Development and validation of core technology competencies for systems librarian

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Asif Naveed ◽  
Nadeem Siddique ◽  
Khalid Mahmood
Keyword(s):  
Information Science ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Technology Competencies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Job Experience ◽  
Technology Competency ◽  
Core Technology

Purpose This study aimed to develop and validate a list of core technology competencies for systems librarian in Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach Survey method was used to conduct this investigation. A structured questionnaire, consisting of 52 competency statements categorized into six core technology areas, was developed based on an extensive literature review, experts’ scrutiny and pilot testing. The administration of the survey questionnaire was done though online environments such as related listservs and Facebook pages. The received 62 responses were imported into statistical package for social sciences and analyzed by computing means, standard deviations, Pearson correlation and t-test. Findings The results indicated six core technology areas where competencies of systems librarians needed to be developed, namely, basic computing, programming and Web publishing, computer networks, cloud computing, database management systems and information systems. The respondents validated 50 statements with an average mean score more than three. Only two statements received mean scores less than three. The results also indicated higher consistency of these statements as the value of Cronbach’s alpha was 0.973. Research limitations/implications This research attempted to identify and validate core technology competencies needed for systems librarians in Pakistan. It neither attempted to determine the weightage each competency should have if it was to be included in curriculum nor it intended to identify a detailed content for each core technology competency. In Pakistan, System librarians develop their knowledge and skills with the specialized computer subject by studying on their own, attending training workshops and on job experience. It is therefore worth mentioning here that the knowledge of the needed competencies may be limited. Practical implications Library and information science schools need to consider these competencies in developing and designing information curriculum with regard to management of library systems. This set of competencies help academicians in designing need-based curricula and training programs for existing and prospect system librarians in Pakistan. Originality/value This study would be a worthwhile contribution to the literature on competencies of information professionals especially systems librarians as no such study appeared providing pragmatic, evidenced and field-based insights toward proposed research area.

Learning analytics: where information science and the learning sciences meet

2019 ◽  
Vol 120 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 59-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Danell Teasley
Keyword(s):  
Learning Analytics ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Significant Contribution ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Learning Sciences ◽  
Digital Tools ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Working Together ◽  
Everyday Learning

Purpose The explosive growth in the number of digital tools utilized in everyday learning activities generates data at an unprecedented scale, providing exciting challenges that cross scholarly communities. This paper aims to provide an overview of learning analytics (LA) with the aim of helping members of the information and learning sciences communities understand how educational Big Data is relevant to their research agendas and how they can contribute to this growing new field. Design/methodology/approach Highlighting shared values and issues illustrates why LA is the perfect meeting ground for information and the learning sciences, and suggests how by working together effective LA tools can be designed to innovate education. Findings Analytics-driven performance dashboards are offered as a specific example of one research area where information and learning scientists can make a significant contribution to LA research. Recent reviews of existing dashboard studies point to a dearth of evaluation with regard to either theory or outcomes. Here, the relevant expertise from researchers in both the learning sciences and information science is offered as an important opportunity to improve the design and evaluation of student-facing dashboards. Originality/value This paper outlines important ties between three scholarly communities to illustrate how their combined research expertise is crucial to advancing how we understand learning and for developing LA-based interventions that meet the values that we all share.

scholarly journals A new decade of uses for geographic information systems (GIS) as a tool to research, measure and analyze library services

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Heather Mandel ◽  
Bradley Wade Bishop ◽  
Ashley Marie Orehek
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Geographic Information Systems ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Geographic Information ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Library Services ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Library Research

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore library research that uses geographic information systems (GIS) as a tool to evaluate library services and resources to ascertain current trends and establish future directions for this growing research area.Design/methodology/approachThe study searched full text for geographic information systems in two databases: Library and Information Science Source (LISS) and Library, Information Science and Technology Abstracts (LISTA), replicating the method used in a prior literature review. The titles and abstracts of the search results were analyzed to gather only the research that used GIS as a tool to measure and analyze library services.FindingsThis study found growth in the last decade for library research using GIS. There remain two ways the tool is primarily used: to analyze service areas and to manage facilities and collections.Practical implicationsThe findings are relevant for library and information science researchers and practitioners because they summarize a specific area of research that has grown and changed and that still has potential to be used more widely. Using GIS in practice and research could benefit all library users and nonusers because spatial analysis facilitates more precise and informed delivery of services and resources.Originality/valueThe paper provides future directions for use of GIS in library research and attempts to define subdivisions within this research area to clarify the area for researchers and practitioners.

