scholarly journals What Do Australian Library and Information Professionals Experience as Evidence?

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Gillespie ◽  
Faye Miller ◽  
Helen Partridge ◽  
Christine Bruce ◽  
Alisa Howlett
Keyword(s):  
Public Library ◽  
Local Environment ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Constructivist Grounded Theory ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The Public ◽  
Information Professionals ◽  
Many Sources ◽  
Library Professionals

Abstract Objective – This article presents the findings of a project which established an empirical basis for evidence based library and information practice (EBLIP). More specifically, the paper explores what library and information professionals experienced as evidence in the context of their professional practice. Methods – The project consisted of two sub-studies. The public library sub-study was conducted using ethnography. Over a 5-month period, a member of the research team travelled to a regional public library on 15 occasions, staying between 3 and 4 days on each visit. The researcher observed, interacted, and became involved in the day-to-day activities of this library. These activities were recorded in a journal and added to the researcher’s insights and thoughts. Additionally, 13 face-to-face interviews with staff in positions ranging from the operational to the executive were conducted. The academic sub-study was conducted using Constructivist Grounded Theory. Semi-structured interviews were conducted either in person or via Skype, with 13 librarians from Australian universities. Interviewees were in a diverse array of roles, from liaison librarian to manager and library director. Results – The project found that the Australian academic librarians and the public librarians who participated in the project experienced six elements as evidence: observation, feedback, professional colleagues, research literature, statistics, and intuition. Each of these will be described and highlighted with examples from each of the two studies. Conclusions – The findings of this study revealed many similarities in the way that library professionals from both studies experienced evidence. Evidence was not hierarchical, with evidence from many sources being valued equally. In contextualizing evidence and applying to the local environment, library professionals were able to draw upon more than one source of evidence and apply their professional knowledge and experiences. In this way evidence was more nuanced.

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.

Parental Experiences Caring for Their Hospitalized Medically Fragile Infants: A Description of Grief, Stress, and Coping

2020 ◽  
pp. 084456212095412
Author(s):  
Lyndsay MacKay ◽  
Karen Benzies ◽  
Chantelle Barnard ◽  
Shelley Raffin Bouchal
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Stressors ◽  
Constructivist Grounded Theory ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Medically Fragile ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Parental Experiences ◽  
Primary Nursing ◽  
Holistic Understanding ◽  
And Coping

Background Advances in care have increased survival and improved outcomes of infants with complex and chronic diseases. These medically fragile infants require long-term hospitalization and depend on technology for survival. Parents of these infants experience stress and difficulties adapting to their parental role. Purpose To present an account of parental experiences as they provided care for their hospitalized medically fragile infant. Methods This study was part of a larger constructivist grounded theory study to provide a holistic understanding of the processes of care for medically fragile infants. For this sub-study, 21 parents of hospitalized medically fragile infants were recruited from a pediatric hospital in Western Canada. Parents participated in face-to-face, semi-structured interviews, which were transcribed and analyzed using initial and focused coding. Results Parents of hospitalized medically fragile infants grieved the loss of parenting a healthy infant, and they experienced multiple stressors. Parents utilized various coping strategies to manage their grief and stressors. Some parents were unable to cope, which exacted a heavy toll on their physical and mental health. Parents recommended psychological support, access to physical activity, primary nursing, and health system navigators. Conclusions Parental recommendations can inform the design of interventions for parents of hospitalized medically fragile infants.

Using Death Cafés as a method for discussing death and dying with third year student nurses

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 352-360
Author(s):  
Theresa Mitchell ◽  
Brian Nyatanga ◽  
Sue Lillyman ◽  
Mary Bruce ◽  
Sue Bryane
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Students ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Death And Dying ◽  
Student Nurses ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The Public ◽  
Sensitive Topics ◽  
Life Issues ◽  
End Of Life Issues

Background: Death Cafés are increasingly being held to facilitate discussions around death and dying and end-of-life issues with the public. They are thought to provide a safe, confidential and interactive space in which sensitive and supportive conversations about death and dying and end-of-life are shared. Aim: To explore nursing students' experiences of participating in a modified Death Café and its impact on their learning about death and dying. Methodology: A qualitative interpretive approach was employed using face-to-face semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of third year student nurse volunteers. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes. Findings: Students viewed the modified Death Cafés positively, reporting that they were stimulating, informative and worthwhile for discussing sensitive topics related to death and dying. Five themes were developed from interview data: anticipation of the Death Cafés; timing of the Death Cafés within the curriculum; facilitation; trust within the group and getting involved; and reflection on, and for, practice. Conclusion: Students voiced a preference to disclose their feelings about death to an expert facilitator in the more informal environment of a Death Café because they thought they might be judged by their nursing lecturers. Effective facilitation of a Death Café session is critical to encourage self-scrutiny and disclosure by students, and the modified Death Café sessions achieved this. Implications: It is expected that students may feel vulnerable while participating in a Death Café, but it is important that the sessions enable students to be open about their feelings about death and the reciprocal sharing of inner thoughts and feelings about death and dying.

