Provision Of Information Services Research Articles

Using Internet Access for Service Continuity amid the Covid-19 Pandemic in the North West Provincial Public Libraries of South Africa

The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the many ICT infrastructural challenges entrenched in community libraries. This study determined how public libraries in the North West Province of South Africa could use internet access to continue the provision of information services to clients amid the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond. This was guided by key research objectives, namely to ascertain the status of internet access in North West provincial public libraries; determine the effect of the Covid-19 lockdown on services in North West provincial public libraries; and identify ways to use technology for service continuity in these libraries. The study adopted a quantitative research approach and employed a survey design. A questionnaire was used to collect data from a purposive sample of 15 public libraries in the North West Province. This sample was derived from a population of 123 community libraries falling under the provincial Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation. The findings revealed that there was a lack of funding to develop and support the ICT infrastructure in community libraries. It was further revealed that most of the province’s community libraries did not have access to the internet due to expired contracts with internet service providers (ISPs). Furthermore, the study revealed a lack of business continuity planning in community libraries. The study recommended that the province provide funding to community libraries for the development and maintenance of ICT infrastructure. The development of a central point in the province to manage internet access to community libraries was further recommended. It was further recommended that community libraries develop business continuity plans in consultation with stakeholders.

‘It feels meaningful’: How informal mental health caregivers in an LGBTQ community interpret their work and their role

Many members of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, and queer (LGBTQ) communities provide informal mental health support to peers. This type of support is valuable for people who receive it – even helping to prevent suicide. It is also meaningful to those who provide it. In this article, we focus on how LGBTQ people derive meaning from their experiences of supporting peers. In-depth interviews with 25 LGBTQ people in Melbourne, Australia, indicate that those providing informal mental health support to fellow community members recognise their roles as meaningful in three main ways: in terms of self, relationships and communities. Recognising the meanings that LGBTQ caregivers derive from helping fellow community members provides useful information service providers and policymakers seeking to better address mental distress in LGBTQ communities and support caregivers. It is useful to understand this meaningful work in an LGBTQ context as caregiving that challenges gendered and heteronormative assumptions about what care is, and who provides it.

Information Professionals’ Use of Social Networking Sites in the time of Medical Emergency

Aim: To explore the most used Web 2.0 tools for health information during COVID-19, to identify the most used social media tool for health information during COVID-19 and to explore the type of health information explored on social networking sites Method: The present study specifically explored the librarians' approach to using social networking sites for the provision of information services. The present study measured librarians' use of social networking sites to provide health information quantitatively. For this purpose, a structured questionnaire was used to survey librarians of university libraries in Punjab.` Results: The results of the study validated that information professionals are keen and active in using social media for seeking out health information and also rely on more personal networks like WhatsApp. They searched for COVID-19-related information mostly other than fetching out general information. For this reason, we mostly relied on discussion groups, not random information-seeking. This shows their level of committed indulgence in these social media platforms, and they used their information literacy skills to seek health information. Conclusion: University librarians are an essential and vital element of any university, and they should be investigated in order to improve their services and resources to meet the demands of their users and researchers. Keywords: Health Information Seeking; Health resources, Social Networking Site; Covid-19

Academic libraries, ICT use and sustainable higher education development

PurposeEducation is a strong pillar to national development. It is vital to ensure sustainable higher education development (SHED) in a bid to facilitate global development. This study aims to investigate academic libraries, information and communication technology (ICT) use and SHED.Design/methodology/approachDescriptive survey research design was used for this study. The population of the study was 607 librarians in the 41 public university libraries in Southern Nigeria. Total enumeration and purposive sampling techniques were used for this study. The instrument of data collection was questionnaire. Descriptive statistics was used for the data analysis.FindingsIt was found that qualified teachers and promotion of scholarship constitute SHED. The extent of contribution of academic libraries to SHED is high. Academic libraries face a number of challenges in their effort to provide information services for the actualisation of the SHED. The extent of use of ICT in SHED is high. It was therefore recommended that academic libraries and ICT should be adequately used to accomplish SHED in Nigeria.Research limitations/implicationsThis study will contribute to the body of literature on how academic libraries and the use of ICT can contribute to SHED.Practical implicationsWhile SHED is central to global development, the role of academic libraries and the use of ICT should be unanimously embraced by all the stakeholders in education industry.Originality/valueSHED is inevitable in the contemporary era. This study reveals that academic libraries and ICT use are vital in achieving SHED.

