IOPN Journals (Illinois Open Publishing Network)
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Research Methodology Instruction in U.S. LIS Programs: A Tale of Two Perspectives
Get PDFAcademic librarians beginning tenure-track positions are often expected to conduct research studies to meet publication expectations at their institutions. However, a review of professional literature reveals that academic librarians often do not feel comfortable with many of the steps involved in carrying out these studies. These librarians may have had limited, if any, instruction in research methodology during their academic programs. It can also be challenging to find the time to pursue continuing education while balancing a myriad of other professional responsibilities. Motivated by their own challenges navigating academic research, the presenter became interested in examining the scope of research methodology coursework within ALA-accredited Master’s programs. The presenter sent out a survey to the administrators of these programs within the United States to learn more about their curriculums as well as their familiarity with and opinions of research methodology. This poster will summarize both librarians’ perceptions of their academic productivity experiences according to the literature as well as the results of the administrator survey. It will also provide recommendations for how LIS programs can support students considering pursuing careers in academic libraries
Youth Services: Youth Voices, Perspectives, and Experiences
Get PDFThe ALISE Youth Services Special Interest Group (SIG) presents a panel exploring how youth services programs support communities. Community issues of homelessness and barriers to youth engagement are considered, as well as the need to honor the voices of all library users. The session will begin with presentations of papers (15 minutes each), followed by a themed question-and-answer portion to conclude. Attendees will be able to share their own experiences and work-in-progress on these topics during the discussion.
Amanda Hovious will discuss the barriers that may prevent rural teens and youth from engaging in their libraries, regardless of whether youth services are offered. Findings from a needs assessment survey conducted with Kansas public libraries (N = 50) as a component of the statewide Adaptive and Resilient Infrastructures Driven by Social Equity (ARISE) will be shared.
Jessie Maimone will present information on the experiences of black teenagers in the public library. The aim of the research is to identify how race affects their interactions within the library, what they see as the purpose of libraries, and what an ideal library would look like for them.
Vikki C. Terrile will share research about library support of homeless children and families. Practitioner and/or scholarly work in LIS is focused on people who are or appear to be chronically homeless adults. Children and families who are experiencing homelessness are rarely mentioned. Terrile shares an exploration of her work partnering with shelters and how this experience is used with LIS students.
DeAnza Williams and Caitlin Tobin will detail the reading experience of children and youth as experts of their own reading preferences and library experiences. They will propose potential methods for incorporating youth voices in children and youth literature courses.
Youth services can nurture youth, community, and support learning and family connections. This presentation and the subsequent attendee discussion will explore the ways in which the LIS field can work to address these and other community needs through excellent youth services.
An Analysis of Perceived Ethical Leadership in Public Libraries in the United States
Get PDFPublic libraries in the United States require employees to fulfill their job roles to provide services to the communities they serve through ethical leadership, social exchange, and employee engagement. The purpose of this quantitative correlational associative study was to determine if, and to what extent, there was a correlation between perceived ethical leadership and social exchange and between perceived ethical leadership and employee engagement in public libraries in the United States. The theory of social exchange was generalizable to the study. Public library employees (n = 123) were recruited from social media sites and through direct email messages. Two research questions guided this study: (RQ1) Is there a statistically significant correlation between perceived ethical leadership and social exchange in public libraries? (RQ2) Is there a statistically significant correlation between perceived ethical leadership and employee engagement in public libraries? The Ethical Leadership Scale (ELS), the Leadership Member Social Exchange (LMSX) and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) were used to collect data. A Pearson’s Product-Moment Correlation for RQ1 showed a correlation between ELS and LSMX (n = 123, p = < .001). A Spearman’s Rank-Order Correlation for RQ2 showed a correlation between ELS and UWES (n = 123, p < .001). Results may inform leadership decisions about the importance of ethical leadership in public libraries to increase social exchange and employee engagement which could positively impact public library success
Decolonizing Financial Knowledge: How Social Media is Breaking Barriers to Wealth Equity
Get PDFTraditional financial education has often led to the exclusion of marginalized individuals through the use of financial jargon, paywalls, and deficit-oriented approaches. These models individualize responsibility while ignoring structural and cultural contexts, thereby perpetuating wealth gaps (Lusardi et al., 2017). Recent studies emphasize the need for culturally responsive frameworks that account for collective well-being, historical marginalization, and intersectional inequities. In addition, literature highlights how education must be transformative, inclusive, and attuned to the lived realities of marginalized communities, rather than relying on one-size-fits-all models (Blue & Pinto, 2023; Pinto, 2012), by integrating culture, values, and community praxis (Blue, 2016). Social media presents a potential shift. Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube allow financial influencers (“finfluencers”) from underrepresented backgrounds to bypass institutional gatekeeping and reach diverse audiences. A 2024 study by Al-Shami et al. shows that both financial and digital financial literacy significantly increase financial inclusion among subjects, with the use of social media strengthening the relationship. This underscores the role of digital platforms in translating literacy into inclusion when content is accessible and culturally relevant. This study employs a qualitative content analysis of marginalized influencers and audience comments to evaluate the methods of accessibility and inclusivity. Findings will evaluate if social media democratizes financial knowledge for excluded groups, offering insights into how culturally grounded digital practices can reshape financial literacy and equity
