Evidence Based Library and Information Practice (Journal)
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Evidence Synthesis Instructional Offerings in Library and Information Science Programs
No full textObjective – The goal of this study was to determine the extent to which evidence synthesis (ES) is incorporated into American Library Association (ALA)-accredited master’s level Library and Information Studies (LIS) programs. The study considered the depth of coverage, interest in additional curriculum content, and preferences for expanding existing coverage.
Methods – A cross-sectional survey was implemented. Program administrators and instructors currently involved with ALA-accredited master’s level LIS programs in Canada and the United States were eligible to participate. Recruitment emails targeted faculty and administrators from a directory of institutions offering ALA-accredited MLIS programs.
Results – 26 eligible responses from 20 unique institutions were obtained. Most respondents reported that ES is incorporated into the curriculum, albeit only briefly in most cases. Most of the respondents expressed interest in incorporating more ES content into the curriculum, specifically as a portion of a course. A greater number of respondents would prefer to bring in external guest speakers to teach the ES content, but a small percentage were interested in training for existing LIS instructors.
Conclusion – In-depth instruction on ES in LIS programs is currently limited. However, there appears to be interest in increasing ES content in curricula, primarily in the form of guest lecturers.
Korean Immigrant Parents Are Validated in Their Perceptions of Deficits in Library Resources Supporting Korean Immigrants in Three Southeastern Suburban Counties
No full textA Review of:
Kim, Y., Kim, H. C. L., & Kim, J. (2023). Korean immigrants’ perceptions of library services and library multicultural programs for Asian communities before and during COVID-19. Frontiers in Education, 8, Article 1081143. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2023.1081143
Objective – To explore Korean immigrant parents’ use and perceptions of public libraries and to analyze the resources and programs offered by public libraries that specifically support multiculturalism and the needs of immigrants.
Design – Descriptive case study using a questionnaire for parents and additional analysis of library resources and programs.
Setting – Three public library systems within three counties in a metropolitan area of a southeastern U.S. state.
Subjects – 141 Korean immigrant parents, as well as library resources and 318 programs offered across the three public library systems.
Methods – Respondents were recruited among parents of children enrolled in nonprofit summer camps at three local Korean American churches. The questionnaire included two open-ended questions and six closed questions and was completed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was analyzed with quantitative methods including Chi-square test and correlation and Spearman’s rank order correlation. SPSS was used to conduct an inferential analysis of the responses. The analyzed library resources and programs were divided into two different time periods; phase 1 or the “before COVID-19” phase consisted of data collection from January to April 2018, and phase 2 or the “during COVID-19” phase consisted of data collection from January to April 2021. The number of books and digital media in Korean, as well as the number of multicultural programs offered, were counted, and qualitative methods were used to classify the programs into categories for analysis.
Main Results – Key results of the questionnaire include that 79% of the respondents resided in one of the three counties within the public library systems being analyzed, and 79% spent time at the library at least once per year. Reasons for visiting the library included children’s books (97%), study spaces (18%), books for parents’ needs (12%), and library programs (8%). Most respondents (82%) did not think or did not know if libraries offered programs for immigrants. Of parents who were aware of programs for immigrants, only 7% (n=1) were aware of being able to borrow books in Korean, and 53% (n=8) were aware of programs such as ESL classes. Correlation analysis showed that the more time a respondent spent at a library, the more they believed that the libraries offered programs for immigrants. Some respondents (43%, n=61) provided reasons for library dissatisfaction, which included language barriers (38%), lack of Korean resources (38%), lack of cultural events (25%), lack of knowledge about how to use the library (10%), and staff unkindness (7%). Respondents who listed future needs (23%, n=33) asked for academic support programs for their children (33%) and more services for adults (61%), including ESL classes (30%), cultural events (12%), adult classes (9%), and books in Korean (6%).
The analysis of library resources across library systems A, B, and C respectively showed 371 (0.27% of total collection), 636 (0.27%), and 1 (0.04%) books in Korean, and 16, 89, and 0 electronic resources in Korean, with less than 4% of the total resources in Korean being published since 2009.
