Purpose Advances in computer vision heavily depend on large data sets, making ethical research data management (RDM) increasingly crucial. This paper, an interdisciplinary study, aims to examine RDM practices and challenges among computer vision scholars and explores a GenAI-assisted qualitative analysis workflow as a methodological contribution. Design/methodology/approach Through qualitative case studies of six scholars from five research intensive universities, the authors investigate their data management strategies and challenges. The primary analytical approach involves manual thematic coding with NVivo, complemented by ChatGPT 4o (Qualibot) as an AI-assisted verification tool and a comparative triangulation of both methods to ensure consistency and trustworthiness. Findings Key RDM themes identified include data types and sizes, storage and management, sharing and accessibility, services and training and data management struggles. Drawing on the experiences of six computer vision scholars, the findings reveal a strong reliance on hybrid storage systems combining cloud and local storage for large-scale visual data sets. These experience-based insights suggest that major challenges include financial and logistical burdens of data storage, backup, sharing and the need for data management training. Practical implications The findings exemplify the need for better institutional support, scalable tools and standardized protocols, offering crucial insights for library and information science professionals developing research data services tailored to big data environments. Originality/value This interdisciplinary study provides one of the few empirical, qualitative account of RDM practices specifically within the computer vision community. Methodologically, the authors introduce a novel GenAI-assisted qualitative analysis workflow (Qualibot) rigorously evaluated against manual coding as a complementary validation tool, providing a replicable model for AI-assisted qualitative research in data-intensive domains.
Purpose This study aims to examine how users and communities are integrated into the design and evaluation of semantic or neurosymbolic (NeSy) information systems in digital libraries. Through a structured scoping review and content analysis of academic databases, it identifies and describes multidisciplinary participative practices in the development of these systems; maps methodological trends, gaps and practical recommendations for collaboration in epistemically just designs to support inclusion in digital libraries. Design/methodology/approach The study combines a search, appraisal, synthesis, analysis-based scoping review with bibliometric mapping and qualitative content analysis. It is useful for identifying multidisciplinary participative practices and for observing their methodologies in analytical variables: 1-Timing and process-driven patterns, 2-Methods, 3-Engagement and levels of user participation and 4-Ownership, inclusion, representational gaps and epistemic-justice considerations. Findings Analysis reveals that participative practices are integrated and documented in all 22 analyzable cases, with uneven reporting across phases: early user integration occurs in seven practices (32%), while users are positioned in the late evaluation phase or in narrowly scoped continuous contribution in other cases. Participatory methods cluster around co-design workshops, usability testing and crowd-science. The participation levels concentrate in consultative and collaborative stages, with some empowerment actions. Epistemic-justice considerations are under-documented. Bias-aware modeling and provenance tracking are found in specific cases. Evaluation practices tend to rely on usability and information-retrieval metrics, leaving participation impacts, trust-building and inclusion outcomes under-documented. Research limitations/implications The analysis is constrained by uneven documentation across practices, a temporal focus on the past decade and a corpus dominated by English-language and Global North sources, which limits generalizability. Geographic and linguistic coverage remain uneven: cases cluster in Europe and the Global North and several source papers do not report site geography explicitly. Hybrid initiatives often resist neat categorization, which underscores the need for more transparent reporting of participatory processes and evaluation methods. Future research should combine longitudinal and comparative designs, broaden geographic and linguistic coverage and refine tools for assessing participation, trust and epistemic justice in human-centered AI systems for digital libraries. Originality/value By mapping who is involved, the timing, the methodology, the engagement and the ownership, the study offers a structured lens on the inclusiveness, trustworthiness and accountability of human-centered semantic and AI practices in digital libraries. To authors’ knowledge, no prior synthesis integrates participatory design, citizen science, semantic/NeSy and epistemic-justice literatures in a single cross case map of existing documentation of participative practices on digital library and cultural heritage information systems. The five-lens framework and four-dimension codebook serve as analytical tools; corpus findings and recommendations serve as a pragmatic guide for practitioners seeking bias-aware participation in digital library infrastructures.
