Role Of Libraries Research Articles

OASES: The role of subject librarians in an effective campus OER program

OASES (Open Access for Student Educational Success) is unique in that it is a subject librarian based Open Educational Resource (OER) program that includes twelve subject librarians. A history of the OASES program is given that underscores the advantages of utilizing subject librarians in several large departmental adoptions of open access textbooks and custom course packs. This paper examines the success of the OASES program, determining if the current librarian job market shows evidence of subject librarian involvement in OER programs. Additionally, a qualitative analysis of the OASES program is conducted using two organizational change frameworks from the social sciences.

Libraries, sustainability and sustainable development: a review of the research literature

PurposeThe purpose of this literature review is to provide an overview of and insights into a selected bibliography of 102 research publications on libraries – of all types – sustainability and sustainable development, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals.Design/methodology/approachThe review procedure is inspired by the hermeneutic literature review method, referring to a circular process of searching, sorting, selecting, acquiring, reading, identifying and refining. The publications are mapped to provide an overview of the research field. Following the research mapping, all publications are categorized as either environmental, economic, social, cultural or holistic according to their usage and understanding of the core concepts of sustainability and sustainable development. Finally, the main rationales behind the core concepts are identified, and their possible implications on the role of libraries and librarians are discussed.FindingsOf the 102 research publications, 45 are categorized as environmental, 9 as economic, 9 as social, 3 as cultural and 36 as holistic. The main rationales identified across these categories are optimization, legitimation, demonstration and transformation. The possible implications behind these rationales are that libraries and librarians should be resourceful, explicit about their motivations, serve as good examples and act as change agents. Increasingly, libraries and librarians are expected to act proactively in relation to the global sustainability agenda.Originality/valueThis literature review provides a unique overview of and insights into an emerging research field, which are needed for future research and discussion about the potentiality of libraries and librarians in solving global sustainability challenges.

Changing Role of College Librarians’ in Autonomous Environment: A Study

According to University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines for autonomy, the only way to improve quality in higher education is to assign academic freedom to colleges affiliated to the university. Quality education is the prime motto of the Indian government and to ensure quality in higher education government of India is endorsing academic autonomy from the last few years. To assess the influences on the academic libraries of an autonomous environment and to examine whether there is any change in the role of academic librarians the researcher opted for the present study. Twenty-five autonomous college librarians from Mumbai were selected as the population for the study. The Role Efficacy scale of Udai Pareek was used to analyze the changing role of librarians with telephone interview. The present study throws some light on the changing role of librarians in the autonomous environment.

Blended professionals: the problem of legitimacy for UK librarians as teachers in Higher Education

The varied role of librarians in Higher Education increasingly includes a substantial amount of teaching, supported by expertise in learning design, pedagogy and technology enhanced delivery of learning. This role is demonstrably misunderstood or underestimated outside the profession, leading to difficulty for librarians achieving recognition for their expertise. This research analyses the job descriptions for 41 Higher Education librarian roles, advertised between Autumn 2016 and Summer 2017, cross-referencing them with the Higher Education Academy’s UK Professional Standards Framework, demonstrating the extent of librarian experience in learning and teaching. The job descriptions demonstrate that teaching forms a significant part of many librarian roles in HE and that Fellowship of the HEA is an attainable aim. It also indicates areas for development for librarians, in particular around assessing and providing feedback to learners. Potential further research is suggested to extend this project.

A View from the Top: Library Leaders’ Predictions for the Future of Science Liaison Librarianship

Library leaders at academic institutions in the United States at the level of University Librarians, Library Directors, and Library Deans were surveyed about their predictions for the future of science liaison librarianship and the importance of science subject specialization. Responses from 71 library leaders at institutions ranging from community colleges through large, research intensive universities provide insight into evolving roles for academic science librarians. Key findings include that library leaders perceive functional roles such as data management and scholarly communication growing in importance, yet they are rarely seen as replacing traditional subject-based ones. Subject specialization is still seen by many as a desirable qualification for science librarians, even though smaller institutional size and budget constraints may necessitate a more generalist approach. While there was no consensus on the necessity of science subject specialization, and whether or not science liaison librarianship would retain this characteristic in the future, there was a widespread acknowledgement of the value of liaison relationships with science faculty and others at their institutions.

