Library services enriching community engagement for dementia care: The Tales & Travels Program at a Canadian Public Library as a case study

Growing dementia-friendly library services are contributing to community-based dementia care. Emerging community programs in libraries and museums provide notable opportunities for promoting engagement and inclusivity, but these programs have yet to receive in-depth assessments and analyses to guide future research and practice. This paper presents a case study examining a social and storytelling program for people with dementia run by a Canadian public library. It investigates two research questions: How can public library programs contribute to community-based dementia care? And what are public libraries' strengths and challenges in running programs for people with dementia? The study involves participant observations of the program and semi-structured interviews with people with dementia, caregivers, and program facilitators (librarians and Alzheimer Society coordinators). Through thematic analysis of fieldnotes and transcripts, the study reveals how this inclusive platform supports engagement, fosters relationships, helps caregivers, and reaches broader communities. This research further uncovers the librarians' diversified roles as demonstrated through their collaboration with professionals, preparation and research, and facilitation of the sessions. This paper advances librarianship research on enriching community-based dementia care, including furthering inclusivity and engagement and extending accessible library services. By analyzing library programming for the dementia community and assessing its strengths and challenges, the paper highlights librarians' awareness of the community's evolving needs and their collaboration with other professionals. It offers practical insights on useful resources and emerging best practices that will hopefully inspire other initiatives in which information professionals can help improve the well-being of vulnerable populations.

Introducing peer-to-peer reference services in a community college library

Purpose

The authors discuss the challenges and successes in implementing a peer reference service model in a community college library.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors present a case study about the development of a peer reference service at a community college library. The article includes a chronological overview of the program, a brief literature review, the authors’ own observations, interviews with student employees, comments from librarians working with the students and reference service data. They reviewed local reference service data, conducted a limited review of the literature, interviewed librarians at a university with a peer reference assistance program and incorporated their own observations to create the Pellissippi Ambassadors for Library Success program.

Findings

Findings suggest that peer reference services benefit student employees, student researchers and librarians.

Research limitations/implications

The article does not include a comprehensive literature review.

Originality/value

The study discusses peer reference services in a community college library setting and can be of use to librarians implementing peer reference services.

Indicators for Modernising the LIS Internship: Evidences from a systematic literature review

This systematic literature review was conducted to analyse the existing literature on the internship programme in library and information science (LIS) education. The review was guided by the RAMESES (Realist and Meta-Narrative Evidence Syntheses: Evolving Standards) method. The data source was Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar. In addition to the three main phases of the review process, mainly identification, screening, and eligibility, data abstraction and analysis are also reported. Findings reveal that studies on LIS internship have focused on satisfaction, educational benefits, educational setting, programme design and roles of the stakeholders involved in internship programmes. Modernising the LIS Internship programme requires a focus on the design of the programme structure with an emphasis on the learning outcomes relating to career readiness. Collaborative learning, service-learning and personal objectives are found to be beneficial. However, there is also an increasing demand for needs of the stakeholders and not just the student-centred learning. Further works into the assessment of the learning outcomes is recommended by the literature.

Risky (information) business: an informational risk research agenda

Purpose

The purpose of this conceptual paper is to suggest that the growing sociocultural theorisation of risk calls for a more robust research focus on the role that information and in particular, information literacy, plays in mediating hazards and danger.

Design/methodology/approach

Starting by tracing how information has been conceptualised in relation to risk through technoscientific, cognitive and sociocultural lenses, the paper then focuses on emerging sociocultural understandings of risk to present a research agenda for a renewed sociocultural exploration of how risk is shaped through the enactment of information literacy.

Findings

The paper identifies and examines how information literacy shapes four key aspects of risk, including risk perception, risk management, risk-taking and “at-risk” populations. These four aspects are further connected through broader themes of learning, identity, work and power, which form the basis of the sociocultural risk research agenda.

Originality/value

This paper is the first study bringing together the many understandings related to how risk is informed and establishes risk as a key area of interest within information literacy research.

“We Collect TONS of Data … We Report What We Think Our Community Cares the Most About … We Learn so Much from It:” School Librarians’ Evidence Collection and Sharing Practices

Evidence-based practice (EBP) offers school librarians a systematic process for developing, assessing, and revising their school library programs. Two of the seven steps in this process involve collecting and sharing meaningful evidence with appropriate stakeholders, often for advocacy purposes, strategically selecting communication channels and methods aligned with target audiences. Through a survey collecting both quantitative and qualitative data, 161 school librarians in Kentucky, Virginia, and Texas shared their experiences with evidence-based practice. The study reported here focuses on school librarians’ evidence collection and sharing practices. Findings indicate school librarians collect easily obtainable data and share evidence of practice widely; however, they are most likely to share with building-level administrators, and the channels through which they communicate with school personnel differ from those chosen to communicate with other stakeholder groups. Approximately half of participants share evidence for advocacy purposes, and only slightly more than half share evidence of their practice with other school librarians.

