Utilization Of Information Resources Research Articles

INFORMATION SEEKING STRATEGIES AND FACTORS INFLUENCING INFORMATION UTILISATION BY FEMALE LIBRARIANS IN UNIVERSITIES IN KANO STATE, NIGERIA

The study investigated information seeking strategies and factors influencing information utilisation by female librarians in universities in Kano State, Nigeria. Preliminary observations showed that many female librarians do not seem to be using the library to seek required information, which may be due to lack of awareness and utilisation of library resources and services, searching skills, Internet connectivity and assistance from their male colleagues. Thus, the study set out to ascertain the information seeking strategies and identify the factors that influencing the utilisation of information resources of female librarians in universities in Kano State. The study employed qualitative methodological approach using a narrative-based design. The population comprised 10 female librarians with highest academic qualifications. The study found out that attending professional conferences, seminars and workshops, using shelf-guides to locate materials, searching e-databases, browsing Google, and seeking assistance from colleagues were the adopted strategies. It was also found that awareness of resources’ availability, conducive environment, proximity, accuracy and reliability, among others, facilitated the resources’ utilisation. Based on these findings, the study concludes that for female librarians to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently, there is a need to develop a good seeking strategies as a professional solely responsible for information processing and information services delivery to information users at different levels. Thus, the study recommended the need to provide adequate funds, organise seminars, conferences and workshops; providing solar energy as an alternative to epileptic nature of power sources, university managements should provide stable Internet connectivity.

The Impact of Scientific and Technological Information Resource Utilization on Breakthrough Innovation in Enterprises: The Moderating Role of Strategic Aggressiveness

This study aims to explore the relationship between the utilization of scientific and technological information resources and breakthrough innovation in enterprises, examining the moderating role of strategic aggressiveness in this relationship. Based on an investigation of 438,228 patent data from 2616 Chinese enterprises, we construct a theoretical framework of “strategy–capability–performance” and conduct an empirical study using a mixed-effects model. The results indicate that both the intensity and imbalance of scientific and technological information resource utilization have significant positive effects on breakthrough innovation in enterprises. Further analysis reveals that strategic aggressiveness plays a moderating role in the relationship between the utilization of scientific and technological information resources and breakthrough innovation. Additionally, heterogeneity analysis shows differences in the impact of scientific and technological information resource utilization on breakthrough innovation across different regions and ownership types. Specifically, the imbalance of scientific and technological information resource utilization in coastal areas has a greater impact on breakthrough innovation than in non-coastal areas, and the intensity of scientific and technological information resource utilization in state-owned enterprises has a greater impact on breakthrough innovation than in non-state-owned enterprises. The findings of this study provide important insights for enterprise innovation management, helping enterprises to more effectively utilize scientific and technological information resources to drive breakthrough innovation and promote sustainable and healthy development.

Utilization of ICT Resources in Teaching Chemistry in Senior Secondary Schools in Kwara State, Nigeria

Chemistry deals with the composition, properties, and uses of matter, the interaction between different matter, and the relationship between matter and energy. The utilization of Information and communication technologies in educational institutions globally has facilitated the streamlining of instructional processes, thereby fostering national stability and economic sustainability. This study investigated teachers’ utilization of ICT resources in teaching chemistry in senior secondary schools based on teachers’ gender, educational qualification, and teaching experience. The study was a descriptive research of a survey type. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 250 chemistry teachers from Kwara state, Nigeria. Five research questions were generated and answered using frequency count, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. Three hypotheses were formulated and tested using t-test and ANOVA at 0.05 level of significance. The instrument for data collection is a researcher-designed questionnaire titled Questionnaire on Utilization of ICT Resources (QUICT). Findings revealed that the available ICT resources were rarely utilized among chemistry teachers while most of the chemistry teachers do not utilize ICT resources for teaching chemistry. The study concludes that teachers’ gender, educational qualification, and teaching experience significantly influence the level of utilization of ICT resources in teaching senior school chemistry. The study recommended that the Government should ensure adequate funding to provide ICT resources in senior secondary schools as contained in the national policy on education. Chemistry teachers should endeavor to attend seminars, conferences, and workshops to update themselves on global best practices on the utilization of Information and Communication Technology resources in teaching chemistry.

