Against the backdrop of increasing challenges related to institutional identification and sustainability, ritual marketing offers a viable approach to library marketing by enhancing user loyalty and fostering more enduring user–library relationships. Library ritual activities—defined as symbolic, collective, and emotionally charged occasions—differ fundamentally from routine cultural or promotional events in their emphasis on formalized procedures, shared attention, and the co-creation of meaning among participants. A systematic examination of library ritual activities and their effects on user identity can contribute to the optimization of such activities and the enhancement of libraries’ social value. While existing studies have investigated the effects of library ritual activities and examined how library marketing activities influence user identity, the mechanisms through which library ritual activities shape users’ self-identity, cultural identity, and institutional identification with the library remain largely underexplored. This study conducts interviews with librarians and users to explore the potential impacts of library ritual activities on users. Building on these insights, Interaction Ritual Chain theory and Social Identity Theory are integrated to develop a conceptual model explaining how library ritual activities influence user identity, which is subsequently tested through experimental methods. The findings indicate that library ritual activities exert positive effects on users’ self-identity, cultural identity, and library identity. For participatory users, perceived value mediates the effects of library ritual activities on self-identity and cultural identity, while emotional energy mediates the effects on library identity and cultural identity. For observational users, perceived value demonstrates a strong mediating effect on the relationships between library ritual activities and both cultural identity and library identity. Overall, library ritual activities enhance user identity by increasing perceived value and generating emotional energy. These results suggest that libraries may strategically employ ritual-based activities as a marketing approach to strengthen their influence and promote high-quality development.
This study explores how Australian library and information science (LIS) academics engage in research with LIS practitioners. Using a qualitative approach, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 Australian LIS academics. The thematic analysis identified six themes depicting research engagement: collaboration, empowerment, involvement, communication, utilisation, and disconnection. Taken together, these themes constitute the LIS Academic-Practitioner Research Engagement Spectrum – an empirically grounded framework that articulates how engagement is experienced and enacted across varying intentions, perceived roles, and outcomes. Rather than framing engagement in binary terms as a research–practice “gap,” the spectrum reconceptualises academic–practitioner engagement as a continuum of modes that may shift over time and across contexts. The paper also discusses enablers that shape engagement across the spectrum, offering insights into how and why academic-practitioner research relationships may evolve from empowering and mutual collaborations to experiences of disconnection. By explicitly mapping these modes of engagement, the study extends LIS scholarship through a nuanced analytical lens for understanding variation in research relationships. For practitioners and sector leaders, the spectrum offers practical insight into how different forms of engagement influence research relevance, translation, and long-term practice change. The study findings emphasise the importance of practitioner involvement in research to ensure that findings are both relevant to, and applicable within, the LIS sector. These findings are readily transferable to other Western LIS contexts beyond Australia.
This study examines the economic impact of a shared, high-density print storage facility jointly operated by two large public university systems and serving multiple campuses. Using a cost modeling approach, it compares per item costs of housing low use print materials in a jointly operated high-density facility versus maintaining equivalent collections in traditional open stacks across member campuses. The analysis incorporates construction, maintenance, utilities, staffing, selection and transfer operations, circulation, and user time costs, along with benefits from freeing and repurposing campus space. Results indicate that the facility generates approximately 9.52 million dollars in annualized net benefits, including about 1.55 million in direct physical cost savings and 7.97 million in user benefits relative to open stacks. These gains arise primarily from the combination of dense centralized storage and a “resource-in-common” co-ownership mechanism that enables campuses to withdraw local copies while preserving access and reported collection size. However, participation and benefits are uneven, with a small number of heavy depositors and health science focused institutions realizing the largest net gains. The findings highlight both the benefits and the distributional challenges of shared print storage and suggest design and governance considerations for libraries or consortia pursuing similar models.
Volunteers constitute a vital force in advancing the socialization of public cultural services. This study examines the relationships among motivation, behavior, and performance in volunteers’ participation in public cultural services from an integrated perspective, with the aim of promoting more effective engagement. Drawing on self-determination theory and social support theory, a conceptual model of motivation, behavior, and performance was developed and tested using second-order Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) based on questionnaire data collected from 290 volunteers engaged in public cultural service in China. The results indicate that introjected, identified, and integrated regulation each exert positive effects on specific types of support behaviors, while informational and emotional support significantly enhance volunteer service performance. In addition, the importance rankings derived from the artificial neural network (ANN) analysis were consistent with the structural equation modeling path results, supporting the robustness of the findings. Finally, practical recommendations are proposed to help managers enhance volunteer engagement and improve service effectiveness.
