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

The article discusses the College Libraries Information Network (COLINET) Biennial Symposium, which is the longest-running academic librarian research-based symposium in Jamaica. The symposium, held under the theme "Resilient Libraries: Repositioning, Pivoting, Teaching and Learning," provided a platform for library and information professionals to network and discuss practices and training. This special issue of the Journal of Arts, Science and Technology (JAST) features selected papers from the symposium, covering topics such as repositioning libraries within institutions, teaching and learning, pivoting library services, and coping with challenging times. The papers highlight the research and practice of academic librarians in Jamaica, particularly their response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The article expresses gratitude to the organizers, sponsors, and editorial board for their support in making the symposium and special issue possible. [Extracted from the article]

This paper aims to determine the impact of knowledge creation and sharing on use by librarians in federal universities in Nigeria. The study adopted the survey method of the correlation type, where 518 librarians were surveyed through a close-ended questionnaire, descriptive statistics, Pearson Product Moment Correlation coefficient and multiple regression were used to test the hypotheses. Findings indicate that significant relationships exist between knowledge creation and knowledge sharing (r=0.52), knowledge sharing and knowledge use (r=0.63) and knowledge creation and knowledge use (r=0.52), respectively. Knowledge created and shared by the librarians is used for better work performance. The paper adds value to the existing body of knowledge by proposing the need to understand the importance of knowledge creation and sharing as facilitators of knowledge use by librarians. This will, in turn, enhance service delivery to library patrons, thereby improving library patronage. This paper is limited to knowledge creation and sharing and its impact on knowledge use. Types of knowledge created and channels through which knowledge is shared are outside the focus of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital Humanities uses computational technologies and methods mainly to assist in humanities research. Digital Humanities projects often involve the use of archival collections, information/knowledge organisation and the utilisation of emerging technologies. Traditionally, libraries have played an essential role in teaching and learning, aiding students in information literacy and ensuring that faculty has full and easy access to materials. This paper proposes that the academic library must expand its reach in research, particularly regarding the Humanities. As libraries position themselves within an ever-changing paradigm, the questions emerge: How do they utilise the lessons and principles of Digital Humanities to augment, modify and enhance strategies and processes as they impact research within universities? What are the tools needed to implement Digital Humanities? What are the methods for implementation? What are the key benefits of Digital Humanities to the academic library? Additionally, this paper will explore how the academic library in the Caribbean can partner with faculty members in facilitating their research beyond locating needed resources and act as partners in the process. It will propose the creation of a Digital Humanities program outlining the steps involved, the benefits to be accrued from such a program, and the inevitable challenges involved and how best they can be overcome. Two things are evident and will be discussed at length, that the role of the academic library cannot remain static, and that Digital Humanities is one way to ensure that the necessary changes occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study is to investigate the development of institutional repositories in university libraries in Nigeria. The study adopted a survey research design. Online questionnaire, IRs investigation, and interview methods were used to collect data from the 21 university libraries that have developed IRs in Nigeria. The study revealed that only few universities have successfully developed open access IRs to preserve and manage their intellectual outputs emanating from their universities. Contents such as journal articles, theses/dissertations, and conference / workshop papers were found to be the most popular contents that are hosted in the IRs. The interview revealed that although few respondents mentioned having IR policy statements in areas such as access policy, submission policy, preservation policy, content policy and copyright policy, the majority mentioned not having any defined policy in their IR. Also in the interview, inadequate fund, challenge of collecting contents for the IR, shortage of skilled ICT personnel, and inadequate facilities were the most mentioned challenges encountered in the development of IRs in Nigeria. Findings from this study will inform University Librarians, university management and policy makers on the need to provide the necessary infrastructure and formulate policies for smooth development of institutional repositories to make research visible globally. The results will therefore provide important data and insight into the development of institutional repositories in university libraries in the context of developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Timely access to guideline-recommended cancer treatment is known to be an indicator of the quality and accessibility of a cancer care system. Yet people who are socially disadvantaged experience inequities in access to cancer treatment that have significant impacts on cancer outcomes and quality of life. Among people experiencing the intersecting impacts of poor access to the social determinants of health and personal identities typically marginalized from society ('social disadvantage'), there are significant barriers to accessing cancer, many of which compound one another, making cancer treatment extremely difficult to access. Although some research has focused on barriers to accessing cancer treatment among people who are socially