Effective techniques for the segmentation of academic library users

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (8/9) ◽  
pp. 454-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhixian Yi
Keyword(s):  
Influencing Factors ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Academic Librarians ◽  
Library Services ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Content Analysis Method ◽  
Library Users ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Australian Universities

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how Australian academic librarians perceived effective techniques used to segment library users into smaller groups and the influencing factors for their perceptions of the used techniques. Design/methodology/approach An online survey was sent to 400 academic librarians in 37 Australian universities and 230 (57.5 per cent) respondents completed and returned surveys. The descriptive and inferential statistics and content analysis method were used to analyse the collected data. Findings A variety of effective techniques were utilised to segment library users. Library variables such as number of staff and number of library branches and human capital variables such as education level, years of present position, formally studying marketing and attending a workshop on marketing in the last five years were significant predictors of perceptions of the effective segmentation techniques used, but this study indicates that other predictors such as number of different library professional positions and years involved in all library services and demographical variables made no difference. Practical implications This paper provides a useful overview of the effective techniques used to segment library users. Originality/value The value of this study is that librarians may utilise the results to better understand different techniques, to reflect on the effectiveness of the used techniques, and to balance the weight of the influencing factors. This will enable them to segment library users more effectively in the future.

The emerging roles of academic librarians in Kenya: apomediaries or infomediaries?

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (6/7) ◽  
pp. 339-353
Author(s):  
Joel Nakitare ◽  
Emily Sawe ◽  
Joyce Nyambala ◽  
Tom Kwanya
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Academic Librarians ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
Information Giving ◽  
Library Users ◽  
Library Resources ◽  
Private And Public

PurposeThe main purpose of this study was to investigate the emerging roles of academic librarians in Kenya, with a view to determining whether they perform better as apomediaries or infomediaries. The specific objectives were to: examine the characteristics of the changing information universe in which academic librarians in Kenya currently operate; analyse the information-seeking behaviour of academic library users in the new information universe and examine the emerging roles of academic librarians in Kenya.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopted a descriptive research design and used an online survey research technique to collect data from practising academic librarians. This study targeted senior librarians from all the 67 private and public universities in Kenya. One senior librarian per university was purposefully selected to fill the questionnaire owing to their experience and expertise. 33 out of the 67 senior librarians responded to the survey. The collected data were descriptively analysed using SPSS, and as per the study objectives.FindingsThis study established that most library users are digital independent and access library resources remotely. Nonetheless, many users still borrow and utilize print books despite the ubiquity of digital platforms. The findings revealed that academic librarians to a great extent now play the role of apomediaries, going beyond information giving to empowering their users.Practical implicationsThere is need for academic librarians in Kenya to not only be aware of the characteristics of their current users but also to continuously develop professionally so as to be able to adequately cater for the needs of their clients.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the scholarship on librarians' roles in Kenya by demonstrating that most of them are transitioning to the apomediary roles.

Lightweight alternative tech: a study of Chromebooks in the academic library classroom

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 554-562
Author(s):  
Beth Seyala ◽  
Erin Burns ◽  
Shannon Richie ◽  
Amy L. Deuink ◽  
Valerie Lynn
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Battery Life ◽  
Library Instruction ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Computer Laboratory ◽  
Classroom Use ◽  
Minimal Effort ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate Chromebooks as an alternative to the traditional computer laboratory for library instruction in an academic environment. The results of this study could help inform the creation of a mobile instruction lab that students and librarians quickly construct inside any classroom with minimal effort and no software to manage. Design/methodology/approach An online survey was distributed to student participants. The survey contained two demographic questions followed by seven user experience questions related to the in-classroom use of Chromebooks; most questions were quantitative in nature. Findings The majority of respondents (84 percent) strongly or somewhat agreed that Chromebooks were easy to use, and 15 percent of the respondents reported some difficulty accessing the university’s Wi-Fi system while using the devices. Research limitations/implications This introductory study was limited to a survey population primarily comprised of lower-level undergraduate students in their first two years of study. Additionally, Chromebooks were not tested in an educational environment using G Suite for Education, which could increase the opportunities for use in an academic setting. Practical implications The study’s findings, combined with the portability and long battery life of Chromebooks, make them a candidate for a mobile instruction lab. Originality/value This research seeks to explore the viability of Chromebooks as an affordable and easy to manage alternative to wired instruction rooms, using a light laptop technology that is becoming increasingly familiar to college students.