Self-management and information services delivery of library and information science professionals in federal universities in Nigeria

2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (6/7) ◽  
pp. 454-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ucha Mbofung
Keyword(s):  
Personal Development ◽  
Professional Growth ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Information Services ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Services Delivery

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on ongoing research examining the current level of self-management of library and information science (LIS) professionals in federal universities in Nigeria. The long-term objective of the study is to determine the effect of self-management on information services delivery of LIS professionals. Design/methodology/approach – A descriptive survey method was adopted to gather data from the LIS professionals in the selected 24 universities. The questionnaire was administered on 429 professionals (census) and all were received, processed, analysed and the results presented. Findings – The study reveals that majority of respondents have high level of self-management and applied relevant strategies that enabled them identify opportunities and act on them for personal and professional growth. Research limitations/implications – The study was limited to practising professionals in the federal university libraries but has implications for implementing continuing professional development for all professionals in similar institutions across Nigeria. Practical implications – The study places emphasis on professionals, library management and library schools that they cannot downplay the relevance of self-management in the workplace, consequently training should be ongoing. Originality/value – The future of LIS professionals has not been viewed in the light of adopting self-management competence on such a broad scale, and with a view to assessing how this skill can help change the perception of professionals to its relevant contribution to personal development and professional growth.

Assessing the entrepreneurial orientation of the librarians

2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (4/5) ◽  
pp. 253-268
Author(s):  
Abbas Doulani ◽  
Sepideh Sahebi ◽  
Mohammad Karim Saberi
Keyword(s):  
Entrepreneurial Orientation ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Average Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Status ◽  
Level 3

Purpose The purpose of this study is to carry out the demographic evaluation and analysis of the entrepreneurial orientation of librarians in Iranian public libraries using the Lumpkin and Dess model. Design/methodology/approach In this study, a structured questionnaire of entrepreneurial orientation was used. The research population consisted of 5,000 librarians of Iranian public libraries who were selected using Krejcie and Morgan table (95% confidence level and p-value of 5%) and stratified the random sampling method. A total of 365 individuals were selected as the study sample. Data were analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive statistics (frequency, percent, mean, standard deviation and standard error mean) as well as inferential statistics (Pearson correlation, one-sample t-test, independent samples t-test and ANOVA. Findings The results showed that the mean level of entrepreneurial orientation of librarians was 2.92 with an average level (µ = 3). Librarians were at an average level (µ = 3) in terms of components of innovativeness (2.98), risk-taking (2.93) and proactiveness (3.02). The status of the autonomy component (2.53) was at an undesirable level (3 < µ), and only the competitive aggressiveness status (3.12) was at the desirable level (3 < µ). The analysis of the librarian’s entrepreneurial orientation based on demographic characteristics indicated that the male librarian’s entrepreneurial orientation was higher than the female librarian’s (p-value = 0.039). Meantime, librarians with library and information science degrees have less entrepreneurial orientation than the librarians with other (non-librarian and information science) degrees (p-value = 0.01). Also, the higher the librarian’s degree, the lower their entrepreneurial orientation will be (p-value = 0.000). In addition, there was no significant relationship between librarians’ age (p-value = 0.14), marital status (p-value = 0.15) or work experience (p-value = 0.388) and their entrepreneurial orientation. Practical implications Entrepreneurial orientation is one of the significant concepts in entrepreneurship of organizations. Accordingly, studying the concept of entrepreneurial orientation and formulating an appropriate strategy is of great importance in improving the performance of libraries because libraries can be more useful and appealing to library members by enhancing the entrepreneurial orientation of librarians, delivering new, unique and tailor-made services to users’ needs. Originality/value Not much research has been carried out on entrepreneurship in library and information sciences. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine the entrepreneurial orientation of librarians based on their demographic characteristics.

