Checking Out: Download and Digital Library Exchange for Complex Objects

The main objectives of the study were to identify key features of the digital library management system (DLMS) for developing and managing digital libraries, to reveal the satisfaction level of the library professionals in using digital library management system, and the problems being encountered in using these systems. The current study was quantitative in nature as quantitative measures were applied through a survey research strategy. Keeping in view the nature of the study, a purposive sampling technique was used to collect data from the target librarians who had been involved in operating digital library systems for building digital libraries in their respective libraries. Descriptive and inferential statistical tests were used to analyze the data. Findings revealed that in most of the university libraries in Pakistan, free and open source software (FOSS) had been implemented. DSpace was the most widely used software by library professionals in Pakistan. Key features of the digital library software included a user-friendly interface, customization, reliability and security, use of metadata standards (Dublin Core), web-based, advanced searching, consultancy and technical support, sharing e-books to devices (mobile, tabs), full-text searching, use of Boolean operators, and access control. The study recommended that library professionals of universities should be careful in planning library digitization and they should consider the above features before implementing any digital library software in their libraries.

Traditional library systems are gradually being replaced by digital libraries. Digital libraries are developing from simple database-based storage and retrieval to knowledge-based implementation. The fuzzy C-means (FCM) clustering algorithm is an example of data collection and data processing technology. It evaluates and draws conclusions based on mathematics, large data, and other technologies. In order to better improve the digital library management system, this paper applied FCM clustering algorithm to the digital library management system. Based on the in-depth study of the FCM clustering algorithm, this paper built a digital library management system. The clustering algorithm was used to cluster library borrowing records and reader information. It provided technical support and suggestions on library collection construction and book purchase and promoted book management to form a good spitting cycle. The experimental results extracted during the evaluation phase demonstrated that the overall error rate of the suggested FCM clustering algorithm for information clustering is 3.66%, which is better than the existing comparative models. This shows that applying the FCM clustering algorithm to a digital library management system has some practical significance.

Virginia Tech is in the process of integrating building floor plans into an enterprise GIS to improve campus planning and management. Although Virginia Tech has maintained separate mapping of interior and exterior features for many years, the completion of this project will mark the first time the campus has combined these in a unified viewing environment. By updating the format of the interior space mapping and placing it in a geospatial context, new modes of interaction, analysis, and visualization will be possible. Examples of ways the interior space GIS may be used include: space accounting and management, fixed asset and hazardous substance mapping, precise E-911 response and situational awareness, wayfinding and evacuation routing, visualization of campus populations by day and time, and links to other documentation stored in the digital plans library or work order management system. The interior space GIS will be a generalized depiction of interior spaces based on existing floor plans. As Building Information Model (BIM) files become available for newly constructed buildings, and interior space surveys improve the mapping of existing buildings, the accuracy of interior space GIS will improve.

ABSTRACTThe explosion of availability of information on the Internet requires that libraries evolve into value-added information providers, rather than mere curators of collections. Modern libraries need to stay relevant to a diverse, technologically savvy patron base and to facilitate and add value to the research community, while facing significant resource constraints. To face these challenges, libraries need to embrace digital technologies and library management systems (LMS) in order to work smart and achieve more with less. While LMS systems have been around for decades, libraries can explore the new frontier by embracing open source solutions, like open source software (OSS) library systems, which are free to acquire. They need to collaborate with computer experts and become technologically savvy to harness the full power of OSS solutions to meet the specific needs of the library and patron base. This article provides an overview of the availability, benefits, and drawbacks of various LMS systems and OSS variants, drawing from experiences in the present Indian context.

