Transforming Academic Library Services for At-risk Students in the Fourth Industrial Revolution: A Literature Review

Mousaion ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vicki Lawal
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
At Risk Students ◽  
Social Capital Theory ◽  
Library Services ◽  
Capital Theory ◽  
Fourth Industrial Revolution

This paper examines academic library services to at-risk students in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). It aims to explore theoretical approaches that can direct more targeted support and service models as an intervention for students who are at risk of failure. The paper specifically analyses Nan Lin’s concept of social capital theory with its particular emphasis on social network analysis. The study which directed this paper, employed a conceptual analysis as a methodology by which the literature review was used as a basis for analysing the research questions of the paper. Outcomes from the analysis indicate that Lin’s concept of social capital theory has the potential to provide a method for measuring social capital that can be assessed against information seeking outcomes. Recommendations suggest the importance of the theory as a methodological tool for investigating relationships between individuals and their social contexts, which could also be adopted by academic libraries in higher education to enhance students’ learning outcomes and educational experience in the 4IR.

Readiness of academic libraries in South Africa to research, teaching and learning support in the Fourth Industrial Revolution

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (6/7) ◽  
pp. 355-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis N. Ocholla ◽  
Lyudmila Ocholla
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Library Services ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fourth Industrial Revolution

PurposeIn this paper, we refer to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in 2016, where the concept of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) was coined by Klaus Schwab, with the reference that it would be building on “the Third, the digital revolution” and would be “characterized by a fusion of technologies that is blurring the lines between the physical, digital, and biological spheres”. While acknowledging that the 4IR will impact on everything, everywhere, including research and libraries, we conceptualize 4IR, and we compare current academic library services/trends in South Africa with 4IR requirements, through the analysis of 26 public university library websites.Design/methodology/approachBesides conceptualization of 4IR, a content analysis of websites of 26 public universities’ libraries in South Africa was achieved followed up with verification of the data by respective libraries through a preliminary research report circulated to them by email. 23 areas were identified as the trends in academic libraries, which included free Wi-Fi in the libraries; 24/7 study areas and access to library resources on and off campus; research commons; makerspace; borrowing ICTs (e.g. laptops); e-resources; e-catalogues; research data services (RDS; RDM, IR); open scholarship; information literacy and reference/bibliographic tools, library as a publisher, among others. Data obtained were captured in Excel and analyzed by the research questions.FindingsThe 4IR concept does not occur often in literature, in relation to academic libraries, but it is implied. The findings show that the libraries are responding well to the revolution through their services, with remarkable innovation and creativity on display. There was a 64% presence of the analyzed trends/services in the libraries, with emerging trends/services such as library as a publisher (4%), robotics/AI (4%), makerspace (8%), RDS (27%), borrowing of ICTs/devices (19%) and user experience (19%) scoring low, while information literacy and digital scholarship (e.g. IR) (88%), e-catalogue and e-resources (92%), group study area (85%) and off campus access (77%) scoring above 75%. The scatter of the trends/services among the university libraries is noted for knowledge sharing of best practice.Research limitations/implicationsIn order to improve accordance with trends, academic libraries have to be better resourced, accessed and used, as well as improve web visibility. The study expects library services to be responsive, resourced and accessible anytime and anywhere, and it provides a conceptual framework and a benchmark for further research and exploration in the country, region and perhaps elsewhere.Practical implicationsThe study can be used for benchmarking current and future academic library services in Africa. The conceptual framework provides an agenda for theoretical discussions and deliberations.Social implicationsThe trends, framework and 4IR representations in the study can inform theory and practice in LIS, particularly in Africa.Originality/valueLinking 4IR to current and future library services provides a tool for academic libraries services benchmarking and development and provides a conceptual framework for theoretical and practical debates and implementation. The study is quite current and appropriate for the ongoing discussions of 4IR implications to academic libraries.