Perceptions of employers in South Africa on library and information science graduates' skills, knowledge and competencies on digital scholarship

The Library and Information Science (LIS) profession is ever evolving partly as a result of the effects of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. For instance, new job requirements on digital scholarship have been noted across the LIS profession, especially in the academic and special research council libraries. Based on these changes, employers of LIS graduates expect that LIS graduates from LIS schools possess digital scholarship knowledge and skills as part of their exit attributes. This paper explores the perceptions of employers of LIS graduates on digital scholarship education. A construct from the Gap Service Quality Model was used as the conceptual framework of the study. The paper followed the interpretive philosophical perspective, through employing a qualitative approach to achieve the aim of the study. A multiple case study design using semi-structured interviews was conducted with directors of both academic and special research council libraries. Five directors were selected purposively as their libraries seemed to be on the forefront of digital scholarship initiatives. It was revealed that employers expected LIS qualifications to have content on digital scholarship. The study discovered that employers of digital scholarship librarians expected them to possess knowledge, skills, and competencies on digital scholarship-related activities. The other expectation was that graduates were supposed to be able to navigate digital scholarship activities at a basic level. Employers of digital scholarship librarians also expected graduates to be familiar with research data management and the ecosystem of digital publications. The survey also highlighted certain difficulties LIS employers had when hiring a LIS graduate. The study recommended that LIS schools should recurriculate to include content on digital scholarship. It was also recommended that LIS schools should have short courses on digital scholarship to cater for practising librarians. Librarians must be involved in lifelong learning in order to understand digital scholarship.

Why do people not attend public library programs in the current digital age? A mix method study in Hong Kong

Purpose

The study aims to investigate the characteristics of the current situation of library programs and explore the possible reasons behind the low participation in Hong Kong. It focuses on the development of library programs in the era of digital technology, which can lead to discussion and reflections on the further development of library programs with innovative technology services.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applied a mixed-method research approach to investigate the current situation of library programming and the reasons for low participation in Hong Kong. The first part analyzes the characteristics of library programs offered by the Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) through data collection from the HKPL website. The second part of this study investigated the reasons behind the low participation in library programs through quantitative research through an online survey.

Findings

The findings show that current library programs were dominated by reading activities and children's programs to a great extent, which both users and non-users are not very interested in. Further, most respondents expressed more interest in cultural and leisure events and hands-on activities (especially new technologies related) than traditional library programming. Many lapsed and non-users chose not to attend the library programs for boredom and uselessness. As a result, there is a need for HKPL to adjust its services to stay relevant to the needs and interests of local communities.

Originality/value

Scant studies explored the reasons behind non-users of public library programs, especially in Asia. This research contributes to the literature by analyzing and proposing the characteristics of the current situation of library programs and exploring the possible reasons behind the low participation in Hong Kong.

A Systematic Narrative Review of Implementation, Processes, and Outcomes of Human Library

First started in Denmark in 2000, Human Library (HL) has been adopted by different communities around the world. It is an innovative approach that engages "readers" from the general public to have collaborative conversations with "books" from minority or marginalized communities to learn about their lived experiences and reduce public stigma and stereotypes. While the HL is popularized, its research base and implementation structure remain limited. This systematic narrative review aims to review the HL literature to (1) summarize the design, implementation, processes, and outcomes of existing HL programs and (2) synthesize recommendations for future implementation of more effective, ethical, and sensible HL. A systematic search in eight electronic databases yielded 23 journal articles and book chapters about HL published from 2010 to 2022. The identified literature demonstrated variations in format, venue, scale, preparation, and recruitment. A wide range of books with different social identities and from different cultural groups were reported, while readers were mostly from university and school communities. Reduced prejudices and improved attitudes were reported in readers, while both readers and books reported various facets of personal growth. Future HL using implementation guidelines with clearly articulate ethical considerations and diverse rigorous research methodologies are recommended.

Accessibility engineering in web evaluation process: a systematic literature review

Several works of literature contributed to the web evaluation process in recent years to promote digital inclusion by addressing several accessibility guidelines, methods, processes, and techniques. Researchers have investigated how the web evaluation process could be facilitated by including accessibility issues to obtain an inclusive and accessible solution to improve the user experience and increase user satisfaction. Three systematic literature reviews (SLRs) have been conducted in the context of past research, considering such research focuses. This paper presents a new SLR approach concerning accessibility in the web evaluation process, considering the period from 2010 to 2021. The review of 92 primary studies showed the contribution of publications on different phases of the web evaluation process mainly by highlighting the significant studies in the framework design and testing process. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study focused on the web accessibility literature reporting the engineering assets for evaluation of new accessible and inclusive web-based solutions (e.g., websites). Besides, in this study, we aim to provide a new direction to the web designers and developers with an updated view of process, methods, techniques, tools, and other crucial aspects to contribute to the accessible process enrichment, as well as depict the gaps and challenges that may be worthy to be investigated in the future. The findings of this SLR introduce a new dimension in web accessibility research on determining and mitigating the research gap of web accessibility issues for web designers, developers, and other practitioners.

