Malaysian Journal of Library and Information Science

Convergence of public library spaces in South Korea: User insights on motivations and collaboration

Yongsun Jeong, Kyoungsik Na; Jisu Lee (Corresponding Author) — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0800

This study explores the evolving role and function of public libraries as essential physical spaces in the information age, with a focus on user perspectives regarding the need for convergence and collaboration within library spaces and potential approaches for implementing this convergence in South Korea. Using a qualitative approach, interviews were conducted with 58 university students in their 20s and 30s who have experience using public libraries. Findings indicate that users view convergence as a way for public libraries to remain relevant by integrating various services and fostering partnerships that enhance community engagement. These insights provide practical recommendations for library administrators and policymakers on physical and institutional convergence strategies in public libraries, contributing valuable knowledge to this evolving area.

Embracing transparency and openness in scholarly publishing: Insights from the Malaysian social sciences researchers

R. Noor Masliana , S. F. Samsuddin; A. Abrizah (Corresponding Author) — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0800

The scholarly publishing landscape is changing fast with the rise of open science practices and increased expectations for transparency and rigour. However, there is a notable gap in understanding how the social science researchers are adopting transparency and openness in scholarly publishing (TOSP), given the emergence of open science practices. Therefore, this paper seeks to: (a) What do social science researchers interpret as "transparency and openness in scholarly publishing", and (b) How do social science researchers navigate and practise transparency and openness in their scholarly publishing? A cohort of the 100 most productive Malaysian-based social science researchers identified from the Web of Science database was invited to participate via email. The evidence reported here comes from 20 who agreed to be interviewed. The findings reveal that social science researchers conceptualise TOSP through seven key themes: Data transparency; practices; Methodological transparency; Embracing open access; Readiness for criticism and feedback; Reliable peer review process; Research ethics in data management; and Articulating research limitations. Additionally, the study emphasises nine TOSP practices that social scientists highlight, including sharing and connecting; publishing in affordable open access journals; authorship and publishing standards; international research collaboration; using open access repositories; adopting preprints; adhering to ethics and integrity; participating in the peer review process; and ensuring research reproducibility. This study underscores the importance of TOSP attributes in fostering transparency and openness, which in turn enhances the credibility and impact of social science research. Aligning with these principles enables researchers to contribute to more reliable and impactful scholarship in an evolving academic landscape.

Mapping Malaysia's contribution to Gold Open Access: Growth patterns, disparities, and policy implications

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0800

This study examines the growth of Gold Open Access (OA) research output in Malaysia through a bibliometric analysis using Web of Science (WoS) data. Over the past decade, Malaysia has seen a significant increase in gold OA publications, ranking 27th globally, 10th in Asia, and first in Southeast Asia. The analysis reveals that Science & Technology and Health Sciences dominate the gold OA landscape, while Arts & Humanities and Social Sciences remain underrepresented. Malaysian researchers predominantly publish their gold OA articles in international journals, with Switzerland-based publishers being particularly prominent. A notable finding is the impact of government restrictions on using research funds for publications with three specific publishers - MDPI, Hindawi, and Frontiers. In 2023, MDPI experienced a 25.4 percent decline in publications by Malaysian researchers, reflecting a shift in publication patterns due to these restrictions. Despite the overall growth, the study highlights a mismatch between the quantity of gold OA publications and their citation impact, raising questions about the broader influence of Malaysian gold OA research. These findings underscore the need for strategies to manage and promote gold OA publishing effectively while addressing the challenges posed by policy restrictions. The insights offer valuable guidance for researchers and policymakers to optimize the benefits of gold OA publishing in Malaysia.

Evaluating barriers to digital libraries development: Insights from Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) and Cross-Impact Matrix Multiplication (MICMAC)

Roshan Raju (Corresponding Author); R.K. Kishore Patnala — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0800

Digital libraries are pivotal in advancing knowledge accessibility, yet their development faces significant obstacles, particularly in developing regions like India. This study evaluates the barriers to digital library development using Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) and Cross-Impact Matrix Multiplication (MICMAC) analysis. Data were gathered from eight domain experts in India, who identified 10 critical barriers, including the lack of institutional policy, which emerged as the most critical barrier to adopting digital libraries. As an independent factor, it sits at the bottom of the digraph model created by ISM, serving as the foundational barrier. Another major barrier is the lack of financial resources, which significantly hinders development due to the substantial costs involved in digital library initiatives for academic institutions. Additionally, barriers such as lack of management support, physical infrastructure, and technological infrastructure further exacerbate the challenges. ISM was employed to construct a hierarchical model revealing the interrelationships and driving power of these barriers, while MICMAC analysis categorised them based on their influence and dependencies. The findings emphasise the importance of addressing foundational barriers to ensure resilient and effective digital library systems in India.

