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This paper analyses the role of libraries in the development of Open Educational Resources (OER) and, more specifically, the impact and level of implementation of UNESCO's (2019) OER Recommendation in Higher Education libraries. This study, the result of a joint undertaking between a national R&D project and SPARC Europe, is based on an online survey, disseminated amongst the European Network of Open Education Librarians (ENOEL) and uses a descriptive research methodology. The results highlight the implementation actions being taken by university libraries (n = 136) in each of the five areas of action of UNESCO's Recommendation. We find that the main contributions are being made in the areas of capacity building and Open Education policies, but that considerable work has yet to be done in terms of promoting inclusiveness and the sustainability of OER. Thus, the full implementation of UNESCO's recommendation requires a greater commitment on the part of librarians to joint actions undertaken via international networks and projects, as well as greater institutional commitment and the building of interdepartmental alliances.

Chatbots have experienced significant growth over the past decade, with a proliferation of new applications across various domains. Previous studies also demonstrate the trend of new technologies, especially artificial intelligence, being adopted in libraries. The purpose of this study is to determine the current research priorities and findings in the field of chatbots in libraries. A systematic literature review was performed utilising the PRISMA checklist and the databases Scopus and Web of Science, identifying 5734 records. Upon conducting the first screening, abstract screening, full-text assessment, and quality assessments guided by the CASP appraisal checklist, 19 papers were deemed suitable for inclusion in the review. The results of the review indicate that the majority of the existing studies were empirical in nature (primarily adopting qualitative methods) and technology reviews with a focus on reviewing the implementation and maintenance, design, evaluation, characteristics, and application of chatbots. The chatbots of interest were mainly text-based and guided chatbots, with closed-source tools with access portals mostly built on library web pages or integrated with social software. The research findings primarily concerned the development models and necessary tools and technologies, the application of chatbots in libraries. Our systematic review also suggests that studies on chatbots in libraries are still in the early stages. [This paper was presented at the 2023 Libraries in the Digital Age (LIDA) International Conference (Osijek, Croatia, May 24-26, 2023).]

Discusses the roles academic and public libraries can play in the process of economic restructuring and development. A business school library in Hungary is described, and its role in economic restructuring and the education of future managers is discussed; and the role of public libraries in the United States is examined. (four references) (LRW)

Copyright of Mitteilungen der Vereinigung Österreichischer Bibliothekarinnen & Bibliothekare is the property of Vereinigung Oesterreichischer Bibliothekarinnen und Bibliothekare and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: The French academic libraries directors association (ADBU) launched and updated a European comparative study on Key Performance Indicators (KPI) in Academic Libraries over the 2013–2017 period. The purpose of this paper is to briefly present the ADBU initiative; its main focus is how to use these figures to ground decision making process, notably so as to better assess the contribution of libraries in student success or research performance. Design/methodology/approach: As universities and academic libraries are facing research evolutions and teaching/learning new models, a strong increase in students' number is observed everywhere in Europe. This trend will most probably continue in the coming years and the pressure on academic libraries will grow. That is why the French ADBU took the initiative to launch a European comparative study on key and performance indicators in Academic Libraries over the 2013–2016 period. Data were updated in 2019, covering 2017 figures and including additional countries. Findings: Thanks to the European partners and the help of a consultant firm, the first observations were updated with the 2017 figures and the country scope grew broader. Libraries buildings and equipment, space and seats per student, opening days and hours, frequentation rate, library services, users training, staff per student/documentary budgets/total expenditure, staff training, documentation loans/consultation/downloads: these KPI are gathered and can be compared in both relative and absolute value. Originality/value: The ADBU initiative is unique, results are widely shared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose — To investigate senior university managers' views of the development of information-related competencies (IRC) within European open and distance learning (ODL) universities. Design/methodology/approach — A multiple case study in six ODL universities, identified as examples of "good practice" of IRC, in five European countries. Findings — The findings of the research indicated that the importance of IRC and the lack of these competencies among students and staff were acknowledged by the university senior managers. National policy supported IRC development via different initiatives, but the integration of IRC into learning was in the beginning stage in all institutions studied. The role of the university library and collaboration with librarians were regarded as important. However, a general attitude towards librarians was not so positive. Research limitations/implications — This study was limited to six ODL universities in Europe; the university managers' views and attitudes elsewhere will need further research. Practical implications — The long-term sustainable IRC development requires support of senior managers. It is important that university senior managers recognise the importance of IRC and encourage their staff to develop these competencies. Therefore, librarians working in universities need to communicate the benefits of IRC development to university senior managers. Originality/value — This paper supports the idea that collaboration between librarians and administrative as well as academic staff within the university is important