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This paper is based on the findings of a doctoral study that aimed to examine the role of continuing professional development (CPD) in enhancing digital transformation in selected university libraries in Uganda. One of the ways of effecting digital transformation is to continuously build the technological competencies of the librarians working in academic institutions through attending technology-related CPD. The study adopted a mixed methods approach with a convergent parallel design for collecting qualitative and quantitative data from six universities in Uganda. Quantitative data were collected from 76 librarians with a minimum degree-level qualification from the six selected universities. Qualitative data were obtained from six University Librarians working in these universities. The study findings indicated several challenges hindering librarians from participating in technology-related CPDs such as lack of management support, lack of personal interest, limited funding, and lack of opportunities, among others. The implementation of digital transformation within university libraries in Uganda was also reported to be beset by a lack of competent staff, limited management support, lack of funds, and technological gaps. Therefore, this paper presents a proposed model to address challenges hindering the digital transformation and the participation in technology-related continuing professional development activities within academic libraries. The proposed model is based on the study findings, and it draws from Watkin and Marsick's learning organisation model, andragogy theory, the technology-organisation-environment framework, and extant literature. The model will guide academic libraries in the implementation of a conducive environment to necessitate staff development and implementation of digital transformation.

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.

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 post-observation 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.

This paper shares the results of semi-structured interviews with 30 community college librarians who have instruction duties. The interviews explored these librarians' perceptions of students' information literacy (IL) strengths and weaknesses as well as their views of students' self-perceptions. Participants believe that students are confident in their ability to find information and are proficient in using technology to find information. Participants consider students' overconfidence to be an IL weakness along with: not understanding the research process; being overwhelmed by information; and, in some cases, having poor reading comprehension skills. Views are mixed as to whether students' IL skills vary based on their program of study.

This paper discusses perceptions regarding the roles of PhD- and MLS (or MLIS)-holding librarians within academic libraries in the United States gathered via a survey conducted in 2019. Based on a review of previous literature and the results of the survey--which present mixed opinions about PhD holders as librarians--the authors provide recommendations for ways libraries can effectively address some of the tensions regarding the role of PhD holders within academic librarianship. This article is useful for librarians of all educational backgrounds, PhD holders who are considering the transition to a library career, and library administrators involved in the hiring process.

The goal of the study presented in the paper is to assess the knowledge about Alzheimer's Disease (AD), among library and information science students in Croatia. Understanding how much future librarians know about dementia is the first step towards providing them with relevant educational intervention which will equip them with required knowledge to develop dementia-friendly library services in a society which is increasingly affected by dementia. A total of 183 students participated in the study which used Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS), a validated instrument that measures what people know about AD using a 30-item questionnaire across seven knowledge domains: risk factors, symptoms, assessment and diagnosis, course of the disease, life impact, treatment, and management, and caregiving. The collected data were analysed using basic descriptive statistics and a parametric test (t-test). Findings show that respondents have poor AD knowledge. Only 35.78% questions were answered correctly and the mean knowledge score was 10.76. The findings revealed that participants with previous exposure to the disease have significantly better knowledge (P = 0.003).

Higher education institutions have become increasingly interested in exploring the innovative learning opportunities afforded by open educational resources and practices (OER). These same institutions have begun to more seriously consider ways to eradicate racism. However, few institutions have considered the ways that OER may prove useful in dismantling anti-racism and how to prepare instructional faculty to do so. Given their expertise and research skills, librarians may be uniquely positioned to take on this role. In this paper, we explore one such online asynchronous effort--adaptation and implementation of the Open for Anti-Racism faculty workshop in a Learning Management System--and offer insights for librarians and instructional faculty. These findings include: the importance of 1) adapting for local institutional context, 2) providing multimodal peer engagement opportunities, and 3) having facilitators occupying different professional roles and social locations.

