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Teacher librarians (TLs) play a central role in developing students' information literacy capabilities, which are vital for effective participation in formal education and active engagement in society. This research enhances insights into information literacy instruction in Australian secondary schools, by investigating the perceptions of practicing TLs regarding the information literacy needs of teachers and students. This article presents the groundwork for this investigation, employing a phenomenological approach and discussing findings from an initial survey. The study will inform TL education and improve current information literacy education practices, addressing the demand for nurturing 21st century skills embedded in the Australian Curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What role should libraries play to ensure citizens develop the competencies they need to fulfill their vital civic roles in our democracy? Alarms raised over widening civic knowledge gaps have prompted a renewed commitment to building more civically literate, active citizens. Like their counterparts in schools and universities, librarians teach many of the skills and dispositions that citizens need to participate in civic life. Yet their information literacy frameworks equip twenty-first century learners primarily for success in college and career, not citizenship. With schools and colleges launching new initiatives to bolster civic participation, librarians must join forces with other civic literacy proponents to empower citizens to emerge as civic agents that cocreate their future together. While the nation's great experiment in democracy undergoes a momentous test, libraries must assert their role in fostering civic literacy as central to their mission as cornerstones of democracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a university's information resource center, the library has always provided services for teachers and students. However, there is a lack of in-depth research on the relationship between the allocation of library resources and the competitiveness of universities in innovation and entrepreneurship (CUIE). Clarifying that relationship could help optimize library resources to enhance CUIE and enrich the empirical research system of library science. Based on clarifying the composition of library resources, correlation and regression analyses were used to verify the effect of library resource allocation on CUIE. The results show that human, academic, and spatial resources of the library can improve CUIE. The quality of human resources is more important than quantity for CUIE. For academic resources, electronic resources play a greater role than paper resources in CUIE, and spatial resources have the least effect. To maximize CUIE, the university library must optimize its resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Situating NYC's Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) history curriculum initiative as part of the nationwide movement for K-12 ethnic studies, this article aims to explore perspectives and experiences of six Asian American and migrant elementary teachers regarding the new AAPI history curriculum initiative in NYC. Teachers' stories, critiques, and proposals for change focused on (1) enhancing teacher education in ethnic studies pedagogy and curriculum; (2) inclusive and community-led process of ethnic studies curriculum development; (3) utilizing multimodal and local community-relevant resources; and (4) centering ethnic communities' resistance and agency as well as power and oppression in the curriculum. By delving into the teachers' experiences, hopes, and insights regarding the AAPI history curriculum implementation, this article adds to the literature on the current and future praxis of ethnic studies in K-12 education and teacher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the impact school leaders had on the self-efficacy of African American Male (AAM) teachers who matriculated through an alternative certification program. Purposeful sampling was used in this study with four inclusion criteria. The study occurred at a large urban Title 1 school district in the Southeast. The district was selected based on its implementation of an alternative certification program and relative success in recruiting and maintaining a diverse teaching staff. Tschannen-Moran and Hoy's 12-item teacher self-efficacy survey was administered to select teachers who scored high on their self-efficacy scale. Eleven AAM teachers from various urban school sites participated in this study. Data were collected through one-on-one and focus group interviews. Findings revealed three themes that captured the ways school leaders impacted teacher self-efficacy. Study results can help provide leaders and policymakers with guidance as they seek to address the teaching shortage and develop a more diverse teaching workforce through alternative certification programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is to determine how learning maladaptation and teacher criticism affect the relationship between pathological Internet use and academic performance. Results indicated that pathological Internet use could negatively predict students' academic performance. Learning maladaptation had a mediating effect on the relations between pathological Internet use and academic performance. In addition, teacher criticism played a moderating role in the relations between pathological Internet use and learning maladaptation. As a moderator, although teacher criticism could alleviate the impact of pathological Internet use on learning maladaptation, using criticism might cause the loss outweighs the gain and directly worsen students' learning maladaptation more. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the significance of the Temple of Bel in the history of Palmyra, highlighting key aspects of its design and development. It reviews the measures taken by the archaeological authorities during the French Mandate (1920–1946) to manage and conserve the monument, such as relocating the local community outside the archaeological site far from the sanctuary and the implementation of repairs to the cella. Finally, it discusses the damage wrought by ISIS in 2015 to Palmyra, which included the partial destruction of the temple using explosives, and revisits the work of the specialists who examined this structure after it was destroyed. In order to preserve Palmyra's cultural legacy, the relevance of the cella's future conservation needs as a priority are underscored, not simply for the World Heritage Site, but within the wider context of Syria and the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the relationship between the end of the Cold War and the end of apartheid in South Africa. It highlights that while many analysts at the time did not anticipate the rapid and peaceful end of both the Cold War and apartheid, these two world historical events unfolded close in time to each other. The article explores the connections between the two processes, including the impact of international pressures, the weakening of the South African government and the ANC, and the disappearance of military support for the ANC. It also emphasizes the importance of events in Namibia in influencing the end of apartheid in South Africa. The article acknowledges that the relationship between the ending of the Cold War and the ending of apartheid remains unclear and calls for further research to provide a comprehensive understanding of these interconnected events. [Extracted from the article]

This qualitative study examines how academic librarians understand, conceptualize, and describe their teacher identity. The role of the academic librarian has greatly changed due to the advent of information technology. Traditionally, they were generalists, who were responsible for selecting and maintaining library collections. Academic librarian roles have evolved into web developers, information literacy (IL) instructors, emerging technology innovators, marketing and outreach coordinators, open education resources (OER) advocates, and scholarly communication experts. This research investigates the academic librarian as teacher phenomenon, how they describe their professional identity as teachers, the skills, knowledge, and competencies they teach, and their beliefs of how they are perceived by faculty. The author conducted interviews with six participants via Zoom. Using in vivo and descriptive coding, the author analyzed the interview data and three broad themes emerged: philosophy, identity, and perception. This study contributes to the literature of the importance of IL as a key facet of academic librarians' professional identity, their instructional role on campus, the increase in their teaching responsibilities, and how they describe their professional identity as teachers. Further, this research contributes to academic librarians' teaching practices and may inform LIS program administrators to update their curriculum and offer more courses on instruction, pedagogy, and learning theories. The study also illustrates a disconnect between academic librarians' lack of instructional preparedness and an increased demand for teaching among academic librarians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anthology "German Studies in Latin America - Developments and Trends" provides a comprehensive overview of German studies in Latin America. The contributions address topics such as the adaptation of German language programs at Brazilian universities, the professional training of German teachers in Rio de Janeiro, and the connection between teacher education and German instruction in the North and Northeast of Brazil. The authors employ various methodological approaches to analyze the development of German studies in Brazil. Ullrich's contribution examines the German language and culture in Bolivia and emphasizes the importance of integrating the German language into the Bolivian education system. The editors' afterword summarizes the discussions on German studies in eleven Latin American countries and emphasizes the importance of networking and identifying trends. The anthology provides a solid foundation for future research aimed at improving teacher education and strengthening the German language in Latin America. [Extracted from the article]

The recent evolution of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) has already made a tangible impact within the realm of education. Positioned at the forefront of information and digital literacies, teacher librarians (TLs) can be leaders in exploring the potential for AI platforms to transform learning and teaching. This research is based on an exploratory methodology, to investigate how TLs might teach with and about GAI by applying the CATWOE analysis technique [Checkland, P., & Poulter, J. (2006). Learning for action: A short definitive account of soft systems methodology, and its use for practitioners, teachers and students. Wiley.] within the context of three specific GAI platforms. Findings highlight the multifaceted role that TLs can assume, extending beyond the pedagogical integration of GAI to encompass a broader educational mandate: to scaffold students' capabilities as critical and ethical users of these tools in the creation and use of information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the concept of "micro media system" is introduced to describe the relations between media and politics in microstates and societies. Drawing on ideas from the literature on democracy in microstates (Benedict, 1967; Corbett and Veenendaal, 2018; Sarapuu and Randma-Liiv, 2020), it is argued that despite their many differences, the smallest media systems share four characteristics linked to their micro size: (1) government domination, (2) high social integration and overlapping role-relationships, (3) multi-functionalism among journalists and media outlets, and (4) dependence on few individuals. These characteristics of micro media systems can weaken the media's position in society vis-à-vis other institutions. Whereas previous research on small media systems (e.g., Puppis, 2009) has considered size as a binary variable, in this article it is argued that the size of media systems is better perceived as a continuous variable. This implies that the characteristics of micro media systems become more pronounced the smaller the media system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the passage of Illinois House Bill 2789, signed into law as Public Act 103-0100, which aims to counter attempts to censor or ban books in school and community libraries. Topics include the implications of the law on library collection policies, the role of the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights, and the broader context of book challenges and censorship in educational settings.