Objective: To assess library staff’s skills and training requirements in response to the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Methods: The methodology adopted was a descriptive survey design was employed. The study population consisted of librarians from all academic libraries in both public and private universities in Lusaka Province. The study employed a stratified random sampling technique and data was collected using a standard questionnaire with closed-ended questions and analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: The study underscored the evolving technological landscape in library management, highlighting varying levels of proficiency and confidence among respondents in using digital tools and advanced technologies. While most respondents demonstrated confidence in digital library systems (85%) and familiarity with data analytics tools (70.7%), gaps persisted in advanced areas such as AI-based systems, cloud services, and VR/AR integration, with significant portions reporting only moderate or limited proficiency. Consistent with previous studies, the findings emphasised the importance of targeted training and professional development to bridge these gaps, particularly in emerging Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies. Respondents identified digital literacy, AI, and data analytics as priority training areas, aligning with the demand for enhanced technological competencies. By fostering continuous learning and institutional support, libraries could empower staff to adapt to technological advancements, ensuring innovative and effective service delivery in the digital era. Conclusion: The study revealed a generally positive trend in confidence and familiarity with digital and emerging technologies among library staff, though varying levels of proficiency highlighted areas for growth. Respondents exhibited strong confidence in using digital library management systems, with the majority feeling confident or very confident. Similarly, familiarity with data analytics tools and AI-based systems showed promise, with many respondents reporting comfort and a reasonable level of understanding.

Digital Library Management Systems are systems that are able to manage collections of digital documents that form Digital Libraries and Digital Archives, and they are currently in a state of evolution. Today, most of the times they are simply places where information resources can be stored and made available, whereas for tomorrow they are becoming an integrated part of the way the user works. To cooperate towards reaching this new type of system, a digital library management system must become a tool that constitutes an active part of the intellectual production process. Annotations are effective means in order to enable an effective interaction between users and digital library management systems, since they are a very well-established practice and are widely used. Annotations are not only a way of explaining and enriching an information resource with personal observations, but also a means of transmitting and sharing ideas in order to improve collaborative work practices. Furthermore, annotations represent a bridge between reading and writing, that facilitates the user’s first approach when they begin dealing with an information resource. Thus, a service able to support annotation capabilities of collection of digital documents can be appealing to the user’s needs. This paper presents the main features of a flexible system capable of managing annotations in an automatic way in order to support users and their annotative practices. Indeed, a flexible architecture allows the design of a system with a widespread usage, so that users can benefit from its functionalities without limitations due to the architecture of a particular system. We named this system Flexible Annotation Service Tool and this paper is devoted to introduce most relevant design choices and characteristics of it.

Background and purpose: With the advancement of science and the increase of electronic resources, the need to create libraries to collect, organize and disseminate these types of resources is felt. With the growth of electronic resources, resource management has gained special importance and is one of the important areas and issues in the discussion of digital libraries. In this study, the aim is to examine the issues and challenges facing the management of digital libraries and provide solutions to solve the challenges and issues facing digital libraries and digital library management. Research method: The current research is applied in terms of purpose and survey research in terms of method. The current research has been conducted by field method and using library techniques, and the researchers have presented digital library management approaches by reviewing the published texts on digital libraries and digital library management issues. Findings: The results of the research showed that the most important components of digital library management include human resources, management of shared resources, author's right to update resources, cataloging and maintaining the technical structure. Also, the surveys showed that the most important challenge facing digital libraries is the issue of intellectual property and compliance with copyright laws. Conclusion: The results of the research showed that in digital libraries, as in traditional libraries, measures must be taken in the field of collecting, organizing, storing and disseminating information, and it is not possible to carry out the above-mentioned activities without a competent manager. Digital library management leads to the creation of coordination between different parts of the digital library and helps the library to achieve the desired goals. The digital library is facing many issues and challenges, including financial and budget issues, issues related to expert human resources, issues related to digital equipment and internet infrastructure, issues related to author's right and copyright, issues related to the lack of devices. Digitization and security of important information resources and documents and finally issues related to the protection and maintenance of digital resources are faced, which cannot be solved except with the presence of a capable manager and strong human resources of the library.

To explore the effectiveness of a digital learning management system in enhancing intensive care unit nurses' critical care knowledge and critical thinking tendency. Learning intensive care unit knowledge and skills is essential for the continuing education of nurses, and impacts patient health outcomes. Enhancing intensive care unit nurses' critical care abilities is a medical care quality concern in clinical practice. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 212 participants to investigate the effects of a digital learning system on care quality. After the implementation of the digital learning system, intensive care unit nurses' critical care knowledge and critical thinking skills increased significantly. High-level nurses had higher critical thinking scores. All participants associated critical care knowledge with improved quality of care. The digital learning management system enhanced intensive care unit nurses' critical care knowledge. Optimizing nursing care safety and quality requires that nursing staff to be at an adequate level, which improves their critical care ability. A well-designed digital learning management system with structured classes may allow intensive care unit nurses to learn effectively and can be used for continuing education. These results are of interest to nursing management staff who want to invest in the continued professional development of intensive care unit nurses to improve critical care knowledge, critical thinking skills, care quality, and health care value.