The prime purpose of the current research is to explore the impact of training and development programs for University library professionals in Sri Lanka. The research adopted the quantitative research method, where the data were collected through a structured questionnaire from 132 respondents. The collected data were analyzed using MS-Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), where the descriptive statistics, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), correlation, and regression analysis were carried out and showed significant results. The analysis finding revealed that the training and development programs have a constructive impact on organizational performance. Also, the findings revealed a significant relationship between training and development and organizational development and self-development. The paper emphasizes the requirement of training and development programs for the library staff in the University libraries of Sri Lanka. The research findings would proffer useful guidance for organizations in Sri Lanka to offer better library services.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the perception of female employees regarding workplace empowerment. The study also emphasized the alleged advantages of employee empowerment in the workplace and pinpointed the barriers to empowerment. Design/methodology/approach: This paper is based on qualitative data collected, through the semi-structured interview with female library professionals working in the higher education commission's recognized universities of Punjab- Pakistan, as a part of doctoral studies. Findings According to the study, respondents most frequently defined "workplace empowerment" as having the freedom to do duties as they see fit. They also emphasized the benefits of workplace empowerment on both the personal and professional levels. Three categories - managerial, organizational, and individual factors - are used to categorize the obstacles cited by the participants. Originality: Although there is no study of this kind on the topic of workplace empowerment of female employees in the local context of Pakistan, this work adds significantly to the paucity of literature on the subject. Research limitations: This study is extracted from the Ph.D. thesis of the researcher. This study is limited in terms of its population as the data was collected from female library professionals in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Practical/managerial implications and/or social/economic implications: The results may aid stakeholders and higher authorities in eradicating workplace empowerment concerns and in formulating evidence-based strategies or policies to enable women to execute their jobs more effectively. This qualitative study adds value to the literature by showing the actual situation of female employee empowerment in a developing country like Pakistan.

Science librarianship has barely scratched the surface when grappling with the injustice in our profession and the disciplines we support. Here we provide one example of how STEM librarians can work within the academy to resist systemic barriers and support students from marginalized communities. This paper will explore how librarians and libraries can partner with various diversity support programs and undergraduate research programs targeted toward undergraduate students with marginalized identities. We will then share the perspective of two women of color who have developed this partnership. This article provides the separate and shared perspectives of a science librarian and undergraduate research director in working together to remove barriers students may face in their higher education journeys by creating relationships and meaningful connections.

This paper explores the connection between critical theory, information evaluation, and the instructional practice of critique for STEM students and librarian instructors. Using an emerging theory and instructional method, the authors examine how to more deeply include voices that have historically been excluded from STEM information critique. The foundational ideas, pedagogical approaches, and scaffolded curriculum used to engender a more inclusive approach to information within third- and fourth-year engineering design classes are discussed to contextualize the application of theory to the practical setting. Rooted in critical theory, this case considers how student information behaviors can ultimately perpetuate or subvert social structures and expectations.

Science communication has taken center stage in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) disciplines in the context of public outreach and citizen science. Developing practical communication skills is imperative for all scientists to be highly successful in their careers and more so for underrepresented and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) professionals in STEM. The program, led by the Engineering and Science Librarian at the University of Victoria (UVic) Libraries, aimed to equip students and early career scientists with critical communication skills by leveraging the unique voices and lived experiences of BIPOC speakers in STEM disciplines. Through this program, a unique toolkit with engaging modules consisting of 30 short videos, each three minutes long (30 x 3) by BIPOC speakers was created to provide broad foundational skills in verbal and visual communication, using an Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice (EDISJ) lens. A two-day conference offered networking and communication development opportunities to students and early-career scientists in STEM disciplines by connecting them with BIPOC STEM leaders and visionaries who promote STEM advocacy. This paper will discuss the methods used in the creation of the toolkit and conference using an EDISJ lens.

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.

A diversity audit of the natural resources monographs took place in the spring and summer of 2022 at the California Polytechnic University, Humboldt Library. The goals of the audit were to construct a diversity audit that could be undertaken with very limited time and personnel availability. The findings have provided the library with important information about diversifying its science collections. This paper covers the audit methods, results, a discussion of the findings, and recommendations on best practices for diversifying science collections.