Purpose Drawing from recent advancements, this study aims to highlight how the increasing integration of large language models (LLMs) necessitates a novel governance scheme regarding data integration, ethical oversight and bias mitigation. Design/methodology/approach Central to the scheme are the concepts of LLMs companionship and stewardship, which ensure responsible governance to promote repeatability and robust assessment. Findings This study proposes an operational scheme for librarian-led stewardship of LLM-supported research, detailing governance roles, data curation workflows, and accountability mechanisms for attribution and dating tasks. Research limitations/implications This paper offers a conceptual viewpoint rather than large-scale empirical validation. Its framework relies on an illustrative case study and conceptual reasoning rather than extensive implementation data. The author invites the digital library and cyber humanities (CH) communities to test, adapt and empirically evaluate the proposed governance practices. Practical implications Library-based AI governance has practical implications in managing the relationship between human CH researchers and LLMs. Practical policy adjustments are required to position librarians as active stewards of ethical, repeatable and provenance-rich LLM-assisted research. Social implications By positioning libraries as ethical stewards of LLM-supported CH research, this framework advances epistemic justice, mitigates cultural and algorithmic biases against marginalized voices, promotes inclusive representations of global heritage and strengthens public trust in transparent, equitable and democratized knowledge production in the AI era. Originality/value The scheme advocates library-based AI governance to address challenges in the relationship between human researchers and LLMs in humanities scholarship, positioning librarians as active stewards of ethical, repeatable and provenance-rich computational research.
Purpose This study aims to map the specific terrain of prevalent security threats to digital library services, dissect the critical privacy risks associated with patron information and culminate in the proposal of a resilient framework designed to address these multifaceted challenges. Design/methodology/approach To ground this analysis in empirical reality, a quantitative survey of 127 Ukrainian public library professionals was conducted. The study synthesizes established cybersecurity best practices, data protection principles and current information science literature to examine vulnerabilities ranging from technical infrastructure to human-factor risks. Findings The results reveal a critical governance gap: 70% of surveyed institutions operate without a formal information security policy, and 85% lack full-time information technology (IT) staff (with 60% having no dedicated IT resource at all). These findings replace previous assumptions with concrete data, highlighting the urgency of the issue. The investigation identifies a spectrum of common threats, including malware, phishing and denial-of-service attacks and highlights the profound privacy implications of the Diia.Digital Education initiative. Originality/value This research replaces previous assumptions with concrete data regarding the security maturity of libraries in a war zone, specifically analyzing the risks of the Diia ecosystem integration. It proposes a conceptual framework with actionable strategies tailored to empower Ukrainian public libraries to fortify their digital offerings and champion user data privacy.
Purpose As a result of the continuous growth of digital movement across the world, libraries in academic institutions continue to adopt digital marketing to enhance user engagement, increase visibility and align their services with institutional goals and objectives (Gamit et al., 2021; Isiaka et al., 2024). However, despite the continuous growth and adoption, there is a limited body of literature that covers digital marketing in libraries, in particular, academic libraries (Joshua and Michael, 2020). This paper aims to systematically identify, evaluate and synthesise the existing body of literature on digital marketing strategies used by academic libraries across the globe. The review process will facilitate understanding of current practices, trends, effectiveness, challenges and gaps in the body of literature published over the past 10 years, starting from 2015. Design/methodology/approach This study used a systematic literature review, which was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) on literature about digital marketing in South African academic libraries. The Prisma method is used to ensure consistency and transparency in the reporting process. This systematic review addressed the following research question, RQ1: What are the global trends of digital marketing in academic libraries? Searching within EBSCOhost databases (Academic Search Premier, MasterFile, Library Information Science and Technology Abstracts, Business Source Premier), Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus databases for key terms in the titles and abstracts of articles is important to include in any systematic review. The databases used are multi-disciplinary databases. Three key refiners, period (10 years), English Language and journal articles were used after adding keywords in the search boxes. After removing duplicates, EBSCOhost databases mentioned above retrieved a combined number of 232, Scopus with 13 and 6 from the WoS that matched the criteria. The searches were performed on the chosen topic using Boolean and phrase searching. Findings Digital marketing has emerged as a crucial element for marketing services and resources in academic libraries. The findings reveal that digital marketing in academic libraries is predominantly trending in regions such as Asia, Europe and North America. Notably, there is limited research published in Africa, indicating a gap in the body of literature in this area. Countries such as India, Pakistan, Indonesia and Jordan are among the leading contributors to this topic. Globally, there has been a significant increase in research outputs on this topic between 2020 and 2023, marking a peak in digital marketing-related publications during this period, further suggesting a growing recognition of the critical role of digital marketing strategies in academic library settings. Research limitations/implications Research on digital marketing in academic libraries is still quite limited, and some relevant studies might have been overlooked because of database or language restrictions. Practical implications This paper highlights a critical need for academic libraries to integrate and leverage digital marketing to enhance user engagement and the delivery of library services. Adopting digital marketing strategies can help position academic libraries as relevant, proactive and reliable strategic partners that contribute to the university’s goals in a digital era. In addition, this study highlights the need for continuous professional development for academic library staff in digital marketing to provide user-centred services in today’s world. Social implications Adopting digital marketing strategies can help position academic libraries as relevant, proactive and reliable strategic partners that contribute to the university’s goals in a digital era. Originality/value This paper fills a gap in the literature regarding comparative efficiencies of major databases for systematic review results on digital marketing in academic libraries. The findings offer insights to information service providers in libraries to embrace digital marketing strategies and channels to enhance services.
