Academic Library Users Research Articles

Towards achieving a sustainable academic library: Users' awareness and perceptions in a developing country

This study aims to ascertain how academic library users perceive the conversion of their library into a sustainable one and how aware they are of library sustainability. A structured questionnaire was utilized to collect data from users of a central public university library in Bangladesh using a quantitative approach. Results revealed that though the majority of users were aware of the sustainable library concept, they did not believe their library was sustainable. However, they expressed a desire to learn more and actively participate in eco-friendly activities at the library. The majority of users believed that the library would have an eco-friendly and healthy indoor and outdoor environment if such a renovation were to occur. Technological obstacles were the major barriers to such transformation identified by the users. Finally, the study provides recommendations for addressing the issues raised and promoting a long-term, user-friendly atmosphere for academic libraries in Bangladesh.

The findings of the marketing analysis academic library’s services

The author accomplished the marketing analysis of academic library services as the case study of Cherepovets State University Library, a flagship university of Vologda Region. She characterizes the status of library services, strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats, challenges and expectations of modern library users. The novelty of the article lies in the use of marketing analysis tools and the results obtained. The practical value of library services for users is revealed. With four criteria, namely demographic, geographic, psychographic and behavioral, the target user of university library services is characterized in detail. The author applies the research methods of analysis, comparison, observation, Google survey, in-depth interview, and empathy mapping. Four levels of university library services aree analyzed based on the “service pyramid”. The quantitative findings of marketing research are provided. The author demonstrates that despite most students prefer electronic communications, they do not ignore the hybrid, online and offline, mode of interaction with the library. She also shows that modern academic library users are emotionally neutral towards the library services. Recommendations are offered for the further development of academic library services.

Use of Mobile Technology-Based Library Services and Information Needs Satisfaction of Undergraduates in Universities in South-West Nigeria

Aim: Users’ satisfaction has been a subject of research since the establishment of the first university library in 1984, which signalled the commencement of the provision of information services to academic library users in Nigeria. However, empirical studies on the use of mobile technology-based library services in relation to students’ information needs satisfaction are rare. Thus, there is a knowledge gap, and this study, therefore, sets out to fill this gap by investigating the use of mobile technology-based library services and information needs satisfaction among undergraduates in universities in South-West Nigeria. Methods: The research design for the study was a survey, involving a multistage sampling technique. Two questionnaires (on the level of use of mobile technology-based library services and information needs satisfaction of undergraduates) were used to sample 1,086 undergraduates across three faculties at six universities in South-West Nigeria. 1,045 responses were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: The study found that some mobile technology-based library services were frequently used by undergraduates, while others were not. Most of the students expressed satisfaction with the services provided by their university libraries. The results of this study also showed that there is a highly positive relationship (Pearson r = 0.53) between the use of mobile technology-based library services and the information needs satisfaction of undergraduates in South-West Nigeria. Conclusion: This study concluded that with a good deployment of infrastructure, the provision of mobile technology-based library services will encourage their effective use by undergraduates and, consequently, a higher level of information needs satisfaction. The study recommended, among other things, that university library management should subscribe regularly to mobile technology-based library services to overcome some of the challenges posed by COVID-19.

An analysis of users’ continuous use intention of academic library social media using the WeChat public platform as an example