The airing of grievances: A look at complaint behavior in library reddit

Social media platforms have been adapted into society in various ways during last two decades. Few studies have examined social media content from the perspective of the individual library professional, and in particular, from librarians’ social media posts about their work. This research explores social media complaints from library professionals to reveal insights into the areas of concern related to libraries as expressed in an informal, discursive style. Reddit data from three library subReddits was collected through a Python script. A total of 272 complaint posts with enough information were coded manually. A computational tool, Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC), was also used to extract linguistic characteristics of each post. The majority of the sources of the complaint posts came from librarians (86.76%). The top five categories of the target of the complaints were patrons (27.94%), the poster’s organization (20.22%), the poster’s supervisor (11.03%), the library field (11.03%), and the poster’s coworkers (10.29%). The top four topics of the complaint posts were patron behavior (21.69%), negative work environment (16.18%), job expectations (11.76%), and service expectations (10.66%). Organizations should put into place mechanisms and processes through which employees may share their concerns and exercise their voice, with no retribution, to solve workplace problems.

Designing a branding model for academic libraries affiliated with the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology in Iran

Purpose

This study identifies factors affecting brand building for academic libraries affiliated with the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology (MSRT) in Iran.

Design/methodology/approach

This research applied the grounded theory method based on the three open, axial and selective coding steps (Strauss and Corbin, 1998). The research tool was interviews conducted with 20 experts in librarianship, marketing and branding.

Findings

Library building architecture, library information resources and services, librarians' branding, marketing activities and library management are the causal conditions affecting brand building. The national economic situation, the digital publishing situation in the country and different characteristics of the new library community are the intervening conditions affecting brand building. The role of other libraries in society in the scientific education of the new generation provides contextual conditions for brand building. The higher education system and the library parent organization play a part in the operative actions/interactions for brand building. The consequences of brand building are brand image development, brand excellence and brand behavioral loyalty for libraries. Library brand identity is also a core category in brand building.

Originality/value

Facing steep challenges by emergent services, academic libraries are ill-prepared to meet the needs of the new information society solely with traditional services and functions. Academic libraries are required to rebrand themselves to be more successful at delivering a strong performance within a changing information environment by enhancing their brand image and establishing a more effective relationship with users.

“I want my PRC”: engagement of undergraduates with and assessment of the peer research consultant program

Purpose

This paper describes the benefits found in undergraduate students working to provide research assistance to their peers. The discussion includes how soft skills are built, along with how the position has aided in both educational and building towards their future careers. The paper is submitted for the special issue on “The future of peer-led research services.”

Design/methodology/approach

The authors provide a viewpoint from both a peer research supervisor and a student currently working as a PRC. The paper covers the requirements and implementations at the beginning of the program along with the changes that have occurred to better streamline the process of hiring and training. The viewpoint of the PRC was a key factor in the process.

Findings

Soft skills are a key component of the program. The undergraduate PRCs develop confidence, leadership and communication skills through interactions with their peers. The campus community is responding to the peer model because the PRCs are currently taking the same classes or have recently taken them, and the campus is now asking for the peer mentors that assist librarians in teaching introductory classes.

Practical implications

For libraries considering the development of their own programs, the benefits presented can lend to their proposals on real-world application beyond the college experience, as well as how it benefits the busy schedules of librarians.

Social implications

The training the PRCs are provided by librarians provides credibility and trust, which encourages their peers to utilize the services. Soft skills are also one of the most requested needs for businesses beyond college. The PRC program is providing these skills, which the peer mentors use both in career readiness and their daily interactions.

Originality/value

This paper views a program only a few years old on how it managed through a pandemic, as well as how the supervisor adjusted training to reflect a renovation that brought about a changing desk model. With a current undergraduate PRC as the co-author, a unique perspective is brought to the writing by showing what they personally are taking away from working in the program.

Towards an Understanding of Successes of the Psychiatric Nurses in Caring for Children with Mental Health Problems: An Appreciative Inquiry

INTRODUCTION

Psychiatric nurses have a specialized body of knowledge and skills in providing care to persons with mental health challenges. The literature provides scanty evidence on child psychiatric nursing practices. This paper explored the successes of psychiatric nurses in caring for children with mental health problems using appreciative inquiry (AI).

DESIGN

A qualitative exploratory and descriptive design was used to allow for new ideas that can fundamentally reshape the practice of child psychiatric nursing. Purposive sampling was used to select psychiatric nurses caring for children with mental health problems. Focus groups were used to generate data.

FINDINGS

The results indicate both positive and negative prospects for psychiatric nursing practice. The positive possibilities included commitment, passion and dedication of staff to the children. The negative aspects that need urgent attention include lack of specific, integrated child mental health within the mental health care services, shortage of resources and not-fit-for purpose infrastructure.

CONCLUSION

Appreciative inquiry verified the commitment of psychiatric nurses in caring for children with mental health problems and the potential for dedicated child psychiatric institutions in realizing the needs of such children. The needs of children with mental health problems must be addressed through positive care in the health system.

