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Early career academics’ understanding of library language: A study in a university setting in Bangladesh

Shamima Yesmin (Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, Bangladesh)
S.M. Zabed Ahmed (Department of Information Science and Library Management, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh)

Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication

ISSN: 2514-9342

Article publication date: 11 September 2019

Issue publication date: 20 April 2020

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the understanding of library terminologies by early career faculty members in a newly established rural university setting at the south coast of Bangladesh.

Design/methodology/approach

A campus-wide survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire consisted of demographic questions and 35 multiple-choice questions on library terminologies. The multiple-choice questions asked faculty members to select the correct answer from a set of five answers.

Findings

The findings indicate that early career university teachers lack adequate understanding of library terms; in fact, many of them either gave incorrect answers or was unsure about the term. It was found that faculty members had relatively better understandings of commonly used library terminologies, but they had real difficulties comprehending computer and technology-related terms. Significant differences were observed for some of the terms in case of their age, designation and teaching experience.

Originality/value

This current study is unique in two ways: first, this is the first time an effort has been made to empirically examine the understanding of library terminologies by early career faculty members; and second, this study was conducted at a university in Bangladesh where the first language is not English.

Keywords

Citation

Yesmin, S. and Ahmed, S.M.Z. (2020), "Early career academics’ understanding of library language: A study in a university setting in Bangladesh", Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, Vol. 69 No. 3, pp. 171-187. https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-03-2019-0034

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

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