Digital humanities degrees and supplemental credentials in Information Schools (iSchools)

The digital humanities (DH) is an emerging field of teaching and research that invites modern technologies to address traditional humanities questions while simultaneously making space for humanistic critiques of those technologies. A natural relationship exists between DH and the field of information studies (the iField), particularly surrounding their common focus on the interface between humans and computers, as well as subfields such as the organization of information, libraries and archives, data preservation, and information in society. Thus, we propose that iField programs in universities should take an active role in DH education. We are particularly interested in programs that are officially Information Schools (iSchools), members of the international iSchools Organization. Our research began as part of a DH curriculum committee convened by the iSchools Organization. To support iSchool engagement in DH education, we have inventoried and analyzed the degrees and supplemental credentials offered by DH education programs throughout the world. Our study deployed multiple data collection methods, which included conducting both ad hoc and comprehensive website surveys, querying an online DH catalog, and inviting members of the iSchools Organization to participate in an online questionnaire. This work has revealed several common patterns for the current structure of DH programs, including the various types of degrees or supplemental credentials offered. We observe that iSchools have a significant opportunity to become more engaged in DH education and we suggest several possible approaches based on our research.

Graduate students in public health predict their actual usage of different library services and resources quite accurately

BACKGROUND

Public health students need to use different resources to those used by other health science students.

OBJECTIVES

To compare how users expect to interact with library resources and services with how they reported actual interactions and expected future usage, to inform library planning.

METHODS

During first semester orientation, a paper questionnaire was administered to graduate students (n = 25), followed by an end of semester questionnaire in a mandatory public health course. Differences (orientation vs. actual and actual vs. predicted future) were analysed using chi-square tests.

RESULTS

Most graduate students utilized library resources as frequently as they anticipated at the semester's start. Regarding which library resources they would use, respondents' predictions during orientation were accurate. Respondent confidence in their abilities to use the library resources rose by the semester's end, and the group's expectations of using electronic books in the future semester increased significantly.

DISCUSSION

Graduate students had realistic expectations when predicting their library resource usage and difficulties and most expected to value the quiet space as much as they did.

CONCLUSION

Such tracking of group expectations, experience and predicted usage helps library managers' plan where support is required.

Translating Liaison Librarians to the Scientific Community

Objective: This study explores the root causes that undermine successful collaborations between scientists and their library liaisons to improve outreach to this population. Methods: This paper uses the Five Whys Technique to explore the reasons why many scientists are unaware of the breadth of services offered by liaison librarians. Existing outreach strategies that address these obstacles are interpreted through the lens of implementation science theories and process models, including Normalization Process Theory. Results: A total of four recommendations—two for liaison librarians and two for libraries as institutions—are provided to enhance the perceived value of liaison services. The recommendations for individuals include aiming to understand scientists’ needs more comprehensively and actively increasing the visibility of services that respond to those needs. Those for libraries focus on cross-functional teams and new forms of assessment. Conclusions: These recommendations emphasize the benefits of collaboration to liaisons, to library programs at large, and to the faculty that liaisons serve. Implementation science can help librarians to understand why certain outreach strategies bring success, and how new services can be implemented more effectively.

“Tinkering is underrated”: librarians' use of single-board computers and microcontrollers outside of makerspaces

Purpose

This research seeks to better understand the potential uses of maker technologies, such as single-board computers and microcontrollers, more broadly within libraries and not simply confined to the makerspace. Through interviews with librarians creating such projects, this study illustrates their successes, challenges, means of acquiring the necessary skills and knowledge, as well as their perceptions of the broader benefits and challenges to other library and information science practitioners.

Design/methodology/approach

This research study employed semistructured interviews with 12 librarians who have created projects with maker technologies for broader library use. Inductive qualitative analysis of the interview transcripts was conducted to identify themes of interest to the stated research questions.

Findings

Librarians' projects included: displaying digital signage, hosting online public access catalog stations, tallying reference desk interactions, counting patrons at the gate and monitoring 3-D printing statistics, among others. Participants appreciated the low-cost, flexible and creative nature of such technologies, and though they also encountered technical and organizational challenges in their use, relayed a potential series of benefits to librarians and library staff were these technologies to be more widely used.

