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# Libraries Research Group at Charles Sturt University

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## Posts

- [Blog: Library Research in Practice](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/?page_id=231) - SWiL on the road with Prof Beth Wahler - Monique Shephard, Jane Garner, Sabine Wardle, Kasey Garrison & Karen Bell Following a very successful online seminar on 1 December 2022 (you can watch the presentations here: https://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/librarysocialwork/social-work-in-libraries-2/social-work-in-libraries-symposium/ ) the Social Work in Libraries team were thrilled to continue their program of research with a visit
- [A National Study of Workplace Violence and Aggression](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2026/06/22/a-national-study-of-workplace-violence-and-aggression/) - Associate Professor Jane Garner Libraries are often thought of as safe places. They are spaces where people come to learn, access information, connect with others, or simply spend time without needing to buy anything. Yet over the past several years, concerns have been growing within the library profession about the safety of library workers themselves.
- [Codesigning public libraries project launches its Toolkit](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2025/12/10/codesigning-public-libraries-project-launches-its-toolkit-2/) - Philip Hider The ARC Linkage project, ‘Designing for Communities with Communities’, has launched its Toolkit to assist public libraries include a genuine ‘codesign’ element in their future space development projects. The Co-designing Public Library Spaces Toolkit is freely available on the State Library of New South Wales website and provides detailed guidance on how to
- [Australasian Public Library Conference 2025: Recordings Now Available](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2025/09/24/australasian-public-library-conference-2025-recordings-now-available/) - Jane Garner From 1–3 July 2025, the Charles Sturt University Libraries Research Group proudly hosted the Australasian Public Library Conference. Held online to mark 50 years of Library & Information Studies at CSU, the event brought together researchers, practitioners, and community leaders to explore the changing role of public libraries. Over three days and six
- [LRG meets with Wagga City Librarians](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2025/08/11/lrg-meets-with-wagga-city-librarians/) - The Libraries Research Group invited the manager, Christine Bolton, and staff of Wagga Wagga City Library over to the group's meeting on 1 May, which was held on the Wagga campus as well as online for those members not present in Wagga. Christine and her colleagues provided an overview of the latest developments in the
- [An overview of university presses in Australia and their relationship with libraries](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2025/06/29/an-overview-of-university-presses-in-australia-and-their-relationship-with-libraries/) - University presses play an important role in scholarly communication, especially in the humanities and social sciences. Yet in Australia, little has been written about them in the last decade. I recently conducted a mapping study of university presses in Australia, and looked at who’s active, what they publish, and how they are structured. The full
- [Introducing the project at the Public Libraries South Australia (PLSA) Conference](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2025/05/30/introducing-the-project-at-the-public-libraries-south-australia-plsa-conference/) - We were delighted to be invited to introduce our project (The Role of Public Library Services for a Changing Rural Australia) at the Public Libraries South Australia (PLSA) 2025 Conference. The conference was held on 8 and 9 May 2025 at the Adelaide Convention Centre, and Simon Wakeling represented the project in a joint session
- [E.G. Whitlam’s vision for Australia’s public libraries](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2023/02/27/e-g-whitlams-vision-for-australias-public-libraries/) - MARY CARROLL For those unfamiliar with Gough Whitlam and his short-lived reformist Labor Party government, 2023 is a milestone. Labor, under Whitlam’s leadership, came to power close to 50 years ago in early December 1972 after 23 years in opposition, and controversially dismissed in November of 1975. In its short tenure this government was to change
- [ARC grant for co-designing public libraries project](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2023/03/14/arc-grant-for-co-designing-public-libraries-project/) - PHILIP HIDER The Australian Research Council (ARC) has awarded over $200,000 to a team of LRG researchers in collaboration with the State Library of New South Wales and the public library authorities of Albury, Yass and Fairfield in Sydney. The project will run for two years, and investigate how the collective wisdom of community members
- [Work placements through multiple stakeholders’ perspectives](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2023/05/01/work-placements-through-multiple-stakeholders-perspectives/) - ANITA DEWI The 21st century posits specific challenges for university graduates. These challenges include non-linearity between study and work; gap between current real-life work and what is being taught in higher education curriculum; expectations of multiple career changes; and everchanging labour market (Johnston, 2017). While relevant skills have been embedded into university curriculum to ensure
- [Launch of KBANZSL.org](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2023/06/23/launch-of-kbanzsl-org/) - Kasey Garrison, Kay oddone and mary carroll KBANZSL, the Knowledge Bank of Australian and New Zealand School Libraries, started off as the brainchild of project leader Mary Carroll. Almost a decade after the 2011 Australian Senate Inquiry into School Libraries and resulting report School libraries and teacher librarians in 21st century Australia (House of Representatives
- [Social Work in Libraries](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2023/08/18/social-work-in-libraries/) - Monique Shephard & Jane Garner SWiL on the road with Prof Beth Wahler Following a very successful online seminar on 1 December 2022 (you can watch the presentations here: https://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/librarysocialwork/social-work-in-libraries-2/social-work-in-libraries-symposium/ ) the Social Work in Libraries team were thrilled to continue their program of research with a visit in early July 2023 from respected US
- [Reflections on the International Association of School Libraries (IASL) conference](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2023/08/29/reflection-on-the-international-association-of-school-libraries-iasl-conference/) - Kay oddone, kasey garrison, krystal gagen-spriggs, monique shephard, lee fitzgerald & di ruffles The Teacher Librarianship team along with several of our fantastic adjunct staff were thrilled to be able to engage in professional learning and networking at the recent International Association of School Libraries (IASL) conference in Rome, Italy. Between us we presented six
- [Avenues for Collaboration Between Libraries and Serious Leisure Enthusiasts](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2023/11/09/avenues-for-collaboration-between-libraries-and-serious-leisure-enthusiasts/) - YAzdan mansourian My research into the information experiences of serious leisure enthusiasts shows that they often engage in an ongoing learning journey related to their hobbies or amateur activities. Whether learning to play a musical instrument, grow bonsai, or engage in any other hobby. They actively seek, share, produce information and look for various learning