Status of open access scholarly journal publishing in Pakistan

Open access (OA) scholarly journal publishing is a recently emerged phenomenon of scholarly publishing in Pakistan. This study has been designed to find out the current status of open access (OA) scholarly journal publishing in Pakistan. A quantitative research method was used to evaluate the contents of the websites of 329 Pakistani journals on a checklist of 12 items. OA publishing paradigm has emerged in Pakistan as a majority (90%) of Pakistani scholarly journals are following the OA publishing paradigm. More than two-thirds (69%) of journals are following the Diamond OA model, followed by Gold OA (26%) and Crowdfunding OA (3%). The majority (97%) of journals belongs to the Y (the lowest) category of journals and the majority (97%) of journals do not have an impact factor. Indexing in Scopus and Web of Science is 24 (16%) and 20 (13%), respectively. Average article processing charges (APCs) per article in Sciences and Social Sciences journals of Pakistan are 46 $ and 90 $, respectively. In terms of ranking, Pakistani journals are in the stage of infancy. The present study is the first comprehensive exploration to explore the current status of OA scholarly journal publishing in Pakistan. This study may help to come up with recommendations to strengthen the credibility of OA journals in Pakistan. This study may be generalized to developing countries that have similar circumstances to Pakistan.

Is adopting artificial intelligence in libraries urgency or a buzzword? A systematic literature review

This study aims to investigate the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in libraries from 2011 to 2020. This study uses PRISMA guidelines to perform a systematic literature review (SLR). The articles were obtained mainly from the SCOPUS database, with Google Scholar as the supporting database. AI can easily be adopted in libraries, especially for technical services such as classification and cataloguing, library management such as staffing and decision-making, library services such as referencing and information service, and for information literacy. Successful AI adoption is, however, still debatable, because there are many requirements that need to be met, so that it can be inclusively adopted in libraries. There is a lack of research on the application of AI in libraries, especially in the context of its actual implementation. The results of this study offer insights on the implementation of AI in library support services.

Social inclusion of refugees and asylum seekers: The role of public libraries in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area

Social inclusion of refugees and asylum seekers includes addressing their information needs. This research seeks to examine the role of public libraries in this process through the analysis of public librarians’ perceptions. Based on the constructivist paradigm, the case study method, and the semi-directive interview survey technique, 16 public municipal libraries in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (Portugal) are studied. The results highlight that these libraries do not identify forced migrants as their users. Still, they consider that the information needs and behaviors and the use of libraries by these communities are similar to those of economic migrants, with emphasis on the relevance of free access to the internet, foreign language resources, Portuguese language and digital literacy courses, and help to interact with online platforms. The gaps include the existence of few Portuguese courses for foreigners, a limited practice in assisting with job and housing searches, promoting health literacy, and inclusive collaboration with schools, as well as space, financial, and human resources constraints. To overcome these difficulties, librarians emphasize the motivation to fulfill the inclusive social mission of the public library, the universal accessibility and informal environment of the library, and its action to promote social cohesion and social capital. The respondents consider that the mission of public libraries is adjusted to the goal of social inclusion of forced migrants, but that there is room for improvement in the training of librarians. This research points to the need for more initiative-taking public library collaboration with existing inclusion networks. In conclusion, we seek to alert to the urgency of the involvement of Portuguese public libraries in the social inclusion of forced migrants, which will also contribute to their institutional legitimization.

Exploring Customer Awareness towards Their Cyber Security in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Study in the Era of Banking Digital Transformation

The annual rate of cybersecurity breaches has risen in the last few years, exposing millions of records in some cases. The average data breach cost in 2021 was a massive $4.24 million. This study examines customer awareness and satisfaction with cybersecurity in the context of the digital transformation of banking in Saudi Arabia. The study is empirical and based on the data collected from 355 banking customers in Saudi Arabia. Three significant aspects of cybersecurity, including cyberattacks, phishing, and hacking, have been analyzed through various dimensions. Customer satisfaction with bank cybersecurity assistance and their expectations of technical support and services on cybersecurity has also been studied. ANOVA and bivariate regression analysis are used to study the impact of cyberattack, phishing, hacking, cybersecurity assistance, and expectations on cybersecurity’s technical awareness on customer satisfaction. The results show that digital transformation has boosted the banking sector, and users benefit from online services. However, an increase in the awareness level of customers on cyberattack, phishing, and hacking activities will influence customers’ satisfaction with digital transactions. The results also revealed that customers need more satisfaction on security level aspects from the bank’s side, and banks should provide regular training programs to safeguard customers from cyberattacks. If banks prepare more secure cybersecurity management, their long-term sustainability goals could be easily achieved.

Putting DEIA into practice: incorporating diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility into student employee training

Purpose

This paper describes the process of developing training for student employees at a reference desk in which students assist peers and others in the community with research help.

Design/methodology/approach

This case study details the process as well as the challenges in developing training that is helpful for student employees in performing day-to-day tasks at a reference desk and incorporates diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) and high-impact practices (HIPs).

Findings

Training for student employees that prepares them for library work and incorporates DEIA and HIPs can be developed. These ideas can be incorporated into training for all library employees, not just students.

Practical implications

This article aims to assist others in developing training for front-line student employees that incorporates DEIA and recognizes the importance of HIPs.

Originality/value

DEIA and HIPs are considered throughout the development and implementation of training for student employees. Librarians have been training student employees to assist their peers with research for many years. This approach goes beyond the training that is needed to do a job and takes DEIA and student development through HIPs into account.

