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Library Management
Journal Prestige (SJR): 0.412  Citation Impact (citeScore): 1 Number of Followers: 1098  Hybrid journal * Containing 1  Open Access article(s) in this issue *ISSN (Print) 0143-5124 - ISSN (Online) 1758-7921 Published by Emerald  [362 journals]
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- In the line of disaster: preparedness and effective response of academic
libraries in Malaysia-
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Authors: Mohd Ismail Abidin, K. Kiran, Samsul Farid Samsuddin
Abstract: This study examines the preparedness and responsiveness of Malaysian academic librarians in handling disruptions in library services during a disaster. This qualitative approach involved semi-structured interviews with decision-makers, chief librarians and library managers from five selected public universities. Thematic and qualitative data analysis produced several key themes based on (1) disaster preparedness involving policies, plans, asset protection, risk management, coordination of disaster management and preparative measures; and (2) disaster response involving strategies for information and communication access, community engagement, emergency response teams and procedures, and resource availability. The findings are expected to be useful for policymakers in formulating policies and guidelines for library disaster management plans. The interruptions of academic library services during a disaster may result in the disruption of the information sources and social information networks of students, academics and researchers alike. Effective disaster management is also the library’s responsibility to protect collections that belong to society at large. This is one of the first attempts in disaster management research to focus on the preparedness and responses of academic libraries in Malaysia in the face of disasters. Therefore, the results of this study can be used as a baseline for policymakers to prepare policies, guidelines and manuals for management in the event of a disaster.
Citation: Library Management
PubDate: 2024-08-09
DOI: 10.1108/LM-02-2024-0021
Issue No: Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print (2024)
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- Digitalization for enhancing reading habits: the improved hybrid book
recommendation system with genre-oriented profiles-
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Authors: Onur Dogan, Emre Yalcin, Ouranıa Areta Hiziroglu
Abstract: Reading habit plays a pivotal role in individuals' personal and academic growth, making it essential to encourage among campus users. University libraries serve as valuable platforms to promote reading by providing access to a diverse range of books and resources. Recommending books through personalized systems not only helps campus users discover new materials but also enhances their engagement and satisfaction with the library’s offerings, contributing to a holistic learning experience. This study presents a web-based solution, the Web-Based Hybrid Intelligent Book Recommender System (W_HybridBook), as a solution that addresses challenges like cold start issues and limited scalability by factoring in user preferences and item similarities in generating book recommendations. The paper improves the traditional hybrid system using Genre-Oriented Profiles (GOPs) instead of original rating profiles of users when determining similarities between individuals. Consumption-based genre profiles (W_HybridBook-CBP) are created by assessing whether an item has received any ratings in the dataset, and vote-based genre profiles (W_HybridBook-VBP) are generated by considering the genre categories based on the magnitude of the user’s rating. The comparative results indicated that users are quite satisfied with the recommendations generated by W\_HybridBook-VBP profiling, with an average rating of 4.0633 and a precision value of 0.7988. W\_HybridBook-VBP is also the fastest way with respect to the algorithm and recommendation run time. The proposed W\_HybridBook has been then enhanced by adopting two user profiling strategies to boost the similarity calculation process in the recommendation generation phase. This system provides ranking-based recommendations by mainly integrating well-known collaborative and content-based filtering strategies. A dataset has been collected by considering the preferences of both users and academics at Izmir Bakircay University, which is one of the universities with the highest number of books per student. More importantly, this dataset has been released and become publicly available for future research in the recommender system field.
Citation: Library Management
PubDate: 2024-08-05
DOI: 10.1108/LM-03-2024-0030
Issue No: Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print (2024)
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- Overwhelming effects of COVID-19 on public library services
and recovery perspectives-
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Authors: Jelena Ćirić, Aleksandar Ćirić
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant decline in library lending, but the response from libraries was insufficient. While researchers have provided guidelines, quantitative analysis of the extent of the impact is lacking. Here, we examine library lending trends from 2019 to 2022, comparing the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods, analyzing lending changes among adults and children and different types of literature, using a public library as a case study. This study shows a significant decrease in lending practice, especially among adults, and later recovery. Digital, fine and scientific literature gained popularity compared to other types. The research results can serve as library management guidelines in case of a new pandemic.