- [Reflections on the Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T) Conference 2023](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2023/11/24/reflections-on-the-association-for-information-science-and-technology-asist-conference-2023/) - Waseem Afzal Recently I got an opportunity to attend the 86th ASIS&T Annual Conference in London. The theme of this year’s conference was ‘Making a Difference: Translating Information Research into Practice, Policy, and Action.’ I kick-started by attending a half day workshop on ‘Social media research: challenges and opportunities.’ This workshop was a combination of paper
- [Ethnography and LIS Research](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2024/02/18/ethnography-and-lis-research/) - Simon Wakeling, Philip Hider and Jane Garner Most readers of this blog will likely be at least somewhat familiar with ethnography as a research method. The approach has a long history, originating in the social and cultural anthropological disciplines of the early 1900s, but has since been adopted by many other fields. Ethnography is a
- [Co-designing libraries: progress report](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2024/04/08/co-designing-libraries-progress-report/) - Philip Hider The ARC Linkage Project, Designing for Communities with Communities, has come on leaps and bounds since it started in May last year. It’s always going to be a bit challenging to synchronise different library development projects, but our project has been fortunate enough to have some very enthusiastic and committed partners on board,
- [2024 National Library of Australia Asia Study Grant recipient – a reflection](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2024/05/29/2024-national-library-of-australia-asia-study-grant-recipient-a-reflection/) - Anita Dewi I had opportunity to spend all February this year at the National Library of Australia (NLA) as an Asia Study Grant recipient. I felt so privileged! During the four-week period, I explored the NLA’s Indonesian collections, researching libraries, librarianship, and librarians in Indonesia – the past and present. Most resources I consulted were
- [Truth and Dare: Highlights from the ALIA Conference 2024](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2024/07/25/truth-and-dare-highlights-from-the-alia-conference-2024/) - Kay Oddone It is hard to believe that it has been several months since I attended the ALIA National Conference in Adelaide, held from May 6-9, 2024. Although time has flown, it is still useful to draw a breath and reflect upon my experiences and to share my takeaways, especially as this was the first
- [Library Architecture Project](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2024/09/02/library-architecture-project/) - Annie Godfrey Over the last decade a number of new public libraries have been built in NSW, include the eight in the photographs below. Current research by Annie Godfrey and other LRG members is exploring these libraries' building architecture, which, as the photos show, can vary quite considerably. The project will investigate what this library
- [Gender parity in Australian journals' editors](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2024/10/08/gender-parity-in-australian-journals-editors/) - Although there is no conclusive evidence, there have been at least speculations in the past about the impact that the gender of editors, reviewers and authors might have on the fairness of decisions made for the publication of manuscripts submitted to scholarly journals. As a result, tens of studies in the past have looked at
- [Custom AI tools for cataloguing!](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2024/10/14/custom-ai-tools-for-cataloguing/) - The rise of generative AI has sparked debates across professions, including within the library and information sciences, about its potential to transform specific tasks. Among the many specialised tasks that information professionals perform, cataloguing and creating metadata records are particularly complex. Many wonder whether AI tools like ChatGPT can perform cataloguing or create metadata with
- [Australian women librarians: their published history](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2024/10/14/australian-women-librarians-their-published-history/) - A/Prof Mary Carroll Over the last few months, I have been investigating the experience of women in librarianship in Australia using the extant literature to see how this experience has been documented. This small project came about in response to a request to contribute to a festschrift in memory of highly regarded US scholar Mary
- [Library cataloguing at a crossroads](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2024/11/08/library-cataloguing-at-a-crossroads/) - Philip Hider Cataloguing and classification, or nowadays more commonly referred to as ‘collection access’ or ‘metadata librarianship’, or similar, has been a core activity of library operations for as long as librarianship as a profession has existed, i.e., well over 100 years, yet for a long while now has been perceived as being somewhat on
- [Voices of Change: Harnessing LIS Student Insights to Transform Information Literacy Education with Gen AI and Universal Design for Learning.](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2024/12/19/voices-of-change-harnessing-lis-student-insights-to-transform-information-literacy-education-with-gen-ai-and-universal-design-for-learning/) - Kay Oddone I’m excited to share that our new research project, funded by the 2024 ALIA Research Grant Award, valued at $10,000, is officially underway. This grant was awarded to our cross-institutional research team, which includes myself, Dr. Lizzie Tait (University of South Australia), and Tabitha Merrell (Charles Sturt University). Our project is entitled Voices
- [Public libraries supporting people experiencing homelessness](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2025/04/14/public-libraries-supporting-people-experiencing-homelessness-2/) - Group member: Jane Garner Project website: https://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/librariesandhomelessness/ This three-year project funded by an Australian Research Council DECRA Grant allows me to explore how public libraries can best support people experiencing homelessness or insecure housing. The project has the following aims: To understand the service, resource and environmental needs of the Australian homeless community that could be
- [Understanding the changing nature of information literacy in education](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2022/11/29/understanding-the-changing-nature-of-information-literacy-in-education/) - A recent study exploring how college students conceptualize the online information landscape has found that information literacy approaches relying upon a 'static' presentation of information, which is sought by the student, does not reflect the current environment where algorithms and information platforms push information directly to users (Head et al., 2020). As the nature of
- [Library Fair (Japan) & “Connect the World via libraries” project](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2022/11/01/library-fair-japan-connect-the-world-via-libraries-project/) - The Library Fair (図書館総合展) is Japan's biggest exhibition on the theme of libraries, having started in 1999. Before Covid it was held annually in a convention center in Yokohama each November. Due to Covid it has changed to a hybrid style event, with online and small meetings in local venues. In November 2022, four special
- [COVID and the use of library collections](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2022/10/31/covid-and-the-use-of-library-collections/) - Hamid JAMali & Philip Hider Public libraries in many countries were quick to expand and promote access to their digital collections during the COVID pandemic, particularly during periods of lockdown. We analysed the usage data of two library networks in Greater Sydney and, as one might expect, the use of digital collections peaked during the
- [Library cards for people with no fixed address?](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2022/10/20/library-cards-for-people-with-no-fixed-address/) - In a national survey of Australian public library workers that is part of a broader project about libraries and people experiencing homelessness, 397 people answered the question "Does your library issue library cards to people with no fixed address?" This is how the responses look: 26.2% (104 respondents) say they work in a public library
