Malaysian Journal of Library and Information Science

Coping mechanisms for technostress through social support among librarians in Indonesian public libraries

2025-11-18T06:51:13+08:00

The advancement of contemporary technology requires librarians to continually adapt to manage technology-driven library services. However, technological challenges can cause technostress, which may affect librarians' performance. Workplace social support is essential in helping librarians cope with technostress. The aim of this study is to determine the role of social support as a coping strategy for technostress among librarians in Indonesian public libraries. This study employed qualitative methods, using semi-structured interviews for data collection. The data were analysed through condensation, presentation, formulation, and validation of findings. This article provides an overview of technostress among librarians in public libraries, their coping mechanisms, and the social support they receive. Librarians cope with technostress through both internal and external mechanisms. Social support as a coping mechanism includes instrumental and emotional support. It is essential for libraries to cultivate a conducive work climate and offer continuous technology training. This study highlights that technostress adversely impacts librarians' physiology and performance. Therefore, libraries must foster a supportive work environment and provide ongoing technological training.

AI literacy among undergraduates: Determinants and productivity outcomes in a Malaysian comprehensive university

2025-11-26T14:23:57+08:00

AI literacy encompasses the knowledge, skills, and competencies required for individuals to effectively develop, manage, and understand the potential of AI across various domains, including education. However, previous research indicates a lack of studies focusing on AI literacy, particularly regarding its determinants and effects. This study therefore aims to examine AI literacy in relation to its influencing factors and effects within the educational sector, with a specific focus on undergraduate students at Malaysian local universities. A quantitative research methodology was employed, and responses were collected from undergraduate students in the Faculty of Information Science Studies across six Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) branches. A total of 301 responses were obtained and analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The results provide empirical evidence of a significant and positive relationship between the influencing factors (cognitive absorption, digital divide, effort expectancy, and AI awareness) and AI literacy. However, contrary to previous studies, attitudes towards AI and performance expectation did not have a significant relationship with AI literacy. Furthermore, AI literacy was also found to be a predictor of students' productivity. The study provides significant empirical, practical, and theoretical contributions; researchers may use the theoretical model to further enhance knowledge of AI literacy. Institutions and policymakers may use the results to develop new subjects, syllabuses, and policies on AI literacy.

Building trust and fostering cooperation: How Malaysian LIS professionals sustain a Community of Practice on Facebook

2025-12-18T03:23:47+08:00

Despite the ubiquity of social media in professional development, the mechanisms sustaining trust and cooperation within non-Western library communities remain underexplored. This study examines these dynamics within Sembang Pustakawan, a prominent Malaysian Facebook-based Community of Practice (CoP). Employing a mixed-methods approach, data were collected via a survey of 174 librarians and in-depth interviews with ten active members. The findings demonstrate that trust is established through demonstrated expertise, respectful communication, and the visible reliability of shared information. Cooperation is enacted through collaborative problem-solving and mentorship, effectively functioning as peer-led professional development. While social media affordances - visibility, persistence, association, and editability - facilitate these interactions, the study also reveals the fragility of online engagement, where participation is threatened by commercial interference and uneven contribution rates. Ultimately, this research extends affordance theory by illustrating how digital features intersect with culturally grounded professional solidarity to sustain a resilient, self-correcting network.

Expert evaluation of the traditional Malay Medicine Kitab Tib Melayu database

2025-11-25T06:06:26+08:00

The Traditional Malay Medicine Kitab Tib Melayu Database (TMM-KTMDB) was developed to digitally preserve, organise, and systematise Traditional Malay Medicine (TMM) knowledge from historical manuscripts. For a digital resource to be credible and usable across research, education, and policy contexts, its usability, reliability, and data accuracy must be evaluated. Expert feedback testing was conducted using two instruments: a task assignment and a feedback questionnaire. Quantitative responses were analysed using section scores and an overall score to assess usability across system components. Qualitative feedback was examined through thematic interpretation, focusing on polarity and themes including usability, system functionality, content quality, and information accuracy. Task-based testing demonstrated excellent usability across the search engine, guest accessibility, system functionality, and repository application, with overall scores ranging from 86% to 100%. Thematic analysis identified content and information quality (92.6%) and system functionality (50%) as major strengths. Weaknesses centred on search functionality (64.3%) and glossary clarity (21.4%). Opportunities were noted for content expansion (71.4%) and support features. The findings affirm TMM-KTMDB as a functional and content-rich digital knowledge system while highlighting areas for improvement in information retrieval, glossary development, and interface design. From a library and information science (LIS) perspective, structured expert evaluation supports validation of organisation, accessibility, and trustworthiness. The evaluation indicates that TMM-KTMDB aligns with expectations for a reliable digital resource for Traditional Malay Medicine. Continued refinement will further strengthen usability, accuracy, and relevance for research, education, clinical practice, and policy within the medical and health sciences domain.

