Information organization and access, including digital libraries, information retrieval, knowledge organization, information literacy, archives, and information policy
11 papersThis paper proposes a practical three-pass method for efficiently reading research papers, designed to save time and improve comprehension for researchers. The method systematically moves from a general overview to a deep understanding, building knowledge with each pass, and can also be applied effectively to conduct literature surveys. It aims to address the common challenge faced by graduate students who struggle with efficient paper consumption.
The study reveals a significant linguistic disparity in multilingual large language models used for information retrieval. Models exhibited a strong preference for retrieving and generating answers from documents in the same language as the query, and when those aren't available, they favored high-resource languages like English, reinforcing dominant narratives. This raises concerns about information parity and filter bubbles, especially in cross-cultural contexts.
This study examined articles published in the journal "Bioengineered" from 2010-2023 and found that 25.7% of the articles contained inappropriate image duplication/manipulation or had been retracted. The study focused on articles related to rodent studies and used a combination of image analysis software and manual review to identify issues. Although the study successfully identified a significant number of problematic articles, the actual number might be higher due to limited sample selection and types of problems considered.
The analysis reveals that South African universities, guided by the Department of Higher Education and Training's accredited journal lists, heavily favor publications in journals based in Europe and North America, marginalizing African and other Global South scholarship. This reinforces bibliometric coloniality and hinders the decolonization of knowledge production. The paper suggests promoting African journals and platforms, possibly using the SciELO model, to address this issue.
Scientific output has grown at an overall rate of 4.1% annually since the 17th century, doubling every 17.3 years. This growth, however, is not uniform and varies considerably across historical periods, largely influenced by economic and political factors such as industrialization and world wars.
The study finds that journals in Scopus don't always publish articles matching their assigned field classifications or stated aims. This mismatch varies across fields and journal types (specialist, cross-field, general), undermining the accuracy of citation-based metrics and potentially confusing authors seeking publication venues.
This study compared the journal coverage of Web of Science, Scopus, and Dimensions. It found significant differences in coverage, with Web of Science being the most selective and Dimensions the most exhaustive. These differences impact research output volume, rank, global share, and subject area distribution when comparing data from the three databases for various countries.
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA) in Egypt has implemented e-learning services, using the Moodle platform, to provide access to various courses including STEM topics. The paper argues that public libraries have the potential to support e-learning and lifelong learning, particularly in STEM fields, by collaborating with educational institutions and leveraging their resources and skilled librarians.
The study found decreased usage of library websites, catalogs, and databases during COVID-19 closures across three universities. However, virtual communication with librarians and interlibrary loan requests increased, suggesting a shift in how students accessed library resources during the pandemic. The impact varied across institutions, with the residential university experiencing the largest decrease in usage.
The article discusses the importance of research in library and information science, highlighting the need for basic research skills. It emphasizes the cyclical nature of research and its role in creating new knowledge and advancing the field.