- ['I Can't Afford to Buy All the Books I Read'](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2022/08/04/i-cant-afford-to-buy-all-the-books-i-read/) - PHILIP HIDER Reading is dead’ has been a refrain we’ve heard almost as much as ‘The book is dead’, but there’s little evidence to date that, like the book, reading, including leisure reading, is expiring any time soon. Of course, how we read is surely changing. We read text on screens not just for work
- [Planting the Seed: The Greening Libraries Report](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2022/06/02/planting-the-seed-the-greening-libraries-report/) - Jane Garner, Kasey Garrison, Sabine Wardle, Karen Bell, Sarah Redshaw Libraries are the original recyclers, and the reuse of books is a fundamental part of what libraries do. But libraries are doing much more to help support environmental sustainability. A recent research project funded by the Australian Library and Information Association and conducted by CSU
- [Harvesting the Seed: The Greening Libraries Report](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2022/07/21/harvesting-the-seed-the-greening-libraries-report/) - Jane Garner, Kasey Garrison, Sabine Wardle, Karen Bell, Sarah Redshaw Our recent LRG Blog post, Planting the Seed: The Greening Libraries Report, gave an overview of the recently published Greening Libraries Report*, which explores how libraries in Australia and beyond support sustainability in their communities. Using a literature review and six library case studies with
- [An initial exploration of the history of Australian libraries and collections as forces of social control and whiteness: A presentation for the 2022 American Library History Round Table research seminar](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2022/06/23/an-initial-exploration-of-the-history-of-australian-libraries-and-collections-as-forces-of-social-control-and-whiteness/) - By Holly Randell-Moon, Mary Carroll and Louise Curham At 5 AM Thursday the 16th of June Australian Eastern Standard Time (3 PM EDT Wednesday 15th June) Mary Carroll, Louise Curham (School of Information and Communication Studies) and Holly Randell-Moon (School of Indigenous Australian Studies) presented an online paper to an international audience as part of the American Library History
- [5 Reasons we need Teacher Librarians and School Libraries in 2022](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2022/05/02/5-reasons-we-need-teacher-librarians-and-school-libraries-in-2022/) - Headlines that speak of the horrors of war, of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and our struggles to reduce climate change make it clear that students must be educated to be globally aware, creative critical thinkers, able to meet complex challenges and adapt to new situations (Celume & Maoulida, 2022; Cimatti, 2016; Trilling & Fadel, 2009).
- [What do librarians need to do to engage with the community through their program offerings?](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2022/03/01/what-do-the-librarians-need-to-do-to-engage-with-the-community-through-their-program-offerings/) - As per our previous blog post from April last year, our research into the engagement of public libraries with people in the community continues. We focused on a couple of programs offered by ACT Libraries and interviewed parents/guardians of participating kids and the host librarians. The resulting qualitative and quantitative data was analysed in detail
- [Public libraries supporting people experiencing homelessness](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2022/02/23/public-libraries-supporting-people-experiencing-homelessness/) - This year I am starting a three-year project funded by the Australian Research Council that will allow me to explore how public libraries can best support people experiencing homelessness or insecure housing. The project has the following aims: To understand the service, resource and environmental needs of the Australian homeless community that could be met
- [First-language reading and the role of the public library](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2021/09/27/first-language-reading-and-the-role-of-the-public-library/) - UPDATE: The final report for this project can be accessed via the State Library of New South Wales website at: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/public-library-services/first-language-reading The State Library of New South Wales has funded a current research project where I am investigating the experience of reading in first-language for Australians whose first language is not English. I am exploring
- [Australian public libraries by design](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2022/02/08/australian-public-libraries-by-design/) - A/Prof Mary Carroll, School of Information and Communication Studies, Charles Sturt University. This blog post is really a continuation of a previous post from December 2021 which discussed research into the establishment of early colonial library collections in Australia. This research looks at three elements of public libraries—their collection—their systems and-- their space and decoration.
- [A reflection on the origins of Australian public libraries](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2021/12/17/a-reflection-on-the-origins-of-australian-public-libraries/) - Thirteenth—The intended Library. May every Inhabitant of Colony unite in promoting the general diffusion of useful Knowledge! (Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (1813). ‘A toast’, 30 January. p.2). The notion of the Public library is one we often assume is understood in the same way internationally. In contemporary literature the notion of the
- [Visible importance of libraries and librarians: Worldwide “live” online tours](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2021/12/16/visible-importance-of-libraries-and-librarians-worldwide-live-online-tours/) - What the project has already done The project started in January 2021. Up to now, various topics of online tours and online talks have been conducted by professionals like librarians, faculty, archivists and with students using IT tools and various learning models. Outcomes of the project: Change challenges of new age to new worldwide powers:
- [Academic library’s impact on students](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2021/11/29/academic-librarys-impact-on-students/) - By Dilini Bodhinayaka and Hamid Jamali Academic libraries are increasingly required to demonstrate the impact of their services. Therefore, measuring library impact has become more critical than ever. As Iroaganachi and Nkiko (2016) stated, impact measurement “serves the purpose of assuring the parent institutions that the library needs the same relative share of the institutional
- [Hidden archives of war](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2021/11/11/hidden-archives-of-war/) - Today, 11 November, is Remembrance Day - Armistice Day – which commemorates the official end of World War I with the signing of a Peace Treaty between Germany and the Allied Powers. Yet, it is well understood that the effects of war linger long after the cessation of armed combat. In the many years since
- [SICS Radio: Bringing libraries and archives to the airwaves](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2021/11/08/sics-radio-bringing-libraries-and-archives-to-the-airwaves/) - In September 2020, four members of the LRG – Mary Carroll, Jane Garner, Kasey Garrison and Simon Wakeling – produced the first episode of SICS Radio. We had been inspired by a talk given by Lisa McLean, Station Manager of 2mce, CSU’s community radio station which broadcasts across Wiradjuri Country to Bathurst, Orange and the