PurposeThis study aims to discover the factors which influence user satisfaction levels and their continuous use intention (CUI) of academic library social media, and then considers how to promote and improve further work on library social media to reduce user churn and increase user satisfaction.Design/methodology/approachAn updated DeLone and McLean information systems success (D&M ISS) model and the expectation confirmation model for information systems continuance (ECM-ISC) with new variables of emotions are used to examine the factors which influence user satisfaction levels and CUI of academic library social media through 445 questionnaires. Partial least squares structural equation modelling was used to analyse the data and presented in tables.FindingsThe results show that information quality, system quality and emotions affect user satisfaction and CUI, and reveal that emotions can affect that most obviously.Research limitations/implicationsThe WeChat public platform is mainly used in China, so the study only focuses on Chinese academic libraries. There are still limitations on the settings of observed variables which cannot cover all the causes of users’ positive and negative emotions. In addition, although the respondents of this questionnaire can represent academic library users, 445 samples are still fairly low in contrast to the great number of academic library WeChat public platform users.Originality/valueThis study integrates ECM-ISC and D&M ISS models, adds positive and negative emotions as new variables, to broaden the application scope of these models, and demonstrates the applicability of these two models in the fields of researching academic library social media, expanding and deepening related theories above. This also provides practical reference for academic libraries on how to improve user satisfaction and CUI of academic library social media and academic library WeChat public platforms, promoting the development of academic library social media.

Education Magazine Archive

Education Magazine Archive from ProQuest, part of Clarivate, is a digital archive of 26 magazines in the field of education, with date coverage ranging from 1910 to 2015. The titles chosen were originally aimed at teachers, policy makers, and other education professionals. Given the full-text coverage from the first volumes and issues to 2015, the Archive provides valuable access to those researching not just education but also areas such as social history, childhood studies, psychology, sociology, and politics. The Archive can be of use to a broad range of public, academic, and corporate library users. However, it will be of particular use to those institutions, like colleges and universities, with a focus on educational research and history. Institutions with multiple full-text subscriptions should compare their existing full-text access to this product before making final purchase or subscription decisions. This reviewer, for example, found an overlap greater than 60% between the Education Magazine Archive content and their library's current e-resources entitlements.

Preliminary Investigation of Sustainability Awareness and Activities among Academic Libraries in the United States

This paper explores sustainability, sustainability awareness, and how it is measured in academic libraries in the United States, and considers how assessment tools or key performance indicators (KPIs) could enhance sustainability efforts in these libraries. The American Library Association core values include sustainability, and several other associations outline the need for sustainability and provide suitable policies and guidelines surrounding sustainability for its successful implementation. However, owing to the complexity of sustainability, often only one of the issues (i.e., social equity, economic feasibility, or environmental stewardship) is addressed, with little consideration for their interactions with the other issues, and most often, is not directly assessed or measured. Therefore, this study assessed sustainability awareness and sustainability efforts and how they are measured in US academic libraries using a survey. Although a limited response was received, the results indicated that few libraries embraced sustainability holistically, with limited assessment of sustainability initiatives, and little direction from leadership. However, for sustainable solutions, it is necessary for library leadership to recommit to their values, promoting a culture of sustainability through continual assessment to benefit their communities in the long term.

Library services provision to visually-impaired users in academic libraries: A gap in the literature

The importance of providing library and information services to the visually-impaired students for educational pursuit in academic libraries cannot be ignored. This is because the students cannot use the normal facilities that their sighted counterparts uses, they require special facilities and services. This paper sought to provide a systematic review of theoretical and empirical literature about services provision for visually-impaired students in academic libraries. Reviewing the related literature focuses mainly on studies about availability of and accessibility to facilities for this category of students, perceptions about providing services for the students, training in visually-impaired services provision, accessibility to the services by the students, constraints to effective visually-impaired services provision in academic libraries as well as appraisal of reviewed literature. An in-depth account of the selected and related literature indicated that, many libraries in the university seldom provide services for the students who are visually-impaired due to limited financial and human resources, insufficient assistive technology, inadequacy of funding and absence of trained personnel among others. This category of students have limited access to many of the major required facilities and services. Furthermore, the article contributes to the growing body of knowledge and builds on existing literature in this area of study.