The puzzle of innovation and innovation strategies in Kenyan academic libraries

PurposeThe advancement of technology has brought much uncertainty in the access and utilization of information resources in academic libraries. This research sought to determine the extent to which academic libraries in Kenya engage in innovation and use innovative strategies. In addition, this study aims to identify the specific innovation practices and strategies used by these libraries to ensure they effectively address users’ information needs and remain relevant within the Kenyan context.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopted a qualitative research design. Data was collected using face-to-face interviews that targeted key personnel in the academic library system, including the university librarian, the circulation librarian and the digital/systems librarian. In total, 21 respondents were interviewed in this study. Additional data was gathered by examining primary documents such as academic library policies, university websites and library brochures, among other sources. The study used purposive sampling techniques to select the population sample and the theoretical saturation to determine the sample size.FindingsThe study revealed a pressing need for change in the academic library landscape in Kenya. It established that the concept of innovation and innovation strategies is still new in academic libraries in Kenya, and libraries are still confined to traditional and routine duties. There is a lack of appropriate strategies for enhancing innovation practices/strategies in academic libraries. The paper, therefore, strongly recommends the reorganization of academic libraries in Kenya.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is the first to analyze innovation strategies and practices in academic libraries in Kenya. This study sheds light on the puzzles facing most academic libraries in Kenya regarding innovation and innovation strategies. It introduces the importance of academic libraries to embrace innovation as a strategy to avoid disruptive innovation.

Student’s Information Literacy Cultivation Approaches in Higher Technical and Vocational Education in China: A Review

Higher technical and vocational education is based on the logic of technology application and skill training, highlighting the application and implementation of professional technology and the actual process of the skills. Essential goals for the talent development of higher technical and vocational education in China now include fostering the information literacy of these students and preparing them to live and learn in an information-based society. To investigate the strategies for cultivating students’ information literacy in higher technical and vocational education context, 23 publications between 2014-2023 were reviewed by a qualitative systematic literature review. To drive the results, an inductive analytical method was employed. Analysis of results yielded four primary approaches to students’ information literacy cultivation: (1) integrating information literacy into professional courses, (2) enhancing the utilisation of information resources, (3) establishing a proper information literacy evaluation system, and (4) integrating information literacy into employment perspective. Articles increased significantly in the past five years, which showed the importance of information literacy education in vocational education in China to fulfil the rising demands of society in the Information Age.

Analysing Library and Information Science Articles Using Topic Modeling Approaches

Identifying trends in research through co-citation or content analysis of journal contents is quite a common practice in LIS research. In this study, however, we proposed the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), a popular topic-modeling approach for identifying research trends of published articles in three Scopus-indexed Indian LIS journals. A total of 1213 titles & their abstracts published between 2011 and 2022 have been considered. From these data, a corpus of frequently used 15 key phrases was identified from each journal using Count Vectorizer and then ten topics having higher coherence scores were extracted from each journal corpus using LDA techniques to understand to what extent these topics are different in these journals. The analysis of the study indicates that ‘Library users’ studies’ especially in academic libraries; and ‘bibliometric indicators for measuring research growth are a few common topics in these journals and, technological innovation; utilisation of electronic and print information resources; library management; or network analysis are some of the topics that are journal specific. From the t-SNE visualisation and pyLDAvis diagram, it was seen that the topics of DJLIT are significantly unique with discrete distributions than the other two journals. On analysing the growth of the top ten topics longitudinally, it was seen that research on digital libraries, analysing the global output, online search strategy, ranking universities, etc. are concurrent interests of research among researchers while academic library resources, including electronic resources and its use, open access are among diminishing research interests of authors. Since the topic-modeling approach can provide results devoid of bias, it can be used to identify research land scape longitudinally as well as obsolescence of topic in a domain.

The characteristics and functionalities of citizen-led disaster response through social media: A case study of the #HenanFloodsRelief on Sina Weibo

Using the topic of #HenanFloodRelief on Sina Weibo during the 2021 Henan floods as a case study, this research adopts a combination of social network analysis, content analysis, and text analysis to explore the characteristics and roles of public participation in disaster response through social media. The findings show that under the #HenanFloodRelief topic, the public was mainly involved in emergency response by posting help and rescue information, updating disaster information, and providing contact details for resource coordination. They also expressed emotions to reflect post-disaster social psychology, providing an emotional basis for social mobilization. Public and organizational participation demonstrated different characteristics, exhibiting the advantages of spontaneity and firsthand information. In contrast, organizational participation reflected professionalism and played a more significant role in providing emotional comfort and mobilization. The research demonstrates the vital role of social media in enabling public participation in disaster response while pointing out the potential risks of the public utilizing information resources for online relief efforts, highlighting the need for further research into effective information verification methods. This study provides a Chinese case to examine public participation in disaster response and offers insights into this field of research.

