Library café or elsewhere: usage of study space by different majors under contemporary technological environment

Information security and technical issues of cloud storage services: a qualitative study on university students in Hong Kong

Purpose

Although cloud storage services can bring users valuable convenience, they can be technically complex and intrinsically insecure. Therefore, this research explores the concerns of academic users regarding cloud security and technical issues and how such problems may influence their continuous use in daily life.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative study used a semi-structured interview approach comprising six main open-ended questions to explore the information security and technical issues for the continuous use of cloud storage services by 20 undergraduate students in Hong Kong.

Findings

The analysis revealed cloud storage service users' major security and technical concerns, particularly synchronization and backup issues, were the most significant technical barrier to the continuing personal use of cloud storage services.

Originality/value

Existing literature has focused on how cloud computing services could bring benefits and security and privacy-related risks to organizations rather than security and technical issues of personal use, especially in the Asian academic context.

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.

Users’ needs and expectations of immersive learning spaces in an academic library: A survey

This research aims to investigate users’ space requirements, facilities, equipment, environmental needs, management services, and food services in immersive learning space. Descriptive statistical analysis is used to study the degree of users’ demand on spatial factors of different dimensions. The influence of identity and gender on the spatial needs is measured through t-test and one-way analysis of variance. The study found that in terms of space requirements, users are inclined to choose private and quiet seats; in terms of facilities and equipment, the higher the user’s academic status, the correspondingly higher requirements for some space facilities and equipment. Users attach great importance to the environmental elements of the immersive learning space, especially the cleanliness, lighting, acoustic environment, and temperature. Users also hope to use the online reservation services and increase the open time of the library. Although the main purpose of the immersive learning space is to learn, users hope to get food services. According to the research results, suggestions for the improvement of library spaces are put forward: adding special areas for doctoral candidate and faculty community, enhancing space planning, building better online services, building a 24-hour open learning space, and seting up a dining area outside the library.

User perceptions, academic library usage and social capital: a correlation analysis under COVID-19 after library renovation

Purpose

While the library has remained a preferred place of learning and received a positive perception in all aspects, the current space planning, as categorized in the “four-space model,” does not seem to address user needs well. The purpose of this article is to explore the correlations of user perceptions, academic library usage and social capital.

Design/methodology/approach

This research presented a new approach to understanding the academic library's role by surveying 120 users about their preferred place on the campus, actual usage, and perceptions of the library physically and remotely. Correlation analysis between library use and user activities was performed.

Findings

The findings indicate that the library demonstrates attributes from all four levels in the learning space hierarchy, providing an ideal learning space for students. However, our results do not support academic libraries as the breeding ground of social capital.

Originality/value

As the data of this study were collected during the COVID-19 pandemic period, the findings may provide us with insights on how library users have adjusted themselves in using these public facilities with social distancing in their minds. The findings also provide implications for re-designing the library places to meet the users' needs and make it favorable learning commons to students in both the pandemic and post-pandemic eras.