Intellectual freedom: Waving and wavering across three national contexts

IFLA Journal, Volume 48, Issue 3, Page 439-448, October 2022.
The 1999 IFLA Statement on Libraries and Intellectual Freedom makes no explicit distinction between personal and professional ethics, though there are implicit indications that there may be divergence between professional and personal considerations. Across three national contexts (the USA, Canada, and the UK), we explore the gaps between professional and personal ethics, as well as how these gaps have been potentially exploited, addressed, or resolved. There have been waves of debate about intellectual freedom and social responsibility across these three national contexts. In the contemporary age, we see clashes around conceptions of neoliberalism, neutrality, expressive freedom, justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. The divergence of opinion comes from both the left and the right. The gap between library rhetoric and how it is practiced on the ground in different contexts is visibly shifting and under increased scrutiny, certainly in the USA, Canada, and the UK.

Croatian adolescents’ credibility judgments in making everyday life decisions

IFLA Journal, Volume 49, Issue 1, Page 52-60, March 2023.
The objective of this study was to investigate how high school students judged the credibility of information obtained for help with making everyday life decisions. Semi-structured individual interviews were carried out to reveal what reasons lay behind their belief in the quality, accuracy and helpfulness of the information. The results reveal that the students preferred turning to interpersonal information sources. The information obtained was perceived to be credible in cases when the source had been characterized with attributes that expressed competence and trustworthiness (such as expertise, knowledge and precision). Other important indicators of information credibility in cases of interpersonal information sources were the characteristics that expressed personal trust and the quality of the relationship with the source. Information on social media was judged by socially generated cues that expressed reputation and popularity in the users’ community. Lastly, credibility was verified by checking the consistency of information from multiple sources.

A systematic review of crisis management in libraries with emphasis on crisis preparedness

IFLA Journal, Volume 49, Issue 1, Page 201-215, March 2023.
Crisis preparedness is critical for crisis management in all organizations, including libraries. Libraries must make decisions about crisis situations, which requires planning and preparedness for crises. The purpose of this systematic review was to analyse and identify the main issues that assist libraries in decision-making in times of crisis. A total of 2900 studies from 1985 to 2020 were identified. Following the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 44 studies were included in the final review process. The findings of the study indicate that the subjects which were focused on most frequently with regard to crisis management were preparedness instruction, training programmes, preparation assessment and Important factors in crisis management. Moreover, the majority of the studies primarily focused on economic or financial rather than natural, social or health-related crises. Furthermore, between 2008 and 2017, there was a significant increase in the number of published articles mostly considered academic and research libraries. In addition, there has been a recent increase in articles dealing with crisis preparedness and management in these researches.

Technological scenarios for the new normality in Latin American academic libraries

IFLA Journal, Volume 48, Issue 4, Page 538-547, December 2022.
The technological scenarios that have arisen in Latin American universities have been substantially changing in recent months as a result of the international health emergency caused by COVID-19. The lockdown policy revealed the need to develop digital and informational skills to adapt to the environment and the demands of distance learning required for integral online education. In order to observe and systematize the transformation of the technological environment in academic libraries during these months, the recent situation was identified based on data analysis obtained from a questionnaire applied in Latin American countries. The results reported significant changes in the use of digital applications, services, user assistance and librarian training during the pandemic, as well as the libraries’ mid-term commitments.

Preservation storage and curation strategies: Introduction

IFLA Journal, Volume 48, Issue 2, Page 263-266, June 2022.

Tāhuhu: Preserving the Nation’s Memory Programme: An interview with Peter Whitehead and Hinerangi Himiona

IFLA Journal, Volume 48, Issue 2, Page 267-274, June 2022.

Strategies for checking misinformation: An approach from the Global South

IFLA Journal, Volume 49, Issue 1, Page 3-17, March 2023.
The manipulation of information to suit one’s vested interests is a growing hazard. It has elements of disinformation, misinformation and fake news, and lacks authenticity. Such manipulation and distortion of facts can have serious consequences for a community, especially in a diverse nation like India. It calls for strict measures and awareness to check this spread. Technology further catalyses such dissemination. Institutions, libraries, governments and the media are all deliberating effective means to distinguish fake news from authentic news. This article details some such initiatives. It discusses the Government of India’s Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, to curb such deceitful dissemination, elements of which can be replicable in other geographies. It spotlights the issue and underscores the need for media and information literacy for all to be more discerning during the reception, consumption and assimilation of information before responding to it. Further, the fact-checking initiatives and Information Technology Rules as taken and framed in India may be replicated in other countries.

