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This study analyzed checkout data from hardback and paperback volumes in the BYU library to determine if there was a difference in circulation rates. Based on usage from 2000 through 2020, hardback volumes are no more likely to circulate than paperbacks over that 20 year range, regardless of when the book was added to the collection or its subject (i.e. humanities, sciences, or social sciences). Also, the average number of circulations for these volumes was low enough that damage to a paperback book was unlikely. Given the lower price of paperbacks, academic library budgets may be better served buying paperbacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exam period can be a stressful time for students, and having examples of past papers to help prepare for the tests can be extremely helpful. It is possible that past exams are already shared on your campus--by professors in their specific courses, via student unions or groups, or between individual students. In this article, we will go over the workflows and infrastructure to support the systematic collection, provision of access to, and repository management of past exam papers. We will discuss platform-agnostic considerations of opt-in versus opt-out submission, access restriction, discovery, retention schedules, and more. Finally, we will share the University of Toronto setup, including a dedicated instance of DSpace, batch metadata creation and ingest scripts, and our submission and retention workflows that take into account the varying needs of stakeholders across our three campuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Universities Initiative (EUI) was established in 2017. Its aim is to strengthen strategic partnerships between higher education institutions across the EU by building networks of universities. At the end of 2023, there were already 50 European University Alliances gathering 430 higher education (HE) institutions. In each of these Alliances, academic libraries are members, too. These libraries are already involved in intra-alliance projects, and these alliances will probably happen more often due to the EU's project-driven approach. This practice paper is, to the authors' knowledge, the first attempt to describe another challenge that European academic libraries currently face i.e., project management practice. The alliance partner universities operate under distinct national laws and institutional practices, making it challenging to easily align them for effective cross-university collaborations. Familiarity with the theoretical principles of EU project management and project management methodology greatly facilitates the preparation of the proposal and the work of the project. It also allows more effective management of the project as a whole or its individual parts. This paper maps the challenges that work in international projects brings and provides suggestions on how EUI libraries can utilize project management techniques, while also aiming at showing the paths to facilitate cooperation. Drawing from an analysis of the literature on project management that might apply in library-led projects to strengthen communities of purpose, the paper is based on the example of the work experience on the project TRAIN4EU, that was co-led by the academic librarians from the University of Warsaw Library, Poland, and run by 4EU + universities. The paper concludes with a set of recommendations based on TRAIN4EU practices, lessons learned, as well as pitfalls to avoid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to determine the satisfaction level of DVM students of Benguet State University with the resources of the Veterinary Medicine Library and their usage of these resources. It also aims to determine students' access to and utilization of scientific papers. A structured survey was adapted to gather data from fifty-seven (57) 2021 graduating DVM students. Data were interpreted using frequency count, percentage, ranking, and mean. The study confirms that the resources of the Veterinary Medicine library fulfill the academic needs of DVM students of Benguet State University. A strong need to enhance Internet connectivity in the library was also reflected in the results. Moreover, results show that students tend to read scientific papers for the reason that they are being required. The students' self-assessment result positioned themselves neutral when asked regarding their ability to interpret data from scientific papers and whether they find it easy to read scientific papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing integration of AI tools like Yewno Discover, Scholarcy, and Grammarly in academic libraries, undergraduate research has witnessed transformative changes. These tools, while elevating the research process, also bring forth challenges rooted in ethics and application. This paper explores the synergy between modern technology and academic exploration, highlighting the benefits and potential pitfalls of using AI in the research workflow. It emphasizes that while Yewno Discover and similar tools offer streamlined navigation of vast information databases, it is imperative for undergraduates to remain cognizant of potential biases and other ethical considerations. This paper underscores the need for proactive measures in academic settings, including specialized training and policy development, to ensure that undergraduate researchers harness the power of AI responsibly and efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated the perceived role of digital theological library and term paper counselling in undergraduate religious education students' academic success in the federal universities in southeast Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. A structured questionnaire developed by the researchers was used for data collection. 