- [Valuable real estate](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2021/10/29/valuable-real-estate/) - COVID has drawn attention to many things, including the way that nowadays libraries exist, and operate, not only in their physical spaces, but also very much online. However, not all their physical services and resources have digital counterparts, nor can they always be substituted with online counterparts that are completely equivalents. During the recent lockdowns
- [Academic libraries in LIS education research](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2021/08/21/academic-libraries-in-lis-education-research/) - In my recent paper about the research on library and information science education (access a free version of the paper) that was published in the Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, I examined 1,986 articles on LIS education published from 1999 to 2018 to find out what has been the concern of LIS researchers
- [Partnering in knowledge production: Roles for librarians in the digital humanities](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2021/07/08/partnering-in-knowledge-production-roles-for-librarians-in-the-digital-humanities/) - By Emilia Bell and Dr. Mary Anne Kennan A recent publication by Emilia Bell and Dr. Mary Anne Kennan in the Journal of the Australian Library and Information Association reviewed literature on roles for academic librarians in the digital humanities. It drew on literature from the digital humanities, academic librarianship, and critical librarianship. The literature
- [‘Steady Ships’ in the COVID-19 Crisis: Australian Public Library Responses to the Pandemic](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2021/05/21/steady-ships-in-the-covid-19-crisis-australian-public-library-responses-to-the-pandemic/) - A recent publication in the Journal of the Australian Library and Information Association describes the findings of the first of two phases of a major research project undertaken by members of the Charles Sturt University Libraries Research Group. The project team is lead by Dr Jane Garner and Dr Simon Wakeling, with the publishing group
- [Assessing the impact and engagement of public libraries’ services for young children and their families](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2021/04/28/assessing-the-impact-and-engagement-of-public-libraries-services-for-young-children-and-their-families/) - In recent years there has been a growing interest in assessing the impact and engagement of public libraries. Our research is taking a step in that direction by assessing the impact of two library services—provided by Libraries ACT—for young children and their families: (1) Giggle and Wiggle and (2) Story Time. We are studying the
- [Qualitative approaches in library research: The art of listening to the untold stories](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2021/02/21/qualitative-approaches-in-library-research-the-art-of-listening-to-the-untold-stories/) - There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you. Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Every library user has a story to tell about their experience of visiting a library. Even people who don’t visit libraries have their stories about libraries and why they don’t use them. These stories are
- [It’s the ‘vibe’ of it: The complexity of open access policies in Australia](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2021/02/03/its-the-vibe-of-it-the-complexity-of-open-access-policies-in-australia/) - Guest post by Dr Danny Kingsley, Visiting Fellow, Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science By now, most people in the academic space have heard of the term ‘open access’, even if understanding of what the term means and levels of engagement or enthusiasm vary. We are a group that is undertaking what
- [Missions and visions: Do public libraries have a consistent picture of their role?](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2021/01/27/missions-and-visions-do-public-libraries-have-a-consistent-picture-of-their-role/) - Professor Philip Hider The cynic might be of the view that what public libraries set as their official ‘vision’ or ‘mission’ is intended as much for the benefit of their political overseers as it is for their publics. Nevertheless, many public library authorities do publish some sort of statement about how they see themselves contributing
- ["It's something I always wanted to do": Serious leisure, self-actualisation and social engagement](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2021/01/14/its-something-i-always-wanted-to-do-serious-leisure-self-actualisation-and-social-engagement/) - I recently published a paper in the Journal of Documentation (Mansourian, 2021) to report the findings from a research project that I have done from 2018 to 2020 in the School of Information Studies at Charles Sturt University. In this project, I explored various information activities of serious leisure participants to discover and depict their
- [Defining the value and impact of libraries](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2020/11/24/defining-the-value-and-impact-of-libraries/) - Associate Professor Hamid Jamali Value and impact are terms that are sometimes loosely defined and used. Assessing and providing evidence of the value and impact of libraries is something that many researchers and practitioners, at least over the last two decades, have tried to address. The reason for great attention to value and impact has
- [I watch the birdwatcher: An introduction to serious leisure](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2020/12/16/i-watch-the-birdwatcher-an-introduction-to-serious-leisure/) - Yazdan Mansourian, PhD, AALIA My research program is about serious leisure. If you have not heard this term before, you might find it puzzling. This even may look like an oxymoron. How come something is serious and leisurely at the same time? However, it is not as absurd as it looks. Serious leisure includes all
- [Unearthing controversies in Special Collections](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2020/10/22/unearthing-controversies-in-special-collections/) - Dr Jessie Lymn There's an oft-cited question that gets asked when delving into the bowels of academic library special collections - "just what is so special about special collections?". For university libraries especially, the special collections (or rare books, or manuscripts, or many other titles) are where some of the most socially, culturally and economically
- [Are Australia’s new public libraries here for the long term?](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2020/10/01/are-australias-new-public-libraries-here-for-the-long-term/) - When I joined the School of Information studies at Charles Sturt University back in May 2019 I was intrigued to learn about the Study Visits that were run for students. These are week-long visits to an Australian city or region, with an itinerary packed with visits to interesting libraries and archives. As well as providing
- [A Social Worker in the Library – a new article tells the Melbourne story](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2020/10/08/a-social-worker-in-the-library-a-new-article-tells-the-melbourne-story/) - Having seen news articles like this one: ‘Libraries start new chapter to support vulnerable’ , I became interested in the role that public libraries can play in working with vulnerable members of our communities. If Melbourne City Libraries had employed a social worker to help library staff with this role, I thought there must be
- [Public libraries post-COVID](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2020/09/25/public-libraries-post-covid/) - While we continue to research the ways in which libraries are responding to the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, we might do well to also consider what the situation will be like for libraries once the virus is finally brought under control. It’s unlikely to be the same. Clearly the measures that have been put
- [Developing of digital literacy with libraries and digital technologies from an international perspective](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2020/05/14/developing-of-digital-literacy-with-libraries-and-digital-technologies-from-an-international-perspective/) - COVID-19 has changed a lot of our lives, study and work ways and made us depend more on IT. At the same time, COVID-19 has exposed digital divide problems. User education and development of digital literacy are important missions of worldwide libraries, no matter if they are academic, special, school or public libraries. As librarians/educators,
