Libraries and user culture: literacy and development implications

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (8/9) ◽  
pp. 506-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Mose
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Information Access ◽  
Document Analysis ◽  
Library Services ◽  
School Type ◽  
National Library ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Frequency Of Use ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to establish stocking and services offered and user culture at the Kenya National Library Services Kisii Branch. The study sought to respond to the following questions: Which books form the stock of Kenya National Library Services Kisii Branch? Which services does the Kenya National Library Services Kisii Branch offer to the public on a regular basis? What is the user motivation for and frequency of use of the National Library Services at Kisii Branch? Design/methodology/approach Three instruments were used in data collection; document analysis, observation and interview. Document analysis obtained data on membership and frequency; observation obtained data on stocking, services, and user culture; and interview sought clarification on data obtained from documents and observation. Findings The findings indicate that publications in business and accounting and school type books form the bulk of the stock of books; the library offers only basic information access services; users are motivated by school assignments, examinations and academic project deadlines to visit the library hence user frequency in the library is predictable throughout the year. Practical implications Current practices at the library by both library staff and user culture have negative implications on public literacy and socio-economic development. Originality/value This paper presents information obtained from a systematic data collection and analysis. The findings are original and should be addressed by the relevant stakeholders.

The causes, impact and prevention of employee fraud

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 1012-1027 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mastura Omar ◽  
Anuar Nawawi ◽  
Ahmad Saiful Azlin Puteh Salin
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Automotive Industry ◽  
Document Analysis ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Financial Pressure ◽  
The Future ◽  
Employee Fraud

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the causes and impact of employee fraud, focusing on one particular industry, namely, the automotive industry. Design/methodology/approach One company was selected as a case for the study. Qualitative data analysis was used for the study, with two techniques for data collection. First was the content or document analysis on various reports, such as employee fraud reports and records of disciplinary action, and second was a series of interviews with employees from different levels and various departments of the company. Findings This study found that the most popular type of fraud is misappropriation of assets, including theft of cash and inventories. No significant differences were seen in terms of fraudster position, as they can come from both the lower and the executive level. However, majority of the fraudsters come from the operational and sales department. This study also found that majority of the fraudsters in the case study were male, new employees and young adults. Their motivations to commit fraud include lack of understanding about fraud behavior, opportunity to commit fraud and lifestyle and financial pressure. Research limitations/implications The results provide further confirmation of the Fraud Triangle Theory and Fraud Diamond Theory on the causes of the fraud. They are also consistent with much prior research and surveys conducted by global professional firms on fraud and its related causes and implications. This study, however, was conducted on only one company with several series of interviews and three years of document analysis. Future research should collect and analyze data from a higher number of companies with more respondents for interviews and longer period for document analysis to get more accurate results. Practical implications This study provides some recommendations for fraud prevention in the future based on real fraud cases and those that involved managing cases up to and including disciplinary decision. These include closed supervision, fraud awareness training, clearer job descriptions, cultivation of a pleasant working environment and improved security control. Social implications This study found that some of the causes of fraud include social factors like lifestyle and financial pressure due to low income. Policy adjustments, such as an effort to push people beyond the poverty line with higher minimum wages, need to be made to prevent low-income workers from seeing their company as another source of illegal income. Originality/value This study is original, as it focuses on a company that operates in the automotive industry, which is rare in fraud literature, particularly in developing markets. In addition, the company is new, so analysis can be conducted on how the company evolved and learned from the fraud analysis for prevention in the future. Furthermore, this study used two techniques of data collection, so that verification of the findings may be made for better reliability.

