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This study presents a significant advancement in the realm of information science by exploring and validating a semiotic scale tailored for library software interfaces. Employing a design‐based approach, the investigation identifies 14 crucial semiotic elements specific to library software interfaces, forming the cornerstone of its theoretical framework. The process of developing the semiotic scale involves creating user personas, conducting a comprehensive semiotic analysis, and engaging in productive collaboration with experts. Through meticulous evaluation and refinement, achieved by expert assessments and user testing, the scale offers actionable insights for guiding interface enhancement. The study's findings encompass a breadth of revelations, including user needs, user personas, outcomes of semiotic analysis, criteria development, and evaluation results across a diverse range of library software interfaces. Serving as a valuable tool for interface designers, the semiotic scale facilitates the alignment of design choices with user preferences and requirements. Its inherent adaptability ensures applicability across a spectrum of library software interfaces. The study's paramount contribution lies in bridging the gap between theoretical semiotics and practical design considerations. The comprehensive model offered by the development and validation of the semiotic scale empowers the evaluation of semiotic elements' impact on user perceptions and interface usability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the research growth, collaboration trends, and performance of the author, organization, and countries and to identify the trending research topics on gender equality and women empowerment research in BRICS countries. This study employed Scientometric tools to evaluate the research publications for ten years (2012- 2021). A total of 1,558 bibliographic records were downloaded from the Scopus and analyzed using Microsoft Excel and Tableau statistical tools. Moreover, the network visualization and scientific mapping analysis was done using the open-source data visualization tools VOSviewer, and Biblioshiny. It was found that BRICS countries were actively involved in research on gender equality and women's empowerment in the last decade as the publication was growing by 20.45% Annual Growth Rate (AGR) and research outputs shared 16.18% of global publications. India contributed the most publications (n=683) and received the highest citations (TC=2,798), while South Africa was the most significant collaborator with different countries across the globe. The study also identified the most prolific authors, organizations, and journals based on the number of scientific publications and citations. It is indispensable to highlight that most prolific authors and organizations were affiliated with South Africa. In recent years research has been trending in topics related to women's education, women empowerment, entrepreneurship, gender equality, and sustainability. Furthermore, the study identified the most influential articles based on the citation burst. The findings of this study will benefit contemporary society, the scholarly community and other key stakeholders in the field by providing an understanding of the development and trends of research in the domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to identify the factors prevalent among health science librarians toward vaccine hesitancy. With the development of COVID-19 vaccines in 2021, numerous efforts are being taken to vaccinate people to control the spread of coronavirus. Recent research has shown a high level of vaccine hesitancy among various groups in various fields but no study has been conducted to explore the factors responsible for vaccine hesitancy among library professionals. A cross-sectional online survey of Indian health science librarians was conducted. Data was collected through an online questionnaire designed on Google Forms and analyzed using MS-Excel. Descriptive statistics were used in the study. The majority of respondents (77%) showed a high level of vaccine hesitancy due to issues of safety, negative information, and confusion over vaccines. Measures to increase vaccination uptake and authentic sources with respect to COVID-19 vaccines have been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose This paper aims to identify the factors that influence the acceptance and purposeful use of cloud computing technologies in Indian medical libraries.Design/methodology/approach To meet the stated objectives, a three-round Delphi study was carried out; a panel of 32 participants, with expertise and experience of cloud computing in the context of Indian medical libraries, was constituted.Findings During the study, the participants identified about 60 different factors, and a consensus was reached on 42 of these, which were considered to have a direct impact on the levels of acceptance and purposeful use of cloud computing technologies in Indian medical libraries. The study points out significant factors that should be addressed to accelerate the acceptance and purposeful use of cloud computing technologies in Indian medical libraries.Originality/value The study is the first attempt to study the factors responsible for the adoption of cloud computing in Indian medical libraries through the Delphi technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the perceptions of librarians engaged in Indian academic libraries towards cloud computing. Design/methodology/approach – A structured questionnaire was used to collect responses from the library professionals engaged in Indian academic libraries. Overall, 339 respondents participated in the survey. Descriptive survey method was used in the study. Findings – The findings of the study reveal that library professionals are using cloud-computing tools in their daily works. They want to adopt cloud computing in the libraries to improve library services and avoid redundancy of works. Ubiquitous availability, economy and the various service layers are the core drivers of its adoption in the libraries. The respondents showed their concern over security and data privacy in cloud. Practical implications – The study establishes the fact that the benefits of cloud computing are inadequate to convince the libraries to migrate from the traditional computing paradigm to the cloud. Technological advancement may not transform the cloud into a mainstream technology. To motivate the expansion of cloud computing adoption, emphasis has to be laid upon collaboration between the cloud service providers supplemented by solid cloud legislations which need to be worked out. Originality/value – The paper provides the perceptions of library professionals in response to the adoption of cloud computing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The paper aims to examine the characteristic elements of various organizational factors to identify whether a favourable climate for implementing and sustaining cloud computing in Banaras Hindu University library system (BHULS) existed. Design/methodology/approach – After reviewing relevant literature on the topic, a list of 20 factors that affected an organization’s adoption to innovation was prepared. A questionnaire was personally administered to the library professionals engaged in BHULS. Respondents were asked to nominate the level of importance of each factor for validation of cloud computing adoption. Findings – Findings of the paper validate the fact that opportune time for the implementation of cloud computing existed in BHULS. Library staff showed high willingness toward the adoption of the cloud computing and were well prepared to grasp the challenges. Practical implications – The paper establishes the fact that the benefits of cloud computing are inadequate to convince organizations to migrate from the traditional computing paradigm to the cloud. Technological advancement may not transform the cloud into a mainstream technology. To motivate the expansion of cloud computing adoption, emphasis has to be laid upon collaboration between the cloud service providers supplemented by solid cloud legislations which need to be worked out. Originality/value – Because no empirical study on the cloud computing in conjunction with academic libraries of India has been carried out before, this paper closes this gap and provides guidelines to migrate to cloud environment. Also, it provides the perceptions of library professionals in response to its adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyses the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) in order to examine the librarians' behavioural intentions to use cloud computing applications. A questionnaire was developed using three TAM instruments: attitude, perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness to measure the librarian's behavioural intentions of cloud computing applications use. Four hundred and seven library professionals completed the survey that measured their responses on perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, attitude and the behavioural intentions on the use of cloud computing applications. Results show that librarians' perceived ease of use had significant impact on the attitude towards use. Further, perceived ease of use severely influenced the perceived usefulness of the cloud computing applications. The findings validate the implications of cloud computing applications in a library setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]