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In general, when users search in academic databases, the search result page directly shows the download count and citation count next to each paper. The download count and citation count are likely to produce information cascade effects. Based on the cognitive load theory, this study employs the semi-structured interview and grounded theory methods to explore herd behavior in academic information use in the university digital academic platform context, and develops a theoretical model of influencing mechanism of herd behavior in academic information use through three levels of coding. The results show that intrinsic cognitive load, extraneous cognitive load, and germane cognitive load all have direct impacts on herd behavior in academic information use. Germane cognitive load has moderating effects on the links from intrinsic cognitive load and extraneous cognitive load to herd behavior in academic information use. Meanwhile, information quality, source reliability, reputation, and convenience have direct impacts on information usefulness. Scientific research literacy and prior experience are elicited as germane cognitive load. It is recommended that researchers' scientific research literacy should be cultivated as far as possible, and researchers should be greatly encouraged to become familiar with scientific research tasks and become familiar with academic databases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on adaptive structuration theory (AST), this study develops a research model to explore innovative information seeking in the context of digital libraries from the perspectives of cognitive switching and affinity. Innovative information seeking behavior is the combination of innovative IT (information technologies) use behavior and information seeking behavior and subsequently refers to innovative IT use oriented to information seeking. A research model was developed and survey data were collected. The partial least squares (PLS) structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to verify the research model. The findings suggest that affinity with digital libraries is the most powerful determinant of innovative information seeking. Meanwhile, task nonroutineness and disconfirmation have positive effects on innovative information seeking; the effect of social influence on innovative information seeking is overpowered by affinity with digital libraries. The findings and their implications for theory and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the narrow definition of the mobile Internet, ‘mobile libraries’ refers to digital libraries accessed by users through mobile phones and wireless networks. In order to explore users’ adoption of mobile libraries, a research model is developed focusing on two psychological factors (flow experience and innovativeness) and two factors oriented to the mobile context (ubiquitous connection and use context). Data collected from digital library users who are also users of the mobile Internet were used to test the model. The findings show that use context not only has a direct impact on users’ intention to adopt mobile libraries, but also partially mediates the effect of flow experience and ubiquitous connection on usage intention. Meanwhile, innovativeness both significantly affects usage intention and negatively moderates the effect of use context on usage intention. Findings and implications for theory and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The elaboration likelihood model (ELM) provides a general framework for understanding the basic processes underlying the effectiveness of persuasion. The purpose of this paper is to utilize the ELM to understand the basic processes underlying the effectiveness of persuasion to use digital libraries for getting information. Design/methodology/approach – The survey data collection was conducted in one comprehensive university. The partial least squares structured equation modelling was employed to verify the research model. Findings – Source credibility and reputation have positive effects on information usefulness which further significantly impacts digital library usage for getting information. The effect of information quality on information usefulness is overpowered by reputation. Information need positively moderates the effect of information quality on information usefulness and negatively moderates the effect of reputation on information usefulness. Practical implications – Digital libraries enormously influence the way how individuals gather information over the world. However, the important status of digital libraries as conventional information sources in practice invites appreciation by more and more people. The authors believe the findings of this study provide useful insights for facilitating digital libraries to be fully accessed and utilized. Originality/value – This study explores the effects of the central route (information quality) and the peripheral route (source credibility and reputation) on digital library usage for getting information by extending the ELM with information need as a motivation variable, presenting a new lens for digital library research and practice alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building on concepts of the digital divide, this study explores and compares users’ perceptions of web digital libraries and mobile digital libraries in terms of ease of use and usefulness. Data collected from 306 university library users were analyzed. Two figures were used to present the exact nature of users’ perceptions of ease of use and usefulness in terms of data distribution. These figures were supplemented by the paired samples t test which presents the exact mean difference between web digital libraries and mobile digital libraries in terms of ease of use and usefulness. The data distribution suggests that there are more users who think digital libraries are both easy to use and useful whereas mobile digital libraries are neither easy to use nor useful. The mean comparison of ease of use and usefulness shows that web digital libraries significantly exceed mobile digital libraries. These findings and implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the antecedents of information seeking in digital libraries from the perspectives of the Technology Acceptance Model and flow experience, as well as the consequences from the perspectives of self-efficacy in getting information and individual performance. Design/methodology/approach – A research model is developed and tested using questionnaires and, partial least squares structural equation modeling. Findings – The effect of flow experience on information seeking in digital libraries is the largest one. Meanwhile, flow experience fully mediates the effects of ease of use and usefulness on information seeking in digital libraries which further leads to self-efficacy in getting information and individual performance. Practical implications – Librarians should help users to experience more stable and sustainable flow by providing dependable, prompt, personalized and professional service to them. Librarians should try their best to provide diversified user training so as to guide potential users to seek information in digital libraries. Originality/value – This study contributes to the theoretical development of the structural model exploring information seeking in digital libraries, presenting a new view for digital library research and practice alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- Flow experience is conceptualized as an optimal experience about an activity, characterized by a match between perceived challenges and perceived skills. The purpose of this paper is to explore mobile libraries by comparing users' perceptions of web digital libraries and mobile libraries in terms of flow experience so as to obtain insights regarding the healthy development of mobile libraries. Design/methodology/approach -- Data collected from university digital library users were used for analysis. One figure was used to present the exact nature of users' perceptions of flow experience in terms of data distribution. The paired samples t-test was used to present the exact mean difference between flow experience in using web digital libraries and mobile libraries. Findings -- Fewer users can experience flow and more users cannot experience flow in using mobile libraries than in using web digital libraries. The mean of flow experience in using mobile libraries is significantly smaller than that in using web digital libraries. Practical implications -- Digital libraries have faced severe competition in the modern information society. In China university libraries as a whole are undergoing the transition from web digital libraries to mobile libraries. It is critical to examine user experience in the initial or early stage of mobile library development. The authors believe the findings of this study regarding flow experience provide useful insights for facilitating the healthy development of mobile libraries. Originality/value -- This study explores and compares users' perceptions of web digital libraries and mobile libraries in terms of flow experience, which the authors think provides a new view for university digital library research and practice alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the updated Information Systems (IS) success model, this study examines users’ perceptions of digital libraries in terms of information quality (semantic success), system quality (technical success), service quality (application success), and affinity (effectiveness success), which the authors think provides a new view for digital library research and practice alike. In this study, the term e-quality is used to refer to information quality, system quality, and service quality. Affinity with digital libraries is defined as the degree of importance that users place on digital libraries. Data collected from 357 digital library users are used for data analysis. The statistical method of comparing means is employed to explore the effect of individual differences on e-quality and affinity. Meanwhile, hierarchical regression analysis is employed to present the effect of e-quality on affinity. It is found that service quality is the most important determinant to predict the formation of affinity. The findings and their implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]