This paper extends Critical Race Feminista Methodological (CRFM) approaches by contending that "convivencias" -- the coexistence necessary for creating relationships in the field -- are an integral part of engaging research collaborators within educational historical research. Drawing on oral histories with Chicana/o librarians, personal collections, and archival sources, I outline the "convivencias" I shared with librarians that span across spatial and temporal dimensions. These interactions were centered on recollecting, remembering, and learning about the activism within Latina/o/x children's literature and librarianship's history. "Convivencias" across space were possible through diverse interactions, such as in-person meetings, phone conversations, video conferences, and emails. "Convivencias" across time are represented by the continuity of sustained efforts to advance social justice in librarianship across multiple decades. The conceptualization of "convivencias" across space and time emerged as a CRFM tool that aims to center seldomly documented narratives of activism essential for fostering connections, cultivating community memories, and nuancing historical educational research.

Purpose: With the aid of libraries, the research paper aims to assist businesses in swiftly and accurately acquiring knowledge and insights from scholarly literature to guide their inventive and decision-making processes. The foundation for achieving the goal is Connected Papers technology. Design/methodology/approach: The author's professional expertise in performing literature reviews using connected papers technology as well as using other ways, and corresponding with entrepreneurs and librarians impacted the article's research methodology. Findings: The use of Connected Papers technology in the library context for helping entrepreneurs is discussed. Libraries and entrepreneurs could benefit from using Connected Papers technology to quickly compile pertinent data from scholarly literature to solve business challenges. According to the paper, adopting this technology can speed up information gathering and drastically reduce the time needed for business owners to search through bibliographic data-bases. Using this technology can help entrepreneurs at various phases of their entrepreneurial journeys and give libraries a productive way to assist business owners with their information needs. Originality/value: This paper's novelty comes from its examination of the usage of connectedpapers.com technology to compile data from scholarly literature to assist entrepreneurs in solving their business problems. The useful piece of advice this paper offers entrepreneurs and librarians is what makes it valuable. By using connectedpapers.com technology, businesses may be able to get critical information from scholarly literature to foster a series of experimentation quickly and effectively. Also, librarians can help their patrons with systematic re-views and other research services by using this application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to determine how we ought to distinguish between reference and readers' advisory (RA) service, given the latter's turn toward a whole collection approach. In other words, the paper answers this question: If both reference and RA librarians aim to meet patrons' information needs and may theoretically do so using the same materials, then how are we to differentiate the two services conceptually? Design/methodology/approach: In this conceptual paper, we posit that we can distinguish between RA and reference using Louise Rosenblatt's theory of the aesthetic transaction. With this theory in hand, we can redefine the service distinction in terms of the stance – aesthetic or efferent – that the patron expects to take toward the material they seek. Findings: On our account, the reader's desired stance becomes a kind of hermeneutical lens through which a library worker may productively evaluate plausible pathways and materials. An aesthetic lens is characteristic of RA; it makes features of potential aesthetic transactions between a particular reader and a particular text (or genre or author's oeuvre) salient. Originality/value: The proposed account constitutes a novel application of Rosenblattian response theory, one that grounds and refines the going view that RA's proper focus is on supporting a particular sort of experience rather than providing particular sorts of texts. This theoretical emendation also better aligns the service distinction with contemporary conceptualizations of RA as a "whole collection" service. Important practical and philosophical implications follow from the new account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

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 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Anne L'Huillier, Pierre Agostini, and Ferenc Krausz for their pioneering work using laser harmonics to observe attosecond-scale electron phenomena. L'Huillier pioneered the background experimental techniques in harmonics, Agostini provided an important analysis technique that confirmed the pulses were at the attosecond-scale, and Krausz was the first to isolate an attosecond pulse. This paper describes the citation patterns of each scientist in the context of their research using data from the Web of Science and Scopus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To maintain the high standard of public as well as academic libraries' services and to be able to develop them further and lead them into the future, new challenges must be overcome. These are for example the War for Talents, diversity, skills of older and younger employees, the advancing digitization, integration issues, sustainability, fake news etc. One approach to address these challenges involves implementing talent management, utilizing its methods to both retain current employees and identify well- trained new staff, effectively deploying them as needed. This paper presents results from a quantitative study titled "The Library needs Talents! An Empirical Study on the Use of Talent Management Methods for Staff Recruitment and Staff Development in Libraries" with findings about the status of this topic in German libraries and the possibility of implementing talent management. The study consists of a survey conducted in May 2019 with 143 participants, of whom 113 completed the questionnaire and a workshop held in June 2019 with ten librarians of academic and public libraries in which the questions "How can talents be found for and in a library?" and "How do you keep these talents in the library?" were discussed. The results show that interest in talent management exists in German libraries, but a lack of expertise on the subject has hindered its implementation in libraries thus far. Further key findings indicate that career opportunities and development prospects still have room for improvement. Particularly in smaller institutions with only a few employees, career advancement can be challenging. All in all, the size of the institution plays a minor role. While complete talent management may not be feasible in smaller institutions, individual aspects can still be addressed and implemented. For example, relevant competencies that talents should possess could be identified in advance and reflected in job advertisements. This paper introduces a novel perspective on addressing challenges faced by public and academic libraries. It is shedding light on the status of talent management and its potential implementation. The value of this paper extends to library professionals seeking ways to attract and retain talent, irrespective of the institution's size, presenting actionable insights for competency-based recruitment practices. [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]

