Postgraduate work in library and information studies and business analytics
LIS neutrality: A qualitative analysis of public librarian concepts and expectations of political neutrality in Glasgow's public library service.
With the recent shifting to the right of global politics, public libraries have found themselves in the crossfire of heated debate regarding their role in social justice, freedom of knowledge and perhaps most challenging, neutrality. This research sets out to develop an understanding of the positions of public library staff and users regarding political neutrality within public libraries. The research explores key literature and methodological approaches concerning neutrality in public libraries, how it is implemented and its consequences. The current literature examines library neutrality, including its relation to social justice and library collections. A volume of theoretical research and debate on neutrality within library and information services currently exists, however at present only small samples of empirical studies have been conducted. This study will refine and build on this research by exclusively exploring political neutrality. An interpretivist inductive philosophical underpinning, incorporating qualitative research and thematic analysis is adopted by the current research, ensuring a deep understanding of overall positions in relation to existing library policies. The study focuses its research on the specific geographical area of Glasgow and the public libraries within the Glasgow council area. The diverse political and ethnic composition of the city’s population was key in this decision to ensure a broad cross-section of public librarians within the research cohort. The study’s findings contribute to the discourse on overall neutrality in public library services and offer both libraries and policy makers an insight into the relationship between library staff and existing policy and expectations regarding political neutrality within public library services.
Copyright (c) 2025 Alan Evans https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Insights from Digital Communities Symposium: Call to Action in the Context of the Library and Information Sector
The evolving digital era is reshaping the landscape of information science, redefining the value of the library and information science sector through the lens of the user's knowledge domain. As a sector that manages information across all eras, it functions like a DNA blueprint of humanity—storing, repackaging, and disseminating knowledge to meet societal needs, while equipping communities with digital literacy for effective information access. This article examines the research projects that were presented at Symposium 4 ‘Digital Communities’, which formed part of the School of Law and Social Sciences ‘International Research Conference 2025’ Law as a Catalyst for Social Development, held on 27th February 2025. Symposium 4 was chaired by Professor Simon Burnett and Dr Konstantina Martzoukou (from the School of Law and Social Sciences at the Robert Gordon University).
Copyright (c) 2025 Palika Vithana https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Reflective Professional journal, continuing to provide students with a platform to publish their own research in a fully open accessible format, amplifying the reach and relevance of their work to the wider scholarly and practitioner community. Since Reflective Professional was launched back in 2021, we have published eighteen student research projects and six short papers focusing on different libraries, countries and methods reflecting a diversity of foci, contexts and approaches to research.
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr Konstantina Martzoukou, Professor Peter Reid https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
An investigation on how library professionals of the Swiss Group of International Schools perceive, support, and promote the holistic well-being of their students: a qualitative study.
The aim of the present study is to explore how the library staff of the Swiss Group of International schools perceive, promote, and foster the holistic well-being of their students. The research niche is identified by the need of expand the body of research on the role of school libraries on students’ well-being in international schools. A qualitative study based on an interpretive approach and phenomenological analysis was designed to collect the perceptions and experiences of the library staff belonging to the SGIS Librarians’ group in Switzerland. Semi-structured individual interviews (N=12) were conducted. The results show that the participants qualify their individual well-being as happiness and contentment. They transfer these positive attributes to their professional practices with the aim of providing safe and stable environments for school communities largely populated by Third Cultural Kids (TCK). The TCK paradigm has an impact on the pastoral role of the library staff who put a significant effort on maintaining positive relationships and designing a library space supporting of all the diversity. Fostering well-being is inherent to their role and an intrinsic value of being an educator beyond the curriculum.
Copyright (c) 2025 Anne Labussiere https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Welcome to the Zine Scene: creating zinemaking resources for Scottish librarians, informed by research into the mental health benefits of zinemaking for young people.