disadvantaged, it is not entirely clear what, if anything, is being done to mitigate these barriers and improve access to care. Increasingly, there is a need to design cancer treatment services and models of care that are flexible, tailored to meet the needs of patients, and innovative in reaching out to socially disadvantaged groups. In this paper, we report the protocol for a planned scoping review which aims to answer the following question: What services, models of care, or interventions have been developed to improve access to or receipt of cancer treatment for adults who are socially disadvantaged? Based on the methodological framework of Arksey and O'Malley, this scoping review is planned in six iterative stages. A comprehensive search strategy will be developed by an academic librarian. OVID Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL (using EBSCOhost) and Scopus will be searched for peer-reviewed published literature; advanced searches in Google will be done to identify relevant online grey literature reports. Descriptive and thematic analysis methods will be used to analyze extracted data. Findings will provide a better understanding of the range and nature of strategies developed to mitigate barriers to accessing cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Nursing home residents often have life limiting illnesses in combination with multiple comorbidities, cognitive deficits, and frailty. Due to these complex characteristics, a high proportion of nursing home residents require palliative care. However, many do not receive palliative care relative to this need resulting in unmet care needs. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no literature reviews to synthesise the evidence on how nursing home staff identify unmet palliative care needs and to determine what guidelines, policies, and frameworks on identifying unmet palliative care needs of nursing home residents are available. Aim: The aim of this scoping review is to map and summarise the evidence on identifying unmet palliative care needs of residents in nursing homes. Methods: This scoping review will be guided by the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis. The search will be conducted in CINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, APA PsycINFO, and APA PsycArticles. A search of grey literature will also be conducted in databases such as CareSearch, Trip, GuidelineCentral, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the National Institute for Health and Care and Excellence website. The search strategy will be developed in conjunction with an academic librarian. Piloting of the screening process will be conducted to ensure agreement among the team on the eligibility criteria. Covidence software will be used to facilitate deduplication, screening, and blind reviewing. Four reviewers will conduct title and abstract screening. Six reviewers will conduct full text screening. Any conflicts will be resolved by a reviewer not involved in the conflict. One reviewer will conduct data extraction using pre-established data extraction tables. Results will be synthesised, and a narrative synthesis will be used to illustrate the findings of this review. Data will be presented visually using tables, figures, and word clouds, as appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

This paper reports on the perceptions of Spanish academic libraries regarding Open Science (OS). OS is irrupting into academia and academic librarians need to support researchers. On the other side, researchers need to be ready to change their scientific behaviour in relation to publications and research data. We conducted a focus group with 8 academic librarians. We also sent a survey to (N = 67) academic libraries, obtaining a response rate of 71.6%. In the survey, we asked for drivers and constraints for OS services as well as for any training taking place. Our results show that facilitators are the system relationships (SD = 4.74) and internal promotion of systems relationships (SD = 4.54). In relation to the level of knowledge of OS, both researchers (SD = 3.27) and librarians have a high level in terms of the OA area (SD = 4.15) but little development of the rest of the components of OS. On the other hand, in relation to training librarians, results indicated that OA (SD = 4.79), Open Data (SD = 4.79) and new evaluation models (SD = 4.79) should be part of the training for researchers. The results of the focus group reinforce some of the indicators mentioned. We conclude that academic libraries may train researchers in OS through the acquisition of new skills and trainers-training and with the strategic support of the university. We argue that academic incentives and a change in research accreditation are also needed to shift researchers' perceptions in relation to OS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The goal of this paper is to gain a deeper insight into the phenomenon of providing assistance to students in the information seeking process from the perspective of students as library users who turn to librarians for help when performing tasks related to their coursework. Approach/Methodology. The paper presents the results of research conducted using the method of semi-structured interviews with twenty undergraduate and graduate students from fi ve Croatian universities. The focus is on the phenomenon of assistance in information seeking observed from a students' perspective, primarily using phenomenography as the research approach. Research also emphasises students' perspective on the importance of the information seeking process, their expectations of librarian assistance and diffi culties they encounter during the process. Authors use the results to create a context important for understanding the phenomenon. Results. The research results show that students recognize the importance of the information seeking process and believe that it helps them acquire new knowledge and skills. They expect a wide range of assistance from librarians - from help related to sources (referring to sources and relevant works) to help related to the information seeking process itself (teaching and advising). Students experience the help of librarians as: (1) support in seeking, (2) discovery of (useful) works, (3) "instant" help in seeking and (4) facilitation of seeking. The paper, after reviewing theoretical foundations, presents the obtained categories of student perceptions and experiences. Practical implications. Presented results can help librarians to understand and provide assistance to students in the information seeking process, as well as in planning the development of information services in university and other higher education libraries.....Originality/Value. This research provides insight into students' perceptions and expectations of librarian assistance in the information seeking process and how they experience such assistance, which has not yet been conducted in the context of Croatian higher education and university libraries. The categories obtained from this research open up space for further study of students' perspectives on the phenomenon of librarian assistance in the context of the information seeking process and, more generally, on services providing assistance to students in the information seeking process as part of the academic educational process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A small branch of a large academic library is in the process of relocating from one area of campus to another. Although the new space is drastically smaller than what they currently have, the librarian wishes to build upon the small maker area that was recently created for the relaxation and enjoyment of patrons. With the SCAFFOLD makerspace design framework, this new area will be created using the latest research in making and learning, keeping inclusivity at the forefront of all activities. This paper describes the current maker area, what the plans are for the new space, and how that space will be designed using this new SCAFFOLD method. It is hoped that this project can be replicated by any academic librarian wishing to add a small yet useful makerspace while staying within their budget. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a snapshot of United States academic libraries in 2020 and explores longitudinal trends in staffing and expenditures for 1996 to 2020. The authors merged and analyzed academic library data from the National Center for Education Statistics from over 4,000 postsecondary institutions. Characteristics are explored by region and maps are provided. Total inflation-adjusted library expenditures have increased steadily for all regions from 1996 to 2020, including in the two major expenditure categories of staffing and collections. In the Northeast and West, averages are markedly higher in staffing and total expenditures than the other two regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Librarians are concerned about patron privacy and the confidentiality of library records. Many libraries also have other types of sensitive or restricted data. One of the biggest risks to the data a library maintains is a cyberattack. These attacks can be of many different types but one of the most common and impactful is a ransomware attack. This paper looks at the issue of cybersecurity in libraries and offers some recommendations of steps librarians can take in order to better protect their libraries from the risk of a cyberattack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study demonstrates that a library instruction observation instrument can effectively foster critical self-reflection among academic library faculty and staff on their teaching practices. The paper outlines the instrument's design, which gathers low inference observations on instructors' use of questioning as a pedagogical strategy based on recommendations from the LIS and education literature. To test and refine the instrument's design, the instructors' utilised the instrument to collect data from classes taught by five participating instructors, who, during postobservation interviews, engaged in thoughtful reflections on their class planning, student participation, and teaching philosophy. They also provided valuable critiques of the usefulness of the instrument. Through analysing the observee reflections and the data from the observation instrument, this study aims to provide academic libraries with a method to incorporate an observation instrument in a peer observation program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research paper investigates doctoral students' information literacy (IL), a demographic often overlooked in IL studies. Focusing on the unique context of Polish doctoral schools, the paper explores the competences of young researchers. The methodological and descriptive objectives of the study include creating and validating the ILDoc tool and evaluating the self-efficacy in terms of information competences of doctoral students. The research employs the Computer Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) technique, targeting doctoral students from five Polish universities (Jagiellonian University, University of Gdańsk, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, and University of Warsaw). Through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the study refines the ILDoc model, identifying four latent factors: Information Access, Information Retrieval, Reference Management, and Information Analysis. The findings highlight the critical importance of IL in academic librarianship, particularly underscoring gaps in advanced searching and reference management skills. While gender and age appear to have no significant impact, the year of study and successful midterm evaluations do influence IL self-efficacy. Additionally, the field of study affects students' abilities in information access and analysis. The study advocates for customized IL training and support for doctoral students. It also calls for ongoing IL training that aligns with the evolving research processes of doctoral students, emphasizing the collaborative role of librarians and faculty. The application of the ILDoc tool in this study yields significant benefits, offering academic institutions, libraries, and educators valuable insights for improving support strategies, thereby enriching the information literacy journey of doctoral students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Typically, museums are seen as the primary venue for exhibitions. However, an interest in