Journal of Librarianship and Information Science 

About: Journal of Librarianship and Information Science is an academic journal published by SAGE Publishing. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Information literacy & Computer science. It has an ISSN identifier of 0961-0006. Over the lifetime, 1551 publications have been published receiving 17250 citations.

Information Literacy: The Meta-Competency of the Knowledge Economy? An Exploratory Paper

Abstract: Information literacy is a meta-competency that encapsulates the generic skills of defining, locating and accessing information It is an essential and integral competency for both the knowledge worker and effective knowledge management Librarians need to realign their roles from providers and organizers of information, to facilitators and educators of clients’ information access and process This requires librarians to develop partnerships with workplace communities so as to understand the role that information plays in the knowledge economy; and to develop a new language that is relevant to workplace communities and ties information literacy instruction to the authentic situations of the workplace Information literacy is a meta-competency: it is the currency of the knowledge economy The themes introduced in this paper are drawn from the current doctoral research of the author The research examines what it means to individuals to be information literate in a workplace context, and how information lite

Research data management and libraries: Current activities and future priorities:

Abstract: This paper reports research carried out at the end of 2012 to survey UK universities to understand in detail the ways in which libraries are currently involved in research data management (RDM) and the extent to which the development of RDM services is a strategic priority for them. The research shows that libraries were offering limited RDM services, with highest levels of activity in large research-intensive institutions. There were major challenges associated with skills gaps, resourcing and cultural change. However, libraries are currently involved in developing new institutional RDM policies and services, and see this as an important part of their future role. Priorities such as provision of RDM advisory and training services are emerging. A systematic comparison between these results and other recent studies is made in order to create a full picture of activities and trends. An innovation hype-cycle framework is deployed to understand possible futures and Abbott’s theory of professions is used to gain an insight into how libraries are competing to extend their jurisdiction whilst at the same time working collaboratively with other stakeholders.

Understanding information inequality: Making sense of the literature of the information and digital divides

Abstract: This paper reviews related research since the early 1990s on the information and digital divides. It shows that, despite their shared concerns with illustrating social inequality through the lens of information resource distribution, the two areas in effect represent two overlapping research communities. The research focus and discourse of the former were primarily shaped by three different theoretical perspectives and were inspired by a fairly strong sense of ethical principles; those of the latter, on the other hand, were shaped primarily by four different political standpoints and were imbued with a fairly strong concern for political and economical interests. The co-existence of multifarious perspectives and standpoints has produced divergent, and sometimes contradictory, research findings and policy recommendations, which inevitably perplex researchers and policy makers. The paper concludes with some suggestions for future research and policy making.

Social Networking Tools for Academic Libraries

Abstract: This is an exploratory study investigating the use of social networking tools in academic libraries, examining the extent of their use, library staff’s perceptions of their usefulness and challenges, and factors influencing decisions to use or not to use such tools. Invitations to participate in a web-based survey were sent to 140 university libraries from Asia, North America and Europe. Responses were received from 38 libraries (response rate: 27.1%). Twenty-seven libraries (71.1%) used social networking tools, five (13.1%) were potential users and six (15.8%) did not plan to use them at all. Facebook and Twitter were the most commonly adopted tools in university libraries. Most library staff had positive perceptions on the usefulness of social networking tools, but hesitancy among library staff and limited participation of users (i.e. students) were perceived to be hindrances. This study offers insights for academic librarians to make informed decisions in applying social networking tools.

Talk to me: Exploring user interactions with the Amazon Alexa:

Abstract: Amazon Alexa is a voice-controlled application that is rapidly gaining popularity. We examined user interactions with this technology, and focused on the types of tasks requested of Alexa, the vari...