Preservation and conservation of indigenous manuscripts

IFLA Journal, Volume 49, Issue 1, Page 143-156, March 2023.
This study is an endeavour to investigate the preservation and conservation status of the heritage of indigenous manuscripts in the Central Library at the Jain Vishva Bharati Institute (Deemed University), Rajasthan, India, that are unknown to the scholarly world. A survey of the manuscripts was carried out to investigate their physical status. A structured interview with nine staff members from the manuscripts section was conducted to obtain information regarding the manuscript collections and current preservation and conservation techniques employed. The findings reveal that the overall preservation and conservation techniques used in the library were found to be satisfactory according to the standard operating procedures of the National Mission for Manuscripts. The study also provides an understanding of the nature of the manuscript collections and the preservation and conservation techniques employed with the manuscripts.

Abstracts

IFLA Journal, Volume 48, Issue 2, Page 352-370, June 2022.

Comparison of library studies programs in Croatia and the USA

IFLA Journal, Volume 49, Issue 1, Page 74-86, March 2023.
This study describes and compares the minimum educational requirements of library and information science programs offered in Croatia and the USA. The article adds to previous research in comparative education and comparative librarianship. The findings show notable differences and similarities between the two countries. The library and information science educational path in Croatia is more structured, requiring a Bachelor’s degree in addition to a Master’s, as well as postgraduate licensure. The USA typically only offers graduate degree programs in the field. Library and information science programs in both countries are generally flexible and highly customizable. Both countries require several foundational courses in librarianship, however, Croatian programs place greater emphasis on technology and collection management curricula. In contrast, library and information science programs in the USA require more managerial coursework and offer students increased flexibility in terms of course choice. This article may assist library school educators in evaluating their programs to address current and future professional needs.

A declaration for all seasons: The IFLA Statement on Libraries and Intellectual Freedom

IFLA Journal, Volume 48, Issue 3, Page 373-382, October 2022.
A quarter century after the momentous establishment of IFLA’s Committee on Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression is an appropriate time to reflect on the landmark IFLA Statement on Libraries and Intellectual Freedom. The Statement consciously broadened IFLA’s remit, locating intellectual freedom as a fundamental human right and a core responsibility of the library profession that operates within libraries’ commitments to diversity and plurality. As the examples discussed in this essay illustrate, the Statement continues to be relevant and is truly a declaration for all seasons. The concerns to be addressed encompass an extensive range of social justice concerns – concerns that are global and cover all elements of the library and information sector. Addressing those concerns and promoting intellectual freedom demands the intervention of trusted information agents to assist communities to use the Internet wisely and for the widest possible benefit. It demands the profession’s concerted action, coupled with regular reporting and discussion in the library and information science literature. The profession has a challenging but vital role in preserving one of humanity’s most precious rights: intellectual freedom.

Knowledge exchange and growth in a hybrid community – a social-capital-based approach: Evidence from Latvia

IFLA Journal, Volume 49, Issue 1, Page 87-98, March 2023.
This article investigates patterns of knowledge exchange in hybrid communities where virtual and face-to-face links of communication are complementary. The study framework is based on social capital theory. The role of social capital dimensions and motivational factors in fostering the exchange of different forms of knowledge is investigated at an individual level. The proposed theoretical model is tested through structural equation modelling, and the analysis is carried out on a sample of over 250 individuals belonging to the community of users of the National Library of Latvia. The results confirm most of the theoretical hypotheses, but with some unexpected results– such as the relevant role of motivational factors in fostering the exchange of complex forms of knowledge– highlighting the specific nature of hybrid communities.

Collections, care, and the collective: Experiments in collaborative fieldwork in area studies librarianship

IFLA Journal, Volume 49, Issue 1, Page 39-51, March 2023.
While scholarship in library science continues to expand understanding of collaboration and its potential to transform the collective collection, librarian acquisitions trips have been largely absent from the conversation. In early 2020, three US-based South Asian studies librarians traveled together to India, jettisoning solo travel in favor of a model of collaborative fieldwork. Using this trip as a case study, the authors draw on interdisciplinary literature to explore how intersecting identities and the embodied nature of fieldwork shape outcomes for the collective collection. They reflect on how foregrounding care in the field can converge with efforts to build more ethical collections. Finally, the authors consider the possibilities of a shift toward collaboration beyond mere coordination, and offer suggestions for how a relational perspective might be advocated for in their work. At the intersection of theory and practice, this article helps readers understand the holistic work behind area studies librarianship, and offers a vision of improved practice in the field.

