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The purpose of this paper is to assist records managers and information governance professionals to understand the challenges presented by their organization’s use of blockchain distributed ledger technology (DLT).

An extensive literature review was conducted, which revealed a multitude of articles based on research into blockchain DLT, most written from the technology perspective. This paper differs in that it applies a records management lens to an analysis of the records created, registered or stored on a blockchain. A six-stage blockchain records consideration model is provided to illustrate examples of the records management challenges presented by the implementation of blockchain DLT. Questions are posed and recommendations are made to aid the reader in developing a blockchain DLT records management and information governance strategy.

Because there is no one universal configuration for a blockchain DLT solution, each implementation must be analyzed to understand the resultant records management and information governance challenges. A series of questions that should be asked and answered can not only help records management and information governance professionals adapt their policies and practices to the technology but also provide a basis for discussion with those designing the blockchain DLT solutions so they can include records management features in their designs.

This paper contributes an original analysis of the implications of the adoption of Blockchain DLT for records management and information governance programs through the lens of a six-stage Blockchain Records Consideration Model.

This study aims to examine how 20 local governments in Canada and the USA operationalize the government–citizen trust relationship through the administration of social media by answering two questions: Can local governments use social media to increase citizen trust? and if local governments can use social media, what can be learned about the administration of social media that results in an increase in citizen trust of government?

Based on a normative belief that increasing the trustworthiness of government is a desired outcome, the working proposition is that social media may offer a low-barrier method for engaging citizens and supporting trust-based relationships, if social media programs are administered in a way that operationalizes this objective. Using content analysis of data collected from interview transcripts and documentary sources, this exploratory, process-oriented study emphasizes the social, organizational and functional contexts of social media and social media as records.

The study found that most cities had extensive programs featuring multiple accounts on a number of common platforms. The cities maintained tight control over content, account creation and employee and audience participation to ensure compliance with federal and provincial or state legislation and to mitigate technology and content-based risks. The cities used social media to broadcast information, respond to service requests and provide issue management. Social media results were measured sporadically on an ad hoc basis for operational purposes and only two cities had dedicated procedures in place for managing social media as records. Contrary to previous research, this study indicates that fiduciary trust relationships do require trust by the agent (i.e. institution) and the principal (i.e. citizen).

To increase generalizability, an effort was made to select cities that were demographically and geographically diverse by selecting a range of population sizes and locations. However, selection was skewed towards cities with well-developed social media programs, and as a result, over half of the cities were national, provincial or state capitals or larger population centres. While these cities experienced economic advantages, the participants in the study identified challenges around resourcing and capacity, and their responses are expected to be of value to cities operating under similar constraints. Additionally, this study represents a point in time, as social media use at the local governments continued to expand and evolve during and after the data collection period.

This paper identifies three scenarios where social media content from local government accounts should be managed as records, including: the documentation of incidents, the on-going collection of city content from high-profile accounts and the “on demand” collection of citizens’ content where cities have asked for citizen input on topics or issues.

This study provides an in-depth characterization of social media administration and use by 20 local governments in Canada and the USA. Considering the progress made by cities in e-government using their websites as a base, cities can develop greater capacity for open government, meaning wider participation by citizens in the decisions that affect them on a daily basis. To achieve goals of transparency, accountability and civic participation, cities will need to develop capacity around social media measurement, reporting and procedures for managing social media as records.

In providing a detailed and complete description of social media use in 20 cities in two countries, this study moves beyond a compliance- and requirement-driven approach to consider the larger question of government–citizen trust and the relevance of records within this relationship.

Experiential learning incorporated into library and information science education in the form of a practical placement has long been accepted as important. However, it is not always possible for students to undertake a traditional internship because of constraints associated with the physical location of internship sites. The purpose of this paper is to explore virtual alternatives, in the context of digital curation.

Surveys exploring the internship experience were conducted of students and supervisors, leading to the development of a pilot study. In addition, discussions were held with possible supervisors in a country with a small population, faced with the challenge of building capability in digital curation.

The concept of a virtual internship is entirely appropriate given the focus on digital tools, information and systems in digital curation. A new dimension to the traditional internship experience is the potential for sharing expertise internationally, in diverse settings.

Although the paper describes activities taking place through the School of Library & Information Science at San Jose State University, the findings can be used to justify virtual internship programs and develop strategies to be employed by other Schools at the University and other Universities within and outside the USA.

This paper includes implications for the development of successful virtual internship programs on the Master's degree level, including those for students preparing for careers in digital curation.

The paper provides insight into the practical issues associated with incorporating experiential learning into digital curation curricula and signals the potential for approaching internships from a global perspective.

Special districts comprise over 40% of local governments, prompting debate on the merits of general versus special entities. Previous research focused on relative cost-efficiency and tended to ignore how special districts impact government accountability. This study fills a critical need by testing how type of government (general versus special) impacts citizen awareness of and familiarity with government, a precondition for accountability. Drawing from two theoretical perspectives (institutional reform and public choice), we used survey research to assess familiarity with the goals and performance and financial practices of local governments in Indiana. Our study participants were more aware of and familiar with general than special governments, which supports the institutional reform perspective more than public choice. We conclude that efforts to improve accountability should be expanded to include special districts.

The purpose of the present study is to explore the possibility of introducing a 3D environment in the library by reviewing current literature and to provide a good understanding of different purposes of using this immersive environment.

The present paper is a narrative account of libraries’ presence in the virtual world in combination with an overview of how libraries respond to the 3D environment. Relevant data for the review paper have been collected from library websites, books, journal articles, interview, etc.

The study found purposive involvement of libraries in this immersive environment which indicates that users use this exciting 3D medium to satisfy their information requirement.

The paper basically considers publications containing observations of broader research community in the relevant field and contents in websites dealing with virtual world and outlines the major features as discussed in available documents. The review study infers that the implementation of 3D project in libraries requires a mindset for the specific approach, from the end of both librarians and users, together with involvement of funds. Therefore, a library may start with a beta project and observe the effectiveness from the users’ perspective before embarking on a full-fledged project.

With numerous examples, as evident from publications and websites, the current review study makes an attempt to improve the understanding of librarians towards informed selection of projected purposes to be integrated with the virtual world from library perspective. The study also presents different approaches of libraries motivating users in the virtual world that other libraries may follow while considering their 3D library project.

Historically, epilepsy was attributed to non‐medical causes such as demonic possession, a gift from God, witchcraft, and mental illness. Only with the advent of the electroencephalogram (EEG) in the 1930s did the medical profession begin to document the neurological basis for the condition. Now a wide range of anticonvulsants allow most epileptics to maintain partial or total control over their seizures. Nevertheless, many epileptics routinely face discouraging social limitations, such as difficulty obtaining a driver's license, employment discrimination, problems with dating and marriage, restrictions on sports and activities, and the expense of medication.