IFLA’s role in the implementation of the Marrakesh Treaty

This article critically analyses the significant role of IFLA in the implementation and adoption of the Marrakesh Treaty in member-state libraries. The challenges and hindrances affecting the implementation of the Treaty are also highlighted. The article establishes that, despite signing the Marrakesh Treaty, the implementation of the Treaty by member states has been met with resistance. The article, however, recognises the significant role that IFLA has played in the implementation of the Treaty, including acting as a representative of libraries globally and in its advisory and advocacy roles and outreach services. Finally, the article discusses and offers various suggestions – for example, IFLA should recruit and incorporate more countries in the association; have wide language diversity; develop competency skills and training; and organise frequent conferences and workshops on the Marrakesh Treaty.

Peer reference and the out-of-the-building experience

Purpose

This article conceptualizes essential keys to the future of peer reference in academic libraries as extrapolated through the dual lenses of academic library history in the United States of America and recent experiences of a peer program with prospective and actual out-of-the-building experiences.

Design/methodology/approach

A 30,000-foot historical view of the dispositions of space in academic library buildings, collections, spaces, technology and reference provision is integrated with a description of the responses and insights of a peer reference program during the program's prospective and actual out-of-the-building experiences. These components are then analyzed to extrapolate keys to peer reference provision in any learning environment.

Findings

Peer reference is a natural extension of the Learning Commons model as developed in many academic libraries. To find optimal success in leveraging the benefits of peer-to-peer learning, program coordinators should keep in mind the social aspects of peer learning and intentionally articulate a framework for service delivery that best matches the modalities of providers, patrons and the information environment. In reviewing training and service practices, coordinators should be particularly on guard for any bias due to traditional reliance on the affordances of a library building and/or physical service point.

Originality/value

This article founds its conclusions in regard to the future of peer reference by contextualizing the evolution and future of such programs in the wider historical context of academic library dispositions of space in support of learning. It proposes a conceptual framework for intentionally matching the modalities of providers, patrons and the information environment.

The Effect of Transformational and Transactional Leadership Styles on Organizational Readiness for Change Among Health Professionals

Objective

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of transformational and transactional leadership styles on organizational readiness for change among health professionals in the case of selected public hospitals in the North Showa Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia.

Methods

The institutional-based cross-sectional study design was employed for one month in April 2021. The data were collected from a sample of 212 subordinate health professional staffs. Multi-factor leadership surveys and organizational readiness for change questionnaires were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and exploratory factor analysis, run on the SPSS 23 version. Pearson correlation and multiple regressions were used. Multiple regression results were expressed using the statistical values R2 and β-coefficient. Statistical significance was declared at a P-value of <.05.

Result

The Pearson product correlation of organizational readiness for change was found to be low positive and statistically significant for both transformational leadership behavior (r = .49, P < .01) and transactional leadership behavior (r = .39, P < .01). Both transformational leadership behavior (t = 5.32, P = .00) and transactional leadership behavior (t = 2.08, P = .034) were found to be significant contributors to the variance of organizational readiness for change among health professionals, according to the findings. However, transformational leadership behavior style appears to make a more significant contribution (β = 0.39) than transactional leadership style (β = 0.15) in predicting organizational readiness for change among health professionals.

Conclusion

The study revealed that whenever transformational and/or transactional leadership behaviors are exhibited by the administrative staff, readiness for organizational change (commitment and efficacy) increases among health professionals. The study also concluded that a quarter of the readiness for organizational change can be affected by the two leadership styles.

It Matters: Early Childhood Mental Health, Educator Stress, and Burnout

Early childhood educators (ECEs) face several workplace challenges, including young children's difficult behavior and mental health needs, workplace stress, low systemic support, and high levels of burnout. Both education and perceived confidence are often cited as important buffering factors, yet neither is well studied in the existing literature. The present study aimed to better understand and describe these factors. A survey, including both open and closed questions, was sent out to a large group of ECEs. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics, T-tests, and the constant comparison method of qualitative coding. Findings suggest that the types of training ECEs have had is related to their comfort in recognizing and responding to young children's mental health and challenging behaviors. Both systemic changes and didactic needs were cited as necessary to further support ECEs.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10643-022-01438-8.

Representational work and ‘reverse order’ essentialism: Digitisation of local information in Thailand and Bhabha’s Third Space

The Local Information Working Group (LIWG) of Thailand’s provincial university libraries holds main responsibility for digitising Thai local information (LI), a resource that shares many characteristics with what in other contexts is described as Indigenous and local knowledge (ILK). This study therefore explores how the digitisation activities of the LIWG correlate with claims of culturally responsive and responsible ILK representation, and how this work can be understood through the perspective of Bhabha’s Third Space. The study is based on interviews with 23 LIWG members, collected in 2016–2017. A guided, qualitative content analysis focused on uncovering themes of digitisation tools and methods with Third Space relevance as supporting or hindering essentialism, fixity and hybridity in LI representations. The findings illustrate that whereas the digitisation itself, field studies, language choices and outreach activities offer certain Third Space potential, this is underdeveloped and largely circumstantial. Third Space potentials are further likely to be restricted or hindered by uneven distribution of internet access, digital literacy, standard Thai proficiency and university/academic library accessibility among the Thai public in general and LI holders in particular. Overall, marginalised groups are excluded, and LI holders are positioned as passive contributors and recipients of digitised LI, suggesting a reversed sort of ‘self-essentialism’ on behalf of the dominant culture. In conclusion, two aspects in particular require further attention for libraries engaging with digitisation of ILK types of resources: the inclusion of national, societal level participation into participatory approaches; and the incorporation of functionalities for user interaction, holistic knowledge representation, multiple languages and cultural protocols into ICT for representation and use. The study provides a unique application of Third Space as analytical perspective on library digitisation of LI/ILK types of resources. Methodologically, the study is case specific, limited to a cross-section in time, and to data from interview accounts of LIWG members.

