Library Science Students Research Articles

Use of Social Media by Library and Information Science Students

This study examined the use of social media by final year Library and Information Science students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Three research questions guided the study. The study employed descriptive survey design using questionnaire to gather information. The sample size is one hundred and sixty-five (165) undergraduate LIS final year students in the Department of Library and Information Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka and Delta State University, Abraka. The data collected was analysed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions. The study findings revealed that the most used social media by final year LIS students are Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube and telegram while zoom, twitter, skype, myspace, blog and LinkedIn are least used. The final year LIS students used social media for different purposes such as; to obtain information for project writing, assignment, to supplement lecture notes, interacting with course mates/friends, socialization/entertainment and interaction with family members. The LIS students encountered various problems with the use of social media which include time management, distraction, addiction, encroachment on academic activities, high cost of internet connectivity and poor social media skills. The study recommended that the challenges of using social media should be tackle, so that students can properly use social media for information access.

Enhancing Reading Skills in an Academic Library: A Case Study of a Reading Groups

The paper investigated how Reading Groups in Academic Libraries can contribute to increasing library users' interaction with literature and improving language skills. A case study was conducted with the inclusion of creative writing exercises in a reading group. This initiative took place during the winter semester of the 2022-2023 academic year and involved Library Science students at a Greek University. The focus of the reading community was Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis, targeting 12 students who had completed the Literature course of the 5th semester and volunteered to participate. The meetings were conducted within the Academic Library environment, aiming to familiarise participants with significant works of World Literature. Educational methodologies were employed based on reader-response theories, particularly Rosenblatt's Transactional Model, to underscore the creative engagement inherent in contemporary readers' interpretation of literary texts. After the conclusion of the program, students were asked to share their thoughts and experiences through open-ended questionnaires. The purpose was to evaluate how participation in reading groups at the library helped improve their language and reading skills, as well as sparked a deeper interest in exploring classic literature further. It was found that the reading group in Academic Libraries played a significant role in cultivating reading and language skills to students, as well as changing their attitudes towards literature. This paper filled a notable gap in the literature, particularly within the Greek context, regarding the role of reading groups in Academic Libraries as a means of bolstering students' reading capabilities.

Analysis of the Ellis Model on Information Seeking Behavior of Library Science Department Students of Nusantara Islamic University on the Determination of Internship Places

Information is considered a basic need that supports decision-making. One of the information needs for students themselves is information related to internships. This study aims to analyze the information-seeking behavior of the Department of Library Science students, at Nusantara Islamic University in determining the place of internship using the Ellis Model. The method used is to use a descriptive qualitative approach through interviews and literature studies. The results showed that each student can be said indirectly through the stages of the model. So that factors and influences are known in the decision-making process to determine the internship place that will be chosen by students.

Analisis Penggunaan Akun Instagram @melekteknologi.id dalam Memenuhi Kebutuhan Informasi Mahasiswa Ilmu Perpustakaan Stambuk 2018

This study aims to explore the use of Instagram accounts in meeting the information needs of Library Science students and to identify the challenges experienced by Library Science students. The method used in this study is qualitative with a descriptive approach that uses interviews to collect data directly from informants in order to gain a deep understanding of how the Instagram account @melekteknologi.id meets the information needs of Library Science students Stambuk 2018. Data collection techniques include observation, interviews, and documentation. In addition, the researcher also interviewed followers of the Instagram account @melekteknologi.id. The results of the study show that all the informants interviewed follow the Instagram account @melekteknologi.id and use the information available according to their needs. Challenges faced by the informants include unstable networks, limited mobile data, and information on the account getting buried.

Career counselling and career information on career choice in librarianship among postgraduate library and information science (LIS) students in Southwestern Nigeria

Career counselling and career information are dynamic vehicles that drive students towards career pathways and self-development. Uninterrupted career counselling and career information in librarianship will result in an upturn in the number of career choices in the profession. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of career counselling and career information on career choice in librarianship among postgraduate students in library and information science schools in Southwestern Nigeria. A descriptive research design of correlational type was adopted for the study. The hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance. The population of the study covered one hundred and sixty one (161) master's degree students of the library and information science programme in the 2019/2020 academic year in the Southwestern Nigeria. A total of 161 copies of questionnaire were administered personally by the researchers to the respondents, and 157 were retrieved and found satisfactory for the study. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for data analysis, and the results obtained were presented in frequency and percentage, pie chart, and bar chart. The study discovered that the students were not interested in the librarianship profession at the first degree level, but they developed a passion for the profession later in life. The study recommended that librarians use all media types (television, radio, newspapers, web pages, and social media channels, among others) to create awareness and promote their profession.

