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Year: 2024

FeaturedTranslation
Ola Pilerot

Much of Librarians’ Work Is Invisible, But Do They Want to Conceal What They Do from Us?

Being an expert in information should surely facilitate professional information practices. Librarians are often thought of as experts in searching for information for others, but what about their own ways of finding things out? Given their extensive education in information-related fields, such as information searching and assessment, one might question whether librarians consistently adhere to systematic and planned approaches in their information-seeking, as taught in library schools. Accordingly, we asked 800 Swedish public librarians questions revolving around the kind of information seeking and use they do in their daily work for their own or their work team’s sake.

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FeaturedTranslation
Niloofar Sohjoo

The Emotional and Informational Lives of More-than-Humans

Living with other species isn’t just about companionship; it involves deep informational connections. Love plays a central role, helping humans and non-human animals understand and care for each other. It helps create meaningful information through daily interactions. Misunderstanding these connections can lead to problems, especially for the animals who have less power in this relationship.

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FeaturedTranslation
Prof. Xiao-Liang Shen

Can Anti-Rumor Campaigns Foster Positive Behavioral Change?

In an age where social media is pervasive and misinformation is rampant, maintaining a healthy online environment is crucial for curbing the spread of unverified rumors. Social media platforms often employ anti-rumor campaigns to foster a positive public atmosphere. However, a fundamental question remains: can these initiatives truly resonate with the public and prompt positive behavioral change? Do such campaigns have the power to influence people’s thoughts and actions in their daily lives?

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FeaturedTranslation
Irene Lopatovska

Take Care of Yourself

Studies show an increase in pandemic and post-pandemic burnout caused by transition to new teaching or research modes, increased emotional labor required to support students, colleagues and families, uncertain work conditions, unbalanced research, teaching and service expectations, and other factors (Dali et al., 2023; Douglas et al., 2022; Harris, et al., 2024; McClure & Fryar, 2022). During the recent iConference’24, we organized a panel to share faculty’s post-pandemic experiences and identify strategies for improving faculty mental health and well-being.

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Original
Isto Huvila

Introduction: Information Matters Special Issue on Collaborative Interpretation

Collaboration on the interpretation and analysis of texts, images, artifacts, qualitative data, and other recorded information is fundamental to knowledge production in many disciplines. However, collaborators may have different goals, work routines, research paradigms and methodologies, background knowledge, and more. Scholars have documented a range of challenges for successful collaborations, whether stemming from the mode of collaboration, differences in disciplinary perspectives and goals, or the need to establish common ground and find effective modes of communication. This special issue explores some of those challenges and through 10 articles showcases how collaborative interpretation happens, how existing knowledge infrastructures can and should support it, and how diverse individual perspectives come together during collaborative interpretation. 

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FeaturedTranslation
Rebekah Willson

Fail Club: Reflections on What Happens When Research Does Not Go To Plan

Failure in research remains a taboo topic for many academics and students. The pressure to be the perfect researcher can make discussing failure with peers and mentors extremely difficult, if not impossible. Academic publishing – not unreasonably – tends to favor the publication of “successful” research. The resulting culture of silence around failure often extends beyond complete failures, leading to the avoidance of discussing what did not go well or what could have gone better in any meaningful way. What opportunities are being missed by not having conversations about failure? 

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Translation
Boris Menin

Navigating Uncertainty: The Finite Information Quantity Approach to Objective Model Selection in Physics

Accurate measurements of physical processes are essential for scientific research and technological advancement. From subatomic particles to celestial bodies, precise measurements underpin our understanding of the universe and drive innovation. However, selecting the right mathematical model to interpret experimental data can be challenging due to the complexities of real-world phenomena. Traditional model selection methods often rely on researcher intuition and experience, leading to subjectivity and potential biases. In this article, we explore the Finite Information Quantity (FIQ) approach—a novel solution that addresses these limitations.

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Education
Siby Shaji

From Pictures to Pages: Embarking on New Reading Adventures

Children’s literature plays a pivotal role in early childhood development, serving as a tool for language acquisition, imagination, emotional growth, and cognitive development. A significant milestone in a child’s reading journey is the transition from picture books to chapter books. This shift marks a leap in cognitive abilities, attention span, and engagement with narratives. Understanding this transition helps parents, educators, and authors support young readers during this critical stage.

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FeaturedOriginal
Sheng-Hsiang Lance Peng

D(igital)éjà Vu: AI, Mnemohistory, and the Future of Memory

Mnemohistory, a term coined by German Egyptologist Jan Assmann, refers to the study of how societies remember and construct their historical narratives. Unlike traditional historiography, which focuses on the objective recording and analysis of past events, mnemohistory emphasises the subjective processes through which memories are formed, preserved, and transmitted across generations. It explores the ways in which collective memory shapes, and is shaped by, cultural, social, and political contexts. Mnemohistory investigates the symbols, rituals, and narratives that communities use to create a sense of shared identity and continuity with the past. Originating from the Greek word “mnemos” meaning memory, and “historia,” meaning enquiry or knowledge, mnemohistory looks into the interaction between memory and history, recognising that our understanding of the past is not static but constantly reinterpreted through the lens of present concerns and future aspirations.

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