Kindergarten teachers' evaluation: perceptions of the new Israeli multiple domains performance tool

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yael Cohen-Azaria
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Analysis Data ◽  
Kindergarten Teachers ◽  
Ministry Of Education ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis ◽  
Teachers Attitudes ◽  
Multiple Domains ◽  
Depth Interviews

Purpose In 2012, the Israeli Ministry of Education and its Testing and Evaluation Department introduced a new tool to evaluate the quality of kindergarten teachers’ work. This paper aims to identify how kindergarten teachers perceive the new multiple domains performance tool. Design/methodology/approach The study applied a qualitative paradigm of data collection and analysis. Data collection consisted of semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted with 36 kindergarten teachers. Findings Findings indicated that most kindergarten teachers perceive their work plan and the kindergarten climate as the most important evaluation domains, while perceiving involving parents as the least important and even an unnecessary domain. One-third of them indicated that an innovation domain should be added. Also, the kindergarten teachers perceived the use of the KT-MDPT as both positive and negative. Originality/value There is a clear dearth in scholarly literature dealing with the evaluation of the quality of kindergarten teachers’ work. This study is the first to reveal Israeli kindergarten teachers' attitudes regarding this new tool for work quality evaluation.

Democracy, digitisation and public libraries

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Skøtt
Keyword(s):  
Digital Media ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
National Library ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Media Types

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate what democratic challenges the digitisation of the public libraries in Denmark has entailed. Using the concepts from a national library professional strategy from 2012, an analysis of 9 librarians’ experiences with digital dissemination in practice is conducted. Design/methodology/approach The paper is a part of a larger research project called “If digitisation is the answer, then what was the question?”. This sub study builds on the semi-structured interviews with library staff members, case-descriptions of two central providers of digital public library materials, as well as literature studies of missions, vision and strategies from different public library policy institutions. To frame the study, a literature review has been conducted. Findings The author detects the presence of several incompatible conditions in digital dissemination. These conditions are predominantly of an organisational nature, potentially containing major consequences for citizens’ free and equal access to information, knowledge and culture. Among other things, the Danish public libraries risk substantiating an already existing and problematic polarisation between technologically capable and incapacitated groups of people. Originality/value The digital transformation of society has only just begun. Therefore, it is important to examine the consequences of the transition to digital media types for central cultural institution such as the public libraries. The present study is an early and minor contribution to the illumination of a process requiring many more and large-scale studies.

A Case Study on Computer Supported Collaborative Learning in Spanish Schools

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-102
Author(s):  
Marcos Cabezas ◽  
Sonia Casillas ◽  
Azucena Hernández
Keyword(s):  
Collaborative Learning ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Document Analysis ◽  
Semantic Differential ◽  
Computer Supported Collaborative Learning ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis ◽  
Constructing Knowledge ◽  
And Control

This article presents the main results from eight case studies carried out at different Spanish schools. Using a common protocol, the authors compared different cases of schools in which computer-supported collaborative learning experiences were carried out in order to identify what standard actions they had in common. In order to facilitate data collection and analysis, the authors opted for a mixed methodology, the instruments being interviews, observation, document analysis, a monitoring guide for the teachers and a semantic differential for the students. It was concluded that collaborative learning strategies favour students, since all of them benefit from constructing knowledge together, sharing responsibilities, taking ideas more in depth, having greater autonomy and control over their own learning, and helping each other in the process.

Public libraries and public primary school literacy: a Kenyan case study

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (8/9) ◽  
pp. 689-701
Author(s):  
Peter Mose
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
School Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Library Staff ◽  
Teachers And Parents

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explain how public libraries have been instrumental in early child school literacy teaching and learning. Most African public schools do not usually afford enough core textbooks and supplementary readers.Design/methodology/approachThis was a qualitative case study in Western Kenya amongst public library staff members, public primary school teachers and parents of library children clients. The following questions were addressed: What is the book situation in public primary schools in the study site? What school-type literacy-related services are offered by the sampled public library? and What are library staff members’, teachers’ and parents’ feelings about the public library services offered? Observations, interviews and document studies were used to collect data. Data were analysed thematically.FindingsPublic schools do not have enough core textbooks and the situation is worse for supplementary readers; the public library branch studied offers critical school-type literacies to school children both at the library building as well as at public schools registered with it; and library staff members, teachers, and parents express positive feelings about the services offered.Research limitations/implicationsThis was a case study whose findings might not apply to the larger situation and the study did not confirm actual literacy benefits of the library services amongst school children by, for instance, conducting literacy tests. The findings are, however, an index to the possible situation in the macro context.Practical implicationsThe relevant stakeholders should find ways of co-opting public libraries as associates of public schools in literacy teaching. This relationship is not straight forward in Kenya.Originality/valueThe findings reported are from original research.