Originality/value

Although significant research efforts have focused on aspects of makerspaces across all types of libraries, little work has formally collected and assessed library practitioners' work with maker technologies outside of the makerspace. Participants help detail the potential benefits of having a deeper understanding of this work, and the successes it could bring to librarians' work.

Reinventing Virtual Reference Services during a Period of Crisis: Decisions that Help Us Move Forward

This article focuses on providing virtual reference services at the MCPHS University Libraries as a response to the physical space closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study emphasizes the importance of interdepartmental collaboration between all library staff members, and highlights important enhancements implemented to successfully meet the growing demand for live chat services and research consultations. Enhancements include expanding online chat hours, offering individualized virtual reference sessions, and integrating Zoom functionality into LibAnswers platform. Extensive data findings allowed for critical decision-making about eliminating the reference desk on one of the campuses, training student workers, and scheduling library staff for virtual services.

An assessment of the impact of professional development and training on job performance of library staff in Federal University Oye Ekiti libraries, Nigeria

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of professional training and development for librarians/library staff in the southwest, Nigeria; especially the Federal University of OyeEkiti, Nigeria. Thus, this study intends to assess the impact of staff professional development and training on the job performance of library staff in the Federal University Oye Ekiti, Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

The descriptive survey research design was used in carrying out this study. The population of study cuts across all library staff/attendants in the Federal University Oye Ekiti departmental, faculty and the university libraries. The purposive sampling technique was used in selecting the sample for the study (77 library staff). Research instruments, developed by the researchers, Staff Development Programme Questionnaire (r = 0.79), Staff performance Questionnaire (r = 0.81), Challenges of Staff Professional Development and Training Questionnaire (r = 0.82), were used for data collection. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequency counts and percentages, mean and standard deviation) and inference statistics (correlation and one-way ANOVA) at a 5% level of significance.

Findings

Results revealed that the level of the job performance of library staff in Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) is high; there is a positive and statistically significant relationship between the professional development of library staff and their performance in the job; professional development and training of library staff significantly impact their job performance; orientation, in-house training, seminars, on-the-job training and instructor-led training.

Research limitations/implications

The study was limited to the university libraries in the Federal University Oye Ekiti, Nigeria. The variables used in this study were restricted to training and development of library staff and job performance of librarians in FUOYE, and professional development programmes available for FUOYE librarians.

Practical implications

Other forms of professional development programmes such as Distance Educational Programmes, Conferences/Workshops, Study visits, Formal professional library education and TETFUND Programmes should be made available for university library staff. Universities should always organise staff professional development programmes; since it enhances the job performance of library staff.

Originality/value

This article is original and has not been published elsewhere.

Information-seeking behaviour of students at a Caribbean University during the COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose

This study investigated how students of the Faculties of Humanities and Education and Social Sciences at a Caribbean University sought information during the COVID-19 pandemic, identified challenges they experienced in seeking information for academic tasks and how satisfied they were with the Library's provision of electronic resources and services during this period.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative survey design was adopted for this study. Data were collected using an online questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data.

Findings

This study revealed that undergraduates relied upon lecture notes to complete assignments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Undergraduate students have developed a definite information-seeking pattern, which did not change during the pandemic. They tend to use information channels that require the least effort. Postgraduate students used a variety of Library information channels but primarily used electronic journals. On the whole, students experienced challenges while seeking information via the channels provided by the Library. Students were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with the Library's provision of electronic resources and services.

Research limitations/implications

The study used non-probability sampling and only included students from two faculties at one university. As a result, the findings may not be generalized to the entire student population or all Caribbean universities.