Libraries provide an essential support role for emotional health and wellbeing. This is particularly relevant as evidence shows that Scottish children and young people are increasingly at risk of poorer mental health. By researching the positive effect on young people’s mental health that zinemaking can have, this project suggests that libraries can increase their value by introducing zinemaking activities to their patrons. The research resulted in accessible resources being created that will demystify zinemaking in general, and increase librarian confidence, thus easing the process of implementing such activities. The literature review highlights three key areas of particular interest to this investigation: the mental health benefits of creativity and physical making as providing an embodied experience; how zinemaking can create both micro and macro communities and the importance of this for young people; and lastly the way that zines can be used as tools for activism and amplifying marginalised voices. An analysis of easily available resources verified that there was a need for providing online, accessible resources for Scottish Librarians, whilst establishing elements of good practice. By triangulating this analysis with the academic research, prototype resources were created. This was the first cycle of an iterative, mixed methods Action Research approach. The next cycles involved multiple pilot workshops with librarians, representing a cross-section of both school and public Scottish libraries. Qualitative data gleaned from workshop observations, and post-workshop interviews with the librarians, informed iterative changes to these resources along with new resources being created. After ten separate workshop days, and therefore ten potential iterative cycles, the final resources were created. These use a unique handmade-digital approach to ensure the DIY ethos of zinemaking is represented whilst allowing for digital distribution and editing. These were then made available through an online portal that is both informative and inspiring. This will be made publicly accessible to public and school librarians across Scotland, thus encouraging them to join the zinemaking community and allowing their young people to gain all the benefits and the increased emotional wellbeing that can result.
Copyright (c) 2025 Fi Johnston https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
An investigation into the Success of the National Library Board's Digital Literacy Programmes and Initiatives in Addressing the Diverse Needs of Singapore's Senior Demographic
The Singapore National Library Board (NLB) has made a commitment to support the digital inclusion of adults aged 50 and older with digital literacy programmes and initiatives for seniors, a broad demographic with a variety of needs, interests and abilities. The multiple-methodological research approach used explored the NLB’s digital literacy programmes and initiative partnerships, their content and delivery, best practice (as found in literature), as well as benefits and challenges, and determined how well they meet the diverse needs of Singapore’s senior demographic. Research found that the NLB is fully committed to supporting the digital development of seniors. Qualitative data showed that a majority of programmes are for seniors in employment, most programmes require existing digital proficiencies, and nearly all are conducted in English. Findings revealed an extensive network of partnerships supporting programmes. Observations uncovered teaching methods and best practice. Facilitator and participant interviews revealed that the programmes' curriculums align with the Singapore government’s digital literacy objectives for seniors, and programmes are highly valued because they occupy time, engage the mind, teach digital skills for self-reliance, and develop strong social networks. However, there needs to be more differentiation for ability, beginner programmes, practical hands-on sessions and ongoing informal support beyond formal learning, as well as improvements to increase promotion and simplify booking systems, and better utilisation of experienced senior digital volunteers. The limitations of this research were the small sample size of interviewees and the number of observations, as well as the lack of access to NLB leadership for information on the key objectives of the programmes and initiatives, participant attendance and demographic statistics. This study provides preliminary insights, but to gain a more accurate understanding of the success of the of the NLB’s digital literacy programmes and initiatives in addressing the diverse needs of Singapore's senior demographic, further research involving more observations, a more comprehensive sample of interviewees and the full support of the NLB to provide their perspectives and complete data is required to ensure more precise results.
Copyright (c) 2025 Olivia Burford-Taylor https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
An investigation into how library design and signage support children’s navigation and wayfinding in international primary school libraries.
