Angela Repanovici

Culture and Competencies: A Multi-Country Examination of Reference Service Competencies

Abstract Reference librarians have the opportunity to interact with patrons and colleagues of many different backgrounds, languages, and cultures as a result of our increasingly interconnected and peripatetic world. In order to provide the best possible service to these varied communities, reference librarians should understand some of the culture differences that exist across countries, and in particular, the differences in the way that reference services are conceived and delivered in different countries. This study explores some of these differences in reference services by surveying current practitioners in thirteen countries to find out which competencies they believe are most important for academic reference librarians right now, and in the near future. The results of this study highlight some important commonalities and differences, and could help reference librarians to manage and meet the expectations of their international patrons, and perhaps help them to prepare for an international job experience of their own. Academic reference librarians may be interested to see the extent to which their counterparts in other countries face similar challenges and expectations with regard to delivering reference services. Teaching faculty in library science programs will be interested to understand reference competencies and expectations in other countries, especially as they teach greater numbers of international students or consider collaborating with international colleagues. In addition, an international understanding is important in developing students who can compete in a global job market.

The More they Tried it the Less they Liked it: Norwegian and Romanian Student’s Response to Electronic Course Material

In this paper we will present and compare survey findings from Romania and Norway taken from the “Multinational study on students’ preferences regarding print versus electronic resources for course readings”. This study was conducted in April 2015 and surveyed undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students of various subjects at different universities. The aim was to investigate students’ format preferences when engaging with academic readings and what factors impact their preferences and behaviors. The comparative study will show whether students’ reading format preferences vary or remain consistent across multi-national student populations. We also make comparisons with results from an earlier study of Romanian and Norwegian students’ attitudes towards using academic libraries. In particular, we look at the reasons given for preferring course readings in either electronic or print format, and we discuss what this could mean for collection development policies.

Managing and Managers of Academic Libraries

This paper looks at attitudes about leadership and decision making among leaders in academic libraries in Norway and Romania. Two different surveys were conducted, containing similar questions, and the results were compared. The surveys uncovered demographics – “who are the leaders?” as well. One of the findings that concerns the status of the library leaders is that in Romania they are considered academics, and this is also mirrored in their backgrounds. For Norway, the recruitment to a leader position in the academic library comes through the ranks, so to speak – most academic library leaders have already worked in the library before they become leaders. This background is different from the Romanian situation. To what extent it also has implications for attitudes about leadership remains to be seen, or whether the differences that can be observed in the attitudes between the academic library leaders in the two countries can be explained otherwise.

Information Professionals and Copyright Literacy: A Multinational Study

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.

RFID- Application in Info-Documentary Systems

The automatization process in all industrial and social fields requires large amounts of data processing. Data Acquisition and Control Solutions can be improved by collecting and processing data in real-time without human involvement through Automatic Identification or Auto ID. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID - Radio Frequency Identification) or proximity is the latest and most advanced method automatic data collection technology, gaining a wide acceptance as people understand and use this technology. With the advent of RFID technology, RFID has been introduced in the library. The free and efficient use of the newest resources of the information technology is a big step toward to the public free and rapid access to information and to the global documentation with high quality. Transilvania University of Brasov proposed a model of harvesting, digitizing, indexing, storing and retrieving information using the principles of open access to information and the advantages of using open access sources. The model is projected so that it should allow integration within an integrated system by using RFID technology for documents accounts, circulation and periodical inventory, achieving, with a minimum cost price, the computerization of small libraries in universities research departments and visible improvement of the department scientific production by publishing the staff’s papers in open access. The proposed solution offers the model with a minimum cost using open sources software and it offers a useful instrument for the university researchers opening new opportunities for master students and PhD students.

Information Literacy Across the University and Workplace Reality

This paper reveals the results of the “Information Literacy across the university and workplace reality” survey. This study revealed which are the most needed information skills for the faculty at the workplace. The questionnaire was addressed to Masters students from two universities in Romania and Moldova, who have a job or have their own business. The results of this study will be taken into account in the improvement of the discipline of Information Literacy and Project Management. The survey targeted a pool of 66 individuals from Transilvania University from Brasov and 53 individuals from the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova. This study utilized the questionnaire survey method as a research tool, using SurveyMonkey online.

The importance of security for people and collections in libraries

The security of collections and people in a library embraces a large number of responsibilities. The costs of maintaining, processing, and acquiring collections are high. If they are stolen or damaged, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to replace. Also, in recent years, personal security is a problem due to numerous terrorist attacks. This article highlights the importance of security in libraries and the view of librarians about the implementation of a security system based on facial recognition in the library in which they operate.

The QUAIL Framework: Quality Assurance for Information Literacy Projects

Successful transfer and sharing of knowledge rely mainly on social attitudes, behaviours and networks, rather than ICT-based networks. The availability of Information and Communication Technologies ICTs facilitates the management of projects in general. ICTs are central to both managing Information Literacy projects and providing access to learning resources and opportunities for collaborative learning. In this paper, we propose a framework for quality management of information literacy projects. Learning from the field of Information Systems Quality Management the proposed framework encompasses Demings PDCA Plan, Do, Check, Act Cycle and Kitchenhams Process Improvement model. From the Information Literacy field the SCONUL model provide the dimension of standardisation. The framework is customisable to prioritise aspects based on the likelihood, proximity and impact of risks. The success of Information Literacy programmes and projects depends on the availability and use of ICTs and in this paper we argue how the Information Literacy Project success can be enhanced by using our framework.

Measuring the Quality and Impact of Scientific Information. Scientometry Research Using the Web of Science in the Field of Ethics in Medical Recovery

The study of communication processes in science, the assessment of excellence in research, and quality of research are all issues which pose rising interests to governments, research institutions, universities and financing bodies as a method for assessing the responsibility and the quality of the scientific research. Scientometric performance indicators play an important role in evaluating the scientific production of a country which is why international measurement tools have been developed. This article presents the most frequently-used performance indicators, the benefits of scientometry for academics, and the means to perform a research using the Web of Science database.

Moldovan and Norwegian PhD-Students’ Information Needs

In order to achieve comparability of standards and quality in European higher education there is a need for evaluation and comparisons. This holds true also for the PhD, the third cycle in the educational system. In this paper the authors compare information needs as articulated by a group of Norwegian and Moldovan PhD-students. The objective of the study was to find data to harmonize online PhD Information Literacy Tutorials in Norway and Moldova. The end result will be to develop a new PhD tutorial for Moldova, based on the Norwegian resource «PhD on track», while taking into account the differences, difficulties and barriers in accessing, collecting, using and communicating research information for PhD students in the two countries.