International Journal of Librarianship
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The Reflective Practice for Sustainable Future: A Case Study Focusing the Library of Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka
Get PDFThis paper reviews the initiatives taken by the library of Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka (BPUSL) to achieve the SDGs to create a sustainable environment in the library as well as in the university. It also discusses various steps taken by the university as well as the other units connecting it to information as a strategic resource and attempts an articulation of the concept of sustainable information and quality education, building on a sustainable future at the university under the theme of “sustainable university”. The article discusses further recent initiatives taken to upgrade the quality of the library services, automation project to automate the whole library collection, scanning important rare and old books to create digital archive, preparing attractive library building by planting flowers and facilitating natural resources for reading areas addressing the goals on quality and equitable education, gender equity, literacy skills, health, and the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies, justice and strong institutions. The main objective of the article is to share reflective practices among LIS professionals in the field. Action research method was applied to write this article as it describes the reflective practices which promote sustainable future in the university and future endeavors as well. The paper concludes with suggestions on integrating concepts of sustainable information into higher education and role of information professionals towards the achievement of sustainable goals
Sustainable Academic Libraries: The Experience of Organizing a Sustainable Conference
Get PDFIn 2007, the Chinese University of Hong Kong Library kicked off a conference series with the main theme of ‘Academic Librarian.’ In 2016, the fourth conference of the series entitled Academic Librarian 4: Sustainable Academic Libraries: Now and Beyond was co-organized by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Library and the Chinese University of Hong Kong Library. The Academic Librarian 4 Conference addresses the multi-dimensional issues of sustainability pertaining to academic libraries under four major themes: (1) Sustainable Environment; (2) Sustainable Resources; (3) Sustainable Technologies; and (4) Sustainable Services. Apart from reviewing the key issues concerning the sustainability of academic libraries brought up by the conference papers, the author also highlights the way in which the Academic Librarian 4 Conference made every effort to make this a sustainable library event
The Library as a Campus Sustainability Hub: A Case Study in Increasing Community Engagement & Collaboration in Sustainability through Academic Libraries
Get PDFAs the topic of sustainability becomes more relevant to all types of libraries, two academic science librarians share a case study on identifying and filling gaps in sustainability-related engagement, education, and collaboration at a mid-sized R1 research university. Seeking to transform their academic library into a Campus Sustainability Hub, the two authors began working towards this ambitious goal by establishing strong partnerships with sustainability-minded organizations and individuals both on and off campus, as well as by prioritizing the creation of community-centered programming that would engage audiences in sustainability content, research, and activism. After more than a year of building collaborations and fostering community engagement, they were successful in accomplishing their goal of establishing their academic library as a Campus Sustainability Hub. This case study provides more details on how the librarians reached this goal, including why they initially decided to undertake such a large task, how they chose to define a “Sustainability Hub,” what benchmarks they needed to meet in order to obtain this status, how they reached these benchmarks, and how they plan on continuing to grow this initiative
Transcript of Speech by Aslak Myhre, Director of National Library of Norway, at Fantastic Futures 2019: 2nd International Conference on AI for Libraries, Archives, and Museums
Get PDFALA UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals Task Force
Get PDFThis field report explores the recent planning and work underway by the American Library Association’s United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals Task Force
Development of a Web-Based GIS Learning Module for Community Asset Mapping to Enhance Service Learning in Social Work Education
Get PDFIn recent years, service learning – a pedagogical approach that integrates learning through service in the community – has gained increasing popularity in higher education as a means to enhance student learning and civic engagement. Service learning is relevant to social work education because of its emphasis on social justice and the amelioration of social problems and field education through practicum sites. The benefits of service learning, however, are dependent on successful integration of this pedagogical approach into the classroom. By developing a web-based learning module, this project aims to explore the possibility of using community asset mapping and geographic information systems (GIS) as an integrated technology tool to promote service learning in social work education. An assessment of this module was conducted by a student survey. The overall positive feedback on the module indicates its contribution to social work study as well as its potential applicability to larger contexts. The project can serve as a starting point for developing best practices for the training of students in mapping and spatial thinking in their community practices that would benefit other disciplines as well. The project supports the university’s mission to improve student-centred, interdisciplinary, and innovative teaching and learning, and its commitment to enhance the economic and social well-being of the local communities
