Nadia Caidi

How much is too little? Privacy and smart cards in Hong Kong and Ontario

In this article, we analyze the notion of privacy - how it is conceptualized and implemented as a constitutive element of identity - in two different cultures: Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and Ontario, Canada. By examining the two jurisdictions of Hong Kong and Ontario, we argue that, in addition to institutional structures, differing cultural notions of privacy affect the acceptance of new information and communication technologies (ICTs). For our comparison, we focus on one potentially privacy-invasive technology, smart cards, and discuss the factors that contribute to their adoption and use in the two regions selected, including one’s conceptualization of digital identity and privacy, and the role of consultation and public debate.

Technology and values: lessons from central and eastern Europe

Technology does not develop independently of its social context. Rathe r, there is a range of social, cultural and economic factors (in addition to technical factors) that define the parameters for the development and use of technologies. This paper presents a case study of the social shaping of one aspect of digital libraries, the development of national union catalogs (NUC), in four countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). It examines the specific choices and values that are embedded in the design of a NUC, and how these might be transferred to other cultural contexts.

Digital libraries across cultures: design and usability issues outcomes of the "cross-cultural usability for digital libraries" workshop at JCDL '03

Digital libraries (DL) are increasingly broader in scope and reach, spanning geographical and cultural boundaries. Yet little research is available on the influence of culture as it pertains to the design and use of digital libraries. To address these considerations, a workshop was organized at Joint Conference on Digital Libraries (JCDL) 2003, the aim of which was to bring together researchers and practitioners (twelve participants altogether) from a variety of disciplines to present current projects and contribute to a collaborative research agenda. The goals of the workshop were: 1) to increase awareness about the area of cross-cultural usability in the digital library community; 2) to identify new tools, techniques and methodologies for cross-cultural study of user behavior in DLs and international user interface design; 3) to provide a forum for generating new research directions and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

A two-way street: building the recruitment narrative in LIS programs

Purpose This paper aims to explore the attractiveness of Library and Information Science (LIS) careers to students and alumni and examine their decision-making process and perceptions of the field with an eye on discerning the best ways to build and develop the recruitment narrative. Design/methodology/approach The authors reached out to 57 LIS graduate programs in Canada and the USA accredited by the American Library Association through a Web-based survey; the questions presented a combination of multiple-choice, short-answer and open-ended questions and generated a wealth of quantitative and qualitative data. Findings The online survey has disclosed that students may not have an in-depth understanding of current trends, the diversity of LIS professions and the wider applications of their education. A significant disconnect exists in how the goals of LIS education are seen by certain groups of practitioners, students and faculty members. Originality/value Creating a program narrative for the purposes of recruitment and retention, departments should not only capitalize on the reach of the internet and the experiences of successful practitioners. They should also ensure that faculty know their students’ personal backgrounds, that students empathize with demands of contemporary academia and that a promotional message connects pragmatic educational goals to broader social applications. By exposing and embracing the complexity of LIS education and practice, the paper chooses a discursive path to start a conversation among major stakeholders.

Can we talk

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the attractiveness of Library and Information Science (LIS) professions and programs to culturally and linguistically diverse individuals. Design/methodology/approach – Between September and December 2014, current students and alumni from 57 North American LIS programs were surveyed regarding their learning experiences and perceptions of the state of diversity in LIS. Findings – The findings point to deep, emotive reflections on diversity in LIS. Noting the general societal turn toward values-based, integral diversity, this paper proposes looking beyond the quantitative measures and paying attention to the volume of negative emotion surrounding the diversity debate in our field. Making both philosophical and practical arguments, a three-tiered approach is advocated, which can contribute to nurturing the climate of diversity: outreach and promotion; recruitment and retention; and interpersonal and intercultural dialog that will not only sustain diversity but also transf...

