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Purpose: The subject of this paper is the phenomenon of social media aesthetics, which can be perceived as a tool for promoting and building the image of libraries, especially in terms of merchandising. The aim of this paper is to analyse the potential of the dark academia social media trend in the promotion of academic libraries. Design/methodology/approach: The article is based on a review of the social networking sites YouTube and Instagram and an analysis of network resources using the Brand24 tool. Findings: Resources that are described by Internet users as "dark academia" are popular in social media. Dark academia as an aesthetic concept creates potential for the promotion of academic libraries, especially those that are more traditional in terms of their architecture, décor or how they offer their services. Research limitations/implications: The paper concerns a phenomenon which, although popular socially, has not yet been scientifically analysed in the literature on the subject. Since the topic is new and there is no scientific literature on it, the author had to base the paper on less standard sources of information (e.g. analysis of the content of social media). The article is a review, an introduction, as well as an invitation to further discussion. The author's aim is not to comprehensively cover this topic but only to draw attention to an interesting and rarely discussed issue that has great potential for practical activities. Practical implications: The topic has great potential for the practical improvement of the promotional activities of libraries, especially older, more traditional libraries, to create a strong and positive image on the basis of characteristics often perceived as weaknesses. Social implications: Social media services are powerful social impact tools. Showing the potential role of social media aesthetics for cultural institutions could serve to make the public more aware of the role of the proper use of social media for promotion and image building. Originality/value: The use of social media aesthetics is very rarely discussed in the subject literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to measure the adoption of big data analytics (BDA) to achieve sustainability in services being offered in university libraries in Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach: The study applied a unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) as a framework and used quantitative data collection and analysis method. In total, 246 university library professionals were surveyed using a questionnaire consisting of UTAUT factors. The gathered data were analyzed using partial least structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Findings: The results showed that performance expectancy (PE), effort expectancy (EE) and social influence (SI) significantly impacted the behavioral intention (BI) to adopt BDA. Facilitating conditions (FCs) have a statistically significant influence on the adoption of big data in libraries, while BDA has a statistical influence on the sustainability of library services (SLS). Practical implications: BDA assists libraries in making better decisions about demand-driven collection creation, library space management, usage tracking, and quality maintenance in routine and repetitive library tasks such as cataloging, indexing, archiving, administration, preservation and representation. BDA supports libraries in making more cost-effective, innovative, user-oriented services, resource transferring, social identity, resource utilization, healthier user experience, strategic planning, informed decision-making and state-of-the-art infrastructure. Originality/value: The foundation of this study is based on information gathered from various sources and university libraries in Punjab to better understand the challenges associated with using BDA for the SLS in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study identifies factors affecting brand building for academic libraries affiliated with the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology (MSRT) in Iran. Design/methodology/approach: This research applied the grounded theory method based on the three open, axial and selective coding steps (Strauss and Corbin, 1998). The research tool was interviews conducted with 20 experts in librarianship, marketing and branding. Findings: Library building architecture, library information resources and services, librarians' branding, marketing activities and library management are the causal conditions affecting brand building. The national economic situation, the digital publishing situation in the country and different characteristics of the new library community are the intervening conditions affecting brand building. The role of other libraries in society in the scientific education of the new generation provides contextual conditions for brand building. The higher education system and the library parent organization play a part in the operative actions/interactions for brand building. The consequences of brand building are brand image development, brand excellence and brand behavioral loyalty for libraries. Library brand identity is also a core category in brand building. Originality/value: Facing steep challenges by emergent services, academic libraries are ill-prepared to meet the needs of the new information society solely with traditional services and functions. Academic libraries are required to rebrand themselves to be more successful at delivering a strong performance within a changing information environment by enhancing their brand image and establishing a more effective relationship with users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the factors leading to adoption of social networking sites (SNS) by librarians of entrepreneurial libraries to provide support to business community in their market research. Identification of these adoption factors will help to design SNS in the way that led to their seamless diffusion in university libraries, making them capable of providing reliable and useful market knowledge to the business community. Design/methodology/approach: To meet the research objectives, this study is based on the technology adoption model (TAM). The survey was conducted with 50 librarians of various universities across Europe, Asia, America, Africa and Australia, sampled through non probabilistic sampling techniques-purposive and snowball sampling. The collected data are analyzed through partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to estimate the formulated structural equation model using SmartPLS 3.2.9 software version. Findings: The results indicate that university librarians have high perception about usefulness and ease of using SNS for meeting their business objectives. The perceived usefulness (PU) is solely based on the prolonged adoption of SNS technology in personal lives of the librarians. The perceived ease of use (PEU) is triggered by the increasing quality of evolving SNS technology, especially user friendliness. The prolonged use of technology, increasing market entry of brands and improving quality of SNS will overcome librarian resistance to use SNS for market research related support to business community. Evolving technologies are more likely to be adopted seamlessly in entrepreneurial libraries. Research limitations/implications: This study has implications for librarians, entrepreneurs and technology providers. Librarians should have flexible technology adoption policies in place to keep technology adoption synchronized with changing market conditions. Entrepreneurs should share clear and accurate business needs as well as practicing ethical and lawful business practices. They should also help libraries to gain new skills to make future adoption easier. Technology providers should focus on improving the quality of their technology by increasing their functional utilities, performance and reliability as well as making them more user-friendly. Originality/value: This study investigates technology adoption of SNS in libraries from the perspective of providing market research related services to entrepreneurs rather than just digitalizing library services for student users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study explored the different artificial intelligence (AI) applications used in academic libraries and the key factors and impediments related to their implementation. Design/methodology/approach: The author applied quantitative research methods in the form of a questionnaire, using both open and closed questions. A total of 472 valid questionnaires were received from academic librarians. Findings: The author sought responses from librarians who had implemented AI applications and those who had not, identifying the types of AI applications implemented, key factors relating to their implementation, and impediments to promoting AI. Gaps were identified between the level of support for AI applications and the negative effect of the impediments. Furthermore, the more extensive the individual and organizational knowledge activities performed by the librarians and libraries held, the more positive the attitude was librarians' attitude toward AI applications in their libraries. However, librarians recognized that AI applications are inevitable, but indicated that the difficulties of in execution have hampered the adoption of AI. Research limitations/implications: The sample data were collected in Taiwan; therefore, the data may only represent the views of Taiwanese academic librarians on AI applications. The results of this study may not apply to librarians worldwide; however, they may provide a useful reference. Practical implications: The results revealed the top four AI applications that libraries would most likely implement in the near future. Therefore, AI application developers and suppliers can prioritize the promotion of these products for to academic libraries. This study revealed that funding and costs related to AI implementation were discovered to be key factors relating to implementing AI applications. Some impediments to the implementation of AI applications relate to technological problems. Several librarians suggested that managers should invest more resources at an early stage rather than reducing cutting back on human resources initially. Although worries regarding privacy and