Citation: Library Management
PubDate: 2024-07-26
DOI: 10.1108/LM-11-2023-0114
Issue No: Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print (2024)
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- Evaluating the impact of LIS continuing professional development
programmes: a survey of university libraries in Northern India-
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Authors: Ikhlaq ur Rehman, Shabir Ahmad Ganaie
Abstract: The study examined the comprehensive assessment of the efficacy of Library and Information Science (LIS) CPD programmes in the particular setting of Indian academic libraries in Northern India. The study systematically assessed the programmes' impact on four levels: behaviour, reaction, learning, and results, using Donald Kirkpatrick’s widely recognised evaluation model. The research employed a census sampling method and a questionnaire to gather information from 177 respondents employed in university libraries. The findings demonstrated that professionals were satisfied with the CPD programmes, eager to learn more and apply their newly acquired knowledge and skills at their workplaces, and interested in applying learning to get results. Moreover, the significant factors that hindered the implementation of learning in the workplace were a lack of management support and poor IT infrastructure. The paper’s uniqueness and significance come from carefully examining the effects of CPD programmes in LIS within the particular setting of university libraries in Northern India.
Citation: Library Management
PubDate: 2024-07-24
DOI: 10.1108/LM-02-2024-0018
Issue No: Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print (2024)
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- User perceptions of ICT-based library services in the universities of
Bangladesh-
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Authors: Anita Helen
Abstract: The main purpose of this study is to explore the existing information and communication technologies (ICTs) scenario in public and private university libraries in Bangladesh. The aim of the study was to determine the use and extent of ICT implementation for collection development practices of the said institutions. The study is based on a structured questionnaire for university library users. Students' opinions have been encapsulated, and the data findings were analyzed and presented in light of the responses. For students who responded to the questionnaire, their ICT-based knowledge usage experience is not up to the mark. In general, it was found that students had limited knowledge about ICT-based resources and services. Besides this, the study also showed how to improve the entire condition and services of these libraries by adopting modern technology. This investigation reveals the situation they encountered in applying information technology and puts forward necessary recommendations that may help improve their services in the information storing and dissemination process. This study focuses on the user perceptions of ICT-based library services in university libraries in Bangladesh. It will prompt further research on user perceptions of ICT-based library services in academic libraries globally.
Citation: Library Management
PubDate: 2024-07-09
DOI: 10.1108/LM-12-2023-0123
Issue No: Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print (2024)
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- On a wing and a prayer: professional ethics and the prison library
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Authors: Kerry Wilson
Abstract: In response to instrumental cultural policy agendas in the United Kingdom, the paper explores the practice of collaborative cultural work in the criminal justice system through the lens of professional ethics in prison libraries. It seeks to balance narratives on the value of arts and culture in cross-government policy agendas with a nuanced consideration of the realities of such work in non-conventional organisational settings. “Instrumental Values: Professional ethics in collaborative cultural work” was a two-year empirical study (2017–2019), including ethnographic fieldwork in three case study sites representing prison library services in England. Following a “communities of practice” conceptual framework, research methods included participant observation of day-to-day cultural work and specific events; successive research interviews with library and prison service staff and volunteers; and interviews with key collaborating organisations from extended professional networks. Data from three prison library case studies show consistent ethical implications relating to the extent of collaborative complexity in the field and its impact on participants’ emotional resilience; navigation of the prison regime by cultural workers; consequences for emotional labour and care in the field; and the re-negotiation of ethical boundaries and practices. The research makes an original contribution to debates on the instrumental value of arts and culture via its intimate focus on prison libraries as microcosms of situated, truly integrated cultural work, both from a physical, organisational perspective and in their representation of a cross-policy function for arts and culture.
Citation: Library Management
PubDate: 2024-06-18
DOI: 10.1108/LM-04-2024-0043
Issue No: Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print (2024)
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- Factors influencing competence development of lecturers in library and
information science in Vietnam-
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Authors: Thi Kim Thoa Ninh, Hong Sinh Nguyen
Abstract: This article aims to identify and analyze the factors influencing lecturers’ need to develop their competencies in the field of Library and Information Science (LIS), with a specific focus on the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City (USSH, VNU-HCM). The study employs an interview method to collect data from lecturers on LIS at USSH, VNU-HCM. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed according to the qualitative methodology of content analysis. The results indicate that individual, organizational, disciplinary and professional factors significantly impact the competence development of LIS lecturers. Detailed information about the components of each factor, particularly the roles of professional awareness, career goals, motivation and time management skills is also provided. This article is limited by a restricted interview participant pool and a sole focus on one university. The study recommends expanding the inclusion of participants to ensure a more diverse perspective and enhance the applicability of the findings. The research findings offer valuable insights for designing policies, training programs and work environments for lecturers within educational and training institutions in the LIS field. This study provides a fresh perspective on the challenges and opportunities for developing human resources in the LIS sector in Vietnam.