Shaping local information in Thailand: Hidden contradictions in the digitisation activities of the Provincial University Library Network (PULINET)

Local information (LI) in Thailand covers resources related to Indigenous and local knowledge (ILK), and cultural heritage. Thailand’s provincial universities have the national responsibility of digitising LI, enforced through the Provincial University Library Network’s (PULINET’s) Local Information Working Group (LIWG). The aim of this study is to explore how the LIWG’s digitisation activities contribute to the shaping of LI as national concern and resource. Empirical data come from interviews with 23 LIWG professionals in 2016–2017. A qualitative content analysis is performed within an overall activity theory framework with emphasis on overt and unobtrosive manifestations of contradictions through a combination of Engeström’s and Blackler’s typologies. The results show that primary contradictions exist in the form of incompatible conceptions of LI between individual group members and the group’s consensus-oriented LI definition. Secondary contradictions emerge as incongruences between group members’ general conceptions of LI, and specific digitisation activities of the LIWG. In general, LI is conceptualised as dynamic, situated, collective, culture-nature integrated resources with strong applied-use value, in line with international ILK definitions and agendas. The actual LIWG activities, however, circumscribe this conception through a restricted focus on formal regional delimitations; prominent objects; societally desirable expressions; and an academic/research framing. Overall, the findings illustrate that the LIWG’s activities contribute to shape LI as a tool for national social and cultural unity that exclude marginalised groups and societally undesirable LI expressions. In these activities, the primary and secondary types of contradictions are hidden and counteracted, rather than used as constructive opportunities for learning, change, and development. The study provides a unique, internationally framed, perspective on LI and related digitisation activities in Thailand. Methodologically, the study is case specific, limited to a cross-section in time and to data from interview accounts of LIWG members.

Revenue generation in libraries: A systematized review

Many libraries are currently facing challenges in obtaining sufficient financial support to continue and develop their services. Libraries around the world employed new strategies for overcoming this issue by adopting various revenue generation and marketing activities. This study is a systematized review conducted on revenue generation methods used in different types of libraries. To identify the relevant studies, two authors independently searched scholarly databases including Medline, Web of Science, Emerald, Science Direct, ERIC, ProQuest, Scopus, LISTA, PubMed Central, and Google Scholar search engine for published articles from 1995 to 2020. Articles were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. In total, 3461 articles were retrieved from which 56 were included for final analysis. This study identified 10 main categories with 75 sub-categories as different types of revenue generation methods suggested or used by various libraries around the world. Academic and public libraries were mostly reported in the reviewed articles as using different types of revenue generation. The most commonly used methods in libraries for revenue generation were public or governmental financial aid and receiving fees for providing services. The use of social networks, web space, and utilizing e-commerce principles were identified as the newest revenue-generating method, which were being implemented and developed in some public and academic libraries. Budget plays an important role in keeping library resources and services active and up to date. Therefore, discovering new opportunities for marketing and fundraising, as well as showing the value and return on investment of libraries is very important. Adopting and using methods introduced in this paper for revenue generation can help libraries to overcome some of their financial challenges well into the future.

Using Job Demands–Resources Theory to Predict Work–Life Balance among Academicians in Private Universities in Egypt during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Employers are divided into those who support their employees to achieve work–life balance and others who believe that employees should devote anything in their life to fulfilling work obligations. Employees in different occupations struggle to balance their work and life adequately. Especially during the pandemic, the barriers between work and life diminished. This study proposes that self-efficacy could be a potential moderator under personal resources. Drawing on the Job Demands–Resources Theory (JD–R) and Conservation of Resources Theory (COR), this study empirically tested the role of emotional demands and supervisor support in predicting the academicians’ perception of work–life balance in Egypt during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected from 504 academicians employed in the top 10 private universities in Egypt. Results reveal that emotional demands and supervisor support were related to work–life balance. Self-efficacy moderated the relationship between supervisor support and work–life balance. However, self-efficacy did not moderate the relationship between emotional demands and work–life balance. Our findings provide new insights, contribute to the literature on the work–life balance topic among academicians during the pandemic, and enhance the universities’ understanding of implementing strategies to help achieve a work–life balance.

Becoming a learning organization while enhancing performance: the case of LEGO

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to empirically test how problem-solving lean practices, along with leaders as learning facilitators in an action learning approach, can be transferred from a production context to a knowledge work context for the purpose of becoming a learning organization while enhancing performance. This is important to study because many organizations struggle to enhance efficiency in the short term while still trying to be long-term learning oriented (i.e. learning organization development).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors draw on theory on learning interventions to show how lean practices for problem-solving can foster learning and help an organization to become adaptive. This study’s subject is a non-production department of 100 employees at the LEGO corporation. The authors applied survey results from a natural experiment lasting 18 months between a pre-measurement survey and a post-measurement survey. The results were compared to a control department of 50 employees who were not exposed to the lean practices intervention. The authors’ focus was on the individual level as individuals have different perceptions of lean practices, performance, and learning.