1998–2023: On the occasion of 25 years FaMI training and qualification we look back on the history and development of the professional profile and give an outlook on the current situation and restructuring plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an urgent need to establish classroom libraries, especially in rural areas where learners hardly come across any reading material. The purpose of this study was to investigate how teachers set up classroom libraries in rural areas of the Mogodumo circuit in the Limpopo province of South Africa. The study was qualitative in nature. Fifteen English First Additional Language (EFAL) teachers from 12 schools participated in the study. Observation and semi-structured interviews were employed to collect data. It was found that while all participants recognised the importance of reading for their learners, only 7 of the 15 teachers managed to establish classroom libraries. The study revealed that teacher selfefficacy (TSE) played a crucial role in setting up classroom libraries, given the serious challenges of funding, resources and support experienced by rural schoolteachers. Teachers with high TSE managed to establish classroom libraries by using their own time, money, and resources, while those with low TSE failed to establish classroom libraries. We recommend that school managers should make time and resources available to rural schoolteachers to enable them to establish classroom libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We classified latent profiles according to effort–reward imbalance indices for a cluster sample of 3,248 kindergarten teachers in Western China, and examined the characteristics of each profile and how they were affected by organizational climate. Findings showed there were three levels of effort–reward imbalance among kindergarten teachers: high (72.4%), medium (22.8%), and low (4.9%). Kindergartens belonged to one of four organizational climate categories: disengaged (43.3%), engaged (26.6%), open (12.1%), or enclosed (18.0%). Regarding the imbalance between the organizational climate among the kindergarten types and the rewards allocated to the teachers, those in an enclosed organizational climate were most likely to experience a high effort–reward imbalance, while teachers in an open organizational climate were most likely to have a medium-level effort–reward imbalance, and teachers in an engaged organizational climate were most likely to have a low effort–reward imbalance. Implications of the findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Researchers in information studies have examined fictional depictions of libraries in various mediums because these images can reflect and influence real-life experiences and attitudes. Video games, despite being relatively overlooked, are increasingly culturally relevant and can indicate library users' real needs and desires. This study investigates the ways in which video games depict characters using libraries to seek and use information. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative content analysis approach incorporating methods from information studies and game studies was applied. Tancheva's (2005) semiotic analysis of fictional libraries and Carr's (2019) textual approach provided the framing for the unique aspects of video games and their meanings. Carroll (2021)'s character analysis and Chatman (1996)'s theory on insiders–outsiders dynamic underpinned the data collection and analysis. The purposive sample included 15 video games released since 2010. Findings: Video games depict game characters visiting libraries to solve short-term problems, to gain knowledge to improve themselves or to bond with others. Protagonists are often depicted as adventurers or outsiders who must adapt to unfamiliar places and situations to achieve their wider objectives. In these games, libraries provide useful documents, spaces or helpful guides and intellectuals who assist the protagonists. As outsiders, the protagonists seek information in libraries to help them learn about their environments and to immerse themselves in the local histories and cultures in their worlds. Overall, these depictions highlight both short- and