Designing metadata schema for a human library: a prototype

Purpose In the absence of a working model for describing, managing and archiving the human library resources, this study aims to attempt a practical approach that will provide all the necessary information to the library users, library professionals and researchers. Design/methodology/approach Initially, different metadata standards, archival projects and attributes of the human books were reviewed to identify appropriate metadata standards that accurately describe the resources of the human library. A free and open-source software; DSpace was considered for implementing newly defined metadata schema in this study. Thereafter, a set of new subject entries was incorporated to standardize the contents of the human library. Findings This study finds that the widely used metadata schema – Dublin Core (DC) is not appropriate to describe the contents of the human book. It shows that selected metadata elements from the types – person and event of schema.org can be used for describing, organizing and archiving the resources of the human library. It further highlights that existing subject entries are not sufficient to standardize the contents of these types of resources. Research limitations/implications Two metadata fields in DSpace are strongly recommended by the DSpace community to consider in the input-forms.xml file, that is why the study could not completely omit DC metadata elements in describing human books. Originality/value The study provides a roadmap to the library professionals on the inclusion of new metadata schemas in describing the uniquely featured resources of the library.

Analysis and Research on Digital Reading Platform of Multimedia Library by Big Data Computing in Internet Era

Digital reading promotion service is a service way for libraries to provide readers with a series of digital resources, enjoy the service functions, and share the experience of using them in various digital reading platforms, which is to meet the reading interests and reading needs of more readers, and is also the focus of the current library work. In the era of new media, the characteristics of digital reading are subtly changing the readers’ needs for reading environment, reading content, and reading style. Libraries should keep pace with the development of the times and provide readers with diversified, intelligent, and targeted digital reading platforms. The digital reading platform should continuously improve the digital reading service functions, broaden the service scope and dissemination channels, and finally realize the diversification, interest, and intelligence of digital reading service. This paper takes the digital reading platform of libraries in the region as the research theme and carries out research work on libraries. The province is divided into three regions according to the geographical map: southeastern region, central region, and northwestern region. The digital reading platforms of 14 prefecture-level public libraries and 58 libraries of higher education institutions in each region were accessed. Firstly, we check the construction of digital resources within the library websites, secondly, we count the opening of digital reading platform functions, and finally, we check the opening of digital reading platforms. Through the research, it is found that there are problems of unbalanced distribution of digital reading resources in regional libraries; unattractive design of readers’ interface and inadequate reading service functions; lack of continuous training of readers’ guidance; insufficient publicity and promotion; low efficiency of staff in responding to consultation; and low degree of platform openness and weak awareness of sharing. Finally, the problems found in the research are summarized, and the solution measures for the regional digital reading platform are proposed. Libraries in the digital era should give priority to systems that can manage all library resources comprehensively and effectively, adapt to more flexible library workflows, and enable libraries to provide better services to users.

Data Mining, Linked Data, and Library Service Delivery

There is no doubt that data mining and linked data can enhance library service delivery. Data mining aspects such as text and image mining will enable libraries to have access to data that can be used to discover new knowledge aid planning for effective service delivery or service improvement. Also, linked data will enable libraries connect with other libraries to share such data that can enhance job performance leading to enhanced productivity, improved service delivery, and wider visibility and access to library resources.

Digitization of Library Resources and the Development of Institutional Repositories in Nigeria

Institutional repositories are online repositories that contain scholarly works of staff and students of an institution. The repositories provide access to a school's scholarly works and reflect present and past research works of the institution. This chapter gives a review of the concept of library digitization, status of institutional repositories in Nigeria, process of digitization, guidelines for library digitization, digitization workflow, and challenges of library digitization. It identifies the various universities in Nigeria that have established institutional repositories. The chapter also reviewed the library digitation carried out in some of these institutions. It concluded that Nigeria lags behind in the practice of library digitization and the establishment of institutional repositories. Some challenges were highlighted as factors affecting library digitization and institutional repositories in Nigeria. Some recommendations were suggested to ensure successful establishment and implementation of library digitization and institutional repositories in Nigeria.