As academic libraries face increasing demands to provide efficient, personalized services in a rapidly evolving digital landscape, integrating artificial intelligence (AI) technologies offers transformative potential. This study aims to investigate LIS students’ expectations on the implementation of AI in academic library services in Bangladesh. The study used a quantitative approach to collect data from the respondents. 250 LIS students from three public and one private LIS degree-offering universities in Bangladesh participated in this study. Convenience sampling method was used to collect quantitative data from the students using an online survey questionnaire prepared using Google Forms. The findings reveal that LIS students hold positive perceptions of AI in academic libraries, identifying chatbots, voice assistants, and recommendation systems as key applications, particularly in information and reference services. Significant differences in expectations were observed across gender, education level and AI training, while internet proficiency strongly influenced optimism. Correlation results indicate that familiarity and frequency of AI use are positively associated with optimism and expectations. Regression analysis further shows that optimism, internet proficiency, gender, and education level significantly predict expectations. Overall, students demonstrate strong readiness for AI implementation, though perceptions vary based on experience and digital competence. While previous studies in Bangladesh have primarily explored AI implementation from the perspectives of library professionals, this study extends the literature by investigating LIS students’ perceptions, expectations, and their predictors regarding AI implementation in academic library services.
This study investigated the impact of the emotional competencies on students’ information-seeking behaviors in resource-constrained environments among 2 years English as a foreign language (EFL) learners. The Wilson model of information behavior and Wong and Law’s Emotional Intelligence framework was adopted and a quantitative, cross-sectional research design was used. The population of the suty comprised of 177 secondary, intermediate, and undergraduate students aged 13–18 years were selected using stratified random sampling technique. The study concludes that the respondents’ emotional intelligence was very high, especially in the dimensions of self-emotional appraisal and the use of emotion. Students’ access to informal digital resources (social media, search engines, AI tools) was much greater than their access to formal academic databases and library resources. The correlation analysis revealed a positive, significant correlation between overall emotional intelligence (EI) and information seeking (IS) among ELF learners. Though, regression analysis showed that the individual facets of emotional intelligence had little predictive power for the structured information-seeking practices. The findings reveals that emotional intelligence is useful for motivating, persisting, and overcoming psychological obstacles to students’ information seeking. The findings further indicates that it is not enough to overcome structural barriers such as digital literacy, limited access to information sources, and a lack of support for academic resources in the library. The study thus, highlights the need for holistic educational programs that include emotional development and information literacy trainings in the context of educating disadvantaged EFL learners.
Libraries are widely recognized as active partners in advancing the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study aims to explore how the public libraries in Bangladesh are contributing to the achievement of the SDGs by 2030. The study conducted an online questionnaire-based survey of 135 purposefully selected government and non-government public libraries along with key informant interviews (KIIs) of 10 library experts. The analysis of 113 survey responses reveals that the libraries generally have a good understanding and a positive perception of the SDGs. The results of the bivariate statistical analysis show the differences in understanding, perceptions, practices, achievements, IFLA measures, and challenges of SDGs integration across demographic and activity-based groups. Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient finds strong association among the dependent covariates, such as a stronger positive association of understanding with perceptions, practices, and IFLA measures; perceptions with achievements and IFLA measures; practices with achievements and IFLA measures; and between achievements and IFLA measures ( p < 0.001). Considering the existing practices of SDGs, this study suggests that Bangladeshi public libraries should integrate policy framework, incorporate digital technologies, allocate sufficient funds, foster collaboration, build institutional capacity, and strengthen community engagement, etc. to achieve the SDGs by the targeted time frame.
Smart cities have undoubtedly emerged as a rapidly evolving research domain, attracting scholarly attention across several disciplines such as urban studies, information science, and predominantly Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Lately, it is evident that contemporary urban strategies are focusing increasingly on a transition toward smart city development, in order to achieve digital equity, active civic participation, and the growth of a knowledge-driven economy. However, it must be mentioned that smart city strategies should focus not only on advanced technologies but also on social and institutional frameworks as well, in order to lead to urban progress. This paper aims to identify studies that explore the intersection of smart cities and libraries, highlighting the roles libraries can assume in this context and their contribution to library and technological innovation. This work examines English-language papers from 2015 to 2025 and categorizes them according to their primary theme. The results show that libraries, currently undergoing a period of continuous change, are moving towards developing new policies, practices, and services contributing to the concept of smart cities.
