syllabi, the researchers found that digital topics in accessibility are addressed more frequently than physical ones. Further, LIS curricula largely overlook the needs of disabled patrons when covering accessibility. These factors present challenges for future LIS professionals serving patrons with disabilities.