Preparing for the New Phygital Generation as Potential Academic Library Users in South African Higher Education

Context: Higher education and its academic support services, including academic library and information services (LIS), have continuously been challenged by new technological developments, as well as the quest for transformation toward more inclusive education. The rapid and disruptive technological changes imposed by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) heralded a new entry-level student, coined the “phygital generation.” This new generation of library users is characterised by an ever-expanding digital imprint and a preference for using mobile technology to navigate all aspects of their daily lives, including how they approach their tertiary studies. Focus: The study interrogates the readiness of information specialists to understand the nature of the phygital generation within a higher education group in South Africa. The changes in information-seeking behaviour are explored with due cognisance of the existing digital exclusions experienced by many South African students. Methodology: Through the lens of the critical theory paradigm and guided by the conceptualisations of post-digital frameworks, critical digital approaches and metacognitive frameworks, qualitative data were collected during a focus group interview. The non-probability sample was purposively selected, consisting of information specialists of a school within a higher education institution. The transcribed data were coded and thematically analysed. Key findings: Key findings show a shift in the information-seeking behaviour of new entry-level students. There is a propensity towards using mobile technology. It is evident that LIS staff in this study are not yet mobilised to accommodate this new trend by adapting existing services to be more open to accommodating mobile technology seamlessly. The participants reported that academic writing skills are affected by short messaging styles used in social media. Understanding the nature of the new phygital student and capitalising on the affordances of mobile learning will support student success. Value: Mobile LIS urgently needs to be formalised and implemented strategically with the needs of the new generation in mind. The need for further institutional reform and innovation is evident. Further research is required on plagiarism trends, copyright infringement and privacy compliance that emerged from the findings of this study.

Libraries for Tomorrow: The Use of ICT and Space Transformation in Some Academic Libraries in Ghana

Purpose-the aim of the study was to examine transformations in academic library spaces in Ghana Design/Methodology/approach-the quantitative approach was adopted for this study. Data was collected using Google Forms. A total of 98 librarians from five academic libraries in Ghana representing less than 10% of all librarians in academic libraries in Ghana. Data collected was analysed using the R 4. 0 programming Software and presented using charts and tables. Findings- Eighty-one percent (81%) of the participants agreed that their libraries were moving from ‘book-centered’ to ‘technology supported and learning centered’ libraries engineered by emerging technologies and the changing demand of academic library users. Again, it was revealed that librarians had moderate to low skills in providing advanced technological support to users in creating, capturing, editing, and sharing multimedia (video, audio, text, images) for their research, teaching, and learning purposes. Finally, results from the multinomial regression analysis with p values showed that availability of IT utilities, usability and skills of librarians were significant revealing that they have effects on the levels of library space transformation. Practical implications- The capabilities of librarians should be improved form undertaking basic computing task to providing advanced support to their users. Stakeholder and academic library management should encourage their young librarian to further their education and engage in continuous professional development programmes. Libraries should develop strategies to secure the necessary funding to implement IT facilities. Originality-The study used quantitative methods to study transformations in academic library spaces, a grey researched area in Ghana.

When Disruption is the New Normal: The Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Technical Services in US Academic Libraries

As college campuses closed for in-person classes and shifted to online instruction due to the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020, US academic libraries also scrambled to provide continued access to library services and resources to support remote learning, teaching, and research. One important question is how academic library technical services responded to the public health emergency and adapted to new challenges to continue to serve the academic community. This paper illustrates a survey study that investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on US academic library technical services units in terms of disruptions and alterations of existing normal operations. The study revealed that technical services librarians and staff made determined efforts to continue performing as much of their pre-pandemic work as possible under the challenging circumstances. Unsurprisingly, library collection building practices and collection budgets were seriously affected by the pandemic. The study also showed the limitations of institutional preparedness and response to the public health emergency. Lastly, the study explored the personal experiences and perceptions of working from home during the pandemic and found no significant changes in work productivity, motivation, or concentration.

A 10-year follow-up survey of US academic libraries highlights the COVID-19 experience and greater interest in health information outreach.

