Library Science Students Research Articles

SoTL in the LIS Classroom: Helping Future Academic Librarians Become More Engaged Teachers

In this paper, we share background and key considerations of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), and propose introducing library and information science (LIS) students to SoTL as a way to acquaint them with the higher education teaching profession. Throughout the article, we employ reflection as the primary consideration and support structure that frames the benefits of SoTL for instructional growth. Four critical stages of SoTL training, first suggested by Gale and Golde (2004), are recommended for LIS students: Exposure, Encounter, Engagement, and Extension. As instruction responsibilities and opportunities continue to expand in academic librarianship, teaching about SoTL using the four stages may prepare LIS students to quickly adjust to their new roles and engage with other teaching faculty. This article fills a gap in the literature on SoTL in LIS instruction curricula.

Fan Fiction in the Library

Although several notable collections of fanfiction exist in libraries such as the Sandy Hereld Fanzine Collection at Texas A&M University(http://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/handle/1969.1/149935), and the digital fanzine archives at the University of Iowa(http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/sc/resources/fandomresources/), the attention given to the systematic selection, acquisition, indexing, preservation and sharing of fanworks is not as notable in the UK as it might be, given the popularity of fandom, the volume of creative works that exists, and the rate at which new texts are produced. This paper presents the results of an investigation into the extent to which fanfiction is collected and managed by UK libraries, and attempts to ascertain the reasons underlying collection policy in local, public, special, academic and national institutions.This report is based on a review of recent literature, an analysis of the collection policies of a selection of UK libraries, and a brief survey of the views of Library & Information Science students. The empirical work was carried out in Spring 2016. Results show that there is indeed, a little known and lesser understood ‘dark side’ to fanfiction, in regard to how it is understood and valued, which feeds an invisible, black hole in our cultural he

Müzelere yönelik bilgi yönetimi eğitimi: Hacettepe Üniversitesi Bilgi ve Belge Yönetimi Bölümü öğrencilerinin analizi

As one of the leading institutions in cultural heritage management, museums develop their services with technological approaches and they provide more interaction with society. In this regard, museums need knowledge and skills from different elds to develop such services. Library and information science, as one of these elds, stands out concerning the education of information professionals, and provide qualied human resources in a modern sense for the museums. In the light of this information, this study aims to analyse perspectives and availability levels of library and information science (LIS) students about working in the museums. To this end, research was conducted on the students who have taken Information Management in Museums course at the Hacettepe University Department of Information Management. The data were gathered from 52 of 70 students via web-based questionnaire. The results reect that LIS students display low levels of museum interaction and mostly use social media platforms to follow museum events. It is also revealed in the study that they can take an active part in both technical and managerial processes related to information management in museums.

"I Didn't Learn That in Library School"—Experiential Learning in Consumer Health for Future Public Librarians

Interest in consumer health information has blossomed since the mid-twentieth century. Consumers have become much more involved in decisions related to their health care and in seeking information about health issues. Public libraries, as community organizations, have a long history of facilitating access to health information, and currently offer important resources such as computers and free Wi-Fi that facilitate access, especially for people who do not have computers or Internet at home. With the ubiquity and ease of access to online health information, however, various challenges arise. Consumers often lack the knowledge or ability to find information or to evaluate critically the information they find. Many public librarians also often have limited proficiency or experience in helping patrons with their health-related information needs. Although there are various opportunities for public librarians to obtain training in health information, library and information science students considering public librarianship are often not aware that there is a benefit, as well as a responsibility, to becoming knowledgeable about health information. This article discusses issues related to health information access as it relates to public libraries, and suggests practice-based options that could be useful for students preparing for careers in public libraries.

The pedagogical challenges of creating information literate librarians

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the challenges of developing information literacy (IL) competencies and approaches to overcome the challenges among library and information science (LIS) students in Iran.Design/methodology/approachTaking an exploratory approach, the study used semi-structured interviews to gather the data. Using the 2000 ACRL standards as a framework, the fieldwork questions were designed around the five areas of IL competencies. A total of 15 academics teaching 18 different LIS courses from six universities were interviewed. They were asked the challenges they faced in teaching these competencies and the approaches they took or suggested in overcoming the challenge(s). A thematic approach was used to analyze the data.FindingsSome of the challenges for students mentioned by the interviewees were ambiguity about the discipline, inability to match subject relevance with appropriate sources of information and lack of familiarity with databases.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is limited to LIS academics; studying students’ reflections can bring broader perspectives to IL education in LIS programs. Owing to the nature of the design of this study, which is a single case study, the teaching experiences of IL are limited to the ones which emerged and were addressed in the context of the case. Although the case selection was made in a way that can be representative of the “general” in the “particular” bounded system of the case (Stake, 1998), studying more cases could certainly have brought broader perspectives to IL which could have been to wider contexts.Originality/valueThe results of this study contribute to our understanding of challenges in teaching IL in the LIS discipline, an area that has not been researched directly. This contributes to IL teaching in disciplinary areas and it brings new perspectives to the elements of IL teaching which emerged from the experiences of people who are directly experienced in the context of the discipline.

