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1 – 8 of 8Maria Borbely and Margit Némethi-Takács
As part of the EFOP-3.3.3-VEKOP-16–2016-00001 “Museum and Library Development for All” project, a national representative digital literacy survey was conducted in Hungary's public…
Abstract
Purpose
As part of the EFOP-3.3.3-VEKOP-16–2016-00001 “Museum and Library Development for All” project, a national representative digital literacy survey was conducted in Hungary's public libraries at the end of 2019. The aim of the present study is to provide a deeper analysis of the data collected during the survey to answer the question of the role of gender and age in the development of digital skills amongst librarians working in public libraries. This study was designed to answer the following four research questions: Are there levels of proficiency defined by DigComp 2.1 that are more specific to men or more specific to women? Are there areas of competence and competences that are clearly perceived as stronger or weaker for men or women? Are there areas of competence that are clearly influenced by age and others that are not or only moderately influenced by age? Which competences are clearly age-related, and which are not or only slightly affected by age?
Design/methodology/approach
The main target group of the study were library professionals working in county libraries. The survey, based on the DigComp 2.1 (Gomez et al., 2017) framework, was conducted using an online questionnaire in the form of a self-assessment and explored four levels of digital literacy. A 30-question questionnaire was completed by 1,868 respondents. The sampling procedure was essentially stratified sampling. The large number of respondents and the sampling procedure combined with the representativeness of the sample meant that the results of the survey can be considered as generalisable to the whole Hungarian public library sector.
Findings
Of the five competency areas assessed by the DigComp framework, librarians were found to be most competent in information and data literacy, and least competent in content development, according to the proportion of those with basic skills. 32 percent of women and 22 percent of men working in libraries rated their digital skills as basic, and both groups were weak or less weak in the same skills, with a few exceptions. At the intermediate level, there is a predominance of women. In the information and communication competency areas and in the content development and integrating and re-elaborating digital content in the content creation area, a high proportion of women consider their digital skills to be medium. Relatively few men rate their own competence in these areas as average. They are most likely to have advanced and highly specialised skills. The advanced level in DigComp2.1 implies, in addition to strong digital skills, the willingness and ability to help others, while the highly specialised level requires innovative and creative use of digital technology and knowledge transfer. These top two skill levels are more common amongst men. 34 per cent of men and 27 per cent of women have advanced skills, while 13 per cent of men and 6 per cent of women have highly specialised’s level. The age of librarians has only a minimal influence in certain areas of competence and for certain competences. Skills in the information and data literacy competency area are less age sensitive. For the data management competency, which requires more technological skills, a stronger correlation between age and skill levels is observed, especially for basic and highly specialised skills. In the communication competence area, the youngest age group of librarians has the highest percentage of advanced and the lowest percentage of basic level. The proportion of advanced learners decreases steadily as age groups progress and the proportion of basic learners increases at a similar steady rate. The effect of age on the content creation is much more modest than expected. Age clearly has an impact on the safety competence area. As age increases, the proportion of those at advanced level decreases and the proportion at basic level increases. Age also has a significant effect on the problem-solving competence area. One in two librarians in the 50 and 60s have only basic level skills, compared to one in four in the youngest age group and one in three in the 40s.
Originality/value
Using the DigComp 2.1 framework, a digital competence survey of a whole professional group of library professionals working in public libraries in Hungary was carried out. The study provides new insights into the impact of gender and age as variables on digital competence.
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The primary goal of this paper was to find out how task effectiveness, completion, efficiency and task time affect the general user satisfaction with a specific software product…
Abstract
Purpose
The primary goal of this paper was to find out how task effectiveness, completion, efficiency and task time affect the general user satisfaction with a specific software product, and which factors, mentioned above, have the biggest effect on user satisfaction. The secondary goal of this examination was to try out how the metrics of ISO/IEC TR 9126‐4 standard can be applied for measuring quality in use of the software product in a real library environment.
Design/methodology/approach
This study introduces the results of research which focused on the measurement of user satisfaction using ISO/IEC TR 9126‐4. Data of the examination was gained from the logfiles of Web OPAC used at the University and National Library of University of Debrecen. Based on this data the study was seeking the relation between quality of task solution with the software product and user satisfaction. To carry out the examinations the University and National Library of University of Debrecen permitted access of its Web OPAC with four unique URL numbers. In this way it was possible to separate the logfiles of participants in the examination from those of other library users and analyse each separately. Measuring users' effectiveness, completion and efficiency was based on the relevant metrics of ISO/IEC TR 9126‐4‐ Quality in use metrics standard. The study measured the satisfaction after using the software with the questionnaire.
Findings
The study could not assess every potential user satisfaction influential factor, but focused on gaining data from log‐files, and converted them into metrics according to the ISO/IEC TR 9126‐4 standard. Of the examined factors, the effectiveness of task solution had the greatest influence on user satisfaction: among the four detailed factors effectiveness‐satisfaction variables, it possessed the highest calculated correlation coefficient value. Another important statement of this study was that during the satisfaction examinations it was necessary to be attentive to the satisfaction structure of well definable user groups, who used library information systems, and who showed special features.
Originality/value
Measuring user's effectiveness, completion and efficiency was based on the relevant metrics of ISO/IEC TR 9126‐4‐ Quality in use metrics standard.
