Search

The impact of algorithms on the way knowledge is created and shared has been seen as a revolutionary shift in the knowledge apparatus of society. Using the concept of paradigm shifts, this study explores how librarians providing information literacy programs and services described the programs they offer in information and digital literacies, their understandings of algorithms and how they might see future services. Using an information practices approach, data were collected from 30 librarians from university libraries across NSW. The analysis identified a range of paradigms that could have implications for changes in professional practices. Significant was the paradigm of the algorithm as 'black box', indicating a lack of technical knowledge about algorithms. Also important was the emphasis on the transactional paradigm in the literacy programs provided, with descriptions focussing on the behavioural aspects of the skills of students. Given the situation in universities post-pandemic, there was little optimism that significant changes would be made to the programs and services currently offered, although a small number of participants had implemented their own micro revolutionary changes. As paradigm shifts occur through changes in knowledge, and revolutionary changes require a supportive environment, the study concludes that only piecemeal evolutionary changes can be made currently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study reported in this paper is part of a larger program of studies designed to review and renew the curricula of Library and Information Science (LIS) and the broader Information Management (IM) courses. This paper analysed job advertisements as readily accessible indicators of the knowledge, skills, and competencies required of IPs by employers and potential available roles. It presents current findings and compares them with trends identified in earlier Australian job advertisement content analyses based on data collected in 2004. The information revealed by the study may be utilised by educators to inform curriculum review and renewal. Current advertisements were collected from web-based sources; ALIA's employment web pages and two national web job-boards, Seek and MyCareer.com. Text from job advertisements was analysed using a content analysis software package. The data revealed an increasing demand for IPs with records management skills, and skills in business content management, web management and other information management systems, indicating an increasing overlap with the field of information systems. The "move to the generic" identified as an emerging trend in 2004 has solidified. (Contains 4 tables and 4 figures.)

The brief for this lecture in honour of Prof. Gabriel A. Bernardo, the doyen of Philippine librarianship, was twofold -- to explore what promotes informed societies and responsible citizenry, and to examine the supposition that there is a role for libraries in a democratic society. The paper takes the position that such an endeavour in the digital age must extend to all information professionals and informed individuals, since librarians are part of the information profession, and each is an individual, a citizen, an educator, and an information practitioner. It also proposes that discussion about informed societies and responsible citizenry is based on the proposition that societies and individuals have agency, that they can and do make informed decisions concerning governments and governance, that they must be informationally literate, a concept that includes the many literacies that emerge and overlap in the current, dynamic information environment. The paper raises important issues of trust, ethics, allegations and responsibilities concerning the technology giants, in particularly search engines and social media. The intention of this paper was not to be partisan in these issues and debates, or to provide answers. Rather it was to persuade the readers that media and digital literacy mandate an awareness of these issues. Importantly, it was my objective to argue that not being literate in these matters has dire consequences for informed societies and responsible citizenry; and to argue that information professionals, in all their roles, have a critical part to play in this endeavour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An archaeological site is a palimpsest in which the evidence of the depositional episodes is destroyed through the excavation processes; all that remains are the artefacts and their documentary evidence manifested in registers, datasets, dig diaries and reports. While the reports may represent the end product of a specific excavation, the archaeological record tells a story; it is interpretative and dynamic, with later excavations adding new knowledge and narratives. Museums preserve the artefacts but unless the documentary evidence is preserved in standard formats, it cannot be easily re-used by the archaeology community to create that knowledge; nor can museums provide the narratives for the general public whose cultural heritage it is. This article presents a case study from the Ness of Brodgar excavations that examines possibilities for reconciling one part of the data of an archaeological dig, the small finds register (SFR) and its sparse amount of descriptive metadata, with the potentiality of data re-use and with the requirements of a museum that may have custody of the artefacts. It maps and enriches messy domain-specific ontologies to standard archaeological and cultural heritage ontologies and taxonomies using simple natural language processing, linked open data and the museum CIDOC conceptual reference model (CRM). This research, in examining the application of ontology mapping tools, explores common practices and processes that are useful in any discipline within the cultural heritage domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. This study explores the notions of government openness and secrecy in public access to government documents under Australia's Freedom of Information Act, specifically policy-related documents, to provide an overview of relevant trends and the tensions of conditional exemptions as they relate to government decision-making processes and the public interest. Method. Based on two case studies there are several data sources: open government datasets, government annual reports, government agencies' information disclosure logs, and two requests for information and associated correspondence. Analysis. Frequency distributions were produced from the datasets to establish trends in information requests and to consider the impact of government policies on the outcomes. A qualitative analysis was done on the documents of the two case studies to explore the decision-making processes. Results. Government policies impact the effectiveness of the Freedom of Information Act. Conditional exemptions are used to deny requests , rather than to facilitate disclosure. Conflict may arise between privacy issues and disclosure of policy matters. Conclusion. The arbitrariness of information practices in the implementation of the Freedom o f Information regime in Australia means that a balance has not been achieved between openness of government and secrecy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examine the relationship between academic librarians perception of information literacy programs, democratic practices in society, and the regime of truth. It introduces the concept of regimes of truth and the emergence of post-truth in contemporary society. It further discusses the role of librarians and libraries in supporting democratic processes and fostering information literacy.