Editorial
Article Type: Editorial From: Library Review, Volume 62, Issue 8/9
This final issue of 2013 marks the end of my second year as editor of the journal. It is amazing how quickly the time has flown and how much I have enjoyed and learned from this experience. There have been a number of exciting developments and new directions for the journal, one of which I had hoped to be able to report in this editorial, but sadly is still embargoed. So – watch this space in the first issue of Volume 63 for some interesting and exciting news!
The papers in this issue reflect the cross-disciplinary and wide-ranging scope of the journal currently. We begin with Conrads fascinating and highly original USA study which investigates the function of digital storytelling in contemporary libraries, including devising best practice guidelines for community digital storytelling projects. The author concludes that digital storytelling not only contributed to creating and sustaining local historical records in digital form but also effectively fostered community outreach and involvement – vital in the contemporary world of budgetary reductions and cutbacks in service provision.
Preservation and dissemination of cultural heritage is also the theme of the second paper, based on Anasis presentation at the 2012 IFLA Conference in Helsinki. This multi-authored study from Nigeria investigates these issues from a gender related perspective, specifically the preservation of womens cultural heritage materials in a developing economy. Amongst their conclusions is that the systematic collection and preservation of womens cultural heritage and artefacts has a vital role to play in enhancing public perception of the role of women in society and improving their visibility within it.
Issues relating to self-realisation and actualisation from the perspective of individual career development constitute the theme of the third paper. Based on a survey conducted in Estonian university libraries, Kont and Jantson explore the relationship between improvements in personal performance and career prospects, especially with regard to the provision of a systematic career path and progression for librarians.
The following five papers are all concerned with aspects of information behaviour. Nolins thought-provoking study explores strategies for reconnecting researchers and librarians following the impact of “disintermediation and the growth in end-user services. As research practices become ever more complex, and researchers increasingly service their own information needs without the intervention of specialised librarians, Nolin argues that it is vital for librarians to embrace new ways of working. Highly qualified librarians working as an integral element of research teams, devising meta-services which support the emergent, more politicised and polarised research environment, will be vital in an era of full cost research provision.
This overview paper is followed by a series of specific case studies exploring information strategies and behaviour in a variety of contexts. Mahajan et al. investigate the use of social networking sites by Indian academics, offering detailed examples of the type of meta-services referred to in the earlier paper by Nolin.
The two studies from Tanzania explore information behaviour in very differing contexts. Elly and Silayo investigate strategies for effective information and knowledge provision to support the future development and improvement of the agricultural sector; especially significant as this sector plays a vital role in the economic growth and sustainability of many developing countries. Of equal significance is the second study from Tanzania, which examines the effective provision of health information which, as the authors contend is of “vital importance in the developing world, especially Africa, where societies grapple with daunting health problems. There are few existing studies in this field, especially in relation to mental health; Lwoga and Moshas study is therefore both timely and significant. Finally in this section, Makori et al. explore the ICT skills and competences required to equip librarians in Kenya to devise and supply relevant services to meet such complex and vital information needs.
Effectively measuring the value and impact of information in its entirety represents one of, if not the, key challenge for the discipline and profession currently. Bibliometrics arguably forms a vital component in the toolkit we have at our disposal currently in demonstrating the wider impact of information and knowledge. The final paper in this issue and indeed of the year, may be considered to be somewhat indulgent, and possibly an exercise in navel-contemplation, but Swain et al.s bibliometric analysis of Library Review (LR) has certainly been read with a great deal of interest by the editorial team and we shall look to improve both the reach and significance of the journal for the forthcoming year.
I do not wish to end on a sad note, but this year has seen the loss of some great figures in the discipline and profession, without whose contribution and guidance we shall all be the poorer. I would like to pay tribute especially to Niels Ole Pors of Denmark, who contributed greatly as an author, reviewer and editorial board member for a range of Emerald journals – R.I.P. Niels, we shall miss you.
Finally, I wish to thank the editorial team and Editorial Advisory Board for their support, encouragement and hard work this year. Producing a journal such as this is an enormous task, and one which requires an incredible amount of effort from a whole team of people without whom, LR would not exist. All contributions are vital; but this year I should especially like to thank all our reviewers, without whose input the journal would not be published. Everyone is seemingly busier than ever, and I wish to conclude by acknowledging the input of all those who review for the journal, finding time in their hard-pressed schedules to undertake this work for no reward other than ensuring the development of knowledge in the field. Thanks everyone.
Judith Broady-Preston