Digital library is a self-development needs for the modern library to meet the development requirements of the times, changing the way services and so on. Digital library from the hardware, technology, management and other aspects to objective analysis of the factors of threats to digital library network security. We should face up the problems of digital library network security: digital library network hardware are not hard, the technology of digital library is relatively lag, digital library management system is imperfect and other problems, the government should take active measures to ensure that the library funding, to enhance the level of network hardware, to upgrade LAN and prevention technology, to improve network control technology, network monitoring technology, to strengthen safety management concepts, to prefect the safety management system, and to improve the level of security management modernization for digital library.

This paper reports on a survey of 358 respondents across 25 African countries into their usage of learning management systems. It concludes that while there are some enthusiastic advocates of such systems, the reality is that most African educators as yet have little knowledge about, or interest in, their usage. There remain very considerable infrastructural constraints to be overcome before they can be widely adopted for open and distance learning across the continent, and there is still reluctance in many institutions to develop systems that can enable learning resources to be made available in this way. This does not mean that the potential of high‐quality digital learning management systems should be ignored in Africa, but rather that much more sustained work needs to be done in human capacity development and infrastructural provision if African learners are truly to benefit from the interactive learning experiences that such systems can deliver.

This work describes the interface design and interaction of a generic annotation service for Digital Library Management Systems (DLMSs), called Digital Library Annotation Service (DiLAS), that has been designed and is currently undergoing development and user test in the framework of the DELOS European Network of Excellence. The objective of DiLAS is to design and develop an architecture and a framework able to support and evaluate a generic annotation service, i. e. a service that can be easily used into different DLMSs enhancing their User Interfaces (UIs) in order to offer to Digital Library (DL) users a set of uniform, user-tested (under certain required conditions), and recognizable functionalities.

In 2017, two Norwegian universities, the University of Stavanger (UiS) and Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet), faced the same challenges related to expectations of the increased digitization of teaching and learning. They had both chosen to implement a new digital Learning Management System (LMS) and therefore saw a unique opportunity to accompany each other through the implementation process. Both had ambitions to see this as a lever to put the digitization of teaching and digital learning environments on the agenda. As part of this collaboration, a follow-up research project was established to jointly collect and analyse data from the implementation process. The comparative analysis shows that the different implementation processes of the new LMS system at OsloMet and at UiS have resulted in different types of challenges and opportunities related to both structural conditions and the anchoring and institutionalization of changes.

General Background: Metadata interoperability is a critical foundation for the effective development and management of digital libraries, enabling extensive, open, and sustainable access to information. Specific Background: Existing research predominantly adopts a positivistic paradigm, emphasizing technical conformity to metadata syntax, format validity, and interoperability protocols such as OAI-PMH and Dublin Core. Knowledge Gap: This technical focus often neglects social, semantic, and institutional contexts, resulting in limited adaptability to diverse user needs and institutional environments. Aims: This study introduces the sociotechnical paradigm as an alternative framework for understanding and enhancing metadata interoperability. Results: Through a literature review and reference to digital library development models, the research demonstrates how the sociotechnical paradigm integrates technological systems with social dynamics, institutional policies, and localized meaning-making processes. Novelty: The study reframes metadata interoperability not merely as a technical process but as a collaborative, participatory, and semantic negotiation among stakeholders. Implications: By embedding sociotechnical principles, digital libraries can evolve as adaptive socio-information systems that reflect user contexts, embrace diversity of meaning, and strengthen inclusivity in knowledge access. Highlights: Bridges technical and social dimensions of metadata. Promotes participatory and contextual design. Enhances inclusivity in digital library systems. Keywords: Metadata Interoperability, Sociotechnical Paradigm, Digital Libraries, Semantic Context, Inclusive Access