library exhibitions has been growing as indicated by increased literature in the library field, albeit with a large focus on academic libraries. On a broader scale, library exhibitions continue to be under-researched as indicated by the continuing lack of library exhibition evaluation standards, library exhibition reviews, and exhibition-related professional training for librarians. In this 2021 study, interviews were conducted at eight Washington, DC-based art museum libraries: The National Gallery of Art, The National Museum of Women in the Arts, The American Art and Portrait Gallery, The Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, The National Museum of African Art, The Phillips Collection, and the George Washington University Textile Museum. This paper is an examination of the current state of exhibitions in art museum libraries and aims to establish a set of best practices to help foster the production of art museum library exhibitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While there is a rich literature reporting the prevalence of data sharing in many academic disciplines, and particularly STEM-related ones, the extent of data sharing in journals in Social Science fields has been subject to only little empirical enquiry, hitherto. Focusing on a particular Social Science discipline, Education, this research examines empirically two related issues associated with data sharing in Education. First, journal data sharing policies were scrutinized via a search of the websites of 47 randomly selected Education journals. Over half of the journals in the representative sample had issued statements on websites encouraging authors to make the data underlying published research, generally available to the academic community, though only a handful of journals make such sharing mandatory. Thus, while the importance of data sharing is well recognized by journals in the Education field, a sizeable minority seems not to have taken a stand on this issue. The second issue related to the efficacy of the positive stance taken by journals, in eliciting the desired response from authors, leading to the sharing of their data. This was probed in a limited, mainly qualitative, survey of the authors of papers published in journals that encouraged data sharing through their websites. It was found that not a single author had made data available – indeed, some authors were even unaware of the journal's policy on this matter. Thus, journals' well-intentioned procedures to encourage greater data sharing are seen to be markedly ineffective. Two main sets of reasons were offered to justify author reticence to data share: either authors did not regard it as being in their interest or data sharing was seen to be inappropriate or not possible for the data set in question. However, these fears relating to engaging in data sharing may not necessarily present insurmountable barriers to its wider adoption, as measures are available to circumvent, at least partially, or to meliorate their effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to bring to light the obstacles to collecting contents from faculty members in universities in Nigeria and South Africa. Design/methodology/approach: The study adopted a survey research design. OpenDOAR database search, online questionnaire, and IRs investigation methods were used to collect data from 41 institutional repositories in universities in Nigeria and South Africa. Findings: The study found that the most popular content submitted to IRs in Nigeria and South Africa are electronic theses and dissertations, journal articles, special items (Africana collections, images, artifacts, paintings), conference and workshop papers, and research and technical reports. The comparison of institutional repository development between the two countries revealed that, South Africa is far ahead of Nigeria in terms of institutional repository development using contents emanating from the universities. South Africa is a leading African country in terms of Open Access (OA) policies and South Africa embraced open access movement earlier than Nigeria. The study identified some factors such as: lack of awareness of the existence of institutional repositories by faculty members; lack of mandatory self-archiving policy by institutions or funding bodies; considering copyright and intellectual property issues; some faculty members are skeptical on the principle of open access; some faculty members are not interested in IR; some faculty members believe it is too risky to submit their research work to IR; lack of technical skills for some faculty members to self-archive as obstacles which are peculiar to collecting contents from various contributors in both counties. Research Implication: The findings will inform University Librarians, University management and policy makers on possible ways to overcome the obstacles to recruiting content to IRs. Originality/value: The study reported on the obstacles of recruiting content from faculty members in universities in Nigeria and South Africa and the findings will inform stakeholders by designing strategies to overcome such obstacles and populate the IRs with different contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Librarians are frequently consulted on various topics, a central one being the proper citation of sources. Information literacy sessions, taught by librarians, are usually taught in less than an hour and may not cover the use of visual resources. To support teaching and research, outside the classroom, librarians develop research guides to provide scholarly resources and guidance on how to properly cite them. Often, the use of visual resources and proper citation for them are absent from research guides dealing with citation styles. This paper presents a study of research guides on image use and citation by determining which U.S. libraries in the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) currently maintain guides on the legalities of citing copyrighted works, provide citation guidance, as well as examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to Scopus, China is the nation that produces the highest volume of scientific research but is also the nation with the highest number of retractions, suggesting there are issues