166 undergraduate religious education students were chosen as respondents in this research. The results showed that items on the perceived role of digital theological library and term paper counselling were all accepted by the students as means of achieving academic success. There was a significant difference in the perceived role of the digital theological library in achieving academic success among religious education students by the university. There was a significant difference in the perceived role of term paper counselling in achieving academic success among religious education students based on university. There was also a significant difference in the perceived role of university librarians in achieving academic success among religious education students based on university. The researchers noted that these findings have implications for university librarians across the universities and it was recommended that the use of digital theological libraries for academic purposes and term paper counselling should be strengthened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examined the challenges of maintenance of paper based archival information materials and strategies for enhancement in academic libraries in South East, Nigeria which doubled as the objectives of the study. Descriptive survey research method was used for the study. The population consisted of 277 library staff in academic libraries of government owned institutions. Questionnaire and structured interview guide was used to collect data which was analyzed using the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Mean scores and standard deviation were used to analyze data generated for the two research questions while ttest was used for the hypothesis. Real limits of numbers were used to determine the bench mark. The major findings of the study showed the challenges involved in maintenance of archival materials to include inadequate funding and tropical climate that breeds insects. The strategies involved in archival maintenance practices include: recruiting adequate personnel in libraries, provision of maintenance policies, adequate funding of libraries for proper maintenance of archives, proper control of insect by the use of insecticides and adequate training of maintenance personnel. The hypothesis tested revealed that there is no significant difference in the mean ratings between the male and female library staff in respect to strategies for maintenance practices of paper based archival paper materials in the academic libraries. The paper recommended that the library administrators should engage qualified and competent staff on the field of Library and Information Science and ICT to ensure adequate maintenance of archival materials in academic libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarizes librarian research on information visualization as well as general trends in the broader field, highlighting the most recent trends, important journals, and which subject disciplines are most involved with information visualization. By comparing librarian research to the broader field, the paper identifies opportunities for libraries to improve their information visualization support services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigated the usage of mobile technology in marketing academic libraries in developing countries. The main purpose, apart from awareness, is to look at how researchers are studying mobile technology in marketing academic libraries, what are the current issues investigated and what has to be the direction of the topic globally. The paper employed 23 research papers for systematic review. The findings reveal that academic libraries are aware of mobile technology and use it at various levels for academic library promotion, visibility, and teaching and learning. Factors influencing the use of mobile technology in marketing academic libraries were identified and further noted that little has been studied regarding mobile technology in marketing academic libraries and its performance in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the opportunities and challenges associated with the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in academic library operations. In the quest to render fast, effective and efficient services, academic libraries have adopted different technologies in the past. Artificial intelligence technologies is the latest among the technologies currently being introduced in libraries. The technology which is considered an intelligent system, come in the form of robots and expert systems which have natural language processing, machine learning and pattern recognition capabilities. This paper examined the features of AI, the application of AI to library operations, examples of academic libraries with AI technologies in Sub-Saharan Africa, the need for AI in libraries and the challenges associated with the adoption of AI in libraries. The study concluded that AI holds a lot of prospects for the improvement of information services delivery in African academic libraries. Consequently, its adoption is a sinequanon to delivering robust library services in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An institutional repository (IR) is a system for archiving digital research outputs such as scholarly papers. While using this system is a simple way to return the benefits of academic research to society, the number of papers currently archived in institutional repositories across the world is very small. We have, therefore, developed a system that can increase the number of papers archived in institutional repositories. The main aim of this system is to reduce the workload of researchers and librarians in paper registration for an IR by using external databases. As a result of our trial implementation and evaluation of the system, we found that its application resulted in a fourfold increase in the number of papers registered in a month without decreasing the working efficiency of the participating librarians. Moreover, by analyzing the log data for the system's implementation, we have acquired further knowledge related to researchers who need librarians' support in paper registration with an IR. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1981, Indiana University's Lilly Library acquired 1,200 cartons of papers from the office of outgoing Indiana senator Birch Bayh. Kate Cruikshank, Political Papers Specialist at Indiana University Libraries, describes the long and complicated process whereby library staff organized the files into the Birch Bayh Senatorial Papers, now part of the Modern Political Papers collection at Indiana University, Bloomington. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses how the William G. Squires Library conducted a usability study on their LibGuides to identify student design preferences. The results of the study support previous research concerning best practices for LibGuide creation. This paper offers insight into how librarian-centric design hinders student success and provides suggestions for how to best develop a student-centric template design that offers consistency and increased user proficiency across all guides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses importance of maintenance of archival paper materials for the academic institutions where they are located and for posterity in Nigeria. It mentions archival maintenance practices for paper based archival materials has been under researched in era of global access to information online; and also mentions archival maintenance practices requires controlling of environment to elongate archival paper based materials.

