Abstract Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have trained Black librarians and strengthened the library profession since 1927 when the first HBCU-based library school was founded at Hampton University. However, HBCU professors, library directors, and alumni are often overlooked in conversations on librarian professionalization. In this article, four distinguished HBCU-affiliated library leaders provide critical perspectives on LIS practice. Their collective insight illustrates the value of HBCUs in LIS and demonstrates opportunities for new directions.
{"title":"Critical Perspectives on Diversity and Equality in U.S. LIS Practice: Four HBCU-affiliated Leaders Weigh in","authors":"Ana Ndumu","doi":"10.1515/libri-2019-0187","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/libri-2019-0187","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have trained Black librarians and strengthened the library profession since 1927 when the first HBCU-based library school was founded at Hampton University. However, HBCU professors, library directors, and alumni are often overlooked in conversations on librarian professionalization. In this article, four distinguished HBCU-affiliated library leaders provide critical perspectives on LIS practice. Their collective insight illustrates the value of HBCUs in LIS and demonstrates opportunities for new directions.","PeriodicalId":45618,"journal":{"name":"Libri-International Journal of Libraries and Information Studies","volume":"71 1","pages":"267 - 277"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1515/libri-2019-0187","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44822058","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jason C. Young, Renee Lynch, S. Boakye-Achampong, Chris Jowaisas, J. Sam
Abstract Public libraries and development organizations share many common goals that make them strong potential partners in the Global South. In spite of these commonalities, libraries are often overlooked as development partners. This is unfortunate because these partnerships could allow librarians to more fully and effectively participate in the development of their communities. This paper explores strategies that libraries might employ to make themselves more visible to development organizations. It does so through analysis of interviews with practitioners who have funded or implemented development projects across countries in Africa. We find that these practitioners are open to working more with libraries, but that it will take a lot of work on the part of public libraries to accomplish broad shifts in perception amongst development agencies. Collecting and openly sharing data on the output and impact of public libraries is a first step in this work, but these efforts must also be augmented through increased marketing and networking by libraries. Libraries need to build internal capacity to use data to drive advocacy efforts and attract funding from development donors.
{"title":"Public Libraries and Development across Sub-Saharan Africa: Overcoming a Problem of Perception","authors":"Jason C. Young, Renee Lynch, S. Boakye-Achampong, Chris Jowaisas, J. Sam","doi":"10.1515/libri-2020-0096","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/libri-2020-0096","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Public libraries and development organizations share many common goals that make them strong potential partners in the Global South. In spite of these commonalities, libraries are often overlooked as development partners. This is unfortunate because these partnerships could allow librarians to more fully and effectively participate in the development of their communities. This paper explores strategies that libraries might employ to make themselves more visible to development organizations. It does so through analysis of interviews with practitioners who have funded or implemented development projects across countries in Africa. We find that these practitioners are open to working more with libraries, but that it will take a lot of work on the part of public libraries to accomplish broad shifts in perception amongst development agencies. Collecting and openly sharing data on the output and impact of public libraries is a first step in this work, but these efforts must also be augmented through increased marketing and networking by libraries. Libraries need to build internal capacity to use data to drive advocacy efforts and attract funding from development donors.","PeriodicalId":45618,"journal":{"name":"Libri-International Journal of Libraries and Information Studies","volume":"71 1","pages":"419 - 429"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1515/libri-2020-0096","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45108609","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate students’ behavior towards knowledge sharing and the factors, individual and classroom, affecting it. Quantitative research design was used to conduct this study. Students enrolled in engineering universities, located in three provinces (Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh) and capital (Islamabad) of Pakistan, were the population of this study. Researchers collected the data through survey questionnaires. SPSS-22 was used to analyze the collected data and for testing the hypotheses. Results revealed that the majority of engineering students’ knowledge sharing behavior was positive. Findings proved that majority of individual and classroom related factors were affecting knowledge sharing behavior of Pakistani students significantly. This is the first study which investigated Pakistani 10 engineering category universities’ students’ behavior towards knowledge sharing and factors impacting it. Results contributed in the body of literature by advancing it regarding behavior towards knowledge sharing in the context of engineering students of Pakistan. The study’s findings can play a vital role in facilitating educational institutions, students, and academicians in understanding the factors impacting students’ knowledge sharing behavior. This, in turn, might help them in removing negatively influencing factors by taking essential measures and facilitating factors with positive impact to improve students’ knowledge sharingbehavior.