This research examines how primary-aged children wayfind in an international school library. The focus is on children’s use of wayfinding strategies, and how effectively they use signage and design features in their navigation. Research into how adult patrons use signage, wayfinding and navigational strategies in public library spaces is a well-documented area. On the other hand, how children patrons use signage, wayfinding, and navigational tools in library spaces, both in school and public libraries, is a less well-researched area. As there is a gap in knowledge, this research specifically examines children’s navigation and wayfinding in school libraries. By understanding how children search for resources and use a library space, librarians can better adapt signage, signings, and navigational tools to suit and plan for young patrons’ wayfinding needs. This research addresses the following objectives: to observe how children navigate the library space and locate resources; to explore what aspects of the navigation process children find enjoyable and beneficial; and to evaluate how architectural and design elements, along with signage, can be improved to facilitate their wayfinding. The research methods are multimethod and inductive. Three sources of data were collected from: observations of 192 children aged 7 & 8 years old in a naturalistic school library setting; a follow-up survey of 175 children to further explore and develop their responses; and a final component of two semi- structured interviews with a Head of Library at a recently refurbished international school library, and three library professionals at a library furniture design company, Raeco. Data from these three areas of research was collated and triangulated. The key learning outcomes from this research are that children wayfind and navigate using a variety of strategies and this is dependent upon their preferred searching styles. Therefore, libraries need to incorporate a range of wayfinding and navigation features to ensure all children are included and their wayfinding needs are met. There are a range of navigational tools that a library team can use to meet these needs. Due to the context of the naturalistic settings, and since the international school community is ethnically diverse, the findings and recommendations of this research can be applied to all primary school libraries and children’s sections of public libraries worldwide. The recommendations could be incorporated into future primary school library planning and design in children’s libraries.
Copyright (c) 2025 Janine Murphy https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Beyond Screens: Utilising Outdoor Programming to Support Digital Literacy Development and Other Skill-building Initiatives in North American Public Libraries
Libraries within North America are invaluable and unique institutions that play a crucial role in community development. They promote essential skills such as digital literacy, communication, and modern educational and career skills through a variety of public initiatives and programs. Though the value of these establishments and their current offerings are well recognised, further potential may lie in the increased provision of outdoor library services. Although the benefits technology provides to society are undeniable, the prevalence of screens in daily life and the potential negative impact of excessive screen time highlights the importance of fostering meaningful connections with the outdoors and developing skills in environments outside of the digital realm. Given the limited existing material on this specific topic, the following research seeks to explore the definite benefits outdoor programming may offer when it comes to digital literacy development and other skill-building initiatives in North American public libraries. In doing so it considers two gaps: that between communities and technology arising out of a lack of digital literacy skills, and that between nature and technology which results in the alienation of communities from the environment. An interpretivist philosophy and inductive approach were therefore observed in conducting a review of 100 libraries’ programme offerings, in addition to surveying 21 library professionals regarding the future potential of outdoor programmes with relation to digital literacy and other library services.
Copyright (c) 2025 Felix Aitchison https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Irish Public Libraries as safe social spaces for older adults
Public Libraries represent a welcoming, social environment for many of us, but for none moreso than our older adults who place significant value on their library visits and interactions. This case study examines the effectiveness of Kildare Library and Arts Service’s Age Friendly practices in creating safe, social spaces for older adults. The research objectives include critically examining library accessibility, appraising programming, exploring staff opinions on service and investigating digital inclusion for older patrons. A literature review was carried out to place the topic in context (down to a local perspective) and to provide an initial overview for the case study. Following on from this review, the data collection methods included conversational group, librarian and mobile librarian interviews, gathering of observational data in-branch and statistical analysis. The findings indicate that both patrons and staff feel their libraries are safe, social spaces while over 90% of branches checked returned positive responses. Analysis of programming data indicates a need for more Age Friendly events to be scheduled, especially in part-time branches. The research findings would be of interest to stakeholders as an ‘on-theground- investigation’ into the safe and social nature of Kildare Library environments. Although the lack of formal, structured KLAS policies was highlighted, this research is a good starting point for any library service, including KLAS, seeking to critically examine their older adult service provision.
Copyright (c) 2024 Peter Reid; Lorraine Connolly https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Editors' editorial for the 2024 edition.
Copyright (c) 2024 Konstantina Martzoukou; Peter Reid https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Library and Information Services - A Brave New (Old) World
Alan Evans reflects on gaining professional experience in the information and library sector during his time on the course.
