A model for mobile curation services in academic libraries

Purpose To better respond to user needs for personalized information services in the context of academic libraries, this study aims at developing a prototype to provide mobile curation services by using the concept of content curation. Design/methodology/approach This study used a mobile application software development process, which consisted of five phases: user and organizational requirements, architecture design, navigation design, page design and implementation and usability testing. Usability testing was conducted with a total of 20 college students by online surveys at a university. Findings Meta-analysis identified key user needs: diversification of services, more personalized services, active communication with librarians, quality improvement of information and interface improvement. User and organizational requirements derived four main service modules – namely, Curation Services, Live Chat, My Page and My Log. Usability testing regarding ease of use, perceived usefulness and satisfaction indicated that participants were satisfied with the prototype. Research limitations/implications The study extends the discussion of quality academic library services by introducing the concept of content curation that uses the advantages of mobile technologies to overcome existing limitations in library services insufficient for meeting individual user needs. Originality/value Although many studies have discussed mobile library services, few studies have focused on developing a system for such services. The model developed in the study fills the research gap. Above all, the key modules specified by the prototype – Curation Services, Live Chat, My Page and My Log services – are expected to improve existing research and learning support services currently offered by academic libraries.

Generation Z and intention to use the digital library: does personality matter?

Purpose This study aims to evaluate the role of personality in digital library systems (DLS) adoption intention among Generation Z (Gen-Z) students. The study uses the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology-2 and the five-factor model to investigate personality’s influence on Gen-Z’s DLS adoption intention. Design/methodology/approach The study is a descriptive causal investigation based on primary data collected through a self-administered survey using pre-validated tools. The study uses structural equation modeling to investigate personality dimensions’ direct and moderating effect on the dependent, independent variables and their relation. Findings The study results indicate that personality has no significant influence on Gen-Z’s DLS adoption, suggesting the ubiquity and inevitability of technology in current times. Also, only performance expectancy had a considerable impact on DLS adoption among Gen-Z going to college – a deviation from past studies where multiple independent variables have influenced DLS adoption when examined from different technology adoption model angles. Research limitations/implications The current research is done on Gen-Z, and thus the results are ideographic to the cohort. Practical implications The results of the study can be used to effectively design and communicate technology-enabled information solutions among the Cohort. Social implications The results of the study help better understand the factors affecting the technology adoption intentions of Gen-Z. Such understanding can help in better design and implementation of technology-enabled solutions for the cohort, maximizing such system adoption and its effective and efficient utilization. Originality/value The study explores the impact of personality on DLS adoption intentions, hitherto unexplored. The research also focuses on Gen-Z – a cohort born in a technology-enabled world whose attitude and preferences towards technology might differ. The study’s findings will help understand the influence of personality on DLS adoption among the Gen-Z and can be used to design, promote and evaluate such systems.

Using digital humanity approaches to visualize and evaluate the cultural heritage ontology

Purpose This study applies digital humanity tools (Gephi and Protégé) for establishing and visualizing ontologies in the cultural heritage domain. According to that, this study aims to develop a novel evaluation approach using five ontology indicators (data overview, visual presentation, highlight links, scalability and querying) to evaluate the knowledge structure presentation of cultural heritage ontology. Design/methodology/approach The researchers collected and organized 824 pieces of government’s open data (GOD), converted GOD into the resource description framework format, applied Protégé and Gephi to establish and visualize cultural heritage ontology. After ontology is built, this study recruited 60 ontology participants (30 from information and communications technology background; 30 from cultural heritage background) to operate this ontology and gather their different perspectives of visual ontology. Findings Based on the ontology participant’s feedback, this study discovered that Gephi is more supporting than Protégé when visualizing ontology. Especially in data overview, visual presentation and highlight links dimensions, which is supported visualization and demonstrated ontology class hierarchy and property relation, facilitated the wider application of ontology. Originality/value This study offers two contributions. First, the researchers analyzed data on East Asian architecture with novel digital humanities tools to visualize ontology for cultural heritage. Second, the study collected participant’s feedback regarding the visualized ontology to enhance its design, which can serve as a reference for future ontological development.