The analysis of multicultural programs at library systems B and C was divided into analysis of programs for children and adults and included the number and frequency of programs within multiple categories. Multicultural programs were more likely to be offered to adults than to children, and the total adult multicultural programs increased during COVID-19 compared to before COVID-19. However, the percentage of specifically Asian American programming decreased during COVID-19 in System B (from 6.3% to zero) and increased in System C (from zero to 3%).
Conclusion – Amongst the respondents, libraries were especially valued for access to books for their children. The respondents\u27 perceptions of the lack of availability of multicultural programming, as well as resources specifically for the Korean community, was reflected in the analysis of programs offered, which showed that there were few programs offered specifically in support or celebration of Asian or Asian American communities. The analysis of books and electronic resources documents a lack of Korean-language resources, especially recently published resources. The number of resources at the libraries does not adequately reflect the percentage of Korean Americans in the larger community.
Ethnographic Study Found School Library is a Safe Refuge of Solitude for French Urban Middle School Students
No full textA Review of:
Joing, I. (2023). The school library: An important place for adolescents’ well-being. An ethnographic experience in a French middle school. Journal of Library Administration, 63(6), 777-796. https://doi.org/10.1080/01930826.2023.2240192
Objective – To understand the role of school libraries in middle school students’ well-being.
Design – Ethnographic study consisting of overt participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and a written questionnaire.
Setting – An urban middle school in northern France between November 2017 and April 2018.
Subjects –Students from 10 to 15 years of age and selected school personnel.
Methods – Students from three randomly selected classes were invited to complete the questionnaire, and quantifiable responses were summarized using descriptive statistics. Other materials collected during the five-month study period, including the researcher’s field journal, interview transcripts, and qualitative questionnaire responses, were analyzed using grounded theory-informed open, axial, and selective coding to discern students’ perception of the library.
Main Results – The majority of the 95 students who completed the questionnaire viewed the library as a safe place associated with positive school experiences. However, these favorable impressions gradually decreased as students progressed in their studies, with senior (fourth-year) respondents reporting the lowest positive-to-negative experience ratio, at 1.1 to 1. Thematic clusters that emerged from coding of the rest of study materials further supported these findings, showing that students perceived the library to be both (a) a physical shelter from harsh winter elements during recess or lunch, and (b) a psychological refuge for solitude and peace from negative peer interactions. Nonetheless, (c) limited and unreliable library hours and (d) restrictive rules concerning noise and space access appeared to erode these positive associations over time. Senior students also expressed (e) the desire for more library or general school spaces dedicated to group work.
Conclusion – Findings from this ethnographic study highlighted different ways library space contributed to students’ sense of well-being. The study also uncovered some shortcomings in space management that contributed to students’ declining library use and positive perception over the course of middle school. The researcher recommended extending library hours and expanding the diversity of library activities to ensure the space would serve as a welcoming environment not only for students seeking solitude, but also for those desiring more peer collaborations and social connections
Public Librarians Hold Critical and Evolving Role as Community Facilitators of Government Information
No full textA Review of:
Zhu, X., Winberry, J., McBee, K., Cowell, E., & Headrick, J. S. (2022). Serving the community with trustworthy government information and data: What can we learn from the public librarians? Public Library Quarterly, 41(6), 574–595. https://doi.org/10.1080/01616846.2021.1994312
Objective – To understand public librarians’ experiences in addressing their communities’ government information and data needs.
Design – Semi-structured interviews.
Setting – 4 public county library systems in 2 southern states in the United States in early 2019, prior to onset of the COVID-19 pandemic
Subjects – 31 public service librarians, recruited through a combination of theoretical and convenience sampling strategies.
Methods – The researchers conducted individual interviews, ranging between 30 and 60 minutes, with each participant. Interview recordings were transcribed and processed through the qualitative data software NVivo, using a grounded theory approach with open inductive coding followed by thematic analysis.
