Public libraries: roles in Big Data

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the roles of public libraries in the context of Big Data. Design/methodology/approach A mixed method approach was used and had two main data collection phases. A survey of public libraries was used to generate an overview of which professional roles connect public libraries with Big Data. Eight roles were identified, namely, educator, marketer, data organiser, data container, advocator, advisor, developer and organisation server. Semi-structured interviews with library directors and managers were then conducted to gain a deeper understanding of these roles and how they connect to the library’s overall functions. Findings Results of the survey indicated that librarians lack a proper comprehension of and a pragmatic application of Big Data. Their opinions on the eight roles are slightly stronger than neutral. However, they do not demonstrate any strong agreement on these eight roles. In the interviews, the eight roles attained more clear support and are classified into two groups: service-oriented and system-oriented roles. Originality/value As an emerging research field, Big Data is not widely discussed in the library context, especially in public libraries. Therefore, this study fills a research gap between public libraries and Big Data. In addition, Big Data in public libraries could be well managed and readily approached by citizens in undertaking such roles, which entails that public libraries will eventually benefit from the Big Data era.

Big Data: Opportunities and Challenges in Libraries, a Systematic Literature Review

“…91 Finally, Zhan and Widén outlined several roles that public libraries in Finland should undertake in the context of Big Data to better serve citizens, communities and organizations. 92 Therefore, it is obvious that public librarians focus a lot on community-based services. Public libraries serve as cultural centers to their patrons, aiming to provide added value services to them and further benefit the community.…”

Databrarian ed? Preparing Information Specialists for Participation in an Open Datafied Society

“…Public libraries are similarly engaging with data, notably via community data, social media data and data literacy (Ayre and Craner, 2017;Bowler, Acker and Chi, 2019;Robinson and Mather, 2017). Zhan and Widén (2018) define eight big data roles for public libraries split into serviceoriented (adviser, educator, advocator, marketer, organisation-server and service-developer) and system-oriented (data organiser and data container), but found limited involvement in Finland, though study participants recognised the roles. US teen services librarians envision four participatory roles for library data intermediaries: data conversationalists, data teachers, data agents and data hubs (Bowler et al, 2019a).…”

Технологија великих података (Big Data) и примена у будућој библиотечкој пракси

“…Ин те ли гент на би бли о те ка 4.0 би ће су бјект ко ји ми сли, до но си од лу ке и пру жа услу ге уз по моћ соп стве них про це на. 25 Иза зо ва ко је пред би бли о те кар ство ста вља при ме на тех но ло ги је ве ли ких по да та ка има мно го. У за ви сно сти од по др шке осни ва ча и управ них те ла, но ви не се у ин сти ту ци је уво де бр же или спо ри је.…”

“…2018, https://doi.org/10.1080/01639269.2013.787274 24. Би бли о те ка 2.0 пред ста вља би бли о те ку са ак тив ним уче шћем ко ри сни ка чи је су ак тив но сти за сно ва не на ко ри шће њу ве ба 2.0, а би бли о те ка 3.0 уз ко ри шће ње се ман тич ког веб-окру же ња омо гу ћа ва ма шин ску об ра ду по да та ка и упо тре бу дру штве них мрежа са ци љем раз ме не зна ња и ме ђу соб не са рад ње 25. Young hee Noh, "Ima gi ning Li brary 4.0," The Jo ur nal of Aca de mic Li bra ri an ship 41 (Oc to ber 1, 2015): 786-797, pre u ze to 25.…”