The influence of organizational learning on library service innovation

PurposeThis article intends to explore how organizational learning affects innovation in public library services, and the role of public librarians in innovation in library services.Design/methodology/approachThis study collected 375 valid questionnaires from 19 public libraries in Shanghai and Zhejiang based on organizational learning, organizational innovation and employee psychological empowerment theory. Additionally, SPSS and HLM are used to analyze the relationship among the three processes of organizational learning: knowledge acquisition, knowledge sharing and knowledge application, and public library service innovation.FindingsResults show that organizational learning has a significant positive effect on the service innovation of public libraries. Knowledge acquisition and knowledge application in the process of organizational learning have a significant positive influence on the service innovation of public libraries, but the impact of knowledge sharing on service innovation is weak. Employee psychological empowerment has a negative regulating influence on knowledge sharing–public library service innovation, but no significant influence on knowledge application–public library service innovation and knowledge acquisition–public library service innovation.Originality/valueThis research explores the effectiveness of the theory of organizational learning in the field of public libraries and also confirms the role of librarians in the work of public libraries. Together, they promote the innovation of public libraries.

Challenges Facing Epilepsy Patients and the Role of Librarian in Providing Health Information in Kaduna North of Kaduna State, Nigeria

The study was conducted to investigate challenges faced by epilepsy patients and the role of librarians in providing health information in Kaduna north. The study also examines the types of epilepsy information, the level of awareness among patients and caregivers. In addition to how they access epilepsy patient’s related information and the challenges they encounter when accessing this information. The study also aimed at discovering the available information on cancer related disease and the extent to which this information is accessed by patients and caregivers in Kaduna north. In this study, discovering the challenges faced by patients and caregivers in accessing health information was analyzed. Keywords: Challenges: Epilepsy Patients: Librarian: Health Information: Nigeria.

India and a historical perspective of open access

PurposeThe environments of the library under open access (OA) are distinctively found as less expensive which ultimately reciprocates better services and technological support for the users as well. Focussing on the Librarians’ perspective, the purpose of the study is to highlight and establish a balance between the vision of OA initiatives and the support of Librarians in India. The principal and philosophy of the study are based upon the exploration of open source initiatives and their significance among the Library & Information Science community.Design/methodology/approachThe study reflects the historical perspective of OA in India and around the world. The study further focusses on how the OA movement has taken a leap in adaptability by the librarians on the basis of acceptance model given. Considering the reviews of the librarians, the study reflects the librarians support OA initiatives in India. OA is a “provocation to thought”, it is a “social contract”.FindingsExploring beyond the researchers have come across that OA is a belief where knowledge evolves best when shared. Based on the acceptance the study given significant. It describes the librarian’s attitude while embracing the OA model with an increased acceptance towards OA, which supports in building Institutional Repositories and broadening the research horizons based on budgetary implications. The librarians and libraries adopt and work to build up a resilient model for OA to bring out awareness among the users.Research limitations/implicationsThe scope of the study is limited to Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. The focus of the study is purposely laid down on the three given states of India keeping in mind Delhi being a capital city of India, Uttar Pradesh being the largest state of India (area wise) and Haryana state, which opened up multiple educational opportunities for the students and researchers Rajiv Gandhi Educational city plans to host many educational institutions including medical and engineering institutions.Practical implicationsThe study describes the librarian’s attitude while embracing the OA model with an increased acceptance towards the OA, which supports in building Institutional Repositories and broadening the research horizons based on budgetary implications. The librarians and libraries adopt and work to build up a resilient model for OA to bring out awareness among the users.Social implicationsThe present study brings out the need of different policies and mandates by Government of India for OA along with University Grants Commission, National Knowledge Commission and Research Organisation to promote the culture of OA. The study further recommends that LIS communities come together and build the learning culture to promote limitless sharing of information and knowledge for scholarly society.Originality/valueThis research work aims to make a difference in highlighting the librarians’ support on OA initiatives in India due to the role of librarians on transitional point. Dissemination and management of information using digital technology during pandemic have had a significant impact on divided environment. With this paradigm shift, the world struggles with the pandemic. The librarians try to keep themselves in pace by embracing the technology and LIS professionals do adopt the radical reventure the info technology.