The preservation of paper-based artifacts is an essential issue for collection management in academic libraries. In recent years, the library science profession has often favored reformatting through microfilm or digitization, assuming too quickly that information matters, whereas an artifact's medium does not. However, much recent humanities scholarship has demonstrated the significance of physical artifacts per se. In fact, it is often the most cutting-edge scholarship on race, gender, and history that requires the physical artifact itself for research. Although librarians obviously cannot save every physical artifact, any decision on which artifacts to preserve, deaccession, or reformat (and, for that matter, on how to reformat) requires an understanding of the importance of the original physical format. Since texts acquire meaning through an intricate interplay between physical form and abstract information, the reduction of texts to abstract information alone evinces a misunderstanding of the artifacts in our care and an inadequate theory on which to base preservation decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Embedded librarianship is an inevitable outcome of the information era. Since the concept of embedded librarianship emerged in 2004, a flurry of papers have been published. In China, many related research papers have also been published, but few of them focus on the practice of embedded librarianship in libraries of Chinese universities. This article investigates the current progress and practice of embedded librarianship in China. A total of 84 Chinese university libraries were surveyed. This article demonstrates that a few university libraries have achieved promising embedded practices, but most remain in the initial stages. Most librarians do not clearly understand the concept of embedded librarianship. To date, the embedded model is still in the transforming stage, and incentive mechanisms and evaluation systems have not been perfected. Based on these results, some suggestions are proposed to accelerate the development of embedded librarianship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a case study of a book reduction project undertaken by an academic library. The project aimed to reduce the size of the library's monograph collection by 61% and maintain a relevant and accessible print collection that best serves the needs of its users. To achieve this goal, the library outsourced technical services work and relied on temporary student workers to assist in the project. The paper discusses the challenges faced in onboarding and training temporary workers, as they had varying levels of experience and lacked knowledge of library terminology. To address these issues, the library provided onboarding and training, regular 1 + 1 meetings, and the effective use of project management software. The use of data analysis provided by LibraryIQ allowed for an objective assessment of which items to retain or remove. While removing materials could have negative implications, the project's emphasis on clear communication and ongoing evaluation of the collection's relevance and accessibility ensured that the library continues to meet the evolving needs of its users. The paper highlights the importance of effective project management, clear communication, and ongoing evaluation in managing library collections. The project's strategies and insights can provide valuable guidance for other libraries looking to undertake similar collection management projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses in detail the content of the collection The Zygmunt Haupt Papers, 1907–1976, held in Special Collections at Stanford University Libraries. In particular, it describes the Voice of America broadcasts prepared by the writer, as well as his life and writings, and provides a summary of the research conducted on Haupt. It briefly discusses The Zdzisław Ruszkowski Papers, the supplemental collection linked recently to Haupt's archives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses a project relating to the papers of Charles Tenney at Dartmouth College in order to examine the value of partnering with special collections while promoting digital humanities. It treats the discovery, digitization, publication and utilization of rare and unique primary resources in assisting classroom teaching and research. This project provides a case study that illustrates how, by creating collaborative projects with faculty and colleagues, librarians can create knowledge, enrich scholarship, and better serve academic communities as research partners instead of being mere content providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the potential of the Gamified Metaverse as a platform for promoting library services. The study compares the effectiveness of a traditional library program with a Metaverse- based library program in terms of knowledge acquisition and library anxiety. The research also examines students' perceptions of implementing gamification within the context of the Gamified Metaverse platform. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, including pre- and post-test analysis, statistical analysis, and qualitative data collection. The results indicate that both the traditional and Metaverse-based library programs effectively increased the participants' knowledge, with no significant difference between the two approaches. However, the Metaverse-based program was found to be less effective in facilitating interaction with librarians and reducing library anxiety. Additionally, students expressed positive perceptions of implementing gamification in the Gamified Metaverse platform, finding it engaging and motivating. These findings contribute to the understanding of the effect of the Metaverse as a tool for promoting library services and enhancing knowledge acquisition. However, it is not as effective in reducing library anxiety, particularly in terms of interaction with librarians and staff. It should be noted that the platform may have limitations such as high costs and potential side effects of virtual reality, making it more suitable as an additional tool for promoting library services, taking into account its feasibility and potential benefits for specific student populations and larger libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on a study on delinquent acts in three academic libraries in northern Ghana. A survey method was used for the study and a questionnaire was used to collect data. The study population consisted of staff in the Reader Service Sections of the three libraries. The study found that failure to observe library regulations, keeping overdue materials, eating in the library, littering, reserving seats unjustifiably, and hiding of books for the purpose of monopoly are examples of delinquent acts practiced by library users. According to the participants, the main reasons for delinquent acts are inadequate orientation to users, insufficient copies of books, and indiscipline among library users. The respondents further reported that these actions led to a reduction in library resources and low patronage. To curb deviant behaviors in libraries, the study recommends the adoption of pragmatic approaches including massive orientation for users, imbibing positive library culture that fosters respect, bolstering commitment and cooperation among library users and the staff, increasing library budgets as well as finding more creative ways of acquiring more copies of books, such as using Open Educational Resources (OERs), belonging to consortia and building and/or enhancing existing Institutional Repositories (IR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we will introduce and study the homological dimensions defined in the context of commutative rings with prime nilradical. So all rings considered in this paper are commutative with identity and with prime nilradical. We will introduce a new class of modules which are called ϕ -u-projective which generalizes the projectivity in the classical case and which is different from those introduced by the authors of [Y. Pu, M. Wang and W. Zhao, On nonnil-commutative diagrams and nonnil-projective modules, Commun. Algebra, doi:10.1080/00927872.2021.2021223; W. Zhao, On ϕ -exact sequence and ϕ -projective module, J. Korean Math. 58(6) (2021) 1513–1528]. Using the notion of ϕ -flatness introduced and studied by the authors of [G. H. Tang, F. G. Wang and W. Zhao, On ϕ -Von Neumann regular rings, J. Korean Math. Soc. 50(1) (2013) 219–229] and the nonnil-injectivity studied by the authors of [W. Qi and X. L. Zhang, Some Remarks on ϕ -Dedekind rings and ϕ -Prüfer rings, preprint (2022), arXiv:2103.08278v2 [math.AC]; X. Y. Yang, Generalized Noetherian Property of Rings and Modules (Northwest Normal University Library, Lanzhou, 2006); X. L. Zhang, Strongly ϕ -flat modules, strongly nonnil-injective modules and their homological dimensions, preprint (2022), https://arxiv.org/abs/2211.14681; X. L. Zhang and W. Zhao, On Nonnil-injective modules, J. Sichuan Normal Univ. 42(6) (2009) 808–815; W. Zhao, Homological theory over NP-rings and its applications (Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, 2013)], we will introduce the ϕ -injective dimension, ϕ -projective dimension and ϕ -flat dimension for modules, and also the ϕ -(weak) global dimension of rings. Then, using these dimensions, we characterize several ϕ -rings (ϕ -Prüfer, ϕ -chained, ϕ -von Neumann, etc). Finally, we study the ϕ -(weak) global dimension of the trivial ring extensions defined by some conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the relationship between digital literacy and employability within Australian university libraries through institutional digital literacy frameworks through the research question: How do Australian university libraries incorporate employability discourse within their digital literacy frameworks? There is an established discourse on the practical application of information and digital literacies in professional contexts, espoused by universities. However, there has not been obvious linkages between employability and digital literacy, but rather implicit linkages that digital literacy is critical in enhancing student employability. The value of information and digital literacy is evident in many Australian university libraries’ initiatives as they respond to the focus on graduate employability by acknowledging changes in workplace skills with the increasing proliferation of digital technologies. Overall, this paper explores what relationships there are among Australian Universities’ digital literacy frameworks within the larger context of universities’ responsibility in enhancing their graduates’ employability and how and to what extent, if any these have been communicated with the content of the frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe purpose of this paper was to discuss the collaborative initiative between the Mona Library (ML) and the Library and Information Association of Jamaica (LIAJA) focused on digitizing the Association’s peer-reviewed publications, specifically the Jamaica Library Association (JLA) Bulletin and the LIAJA Bulletin, for enhanced access and preservation. The paper also addressed the compilation of a second index for the LIAJA Bulletin, covering the period from 2007 to its electronic publication in 2014. This second index was intended to complement the first index, which was compiled from 1950 to 2006. This collaborative project presented numerous challenges and benefits, offering valuable insights for future initiatives. Key benefits for the library included the enhancement of staff competencies, strengthening of institutional reputation, increased growth and visibility, and the preservation of Jamaican and Caribbean librarians’ scholarly output for future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Although universities have extensive research and initiatives in place that align with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), there is still a significant gap in documenting and assessing these efforts. This