Coverage of Malaysian Scholarly publications in the Directory of Open Access Journals: An exploratory study

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0800

The aim of this study is to assess the current status of Open Access journals published in Malaysia by analysing the Malaysian journals listed in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). This exploratory and descriptive study is guided by the following research questions: (a) What growth trends are evident in Malaysian journals covered in DOAJ? (b) Are these journals also indexed in Web of Science (WoS), Scopus, and MyCite? (c) What are distribution, and publishing dynamics of Malaysian journals covered in DOAJ? Data was collected from DOAJ, with information on indexed journals prior to 2024. The performance of Malaysian journals listed in DOAJ was further evaluated using data from WoS, Scopus, and MyCite. A total of 101 Malaysian journals were identified, of which 27 are indexed in WoS (ESCI), 36 in Scopus, and 69 in MyCite. The publishers of these journals can be categorised into four groups: university publishers, commercial publishers, publishers affiliated with societies or associations, and government-affiliated publishers. Notably, public university publishers are the major players in Malaysian Open Access journals. Approximately two-thirds of the journals are concentrated in four main subject categories, indicating an unbalanced development across different fields. There remains significant room for improvement in the openness of these journals. This study provides an overview of Malaysian journals included in DOAJ and highlights their key characteristics. The findings can serve as a valuable reference for journal publishers in Malaysia striving to meet global standards for Open Access.

Thirty-two years of research on information foraging theory: Evolution, key contributions and emerging directions

Williams Nwagwu (Corresponding Author) — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0800

This paper examines the evolution and future directions of Information Foraging Theory (IFT) research over the past 32 years (1992–2023). The findings reveal a sustained interest in IFT, with an average of 14 publications per year, culminating in a total of 449 papers authored by 933 researchers. Key contributors such as Peter Pirolli and Margaret Burnett have significantly shaped the field. Initially rooted in cognitive psychology and human-computer interaction (HCI), IFT has since expanded its influence to domains including information science, organizational behaviour, and machine learning. Core concepts of IFT, such as information scent and information patches, have been empirically validated, reinforcing their importance in understanding user behaviour. Publication trends highlight a peak in research activity around 2012, followed by fluctuations and a recent resurgence. The prominence of conference papers reflects the dynamic and rapidly evolving nature of the field. Keyword analysis identifies research clusters focusing on human decision-making, user interfaces, information retrieval, visualization, social networking, and behavioural studies, demonstrating the interdisciplinary application of IFT. Emerging themes such as cognitive load, uncertainty, virtual reality, and big data point to promising new research directions. This overview underscores IFT's significant contributions and ongoing relevance in understanding of human information-seeking behaviour and optimizing systems to meet user needs.

Current landscape of Open Educational Resources initiatives by Malaysian academic libraries

Nurul Diana, J.; Noorhidawati A. (Corresponding Author); Yanti Idaya A.M.K. — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0800

The contribution of librarians to open educational resources (OER) is increasingly influenced by the open science and open data movements. However, their involvement in OER initiatives remains limited, primarily focusing on managing learning resources and providing information literacy training to facilitate access to OER. This study delves into the role of libraries in adopting OER within their institutions, aiming to explore the current landscape of OER initiatives led by Malaysian academic libraries and the challenges faced by academic librarians, guided by the CARE Framework. Through interviews with nine academic librarians, the study examines the current state of OER initiatives, and the obstacles librarians encounter in supporting these efforts. Findings indicate that Malaysian academic libraries are committed to supporting OER through the creation of library guides that enhance user awareness on how to locate and utilise OER resources. Despite the positive opportunities presented by OER, academic librarians face significant challenges, particularly in promoting access and usage. This study offers valuable insights and practical guidelines for academic libraries to enhance their OER services. The conclusions drawn will also aid in future professional development, contributing to the success and sustainability of the OER movement in promoting open education.

Fostering professional growth in academic librarians: A SoTL-based lens for Research Data Management capacity building

Mohd Ikhwan Ismail, S.F. Samsuddin; A. Abrizah (Corresponding Author) — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0800

This study examines the use of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) as a framework for capacity building in Research Data Management (RDM) among academic librarians. It explores how SoTL principles are applied through interventions such as librarian-led training sessions to develop RDM skills, while presenting best practices and addressing professional growth challenges. A qualitative approach was used, involving interviews with 15 purposively sampled librarians from research-intensive universities in Malaysia actively engaged in RDM services. Key findings show that librarians develop their expertise through four key approaches: acquiring RDM competency; utilizing professional connections; building research partnerships, and initiating RDM services. Additionally, the study reveals that librarians engage in capacity building through SoTL and peer teaching by actively participating in knowledge-sharing practices, both formally and informally, within and outside their institutions. SoTL proved beneficial in fostering a continuous learning cycle as librarians taught their peers. This study concludes that SoTL can reshape professional development among academic librarians.