scholarly journals Practices of community representatives in exploiting information channels for citizen democratic engagement

2018 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 950-961 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hazel Hall ◽  
Peter Cruickshank ◽  
Bruce Ryan
Keyword(s):  
Information Literacy ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Public ◽  
Democratic Engagement ◽  
Primary Means ◽  
Information Skills ◽  
Information Channels ◽  
Council Work

The purpose of the research was to investigate the practices of elected, yet unpaid, community councillors in Scotland as they exploit information channels for democratic engagement with citizens. Its focus is both novel and significant in that it considers the information literacy of a group that has not been studied before: volunteer representatives active in hyperlocal government. The primary means of data collection was semi-structured interviews of one hour in length with 19 community councillors. Research design and data analysis were informed by the SCONUL 7-Pillar Model of Information Literacy, and by Activity Theory. The main finding of the analysis is that community councillors engage with a range of information sources and tools in their work, the most important of which derives from local authorities. Three recommendations emerge from the analysis. These relate to: (1) information literacy training; (2) valuing information skills; and (3) the role of the public library service in supporting community council work.

scholarly journals Community-led Work and Its Impact on Deprofessionalization: The Case of Public Library Professionals

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Nilsson
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Study ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Internal Factors ◽  
Guideline Document ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Library Professionals

The objective of this empirical study was to explore the impact of community-led work on the (de-)professionalization process among public library professionals in Canada through the analyzation of transcripts from 11 semi-structured interviews and a guideline document. The results were analyzed and sensitized through Abbott’s professionalization theory (1988) and Bourdieu’s praxeology theory (1986; 1992). With the methodology of grounded theorization, the study found that the profession has changed, and is changing, into the direction of possible deprofessionalization, due to not only external but also internal factors in the form of a collegial conflict.

scholarly journals Challenges faced during COVID-19 outbreak investigation in Qatar: From the investigators’ perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abrar Ahmed ◽  
Syed Shariq Jaffrey ◽  
Farhat Fatima ◽  
Fatimah Ahmed Elnour ◽  
Marwa Saleh Mohamed Abuzaid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Social Stigma ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Cultural Backgrounds ◽  
World Cup ◽  
Public Places ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The Public ◽  
Case Investigation

Background: Case investigation and surveillance is a key step in managing any epidemic. This report aimed to identify the main challenges faced by COVID-19 case investigators in Qatar and to suggest possible solutions to improve the case investigation process in managing future pandemics. Methods: Purposive sampling was used to select 40 COVID-19 case investigators posted at the Ministry of Public Health, Qatar. Interviewees were from diverse educational and cultural backgrounds and had been investigating COVID-19 cases for more than 6 months, at the time of interview. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were done to collect data which was anonymized before analyzing for the purpose of this qualitative study. Results: The most common concern faced in conducting case investigations was language barrier, given the multinational and diverse diasporas Qatar is host to. Authenticity of the investigation was a matter of suspicion for many patients; whereas the majority of the investigators opined that multiple calls received from different healthcare departments asking for information overwhelmed many patients. Laborers/migrant workers often did not divulge information due to fear of repercussions from their supervisors. Social stigma associated with COVID-19caused reluctance to reveal the index case and close contacts. Information regarding social gatherings attended and public places visited was often concealed . Cultural differences as well hindered smooth investigation in a few cases. Rising case load at times put restraints on improved coordination between different health departments and structured guidance for investigators about the pandemic response system, which could help to deliver appropriate health services more efficiently. Comprehensive orientation in using the Electronic Surveillance database could also improve the efficacy of epidemiological analysis for improved public health outcomes. Conclusion: Addressing these challenges will help the public health team in Qatar to increase preparedness and efficiency in managing potential future outbreaks, especially in view of upcoming mass gathering events such as the FIFA 2022 World Cup.