Sustainable relevancy in the changing library job market in Kuwait

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanadi Jumah Buarki ◽  
Mashael Alomar ◽  
Munirah Abdulhadi
Keyword(s):  
Information Science ◽  
Information Overload ◽  
Personal Information ◽  
Academic Departments ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Job Market ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Job Opportunities ◽  
Job Titles ◽  
Technology Applications

Purpose The Library and Information Science (LIS) discipline face challenges such as technology applications and information overload in its effort to remain relevant in the challenging job market. This study aims to determine the skills and knowledge needed for LIS professionals in the job market to rethink the current syllabus and offer better future employability. Design/methodology/approach The research used a survey method to collect data concerning personal information, LIS employment opportunities, job titles and skills needed. Content analysis followed to determine librarianship job listings and the need for LIS graduate jobs in Kuwait. Findings The findings suggested difficulties and challenges; they also compiled a comprehensive list of skills needed and recommended courses and institutions hiring LIS graduates. The research improves decision-making in syllabus development and experiences recommended by employers. Practical implications Academic departments can follow this research to develop and update their syllabuses according to the requirements of the job market, thus offering better future job opportunities. Social implications As LIS graduates are provided with better education, the updating of their employability skills will help them socially by recognising their employment status and economically by raising their pay. Originality/value The research is the first in Kuwait to collect LIS job titles and analyse employability needs.

Subject structure of the research area on collaborative information behaviour

2020 ◽  
Vol 72 (5) ◽  
pp. 813-835
Author(s):  
Remigiusz Sapa
Keyword(s):  
Information Science ◽  
Information Access ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Behaviour ◽  
Exploratory Approach ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Collaborative Activities ◽  
Collective Information

PurposeThe principal aim of the present study was to identify and model the subject structure of the research area on collaborative information behaviour (CIB).Design/methodology/approachA qualitative, inductive and exploratory approach was adopted, and the method of thematic analysis was used. This study was based on the analysis of 79 publications selected from the Library, Information Science and Technology Abstracts (LISTA) database in April 2019.FindingsCollaborative and collective information behaviours were differentiated, and the subject structure of the CIB research area was identified to contain collaborative activities oriented to both information access and content, their various conditions, means of conducting, experiences of selected communities and metascientific research on the area itself.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitations result primarily from relying on the research material selected from the database (LISTA) focussed mainly on the issues of library and information science.Originality/valueThis study contributes by proposing an original model of the CIB research area representing its subject structure and providing a coherent list of subjects of interest to CIB researchers. Hopefully, it will also contribute to the harmonisation of terminology related to this research area and thus facilitate communication between CIB researchers and accelerate the cumulative development of scientific knowledge on CIB.

The transpiring journey of customer engagement research in marketing

2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (8) ◽  
pp. 2008-2034 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamid Ul Islam ◽  
Zillur Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Customer Engagement ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Customer Base ◽  
Current Scenario ◽  
Definition Of