long-term benefits of library use. Originality/value: As with existing studies, the ways in which fictional library use appear in video games can suggest real needs and desires among library users. The findings from this study emphasise the importance of library services and spaces that help users both address short-term problems and immerse themselves in local concerns, with longer-term goals. Applying different research methods or lenses to analysing video games could deepen our understanding of what library users think and feel when they seek and use information in libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To better promote the high-quality development of teacher education in China in the era of digital transformation, this study focuses on the digital transformation of teacher education in China. Through literature research and deductive analysis, the study is based on the context of the times and the current situation of teacher education in China, analyzing the direction, key factors, and pathways of digital transformation in Chinese teacher education. The research results are as follows: the specific direction of digital transformation in Chinese teacher education includes achieving autonomous infrastructure construction, human-machine collaborative production methods, the multifaceted interaction of value in operational models, and the manifestation of technological and humanistic aspects in organizational culture. The key to this transformation lies in establishing a teacher education ecosystem that encompasses technology adaptation, collaborative efforts of stakeholders, and security of services. Based on the above analysis, promoting the digital transformation of teacher education in China can be achieved through: Innovating theory to create a new discourse system for teacher education; Innovating methods to establish a new paradigm for high-quality teacher education development; Innovating practices to construct a human-centric model of teacher education. These approaches will help drive the digital transformation of teacher education in China forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article details the experiences of Ignacio Bonillas, one of the first Mexican students to graduate from Arizona's territorial schools and explicates how those experiences impacted his perceptions of U.S. and Mexican citizenship. Bonillas's story illustrates how definitions of citizenship in the Arizona-Sonora borderlands were permeable and dynamic before the era of Americanization and encourages teachers and students to interrogate the ways restrictive notions of citizenship are reproduced in public schools. This article goes on to argue for inviting students to access local archives and create case studies of figures whose experiences challenge the Americanized histories of their region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peer Specialists work with others with lived experiences similar to themselves. Drawing on experiences in academic, public, school, and special libraries, this article explores how skills and training of a peer specialist can enhance the services offered by a library and the work of any library staff member. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the challenges faced by a teacher-librarian during a high school library rebuild while school is in session, highlighting the need for strategic planning, collaboration with experienced peers. Topics include the decision-making process for resource allocation in a limited space, collaboration with external libraries to ensure continued student access to materials, and the practical aspects of downsizing equipment and furniture for the temporary setup.

The article delves into the author's experience as a middle school principal intern and emphasizes the importance of community engagement, navigating library collection policies amidst book bans, and utilizing data-driven approaches to enhance student success. Topics include fostering community connections, addressing book bans through policy adherence, and employing research skills to address academic challenges, highlighting the author's transition from a librarian to an educational leader.