paper aims to discuss how academic libraries can apply their information management skills and open-access platforms, to facilitate the discoverability and retrieval of evidence on SDGs. Design/methodology/approach: Introduced by a brief literature review on the role of libraries in contributing to the SDGs in general, the authors draw on their personal experiences as metadata specialists, participating in a project aimed at linking their university's research output to the SDGs. A case study, from the University of Pretoria's Veterinary Science Library, is used as an example to demonstrate the benefits of resourceful metadata in organising, communicating and raising awareness about the SDGs in the field of veterinary science. Findings: Through practical examples and recommended workflows, this paper illustrates that metadata specialists are perfectly positioned to apply their information management skills and library platforms to facilitate the discoverability and retrieval of evidence on SDGs. Originality/value: Although there are increasing reports on the contributions of libraries to support the successful implementation of the SDGs, limited information exists on the role of metadata specialists, as well as those with a practical focus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the role of mobile applications in enhancing library-related tasks. Mobile technology emerges as a valuable resource for saving time and eff ort. The study demonstrates how mobile applications can simplify tasks like stock-taking and generating other collection-related statistics within a library. The paper takes a distinctive approach by recording book usage statistics and monitoring staff activities, specifically the re-shelving of books. This method carries significant implications for collection development and the efficient management of library staff. It underscores the potential of mobile technology to enhance library services' economic and sustainable operation. Notably, the library's stack area frequently experiences congestion, poor internet connectivity, and insufficient infrastructure for routine operations. Some setbacks, such as inadequate lighting in the stack area, were identified as factors affecting the app's performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent paper published in JLSC (Bakker & Riegelman, 2018) noted that in mental health scholarship, the retracted status of 40% of 812 records for 144 retracted papers-including as much as 26.3% of published PDFs-was not clearly indicated as such. Even with a visual indication of the retracted status of a paper, which limits the necessary information available to the public and readership indicating that such literature should no longer be used or cited, retracted literature continues to be cited. In this commentary, we reflect on additional reasons for the continued citation of retracted papers and explain how they might affect bibliometrics and scientometrics, and thus librarianship and education. Moreover, we propose actions to help scholars avoid citing retracted papers and to efficiently correct records where retracted papers have been cited. We introduce a prototype concept, the corrected journal impact factor (cJIF), to improve the accuracy of the most widespread journal-based metric, the Clarivate Analytics journal impact factor (JIF), which may have become distorted by the citation of retracted papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses how religious comprehension was promoted by the Scottish authorities after the revolution of 1688–9 to reach a compromise between the nation's two main religious groups: the Presbyterians and the Episcopalians. Unlike the failed attempt to enact comprehension in England in 1689, in Scotland five attempts were made from 1689 to 1694 to accommodate Episcopalians into the Church. The article argues that comprehension forced the Scots to confront the practical limits of their commitment to religious uniformity, and was central to their transition from a Reformed nation that cherished uniformity to one that begrudgingly accepted the existence of pluralism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To promote an academic library makerspace, the University of Mississippi Libraries hosted a "3D selfie" booth which used body scanning technology. This booth, advertised on campus and set up outside the library during the first weeks of class, was designed to attract attention and perform outreach through the use of body scans to be printed in the makerspace at a later date. Although the hoped-for printing of "selfies" did not materialize, the project resulted in data about interested patrons and ideas for similar projects going forward. This paper serves as a case study for other academic library makerspaces interested in similar outreach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a university's information resource center, the library has always provided services for teachers and students. However, there is a lack of in-depth research on the relationship between the allocation of library resources and the competitiveness of universities in innovation and entrepreneurship (CUIE). Clarifying that relationship could help optimize library resources to enhance CUIE and enrich the empirical research system of library science. Based on clarifying the composition of library resources, correlation and regression analyses were used to verify the effect of library resource allocation on CUIE. The results show that human, academic, and spatial resources of the library can improve CUIE. The quality of human resources is more important than quantity for CUIE. For academic resources, electronic resources play a greater role than paper resources in CUIE, and spatial resources have the least effect. To maximize CUIE, the university library must optimize its resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper recycling is a fitting endeavor for an academic library. A literature review and a feasibility study revealed that the benefits can include reduced costs to the university, librarians' involvement in a cooperative campus-wide project and improved staff morale throughout the library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance and urgency of IPLE (intellectual property literacy education) are increasingly prominent. This paper aims to build an IPLE mode to provide support for the talent cultivation in