INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LIBRARIANSHIP, 8(1), 1-2 
ISSN: 2474-3542 

 

Editorial 
Welcome to the March 2023 (Vol. 8, No. 1) issue of the International Journal of Librarianship 
(IJoL). It is the first issue after we changed to quarterly publication from previously biannual one. 
From now on, IJoL will publish four times a year, in March, June, September, and December, 
respectively.  
In this issue, we present to you ten articles that cover a variety of topics.   
The first article is from Shanghai Library in China, one of the largest public libraries in the world, 
and it is about FOLIO, the open source Library Service Platform, which was officially launched 
in September, 2022 at Shanghai Library. In this article, the five authors talk about the background, 
implementation process, and challenges they have encountered since the project started in 2019.   
Next article is by Yildiz from Turkey, which deals with children’s libraries in the COVID-19 
pandemic in Turkey.  By discussing a case study, the author highlights how children’s libraries 
can be used as a learning center for disadvantaged children during the tumultuous time. 
The article from Gladness Kotoroi of Mzumbe University in Tanzania reviews published literature 
to identify factors that impede the application of electronic security systems (ESSs) in protecting 
library materials in African academic libraries. The scope of the literature covered the time when 
African academic libraries began to use ESSs to protect their collections to the present. 
Rui (Jeff) Ge is the Discovery / Web Services Librarian at Stockton University in the United States. 
In this article, the author discusses the recent library project of redesigning and rebuilding the 
library website by using the Springshare suite products. The topics of the rationale for the redesign, 
detailed procedures, lessons learned, and suggestions for future improvement are discussed. 
The authors of the next five articles are all from one nation, Nigeria.  
The study of Alex-Nmecha and Onifade from University of Ibdan investigates how LIS 
professionals and health practitioners have adopted bibliotherapy and relevant information 
services to enhance mental health issues in Nigeria since 1962 to date. The findings from the study 
revealed that bibliotherapy is used by clinical psychologists in neuropsychiatric hospitals in 
Nigeria; however, LIS professionals do not have the knowledge and adequate skills to practice 
bibliotherapy. 
Eireyi-Edewede and Idahosa from Benson Idahosa University talk about librarians’ awareness of, 
and attitude towards, the deployment of cloud computing technologies in university libraries in 
South-South Nigeria. Their study reveals that, librarians in university libraries in south-south 
Nigeria have low level of awareness of cloud computing technology. However, librarians attitude 
towards deployment of cloud computing technologies in university libraries is high respectively. 
Four authors from Kwara State University, Sulyman, Ajani, Amzat, and James, conducted a study 
that analyzes the usage of the library catalog (still card catalog) as a predictor of library use among 
users of libraries of public universities in Kwara State University. Findings revealed that 69.1% of 
users consult the library catalogues before using information resources, while subject, class 



 Wang / International Journal of Librarianship 8(1) 2 

number, series and author(s) of information resources are the major access points used in searching 
and locating information resources to be used in the library. 
Sulyman, Ajami, and Ahmed explore the engagement in open research practices by librarians in 
Kwara State University. Their study concludes that open research is one of the mainstays of 
scientific evolution that enables researchers to increase visibility for their works and recommends 
amongst others that it is imperative for librarians in Kwara State to be making their research works 
available in open educational resources, it is one of the states with the highest library schools in 
Nigeria. 
In the commentary article by Ademowake Adetayo, the author argues that health science libraries 
and librarians can serve vital informational roles in the fight toward eradicating and preventing 
future pandemic outbreaks. 
Lastly, the study by Banik from Assam University in India focuses on the importance and 
advantages of various auto-identification technology that are used in academic libraries in India. 
There are various Auto-identification technologies that are used in libraries, like bar codes, smart 
cards, bio-metric, GPRS, and radio frequency identification (RFID). In this paper, the author 
studied some auto-id technology and the benefits and challenges of these technologies. 
 
Happy reading! 
 
 
Yongming Wang 
Co-Editor-in-Chief 
International Journal of Librarianship