Promoting New and Expanded Roles for Librarians and Information Specialists.

This chapter describes how the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), under the leadership of Donald A.B. Lindberg M.D., promoted new and expanded roles for librarians and information specialists in response to advances in technology and public policy. These advances brought information services directly to all potential users, including health professionals and the public and stimulated NLM to expand its programs, policies, and services to serve all. Dr. Lindberg included librarians and information specialists in all of NLM's new endeavors, helping both to recognize and establish new or expanded roles. The involvement of librarians and information specialists in multidisciplinary healthcare research teams, in underserved communities, and in research data management and compliance has helped to redefine the health sciences information profession for the 21st century.

Liaison Librarianship in Shiny Packages: An Exploration of Product Ownership in Academic Libraries

This column investigates the emerging role of the product owner (PO) – an individual tasked with ensuring that a specific service meets the needs of users – in academic libraries. It explores the PO role at the intersections of functional specialization, public services, and technical services, as well as from critical perspectives on gendered labor in librarianship. By examining how our library used the PO model to address pressing problems with our library’s institutional repository (IR), we demonstrate the value that the PO approach can bring to improving library products, especially when the PO is appropriately positioned to advocate for user needs. We also interrogate the overlap in responsibilities between the PO and liaison librarian and argue that the role of the product owner is a rebranding of the liaison librarianship model in an effort to make the emotional and relationship labor more masculinized. By emphasizing traditionally masculine work such as technology and innovation, the PO model allows libraries to market these specialized liaison librarian roles in ways that are more prestigious and aligned with corporate culture, while also downplaying traditionally feminized library work, such as service.

The role of librarians in Evidence-Based Policy Making (EBPM)

The role of librarians in Evidence-Based Policy Making (EBPM)

Identifying the impact of the dynamic advancement of information on the medical librarians’ roles at the PGIMER, Chandigarh

This article portrays the changing role of librarians in a research library, especially in this technological age. The scope of this study is restricted to the Dr. Tulsidas Library of PGIMER, Chandigarh. The institute library has seen changes in its collections and the services being served to its research community. With the acquisition of more online databases, the methods for dealing with these as -well as targeted users have changed enormously. Various responsibilities ranging from selecting, acquiring, and subscribing to teaching, learning, and systematic reviewing of literature are carried out. Being part of the medical research institute, it is meant for postgraduate researchers which also serves as support to research and development of its parent body.

Jo Angela Oehrli. Practical Academic Library Instruction: Learner-Centered Techniques. Chicago, IL: American Library Association, 2022. 124p. Paper, $64.99 (ALA members) (ISBN: 978-0-8389-3642-9).

Jo Angela Oerhli has distilled much of her experience, practical advice, and wisdom into this easy-to-use and well-organized library instruction manual. Her passion and enthusiasm for teaching, information literacy, and student-centered learning come through loud and clear. Recent research addresses the lack of preparation and guidance for teaching faced by many librarians whose responsibilities include instruction, especially those at the beginning of their careers. With a growing focus on information literacy and the teaching role of librarians, this practical volume fills an important niche for both new and experienced librarians.

