The purpose of this case study is to examine the usability evaluation of the metaverse library, with a central focus on designing around the needs of library users. To achieve this, our study delved into the usability of one such platform, the Community Virtual Library (CVL), focusing on aligning its features with user needs. We assessed the CVL based on Jacob Nielsen’s usability criteria: satisfaction, memorability, learnability, efficiency, and error tolerance, through specific tasks. Our methodology combined interviews, observations, and the System Usability Scale (SUS) to fully grasp the user experience. Furthermore, we explored users’ emotional responses using the Pleasure-Arousal-Dominance (PAD) model, enriching our understanding of their interaction with the platform. Throughout the analysis, we found that participants with metaverse experience showed higher success rates and spent less time on tasks compared to those who did not have such experience. Notably, while the tasks for learnability, focusing on basic functionalities, demonstrated relatively shorter durations, the slightly more intricate efficiency tasks took twice as long, regardless of metaverse familiarity. However, tasks for memorability, involving repetition of efficiency tasks, showed a marginal reduction in task duration. This underscores the potential to enhance usability and efficiency through education and learning initiatives. Meanwhile, the analysis indicated a high level of arousal according to the PAD model, underscoring the metaverse’s appeal in providing unrestricted access to diverse media and creating an engaging and novel environment. This study is expected to contribute significantly to evaluating and improving the usability of metaverse libraries, ultimately increasing user satisfaction and encouraging continued usage. By identifying areas for improvement through comprehensive assessments, we anticipate fostering a more enjoyable and efficient user experience within these virtual library environments.
This paper presents results of a survey of library and information science (LIS) practitioners, which explored their research activities and the support needed from employers for research collaborations and dissemination of results. Findings show that while LIS practitioners are actively engaged in research, there are significant gaps in the available supports offered by LIS employers across different library sectors. Dedicated time for research is limited, particularly in public libraries, for example, but when practitioners receive dedicated time, their research engagement and dissemination activities increase. The study also found that the type of LIS service significantly affects practitioners' dissemination activities, with those working in national, state and territory libraries and special libraries, disseminating significantly more research results than practitioners working in other types of libraries. The findings point to a potential risk of a research dissemination divide in the Australian LIS sector, where the study was conducted. The study recommends enhancing the value placed on both conducting and sharing research related to employment or professional practice, to have a positive impact on library services and local communities. Encouraging presentations at conferences was identified as a valuable first step towards increasing LIS practitioners' engagement with sharing research results, generally and writing up results for publication. Overall, these findings highlight the need for greater employer support and more targeted efforts to promote research engagement and dissemination among LIS practitioners.
Studies have shown that public libraries, one of the most trusted social institutions, play an important role in helping immigrants adjust to their host country. Although there have been quite a few international studies reporting the role that public libraries play in newcomers lives in the host country, few studies, especially in the context of the U.S., comprehensively reported local public libraries' role in newcomers' social integration. Previous studies on immigrants' usage of public libraries have mainly focused on highlighting public libraries as meeting places that facilitate social capital creation for newcomers or describing the usage of public libraries among newcomer populations. Using a qualitative research design, 30 semi-structured interviews were conducted with Bangladeshi immigrants living in Queens, New York. The study finds that the Queens Public Library (QPL), one of the largest public library systems in the U.S., played an important role in many Bangladeshi immigrants and their families' social integration into New York after arrival. The library space serves more than a meeting place or a place for social capital creation. The findings suggest that local public libraries serve as important places for newcomers' social integration by offering a range of services and programs that meet the diverse needs of immigrants after their arrival, including educational, employment, technological, and reading. Bangladeshi immigrants also reported using public library spaces to cope with migration-related stress for themselves and their families.
Data literacy is essential in today’s workforce, yet existing data literacy assessments lack brevity, limiting their practical use. This study develops a brief data literacy instrument (BDLI) by streamlining the 25-item Global Data Literacy Benchmark (GDLB). Two studies were conducted. The first study ( N = 408) explored item reduction and factor consistency using student participants, while the second study ( N = 388) replicated findings using a diverse professional sample. Results indicated that a 12-item BDLI achieved similar factor structure and reliability compared to the original GDLB. Confirmatory factor analysis and item response theory confirmed the BDLI’s consistency and discriminatory power. These results suggest that the BDLI offers a practical tool for assessing an individual’s data literacy skills, which can be used to develop targeted learning opportunities at the individual or organizational level. The value and limitations of the BDLI are discussed.
This research adopts an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework to explore the role and impact of organizational learning models in public libraries. Highlighting the importance of environmental protection, social responsibility, and governance, the study emphasizes their critical role in the operational strategies of non-profit entities like public libraries. With a specific focus on the National Library of Public Information in Taiwan, it delves into the challenges and possibilities that ESG integration presents for enhancing sustainability, service quality, and governance toward achieving a significant societal impact. The objective is to assess how ESG-informed organizational learning models affect public libraries, particularly in terms of improving their sustainability, contributing to social value, and bolstering their influence within the community.