Copyright (c) 2024 Alan Evans https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Practitioner self-censorship in Scotland’s secondary school libraries
Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the issues of self-censorship and challenge preparedness in Scottish secondary school libraries. It was undertaken in response to a recent consultation on intellectual freedom conducted by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP), and a literature gap peculiar to the devolved nations of the United Kingdom. Methodology: Internet-mediated digital mixed methods were used, following an explanatory sequential approach and using the controversial graphic novel format as a gateway to the investigation. The quantitative phase centred upon an online questionnaire disseminated among secondary school library staff throughout Scotland, and the qualitative phase comprised three semi-structured follow-up interviews shaped by emergent themes from the literature and questionnaire. Findings: Practitioner self-censorship does exist in Scotland’s school libraries. Its nature and scope broadly accord with the findings of other studies conducted within and outwith the UK. Promisingly, theoretical agreement with intellectual freedom principles is widespread; limited time and budget are the main barriers to best practice. Despite minimal formal collection defence training, many practitioners perceive their support systems and professional skills to be adequate. Key recommendation: CILIP and the School Library Association (SLA) should produce fully localised, sector-specific strategies for challenge preparedness.
Copyright (c) 2024 Beulah Lowry https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Enhancing Prescription Fraud and Error Detection in NHS Prescriptions Through Anomaly Detection
This research explores the critical issue of fraud and errors in NHS prescriptions through data-driven methods. It investigates the landscape of prescription fraud within the healthcare system, delves into existing fraud control mechanisms, and scrutinizes fraud detection methods encompassing manual inspection, rule-based techniques, and advanced machine learning algorithms. The research adopts a structured approach, comprising data understanding, preparation, and modeling phases. Performance metrics and machine learning algorithms, including Neural Networks, Decision Trees, and Regression models and traditional outlier detection methods are employed to develop a robust fraud detection model. The findings of this pioneering study hold promise for revolutionizing fraud prevention and detection within the NHS, ultimately leading to improved patient care and cost savings. With a steadfast commitment to realizing its objectives, this study also extends an invitation to explore potential avenues for future exploration, emphasizing the importance data literacy and expert insights for refining fraud detection strategies in the healthcare sector.
Copyright (c) 2024 Philip Ocan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A Snapshot Analysis of the Data Governance Job Market in The United Kingdom
Data governance is a relatively new and emerging field that has gained prominence in the data driven world of today. This study focuses on analysing the current state of the data governance job market in the United Kingdom to provide insights that may guide the career decisions of data governance professionals. The data used for the study focused on “data governance” job postings on LinkedIn. The collected data was analysed to identify the region, city, company, and industries with the highest number of job postings. In addition, the most frequent terms in the job titles and the job descriptions were identified using a bag-of-words approach that highlighted the most relevant words. The study found that England and London had the highest number of postings in country and city while Information and communication industry was found to have the highest number of postings. The advertised job titles were wide and varied and aligned with the job roles identified in literature. Also, the categorisation of the most frequent terms across the top five industries indicated a focus on the data governance “implement” action in the job descriptions. However, a key limitation is that the data was collected from only one source in a single research session which leaves room for further research using multiple sources and deeper text mining techniques.
Copyright (c) 2024 Chimoa Adeomi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Endangered Language, Endangered Identity, Endangered History
This research explored the role of libraries in the endeavour to preserve and revitalise endangered languages within the context of Scotland. Two of the country’s indigenous languages, Scots and Scottish Gaelic, are considered endangered. The Scottish Government has implemented a variety of strategies to aid the revitalisation of both languages, though Scottish Gaelic is the primary focus. The goal of this study was to gain insight into Scotland’s librarians' views on the value of this work within libraries. Taking an inductive, qualitative design, the study employed a multimethod approach to data collection which included semi-structured interviews and secondary resources. Five librarians and library-adjacent staff from a variety of Council Areas and library types across Scotland were interviewed. Reflexive thematic analysis was employed to generate detailed data on the unique perspectives of Scotland’s librarians. Results suggest the negative perception of Scots and the stigmatisation of Scots speakers needs to be improved before Scots can be better preserved and revitalised within libraries. The Scottish Gaelic perspective was severely lacking due to low response rates so it is recommended that this language be studied further. In terms of libraries, there are currently very few current practices, but the ongoing evolution of the library field is laying a good foundation for effective language preservation and revitalisation activities in the future.