Main Results – Six major findings were identified through thematic coding, including variability and complexity of reference questions, diversity in patron demographics, need for advanced knowledge of the local community context, preparedness of librarians to provide reference consultation for government information, balance between information and interpretation, and trust issues related to government sources. Challenges related to digital literacy level was a shared factor across multiple themes, as patrons’ government information needs are increasingly impacted by their ability to access web, mobile, and computer technologies, navigate online resources, and interpret bureaucratic vocabulary. Some librarians also expressed their own eroding trust towards the validity of government sources, such as climate change information from the Environmental Protection Agency under the Trump administration.
Conclusion – A majority of the findings were consistent with past literature, including the breadth and depth of varying government informational needs of public library patrons and the trust patrons have for their public libraries and librarians. Researchers also noted limited initiatives by public libraries to proactively educate patrons about open data or misinformation and recommended that libraries and library science educators better prepare current and future librarians for their role as government information mediators
Bangladesh Public Libraries\u27 Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
No full textA Review of:
Begum, D., Roknuzzaman, M., & Shobhanee, M. E. (2022). Public libraries’ responses to a global pandemic: Bangladesh perspectives. IFLA Journal, 48(1), 174–188. https://doi.org/10.1177/03400352211041138
Objective – Examine quantitative and qualitative data to determine the level of preparedness and capacity to provide key resources during the recent COVID-19 global pandemic with the goal of recommending measures to better cope with future similar situations.
Design – Online questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data, followed by a narrative analysis of the qualitative data.
Setting – Public libraries in Bangladesh.
Subjects – Heads of the libraries such as directors, librarians, or librarians-in-charge.
Methods – A survey was distributed to all 71 government public libraries in Bangladesh administered and governed by the Department of Public Libraries under the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. The survey elicited 50 valid responses, resulting in a response rate of 70%. A structured form questionnaire was prepared using Google Forms and included 12 closed-ended questions with multiple options and one open-ended question to collect librarian views on handling services and key functions post pandemic. Telephone interviews were conducted with eight librarians from the district public libraries.
Main Results – The data revealed that all the libraries reported having some level of preparedness for pandemics and disasters. However, few libraries reported high levels of confidence in this regard. For example, 82% responded that they either had a “low” or a “minimum” preparedness for dealing with a pandemic. The survey revealed that none of the responding libraries were fully open to provide user services during the COVID-19 pandemic while 100% were open for administrative functions. Additionally, 72% reported having some sections open but others closed, while 22% indicated that the library only provided specified services, most of these in an online environment. Only 12% indicated that they provided access to mobile library services.
The libraries responses to crisis management included creating public awareness through social media campaigns (50%), supporting other government bodies to mitigate the pandemic (46%), providing counseling services for particular users (40%), promoting authoritative and authentic national and global strategies on the pandemic for the public (34%), providing pandemic-related information via phone or email on demand (32%), and distributing relief to affected people (30%). Other activities included organizing online social and cultural programs to reduce public anxiety with special reference to vulnerable groups (24%), online staff training (22%), monitoring and supervising government programs (20%), and providing research data on the pandemic (10%).
The response to needs regarding redesigning library programs and services for the post-pandemic world revealed that 90% of libraries identified a need for a dedicated online service platform, 80% saw the need to create policies related to health and safety, while 72% indicated a need for more emphasis on digital content. The responses indicated 56% were in favor of introducing innovative online services.
Conclusion – In response to the results of their study, the authors make several recommendations regarding helping the libraries of Bangladesh to cope with consequences of future pandemics similar in scale to COVID-19. The first recommendation is to move away from “providing services in a traditional manner,” while developing dedicated online platforms running on high-bandwidth Internet connections (Begum et al., 2022, p. 183). These include introducing a secure cloud-based library automation system to provide a robust and stable information gateway. The development of digital resources should also be a priority. This includes both the digitization of library resources and more widespread access to an increasing number of subscription databases.