Practical implications

The results of this study can be used to identify the difficulties students are having in accessing information from the Library and gauge service delivery.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the scholarship from the Caribbean written to show whether students' information-seeking behaviour changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Information literacy and research support services in academic libraries: A bibliometric analysis from 2001 to 2020

This article attempted to examine research support services, information services, print collections, digital resources and information literacy using bibliometric analysis from 2001 to 2020. The main aim was to consolidate the published studies on the research support services in academic libraries in the Web of Science (WoS) indexed documents. However, there has been a lack of quantitative measurements on the subject. Thus, we used the bibliometric method and found a total of 4079 published documents. The study findings revealed that the topic of ‘information literacy and library’ was on top with a total number of 2168 publications, 3047 articles as a type of published documents, 3662 publications in English and a considerable increase in publications as per years were found. The top author named Fourie I was found with 106 citations and 22 articles started in 2001. Similarly, the University of Illinois found on top organisations out of 2609, United States on top out of 113 countries and information literacy as a keyword out of 6179. Furthermore, the Journal of Academic Librarianship placed at top of sources out of 726 and the National Institutes of Health NIH USA as a top funding agency.

Analysis of anti-racism, equity, inclusion and social justice initiatives in library and information science literature

Purpose

The objective of this study is to establish the current state of library and information science (LIS) scholarship pertaining to anti-racism, equity, inclusion and social justice initiatives.

Design/methodology/approach

Using comprehensive search strategies, three LIS databases were searched for relevant literature published in the last 10 years and results were exported and de-duplicated using Endnote. Citations were screened by two blinded, independent reviewers based on pre-defined eligibility criteria. Citations in the final data set were then hand coded by three reviewers using deductive coding. Subject terms for all citations were categorized and consolidated to identify major themes across the corpus of included publications. Results were analyzed using bibliometrics and thematic analysis.

Findings

A total of 691 unique citations were included in this analysis based on inclusion criteria. Publication productivity has generally increased from 2011 to 2020; findings show publications from 170 source titles and 944 authors representing 33 countries. Prevalent themes included access to information, multiculturalism and social justice. Various populations groups, areas of LIS practice, library types and social justice topics have been addressed in the literature. Over 15% of citations focused on anti-racism efforts in LIS.

Originality/value

This study applied both bibliometric and thematic approaches to analyzing LIS literature at macro and micro levels regarding anti-racism, equity, inclusion and social justice.

Employee Perceptions About Participation in Decision-Making in the COVID Era and Its Impact on the Psychological Outcomes: A Case Study of a Cooperative in MONDRAGON (Basque Country, Spain)

This research aims to study possible effects or impacts of COVID-19 in the context of a democratic organizational system analyzing how COVID-19 has influenced employees' perception of their participation in decision-making and its impact on some psychological outcomes and emotions. COVID-19 has accelerated the process of implementation of new frameworks at work (digitalization, teleworking, new skills, and abilities) that have generated the modification of culture and employee management practices. Our hypothesis are, on the one hand, that COVID-19 has generated changes in participation structures and internal communication mechanisms, having to make modifications not to deteriorate the perception of employees about their participation in decision making. On the other hand, COVID-19 has generated changes in the psychological outcomes and emotions of the employees. In the study, we analyze a cooperative belonging to the MONDRAGON cooperative group, where participation in decision-making and ownership is in its DNA. Through qualitative (5 focus groups) and quantitative (short questionnaire) methodologies, involving 42 employees, we investigate firstly, how COVID-19 has affected perceptions about participation in decision-making analyzing what role has played internal communication in these perceptions. Secondly, we investigate how COVID-19 has affected psychological outcomes and emotions. In this case, the perceptions arising from participation in decision-making focus on the assessment that participators make of the governance channels and the day-to-day meetings. Therefore, their appropriateness seems to be a key factor in the perception of participation in the COVID-19 era. Differences have been detected between the perceptions of blue and white collar employees. Such differences have also been founded in the psychological outcomes and emotions. Although this is a single case study, the analysis carried out provides elements of reflection to modify and restructure the decision-making and participation mechanisms, adapting them to the needs of blue and white collar employees in order to "guarantee" the expected outcomes.

