Program Library Research Articles

Path to Leadership

In August 2021, the Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA), in partnership with the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA), received $100,000 in funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program National Forum Grant in the Lifelong Learning project category for Path to Leadership: National Forum to Advance Asian/Pacific Islander American (APIA) Librarianship. Funding from the grant resulted in an online national forum, webinars, and a reunion program. This paper details the planning and implementation of this project. It also includes project evaluation and a proposed curriculum outline to fully develop an APIA leadership program.

Technology Integration in Storytime Programs

Technology use is widespread in the lives of children and families, and parents and caregivers express concern about children’s safety and development in relation to technology use. Children’s librarians have a unique role to play in guiding the technology use of children and families, yet little is known about how public library programs facilitate children’s digital literacy. This study sought to uncover librarians’ purposes for using technology in programs with young children as well as the supporting factors and barriers they encountered in attempting to do so. Findings reveal 10 purposes for integrating technology into public library storytime programs and 15 factors across four dimensions that facilitate and/or inhibit its inclusion. If librarians are to embrace the media mentor role with confidence and the necessary knowledge and skills required of the task, much greater attention should be devoted to the responsibility and more support in the way of professional development and resources is necessary.

Assessing the Capacity of Public and School Libraries toward the Attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 4

The objective of this study is to investigate the capacity of public and school libraries towards the achievement of SDG4. Using data collected from school and public library staff, head teachers and education officers in Zanzibar, the study examined the level of awareness of SDG4 among library staff, library human and physical resources capacity and the effectiveness of library programs in promoting lifelong learning. The study used a cross-sectional design, whereas a mixed approach through a convergence method was used to collect, analyze and interpret data. A non-probability sampling under purposive sampling techniques was applied to select respondents for this study. Primary data was collected through a survey method using a structured standardized questionnaire, face-to-face interviews and focus group discussions. A total of 100 library staff filled out questionnaires. Interviews were conducted with 42 respondents while 18 were involved in focus group discussions. The study revealed that public and school libraries provided common traditional services like book circulation and reference services, but their contribution did not correlate with the efforts needed to promote lifelong learning in the modern era. The libraries were faced with several challenges including inadequate budget and a lack of policy and strategies for the implementation of lifelong learning targets. The study recommends that the education authorities should address and prioritize the agenda of lifelong learning by improving the capacity of public and school libraries, while a national-wide library campaign toward the promotion of lifelong learning should be introduced with the involvement of public and school libraries.

DVCompute++ Simulator: декомпозиция для дискретно-событийного моделирования

The decomposition method of discrete event simulation models is represented based on the author’s own work DVCompute++ Simulator, which is a collection of general-purpose programming libraries in C++ for creating and running simulation models. The aim of the research was to find an approach based on which arbitrary models could be divided into parts, then these parts of the model could be divided into less components and so on, where the result would be a hierarchy of nested sub-models that could be considered in isolation as independent entities. Now such sub-models can be created in C++ code, but, in the future, they can be created graphically as diagrams or as some text written in the specialized modeling language, where the sub-models can be used repeatedly, which makes them similar to library units from GPSS STUDIO. The mentioned ways of creating sub-models can be combined in any order on any level of nested hierarchy, where this work can be performed by different people with different skills. Moreover, it is shown in the article that the considered decomposition method can be applied to the case of distributed simulation, which is supported by DVCompute++ Simulator too. All this is possible due to the fact that the author applied functional programming techniques, where the simulation model is considered as a composition of computations. Then the model decomposition is the splitting of computations into parts, which can be connected to each other like constructor. There are two basic computations: blocks similar to the GPSS language and discrete signal computations similar to reactive programming. The diagrams of sub-models and the corresponding C++ code are provided in the article, based on which the suggested author’s method of decomposing the discrete event simulation models is illustrated.

Integrating Data Literacy into Information Literacy Programmes: Any Difference?

There is an urgent need to address data literacy in undergraduate library instruction. In Africa and especially in Nigeria, the need for a data information literacy program (DIL) to prepare students to engage in an electronic research environment is also articulated by scholars in recent literature. However, the question as to whether data literacy should replace information literacy has not been properly articulated in recent times in Africa even though it is acknowledged that the resultant effect of this data literacy is expected to precipitate the advent of the data revolution and the rise of digital technologies which are needed in today’s information age. The question of the degree of the nature of the integration of data literacy into information literacy programs and how it could be taught synergistically and push data literacy strategically for the fourth industrial revolution is a major fulcrum of this study. This paper, therefore, involves a theoretical and systematic literature engagement with a focus on integrating data literacy into information literacy programs in academic libraries and in undergraduate library instruction and curriculum.

