Information Literacy in the Workplace: A Cross-cultural Perspective

This cross-cultural study has two main purposes: to investigate how information literacy is perceived in the workplace and to discover how employees obtain information to carry out their jobs in an effective and timely fashion. This project applies a mix of research methods, including site visits, interviews, and a survey. More than 120 participants from forty companies were involved in this study. They were from a wide variety of industries in Taiwan and Silicon Valley, in Northern California, where many companies base offices or operations from around the world. Major obstacles in conducting cross-continent research are cost, time demands, scheduling, and adaptation to local culture. In this global economy, cross-cultural and cross-border research will help educators, such as librarians, understand the complexity of skills expected in the workplace. Much has been written on information literacy, yet very few can relate how information literacy is applied in the workplace. This primary study sheds some light to help academic librarians reposition themselves as researchers-educators integral to student success

Information Outlook, October 2004

Volume 8, Issue 10https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/sla_io_2004/1009/thumbnail.jp

Information Outlook, March 1999

Volume 3, Issue 3https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/sla_io_1999/1002/thumbnail.jp

Corporate social responsibility activities for public libraries engagement towards the actualization of sustainable development goals (SDGs): a survey of public libraries in south-east and south-south Nigeria

Purpose: The study is on corporate social responsibility activities for public libraries engagement towards the actualization of sustainable development goals (SDGs): a survey of public libraries in south-east and south-south Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach: The survey design was adopted. Data were gathered through questionnaire. Population of study comprised of librarians working in the public libraries in south-east and south-south Nigeria. A total of 77 questionnaires were retrieved and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings: The corporate social responsibilities that public libraries should participate in order to end poverty in present-day society include dissemination of timely agricultural information, business information, economic information services that are target-specific in different areas; provision of relevant information source and conducive environment for research to end hunger and achieved food security; partnership with health workers, stakeholders in the health sector and media houses to ensure optimal dissemination of health information to rural dwellers and promoting equitable quality education are the corporate social responsibility activities that public libraries should participate to contribute to actualization of sustainable development goals. Practical Implication: Library management should take pragmatic steps towards ensuring that there is intensive awareness campaign on various programmes and initiatives that libraries can participate towards contributing to actualization of sustainable development goals. Originality/value: This paper is of value to librarianship as a profession, it should provoke a new line of discourse in library professional or association meetings

Information Outlook, September 1997

Volume 1, Issue 9https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/sla_io_1997/1008/thumbnail.jp

Special Libraries, Spring 1995

Volume 86, Issue 2https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/sla_sl_1995/1001/thumbnail.jp

Information Outlook, January 1998

Volume 2, Issue 1https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/sla_io_1998/1000/thumbnail.jp

An Empirical study of the Influence of Knowledge Sharing Behaviors and Organizational Culture on Staff Performance in University Libraries

Knowledge sharing has been shown to improve individual and organization performance and innovativeness as a result, has become increasingly important to organizations as most organizations are now considered to operate in a knowledge economy. This study therefore investigated knowledge sharing practice as well as organizational culture and their effect on performance of staff of university libraries. The study employed a survey design with a population sample of 79 library staff derived through purposive sampling techniques from two university libraries in Nigeria. The principle instrument used for data collection was a four-point Likert scale structured questionnaire validated by two experts in measurement and evaluation while the study was guided by four research questions and one formulated and tested null hypothesis. The data collected were analyzed using frequency and simple percentages whereas the only null hypothesis was tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) and multiple regressions The result of this study did reveal that most library staff keep to punctuality/regularity in work and timely accomplishment of their given task as well as show great commitment to general library duties and exhibit ability to meet the library set objectives and deadline. The study also discovered that organizational culture prevalent in university library were in the area of customers’ (Users) satisfaction, structure, commitment and communication, The outcome of this study also revealed the various knowledge sharing practices of the library staff to include: departmental/unit meetings, general meetings, face-to-face interactions, periodical unit-by-unit meetings, informal interaction sessions, report writing, training and whatsapp group. The study as well found that there were seven major factors militating against knowledge sharing in the university library which invariably affect staff performance. These include; lack of trust among staff; staff idiosyncrasy; lack of organizational policy on knowledge sharing, inhibiting factors of staff performance, inadequate managerial skills, poor verbal/written communication and interpersonal skills and discriminatory attitude of university librarian towards staff. The result of the study further revealed that occupational culture and knowledge sharing practices have significant influence in staff performance in university libraries It is based on the findings and identified challenges facing effective knowledge sharing practices by staff in the university library that recommendations were made which include among other ones that the behavior of the library management needs to symbolize the kinds of values and behaviors that should be realized in every unit/department of the university library on the ground that as change agents, they are keys to the success of this cultural change process and important communicators of new values, university librarians must appreciate their role in maintaining or evolving an organization’s culture and that management of university libraries should note that for them to get the best out of every staff of the library in terms of performance and knowledge sharing, each staff should be seen as more valuable than the organization itsel

Information Outlook, December 2001

Volume 5, Issue 12https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/sla_io_2001/1011/thumbnail.jp