Self-Reflection and Growth: Mid-Career Bolashak Scholars’ Personal and Professional Development at the University of Illinois
Get PDFThis study examines the personal and professional development of 46 mid-career Bolashak scholars in the Pedagogy group at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign during the 2024–2025 academic year. Funded by the Government of Kazakhstan, the Bolashak Program supports scholars in advancing their expertise at leading global universities. Through a mixed-methods analysis of self-evaluation reports, this work-in-progress explores scholars’ reflections on their academic growth, cross-cultural learning, and professional development. Key findings highlight the impact of mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and cultural exchange on scholars’ pedagogical practices and research skills, contributing to Kazakhstan’s goal of developing a skilled workforce.
Centering African Voices: Mapping the Bibliometric Trajectory of African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science in Web of Science
Get PDFAfrican Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science has been a prominent publication outlet for African researchers since its inception in 1991. As one of the few journals from the Global South indexed in the global knowledge systems, it remains marginalized, evidenced by its limited international patronage, low citation counts and poor impact factor. However, no study has been conducted using Web of Science to examine the journal through the lens of epistemic justice framework. Using 268 papers published between 2007 and 2024, bibliometric review method was employed to examine its patterns of representation, citation and influence. Findings revealed its recent transition to Open Access as a form of epistemic justice, with the sole use of English entrenching linguistic epistemic injustice for non-anglophone knowledge systems. Despite African voices in the authorship and research being amplified, female voices and indigenous knowledge research remain underrepresented. Moreover, the journal’s ninety percent rejection rate could be severely suppressing the emerging voices of younger and early career researchers in the region. Collaboration patterns show high intra-African relationship which affirms Igwebuike and Ubuntu principles, yet low international engagement persists. Furthermore, the absence of both Central and North African contributions was also identified. Its citation performance demonstrated greater scholarly influence in the Global South compared to the north. While mostly being cited by international journals than African journals is laudable, it highlights the persistent systemic barrier of regional journals’ underrepresentation in citation indices. The editorial team should remain resolute in balancing the tension between decolonization and internationalization.
A Good Cup of Coffee, A Little Slice of America: Finding Common Ground Through Information Flow in a Small-town Texas Information Ground
Get PDF Amid the upheaval of a divided society, a failure to communicate can lead to misunderstandings, unresolved conflict, and exclusion of “the Other.” Common ground spaces are needed to facilitate meaningful information exchanges and authentic social connection. The aim of this study was to explore the community impact of information flow in a small-town information ground. As cafes have long been regarding as democratic spaces of inclusivity, social connection, and information sharing, this autoethnographic case study was conducted in a small-town coffeehouse in rural North Texas, in a community facing the growing pains of rapid urbanization. Using the information grounds theory, the theory of the strength of weak ties, and the concept of third places, this study sought to identify the types of information interactions and the key actors within the space and to explore how the information flow may impact individuals’ sense of belonging and community engagement. Findings show that important social ties were formed through informal information sharing like chit-chat and gossip, and that key actors fulfilled significant social roles that drove the information flow, thereby increasing tie strength. The hospitality shown in this third-place environment provided a common ground in which people with diverse perspectives found proximity with one another, leading to more meaningful connection, a deeper sense of belonging, and increased community engagement. The insights gained in this study may have broader implications for promoting social cohesion in an era of national political polarization and intense social and cultural transformation
Bridging Borders: The Role of Anime in Fostering Japanese Acceptance in South Korea and China
Get PDFThis study examines the relationship between anime consumption and the acceptance of Japanese individuals among South Korean and Chinese populations, given the historical and geopolitical tensions between these countries and Japan. Using data from the 2018 East Asian Social Survey (EASS), we analyzed responses from 1,031 South Koreans and 4,499 Chinese participants, stratified by generational cohorts. The study assessed Japanese acceptance in three social capacities: coworkers, neighbors, and married kin. Logistic regression models were employed to evaluate the impact of anime consumption, alongside sociodemographic factors, on attitudes toward Japanese acceptance.