Community-driven care of Lanna palm-leaf manuscripts

IFLA Journal, Volume 49, Issue 1, Page 132-142, March 2023.
Palm-leaf manuscripts are an important part of the heritage of the Lanna culture of northern Thailand. The purpose of this article is to explore the practices and attitudes towards managing palm-leaf manuscripts in three communities in northern Thailand with a view to developing a community-centric understanding of sustainable care for palm-leaf manuscripts. The study was based on interviews, which were analysed thematically. It was found that Buddhist beliefs in earning merit and the cultural value of palm-leaf manuscripts underlie community involvement. Leadership was also important, although models of leadership were different in each case. External organizations such as universities play a key role in cataloguing, preserving and using palm-leaf manuscripts. Digitization, although central to the value to external organizations, does not really promote community access. Reflecting on the drivers and challenges in the three villages, a model of community-driven care for palm-leaf manuscripts is proposed.

Academic libraries and the need for continuing professional development in Botswana

IFLA Journal, Volume 49, Issue 1, Page 117-131, March 2023.
An academic librarian is expected to be skilled in the tasks they undertake and make quality services promptly available to users. This study aimed to determine academic librarians’ understanding of the changes in their profession and the need for continuing professional development; examine librarians’ perception of the quality of library and information science education in Botswana; and find out the extent to which academic librarians perform different library and professional functions. The research paradigm adopted was a positivist approach. Using the census method, quantitative data was collected from practising librarians and qualitative data was obtained from five library heads. The study established that there had been significant changes in the librarians’ jobs over the years, as they were currently required to work harder, learn more skills and perform new tasks. With no suitable continuing professional development strategy in place, there was a lack of adequate knowledge to perform information technology and other salient tasks. Appropriate recommendations are made.

The power of information and coping with albinism: An autoethnographic study

IFLA Journal, Volume 49, Issue 2, Page 432-442, June 2023.
This article aims to ascertain the purposes for which the author needed information when her children with albinism were born, as well as explore the mechanisms she used to find information and the challenges she experienced when searching for information. An autoethnography method is used to share her lived experience of albinism, and the data has been collected through the author’s personal memory by recalling events that happened when she gave birth to her daughter in 2013 and her son in 2016. Information played a crucial role in helping the author to understand albinism better and to deal with her predicament. As a librarian and the mother of children with albinism, the author explored different mechanisms to find information. The Internet was the main source of information, as well as organisations such as Support in Namibia of Albinism Sufferers Requiring Assistance and the Namibia Albino Association Trust, which deal with the plight of people with albinism in the country.

Open government data initiatives in the Maghreb countries: An empirical analysis

IFLA Journal, Volume 49, Issue 1, Page 61-73, March 2023.
This article explores the practices followed in preserving and sharing data in open data portals in the Maghreb countries, and assesses whether their structure and organization are consistent with the objectives of these portals. A set of characteristics that must be available in open data portals was developed and then used as a framework for analysing the structure and organization of open data portals in the Maghreb countries. The study adopted a content analysis approach to analyse the content of five open data portals (in Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Mauritania). The findings indicate that open data portals in the Maghreb countries provide data from different ministries, local communities and organizations. The findings also indicate that the open government data portals in Algeria and Morocco lack translation of content into English, which affects non-Arabic-language speakers. Moreover, the adoption of open data policies is still in its early stages. The study’s originality lies in the fact that it is the first study that focuses on the countries of the Arab Maghreb and the extent of their progress in adopting and making open data available.

An evaluation of institutional repository development in African universities

IFLA Journal, Volume 49, Issue 1, Page 18-38, March 2023.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the development of institutional repositories in university libraries in Africa. An online questionnaire and institutional repository site investigation methods were used to collect data from 134 university libraries in English-speaking countries in Africa. The study finds that there is an increasing wave of development of institutional repositories in English-speaking countries in Africa. The majority of the institutional repositories contain high numbers of theses and dissertations, followed by journal articles and conference and workshop papers. The challenges that are identified include inadequate facilities, unstable Internet connectivity, a lack of funds, an irregular power supply, collecting material for institutional repositories, a lack of skilled information and communications technology personnel, copyright issues and an absence of institutional repository policies. The results from the study provide important data and insight into the development of institutional repositories in university libraries in the context of developing countries, and offer suggestions for university librarians and management teams.

Knowledge management, organizational culture and job performance in Nigerian university libraries

IFLA Journal, Volume 49, Issue 1, Page 99-116, March 2023.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating effect of organizational culture on the relationship between knowledge management practices and the job performance of academic librarians in university libraries in Nigeria. The study employed a quantitative research methodology. A total of five hypotheses were proposed for testing, and a conceptual model was developed to test these hypotheses for significance at the .05 level. A questionnaire survey was used and a total of 230 academic librarians agreed to participate in the study. The data collected was analysed with the aid of SPSS. The results of the study reveal that knowledge management and organizational culture made positive and significant contributions to job performance. The results of the study also provide compelling evidence in support of the impact of organizational culture on the relationship between knowledge management and the job performance of academic librarians in university libraries in Nigeria.