Copyright of Citaliste: The Scientific Journal on Theory & Practice of Librarianship is the property of Citaliste: The Scientific Journal on Theory & Practice of Librarianship 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.)

Prison library staff play a central role in supporting prisoners with their educational, informational, recreational and cultural needs during incarceration. Their role is unique within the wider library profession, as they require both expertise in library and information management as well as the skills and knowledge required to operate in a prison environment. There has been little research exploring the experiences and perspectives of library staff who manage and deliver prison library services in the United Kingdom (UK). This paper addresses this gap in knowledge and seeks to amplify the voices of those working in an often overlooked profession. Findings are drawn from the first phase of a broader doctoral study which explored prisoner engagement with library services. A mixed-methods approach was taken, combining both a questionnaire and follow-up interviews with prison library staff across the UK. The questionnaire received 31 responses from library staff and 10 respondents participated in a follow-up interview. Findings offer a contemporary overview of the management and delivery of prison library services in the UK and underline common themes and concerns among prison library professionals, namely the implications of dual management, the impact of the unique social context in which they work and the importance of communication and liaison in providing effective library services. The paper concludes with recommendations for combatting the professional isolation felt by those working in this sector and for the promotion of prison library services both within and outside the prison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Artificial intelligence (AI) is likely to change employment patterns across the global economy, but it is hard to predict what type of change will happen and how fast. The purpose of this paper is to bring together initial thoughts on the impacts of AI specifically on the work of library professionals, based on a hermeneutic literature review. Generative AI is likely to change the nature of everyday office work, in a way that will impact roles across the library. Changes brought by AI for the information literacy trainer, manager, data specialist and collection manager are considered. Impacts on all library staff competencies are discussed. The final section asks whether the impact on job roles in lower resourced contexts in the global south, such as Kenya, will be different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper is to define Artificial Intelligence (AI) for librarians by examining general definitions of AI, analysing the umbrella of technologies that make up AI, defining types of use case by area of library operation, and then reflecting on the implications for the profession, including from an equality, diversity and inclusion perspective. The paper is a conceptual piece based on an exploratory literature review, targeting librarians interested in AI from a strategic rather than a technical perspective. Five distinct types of use cases of AI are identified for libraries, each with its own underlying drivers and barriers, and skills demands. They are applications in library back-end processes, in library services, through the creation of communities of data scientists, in data and AI literacy and in user management. Each of the different applications has its own drivers and barriers. It is hard to anticipate the impact on professional work but as information environment becomes more complex it is likely that librarians will continue to have a very important role, especially given AI's dependence on data. However, there could be some negative impacts on equality, diversity and inclusion if AI skills are not spread widely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines in-depth processes of librarian professional identity negotiations impacting practitioners' perception of, affiliation with, and behaviour within the profession. It outlines three key themes which moderate librarian professional identity and introduces the Relational States of Librarian Professional Identity, outlining variations of individual affiliation with the profession. This paper also offers a theoretical framework of identity negotiations with theoretical propositions relating to librarian professional identity development. Forty semi-structed interviews were conducted with practicing public librarians throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. Interviews were analysed with an inductive approach. NVivo was used to code and query interview data. Findings demonstrate identity negotiations as grounded in perceptions of profession through meaning ascribed to the profession and its manifestations (professional associations, etc.), respectively; and perceptions of practice as related to organisational/institutional contexts. Six theoretical propositions are offered detailing the relationship of the three themes moderating librarian professional identity and the Relational States of Librarian Professional Identity to this identity and its negotiations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open access policies and mandates can be a useful tool in persuading faculty at higher education institutions around the globe to produce and share open scholarship. But are such policies widely written, accepted, and adopted? Leveraging information found on the Registry of Open Access Repositories Mandatory Archiving Policies, this paper analyzes open access policies at higher education institutions worldwide. The data indicate that Europe holds the most policies, while fewer policies have been enacted in the Americas, Africa, Oceania, and Asia due to a myriad of barriers. Overall, better strategies to promote open access are needed, and such strategies may not necessarily take the form of an open access policy. My own investigation of global open access policies has informed my practices with respect to open access. In this paper, I demonstrate how librarians acting as policy entrepreneurs can assist with the promotion of open access at their institutions and then conclude with suggestions, solutions, and pathways beyond policy adoption to promote and advocate for open access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last two decades, librarians and LIS scholars have turned to critical race theory (CRT) for new insights about their field and its relationship to race and racism in the United States. Yet law librarians have been engaging CRT since the 1980s. In fact, founding critical race theorists Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic wrote about law libraries and legal information—just as several law librarians and legal information scholars were writing about critical legal theory—in the earliest days of the movement. This paper surveys these works and assesses the impact they have had on law librarianship in the hope of encouraging CRT-aligned LIS scholars and librarians in other subfiels to discover this previously overlooked foundation of CRT in LIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical and health sciences librarians who are involved in evidence synthesis projects will know that systematic reviews are intensely rigorous, requiring research teams to devote significant resources to the methodological process. As expert searchers, librarians are often identified as personnel to conduct the database searching portion and/or are approached as experts in the methodology to guide research teams through the lifecycle of the project. This research method has surged in popularity at our campus and demand for librarian participation is unsustainable. As a response to this, the library created self-directed learning objects in the form of roadmap to assist researchers in learning about the knowledge synthesis methodology in an expedient, self-directed manner. This paper will discuss the creation, implementation and feedback around our educational offering: Systematic & Scoping Reviews: Your Roadmap to Conducting an Evidence Synthesis., (© 2024 The Authors Health Information and Libraries Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Health Libraries Group.)