Jasa Informasi Perpustakaan di Era Globalisasi Dalam Perspektif Sosiologi Informasi

The research intends to describe the role of libraries as public service institutions in the field of information in the era of globalization. The research object is based on the discussion focusing on analysis based on comprehensive detailed studies about the content of library information services in the era of globalization. The research includes in-depth evaluation and analysis activities, based on a basic study of the management of the library's role as a public service institution in the field of information. Analyzing activities require realistic critical thinking, to be able to apply the conceptualization of historical traces in the past and what is currently happening so that it is appropriate to use the historical approach, namely research that is a critical investigation of the development of a thought or term. Primary information sources are considered as the most important elements to be utilized as primary data. Data collection utilizes library research, carries out literature reading activities with the subject of the role of libraries, library information services, and the era of globalization, to realize synchronization and harmonization of conceptualization lines of thought. The analysis uses descriptive qualitative analysis, relying on sources of analysis from various reading materials that are theoretical, research, or non-research. Research puts forward listening, studying, and examining carefully to be able to evaluate various facts and find various solutions to the problems contained in social phenomena. Validity can be achieved, then the analysis requires content analysis that is useful in analyzing the meaning of the most important concepts, the role of libraries, information services, and the era of globalization. Observation is utilized as an essential element to support the construction of theory. The results of the study are (1). Information in the era of globalization is not only to increase knowledge but serves as a necessity of life, so that information has a very decisive position in all activities of people's lives. (2). Information is free and open, so you can take advantage of the library which acts as a center for information sources and sources of knowledge.Keywords: Information; Information Services; library

The Role of Librarians in the Implementation of Knowledge Management in IPDN Libraries

This research describe about the role of librarians in the implementation of knowledge management in IPDN library. The general purpose of this study was to determine the role of librarians in the implementation of knowledge management in the IPDN Library. This research uses qualitative research with descriptive method. As a result, librarians have implemented knowledge management by means of knowledge identification, knowledge acquisition, knowledge development, knowledge sharing management and knowledge storage.

Public librarians' perception of their professional role and the library's role in supporting the public sphere: a multi-country comparison

PurposeThe overarching aim of this article is to consider to what extent the perceptions of librarians in Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Poland and Sweden reflect a unified view of their professional role and the role of their institutions in supporting the formation of the public sphere and to what extent the variations reflect national contexts.Design/methodology/approachThe multi-country comparison is based on online questionnaires. The central research questions are how do librarians legitimize the use of public resources to uphold a public library service? How do librarians perceive the role of public libraries as public spaces? How do librarians perceive their professional role and the competencies needed for it? Consideration is given to how the digital and social turns are reflected in the responses.FindingsThe results show evidence of a unified professional culture with clear influences from national contexts. A key finding is that librarians see giving access as central for both legitimizing library services and for the library's role as a public sphere institution. Strong support is shown for the social turn in supporting the formation of the public sphere while the digital turn appears to be a future challenge; one of seemingly increased importance due to the pandemic.Research limitations/implicationsThis study shows that libraries across the seven countries have expanded beyond simply providing public access to their book-based collections and now serve as social, learning and creative spaces: both in the physical library and digitally. Qualitative research is needed concerning librarians' notions of public libraries and librarianship, which will provide a more in-depth understanding of the changing professional responsibilities and how public libraries recruit the associated competencies.Originality/valueThe article provides a much needed insight into how librarians perceive the role of public libraries in supporting the formation of the public sphere and democratic processes, as well as their own role.

PREDICTION OF THE FUTURE: NEW ROLES OF THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIAN

Objective. The article analyzes the new roles of librarians - facilitator, tutor, moderator, presents their introduction into the activities of the university library, reveals the impact of innovations on the effectiveness of the library and the university. Methods. The study was conducted by reviewing publications related to clarifying the new roles of librarians in the practice of modern university libraries, summarizing the experience of the Scientific Library of Kharkiv Petro Vasylenko National Technical University of Agriculture (SL KhNTUA) to introduce new activities. Results. During the study, the authors determined that the SL KhNTUA’ introduction of the innovative forms in terms of new roles of librarians (facilitator, tutor, moderator) contributes to the development and diversification of library services, increase in the role of SL as an active partner of the university in research, teaching and educational work; emphasizes and strengthens the role of the library in raising the ranking of the university. Conclusions. The originality of the work is to expand ideas about the new roles of librarians in the activities of the university library, which is an important factor in assessing the effectiveness of its management. Practical value. The obtained results are used to improve the management of human resources of university libraries.