- [Library resources provide experiences as well as information](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2020/09/04/library-resources-provide-experiences-as-well-as-information/) - Library cataloguers have spent a hundred plus years indexing the subjects of books and other resources, but paid relatively little attention to some other aspects, such as their genre. For example, the Library of Congress Subject Headings are pervasive in countless library catalogues, and have been since the first half of the last century, yet
- [Special issue of the Journal of the Australian Library and Information Association](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2020/07/14/special-issue-of-the-journal-of-the-australian-library-and-information-association/) - Prof Philip Hider has just written up a guest editorial for an upcoming issue of the Journal of the Australian Library and Information Association featuring some of the papers presented at the Fifteenth Australasian Conference on Research Applications in Information and Library Studies (RAILS), held on 28 and 29 October last year at St Mark’s
- [Libraries in Australian Juvenile Justice Facilities](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog/2020/06/11/libraries-in-australian-juvenile-justice-facilities/) - Dr Jane Garner In late 2019, I undertook a unique study of the status of libraries in Australia’s juvenile justice facilities. The goal of the study was to discover how many libraries were in our juvenile justice facilities, how they were staffed, funded, and used by the young people living in correctional detention. As each

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- [About](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/) - We are a multidisciplinary research group at Charles Sturt University. Our research focuses on key issues affecting the sector, examining the ways in which library and information services can be improved, and library collections enhanced, as well the role of libraries and librarianship in contemporary society. To do this, we use the strong links CSU’s
- [Australian Public Libraries and Social Capital: An Exploratory Study](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/australian-public-libraries-and-social-capital-an-exploratory-study/) - Investigators: Professor Tina Du and Professor Helen Partridge (University of Wollongong) This project is funded by the Australian Research Council Discovery Project Grant DP250103150 This ARC-funded Discovery project aims to investigate the role of Australia’s public libraries as creators of social capital. With over 146 million visits annually, public libraries are ideally positioned to support stronger
- [Dr Hamid Jamali](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/our-researchers/dr-hamid-jamali/) - Professor of Information Studies Hamid's research is mainly in the broad area of scholarly communication, including research evaluation, journal publishing, and open science. He also studies information behaviour and needs of different user groups. His current projects include research on research data sharing in Australia with implications for academic libraries and their research support services.
- [Libraries, Power, and Policing](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/libraries-power-and-policing/) - Holly Randell-Moon Jane Garner Simon Wakeling Mary Anne Kennan Philip Hider Hamid R. Jamali Yazdan Mansourian This research project explores the role of power and policing in libraries during COVID-19. Using the theoretical approach of repair and maintenance, we ask what is maintained when service gaps are repaired in relation to sector and governing needs
- [Dr Holly Randell-Moon](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/our-researchers/holly-randell-moon-phd/) - Associate Professor, School of Indigenous Australian Studies Holly teaches and researches within the areas of Indigenous studies, critical race and whiteness studies, communications and digital infrastructure, and education and the knowledge economy. She brings an Indigenous Studies disciplinary focus to bear on questions of the systems, technologies, politics, and cultures of libraries in terms of
- [Dr Niloofar Solhjoo](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/dr-niloofar-solhjoo/) - Lecturer, School of Information & Communication Studies With a background in animal health information services, Niloo's research explores how humans and animals shape shared understanding through loving, living, and learning together. Her work advances the multispecies movement in information studies. Niloo has collaborated with international associations at the intersection of human-information and human-animal interactions, including
- [Dr Kasey Garrison](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/our-researchers/dr-kasey-garrison/) - Senior Lecturer, School of Information & Communication Studies Kasey’s research is primarily focused on diversity and social justice issues in youth literature and the availability of this literature in school and public libraries. Kasey also researches the use of inquiry in school curricula and the role of the teacher librarian and school library in delivering
- [From Scrolls to Gadgets & Multimodal Learning](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/from-scrolls-to-gadgets-multimodal-learning/) - Research Team: Helen Cheung, Miyuki Takahashi, Takashi Shimada, Fumiko Kohama Cultural heritage, AI, digital transformation, and multimodal learning are hot topics in the library and education sectors worldwide. Since 2024, Hong Kong SKH Ming Hua Theological College Library and Rissho University Library, Japan have been running a joint library learning project titled “From Scrolls to
- [Outputs from the project](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/outputs-from-the-project-2/) - Journal Articles Du, J. T., Partridge, H., Howard, K., & Xie, Z.Y. (2026). Public libraries and social capital: A scoping review. Journal of the Australian Library and Information Association (JALIA), https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/24750158.2026.2630131 ABSTRACT While public libraries are recognised for promoting social capital, how they most effectively achieve this remains unclear. This scoping review examined library and
- [Designing for Communities with Communities: Co-designing Public Libraries](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/current-projects/co-designing-public-libraries/) - Principal Investigator: Professor Philip HiderCo-Investigator: Associate Professor Hamid R. JamaliCo-Investigator: Dr Jane GarnerCo-Investigator: Dr Simon WakelingPostdoctoral Research Fellow: Dr Annie Godfrey The ARC-funded Linkage project (LP220100274) has now been completed. It was conducted by members of the CSU Libraries Research Group, led by Professor Philip Hider, in partnership with the State Library of New South
- [Publications and other research outputs](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/current-projects/co-designing-public-libraries/publications-and-other-research-outputs/) - All the outputs from the Designing for Communities with Communities project are now complete. The Co-designing Public Library Spaces Toolkit has been published on the State Library of New South Wales website. It provides practical guidance and support for public libraries planning on including codesign in the design of their new spaces. Our final paper,
- [Blog Post Nov. 2025](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog-post-nov-2025/) - Codesigning public libraries project launches its Toolkit Philip Hider The ARC Linkage project, ‘Designing for Communities with Communities’, has launched its Toolkit to assist public libraries include a genuine ‘codesign’ element in their future space development projects. The Co-designing Public Library Spaces Toolkit is freely available on the State Library of New South Wales website