ethics were mentioned expressed by some respondents, most academic librarians did not regard these to be major concerns. Originality/value: This study provides the perspectives of librarians who have implemented AI applications and of those who have not. In addition, it explores the advantages and disadvantages of AI applications, and the level of support for and impact of AI applications and promotions. This study also included a gap analysis. Moreover, individual and organizational knowledge activity scales were adopted to examine AI awareness and the perceptions of academic librarians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This research studies the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the operation management of Hong Kong academic libraries for understanding the difficulties and challenges for librarians to adapt to the special arrangements during the pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with librarians in major universities and higher education institutions of Hong Kong. Participants were interviewed either in the face-to-face format or text-based format. Findings: Participants provided a broad scope about the actual library management and operation changes during the COVID-19. According to the respondents, the most challenging problem for librarians during COVID-19 was to strike a balance between concerns of library staff and users. While they described how these arrangements and changes affected the service quality of academic libraries from different perspectives, the pandemic situation also brought some opportunities, such as pushing the digitalization of all collections and using online resources for future development. A hybrid model for library service would be more common in the future with more demands toward online resources and digital collection, in which academic libraries should be prepared after the pandemic. Originality/value: This paper provided broad insights into library management and the future development of academic libraries for the post-COVID-19 period. There are scant studies of this topic, especially in an Asian metropolis context with dense population, small campus and limited library physical spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to assess the role of academic libraries in digital scholarship at the University of Cape Coast. The study adopted the descriptive survey design and used teaching staff (lecturers) as the population of the study. Design/methodology/approach: A sample size of 278 was used for the study. The study used questionnaires to obtain data from participants. The study revealed that faculty members appreciate digital scholarship through the services offered by Sam Jonah Library are relevant to the current higher education context, reliable information, preservation of information resources and facilitating the integration of library services into the learning process are closely integrated into the library service, transform scholarly communication, teaching and learning style and research paradigm. Findings: The study revealed that digital scholarship contributes to faculty members' delivery at the University of Cape Coast through the provision of information literacy training for new students, provision of reference lists of materials available in the library and provision of lists of new materials. The study revealed that faculty members face inadequate facilities to enhance digital scholarship, inadequate open access to reading materials (articles, books, etc.), inadequate platforms or suite of tools for librarians to take faculty. Practical implications: The application of digital scholarship provides an expansion to the core competitiveness of librarians new services which enables innovativeness and transformation of libraries. Students will be equipped with digital literacy skills; it affords instructors to approach teaching with innovation and scholars are also engaged to perform novel practices in scholarship acquisition. Digital scholarship is the umbrella under which all academic technologies comes under to foster collaboration and better learning experience. Originality/value: This paper offers an insight of the role digital scholarship in promoting and advancing scholarship in the academic environment. It highlights a number of digital scholarship platform available in the library. It is observed that digital scholarship practices must be encouraged in the library because it facilitates the role of academic library which is to support teaching, learning and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Citation analysis is an important measure for the assessment of quality and impact of academic entities (authors, papers and publication venues) used for ranking of research articles, authors and publication venues. It is a common observation that high-level publication venues, with few exceptions (Nature, Science and PLOS ONE), are usually topic specific. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the claim correlation analysis between topic specificity and citation count of different types of publication venues (journals, conferences and workshops).Design/methodology/approach The topic specificity was calculated using the information theoretic measure of entropy (which tells us about the disorder of the system). The authors computed the entropy of the titles of the papers published in each venue type to investigate their topic specificity.Findings It was observed that venues usually with higher citations (high-level publication venues) have low entropy and venues with lesser citations (not-high-level publication venues) have high entropy. Low entropy means less disorder and more specific to topic and vice versa. The input data considered here were DBLP-V7 data set for the last 10 years. Experimental analysis shows that topic specificity and citation count of publication venues are negatively correlated to each other.Originality/value This paper is the first attempt to discover correlation between topic sensitivity and citation counts of publication venues. It also used topic specificity as a feature to rank academic entities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study aims to investigate the academic libraries' response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic situation in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach: A survey research design was employed for the study. The population of the study was all the 584 approved academic institutions in Nigeria. A structured questionnaire administered online was designed to collect data with Google Form from heads of library (who are the chief principal officer) in all the academic institutions. The link to the survey was sent to the Nigeria Library Association (NLA) Online Forum, the platform on which Nigerian librarians fete and discuss issues relating to the profession. Social media tools such as WhatsApp and Telegram belonging to groups of academic librarians in Nigeria were also employed. The heads of the library from 108 academic libraries responded to the survey. The data generated were analyzed using a statistical tool and presented in tables. Findings: The finding reveals that nearly all the students are not on campus since they have been directed to vacate their campus as a result of the lockdown. The study reveals some safety measures that were put in place by the libraries in Nigeria to include total closure of the library (59.3%), provision of hand sanitizer (55.6%) and the use of face mask and nose covers by library users (31.9%). The finding further indicates social distancing measures also put in place to include communication done via social media (59.3%), attendance to patrons (51.9%), class/lecture (51.9%), training/conferences (37%) and paper presentations (37%) that are all canceled, respectively. On access to library materials, a majority (87.96%) of the academic libraries in Nigeria provide only online materials to their users, while 9.26% of the academic libraries provide access to both prints and online materials. Research limitations/implications: The paper will contribute to the body of literature on academic libraries' response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria and beyond. Practical implications: While the disease is still very much with the world, libraries have to continue providing information resources in support of the research studies and sensitize the world on the measures to take to curtail the pandemic. Originality/value: The results can help other libraries find ways and means to adjust services, so that they can still meet the needs of users in this pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Student participation has been an important issue for information literacy (IL) teachings. The purpose of this paper is to promote active student participation in IL courses with Rain Classroom, an intelligent teaching tool. Design/methodology/approach: Using mixed method research, the paper presents a practical case study of the author's experiences with Rain Classroom to improve teaching and learning of IL. Findings: The study shows that Rain Classroom helps implement problem-based learning, promote student participation in class interaction and optimize learning experience, which facilitates a shift of the IL course from passive to active learning. Research limitations/implications: It is known that university public courses have large class sizes (more than 50 students per class), and, therefore, class interaction is difficult to organize. So this is a big issue for the researchers to study. Practical implications: The proposed Rain Classroom is a free teaching tool and can be used in other academic libraries to enhance active student participation in IL lessons. Social implications: The paper includes implications for improving interaction in large-size conference or trainings using Rain Classroom. Originality/value: The existing literature has not traced the reports on using the Rain Classroom to enhance student participation in IL courses in academic libraries. This paper intends to fill this gap and share practical methods and experiences, deepening the application research of Rain Classroom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Discovering the research topics and trends from a large quantity of library electronic references is essential for scientific research. Current research of this kind mainly depends on human justification. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how to identify research topics and evolution in trends from library electronic references efficiently and effectively by employing automatic text analysis algorithms.Design/methodology/approach The authors used the latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA), a probabilistic generative topic model to extract the latent topic from the large quantity of research abstracts. Then, the authors conducted a regression analysis on the document-topic distributions generated by LDA to identify hot and cold topics.Findings First, this paper discovers 32 significant research topics from the abstracts of 3,737 articles published in the six top accounting journals during the period of 1992-2014. Second, based on the document-topic distributions generated by LDA, the authors identified seven hot topics and six cold topics from the 32 topics.Originality/value The topics discovered by LDA are highly consistent with the topics identified by human experts, indicating the validity and effectiveness of the methodology. Therefore, this paper provides novel knowledge to the accounting literature and demonstrates a methodology and process for topic discovery with lower cost and higher efficiency than the current methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to identify the measures employed in the provision of patron services in Chinese academic libraries responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, noting the challenges and issues inherent in providing substantial services while undergoing a public health emergency. Design/methodology/approach: This paper uses an analytical survey study of 137 Chinese academic libraries using data collected through a combination of website investigation, social media access and direct correspondences. Findings: Over 94% of Chinese academic libraries released COVID-19-related information through their websites; the majority switched their service focus to partly or solely remotely online, including remote access, free electronic resources, virtual references reachable 24/7 and research support services deliverable online; services of print materials were altered to e-books for conveniences. Research limitations/implications: It should be noted that the survey was conducted from February 12 to April 5, 2020; because of the rapid updates to the library's website and social media channels, the status of their patron services are in the process of dynamic changes and that there should be many libraries that have adopted some patron service methods, but this study is difficult to cover comprehensively. In addition, patron services carried out offline by the surveyed libraries but not disclosed on the online platform could not be analyzed in a way that would be consistent with the data provided by the survey. Originality/value: By providing evidence of the current status of patron services in Chinese academic libraries during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study helps fulfill the scant empirical attention given to the impact of nationwide public health crises on academic libraries and offers new data of the best practices that help library administrators enhance the impact, efficiency and value of library services to their target community users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study attempts to use a new source of data collection from open government data sets to identify potential academic social networks (ASNs) and defines their collaboration patterns. The purpose of this paper is to propose a direction that may advance our current understanding on how or why ASNs are formed or motivated and influence their research collaboration. Design/methodology/approach: This study first reviews the open data sets in Taiwan, which is ranked as the first state in Global Open Data Index published by Open Knowledge Foundation to select the data sets that expose the government's R&D activities. Then, based on the theory review of research collaboration, potential ASNs in those data sets are identified and are further generalized as various collaboration patterns. A research collaboration framework is used to present these patterns. Findings: Project-based social networks, learning-based social networks and institution-based social networks are identified and linked to various collaboration patterns. Their collaboration mechanisms, e.g., team composition, motivation, relationship, measurement, and benefit-cost, are also discussed and compared. Originality/value: In traditional, ASNs have usually been known as co-authorship networks or co-inventorship networks due to the limitation of data collection. This study first identifies some ASNs that may be formed before co-authorship networks or co-inventorship networks are formally built-up, and may influence the outcomes of research collaborations. These information allow researchers to deeply dive into the structure of ASNs and resolve collaboration mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The last few years have seen a surge of interest in artificial intelligence (AI). The purpose of this paper is to capture a snapshot of perceptions of the potential impact of AI on academic libraries and to reflect on its implications for library work. Design/methodology/approach: The data for the study were interviews with 33 library directors, library commentators and experts in education and publishing. Findings: Interviewees identified impacts of AI on search and resource discovery, on scholarly publishing and on learning. Challenges included libraries being left outside the focus of development, ethical concerns, intelligibility of decisions and data quality. Some threat to jobs was perceived. A number of potential roles for academic libraries were identified such as data acquisition and curation, AI tool acquisition and infrastructure building, aiding user navigation and data literacy. Originality/value: This is one of the first papers to examine current expectations around the impact of AI on academic libraries. The authors propose the paradigm of the intelligent library to capture the potential impact of AI for libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to describe the process of fostering a maker culture in a liberal arts university. It explores the impact of making on student learning and engagement, as well as the role of the library's maker program. Design/methodology/approach: This paper is a case study that presents the tools and activities used in an academic library's maker program. Structured interviews were conducted with faculty, staff and students to review the program and maker culture influence on campus. Findings: Findings highlight the library's role in supporting maker culture on a liberal arts campus and address ways making contributes to student engagement and learning. Interviewees also recommend strategies to increase awareness and market the library's maker program to engage a wider community. Originality/value: Though there are many articles written about the maker movement and libraries, this study contributes to the growing body of research on makerspaces in higher education, with particular focus on a library at a liberal arts university. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose This paper reports on a grant-funded project to create a hand-drawn, custom-made animated character named Jasmyn. Drawing on animation theory, the purpose of this paper is to use qualitative research to investigate student responses to the medium of animation, the character’s design, and three presentation strategies.Design/methodology/approach The researchers held three student focus groups to investigate the following research questions: Will students endorse animation as a medium for library instructional videos on the grounds of its entertaining, subversive, or playful qualities? Is Jasmyn designed and written in a way that engages students and compels them to respond to her as a character? How will students respond to three presentation strategies: a lecture-style video, a video with supplemental animations, and a real-time, interactive lesson?Findings The researchers found that students expressed broad enthusiasm for animation as a medium, though responses to Jasmyn’s personality were mixed. The only presentation strategy that prompted unique responses was the interactive session, although all three focus groups provided revealing commentary about online learning. Students also identified aspects of the animation and character that could be improved, and reflected on ways Jasmyn might be integrated into online learning.Research limitations/implications This study, performed as part of a pilot project, was deliberately small in scale. Clearer implications would emerge from repetition with a larger group of students.Originality/value Jasmyn may be the only hand-drawn, custom-made animated character created for library instruction. No research studies on the use of animation in libraries have been published to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Changes in file format specifications challenge long-term preservation of digital documents. Digital archives thus often focus on specific file formats that are well suited for long-term preservation, such as the PDF/A format. Since only few customers submit PDF/A files, digital archives may consider converting submitted files to the PDF/A format. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach: The authors evaluated three software tools for batch conversion of common file formats to PDF/A-1b: LuraTech PDF Compressor, Adobe Acrobat XI Pro and 3-HeightsTM Document Converter by PDF Tools. The test set consisted of 80 files, with 10 files each of the eight file types JPEG, MS PowerPoint, PDF, PNG, MS Word, MS Excel, MSG and "web page." Findings: Batch processing was sometimes hindered by stops that required manual interference. Depending on the software tool, three to four of these stops occurred during batch processing of the 80 test files. Furthermore, the conversion tools sometimes failed to produce output files even for supported file formats: three (Adobe Pro) up to seven (LuraTech and 3-HeightsTM) PDF/A-1b files were not produced. Since Adobe Pro does not convert e-mails, a total of 213 PDF/A-1b files were produced. The faithfulness of each conversion was investigated by comparing the visual appearance of the input document with that of the produced PDF/A-1b document on a computer screen. Meticulous visual inspection revealed that the conversion to PDF/A-1b impaired the information content in 24 of the converted 213 files (11 percent). These reproducibility errors included loss of links, loss of other document content (unreadable characters, missing text, document part missing), updated fields (reflecting time and folder of conversion), vector graphics issues and spelling errors. Originality/value: These results indicate that large-scale batch conversions of heterogeneous files to PDF/A-1b cause complex issues that need to be addressed for each individual file. Even with considerable efforts, some information loss seems unavoidable if large numbers of files from heterogeneous sources are migrated to the PDF/A-1b format. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the sustainability of an academic library 3D printing service. Originally intended to introduce students to an emerging technology, the 3D printing service at the University of Florida (UF) libraries expanded to support teaching, learning and research, allowing faculty, staff and students to engage in the maker movement. Design/methodology/approach: This paper analyzed usage data collected by the library's 3D printing service from April 2014 through March 2018. These data include the number of prints produced, amount of filament consumed, user academic demographics and whether it is for academic assignments, research or personal projects. Findings: The data show that the initial 3D printing service users were predominantly engineering students; however, over the four-year period, the service has built up a consistent and diverse user base and expanded the number and types of printers. With grants covering the purchase of the 3D printers and a modest charge for printing ($0.15 per gram of model weight), the 3D printing service has achieved a sustainable level. Originality/value: UF was one of the first academic libraries to offer 3D printing services and has collected four years of data to evaluate the sustainability of the service. These data demonstrate that the service is a valuable and sustainable asset, allowing students and researchers to visualize and innovate in such diverse fields as anthropology, archaeology, art, biology, chemistry and mathematics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to develop data visualisation proof of concept prototypes that will enable the Curtin University Library team to explore its users' information-seeking behaviour and collection use online by analysing the library's EZproxy logs. Design/methodology/approach: Curtin Library's EZproxy log file data from 2013 to 2017 is used to develop the data visualisation prototypes using Unity3D software. Findings: Two visualisation prototypes from the EZproxy data set are developed. The first, "Global Visualisation of Curtin Research Activity", uses a geographical map of the world as a platform to show where each research request comes from, the time each is made and the file size of the request. The second prototype, "Database Usage Visualisation", shows the use of the library's various subscription databases by staff and students daily, over a month in April 2017. Research limitations/implications: The paper has following limitations: working to a tight timeline of ten weeks; time taken to cleanse noise data; and requirements for storing and hosting the voluminous data sets. Practical implications: The prototypes provide visual evidence of the use of Curtin Library's digital resources at any time and from anywhere by its users, demonstrating the demand for the library's online service offerings. These prototype evidence-based data visualisations empower the library to communicate in a compelling and interesting way how its services and subscriptions support Curtin University's missions. Originality/value: The paper provides innovative approaches to create immersive 3D data visualisation prototypes to make sense of complex EZproxy data sets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore social media usage in an academic library in South Africa and the factors influencing its use. The primary goal of the study was to examine perceptions surrounding the impact of non-adoption of social media on morale, and to explore the consequences of digital inequality. Design/methodology/approach: Using a qualitative method, in-depth interviews were conducted with a small sample comprising six key informants at the University of Limpopo Libraries. Findings: The findings suggest that non-adoption of social media has a negative influence on morale, and that it is a very necessary tool required for interaction with students as well as promotion and marketing of the library's resources. Research limitations/implications: This paper is limited to one academic library in South Africa situated in a rural area. The research suggests that more academic libraries in rural areas be studied to ascertain if geographical location and finance are barriers to social media adoption. Originality/value: This study addresses non-adoption of social media and suggests ways to improve employee morale and retention. The research contributes to current research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to evaluate Chromebooks as an alternative to the traditional computer laboratory for library instruction in an academic environment. The results of this study could help inform the creation of a mobile instruction lab that students and librarians quickly construct inside any classroom with minimal effort and no software to manage. Design/methodology/approach: An online survey was distributed to student participants. The survey contained two demographic questions followed by seven user experience questions related to the in-classroom use of Chromebooks; most questions were quantitative in nature. Findings: The majority of respondents (84 percent) strongly or somewhat agreed that Chromebooks were easy to use, and 15 percent of the respondents reported some difficulty accessing the university's Wi-Fi system while using the devices. Research limitations/implications: This introductory study was limited to a survey population primarily comprised of lower-level undergraduate students in their first two years of study. Additionally, Chromebooks were not tested in an educational environment using G Suite for Education, which could increase the opportunities for use in an academic setting. Practical implications: The study's findings, combined with the portability and long battery life of Chromebooks, make them a candidate for a mobile instruction lab. Originality/value: This research seeks to explore the viability of Chromebooks as an affordable and easy to manage alternative to wired instruction rooms, using a light laptop technology that is becoming increasingly familiar to college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present the current state research of cyber-physical system (CPS) and its application in libraries. CPS is a kind of large-scale and networked system that consists of physical and cyber elements and is currently of interest in academia, industry and government. In this survey, the definitions, theoretical foundation and basic applications of CPS are systematically reviewed. In addition, the development of library and current research of CPS application in library management are presented. The vision and challenge of smart library are also discussed. Design/methodology/approach: By retrieving the main scholarly databases, the literature of CPS and its application in libraries were examined. Findings: This study shows that a lot of CPS technology applications are still in initial stage, and explores CPS potential impacts on libraries. Originality/value: The application of CPS in library management has not been paid much attention, this study provides a prospective for the application of CPS in libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Internet of Things (IoT) is an emerging paradigm that draws academia and industry attention in the past few years. The purpose of this paper is to review the current research on IoT in library operation, and report the future trends and research challenges as well. Design/methodology/approach: To conduct this research, the literature on IoT and its application in libraries was retrieved from major databases such as Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, Scopus and Inspec for the period between 2010 and 2018. Findings: This study identifies IoT potential impact on libraries, and excavates some valuable literature on IoT and its application in libraries from managerial perspective, especially focuses on library service innovation in IoT era. Originality/value: The IoT application in libraries is a new subject. This study provides an overview of IoT application in libraries. The findings of this study contribute to the research on IoT and its role in library management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize how digital humanities (DH) projects can be integrated into instructional services programs in libraries. The paper draws on three digital projects from the New York Public Library (NYPL) and explores how librarians can creatively utilize these resources to teach new digital literacy skills such as data analysis and data management. For patrons, they can learn about the content of these crowd-sourcing projects as well. By integrating DH projects into library instruction, the possibilities and opportunities to expand and explore new research and teaching areas are timely and relevant. Design/methodology/approach -- The approach of this paper is to explore NYPL's three digital projects and underscore how they can be integrated into instructional services: 'What's On the Menu," "Direct Me NYC" and "Map Warper" all offer strengths and limitations but they serve as paradigms to explore how digital resources can serve multipurpose use: they are databases, digital repositories and digital libraries but they can also serve as instructional service tools. Findings -- The paper conceptualizes how three DH projects can serve as teaching opportunities for instructional services, particularly teaching digital literacy skills. By exploring the content of each digital project, the paper suggests that users can develop traditional information literacy skills but also