From textbooks to online sources: An Investigation of drug information resource preference and utilization among healthcare Professionals

BackgroundProviding drug information (DI) is one of the essential pharmaceutical care services. Previous research has documented varying DI preferences and utilization practices among Healthcare Professionals (HCPs). This study aimed to determine the preference and utilization of DI resources among HCPs and identify the main barriers that impede their ability to utilize them. MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted in selected government, private hospitals, and primary healthcare clinics. A thirteen-item survey instrument was developed to assess the utilization, accessibility, preferences, and satisfaction with various DI resources and barriers. HCPs meeting the inclusion criteria were identified and contacted. The collected data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 27. Results311 responses were considered for the final analysis. Most HCPs who contributed to this survey were pharmacists, nurses, and physicians. Google was the most frequently used reference resource, at 64.3% (n = 200), followed by other subscription-based databases at 36% (n = 112) and package inserts at 30.5% (n = 95). UpToDate was the most commonly used database, i.e., 42.1% (n = 131) (RII = 0.749196). Treatment was the most common category of DI, and 69.8% (n = 217) searched (RII = 0.899517). Lack of time, 46% (n = 201), was the most limiting factor for seeking DI. Variables such as work experience, practice setting, education level, and continuing medical education hours were the significant (p < 0.05) predictors of some DI utilization components and preferences. ConclusionThis study shows differences in preference and utilization of drug information resources (DIR) by HCPs, depending upon their clinical practice and background. Therefore, educational strategies are needed to empower HCPs about DIR.

Librarians’ Indices And Utilization Of Electronic Information Resources In Bowen University Iwo

This study determined the Librarians’ Indices on Utilization of Electronic Information Resources in Bowen University Iwo. Three research questions and three null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The study covered librarians’ (academic librarians) of Bowen University Iwo. Ex-post facto research design was used for the study. The population of the study was 7 academic librarians’. Census sampling technique was used for the study; and a sample size of 7 academic librarians was used. The instrument titled “Librarians’ Indices and Utilization of Electronic Information Resources Questionnaire (LIUEIRQ)” was developed by the researcher and validated by three librarians. Cronbach Alpha reliability method was used to compute the reliability of the research instrument which yielded a co-efficient of .72. The data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation for research question 1- 3, and t-test was used to test null hypotheses 1- 3. All the null hypotheses were tested at .05 level of significance. The findings indicated that librarians’ indices influenced the level of utilization of electronic information resources in Bowen Universities Iwo. The study concluded that Librarians’ Indices are significant determinants for the influence in the utilization of electronic information resources in Bowen University Iwo. Librarians’ indices and utilization of electronic information resources in Bowen University Iwo is very crucial for acquiring current, timely, relevant and up-to-date electronic information resources for academic activities. Based on the findings, the study recommended among others, that the librarians’ indices should not be barrier on their utilization of electronic information resources. Every librarian should be able and interested in making use of electronic information resources no matter of their status

Significance of Librarians’ Work Experience and ICT Skills on Effective Utilization of Information Resources

This study determined the Significance of Librarians' Work Experience and ICT Skills in the Effective Utilization of Information Resources at Federal University Otuoke. Two objectives, research questions, and null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The study covered academics. An ex-post facto research design was used for the study. The population of the study was ten academic librarians. A census sampling technique was used for the study and a sample size of 10 academic librarians was used. The data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation for research questions 1-2 and a t-test was used to test null hypotheses 1-2. All the null hypotheses were tested at 05 levels of significance. The findings indicated that librarians' characteristics influenced the utilization of electronic information resources. The study concluded that Librarians' work experience and ICT skills are determinants for the influence of effective Utilization of information resources. Librarians' work experience and ICT skills in utilizing information resources are crucial for acquiring current, timely, relevant, and up-to-date electronic information resources for academic activities. Based on the findings, the study recommended that the librarians' work experience and ICT skills be open to Utilizing information resources. Every librarian should be able and interested in using information resources regardless of their status.