scholarly journals Adult education and academic libraries

2018 ◽  
Vol 119 (7/8) ◽  
pp. 422-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Bordonaro
Keyword(s):  
Adult Education ◽  
Adult Learners ◽  
Adult Learning ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Academic Librarians ◽  
Learning Theories ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Library Users

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to offer practicing academic librarians an overview of adult education theories as a way to more deeply understand and further foster adult learning in academic libraries. Design/methodology/approach This paper is a literature review. Findings This review introduces academic librarians to a range of specific adult education learning theories; it offers examples of academic library users engaging in these types of adult learning; it considers how academic libraries can further foster adult learning; and it identifies major characteristics of adult learners. Originality/value This literature review offers a summative overview of adult education in a way that has not appeared in the library literature to date, along with explicit connections between adult education theories and academic library practices.

An assessment of academic library services: international and domestic students perspectives

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (8/9) ◽  
pp. 631-653
Author(s):  
Sanaz Soltani ◽  
Shahrokh Nikou
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
International Students ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Library Services ◽  
Domestic Students ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Literacy Skills

PurposeInformation literacy is defined as discrete abilities that a person requires to have in order to find, assess, use and share information. As information literacy skills play a prominent role in the students' academic achievement, students and in particular international students coming to continue their postgraduate studies in other countries may face problems in finding and using library services. The purpose of this paper is to explore and investigate the information literacy skills, challenges and needs of international and domestic students at the Finnish universities.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses a mixed-methods design. Quantitative data were collected through an online survey (82 respondents) and qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 10 international and 10 domestic students.FindingsAcademic library services are used but in different ways. The findings indicate that international students have a relatively low level of information literacy skills compared to domestic students and faces various challenges, especially in the beginning of their studies.Research limitations/implicationsThe study was exploratory, and data were collected from limited number of Finnish universities and may not be representative of the underlying population.Practical implicationsAcademic libraries should provide effective courses on research methods and library services to the international students while keeping in mind the international students language and cultural barriers.Originality/valueThis is one of the first attempts in information literacy research that focusses on international and domestic students' information literacy skills at the higher education environment. As such, the results provided in this paper can help librarians and decision-makers at the higher education environments to plan better and become more efficient in delivering information services meeting students' information needs and expectations.

Knowledge and use of self-archiving options among academic librarians working in universities in Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 119 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 145-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ebikabowei Emmanuel Baro ◽  
Eriye Chris Tralagba ◽  
Ebiere Joyce Ebiagbe
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
The Body ◽  
Academic Librarians ◽  
Institutional Repository ◽  
Use Of Self ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Scholarly Output ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of the study is to investigate the extent to which academic librarians in African universities know and use self-archiving options to make their papers visible globally. Design/methodology/approach An online survey was designed using SurveyMonkey software to collect data from 455 academic librarians working in 52 universities in Africa. Findings The study revealed that the academic librarians in Africa are aware of ResearchGate, institutional repository, personal website/server, kudos and Mendeley and they actually upload papers to self-archiving platforms such as institutional repository, ResearchGate, academia.edu and personal websites/servers. Factors such as increased exposure of one’s previously published work, provides exposure for works not previously published (e.g. seminar papers), broadens the dissemination of academic research generally and increases one’s institutions’ visibility were among the options the academic librarians rated as very important factors that motivate them to submit their scholarly output to the self-archiving options. It was also found that majority of the academic librarians in Africa checked the publishers’ website for copyright policy compliance before submitting their papers to the platform. Practical implications The study called for academic librarians in developing countries to voluntarily sign-up to register with self-archiving options such as ResearchGate, kudos, Mendeley.com, academia.edu and others to enable them self-archive their published papers for access globally by students, researchers, etc. Originality/value The findings of this study will add to the body of knowledge by bringing to light the extent of awareness and use of self-archiving options by academic librarians in universities in Africa.

Why are bathrooms inclusive if the stacks exclude?