Purpose This paper aims to highlight the tradeoffs inherent to facilitating digital access to archival collections of negatives. Photographic negatives pose major challenges to programmatic digitization and digital access. The American Federal Agencies Digital Guidelines Initiative (FADGI) digitization guidelines provide an aspirational standard for creating digital “preservation copies” of negatives, but strict adherence to the guidelines’ specifications poses major workflows and resource problems in practice. Design/methodology/approach An evaluation of two digitization case studies involving 199 glass plates and 400,000 35 mm negatives is based in comparison of final images’ adherence to the FADGI standards and an assessment of workflow efficiency against institutional project success and FADGI criteria. Findings These case studies illustrate the practical limitations to digitizing negatives to FADGI standards, particularly at scale. The FADGI star system, effective for digitizing documents, is less suited to negatives due to the absence of undergirding ISO standards and the variability of size, age, number and condition of the world’s negatives collections. Combined with extensive time and resource encumbrances and digital storage constraints, these factors justify an alternative or modified rating model for negatives. Institutions must balance resources and intended use when digitizing archival negatives. Research limitations/implications The technological and labor resources required to achieve FADGI 4-star digitization, digital access and digital preservation are significant, and not readily available to all institutions. Originality/value Authors present recommendations for refining FADGI to address its gaps so future versions better guide cultural heritage institutions toward pragmatic, holistic remediation of negatives collections. In practice, preservation standards must be balanced with institutional capacity and strategic priorities.
Purpose This paper examines the role of rare books in museum research libraries as active components of contemporary research infrastructure. This study challenges heritage and digitisation-centred framings by investigating how rare natural history publications continue to support scientific research within hybrid digital-physical environments. This study aims to demonstrate how rare books contribute to discovery, verification and interpretation in active research workflows and to position them within broader digital library discourse as socio-technical resources rather than static legacy collections.Design/methodology/approach This study adopts a qualitative institutional case study approach focused on the Australian Museum Research Library. It draws on documented research interactions, practitioner observation and researcher-authored reflections to analyse how scientists engage with rare books in practice. Attention is given to hybrid workflows in which researchers move between digitised surrogates, particularly through the Biodiversity Heritage Library, and physical consultation of original materials to support taxonomic, palaeontological and biodiversity research.Findings The findings of this study show that digitisation reshapes but does not replace the research use of rare books. Researchers rely on digital platforms for discovery and preliminary analysis, but continue to consult physical volumes for authoritative verification, visual scrutiny and contextual interpretation. Material features such as colour fidelity, scale, annotations and edition-specific variation retain epistemic value not fully captured in digital surrogates. Rare books, therefore, function as operational components of hybrid research infrastructures rather than passive heritage objects.Research limitations/implications This study is based on a single institutional case and a qualitative sample of research interactions, limiting its representativeness across disciplines or institutions. The findings do not aim to generalise researcher behaviour at scale, but instead provide in-depth insight into situated practices. Future research could extend this work through comparative case studies, structured user research or mixed-method approaches combining qualitative analysis with usage data across multiple research libraries.Practical implications For museum and research libraries, this study underscores the importance of aligning digitisation strategies, access policies and professional mediation with documented research practices. Digital collections should be designed to support discovery while enabling timely access to originals for verification and interpretation. Library staff play a critical role in guiding researchers across digital and physical environments, ensuring that rare books remain accessible, usable and integrated within contemporary research workflows.Social implications By foregrounding rare books as active research infrastructure, this paper supports more sustainable and meaningful engagement with historical scientific knowledge. Hybrid access models help balance preservation with use, ensuring that culturally and scientifically significant collections continue to inform research addressing biodiversity loss and environmental change. Recognising the ongoing epistemic value of rare books also strengthens public trust in libraries as stewards of reliable scientific knowledge in the digital age. Originality/value This paper contributes to digital library scholarship by conceptualising rare books as socio-technical research infrastructure embedded in hybrid digital-physical systems. Rather than focusing on digitisation outcomes alone, it foregrounds how researchers actually work with rare materials in practice. This study bridges digital library theory and museum research contexts, offering original insight into the continued research value of rare books within digitally mediated scientific environments.