Co-operatives, territories and social capital: reconsidering a theoretical framework

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (12) ◽  
pp. 1599-1617
Author(s):  
Michele Bianchi ◽  
Marcelo Vieta
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Social Capital Theory ◽  
Collective Actions ◽  
Critical Approach ◽  
Capital Theory ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Community Stakeholders ◽  
Economic Analyses

PurposeThis paper promotes a critical approach to co-operative studies by contributing new theoretical insights. The aim is to propose a new view on the co-operative firm as a socioeconomic phenomenon embedded into the local contexts in which it is situated. Sociological and economic analyses have mainly explored the relationship between co-operative members and the organization, the economic performance of co-operatives or compared co-operatives with other firm types. Less attention has been given to the co-operative–territory relation, which can reveal insights into members' collective actions, a co-operative's origins from specific social groups or how they establish relationships with certain community stakeholders over others.Design/methodology/approachThe paper begins with a literature review of academic studies that situate co-operatives in relation to community, with a focus on how social capital theory has been deployed to understand this relation. It then proposes a theoretical examination of two fundamental authors in the field of social capital theory: Robert Putnam and Pierre Bourdieu. Drawing on findings from the literature review and considerations derived from the theoretical dialog between Putnam and Bourdieu, the paper proposes a revised social capital-based framework for analyzing key relations and expected outcomes of the co-operative–territory relation.FindingsReconsidering the role of social capital theory for co-operative studies, this article unfolds a dual reflection. First, it underlines the necessity for research that more closely considers co-operatives' territorial relationships. Second, it critically interrogates and pushes forward social capital theory as a framework for examining the social relations that embed co-operatives and their capacity to activate territorial economies.Originality/valueThe paper highlights the necessity for a further examination of the co-operative–territory relationship. It presents an innovative framework for improving sociological understanding of co-operatives as organizations embedded into their local socioeconomic contexts.

scholarly journals The Social Capital Theory in the Light of a Centre-Periphery Comparison

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brendan Ngeloo Abamukong ◽  
Solvejg Jobst
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Political Institutions ◽  
Social Capital Theory ◽  
Macro Level ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Capital Theory ◽  
Economic Development Policy ◽  
The Social

The article examines the relationship between the social capital concept and school dropout rates from a global and multi-level perspective. Are there universal aspects of social capital that can predict dropout probability for at-risk young adults? If not, how do the correlations vary and to what extend can the differences be associated with variations in macro level state mechanisms in the context of the contemporary world’s social system? These questions are discussed empirically using a data set of 138 at-risk young adults in Cameroon and Germany. The results of the study show relatively higher correlations for Germany compared to Cameroon. The article concludes that context matters and aspects of macro-level state mechanisms and political institutions have important influences on the levels and patterns of micro- level social interactions in societies. This implies that areas with standardized macro-level democratic institutions will find it easier to develop generalized trust as well as to have higher levels of social capital formation. The need for the creation of a more equitable social and economic development policy which counteracts the inequality that is inherent in centre–peripheral relations is therefore highly recommended.

SOCIAL CAPITAL THEORY: ACADEMIC SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1169-1180
Author(s):  
Jelena Filipovic ◽  
◽  
Maja Arslanagic Kalajdzic
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Social Capital Theory ◽  
Capital Theory

scholarly journals Getting a Child through Secondary School and to College in India

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler W. Myroniuk ◽  
Reeve Vanneman ◽  
Sonalde Desai
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Social Capital Theory ◽  
High Status ◽  
Capital Investments ◽  
Formal Sector ◽  
Capital Theory ◽  
Parental Experience ◽  
Educational Demand ◽  
Nationally Representative

In the classic formulations of social capital theory, families employ their social capital resources to enhance other capitals, in particular their human capital investments. Social capital would seem to be especially important in the case of India, where, in recent years, higher education has been under considerable stress with rising educational demand, inadequate supply, and little parental experience to guide children's transition through the education system. We use the 2005 and 2012 waves of the nationally representative India Human Development Survey (IHDS) to show how relatively high-status connections advantage some families' chances of their children reaching educational milestones such as secondary school completion and college entry. The 2005 IHDS survey measure of a household's formal sector contacts in education, government, and health predicts their children's educational achievements by the second wave, seven years later, controlling for households' and children's initial backgrounds.

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