Malaysian Journal of Library and Information Science

Information needs of a vulnerable community: The case of visually impaired first-time mothers in Malaysia

Siti Nurul Maryam — 2024-04-30

Interest in exploring women’s new experiences as they step into motherhood and their information
behaviour has increased over the last decade. However, little attention has been given to vulnerable
first-time mothers, specifically those with visual impairment. This study aims to provide an insight
into the information needs of first-time mothers with visual impairments as they embrace
motherhood. A case study design was employed to capture the information experiences of first-time
mothers with visual impairment during their first year of motherhood. Three data collection
techniques were employed, namely interviews, observations and audio diary, that provided rich and
deep insights into the experiences of these mothers. The codes-to-theory model for qualitative
inquiry resulted in identifying five main facets of information needs, namely baby care, mother care,
family welfare, daily living and disability rights. Wilson’s model of information behavior is used to
provide an understanding of how these mothers’ personal factors, role demands and environmental
context shape their information needs as they take on the role as mothers. The findings raise
implications for strategies to facilitate this vulnerable community’s information provisions,
specifically in the context of visually impaired mothers.

Brand conceptualization for academic libraries: A grounded theory approach

Farzane Sahli — 2024-04-30

Marketing and branding are still regarded as aspects of the business world irrelevant to libraries.
Understanding the impact of brand and its evolution on the success of academic libraries
necessitates elucidating the meaning of brand and its contributions to libraries. The lack of a
comprehensive definition of marketing and branding and their functions in Iranian libraries also
confirms the idea that they are unnecessary in libraries and prevents libraries from moving in the
right direction in marketing and branding. To this end, this study aimed to investigate the brand
concept of academic libraries in Iran. This qualitative study employed the grounded theory (GT)
methodology based on two of the three coding steps suggested by Strauss and Corbin (1998): “open
coding” and “axial coding”. Twenty experts in fields such as branding, marketing, and librarianship,
among others, were interviewed for data collection purposes. Out of these experts, nine were faculty
members, three were researchers, and eight were library employees. Using the MAXQDA software,
the content of the interviews was analyzed qualitatively. In addition, the academic library brand was
also conceptualized with 12 dimensions, including brand identity, brand associations, brand
awareness, brand imagery, brand compatibility, brand quality, brand credibility, brand superiority,
brand security, brand excitement, behavioral loyalty, and attitudinal attachment. Therefore, it made
sense for the brand to focus on providing its customers with the best possible library experience. This
study is the first to define the brand concept for academic libraries in order to shed light on the
concept and its significance in these libraries.

Predictive modelling of social capital among library workers: a machine learning approach

Maja Wojciechowska — 2024-04-30

Social capital is an important asset for the development of communities, including communities linked to specific types of libraries. Despite numerous studies, no models dedicated to measuring this specific area have been developed yet. The paper proposes a model predicting the level of social capital among library workers with the use of machine learning methods. Its purpose is to identify the attributes that determine the level of social capital in a given community in order to enable the development of key areas. The model may be adapted for use in other groups, e.g. among library users or library non-users, in order to analyse social capital in the entire local community.

The academic librarians' empowerment and engagement as research partners: a qualitative study

Talatu Rabasa — 2024-04-30

Academic librarians are seen as information providers, even where their provision is beyond the simple rule of providing access to information. This perception had not changed in Nigeria, even when academic librarians were accorded academic status and adopted an embedded librarianship model, which allows them to collaborate with the faculty. The need arises for how optimal the academic librarians can partner with faculty members in research. As a result, this study explored the source of academic librarians' engagement with their work role and empowerment for effective participation and collaboration, and enhance performance. The study employed a qualitative approach and purposively sampled 21 academic librarians from a major university in Nigeria. Data were generated through focus group discussions and interviews. The findings were structured around six (6) sources of empowerment themes and four (4) sources of engagement themes. Since this is the first study in Nigeria that articulates a manifestation of academic librarians as research partners, it has provided academic librarians with the necessary authority to enhance their performance in a research partnership and has paved the way for further research.

Challenges and strategies of implementing clinical librarianship: A case study of hospitals of Tehran metropolis

Zahra Dinpajuh — 2024-04-30

Rapid changes in most treatment fields and evidence-based medical trends emphasize the role of clinical librarian in providing information services to treatment teams. The new task of librarians in treatment teams has faced barriers and challenges. The current study was conducted to assess the obstacles and offer solutions for the implementation of the role of clinical librarian in Iranian hospitals. This qualitative study was conducted on 15 librarians with experience in work and research related to presenting information services to the treatment team. The librarians were interviewed using purposive, available sampling method. The data collection tool was a semi-structured interview, which continued until data saturation, and data analysis was done using thematic analysis method. A total of 147 initial codes, 122 main codes, and 35 subcategories were extracted from analysis of 15 interviews. After detailed evaluation and integration of the subcategories, ten categories and two main themes were determined. The main barriers are related to the lack of support from executive organizations, the absence of appropriate training programs, and the shortage of skills to enter the treatment teams. These barriers have prevented the approval of clinical librarian as an independent job position. The mentioned strategies are dependent on the support of executive organizations in two sectors: Ministry of Health and hospitals in creating job titles and feeling the need for information specialists in medical teams, as well as universities in defining official and independent disciplines by developing appropriate educational programs and attracting qualified people.

The affordances and constraints of information in crime prevention communities through social media

Ali Fauzi Ahmad Khan — 2024-04-30

Social media can provide important and useful information to communities in their fight to prevent crime. However, this capability has its downside. For every affordance social media provides, the platform presents an equally important constraint, which researchers and the public often ignore. Using an in-depth case study of social media crime prevention communities in Malaysia, this paper intends to provide a rich understanding of the information provided by social media in crime prevention. The study adopts the technology affordances and constraints theory to make sense of and explain how the information provided by social media affords and constrains the communities' efforts to fight crime.