{"title":"Fostering Knowledge Sharing Behavior Among Pakistani Engineering Students: Role of Individual and Classroom Related Factors","authors":"Muhammad Safdar, Syeda Hina Batool, K. Mahmood","doi":"10.1515/libri-2020-0153","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/libri-2020-0153","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate students’ behavior towards knowledge sharing and the factors, individual and classroom, affecting it. Quantitative research design was used to conduct this study. Students enrolled in engineering universities, located in three provinces (Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh) and capital (Islamabad) of Pakistan, were the population of this study. Researchers collected the data through survey questionnaires. SPSS-22 was used to analyze the collected data and for testing the hypotheses. Results revealed that the majority of engineering students’ knowledge sharing behavior was positive. Findings proved that majority of individual and classroom related factors were affecting knowledge sharing behavior of Pakistani students significantly. This is the first study which investigated Pakistani 10 engineering category universities’ students’ behavior towards knowledge sharing and factors impacting it. Results contributed in the body of literature by advancing it regarding behavior towards knowledge sharing in the context of engineering students of Pakistan. The study’s findings can play a vital role in facilitating educational institutions, students, and academicians in understanding the factors impacting students’ knowledge sharing behavior. This, in turn, might help them in removing negatively influencing factors by taking essential measures and facilitating factors with positive impact to improve students’ knowledge sharingbehavior.","PeriodicalId":45618,"journal":{"name":"Libri-International Journal of Libraries and Information Studies","volume":"72 1","pages":"39 - 51"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1515/libri-2020-0153","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46348130","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract This paper reviews a large number of research achievements relevant to user privacy protection in an untrusted network environment, and then analyzes and evaluates their application limitations in personalized information retrieval, to establish the conditional constraints that an effective approach for user preference privacy protection in personalized information retrieval should meet, thus providing a basic reference for the solution of this problem. First, based on the basic framework of a personalized information retrieval platform, we establish a complete set of constraints for user preference privacy protection in terms of security, usability, efficiency, and accuracy. Then, we comprehensively review the technical features for all kinds of popular methods for user privacy protection, and analyze their application limitations in personalized information retrieval, according to the constraints of preference privacy protection. The results show that personalized information retrieval has higher requirements for users’ privacy protection, i.e., it is required to comprehensively improve the security of users’ preference privacy on the untrusted server-side, under the precondition of not changing the platform, algorithm, efficiency, and accuracy of personalized information retrieval. However, all kinds of existing privacy methods still cannot meet the above requirements. This paper is an important study attempt to the problem of user preference privacy protection of personalized information retrieval, which can provide a basic reference and direction for the further study of the problem.
{"title":"The Protection of User Preference Privacy in Personalized Information Retrieval: Challenges and Overviews","authors":"Zongda Wu, Chenglang Lu, Youlin Zhao, Jian Xie, Dongdong Zou, Xinning Su","doi":"10.1515/libri-2019-0140","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/libri-2019-0140","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This paper reviews a large number of research achievements relevant to user privacy protection in an untrusted network environment, and then analyzes and evaluates their application limitations in personalized information retrieval, to establish the conditional constraints that an effective approach for user preference privacy protection in personalized information retrieval should meet, thus providing a basic reference for the solution of this problem. First, based on the basic framework of a personalized information retrieval platform, we establish a complete set of constraints for user preference privacy protection in terms of security, usability, efficiency, and accuracy. Then, we comprehensively review the technical features for all kinds of popular methods for user privacy protection, and analyze their application limitations in personalized information retrieval, according to the constraints of preference privacy protection. The results show that personalized information retrieval has higher requirements for users’ privacy protection, i.e., it is required to comprehensively improve the security of users’ preference privacy on the untrusted server-side, under the precondition of not changing the platform, algorithm, efficiency, and accuracy