BackgroundAs follow‐up to their previous survey on health information outreach (HIO) in 2010, the authors became interested in the evolving nature of HIO activities at academic libraries within the past decade.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to understand how HIO activities at academic libraries have evolved since 2010, especially considering the current COVID‐19 pandemic.MethodsAn online survey, designed to collect quantitative data on general HIO activities and qualitative data specifically on COVID‐19 information outreach, was distributed to over 1700 librarians at US general academic and academic health science libraries.ResultsTwo hundred and fifty‐five respondents completed the survey. Quantitative findings generally paralleled the 2010 results, except in a few areas. Most notably, a greater percentage of librarians in 2020 were participating in HIO (44%) than in 2010 (37%). Qualitative findings revealed that librarians are leveraging traditional information services and implementing innovative partnerships to promote reputable health information resources on COVID‐19.DiscussionEvidence suggests that further engagement and campus partnerships can enhance libraries' supportive roles as trustworthy purveyors of quality health information.ConclusionUS academic librarians are increasingly engaging in HIO to support the health information needs of campus communities and should consider aligning outreach activities with national health goals.

Canada Commons

As the successor to the Canadian Electronic Library, Canada Commons aims to continue as a source for Canadian e-books and government and policy documents. Holdings include over 19,000 e-books, and indexation and linking to over 133,000 publications. The Canada Commons interface has a simple, appealing design that does not overwhelm the user. Built using Coherent Digital's Commons Platform, it is nearly identical in design and functionality to the company's Policy Commons database. Given the limited number of products geared for the Canadian library market, Canada Commons provides access to Canadian e-books, government and policy documents that users will not get in Gale OneFile: CPI.Q or ProQuest Canadian Business & Current Affairs (CBCA), both of which are standard databases in most Canadian academic libraries. Canada Commons will appeal to public, academic, and corporate library users.

Academic Librarians' Attitudes towards Augmented Reality

Academic Librarians' Attitudes towards Augmented Reality

Accessible services in academic libraries: a content analysis of library accessibility webpages in the United States

Purpose This paper aims to contribute to an understanding of current accessibility efforts and practice in librarianship by providing a broad overview of the information about services, resources and facilities on academic library accessibility pages. By compiling and analyzing data from 85 libraries, this study seeks to facilitate comparisons between current and past accessibility practice and to provide perspective on how libraries communicate to users about accessibility efforts across libraries.Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted a content analysis of 85 library accessibility pages from a sample population of 98 institutions, consisting of all members institutions of four US academic library consortia. Pages were coded for content elements regarding services, facilities, collections, staffing, assistive technologies and general information. Webpage features, architecture and accessibility/functionality were also assessed.Findings Libraries have broadened and strengthened efforts to publicize/provide services and resources to functionally diverse users. Pages most commonly prioritize information about assistive technologies, services and facilities. Pages varied greatly in size, complexity and detail, but public institutions' pages were more prevalent and informative than their private counterparts. Libraries can work to foreground accessibility pages and increase transparency and evidence of currency to improve communication to their users.Originality/value This study provides a large-scale content analysis of library accessibility webpages. It allows for comparison of the features and information most commonly featured on these important online points of service.

Invisible Labor, Invisible Value: Unpacking Traditional Assessment of Academic Library Value

Academic libraries face mounting pressure to demonstrate their value to stakeholders, yet traditional assessments of their financial value ignore the work of librarians and library staff in producing usable collections and services for patrons. Through a survey of US academic library workers, we examine the range, scope, and financial value of labor performed in US academic libraries. Our findings reveal ways in which traditional assessment mechanisms render this labor invisible to stakeholders. We argue that making this labor more visible will help better communicate the value of academic libraries and ignite conversations about reducing workload and stress for library workers.

