Background: Knowledge-sharing is crucial for innovation and productivity. It was determined that it depends on five significant personal factors known as the Big Five personality traits which comprise extraversion, agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness and neuroticism. The gathered bodies of research have brought patchy insights rather than an integrated, holistic explanation because they have been one-sidedly oriented toward characteristics and contexts. Hence, a meta-analysis systematically encompassing all aspects is the requisite for synthesising findings, examining dimensions of the environment, and formulating productive strategies to improve knowledge-sharing. Objective: The research seeks to understand the complex association between the Big Five personality traits and knowledge-sharing behaviour through meta-analysis studies. Methods: This study conducts a meta-analysis of the relationship between each Big Five personality trait and knowledge-sharing behaviour across different contexts based on 30 publications. Results: The meta-analysis suggests that knowledge-sharing has small to moderate positive correlation (COR) with personality traits-extraversion (COR=0.25), agreeableness (COR=0.28), conscientiousness (COR=0.23), and openness to experience (COR=0.26). The COR is nearly zero for neuroticism (COR=0.01), hence suggesting a minimal relationship with the outcomes. Considering the high level of heterogeneity to the results, there may be numerous contextual factors, such as the role of the country, contributing to the variability of the findings. Contributions: This meta-analysis gives deep insights into the intricate relationship between the Big Five personality traits and knowledge-sharing behaviour for designing approach and policy to gain maximum benefits from the diversity of personality traits in all settings.
Background. In Nigeria, where road infrastructure is a challenge and limited access to real-time information are prevalent, understanding how long-distance bus drivers seek and utilize information directly, impacts road safety, public health, and service efficiency. Objectives. This study explores the information needs, information-seeking strategies, sources, applications, challenges, and barriers encountered by Nigerian long-distance bus drivers. Methods. Data was collected from 25 long-distance bus drivers. An interview schedule guided the data collection, and the data was analyzed using Atlas.Ti. A qualitative research approach was adopted and it implicitly addresses objectives throughout. It uncovers challenges like misinformation, illiteracy, and broader work-related issues, showcasing drivers' resilience in navigating their professional landscape. Results. Long-distance bus drivers prioritize information on vehicle-related aspects, such as parts, health, road maintenance, purchases, repairs, papers, and licenses. Information seeking strategies vary from consulting colleagues to using technology like WhatsApp and Google Maps, reflecting adaptability. Co-drivers emerge as the most trusted information source, emphasizing peer-to-peer reliability. The adaptive use of tools, including mobile phones and technology, illustrates the Nigerian long-distance bus drivers' ability to overcome information-seeking challenges. Contributions. Insights from this research can inform targeted interventions, such as tailored information services, safety protocols, and digital resources that equip long distance bus drivers with the knowledge necessary to navigate Nigeria's challenging driving conditions effectively.
Background. In Ghana, parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face significant information challenges, which greatly impact their ability to provide appropriate care and support for their children. Many parents struggle with limited access to reliable and culturally relevant information about ASD, including intervention strategies and available support services. These challenges prompted this study, as understanding the information needs of parents with ASD children is crucial in improving the access to credible information for enhancing the overall support system available to them. Objectives. This study aims to identify the information needs of parents of children with ASD in Ghana; examine the sources parents used to access ASD related information; assess information usage and satisfaction among parents; seek out the challenges in accessing ASD related information; and recommend strategies to improve information access for parents. Methods. The qualitative case study approach was employed, involving 41 parents ofASD children from two schools. Telephone and face-to-face interviews served as the data collection instrument. Data collected were analysed using the thematic approach. Results. Key findings are that the parents exhibiting diverse information needs sought for information in various forms and from different sources. They expressed dissatisfaction with the quality and quantity of information obtained and encountered numerous challenges in accessing supportive resources to help take care of their children with ASD. Contributions. This study recommends targeted strategies to enhance information behaviour among parents of children with ASD. Key recommendations include awareness of specific information needs, evaluating information sources, balancing information needs, navigating information overload and initiating government-led ASD information.
