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The purpose of this paper is to provide substantive information for academic libraries in the Caribbean to consider the benefits of implementing augmented reality (AR) for greater access and usage of their services.

A qualitative method with the usage of questionnaires as well as the content analysis was used for data collection.

The research discovered that there is an impending need for AR in academic libraries, especially in this 21st century filled with ever-evolving technological advancements. Additionally, the research outlined the importance for academic libraries to tap into this are for greater access to its services by students off-campus as well as the physically challenged individuals.

This paper will only be focusing on the benefits of AR for academic libraries and their furtherance. It will not attest to the cost of implementation as well as it will not consider the maintenance of it for academic libraries in the Caribbean.

The research disclosed numerous benefits for academic libraries in the Caribbean in developing AR collections. Additionally, with the increasing use and development of technologies in libraries, it is the ideal medium for distance learning as well as greater access to libraries by its students and other users.

This paper is the penultimate appetizer for the AR conversation and, by extension, implementation. Additionally, it sets the framework for researchers and practitioners that the application service is lacking despite the rise of technological advancements in the Caribbean.

This paper is intended to spark discourse on the impact of holograms and holographic technology on libraries and the possibility of their usage in Caribbean academic libraries for assisting users, especially those from the physically challenged community, as well as distance library users.

A thorough assessment of literature was done of all academic and higher institution libraries across the English-speaking Caribbean to determine the effective use of holograms and holographic technology in Caribbean libraries. Literature from several developed countries was studied, paying keen attention to the emerging holograms and holographic technology and the plausibility for inclusion and exploitation by academic libraries.

Revealing the possibilities for fostering great levels of efficacy, as well as saving time and reducing the possibility for inefficiencies in the system through smoother check-in and check-out while offering more accountability.

This research focused primarily on holograms and holographic technology that can assist libraries and their users in the near future. It further attested to the need for there to be greater consideration for physically challenged individuals and their access to material from the library.

This paper is the genesis for discussion surrounding holograms and holographic technology in the English-speaking Caribbean. It sought to bring awareness to the possible uses of holograms while exploring the practical implications of its use in libraries across the English-speaking Caribbean.

The purpose of this paper hinged on the concept of smart libraries and their development for the furtherance of information access, dissemination and information resources and services delivery in Caribbean libraries.

To conduct this research, the literature of smart libraries and technologically driven and their application in libraries were reviewed by examining existing literature on information and communication technologies and technology in libraries.

The literature highlighted that this technological advancement is not yet fully on stream in academic libraries of the Caribbean owing to the lack of financial, technological and organizational resources. It further outlined that certain aspects of library automation are fostered through the inclusion of technology.

The limitation of this study is that only academic libraries of the Caribbean region were assessed. Other regions should be explored in future research.

The concept of smart libraries is an emerging issue with limited scope for scrutiny; a systematic and extensive review of recent research on smart in libraries is unavailable. This paper presents an overview of smart libraries or technologically driven libraries, its findings for potential research opportunities and development for academic libraries. In addition, it will build on the body of knowledge that is presently non-existent on smart libraries in the Caribbean.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the development and growth of smart cities across the globe and explore the possibilities for their implementation, to assess the emerging trend for smart homes supported by smart cities, to identify and analyze technologies used in smart cities such as voice recognition that can be integrated into libraries as well as to identify hindrances that confront English-speaking Caribbean islands in their quest to implement Smart Cities and make recommendations how they can attain this feat.

Using the qualitative methodology, a careful assessment of literature was done to compare technological development as well as infrastructure available to develop and sustain smart cities and by extension smart societies.

In the Caribbean, numerous homes are outfitted with the requisite internet connectivity, smart technology as well as capabilities to foster intelligent environments but their infrastructure is not set up for full integration that allows all facets to be controlled and or manipulated by the touch of a central remote system.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first of its kind to highlight the possibilities of having a smart city powered by smart libraries and the impact that the latter will have on the empowerment of citizens. It also highlights the technological strides of AI and their impact on assisting daily life.

The purpose of this paper is to assess the state of mobile library services available for students’ information needs at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. In addition, this study will determine the extent to which mobile services has helped the Mona libraries to have greater reach to students.

Surveys and content analysis were used to collect data. A comparative content analysis was used to highlight the strides made in mobile library services in universities across the world vis-à-vis the current reality in the Caribbean, specifically Jamaica.

The findings identified that there is a proliferation of mobile and internet users among university and college students and they are heavily using their devices for the furtherance of their educational attainment. Additionally, the findings indicated that libraries in the academic realm can benefit greatly from allowing their content to be accessible through these mobile devices, as it would also help with greater usage. Furthermore, this service is guaranteed greater support the distance programmes offered by these universities.