Purpose This paper aims to examine how archival and cultural institutions in India organize the preservation of literary materials within emerging digital infrastructures. Drawing on insights from memory studies, archival theory and digital media studies, the study conceptualizes these institutions as mnemonic infrastructures that shape how literary memory becomes visible, legitimate and retrievable within digitally mediated environments. The research investigates how institutional mandates influence the preservation of print heritage, electronic literature and other forms of literary expression within digital repositories. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts a qualitative and comparative research design combining thematic analysis and qualitative content analysis. Data were collected between 2024 and 2025 through three phases of semi-structured interviews and institutional document analysis involving stakeholders from the National Archives of India, Sahitya Akademi, the Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts, the Central Institute of Indian Languages and related digital initiatives. Institutional mission statements, policy documents and repository frameworks were analyzed to examine how archival vocabularies, mandates and technological infrastructures shape digital preservation practices. Findings The findings indicate that institutional approaches to digital preservation remain strongly influenced by print-based archival traditions. Most initiatives prioritize the digitization of print literary materials, while born-digital literary forms such as electronic literature remain underrepresented in institutional repositories. Institutional mandates also shape how literary memory is framed, with archival agencies emphasizing historical documentation and cultural identity. Originality/value The paper contributes to digital library research by offering a comparative institutional framework for understanding how literary memory is organized within digital preservation initiatives.
PurposeThis study aims to explore how academic libraries can be transformed into GenAI-enabled libraries by integrating the uses and gratifications (UGT) theory and the technology acceptance model (TAM). It further proposes 3Es dimensions: experience, evaluation and engagement to explain how GenAI enhances gratification, interactions, cognitive outcomes and fosters behavioural intention (BI) and use of GenAI-enabled libraries among university students.Design/methodology/approachThis study is cross-sectional in nature and used seven constructs categorised as informative gratification (IG) and affective gratification (AG) related to the "experience" dimension, perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEU) and cognitive offloading (CO) used for the "evaluation" dimension and BI and use behaviour (UB) were related to the "engagement" dimension. Partial least square-based structural equation modelling was used to analyse the data.FindingsThe findings pertain to students' overall experience and evaluation of GenAI-enabled tools in academic settings. The results showed that IG had a significant positive influence on both PU and PEU. AG significantly influenced PEU, but its effect on PU was not significant. Thus, students' perceptions regarding usefulness are driven more by functional value than emotional experience. In addition, both PU and PEU positively affected CO. A strong positive relationship was observed between CO and BI, and BI, in turn, strongly influenced UB, thereby confirming students' intention and use of GenAI-enabled library services.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to propose 3Es dimensions: experience, evaluation and engagement to provide a novel perspective on how academic libraries can be transformed into a GenAI-enabled ecosystem for developing countries like India by measuring students' experiences, cognitive evaluation and engagement.
