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The Importance and Level of Individual Social Capital among Academic Librarians

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  • Author(s): Wojciechowska, Maja (ORCID Wojciechowska, Maja (ORCID 0000-0002-5340-3722)
  • Language:
    English
  • Source:
    New Review of Academic Librarianship. 2023 29(1):51-76.
  • Publication Date:
    2023
  • Document Type:
    Journal Articles
    Reports - Research
  • Additional Information
    • Availability:
      Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
    • Peer Reviewed:
      Y
    • Source:
      26
    • Education Level:
      Higher Education
      Postsecondary Education
    • Subject Terms:
      Social Capital; Academic Libraries; Librarians; Librarian Attitudes; Library Role; Social Networks; Social Attitudes; Aspiration; Trust (Psychology); Public Libraries; School Libraries; Special Libraries; Comparative Analysis; Foreign Countries
    • Subject Terms:
      Australia; Austria; Belarus; Belgium; Canada; Czech Republic; Denmark; France; Germany; Hungary; Ireland; New Zealand; Poland; Russia; Slovakia; Sweden; Switzerland; Ukraine; United Kingdom; United States
    • Accession Number:
      10.1080/13614533.2022.2079538
    • ISSN:
      1361-4533
      1740-7834
    • Abstract:
      Academic libraries, apart from their main function, which is to provide information services to academic communities, may also perform a number of social roles in the broad meaning of the term. Accordingly, they now tend to serve as the third place offering inclusion and animation activities to academic as well as local communities (including potential students) and to groups in risk of social exclusion (immigrants, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, etc.) or in need of various kinds of care and support. However, for libraries to be able to fulfil those tasks, they need properly trained staff who not only have the required competencies but also the right social attitudes. The paper presents an analysis of the social attitudes of academic librarians from twenty countries across the world as compared to the personnel of other types of libraries. The level of individual social capital, activity in social networks, aspirations in life and social and civic engagement were investigated. It was noted that the respondents tend to undervalue the importance of the work done by libraries for local communities. At the same time, the research showed that academic librarians have a somewhat lower level of individual social capital and trust than public librarians and less extensive social networks. Nonetheless, they are open to relationships with others, which enables them to engage in various social projects.
    • Abstract:
      As Provided
    • Publication Date:
      2023
    • Accession Number:
      EJ1386648