Aim/Purpose: The goal of this study was twofold: first, to examine how learners’ behavioral engagement types affect their final grades in an online programming course; and second, to explore which factors most strongly affect student performance in an online programming course and their connection to the types of cognitive engagement. Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic situation, information technology educational methods and teaching have been transforming rapidly into online or blended. In this situation, students learn course content through digital learning management systems (LMSs), and the behavioral data derived from students’ interactions with these digital systems is important for instructors and researchers. However, LMSs have some limitations. For computer science students, the traditional learning management system is not enough because the coding behavior cannot be analyzed. Through the OpenEdu platform, we collected log data from 217 undergraduates enrolled in a Python programming course offered by Feng Chia University in Taiwan in the spring semester of 2021. Methodology: We applied the evaluation framework of learning behavioral engagement conducted on a massive open online course (MOOC) platform and integrated it with the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach. PLS-SEM is widely used in academic research and is appropriate for causal models and small sample sizes. Therefore, this kind of analysis is consistent with the purpose of our study. Contribution: In today’s fast-paced world of information technology, online learning is becoming an important form of learning around the world. Especially in computer science, programming courses teach many skills, such as problem-solving, teamwork, and creative thinking. Our study contributes to the understanding of how behavioral engagements in distance programming learning affect student achievement directly and through cognitive engagement. The results can serve as a reference for practitioners of distance programming education. Findings: Our results demonstrate that: (1) online time and video-watching constructs had significant effects on the self-assessment construct, self-assessment and video-watching constructs had significant effects on the final grade construct, and online document reading was not a significant factor in both self-assessments and final grades; (2) video watching had a most significant effect than other behavioral constructs in an online programming course; (3) cognitive engagement types are inextricably linked to the development of a behavioral engagement framework for online programming learning. The mediation analysis and the importance-performance map analysis supported the importance of cognitive engagement. Recommendations for Practitioners: (1) Online education platform developers and university policymakers should pay close attention to the development of self-assessment systems and design such systems based on students’ cognitive skills. (2) Instructors are advised to put substantial effort into the creation of videos for each course session and to actively promote students’ interest in the course material. Recommendation for Researchers: The empirical results reported in this study allow a better understanding of the connection between behavioral engagement and final achievement. However, there are still great challenges in trying to explore more kinds of engagement, like emotional or social engagement. It would be interesting to deepen the results obtained by integrating programming behavior like debugging and testing. Impact on Society: Online programming courses allow students to improve their coding skills and computer science background. Students’ behavioral engagement strongly affects their academic achievement, their ability to complete a course successfully, and the quality of the learning process. Our work can encourage more people who are different majors in society to learn coding in an online environment even not only computer science students. Moreover, the findings of this study can be recommendations for understanding students’ learning behavior and the development of distance programming learning. Future Research: We suggest for future studies: (1) include a wider range of participants, such as students enrolled in MOOCs environments; (2) include more log data items that can express various students’ behavior, depending on the reliability and validity of the research model; and (3) conduct more detailed studies of the effects of emotional engagement as well as additional aspects of students’ social engagement to elucidate the factors affecting students’ behavioral participation and performance more thoroughly.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate open source software (OSS) for digital libraries and collection management and to propose different utilization scenarios based on the characteristics of the tools. Design/methodology/approach – The tools are assessed on the basis of their technical features and options, the type of the content they manage, the support for common library operations such as cataloging and circulation, the searching support and the interoperability options. Then they are evaluated by users and finally a number of usage scenarios are analyzed based on the results of the evaluation. Findings – The basic findings of the study is that open source digital library and collection management tools offer advanced operations and support various metadata and interoperability protocols with easy and user-friendly interfaces. Most of the tools are extensively used under various settings and establishments already. Language support for the interfaces should be extended with more languages and some tools with limited operations should be improved to be of practical use. Practical implications – The findings of the paper could be used support the selection of specific open source tools for various types of establishments. Originality/value – The study reviews the characteristics of a few OSS for digital libraries and collection management and reveals their specific strengths and weaknesses. It also presents a number of realistic scenarios and proposes the usage of specific tools based on time, technology and staff constraints.