of personalized information retrieval. However, all kinds of existing privacy methods still cannot meet the above requirements. This paper is an important study attempt to the problem of user preference privacy protection of personalized information retrieval, which can provide a basic reference and direction for the further study of the problem.","PeriodicalId":45618,"journal":{"name":"Libri-International Journal of Libraries and Information Studies","volume":"71 1","pages":"227 - 237"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1515/libri-2019-0140","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46399449","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Using a constructivist lens, this study investigated the role of school libraries in supporting an inquiry-based approach for teaching and learning science subjects in senior secondary schools in Ekiti State, Nigeria, the challenges faced and possibilities presented. The significance of this study is based on the importance Nigeria has assigned to science education as a means to achieving national development. A mixed-methods approach was chosen for the study. The population of the study included school librarians, principals, and science teachers in public senior secondary schools as well as staff in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology concerned with supporting and managing resources for science teaching and learning. Data was collected using questionnaires, interviews, and observation. Quantitative data collected through the questionnaires were analyzed using the SPSS, while qualitative data were transcribed and thematically analyzed. The findings revealed the library resource most frequently available in school libraries for supporting science curriculum implementation is a textbook. Most of the staff in charge of the library had no librarianship qualification. Teacher-centred approaches predominated amongst teachers. The study emphasizes how school libraries are underrated as support for the curriculum. It proffers some far reaching recommendations to position school libraries for better performance.
{"title":"The Role of School Libraries in Supporting Inquiry-Based Methods for Teaching Science in Nigerian Schools: Challenges and Possibilities","authors":"O. Olajide, Sandy Zinn","doi":"10.1515/libri-2020-0068","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/libri-2020-0068","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Using a constructivist lens, this study investigated the role of school libraries in supporting an inquiry-based approach for teaching and learning science subjects in senior secondary schools in Ekiti State, Nigeria, the challenges faced and possibilities presented. The significance of this study is based on the importance Nigeria has assigned to science education as a means to achieving national development. A mixed-methods approach was chosen for the study. The population of the study included school librarians, principals, and science teachers in public senior secondary schools as well as staff in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology concerned with supporting and managing resources for science teaching and learning. Data was collected using questionnaires, interviews, and observation. Quantitative data collected through the questionnaires were analyzed using the SPSS, while qualitative data were transcribed and thematically analyzed. The findings revealed the library resource most frequently available in school libraries for supporting science curriculum implementation is a textbook. Most of the staff in charge of the library had no librarianship qualification. Teacher-centred approaches predominated amongst teachers. The study emphasizes how school libraries are underrated as support for the curriculum. It proffers some far reaching recommendations to position school libraries for better performance.","PeriodicalId":45618,"journal":{"name":"Libri-International Journal of Libraries and Information Studies","volume":"71 1","pages":"171 - 182"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1515/libri-2020-0068","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49508539","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Consumption emotions are not always considered when satisfaction with library services is assessed. In this research, consumption emotions perceived by users of eight different libraries of a Mexican higher education institution are identified when using library services. Laros and Steenkamp. 2005. “Emotions in Consumer Behavior: A Hierarchical Approach.” Journal of Business Research 58: 1437–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2003.09.013 hierarchical scale was used to assess library users’ consumption emotions. The relationship between those emotions and the users’ satisfaction is then established and analyzed using both descriptive statistics analysis and an entropy-oriented machine learning approach. The first approach suggests that users feel more positive consumption emotions (contentment and happiness) than negative emotions (anger). The entropy analysis shows that the identified consumption emotions have a great prediction power over the satisfaction level that users will manifest. This research contributes to the issue of satisfaction assessment by including library users’ consumption emotions in Mexico.