Minority Stress and Drinking: Connecting Race, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 277-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison Cerezo ◽  
Chelsey Williams ◽  
Mariah Cummings ◽  
Derek Ching ◽  
Meredith Holmes
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Gender Identity ◽  
Race And Ethnicity ◽  
Minority Stress ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Constructivist Grounded Theory ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Major Life ◽  
Queer Spaces

We carried out a constructivist grounded theory-based qualitative exploration on the relations between intersectional minority stress and drinking among a community sample of 20 Latinx and African American sexual minority, gender expansive women. Our overarching goal was to illuminate the nuanced ways in which participants’ lived experiences; in relation to race and ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation, intersected to create complex forms of minority stress rarely captured in the research literature. Semi-structured interviews and lifeline methodology were employed to assess participants’ major life stressors and drinking history; particularly, when and how drinking became a regular part of participants’ lives. Our findings indicated that drinking was primarily connected to same-sex romantic partnerships, cultural and familial ties to alcohol, social norms within queer spaces, familial rejection and loss of racial and ethnic community, and chronic stress. Recommendations for research, practice, advocacy, education, and training are discussed.

THE NATURE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE INFORMAL SECTOR: EVIDENCE FROM ENGLAND

2007 ◽  
Vol 12 (02) ◽  
pp. 239-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
COLIN C. WILLIAMS
Keyword(s):  
Informal Sector ◽  
Third World ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The Public ◽  
Informal Workers ◽  
Formal Economy ◽  
Informal Entrepreneurship ◽  
Conventional Representation

Mirroring the representation of informal workers in a third world context as displaying entrepreneurial qualities, recent years have witnessed the emergence of a similar view of the informal sector in western nations as a hidden enterprise culture. Until now, however, few attempts have been made to analyze the nature and motives of informal entrepreneurs in western economies. Instead, it has been widely assumed that those engaged in entrepreneurship in the informal sector are those marginalized from the formal economy and driven out of necessity into this endeavor as a last resort. The aim of this paper is to evaluate critically this "marginalization thesis". Reporting the findings of face-to-face structured interviews with 130 informal entrepreneurs in England, the conventional representation of these entrepreneurs as necessity-driven, as well as an emergent depiction of them as opportunity-driven, is transcended. Instead, a richer and more textured understanding of informal entrepreneurship is developed that replaces such either/or thinking by a both/and approach that depicts how the majority are concurrently both necessity- and opportunity-driven. The paper then concludes by exploring the public policy implications of this rereading of the nature of informal entrepreneurship in western economies.

Activist Mothers in Need of Public Housing and the Welfare Services: Negotiating Othering, Mothering and Resistance

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamar Shwartz-Ziv ◽  
Edith Blit-Cohen ◽  
Mimi Ajzenstadt
Keyword(s):  
Public Housing ◽  
Reducing Power ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Women's Activism ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Public ◽  
Welfare Services ◽  
Critical Approaches ◽  
Welfare Agencies

Abstract Recent decades have witnessed an increasing trend towards the development of critical approaches to the study of poverty, which call upon social workers to perceive people living in poverty as active agents who resist their condition. Relatively few studies, however, have examined how women living in poverty, who embody collective-political agency, experience the encounter with the welfare services, and how their manner of organisation is shaped by this encounter. This study examines this issue based on fifteen semi-structured interviews with mothers in need of public housing in Israel who are activists in protest groups against the public housing policy. The findings reveal that the encounter with welfare services generated feelings of othering due to the meanings attributed to their homelessness and to the nature of their mothering. Conversely, activism was perceived as a practice for challenging, redesigning and reducing power relations with the welfare agencies. The findings also show that the encounter shaped the participants’ manners of activist mobilisation. The study contributes to the research literature on social work with women who live in poverty, by highlighting the important role of women’s activism within the encounter.

scholarly journals The Bubbler as Systemwide Makerspace: A Design Case of How Making Became a Core Service of the Public Libraries

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica Halverson ◽  
Alexandra Lakind ◽  
Rebekah Willett
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The Public ◽  
Diversity And Inclusion ◽  
Core Service ◽  
Design Case ◽  
Community Spaces ◽  
Midwestern City ◽  
Core Features

In this article, we introduce the case of a makerspace program that provides a systemwide approach to making rather than a singular face-to-face or online place. This makerspace, called Bubbler, extends across a public library system of a mid-sized Midwestern city (Madison, Wisconsin) and incorporates nine neighborhood libraries and numerous community spaces. Since 2011, Bubbler has come to be known as a physical place, a series of programs, and an approach to working with patrons of all ages. We aim to chronicle the development of Bubbler, describe its core features, provide examples of these features in action, and discuss victories and challenges associated with designing a systemwide makerspace in public libraries. We conclude by asserting that the library now includes making as a core service based on a model of diversity and inclusion that aligns with the basic tenets of public libraries.

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