- [Evaluating Critical, Digital and AI Literacy in Primary School Education](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/evaluating-critical-digital-and-ai-literacy-in-primary-school-education/) - Chief Investigator: Dr Kay Oddone Co-Investigators: Dr Kasey Garrison, Krystal Gagen-Spriggs, Marika Simon Advisory Partners: State Library of Queensland, State Library of NSW, ALIA Schools Academic Partner: Professor Margaret Merga (Southern Cross University) The rise of generative AI and algorithm-driven platforms is reshaping how children encounter, interpret, and use information. Yet, little is known about
- [Researchers](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/our-researchers/) - Professor Philip Hider (co-leader) Dr Jane Garner (co-leader) Dr Waseem Afzal Associate Professor Karen Bell Dr Sindiso Bhebhe Associate Professor Mary Carroll Dr Helen Cheung Dr Anita Dewi Professor Tina Du Krystal Gagen-Spriggs Dr Kasey Garrison Associate Professor Hamid Jamali Dr Mary Anne Kennan Edward Luca Dr Kit Kavanagh-Ryan Dr Deborah Lee Dr Yazdan Mansourian
- [Outputs from the project](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/outputs-from-the-project/) - Journal Articles The preliminary survey of public libraries in rural Australia is reported here: Hider, P., Wakeling, S., Marshall, A., & Garner, J. (2024). Public Library Services in Rural Australia: Challenges and Prospects. Journal of the Australian Library and Information Association, 73(2), 122–147. https://doi-org.ezproxy.csu.edu.au/10.1080/24750158.2024.2315338 MEDIA COVERAGE The project featured in this article on the ABC New website,
- [Australasian Public Library Conference 2025 - Program](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/australasian-public-library-conference-2025-program/) - Program All conference session will be held online via Zoom. Attendees will be emailed a Zoom link once they have registered. Speaker bios can be found further down the page. Speaker Bios (in aphabetical order) Dr Ruth Campbell-HicksTitle: How public libraries in WA support language and literacy for 0 to 3 year oldsBio: Ruth has
- [The Role of Public Library Services for a Changing Rural Australia](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/arc-discovery/) - Lead Investigator: Professor Philip HiderCo-Investigator: Dr Simon WakelingCo-Investigator: Dr Amber MarshallPhD Student: Chanel LucasPhD Student: Lulu Yee This ARC-funded Discovery project (DP250100677) is being conducted by Philip Hider and Simon Wakeling from the Libraries Research Group, at CSU, and Amber Marshall, from Griffith Business School. Very little research has been conducted on the value and
- [Australasian Public Library Conference 2025 - Registration](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/australasian-public-library-conference-2025-registration/) - Registration The conference will be held entirely online, and registration is free. Attendees are required to register in order to get the Zoom link for the conference, which will be sent by email the week before the conference begins. All sessions will be recorded, and access to the recordings will be provided to everyone who
- [Australasian Public Library Conference 2025 - Home](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/australasian-public-library-conference-2025-home/) - 1-3 July 2025 - Online The Charles Sturt Libraries Research Group will be convening an Australasian Public Library Conference from 1-3 July 2025. The conference coincides with the 50th anniversary of library and information studies teaching at CSU, and will showcase recent research related to public libraries. The event will consist of invited presentations and
- [Current Projects](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/current-projects/) - All Libraries Research Group projects align with one of our two main research strands: Value of Libraries The role of public library services for a changing rural Australia (ARC Discovery) Australian public libraries and social capital: An exploratory study (ARC Discovery) Designing for communities with communities: Co-designing public libraries (ARC Linkage) Public libraries supporting people
- [Multi-species Information Science](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/multi-species-information-science/) - Group members: Niloofar Solhjoo is leading the project in collaboration with international colleagues from the University of Toronto, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Drexel University, University of Technology Sydney, University of Warwick, Northumbria University, Uppsala University, and the University of Borås. This two-year project is supported by a publishing contract with Routledge (Taylor & Francis Group)
- [A critical investigation into gap between health libraries’ expectations and early career health librarians’ skills and knowledge](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/a-critical-investigation-into-gap-between-health-libraries-expectations-and-early-career-health-librarians-skills-and-knowledge-2/) - Project Leader: Anita Dewi This study aims to identify the gap between health libraries’ expectations and the actual competence of early career health librarians, particularly that of fresh graduates. Adopting a qualitative approach, data are collected by diary journals and interviews with health library managers and librarians in Australia. Upon identifying and analysing the skills gap,
- [Public libraries supporting people experiencing homelessness](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/public-libraries-supporting-people-experiencing-homelessness/) - Group member: Jane Garner Project website: https://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/librariesandhomelessness/ This three-year project funded by an Australian Research Council DECRA Grant allows me to explore how public libraries can best support people experiencing homelessness or insecure housing. The project has the following aims: To understand the service, resource and environmental needs of the Australian homeless community that could be
- [Australian Public Libraries and Social Capital: An Exploratory Study](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/australian-public-libraries-and-social-capital-an-exploratory-study-2/) - Investigators: Professor Tina Du and Professor Helen Partridge (Deakin University) This project is funded by the Australian Research Council Discovery Project Grant DP250103150 This ARC-funded Discovery project aims to investigate the role of Australia’s public libraries as creators of social capital. With over 146 million visits annually, public libraries are ideally positioned to support stronger trust
- [Project aims and background](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/project-aims-and-background-2/) - A CSU-Deakin Australian Research Council project Background Social capital matters. It refers to the links and bonds that are established between people that give rise to greater levels of trust, and which produce positive outcomes for society. Social capital fosters the development of healthy and cohesive communities; helping society and government function effectively. The increasing
- [The Role of Public Library Services for a Changing Rural Australia](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/the-role-of-public-library-services-for-a-changing-rural-australia/) - Lead Investigator: Professor Philip HiderCo-Investigator: Dr Simon WakelingCo-Investigator: Dr Amber Marshall This ARC-funded Discovery project (DP250100677) is being conducted by Philip Hider and Simon Wakeling from the Libraries Research Group, at CSU, and Amber Marshall, from Griffith Business School. Very little research has been conducted on the value and impact of Australian rural public libraries,
- [Project aims and background](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/project-aims-and-background/) - Background While public libraries have long been part of the institutional landscape of rural Australia, little research has been undertaken to examine their evolving role in improving social, educational, and economic outcomes in their outer regional and remote communities. Yet it is in these communities that libraries are most needed, given the paucity of other