{"title":"Satisfaction and Consumption Emotions of Library Users at a Public University in Mexico: A Case Study","authors":"Blanca-Lidia Miranda-Valencia","doi":"10.1515/libri-2020-0002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/libri-2020-0002","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Consumption emotions are not always considered when satisfaction with library services is assessed. In this research, consumption emotions perceived by users of eight different libraries of a Mexican higher education institution are identified when using library services. Laros and Steenkamp. 2005. “Emotions in Consumer Behavior: A Hierarchical Approach.” Journal of Business Research 58: 1437–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2003.09.013 hierarchical scale was used to assess library users’ consumption emotions. The relationship between those emotions and the users’ satisfaction is then established and analyzed using both descriptive statistics analysis and an entropy-oriented machine learning approach. The first approach suggests that users feel more positive consumption emotions (contentment and happiness) than negative emotions (anger). The entropy analysis shows that the identified consumption emotions have a great prediction power over the satisfaction level that users will manifest. This research contributes to the issue of satisfaction assessment by including library users’ consumption emotions in Mexico.","PeriodicalId":45618,"journal":{"name":"Libri-International Journal of Libraries and Information Studies","volume":"71 1","pages":"109 - 121"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1515/libri-2020-0002","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44667293","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Among online communities of customers there are a number of different types of group that need to be distinguished. One interesting type are virtual product user communities, i.e. company sponsored online forums where product users share usage experience and collaboratively construct new knowledge to solve technical problems. The purpose of this paper is to show that these “virtual product user communities” are a distinct type of customer group with knowledge innovation capability. The research adopts a method combining observation and content analysis of discussion threads where technical problems are solved, complemented by thematic analysis of interviews with forum members to explore its character, especially its knowledge related attributes. The paper confirms empirically that the virtual product user community is a distinct type of virtual community and can be differentiated from other virtual communities of consumers. In addition, an enhanced classification framework, extending Porter’s (2004) classic 5Ps model, is proposed to highlight knowledge-related activities in virtual communities. Of particular interest is that the findings suggest that knowledge-related activities should be considered as an important attribute in defining and classifying virtual communities. In terms of practical implications, it is recommended that the virtual product user community should be given appropriate support from top management in order to fully exploit its knowledge innovation value. Moreover, tailored facilitation strategies to promote knowledge construction activities and community development can be developed in accordance with its unique attributes. The paper precisely distinguishes one specific type of innovative virtual community consisting of product users from other online customer communities. Moreover, it outlines a revised virtual community classification framework, which can be widely applied in analysing features of online groups. Its key attribute of knowledge-related activity redirects attention to virtual communities’ knowledge innovation capabilities.
{"title":"A Distinct Type of Online Group for Customer Knowledge Innovation: The Virtual Product User Community","authors":"Xuguang Li, A. Cox","doi":"10.1515/libri-2020-0138","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/libri-2020-0138","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Among online communities of customers there are a number of different types of group that need to be distinguished. One interesting type are virtual product user communities, i.e. company sponsored online forums where product users share usage experience and collaboratively construct new knowledge to solve technical problems. The purpose of this paper is to show that these “virtual product user communities” are a distinct type of customer group with knowledge innovation capability. The research adopts a method combining observation and content analysis of discussion threads where technical problems are solved, complemented by thematic analysis of interviews with forum members to explore its character, especially its knowledge related attributes. The paper confirms empirically that the virtual product user community is a distinct type of virtual community and can be differentiated from other virtual communities of consumers. In addition, an enhanced classification framework, extending Porter’s (2004) classic 5Ps model, is proposed to highlight knowledge-related activities in virtual communities. Of particular interest is that the findings suggest that knowledge-related activities should be considered as an important attribute in defining and classifying virtual communities. In terms of practical implications, it is recommended that the virtual product user community should be given appropriate support from top management in order to fully exploit its knowledge innovation value. Moreover, tailored facilitation strategies to promote knowledge construction activities and community development can be developed in accordance with its unique attributes. The paper precisely distinguishes one specific type of innovative virtual community consisting of product users from other online customer communities. Moreover, it outlines a revised virtual community classification framework, which can be widely applied in analysing features of online groups. Its key attribute of knowledge-related activity redirects attention to virtual communities’ knowledge innovation capabilities.","PeriodicalId":45618,"journal":{"name":"Libri-International Journal of Libraries and Information Studies","volume":"71 1","pages":"203 - 218"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1515/libri-2020-0138","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48949132","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract This study examined personal information creation and storage practices in digital and print media by faculty in selected universities in Ghana. A sample survey research design guided the research and quantitative data were collected from 235 faculty members of six universities in Ghana. Qualitative data was also collected from 18 willing faculty members, and was guided by an interview schedule. Faculty reported that they created their information in an organized manner and that they created information mainly in digital formats compared with manual. The task at hand determined the information facility created and search words that are semantically related to the item are used in finding/re-finding electronic information. Faculty reported that they acquired their information literacy personally, and information literacy explained re-finding of digital information but not non-digital information. The demographic variables in the study did not explain finding/re-finding of stored information: gender (β = −0.113, p = 0.280) and age (β = 0.038, p = 0.545). This study establishes clearly the pattern of information literacy activities for faculty in the universities in Ghana.