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The purpose of this paper is to describe the results of two consecutive EFQM‐based self‐assessments, which were performed in Meliusz County Library of Debrecen, Hungary in 2007…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe the results of two consecutive EFQM‐based self‐assessments, which were performed in Meliusz County Library of Debrecen, Hungary in 2007 and 2008. At the time of the first assessment the library operated across several scattered buildings with poor working conditions. By the time of the second self‐assessment the library had moved to a new, modern building, with an ideal working environment. The focus of this examination is to determine how the positive change of environmental impacts influence the satisfaction of both employees and users.
Design/methodology/approach
In one of this author's previous research studies, an EFQM‐based toolkit for library self‐assessments was developed which provided the methodological base for these surveys. Enablers of the organization – leadership; policy and strategy; people; partnerships and resources; and processes – were evaluated and surveyed.
Findings
This author had the preconceived notion before evaluating the results that the results of second assessment would naturally be more positive than the results of the first, due to the improved, modern environment. Comparison of the two surveys provided unexpected results, as the employees rated enablers in 2007 consistently higher than in 2008. The goal of this study became an investigation of this interesting dilemma, which proved to have changes of senior management at its roots.
Originality/value
The examinations are conducted using the pro forma method of the EFQM‐based self‐assessment package. No other Hungarian libraries have performed self‐assessment based on this method and an examination of the results of this study proves its applicability. With the help of the pro forma method, the most sophisticated and smallest facts that influence the life of the organization become apparent.
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This research conducts bibliometric analyses and network mapping on smart libraries worldwide. It examines publication profiles, identifies the most cited publications and…
Abstract
Purpose
This research conducts bibliometric analyses and network mapping on smart libraries worldwide. It examines publication profiles, identifies the most cited publications and preferred sources and considers the cooperation of the authors, organizations and countries worldwide. The research also highlights keyword trends and clusters and finds new developments and emerging trends from the co-cited references network.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 264 records with 1,200 citations were extracted from the Web of Science database from 2003 to 2021. The trends in the smart library were analyzed and visualized using BibExcel, VOSviewer, Biblioshiny and CiteSpace.
Findings
The People’s Republic of China had the most publications (119), the most citations (374), the highest H-index (12) and the highest total link strength (TLS = 25). Wuhan University had the highest H-index (6). Chiu, Dickson K. W. (H-index = 4, TLS = 22) and Lo, Patrick (H-index = 4, TLS = 21) from the University of Hong Kong had the highest H-indices and were the most cooperative authors. Library Hi Tech was the most preferred journal. “Mobile library” was the most frequently used keyword. “Mobile context” was the largest cluster on the research front.
Research limitations/implications
This study helps librarians, scientists and funders understand smart library trends.
Originality/value
There are several studies and solid background research on smart libraries. However, to the best of the author’s knowledge, this study is the first to conduct bibliometric analyses and network mapping on smart libraries around the globe.
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Regina A. Sanches, João Paulo Pereira Marcicano, Maria Silvia Barros de Held, Bárbara Maria Gama Guimarães, Raquel Seawright Alonso, Karina Mitie Takamune, Adriana Yumi Sato Duarte and Franco Giuseppe Dedini
The purpose of this paper is to present a comparative study on the characteristics of knitted fabrics used in the manufacturing of apparel, which are produced from organic cotton…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a comparative study on the characteristics of knitted fabrics used in the manufacturing of apparel, which are produced from organic cotton, lyocell and soybean protein fiber (SPF). It is important for both the environment and society that textile industry continues to adopt more ecofriendly materials and furthermore, pushes to increase awareness regarding these material choices available to the consumer and the corresponding impacts of consumers’ decisions. The use of sustainable fibers may be a starting point for changing the industrial paradigm of the textile industry.
Design/methodology/approach
The research presented herein analyzes the potential use of three raw materials used in the development of knitted fabrics: organic cotton, lyocell and SPF. The experimental trials, based on norms, determined the weight, pilling, rupture pressure resistance, absorption by capillarity, dimensional alteration and elasticity. The significance of the experimental results was verified through the analysis of variance, with a confidence interval of 95 percent (p=0.05) and the determination of the optimal regulation of the machine was made through an analysis of the response surface.
Findings
The results indicate that each of the studied materials are suitable for textile application; however, the fabrics manufactured from soybean yarn, compared to those manufactured from organic cotton or lyocell, have a higher potential to meet the needs of the costumer.
Social implications
The discussion regarding sustainability is far reaching on the ways it interacts with human life. As such, the latent need for meeting this new demand presents a unique opportunity for the development of new processes and products. In the case of the textile industry, initiatives are gradually being adopted that make the processes used by the supply chain less damaging to the environment. Clothing and fashion are highly visible elements of society, so consequently, the textile industry serves as an excellent candidate for promoting a sustainable and eco-friendly mindset.
Originality/value
The incorporation of sustainable fibers can serve as a starting point for change to the industrial paradigm existing within the textile industry. To this point, this study intended to analyze the potential implementation of three raw materials – organic cotton, lyocell and SPF – in the development of knitted fabrics. The results indicated that these materials are adequate for textile applications.
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