Copyright (c) 2024 Bianca Meagan Hill https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Readers’ Advisory Services in Southern Ontario Public Libraries
The aim of this research was to investigate the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the readers’ advisory services (RA) provided by southern Ontario public libraries. Its objectives were to determine whether there have been changes in patron demand for readers’ advisory and whether libraries have responded to pandemic restrictions by changing their readers’ advisory offerings. A final objective was to develop recommendations for public libraries wanting to improve their RA services. A review of the literature found that there are many studies examining the history of readers’ advisory, and the way RA is practised in North American public libraries. However, there has not yet been much research published exploring the ways in which the pandemic has affected readers’ advisory services in public libraries, nor has there been a lot of research examining the ways in which public libraries have adapted these services to better serve the public during pandemic restrictions. This research was intended to address this gap in the literature. A mixed-methods approach was chosen for this research as the best course to acquire both quantitative and qualitative data. First, a questionnaire was distributed to southern Ontario public library staff. The questionnaire explored various types of readers’ advisory services and asked respondents about their library’s responses to pandemic restrictions. Next, follow-up interviews were conducted with select questionnaire respondents to obtain more detailed and nuanced information regarding readers’ advisory services at their libraries during the pandemic. It was found that most libraries had found some changes in demand for RA services during the pandemic. More patrons were asking for books to be chosen for them when they were unable to visit the library during lockdowns or restrictions. Most libraries also implemented some type of new RA service during the pandemic. Recommendations were made for public libraries to continue to adapt their RA services to better serve their patrons. These recommendations included better RA training for staff, fostering a culture of “booktalking” and advertising RA services more effectively.
In-person and virtual storytime programs beyond early literacy development
Early literacy development is a fundamental aspect of a child’s learning with implications for their future success in school and life. Storytimes have been a staple program offered by public libraries for years, but gaps exist in the current data about the impact and benefits that children and their parents/caregivers gain from attending the programs with a notable absence of research into how virtual storytime programs play a role. This study investigates the impact of storytime programs on children and their parents and caregivers beyond and including early literacy development with a focus on how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the program delivery and the response from the community. A case study of how the Mississauga Library pivoted from in-person to virtual storytime examines the challenges, opportunities, and response to the programs from library professionals and the community that they serve. The research employs a mixed-methodology approach, analysing qualitative and quantitative data through the use of questionnaires targeting library patrons and program attendees, and one-on-one interviews with educators and Mississauga Library staff. This research provides insight into the effectiveness of and overall response to virtual storytime programming during the pandemic where there is currently limited data. From these research findings, recommendations have been made for improvement in future library programming for both virtual and in-person storytime, for collaboration between education and library organisations and for investing in the training of library staff to better address the needs of their communities.
Copyright (c) 2023 Victoria Le https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
#LoveLibraries - Hashtags and folksonomies in public library Instagram accounts
This study explores the impact on user engagement that hashtags and folksonomies can have in the context of the Instagram app, specifically in a post COVID-19 context, where services like libraries were stripped of their physical provisions and may have increased their use of social media. To achieve this, secondary data from pre-existing Instagram accounts was gathered using a coding schema, for the means of investigating current trends in hashtag use. A selection of social tags that were deemed popular in correlation with boosting engagement were examined and then adapted to create tailored hashtags to be posted by the collaborative public library service, Orkney Library and Archives. This was implemented through an action research approach, with pre-existing Instagram accounts acting as the diagnostic phase, with the application of the customised tags by Orkney Library enacting the therapeutic stage. The research was designed to be unobtrusive, in keeping with themes central to passive netnography. The study found there to be a positive correlation between the use of emotive hashtags and user comments, with a higher volume of comments found on posts containing this type of hashtags, and respondents more likely to leave text-rich qualitative responses as opposed to only emojis. Other hashtag types which were found to have value in driving engagement were geographical and rallying types. Due to time constraints, only one cycle of action research approach was able to be conducted, and it is recommended that further research on this topic is continued to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the impact social tags can have on engagement.
