Singapore’s powerhouses neglect local intellectual life
Singaporeans deserve more local impact from their top-ranked public universities, says Cherian George. Read More
Transformative? Integrative? Troublesome? Undergraduate Student Reflections on Information Literacy Threshold Concepts
In this exploratory study the authors ask students enrolled in a credit-bearing undergraduate research methods course to rank and evaluate the troublesome, transformative, and integrative nature of the six frames currently comprising the Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education. The results indicate that students have valid insights into threshold concept-based instruction, but may confuse the application with the theory. If practitioners are to embrace not only the frames, but also the spirit of the Framework, we must directly involve students in our teaching and research practices. Read More
The secret lives of ebooks : A paratextual analysis illuminates a veil of usage statistics
The paratextual study leads to a closer investigation of the usage statistics themselves and concludes that despite industry standards, they are not calculated consistently across vendor platforms and that while these data are invisible to researchers outside of the library, there are also essential elements that librarians mistakenly take at face value when comparing ebook usage from multiple vendors. Read More
Ask The Chefs: What Are Your Predictions For Scholarly Communications in 2018?
There are so many related threads in the scholarly communications ecosystem that it’s difficult to see what might be knit together or unwound in the coming year. Some trends observed in the past may take giant steps forward, while others falter and either regroup or disappear. But, as long as we don’t obsess, it’s always good to be thinking about what lies ahead. Read More
Assessment of knowledge and skills in information literacy instruction for rehabilitation sciences students: a scoping review
This is the third version of a work in progress (published January 2018); the first version was made available by OASPA in December 2013 and a second version in June 2015. We encourage its wide dissemination and continue to welcome feedback on the general principles and the specific criteria. Background on the organisations is below. Read More
Creating a Connected Future Through Information and Digital Literacy: Strategic Directions at The University of Queensland Library
As knowledge-intensive institutions, universities face many challenges resulting from today’s highly dynamic technological environment. While the ways in which learners and researchers engage with digital information resources are complex and diverse, there is a keen awareness of the varying levels of information and digital literacy skills amongst students and academic staff. A university-wide approach to skills development, involving all stakeholders, has been recommended as a valid approach to addressing some of the issues. Read More
SAGE Publishing Editorial on the Library’s Role in Sustainability
The efforts of Madeleine Charney, a Sustainability Studies Librarian at University of Massachusetts, Amherst, to connect sustainability communities across campus and support them with key library resources and services is featured in this editorial by SAGE Publishing. Read More
Digital Science Report Reveals Potential Behind Blockchain Technology for Scholarly Communication and Research
New report considers the developments and varying perspectives of blockchain technology and its possible impact on the academic arena. Read More
New Digital Research Report Analyses Grant Applications in Arts and Humanities Research
Digital Science’s latest report analyses arts and humanities research through topic modelling of grant applications, unveiling an innovative and richer understanding of the research activity in these disciplines. Read More
Part Three: Client Engagement in Special Libraries—What are the skills and competencies for engagement?
Let’s ask ourselves what are the major competencies required for success? What should we invest our personal development focus on? Read More