E-reading consumption among Pakistani digital immigrants: A mixed-methods approach

Digital information adoption among the older generation is becoming interesting, and e-reading consumption is an important phenomenon. The current study explores the e-reading consumption experience among Pakistani generation X readers (Xers) through the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), along with TPB model validation through a larger sample. A mixed-method research design (exploratory sequential) was employed. The study was completed in two phases; the first phase was qualitative based on nine ( n = 9) in-depth face-to-face interviews. In the second phase, a quantitative research design was employed. A survey questionnaire was developed based on the TPB model and outcomes of the first phase, and the data were collected from 250 Xers from Pakistani public libraries. The first phase outlined numerous positive consequences and challenges specific to the behavioural beliefs. The circle of friends, colleagues and supervisors encourage e-reading consumption given the benefits, speed, and saver of time, cost, and effort, to name a few. Notably, e-reading consumption intention leaves no alternative for Xers in the digital information era. The results of second phase show that seven out of nine proposed hypotheses were supported significantly H2 (β = 0.33, p = .00), H3 (β = 0.20, p = .02), H4 (β = 0.27, p = .00), H6 (β = 0.22, p = .01), H7 (β = 0.18, p = .03), H8 (β = .28, p = .00) and H9 (β = −0.15, p = .04), whereas H1 (β = −0.03, p = .66) and H5 (β = −0.02, p = .73) were rejected. The current study extends the theoretical foundations of TPB in the age of digital information consumption by exploring dimensions qualitatively and tested that proposed relationship quantitatively from a developing country context, Pakistani Xers.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the creative industries: A literature review and future research agenda

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has affected countless businesses, leading to serious disruptions for many industries. Drawing on the resilience literature, this study offers an understanding of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the creative industries and their response to the challenges they have encountered. This study reviews 59 papers following the systematic literature review approach and reveals several positive implications of the COVID-19 pandemic within the creative industries (e.g., IT and software) as well as the negative (the music industry, festivals, cultural events). Identifying six themes related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the creative industries, we develop a response matrix based on the discussion of firms' digital capabilities and their ability to adapt to the COVID-19 crisis. We outline future research directions using a Theory-Context-Characteristics-Methodology (TCCM) framework.

A Study on the Correlation Between Media Usage Frequency and Audiences' Risk Perception, Emotion and Behavior

Whether risk events can be effectively controlled and mitigated is largely influenced by people's perceptions of risk events and their behavioral cooperation. Therefore, this study used a web-based questionnaire (N = 306) to investigate the specific factors influencing people's risk perceptions and behaviors, and included a test for the difference in the effect of positive and negative emotions of the audiences. The results show that the overall model has good explanatory power (R 2 = 61%) for the behavioral variables, and (1) how people's use of different media (especially TV and online media) significantly influenced their positive and negative emotions; (2) how people's frequency of TV use significantly influenced their risk susceptibility and how online media use significantly influenced their risk severity (with some differences in people's perceptions of efficacy between different media); (3) how people's sense of efficacy for risky events is the strongest predictor of their risk control behavior; and (4) that there are different mediating effects of different emotions and risk severity and sense of efficacy between the frequency of media use and risk control behavior.

Toward a definition of digital object reuse

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present conceptual definitions for digital object use and reuse. Typically, assessment of digital repository content struggles to go beyond traditional usage metrics such as clicks, views or downloads. This is problematic for galleries, libraries, archives, museums and repositories (GLAMR) practitioners because use assessment does not tell a nuanced story of how users engage with digital content and objects.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reviews prior research and literature aimed at defining use and reuse of digital content in GLAMR contexts and builds off of this group’s previous research to devise a new model for defining use and reuse called the use-reuse matrix.

Findings

This paper presents the use-reuse matrix, which visually represents eight categories and numerous examples of use and reuse. Additionally, the paper explores the concept of “permeability” and its bearing on the matrix. It concludes with the next steps for future research and application in the development of the Digital Content Reuse Assessment Framework Toolkit (D-CRAFT).

Practical implications

The authors developed this model and definitions to inform D-CRAFT, an Institute of Museum and Library Services National Leadership Grant project. This toolkit is being developed to help practitioners assess reuse at their own institutions.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is one of the first to propose distinct definitions that describe and differentiate between digital object use and reuse in the context of assessing digital collections and data.