Findings

Using repeated-measures tests, difference-in-difference regressions analyses, and structural equation models, the authors find that a package of contemporary lean practices for problem-solving, along with leaders who function as learning facilitators, significantly improved learning organization dimensions while also enhancing efficiency and quality and that learning organizations positively mediate the relationship between the lean intervention and quality-related performance, while efficiency is directly affected by the lean interventions. Data from LEGO's key performance indicators (KPIs), benefit trackers, on-site observations and more than 40 interviews with managers provided results that were consistent with the survey data. A detailed description of the lean practices implemented is provided to inspire future implementations in non-operations environments and to assist educators.

Research limitations/implications

The authors contribute to the learning literature by showing that a learning-to-learn approach to lean management can serve as an active and deliberate intervention in helping an organization becoming a learning organization as perceived by the individual organizational members. The authors also add to the lean literature by showing how a learning approach to lean, as used by LEGO, can positively affect short-term efficiency and quality and create a foundation for a longer-term competitive advantage (i.e. a learning organization) in a non-production context. By contrast, most of the lean literature streams treat efficiency separately from a learning organization and mainly examine lean in a production context.

Originality/value

The extant literature shows three research streams on lean, learning, and performance. The authors built on these streams by trying to emphasize both learning and efficiency. Prior research has not empirically tested whether and how the application of problem-solving lean practices combined with leaders as learning facilitators helps to create a comprehensive learning organization while enhancing performance in a non-production context.

Library services and facilities in higher education institutions during coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Pakistan

This article attempts to evaluate the library services and facilities during the pandemic situations in Pakistan. This study is fashioned in positivistic tradition of quantitative research design, and a cross-sectional research method was employed. The objective of the study was to examine the library services available to students and faculty members in two public sector academic libraries in Pakistan. A complete list of students and faculty members was collected from the concerned offices along with their WhatsApp numbers and email address. A total of 1736 students and faculty members sampled through proportionate random sampling technique and filled the questionnaire out of 7835. The inclusion criteria to participate was based on enrolled students of public and private sector university, passed at least one semester of BS (4 years) and MA/MSc (2 years) programme in Pakistan, and faculty members using library resources. A structured questionnaire to measure the response of library patrons and consisted of exogenous and endogenous variables and pretested. The study findings showed that COVID-19 pandemic situations affected educational institutions at a large scale. The social distancing rule was opted to minimise the risk of infection and university libraries were also closed down. However, due to online learning transformation, library materials were digitalized and online library services were provided to students and faculty members.

Impact of health-related internet use on disease management behavior of chronic patients: Mediating role of perceived credibility of online information

During the last two decades, Internet use has increased in all parts of the world. Although, the trend of actively using the Internet for seeking health-related information was already on the rise, it accelerated soon after the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with the increased use of the Internet for health decisions, serious concerns have been raised due to fake or misinformation. This study aims to determine the impact of Internet use for gathering health-related information on the disease management behavior of patients and to identify the mediating role of perceived credibility of online information. The study surveyed 200 chronic disease patients with diabetes and hypertension from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad, Pakistan. It is concluded that overall health-related Internet use has a positive impact on the disease management behavior of chronic disease patients. The study further confirms the mediating role of the perceived credibility of online information. Patients who are frequent users of the Internet for health information, who perceive online information more credible, reported better disease management behavior as compared to the less frequent users and those who perceive online information less credible.

A New Lifecycle Model Enabling Optimal Digital Curation

This study recognizes the international need for a broadly applicable lifecycle model to facilitate efficient and systematic digital curation. Consequently, it has developed a generic digital curation lifecycle model, titled the d-KISTI model. This model was developed by applying content analysis and thematic coding to data collected through a two-year review of relevant literature, existing conceptual lifecycle models, and empirical investigations of KISTI’s digital curation practice. It was then refined further through consultations with many international digital curation experts. The d-KISTI model presents actions and their relationships with one another that have gone previously unacknowledged in the DCC curation lifecycle model and other existing curation models. These actions and relationships, which are articulated at length within the study, reflect the rapidly changing nature of the global digital curation landscape and offer more representative curation activities to information organizations. Moreover, through its investigation and analysis of KISTI’s digital curation practices, this study contributes to existing literature on digital curation in Korea. Ultimately, the d-KISTI model seeks to optimize digital curation strategies and practices, both within Korea and internationally, and, moreover, hopes to serve as a foundational touchstone for future studies on digital curation.