Background: Systematic review or systematic literature review (SLR) methodologies are a powerful tool for evidence‐based decision making. The method originated in the medical sciences but has since been adopted by other disciplines, including engineering education (EE). Purpose: We aimed to answer two research questions: (i) To what extent is the SLR research method being applied in EE? (ii) How closely are SLRs published in EE following established reporting guidelines for the methodology? Scope/Method: We searched Inspec, Compendex, and ERIC for engineering‐related SLRs and meta‐analyses (MAs). We included English language papers that contained an explicit SLR search, or where it appeared the methodology was intended by the author(s). We completed a data extraction process for 21 descriptive and quality‐related items, including engineering discipline, which allowed us to identify the EE studies analyzed in this article. Results: This sub‐analysis presents the results of 276 EE‐related reviews. We found the use of SLR/MA methods is growing in EE, with 93% of papers published during 2015–2022. However, we found that authors are not generally following established guidelines for reporting their methods and findings. Conclusions: Not following the best practices for conducting and reporting SLRs can result in the presentation of incorrect summaries and analyses due to missed evidence. Including search experts (e.g., librarians) trained in conducting SLRs can improve review quality. There is also an opportunity for EE‐related publishers to recruit experts trained in conducting SLRs as peer reviewers to participate in evaluating submitted reviews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of thirty-seven interviews of senior library leaders at American Association of University (AAU) institutions conducted in Spring 2023. The author replicated a 2016 study from portal , revealing an increased focus on strategic plan-based decision-making along with new priorities of open scholarship and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The COVID-19 pandemic had a drastic impact on staffing and budgets, requiring academic library leaders to balance internal operations and external collaboration. A younger, more diverse AAU library leadership population achieves success through strong advocacy to campus leadership and the inclusive leadership practices outlined in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: ChatGPT is a new development in this technological era. This artificial intelligence-based tool responds to individuals' queries and produces the requested content within seconds. Therefore, it is becoming popular among academics, the research community and library professionals. This study aims to test (through personal interaction with the tool) the authenticity of the ChatGPT's produced records. Another objective of the research is to check the relevance between the individuals' queries and the tool's results. The research also intends to identify the challenges in retrieving information through ChatGPT. Design/methodology/approach: The five researchers from different countries and organizations experienced ChatGPT by asking questions on more than 70 subjects. The responses were recorded in Notepad and converted into MS Excel and MS Access to standardize and analyze the data. The investigators consulted 11 reputed databases/sources, including Web of Science and Scopus, to assess the authenticity of the data retrieved through ChatGPT. Findings: The findings confirmed that over 90% of results produced by ChatGPT were fake (the information did not exist in the literature). Similarly, the study sheds light on the discrepancies, such as irrelevant and incomplete information in the data generated by ChatGPT. Originality/value: This is a unique study that shares the findings based on the different regions' researchers' personal experiences with ChatGPT. The researchers covered different subject areas (above 70) while asking questions to ChatGPT. The paper shares implications for researchers, students, faculty members, academic/research organizations and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bibliotekar (0006-1816) is the property of Serbian Library Association 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.)