The antecedents and consequences of organizational learning in the library: A systematic literature review

The aim of this study is to determine the developments and factors that affect organizational learning in libraries. The study uses a systematic literature review method by analysing 20 research articles. The results of the study indicate that there are antecedents and consequences of organizational learning in the library. The research offers a comprehensive framework of the antecedents and consequences of organizational learning in libraries. Library managers can use these results to improve organizational learning in their libraries in accordance with the conditions and environment. The results can also be used as material for consideration in making decisions about the application of organizational learning in the library. There are few systematic literature reviews of organizational learning in libraries; hence, this article can be used as an opening for further discussion.

Digital literacy skills of university students with visual impairment: A mixed-methods analysis

Both for new higher education students and especially for individuals with visual impairment (VI), becoming digitally literate is a necessity in order to be able to fully participate in society and to overcome certain educational barriers. This study explores the digital literacy (DL) skills of university students in Turkey with VI, along with the factors that can affect DL levels. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was employed. Quantitative data were collected from 60 participants during the first phase of the study through an online survey consisting of demographic questions and the DL Scale. Qualitative data were collected via semi-structured interviews held with eight participants as the second phase. The study found quite high levels for several self-reported technical and cognitive sub-factors of DL skills, and lower levels for the social sub-factor. Comparative analysis revealed no significant difference between gender, level of VI, and type of school. The results showed that daily use of the Internet had a significant positive effect on DL scores, and that there was a negative correlation between DL and age of starting to use technology. The qualitative findings suggested that the participants already possessed basic DL skills such as accessing information and creating files; however, they lacked skills in information management, effective collaboration, communication, and in digital content creation. The study sheds light on factors affecting DL of VI students and discusses implications for both researchers and practitioners.

Academic Procrastination and Online Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This paper investigates online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and explores the possibility that procrastinators have been impacted differently as compared to others. The research is explorative in nature and employs interviews from participants at a higher education institution in Norway as a primary method of investigation. The preliminary findings presented in the paper highlight differences between procrastinators and non-procrastinators regarding the desire to study and satisfaction with learning outcomes. The procrastinators are encountering a higher degree of challenges related to motivation as opposed to non-procrastinators. The preliminary findings also highlight challenges associated with student engagement and the use of the camera during online classes for all the students.

Branding in libraries: Identifying key requirements and dimensions to provide a conceptual model

The purpose of this review is to explore factors affecting brand building in libraries. Based on the nine steps of the National Health Service (NHS) center for reviews and dissemination, articles on the subject of library branding were searched in nine Iranian databases and seven international databases. The search period includes all date range of databases until 7–22 January 2021. The results were assessed for quality and 44 English articles and 3 Persian articles were selected for further analysis. Factors in promoting libraries brand building fall five categories. They include library architecture, library information resources and services, librarians’ personal branding, marketing, and library management. Inhibiting factors in libraries brand building have two final categories including internal and external inhibiting factors to brand building. Internal inhibitors covered branding costs, lead-time for branding, effort for branding and its management, the difficulty of strategic brand planning, and library staff unpreparedness. External inhibitors covered the difficulties of branding in the digital age and the economic situation of the country. If libraries manage their brand and move toward rebranding in line with the new information environment, they will be able to survive in today’s competitive world and build their true value in relationship with users.

Can we trust trust-based data governance models?

Fiduciary agents and trust-based institutions are increasingly proposed and considered in legal, regulatory, and ethical discourse as an alternative or addition to a control-based model of data management. Instead of leaving it up to the citizen to decide what to do with her data and to ensure that her best interests are met, an independent person or organization will act on her behalf, potentially also taking into account the general interest. By ensuring that these interests are protected, the hope is that citizens’ willingness to share data will increase, thereby allowing for more data-driven projects. Thus, trust-based models are presented as a win–win scenario. It is clear, however, that there are also apparent dangers entailed with trust-based approaches. Especially one model, that of data trusts, may have far-reaching consequences.