Citation: Library Management
PubDate: 2024-06-14
DOI: 10.1108/LM-03-2024-0036
Issue No: Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print (2024)
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- Analyzing research data repositories (RDR) from BRICS nations: a
comprehensive study-
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Authors: K.T. Naheem, Aasif Ahmad Mir
Abstract: This study aims to examine the current status and different characteristic features of research data repositories established by BRICS nations in order to understand the research data infrastructure within BRICS countries. The data were collected from the re3data repository (http://www.re3data.org/), focusing specifically on BRICS nations. The data were analyzed to grasp the current status of research data repositories in BRICS countries. The dataset was retrieved on March 2, 2024. A total of 195 Research Data Repositories (RDRs) originating from BRICS countries were identified and selected for comprehensive analysis. As of March 2, 2024, re3data.org indexes a total of 3,192 Research Data Repositories (RDRs) worldwide, with BRICS nations contributing 195. China leads among BRICS nations, followed by India, Russia, and Brazil. Scientific and Statistical Formats are the most shared content categories, followed closely by Standard Office Documents. There is notable diversity in the subjects covered by RDRs across BRICS nations. English is the primary interface language, followed by Chinese and Portuguese. “House, tailor-made” software is widely used for creating RDRs, followed by Dataverse and DSpace. Fourteen metadata standards are found, with Dublin Core metadata being the most prevalent, followed by the DataCite Metadata Scheme. Most repositories are disciplinary, followed by institutional ones. Most repositories specify data upload types, with “restricted” being the most common, followed by closed types. Open access is predominant in data access, followed by restricted access and embargo periods, while a small number restrict access entirely. The present study will help gauge the strengths and weaknesses of the RDRs of BRICS nations and also learn how open these RDRs are for data access and upload provisions. The study contributes to a broader comprehension of the accessibility and usability of research data within the BRICS community, ultimately fostering greater transparency, collaboration, and knowledge dissemination within the scientific community, thus fostering greater innovation and advancement in research endeavors. The study provides a nuanced understanding of the research data infrastructure within BRICS nations, highlighting key trends, strengths, and areas for potential improvement.
Citation: Library Management
PubDate: 2024-06-14
DOI: 10.1108/LM-04-2024-0040
Issue No: Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print (2024)
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- Five Finger Model: an empathic alternative to the elevator speech
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Authors: Ilana Stonebraker, LuMarie Guth
Abstract: Librarians need to effectively communicate the need for space, resources and personnel, even in service or technical positions, yet librarians often lack formal leadership or strategy training on how to be most effective in advocating for the library. This paper presents the Five Finger Model as a communication strategy for training librarians on advocacy. In order to show how the Five Finger Model can be helpful, we have included two case examples from our own work contexts, which are in academic libraries. We also present guidance on how to train library staff on the model. In one example, the model was used for advocating for the library as part of the campus-level strategic planning process. In another example, the model was used to effectively market research consultations. These examples highlight how the Five Finger Model can help the communicator stay on topic and use personal stories to have a strong advocacy effect. This paper is unique in that it shows how staff training on advocacy can be impactful and useful. We believe that putting tools like the Five Finger Model into the hands of staff not only improves their effectiveness but also empowers them to see their role as true advocates for the library.
Citation: Library Management
PubDate: 2024-06-05
DOI: 10.1108/LM-12-2023-0133
Issue No: Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print (2024)
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- The influence of the reward culture on client-led service innovation in
academic libraries of Uganda
Open Access Article-
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Authors: Elizabeth Namale Kawuma Lwanga, Patrick Ngulube
Abstract: Client-led service innovation has gained currency in academic libraries owing to ever-shifting client preferences. Library clients are interested in determining which services libraries should offer to meet their information needs. Several studies have investigated service innovation or improvement in libraries with an emphasis on client involvement. However, it is not clear whether the reward culture influences client-focused service innovation in the context of Uganda. This multiple-case study triangulated data from a survey of 80 staff members, three semi-structured interviews conducted with three library heads, and data from institutional documents. Data were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively. The results indicated that the financial reward culture did not influence client-led service innovation in any way; instead, non-financial rewards had an impact. Therefore, library managers need to appreciate that clients are no longer interested in financial rewards, but rather in non-financial rewards that have enduring value. The study underscores the importance of client-led services in an information environment that has been invaded by industry 4.0 and calls upon librarians to use the opportunity to provide innovative services.