- [Understanding the changing nature of information literacy in Australian high school education](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/current-projects/understanding-the-changing-nature-of-information-literacy-in-australian-high-school-education/) - Group members: Kay Oddone (CI), Kasey Garrison, and Krystal Gagen-Spriggs The purpose of this qualitative research project is to investigate the changing nature of information literacy by exploring the information literacy needs of students and teachers, as perceived by Teacher Librarians (TLs) across Australian high schools. A central mandate of the teacher librarian is the
- [Essential connections: School and public library co-operation for children](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/essential-connections-school-and-public-library-co-operation-for-children/) - Group members: Mary Carroll, Kasey Garrison, Krystal Gagen-Spriggs, and Kay Oddone In recent decades, public libraries have significantly expanded their role in delivering early literacy programs and maintaining a strong commitment to supporting literacy for children and youth. This evolution highlights the ongoing importance of partnerships between school and public libraries, as underscored in professional guidelines
- [Understanding the changing nature of information literacy in Australian primary school education](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/understanding-the-changing-nature-of-information-literacy-in-australian-primary-school-education/) - Group members: Kay Oddone and Kasey Garrison The purpose of this qualitative research project is to investigate the changing nature of information literacy by exploring the information literacy needs of students and teachers, as perceived by Teacher Librarians (TLs) across Australian primary schools. This study replicates the methodology, research questions, data collection, instruments, and recruitment
- [Voices of change: Harnessing LIS Student Insights to Transform Information Literacy Education with Gen AI and Universal Design for Learning](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/voices-of-change-harnessing-lis-student-insights-to-transform-information-literacy-education-with-gen-ai-and-universal-design-for-learning/) - Group members: Kay Oddone, Tabitha Merrell, and Lizzy Tait This research project will examine the concept of information literacy through the perceptions of Library and Information Studies (LIS) students, and their experiences of learning about information literacy during their studies. It will also explore the perceived impact of Generative AI (GAI) on information literacy, and
- [PhD scholarship for the ARC Discovery Project, ‘The Role of Public Library Services for a Changing Rural Australia’](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/phd-scholarship/) - PhD scholarship to be supported by an Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project grant Scholarship holder will have an academic and/or professional background in the Library and Information Studies field Project will investigate the role public libraries play in remote and outer regional communities The scholarship will cover tuition fees and provide a stipend of
- [Publications](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/publications/) - The publications in the two main areas of LRG research are: 1. Value of Libraries Carroll, M., Garrison, K., Oddone, K., & Wakeling, S. (2024). School libraries in Australia: A preliminary analysis of the Knowledge Bank of Australian and New Zealand School Libraries. IFLA Journal. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/034003522412464 Gagen-Spriggs, K. (2023). The influence of
- [Unpacking librarians' pedagogical competence in university information literacy programs: A pilot study](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/unpacking-librarians-pedagogical-competence-in-university-information-literacy-programs-a-pilot-study/) - Project member: Anita Dewi The qualitative research project aims to identify the gap between universities’ expectations of library learning support and academic librarians’ pedagogical competence. It is expected that the outcome will be of two components. The first component is identification and acknowledgement of the current skills and expertise of librarians. The second component will
- [A critical investigation into gap between health libraries’ expectations and early career health librarians’ skills and knowledge](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/a-critical-investigation-into-gap-between-health-libraries-expectations-and-early-career-health-librarians-skills-and-knowledge/) - Project member: Anita Dewi The proposed study aims to identify the gap between health libraries’ expectations and the actual competence of early career health librarians, particularly that of fresh graduates. Adopting a qualitative approach, data collection is done by onsite observations and interviews with health library managers, librarians, and fresh graduates in NSW and Victoria.
- [Dr Kit Kavanagh-Ryan](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/dr-kit-kavanagh-ryan/) - Adjunct Lecturer, School of Information & Communication Studies Kit is a librarian and early career researcher, whose research interests relate to disability in children’s and young adult literature; historical representations of disability in literature for children; intersections of disability studies and librarianship; and disability advocacy through library programming. The scope of their research extends to
- [Survey of Current Cataloguing and Metadata Practices in Australian Libraries - Participant Information Statement](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/survey-of-current-cataloguing-and-metadata-practices-in-australian-libraries-participant-information-statement/) - Survey-of-Current-Cataloguing-and-Metadata-Practices-in-Australian-Libraries-Participant-Information-StatementDownload
- [Evaluating the Library of Congress genre/form terms](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/current-projects/evaluating-the-library-of-congress-genre-form-terms/) - Group members: Philip Hider, Hollie White, Phillipa Barlow, Barbara Spiller, Leonie Bourke, Debbie Lee. The relatively new Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms (LCGFT), adopted by many libraries in the English-speaking world, are evaluated by comparing them with other ‘everyday’ genre classifications, in the areas of film, fiction and music. The Hider-White article on film genres can
- [Blog Post April 2024](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/blog-post-april-2024/) - Co-designing libraries: progress report Philip Hider The ARC Linkage Project, Designing for Communities with Communities, has come on leaps and bounds since it started in May last year. It’s always going to be a bit challenging to synchronise different library development projects, but our project has been fortunate enough to have some very enthusiastic and
- [Libraries and librarianship in Indonesia: The past and present](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/libraries-and-librarianship-in-indonesia-the-past-and-present/) - Group member: Dr Anita Dewi Project Description: The project investigates libraries and librarianship in Indonesia in the past and present, by looking at three different categories of literature available in the Indonesian Collections of the National Library of Australia. The first category includes sources on the general information and conceptualisation of libraries and librarianship in Indonesia
- [Understanding the information journeys in various real work and complex life situations ](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/understanding-the-information-journeys-in-various-real-work-and-complex-life-situations/) - Group members: Tina Du in collaboration with colleagues in the disciplines of tourism research, migration, and sociology. Information journey depicts holistic and contextualized human-information interactions which incorporate information seeking, judgments, use, and sharing. Information journey has been used to describe a full range of user-information interactions over time during which users’ requirements for information (information needs) and associated