This study will focus on assessing the state of mobile library services offered at the University of the West Indies, Mona Jamaica. This study will also determine the extent to which mobile services can help libraries to have greater reach to students and provide best practices for academic libraries implementing mobile service offerings to clients. This study will not attest to the financial feasibility of academic institutions to start such a programme.

The research excavated that the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, along with other academic libraries in the Caribbean are all not fully offering mobile library services to all their users. In addition, with the rise of technology and the proliferation of cell phones and other mobile devices, students (distance and onsite) expect a service that allows them greater access to the offerings of the university and their libraries.

This is the premier investigation of its kind into how the University of the West Indies Mona Campus has responded to the mobile library environment. The value of this research is in helping academic and university libraries in the Jamaica to identify the importance of leveraging the benefits of the dynamic technological era, allowing greater and wider reach through mobile library services proliferation and access to services. In addition, this study showed that academic libraries need to enhance services in a bid to provide greater support the teaching component of the university or college they serve.

The purpose of this paper is to propose the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in aspects of Caribbean academic libraries for greater levels of efficacy as well as overall widespread reach and access. This paper will further emphasize the importance of AI in fostering a smooth workforce, reducing opportunities for error, while maximizing on resource output for Caribbean academic libraries.

Through an extensive literature and content analysis, the research assessed various literatures from across the world, in wide ranging sectors, to attest to the plausibility of AI implementation in Caribbean academic libraries.

Revealing the possibilities for fostering great levels of efficacy as well as saves time and reduces the possibility for inefficiencies in the system through smoother check in and out as well as more accountability.[AQ3]

This research focused primarily on proposing the use of AI in the daily operations of the academic library. It further attested to the implementations and application efficacy for intelligent academic libraries.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study of the kind for Caribbean academic libraries and brought light to the fact that presently academic libraries can benefit from greater levels of efficacy and accuracy through the careful employment of AI in certain key areas in academic libraries. This study further reports about the impact of AI on academic libraries.

The purpose of this study is to provide an assessment of the usability of the University of the West Indies, Mona, Main Library’s Web site by Master of Arts students of the Department of Library and Information Studies (D.L.I.S.) for the identification of major strengths and weaknesses of the site and to incorporate the results and participant feedback into a redesign that reflects users’ intuitions rather than those of the site developers and library staff.

One method was used to collect data; Observation. Its instruments included a list of activities executed by students followed by a checklist, which reflected day-to-day usage of the Main Library’s Web site by Master of Arts students in the D.L.I.S. In addition, both usability heuristics and International Standards Organisation (ISO) guidelines were used to assess effectiveness, learnability, usefulness, functionality, navigability and user satisfaction. Respondent strategies used a sample size of five participants in the focus group sessions. Experimental strategies combined observation of five individual participants who performed the usability tests.

The findings identified challenges in the site’s navigation, user satisfaction and learnability.

There can be further assessment, as this study did not speak specifically to students with disabilities or took into consideration the views of the librarians. Additionally, more ethnographic approaches are required to elicit distinctive Caribbean user behaviors.

The study concludes that usability training should be incorporated into the culture of the library organization as well as more usability testing needs to be done on a more regular basis and on a more student interactive basis.

The paper presents issues of usability and the impact of technology on information access, memorability, learnability and functionality of an academic library’s Web site.

Aarhus Kommunes Biblioteker (Teknisk Bibliotek), Ingerslevs Plads 7, Aarhus, Denmark. Representative: V. NEDERGAARD PEDERSEN (Librarian).

The purpose of this paper is to examine financial management in the Pre‐Reformation church in Aberdeen, Scotland during the bishopric of Bishop William Elphinstone (1488‐1514).

The paper employs a combination of literature‐based analysis, archival research and the use of biographies in order to examine aspects of financial management within the Pre‐Reformation church in Aberdeen, Scotland.

There is evidence that accounting for assets and income was mobilised in order to achieve social aims. Recording mechanisms give visibility to the church's remuneration and governance strategy. Together, these examples show that there was no evidence of a sacred/secular divide in this context.

Archives may be incomplete but can give insight into financial management in historical context and aspects of the sacred/secular divide.

This paper aids understanding of visibility and governance possibilities afforded by accounting that has been mobilised in an historic setting in order to achieve social aims.

THERE has recently sprung up a great interest in antiques, probably due to Arthur Negus and his TV and broadcast programmes, and perhaps it is this which has made county librarians also, think about their past and their beginnings. Gloucestershire was the first to become aware of the fact that its library was fifty years old, and that a genuine antique, in the shape of its first librarian, still existed and could be questioned about the early days. So in December, 1967, the Gloucestershire Library Committee staged a most successful 50th birthday party, and invited me to cut the birthday cake, on which were 50 candles! And a very great occasion it was.