Tania Yordanova Todorova, Serap Kurbanoglu, Joumana Boustany, Güleda Dogan, Laura Saunders, Aleksandra Horvat, Ana Lúcia Terra, Ane Landøy, Angela Repanovici, Chris Morrison, Egbert J. Sanchez Vanderkast, Jane Secker, Jurgita Rudzioniene, Terttu Kortelainen and Tibor Koltay
The purpose of this paper is to present findings from a multinational survey on copyright literacy of specialists from libraries and other cultural institutions.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present findings from a multinational survey on copyright literacy of specialists from libraries and other cultural institutions.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper is based on a multinational survey of copyright literacy competencies of Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals and those who work in the cultural heritage sector (archives and museums), conducted in 13 countries, namely Bulgaria (BG), Croatia (CR), Finland (FI), France (FR), Hungary (HU), Lithuania (LT), Mexico (MX), Norway (NO), Portugal (PT), Romania (RO), Turkey (TR), UK and USA in the period July 2013-March 2015. An online survey instrument was developed in order to collect data from professionals regarding their familiarity with, knowledge and awareness of, and opinions on copyright-related issues.
Findings
Findings of this study highlight gaps in existing knowledge of copyright, and information about the level of copyright literacy of LIS and cultural sector professionals. Also attitudes toward copyright learning content in academic education and continuing professional development training programs are investigated.
Originality/value
This study aimed to address a gap in the literature by encompassing specialists from the cultural institutions in an international comparative context. The paper offers guidance for further understanding of copyright in a wider framework of digital and information literacy; and for the implementation of copyright policy, and the establishment of copyright advisor positions in cultural institutions. The recommendations support a revision of academic and continuing education programs learning curriculum and methods.
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The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of Research Data Services (RDSs), consisting of research data management, data curation and data stewardship, and data literacy…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of Research Data Services (RDSs), consisting of research data management, data curation and data stewardship, and data literacy education in supporting Research 2.0. Besides this, theory and principles, as well as selected examples of best practices in the relevant fields are presented.
Design/methodology/approach
A literature-based overview of actual insights on tasks and roles that academic and research libraries have to fulfil in order to react to the developments generated by the appearance and growing importance of Research 2.0 is provided. Taking the wide spectre of related issues into account, the discussion is limited to RDSs.
Findings
Even though Research 2.0 is evolving in different countries and some local environments in dissimilar ways, its data-intensive nature requires the helping presence of academic libraries and librarians. Being an emerging phenomenon, it will undoubtedly take several different shapes as it works itself out in time, but librarians should try to discover service niches, which may not be covered by other academic organisations, or their coverage is only partial or even unsatisfactory.
Research limitations/implications
Taking the wide spectre of issues into account, the review of literature is limited to the period between 2014 and 2016.
Originality/value
The paper intends to add to the body of knowledge about the relationship between RDSs and Research 2.0, as well as about the association between the components of the former.
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Keywords
The complex phenomenon of information overload (IO) is one of the pathologies in our present information environment, thus symbolically it signalizes the existence of a dark side…
Abstract
Purpose
The complex phenomenon of information overload (IO) is one of the pathologies in our present information environment, thus symbolically it signalizes the existence of a dark side of information. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the approaches on mitigating IO. Hence, it is an attempt to display the bright side.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a literature review, the sources of IO are briefly presented, not forgetting about the role of information technology and the influence of the data-intensive world. The main attention is given to the possible ways of mitigating IO.
Findings
It is underlined that there are both technological and social approaches towards easing the symptoms of IO. While reducing IO by increasing search task delegation is a far away goal, solutions emerge when information is properly designed and tools of information architecture are applied to enable findability. A wider range of coping strategies is available when we interact with information. The imperative of being critical against information by exercising critical thinking and critical reading yields results if different, discipline-dependent literacies, first of all information literacy and data literacy are acquired and put into operation, slow principles are followed and personal information management (PIM) tools are applied.
Originality/value
The paper intends to be an add-on to the recent discussions and the evolving body of knowledge about the relationship between IO and information architecture, various literacies and PIM.
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Keywords
A wide choice of varied information and data-based tools is reviewed in order to determine their ability treating symptoms of the COVID-19 infodemic. Several literacies and…
Abstract
Purpose
A wide choice of varied information and data-based tools is reviewed in order to determine their ability treating symptoms of the COVID-19 infodemic. Several literacies and derived literacies, presumably having the ability to fulfil these roles are enumerated. There is also a review of the impact of applying deconstruction, understanding, and anticipation as well as of tools for mitigating overload phenomena, and communication overload.
Design/methodology/approach
The article reviews literacies deemed to promise reducing the impact of the information crisis, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Findings
A non-exhaustive review of literature, taken from sources of varied disciplines, resulting from reverse snowballing and forward citation mining confirmed that there is a wide choice of solutions from among literacies, derived literacies and other approaches that have the potential to combat annoyance and anxiety, caused by the infodemic.
Originality/value
No other, published research has looked at such a wide range of literacies and derived literacies, as well as other, related approaches linked them to the COVID-19 infodemic.