Background. The education sector experienced unparalleled disruptions on a global scale as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic. In the Philippines, schools and universities closed in March 2020, leading to a sudden shift to virtual learning, employee displacement, and mass layoffs. Library workers were not spared. Compared to most foreign literature discussing the impact of COVID-19 on the well-being of library workers, the topic is unexplored in the Philippines. Objectives. This paper explored the experiences of displaced library workers in the Philippines using the CHIME framework to gain insights into how the pandemic affected their relationships with family and colleagues, their hope and optimism for the future, their perception of themselves, the meaning of library work to them, and their sense of workplace empowerment. Methods. This paper adopted a qualitative approach. Snowball sampling was used to identify potential respondents. The researchers conducted a semi-structured interview via Zoom. Results. It was evident from the interviews that the pandemic affected the psychosocial well-being of the respondents. Faith and family relationships played vital roles in helping the respondents navigate and survive the pandemic's challenges. Workplace injustices and institutional failures such as decreased pay, abandonment, a lack of empathy and micromanagement were the factors that affected how the respondents saw their future, the purpose of library work, and their sense of control over their personal and professional lives. Contributions. The results of this study provided baseline data on the effects of the pandemic on the psychosocial aspects of library workers in the Philippines. It also added to the limited local literature on the topic.
Background: Studies have attempted to categorize organizational readiness by thoroughly comprehending its main components. However, few studies have examined it from the KM perspective. Objectives: The implementation of knowledge management (KM) initiatives frequently necessitates substantial organizational change. The first phase in preparing for such change is to conduct a change readiness assessment. This study investigated organizational readiness for KM implementation in a research- based institution in Kuwait. Change progresses through the preparedness, adoption, and institutionalization phases. This study focuses on investigating the first phase of preparedness. Methods: This study followed a quantitative approach using a questionnaire to collect data. Four major factors-individual, context, content, and process attributes-were included as part of the readiness framework. They were used to explain the significant variance in organizational readiness towards KM implementation. Results: Individual attributes, context, content, and process measures clarified 84% of the variance in pessimism. Individual attributes and context, content, and process measures were also strongly associated with KM commitment, explaining 51% of the variance. This means that, as expected, respondents who reported greater readiness were more committed to KM initiatives and less pessimistic about them. Contribution: Evaluating the organizational readiness for KM initiatives is the first phase to help identify barriers and enablers to successful KM implementation. Based on the results of this study, organizational readiness for KM initiatives occurs when individuals exhibit a positive attitude toward KM implementation and high feelings of commitment. The results provide a roadmap for effective KM implementation and deliver practical guidelines for crafting KM policies.
Background. Identifying what motivates students to take library courses is beneficial for university administrators and faculty members, as it enables them to market these courses to potential students and to design suitable curriculum. While such studies require tools to measure students' motivation systematically, no validated scale has been published. Objectives. The goal of this article is to develop and validate a scale that measures students' motivation to take librarian courses at universities and colleges in Japan. Methods. We first collected a wide range of motivations for enrolling in the librarian course through open-ended surveys and identified the main six factors common to these motivations by exploratory factor analysis (n=203). Subsequently, we prepared four sub-scales corresponding to each factor and completed the Motivation Scale for taking Librarian Course (MSLC). Confirmatory factor analysis (n=374) was conducted to validate MSLC. Results. The MSLC we developed consists of 24 sub-scales that measure six factors of student motivation for enrolling in a librarian course. These are: Desire to Work in a Library, Qualification-Oriented Mindset, Admiration for a Librarian Acquaintance, Attachment to Books and Reading, Expectations for Librarian Certification, and Desire to Work in the Publishing Industry. The result of confirmatory factor analysis showed that 24 sub-scales can capture the intended factors. Implications. The faculty members of the librarian course can utilize this scale to understand students' motivations to enrol in the librarian course and explore how these motivations relate to academic performance or actual obtainment of librarian certifications.
Background. Peer review is a crucial system in academic publishing. However, this system is often undermined by certain malpractices. Objective. This paper discusses questionable peer review practices (QPRPs) that undermine the efficacy of peer review systems in academic publishing. Methods. We highlight several cases of QPRPs and their impact on the integrity of the publication process and the quality of scientific discourse. Results. Considering QPRPs and their impact, we propose solutions, including implementing open peer review, enhancing the role of editors, adopting crowd peer review, and promoting the Registered Reports system. Additionally, we advocate for comprehensive peer review training and emphasize the importance of understanding, rather than penalizing, unintentional QPRPs. Contribution. Our discussion aims to contribute to ongoing discussions on improving the peer review process and ensuring the reliability of published research.