Collecting was one of the mechanisms through which women empowered themselves at the end of the nineteenth century and at the beginning of the twentieth. Through collecting they created networks with other women and established their presence in a public sphere from which they were habitually excluded because of their gender. In this article I flesh out these issues by focusing on the career of Isabel Frances Dodd (1857–1943), a specialist in art and archaeology who worked as a professor at the American College for Girls in Constantinople. The article is divided into two parts. First, I provide an overview of the historical context and the sources available for approaching the case study. Second, I concentrate on one of the main features of Dodd's professional life—namely, her role as a collector of antiquities. In this part, particular attention is devoted to the largest project she launched: the creation of a museum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to investigate the perceptions of media practitioners in the UAE regarding audience measurement institutions. Methods: A quantitative approach was adopted, and a survey questionnaire was designed and administered to media practitioners working at various media and advertising agencies in the UAE. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted on the collected data, and the reliability of the questionnaire was assessed using the Cronbach alpha test. Additionally, the relationship between media institutions and audience measurement institutions was examined using ANOVA. Results: The findings revealed that advertising and other media specialists had limited knowledge about data providing agencies, and those who were aware expressed concerns about reliability, trust, and transparency issues with audience measurement agencies. Conclusions: The study concluded that confidence and trust serve as crucial factors missing in the relationship between media institutions and audience and marketing research agencies. Establishing a link based on unified standards for data collection and a defined set of procedures is necessary to move forward in addressing this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research addresses the growing social importance of data from an educational perspective through data literacy (DL), seeking to integrate it into the broader information literacy (Infolit) movement. For this purpose, a systematic review was carried out of the papers in the main collection of the Web of Science that contain both concepts (DL and Infolit) and that were indexed up until March 2023. External aspects, such as the growth of the research and the identity, nationality, professional scope, and productivity of the authors, were taken into account. In addition, internal aspects, such as context (theory, frameworks, definitions, models, and related disciplines), objectives, methodology, results, conclusions, and recommendations, were analyzed to obtain a detailed perspective of the scientific research process adopted. A synchronic and diachronic analysis of the corpus of selected articles is offered, focusing on the aforementioned aspects. The researchers' consensus on the urgency of addressing data training both generally and specifically in the different disciplines, languages, environments, and levels is evident. The emergent, multisectoral, and interdisciplinary nature of data literacy as part of Infolit, which is being applied in the education of students at different levels, viz. professionals and citizens, is noted, although the training limitations of students and many professionals are evident. Consequently, it is imperative to include DL in curricula and training programs to contribute to the acquisition and development of these competencies in different areas. To this end, the joint work of teachers, librarians, researchers, and other professionals is imperative. There is a need to deepen the theoretical, practical, and applied fields, as well as to reach a common definition, form a basic model of DL competencies within Infolit, and create submodels that take into consideration the idiosyncrasies of each area of application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides foundational information to stimulate and facilitate assessment of the distinctive role of law in this field. For example, has the balance of costs and benefits reached the point of over-legalization? Similarly, to what extent is legal literacy essential for special education teachers and related service personnel as compared to special education supervisors and administrators? For practitioners, professors, and policymakers to arrive at informed answers to such questions, this article successively provides (a) a description of the meaning of "law" in the context of special education in this country; (b) an overview of the level and sources of knowledge of special education law among school personnel, and (3) a sampling of lessons for special education stakeholders' careful consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we describe the long-term impact of engagement in a short-term outbound mobility program (OMP) that connected Australian preservice teachers with Malaysian preservice teachers at an education institution in Kuala Lumpur. The university program was funded in the first iteration by Australia's Study Overseas Short-term Mobility program and subsequent iterations by the New Colombo Plan. These grants are a government soft power initiative that partners Australian students with colleagues in Indo-Pacific countries to further Australia's influence in the area. This qualitative research focuses on the transformative learning of graduate teachers who participated in a two-week OMP as undergraduates. Transformative learning occurs when new experiences challenge individuals' prior knowledge, beliefs, practices, and basic assumptions about things, prompting them to reflect and consider new ways of thinking and being. Our research followed the Australian teachers up to seven years after they completed their Bachelor of Education program to learn what transformative learning from their engagement in the OMP was realised in their current teaching practice as a result of the government's soft power initiative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Düsseldorf Central Library in KAP1 has been awarded the national library prize "Library of the Year 2023". The library offers not only books and media on 8,000 m², but also workspaces, coworking learning boxes, a future laboratory with VR glasses, a LibraryLab studio for podcasts, and a green rooftop terrace. The innovative Open Library concept allows users to access the library outside of opening hours. The prize "Library of the Year in small municipalities and regions 2023" was awarded to the City and School Library Lauenburg, which stands out for its technology-related and digital offerings as well as its promotion of reading. [Extracted from the article]