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The purpose of this paper is to get a detailed picture of digital library education in Hungary taken in comparison with international experiences.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to get a detailed picture of digital library education in Hungary taken in comparison with international experiences.
Design/methodology/approach
Digital library education (DLE) is examined through the example of three Hungarian schools of Library and Information Science (LIS). After defining the virtual library, the digital library (DL), the hybrid library and the electronic library, notions vital for DLE, the results of international surveys are compared to Hungarian curricula.
Findings
The described curricula follow international patterns outlined in the literature. The content of education is up to date and is adjusted to the quickly developing world of digital libraries.
Research limitations/implications
Experiences come form a higher education system that is in a stage of transition. Lessons learnt however can be useful for the development of curricula taking DL issues into consideration.
Practical implications
Similar examinations of curricula, supplemented by national and European surveys could highly contribute to the success of DLE programmes.
Originality/value
The paper provides additional data and viewpoints on DLE.
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Keywords
– The purpose of this paper is to identify tasks and roles that academic libraries have to fulfil to react to the developments brought in by the appearance of Research 2.0.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify tasks and roles that academic libraries have to fulfil to react to the developments brought in by the appearance of Research 2.0.
Design/methodology/approach
A review of current literature about the topic was performed.
Findings
Literature used reveals that currently, there is a need for providing information literacy (IL) education (mainly in the form of data literacy), providing research data services (RDSs) (addressing data quality and data citation), raising awareness of faculty members on different issues and providing individual support to them.
Originality/value
The paper intends to be an add-on to the body of knowledge about academic library support to researchers.
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Keywords
The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of information literacy (IL) and digital literacy under the circumstances and challenges of the Web 2.0 environment.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of information literacy (IL) and digital literacy under the circumstances and challenges of the Web 2.0 environment.
Design/methodology/approach
Desk research was done in order acquire a picture about the nature of the Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 in regard to their influence on literacy requirements. The hypothesis that differential literacies have to be offered to diverging groups of users, similarly to traditional library services that cater for different user needs depending on the type of the given library was tested.
Findings
Professional goals characterize first of all different groups of professionals, teaching staff and researchers, as well as students. Thus, their need in information is different from that of other categories of users. Consequently, they require literacies similar to services traditionally offered by academic and special libraries. Amateur content is more compatible with the mission of public libraries and it is more suitable for Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 applications.
Research limitations/implications
New principles of IL are outlined in this paper which will help practitioners in designing goal‐oriented IL education.
Practical implications
The practical implications need to be studied in the course of further research.
Originality/value
The findings represent a small but valuable asset to the discussion about new approaches towards IL education.
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Keywords
This paper aims to argue for a conception of information literacy (IL) that goes beyond the abilities of finding information as it includes communication skills. An important…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to argue for a conception of information literacy (IL) that goes beyond the abilities of finding information as it includes communication skills. An important issue in this is that abstractors exercise IL on a professional level.
Design/methodology/approach
By stressing the importance of the fact that information literacy extends towards verbal communication the paper takes an interdisciplinary approach, the main component of which is linguistics.
Findings
It is found that verbal communication and especially analytic‐synthetic writing activities play an important role in information literacy at the level of everyday language use, semi‐professional and professional summarising of information. The latter level characterises abstracting.
Originality/value
The paper adds to the body of knowledge about information literacy in general and in connection with communication and abstracting.
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Keywords
Library and information science (LIS) and the digital humanities are both interested in studying recorded information and often share institutional frameworks. The purpose of this…
Abstract
Purpose
Library and information science (LIS) and the digital humanities are both interested in studying recorded information and often share institutional frameworks. The purpose of this paper is to go beyond outlining these similarities by examining the perceived and real strengths and weaknesses of both disciplines.
Design/methodology/approach
Epistemologies and methods of both disciplines are analysed, principally in the light of the growing importance of data-intensive research, taking into consideration that there is a tension about the academic status of these disciplines.
Findings
Epistemologies and methods of both disciplines are analysed, principally in the light of the growing importance of data-intensive research, taking into consideration that there is a tension about the academic status of these disciplines.
Originality/value
The paper intends to be an add-on to the recent discussions and the evolving body of knowledge about the relationship of these disciplines with the hope of indicating a possible new direction in the development of LIS.
Details
Keywords
The role of data literacy is discussed in the light of such activities as data a quality, data management, data curation, and data citation. The differing terms and their…
Abstract
Purpose
The role of data literacy is discussed in the light of such activities as data a quality, data management, data curation, and data citation. The differing terms and their relationship to the most important literacies are examined. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
By stressing the importance of data literacy in fulfilling the mission of the contemporary academic library, the paper centres on information literacy, while the characteristics of other relevant literacies are also examined. The content of data literacy education is explained in the context of data-related activities.
Findings
It can be concluded that there is a need for data literacy and it is advantageous to have a unified terminology. Data literacy can be offered both to researchers, who need to become data literate science workers and have the goal to educate data management professionals. Several lists of competencies contain important skills and abilities, many of them indicating the close relationship between data literacy and information literacy. It is vital to take a critical stance on hopes and fears, related to the promises of widespread ability of (big) data.
Originality/value
The paper intends to be an add-on to the body of knowledge about information literacy and other literacies in the light of research data and data literacy.