Background. In recent years, the landscape of professional development has been significantly transformed by the emergence of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) which represent a revolutionary approach to education, offering flexible, accessible, and often cost-effective learning opportunities across a wide range of disciplines, including library and information science. Objectives. This study aims to examine the perspectives and challenges of information professionals in accessing MOOCs for professional development. Methods. The study used a mixed approach whereby an explanatory sequential design was used to collect, analyze and interpret data. Data was collected from public library staff, academic library staff, archivists, museum curators and human resource officers in Zanzibar. Out of 100, a total of 75 (75%) respondents filled out questionnaires and interviews were conducted with 16 key informants. Results. Findings revealed that the majority 50(67%) of information professionals experienced limited exposure to MOOCs and other professional development opportunities to upgrade their careers. Traditional methods such as seminars, workshops and conferences were the preferred methods of staff continuous training, however, the matter was not given the priority it deserves by individual staff. The study found the existence of partial support from management by providing funds for continuous training, however, there was neither direct involvement in the planning process nor serious evaluation made to assess the outcome of continuous staff training to achieve the organization's objectives. Contribution. The study underlines the potential of MOOCs to revolutionize professional development for information professionals in Tanzania.
Portable peer review (PPR) refers to peer review that is not conducted by a journal but instead by externally recruited peers whose reports are then made available to that journal's editors. In theory, this would alleviate a journal editor's responsibilities and potentially benefit authors by shortening the time to a decision. While the upside to this model is self-evident, PPR suffers from potential biases since knowledge by the reviewer that they will be paid may skew the outcome of peer review. In one form of PPR, cascade peer review (CPR), a rejected paper is passed down, or cascaded, often to a lower-tier journal within the same publisher's journal fleet, usually accompanied by the rejected journal's reviewer reports. CPR might be perceived as unfair to other authors who have passed a more standard route of rejection and resubmission to the same journal. For these reasons, papers that used either external PPR, or internal CPR, should transparently indicate this fact in both HTML and PDF versions of the paper so that an impression is not created that the authors, journal and publisher are concealing an important part of that paper's publication history. Three experimental paid PPR services (Rubriq, Axios Review, and Peerage of Science) that have now ceased to exist are examined in detail to appreciate their potential weaknesses, allowing academics to learn possible pitfalls in PPR and CPR models. Three reasons might explain their failure and/or lack of adoption: 1) opacity of the use and acknowledgement of such services, thus being a potential ethical infraction; 2) the creation of a two-tier system that favors only well-funded authors who are able to pay for such an exclusive service; 3) risk of peer review bias.
Background. An expression of concern (EoC) is usually issued when there are concerns about the integrity or accuracy of a previously published article, although those concerns in themselves are not serious enough to warrant a formal retraction at the time the concerns were raised. Objectives. This paper examines the contexts and contents of EoCs published in the Financial Times 50 (FT50) journals, which are widely regarded as the most influential and respected in the fields of business and management. Methods and Result. A search using the Retraction Watch database revealed only three instances of EoCs in FT50 journals, with the oldest published in April 2015 and the latest in August 2021. A search on Clarivate's Web of Science Core Collection indicated that the articles to which the three EoCs were associated have amassed together 581 citations by 22 November 2023. Examination of the content of these EoCs showed that they were prompted by a complaint, a university -led investigation, and a third party. This paper also sheds light on the contexts behind the issuance of these EoCs in these FT50 journals, while highlighting concerns about them. Contributions. This paper focuses on a type of scholarly document (i.e., EoC) that has received little attention within the library and information science literature.
Power law distributions have been found in many contexts, including the sizes of skyscrapers. The present paper demonstrates that the relationship between the number of copies per title in several libraries also displays similarity to the power law pattern.