Washington Hotline

Copyright permeates so many areas of academic librarianship. That’s one of the reasons ALA and the Policy Corps take an active role in advocating on behalf of academic library users on the Hill as new copyright legislation is developed. We encourage readers to keep an eye on this column in 2022 for updates on legislation related to copyright and intellectual property. The CASE Act The Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act of 2020, also known as the CASE Act, is a new law establishing a small claims system within the U.S. Copyright Office (USCO). Through this system, rightsholders will be able to bring claims of infringement against a party and, if they are found guilty of infringement, may receive up to $30,000 in compensation for the unlawful use of their copyrighted works. Three officers, appointed by the Register of Copyrights, will sit on the Copyright Claims Board (CCB) and review claims and make determinations regarding alleged infringement. While the system is described in the law as “voluntary,” it requires those who have claims brought against them to opt out of proceedings in a timely manner or face a default judgment, with limited options for appeal.

Information-seeking behavior of academic library users

Today, information has become the least needed in everyday life. For anything and everything, information is required. Information can be gathered from a variety of sources. Libraries serve as a center for always providing the right information to the right people. User studies are to be recognized as an important part of the information packages. Information providers such as libraries need to be aware of their information-seeking methods so that they might be able to provide better library services. This paper studies the information-seeking behavior of university and college library users in the university libraries and College libraries in Maharashtra state. The respondents are postgraduate students, research scholars, and staff members. Data has been collected from a sample of 900 respondents. The major objectives of the present study are to identify the library users, their need for information, their frequency of visits, the amount of time they spent in the library, their usage of formal information sources, and their usage of e-resources. The significance of the study is to analyze and evaluate facts and facets pertaining to the Information Seeking Behavior of iwomen students, scholars, andfaculty members in the university libraries in Maharashtra. The study reveals that the majority of PG students and research scholars refer to e-resources to update their general knowledge as well as current information about their subjects.

Newspapers and the Persisting Usefulness of Microfilm: A Matter of Context

ABSTRACT Microform collections have become less utilized in recent decades. Specifically, the use of newspapers on microfilm has become seemingly superfluous as more and more newspapers become available electronically. This study examines graduate student opinions of and experiences with newspaper resources on microfilm to illustrate its perception among some academic library users. It also examines published opinions from researchers on the benefits of accessing newspapers on microfilm. Through an understanding of these benefits, libraries can weigh them against microforms’ physical footprint when making decisions about the fate of these collections.

Perception and Use of OPAC by Users in Academic Libraries in Kwara State, Nigeria

Background of the study: The study investigated the use and perception of Online Public Catalogue (OPAC) by users in academic libraries in Kwara State, Nigeria.
 Purpose: The study adopted descriptive survey research method were a total number of 203 questionnaires were distributed amongst library users in both selected academic libraries. A simple random sampling technique was used for this study.
 Method: The descriptive analysis was used to analyze the collected data using frequency counts and simple percentages.
 Findings: The study revealed that majority of the respondents is aware of the existence and availability of OPAC. Although a very small percent of respondents in Unilorin and Kwara State Polytechnic got their awareness of OPAC through the library. The study also revealed that an average percent of respondents in both institutions can make use of the library OPAC effectively. Based on user’s perception of OPAC, the findings show that majority of respondents highly acknowledge OPAC, well perceived and more preferred to card catalogue. A high percent of respondents admitted that the library OPAC enable them to locate materials quickly on the shelf. However, most of the respondents showed that they are facing some challenges which include poor network services, power failure, poor assistance from the library staff etc.
 Conclusion: The researchers recommend that the library should create more awareness and effective user education for students on the use of OPAC at various levels to ensure maximum utilization of the library resources.

Location-Based Trickery: Librarian Efforts to Provide Access to Unaffiliated Users

Walk-in access for unaffiliated (walk-in) users in academic libraries is under threat. In North America, this is due to outdated technology as well as licensing changes publishers and vendors impose on libraries in the name of progress. We conducted a survey in autumn 2018 to get a snapshot of the current state of unaffiliated user access at post-secondary libraries across North America. We discuss the current state of access for walk-in users as well as current and future trends in user authentication which threaten this access. We look with a wider lens on open access, community access to paywalled research, and general access to information.