Web 2.0, Usage and Self-Efficacy: A Study of Library Science Students and Professional Library Staff at Tribhuvan University Central Library of Nepal

Web 2.0, Usage and Self-Efficacy: A Study of Library Science Students and Professional Library Staff at Tribhuvan University Central Library of Nepal

Wizerunek bibliotekarzy w opiniach ich następców po dekadzie – raport z badań

Teza/cel artykułu ‒ celem artykułu jest sprawdzenie, czy po dziesięciu latach od pierwszej edycji badań, wizerunek bibliotekarza (pracownika biblioteki) uległ zmianie, jeśli chodzi o opinie studentów kierunku o charakterze bibliotekoznawczym. Metody ‒ badanie podłużne, metoda ankietowa. Wnioski ‒ Pierwsza edycja badań dotyczących wizerunku bibliotekarza w opiniach studentów kierunku bibliotekoznawczego odbyła się w latach 2003-2005. Po 10 latach okazało się, że społeczny odbiór przedstawicieli tego zawodu zmienił się. Wyniki wskazują, że bibliotekarz częściej kojarzony jest z nowoczesnym IT i jest raczej lubiany. Jednocześnie pomimo bardziej zróżnicowanego zakresu prac w bibliotece, w tym większego kontaktu z modnymi wśród studentów nowoczesnymi technologiami, to wśród studentów zarządzania informacją i bibliologii spada zainteresowanie zatrudnieniem w bibliotece.

Use of smartphone apps among library and information science students at South Valley University, Egypt

Use of smartphone apps among library and information science students at South Valley University, Egypt

Use of smartphone apps among library and information science students at South Valley University, Egypt

Use of smartphone apps among library and information science students at South Valley University, Egypt

Use of smartphone apps among library and information science students at South Valley University, Egypt

Use of smartphone apps among library and information science students at South Valley University, Egypt

Understanding academic reading in the context of information-seeking

Purpose A study examined reading strategies in relation to information-seeking stages, tasks and reading media in an academic setting. Understanding reading practices and needs in the context of information-seeking can refine our understanding of user choices and preferences for information sources (e.g. textbooks, articles, multimedia content) and media (e.g. print and digital tools used for reading). It can also help to examine the changes in reading practices brought about by digital devices and content. Design/methodology/approach The data were collected via an online questionnaire from a sample of graduate students over the course of two months. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Findings The authors found that all information-seeking stages and all academic tasks were characterised by a combination of “deep” and “surface” reading and a use of both print and electronic resources. Contrary to previous studies that linked digital media to “surface” reading (e.g. skimming, searching for keywords), the participants reported a high number of “deep” reading tactics (e.g. annotating, connecting text to prior knowledge) while using digital resources. Research limitations/implications The study relied on a convenience sample of library and information science students, so some findings can be attributed to the sample’s demographics and academic demands. The findings imply that at all stages of information-seeking for all academic tasks, graduate students were engaged in both deep and surface reading using both print and electronic resources. Practical implications The findings show that students read print and digital texts, suggesting that it might be premature for academic libraries to part with their print collections. Understanding relationships between academic task, information-seeking and reading can aid students in choosing the right reading resources for their academic tasks, educators in assigning appropriate materials for course projects, libraries in providing appropriate resources to their readers and information retrieval system designers in offering useful features for different reading needs and styles. Social implications The findings indicate a shift in academic work culture and reliance on digital texts for deep and surface reading. Originality/value The study produced preliminary support for the development of a unified information-seeking and reading model.