Background. Although individuals' well-being has received considerable attention in academic research, the impact of knowledge management (KM) on workplace happiness has not yet been investigated. Objectives. This study contributes to job satisfaction, workplace happiness, and KM research. It aims to investigate the role of KM processes-knowledge acquisition, knowledge sharing, knowledge creation, knowledge codification, and knowledge retention-in promoting workplace happiness and job satisfaction. Methods. The study follows a quantitative approach. A Web-based questionnaire is the main data collection instrument. Five hundred and thirty-nine professionals participated in the study. Results. The results reveal that there is a significant relationship between the five processes of KM and workplace happiness. All of the KM processes had a strong impact on workplace happiness. Workplace happiness was significantly related to job satisfaction. Implications. It was concluded that promoting a culture based on KM processes can help individuals experience a greater sense of workplace happiness and improve their job satisfaction.
Background. Communication and collaboration are important skills for academic librarians offering research support. When everyday meetings are not possible, as during the Covid-19 pandemic, academic librarians are forced to develop new ways of supporting students and faculty. Traditional library expertise in literature searching and bibliometric complemented with newer skills of analytics, visualization and literature mapping of a field can help librarians to get acquainted and communicate with the researchers they provide research support to.Objectives. This article presents the result of an effort to map out trends and changes in research and publication patterns in a university department over a 10 -year time period (2009-2019), which reflect both developments in the department as well as the external environment. Further, the article discusses how this can help liaison librarians to communicate with faculty and provide more relevant and effective research support.Methods. A document analysis was carried out on the publications of a department faculty to trace how research has developed in a growing department with different subjects and disciplines.Results. The analysis found a trend of research the department becoming more international, with more publications in open access. Even though research in the department is becoming more interdisciplinary, there is a trend of sociology research moving towards a purer form of `sociology, and away from a previous focus on sociology and social work as a joint research interest. Furthermore, social work research has also developed a stronger focus on child welfare, and the teacher education staff has increased their publications in several focus areas.Contributions. This article contributes to the field of research support, showing how mapping the research in a university department can help liaison librarians in face-to-face communication with faculty as well as in online interactions.
Background. To support the development of interdisciplinary research effectively, it is essential to provide research funding that takes into account the interdisciplinary characteristics of the field. Objectives. We investigated the progress of interdisciplinarity between 1997 and 2017 for 12 selected target fields, from two points of view, focusing on the diversity of researchers' specializations: (1) the number of researchers' fields of specialization, and (2) the dispersion of the number of researchers among the fields of specialization.Methods. For (1), we investigated different specialization fields, not only the target field as a whole but also for each researcher (author) and each article. For (2), we calculated the Gini coefficient and the coefficient of variation. Results. Different characteristics were observed depending on the viewpoint and the index. The increase rate of (1) was especially high in Materials Science, Biomaterials. The rate of decline of (2) was particularly significant in Information Science & Library Science, Environmental Sciences and Anthropology. It was found that the interdisciplinarity of a field cannot be judged simply as high or low. Interdisciplinarity has gradually grown: not always increasing but also sometimes decreasing or stagnating at times.Contributions. This study has offered a different perspective of interdisciplinarity, and also charted how it has strengthened over the past 20 years.
Background.Ground experiences of the researchers indicate substantial concern about the side-effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine in some individuals who lined up to get vaccinated.The Philippine Department of Health, Food and Drug Administration temporarily suspended the administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine to persons below 60 years old on April 8, 2021, due to reports of "rare cases of blood clots with low platelets detected in some individuals inoculated with the vaccine."The authors hypothesize that such encountered information affected the behavior of the vaccine-eligible population, leading to further information gathering, sense-making, and possibly, vaccine hesitancy.Objectives.The researchers sought to determine: (1) how the respondents in this study obtained information regarding the AstraZeneca vaccine, (2) what specific information gaps the respondents sought to make sense of, and (3) how the encountered information affected their willingness to take the COVID-19 vaccine.Methods.A qualitative study was conducted with twenty-one respondents using a grounded theory framework, through a survey with open-ended questions, and follow-up interviews.Results.The study found that "vaccine hesitancy" is not a general phenomenon to be tackled by one approach, but a multifactorial and graded response to encountered information.The strength of response to the encountered information was influenced by its origin, content, and the personal beliefs of the person receiving the information, and vaccine hesitancy may not necessarily translate to vaccine refusal.Contributions.A theory of how encountered information affects vaccine hesitancy was constructed, which can be applied to public health/health information literacy campaigns on social media, television, and other information dissemination platforms.
