- P-ISSN1013-0799
- E-ISSN2586-2073
- KCI
Vol.42 No.2
Abstract
This study investigates the perceptions and experiences of low-vision individuals regarding the physical and digital accessibility of academic libraries, aiming to identify barriers and suggest improvements. In-depth interviews were conducted with eight participants. Findings show that while students valued quiet, independent spaces, they faced challenges such as low-visibility signage, poor lighting, and physical obstacles. In the digital environment, significant barriers included layout collapse during screen magnification and incompatibility with high-contrast modes and text-to-speech tools. Key recommendations include implementing user-centered feedback systems and enhancing staff training on accessibility. This study provides a foundation for policy development to foster more inclusive academic library environments.
Abstract
National collections refer to the comprehensive body of materials that preserve and document a nation’s intellectual and cultural heritage, playing a critical role in maintaining national identity and historical continuity. Accordingly, it is essential for the National Library of Korea to establish a strategic plan for developing national collections, which represent a wealth of knowledge and cultural resources that enhance understanding of Korean society, culture, and history and are accessible to present and future generations. The purpose of this study is to establish a basic direction for strengthening the national collection capacities of the National Central Library, which has the responsibility for the comprehensive collection of national knowledge information and permanent preservation and provision. To this end, an analysis of major literature on national collections, a review of the current status of existing collections, in-depth interviews, and expert consultations were conducted. Furthermore, this study proposes a roadmap for national collection development, anchored in the vision of ‘creating future value through the systematic acquisition of national knowledge resources,’ and structured around three major policy goals—strategic expansion and enhancement of collections, sustainable infrastructure development, and enhanced national and international cooperation—alongside seven core tasks and twenty implementation strategies.
Abstract
This study examines the implementation and utilization strategies of accessibility metadata in digital publications and proposes a structural and policy model for its adoption in Korea. Accessibility metadata plays a key role in enhancing the inclusivity of the digital publishing ecosystem and ensuring the right to choose accessible content for information-vulnerable groups. The study confirmed that the effective implementation of accessibility metadata requires technological integration and user interface (UX) visualization strategies based on international standards such as EPUB Accessibility 1.1, ONIX 3.0, and MARC 21. To this end, the study analyzed global standards and overseas implementation cases and conducted a survey involving disabled person users and professionals from the publishing, distribution, and library sectors in Korea. The results indicated a high demand for accessibility metadata, while its actual visibility and user-centered presentation on digital publishing platforms remained insufficient. Accordingly, the study proposes a technical model that integrates accessibility metadata structures across the publishing supply chain, the introduction of a Korean certification system for accessible eBooks (KACA), and the establishment of a visualization guideline for UX presentation of accessibility information. This research provides foundational data for the institutionalization and technological advancement of accessibility in the Korean digital publishing environment.
Abstract
This study aimed to design and validate a research model to examine the impact of positive psychological capital on major satisfaction and job preparation behavior among students majoring in Library and Information Science at a private university in a non-metropolitan area. A survey was conducted with students from a private university located in the Chungcheong region, and 296 valid responses were used for the analysis. The results indicated that positive psychological capital had a significant positive effect on major satisfaction, which in turn positively influenced job preparation behavior. Furthermore, major satisfaction was found to partially mediate the relationship between positive psychological capital and job preparation behavior. The significance of this study lies not only in highlighting the importance of emotional and psychological support to enhance positive psychological capital, major satisfaction, and job preparation behavior, but also in suggesting strategic directions for the development of Library and Information Science programs at private universities in regional areas.
Abstract
This study explores the experiences and perceptions of teacher librarians regarding media literacy education and examines ways to effectively organize it within the 2022 revised curriculum. A survey of 59 high school teacher librarians revealed the following results. Firstly, teacher librarians actively participated in media literacy education within the curriculum. And then, they proactively planned media literacy education. However, they identified insufficient instructional time as a major challenge. In addition, they demonstrated a quality of understanding regarding the high school credit system and media literacy education and recognized the significant role of school libraries and their contributions to media literacy. Furthermore, along with an integrated understanding of a curriculum such as a ‘joint curriculum’, the teacher librarians identified themselves as having high competency in organizing subjects. Lastly, they suggested organizing media literacy as an independent 2-credit integrated course by school year, utilizing newly developed, subject-appropriate materials.
Abstract
Finding idea-flow channels in a research network is an important issue because the channels influence the performance of a researcher. We developed a metric called followness that measures how closely in time one author gets ideas from another author. Followness is a sum of citation counts each weighted by citation delays. A network of authors constructed from the follow relations reveals fast idea-flow channels among authors. Using the Web of Science data for a prestigious journal in computer science, we show that the followness is more correlated to an author’s productivity and the quality of an author’s work than the number of coauthors or the citation count. Moreover, follow networks reveal idea-flow channels faster than those of coauthorship networks and citation networks. In addition, authors in a follow relation have a stronger relation than authors in a citation relation in terms of the degree, the connectivity, and the mutuality of the relation.
