The nature and role of empathy in public librarianship

This article presents two recent studies, an AHRC-funded exploration of the role of empathy in community librarianship (Study 1) and an investigation of the role of empathy in service to minority ethnic users (Study 2). Qualitative elements of each methodology are presented, namely a series of focus groups with frontline staff, interviews with senior managers and a research workshop (Study 1), and a case study investigation of a public library in the heart of a Chinese community (Study 2). Synthesizing the data of both studies, an analysis is conducted of the relationship between the cultural identities of library staff and their ability to empathize with the public. It is concluded that empathy plays a role in facilitating effective communication between staff and users, but that a distinction should be made between intuitive and cognitive empathy, in considering the potential of staff training to develop appropriate levels of emotional response to members of all communities

Polca SARA - Full polarization, direction-dependent calibration and sparse imaging for radio interferometry

New generation of radio interferometers are envisaged to produce high quality, high dynamic range Stokes images of the observed sky from the corresponding under-sampled Fourier domain measurements. In practice, these measurements are contaminated by the instrumental and atmospheric effects that are well represented by Jones matrices, and are most often varying with observation direction and time. These effects, usually unknown, act as a limiting factor in achieving the required imaging performance and thus, their calibration is crucial. To address this issue, we develop a global algorithm, named Polca SARA, aiming to perform full polarization, direction-dependent calibration and sparse imaging by employing a non-convex optimization technique. In contrast with the existing approaches, the proposed method offers global convergence guarantees and flexibility to incorporate sophisticated priors to regularize the imaging as well as the calibration problem. Thus, we adapt a polarimetric imaging specific method, enforcing the physical polarization constraint along with a sparsity prior for the sought images. We perform extensive simulation studies of the proposed algorithm. While indicating the superior performance of polarization constraint based imaging, the obtained results also highlight the importance of calibrating for direction-dependent effects as well as for off-diagonal terms (denoting polarization leakage) in the associated Jones matrices, without inclusion of which the imaging quality deteriorates

A framework model for a contextualized and integrated warfarin therapy case in a master of pharmacy program

© Copyright 2019 American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education.Objective. To develop and integrate a case study on warfarin into a clinical pharmacy workshop. Methods. A framework model was designed and used to create a case study on warfarin therapy. The case study was implemented in a third-year Master of Pharmacy course. Student feedback was obtained using an online questionnaire and two focus groups. Results. All students agreed that the case study successfully integrated the science of warfarin and concepts of pharmacy practice. The majority of students (94%) agreed that this approach helped them to understand the science of warfarin more than a traditional lecture would have. Students felt the time allocated to the workshop was too short. Conclusion. An integrated case study provides a learning environment that emphasizes the contextualization of chemistry and pharmacology into a clinical pharmacy setting.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

The public library, exclusion and empathy: a literature review

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a review of the literature within the fields of public librarianship, social exclusion and empathy. Design/methodology/approach – The cross-disciplinary review involved the consultation of material from disciplines including library and information management, politics, social policy and social sciences, cultural studies, psychology, management and organizational theory. It was structured according to the following themes: exclusion, inclusion and social policy, social inclusion in public services and the cultural sector, the role of public libraries in social inclusion and professional empathy and the public library service. Findings –The concept of social inclusion remains at the core of public library policy and strategy, and is embedded in contemporary social theory. Conflicting views have emerged as to the perceived and actual role of the public library in combating social exclusion, with a need expressed for research to be conducted that bridges the gap between the “philosophical” interpretations of community librarianship and the more practical, “real world” studies, in order to fully understand the concept of community librarianship. A critical link is made between social inclusion and public librarianship to professional empathy. Research limitations/implications – The paper provides an edited version of the overall literature review, yet it is felt that it would be of theoretical and practical relevance and value to the professional and academic communities. Originality/value – Empathy is a relatively new concept in librarianship research, and prior to the study of which this review forms a part only limited findings have been available

Dalit Studies: The Impacts of British Colonization in India, Dalit Identity & The Internationalization of Caste Discrimination at the United Nations

