This paper seeks to define the qualities of a good research library leader through a qualitative study using the lens of Aristotelian virtue theory. Narrative evidence was collected from library directors in the UK and North America on their ethical identity, how they develop excellence in their libraries, and how they deal with complex problems.…

This study discusses the learning commons concept in depth by looking at how it has evolved over time, based on the themes discussed in the scholarly research within the last 6 years and contextualizing its trend. It investigates the status of research productivity and impact, trends in the concept, and identifies common, emerging, and dominant…

The value of research to library and information science (LIS) practice and the need to build a culture of research within the profession are well documented. Research informs decision-making, supports strategy and planning, and ensures that LIS services remain relevant to changing community needs. Yet a vibrant research culture is present in only…

This study explores how acquisitions practices and infrastructure influence building diverse distinctive collections within Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member institutions. Through a survey of the existing acquisitions practices within ARL institutions, this study interrogates the collections-based methodologies that are utilized to…

A limited number of interlocking institutions provide career opportunities within contemporary visual art, which affects both who is seen and written about. This paper compares the proportions of recent art exhibition reviews and catalogs to artists' race and gender, and how that is reflected in library collections. Overall, publications covered…

Data librarianship is a relatively new field that covers activities from teaching research data management skills and data science areas such as coding or cleaning data, to curating and archiving datasets. The Data Services Continuing Professional Education (DSCPE) program has stepped in to fill the critical education gap for data librarians. It…

This paper investigates the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in research libraries in China's Greater Bay Area, examining librarians' attitudes and the strategic direction for AI deployment. A survey revealed a generally positive stance toward AI, though tempered by uncertainties around current and future AI support. Findings suggest a…

This exploratory study seeks to gather preliminary information about the roles that academic librarians in the United States (US) and Canada play in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) work on their campuses. It also provides insight into how librarians at US Carnegie Research 1 (R1) classified universities and U15 Group of Canadian…

Academic and research libraries are undergoing a profound transformation, shaped by technological advancements, shifting societal dynamics, and evolving institutional priorities. This essay examines how these forces are driving libraries to evolve into specialized and distinct models, shaping their future and drawing parallels to the Cambrian…

Purpose: This paper aims to focus on academic library managers' learning practices in the context of cooperative work supported by computational artefacts. Academic library managers' everyday work is mainly cooperative. Their cooperation is supported predominantly by computational artefacts. Learning how to use the computational artefacts…

Commissioned by the Coalition for Networked Information, this report examines the role of research universities in addressing complex societal challenges. It focuses on climate change, which is best characterized as a "wicked" problem. Such problems are difficult to define and lack clear solutions in part because they involve multiple…

Research consultations are a standard service in academic libraries and consume significant library resources. There is a lack of scholarship evaluating the impact of this service on faculty. This paper describes the impact of librarian consultations on faculty and their role in the research process. Data was collected from a survey of sixty-seven…

As the need for digital content increases almost daily, preserving this content for university libraries, especially in the least developed and developing nations, becomes a challenge, resulting in the loss of this data. Even though most of these libraries are automated and adopt one digital preservation strategy or the other, library users need…