Citation: Library Management
PubDate: 2024-06-04
DOI: 10.1108/LM-11-2023-0116
Issue No: Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print (2024)
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- Contextualised dictionary literacy, information literacy and information
behaviour in the e-environment-
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Authors: Theo J.D. Bothma, Ina Fourie
Abstract: Needs for information literacy, disparities in society, bridging digital divides, richness of information sources in electronic (e-)environments and the value of dictionaries have often been propagated. To improve information sources and information literacy training, information behaviour must be understood (i.e. all information activities). This paper conceptualises new opportunities for information sources (e.g. electronic dictionaries) to all society sectors, dictionary literacy and research lenses such as lexicography to supplement information literacy and behaviour research. A scoping review of information literacy and behaviour, lexicography and dictionary literature grounds the conceptualisation of dictionary literacy, its alignment with information literacy, information activities and information behaviour and lexicography as additional research lens. Research lenses must acknowledge dictionary use in e-environments, information activities and skills, meanings of information and dictionary literacy, the value of e-dictionaries, alignment with information behaviour research that guides the development of information sources and interdisciplinary research from, e.g. lexicography – thus contextualisation. Research implications – information behaviour and information literacy research can be enriched by lexicography as research lens. Further conceptualisation could align information behaviour, information literacy and dictionary literacy. Dictionary training, aligned with information literacy training, can be informed by this paper. The value of dictionary literacy for all sectors of societies can be improved. Large bodies of literature on information behaviour and lexicography individually do not cover combined insights from both.
Citation: Library Management
PubDate: 2024-02-12
DOI: 10.1108/LM-08-2023-0082
Issue No: Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print (2024)
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- Peter J Lor: mentor and mentee unbounded
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Authors: Gwenda Thomas
Abstract: An attribute common throughout Lor’s distinguished career has been a passion for learning and continuous improvement in an approach that sets high standards, both for himself and others. Taking on the informal mantle of both mentor and mentee, these contributions have blended with no clear boundaries or timelines. Lor has been active in the library and information sector (LIS) landscape since the 1960s. A stalwart of the library and information profession, the author is being honoured by International Federation of Library Associations and Institution (IFLA) with a prestigious festschrift in recognition of a librarian who has made a sustained contribution to the library and information profession over decades with significant impact on academia, scholarship, praxis, communities and individual librarians. Lor is recognized as a lifelong mentee as evidenced by his unbounded forays into discovery driven by a natural curiosity that, in turn, shaped his approach to mentoring through teaching, instilling best practices in research methodology and significant contributions to international librarianship. Today this continues in a regular column for South African librarians, drawing from the international literature of books, libraries and information, his role as a key figure in the establishment of Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) in the 1990s, as well as experience from close involvement in developing LIS policies for post-apartheid South Africa, drafting guidelines for national library legislation and serving as IFLA Secretary-General in The Hague. This viewpoint has been an attempt to share reflections on one individual’s lifetime of influence without borders or timelines. Without doubt, Lor’s global mentorship reach remains unbounded in his approach to critical thinking and desire for continuous improvement for himself and others.
Citation: Library Management
PubDate: 2023-12-18
DOI: 10.1108/LM-10-2023-0106
Issue No: Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print (2023)
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- The global is rooted in the local: Peter Lor and international
librarianship-
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Authors: Alex Byrne
Abstract: Peter Lor’s contributions to library and information science and practice are myriad. This essay focusses on his contributions to the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). The essay recalls Lor’s achievements and draws on the author’s experience of working with him during challenging times for IFLA. Lor’s work and achievements illustrate how the global interconnectedness of the field emerges from and enlivens its local practice and that the global is in turn informed by the local. As an international Federation of library associations and libraries together with practitioners, IFLA reaches into the majority of the world’s nations. This essay demonstrates how leadership within one nation and at a global level can have far reaching results. The author was in a unique position as IFLA President-elect and then President when Lor was appointed Secretary General of the Federation. The author viewpoint is that of an insider and a colleague.
Citation: Library Management
PubDate: 2023-02-14
DOI: 10.1108/LM-11-2022-0109
Issue No: Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print (2023)
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