Transforming libraries and information professionals for the industry 4.0 in developing countries: Towards the development of a framework for accelerating change post-Covid-19

During the various stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous countries, including several in Africa, implemented lockdown measures. Unfortunately, libraries and information centres were not deemed essential services providers, resulting in partial operations or complete closures. Among the hardest-hit by the pandemic were developing economies, where libraries, typically non-profit organizations, play a crucial role. These institutions usually rely on funding from the government (in the case of public libraries) or parent institutions, which themselves often depend on government support (as is the case with academic libraries in government-owned institutions). With the economies of these countries suffering and experiencing a slow recovery, libraries in developing nations are likely to face further budgetary constraints. In addition to the economic impact on funding, there is a significant risk of a decline in the literacy rate among children due to the closure of libraries and schools during lockdowns. This paper employs a SWOT analysis to identify the challenges and benefits for libraries and information professionals from both societal and professional perspectives. Despite the obstacles that libraries in the developing world may encounter in the post-pandemic era, as well as during the fourth industrial revolution, there are also valuable opportunities that can be harnessed. One such opportunity is the provision of information services to digitally literate, yet informationally illiterate communities.

Implementation of System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) on IoT-Based Lending Locker Application

Libraries are social institutions that provide information services that can be accessed publicly to meet the information needs of librarians. Based on the results of a survey conducted on 58 students who have visited the library of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department of the Universitas Syiah Kuala, an information system was needed that provided research book information related to the author's name, year of writing, field concentration, and abstract of the research book, and there was a division of categories based on field concentration, and there was an online borrowing feature. Based on these problems, this study aims to implement an Android application system with IoT-based lending lockers using the SDLC (system development life cycle) prototyping method. This study produces an application with a locker-based online lending feature, several other features as the user desires, and one prototype lending locker. The locker-based online lending system integrated with ESP32-WROOM-32 can connect to Firebase storage and send locker key codes to Firebase so that the application can access them. Through experiments and tests conducted on the application, it is obtained that the application can access the locker key code and display it to the user. The application has also been validated using black-box and white-box testing and can be accepted by users based on the System Usability Scale (SUS) average score with a very feasible interpretation category.

Postgraduate students’ internet use and prevalence of internet addiction: what roles can librarians play post COVID-19?

PurposeThis study empirically analyse the lived and individual experiences of internet use time among postgraduate students in a period where the line between the virtual and real is blurred. The infusion of the internet in higher education has not only facilitated the production of new knowledge but has also led to reports of internet addiction among many users during the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdowns. This study aims to evaluate the level of internet addiction among postgraduate students and the supportive information services role that librarians could provide.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, 279 postgraduate students completed a quantitative survey targeted at all the postgraduate students at a university campus in South Africa. Data was collected using an adopted internet addiction test questionnaire. The data was descriptively and inferentially analysed.FindingsAs many as 61 (22.7%) are always online, with most of the respondents, 112 (41.6%) spend 10 h or more on the internet daily. Laptop computers at 44.7% emerged as the primary electronic device used by postgraduate students for accessing the internet, surpassing the prevalence of mobile phone usage. On internet addiction level, internet use time had a statistically significant relation with problematic internet use levels in respondents. These results suggest that the increased uncontrolled internet use could negatively interfere with productive academic work of postgraduate students. However, based on the inferential statistical results, it can be concluded that academic use of the internet does not contribute to increased levels of internet addiction. The study recommends that librarians should provide literacy education and resources on how to use the internet safely and responsibly, including tips on setting boundaries, managing time online and productively using online information resources.Originality/valueThe study assesses problematic internet use among postgraduate students and provides suggestions on supportive information services that librarians could provide in an era where many library information services provision and higher education are hinged on the internet.

Use of Library and Information Resources among Fresh Students in University Libraries in College of Health

The study discusses the contribution of academic librarians in assisting students in the use of library information resource to achieve their academic goals. The academic library which serves as a hub to all academic activities, provokes intellectual excellence, as well as provide assistant to fresh university student in gaining knowledge. Just as the vein helps to pump blood to the heart for a healthy living, so does the library serves as the bedrock by which intellectual heights are attend. Survey case study was used and secondary literature method were used to for the study The study helps one see the beautiful function of the librarian whose role is like an anchor that stabilizes the boat from going astral. The librarian through their professional skill is able to guide and support fresh student get the needed information resource to achieve their educational goal. The relevance of information resources as key factor that helps academic library provide information services was also reviewed; this study explains information resources, staffing/human resource, services rendered as well as infrastructural resources. Finally, the aspect of the assistant of the academic librarian to the fresh university student in achieving their educational career pursuit.