connected to research and publishing ethics within the Chinese publishing infrastructure. One source of negative reputation may be the selection of journals with questionable reputation, including "predatory" journals. In 2020, the Center of Scientometrics (CoS) in China established a list of "problematic" journals, called the Chinese Early Warning Journal List (EWJL), the only national watchlist in China, to support Chinese academics and the Ministry of Science and Technology of China. EWJL ranks journals as either low, medium or high risk. There are benefits if EWJL is accurate, valid and complete. However, close examination of the CoS website and EWJL functionality revealed several deficiencies. This paper debates those weaknesses within the wider context of publication in low-quality journals, offering suggestions for improvement that would be necessary for EWJL to become more trustworthy, and to better enable the continual reform of Chinese publishing culture. This issue is important to academic librarians because they can use EWJL in the process of collecting library funds and providing library information, and advice, to researchers. • Accountability Blacklists or watchlists Completeness Faulty criteria Opacity versus transparency [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports an investigation into the perception of academic librarians on data competency in their daily roles across various library departments in the United States and Canada. Through a survey, we sought to uncover the scope of data-related tasks librarians are engaged in, the tools they use, their aspirations for professional development in data competencies, and their expectations from Library and Information Science (LIS) education programs. The findings reveal a complex engagement pattern with data tasks, with librarians in data-specific roles dedicating a considerable portion of their work to these activities, while the majority engage less frequently, indicating that data tasks are a minor part of their overall responsibilities. Despite a limited frequency of data visualization in their current roles, there is a pronounced interest among librarians to enhance skills in this area. Our study identifies a crucial need for improved competencies in data management and collection development, especially in roles related to cataloging, library systems, and special collections. Additionally, our findings reveal a critical gap between academic libraries' demand for data skills and the content coverage in MLIS programs, emphasizing the need for curriculum updates to prepare librarians for the evolving information landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Textbook affordability programs and the promotion of OER are well-established priorities for many academic libraries, but few studies have examined the prevalence of such programs either in general or across institution types. This paper presents the results of a study designed to gather information about textbook affordability initiatives at university libraries that are members Association of Research Libraries. It uses information from the publicly available websites of ARL libraries in the United States to determine how many of those institutions maintain textbook affordability programs, with those figures further broken down by status (public/private) and membership in the Open Education Network. In addition, the findings reveal some notable characteristics of textbook affordability programs, including an overall lack of visibility on institutional websites, a marked variety in financial incentives, and evidence of programs that have been discontinued. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper delves into the debate over faculty status and tenure for academic librarians. Unlike subject-area professors, librarians often lack the opportunity for these distinctions. It's imperative that universities acknowledge the significance of these titles for librarians and reform the tenure process. Faculty status and tenure carry prestige in academia, offering job security, salary progression, and protection from arbitrary dismissal. They also safeguard academic freedom, allowing scholars to voice opinions and pursue research without fear of repercussions. However, the issue of tenure for librarians remains contentious. Granting tenure to academic librarians is crucial to creating a flourishing university culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on an ongoing research project aiming to extend the roles of academic libraries in research integrity (RI) based on reexploring the causes of research misconduct (RM) and restructuring the relationships among them. Since the causes of RM have been thoroughly investigated, a systematic review approach was approved valid and adopted in this study. A total of 60 articles were selected and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. The analysis pointed to 21 RM causes under four themes: individual, organizational, professional, and cultural causes. Three critical causes stand as the primary connectors among various causes: insufficient RI education and training, lack of explicit rules and regulations, and "publish or perish" pressure. On this basis, three key roles of academic libraries in RI services can be extended: RI educators and counselors, RI policy-making advisors, as well as evaluators of academic outcomes. As one of the earliest research projects that investigate the roles of academic libraries in RI based on RM causes, its findings can provide useful implications for formulating specific RI services in academic libraries. • The causes of research misconduct and their relationships can be used as evidence for academic libraries to develop research integrity services. • The literature analysis pointed to 21 causes of research misconduct in four themes: individual, organizational, professional, and cultural causes. • The roles of academic libraries in research integrity can be extended as RI educators and counselors, RI policy-making advisors, and evaluators of academic outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Journal of the Australian Library & Information Association's first issue of 2024 includes a variety of research papers, research-in-practice papers, an information-in-practice