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 159-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Travis L. Wagner ◽  
Archie Crowley
Keyword(s):  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Academic Librarians ◽  
Social Implications ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gender Nonconforming ◽  
Exclusionary Practices ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to deploy a critical discourse analysis (CDA) to consider exclusionary practices enacted by academic libraries as evidenced through resource provision. Specifically, this paper looks at the inclusion of trans and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) individuals in library guides, TGNC naming practices in abstracts and the physical shelving of transgender studies texts. This paper concludes with a discussion of methods to overcome such exclusionary practices in the future. Design/methodology/approach This paper deploys CDA as informed by queer theory, affording a lens to consider how language and information are structured such that particular power dynamics emerge placing symbolic value on discursively normal identities. CDA helps illuminate when, how and why TGNC individuals remain excluded within academic librarianship practices. Findings Findings show continued investments in heteronormative and cisnormative structures concerning information provision and access for TGNC patrons. TGNC patrons using library guides consistently fail to see any mentioned made of their respective identities aside from research about their identities. Patrons seeking information of personal value (i.e. coming out resources) find few resources. Further, library stacks and databases enact consistent microaggressions such as fetishizing, deadnaming and misgendering. Research limitations/implications This project contains considerable social implications, as it pushes against a continued recalcitrance on the part of academic libraries to invest in neutrality by showing its failures regarding TGNC persons. Practical implications This study possesses a considerable set of practical implications and highlights tangible problems that could be addressed with relative ease by academic librarians through either systemic reorganization of information or TGNC patrons. Alternatively, this work also suggests that if such reformations are not possible, academic librarians can take it upon themselves to call attention to such issues and purposefully mark these failings, thus making it clear that it is a current limitation of how libraries function and invite patrons (both cisgender and transgender) to challenge and change these representations through research and advocacy. Social implications This project contains considerable social implications as it pushes against a continued recalcitrance on the part of academic libraries (and librarianship more broadly) to invest in neutrality. This study contests the idea that while possessing neutrality academic libraries also posit themselves as inherently good and inclusive. By showing the violence that remains enacted upon transgender and gender nonconforming folks through multiple venues within the academic library, this study makes clear that statements of negativity are thrust onto TGNC patrons and they remain excluded from an institution that purports to have their well-being as one of its core values. Originality/value The deployment of CDA within information science is still a relatively new one. While linguists have long understood the multiplicity of discourse beyond language, the application of this method to the academic library as a discursive institution proves generative. Furthermore, the relationship between academic libraries and their LGBTQ+ populations is both underrepresented and undervalued, a problem exacerbated when focusing on how transgender and gender nonconforming patrons see themselves and their relationships to the academic library. This paper shows the dire state of representation for these particular patrons and provides groundwork for positively changing such representations.

Application of gamification to library services: awareness, perception, and readiness of academic librarians in Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ismail Olatunji Adeyemi ◽  
Adedoyin Oluwatosin Esan ◽  
Abdulmalik Aleem
Keyword(s):  
Lived Experience ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Academic Librarians ◽  
Library Services ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Management Support ◽  
Positive Perception ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type

Purpose Gamification is a growing field of study that has not been touched by Nigerian academic librarians. This study aims to explore the awareness, perception and readiness of academic librarians on the application of gamification to library services. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts an interpretive research design and a qualitative research approach. This involves using semi-structured interviews to collect data for the study. Purposive sampling technique was used to select a sample of 20 participants but only 15 participated in the study. Participants were interviewed on their lived experience as to gamification; hence, phenomenology research method was adopted for the study. Thematic analysis was used to analyze collected data. Findings The findings of the study show that most of the academic librarians in Nigeria were not aware of gamification to library services. However, the few that were aware knew about the gamification of library service through their personal academic reading. It was shown that there is a link between awareness and positive perception of gamification to library services. It was found that most of the academic librarians did not have a positive perception of applying gamification to library services in Nigeria. Results show that important factors to consider in readiness towards application of gamification to academic library services in Nigeria include library management support, librarians’ technical know-how and IT compliance. Originality/value The findings of this study will provide insights as to academic librarians’ awareness, perception and readiness in applying gamification to library services in Nigeria and may provide insights into other developing Africa countries at large.

