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Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the healthcare landscape, including the role of medical libraries. Understanding medical head librarians' perceived AI literacy and its potential impact on work performance is crucial for successful AI integration within medical institutions. This research aims to address this gap in knowledge by investigating the perceived AI literacy and its impact on the work performance of medical head librarians in Pakistan. The research adopted a quantitative survey method, utilizing a census method to approach the medical head librarians in Pakistan. Data collection was conducted through an online questionnaire administered to 124 medical head librarians employed in institutions recognized by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and the Higher Education Commission (HEC). The findings indicated that the medical head librarians displayed high levels of perceived AI literacy and work performance. Furthermore, the analysis revealed that AI literacy had a statistically significant and positive impact on work performance, suggesting that as medical head librarians' AI literacy increases, so does their work performance. These results provide valuable insights for governing bodies of medical institutions, AI developers, and other relevant stakeholders. The outcomes suggest that investing in AI-related training for medical librarians, creating user-friendly AI interfaces, and providing additional support from AI developers could play a crucial role in effectively implementing AI for information management in medical education in Pakistan. This study makes a significant contribution to the existing literature by addressing the paucity of research on AI literacy among medical librarians. Further research could deepen the understanding of AI literacy's impact on work performance and explore the mechanisms driving this relationship, offering additional guidance for policymakers and educators in enhancing AI-related skills among medical librarians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explored the perceptions of university students about the credibility of information being shared on Facebook. The data were collected using an online questionnaire from university students who were Facebook users. A total of 325 usable responses were received which were analyzed using SPSS. The results revealed that these students perceive information shared on Facebook as credible and of good quality. The source credibility, medium credibility, and information quality had positive and significant relationships with each other. The age, social background, and educational level of students appeared to predict the credibility of information shared on Facebook. These results are useful for information professionals and social media managers in extent to understand and cater to the demands of information consumers. These findings would also be helpful for teachers, information providers, and researchers to understand the perspectives of developing countries' students on the credibility of social media information. Furthermore, this study is supposed to be a valuable addition in existing literature which could provide guidelines for novice researchers, interested in exploring the area, especially in the context of Facebook users in a developing country's context. • Determining the credibility of information has always been a key challenge for social media users. • Source credibility, medium credibility, and information quality are positively correlated with each other • The students with rural backgrounds were more likely to trust Facebook information than those having urban backgrounds. • The age, and education of students appeared to predict the credibility of Facekbook information. • The library administration needs to focus on advanced levels of IL Instructions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to determine the perceived online learning readiness (OLR) of LIS (Library and Information Sciences) / IM (Information Management) students in Pakistan during COVID-19 pandemic. A quantitative approach based on survey method was used to collect data from 340 LIS students from nine public sector universities of Pakistan through an online questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed using the SPSS and AMOS. The findings revealed that LIS students were not fully personalized and successful in decisions about their online educational activities during COVID-19 pandemic. However, they were motivated to learn through online learning and felt confident in performing basic functions of computers and internet. A significant difference of opinion was observed on 'computer/internet self-efficacy' and 'online communication self-efficacy' based on respondents' gender. Similarly, students from different levels of degree programs reported significantly different computer, internet, and online communication self-efficacy and learning motivation. Moreover, the age and grades of respondents were noted to be strong predictors of their OLR. These findings would be helpful for library schools, universities, and faculty members in Pakistan to improve the quality of online education and implement clear policies and guidelines. This study provides some theoretical and practical implications based on the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covid-19 literacy, a social vaccine, is crucial to cope pandemic situations as it helps individuals to manage panic situations, adopt health preventive behaviours and adapting to the new normal. This research examined the effects of Covid-19 literacy on fear, protective behaviour, and conspiracy beliefs of university students using an online questionnaire. A cross-sectional survey was conducted at two universities from Lahore with permission from concerned authorities. A total of 301 received responses were analyzed by applying descriptive as well as inferential statistics in SPSS. The results indicated that Covid-19 literacy appeared to predict negatively fear of Covid-19 and conspiracy beliefs and positively health-protective behaviours. In other words, the university students with better Covid-19 literacy appeared to have less fear of Covid-19, more likely to adopt health-protective behaviours and believe less in conspirative information. These results demonstrated the potential benefits of Covid-19 literacy to respond proactively to the fear caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, managing infodemic and adoption of health-protective behaviours. These results would be useful for policymakers, NGOs, health professionals, and university librarians in planning health education and promotion for not only university students but also for general public. This research contributed to the existing research on health literacy related to the Covid-19 pandemic in general and Covid-19 literacy in particular as limited studies have been published so far. • Rapid spread of Covid-19 called for peoples' ability to use credible health information and adaption of existing life styles worldwide. • Covid-19 literacy is essential to respond pandemic and infodemic situations as it enables people to manage panic and adopt health preventive behaviours. • The need for health education among general public is realized more than ever to respond Covid-19 pandemic and infodemic. • Covid-19 literacy predicted negatively the Covid-19 fear and conspiracy beliefs and positively health protective behaviours. • The government and NGOs should strategically invest in health education to achieve sustainable public health in the new normal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]