Utilization of Information Resources and Students’ Academic Performance in Tertiary Institutions in Cross River State, Nigeria

This research aims to explore the utilization of information resources and its impact on the academic performance of students in tertiary institutions in Cross River State, Nigeria. The study will be conducted in the context of the increasing reliance on information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the education sector. The objectives of this research are: Examine the relationship between adequacy of information resources and students’ academic performance in tertiary institutions in Cross River State, examine the relationship between organization of information resources and students’ academic performance in tertiary institutions in Cross River State and examine the relationship between accessibility of information resources and students’ academic performance in tertiary institutions in Cross River State To achieve these objectives, a descriptive (quantitative) approach was employed. A survey was administered to a sample of students from various tertiary institutions in Cross River State. The survey gathered data on students' awareness and availability of information resources and their frequency of utilization for academic purposes. The data collected from the survey were analyzed using appropriate statistical techniques using descriptive statistics, such as frequencies and percentages, to determine the level of awareness, availability, and utilization of information resources. Correlation and regression analysis were employed to examine the relationship between the utilization of information resources and students' academic performance. The results of this study led to the conclusion that utilization of information resources has a strong, significant and positive relationship with students’ academic performance in tertiary institutions in Cross River State. Also, the independent variables: adequacy, organization and accessibility of information resources of the study shared a significant relationship with academic performance of students in tertiary institutions. Thus, for academic library (librarians) to continue to serve their essence in sustaining students’ academic performance, care must be taken to ensure that library resources are adequate, well organized and accessible to all students of the academic community. Based on the result of the study, the following recommendations were made: That tertiary institutions and academic libraries should set-up principles for evaluation of students’ level of utilization of information resources in order to ascertain to what extent library resources are utilized and do something about it and that academic librarians should periodically review library resources to check their level of adequacy, organization and accessibility so that their role would be significant in promoting effective utilization of information resources and academic performance of students in tertiary institutions.

대학생을 위한 진로 자기주도성 향상 프로그램 개발

Objectives The purpose of this study is to develop a career self-direction improvement program for university students and to verify the effectiveness of the program.&#x0D; Methods To this end, first of all, prior research related to university students' career self-direction was explored, and the purpose and goal of the program, and the specific session content and method of progress of the program were determined. The effectiveness test of the program was conducted on 40 students from universities in the metropolitan area from March 2, 2023 to June 16, 2023. First, 20 people were assigned to each of the ex-perimental group and the control group, and then a career self-directed program was applied to the experimental group. The university student career self-direction scale (Ji-eun Choi, Yong-sun Cho, 2022a) was used as a tool for verifying the effectiveness of the program.&#x0D; Results As a result of the study, there were significant differences between the experimental group and the con-trol group in all seven sub-factors of career self-direction (career self-understanding, career responsibility, con-tinuity of career exploration, career acceptance, career information search and resource utilization, career autono-my, and career confidence). In particular, the experimental group showed distinct changes in the area of career information search, resource utilization, and career self-understanding.&#x0D; Conclusions This study is significant in that it develop a career self-direction improvement program for university students and verified its effectiveness by paying attention to the variable of career self-direction that was not found in previous studies. Through the developed program, it is expected that university students in uncertain work environments will be able to develop their careers on their own.

Users' Awareness, Utilization, and Satisfaction with Online Library Information Resources and Services

Libraries are the support system for the academic success of students and teachers. These have been proven when libraries were greatly affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a shift from on-site to online library services, and various library innovations were implemented to support the academic community despite the COVID-19 pandemic challenges. This study examined the online library information resources and services at Carlos Hilado Memorial State University in terms of users' awareness, utilization, and satisfaction. A researcher-made questionnaire was used, validated by five (5) experts in research and library and information science, and 374 students participated. The instrument's reliability was strong, with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.910. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in data analysis. Mean, standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson's r were the statistical tools used. The results showed a high level of awareness of online library information resources and services, and the users often utilized these resources and services. Users were very satisfied with the resources and services, indicating that their needs were effectively met. Furthermore, there is a significant difference in the users' level of awareness and satisfaction when grouped according to age, year level, campus, and frequency of library usage, and no significant difference when grouped according to their sex. However, there is no significant difference in the users' extent of utilization when grouped according to age, sex, year level, campus, and frequency of library usage. As to the correlation, there is a significant relationship between users' level of awareness and their extent of utilization of online library information resources and services.