A Review of online placement experiences and reflections as part of the Professional Skills Enhancement module
Short reflection on online placement experiences as part of the Professional Skills Enhancement (PSE) module.
Editorial to volume three of Reflective Professional
Copyright (c) 2023 Peter Reid; Konstantina Martzoukou
Learning Analytics: A Study of the Dynamics impacting Students Performance in a VLE
Virtual Learning environments have directly reflected that there are newer and more advanced methods in which higher educations are seeking to embrace learning because of the affordances it offers to its users, the students, instructors and administrators. It is from the various activities that are involved in this environment that massive amount of data is generated and accumulated into learning analytics. Some scholars suggest that the pandemic sporadically increased the participation of students in online learning activities. The study sought to understand and explore the various factors such as age, gender, location, course module, course presentation, education qualification that would affect their academic performance from their engagements in the VLE using the Open University Learning Analytics Dataset. These are further indicated as independent variables and the performance outcome as the dependent variable. Different studies have looked at how they can use ML algorithms to predict a better performance outcomes and reducing the rate of failures and withdrawals especially for OULAD while other researches were conducted to explain different factors affect students’ academic performances in a VLE. A python programming software was used to conduct a multilayered statistical analysis from an EDA to a Chi square to linear regression analysis was used to obtain appropriate result outputs. The findings revealed that there is a high level of significant relationship between students who had a high number of sum of clicks and their performance. Also course module had a statistically significant relationship with academic performance.
Open University Learning Analytics Dataset
Copyright (c) 2023 Tolanitoluwa Awoliyi
A comparative study of secondary school library censorship in the UK and US
This research seeks to compare and contrast attitudes towards and experiences of censorship by secondary school library personnel in the United Kingdom and United States of America, in order that conflicts regarding censorship may be recognised and resolved. A mixed methods approach was used, consisting of a questionnaire and interviews, to gather quantitative and qualitative data on the topics of censorship views, collection management, and access limitation practices, as well as participant awareness of professional organisations’ standards and frameworks. A majority of UK and US participants expressed philosophical alignment with the concept of freedom of information and the rejection of censorship. UK participants, however, were found to be much more likely to censor by requiring parental permission, restricting access, and guiding students away from particular materials. Unlike US participants, many UK participants were unaware of any professional guidance offered on the topic of censorship; similarly, a significant majority did not have any policies to govern materials in their school libraries. Recommendations are made to continue this research by extending it to a wider number of participants (including in Wales and Northern Ireland). It is also recommended that UK professional organisations more widely promote their policies on censorship and freedom of information, as well as share exemplars of policies with school librarians to help them recognise censorship, manage access, and promote freedom of information.
Creating communities and connections in a digital age
Michael Head, for many years a cornerstone of RGU's library school.
A critical evaluation of the impact of controlled vocabularies on the exchange of data and information in Canadian museums
The study explores the relationship between controlled vocabularies and interoperability within museums. The research works to investigate, understand, and determine the level of interoperability within and between museums and how controlled vocabularies, either universal and unchanged or personalised, impact the success and ability of data sharing and exchange. A digital survey provided open and closed-ended questions for qualitative and quantitative data from the sample. The sample was selected from the Canadian Museum Association (CMA) and expanded through listservs, from which 55 organisations participated. The study finds museums lacking in cataloguing practices. The limited number of cataloguers with information management certification has impacted the effectiveness of cataloguing and completeness and consistency of records, primarily through the misunderstanding of rules and standards, and deviations from vocabularies and schema. Data and information exchange through the practice of interoperability largely does not exist within the data set, limiting the ability to make proper connections between vocabulary usage and interoperability strength and effectiveness. Due to the limitations of the study and survey responses, further research into the understanding of interoperability and the use of controlled vocabularies in Canadian museums is recommended.