The centuries-old caste system dividing individuals in society in a hierarchical order has long been responsible for the continuous oppression of the Dalit (also referred to as Untouchables) population in India. Experiences associated with British colonization period in the country have greatly influenced the fundamental social values, structures, and institutional frameworks of modern and democratic India, along with the identity of Dalits. Scholars in the newly emerged academic field of Dalit studies have examined contemporary issues of the Dalit population, whereas academics of post-colonial studies have analyzed the various social, economic, and cultural losses of British colonization in India. Although the aspects of Dalit modernization as a result of colonialism in India has been explored by scholars, the topic has not been widely discussed in alignment with the frameworks and principles of Critical Race Theory (CRT) to understand broader identity-related aspects of social exclusion, privilege, power. This paper will aim to perform a qualitative research study on further examining the knowledge of the impacts of British colonialism and post-independent experiences on the identity and consciousness of the Dalit population in India. It will also aim to discuss the populations efforts of internationalizing the Dalit cause through engagements with the United Nations and approaching the international organization as a protector and promoter of global human rights, equality, and dignified living. It will examine the role of the UN in attempts to end centuries-old practices of caste-based discrimination which continue to severely affect the Dalit population. This research study will make a valuable contribution to relevant fields of Dalit studies, caste studies, and post-colonial studies by exploring Dalit identity and consciousness

'We are here because you were there': minority ethnic genre fiction in UK public libraries.

This paper presents findings of ongoing doctoral research into the reading of, and engagement with, minority ethnic genre fiction in public libraries, with a particular focus on Black British and British Asian authors. The research context is first briefly summarised, looking at the nature of minority genre fiction, and at public library provision and readership of materials for ethnically diverse communities. An empirical study is then presented, for which a general survey was conducted of the reading habits and attitudes of library users in the East Midlands region of England. The large sample population of 1,047 public library users enabled both qualitative and quantitative analyses, considering readers’ preferred location for selecting books, their usual reading choices, material that they would not consider reading, and any factors affecting their choice. Finally, a brief comparison is made of libraries of different types, in terms of community, ethnicity or class. The findings indicate that certain respondents appeared to have an increased openness to read from a wide range of genres, even an increased reading confidence as a result of reading books written by minority ethnic authors. It is concluded that promotional activity can play a role not only in offering wider reading choices but also, potentially, in reducing fear and prejudice and celebrating cultural diversity

Reader development

Reader development, with adult readers in particular, has experienced a dramatic growth in relatively recent years. This chapter explores this growth, in terms of its impact on library service delivery and policy, and in the context of its more social benefits. Themes frequently used in definitions of reader development are considered, such as intervention, cultural change, reader-centred and social inclusion. A number of frequently cross-sectoral initiatives are presented in order to exemplify the various facets of these definitions. The chapter ends with a consideration of the future of reader development

Water scarcity in the Maltese islands: geopolitics and management issues

The Maltese Islands have a history of water resource problems. A high proportion of the Maltese population has suffered over the past few years from water scarcity caused mainly by: (a) a shortage in water production and escalating water demands; (b) rising salinity levels in groundwater and tap water; (c) an undersized and deteriorating distribution system; and (d) increasing levels of groundwater pollution. There is a spatial variation in the intensity of these problems. They are greatest in the south of Malta and it has been suggested that this is due to geopolitical, as well as social, economic and physical, factors. This inequity in water supply has, for many years, been blamed on the politicisation of water. The causes of the water problems are presented and the problems, themselves, are analysed. The link between the water problems and the politicisation of water and conflicts over water resources, is established and discussed. Finally, solutions, through water management and future planned developments, are presented. Social and geopolitical information was gathered mainly through qualitative interviews with water consumers, water suppliers, decision makers, academics and members of non-Governmental organisations, in Malta. Quantitative data on hydrology and the entire water management system was collected and analysed. An extensive literary search to support the physical, social, economic and geopolitical aspects of the research and to obtain legal information, was also undertaken. In conclusion, although the water problems have been enhanced by unsustainable management, they are a part of a wider geopolitical problem, especially the inequitable water supply. In particular, settlements with an affiliation to the political party in Government are better supplied than settlements that support the Opposition. In addition, water conflicts, at all scales, arise due to water scarcity and a lack or absence of water sharing regulations and, of course, human nature