Research Knowledge Management using Mobile Technologies: Challenges and Solutions at the National Museum of Kenya

Knowledge is widely acknowledged as a pivotal asset, and various perspectives underscore the significance of effectively marshaling, deploying, and sharing knowledge within an organization for achieving organizational success. The National Museum of Kenya (NMK) was established with the primary goal of enriching knowledge and facilitating sustainable utilization of research information resources by stakeholders. However, the increasing diversification of knowledge sources has rendered content creation and knowledge management processes complex and laborious. Consequently, this complexity has resulted in inefficiencies throughout the knowledge management process, leading to inadequacies and disorganization. Despite the adoption of knowledge management systems, the integration of mobile phone technology in research activities at the museum has been neglected. This study aimed to scrutinize knowledge management practices at the NMK through the use of mobile apps, examine the associated challenges, and propose viable solutions. The study’s objectives were to investigate the challenges faced by researchers in generating knowledge and recommend feasible mobile technological solutions to address these challenges. The study was guided by the Knowledge Management Process Model, and employed a qualitative case study approach. The target population comprised researchers, knowledge managers, and ICT staff at the museum. Since this study was purely qualitative, data collection was achieved through interviews, and analyzed using narrative methods. The findings indicated that the NMK has implemented web-based systems supporting knowledge management activities. However, mobile phone technology has not been incorporated into any aspect of the museum’s knowledge management support tools. The study highlighted challenges such as; delayed data acquisition, misplacement of specimens, time consuming processes, data inaccuracies, and inefficiencies in knowledge management processes. Further, it was established that relying solely on web-based systems limits the flexibility of researchers in adapting to dynamic field conditions. Thus, this study recommends integrating mobile technologies into the knowledge management process at the National Museum of Kenya as a solution to the highlighted challenges. Mobile apps, known for their effectiveness and reliability, particularly in remote areas, offer a practical solution. This integration empowers researchers with more accessible and versatile tools, fostering improved content creation and knowledge management while ensuring inclusivity and efficiency, even in resource-constrained environments.

Coping Mechanisms Among Patients with Terminal Illnesses

Patients with terminal illnesses face multifaceted challenges that affect their emotional, physical, and social well-being. Understanding how these patients cope with the complexities of their condition is crucial for improving healthcare support and interventions. This study aims to explore the various coping mechanisms employed by terminally ill patients and to identify the main themes of these strategies. A qualitative research design was utilized for this study, focusing on semi-structured interviews with 24 terminally ill patients. Interviews were conducted until theoretical saturation was achieved, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the experiences discussed by participants. Data analysis was performed using NVivo software to facilitate the thematic analysis and to identify recurrent patterns in the coping strategies described. Four main themes were identified in the study: Emotional Coping, Physical Coping, Social Support, and Practical Management. Emotional Coping included categories such as Acceptance, Denial, Expression, Spiritual Coping, and Distraction. Physical Coping was characterized by Pain Management and Routine Maintenance. Social Support emerged strongly with subthemes like Family Involvement, Peer Support, and Professional Help. Practical Management involved Information Seeking, Healthcare Navigation, Resource Utilization, Legacy Activities, and Future Planning. Each category was supported by specific concepts illustrating the patients’ coping strategies. The study revealed a broad spectrum of coping mechanisms that are critical for managing the challenges posed by terminal illnesses. These mechanisms span emotional, physical, social, and practical domains, highlighting the need for a holistic approach in the care and support of terminally ill patients. Healthcare providers should consider these diverse coping strategies when designing and implementing care plans to enhance patient well-being and quality of life.

Research on Public Sector Information Resource Management Innovation in the Age of Digital Economy

Abstract As strategic resources, public sector information resources are increasingly in demand in the information society in the era of the digital economy, and their configuration and management have gradually become a hot topic of concern for the government and society. To enhance the management efficiency and information-sharing ability of public sector information resources, a public sector information resource management system is established with the support of information technology. A public sector information resource data encryption transmission scheme is created through the combination of cloud platform technology for integrated management of information resources and a key encapsulation mechanism. The public sector information resource sharing scheduling model is designed with the optimization objective of maximizing the utilization of information resources, and the fireworks optimization algorithm is used to optimize its fitness value function to obtain the optimal information resource sharing scheduling strategy. When the encrypted transmission of public sector information resources is carried out, the probability of information leakage is only 1.28%, and the information protection efficiency is up to 7.88%. The throughput of the sharing model for information resources can be up to 533.78MB, and the communication overhead for sharing information resources is less than 20%. The establishment of a public sector information resource management system based on information technology effectively enhances the management efficiency of information resources in the public sector and promotes the efficient sharing of information resources.