Health Information Needs of Public Library Leaders during COVID-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-2021, public library leaders across the United States were forced to make decisions quickly that affected the services and resources they were able to provide. However, the health information they had to make decisions on was imperfect and constantly changing. Interviews with 23 public library managers and directors revealed that more authoritative local data was needed for decision-making and to share with their service populations. Overwhelmed public health system and/or suspicious or skeptical political environments hindered access to locally-specific health information. Several respondents were uncomfortable creating information or making decisions without the guidance of health officials. Additionally, the library managers and directors described working as crisis managers, making decisions that impacted the health of their staff and their communities. In capturing and analyzing these "pandemic decision-making stories," this research informs future library information responses to community needs during times of crisis.

Diretrizes para celebrar acordos Read and Publish no Brasil a partir da análise dos acordos transformativos da Alemanha e Colômbia

Resumo A democratização no acesso à ciência almejada com o Acesso Aberto vem acompanhada do pagamento de Article Processing Charges. Em um contexto de escassez de recursos financeiros, “pagar para publicar” se torna um desafio para países em desenvolvimento como o Brasil. Dada a inexistência de uma política sobre financiamento dessa despesa para as agências de fomento brasileiras e a proliferação de acordos transformativos ao redor do mundo, este artigo apresenta diretrizes para implantar acordos Read and Publish na Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, a partir da análise dos acordos firmados na Alemanha e Colômbia. Entre as diretrizes propostas, sugere-se que os acordos alcancem periódicos de Acesso Aberto e híbridos, considerem o histórico de publicações dos programas de pós-graduação para distribuição de recursos com vistas a financiar Article Processing Charges e funcionem como uma política de qualificação que auxilie os pesquisadores brasileiros a publicar em revistas de alto impacto.

The Landscapes of Sustainability in the Library and Information Science: Systematic Literature Review

In times of real threats to the continuity of the human civilization resulting from environmental degradation, depletion of natural resources, overpopulation, and other adverse factors, the issue of sustainable development is the subject of interest of many scientific disciplines. As a leading objective of this paper, the authors take up the topic of sustainable development seen through the lenses of the library and information science, which is considered with special attention paid to its economic, social, environmental, and cultural dimensions. In addition to reviewing the most important literature, the authors also explore the subject matter from a quantitative perspective. As a result of the research, the authors identify the key areas that affect libraries as cultural and scientific institutions, in which work related to the sustainability concept is actively carried out. Quantitative research allowed to determine the proportions of efforts made by scientists within the previously selected areas, and to outline trends observed within those areas—that is, to identify which areas have recently been gaining importance, and which may have ceased to be exploited. The authors hope that the research results not only shed light on the landscape of world science in the subject matter, but above all, that they support contemporary researches of these fields by identifying potentially the most important works influencing the shape of particular research areas, and the identification of current trends, which are present within the mentioned areas as well. Further research directions, which are potentially worth undertaking, are also emphasized.

Situating LIS pedagogy and curriculum in diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and anti-racism: a reflection on process

Purpose

A working group of Masters in Management of Library and Information Science (MMLIS) Librarian Faculty was formed to address diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and anti-racism (DEIA + AR) specifically in pedagogy and curriculum, resulting in actionable items and recommendations that will ensure the program is promoting diversity, equity, inclusive, accessable and anti-racist strategies, curriculum, resources and pedagogical practices in our classrooms.

Design/methodology/approach

The Working Groups charge was designed to begin the work of dismantling the inequitable power structures which will lead to more equitable opportunities and access for marginalized groups that will become leaders in information sciences in the future.

Findings

The efforts of the DEIA + AR Working Group resulted in several supplemental documents in addition to the formal recommendations including curricular and pedagogical best practices, a terminology document (establishing a shared language), a commitment document, recommendations, and a resource repository.

Practical implications

A working group of MMLIS Librarian Faculty was formed to address DEIA + AR specifically in the program's pedagogy and curriculum, resulting in actionable items and recommendations that will ensure the program is promoting anti-racist strategies, curriculum, resources and pedagogical practices in our classrooms.

Social implications

This process study has value and impact for academics from any discipline to learn about one University's MMLIS program prioritizing DEIA + AR in program development, curriculum and pedagogical practices.