Comparison on effect mechanism of continuance usage between entertainment and knowledge apps: a qualitative analysis of online reviews

Purpose Continuance usage of mobile applications (apps) has attracted much attention from scholars and enterprises, while the extant research mainly focuses on continuance intention. The inner effect mechanism of the characteristics of apps is still unclear. Under the tenet of continuance usage behaviour, through analysis of characteristics derived from online reviews, this paper aims to establish an effective model and discloses the commonalities and differences between two mainstream apps, which are entertainment and knowledge apps. Design/methodology/approach The authors collected reviews of TikTok and Zhihu, which are typical representatives of entertainment and knowledge apps, respectively, from 2018 to 2020. They then derive effect factors and establish the effect model using grounded theory. A deep comparison is then conducted. They analysed the similarities and differences in the general effect model, internal effect mechanism and detailed characteristics of the two types of apps. Findings Entertainment app and knowledge apps share the same general effect mechanism; that is, the effect chain of characteristics to perceived value then finally to continuance usage behaviour. However, obvious differences also exist in detailed and specific effects between the two apps. Originality/value The present research is among the first to have a deep analysis of the comparison of entertainment apps and knowledge apps under the context of continuance usage behaviour. The findings contribute to understanding continuance usage behaviours. Suggestions are proposed on how to promote apps, which may benefit app managers.

Using data mining to track the information spreading on social media about the COVID-19 outbreak

Purpose COVID-19, a causative agent of the potentially fatal disease, has raised great global public health concern. Information spreading on the COVID-19 outbreak can strongly influence people behaviour in social media. This paper aims to question of information spreading on COVID-19 outbreak are addressed with a massive data analysis on Twitter from a multidimensional perspective. Design/methodology/approach The evolutionary trend of user interaction and the network structure is analysed by social network analysis. A differential assessment on the topics evolving is provided by the method of text clustering. Visualization is further used to show different characteristics of user interaction networks and public opinion in different periods. Findings Information spreading in social media emerges from different characteristics during various periods. User interaction demonstrates multidimensional cross relations. The results interpret how people express their thoughts and detect topics people are most discussing in social media. Research limitations/implications This study is mainly limited by the size of the data sets and the unicity of the social media. It is challenging to expand the data sets and choose multiple social media to cross-validate the findings of this study. Originality/value This paper aims to find the evolutionary trend of information spreading on the COVID-19 outbreak in social media, including user interaction and topical issues. The findings are of great importance to help government and related regulatory units to manage the dissemination of information on emergencies, in terms of early detection and prevention.

Internet of things-assisted integrated framework for electronic market application

Purpose The widespread use of the internet and the rapid development of the internet of things in information technology have increased the need for network-enabled marketing. It is important to service a broad class involving logistics, buyer, seller and end-users. During various phases of the sales, purchases and marketing process, IoT will influence decision-making. Electronic commerce is a new form of trade under the development of modern information technology. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, the integrated neutrosophic framework based on the internet of things (INF-IoT) has been proposed to support marketers and companies to make a powerful marketing strategy using identified data from IoT devices. Findings The experimental results show that the proposed method has high performance and very efficient. Originality/value This approach may reduce business activity to its core components, which include, in the simplest case, a value proposal, distribution channels and customers, and explain how a network of multi-actors generates a product and services, distributes and uses the value in production. Furthermore, an efficient interface is provided by the logistic module to maintain an order list.

Evaluating children’s websites from an information visualization perspective: findings of a comparative mixed-methods study

Purpose This study aims to evaluate the selected children’s websites in terms of information visualization features based on the criteria existing in the related literature and expert scrutiny. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-methods (qualitative-quantitative) study was conducted with a descriptive-comparative approach. A set of 80 English websites, as well as 24 quality Persian websites, were selected constituting a sample size of 104 websites. A conceptual model was developed from an extensive literature review on information visualization in children’s websites. In the quantitative part, a checklist derived from the conceptual model and based on the heuristic evaluation method was distributed among 20 related experts, the data of which were then analysed through Partial Least Squares using SmartPLS 3.0. Findings Confirmatory factor analysis showed high-reliability indicators and fit indices in measurement and structural models showing that the conceptual model had the necessary validities among the expert evaluators. Path coefficients showed that layout design and user interface design were the first and last priorities among the dimensions. It was also found that English websites were much more successful than Persian websites in supporting the features of information visualization. Originality/value The current study has implications for the effective use of standard features related to information visualization in children’s websites usable for designers, media specialists, parents, instructors and librarians, which would also make the children more engaged to better use, learn and interact with the websites.