Measuring the librarians’ quality of working life in the Iranian public libraries

2019 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamta Kazemi Koohbanani ◽  
Atefeh Zarei ◽  
Nasrolah Erfani
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Working Life ◽  
Social Relevance ◽  
Quality Of Working Life ◽  
Statistical Population ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis ◽  
Total Life

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the librarians’ quality of working life (QWL) in the Iranian public libraries. Design/methodology/approach The present study is an applied research in terms of purpose and an analytical survey in terms of data collection and analysis method. The Walton standard questionnaire was used as the data collection tool. The statistical population of this research consists of librarians in the Iranian public libraries. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in order to analyze the data. Findings The findings showed that the dimensions of organizational social integration, constitutionalism in the organization and the capacity for human development are at a good level; the dimensions of the environment opportunity for continued growth and security and safe and healthy work are at a moderate level. Finally, the dimensions of fair and adequate payment, social relevance of work life and total life space are at a weak level are shown. Originality/value The findings of the confirmed hypothesis indicated that the librarians at the Iranian public libraries have a desirable (high) QWL.

Hybrid simulation modeling for humanitarian relief chain coordination

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 325-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline C Krejci
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Simulation Modeling ◽  
Model Development ◽  
Hybrid Simulation ◽  
Humanitarian Logistics ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis ◽  
Over Time

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a conceptual framework for a hybrid simulation model that can be used to study the decision making and behaviors of humanitarian logistics actors to determine how/whether certain coordination mechanisms enable better relief chain efficiency and effectiveness over time. Design/methodology/approach – The agent-based portion of the model is used to represent human decision making and interactions in a more realistic way than has been done previously, and the discrete-event simulation (DES) portion of the model allows the movement of vehicles, materials, and information throughout a supply network to be represented in a way that allows for dynamic and stochastic behavior. Findings – Coordinated efforts by actors in humanitarian logistics operations involve complex interactions and adaptations over time, which can be capture and explored via hybrid agent-based model (ABM)-DES modeling. Research limitations/implications – This paper describes a framework for a hybrid ABM-DES model. The actual development and implementation of the model, including input data collection and analysis, model development, experimentation, and output data collection and analysis, will be the subject of future work. Practical implications – The hybrid model framework provides other researchers with a starting point for model development. Social implications – This paper provides a basis for future modeling and assessment of coordination in humanitarian logistics, an area that is in need of research. Originality/value – The hybrid simulation modeling framework presented in this paper is a novel application of a new modeling methodology to the problem of coordination in humanitarian logistics.

Bureaucratic leadership, trust building, and employee engagement in the public sector in Ghana

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank L.K. Ohemeng ◽  
Theresa Obuobisa Darko ◽  
Emelia Amoako-Asiedu
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Employee Engagement ◽  
Trust Building ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mixed Methods Approach ◽  
The Public ◽  
Building Trust ◽  
Public Organisations