The data indicated a strong desire among librarians to introduce innovative library services which the authors identify as digitized content delivery, remote access to online resources, online chat reference, current awareness services, online programming mirroring face-to-face programming, home delivery service for books, strategic disaster policy development, online information literacy programs, online career counseling, and leadership along with online training, workshops, and seminars. The authors conclude that:
libraries face challenges, such as transitioning to virtual services, breaking long-established service models, funding for digital resources and its impacts on library operations in the future, enforcing social distancing measures, creating social awareness, and the lack of formal pandemic plans and policies …. (Begum et al., 2022, p. 179
Third-Party Tracking in Online Public Library Environments in the United States and Canada: A Statistical Analysis
No full textA Review of:Gardner, G. J. (2021). Aiding and abetting: Third-party tracking and (in)secure connections in public libraries. The Serials Librarian, 81(1), 69–87. https://doi.org/10.1080/0361526X.2021.1943105
Objective – To determine through statistical data collection the frequency of tracking by third parties in online public library environments along with the visibility and ease of discovery of online library policies and disclosures related to third-party tracking in particular and data privacy in general.
Design – Online evaluation of public library websites.
Setting – English-language public libraries in the United States and Canada.
Subjects – 178 public library websites (133 in the United States and 45 in Canada). The libraries included in the study were intentionally selected for their membership in either the Canadian Urban Libraries Council (CULC) or the Urban Libraries Council (ULC) in the Unites States, since these libraries have some of the largest systems membership serving predominantly urban and suburban communities in both countries. The included Canadian libraries serve nearly 41% of the population in that country while the included libraries in the United States are positioned to serve 28% percent of the total population. The author notes that “These percentage figures serve as hypothetical, upper-bound estimates of the population affected by third-party tracking since not every member of these communities actually uses their local public library” (Gardner, 2021, p.72).
Methods – In addition to evaluating the public library catalog and website in general with regards to third-party tracking and data privacy, 10 common content sources (databases) available at all of the included libraries were also included in the examination. Two browser add-ons designed to detect third-party tracking, Ghostery and Disconnect, were used in the study due to their popularity and incorporation into previous similar studies. In addition to third-party tracking the author executed word searches on library homepages using Ctrl-F for words commonly used to denote privacy or terms of use statements. No qualitative analysis was performed to determine if information shared regarding third-party tracking was accurate, and subpages were not examined. The data collection period lasted a total of three months beginning in March 2017 and running through May 2017.
Main Results – The data gathered between March and May of 2017 clearly indicates a general disregard among most sampled public libraries regarding the protection of patron data gathered by third-party tracking. Of Canadian libraries included in the sample 89% (40) enabled third-party tracking, while libraries in the United States allowed it at a rate of 87% (116). Both Ghostery and Disconnect revealed an almost identical number of incidences of third-party tracking in library catalogs and in the 10 popular public library databases examined in the study. Certain OPACS were associated with higher tracking counts as were certain library databases. Libraries were found to be lax when it came to providing a link on the homepage potentially informing users of the presence of third-party tracking. Of the 156 total libraries with third-party tracking in their online catalogs, 69 (44%) included a homepage link while the rest did not. The author notes that the presence of a link was all that was examined, and not specific language used to disclose the level of third-party tracking or data privacy. In total, 8 of the 10 common content sources allowed third-party tracking. All 10 provided a link to either privacy or terms of service statements on their landing pages.
Conclusion – Although patron privacy is an issue addressed in the American Library Association (ALA) Code of Ethics (American Library Association, 2021), the author concludes that “Together with previous research on usage of privacy-enhancing tools in public libraries, these results suggest that public libraries are accessories to third-party tracking on a large scale” (Gardner, 2021, p.69)
Miscommunication and Employee Power Dynamics May Affect Student Navigation of Library Resources
No full textA Review of:
Almeida, N., & Tidal, J. (2022). Library wayfinding and ESOL students: Communication challenges and empathy-based intervention. portal: Libraries and the Academy, 22(2), 453–474. https://doi.org/10.1353/pla.2022.0025
Objective – To map the experiences of students of English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) navigating an academic library.