Technological trends in Swedish medical libraries.

Medical libraries in Sweden are digitised to a large extent, technically advanced and developing rapidly. This paper investigates technological trends among Swedish medical libraries in the near and distant future and their application within different areas of library activities. The authors also present a roadmap to increase technological developments within medical libraries in Sweden. Current technological trends include digital collaboration tools, mobile technologies and visualisation. Artificial intelligence, big data and smart technologies are upcoming trends. Technologies are applied within all areas of library activities, but preconditions for academic and hospital libraries differ. To remain a relevant provider of information services, libraries must be able to monitor, test and adopt new technologies.

PEMBUATAN REPOSITORI SKRIPSI MAHASISWA JURUSAN BUDIDAYA PERAIRAN FAKULTAS PERIKANAN DAN ILMU KELAUTAN UNIVERSITAS PATTIMURA

The Aquaculture Department Library is an information service unit for library materials for students and lecturers who are required to provide information services that are fast, precise, relevant, useful for users. To further optimize the benefits of these sources of information, it is necessary to develop a library function in the form of a digital-based student thesis data storage facility. The purpose of this activity is to create a student thesis repository as an effort to facilitate student access to theses to obtain secondary scientific information in the Aquaculture Study Program at Pattimura University. The activity of creating a student thesis repository will be carried out in October – November 2022. The activities carried out include coordinating and extracting thesis data files to be uploaded, inputting data and files to Google Drive and the website, making posters and socializing the finished repository to students and lecturers majoring in Aquaculture and evaluating the effectiveness of student thesis repository. It can be concluded that the existence of a thesis repository for students of the Aquaculture Study Program can provide convenience to students and lecturers in finding information related to references, topics and research developments, especially in the field of Aquaculture.

Comparative Analysis of Regulatory Frameworks Implementation on The Vessel Traffic Service Surabaya to Increase Maritime Regional Safety and Security in The Surabaya West Access Channel

The Surabaya West Access Channel has an average of ship that sails across Madura straits from 2008 - 2013 is 20,582 per year and there is a total of 47 accidents recorded from 2015 – 2018 and piracy crimes occurred for 13 cases from 2013 – 2018. The Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) is established to reduce these risks by performing the function of providing information service, navigational assistance, and traffic organizational service. This study aims to list the requirements of IMO A.857 and IALA V – 128 for the VTS then conduct a comparative analysis and score the level of implementation of regulations in the VTS Surabaya. The final result of scoring is the implementation of rules from IMO A.857 which gains 81%, which is higher than the implementation of IALA V–128 which only gains 67% of compliance. Several recommendations were made directed to the policymakers to elevate the efficiency of work of the VTS Surabaya.

Kegiatan Belajar Terganggu Karena Banyak Menggunakan Handphone (Studi Kasus Pada Siswa MAN 2 Model Medan dan Cara Penanganannya oleh Guru BK


 This study aims to find out whether the use of mobile phones can interfere with learning activities for students and to find out the treatment that is usually given by guidance and counseling teachers. The research method used in this study is a descriptive qualitative research method using data collection techniques, namely interview and observation techniques. The research subjects in this study were guidance and counseling teachers at MAN 2 Medan and 21 students at MAN 2 Medan. The results of the study show that the use of mobile phones can interfere with student learning activities, but on the other hand the teaching and learning process of MAN 2 Model is also somewhat assisted by technology in the form of mobile phones such as in providing material, google forms, and learning videos on certain subjects. The handling provided by the guidance and counseling teacher is to provide information services for mild cases and for severe cases the guidance and counseling teacher will call the parents of the students.
 Keywords: Learning Activities, Mobile

Evaluasi Performa Sistem Informasi FMIPA Universitas Lampung Menggunakan Information Systems Functional Scorecard (ISFS)

The information system at FMIPA Unila (Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Lampung) is intended to support both academic and non-academic activities within the FMIPA Unila community. However, the system frequently faces disruptions, ranging from server shutdowns to unauthorized access by malicious individuals. Furthermore, some of the information service menus and features are currently inaccessible within the FMIPA Unila information system. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the operational efficiency of the FMIPA Unila information system from the user's point of view. The research employs the Information Systems Functional Scorecard (ISFS) method, which comprises three assessment dimensions: system performance, information effectiveness, and service performance. To gauge system performance, questionnaires were distributed to 100 student participants who represent various departments at FMIPA Unila. According to the ISFS calculations, the overall performance of the Unila FMIPA information system can be generally deemed satisfactory. Recommendations for improving and fine-tuning the FMIPA UNILA information system include the provision and completion of information services currently missing from the Profile menu, Academic menu, Research and Service menu, Student Affairs menu, and Document menu. Furthermore, enhancements should be made to the system's menu navigation features and menu buttons to ensure their proper functionality.