A bibliometric study of the applied linguistics research output of Saudi institutions in the Web of Science for the decade 2011-2020

Purpose This paper aims to analyse the research contributions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the field of applied linguistics (AL) indexed in the Web of Science core collection for the period between 2011 and 2020. Design/methodology/approach The author searched key terms in the Social Science Citation Index and Science Citation Index Expanded categories that publish documents in AL. The author compiled the data, classified these documents according to their research focus and investigated different metrics such as keywords analysis, citation analysis, overseas collaboration and productivity over authors, institutions and sources by using VOSviewer and Excel sheet. Findings Results found that publications in Saudi Arabia have tremendously increased around three times in the years 2016–2020 than before. As unexpected, highly cited researchers, sources and institutions for the social science and arts and humanities disciplines were higher than the scientific disciplines that investigated linguistic issues such as neurology, audiology and computer science. The area of language teaching and learning was the most researched area in which the highly cited author, journals and keywords analysis metrics occurred within its scope. The highly cited articles were those that collaborated with the world contributing authors and acted as corresponding authors. Originality/value The study contributes to the body of literature of AL which shares other categories that investigated language as a central issue. The study provides a fine-grained picture about the research productivity of AL in scientific and social science categories in Saudi Arabia.

Differences between LIS and non-LIS undergraduates’ conceptions of smart libraries: a drawing analysis approach

Purpose This study aims to compare similarities and differences in library and information science (LIS) and non-LIS undergraduates’ conceptions and perceptions of smart libraries via drawing analysis. Design/methodology/approach In this study, a total of 156 undergraduate students described their perceptions of smart libraries as drawings and textual descriptions. A modified coding scheme with 8 categories and 51 subcategories was used to analyse the undergraduate students’ drawings. Findings Most of the undergraduate students’ conceptions of smart libraries still involve self-checkout and learning/reading, focusing on information appliances, technical services, activities and objects. The differences are that the LIS undergraduates’ drawings showed smart libraries with robots, interactive book borrowing with technology tools, intelligent services, location-aware services or mobile applications, whereas non-LIS undergraduates presented smart libraries as readers (learners), other activities and no smart technology services. LIS undergraduates focused on providing patron services with technologies. Non-LIS undergraduates were more likely to draw a complex space with immediate access to books or digital resources, quiet reading and the freedom to engage in library activities. Originality/value The results provide a baseline for future research on the topic and provide preliminary evidence of using the methods to discern LIS and non-LIS undergraduates’ conceptions of smart libraries.

Determining the types of internet plus government platform usage behaviour in selected cities of China

Purpose Although internet plus government platforms (IPGPs) are being increasingly used by citizens around the world, questions emerge regarding the public adoption, utilization and use of IPGPs. This study aims to explore the determinants of citizens’ differentiated IPGPs usage behaviors. Design/methodology/approach An analytical framework has been built upon the rational choice theory and the cultural dimension theory. The present study draws on a survey of 866 citizens from Guangzhou, Wuhan and Chengdu. Findings The empirical findings suggest that the perceived functional benefits and personalization features both significantly affect citizens’ informational, service and participatory uses of IPGPs, to varying degrees. Furthermore, long-term orientation plays a moderating role in the relationship between perceived functional benefits and the service use of IPGPs. Originality/value The findings demonstrate that the public’s rational choice of a new digitalized service channel depends on to what extent and to what degree the absolute and relative benefits they consider important compare to other possible channels. Users also consider how the new service channel satisfies their personalized demands of digitalized services. Also, users’ long-term orientation can affect their rational choices by adjusting the perceived functional benefits of the channel when that channel is used for service transactions.