Originality/value

The converging events of the international pandemic and the national crisis of inequity in the United States in 2020 prompted a renewed commitment by the MMLIS program at the University of Southern California (USC) to revisit the program's DEIA policies and procedures and add anti-racism constructs into the curriculum.

Health Equity and Small and Rural Public Libraries During COVID-19

Rural communities in the United States struggle with many health inequities that predate the COVID‐19 Pandemic. This poster analyzes how public libraries responded to COVID‐19 from March 2020 through March 2021 by utilizing the social media platform Facebook to continue sharing content that supports community health and wellness. It situates these responses in the context of health inequities in rural America. Although libraries in different parts of the country responded to COVID‐19 in unique ways, common practices include sharing timely information about the pandemic and social services; adapting services to continue serving communities safely; and providing enriching educational content that also addresses social determinants of health. The poster concludes with a call to better understand the work small and rural public librarians do to address health inequities.

Not a token! A discussion on racial capitalism and its impact on academic librarians and libraries

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to introduce the concept of racial capitalism in the context of academic libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on Leong's (2013) extended theory of racial capitalism and identifies how neoliberalism and racial capitalism are tied as well as how it is manifested in academic libraries through tokenism, racialized tasks, consuming racial trauma, cultural performance demands, workload demands and pay inequity.

Findings

The article ends with some suggestions in how to address these problematic practices though dismantling meritocratic systems, critical race theory in LIS education and training, and funding EDI work.

Originality/value

The article explores a concept in the academic library context and points to practices and structures that may commodify racialized identities.

Digital librarianship practice and open access technology use for sustainable development in Nigeria

Purpose

The continuous advancement in technology has disrupted practices in many sectors, including education. Thus, this study aims to examine digital librarianship practice and open access technology use for sustainable development in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

The survey type of descriptive research design was adopted in this study while the population of the study comprised librarians in universities in Delta State. A total of 38 randomly selected librarians from four universities in Delta State were used for this study, and the data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics.

Findings

This study revealed that the level of digital librarianship practice in university libraries in Delta State for sustainable development is low; just as social media tools, open source integrated library systems and Google Cloud Platforms are the most commonly used open access technologies in the libraries. Furthermore, this study showed that perennial factors such as poor funding of education, inadequate quality educational infrastructure, mismanagement of education fund among others are hindrance to sustainable development in the country’s educational sector.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited in its use of only one state (out of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja) in Nigeria for this research. Also, social desirability bias on the part of the respondents could have influenced the pattern in which the respondents reacted to items in section D.

Practical implications

This study has practical implications for the sensitization and training of librarians towards leveraging on the various open access technologies in delivering effective library and information services required in the Fourth Industrial revolution.

Originality/value

This study seeks to pioneer a new area of focus by examining digital librarianship practice and open access technology use as enablers of sustainable development.

Green library as a subject of research – a quantitative and qualitative perspective

Purpose

The objective of the article is to determine the numerical increase in publications on green libraries and the dynamics of its development as well as to determine the thematic structure of the scientific literature in the field of green libraries and its changes as a representation of research in this area.

Design/methodology/approach

The research material consisted of publications on green libraries published between 1991 and 2020, indexed in the Web of Science database. The bibliometric method was used to determine the numerical increase in publications on green libraries and the dynamics of its development. In order to characterize the thematic structure of publications representing research in this area, content analysis was performed.

Findings

Quantitative analysis of the literature on green libraries has shown that this is a new area of research not explored with constant intensity. The time of publishing materials on green libraries can be divided into two periods: the so-called period of first publications between 1991 and 2006, and the period between 2007 and 2020, when the number of publications increased relatively systematically. The content analysis confirmed the hypothesis that the most frequent theme is the issue of a green building and its management. It showed that the period after 2010 is the time of building a theoretical framework for a new research field, i.e. green libraries.

Originality/value

The main value of the article is the performance of a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the scientific literature indexed in the Web of Science devoted to green libraries, from the moment of the first publications to the present day. The codebook developed for the needs of content analysis can constitute the basis for the development of criteria for the evaluation of green libraries and guidelines for their organization.