Purpose To understand how customer engagement has been researched in the last decade, the purpose of this paper is to provide a systematic review of customer engagement research in the existing literature, derive a comprehensive definition of customer engagement and summarize few important and basic issues that future research should address. Design/methodology/approach An extensive literature review was carried out on customer engagement spread over 38 journals identified from online academic databases of Scopus, Emerald, EBSCOS and Science Direct. A total of 66 conceptual and empirical articles on customer engagement research spanning from 2005 to 2015 were analyzed based on different classification schemes. Findings Customer engagement is becoming a key concept in marketing. Customer engagement is a multi-dimensional concept comprising of cognitive, emotional, behavioral and social dimensions. The theoretical foundations of this concept predominantly lie with relationship marketing and service-dominant logic. Research on customer engagement has gained a significant pace in the last six years (2010-2015) but most of the articles on customer engagement have come from developed countries. Research limitations/implications By providing the distribution schema of customer engagement articles based on different criteria and by highlighting the future research avenues, this study is believed to serve as a valuable tool for researchers to understand the current scenario of customer engagement research in the marketing discipline and take this research area forward. This study acknowledges limitations with respect to its exclusive search criteria, which might affect its generalizability. Practical implications This study exhibits the favorable outcomes organizations can derive by building and managing an engaged customer base. The more an organization knows about how to engage its customers, the better adept it will be to enact so. Therefore, understanding customer engagement is imperative in that regard; this review will help organizations comprehend that better. Originality/value This is the first systematic review of customer engagement that provides a detailed understanding of the current state of customer engagement research on a single platform and also draws a comprehensive customer engagement conceptualization.

scholarly journals A mindful path to the COVID-19 pandemic: an approach to promote physical distancing behavior

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sachin Kumar ◽  
Tapan K. Panda ◽  
Abhishek Behl ◽  
Anil Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Psychological Factors ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Leaders ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Fundamental Values

Purpose The present situation is marked by the threat of COVID-19 pandemic on entire humankind and researchers across the globe are looking forward to vaccines or medicines to tackle COVID-19. However, according to the scholars and health-care agencies, vaccines alone would not be of much help and in the longer run adhering to the physical distancing policy along with sanitation could be the only solution. Moreover, extant studies across different areas have noted a positive association between various human psychological factors and prosocial behaviours. Additionally, an empirical study undertaken in the western context has tried exploring the association between human psychological factors and physical distancing behaviour (a kind of prosocial behaviour) in the COVID-19 context. The results of the extant study seem intriguing and encouraging enough to undertake a more robust exploratory study in this developing area. Against this background, this study aims to explore the relationship between individuals’ mindfulness and physical distancing behaviour, along with the mediating role of empathy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach To achieve the study objectives, this study has used an online survey method and has collected responses from the general adult population in India spread across all six regions. The survey was conducted during May 2020 when India was under a nationwide lockdown to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 pandemic. The respondents were identified based on convenience and snowball sampling techniques. Using social media platforms, the prospective respondents were contacted through WhatsApp, LinkedIn and Facebook or e-mails. Post data cleaning, a total of 315 responses were found to be suitable for analysis. For analysis, confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to establish the validity and reliability of the conceptual model, whereas Pearson correlation was undertaken to study the relationship between variables and mediation was examined using the PROCESS macro of Hayes. Findings The findings were encouraging and could become the foundation stone for further research and a practical guide for policymakers, agencies working in the health-care areas and even corporate leaders. As expected, an individual’s mindfulness was noted to be positively-related and influencing physical distancing behaviour. The mediation analysis indicated the intervening role of empathy in the association between an individual’s mindfulness and physical distancing behaviour. Practical implications The findings of the present could be a game-changer in restricting the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. As espoused by various scholars, as well as health-care organizations about the use of physical distancing in mitigating the risk of COVID-19, policymakers, health-care authorities and even corporate leaders could look forward to strategizing and execute the dissemination of various mindfulness-based programs among the individuals. These mindfulness-based programs, which could be disseminated offline and online through smartphones, could, in turn, help in positively influence physical distancing behaviour among the individuals leading to the success of physical distancing policy. Social implications This study relates and extends the mechanism of mindfulness in influencing individuals’ physical distancing behaviour in the pandemic situation, notably the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, based on the “empathy-altruism hypothesis”, as well as Schwartz’s theory of fundamental values, the intervening role of empathy has been explored and the findings further helped in extended these two theories in the domain of pandemic. Originality/value This study could be the first to conceptualize and examine the human psychological factors, particularly the relationship and role of an individual’s mindfulness with physical distancing behaviour among the general public during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, this could also be the first study to conceptualize and explore the intervening role of empathy in the relationship between an individual’s mindfulness and physical distancing behaviour. Moreover, in conceptualizing and exploring the relationship between an individual’s mindfulness and physical distancing behaviour, this study explored and extended the “reperceiving” mechanism of mindfulness and the “empathy-altruism hypothesis” along with Schwartz’s theory of fundamental values in the domain of pandemic.