Results showed that younger generational cohorts in both South Korea and China were generally more accepting of Japanese individuals compared to older generations. Anime consumption correlated significantly with increased acceptance among those who watched anime "sometimes" or "seldomly." Higher education levels also positively influenced Japanese acceptance in both groups.
These findings suggest that anime, as a distinctly Japanese cultural product, can serve as a bridge for fostering cross-cultural understanding and reducing long-standing historical tensions. The study highlights the potential of shared cultural consumption in promoting regional tolerance and emphasizes the need for further research on the role of media in shaping perceptions of national identity and cross-border relationships. This study underscores the potential of cultural media like anime in fostering mutual understanding and bridging divides in the East Asian regio
Lost Continents and Found Narratives: Atlantis, The Vision of Escaflowne, and the Reimagination of Myth in Anime and Manga
Get PDFThis study examines the adaptation of the Atlantis myth within anime and manga, focusing on The Vision of Escaflowne (1996) and its engagement with themes of lost civilizations, technological mysticism and imperial hubris. The series reinterprets Atlantis not as a mere submerged past but as a spectral force shaping the geopolitical and metaphysical structures of Gaea. Central to this portrayal is the Fate Alteration Engine, an Atlantean artifact that embodies both the allure and the dangers of rewriting history. As the characters navigate the remnants of this advanced civilization, Escaflowne constructs Atlantis as a paradox, simultaneously a utopian ideal and a cautionary ruin of unchecked ambition.
By situating Escaflowne alongside Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water (1990) and Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986), this study explores how these narratives reimagine Atlantis as a site of competing ideologies, reflecting anxieties surrounding modernity, empire and technological progress. Unlike many Western adaptations of the myth, which depict Atlantis as an extraterrestrial or speculative technological utopia, Japanese media often frame it as a failed imperial past whose legacies remain unresolved.
Employing New Historicism, media archaeology and transcultural historiography, this article interrogates how Japanese anime and manga transform the Atlantean myth to articulate cultural anxieties about history, colonialism and scientific progress. Ultimately, this study argues that Escaflowne exemplifies how anime engages with global mythologies, offering a uniquely Japanese vision of history and the uncertain promise of civilization’s advancement
Introducing Social Exchange Theory in Outreach Practices - Enhancing Student Engagement at the University of Malta Library
No full textThis research explores the application of Social Exchange Theory (SET) in enhancing outreach practices at the University of Malta Library. SET, which examines the dynamics of social interactions based on the perceived costs and benefits, provides a robust framework for understanding and improving library services. The study highlights several initiatives undertaken by the Library, such as training workshops, personalised one-to-one sessions, the "Feel Good Campaign," and various charity events, all of which embody the principles of SET. These initiatives foster reciprocal relationships between the Library and its users, enhancing engagement, satisfaction, and community building. Training workshops and personalised sessions, for instance, offer significant benefits to users while reinforcing their commitment to the Library. Charity campaigns like the Bake/Plant Sale and the Reverse Advent Calendar exemplify the mutual benefits of social exchanges, fostering stronger community ties. The "Chat with a Librarian" event and a robust online presence further illustrate the Library\u27s commitment to maintaining continuous, reciprocal engagement. This research underscores the importance of SET in creating effective outreach strategies that meet the evolving needs of the academic community, ultimately enhancing the overall efficacy of library services