Background.Recently, universities and broadcasting stations have been constructing large-scale digital archives of prominent events such as the World Wars and natural disasters using advanced technologies, including virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI), and natural language processing (NLP).However, what has been neglected is a digital archive of community memory related to everyday life in local areas.Public libraries can play a significant role in the preservation of digital community memory, just as conventional archives.Objective.To prototype a system of sustainable community memory archive for public libraries to adopt-to provide digital oral history to local community members and other interested parties.Methods.The design principle of the prototype system was derived from the literature review of related studies and representative digital archive initiatives.A prototype system was developed using a 360 degrees camera.Results.A workflow and prototype system that can capture up to four people discussing their community memories and create VR content where a viewer can have an immersive viewing experience to watch the video as if the viewer is part of the discussion.
Background. Research data management (RDM) has become an important activity in universities, for researchers to fulfil funding agencies' and journal publication requirements, and to promote open science practices. Academic libraries have been identified as the locations to base RDM services. However, to develop effective RDM services, an understanding of RDM from the researchers' perspectives is needed, including how researchers manage their research data.Objectives. This study aims to discover researchers' behaviours and practices in RDM, and propose how the library can incorporate RDM into the research services offered. Methods. This case study, carried out at a research university in Malaysia, involved both quantitative and qualitative data gathering, focusing on three aspects of RDM: data creation, data storage and preservation, and data sharing. Quantitative data were collected via a survey of 113 researchers, and qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 12 researchers.Results. It was found that the researchers had been generating research data irrespective of format and types. Most of the researchers managed their research data based on their own perspectives and practices, without following proper guidelines and standards. The researchers used personal solutions for research data storage and preservation, and utilized less than 10 gigabytes of storage for the short term. The researchers also did not share their research data due to privacy and confidentiality issues.Contributions. Researchers need support for organizing, archiving and preserving research data for future use, and libraries can provide this important service. The study reflects the library's transformative role starting with conducting needs assessment of the academic research community, and establishing an RDM service.
Background. This is a study of information access of internally displaced persons (IDPs) resettled by the Philippine government into their new homes in San Jose Del Monte Heights, located in the City of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, Central Luzon.Objectives. The study aimed to identify the barriers to information access of the internally displaced persons during their resettlement, that hindered them from fully integrating into their new community. Methods. Semi-structured qualitative interviews of 14 respondents, consisting of an information provider, team leaders, and the general populace, were employed. A comparative analysis of their narratives revealed how similar or different their experiences and perceptions in information access were in their community.Results. It was found that inconsistencies in information provided, lack of reliable accessible information sources, insufficient amount of time for dissemination, and complex community relations were barriers to information access of the IDP community. These information barriers kept them from knowing the things they needed to integrate into their new community.Contributions. This study contributes to the general understanding of the information needs, behaviors, and practices of the IDPs, and identifies policies that can be implemented to facilitate information access in marginalized and vulnerable communities.
Background. In scholarly publishing, time-looping is the practice of assigning papers that were online-published at a specific point in time to post-dated journal volumes/issues.Objectives. This study investigated to what extent time-looping was practiced by journals, and whether this practice was likely to have increased the journal citation metrics. The journals in Financial Times' list of top 50 business and economics journals (known as the FT50 list) were used as the sample.Methods. All FT50 journals' websites were visited on the same date (February 15, 2022) to identify journals that practiced time-looping. The Journal Impact Factor (JIF) and CiteScore values of the journals over the last ten years (2011-2020) were analyzed.Results. As of mid-February 2022 when the analysis was conducted, the practice of time-looping was identified for four FT50 journals, published by the same publisher. The time-loops ranged from 48 to 111 days (with an average of 79 days). Examining the JIF and the CiteScore values for these four journals over the last ten years, it was observed that the 2020 JIF values for these four journals saw a significant increase. The results of further analysis suggest that time-looping is a likely cause of this increase in JIF values. The paper discusses the implications of the practice of time-looping for journals, publishers, and the scholarly community as a whole.