paper, and an obituary. One research paper explores how teacher librarians can teach with and about generative artificial intelligence (GAI), emphasizing the role of teacher librarians in fostering critical and ethical use of these tools. Another research paper presents the results of a national survey indicating that library and information practitioners are confident in their research abilities. The research-in-practice papers discuss topics such as transitioning to a team approach in library services, perceptions of artificial intelligence among Filipino academic librarians, and a proposed knowledge organization system for Laos ethnic groups. An information-in-practice paper examines the implementation of a proactive chat widget at the University of Wollongong Library, which proved valuable during the COVID-19 pandemic. The issue also includes an obituary for Professor Michael J. Ramsden, a significant figure in the library and information professions. Additionally, the issue features book reviews covering various themes, including online instruction, cataloguing, and the internationalization of academic libraries. [Extracted from the article]

The document is an oration titled "Ka Pū Te Ruha, Ka Hao Te Rangatahi" delivered by Suzanne Pitama at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. The oration explores the role of Indigenous medical education in advancing Indigenous health. Pitama discusses the evolution of the Hauora Māori curriculum at the University of Otago and emphasizes the importance of cultural competency in surgical practice. She encourages the College to actively engage with Indigenous medical education and fulfill its obligations outlined in the Indigenous Health Position Paper. Pitama concludes by addressing new fellows and expressing high aspirations for their potential to address health inequities. [Extracted from the article]

The purpose of the study was to investigate the research and publication output of librarians from the College Libraries Information Network (COLINET) in Jamaica over a 20-year span (2001–2021). The study examined the challenges librarians face; the support mechanisms and strategies in place for research and publishing productivity, and COLINET librarians’ perceptions of their roles in fostering a research culture. The study utilised a mixed-methods survey approach. An online survey was designed using Google Forms and distributed to COLINET librarians via the COLINET Google group and individual emails. Extensive literature search strategies across local and international databases were employed to ascertain the research and publication output by librarians in COLINET over a 20-year span from 2001–2021. With a response rate of 50%, the results indicated the research and publication output of COLINET librarians and the perceptions of COLINET librarians’ roles in fostering research and publishing culture. The conclusions showed that COLINET members need to adapt and foster a culture of research and publishing among its librarians. The recommended strategies to encourage research and publishing are also high-lighted. This study will assist COLINET librarians in Jamaica in cultivating and advancing a culture of excellence in research and publishing. Additionally, it will add to the empirical literature on Caribbean librarians’ culture of research and publishing productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2020 a University of Saskatchewan Library Working Group investigated liaison librarian workloads across disciplines to help develop a clearer understanding of variance in disciplinary needs, which would then help inform equitable annual liaison assignments. This article describes the process and data used to compare liaison workloads across the health sciences, fine arts, humanities, science, and social sciences disciplines. Although the Working Group was able to formulate some general recommendations, there was uncertainty around how the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the Library’s shift to a functional organizational structure, might impact liaison librarian activities and annual assignments in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the relationships between faculty library use, their perceptions of the importance of library resources, and its impact on their research productivity at a public research university. The authors used a self-reported faculty survey and publication records from a faculty activity reporting system to answer this question. Findings showed that faculty’s perceptions of the library resource for their research had no relationships with faculty research productivity, whereas a positive correlation was found between the frequency of use of online journals and databases, and faculty research productivity. Qualitative findings revealed that faculty viewed the library as providing and purchasing the needed library resources, and that they valued the librarians and library services as essential to their teaching and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This survey investigates artificial intelligence (AI) literacy among academic library employees, predominantly in the United States, with a total of 760 respondents. The findings reveal a modest self-rated understanding of AI concepts, limited hands-on experience with AI tools, and notable gaps in discussing ethical implications and collaborating on AI projects. Despite recognizing the benefits, readiness for implementation appears low among participants. Respondents emphasize the need for comprehensive training and the establishment of ethical guidelines. The study proposes a framework defining core components of AI literacy tailored for libraries. The results offer insights to guide professional development and policy formulation as libraries increasingly integrate AI into their services and operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented the evolution of information ethics, illustrating how it has expanded beyond its initial conception. Topics include the emergence of specific ethical dilemmas related to information gathering, production, and manipulation, the broadening of its application across various disciplines, and the shifting landscape of ethical considerations in modern information environments.