Financial literacy in Hungarian libraries: Survey-based steps for implementation

In Hungarian libraries, the development of financial literacy (FL) is either not present at all or is very low in intensity. The Hungarian government strategy does not involve libraries in FL development. Based on the dissemination of information and digital literacy, there are numerous good examples worldwide proving that libraries, reaching all of their users, can effectively take part in financial education and, built thereon, business development and business information services. This can increase their social recognition and even supplement their funding. In 2022, for the first time in the country, the authors conducted a survey among Hungarian librarians to assess the current situation, to identify what hinders the expansion of services related to FL, and what tasks should be performed and what innovations should be introduced in libraries. The survey also seeks to define which fields of competence are to be acquired by librarians. It also reveals the forms of external professional cooperation that are necessary to organise library programmes strengthening financial awareness. The results provide valuable information not only for Hungary, but also internationally, since they showcase the challenges that the library system of a former socialist country in Europe faces after three decades of market economy in this current, market- and profit-oriented world.

Practical Use of ICT course in Libraries: Perspectives of MLISc graduates in Nepal

Although the Central Department of Library and Information Science (CDLIS) was founded in TU 27 years ago, the Masters in Library and Information Science (MLISc) program is less popular among recent graduates. The MLISc program's reputation and significance are dependent on how successfully it has adapted to emerging information and communication technology (ICT). It is an early attempt to assess the MLISc ICT course material, primarily focusing on how applicable it is to real-world professional situations.Working librarians from Nepal participated in a focus group discussion to assess how well the MLISc ICT course applied to their line of work. Participants have suggested that the basic and advanced ICT course topics in the MLISc curriculum should be distinguished clearly. Library automation, digital library software, and other advanced ICT courses are available. However, the library profession places a high value on graduates with a complete understanding of information system architecture, library automation, and digitization services.

Biotite: new tools for a versatile Python bioinformatics library

BackgroundBiotite is a program library for sequence and structural bioinformatics written for the Python programming language. It implements widely used computational methods into a consistent and accessible package. This allows for easy combination of various data analysis, modeling and simulation methods.ResultsThis article presents major functionalities introduced into Biotite since its original publication. The fields of application are shown using concrete examples. We show that the computational performance of Biotite for bioinformatics tasks is comparable to individual, special purpose software systems specifically developed for the respective single task.ConclusionsThe results show that Biotite can be used as program library to either answer specific bioinformatics questions and simultaneously allow the user to write entire, self-contained software applications with sufficient performance for general application.

Beyond Alternative Text and tables: Comparative Analysis of Visualization Tools and Accessibility Methods

AbstractModern visualization software and programming libraries have made data visualization construction easier for everyone. However, the extent of accessibility design they support for blind and low‐vision people is relatively unknown. It is also unclear how they can improve chart content accessibility beyond conventional alternative text and data tables. To address these issues, we examined the current accessibility features in popular visualization tools, revealing limited support for the standard accessibility methods and scarce support for chart content exploration. Next, we investigate two promising accessibility approaches that provide off‐the‐shelf solutions for chart content accessibility: structured navigation and conversational interaction. We present a comparative evaluation study and discuss what to consider when incorporating them into visualization tools.

Patterns and trends of equity, diversity and inclusion programs in academic libraries

Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) have been core values and top priorities for academic institutions in recent decades. This paper presents a review on EDI and their manifestations in strategic planning of academic libraries. Advocating and advancing EDI have been broadly recognized as initiatives that create partnership opportunities and have been supported by various library associations, such as the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL), the American Library Association (ALA), and the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) and Association of Research Libraries (ARL). The first section of this paper presents the initiatives and resources created by these library associations that provide example frameworks, roadmap, and planning for individual libraries to customize. The second section presents cases of EDI programs in the institutions that the author visited or studied for a professional development program in 2021–2022. The conclusion discusses recurring themes and initiatives. The findings outlined in this paper provide references, resources, and contexts for library leaders and the EDI team leaders to embark and sustain the critical journey of incorporating EDI values in their work and culture.

