International and Comparative Librarianship

DEDICATED TO PIONEERS   INCLUDING:
S. R. Ranganathan, P. N. Kaula, R. N. Sharma, J. F. Harvey, D. J. Foskett, J. P. Danton, M. M. Jackson, etc.
This Blogosphere has a slant towards India [a.k.a Indica, Indo, South-Asian, Oriental, Bharat, Hindustan, Asian-Indian (not American Indian)].

Friday, July 29, 2022

How Canadian Libraries compare with other countries [where money matters?]

 Intahchomphoo, C., Jeske, M., & Vellino, A. (2016). Coping with budget cuts: How Canadian Libraries compare with other countries. Can. L. Libr. Rev.41, 17. [source]

The Journal Editor's Perspective: "I always find myself coming back to Ranganathan’s Five Laws of Library Science. "

Extract:

  1. Books are for use: Read current issues of the journal to which you plan to submit your manuscripts so you know the topics currently under discussion. 
  2. Every reader his (or her) book:Conduct a thorough and broad literature search.  Even a practice-based article needs grounding in the literature.
  3. Every book its reader: Once you have completed the literature review and identified the gaps your work will address, it’s fine to send off a query to an editor to find out if they are interested in your work. 
  4. Save the time of the reader: Read the guidelines for authors before you contact the editor or submit your paper.
  5. The library is a growing organismWriting is hard.

Monday, March 21, 2022

Call for Articles for a Special issue title: “Case Studies of Social Justice in South Asian Library and Information Science”

 Please distribute widely: Thanks!

Special Issue title: “Case Studies of Social Justice in South Asian Library and Information Science” for The Serials Librarian (URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/wser20/current) to be tentatively published in November 2022.   

  



Editors: Drs. Bharat Mehra <bmehra@ua.edu> and Mohamed Taher <mt@akbani.info>.  

Subject Field: Social Justice in Library and information Science.  

Sub-fields: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility. Focus on themes related to the work culture, theory, practice, services, resources, social capital, end-users, etc. in your case study environment from South Asia.  

  

Context of the Case Study: Social justice and inclusion advocacy has emerged as a strong force of mobilizing progressive changes in the 21stcentury. The library and information science (LIS) professions are embracing social justice ideals of fairness, justice, equity/equality, change agency, empowerment, and community development via information-related work with and for underserved populations, including those considered on the margins of society. However, even in the contemporary age of internationalism and globalization, Anglo/Eurocentricity in LIS pervades, with some recent progress in representing positive initiatives that might provide a fuller and balanced perspective of the richness of the professions from around the world (especially from non-western nations).   

  

This special issue will include case studies of social justice in South Asian LIS that capture the nuances of local context, unrepresented voices, and empowering efforts to overcome marginalizing experiences (each article will be 3000-4000 words, excluding references). Articles will include the participatory (and engaging) aspects of documenting live facts. The focus of this collection is on manuscripts from South Asian LIS professionals, including librarians, managers, directors, administrators, leaders, educators, and others working in various types of information settings. In addition, we are also including work by South Asians in the diaspora and others working on South Asian concerns in LIS from around the world.   

  

We are adopting the geographic scope of the region identified by the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation to include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.   

  

Expectations: Manuscripts reporting on your case study based on a template with case study questions to structure your paper especially designed for this special issue to guide you in the process. Submit your abstract and we will send the template once your proposal is accepted.   

   

Important Deadlines:  

Abstract Submission Deadline: March 31, 2022. Please submit the following information:  

  • Name(s) and affiliation(s) of author(s).     
  • Proposed title of the article.   
  • Proposed abstract of the article (no more than 500-word).    
  • Brief biographical information of all author(s).   
  • Contact information, including email, of all author(s)   

  

Full Chapters Due: July 1, 2022:   

Acceptance Notice: July 15, 2022  

Complete review and finalize articles. September 30, 2202  

Tentative publication date : November 30, 2022  

  

Submissions or enquiries should be made by email to the editors,   

Dr. Bharat Mehra <bmehra@ua.edu> and Dr. Mohamed Taher <mt@akbani.info>  

########################################################## 

Bharat Mehra, Ph. D.  

Book Series Editor, Advances in Librarianship (Bingley, United Kingdom: Emerald Group Publishing) 

Professor & EBSCO Endowed Chair in Social Justice 

School of Library and Information Studies 

University of Alabama 

502 Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library 

711 Capstone Drive 

Tuscaloosa AL 35487. 

Phone: (205) 348-5259 (o). Email: bmehra@ua.edu. URL: https://bmehra.people.ua.edu/. 