digital literacy skills. In addition, as crowdsourcing projects, the Library also benefits from this engagement since users are adding transcriptions or rectified maps to the Library's site. Patrons develop visual literacy skills as well. The paper addresses how librarians can meet the needs of the scholarly community through these new digital resources. While the paper only addresses the possibilities of these integrations, these ideas can be considered and implemented in any library. Practical implications -- The paper addresses positive outcomes with these digital resources to be used for library instructional services. Based on these projects, the paper recommends that DH projects can be integrated into such instructions to introduce new content and digital skills if appropriate. Although, there are limitations with these digital resources, it is possible to maximize their usage if they are used in a different and creative way. It is possible for DH projects to be more than just digital projects but to act as a tool of digital literacy instruction. Librarians must play a creative role to address this gap. However, another limitation is that librarians themselves are "new" to these resources and may find it challenging to understand the importance of DH projects in scholarly research. Originality/value -- This paper introduces DH projects produced in a public research library and explores how librarians can use these digital projects to teach patrons on how to analyze data, maps and other content to develop digital literacy skills. The paper conceptualizes the significant roles that these DH projects and librarians can play as critical mediators to introducing and fostering digital literacy in the twenty-first century. The paper can serve as an interest to academic and public libraries with large research collections and digital projects. By offering new innovative ideas of integrating DH into instructional services, the paper addresses how DH projects teaching tools can support specific digital skills such as visual literacy and data analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: As current university students may access information for their study anytime, anywhere with ubiquitous mobile technologies, this research re-examines the roles of study space in students' learning and campus life. Design/methodology/approach: A survey was conducted to collect students' opinions and habits regarding the usage of different study spaces. Results in three different academic majors (science and engineering, arts and business) of a comprehensive international university were compared. Findings: The authors' findings showed a more diversified space usage among students, with the library café increasingly important in students' learning and life while learning commons remain important. However, there were only minor differences among these three study majors towards the learning and entertaining spaces, as these students generally apply inquiry-based learning. Originality/value: While some researches have investigated students' usage of university and library learning spaces, few studies have focused on the study space issue in Hong Kong or other metropolises in the East under the current mobile learning environment. This study's insights could help libraries and universities improve the management of their physical spaces to meet student needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to present a model for the use of augmented reality (AR) in the libraries of universities of medical sciences. The goal was to introduce the applications, advantages, opportunities and challenges of AR. Design/methodology/approach: This study adopted a qualitative approach, had an applied goal and was based on data theory. The statistical population comprised 20 experts in the field of AR, and the data were collected based on in-depth semi-structured interviews until achieving theoretical saturation. A model was proposed after open coding and the formation of the main categories, and the use of AR in the development of libraries of medical universities was discussed. Findings: The category of application consisted of strengthening education, promoting users' information literacy, finding resources, user guidance, gamification, educational justice, helping management, enriching resources, providing new services and economic savings. The advantages were library services, sociocultural excellence, educational level, software potential and helping the librarian. The challenges were technical, economic and cultural barriers. Libraries can attract many users by enacting effective policies, using technology and enriching the content of resources. AR can greatly assist library management and improve the librarians' and users' professional activities. Research limitations/implications: The limitation of this study was that some experts could not participate in the interviews. Originality/value: The results of this study are beneficial for managers, librarians, students and researchers. The use of AR in libraries is essential for achieving fourth-generation libraries. AR will be a necessity for the libraries of medical universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe the implementation of a print management system to control costs and reduce waste associated with printing practices. Design/methodology/approach – A paper collection study found that 8 percent of pages printed in the library were never claimed. A print management system was implemented requiring print jobs to be manually released by users. Statistics on toner lifespan and number of pages printed before and after the system was implemented were compared. Findings – The print management system reduced the total number of pages printed in a semester by 32 percent from Fall 2009 to Fall 2011 and increased the lifespan of toner cartridges so they would perform more efficiently. Practical implications – Implementing a print management system without charging students a printing fee reduces the amount of wasted paper and the costs associated with purchasing paper and toner for printing services. Originality/value – The paper describes the implementation of a print management system in a library that has substantially reduced the number of pages printed from library computers and the amount of toner used. The authors believe they have made a significant impact on reducing a primary area of waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose This paper describes the creation and work of a collaborative learning community, consisting of library staff from a variety of library departments. The purpose of this paper is to build proficiency in using tablet devices and to explore the potential application of tablets to various types of library work.Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from discussion sessions, journals, and a survey, which documented participants’ experiences in learning how to use tablets and how they applied them to work-related tasks.Findings The project helped increase participants’ awareness of different types of work across the library, encouraged inter-departmental communication, and provided an open environment for asking questions, trouble-shooting, and sharing tips about using tablets. Participants mastered basic functions and navigation and explored ways to use tablets in their work. Portability was the top advantage of the tablet.Originality/value Although participants found tablets to be convenient and portable for some tasks, they are not ready to entirely replace office computers for library work. Laptops remain a more flexible and powerful option at this time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to consider personal digital archiving (PDA) from an academic perspective. Although elements of research data management and personal information management are relevant, it is unclear what is available on university websites supporting PDA. The following question guided the research: where is “PDA” content housed in the top-level .edu domain and what is the format and nature of the content made available?Design/methodology/approach This descriptive study analyzed Google hits yielded by searching “PDA” within the .edu domain. Results were analyzed to determine where content was housed and its format and nature. Placement in the domain, delivery methods, topics, and the nature of the most highly ranking Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) were analyzed.Findings In the academy, PDA is not exclusively of interest in libraries; not quite half of the .edu URLs (45 percent) pointed to a library site. Scholarly papers were the most returned content, followed by blogs and conferences information. Closer analysis of the top 20 URLs showed that libraries are popular and papers, and blogs continue to be dominant.Research limitations/implications The results suggest good PDA practices and recommendations are evolving. Academic librarians should examine these practices, refine them, and make them available and discoverable on the web.Originality/value This is the first paper, to the knowledge, to consider PDA content from the perspective of universities and university libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe the development of a 3D printing pilot project and 3D printing library service. Policy development, instruction, and best practices will be shared and explored. Design/methodology/approach – This paper describes the implementation of 3D printing at the University of Regina Library and details successes, failures, and modifications made to better provide 3D printing services. This paper outlines one academic library’s experience and solutions to offering 3D printing for university patrons. Findings – Although 3D printing has been around for a while, it still requires trial and error and experience in order to print successfully. Training and instruction is needed to run the 3D printer and understand how to develop 3D objects that will print successfully. Originality/value – There have been many publications on 3D printing, but few that discuss problem solving, best practices, and policy development. 