“We’re All Pretty Welcoming”: Inclusion of Children With Disabilities in Library Storytime Programs

Public library storytimes provide rich learning opportunities for young children and their caregivers, yet little is known about how inclusive they are for children with disabilities and developmental delays (CwD/DD). The purpose of this study was to identify and describe ways that librarians support the inclusion of CwD/DD and their caregivers in storytime programs. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 34 librarians who provide storytime programs in public libraries in three states and analyzed them using iterative and inductive coding processes. Findings indicate that librarians are aware of the acute need to support diverse populations within their service communities and are collectively using a wide range of accommodations and strategies to facilitate their inclusion. However, on an individual level, they feel under-equipped to do so. Findings from this study highlight the need for further training and raise important questions regarding the equity of storytime programs for children with invisible disabilities, the potential reduction of diversity within storytime programs, and the potential value of establishing formal avenues of knowledge sharing.

Kemampuan Literasi Informasi Pemustaka Di Perpustakaan Universitas Negeri Padang Menggunakan Information Literacy Standars For Higher Education

This study aims to determine the information literacy skills of users at the Padang State University library using literacy standards for higher education. This research is a qualitative research. There were 5 informants in this study, namely students of the 2018 library and information science study program. Data collection techniques were carried out by interview and documentation methods. The results of this study indicate that students are information literate (1) able to identify the information they need, (2) able to access the information they need effectively and efficiently, (3) able to evaluate information and sources of information critically and able to combine certain information into knowledge and value systems that they already have, (4) Able to utilize or use information effectively to achieve certain goals, (5) Able to understand economic, legal and social aspects in the use of information and be able to access and use information ethically and legally.

Lectura y almacenamiento de recursos bibliográficos empleando tecnología RFID de ultra alta frecuencia con internet de las cosas

Libraries supervisors have the administrative duty of control and keep safe their inventories, such as books, documents, manuals, and theses, facilitating access to their users to this information and helping them loan and return, internal or external, in case it’s permitted. We wanted to design and build a prototype for a device capable of complementing these tasks in a low cost. We go through the processes in the design of a prototype for a simultaneous Radio Frequency Identification Reader using Ultra High Frequencies with Internet of Things technologies for data storage and communication between multiple stations, to do so we use a decision matrix method to select hardware tools, and software programming languages and libraries, needed to build such device, comparing, and weighting the characteristics that fit our needs. The resulting hardware selection was the Raspberry Pi and the RedBoard with a 59,7% and 12,4% respectively, and NodeJS with WebSockets for the software selection with a 53,8%. Finally, we present the designed architecture and a working prototype of the device that was built. Obtained response times from the reader and the database storage were as low as 10 milliseconds and as high as 20 milliseconds.

Library orientation as a predictor of library use among freshers in two selected academic libraries in Kwara State, Nigeria

The paper is a study on library orientation as a predictor of library use among freshers in two selected academic libraries in Kwara State, Nigeria. The survey design was used for this study with a total population of two thousand and ten (2,010) registered students from Summit University, Offa (94) and Federal Polytechnic Offa (1916) for the 2021/2022 academic session. Two stage sampling technique was used in the study. The first stage selected departments similar to each of the institutions, these departments are Accounting, Business Administration, Banking and Finance, Computer Science and Mass Communication. The second stage involved the use of sampling fraction of 20% to select the sample size from each of the selected departments. This, therefore, gave a total sampling size of 201. Out of 201 questionnaires distributed to respondents, 200 questionnaires (representing 99.5%) were returned and found valid for analysis. The data collected were analysed using frequency table and mean. The hypothesis was tested using linear regression. Findings revealed that there is a significant relationship between library orientation and utilisation of library resources among newly admitted students in selected institutions in Kwara State, Nigeria. The findings showed the challenges confronting library orientation in academic libraries in Kwara State including but not limited to over population, and lack of instructional materials, among others. It was recommended that library orientation programmes in academic libraries of this nature should be imposed on newly admitted students. Library staff should adopt regular interaction with students and be willing to help and have a user-friendly disposition with them in their quest for services.