Abstract
This study aims to design a metadata schema for the integrated management of adoption records, supporting adoptees’ rights to access information and establish identity. Adoption records are complex, involving multiple entities such as birth parents, adoptive parents, and adoptees, as well as diverse events and document types. Existing single-entity metadata structures are insufficient to capture these relationships and contexts. To address this, the study introduces a multi-entity model to ensure authenticity, integrity, accessibility, and reliability. A four-step procedure is used. First, a semi-structured group interview is conducted with two practitioners managing adoption records in public institutions to understand practical metadata needs. Second, metadata elements from the National Center for the Rights of the Child’s projects (2019-2022) are analyzed by year and record type. Third, 94 legal and manual-based adoption forms are reviewed to extract legally grounded metadata elements. Fourth, domestic and international metadata standards are compared and mapped to identify common and unique elements. Based on these steps, the study proposes a draft metadata schema based on a multi-entity model, capable of representing actor- and event-specific relationships. This schema lays the foundation for a trustworthy recordkeeping system that supports adoptee rights and reflects the legal and social context of adoption records.
Abstract
This study aims to suggest a strategic direction for developing an integrated online service for Korean modern literature by analyzing the current state of related services and user needs. Through a literature review and case analysis, the operational status of modern literature services in domestic and international institutions was examined. Based on this, a survey was conducted with users who have experience accessing modern literature, collecting data from a total of 619 respondents. The analysis revealed high user demand for digital full-text access, advanced search functions, resource linkage, educational programs, expert support, and the application of digital technologies. In particular, perceived educational usefulness and technological convenience significantly influenced users’ future use intentions. To establish a user-centered integrated service, strategies such as improving the search UI, standardizing metadata, incorporating AI-based features, and building inter-institutional collaboration frameworks are essential. This study provides empirical insights that can inform the design and policy development of future integrated online services for Korean modern literature.
Abstract
This study examines community engagement services provided by national university libraries in Korea and state university libraries in North America and explores strategies for their enhancement. It involved a review of library websites and literature from ten institutions in each region, along with in-depth interviews with eight Korean university librarians. The analysis revealed that community engagement services in university libraries have steadily expanded, and their importance has been increasingly recognized. Key areas of service include the use of library spaces and data, educational support, cultural programming, and institutional collaboration. However, the expansion of services has also led to challenges such as increased workloads, negative perceptions among university members, and shortages of funding and personnel. North American libraries tend to offer more open, digitally tailored services, while Korean libraries often face constraints in continuity and reach. The study proposes several improvement strategies: the establishment of systematic policies and institutional support at the governmental level; the development of shared resources and digital platforms among libraries; and the design and promotion of customized programs tailored to regional needs.
Abstract
Studies that identify research trends and capture characteristics within a specific field play a crucial role in forecasting the field’s future and guiding researchers’ directions. Recent trend-analysis studies have relied on title-and-abstract text or metadata analysis, focusing on broad topics or on key researchers and institutions. In this study, we propose a methodology that employs automatic summaries of full texts-instead of titles, abstracts, or metadata-to examine substantive aspects such as methodology, detailed subtopics, results, and discussion points. For papers collected on the topic of the digital divide, we generated automatic summaries by structuring the full text into Introduction, Methodology, Results, and Discussion using ChatGPT and then compared outcomes through word-frequency analysis, co-occurrence analysis, and keyword network analysis. The findings confirm that analyses of title-and-abstract texts and Introduction summaries reveal similar major themes. In contrast, analyses of the Methodology, Results, and Discussion sections uncover detailed information that was previously difficult to identify.
Abstract
The study aims to identify the factors affecting researchers’ intention to adopt RDM training services. Based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), the study examines the effects of performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions on the intention to adopt RDM training services. It also explores how researchers’ prior experience with RDM affects their adoption intentions. An online survey was distributed to researchers at universities of Science and Technology in South Korea. The data were analyzed using frequency analysis, validity testing, internal consistency reliability analysis, and path analysis to test the proposed hypotheses. Most of the researchers who participated in this study had experience in research data management, and it was found that the external motives (performance expectancy) and perceived usefulness (effort expectancy) had the greatest effect on the intention to accept RDM training services. In addition, it was confirmed that the organizational support (facilitating conditions), subjective norms (social influence), and the experience of writing a research data management plan (DMP) also had a significant effect on the intention to accept education services. This study result will help to guide the planning of the future RDM training service in the university library of Korea.
Abstract
This study focuses on the low utilization of DataON, a national research data platform operated in South Korea, and aims to analyze the factors that influence researchers’ intention to use the platform. It explores how researchers’ technology readiness index, perception of DataON, and experience in sharing research data through public repositories affect their intention to use the platform. Additionally, the study investigates whether perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use mediate the relationship between the technology readiness index and usage intention. Based on survey data collected from 224 researchers, the analysis showed that perception of DataON and experience with public repositories had a significant impact on usage intention. Among the components of the technology readiness index, innovativeness was found to positively influence both perceived usefulness and ease of use. Furthermore, perceived usefulness and ease of use were confirmed as important mediating factors influencing intention to use, and employment status, as a demographic control variable, also had a statistically significant effect. This study is meaningful in that it considers both system-level factors of technology acceptance and researchers’ individual characteristics, specifically the Technology Readiness Index (TRI), in examining the use of the DataON platform. The findings offer practical implications for strategies to enhance the effective use of the platform.