Copyright (c) 2022 Peter Reid; Konstantina Martzoukou
A Look at the Impact of Academic Extracurriculars on Professional Development: A Personal Reflection
Opinion piece about the impact of Academic Extracurriculars on Professional Development.
Public Library Resilience during the COVID-19 Pandemic: the role of social media for Canadian Urban Public Libraries.
This mixed method qualitative research aims to analyse the role of social media in Canadian urban public library resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Facebook and Twitter social media content was collected from a sample of ten urban public libraries across Canada to analyse how libraries have responded and adapted to the closure of library buildings with minimal prior notice, through their use of social media during this pandemic. The research objectives include analysis of the value of social media as a platform to provide community outreach and engagement, crisis management, health literacy, and support of mental health during this challenging time of change. Analysis of the data was performed using a combination of template coding, open coding and sentiment analysis The data and findings from this research provide an insight to the potential of social media as a strategic and valuable resource for public libraries. In addition, the research outcomes may support crisis management policy planning for public libraries.
Research at the library: young adult outreach in a public library
This mixed methods study examines the impact of research-related outreach to young adults as a means of engaging with them and improving their attitudes toward the public library in Ireland. Taking the opportunity offered by the Leaving Certificate History curriculum, a public library gave an online presentation on research skills and library resources to fifth-year history students embarking on their Research Study Report (RSR). Questionnaires were completed before and after the presentation, asking respondents a range of questions on library membership, library use, library resources and their research skills. Teachers were interviewed on the supports available to them and their students through the library. Young adults were found to have a broadly positive attitude toward the library, but to underutilise the library’s resources and to have simplistic approaches to research. The importance of libraries’ relationships with teachers and the effectiveness of targeting schools was evident. The outreach event had positive, if limited, effects on respondents’ attitudes toward the library, notably on how welcoming and how helpful with research the library was perceived to be. Recommendations are made, including targeted communication with schools, a change to the enrolment process for young adults aged 16+, and an education drive aimed at young adults to reacquaint them with the library after COVID-19 restrictions.
This study portrays an interconnectedness between graduate attributes and information literacy skills and attributes preparing students for future careers. Research in the area of workplace information literacy has demonstrated the effectiveness of information literacy as a transitional skill from academia into the working place. However, there is currently an information literacy skills deficit in graduates coming from different disciplines. With Higher Education Institutions (HEI) placing emphasis on graduate attributes for employability, there are opportunities for academic librarians to explore information literacy as a graduate skill and assert information literacy instruction as more than a one-off workshop and as a practice embedded into the curriculum. This research has relevance to academic librarians and curriculum programme developers. This research has focused on six main information literacy themes: Discover and Access; Interpret, Analyse; Manage and Store; Create with Information; Communicate with Information and Collaboration. The last three themes consider ethical practice within the domain of graduate attributes. Template analysis was conducted on fourteen Scottish Universities’ graduate attributes public pages and across four graduate Scottish recruitment websites to review thirty-seven graduate job vacancies over a set time period. Using social constructivism theory, information literacy skills found in job advertisements were analysed with the purpose of mapping academic librarian terminology against industry terminology. The findings conclude an inconsistency in terminology between academia and industry terminology as collated through the above methods. This calls for relevant stakeholders to engage in an audit of meaningful skills to inform a core shared language, and a holistic organisational approach to delivering information literacy through an interdisciplinary approach. In response to this finding and wider debates within academia, the study offers practical advice to academic librarians as a catalyst for change. This is offered through identifying overlapping and interconnected terms, which an academic librarian can apply to classroom narratives and therefore move closer to teaching students how to have a clearer understanding of what potential employers are seeking and allow them to have a language to articulate this with meaning. Overall, the findings suggest that discipline knowledge alone is not enough to prepare new graduates to be work-ready.