Exploring Literacy Practices of Families Enrolled in the Imagination Library Book Gifting Program

Book gifting programs such as Imagination Library aim to foster a love of reading and increase children’s exposure to books and academic success. This study is a conceptual replication of previous studies focused on the Imagination Library program. To examine home literacy practices and caregiver perceptions of the Imagination Library, 149 families enrolled in Imagination Library in a central Texas county completed an online survey. Results indicated that the majority of respondents were extremely satisfied with the program and engaged in daily shared book reading. Though tips for sharing books with children are provided for program participants, the majority of respondents indicated not knowing about the tips. Parental education level significantly predicted daily reading, even when controlling for length of enrollment in the Imagination Library program which was not a significant predictor of daily reading. This study extends the literature on book gifting programs and has implications for book gifting program development and for other communities that implement Imagination Library.

Maintaining an Established Embedded Librarian Program for 15 Years before, during, and Post Pandemic

This article is an update to a previous article on the online embedded librarian program at Athens State University. It examines the nature of embedded librarianship at Athens State University and how it has grown and evolved over the past fifteen years. The authors review the literature and provide definitions and best practices associated with embedded librarianship as well as various levels of embedded librarian involvement. They also provide suggestions for those involved in embedded librarianship.

Implementing a Personal Librarian Program to Rebuild Connections With Medical Students

Health sciences librarians may be experiencing a fundamental sense of disconnection from medical students as the reliance on online resources and post-pandemic acceptance of remote learning chip away at use of the physical library. In response, librarians have investigated a variety of virtual approaches to counter the loss of face-to-face contact with patrons. Numerous reports in the literature explore ways to build virtual relationships with patrons. This case study discusses a project by the Savitt Medical Library of the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine to implement a Personal Librarian Program that promoted communication between librarians and learners.

Teaching cataloguing ethics: an exploration of an ethics-infused knowledge organization curriculum

This article contemplates how cataloguing ethics might be taught within knowledge organization (KO). This exploration of cataloguing education considers the teaching of cataloguing ethics within an example Library and Information Studies programme. The first part focuses on how cataloguing ethics fits into the structure of KO teaching, including questions about whether it is a standalone topic or an integral part of the whole curriculum. The second part outlines three example activities with cataloguing ethics contents. Six pedagogical points are elicited, including ideas around the power held by the cataloguer, the relationship of cataloguing ethics to the wider library ecosystem and beyond, and the competing needs of library user/librarian/knowledge creator.

How Can Libraries Support Student Research?

Libraries have long been recognized as vital institutions for supporting student research endeavors across various educational levels. This study explores the multifaceted ways in which libraries can effectively bolster student research. Drawing from a comprehensive review of literature, surveys, interviews with librarians, and case studies of successful library programs, this research provides valuable insights into the role libraries play in enhancing the research skills and academic success of students. The findings underscore the importance of library resources, including access to scholarly databases, interlibrary loans, and research assistance, in facilitating students' information retrieval and literature review processes. Additionally, libraries' instructional programs and workshops are shown to empower students with research methodologies, information literacy, and critical thinking skills. Furthermore, this study delves into the evolving role of digital technologies and online resources in supporting student research, highlighting how libraries adapt to the changing landscape of information dissemination. Collaboration between librarians and faculty is also examined as a key factor in promoting research opportunities for students. In a rapidly evolving academic landscape, this research serves as a valuable resource for librarians, educators, and institutions seeking to optimize library services for the benefit of student researchers. By offering practical recommendations and best practices, it underscores the essential role libraries play in nurturing the next generation of scholars and fostering a culture of research excellence.

Using design-based implementation research approach to create computational thinking assessment tools for youth programs in public libraries

Methodological innovations across social sciences are opening new avenues for conducting research designed to address real-world challenges. The benefits of utilizing the Design-Based Implementation Research (DBIR) approach in public libraries to resolve a persistent problem of practice, a lack of assessment tools to evaluate youth Computational Thinking (CT) programs, is demonstrated. Findings from a three-year, three-phased study utilizing the DBIR approach to design and implement a suite of assessment tools to assess CT programming in public libraries are presented. Guided by the four principles of the DBIR approach, this research produced new knowledge, including identifying CT program outcomes, challenges, and recommendations for designing and implementing assessment tools to measure the impact of public libraries' CT programming. Findings underscore the DBIR approach as a strategy for engaging with practitioners and helping shift their perspectives by resolving practice problems and facilitating the design of sustainable solutions.