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

This paper discusses the history of the Polish book collection at the Chicago Public Library (CPL) from the time the Foreign Language Section (FOL) in the main library was established, until the present. The author has used both primary and secondary sources. Many of them are archival materials still unpublished (FOL Annual Report Bulletin from the Office of the Librarian, etc.) and stored in the Special Collections and Preservation Division at the Harold Washington Library Center (HWLC) in Chicago. The names of many dedicated librarians who have worked and are working now at FOL are provided. The article tries to answer the question: How did they help new immigrants to adjust to the American way of life? A considerable part of this paper is devoted to the programming aimed at Chicago's Polish community. These programs took place at CPL from its beginning, but more were scheduled in the 1970s and the 1980s, when American libraries begin to promote multiculturalism and diversity. The establishment of the Polish American Services Committee (PASC) in 1995, which was organized and continues to function to the present time, is also covered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic libraries are at the forefront of supporting their parent institutions in teaching and learning, research activities, and community services for the students and faculty members, but, the researchers observed that some of the research emanating from faculty members in academic institutions particularly universities remains largely unknown, unrecognized and invisible on the global scene. This present paper is therefore a modest attempt towards addressing the issue of enhancing the faculty research visibility in the institutions of higher learning by the academic libraries. It also examines the extent academic libraries in public universities in Nigeria use research visibility channels to increase the global visibility of their faculty members. Difficulties encountered by librarians and ways of tackling the visibility of the faculty were also examined. A descriptive survey research design was adopted and the population consisted of all the 162 librarians in public universities in South-East (S.E), Nigeria. Telephone calls and Online Questionnaire were used for data collection. The number of librarians was obtained through phone calls from the Heads of each of the Libraries. The Online Questionnaire was submitted to the WhatsApp platforms of librarians in Nigeria- Academic and Research Libraries (ARL) and Chartered Librarians in Nigeria Connect (CLN-Connect). The questionnaire was structured in such a way that only the Librarians in Public universities in the S.E. Nigeria will respond to it. At the end of the day only 120 librarians responded, at a response rate of 74%. The study was analysed using tables, percentages and charts. The study recommended that librarians who are unaware of RVCs and its utilization should go for training to acquire the knowledge that will enable them enhance the global visibility of faculty staff, Management of Public universities in S.E, Nigeria should in addition to addressing copyright issues by the use of disclaimer notices and creative common licensing and provision of infrastructural facilities e.g. steady power supply, High power brand Internet connectivity, establishment of an Institutional Repository, etc, also should mandate the faculty staff to release their productive work to the library for onward submission to the RVCs platforms for enhancement of their global visibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Information World / Bilgi Dünyası is the property of University & Research Librarians Associations (UNAK) 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.)