The Role of History and Akhlāq in Reconciliation Between Jurisprudence And Modernity

After the advent of modernity and its spread in Islamic societies, challenges arose for Muslims. At first glance, these challenges indicated the conflict between modernity and religion in general and jurisprudence in particular. For this reason, some Muslims have strongly rejected modernity, calling it the destruction of religion. Some also have abandoned religion and solely followed modernity. The purpose of this article is to provide a way to resolve differences and reconciliation between jurisprudence and modernity so that Muslims can benefit from the achievements of modernity while maintaining the basic principles of religion. To achieve this goal, jurisprudential sources were examined and jurisprudential fatwas that conflicted with modern laws were extracted. The research method in this article is based on library resources and has been criticized descriptively and analytically. To clarify the issue, examples of jurisprudential fatwas have been proposed. It should be noted that these are not all fatwas and are just examples because the purpose of this article is to provide a solution to resolve the conflict or reduce the difference between jurisprudence and modernity. In some cases, the communities that have implemented the fatwa have also been mentioned. After examining the origin of these fatwas, it became clear that some of them were related to specific circumstances and specific times, and others conflicted with the basic principles of ethics. Therefore, the finding of this article is that there are two basic strategies to resolve or reduce this conflict; firstly, the jurisprudential fatwa should be adapted to the principles of Islamic ethics; and secondly, the historical context of the issuance of the fatwa should be considered. This leads us to the conclusion that some fatwas can only be implemented in certain circumstances and can be revised today due to the change in those circumstances. By applying these two strategies, it is possible to reconcile to a large extent between jurisprudence and that part of the achievements of modernity that are compatible with human rights and dignity.

Computer self-efficacy, computer anxiety, cognitive skills, and use of electronic library resources by social science undergraduates in a tertiary university in Nigeria

This study investigated the influence of computer self-efficacy, computer anxiety, and cognitive skills on the use of electronic library resources by social science undergraduates in a tertiary institution in Nigeria. Survey research design was adopted and stratified random sampling technique was used to select 869 sample size from a population of 1452 social science undergraduates across five departments. A total of 793 questionnaire was properly filled and collated which equals a response rate of 91.3% from the population sample. Findings from the study revealed that there were significant relationships among computer selfefficacy, computer anxiety, cognitive skills, and use of electronic library resources by the respondents. Computer self-efficacy, computer anxiety, and cognitive skills individually and jointly had a significant influence on the use of electronic library resources of the respondents. Therefore, library management in the tertiary institution should give due consideration to computer self-efficacy, computer anxiety, and cognitive skills of the respondents when planning to enhance their use of electronic library resources among others.

The place of African belief and germ theory on the causes of human diseases

This study looks into the African belief about the mystical causes of diseases and the tenets of Western germ theory. Despite widespread Western medical practices, African people still strongly believe in the mystical causes of diseases. This reveals that as far as the African traditional belief is concerned, Western germ theory cannot satisfy the African belief in the causes of diseases. This is as a result of some of the diseases defying Western healing. The study adopts a qualitative phenomenological research design and descriptive method for data analysis. Personal interview forms a primary source of data collection while the secondary source includes library resources. The study observes that some mystical agents in African cosmology, such as witches and sorcerers, ogbanje, and breaking of taboos are responsible for untimely deaths, infliction of diseases to humankind and other related ailments which are believed to be traditional in nature.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The study recommends that hospitals and healthcare centres, within and outside Africa, should take into consideration the mystical agents as well as the pathogenic agents for good and efficient healing.

Theory of Institutional Peace and Peacebuilding in Transboundary River Basins

ABSTRACT Social developments have led to prompt the significance of concentrating on peace and the factors influencing it throughout history. In order to analyze this concept, various theories have been proposed in the field of international relations and peace and conflict studies. Institutional peace theory is one of the prominent theories that emphasizes the role of international institutions to achieve meaningful change and cooperation among governments at the international level. Most researchers in the field of environmental challenges in general and water challenges in particular have also based liberal institutionalism in their research at the international level. Attention to the role of institutions in dealing with water conflicts and peacebuilding in transboundary river basins has led to the need to analyze the theory of institutional peace in the management of water conflicts. Accordingly, the purpose of the present study is to analyze the capacity of institutional peace theory in dealing with water conflicts in transboundary river basins. With this goal in view, while using library resources, the effectiveness of institutional peace theory in the management of water conflicts is analyzed. Based on the analyses, it can be acknowledged that despite the positive effect of water institutions in relieving water conflicts in some river basins, there are significant criticisms of this theory. KEYWORDS: Water Conflicts, Institutional Peace, Transboundary river basins, Institutionalism