Spotlight: 

(1) Mehra, B. (editor). (2022). Social Justice Design and Implementation in Library and Information Science. Abingdon, United Kingdom: Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Social-Justice-Design-and-Implementation-in-Library-and-Information-Science/Mehra/p/book/9780367653828.

(2) Mehra, B. (2021a). Extending Shiyali Ramamrita Ranganathan in the 21st Century: Social Justice Laws of Librarianship. In M. Taher (ed), Handbook of Research on the Role of Libraries, Archives, and Museums in Achieving Civic Engagement and Social Justice in Smart Cities. Hershey, PA: IGI Global.https://www.igi-global.com/chapter/extending-shiyali-ramamrita-ranganathan-in-the-21st-century/291404.

(3) Mehra, B. (2021b). Libraries Reclaiming “Social Justice Warriors” during “Miss Rona’s” Global Pandemic Crises. The Library Quarterly: Information, Community, Policy 91(4), 385-401https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/715919. 

(4) Mehra, B. (2021c). Social Justice Design and Implementation: Innovative Pedagogies to Transform LIS Education. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, 62(4), 460-476. https://www.utpjournals.press/doi/abs/10.3138/jelis-62-4-2020-0094. 

(5) Mehra, B. (2021d). Enough Crocodile Tears! Libraries Moving Beyond Performative Antiracist Politics. The Library Quarterly: Information, Community, Policy 91(2): 137-149. https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10.1086/713046. 

(6) Lopez, M. Elena, Mehra, B., and Caspe, M. (eds.). (2021). A Librarian’s Guide to Engaging Families in Learning. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited. https://products.abc-clio.com/ABC-CLIOCorporate/product.aspx?pc=A6302P. 

(7) Mehra, B., Albright, K. S., and Chu, C. M. (general editors). (under preparation). Routledge Library and Information Science Encyclopedia Online. Abingdon, United Kingdom: Routledge. [March 2021 - ongoing]. 

(8) Black, K., and Mehra, B. (editors). (under preparation). Antiracist Library and Information Science: Racial Justice and Community.(Advances in Librarianship, Volume 51)Bingley, United Kingdom: Emerald Group Publishing. 

(9) Williams-Cockfield, K. C., and Mehra, B. (editors). (under preparation). How Public Libraries Build Sustainable Communities in the 21st Century. (Advances in Librarianship, Volume 53)Bingley, United Kingdom: Emerald Group Publishing.

################################################################ 

Mohamed Taher, PhD., DLitt.  

Certificate Records & Info Mgmt. Practice, University of Toronto.. 

Fulbright Scholar.  Rutgers Univ., NJ., USA. 

Faculty, Seneca College, Library Information Technician Program 

Chief Information Officer 

Canadian Multifaith Federation 

3570 Victoria Park Avenue, Suite # 207  

North York, Ontario, M2H 3S2 

Tel:  (416) 422-1490 

akbanis (google.com) 

    Webinar

    • Conversation on breaking digital barriers by unboxing empathy and equity, Jan 5, 2022 (Flyer); See also: Press Release].
    • Continuing the CONVERSATIONS: leading with Empathy & Equity to reflect on the Role of Libraries, Archives, and Museums (LAM) in Achieving Civic Engagement and Social Justice in Smart Cities.” on January 26, 2022. [see event details at Eventbrite]. Recording, uploaded on youtube.
    • Social Justice and Civic Engagement: Current Trends. Together for a better digital navigation (Re: Libraries, Archives and Museums, LAM) Feb 11, 2021.

    Editor 

    • Taher, M. (Ed.). (2022). Handbook of Research on the Role of Libraries, Archives, and Museums in Achieving Civic Engagement and Social Justice in Smart Cities. IGI Global. 
    • Taher, M. (Ed.). (2019) Multifaith Information Manual, Canadian Multifaith Federation 
    • Taher, M. (Ed.). (2021) Multifaith Perspectives in Spiritual & Religious Care, Canadian Multifaith Federation, 

    Author 

    • Cyber Worship in Multifaith Perspectives Scarecrow, 2006;  
    • "Interfaith Literacy Resources in the Index Islamicus: A. Bibliometric analysis" 6th World Congress of Muslim Librarians and Information Scientists 2011. Conference 16th to 17th November 2011. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 
    • Taher, M., & Ashraf, S. H. (2010). Job search the Canadian way: What works, what doesn't. Toronto: Akbani Informatics 
    • Libraries in India - National Developmental Perspectives: A Saga of Fifty Years Since Independence . New Delhi: Concept, 2001 

    Reviewer