The use of electronic learning centres in public libraries in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa

Purpose This study aimed to establish the use of electronic learning centres in public libraries in the city of Johannesburg, which is under one of the biggest metropolitan municipalities in South Africa. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative research approach was adopted, and questionnaires were used to collect primary data. The target population for this study was the entire users of the electronic learning centres and librarians in the public libraries within the city of Johannesburg. Findings The findings of this study revealed that there are different services, levels of awareness and training. Research limitations/implications This study was limited to public libraries in the city of Johannesburg. Academic, special and mobile libraries were not included in this study because they were not open to the general public. Users who were not using the electronic learning centres were excluded from this study. Practical implications Adequate use and awareness of services of electronic learning centres in public libraries are instrumental in the satisfaction of users’ needs using the electronic learning centres. The suggestions of this study will be useful to decision makers and heads of the electronic learning centres on how to enhance the use of the electronic learning centres in the city of Johannesburg. Originality/value This paper establishes the use of electronic learning centres in public libraries in the city of Johannesburg, which is under one of the biggest metropolitan municipalities in South Africa.

Highly cited articles in social sciences: an analytical study

Purpose This paper aims at analyzing the distinctive characteristics of highly cited articles (HCAs) in the domain of Social Sciences with respect to chronological growth pattern, productive journals, authorship pattern, prolific authors, top institutions and leading countries, network among institutions and top ranked keywords in social science research. Design/methodology/approach The required data has been retrieved from Scopus indexing database and further refined using various limits like document types, subject coverage and total citations, and finally, 839 articles were selected for detail analysis. A set of bibliometric indicators were used to make a quantitative analysis, whereas VOSviewer software tool was used to visualize the institutional network and keywords mapping of the HCAs. Findings This study revealed that highest number of HCAs (371) were published during the decade 2001–2010. Degree of collaboration, collaborative index and collaborative coefficient were observed to be 0.513, 1.98 and 0.988, respectively. The highly cited papers were emanated from 397 journals, contributed by 1,556 authors from 1,326 institutions placed in 46 countries. Social Science and Medicine was the most productive journal; J. Urry of Lancaster University, UK, was the most influential author; the USA, the UK and Canada are the torchbearers in social science research. The paper entitled “Five misunderstandings about case-study research,” authored by B. Flyvbjerg, published in 2006 in Qualitative Inquiry, received highest 4,730 citations. Originality/value The primary value of this paper lies in extending an understanding of the characteristics of HCAs in the domain of social sciences. It will provide an insight to the researchers to get acquainted with the most influential authors, journals, institutions, countries and major thrust areas of research in social sciences.

AI and libraries: trends and projections

Purpose This paper aims to focus on the trends and projection for future use of artificial intelligence (AI) in libraries. AI technologies is the latest among the technologies being used in libraries. The technology has systems that have natural language processing, machine learning and pattern recognition capabilities that make service provision easier for libraries. Design/methodology/approach Systematic literature review is done, exploring blogs and wikis, to collect information on the ways in which AI is used and can be futuristically used in libraries. Findings This paper found that uses of AI in libraries entailed enhanced services such as content indexing, document matching, content mapping content summarization and many others. AI possibilities were also found to include improving the technology of gripping, localizing and human–robot interaction and also having artificial superintelligence, the hypothetical AI that surpasses human intelligence and abilities. Originality/value It is concluded that advanced technologies that AI are, will help librarians to open up new horizons and solve challenges that crop up in library service delivery.

Scientific literacy, librarians and information literacy in the post-truth era

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to challenge librarians to reconceptualize their professional self-image and practice so that it more closely aligns with the information science discipline that is part of the Masters of Library and Information Science degree. Design/methodology/approach This column is primarily theoretical and philosophical but also draws on the author’s observations of trends and patterns in both librarianship and changes in information needs in recent years. Findings Urgent, high-cost information needs created by COVID-19 and climate change coexist in a reality where technological change has made traditional librarian roles and functions less critical. By developing their information science skills and strengthening their professional identity as information scientists, librarians have the opportunity to address the urgent information needs of the day while remaining highly relevant professionals. Practical implications Librarians will need to strengthen their science-related skills and knowledge and begin to promote themselves as information scientists. Social implications Librarians are in a position to make a meaningful contribution to two of the most pressing challenges of the day, climate change and dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Originality/value This paper is relevant to all librarians at any stage of their career. It will help them to reflect on both their skillset and career path and to make any needed adjustments so that they can remain relevant in a volatile and demanding information environment.