Drawing on pláticas held between preservice and in-service teachers, this study explores the experiences of Latinx teachers teaching in the New Latino South. The researchers illustrate how teachers navigate teaching in schools where they were oftentimes the only Latinx teacher. For this study, we used Latino Critical Race Theory paired with pláticas to analyze the stories that the participants shared. Findings from this study indicate that teachers in the New Latino South resisted traditional teacher roles by willingly taking on additional roles that supported Latinx families. Findings also indicate that teachers navigated spaces in which they often experienced different forms of racism. The article concluded with implications for recruiting and retaining Latinx teachers as well as implications for how schools can better support Latinx families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Participatory Design Research (PDR) conducted with fifteen Chicana dual language bilingual teachers in New Mexico focused on expanding their understandings of their own translanguaging, so as to transform their concept of biliteracy and design their biliteracy instruction as a site for resistance and transformation of bilingual marginalized students. After reviewing how translanguaging shapes understandings of biliteracy, and describing the intervention done with the teachers, one teacher's emerging transformative stance toward biliteracy is highlighted, as she co-designs a borderland biliteracy unit within her Spanish Language Arts curriculum. The article shows how this teacher's instructional design impacts the students' biliterate learning by highlighting the work and writing of one student. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant research has been done on morale within libraries focusing on librarians as teachers, administrators, staff, and faculty members. This review is the second in a series of two with the purpose of providing suggestions on ways to improve morale in librarians and library staff. The first part of this review discusses contributors to low morale in these populations. Searches were conducted between Spring 2020 and 2021 across six databases and by hand (Medline via PubMed, Library and Information Science Collection via ProQuest, Sociological Abstracts via ProQuest, PsycInfo via EBSCO, Library Literature and Information Science Full Text via EBSCO, and ERIC via EBSCO). Broad and narrow searches were performed utilizing keywords and controlled vocabulary terms related to morale and librarians or library staff. Results were reviewed by authors in three stages according to inclusion and exclusion criteria outlined in the article. The initial search resulted in 735 articles for review. After completion of a three-stage review process and hand search, 52 articles remained. The search and hand search update resulted in 13 additional articles for a total of 65 articles for inclusion in the initial review. These articles were then split into two main groups: articles that address contributors to low morale and those that provide suggestions for improving morale. This article will address 28/65 articles retrieved that provided suggestions for improving morale within libraries. There is currently a large body of research on morale related to librarians and library staff; however, it is worth reexamining morale as librarianship and the world around it continues to change. Researchers confirmed that libraries have unique cultures based upon their region, overarching institution, type of library, customer or patron base, and other factors. As such, supervisors must be creative in terms of encouraging their staff and must adapt morale improvement efforts to their individual institution as material resources are not always available as rewards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the role of librarians as integral partners in the development and implementation of an innovative university quality enhancement plan designed to promote success for undergraduate students seeking major and career clarity. Through collaboration with the university's center for teaching and learning, librarians are expanding their influence across campus and enhancing their skills as teachers, instructional designers, and institutional change agents. Initial assessment results suggest that librarians are having a demonstrable impact on students' information literacy self-efficacy. The article discusses opportunities and challenges associated with large-scale collaboration from an administrative and organizational perspective, including recommendations to facilitate success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schools are increasingly concerned with the promotion of student wellbeing, and relatively little is known about school libraries as wellbeing supportive spaces in contemporary schools. This article draws on qualitative interview data from students and library managers to explore how students make use of the school library, and how this relates to the library as a safe space. It finds that school libraries can be highly valued for their capacity to foster belonging and sanctuary and allow exposure to books and opportunities for reading. Students also appreciated how libraries provided a space for relaxing and recharging, supporting lively and social activities as well as quietude. There was recognition of the role of supportive library staff, who created inviting and supportive environments with careful selection of furnishings and decorations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]