in enhancing IRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the beginning of the 1990s, different types of quality management and evaluation systems have become integrated into higher education institutes throughout Europe due to the creation of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). This has meant that the university libraries have had to learn how to evaluate their services and improve their quality. Quality audits are one tool that can be used in quality management approaches to assess how well an organization is being managed. This paper describes and benchmarks the use of external and internal auditing in three European academic libraries, i.e. the Medical Library of the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (Germany), the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Library (Spain) and the University of Eastern Finland Library (Finland). The results reveal the best practices of auditing in these institutions; and recommendations are provided for the further development of library auditing and ways to improve co-operation between libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to explain what academic and national libraries can do to continue to offer services and facilities at a time of economic difficulties. It identifies a number of methodologies and opportunities that are open to libraries and takes the view that it is never wise to waste a good crisis, because all threats are really opportunities in disguise. The kernel of this paper was delivered at the 10th Anniversary special EISZ Consortium Members’ Meeting on 2 December 2011, in Budapest, Hungary. It builds on an earlier talk delivered in Thessaloniki, Greece, on 14–15 November 2011 at the 20th Pan-Hellenic Academic Libraries Conference, entitled‘Academic Libraries and Financial Crisis: Strategies for Survival’. Both these presentations are available in UCL Discovery. This article draws on themes used in both presentations, and introduces a new one on the topic of copyright reform. The article looks at the initial economic context for European research libraries and then examines ways in which libraries can tackle the threats which the current financial crisis poses. Joint procurement is one way in which libraries can achieve value for money, and the paper examines the role of JISC Collections in the UK. Innovation through collaboration and shared services are also ways in which libraries can innovate/make savings in a cost-effective way by sharing the burden of costs around the partnership. The paper gives two examples: one which is now well established, the DART-Europe portal for Open Access e-theses; and one which is in the early stages of being discussed — a cloud-based solution for true collaborative cataloguing amongst the UK’s research and national libraries. The European Research Area (ERA) and the contributions that libraries can make to this infrastructure through innovative EU project funding are analysed in some detail by looking at LIBER’s EU project portfolio. Finally, change and growth can come through changes to legal frameworks, and the paper looks at the Hargreaves review of copyright frameworks in the UK and the launch of the new library-based EU lobbying group for copyright reform, Information Sans Frontières (ISF). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An attempt was made to explore the usage of Web 2.0 applications and Social Networking Sites (SNS) for providing information services by libraries at selected higher education institutes in Europe, North and South America. The websites were surveyed through content analysis method that is used for a qualitative approach, as to find the details of the applications of Web 2.0 tools and SNS. Out of 72 library websites visited, only 61 libraries (48 libraries in Europe and 13 libraries in both North and South America) have adopted Web 2.0 tools and SNS. The present study reveals that though the implementation of Web 2.0 tools and SNS is progressing in the libraries located in developed countries, in the developing countries still the library staff members are facing issues with reference to infrastructure, Internet connectivity and the skills to be acquired to provide services using these applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The European Parliament's directive on open data indicates the direction to follow for all public institutions in Europe. The portal Polish Platform of Medical Research (PPM) required more information about researcher attitudes and training requirements for strategic planning. Objectives: The aim was to assess (1) the status of knowledge about research data management among medical researchers in Poland, and (2) their attitudes towards data sharing. This knowledge may help to inform a training program and adapt PPM to the requirements of researchers. Methods: The authors circulated an online survey and received responses from 603 researchers representing medical sciences and related disciplines. The survey was conducted in 2019 at seven Polish medical universities and at the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine. Analysis used descriptive statistics. Results: Data sharing was not widespread (55.7% only shared with their research team, 9.8% had shared data on an open access basis). Many cited possible benefits of research data sharing but were concerned about drawbacks (e.g. fraud, plagiarism). Discussion: Polish medical scientists, like many researchers, are not aware of the processes required for safe data preparation for sharing. Academic libraries should develop roles for data librarians to help train researchers. Conclusion: Fears about the dangers of data sharing need to be overcome before researchers are willing to share their own research data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Studia Historiae Scientiarum is the property of Jagiellonian University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article focuses on the evaluation of academic libraries in Europe. It explains that a checklist has been developed to evaluate the libraries in accordance with the higher education system in Europe. The criteria on the checklist is discussed and is based on the six areas of characterization, quality, standards, feedback channels, access-diffusion and accreditation. The results of the study on the topic show that most library service charters have room to improve. Information about the role of service quality in total library quality is provided and the results of the research project are examined.