Improving services in a hybrid academic library system

Purpose This paper aims to describe a hybrid academic library system and to draw up a model of this system suggesting strategies and scenarios for achieving optimum performance of the system in a technology changing world. Design/methodology/approach The mixture of traditional or manual ways of carrying out library operations with new, modern, automated systems often brings about several problems. The problems are ones that can be tackled within the framework of having appropriate systems dynamics routines applied and also making use of personnel skilled in strategic management of hybrid library systems. Findings A system dynamics model for the management of the system is developed around the issues of personnel management, collection management, capacity building and provision of access to research materials, information technology infrastructure, forming of consortia and security in the system. Originality/value Recommendations are made as to which strategy/scenario or combinations of scenarios will provide lasting solutions to the problems recurring or likely to reoccur in a hybrid academic library system.

Social media and library marketing

Purpose The basic purpose of this paper is to find out library professionals how these libraries perceive the importance of social media and emerging technologies what would make the difference in the libraries and how they help libraries to create environments flexible and exclusive. Design/methodology/approach This paper reviews various options for libraries to use different forms of social media to market their resources and services. Findings The reviewed literature has identified the importance and use of emerging technologies and social media in libraries. This paper can help library professionals to engage themselves to use social media and emerging technologies to bring innovation into the library sources and services. Originality/value This paper provides a review of social media and emerging technologies used for marketing in the libraries environment.

Information-as-a-thing versus information-as-a-process: the legitimate differences between information resources management and information management

Purpose Information resources management (IRM) and information management (IM) are two distinct terms often used interchangeably in the literature as synonyms, but perhaps, they mean different things. It is worthy of investigation to clarify whether these two related terms are in fact synonyms, and if not, what line of demarcation does them apart, discussion of some underpinning common generalities and issues that compass their misconceptions. This is a significant gap in the literature that needs to be bridged to develop a common ground of what differentiates IRM from IM. Design/methodology/approach It is a general review of the legitimate differences between IRM and IM. Findings Information resources in the ambit of IRM cannot achieve anything except people do something with it either by examining, categorizing or describing it, but in the end, they understood, rebut, alter or do all sorts of manipulation to the data set or information. Meanwhile, all this interpretation and manipulation constitute the hallmark of IM. Originality/value At this point, we need to take note of the fact that IRM is not the same as IM but rather IRM forms part of a holistic framework or components of IM. This is to say that successful IM cannot take place without proper IRM.

Funding issues and development of digital libraries in Nigeria

Purpose Funding issues is observed to be the major stumbling block for the development of digital libraries in Nigeria. Hence, this paper aims to explore issues in obtaining and allocating funds for digital library development. Design/methodology/approach The review is an explorative report of the state of affairs of digital library development in Nigeria with the associated fundraising issues. Findings Digital library initiatives are coincidental development with transformational change in the technology-driven world of global information distribution. The desire of the information users to have better-unrestricted access to information becomes the hallmark of digital content development and web-based information services. The goal of making information accessible globally to large and diverse information users was achievable with the development of a digital library that provides enhanced information services, improves access and usability of digital information resources. Originality/value The library of the future has already materialized in form of digital library services, but the cost of developing a digital library is not foreseeable cheap, and if Nigerian libraries are to achieve digital library service goal, alternative sources of finance need to be sought after through fundraising scheme from friends of the library, rental services, consultation fees and collaboration effort on library consortia as well as advocacy for open access initiatives.

“Through the looking glass: envisioning new library technologies” the scale of Facebook part 2: global governance and legitimacy

Purpose Understanding how the intersection of Facebook’s incentives and their potential misalignment with the values of libraries and society is likely to be a driving force in creating the technology of the future. Design/methodology/approach This column examines different models Facebook has tried to resolve the legitimacy challenges raised by its massive scale. Findings The misinformation example highlighted in the previous column and the XCheck controversy in this part underscore that an organization of Facebook’s size creates problems that may have similar dynamics to smaller social media companies or other large technology companies, but the resolutions to those problems might look very different. Originality/value Navigating the challenges of this kind of social media will be one of the primary tests of how libraries deal with technology in the future and set the course for the technology that comes after.

“Through the looking glass: envisioning new library technologies” the scale of Facebook part 1: misinformation

Purpose This column aims to explore the implications of Facebook’s size and reach to understand the role of massive social networks in our world, in general, and libraries, in particular. Design/methodology/approach This column uses the example of misinformation to underscore the challenges endemic to connecting so many people under Facebooks particular business model. Findings Facebooks massive size, combined with the nature of the parts of our social lives it connects to, means that it currently stands alone and raises unique questions about what it would take to make meaningful changes to it or any similar competitor that arises. Originality/value Only by grappling with the dynamics of network effects on an organization of this size is it possible for informational professionals to understand the challenges and potential futures of massive social networks.