International Journal of Librarianship

Health Sciences Libraries As Universities Information Hub in Times of Health Emergencies

2023-01-01T23:45:50+00:00

The world has witnessed several viral outbreaks in recent years such as the covid-19 pandemic, monkeypox and tomato flu. These have caused a devastating effect on the communities that experience the outbreaks. As a result of these, being informed about diseases has become critical to preventing and curbing the spread of the diseases in communities, especially in academia. Health science libraries and librarians can serve vital informational roles in the fight toward eradicating and preventing future outbreaks. This paper presents the reasons and how health science librarians can achieve those important roles.

Auto-Identification Technologies in Academic Libraries

2022-12-20T05:04:45+00:00

The study focuses on the importance and advantages of various auto-identification technology which are used in academic libraries. Libraries are not safe and secure and facing many problems, like theft, mutilation of library materials and other unethical losses. Auto-identification technologies are useful for libraries to solve those problems. There are various Auto-identification technologies which are used in libraries, like bar codes, smart cards, bio-metric, GPRS, and radio frequency identification (RFID). In this paper, studied some auto-id technology and benefits and challenges of these technologies.

Smart Libraries and Information Management in Digital Environment -- Book Review

2023-03-20T15:46:49+00:00

Editorial

2023-03-27T19:24:08+00:00

FOLIO Successfully Goes Alive in the Largest Public Library in China

2023-02-21T20:51:54+00:00

The official opening of Shanghai Library East on September 28, 2022 marked the full implementation of FOLIO platform in the Shanghai Library. The Shanghai Library has developed and implemented applications for library traditional and smart services based on the FOLIO technical framework. This paper mainly introduces the process, difficulties, and solutions during the FOLIO implementation in the Shanghai Library, and provides a summary of the various activities of a Chinese library network (the Yunhan Alliance) established in 2021.

The Importance of Children's Libraries in The Pandemic

2022-04-11T12:46:18+00:00

During tumultuous times, the need for information has become even greater. However, in pandemic process, not everyone could access information equally. Inequality of academic opportunity, especially among children, has increased all over the world. As a developing country in Turkey, children’s access to information during the pandemic process hasn’t been conducted. Based on this problem, during pandemic we prepared an online education project first time in Turkey via a children’s library. Within the scope of the project, a total of 34 workshops in 12 different branches were prepared. During 14 days, 171 students between the ages of 6 and 10 were given 23 hours of training. This project highlighted how children’s libraries can be used as a learning center for disadvantaged children. As a result of the study, it was seen that providing new learning environments via the children’s library has positive effects on disadvantaged children and their families.

Constraints Facing African Academic Libraries in Applying Electronic Security Systems to Protect Library Materials

2023-02-01T15:55:09+00:00

This article reviews published literature to identify factors that impede the application of electronic security systems (ESSs) in protecting library materials in African academic libraries. The information for the study was gathered through a review of online literature from databases, namely ProQuest, EBSCO, Emerald, Library Literature, Research Gate Information, and Google search engine. The scope of the literature covered the time when African academic libraries began to use ESSs to protect their collections to the present. It covered only literature that addresses the challenges that hinder African academic libraries from utilizing ESSs to protect library materials. Information was collected by reading the abstracts and conclusion of the online documents. In the beginning, a total of 91 articles were collected as a population of the study. However, only fifty-four (54) articles were found to be relevant to the area of the study. Basic keywords and advanced searching, namely truncations, headings, Boolean operators, electronic security systems, academic libraries, security, African Libraries, theft and mutilation were also used to get relevant literature on the topic from peer-reviewed and scholarly resources. Based on the findings of the reviewed literatures it is concluded that African academic libraries undergo nearly the same challenges where most of which can be addressed because they are generated by the managements, library staff and the environment in which the libraries operate rather than the ESSs. The researcher recommends that African academic library managements should cope with the technological changes so as to compete with the market demand. With that regard, the reported ESSs challenges facing African academic libraries should be aggressively addressed in order to make the application of ESSs effective. Equally, another study should be carried out to inform about the ramifications of not addressing electronic security systems.

Redesigning Library’s Website with SpringShare Products

2023-02-01T16:21:17+00:00

This article chronicles the website redesign process of a medium-sized academic library using Springshare products, namely LibGuides CMS, LibAnswers, LibCal, and LibWizard, at Stockton University in New Jersey. The project was completed in such a short timeframe and with limited resources that the focus was placed on reconstructing the information architecture (IA) in order to establish the navigation system of the website. The topics of the rationale for the redesign, detailed procedures, lessons learned, and suggestions for future improvement are discussed.

