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Academic libraries, apart from their main function, which is to provide information services to academic communities, may also perform a number of social roles in the broad meaning of the term. Accordingly, they now tend to serve as the third place offering inclusion and animation activities to academic as well as local communities (including potential students) and to groups in risk of social exclusion (immigrants, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, etc.) or in need of various kinds of care and support. However, for libraries to be able to fulfil those tasks, they need properly trained staff who not only have the required competencies but also the right social attitudes. The paper presents an analysis of the social attitudes of academic librarians from twenty countries across the world as compared to the personnel of other types of libraries. The level of individual social capital, activity in social networks, aspirations in life and social and civic engagement were investigated. It was noted that the respondents tend to undervalue the importance of the work done by libraries for local communities. At the same time, the research showed that academic librarians have a somewhat lower level of individual social capital and trust than public librarians and less extensive social networks. Nonetheless, they are open to relationships with others, which enables them to engage in various social projects.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a defining technology of the 21st century, creating new opportunities for academic libraries. The goal of this paper is to provide a much-needed analysis, interpreted in an international context, on what the leaders of academic libraries in East-Central Europe, and specifically in Hungary, think about AI and its implementation in a library setting. The survey shows that according to library directors AI is more of an opportunity for academic libraries than a threat, and it could provide support in all areas of library operation, including digitising, information service, and education. Findings indicate that a quarter of the Hungarian academic libraries surveyed use AI-supported solutions, mostly in the areas of information retrieval and data processing. Using Rogers ("The diffusion of innovations." 5th ed. The Free Press, 2003) diffusion of innovation model, it may be projected that an explosive growth is to be expected in the use of AI in libraries.

Virtual Reality (VR) and 3D environments are increasingly widespread technologies. Although VR is usually associated with an engaging gaming experience, its current use goes far beyond entertainment and the market of electronic games. Different VR spaces are used in industrial settings, manufacturing, and even education. There is a new interdisciplinary field which was created related to 3D VR content: cognitive infocommunications (CogInfoCom). Research shows that with the help of 3D VR environments work processes can be completed (up to 30-50%) faster, and the effectiveness of learning and recalling information can be significantly increased as well. The free 3D spaces of the 3D VR browser MaxWhere, developed by the researchers of Széchenyi István University (Győr, Hungary), are available to everyone. With this paper, the authors intend to draw attention to the MaxWhere 3D VR space of the University Library and Archives of Széchenyi István University, which is the first library space in MaxWhere. At the Library and Information Science (LIS) Master's Program of Eötvös Loránd University (Budapest, Hungary), the biggest librarian training institution of Hungary, students could test the 3D VR browser in practice as part of the course Information Visualization. In the spring semester of the academic year 2020-21, and in the fall semester of 2021-22, the students' opinion on MaxWhere were assessed by an anonymous survey, the results of which are included in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a defining technology of the 21st century, creating new opportunities for academic libraries. The goal of this paper is to provide a much-needed analysis, interpreted in an international context, on what the leaders of academic libraries in East-Central Europe, and specifically in Hungary, think about AI and its implementation in a library setting. The survey shows that according to library directors AI is more of an opportunity for academic libraries than a threat, and it could provide support in all areas of library operation, including digitising, information service, and education. Findings indicate that a quarter of the Hungarian academic libraries surveyed use AI-supported solutions, mostly in the areas of information retrieval and data processing. Using Rogers (The diffusion of innovations. 5th ed. The Free Press, 2003) diffusion of innovation model, it may be projected that an explosive growth is to be expected in the use of AI in libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper undertakes to analyze the philological problems and to recreate the literary historical context of a Hungarian satire translation published in 1786, a copy of which is today kept in the Special Collections Department of the Lucian Blaga Central University Library Cluj. It narrates and completes with new data the history of this rare book, preserved nowadays only in a few copies, focusing on the circumstances of its publication, its author, genre, structure, and reception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This analysis systematically maps the publication performance of 569 researchers. • The analysis was conducted by using both integer and fractional counting methods. • A new proxy measure, the discipline-specific distance ratio is introduced. • An alternative method is employed to recalibrate the performance indicator minimum values. In Hungary, the highest and most prestigious scientific qualification is considered to be the Doctor of Science (DSc) title being awarded by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. The academic performance indicators of the DSc title are of high importance in the evaluation of individuals' research performance not only when a researcher applies for obtaining a DSc title, but also during promotions and appointments at universities, and in the case of the evaluation of applications for scientific titles and degrees, and the assessment of applications for funding. In the Section of Earth Sciences encompassing nine related disciplines, rather than carrying out a straightforward bibliometric analysis, the performance indicators were designed as a result of a consensual agreement between leading academicians, each of whom represented a particular discipline. Therefore, the minimum values of the indicators, required to be fulfilled if one is applying for a DSc title, do not adequately reflect the actual discipline-specific performance of researchers. This problem may generate tension between researchers during the evaluation process. The main goal of this paper is to recalibrate the minimum values of four major performance indicators by taking the actual discipline-specific distance ratios into account. In addition, each minimum value will be defined by employing integer and fractional counting methods as well. The research outcome of this study can provide impetus for the Section of Earth Sciences (and eventually other sections of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences) to optimize the minimum values of the DSc title performance indicators by taking the specifics of each discipline into account. Because academic performance indicators are also employed in other Eastern European countries in the evaluation of individuals' research performance, the methods used in that paper can be placed into a wider geographical context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a vision session at the 31st NASIG Annual Conference, Heather Joseph provided an assessment of the Open Access movement addressing how far it has come since its inception, how well it has met its original goals, what has and has not worked well, and what is not happening at all. She talked about the importance of open (in all senses--open access, open education, and open data) as a public good, and shared feedback from a recent strategic review of the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition and the Open Access movement. Joseph also explored the implications of using open as an enabling strategy for researchers, scholarly publishers, policymakers, and the larger academic community, and emphasized the importance of deliberately considering what outcomes open can help each community achieve--rather than thinking about open as an end to itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]