Impractical Practicum? Analyzing the Impact of Online Work Immersion among the Bachelor of Library and Information Science (BLIS) Students amidst the Pandemic

Objective. This study aims to document the impact of online work immersion among Bachelor of Library and Information Science (BLIS) students at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. The study highlighted the experiences of BLIS students who underwent online work immersion during the school year 2022-2023 including their challenges and difficulties in completing their work immersion hours. Methods. This research study employed a descriptive quantitative approach to document the impact of online work immersion among Bachelor of Library and Information Science (BLIS) students of Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) during the School Year 2022-2023. The researchers used purposive non-probability sampling in gathering the respondents. A total of 63 BLIS 4th-year students who were enrolled in Library Practice subjects agreed to participate in the study and were asked to rate 40 statements using a Likert Scale (1- strongly disagree and 5 - strongly agree). These statements were used to describe their overall experiences as well as the challenges they encountered with the online work immersion. The statements highlighted their difficulties, their coping mechanisms, as well as their readiness to perform professional library work. The researchers employed statistical methods such as frequency distribution, percentage, and weighted means to interpret and analyze the data gathered and provide more compelling results for the study. Results. The study revealed that most of the students experienced some challenges in terms of distance learning and connectivity issues. In addition, the said challenges were overcome through various coping mechanism strategies such as establishing rapport with workmates as well as learning and researching the given tasks in advance. Conclusion. The study also revealed a high preference for onsite practice training among students in terms of acquiring more knowledge and skills in the actual workforce.

Social media proficiency, digital information accessibility and information sharing behaviors among library and information science students

Background of the study: Students proficiency in using academic resources is a topic of interest, particularly in social media utilisation, digital information literacy, and online information sharing practices. Purpose: The study investigated the social media proficiency, digital information accessibility and information sharing behaviours among library and information science students, university of Maiduguri, Borno State Method: The study was guided by 3 research objectives and 2 hypotheses. The study consisted 742 undergraduate students, out of which 649 responded to the questionnaire dispersed through online survey. Mean scores and standard deviations were used for descriptive analysis and inferences were made with regression analysis. Findings: Students demonstrated moderate digital literacy skills for academic activities, with average competencies in locating and evaluating quality online sources and leveraging digital tools, (x̅w = 3.01, Std. 1.489); and that social media usage among the students is moderately frequent (x̅w= 2.97, Std.= 1.48); while collaborative digital learning behaviours are moderately high among the LIS students (x̅w = 3.68, Std. = 1.435). Conclusion: Individual student engaged in online collaboration and communication via social media for educational purposes, but still have deficiencies in certain abilities such as evaluating online authenticity, and effectively managing distractions.

Library instruction and information literacy 2022

PurposeThis paper aims to present recently published resources on library instruction and information literacy. It provides an introductory overview and a selected annotated bibliography of publications organized thematically and detailing, study populations, results and research contexts. The selected bibliography is useful to efficiently keep up with trends in library instruction for academic library practitioners, library science students and those wishing to learn about information literacy in other contexts.Design/methodology/approachThis article annotates 340 English-language periodical articles, dissertations, theses and reports on library instruction and information literacy published in 2022. The sources were selected from the EBSCO platform for Library, Information Science and Technology s (LISTA), Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), Elsevier SCOPUS and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. Sources selected were published in 2022 and included the terms “information literacy,” “library instruction,” or “information fluency” in the title, subject terms, or author supplied keywords. The sources were organized in Zotero. Annotations were made summarizing the source, focusing on the findings or implications. Each source was then thematically categorized and organized for academic librarians to be able to skim and use the annotated bibliography efficiently.FindingsThe paper provides a brief description of 340 sources from 144 unique publications, and highlights publications that contain unique or significant scholarly contributions. Further analysis of the sources and authorship are provided.Originality/valueThe information is primarily of use to academic librarians, researchers, and anyone interested as a quick and comprehensive reference to literature on library instruction and information literacy published within 2022.