摘要:本研究考察了加纳选定大学的教师在数字和印刷媒体上的个人信息创建和存储实践。抽样调查研究设计指导了研究,并从加纳六所大学的235名教职员工中收集了定量数据。定性数据还从18名自愿的教师中收集,并以访谈时间表为指导。教师报告说,他们以有组织的方式创建他们的信息,他们主要以数字格式创建信息,而不是手工格式。手头的任务确定了创建的信息设施,并且在查找/重新查找电子信息时使用与项目在语义上相关的搜索词。教师报告说,他们个人获得了信息素养,信息素养解释了数字信息的重新发现,而不是非数字信息。研究中的人口统计学变量不能解释存储信息的发现/重新发现:性别(β = - 0.113, p = 0.280)和年龄(β = 0.038, p = 0.545)。本研究明确了加纳大学教师信息素养活动的模式。
{"title":"Personal Information Management Behaviors of University Faculty – Aspects of Print versus Electronic","authors":"W. Nwagwu, Antonia Bernadette Donkor","doi":"10.1515/libri-2020-0041","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/libri-2020-0041","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This study examined personal information creation and storage practices in digital and print media by faculty in selected universities in Ghana. A sample survey research design guided the research and quantitative data were collected from 235 faculty members of six universities in Ghana. Qualitative data was also collected from 18 willing faculty members, and was guided by an interview schedule. Faculty reported that they created their information in an organized manner and that they created information mainly in digital formats compared with manual. The task at hand determined the information facility created and search words that are semantically related to the item are used in finding/re-finding electronic information. Faculty reported that they acquired their information literacy personally, and information literacy explained re-finding of digital information but not non-digital information. The demographic variables in the study did not explain finding/re-finding of stored information: gender (β = −0.113, p = 0.280) and age (β = 0.038, p = 0.545). This study establishes clearly the pattern of information literacy activities for faculty in the universities in Ghana.","PeriodicalId":45618,"journal":{"name":"Libri-International Journal of Libraries and Information Studies","volume":"71 1","pages":"183 - 202"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1515/libri-2020-0041","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46936425","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
T. Asubiaro, Oluwole Badmus, U. Ikenyei, B. Popoola, E. Igwe
Abstract Social media presents a robust stage for disseminating time-sensitive information that is needed during a public health disease of global concern such as COVID-19. This study finds out how the 23 anglophone Sub-Saharan African countries’ national health ministries and infectious disease agencies disseminated COVID-19 related information through their social media accounts within the first three months after the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. COVID-19 related qualitative and quantitative data types were collected from the social media accounts of the surveyed national health ministries and agencies for analysis. Over 86% of the African countries had presence on social media; Facebook was the most popular, though Twitter contained more posts. One of the credibility issues that was noticed is that most of the health ministries’ and agencies’ social media accounts were unverified and access to the social media accounts was not provided on most of their official websites. Information dissemination became more deliberate and increased significantly after the announcement of the fist cases of COVID-19 in the countries under review. Awareness creation, updates and news constituted the major categories of information that were disseminated, mostly in the form of derivative social media information before the announcement of the first COVID-19 case in the surveyed African countries. Campaigns against misinformation were barely undertaken by most of the countries. Strategies used by some countries included the employment of social media influencers and creation of content in local languages. Strategies that include development of health information content that targets different groups in African societies and the inclusion of elderly in the community and religious leaders as non-state actors in health information communication were recommended.