3D printing provides a way for patrons to learn about new technology and use that technology to help support learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – With more and more individuals relying on mobile devices to obtain information, many libraries launch mobile application to satisfy mobile users’ information need. The purpose of this paper is to figure out factors influencing consumers’ channel transfer intention of library service from web-based platform to mobile app. Design/methodology/approach – A structural equation model is proposed based on categorization theory. In addition, situational contexts are taken into account to make research model more suitable for the real condition. Data collected from 319 samples are used for hypotheses examining. Findings – The relationships between source and target (perceived differentiation including function differentiation and resource differentiation) positively affect perceived situation efficiency, which in turn shapes intention to use mobile library application. Perceived mobile library quality positively influences perceived differentiation, perceived situation efficiency and mobile library adoption intention. In summary, perceived situation efficiency is the main factor. Practical implications – Both quality and situational factors should be taken seriously, and mobile device producers and mobile app developers should cooperate on improving the quality of mobile app. Meanwhile, it is critical to examine the relationship between web based and mobile library service in the initial or early stage of mobile library development. Originality/value – By focussing on the impacts of the relationship between web and mobile library service and evaluation of mobile library on the adoption intention, this paper not only provides a theoretical understanding of mobile library adoption behavior but also offers practical insights to library managers and app developers for promoting such a process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the effect of an electronic noise-monitoring device (NoiseSign) at reducing noise levels in quiet study areas in an academic library. Design/methodology/approach – Surveys and decibel-level measurements were used to measure the perceived and objective noise levels, respectively, in both an intervention and a control area of two major branch libraries. Patrons’ perception of noise was measured with a passive paper and online survey, which asked patrons to rate the current noise level and their desired noise level. The actual noise measurements were collected twice a day with a hand-held decibel reader for 60 seconds and then corroborated after the intervention with automatically logged decibel readings from the noise monitor device in the two intervention areas. The authors conducted one-way ANOVA’s to determine if the results were significant. Findings – The NoiseSign had no statistically significant effect on either actual noise levels or user perceptions of noise in the library. The surveys comments and anecdotal observation of the spaces while doing measurements did reveal that noise in the quiet study areas was not the primary source of complaints. Originality/value – In spite of many proposed solutions to reducing noise in libraries, there has been very little research in this area. This is the first study to examine the effectiveness of using a noise-monitoring device in reducing noise levels at an academic library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe an approach to developing a makerspace assessment plan. This approach focuses on connecting organizational and service point mission statements with outcome-based assessment plan goals, strategies, methods, and success measures.Design/methodology/approach This paper will outline the steps taken by an academic research library to design an outcomes-based assessment plan that monitors the human ecology of a makerspace. The paper includes a history of the space, the role of the library within the campus makerspace environment, the connection between mission statements and assessment plans, and how that connection can facilitate and drive space and service design.Findings Designing assessment plans that are centered on a makerspace mission statement can ensure that progress toward fulfilling the mission, values, and goals of the space is constantly monitored.Originality/value Academic library makerspace assessment literature is still in its infancy. This paper seeks to contribute to the literature on academic library makerspace management and stewardship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to identify barriers and drivers to open source software (OSS) adoption, and measures awareness and adoption stages of OSS in US academic libraries. Design/methodology/approach: An online survey of chief information officers, chief technology officers or heads for IT in US academic libraries was conducted. A total number of 179 responses were used for data analysis. Findings: From the survey, the authors identify significant barriers and drivers that US academic libraries may consider before adopting OSS and found that awareness itself is not a barrier. While about half of respondents confirmed using OSS, the authors found surprisingly low levels of intent to adopt from current non-adopters. Practical implications: This research offers insights for promoting OSS adoption. Also, it provides funding agencies and administrators with guidelines to encourage successful deployment of OSS in higher education. Originality/value: While extant research is mostly anecdotal, this research draws from an online survey to snap-shot the current state of OSS adoption in US academic libraries and provides a baseline for practice and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the breadth of the challenges and issues facing institutional repositories in academic libraries, based on a survey of academic librarians. Particularly, this study covers the challenges and barriers related to data management facing institutional repositories. Design/methodology/approach: The study uses a survey method to identify the relative significance of major challenges facing institutional repositories across six dimensions, including: data, metadata, technological requirements, user needs, ethical concerns and administrative challenges. Findings: The results of the survey reveal that academic librarians identify limited resources, including insufficient budget and staff, as the major factor preventing the development and/or deployment of services in institutional repositories. The study also highlights crucial challenges in different dimensions of institutional repositories, including the sheer amount of data, institutional support for metadata creation and the sensitivity of data. Originality/value: This study is one of a few studies that comprehensively identified the variety of challenges that institutional repositories face in operating academic libraries with a focus on data management in institutional repositories. In this study, 37 types of challenges were identified in six dimensions of institutional repositories. More importantly, the significance of those challenges was assessed from the perspective of academic librarians involved in institutional repository services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate how scholars in the digital humanities employ information visualization techniques in their research, and how academic librarians should prepare themselves to support this emerging trend. Design/methodology/approach: This study adopts a content analysis methodology, which further draws techniques from data mining, natural language processing and information visualization to analyze three peer-reviewed journals published within the last five years and ten online university library research guides in this field. Findings: To successfully support and effectively contribute to the digital humanities, academic librarians should be knowledgeable in more than just visualization concepts and tools. The content analysis results for the digital humanities journals reflect the importance of recognizing the wide variety of applications and purposes of information visualization in digital humanities research. Practical implications: This study provides useful and actionable insights into how academic librarians can prepare for this emerging technology to support future endeavors in the digital humanities. Originality/value: Although information visualization has been widely adopted in digital humanities research, it remains unclear how librarians, especially academic librarians who support digital humanities research, should prepare for this emerging technology. This research is the first study to address this research gap through the lens of actual applications of information visualization techniques in digital humanities research, which is compared against university LibGuides for digital humanities research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Internet of Things (IoT) is an emerging paradigm that draws academia and industry attention in the past few years. The purpose of this paper is to review the current research on IoT in library operation, and report the future trends and research challenges as well. Design/methodology/approach: To conduct this research, the literature on IoT and its application in libraries was retrieved from major databases such as Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, Scopus and Inspec for the period between 2010 and 2018. Findings: This study identifies IoT potential impact on libraries, and excavates some valuable literature on IoT and its application in libraries from managerial perspective, especially focuses on library service innovation in IoT era. Originality/value: The IoT application in libraries is a new subject. This study provides an overview of IoT application in libraries. The findings of this study contribute to the research on IoT and its role in library management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Much has been published on makerspaces: the history, development and progress and how they are used – stories of successes and opinions on their potential. The purpose of this paper is to comment on such publications within the library and information science (LIS) literature and to warn libraries to not only focus on providing physical spaces and tools but to explore the bigger potential of extended, interconnected spaces for information and information resources and “mutations” of makerspaces such as makerlearning. Design/methodology/approach – The contribution is based on a pragmatic and reflective analysis of the LIS literature