Purpose An engaged workforce has never been more important than it is now. Research continues to reveal a strong link between engaged employees and employee performance. Consequently, different strategies continue to be developed to enhance employee engagement (EE) in organisations. Unfortunately, many of these strategies have not worked due to the lack of trust that some employees may have towards organisational leaders. Thus, it is argued that the first step in building an effective EE is building trust, which will erode all sorts of suspicion of the intention of leaders in the organisation. Unfortunately, the literature is not clear about how to build such trust, especially in developing countries where the organisational environment is much different from that in developed ones; making the applicability of models in the developed world quite difficulty in these countries. How can public sector leaders build trust in the organisations in an environment where informality appears to be the norm? The purpose of this paper is therefore to ascertain how trust can be built in public organisations. Design/methodology/approach In order to answer the research questions, as well as obtain in-depth understanding of what is being done, the authors used the mixed methods approach in the data collection for the paper. In using mixed method data collection, the authors took both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Both qualitative and quantitative data were, however, collected concurrently. This was done for the sake of convenience, as there is little study on how to build trust or, even, EE in the Ghanaian context. The authors set out to explore these issues, and the only way for the authors to do so was to undertake the data collection simultaneously. Findings The paper examined critically four main areas to help leadership build trust: credibility, fairness, respect and communication. The study shows that both managers and employees firmly believe in building trust. Leaders were able to discuss the efforts they make to ensure that issues concerning trust building are addressed. At the same time, employees also agreed on the need to strengthen these variables. Practical implications The research identifies areas on which both leadership and employees can continually work to help bridge the gap between them if public organisations are to reap the benefits of EE. The authors are convinced that if the issues discussed here are addressed, and parties work on them, individuals will succeed in their own areas, but so will the organisations, which in turn will help in the development of he country. Originality/value From a theoretical perspective, it extends the work on EE, and offers new insight into this emerging concept from a developing countries perspective, where informality in the public sector is common. Most of the research on trust and EE has been either qualitative or quantitative in nature. Using the mixed methods approach means the authors will be explaining how both can help us better understand the “how” in building trust in the public sector. Thus, the paper is one of the few papers that have used the mixed methods approach to examine how trust can be built in public organisations.

scholarly journals Free and for all? A comparative study of programs with user fees in North American and Danish public libraries

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (2/3) ◽  
pp. 103-115
Author(s):  
Noah Lenstra ◽  
Mia Høj Mathiasson
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
User Fees ◽  
Social Implications ◽  
Library Services ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Cross National

PurposeAs a research topic within the field of LIS, programs in public libraries are underexplored, and the question of user fees for programs has not previously been addressed.Design/methodology/approachThis article compares data collected from two individually conducted studies of public library programs in North America and Denmark to enrich our understanding of user fees in relation to programs.FindingsThe comparative analysis shows both similarities and deviations regarding the levying of fees for library programs. While paying a fee to attend a program is rather normal in Denmark, it is more of a fringe idea in North America.Research limitations/implicationsBy exploring a previously understudied facet of contemporary public librarianship, this article opens up new avenues for inquiry regarding how the relative accessibility and availability of programs relate to theoretical discussions about programs as public library services.Practical implicationsThis article provides library managers with needed information about how to conceptualize the roles of programs as public library services.Social implicationsAs programming surges to the fore in contemporary public librarianship, the levying of user fees has social implications in terms of social equity and the public library ethos of free and equal access for all.Originality/valueThis article is the first study of user fees for public library programs, as well as among the first cross-national comparisons of programming as a dimension of public librarianship.

Global Jukebox

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-32
Author(s):  
Lizah Ismail ◽  
Warren Bareiss
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Hunter College ◽  
The Public ◽  
Methodological Basis ◽  
Field Recordings ◽  
Cultural Roots ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis ◽  
Beta Version ◽  
Musical Forms

The Global Jukebox (GJ) is an ambitious project initiated by the Association for Cultural Equity at New York’s Hunter College. Its main mission is to make available the extensive audio field recordings, pictures, and films studied by the legendary ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax and his colleagues accessible to the public for study. In the current beta version, the Global Jukebox has numerous navigation issues that could challenge even the seasoned web user. The methodological basis of data collection and analysis also deservers further explication. However, despite these weaknesses, there is much to be said for what GJ offers users. Whether spending hours moving around regions song by song or exploring familial cultural roots, users will be inspired to learn about the respective cultures and musical forms, thus fulfilling GJ’s education mission.

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