Managing a Sustainable Work-from-Home Scheme: Library Resiliency in Times of Pandemic
Get PDFThe resiliency of librarians is tested once again with the devastating occurrence of the pandemic situation worldwide. As a result of the global scare, many libraries have shut down as prescribed by the governments to minimize physical contact and stop the spread of viruses. Yet, libraries live up to its mandate in serving the information needs of its patrons. This report documents the role of libraries in Kazakhstan during the pandemic and how libraries responded quickly to avoid disruption of programs and services. This document also describes some of the “new normal” initiatives and strategies libraries have adapted to respond to the needs of their clients. On the other hand, librarians are stepping-up and making enormous efforts to manage their call of duty to provide and distribute factual and reliable information to all its stakeholders. Adapting to a change of working environment also needs to be looked into. Since the start of work from home in mid-March 2020, was there a change of lifestyle? What factors affect their work productivity? An online interview among select library staff who can speak and understand English is conducted
Managing Bias When Library Collections Become Data
Get PDFDevelopments in AI research have dramatically changed what we can do with data and how we can learn from data. At the same time, implementations of AI amplify the prejudices in data often framed as ‘data bias’ and ‘algorithmic bias.’ Libraries, tasked with deciding what is worth keeping, are inherently discriminatory and yet remain trusted sources of information. As libraries begin to systematically approach their collections as data, will they be able to adopt and adapt the AI-driven tools to traditional practices?
Drawing on the work of the AI initiative within Stanford Libraries, the Fantastic Futures conference on AI for libraries, archives, and museums, and recent scholarship on data bias and algorithmic bias, this article encourages libraries to engage critically with AI and help shape applications of the technology to reflect the ethos of libraries for the benefit of libraries themselves and the patrons they serve. A brief examination of two core concepts in machine learning, generalization and unstructured data, provides points of comparison to library practices in order to uncover the theoretical assumptions driving the different domains. The comparison also offers a point of entry for libraries to adopt machine learning methods on their own terms
Sustainable Development Goals: Insights from Research Libraries
Get PDFResearch libraries have provided a key to unlocking the knowledge of the centuries. The nature of their stewardship of knowledge has led to a focus on understanding the value and sustainability in terms of collections. The extraordinarily rich collections have made a great contribution to education and to the communities they serve. A new theory of change which underpins the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) highlights the contribution that activities can make to improve national and international economic, social, community and governmental health. This article analyses the nature of major research library activities in light of the SDGs methodology. Taking this broad framework to the work of International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU) libraries provides new insights into the value and broader contribution of those libraries. The indicators assessed in the framework specifically relate to the outcomes of education and information within the societies they service. The case study suggests that the libraries make a significant and deep contribution both to the current national environments as well as in creating a framework for future returns on the investment to their universities
The Concept, Design, Implementation, and Assessment of Case-Based Learning in an Information Literacy Class
Get PDFCase-Based Learning (CBL) is a popular and successful teaching method used for a long time in disciplines such as medicine, business, law, and computer science. In the past decade, there has been a trend to introduce CBL into library instructions as an active teaching approach in the field of library and information science. Although a few studies have been conducted to investigate the advantages of this teaching technique in the library and information science literature, there remains a substantial absence of first-hand instructional experiences and observations from academic librarians who are actively teaching information literacy. This article presents a personal account of the concept, design, implementation, and assessment of CBL in an information literacy classroom. It discusses the advantages and limitations of CBL, offers suggestions for the future, and points out potential concerns related to the evaluation of workload, librarians’ responsibilities, and the workplace culture. Based on experiences and assessments of CBL classes, the article outlines foreseeable challenges for teaching librarians planning to implement CBL program in information literacy education