university libraries facing opportunities and challenges in the service transformation period. The IPLE mode and content of the Regional Patent Information Centers (PIZ Regional Centers) in German universities and university libraries are studied through network research, literature research, and comparative analysis. Based on the practical experience, educational characteristics and advantages, this paper constructs an IPLE mode of university library that includes six modules. Building the IPLE mode of university libraries can provide reference for university libraries in the work of IPLE, and gradually form an IPLE system that meets the needs of users' training, conforms to the university's talent training objectives, and improves the development plan of the university libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the editorial endogeny of Library and Information Science journals. The endogeny was determined by the analysis of (1) papers published by the journal's editors, (2) papers published by the journal's country of origin, and (3) journal self-citation. The study used five-year coverage based on journals listed in the Web of Science. Regarding the editorial endogeny, the cut-off line of 50% of publications was at 4.51%. However, some journals have concentrated this endogeny from 20% to 45%. The endogenous model developed with the three analyses generated a journal efficiency system that showed a moderate index by the quartile of the journals, with an average of four endogenous papers per journal. 50% of the publications obtained an average of 10.70% self-citations. But part of the 50% most endogenous journals obtained indices ranging from 11% to 75.99%, with ten journals over 30%. 50% of papers are from the journal's country of origin. We conclude that the levels of endogeny were balanced on average, but some journals abused it to improve their ranking and impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as an innovative technology with the potential to revolutionize various industries including libraries and information science. Academic libraries are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance services, improve efficiency, and enhance user experience. This study utilizes a bibliometric approach to comprehensively analyze current research on AI in academic libraries (AI in ALs). This study employed bibliometric indicators to identify key trends, patterns, and research gaps in the existing literature. A comprehensive dataset of 373 research papers on AI in ALs published between 2002 and 2022 was collected and analyzed using the Scopus database. Various bibliometric tools, such as Biblioshiny, VOSviewer, and BibExcel, have enhanced this analysis. The findings of this study provide important insights. By 2022, there were 64 publications, constituting 17.16% of the total corpus, accompanied by 65 citations. In contrast, 2019 witnessed only 33 publications yet accumulated a substantial number of citations, amounting to 294, representing 8.85% of the overall citations. Conference papers exhibited the highest frequency among different publication types, with 165 publications, whereas journal articles had the highest citation count, accumulating 217 citations. Geographically, China emerged as the leading contributor with 119 publications, and Wuhan University stood out as the most prominent affiliation. Notably, the "Lecture Notes in Computer Science" series emerged as the most prolific source title, publishing 15 articles, of which eight were cited. The authors Wang J., Wang C., and Wang X. from China demonstrated significant contributions, consistently publishing four papers annually from 2010 to 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is Part 2 of the paper "Initiating Immersive Teaching and Learning Service in Academic Libraries" by Plamen Miltenoff (Part 1 published in the previous issue of International Information and Library Review DOI: 10.1080/10572317.2024.2301864). In Part 2 "Pedagogical opportunities, including integration into an information literacy programme" the methodology applies contextual analysis, including systematic literature review. The paper highlights how virtual reality has great potential as a technology for learning and social engagement. However, the need for clear policies is highlighted regarding technology, along with the need to invest in infrastructure and resources, fostering collaboration among stakeholders and promoting equity and access. As with other educational technologies, academic libraries remain the best candidates for hosting a university-level sandbox of immersive teaching and learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evolution is one recurrent phenomenon that affects almost every facet of human endeavour. Libraries have had their own share in many ways. The green library concept, although, a relatively new-sprung initiative, have not been given full attention. The understanding of librarians, and the levels of adoption of the green library concept in Nigeria is reported herein. The descriptive survey approach was used. Results showed that librarians have the right perception about the concept, and have implemented or currently translating their policies, practices, and services in compliance with environmental sustainability objectives. However, much more needs to be done as the libraries also have not sufficiently engaged in climate change sensitization activities with patrons or their immediate community. The libraries do not collect rain water, recycle paper or reduce the use of plastics as stipulated. In implementing the initiative, low awareness, poor funding, lack of collaboration with environmental agencies among others have bedeviled their efforts. The establishment of a Nigerian Green Building Council (NGBC) for building standardisation with the support of the Nigerian Library Association is thus recommended for on-thespot redesigning of already built antique libraries. It is also pertinent to begin inspiring green architectural projects especially for newly proposed library buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the proliferation of information available online and through academic libraries, students are increasingly reading from the screen. Academic documents can be long and complex, requiring sustained concentration to read deeply. This paper reviews current literature on the advantages and disadvantages