Bibliotherapy in the Wilderness

2022-10-10T13:50:04+00:00

This study investigated how LIS professionals and health practitioners have adopted bibliotherapy and relevant information services to enhance mental health issues in Nigeria since 1962 to date. The study adopted a narrative research design of qualitative methodology. Semi-structured interviews using audio recordings and personal observations/interactions by the researchers were the instruments for data collection. The researchers collected data from three purposively selected academics whose areas of expertise cut across library and information science and psychiatry. The data collected were presented in a narrative form, with insertion of verbatim transcriptions where nuanced expressions were identified. The findings from the study revealed that bibliotherapy is used by clinical psychologists in neuropsychiatric hospitals in Nigeria; however, LIS professionals do not have the knowledge and adequate skills to practise bibliotherapy. The study recommends that the time is ripe for NLA to pragmatically implement recommendations that the LIS curricula in Nigerian library schools be diversified and expanded to incorporate valuable realms like bibliotherapy.

Librarians’ Awareness and Attitude Towards Deployment of Cloud Computing Technologies in University Libraries in South-South Nigeria

2022-12-28T23:02:18+00:00

This study investigated Librarian’s awareness of, and attitude towards deployment of cloud computing technologies in university libraries in South-South Nigeria. The study employed the descriptive survey research design with the study population of 246 Librarians in South-South Nigeria. The 246 librarians were enumerated with a response rate of 190 (77%). The instrument for the collection of data was the questionnaire titled “Librarians Awareness of, and Attitude towards Deployment of Cloud Computing Technologies Questionnaire” (LAATDCCTQ). The data was analyzed using mean and standard deviation. The result revealed that, librarians in university libraries in South-South Nigeria have low level of awareness of cloud computing technology. Librarians attitude towards deployment of cloud computing technologies in university libraries in South-South Nigeria is high respectively. The study recommended that librarians should organize workshops on the awareness of cloud computing technology in application to library services for library professionals. Also, sufficient funding, training and re-training of librarians should be made available by the appropriate authorities’ development and application of technology services in university libraries.

Cataloguing and Classification As Predictors of Library Use Among the Users of Public Universities in Kwara State

2022-12-24T14:14:55+00:00

This study investigates cataloguing and classification as a predictor of library use among users of libraries of public universities in Kwara State. Descriptive survey method is used for the population of users of libraries of Kwara State University, Malete and University of Ilorin. Convenience sampling is used to select 427 users who filled the online questionnaire titled Questionnaire for Cataloguing and Classification as a Predictor of Library Use among Users of Libraries of Public Universities in Kwara State. Findings revealed that 69.1% of users consult the library catalogues before using information resources, while subject, class number, series and author(s) of information resources are the major access points used in searching and locating information resources to be used in the library. This study concludes that consulting library catalogues before using information resources minimizes the stress users will go through when searching for information resources in the library and increases users’ library usage. It recommends amongst other things that cataloguers and classifiers of libraries of public universities in Kwara State should ensure that catalogue cards are properly filed and subjects of information resources of their libraries are adequately covered in order to enhance easy location and use of information resources.

Exploring the Engagement in Open Research Practices by Librarians in Kwara State, Nigeria

2023-01-16T16:45:47+00:00

This study explores the engagement in open research practices by librarians in Kwara State, Nigeria. It operates with three objectives and questions. It uses descriptive survey method as its design and adopts convenience sampling technique to select 63 librarians who filled the questionnaire titled “Questionnaire on Exploring the Engagement in Open Research by Librarians in Kwara State,” which was sent to respondents through their WhatsApp groups. Findings revealed that respondents used open peer review, publishing research in open access platforms and depositing research in institutional repositories as channels of engaging in open research. It further shows that open research is of benefit to respondents by helping them in the creation of good research profiles, increasing connectivity among researchers and increasing findability and broadening readership of their works, while lack of training on open research, fear of plagiarism and lack of awareness of the open research process are the major factors retarding the engagement in open research by the respondents. This study concludes that open research is one of the mainstays of scientific evolution that enables researchers to increase visibility for their works and recommends amongst others that it is imperative for librarians in Kwara State to be making their research works available in open educational resources, it is one of the states with the highest library schools in Nigeria. Through this, students and other researchers can use their research works to broaden the status of teaching and learning.