Penerapan e-literasi dalam menanggapi infodemik COVID-19 di media sosial

Introduction. The spread of the infodemic during the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the need for e-literacy to counteract the negative impacts it had. This study aims to describe how students apply e-literacy in response of infodemic on social media.
 Data Collection Methods. This research is a qualitative research using a phenomenological approachthrough interviews. The four informants of this study are students of Library Science at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta.
 Data Analysis. Data analysis was conducted by reducing the results of the interviews, coding, then connecting themes and descriptions, and interpreting them.
 Results and Discussion. In communicating infodemic, students apply e-literacy by operating laptops and mobile phones in accessing information; find, evaluate, and use information according to their needs; consider ethics, religion, and social norms in communication; access, analyze, evaluate, and create infodemic content on social media; as well as being able to absorb information, transform and create new ideas. 
 Conclusion. Library Science students are able to apply e-literacy in communication on social media, both in consuming and producing information related to COVID-19. Research on e-literacy aside from the infodemic and post-pandemic needs to be carried out to see the results of e-literacy implementation.

Public library services for people with dementia: A study of students’ perceptions

Although librarians have not been traditionally recognized as professionals who provide care for persons with dementia, recent research indicates that libraries can contribute to the development of dementia-friendly communities. They can offer cognitive engagement and social inclusion events for people with dementia, provide information to their caregivers and educate the general public about dementia. In this article, the authors present the findings from a study that attempted to answer the following research questions: ‘How much do library and information science students in Croatia know about dementia?’ and ‘How do they perceive the role of public libraries in developing dementia-friendly communities?’ The study was conducted using a quantitative methodology among 183 library and information science students. Although the respondents had somewhat poor knowledge about dementia, they believed people with dementia have an inherent right to library materials and programmes suited to their specific needs, and that libraries can raise the quality of their life in the community.

Learning about what is most important: incorporating values into the design of learning experiences

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to bring library practitioners and researchers together to develop two co-designed tools for helping library practitioners gain a more holistic understanding of families in underserved groups and identify their values with the goal of developing more relevant learning experiences for them. The co-designed tools were then tested with Master’s of Library and Information Science (MLIS) students at two universities, whose feedback yielded several valuable findings and informed revisions to the tools.Design/methodology/approachA participatory, design-based approach was used throughout the study, both with engaging library practitioners in the co-design of different tools and processes introduced in the Toolkit, and to help MLIS students and library practitioners test the tools and provide feedback on the tool revisions.FindingsStudents indicated that the tools helped them develop a deeper understanding of underserved groups and their values and gave the students the time and space to reflect on their understanding of the socio-cultural and value contexts of their communities and the values they hold.Originality/valueThis study can help libraries more effectively design strengths-based learning experiences that are meaningful and relevant to underserved groups and their values, particularly for children and families from underserved communities.

Manfaat Aplikasi Mendeley Bagi Mahasiswa dalam Penulisan Karya Ilmiah Mahasiswa Perpustakaan dan Ilmu Informasi Universitas Negeri Padang

This study aims to determine the benefits of the Mendeley application for students inwriting scientific papers for library and information science students using the ISO/IEC9126-2 Usability measurement method based on the four characteristics as indicators,namely Understandability, Learnability, Operability, and Attractiveness. This study used anexperimental method, namely pre-experimental designs. Pre-Experimental Designs Thisresearch is a design that includes pre-test, treatment and post-test. The population in thisstudy were library and information science students class of 2020. The number of samplesin the study were 47 people. The sampling technique is basic accidental examining(inadvertent inspecting), namely distributing questionnaires to respondents using Googlestructure via the WhatsApp application. The results of the pre-test showed that theunderstanding level of the Mendeley application reached 2.66%, the operability level of theMendeley application reached 2.15%, the learnability level of the Mendeley applicationreached 1.51 %, and the attractiveness of Mendeley applications is 3.11%. The results of thepost test showed that the understanding level of the Mendeley application reached 7.11%,the operability level of the Mendeley application reached 10.4%, the learnability level of theMendeley application reached 3.45 %, and the attractiveness of the Mendeley application is7.55%. From the pre test results, the post test results increase in the utilization andoperation of the Mendeley application. Based on these results it is concluded that theMendeley application has been utilized by users properly.