The rapid advancement of technology has transformed academic libraries into smart libraries that use emerging technologies to enhance user experience and access to information. This systematic review of the literature published between 2015 and 2025 examines the development and operation of smart libraries in universities, focussing on key requirements, sustainability strategies, and implementation challenges. Findings indicate that successful smart libraries rely on modern technologies, robust infrastructure, continuous staff training, and clear governance policies. Common challenges include limited funding, data management difficulties, insufficient technical expertise, and legal constraints. Universities that implement smart library solutions report improved access and higher user satisfaction, highlighting their transformative potential. This review provides policymakers and educational leaders with actionable insights to guide effective implementation and foster innovation and lifelong learning.
Blockchain is becoming an important emerging technology in libraries for managing and securing large amounts of sensitive data, including users’ demographic and personal information, and other library-related challenges to enhance operational efficiency. This scoping review aimed to collect, review, and synthesize literature that explores the areas of blockchain use for enhancing user privacy and data security, its benefits, the associated challenges, and the implications of its adoption. The authors explored seven databases (Scopus, Google Scholar, Emerald, and IEEE Xplore, Web of Science, LISA, and LISTA) to conduct the review. The study was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Out of the 1501 articles initially identified, 23 documents were considered eligible and suitable for inclusion after the final data extraction. The study found that promising areas for the application of blockchain in libraries for safeguarding user privacy and strengthening data security, include the protection of personal user information, decentralized storage of user records, digital rights management, user authentication, and the protection of intellectual property. The adoption of blockchain technology has the potential to improve user privacy and data security in libraries, offering benefits such as improved data integrity, tamper-resistant and immutable records, enhanced protection of patron data, reduced risks of unauthorized access and data breaches. Literature also indicates that key blockchain attribute, such as decentralization, immutability, traceability, and cryptographic safeguards are important in supporting privacy protection and data security across library operations. However, several challenges may hinder the adoption of blockchain for user privacy and data security, including high energy consumption, integration difficulties, legal and regulatory uncertainties, technical complexity, high-costs, and limited awareness and technical skills among library professionals. This study aims to presents a comprehensive synthesis of blockchain technology adoption for strengthening user privacy and data security in libraries.
Artificial intelligence (AI) significantly enhances library functions and services, strengthening and expanding their relevance in an evolving digital society. The aim of this study was to explore and identify the roles and applications of AI in library acquisition within libraries and information centers. This scoping review was designed and conducted based on the O’Malley & Arksey framework. All studies related to AI in library acquisition, published in Persian and English, were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Magiran, and SID, as well as through Google Scholar, using relevant keywords. The selected articles were reviewed, discussed, and analyzed in group sessions. Twenty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Most were journal publications, predominantly review articles. The studies were published between 2018 and 2025. Thematic analysis revealed four key categories: users’ information needs analysis and prediction, intelligent resource purchasing, smart acquisition workflow, and resource sharing and collaborative access. The integration of AI in libraries has the potential to gradually transform decision-making cultures. This approach can enhance resource efficiency, reduce costs, and improve user satisfaction. Thus, AI integration in acquisition should be regarded not merely as a technological tool but as a strategic driver of transformation in information management and library services.
The study examined the application of AI for knowledge transfer and retention in medical institutions, and the implication for medical librarians. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines was adopted for the study. Research articles were included using eligibility criteria of years considered, language, publication status, publication source, and methodology/design. The PRISMA flowchart was used to select 41 studies across Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCOhost, and ACM Digital Library. Data charting was used to generate key concepts/themes and relevant findings from the included studies. The findings revealed that AI is currently being applied for medical knowledge transfer and retention, using identified AI tools. This application has prompted emerging roles for medical librarians as knowledge custodians. These roles are to promote algorithmic literacy, advocate for transparent AI, ethical data management, and stakeholder collaborations. This application is fraught with challenges like ethical issues, AI algorithm bias and inadequate technological infrastructure. The ScR offered a novel synthesis of evidence that reflect the application of AI for knowledge retention and transfer in medical institutions, which is currently underexplored. It advances originality by highlighting the roles and challenges for medical librarians. The ScR concluded that AI applications in medical institutions are fundamental interventions to remedy knowledge loss and ensure that the available organizational knowledge is adequately shared among health professionals for sustaining corporate value and competitive advantage.