Open Access, Open Science, Open Data: How it Was and Where We are Going

Open Access to scientific information, transparency of research processes and data is one of the most important conditions for the progress of science and scientific communication, the basis of international collaboration of researchers globally. The COVID-19 global pandemic has once again highlighted the need for open, efficient and equal access to scientific information for researchers, regardless of geographical, gender or any other constraints, promoting the exchange of scientific knowledge and data, scientific cooperation and scientific decision-making, knowledge and open data. The Internet has radically changed scientific communication, particularly on the model of peer-reviewed scientific journals and the way readers find and access the scientific information. Digital access is now the norm, thanks to the Open Access model. Although 20 years have passed since the announcement of the Budapest Open Access Initiative, and despite many achievements and advantages, there are still obstacles to the implementation of this model, there is some resistance from commercial publishers and other providers, and discussions continue in the academia world. The Open Access model is already supported by various strategies, policies, platforms, applications but is not yet established. Various business models for scientific journals are still being tested, a culture of preprints is being formed, and discussions are underway on the ethics of scientific publications, intellectual property, the need to finance the dissemination of research results, and so on. Various platforms and applications are being developed to help researchers “discover” research results. Nevertheless, this is not enough: it is important to “discover” not only the results but also the research data, allowing them be used for further research in the global world. Thus, the concepts and practices of Open Science, Open Data, development of research infrastructures, etc., are developing quite rapidly. The article considers the main stages of this 20-year path and outlines the main components and trends of the current stage. Emphasis is placed on the need to form a culture of Open Science and create incentives for its implementation, promoting innovative methods of Open Science at different stages of the scientific process, the needs of European integration of Ukrainian e-infrastructure development, the need for socio-cultural and technological change. The main international and domestic practices and projects in Open Access and Open Science, particularly the National Repository of Academic Texts and the National Plan of Open Science draft, are considered. The role of libraries and librarians in implementing the principles of Open Access and Open Science is emphasized.

Black, White, and Grey

This study seeks to extend wicked problems analysis within the context of a library’s support for virtual reality (VR) and the related extended reality (XR) emerging technologies. The researchers conducted 11 interviews with 13 librarians, embedded IT staff, and/or faculty members who were involved in administering, managing, or planning a virtual reality lab or classroom in a library (or similar unit) in a higher education setting. The qualitative analysis of the interviews identified clusters of challenges, which are categorized as either emergent (but solvable) such as portability and training; complicated (but possible) such as licensing and ethics: and/or wicked (but tameable). The respondents framed their role in supporting the wickedness of VR/XR in three basic ways: library as gateway, library as learning partner, and library as maker. Five taming strategies were suggested from this research to help librarians wrestle with these challenges of advocating for a vision of VR/XR on their respective campuses. This research also hints at a larger role for librarians in the research of technology diffusion and what that might mean to their role in higher education in the future.

Documentary Practices of Hospital Librarians in Evidence-based Medicine: the Example of Health Technology Assessment in Swedish Healthcare

Today’s healthcare rely on a basis of evidence-based medicine (EBM) and in modern healthcare there are demands for rational decision-making about new methods, technology and treatments. HTA (Health Technology Assessment) supports decision-making in healthcare and in this study we turn to documentary practices of hospital librarians in HTA, as well as how documentary practices shape and are shaped by the work and roles of hospital librarians. Five central documentary practices were identified as initial searching, negotiating a search strategy, the main searching, making a selection, and documenting the search process. These practices construct the work and roles of hospital librarians through different documents, for example formal guidelines for systematic reviews and various tools used for searching, selecting and documenting the search process.