Pursuing academic librarianship: Gender identity and factors affecting job attainment

The purpose of the study is to support library and information science students and recent graduates considering academic librarianship by helping them strategize their career preparation and job search endeavors based on recent graduates' experiences. The authors accomplished this by quantifying the demographic characteristics, experiences during LIS studies, pre-professional experiences, aspects of the job search, and information about first librarian positions of recent graduates in the United States seeking positions as academic librarians. This article focuses on the factors which significantly influence successful and unsuccessful job search outcomes based on gender identity, specifically by looking at the experiences of cisgender men in pursuing employment in the women-majority librarian occupation. Results yield one statistically significant finding for this group – applying for administrative positions is associated with a successful job search outcome – while revealing that on average cisgender male respondents need the shortest amount of time to obtain their first academic librarian position. We discuss these findings in context of research on and related to (cisgender) male librarians and in relation to our study's initial results of other population groups represented in the study.

Pemanfaat Aplikasi Mendeley dalam Penulisan Tugas Akhir oleh Mahasiswa Program Studi Ilmu Perpustakaan Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara

Lots of library processing applications can be used to support students in completing their final assignments, one of which is through Mendeley. Mendeley is an application that has the ability to process scientific databases in the form of e-books, e-journals, and other libraries. Mendeley is claimed to be important in writing the final project because reference management can make it easier for the civitas academica to cite citations as well as good reference management and can minimize plagiarism. This study discusses the Utilization of the Mendeley Application in Writing Final Projects by Library Science Study Program Students at the State Islamic University of North Sumatra in writing scientific articles for Library Science study program students. This study aims to find out how to use Mendeley in writing their final assignment by Library Science students at the State Islamic University of North Sumatra. This research method uses qualitative methods with observation and interview approaches. The research subjects were students of the 2019 Library Science study program who were writing their final assignment.

Redesigning Tertiary Educational Evaluation with AI: A Task-Based Analysis of LIS Students’ Assessment on Written Tests and Utilizing ChatGPT at NSTU

ABSTRACT The AI tool ChatGPT has shaken the academic system and challenges conventional teaching-learning methods. Using a mixed method approach, the author adopted a task-based analysis to measure the Library and Information Science (LIS) students’ academic performance and integrity during the Artificial Intelligence, especially the ChatGPT trend. A group of 32 LIS final-year students were purposively selected as they completed all the basic courses of their discipline. A one-day session was divided into two phases – a written exam and an assignment through ChatGPT – held at the Institute of Information Sciences (IIS), Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU). Both examinations were administered using a questionnaire including a series of 15 tasks. A faculty member of IIS was tasked with reviewing the gathered answer scripts voluntarily. Results showed that it is too difficult to rank students’ positions based on ChatGPT-generated tasks, as the participant who placed in 20th position (scored 5 out of 30) among 32 in the written examination, placed in 2nd position (scored 25) in ChatGPT-generated assignment. It is encouraging that the similarity indices (by Turnitin) reached up to 89%, which is unacceptable under university regulations. However, none of these assignments included in-text citations and references, which is questionable from the standpoint of academic ethics.

Hybrid Education through the Eyes of Information Studies and Library Science Students

Hybrid Education through the Eyes of Information Studies and Library Science Students

Cyberloafing in the classroom: A qualitative study with Nigerian undergraduate students

Background and Objective: The rise of academic cyberloafing — the non-academic use of internet connections during class — has emerged as a concern within the university context. While cyberloafing in the workplace has received ample attention, its counterpart in educational settings, particularly in Nigeria, remains less explored. This study aimed to explore and describe the experiences and perspectives of undergraduate students at a private Nigerian university regarding cyberloafing. Method: Using an adaption of the Cyberloafing in Educational Settings Scale, this study targeted a class of 15 final-year library and information science students. Data collected online underwent qualitative description and was presented verbatim. Results: Though students were unfamiliar with the term 'cyberloafing,' they acknowledged participating in such behaviors. The findings revealed habitual social media use during class hours, the employment of online tools for academic purposes, and a prevalent trend of gaming activities, often driven by internet addiction and boredom. Students also conveyed an understanding of the potential downsides and benefits of digital engagements during academic hours. Conclusion: The study urges university policymakers to implement measures promoting positive internet use and incorporate ethical cyber behavior awareness into curricula. It further recommends that parents and lecturers foster proper online usage and advocates for society-wide campaigns to raise awareness about ethical digital technology behavior.