Design – A wayfinding study to evaluate how students navigate a library.
Setting – An urban-based academic library at an institution of higher education.
Subjects – Students of English for speakers of other languages (ESOL).
Methods – A mixed methods study including visual recordings, web screen capture, interviews, and surveys. Subjects were recruited through email. Twelve participants were selected and given an initial screening survey. They were given four tasks to complete: Find a book in the stacks, find a book in the reserves, find a DVD in media, and find a database. They were equipped with a GoPro camera and were given a think-aloud protocol (TAP). They were then given a post-task debriefing interview. Qualitative data were analyzed and coded. Quantitative data like success of task and time to completion were also recorded.
Main Results – Success rate varied among tasks: Finding a book in reserves had the highest rate at 75%, while finding a database had the lowest at 50%. Time also varied from 12 minutes to find a book in the stacks to just under 6 minutes to find a database. Seven of the 12 participants indicated they had prior library experience; however, they still encountered skill gaps. They lacked familiarity with the space, policies, website, and terminology. Participants also struggled with library jargon and inconsistent use of jargon among staff and librarians.
Conclusion – The researchers discovered there were discrepancies between language used in signs, directions provided by staff, and information provided on the website. Signage was important because several participants made remarks on lack a familiarity with the library space. They would get lost and anxious. In addition, the video recordings and subsequent discussions among the staff and librarians showed issues arising from the power dynamics in the library organization. Staff felt pressured to provide reference services when librarians were unavailable due to staffing shortages, which led to miscommunication. These conclusions lead to empathy-based training to address language discrepancies and experiences among staff. It also provided additional rationale for hiring
Experiences of Visible Minority Librarians and Students in Canada from the ViMLoC Mentorship Program
No full textObjective – The purpose of this research is to examine the experiences of mentors and mentees in the formal mentorship program offered by the Visible Minority Librarians of Canada Network (ViMLoC) from 2018-2022. Findings from this research will help mentors and mentees understand how to establish an effective mentoring relationship. Professional library associations and libraries can also gain valuable insights to support the visible minority library professionals within their own mentorship programs.
Methods – Between 2018 and 2022, 113 mentors and 145 mentees participated in four sessions of the ViMLoC mentorship program. The ViMLoC Mentorship Committee designed and delivered a survey for mentors and a survey for mentees at the end of each session. Over four sessions, 81 mentors and 82 mentees completed the surveys, representing a 72% and 57% completion rate, respectively. Fisher\u27s Exact Tests were performed to examine if there were significant differences between mentors and mentees in their perceptions regarding ease of communication, relationship, helpfulness of mentorship, likeliness of keeping in contact, and importance of having a visible minority partner.
Results – The mentees perceived mentoring support to be more helpful than the mentors perceived it themselves. The mentees were more likely to keep in contact with their mentors beyond the mentorship program while the mentors did not show as much interest. The mentees who had a positive experience from the formal mentorship program were found to be more likely to mentor others in the future, whereas the same effect did not hold true for the mentors. On the other hand, some findings were the same for both mentors and mentees. Both stated that effective communication would facilitate a good mentoring relationship, which in turn, would lead to positive outcomes and greater likelihood of keeping in contact beyond the mentoring program. There was also consensus of opinion about the most important areas of mentoring support and some essential skills for building a successful mentoring relationship.