of electronic and paper media for academic reading. Theoretical and empirical research into screen reading in academic institutions falls broadly into the following categories; reading and comprehension theory, the effect of a document’s platform, design and tools on reading, and screen versus paper research studies. These categories inform and provide the structure for this review. This paper concludes by considering how academic librarians can manage their collections and deliver library services in response to recent screen reading research. This overview of the literature on reading theory, the platforms and tools integral to reading electronic documents, and screen versus paper reading research, will enable academic librarians to make more informed collection management and library service decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This institutional case study analyses 1723 sources referenced in five PhD theses awarded at Alphacrucis University College between 2017 and 2021. The purpose was to demonstrate that the library’s collection development policy is successfully guiding purchasing decisions in order to provide students with the resources they need to complete their research at high levels. Sources were extracted from each thesis and grouped according to type. Library holdings were then checked, revealing that, overall, 70.2% of all cited sources were available from the AC library collection. This research-in-practice paper shows that AC library’s shift in focus for its collection development policy is adequately providing required resources to research students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe paper aims to discuss ChatGPT and its role in academic libraries. It identifies the key areas where ChatGPT can be implemented in libraries to improve various services and the overall work experience of academics, along with the risk factors associated with ChatGPT. Research finds that ChatGPT can be aided with many library services such as collection development management, virtual reference services, digital information service and library discovery, research writing and publishing, research performance analysis and bibliometric services. It can be helpful for libraries to meet patron requirements, streamline the research process, and increase the efficiency of the library and staff. It reduces the workload of library staff to a certain extent rather than replacing the human librarians as various threats are associated with the ChatGPT, such as incorrect query responses, data protection, misuse, privacy, security, inaccessibility, limited technology comprehension and other ethical issues. It also discusses the limitations and challenges libraries may face while implementing the technology to impart various services. The importance of this study lies in the fact that it acknowledges the reality of ChatGPT and its limitations and how the library will be ready to cope with and deal with the technology in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The advancement of technology has brought much uncertainty in the access and utilization of information resources in academic libraries. This research sought to determine the extent to which academic libraries in Kenya engage in innovation and use innovative strategies. In addition, this study aims to identify the specific innovation practices and strategies used by these libraries to ensure they effectively address users' information needs and remain relevant within the Kenyan context. Design/methodology/approach: This study adopted a qualitative research design. Data was collected using face-to-face interviews that targeted key personnel in the academic library system, including the university librarian, the circulation librarian and the digital/systems librarian. In total, 21 respondents were interviewed in this study. Additional data was gathered by examining primary documents such as academic library policies, university websites and library brochures, among other sources. The study used purposive sampling techniques to select the population sample and the theoretical saturation to determine the sample size. Findings: The study revealed a pressing need for change in the academic library landscape in Kenya. It established that the concept of innovation and innovation strategies is still new in academic libraries in Kenya, and libraries are still confined to traditional and routine duties. There is a lack of appropriate strategies for enhancing innovation practices/strategies in academic libraries. The paper, therefore, strongly recommends the reorganization of academic libraries in Kenya. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this research is the first to analyze innovation strategies and practices in academic libraries in Kenya. This study sheds light on the puzzles facing most academic libraries in Kenya regarding innovation and innovation strategies. It introduces the importance of academic libraries to embrace innovation as a strategy to avoid disruptive innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Text and data mining activities—that is, the automated processing of digital materials to uncover new knowledge—have become more frequent in all areas of scientific research. Because they require a massive use of copyrighted work, there are evident conflicts with copyright legislation. Countries at the forefront of research and development have begun to address this issue. This paper presents the basic aspects of legislation applicable to text and data mining activities. It offers a detailed comparative analysis of the norms of the main jurisdictions that have regulated them to date, highlighting in each case the positive and negative aspects. An adequate knowledge of these laws is not only important for researchers but also important for the academic librarians who provide advice and support in these matters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Globally, mobile technology is a significant factor influencing how libraries are changing the ways of delivering services to today's users. This paper aims to explore academic librarians' perceptions of the usefulness of mobile technology in delivering library services and the efforts required for its successful adoption. Design/methodology/approach: The study was conducted within an interpretive paradigm. The research objectives were underpinned by the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology as a theoretical framework. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyses using NVIVO for thematic analysis. Findings: Results show that, in general, academic librarians support the use of mobile technology to provide services such as access to eBooks and Journals, Online Public Access Catalogue, Bookmyne application, information literacy consultations and training. Library managers, fellow librarians and users were identified as encouraging the adoption of mobile technology to enhance library services. The paper further confirms that the successful adoption of mobile technology requires some effort. However, due to some of the challenges presented in the study, a majority of respondents felt that their libraries are not yet ready to fully embrace mobile technology the way it is envisioned in today's world. Practical implications: The study endeavours to address the divergence between students and academic librarians' viewpoints regarding the application of mobile technology in the provision of library services. Originality/value: This paper highlights numerous ways that academic librarians could adopt and embrace mobile technology, which can benefit both academic libraries and other institutions of higher learning. The knowledge presented in this paper could assist academic librarians in assessing their institutions' vulnerabilities, challenges and strengths in using mobile technologies to provide library services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasingly complex and demanding research landscape has seen university libraries rapidly evolve their services. While research data management, bibliometrics, and research impact services have predominantly featured in the literature to date, the full scope of support libraries are currently providing to their institutions is unknown. This paper aims to present an up-to-date view of the scope and extent of research support services by university libraries across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. A coding process analyzed content data from university library websites. Eleven research support areas were identified. Service delivery is split between synchronous and asynchronous modes. This paper describes a lived experience of an evidence-based library and information practice approach to improving research support services at two Australian university libraries, and while it highlights continued maturation of research support services, more research is needed to better understand influences on service development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed at investigating the use of grey literature by postgraduate students of chemistry in Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka. A total of 85 theses submitted to the Department of Chemistry library from 2013 to 2022 were analysed. Six objectives relevant in exploring the utilisation of grey literature by researchers of chemistry were formulated. The research design adopted in this study was bibliometric research design. The findings of the study revealed that out of 4740 citations obtained from the 85 theses, 1380 (29.11%) citations were made to grey literature. It was observed that citations to grey literature increased rapidly in recent time with 89.35% increase. Conference and seminar papers were the most cited sources out of the eleven kinds of grey literature cited. The most cited grey document was World Health Organization report paper with 67 (29.52%) citations. The finding of the study also showed that postgraduate students of chemistry use current material with medium age of 8.35 years. Citations to foreign contributions amount to 644 (27.54%). In conclusion, emphasis was laid on the need for the University Library to gear efforts towards providing adequate current grey literature for teaching and research of Department of Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The general research paper, despite its prevalence in higher education, has had limited success in the classroom for decades. Although academic librarians recognize the value of source-based writing and have continually partnered with faculty on this type of assignment, we are equally aware of the inherent limitations and difficulties of this traditional writing requirement. This column argues for an alternative vision to the general research paper, one that embraces a rhetorical context and offers academic librarians a more prominent role in assignment design on their campuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the extent of publication output and functional areas of Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals. The research has been undertaken based on the primary data collected from the LIS professionals working in the various eight-state universities in Kerala, India. The population of the study consists of two hundred and sixty-six regular LIS professionals. The Census method was used for the collection of data. A questionnaire was designed and used as the instrument for extracting publication output and the relevant data. Based on the data analysis, the results show that the highest mean score for the publications of LIS professionals is in the conference papers followed by journal articles. It was also observed that the main primary functional area of most LIS professionals is in the circulation section, followed by the maintenance section and reference section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A review of library social responsibility is presented in this study to offer an understanding of the future direction of library social responsibility, and to bridge the knowledge gap regarding research patterns and trends in social responsibility of libraries. The purpose of this review was to provide a systematic review of social responsibility in libraries adopted between 2010 and 2021. Searches were conducted on databases in English and Arabic. An analysis of the papers revealed four themes of library social responsibility: workplace and employees, stakeholders, environment, and community. Themes had different levels of attention. The results of this study may contribute to future research. Further highlighting the gaps in the literature could be valuable for future research. In-depth qualitative empirical studies of library social responsibility are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]