Big data analysis and application of library information resources

Abstract This study explores the application of extensive data analysis to library information resources, focusing on enhancing the efficiency of resource utilization and user satisfaction through personalized recommendation services. We employ cluster analysis algorithms, and least squares support vector machines to model library users’ borrowing behaviors. Additionally, we use the Apriori algorithm and collaborative filtering to recommend books effectively. This study’s experimental outcomes show a notable 11.36% increase in the index of network resource demand satisfaction, indicating a significant enhancement in the library’s ability to meet resource update demands. The adoption of big data analytics has been instrumental in advancing library information management and expanding extensive data services. The findings underscore the pivotal role of big data in enhancing the efficiency of information resource utilization and elevating user satisfaction, mainly through personalized recommendations.

학교 컨설턴트의 의사소통 역량 모델 개발: Schein의 과정 컨설팅을 중심으로

The competency of school consultants’ is one of the major factors for successful school consulting. Specifically, the communication competency of school consultants is emphasized as a core competency because it is critical for the principle and process of consulting. This study aims to define the competency of school consultants, with a specific focus on elucidating the educational communication competency based on Schein’s Process Consultation perspective.&#x0D; The competency of school consultants can be categorized into common competency and professional consulting competency as a consultant. The common competency of school consultants includes communication, interpersonal relationship, synthetic thinking, utilization of information resources and technology, and self-management competency. The consulting competency consists of field specialty on school field and school education, process specialty for consulting principles and methodologies, and consulting ethics meaning confidentiality, sincerity, and autonomy in consulting.&#x0D; The communication competency of school consultant is classified as common competency, and consists of general communication and educational communication competency which has been derived from Schein’s consultation principles. The general communication competency includes writing, speaking, reading, and listening ability for effective delivery and understanding of messages, and discussion and moderation ability for narrowing the gap of opinions.&#x0D; The educational communication competency is composed of sub-factors that identify the purpose and content of communication based on Schein's consulting principles: 1) awareness of the importance of forming mutually helpful relationships and communication, 2) presentness of communication based on consultee’s now-here, 3) accuracy of communication, 4) awareness of the intervention influence, 5) consultee's agency and learning, 6) giving the consultee time to understand the situation and context and to provide feedback, 7) timeliness that captures important opportunities to increase the effectiveness of the intervention, 8) confronting intervention that changes the perspective of the consultee facing a constrained situation, 9) recognizing negative reactions and errors consultant's intervention and using them as data for effective consulting, 10) acknowledging the consultant's own limitations and sharing problem situations with consultee.&#x0D; This study is significant in developing a school consultants’ competency model and, in particular, deriving education communication competency, by identifying the educational meaning of communication in overall school consulting focusing on problem solving and consultant learning, which are the goals of Schein’s Process Consultation. However, this study could not deal with the whole competency of school consultant and has focused on the education communication competency, therefore, the relationships and complementary aspects with general communication competency, other common competency, and consulting competency, were not fully revealed.