The cleanliness of restaurants: ATP tests (reality) vs consumers’ perception

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tony J. Kim ◽  
Barbara Almanza ◽  
Jing Ma ◽  
Haeik Park ◽  
Sheryl F. Kline
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Test ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Restaurant Managers ◽  
Proper Training ◽  
Dining Room ◽  
Foodservice Employees

Purpose This study aims to empirically assess restaurant surfaces’ cleanliness and compare them to customers’ perceptions about the cleanliness of surfaces when dining in a restaurant. Design/methodology/approach This study used two methods to collect data. The first was a survey method to gauge customers’ perceptions and an empirical test to measure cleanliness using an adenosine triphosphate (ATP) meter. Two data sets were collected to compare customers’ perceptions and actual cleanliness measurements. One data set surveyed respondents as to their perceptions of high- and low-touch restaurant surfaces among 19 areas of the dining room and 15 surfaces from the restroom, and their perceived cleanliness or dirtiness of those same surfaces. The second one conducted empirical measurements of the cleanliness of these surfaces using an ATP meter, which were then compared to customers’ perceptions. Findings Although all surfaces had higher ATP readings than a 30 relative light units’ threshold, there were significant differences in ATP readings among surfaces. Results showed a fair amount of consistency between the consumers’ perceptions of cleanliness and the actual results of ATP readings for the cleanest areas, but very little consistency in customers’ perceptions and experimental measurements for the dirtiest areas. Practical implications This study empirically demonstrated the need for improved cleaning techniques and the importance of proper training for foodservice employees. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, results of this study suggest an additional responsibility on managers and staff to ensure clean environments and the imperative to address the concerns of their customers. Originality/value Based on an extensive literature review, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, no prior studies have compared consumers’ cleanliness perceptions with empirical measurements of cleanliness in restaurant settings using an ATP meter. The results of this study provide restaurant managers a better understanding of customers’ perceptions of cleanliness. It also provides restaurant managers and staff information to develop more effective cleaning procedures. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, perceptions of cleanliness and measures of actual cleanliness are more important than they have been in the past.

Online LIS teaching and learning during COVID-19 in Nigeria: a study

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chukwuma Clement Okeji ◽  
Juliet Chinedu Alex-Nmecha
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Use Of Social Media ◽  
Electronic Teaching ◽  
Teaching Learning

Purpose The purpose of the study is to investigate the use of social media platforms in teaching/learning in the period of lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a survey method and an online questionnaire was designed using SurveyMonkey for data collection from students in the Department of Library and Information Science (LIS) in some universities in Nigeria. In total, 1,290 students and five lecturers participated in the survey from five universities in Nigeria. To supplement the data from the questionnaire, the five LIS lecturers were engaged in an interview. Findings The study found that Zoom and WhatsApp were used by the lecturers to deliver lectures to their students. Lecturers are always available, the opportunity to store lectures and files for re-use at convenience, allows for collaborative learning, sharing learning materials, freedom in asking lecturer questions and conducive learning at home were mentioned as some of the benefits of receiving an online lecture. Some challenges associated with electronic teaching and learning were also identified. The LIS lecturers interviewed mentioned some benefits and challenges of engaging in electronic teaching during the period of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. Practical implications The research offered educators an additional method for teaching and learning in situations where physical contacts are not possible. Because electronic learning platforms are free and can be used at liberty, they require self-discipline and more responsibility from students and lecturers, which might be a challenge. It requires lecturers to generate new skills, be cognitively sensitive and well-sequenced. Social implications Teacher/students relationship can be improved significantly with the use of social media platforms for teaching and learning. Originality/value The study reported the use of social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Zoom in the teaching/learning process in the university system in a developing country context.

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