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2018 Information and Learning Science
PurposeThe purpose of this study is to reflect on the author’s decade as a columnist for New Library World and Information and Learning Science.Design/methodology/approachThis paper provides literature review and commentary on this topic that has been addressed by professionals, researchers and practitioners.FindingsWhen a patron approaches a librarian with a question, and the resources are discovered that can aid and support that patron in finding a solution to his or her dilemma, the stock of the librarian rises, reminding the public that with all the changes around the profession since the advent of the internet, the human touch, that face-to-face interaction and personal communication skill, still remains a significant instrument in the librarian’s customer services toolkit.Originality/valueThe value in exploring this topic is for others to acknowledge that which has been gained over time by an experienced library colleague.
Aljanabi, Abdulqadir Rahomee Ahmed; AL-Hadban, Waleed K.H. Mohamed
2018 Information and Learning Science
This paper aims to empirically examine the relationships among information literacy (IL), social networking technology usage (SNTU) and learners’ satisfaction (LS) among university students. The research also aims to determine whether SNTU has a mediating role in the relationship between IL and LS.Design/methodology/approachBased on the proposed framework, a self-administered questionnaire was adopted to gather data from students at Komar University of Science and Technology. Of a total of 520 questionnaires, 335 were returned and subsequently used for statistical analysis. The collected data were analysed using Smart-PLS software version 3.2.0.FindingsThe results of the present research indicate that both IL and SNTU have significant effects on LS. Furthermore, the results suggest that SNTU has a mediating role in the relationship between IL and LS and that IL has the ability to strengthen LS via SNTU.Originality/valueThis study offers significant insights that could guide educational institutions in their understanding of LS and the key factors that may affect it. Previous studies have not prioritized the impact of IL and SNTU on LS, and thus the results of this study can serve as a basis for enhancing LS in other educational sectors.
Pashootanizadeh, Mitra; Khalilian, Saideh
2018 Information and Learning Science
The purpose of this study is to measure how effective television programs are in persuading teenagers to use public libraries.Design/methodology/approachThis study is a descriptive survey. The statistical population includes all members of public libraries in the City of Isfahan aged between 12 and 16 years (N = 920). Using Cochran’s formula, the sample size was determined to be 270 individuals. The data were collected by a researcher-made questionnaire survey instrument whose validity was confirmed by Library and Information Science experts. Furthermore, the reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed via “Cronbach’s alpha” in the pilot test with 0.73. Having a return rate of 85.93 per cent, the authors were able to analyze 232 sets of responses.FindingsBased on the authors’ findings, television programs are only able to satisfy the first stage of the model (i.e. Attention). So, its role in encouraging teenagers to use public libraries is not significant. Among the items of the model, “Desirability and interest in the program” and “Persuading teenagers to use public libraries” were found to be the most and least effective items, respectively, with average responses of 8.42 and 5.13. Moreover, television shows categorized as kids/teenagers were most likely to attract the target audience to libraries.Originality/valueThere is no any similar study in this scope, especially in the Middle East, where watching the television remains a mainstream activity for teenagers. It is for the first time that AIDA model is used for measuring the effectiveness of television programs in persuading teenagers to use public libraries in Iran.
2018 Information and Learning Science
PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report the results of a case study on virtual reality (VR) learning environments, focused on the development and integration of multi-user reference support.Design/methodology/approachThis paper used a case study methodology to understand applied software development incorporating textual browsing experiences within the HTC Vive virtual reality headset. An open corpus of text from the HathiTrust Digital Library accessed via the API was used as a data source.FindingsIn collaboration with students from a senior undergraduate Computer Science project course, the project team developed software to pilot a multi-user VR experience, with functionality for users to search, discover and select e-books and other digitized content from the HathiTrust digital library.Originality/valueOverall, the system has been developed as a prototype e-book experiment to model several VR affordances for browsing, user support and educational endeavors within libraries. Within the VR reading room pilot, users are able collaboratively explore digital collections. Aspects of reference librarian user support were modeled in the VR system including communication in real-time using chat features and text highlighting and manipulation tools that are unique to learning in VR environments.
2018 Information and Learning Science
PurposeThis paper aims to analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the academic social networking, Academia.edu.Design/methodology/approachSWOT analysis is performed to evaluate the platform.FindingsAcademia.edu provides resources that enable scholars to heighten the impact and reach of their research within a digitally networked environment.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies to evaluate the scholarly merits of Academia.edu.
Kakai, Miriam; Musoke, Maria G.N.; Okello-Obura, Constant
2018 Information and Learning Science
Given that repositories were proposed as one of the routes to open access (OA), this study sought to establish the achievements universities in East Africa had attained in initiating institutional repositories (IRs), the challenges in providing OA and strategies for the way forward.Design/methodology/approachData were collected through literature searches, using the internet, journal databases and university websites in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda for information about OA and IRs in East Africa. Some of the findings were based on the author’s PhD “The management and accessibility of OA IRs in selected universities in East Africa”, which used face-to-face interviews with six librarians and self-administered questionnaires responded to by 183 researchers at Kenyatta University, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences and Makerere University.FindingsUniversities in East Africa were still in the intermediate stages of embracing OA, and only 40 libraries out of 145 universities had implemented IRs. However, most of the repositories had less than 1,000 items, with this challenge attributed to the absence of institutional and government/funder mandates that affected the collection/provision of OA, in addition to the lack of awareness of IRs among researchers.Originality/valueThe value in this research was establishing the extent of IR initiatives in universities in East Africa and their contribution to OA, which is regarded as more visible and accessible to scholars and government personnel who could leverage the information for further development in the region.
Safdari, Reza; Ehtesham, Hamideh; Ziaee, Narges; Robiaty, Mehri
2018 Information and Learning Science
This study aims to highlight the role of librarians as an essential element in medical research. For this purpose, the primary research process was divided into three phases: before, during and after. Then, the roles of librarians associated with each phase were separated and the viewpoint of researchers and librarians on the importance of these roles were considered and compared.Design/methodology/approachThis comparative, descriptive-causal research was conducted using the census method. Birjand University, a type-2 university in the field of Medical Sciences according to the rating of the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education, was selected for the study. The participants were all faculty members and all librarians working in the university’s libraries. The data collection tool was a questionnaire made by authors. Its validity was confirmed by four professors of Library Science, and questionnaire design expert and its reliability was confirmed with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.89. Data were analyzed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, using descriptive statistics.FindingsFrom the perspective of researchers, awareness-raising for open access resources, determination of standard subject keywords on the basis of Medical Subject Headings for articles and scientific texts and using scientific research findings as a basis for preventing duplicate studies in future research are the most important roles for librarians in the three stages of medical research. From the perspective of librarians, the use of knowledge management skills, searching scientific information as review of the literature and also selecting standard keywords to search the databases and providing health-care professionals with the findings of latest scientific research have the highest place in the different stages of the research lifecycle.Originality/valueThe difference between the viewpoints of librarians and researchers about the role of medical librarians at the various stages of the research lifecycle shows that there are significant gaps between the librarians’ services and users’ expectations. It is expected that through learning modern professional skills, medical librarians can assume new roles in medical research and make their capabilities known and available to researchers.
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