Exploring LIS Students Beliefs in Importance and Self-Efficacy of Core Information Literacy Competencies

Understanding perceptions of Library and Information Science (LIS) students on two dimensions—belief in the importance (BIM) of a set of core information competencies, and Self-Efficacy (SE)—is pursued. Factor analysis implementation raises a clear distinction between BIM and SE results. This analysis points to two sets of competencies: principal competencies reflected the most positive insights from students, while the secondary ones were the most weakly perceived and consequently the most in need of encouragement. This is one of the few studies on the subjective profile of LIS students, including improvement initiatives relating to the weakest competencies.

Incidents of Cyberbullying Among Library and Information Science (LIS) Students at Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria

The purpose of this study is to explore incidents of cyberbullying among library and information science (LIS) students at Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was adopted in this study. This design was adopted because it would permit the researchers to investigate the current status of the incidents of cyberbullying among library and information science students at Delta State University, Abraka and did not involve manipulation of variables. The population and sample of this study consisted of year three undergraduate library and information science student of Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria. This is made of 80 students in 2013/2014 academic session. The questionnaire was used as instrument of data collection. Frequency counts and percentage were used for data analysis. The study revealed that 80% of the students have knowledge of cyberbullying; 80% of them have been cyberbullied; the types of cyberbullying experienced include harassment, flaming, masquerade, denigration, exclusion, outing and trickery, and cyberstalking in that order; 40.6% of the students were cyberbullied via Facebook, 37.5% via cell phone, 31.3% chat room, 21.9% via instant messaging, 14.1% e-mail; 35.9% of them perceived perpetrators of the cyberbullying to be friends, 25 anonymous/don't know, 23.4% ex-lover, 15.6% course mate; the effects of cyberbullying on the students are anger (40.6%), low self-esteem (25%), depression (21.9%), low academic performance (20.3%), school phobia (15.6%). This study provided primary data on students and cyberbullying in a developing country. The findings would enable educational authorities to know the status of cyberbullying among university students, which would help them to educate the students on the issues involved and plan intervention actions that will assist the students to deal with experience of cyberbullying.

Evaluation of a health sciences internship for Latino and Native American library students.

This paper presents a qualitative evaluation of a graduate-level internship for Latino and Native American library science students or students who are interested in serving those populations. The authors analyzed semi-structured interviews with thirteen internship program graduates or participants. The analysis suggests that the program increased participants' interest in health sciences librarianship and led to improved career opportunities, both in health sciences libraries and other libraries with health information programming. It also highlights specific factors that are likely to contribute to the strength of career pipeline programs aiming to bring Latino and Native American students and students who are interested in serving those communities into health librarianship. Exposing graduate-level interns to a broad range of health sciences librarianship tasks, including outreach to Latino and Native American communities and formal mentorship, is likely to maximize interns' interests in both health sciences librarianship and service to these communities.

Identifying the uses of mobile technology among Library and Information Science undergraduate students

Purpose Mobile technology has redefined the way people communicate and interact. In education, the number of academic institutions developing and offering mobile information services is growing steadily. The purpose of this paper is to identify the use of mobile technology by the Library Science and Information Systems undergraduate students in Greece. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire was developed drawing from the relevant literature and sent to undergraduate students studying Library and Information Science during the 2014-2015 academic year. Findings It was found that students employed mobile phones for entertainment purposes whereas laptops and desktop computers for performing education-related tasks. Laptops and desktop computers were again mostly used to access library services, namely the OPAC, reference books, journals. Research limitations/implications Academic institutions need to offer services and adopt online learning platforms supported in mobile devices. Students from other disciplines and their acceptance of mobile technology should be explored. Originality/value This study identifies the specific mobile devices that students use to perform a variety of activities, educational and social, as well as the reasons for doing so.

Intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivations of Master of Library and Information Science students: A cross-cultural comparative study

This study examined the career and learning motivation of students studying a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree programs at universities located in four different countries, namely the University of Hong Kong, National Taiwan Normal University, Peking University, and the University of Copenhagen. The MLIS students from these four universities were invited to take part in a self-completion online questionnaire survey, and 200 responses were collected in total. We discovered that their prior working experience in the library had an impact on their decision to pursue the MLIS program. We also categorized the career and learning motivation factors of MLIS learners into intrinsic and extrinsic factors, and discovered that the participants were motivated by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors to pursue their graduate studies in the Library and Information Science (LIS) field. We found that intrinsic factors influenced the students of University of Copenhagen significantly more than the other student groups, and this could be explained by Hofstede’s cultural dimensions. Our findings can assist with the formulation of development strategies for MLIS programs through a review of the LIS curriculum and help MLIS programs in different countries attract more people to pursue a career in LIS.