Career progression is an employee's professional development that provides security, satisfaction, and a sense of professional fulfillment. This study determines the effect of career progression as a predictor of job satisfaction for academic librarians in the Bicol Region. Specifically, this aims to determine the respondent's personal, professional, and employment profile; level of job satisfaction in terms of career progression, work motivation, working environment, fair compensation, job security, and administrative support; the significant difference in the level of job satisfaction and the perceived challenges and opportunities encountered as they progress in their career. This study utilizes a convergent parallel mixed method with 113 respondents, comprising 63 from private HEIs and 50 from public libraries, including SUCs and LUCs. Findings revealed that school administrators gave career progression due importance. Good working environment was provided; however, the compensation package is not that attractive compared to Public HEIs. Lack of administrative support was observed; hence, it was recommended that School Administrators, would show commitment towards the improvement/advancement of libraries through enough funding. Librarians may also seek sponsorship/scholarships to improve their education and training. However, well-planned policies and conditions for these benefits could be articulated in the personnel and library administrative manual. Likewise, Human Resource Managers may consider calibrating the compensation and benefits of librarians to be at par with the faculty in compliance with the equivalency of librarians to teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this pilot study, we compared the metagenomic profiles of different types of artisanal fermented meat products collected in Italy, Greece, Portugal, and Morocco to investigate their taxonomic profile, also in relation to the presence of foodborne pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes. In addition, technical replicates of the same biological sample were tested to estimate the reproducibility of shotgun metagenomics. The taxonomic analysis showed a high level of variability between different fermented meat products at both the phylum and genus levels. Staphylococcus aureus was identified with the highest abundance in Italian fermented meat; Escherichia coli in fermented meat from Morocco; Salmonella enterica in fermented meat from Greece; Klebsiella pneumoniae and Yersinia enterocolitica in fermented meat from Portugal. The fungi Aspergillus, Neosartoria, Emericella, Penicillum and Debaryomyces showed a negative correlation with Lactococcus, Enterococcus, Streptococcus, Leuconostoc and Lactobacillus. The resistome analysis indicated that genes conferring resistance to aminoglycoside, macrolide, and tetracycline were widely spread in all samples. Our results showed that the reproducibility between technical replicates tested by shotgun metagenomic was very high under the same conditions of analysis (either DNA extraction, library preparation, sequencing analysis, and bioinformatic analysis), considering both the degree of overlapping and the pairwise correlation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent developments in generative artificial intelligence tools have prompted immediate reactions in the academic library community. While most studies focus on the potential impact on academic integrity, this work explored constructive applications of ChatGPT in the design of instructional materials for courses in academic information literacy. The starting point was the use of openly licenced information resources or content infrastructure as facilitators in the creation of educational materials. In the first phase, course teaching material was developed using a prompt engineering strategy, predefined standards, and a prompt script. As a second step, we experimented with designing a custom chatbot model connected to a pre-defined corpus of source documents. The results demonstrated that the final teaching material required careful revision and optimisation before use in an actual instructional programme. The experimental design of the custom chatbot was able to query specific user-defined documents. Taken together, these findings suggest that the strategic and well-planned use of ChatGPT technology in content creation can have substantial benefits in terms of time and cost efficiency. In the context of information literacy, the results provide a practical and innovative solution to integrate the new technology tool into instructional practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally, librarians have been limited to a physical facility either because their role demanded face-to-face interaction or because they had their work materials housed in the building. With the work of libraries and librarians increasingly becoming more mobile, a lot of work can conveniently be done from a laptop at any location. This study assessed the points of view of academic librarians in Ghana on telecommuting and its feasibility in the Ghanaian landscape. It employed an exploratory case study design to sample a total of 57 respondents through the administration of a questionnaire. The findings reveal that the academic librarians were in favour of telecommuting and were willing to telecommute at least once a week. Additionally, there was the improved benefit of having flexible working hours and reduced travel time. A major challenge that was expected to be encountered was the resistance of management to formally adopting telecommuting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explored the current state of the continuing professional development of Thai academic librarians and the roles of continuing professional development providers, employing a mixed-methods approach. An online questionnaire was completed by 243 Thai academic librarians and in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 library directors and deputy directors. The quantitative data was analysed using descriptive analysis, while the qualitative data was examined through thematic analysis. The research found that academic librarians recognized the importance of participating in continuing professional development activities and exhibited a preference for online continuing professional development, with 'in-house' providers and academic library networks assuming significant roles. The study recommends focusing on information technology skills and English proficiency. Concise and dynamic guidance is offered for academic libraries and continuing professional development providers to reshape continuing professional development activities to post-pandemic dynamics, based on academic librarians' needs, and align their offerings with contemporary academic library challenges and trends, better suiting Thailand's evolving educational context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disasters, whether triggered by natural or man-made hazards, frequently threaten libraries in the Philippines. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, this research involved a detailed seven-part survey that was completed by 90 head librarians or officers-in-charge across the country. The findings indicate that many libraries have experienced disasters in the past decade. Despite this, most lack adequate preparedness, with 69 operating without a disaster management plan. This lack of preparedness is attributed to constraints such as limited finances and human resources, among others, along with a perception of low disaster risk. While most libraries have implemented basic emergency protocols, such as alarm systems and emergency kits, and some have insurance and updated emergency telephone trees, these measures fall short of the comprehensive requirements for effective disaster management. The study underscores the vital importance of disaster management plans, adequate equipment, sturdy library structures and strong library networks in disaster preparedness and management. It also calls for urgent action in policy enforcement, capacity building and further research to bolster the resilience of libraries against potential disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The time and resources required to prepare archival collections for use by researchers is a source of constant frustration in archives and libraries. Almost always, aspirations and collections exceed limited resources. The last fifteen to twenty years have seen archivists and librarians putting great effort into increasing standardization and efficiency. However, there are few examples of applying techniques from other fields that are proven to increase productivity. This dual case study shows that applying Lean techniques, which were originally developed for automobile manufacturing, yields significant results: measurable reductions in processing time and resource use; increased adherence to standards; increased engagement in and willingness to change by staff; effective coordination across departments; and increased ability to meet the needs of stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seeking to better understand the longitudinal association between online usage of library-licensed content and short- and long-term student performance, we linked EZproxy logs to institutional university data to study how library usage impacts semester and cumulative GPAs. Panel linear mixed effects regression models indicate online library usage is significantly associated with both semester and cumulative GPAs. The library usage effect is larger for semester GPA, and varies by on- and off-campus residency. The effect on semester GPA is larger for off-campus students, while for cumulative GPA the effect is larger for on-campus students. Longitudinally linked library-institutional data offers key insights on the library's value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to a 2021 Pew Research report, over 80 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds use social media. Studies also show that higher education students use social media in both academic and everyday life. However, there is minimal research about how, or whether, librarians utilize social media in their library instruction as a source of information for students' academic work. We examined 162 responses to a survey sent to an uncounted number of librarians in higher education, asking them about their teaching practices regarding social media to enable us to answer the following research questions: (1) How are teaching librarians using social media as an information source in their instruction?; (2) What are the benefits teaching librarians perceive regarding the use of social media in instruction?; (3) What are the challenges teaching librarians perceive regarding the use of social media in instruction? The survey results showed that most librarians surveyed are not utilizing social media as an information source in their library instruction. Although our results cannot be generalized, our study sheds light on how librarians incorporate social media in information literacy (IL) instruction, the tension between scholarly literature and voices not considered authoritative, and librarians' perceptions of benefits and challenges to incorporating social media in library sessions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

University rankings and changes in status of international standards and quality universities toward the Legal Entity State Universities have become a phenomenon in various universities in Indonesia. The university changed its status to Legal Entity State Universities in order to meet and improve its current global vision, mission, and goals. This article examines the librarians image in supporting their universities toward becoming Legal Entity State Universities. This research aims to analyze the understanding and support of librarians toward higher education in the context of Legal Entity State Universities. This research uses a qualitative approach. The research results found that librarian's support for changes in university status could increase campus productivity. Involving librarians in planning and implementing status changes will influence library service innovation and information resource management. This research has important implications in revealing librarians' understanding and support for the plan to change the status of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta from Public Service Agency State University to Legal Entity State University. The results of this research can be beneficial for UIN Syarif Hidayatullah policymakers to provide better and more equitable direction to the entire academic community, including librarians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]