Malaysia’s scholarly publishing ecosystem: An insider appraisal of established and emerging models

2025-12-18T07:41:43+08:00

This article assesses Malaysia’s scholarly publishing ecosystem by analysing five models: university-based journals (UBJs), society journals, independent academic-led publishing initiatives, commercial partnership agreement, and ministry/government-sponsored journals. Drawing on over two decades of experience and the authors’ roles in national journal assessment, it examines the structural, ethical, and financial challenges shaping these models, particularly the tensions between Diamond and Gold Open Access frameworks. The findings indicate a system at a pivotal point, where commercial sustainability often conflicts with the principles of equitable knowledge dissemination. The authors argue that publishing models should be explicitly included as evaluation criteria in national frameworks, such as MyCite, to align with international practices. Recognising publisher credibility, governance, and financial transparency as core indicators of quality would help address existing legitimacy gaps. The article concludes with policy-oriented recommendations to reinforce community-controlled publishing, including the establishment of a National Council of Journal Editors. Such initiatives are vital to preserving Malaysia’s scholarly voice, values, and intellectual heritage within a balanced and globally connected knowledge infrastructure.

Assessing improvements in participants’ understanding of data through a DALI-based workshop

2025-11-18T10:22:21+08:00

As data increasingly influences decision-making in educational and professional settings, data literacy has become an essential competency. This study examines the effectiveness of a workshop conducted according to the Data Literacy (DALI) for Citizenship Framework, which comprises three main components: understanding data, acting on data, and engaging with data. This study focused solely on the data understanding component. The aim was to assess whether a DALI-based educational intervention could improve participants’ data literacy and learning experiences. Using a pre- and post-test design, data were collected from 35 participants in Aceh, Indonesia, who completed the workshop with a 10-item questionnaire to assess understanding of data types and a follow-up semi-structured interview to explore participants’ learning experiences. A paired t-test analysis revealed a significant increase in participants’ understanding of data types following the workshop; however, Cohen’s d effect size indicated a moderate effect. The follow-up interview showed that the workshop increased participants’ awareness of the importance of data literacy for decision-making. The workshop also enhanced participants’ understanding that, every day, they are acting on and engaging with data. Participants reported positive perceptions of their learning experience, suggesting that the workshop facilitated engagement, understanding, and confidence in working with data. These findings illustrate the significance of systematic, theory-based methodologies in data literacy education. The study provides empirical validation of the DALI framework as an evaluation and instructional instrument, offering evidence for its use in educational and professional development contexts and advancing research on effective data literacy pedagogy.

Knowledge organisation and digital preservation of ‎cross-cultural musical heritage: A Chinese piano music ‎collection

2025-11-25T03:43:56+08:00

Chinese piano music represents a significant case study in cross-cultural knowledge integration, yet its organisation within library systems remains insufficiently addressed. This research examines the challenges of information management in documenting Chinese piano compositions that incorporate Western compositional techniques from the early twentieth century to the present. Employing mixed methods, combining bibliometric analysis of 856 publications, systematic review of digital music archives, and comparative metadata analysis across 45 international music libraries. This study develops a comprehensive framework for cross-cultural musical resource organisation. Results reveal substantial gaps in current cataloguing systems, with only a small proportion of major digital music libraries implementing adequate metadata schemas for hybrid compositional styles. The study proposes an enhanced metadata framework incorporating taxonomies of compositional techniques, cultural context descriptors, and temporal evolution markers, validated through expert panel assessment. Findings indicate improved discoverability and user satisfaction when specialised metadata is implemented. This research provides evidence-based guidelines for managing multicultural music collections, developing culturally sensitive classification systems, and enhancing digital preservation strategies for hybrid musical forms, offering practical implications for music librarians, digital archivists, and information professionals managing cross-cultural heritage resources.