In March 2003 the University of Mississippi Libraries made our MetaSearch tool publicly available. After a year of working with this product and integrating it into the library Web site, a wide variety of libraries interested in our implementation process and experiences began to call. Libraries interested in this product have included consortia, public, and academic libraries in the United States, Mexico, and Europe. This article was written in an effort to share the recommendations and concerns given. Much of the advice is general and could be applied to many of the MetaSearch tools available. Google Scholar and other open Web initiatives that could impact the future of MetaSearching are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports an international study of research data management (RDM) activities, services, and capabilities in higher education libraries. It presents the results of a survey covering higher education libraries in Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the UK. The results indicate that libraries have provided leadership in RDM, particularly in advocacy and policy development. Service development is still limited, focused especially on advisory and consultancy services (such as data management planning support and data-related training), rather than technical services (such as provision of a data catalog, and curation of active data). Data curation skills development is underway in libraries, but skills and capabilities are not consistently in place and remain a concern. Other major challenges include resourcing, working with other support services, and achieving "buy in" from researchers and senior managers. Results are compared with previous studies in order to assess trends and relative maturity levels. The range of RDM activities explored in this study are positioned on a "landscape maturity model," which reflects current and planned research data services and practice in academic libraries, representing a "snapshot" of current developments and a baseline for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – One of the aims of the LIBER strategic plan 2009-2012 was to stimulate the use of LibQUAL+ by European research libraries. The purpose of this study is to investigate how far this initiative has been successful. Design/methodology/approach – All 385 LIBER libraries were invited to complete an online survey, mounted on Survey Monkey. The questionnaire was meant for all libraries, whether or not they performed a user survey during the last five years and, if so, whether or not they used LibQUAL + as the survey instrument. Findings – The study shows that the use of LibQUAL+ in Europe is widespread and that there is a great potential for further growth. LibQUAL+'s strong areas are the ease of administering and opportunities for benchmarking. A weak area is the user unfriendliness: 50 per cent of the libraries having experience with LibQUAL+ find the survey difficult to complete for the participants. Carrying out a LibQUAL+ survey has great practical implications. More than 75 per cent of the respondents took measures to improve their performance on weak areas or to promote their existing services better among the user community. About one third established new services. Practical implications – The results point at the need to improve the user friendliness of LibQUAL+. Originality/value – This is the first study that covers the experience of European research libraries with LibQUAL+ on a broad scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides information from various aspects of the field of international serials and electronic resource management. Abstracts for several research articles are included on topics such as scholarly electronic books (e-books) and open source data in academic publishing. Additionally, awards and grants presented by the American Library Association (ALA) in 2011 are highlighted along with notes on the reorganization of the United Kingdom Serials Group (UKSG). Brief information regarding the 2012 conference for the UKSG and a list of online resources related to serials librarians are also included.