Data science education programmes in Middle Eastern institutions: A survey study

IFLA Journal, Volume 49, Issue 1, Page 157-179, March 2023.
In response to the current trends in dealing with data in academia, various research institutions and commercial entities around the world are building new programmes to fill the gaps in workforce demand in specific disciplines, including data curation, big data, data management, data science and data analytics. Thus, the aim of the present study was to reveal the reality of data science education in the Middle East and to determine the opportunities and challenges for teaching data science in the region. Thirteen countries in the Middle East were offering 48 data science programmes at the time of the study. The results reveal that these data science programmes significantly use the words ‘data’ and ‘analytics’ in their names. With regard to the academic affiliations of the data science programmes, the study found that they are offered in a variety of schools, especially computer science, information technology and business. Moreover, the study found that computer science is the dominant trend in the programmes. Data science programmes have a significant overlap with other programmes, especially statistics and computer science, because of the interdisciplinary nature of this field. Data science schools in the Middle East differ in terms of their programme titles, programme descriptions, course catalogues, curriculum structures and course objectives. Broadly, this study may be useful for those who are seeking to establish a data science programme or to strengthen data science curricula at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Developing research data management services in a regional comprehensive university: The case of Central Washington University

IFLA Journal, Volume 49, Issue 2, Page 443-451, June 2023.
This study aims to analyze the needs of researchers in a regional comprehensive university for research data management services; discuss the options for developing a research data management program at the university; and then propose a phased three-year implementation plan for the university libraries. The method was to design a survey to collect information from researchers and assess and evaluate their needs for research data management services. The results show that researchers’ needs in a regional comprehensive university could be quite different from those of researchers in a research-intensive university. Also, the results verify the hypothesis that researchers in the regional comprehensive university would welcome the libraries offering managed data services for the research community. Therefore, this study suggests a phased three-year implementation plan. The significance of the study is that it can give some insights and helpful information for regional comprehensive universities that are planning to develop a research data management program.

Assessing library and information science graduates’ skills and knowledge against 21st-century employability demands

IFLA Journal, Volume 49, Issue 2, Page 407-418, June 2023.
The demands of graduates, employers and society are changing due to substantial technological advancements. The present study assessed the library and information science skills and knowledge required by employers and society. The study utilized a cross-sectional descriptive research design with both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The study sample was drawn from Master of Arts in Information Studies students who graduated from the University of Dar es Salaam between 2005 and 2020. Questionnaires, alongside interview guides, were used as instruments for the collection of the required data. Descriptive statistics and thematic methods were used to analyse the data. The findings suggest that the Master of Arts in Information Studies curriculum does not fully fulfil all of the expectations and needs of the graduates, employers and society. The study reveals the mismatch between what the curriculum offers and current job market requirements. The study recommends a regular review of the Master of Arts in Information Studies curriculum to effectively integrate 21st-century competencies that meet the needs of the current job market.

Abstracts

IFLA Journal, Volume 48, Issue 3, Page 466-480, October 2022.

How do Asian international students use Australian university libraries? A literature review

IFLA Journal, Volume 49, Issue 2, Page 375-383, June 2023.
The findings of this literature review are applicable to university libraries globally, as students accessing libraries are now more culturally diverse than was the case historically. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, this diversity was due to increased numbers of international students attending selected universities in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Canada. The literature suggests that the different information seeking, cultural transition, information disruption, English-language challenges and learning styles of Asian international students are not fully understood by western university libraries. Consequently, university libraries may not have strategically aligned to their university’s internationalisation objectives. Lack of understanding of the experiences of Asian international students potentially attenuates their well-being and academic success. Furthermore, this lack of adaption could place universities, such as those in Australia, at risk of not meeting national regulatory compliance expectations. This review examines the literature about the context of Asian international students’ use of Australian university libraries and introduces a research project that explores the lived experience of using Australian university libraries. The review identifies literature regarding the changing profile of Asian international students enrolled in Australian universities, their information-seeking behaviour, cross-cultural dimensions, their communication skills, and the expectations of an Australian university library. The review of this literature also seeks to explore who is studying international students, which methods are being used to do so, and which topics are of particular interest to the researchers. Finally, the review considers new post-COVID-19 pandemic opportunities for both libraries and other service areas to understand the needs of Asian international students as universities competitively recruit for their return.

Irish libraries: An introduction

IFLA Journal, Volume 48, Issue 4, Page 483-491, December 2022.