on makerspaces. The questions are: what to make of the literature, and what needs to be done to enrich the subject literature to support an interconnected approach to makerspaces and information resources and information support? Findings – There is a very strong focus in the literature on libraries as physical spaces for makerspaces, the planning, provision, maintenance and how-we-do-it approaches. Although very important this does not sufficiently explore an interconnection between makerspaces and an expanded information-related involvement of libraries, e.g. in information literacy training, guided inquiry, bridging the digital divide, research (embedded librarianship) and community support. Research limitations/implications – There are many publications on makerspaces in the LIS literature. They however, mostly do not reflect on the opportunities to take a more holistic look at the potential of makerspaces in libraries interconnected to the use of information resources, and information-related support and intervention from libraries. Originality/value – Although there are many papers on makerspaces the purpose of this contribution is to focus on extended input from libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to suggest a framework for workplace information literacy based on a case study at the Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State (South Africa). Design/methodology/approach – The framework is based on a literature survey covering case studies from the private, public and academic sector and a case study conducted at the CUT, Free State (South Africa). A mixed methods approach was followed using questionnaires, individual interviews and focus group interviews. Descriptive statistics and qualitative data were collected. Findings – The data analysis reveals a need as well as support for workplace information literacy. It addresses institutional buy-in, the need for alignment to the institutional strategy, inclusion of workplace information literacy in job descriptions, whether workplace information literacy should be optional or mandatory, whether it should address the needs of all staff members, the responsibility for a workplace information literacy programme, perceived benefits, etc. Practical implications – The proposed framework can be used at the CUT, Free State. As a general framework it can also be used in other academic contexts as well as in the public and private sector. Originality/value – Although several studies on workplace information literacy have been reported, the literature survey did not trace a suitable framework that can guide the design and implementation of workplace information literacy in academic contexts. This paper intends to contribute towards filling this gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to subject the potential of Internet of Things (IoT) technology for libraries in terms of the possible scope and usage forms of this technology in public and academic library services. Design/methodology/approach – Based on analysis of the subject literature, the main areas of IoT applications in commercial institutions were identified, then an analysis of Library and Information Science English-language literature from the years 2010 to 2015 was conducted in order to create a profile of modern library services. The range of activities of commercial and non-commercial institutions were compared to ascertain if areas in which commercial entities using or planning to use IoT could also be an inspiration for libraries. In this way, a theoretical model of IoT use in library activities was developed. Findings – The research showed that IoT technology might have the potential to be used in library services and other activities, similar to how it is implemented in the commercial sector. Research limitations/implications – The aim of the paper is to determine the possible, not the actual, scope and forms of using this technology in public and academic libraries’ services. Practical implications – The results can be widely used in libraries as an inspiration for the use of IoT technology in modern library services. Social implications – The use of new technologies in libraries can help to improve the image of these institutions in the eyes of users, especially the younger generation. Originality/value – The use of IoT in libraries is a new issue that has not been studied much yet. The issue of using the potential of this technology for the needs of libraries has, in recent years, been raised at international conferences, become a subject of interest to librarian associations, and been widely discussed in the blogosphere, thus proving that this topic is important to practitioners. It is difficult, however, to find any scientific, comprehensive studies of this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Librarians are working with telepresence robotics for various uses, particularly as a communication method inhabiting a space between video chat and face-to-face interactions. The library at (Blinded University) partnered with the (Blinded Laboratory) to showcase this emerging technology in a high-traffic setting utilized by students of every level and major. The purpose of this paper is to discuss patron reactions to this technology exhibition in the library, beta testing of a telepresence robot in various public services tasks, and library employee attitudes toward this unfamiliar technology before and after one-on-one training.Design/methodology/approach The project gathered data through three studies. In study 1, feedback forms were filled out by patrons who interacted with or piloted the robot. In study 2, observations by the librarians piloting the robot for various public services activities were recorded in a log. In study 3, employees were invited to complete a pretest designed to solicit perceptions and attitudes regarding the use of the robot, become trained in navigating the robot, and complete a posttest for comparison purposes. Results were analyzed to find trends and highlight perceived uses for the technology.Findings Patrons and library employees gave positive feedback regarding the novelty of the technology and appreciated its remote communication capability. Trialed uses of the technology for public services yielded positive results when the TR was used for public relations, such as at special events or in greeting tours, and yielded less positive results when used for reference purposes. Library employees comfort with and perceived utility of the robot grew consistently across departments, levels of experience and employment types after a personal training session.Originality/value Although libraries in recent years have surveyed users regarding TR technology, this paper captures quantitative and qualitative data from a library employee training study regarding perception of the technology. Exploration of the public services uses and library employee acceptance of TR technology is valuable to those contemplating expending time and resources in similar endeavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose An increased number of academic libraries are providing access to nontraditional technologies including 3D printers, 3D scanners, laser cutters, and more. However, these new equipment offerings require users to learn new literacies and skills in order to fully utilize them and realize their full potential to impact creativity and innovation on campus. The purpose of this paper is to share how one academic library is providing services and resources to help users acquire the necessary 3D modeling skills to design and successfully 3D print new knowledge objects.Design/methodology/approach The library is providing access to online tutorials on many different 3D modeling programs, gives instruction on 3D modeling through group workshops, and provides individual consultations with 3D modeling experts. These instruction efforts were assessed by analyzing usage statistics, attendance, and user satisfaction surveys.Findings Usage statistics show that the online tutorials are heavily utilized by UNR users and that many different 3D modeling programs are of interest to our community. Usage statistics and user surveys show the individual consultation service to be helpful and often exceeding expectations. Workshop attendance is generally low and appears to positively impact far fewer users than the other services.Originality/value While more libraries begin providing access to maker technologies, few are addressing the need to teach new skills and literacies necessary to utilize those technologies fully. This paper may prove valuable for other academic libraries to start providing avenues of learning for new and nontraditional library skills, such as 3D modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Academic libraries have sought to become the leaders in the provision of information literacy (IL). The purpose of this paper is to identify to what extent IL is being promoted through institutional websites.Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from all UK university websites (n=133) in early 2015 to identify the promotion of IL. Content analysis was used for the five categories: IL in the mission statement, visions or strategic plan; IL model or framework; IL policy; IL assessment; and, IL training. Data collection was limited to information in the public domain which could be accessed from individual websites, which were searched and browsed systematically.Findings In total, 85.7 per cent of universities promote IL to some extent on their websites in at least one of the five categories, however the degree of the information provided varied extensively. Less than 6 per cent of universities promote IL at institutional level. Only 17.3 per cent refer to a model or framework, 15.8 per cent show their IL policy and 9 per cent provide information on their assessment of students’ IL skills. Information on IL training is offered on 84.2 per cent of websites, the most common method being online tutorials, although 52.6 per cent only offer training for one or two aspects of IL, primarily information seeking and citing and referencing.Originality/value This paper provides up-to-date data concerning how universities in the UK promote IL in the public domain via their websites. It should be of interest to academic librarians who are responsible for IL provision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to assess the response of Canadian academic libraries to the rapid proliferation of mobile application (apps), many of which are useful for research, teaching, and learning. Design/methodology/approach -- A survey was conducted to identify existing initiatives that address the use of mobile apps to facilitate research, teaching, and learning at the libraries of the 97 member institutions of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC). Based on this survey, this paper describes how apps are promoted, curated, organized, and described by today's academic libraries. A review of the literature places this survey in its broader context. Findings -- In total, 37 per cent of AUCC member libraries include links to mobile apps in their web site. Larger, research-intensive universities, tend to leverage apps more frequently than smaller institutions. Examples of how academic libraries are promoting apps provide insight into how academic librarians are responding to the proliferation of mobile technology. Practical implications -- The results of this survey highlight trends with regard to this emerging service opportunity, help to establish current best practices in the response of academic libraries to the emergence of mobile apps, and identify areas for potential future development. Originality/value -- This is the first study of its kind to explore and describe how third-party apps are used and promoted within an academic library context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to introduce the implementation of the official WeChat account, the most popular mobile social media site in China, to share Jinan University Library collections and services to students, faculty and staff. The implementation, experience and issues have implications for academic libraries and other institutions to run and improve social media tools.Design/methodology/approach This paper is a case study, which elaborates on the implementation process of the official WeChat account, including project group establishment, account application and management, users’ needs analysis, WeChat secondary development and model of development.Findings The official WeChat account has already engaged a population of followers who are able to directly access library resources and service via their mobile device. The social media tool is an effective approach to promote library services and to enhance relationships between the library and its users. The issues appear during the process of WeChat implementation and promotion, which requires WeChat’s provider, third-party application vendors and the library to work together to solve.Originality/value The implementation of official WeChat account has practical implications for academic libraries and other institutions to conduct it and similar social media tools, such as Sina Weibo, Facebook and Line. In particular, it is beneficial for academic libraries outside China which desire to use WeChat to engage Chinese international students. Additionally, it provides insight into the future effort on social media promotion, secondary development and cooperation within the social networking industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to observe how undergraduate students approach open-ended searching for a research assignment, specifically as it affected their use of the discovery interface Primo.Design/methodology/approach In total, 30 undergraduate students were provided with a sample research assignment and instructed to find resources for it using web tools of their choice, followed by the Primo discovery tool. Students were observed for 30 minutes. A survey was provided at the end to solicit additional feedback. Sources students found were evaluated for relevance and utility.Findings Students expressed a high level of satisfaction with Primo despite some difficulty navigating through more complicated tasks. Despite their interest in the tool and previous exposure to it, it was usually not the first discovery tool students used when given the research assignment. Students approached the open-ended search environment much like they would with a commercial search engine.Originality/value This paper focused on an open-ended search environment as opposed to a known-item scenario in order to assess students’ preferences for web search tools and how a library discovery layer such as Primo was a part of that situation. Evaluation of the resources students found relevant were also analyzed to determine to what degree the students understood the level of quality they exhibited and from which tool they were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine the usability of the mobile library App of Chongqing University and to provide recommendations for improving the experience of App users. Design/methodology/approach – Usability testing, which comprised pre-test questionnaires, accomplishing tasks, and post-test surveys, was conducted in this study. The effectiveness and efficiency of the App, as well as user satisfaction with it, were measured. Findings – The mobile App was proven effective but the efficiency of the App required improvement. With regard to user satisfaction, the factors “clarity” and “usefulness” received the lowest and highest scores, respectively. The descriptions of mobile services were unclear and confused users; nonetheless, the services provided by this App were appealing and useful to the users. Based on the measured user experience, this study proposed several recommendations for enhancing the usability of the App. Originality/value – An increasing number of domestic and foreign libraries have begun to use mobile Apps to provide new services to patrons. In the future, smartphones are likely to become crucial to the delivery of information services. Given the extensive use of the Super Star Mobile Library system adopted by Chongqing University Library in China, the usability of such a system must be investigated. Improving the usability of the mobile library App can help enhance user experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify the ability of college freshmen to successfully use common academic software and manage files. Design/methodology/approach – In total, 39 college freshmen from three college campuses were recruited for the study. An online test environment and screen recording software were used to measure student proficiency in using PDFs, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel, Gmail, and Windows. Data were collected in September 2013. Findings – Student use of academic technology is common, but their software skills are not comprehensive or deep. Students were most proficient at using PDFs and Microsoft Word. Microsoft Excel tasks were the most difficult for the students, and many struggled to use Gmail to compose a message and send an attachment. Students were able to open a PowerPoint document and view a slideshow, but they were less comfortable navigating the software’s printing environment. Originality/value – Having concrete data about student technology skills, rather than anecdotal data from reference desk interactions, can help librarians design improved instruction and tutorials that target areas of student technology weakness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine whether TAMS Analyzer and Viewshare are viable free and open source software data sharing and creation tools for those with limited funding and technological skills. Design/methodology/approach – The participant observer method was used to collect experiential evidence while applying the tools to a collection of text-, image-, and video-based digital cultural records. Findings – TAMS Analyzer was found to be a low barrier to entry tool for those with coding and qualitative data analysis experience. Those with general experience will be able to create datasets with the support of manuals and tutorials, while those with limited experience may find it difficult to use. Viewshare was found to be a low barrier to entry tool for sharing data online, and accessible for all skill levels. Research limitations/implications – TAMS Analyzer supports Mac and Linux platforms only, so a low-cost software recommendation was made for those in Windows environments. Practical implications – Librarians can use these tools to address data access gaps while promoting library digital collections. Social implications – With a greater understanding of data tools, librarians can be advisors, collaborators, agents for data culture, and relevant participants in digital humanities scholarship. Originality/value – The research evaluates both the capabilities of the tools and the barriers to using or accessing them, which are often neglected. The paper addresses a need in the literature for greater scrutiny of tools that are a critical component of the data ecology, and will further assist librarians when connecting scholars to tools of inquiry in an environment with limited funding and technical support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to uninitiate new and non-traditional library resources, such as those commonly found in a makerspace, can often seem abstract, intimidating, or even unrelated to the library mission. The University of Nevada’s DeLaMare Science and Engineering Library set out to engage its on-campus library colleagues to increase awareness and understanding of the new technologies being offered in support of active learning and discovery. Design/methodology/approach – The science and engineering library is experimenting with an ongoing series of inreach/outreach workshops that enable other library faculty and staff from across the greater library organization to experience their non-traditional services and resources. A first pop-up maker technology workshop took place in June 2015 and was composed of three sessions including an introduction to 3D printing and modeling, digital design literacies, and lendable technologies. A survey was distributed to attendees for feedback. Findings – Anecdotal evidence suggest the event was successful, offering a potentially powerful mechanism for engaging and informing library staff about non-traditional resources and technology. Originality/value – This outreach approach may prove valuable for other academic libraries to similarly create awareness of non-traditional resources and technologies among its colleagues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]