Citizen Science in Europe—Challenges in Conducting Citizen Science Activities in Cooperation of University and Public Libraries

Citizen science has many definitions but it is commonly known as collaboration between professional scientists and the rest of society. Although there have been cases of its implementation in the past, the term became globally known in 2012. Citizen science activities cover a wide range of academic disciplines and vary widely in what is required of the activity participants in terms of knowledge, time commitment, travel, and the use of technology). For the past ten years, libraries have often introduced citizen science in order to encourage greater interaction between science and society as a form of their services or specially organized activities. The types of libraries that often conduct citizen science are academic, public, and research libraries. Each of these library types has a specific user population; academic libraries have students and scientific and teaching staff; public libraries have the local community; and research libraries have researchers. However, libraries usually carry out CS activities separately, and very rarely in cooperation with other types of libraries. Some collaboration challenges are related to its complexity, the uncertainty regarding research cocreation, and participant retention strategies. Such cooperation is one of the aspects explored by the LIBER project CeOS_SE Project—Citizen-Enhanced Open Science in Southeastern Europe Higher Education Knowledge Hubs. The main goal of the project is to raise awareness of mainstream Open Science and CS practices in Southeastern (SE) Europe. As a project partner, the National and University Library in Zagreb, in cooperation with the University Library of Southern Denmark, conducted a survey that included other European countries in addition to SE Europe to examine and collect good practices of civil engagement in university libraries.

Early literacy and family engagement: A cross-country analysis of caregivers’ perceptions of the public library's role in the digital age in Taiwan, Malaysia, and Vietnam

This study aims to explore caregivers’ perceptions of the public library's role in supporting early literacy and family engagement in the digital age in Asia. Family engagement is important from birth through young adulthood, and public libraries matter for family engagement. However, this topic has been little explored in Asian countries. Structured interviews were conducted with librarians, followed by a survey approach to understand what caregivers of five- to 12-year-old children think about the scope of family engagement practices in public libraries in Taiwan, Malaysia, and Vietnam. In total, 454 valid questionnaires were collected. Findings show that caregivers value the importance of public libraries’ role in promoting family engagement in the digital age in Taiwan, Malaysia, and Vietnam. In order to reap the rewards of family engagement practices, public libraries are suggested to build relationships with families through proactively understanding families’ interests and needs, involving families in the library decision-making process, and engaging families in both print-based and digital literacy programmes.

Social media aesthetics as part of academic library merchandising

Purpose

The subject of this paper is the phenomenon of social media aesthetics, which can be perceived as a tool for promoting and building the image of libraries, especially in terms of merchandising. The aim of this paper is to analyse the potential of the dark academia social media trend in the promotion of academic libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

The article is based on a review of the social networking sites YouTube and Instagram and an analysis of network resources using the Brand24 tool.

Findings

Resources that are described by Internet users as “dark academia” are popular in social media. Dark academia as an aesthetic concept creates potential for the promotion of academic libraries, especially those that are more traditional in terms of their architecture, décor or how they offer their services.

Research limitations/implications

The paper concerns a phenomenon which, although popular socially, has not yet been scientifically analysed in the literature on the subject. Since the topic is new and there is no scientific literature on it, the author had to base the paper on less standard sources of information (e.g. analysis of the content of social media). The article is a review, an introduction, as well as an invitation to further discussion. The author's aim is not to comprehensively cover this topic but only to draw attention to an interesting and rarely discussed issue that has great potential for practical activities.

Practical implications

The topic has great potential for the practical improvement of the promotional activities of libraries, especially older, more traditional libraries, to create a strong and positive image on the basis of characteristics often perceived as weaknesses.

Social implications

Social media services are powerful social impact tools. Showing the potential role of social media aesthetics for cultural institutions could serve to make the public more aware of the role of the proper use of social media for promotion and image building.

Originality/value

The use of social media aesthetics is very rarely discussed in the subject literature.

Transforming libraries into learning collaborative hubs: the current state of physical spaces and the perceptions of Greek librarians concerning implementation of the “Learning Commons” model

Purpose

With the technological innovation dominating higher education, the university libraries, as physical spaces, continue to play a crucial role in connecting students with knowledge. The emergence of the “Learning Commons” serves as a catalyst in the design of library spaces, renewing libraries’ roles and missions and making them popular to Millennials for new reasons. This study aims to record Greek librarians' views on the current situation in Greek academic libraries regarding physical space design, services provided and the existence of the “Learning Commons” model characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was conducted through an online survey structured questionnaire (closed-ended, five-point Likert scale, multiple-choice and statements questions). This study population comprised librarians working in 37 academic institutions and colleges. The collected data were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis. The research questions were answered using variables creation and the tests, t-test, ANOVA and Kruskal–Wallis. The groups of questions were tested for their reliability using the Cronbach's alpha coefficient.

Findings

In total, 186 librarians responded to this study. The responses revealed that participants were willing and ready to accept and support a different approach to academic library physical spaces use, according to the shared learning spaces model. However, this requires changes in the organization's vision, further growth and evolution. Although recently most Greek academic libraries have made significant progress in developing their services to function as information and digital hubs, they do not function as learning collaborative hubs, since the “Learning Commons” model is not reflected in their buildings.

Originality/value

The creation of new academic libraries according to the “common” model is a rapidly evolving issue that affects Greek libraries. This paper highlights the characteristics of libraries that should be adopted in the modern era, the new roles of academic librarians and the importance of an appropriate design of the physical space to achieve optimal learning outcomes. At the same time, this paper is one of the few that illustrates librarians', and not users', perceptions of these changes. This paper is a good research example, and the methodology for measuring this type of context could be used by other future research approaches in other countries.