Studying the impact of blended learning that uses the online PBwiki guided by activity theory on LIS students’ knowledge management

Purpose This research paper aims to explore the impact of using wiki activities to support a blended learning course (70 per cent in-class and 30 per cent PBwiki activities) on the knowledge management of library and information science (LIS) students compared to 100 per cent in-class learning. Design/methodology/approach In the 2015 academic year, the researcher compared an experimental group (41 students) and a control group (41 students). Instruction of the experimental group was based on combining 2 h (70 per cent) of in-class learning and 1 h (30 per cent) of wiki-based learning activities each week. The control group’s experience was 100 per cent in a physical classroom without the use of a wiki. The researcher used a t-test to compare the means of the control and experimental groups in achievement tests and the students’ attitudes based on principles of activity theory (technological, individual and community levels) at 0.05 alpha levels. Findings The principal results of the study are that students in the experimental group perform better than those in the control group on the achievement test, learning tracks and attitudes. Learning tracks analysis shows that students in the experimental group had greater participation in different topics of discussion in the PBwiki than did the control group. The first topic discussed by students in the wiki is related to exam revision, and the second topic is related to the course content. Originality/value This research paper is useful for readers, parents, students and schools to explore the effectiveness of PBwiki activities to support blended courses in LIS education.

Use of EZProxy to access international journals among students of Library and Information Science, University of Indonesia

Student’s magister is one of user library university of Indonesia those who need information regarding duty as carried out college. With different backgrounds students as, made they need facilities sources of information easy and efficient. The library University of Indonesia the provision of information service, including service online reference to access the international journal address URL through: http: // remote-lib.ui.ac.id (EZProxy to access international journals). This service is facilities remote access, connected with resource at a network central from one location. Students can access journal electronic wherever and anytime simply by making log-in through single sign on. Synthesis a problem in this research is to find how the facility of an EZProxy ui by student magister library and science university of Indonesia? For the purpose to get the facility of a remote lib ui to access the international journal of student magister library science. The result of this research can be a useful tool as input to student’s library science to develop study would check in the field of library services. Research locations in university Indonesia, election student magister library science, because have a background various activity. With a population of consists of 25 students. And techniques the sample collection by using non probability of sampling with the methods purposive sampling. The sample in this research were informants ever use the service of EZProxy (http: // remote-lib.ui.ac.id) at least once. The majority of informants interviewed 4 people with distribution 2 men and women 2. Technique the data collection was done in two ways that is observation and interview. The next step is to analyzed data. Analysis of data done by means of transcrip the results of interviews, then the data reduced, presentation of data and the withdrawal of conclusion. This research result indicates that the utilization of EZProxy to access international journals by student magister library of science university of Indonesia based on (1) ease in search of articles the international journal, (2) are provided free of charge by a library university of Indonesia so it is more efficient. (3) Can be accessed wherever and anytime, (4) the utilization is very easy, not convoluted (5) Simple, summarized in one online database. So users not get confused.

Students’ academic reading preferences: An exploratory study

The e-book reader revolution is already here. The questions we asked ourselves were: What are the reading preferences of Information Science students at the beginning of the second decade of the 21st century? How do different variables, such as relative advantage, comprehension, and learning strategies affect students’ reading preferences? The research was conducted in Israel during the first semester of the 2015 academic year and encompassed 177 Library and Information Science students in an Information Science Department in Israel. Three questionnaires were used: personal details, relative advantage, and learning strategies, and two further questions that focused on reading habits. The study showed students’ preferences for printed materials. In addition, it emphasizes the importance of two personal variables that may affect students’ will to read electronic materials: relative advantage and comprehension.

Teaching Information Literacy Courses in The Context of Library and Information Science Education in Bulgaria: Challenges and Innovative Approaches

ABSTRACTThe article examines the application of innovative approaches in the information literacy training of library and information science students in Bulgaria. The change of the educational paradigm in the field is presented based on recent developments in one of the oldest Bulgarian institutions that prepares librarians and information specialists—the State University of Library Studies and Information Technologies. The active learning strategies suitable for information literacy skills development courses are studied by the use of three methods: “learning by doing,” “interaction in the learning group,” “learning by trial and error” within the practical training of students. The prospects for transforming information literacy instruction through the elaboration of digital educational games and a game-based learning model in the frame of the international project tiLIT are also outlined.