Guest editors’ notes

We are excited to note that IASSIST’s Africa chapter has continued to grow bigger and stronger. After a successful first IASSIST Africa Regional Workshop in Uganda during January 2021, a second IASSIST Africa Regional Workshop took place in Ibadan, Nigeria in West Africa October 4th through October 7th, 2022. We are delighted to share with you the papers in this issue, most of which were presented at the second IASSIST Africa Regional Workshop at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. The first paper unpacks the application of emerging technologies for research support in academic libraries in the modern era. The authors are Dr. Sophia V. Adeyeye and Taofeek Abiodun Oladokun who explain how emerging technologies offer innovative ways of supporting research activities. These emerging technologies provide tools and resources that streamline the research process and ensure proper visibility for the research outputs of academic libraries’ clients. The article explores various areas where academic libraries can apply emerging technologies such as data mining, data management, artificial intelligence, library automation and scholarly communication, among others. The article further highlights the setbacks academic libraries in Nigeria are facing in the application of emerging technologies such as lack of infrastructure, librarians’ skills, and negative attitude towards change. The second article, authored by Ms. Akinyoola Oladoyin Grace, is titled” Knowledge and perception of librarians towards cloud-based technology in academic libraries in Southwest, Nigeria”. In this paper the author reveals that librarians in academic libraries in Southwest Nigeria are familiar with and use cloud-based technologies. However, the librarians seem to have a negative attitude towards the use of these technologies. Therefore, there is a need for a staff development program that would enable the librarians to keep pace with the latest technologies. Such a program could be funded by government and executed through seminars, conferences, and workshops so as to enhance the librarians’ skills with cloud-based technologies. The third paper presents the preservation of election data and security in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Election malfeasance and violence have been experienced in Nigerian political systems since 1959. In this paper Sunday Tunmibi and Wole Olatokun explore how the world’s gradual move into the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) could be harnessed to ensure the preparation of free and fair elections. The paper suggests specific 4IR technological solutions to electoral data security and preservation challenges. It also suggests policies to serve as catalysts for the Independent National Electoral Commission. Suggested policies for 4IR technologies relate to artificial intelligence, big data, internet of things, robotics, block chain, cloud computing and 3-D printing. These are the 4IR technologies that dictate the pace of activities in all walks of life including security and managing a free and fair national election. In the fourth paper Ologbosere Oluwatosin Abiodun discusses the significance of data literacy in the era of big data. It emphasizes the role of big data as a fundamental building block of truth focusing on the emergence of data literacy. Data literacy is a crucial subset of information literacy necessary for navigating the virtual landscape. Essential data literacy skills that are needed for navigating the dynamic twenty-first-century environment are highlighted. Integrating data literacy into higher educational programs, particularly in libraries, is stressed for relevance in meaningful information resource utilization. This paper shows how the integration of data literacy in higher education emphasizes the critical role of data literacy in the context of economic growth, development and informed decision-making and fosters sustainable development. In the fifth paper titled ”Data protection and right to privacy legislation in Kenya”, author Andrew Matoke Mankome articulates how the Parliament of Kenya enacted the Data Protection legislation in November 2019. This new law guaranteed the right to privacy as a fundamental right. Data Protection and citizens’ right to privacy is now a topical concern in Kenya and around the world. This paper expounds how the new law comes at a time when data security and privacy concerns are prevalent and lack of them result in loss of reputation and identity; safety concerns; legal penalties; and compensation for damages or loss of business. This is mainly because of the increasing globalization, cross-border transactions, internet penetration, and the use of social media and digital platforms among citizens, private institutions, and governments. This paper reviews the crucial provisions of the Data Protection law which covers regulated actions seeking compliance by data controllers and processors under the stewardship of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner ('ODPC'). A comparative analysis of the practice in other jurisdictions is also provided.

Shared style linear k nearest neighbor classification method

While previous linear k nearest neighbor methods have demonstrated strong generalization capability for ordinary datasets, they often fail to achieve comparable generalization capability when applied to stylistic datasets due to the unique characteristics of this type of datasets. Additionally, when multiple testing samples share a certain style characteristic, both the traditional k nearest neighbor method and evolved versions of the linear k nearest neighbor method tend to ignore the shared style in the testing sample set, leading to inefficient utilization of information resources. In order to address these issues, we propose a new classification method called Shared Style Linear kNearest Neighbor (SSL-KNN), which enhances the generalization capability of the linear k nearest neighbor method on stylistic datasets. The proposed method is motivated by the observation that one can better determine the class of a collection of homogeneous samples by evaluating their overall style, rather than simply aggregating individual sample judgments. The proposed method achieves this goal and two additional goals: a) we obtain the style membership vectors of the testing samples with different classes of the training samples in order to seek a guarantee of the generalization capability on the stylistic datasets; b) we introduce a Gaussian kernel distance metric constraining the linear expression weights in order to seek a guarantee of the generalization capability on the ordinary datasets. Furthermore, we propose an alternating optimization strategy implemented to optimize the proposed SSL-KNN method. Finally, we evaluate the proposed method and the comparative methods on 15 benchmark datasets containing both ordinary and stylistic datasets. The results show that the proposed SSL-KNN method guarantees good generalization capability on both ordinary and stylistic datasets.