EVALUATION OF THE E-LEARNING SYSTEM OF PT. OTAK KANAN THROUGH BLACKBOX TESTING AND SYSTEM USABILITY SCALE (SUS)

In everyday life and education, the internet and information systems play a key role in providing information services to the educational community. Learning has transformed into an online method known as e-learning, which utilizes technology as a means of education. PT. Otak Kanan is currently introducing E-Learning to support students and interns, and they are developing the E-learning Sigarda application. Software testing is an essential part of this process to ensure the quality and functionality of the application and to prevent errors during development. In the testing of the E-Learning Sigarda application, the Blackbox Testing method is used to examine the application's functionality, while the System Usability Scale method is employed to measure user satisfaction. The test results demonstrate the application's alignment with test case scenarios on both admin and user pages. Additionally, the system's E-Learning testing, using the System Usability Scale method with 15 respondents, yielded a score of 91, falling within the "Acceptable" category of the Acceptability range and receiving an "A" rating on the Grade Scale, along with a "Best Imaginable" evaluation in the Adjective rating.

Welnu dan Eet Ik Jou op: Bergelut dengan Serangan Belalang Kayu di Jawa (1878-1937)

This article describes a number of series of wood locust attacks in Java from 1878 until 1937. With the application of the historical method, this research resulted in findings that wood locusts attacked several areas, such as Boyolali (1898), Banyumas (1898), Grobogan (1915), Semarang (1915), Salatiga (1915), Gunung Kidul (1915), Ngawi (1937), and Nganjuk (1937). Wood locust attacks damaged crops such as corn, coconut, tobacco, opium, and teak. The colonial government then took serious steps by appointing experts, publishing research results, providing information services, issuing instructions for eradicating locust eggs, and deploying natural enemies of wood locusts such as mushrooms, wasps and beetles. Even though it had subsided after 1917, thousands of locusts attacked again in 1937 in Ngawi and Nganjuk. However, because the government’s role was considered to be less significant, the people who were suffering then took other means. By lighting torches, they hunted wood locusts at night and made their wood locusts as a side dish to complement rice.

Perancangan Media Video Profil Guna Peningkatan Pelayanan Publik di Kantor Camat Danau Sipin Kota Jambi

Service to the community is the main objective in the implementation of public administration. In the implementation of public services, it must be based on service standards as a benchmark that is used as a guideline for service delivery and a reference for evaluating service quality as an obligation and promise of implementation to the community in the framework of quality, fast, easy, affordable and measurable services. The Danau Sipin sub-district office is one of the sub-district offices in Jambi City which provides public services in the field of population administration related to licensing and non-licensing. In the implementation of public services, there are problems regarding information management in terms of providing services in the form of information to the public. not yet effective and efficient or not yet digitized often makes it difficult for the community to obtain information regarding licensing or non-licensing requirements and procedures. Designing a video profile for the Danau Sipin Sub-district Office can improve information management in providing information services to the people of the Danau Sipin sub-district. The community can easily obtain information from social media such as YouTube which displays information related to licensing and non-licensing at the Danau Sipin Sub-district Office, Jambi City.

Identifying and Navigating the Current Trends in Business Librarianship and Data Librarianship

These trends in business librarianship and data librarianship matter for the management of today’s academic libraries and this topic is important to discuss because librarians must respond to the developments in data science and big data. Industry leaders such as Yuanqing Yango, CEO of Lenovo refer to “new IT” and the coming revolution stemming from the usage of smart devices, edge and cloud computing, 5G networks, and (AI) Artificial Intelligence (Lenovo, 2022). Lenovo (2022) researchers undertook a study of 500 Chief Technology Officers (CTOs)from diverse industries to ascertain their perceptions about the future of technology. Both scholars and industry leaders alike agree that the technologies that will dominate will be forged so that humanity can meet the challenges of the future and the control of information will be at the forefront of these changes. Information professionals must learn about and master the technologies that industry leaders are reimagining as innovations that will try to improve our lives because librarianship is becoming increasingly data-driven. Faculty, staff, and students rely on information professionals to help them to understand the role of “new IT” and the opportunities that it creates. We also need more informed professionals because research is data-driven. More decision makers are using big data to make effective organizational decisions. Librarians must be cognizant of the trends that are governing innovations in technology to effectively provide information services to key stakeholders.