{"title":"Exploring Sub-Saharan Africa’s Communication of COVID-19-Related Health Information on Social Media","authors":"T. Asubiaro, Oluwole Badmus, U. Ikenyei, B. Popoola, E. Igwe","doi":"10.1515/libri-2020-0097","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/libri-2020-0097","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Social media presents a robust stage for disseminating time-sensitive information that is needed during a public health disease of global concern such as COVID-19. This study finds out how the 23 anglophone Sub-Saharan African countries’ national health ministries and infectious disease agencies disseminated COVID-19 related information through their social media accounts within the first three months after the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. COVID-19 related qualitative and quantitative data types were collected from the social media accounts of the surveyed national health ministries and agencies for analysis. Over 86% of the African countries had presence on social media; Facebook was the most popular, though Twitter contained more posts. One of the credibility issues that was noticed is that most of the health ministries’ and agencies’ social media accounts were unverified and access to the social media accounts was not provided on most of their official websites. Information dissemination became more deliberate and increased significantly after the announcement of the fist cases of COVID-19 in the countries under review. Awareness creation, updates and news constituted the major categories of information that were disseminated, mostly in the form of derivative social media information before the announcement of the first COVID-19 case in the surveyed African countries. Campaigns against misinformation were barely undertaken by most of the countries. Strategies used by some countries included the employment of social media influencers and creation of content in local languages. Strategies that include development of health information content that targets different groups in African societies and the inclusion of elderly in the community and religious leaders as non-state actors in health information communication were recommended.","PeriodicalId":45618,"journal":{"name":"Libri-International Journal of Libraries and Information Studies","volume":"71 1","pages":"123 - 139"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1515/libri-2020-0097","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46119380","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Identifying the factors affecting the success of academic information management and evaluation centers is one of the most important studies on how its results can increase the productivity of these centers. This research attempts to investigate the effect of five critical success factors for three centers of academic information management and evaluation in Iran as a developing country. These centers play a key role in the management and evaluation of theses, research projects, papers, and patents nationally. Semi-structured interviews, studies of literature, and providing questionnaires have been used to collect the material for the research. The research population was selected using purposive sampling and consists of managers and all the employees in the three centers who had at least a master’s degree. Their viewpoints were surveyed and the data was analyzed using ANOVA, Scheffe, and Pearson’s correlation test. The findings affirm that “management stability” makes it possible to perform long-term plans in these centers. However, “independency” acts as a factor to strike the balance between responsibilities and authorities, “manager’s speciality” improves the plans and performances in a specific and professional way, “information technology” reduces the expenses and facilitates the presentation of faster services, and finally “distance from authorities” influences the speed of reporting and providing facilities. The results show each of these five factors, not only independently but also together and as a whole, affects the success of these kinds of centers. Moreover, while confirming the correlation between these factors, it was revealed which of these factors has a greater impact on their success.
{"title":"Identifying and Evaluating the Critical Success Factors for Academic Information Management and Evaluation Centers: The Case of Iran","authors":"Abdolreza Noroozi Chakoli, L. Samadi","doi":"10.1515/libri-2020-0093","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/libri-2020-0093","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Identifying the factors affecting the success of academic information management and evaluation centers is one of the most important studies on how its results can increase the productivity of these centers. This research attempts to investigate the effect of five critical success factors for three centers of academic information management and evaluation in Iran as a developing country. These centers play a key role in the management and evaluation of theses, research projects, papers, and patents nationally. Semi-structured interviews, studies of literature, and providing questionnaires have been used to collect the material for the research. The research population was selected using purposive sampling and consists of managers and all the employees in the three centers who had at least a master’s degree. Their viewpoints were surveyed and the data was analyzed using ANOVA, Scheffe, and Pearson’s correlation test. The findings affirm that “management stability” makes it possible to perform long-term plans in these centers. However, “independency” acts as a factor to strike the balance between responsibilities and authorities, “manager’s speciality” improves the plans and performances in a specific and professional way, “information technology” reduces the expenses and facilitates the presentation of faster services, and finally “distance from authorities” influences the speed of reporting and providing facilities. The results show each of these five factors, not only independently but also together and as a whole, affects the success of these kinds of centers. Moreover, while confirming the correlation between these factors, it was revealed which of these factors has a greater impact on their success.","PeriodicalId":45618,"journal":{"name":"Libri-International Journal of Libraries and Information Studies","volume":"71 1","pages":"141 - 158"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1515/libri-2020-0093","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43055422","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}