This systematic review examines the prevalence, scope, and theoretical underpinnings of scholarly research looking at the intersections of homelessness and libraries from 2000 to 2025. Specifically, this review questions how common research is on this topic, how subtopics including services to families and youth experiencing homelessness and social work in libraries are covered, and what (if any) theoretical frameworks are used. The review found that only 51 articles where published in peer-reviewed library and information science journals in English between 2000 and 2025. Interviews with library workers were the most common methodology used and recent scholarship on social workers in libraries has increased the number of articles being published. Additionally, less than a quarter of the articles in the review were explicit about a conceptual and theoretical framework for the research.
Public libraries form collaborations, though often in ways distinct from academic libraries, to address the needs of their users. This study explores how and why public libraries collaborate with the aim of conceptualizing the mechanisms and the dynamics of library cooperation in a coherent framework. The framework comprises three foundational pillars - the collaboration models, the joint services provided, the factors that initiate and sustain collaborative efforts - and their interrelations. An international study, with the participation of 16 experts holding prominent roles in their national public library systems, as well as international appointments, refined and validated this framework. The UK National Center for Social Research Framework for qualitative data analysis was applied. Key findings highlight that collaborations can be distinguished in three models: central, distributed, and mixed. The foundational condition that defines which model of collaboration the public libraries are more likely to follow is the way they are governed within a country, meaning the national public library system. Public libraries need similar collaborative services as academic libraries do, and their need is shaped by local and national contexts. The key factors required to initiate and sustain collaboration and collaborative services include among others, the audience needs, the leadership, the funding, and the library staff. The size, the administrative structure and the development level of the country were also identified as important factors. Building on these findings, the study proposes a decision-making tool, a four-centric circles framework to support public libraries in selecting the collaboration model that best matches their goals and resources. By foregrounding the public library context, the study shifts the discussion beyond the prevailing focus on academic libraries. Lastly, it consolidates practical experience into a coherent theoretical lens, by addressing the limited theorizing in library collaboration.
Libraries can be valuable information and community hubs to address society’s growing mental health (MH) concerns and challenges. A comprehensive review of MH services libraries provide is lacking. We aimed to review MH-related services that public and academic libraries provide to patrons and identify factors that influence their implementation and success. We searched six academic databases and Google Scholar to identify peer-reviewed journal articles and searched Google to identify news articles published since 2010 reporting MH services that public and academic libraries provided to patrons. The searches identified 15 journal articles and 27 news articles. We analyzed these articles using the qualitative content analysis method. We found that libraries offered six categories of services: collection development and reference, space design, activities and materials, instruction, referrals and collaborations, and digital and online resources. Systematic evaluation of the services was rare. The provision and success of the services were influenced by features of the services, the library environment, the social environment, and users. The results indicate that the MH services that libraries provide are lacking. More effort is needed to design, develop, and systematically evaluate them to foster their development and sustainability.
This study maps the intellectual and thematic landscape of futures thinking in library science through a scoping and bibliometric review of 26 publications indexed in Scopus. Findings show modest but growing engagement, with scholarship concentrated in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, and dominated by academic library contexts. Scenario planning is the most frequently applied method, while other approaches such as Delphi, environmental scanning, and appreciative inquiry appear less often. Thematic analysis identifies three recurring clusters: foresight methods, organizational strategy, and service management. Bibliographic coupling reveals incremental development anchored in a small set of foundational works rather than cumulative programs of research. Overall, futures thinking is emerging as a relevant but unevenly developed strand of research in library science. The study highlights opportunities to diversify methods, broaden regional and sectoral participation, and strengthen evaluation of outcomes, thereby enhancing the scholarly and practical value of futures thinking for libraries worldwide.
This study examines researchers’ perceptions of the impact of digital repositories on scientific efficiency and productivity in Serbia, a developing research environment with a national Open Science policy that is still in the development phase. Based on a survey conducted among 326 researchers from universities and research institutes across various disciplines, the analysis explores how professional characteristics, including institution type, academic degree, discipline, and years of experience, affect perceived benefits from repository use. Logistic regression analysis shows that researchers affiliated with institutes, those in the humanities, and mid-career researchers are significantly more likely to perceive that repositories enhance efficiency and productivity. Academic degree alone does not significantly influence perception, suggesting that repository use depends more on institutional environment, disciplinary norms, and practical experience than on formal titles. The findings highlight the importance of institutional support, early integration of repositories into research workflows, and tailored training to maximize usage and benefits. These results provide a foundation for aligning national Open Science policies with everyday research practices, supporting targeted interventions to increase repository adoption and enhance research efficiency and productivity across disciplines.