PurposeThis study aims to examine the influence of digital skill levels on the use of information management systems (IMS) among librarians in Tanzanian university libraries. Specifically, it assesses current digital competencies, identifies factors affecting their acquisition and explores how these skills impact IMS utilisation.Design/methodology/approachA descriptive research design with a quantitative approach was used. Data were collected from 217 librarians selected through simple random sampling, using structured questionnaires and analysed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).FindingsThe findings indicate that most librarians exhibit novice-level proficiency in key digital tools, such as Discovery Services, Digital Asset Management and Open Access Repository Software, limiting effective IMS utilisation. Relatively higher competencies were observed at the University of Dar es Salaam, Sokoine University of Agriculture and Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences due to targeted training and stronger Information and Communication Technology infrastructure. However, significant digital skills gaps persist, compounded by individual and institutional barriers that impede IMS adoption.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is limited to self-reported quantitative data from librarians in Tanzanian university libraries, which may constrain generalizability.Practical implicationsUniversity libraries should institutionalise structured digital skills training programmes to enhance effective utilisation of IMS.Social implicationsThe study shows that improving librarians' digital competencies has potential to enhance equitable access to digital information resources and contribute to narrowing the digital divide in higher education.Originality/valueThis study provides empirical evidence from Tanzania linking digital skill levels to IMS utilisation, addressing digital competence gap.
Purpose Research into harmful language detection is hindered by fragmented data sets and incompatible label schemas, which significantly limit evaluation. This paper aims to introduce evaluation of harmful language detection (EHLD): a general, extensible data framework supporting the integration, enrichment and evaluation of diverse harmful language resources, with a particular focus on Italian. Design/Methodology/Approach EHLD defines a unified schema with essential detection attributes (e.g. harmful_or_not and harm_subcategory), optional contextual dimensions (e.g. target, category and intersectionality), evaluation-oriented text complexity features and metadata for provenance. The authors’ instantiate EHLD by integrating three data sources: curated data sets from the literature, large-scale large language model (LLM)-based annotation from the Mappa dell’Intolleranza and LLM-generated data for inclusive language detection. They further introduce label_confidence to explicitly encode label reliability. Model selection follows an iterative cycle combining distributional analysis, linguistic diversity assessment and performance evaluation. Findings The resulting data set contains 237,956 instances with 18 features and exhibits substantial linguistic variety (Self-bilingual evaluation understudy drops from 0.759 at 1 gram to 0.107 at 4 grams). After iterative, data-centric refinement, generative pretrained transformer-5-nano is selected as the reference model and achieves an F1-score of 0.813 on binary harmful language detection, outperforming reported baselines such as bidirectional encoder representations from transformers (BERT)-based multitask models and other LLMs on comparable Italian settings. Research limitations/implications Due to differences in data sets, domains, label definitions and evaluation protocols, comparisons across studies are not fully controlled. The framework partly relies on automatically generated labels, which, despite confidence-aware handling, may introduce residual noise. Practical implications By combining standardized labels, provenance tracking and complexity-oriented evaluation features, EHLD supports the construction of reproducible data sets and richer model auditing, enabling a more transparent deployment of harmful language detection systems. Originality/value EHLD contributes a reusable, confidence-aware integration framework that connects different harmful language resources and allows iterative, data-driven model selection and evaluation, with a focus on Italian.
Purpose This study aims to examine how financial constraints shape resistance to technology adoption in Bangladeshi university libraries, focusing on public sector Dhaka University Library. It explores not only how limited resources restrict procurement but also how financial uncertainty, sustainability concerns and perceived cost risks influence organisational and psychological readiness for technological change. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative case study design was used, using semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with Library and Information Science professionals directly involved in digital service management and resource allocation. Data were analysed thematically using NVivo, supported by theoretical coding informed by Resource Dependence Theory and Resistance-to-Change Theory, and triangulation with secondary institutional documents to strengthen credibility. Findings This study identifies two interlinked financial barriers, budgetary constraints and cost-related risk perceptions, that significantly influence resistance to technology adoption. Beyond the lack of funds, rather than absolute budget shortages alone, concerns about sustainability, total cost of ownership and unclear return on investment generate anticipatory, organisational and psychological resistance. The findings highlight several strategies for reducing financial resistance, including structured multi-year planning, improved grant-seeking capacity, cost-effective technological choices such as sustainable open-source adoption, collaborative decision-making and targeted staff training. Practical implications This study provides context-specific and implementable guidance for library administrators and policymakers to strengthen technological readiness in resource-constrained institutions. Addressing financial uncertainty, improving lifecycle cost planning and aligning technological initiatives with institutional priorities are shown to be critical for enabling sustainable technology adoption. Originality/value This research advances understanding of the financial–psychological dynamics shaping resistance to technology adoption in developing-country academic libraries. By integrating empirical evidence with Resource Dependence Theory, Resistance-to-Change Theory and the Technology–Organisation–Environment framework, it offers a theoretically grounded and practically applicable framework for managing financial barriers and supporting digital transformation within Bangladeshi and comparable South Asian university libraries.
PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine gendered and intersectional patterns of visibility in all biographical entries featured on the Italian edition of Wikipedia Main Page (2014–2024). This paper addresses a major gap in Wikipedia research, as, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, no prior work has analysed how front-page curation in the Italian edition allocates symbolic visibility across gender, nationality, ethnicity, language or occupation. Design/methodology/approachA decade-long data set of 4,310 front-page biographies was collected from arquivo.pt and daily captures, reconciled with Wikidata properties (gender, nationality, native language, ethnicity, religion, occupation and birth/death dates) and analysed using SQL queries, Universal Decimal Classification-based occupational aggregation and visual analytics. FindingsThe results of this study show extreme and persistent gender imbalance (86% men; 0.04% non-binary/trans), strong recency bias and a pronounced Euro–North American concentration. Women are underrepresented across all periods, countries and professions; gaps peak in the Middle Ages (7.84:1) and remain high in contemporary figures (5.74:1). Public-facing occupations dominate, particularly writers, footballers and politicians. Metadata incompleteness in ethnicity, language and religion restricts deeper intersectional examination. Research limitations/implicationsIncomplete sociocultural metadata constrain intersectional granularity; future work should improve Wikidata coverage and cross-edition comparisons. Practical implicationsResults inform editors, policymakers and Wikimedia initiatives seeking to rebalance gender and cultural representation on high-visibility interfaces. Social implicationsFront-page visibility shapes public perceptions of cultural importance; current patterns reinforce systemic inequalities and historical androcentrism. Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first systematic, longitudinal, intersectional analysis of the Italian edition of Wikipedia Main Page. This paper conceptualises the Main Page as a socio-technical gatekeeping device and demonstrates how visibility regimes reproduce entrenched cultural and gendered hierarchies.
PurposeThis study aims to analyze librarians' perceptions and expectations regarding the expansion of their roles in the digital era, especially in the context of Southeast Asia's rapidly evolving information landscape.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative survey was conducted among 140 librarians from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Thailand. The data were collected using a Likert-scale-based questionnaire to assess perceptions of digital competencies and institutional expectations.FindingsLibrarians show high awareness of digital literacy as a core competency (mean = 4.56). However, understanding of advanced technologies such as big data and AI remains moderate (mean = 3.54). Respondents highlight the need for institutional support such as training and technology access to take on strategic roles in the digital era.Originality/valueThis study provides regional insights into Southeast Asian librarians' readiness for digital transformation. It highlights the gap between digital literacy awareness and advanced tech understanding and underlines the importance of institutional capacity-building. The findings offer practical implications for developing policies that support librarians' evolving roles.
PurposeThis study aims to propose a Library and Information Science (LIS) curriculum that responds to emerging trends in artificial intelligence (AI).Design/methodology/approachData were collected through document analysis of Master's LIS curricula at the University of Zambia and the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Official curriculum documents were systematically reviewed and analysed thematically using Braun and Clarke's (2006) six-phase framework. A comparative analysis of the two curricula was then conducted to synthesise findings and inform the proposed curriculum.FindingsThis study revealed no explicit AI components in either programme, underscoring the need for integration. A proposed framework encompasses five areas: Core LIS Principles, AI Fundamentals and Applications, Data Management and Analytics, Technological Proficiency and Ethics and Policy Frameworks. Integrating AI offers opportunities such as enhanced graduate competencies, improved employability, curriculum innovation, library transformation and interdisciplinary collaboration. Challenges include a shortage of qualified staff, limited funding, inadequate infrastructure, ethical concerns, algorithmic bias and implementation difficulties.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was limited to accessible documents, excluding informal aspects of delivery and student experiences that were not known to the researchers.Originality/valueTo the best of authors' knowledge, this is the first comparative study of LIS curricula between the University of Zambia and the University of KwaZulu-Natal. It introduces an original 11-themed taxonomy for evaluating AI and related content in LIS education, revealing critical gaps such as data management and analytics. This study provides contextually relevant and actionable recommendations for integrating AI into existing curriculum structures without a complete redesign, offering a replicable methodology for African and global institutions preparing information professionals for the AI era.