An Evaluation of Digital Information Literacy Skills among Undergraduate Students of Library and Information Science in Universities in Nigeria

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the digital information literacy skills among Library and Information Science (LIS) students in universities in Nigeria. The study adopted a survey research method, and a questionnaire was used to collect data from 279 final-year undergraduate students of Library and Information Science departments in six federal universities offering LIS in Nigeria. The study found that the final-year students of Library and Information Science trust their information search proficiency on the internet. The LIS students are aware of some information resources and not aware of others such as electronic theses and dissertations, e-reference books and e-books. The study revealed that the students frequently used online information resources such as online newspapers, online journal articles, online databases, and internet information. The majority of the students indicated that they do not trust and use information they find on the internet for their academic assignments. To search for information for academic assignments, the students try to use different subject terms on Boolean operators. The study discovered that students preferred digital sources of information, but still used the library to retrieve needed information. It also emerged that the students evaluate information resources by checking for currency, and the author’s name and expertise. The findings of the study may be critical for designing information systems that fit the information needs of students and support information management in developing countries. This could help educators in universities improve the learning experiences of their students and improve their competitiveness in the job market. Digital information literacy skills must become an integral part of higher education curricula in developing countries. Therefore, the study recommends that all students in universities need to take courses on digital information literacy irrespective of their field of study.

An inquiry-based teaching intervention to embed information literacy instructions into a library and information science curriculum in Bangladesh

Introduction. This paper describes a novel pedagogical practice and reports its effectiveness in improving library and information science students' information literacy knowledge. In addition, it addresses the association of students’ information and communication technology (ICT) self-efficacy with their information literacy learning. Method. SPSS (version 27) was employed for the statistical analyses of the data. A one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted to examine the differences between the intervention group (n= 35) and the control group (n= 36). Independent samples t-tests were carried out to see the differences between various groups. Pearson’s correlations were conducted to measure relationships among dependent variables. Analysis. SPSS (version 27) was employed for the statistical analyses of the data. A one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted to examine the differences between the intervention group (n= 35) and the control group (n= 36). Independent samples t-tests were carried out to see the differences between various groups. Pearson’s correlations were conducted to measure relationships among dependent variables. Results. Students who attended the novel guided-inquiry based information literacy instructions scored higher in the post-test than those who participated in regular class lectures. In addition, the students in the intervention group learned course subject contents as well as the controls. Students’ ICT self-efficacy did not influence their overall learning of information literacy knowledge. Conclusion. Considering the short duration of the intervention, the learning outcomes in information literacy were satisfactory. We gathered some experiences implementing a novel student-centred pedagogical practice in a developing country to help educators and researchers take such initiatives.

Pemanfaat Aplikasi Mendeley dalam Penulisan Tugas Akhir oleh Mahasiswa Program Studi Ilmu Perpustakaan Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara

Lots of library processing applications can be used to support students in completing their final assignments, one of which is through Mendeley. Mendeley is an application that has the ability to process scientific databases in the form of e-books, e-journals, and other libraries. Mendeley is claimed to be important in writing the final project because reference management can make it easier for the civitas academica to cite citations as well as good reference management and can minimize plagiarism. This study discusses the Utilization of the Mendeley Application in Writing Final Projects by Library Science Study Program Students at the State Islamic University of North Sumatra in writing scientific articles for Library Science study program students. This study aims to find out how to use Mendeley in writing their final assignment by Library Science students at the State Islamic University of North Sumatra. This research method uses qualitative methods with observation and interview approaches. The research subjects were students of the 2019 Library Science study program who were writing their final assignment.