Cross-Cultural usability of digital libraries

The scope and reach of digital libraries (DL) is truly global, spanning geographical and cultural boundaries, yet few scholars have investigated the influence of culture as it pertains to the design and use of digital libraries. This workshop will examine cross-cultural issues around the use and development of DLs, especially as they relate to supporting cross-cultural usability of DLs.

The Politics of Library Artifacts: The NationalUnion Catalog1

This article presents case studies of the social shaping of the national union catalog (NUC) in seven countries (four in Central and Eastern Europe, two in the Baltic region, and South Africa). The purpose is to illustrate how technology developments do not occur independently of their social context but rather are co‐constituted by the interaction between the various players involved. Interviews with library policy makers and project managers were conducted between 1999 and 2002. The key question investigated is how much of the development of a national union catalog is influenced by choices that are not solely technical but that include players’ differing visions, the solutions that they feel they need to adopt, the difficulties they may encounter, and their cultural practices. Findings show that the variety of coalitions and their respective visions and choices have an impact on the conception and design of a national union catalog. The case studies also raise broader issues of technology diffusion, local knowledge, cultural practices, and national identity.

An informed transition?: international medical graduates settling in the United States and Canada

International medical graduates (IMGs) are medical professionals who have immigrated to the United States (US) or Canada (Ca) in hopes of integrating into the labor market. IMGs can be a very helpful resource supplying a diverse background and expertise to the medical system in the host country [Chen et al., ]. However, immigration and integration into a new country can be difficult processes due to differences in cultural norms, information sources, and information dissemination. In this study, we investigate the nature of information in the lived experiences of IMGs as they make a new life for themselves and their families in either the US or Canada. By so doing, we contribute to the limited body of research on this population by providing an informational perspective. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 20 IMGs residing in the US or Canada. Our findings indicate that IMGs spend an inordinate amount of time searching for occupational and employment‐related information, which includes information about retraining and residency programs, along with varied strategies to make sense of the new information landscapes. IMGs use various strategies to identify signposts and become conversant in the new landscape. Despite the limited sample, it becomes clear that ones ability to become literate in these new information environments leads to more positive outcomes (i.e., integrating the labor market, overall well‐being, belonging).

ICT‐mediated diaspora studies: New directions in immigrant information behavior research

A growing and sizeable area of study within information behavior research focuses on the information needs and behaviors of immigrant populations (see Chu, 1999; Fisher, Durrance & Hinton, 2004; Caidi & Allard 2005; Srinivasan & Pyati, 2007). Some of the unique needs of these populations include information to aid with coping skills and social inclusion, as well as culturally specific information resources. Moreover, immigrant communities have information networks that span national boundaries, which affects their needs and uses of information and communication technologies (ICTs). This panel will focus on the role of ICTs in mediating the information environments of immigrant and diasporic communities. While focusing on how ICTs mediate immigrant information needs, this panel also contextualizes immigrant information behavior research within globalization and diaspora studies. For instance, the concept of “e-diaspora” is a term gaining in popularity, but rarely invoked in relation to immigrant information behavior research. How do new media technologies mediate and influence the information needs and behaviors of immigrant populations? Are localized immigrant information needs mediated by diasporic information sources? The panelists will focus on ICT-mediated services for immigrant populations within the context of both local and global information environments. Questions addressed include: In what ways do diasporic information environments shape local immigrant information needs and their social inclusion into the host society? How does the “digital divide” manifest itself in studies of ICT-mediated immigrant information behavior? The issues addressed by the panel are both timely and critical as evidenced by the ongoing debates in Europe, North America and elsewhere on immigration policy, on integration and identity, and the role of ICTs in a globalized world. This international perspective will be reflected in the composition of the panel.

A model for inclusive design of digital libraries

Digital libraries (DLs) must cater not only to the varied needs of its target users but also to their differing abilities, and to the adaptive technologies used by persons whose computing capabilities are restricted due to disabilities. This paper proposes a model for DL design that includes optimization of the usability of the search process and ensures accessibility of the content for users of DLs with disabilities.