Awareness and use of self-archiving options among academic librarians in Nigerian universities

2019 ◽  
Vol 68 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 2-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clement Chukwuma Okeji ◽  
Monica Eberechukwu Eze ◽  
Nneka Maureen Chibueze
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Academic Librarians ◽  
Use Of Self ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Research Papers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Scholarly Output ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which academic librarians in Nigerian universities use self-archiving options to make their research papers visible globally. Design/methodology/approach An online survey was designed using SurveyMonkey software to collect data from 394 academic librarians in Nigerian Universities. Findings The study revealed that the academic librarians in Nigerian universities know and actually use self-archiving options such as ResearchGate, institutional repository and Academia.edu to self-archive their publications. While other promotional tools such as kudos, Mendeley.com and personal websites/servers are not popularly used by the academic librarians. Increased exposure of previously published work, broadens the dissemination of academic research generally, and increases institutions’ visibility were among the factors the academic librarians indicated as very important that motivate them to contribute their scholarly output to self-archiving options. Research limitations/implications One major challenge to the study is that many academic librarians in Nigeria do not check their e-mails regularly to enable them to respond to a request to participate in an online survey; some of them do not have stable internet facilities, whereas others are reluctant to respond to an online questionnaire. These reasons led to a low response rate which makes it difficult to generalize findings. Practical implications Findings from the study will create awareness for academic librarians in developing countries to see the need to self-archive their pre-print and accepted version of their papers in different self-archiving platforms. Originality/value Self-archiving of papers by authors will lead to an increased visibility of the author and possible citation of the work and chances of collaboration with international colleagues for research projects.

scholarly journals Academic Uses of Google Earth and Google Maps in a Library Setting

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Dodworth ◽  
Andrew Nicholson
Keyword(s):  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
The United States ◽  
Google Earth ◽  
Instructional Materials ◽  
Academic Librarians ◽  
Library Services ◽  
Google Maps ◽  
Survey Results

Over the last several years, Google Earth and Google Maps have become increasingly utilized in academic libraries for promoting and delivering a variety of library services. These have included instructional collaborations with faculty to promoting student engagement across programs and campuses. Seeking to find out exactly how academic libraries were using Google Maps and Google Earth (if at all), the authors launched a online survey in December 2010 to see just what kind of impact the Google mapping products were having in the academic library setting. Receiving over 80 responses from academic librarians and staff from across Canada and the United States, the results showed that over 90% of the respondents use Google Earth and Google Maps for some area of their professional duties in a academic library. These included answering research questions, developing instructional materials for courses, and building tools to promotion and marketing. This presentation will discuss the survey results and summarize the way academic libraries are utilizing Google Earth and Google Maps for instruction, research, and student engagement.Depuis les dernières années, Google Earth et Google Maps sont de plus en plus utilisés en bibliothèque universitaire pour promouvoir et offrir une variété de services en bibliothèque, y compris l’enseignement collaboratif avec les professeurs afin d’accroître l’engagement étudiant, de tous les programmes et campus. Afin de déterminer exactement la mesure dans laquelle les bibliothèques universitaires utilisent Google Maps et Google Earth (le cas échéant), les auteurs ont lancé un sondage en ligne en décembre 2010 pour évaluer l’impact des produits de cartographie de Google dans les bibliothèques universitaires. Plus de 80 sondages ont rempli par des bibliothécaires et du personnel en bibliothèque d’universités au Canada et aux États-Unis. Les résultats démontrent que plus de 90 % des répondants utilisent Google Earth et Google Maps pour certaines de leurs activités professionnelles, y compris répondre à des questions de recherche, développer du matériel pédagogique et élaborer des outils de promotion et de marketing. Cette communication abordera les résultats de la recherche et résumera les modes d’utilisation de Google Earth et de Google Maps dans l’enseignement, la recherche et l’engagement étudiant.

Use of QR code and Layar app for academic library services

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 21-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santosh Abaji Kharat ◽  
Bhausaheb M. Panage ◽  
Shubhada Nagarkar
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Real Data ◽  
Support Staff ◽  
Library Services ◽  
Qr Code ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Library Users ◽  
Augmented Reality Application ◽  
It Support

Purpose This study completed action research in the library. The purpose of this study is to increase awareness of the QR code and the Augmented Reality Application (ARA) among library users. Design/methodology/approach This is a technical review. Findings The researchers arranged tables in the library called “Scan Me” tables, and arranged academic books, journals and magazines with the QR code and the Layar material on a “scan me table”. The researchers designed one video using movie maker and other supporting software to provide guidelines on how to use the scan me table in the library. The researchers have shared this video among selected MBA libraries that have Wi-Fi and library software members. Originality/value This research also incorporates how to prepare virtual data and how they are linked with real data, how to give training to library staff to solve users’ queries and how to help them at the time of downloading the application or scanning material. Creating a better platform for this research required support from a library software design team as well as in-house technical or IT support staff for good maintenance of the library server, Wi-Fi equipment and so forth.

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