Conclusion – This research contributes to the literature by using an empirical research method and comparative analyses of the experiences between mentors and mentees over four sessions of the ViMLoC mentorship program. The study focuses on the perceptions of participants regarding their communication, relationship, helpfulness of mentorship, associations between their past and present mentoring experiences, areas of support, importance of having a visible minority partner, and essential skills for building a successful mentoring relationship. Mentors and mentees differed significantly in how they perceived the helpfulness of mentorship support and how likely they would like to maintain the ties beyond the program. For both sides, effective and easy communication was found to be critical for building a good mentoring relationship and achieving a satisfactory experience
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Professional Development Events in Academic Libraries Have Minimal Impact on Knowledge, Behavior, and Organizational Change Without Meaningful Design and Participant Intentionality
No full textA Review of:Dali, K., Bell, N., & Valdes, Z. (2021). Learning and change through diversity, equity, and inclusion professional development: Academic librarians’ perspectives. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 47(6), 102448. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2021.102448
Objective – To explore experiences of library diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) professional development events (PDEs) and to examine the long-term impacts on knowledge and personal practices of librarians and organizational change
Design – Exploratory, qualitative survey, hermeneutic phenomenology, retrospective reflection on a critical incident
Setting – Academic libraries across the United States and Canada
Subjects – 141 survey responses from academic librarians in public and private institutions who attended a DEI PDEs
Methods – The authors distributed a survey in late 2020 to librarians in public and private academic institutions across the US and Canada. Participants were asked to reflect retrospectively on memorable and impactful DEI PDEs they attended in the last five years and to focus on events at least a year before the survey was conducted. Participants were also asked to describe if the PDE changed their own learning and practice, as well as their organization’s policies and practices. The authors used hermeneutic phenomenology as a framework for their research and data analysis, which they describe as an approach to phenomenology that emphasizes the range and diversity of experiences. The survey questions were designed to illicit retrospective reflection and critical incident technique in order to capture the most impactful and memorable experiences with PDEs from respondents. Survey responses were coded, categorized, interpreted, and then mapped to the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) of change, a principle that breaks the phases of change into six processes: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and termination. Additionally, the authors also ensured they represented diverse backgrounds as a method for addressing and reducing bias.
Main Results – The authors uncovered a trove of varied experiences and perspectives related to personal as well as organizational knowledge and change. However, they identified five broader categories of learning from the study data: cognitive learning, behavioral learning and change, personal learning and change, social learning and change, and emotional learning and change. The majority of study participants (n=91) chose to attend DEI PDEs rather than being required by their organizations to attend. Many came into the PDE with goals to attain new knowledge (n=39) and to change their behavior (n=30). Similarly, respondents noted that the PDE impacted them most by giving them new awareness around DEI topics and systemic inequities (n=51) and inspired behavioral changes and a commitment to taking action (n=28). PDEs also impacted some participants’ self-awareness around their own biases and privileges (n=22). However, responses included skepticism around the impact of PDEs on any real and meaningful change, particularly related to organizational culture and action. Respondents emphasized concern about performative allyship and underscored the challenges and barriers to making DEI a meaningful component of many institutional practices and policies. While respondents noted increased awareness around systemic inequities, these responses stood in stark contrast to several comments expressing frustration at the lack of meaningful organizational change and demoralization felt at the fruitlessness of DEI PDEs. The authors’ initial data analysis revealed that PDEs most impacted cognitive awareness and behavioral action. However, when they mapped the data to the TTM, results emphasized the impact of PDEs on behavioral learning and action.
Conclusion – Academic librarians who participate in DEI-related PDEs experience a wide array of emotional responses to the training and leave with a broad range of cognitive, behavioral, and affective impacts. While data suggests that these PDEs increased awareness and knowledge and behavioral action the most, there is little that suggests that meaningful organizational change follows afterwards. Another challenge is the gap between having awareness of DEI topics and taking steps toward meaningful self-improvement. The authors note that it takes time for knowledge to translate into action and highlight the importance of post-PDE check ins by PDE facilitators and library administration. Academic librarians should approach DEI PDEs with intentionality by challenging themselves to set goals and use their new DEI knowledge to create actionable change both personally and organizationally. On the other hand, creators of DEI PDEs should take time to understand the participants and organizational culture in order to design trainings intentionally, using the TTM as a guide to identify how the PDE maps to the stages of change leading to meaningful action and follow up. Without intentionality, follow up, and goal setting, DEI-related PDEs may be ineffective, performative, and demoralizing.