Revolutionizing Journal Publishing: Unleashing The Power Of Web-Based Chatbot Development With Dialogflow And Natural Language Processing

The chatbot is a manifestation of Artificial Intelligence that can replace humans in engaging in conversational interactions and providing information services to users or visitors. Chatbots generally interact through text messages, voice, images, and other mediums. In this study, a web-based chatbot application was developed for a journal website called the Journal of Multidisciplinary Issues, aiming to relieve site administrators from having to repeatedly answer the same visitor questions. The development of the chatbot application followed the Rapid Application Development method, involving several stages including planning, design, system development, implementation, and testing. The application was built using Google Dialogflow services, employing Natural Language Processing techniques, along with the integration feature called Dialogflow Messenger, which offers a wide range of response options for journal websites utilizing Open Journal Systems. The chatbot application was evaluated using Alpha and Closed Beta Testing methodologies, which yielded promising results. The chatbot demonstrated the ability to provide appropriate responses after being tested with various question scenarios, achieving a score of 85.25% in the questionnaire-based assessment, which aimed to gauge visitor perspectives on the developed chatbot application. Future research endeavors should focus on integrating the chatbot with popular social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, or LINE.

Adoption and use of various health information exchange methods for sending inside health information in US hospitals

BackgroundHospitals may adopt various information transmission methods to participate in health information exchange (HIE) programs. However, even if they adopt multiple mechanisms, they may not actively use all of them to send inside information. This study analyzes the frequently used methods for sending data and the common barriers blocking sending practices in hospital settings. MethodsOur sample included 3,015 community hospitals that reported their methods of sending patient health information in the 2019 American Hospital Association Information Technology Supplement Survey. The relationship between obstacles hospitals experienced and their use of the information-sending method was analyzed by using robust Poisson regression models. ResultsMany-to-many exchanges that involve intermediaries such as a health information service provider (HISP), electronic health record (EHR) vendor-based network, and national network, once adopted, were more often used by hospitals than one-to-one exchange methods such as provider portals and direct access to EHR by login credentials. Hospitals that lacked the technical capability to electronically send patient health information were less likely to use any of the methods (p <.01), while hospitals located in a more concentrated market were more likely to send information to outside providers by using provider portal, interface connection and national network (p <.01). DiscussionThere is still a notable gap between hospitals' adoption and the actual use of different HIE methods to send inside information to outside organizations. Results argue that even if hospitals adopted an HIE method, they might not necessarily participate in the actual sharing of information, and the method may remain unused due to several usage barriers. ConclusionHospital and market-level barriers associated with using one-to-one and many-to-many HIE methods for sharing information may affect progress in interoperability. Examining the barriers to using multiple HIE methods and their impact on interoperability could offer implications for health information technology (IT) policy and inform health system leaders.

PEMBUATAN RANCANG BANGUN PENERIMAAN SISWA BARU SEBAGAI SARANA PENINGKATAN LAYANAN PADA TK LIYA CIPUNEGARA SURABAYA

Education is a key aspect in improving Human Resources (HR). Education starts at an early age so that future generations are ready to face increasingly fierce and highly competitive competition. Liya Kindergarten (TK) is one of the educational institutions that participates in providing educational services and focuses on early childhood education. The age range of Kindergarten students is expected to be able to meet the competency criteria for entering Elementary School (SD). In providing information services to the public regarding Kindergarten Liya, it is often difficult to provide up-to-date information to the public regarding the acceptance of new students. This information is in the form of information on school activities, registration information, curriculum information and information on education costs. From these problems, the creation of a new student admissions design for schools is expected to be a solution to the problem to assist the process of registering new students. The website can provide services quickly and accurately with simple steps in registering new students. The method used in this community service is interviews with related users at the location of the community service, namely Liya Kindergarten for a certain period of time and at the end of the community service there is training on using the website to build new student acceptance for users. With this website, it is hoped that it can improve the quality of services at Kindergarten Liya to be able to provide accurate information for people who need it. In addition, it can be a means of promotion related to Kindergarten Liya and on the other hand it can increase the school's income. Keywords: Kindergarten, new student admissions, service quality, information system