PurposeThis study aims to investigate how metadata standards enhance data discoverability and interoperability in academic digital repositories, focusing on three leading Indian institutions: the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi), the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore.Design/methodology/approachA mixed-methods approach was used, combining qualitative evaluation of repository architecture and metadata practices with a quantitative user survey of 83 participants (faculty and research scholars). The study examines the implementation of Qualified Dublin Core (QDC) within the DSpace platform and evaluates how metadata design, enrichment and usability affect repository performance, discoverability and user satisfaction.FindingsAll repositories adopt QDC but differ significantly in metadata richness, content diversity and access policies. IISc Bangalore demonstrates the highest metadata quality and full open access, IIT Delhi balances technical sophistication and content diversity through Apache Solr and Online Public Access Catalogue integration, while IIT Bombay, despite having the largest collection, shows weaker metadata consistency. Statistical analysis reveals a positive relationship between metadata literacy and user satisfaction, highlighting the importance of institutional investment in metadata training and interface improvement.Research limitations/implicationsThe study focuses on three premier institutions, which may limit generalisability. However, its insights are transferable to other repositories in similar academic contexts. Future studies could include a broader range of institutions and examine longitudinal impacts of metadata policy reforms and interoperability frameworks.Practical implicationsThe findings emphasise the need for robust metadata governance, librarian training and adoption of emerging standards such as linked data and resource description and access. Regular metadata audits, enriched fields and adherence to findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable principles can enhance repository sustainability and support national-level open science initiatives.Originality/valueThis study provides one of the first comparative analyses of leading Indian institutional repositories using both technical and user-centred perspectives. It contributes to scholarly and practical understanding by linking metadata theory with repository management, offering actionable strategies to strengthen discoverability, interoperability and academic visibility.
PurposeThis study aims to examine the digital transformation of an interdisciplinary Ukrainian university through the implementation of a Current Research Information System (CRIS) under conditions of economic, staffing and administrative challenges using the case of Sumy State University.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs a case study methodology focusing on the Scientific Results Management System (SRMS) developed at Sumy State University as a digital solution for universities. The research combines a systematic literature review of international CRIS development practices with a technical analysis of SRMS architecture. The methodology evaluates 18 unified scholarly metrics based on international standards and assesses the operational efficiency of the SRMS. The analysis includes automated metadata processing algorithms for integrating external scholarly databases and examination of user interaction patterns within the SRMS environment.FindingsThe literature review highlights key CRIS development practices, including interoperability, automation and integration with external scholarly databases. These patterns are reflected in the SRMS case study, which shows that the system operates as an effective institutional CRIS, centralising research output management at Sumy State University. SRMS automates metadata collection, provides role-based access control, implements automated duplicate detection, reduces administrative workload, improves data quality and provides analytical tools that support monitoring of research performance and institutional decision-making.Originality/valueThis research contributes new insights into the architecture and institutional deployment of CRIS tailored for academic environments, presenting one of the first comprehensive evaluations of CRIS implementation within a Ukrainian university context. The study outlines enhanced approaches to metadata interoperability and automated research information consolidation, providing empirical evidence for the effectiveness of integrated CRIS solutions in supporting scholarly communication, research evaluation and strategic management within universities.
PurposeThis study aims to investigate how immersive and telepresence experiences in virtual tour services in college libraries affect user enjoyment, attitude and involvement, and how these factors influence visit intention (VI).Design/methodology/approachThis study used a quantitative approach using structural equation modeling based on SmartPLS. Data were collected by distributing questionnaires to 297 students from four universities in Indonesia that provide virtual library tours.FindingsTelepresence has a stronger impact than immersion on enjoyment, attitude and involvement, with enjoyment being the most significant predictor of VI. Immersion contributes primarily to involvement.Originality/valueThis study provides empirical evidence that telepresence, rather than immersion, is the key driver of user enjoyment, involvement and attitude, significantly influencing VI to the physical library. It reveals that emotional engagement, particularly enjoyment, is the strongest predictor of behavioral intention. By identifying the dominant role of affective factors over demographic variables, this study offers actionable insights for designing virtual library tours that effectively convert virtual engagement into real-world library visits.