- [Co-designing an intergenerational arts program for CALD Australian communities (funded by Arts and Health Alliance)](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/co-designing-an-intergenerational-arts-program-for-cald-australian-communities-funded-by-arts-and-health-alliance/) - Group members: Tina Du in collaboration with in the University of South Australia, Flinders University, University of Adelaide, South Australia Multicultural Commission, Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre. The project will adopt creative co-design methods, and community-based participatory research approaches to identify community needs and intervention priorities; older CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) Australians will be empowered as equal
- [Community engagement and marginalized communities](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/community-engagement-and-marginalized-communities/) - Group members: Tina Du in collaboration with colleagues in the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Melbourne, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Community engagement is the process of actively involving and partnering with a community in decision-making to achieve long-term and sustainable outcomes, processes, and implementations for issues that affect the well-being of said community. The purpose of this
- [Dr Vi Truong ](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/dr-vi-truong/) - Lecturer in Information Studies, School of Information & Communication Studies Vi's research interests are interdisciplinary, focusing on Human-Computer Interaction, Library and Information Management, Digital Ethics, Education, and Employability. For many years, Vi has worked diligently on research that promotes social integration, sustainability, inclusion, and equality. Currently, her specific research interests include digital literacy education for
- [Dr Simon Wakeling](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/our-researchers/simon-wakeling-phd/) - Lecturer in Information Studies, School of Information & Communication Studies Simon’s research focuses on equality of access to information. There are two main strands to his work. The first focuses on the area of scholarly communication, and open access (OA) - the principle that research outputs should be freely available to anyone who wants to
- [Dr Sindiso Bhebhe](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/our-researchers/dr-sindiso-bhebhe/) - Lecturer, School of Information and Communication Studies Sindiso’s research focuses mainly on African indigenous archives and to that effect he recently co-published a book titled: Indigenous Archives in Postcolonial Contexts: Recalling the Past in Africa (Indigenous Archives in Postcolonial Contexts | Recalling the Past in Africa). His other major research interests are in oral history,
- [Bonsai Growing as a Form of Serious Leisure and a Source of Wellbeing](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/completed-projects/bonsai-growing-as-a-form-of-serious-leisure-and-a-source-of-wellbeing/) - Researcher: Yazdan Mansourian The project showed bonsai art allows the participants to practice creativity and autonomy in their daily lives. The participants frequently refer to their bonsai hobby as one of the reasons they wake up in the morning and engage in their everyday life activities. Also, bonsai growing is an excellent example of the
- [Exploring the Overlap of Information, Leisure and Wellbeing through Beekeeping and Apitourism as Serious Leisure: A Constructivist Grounded Theory Study](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/current-projects/leisure-and-wellbeing-through-beekeeping-and-apitourism-as-serious-leisure/) - Project members: Yazdan Mansourian In this project, I will conduct a qualitative study using the Constructivist Grounded Theory (CGT) to investigate the joy of information in serious leisure. I aim to understand how engaging in serious leisure activities, with a focus on beekeeping, can provide people with a ground to experience joy in their interaction
- [Dr Tina Du](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/our-researchers/dr-tina-du/) - Professor and Head of the School of Information & Communication Studies Professor Tina Du is the Head of the School of Information and Communication Studies and a full Professor of Information Sciences at Charles Sturt University in New South Wales, Australia. Tina’s research interests are interdisciplinary in nature, exploring user-technology interactions, community engagement, information journey,
- [Dr Philip Hider](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/our-researchers/professor-philip-hider/) - Professor of Information Studies Philip's research is primarily in the field of information (and knowledge) organisation, and in cognate fields such as information retrieval and information architecture. It is focused on the uses and value of metadata in the context of various kinds of retrieval system, including library catalogues, bibliographic databases and scholarly repositories. Philip
- [Completed Projects](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/completed-projects/) - Completed Libraries Research Group projects fit within the two main research strands of the group: Value of Libraries Greening libraries: Sustainability in libraries Australian public libraries during the COVID-19 crisis: Implications for future policy and practice Juvenile justice libraries Information seeking behaviours of prisoners First-language reading and wellbeing The impact of public library closures during
- [Information seeking behaviours of prisoners](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/completed-projects/information-seeking-behaviours-of-prisoners/) - Group member: Dr Jane Garner Project Description: The project seeks to understand the information needs of incarcerated Australian adults. To date, no formal work has been done to understand the information needs of prisoners in the context of the Australian justice system. Such an understanding will enable our correctional institutions to provide appropriate legal, educational, and
- [Survey of Outer Regional and Remote Public Library Services - Participant Information Statement](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/survey-of-outer-regional-and-remote-public-library-services-participant-information-statement/) - Remote-libraries-survey-Info-SheetDownload
- [Embracing the cultural identity of burgeoning ethnic groups in regional public libraries: A pilot project with the Punjabi Indian Community in the Riverina](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/completed-projects/embracing-the-cultural-identity-of-burgeoning-ethnic-groups-in-regional-public-libraries-a-pilot-project-with-the-punjabi-indian-community-in-the-riverina/) - Group Member: Sabine Wardle, Kasey Garrison, Karen Bell The purpose of this pilot project was to promote and embrace one burgeoning ethnic group’s cultural identity through public library services in the Riverina region, NSW. This equitable and culturally inclusive approach addressed the collection and services offered to Punjabi Indians by introducing a collection of resources
- [Australian public libraries during the COVID-19 crisis: Implications for future policy and practice](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/completed-projects/australian-public-libraries-during-the-covid-19-crisis-implications-for-future-policy-and-practice/) - Project members: Jane Garner, Simon Wakeling, Hamid Jamali, Jessie Lymn, Yazdan Mansourian, Holly Randell-Moon, Philip Hider, Mary Anne Kennan. Charles Sturt University funded This research project explored the role that public libraries have played in the COVID-19 crisis, as experienced by staff and users, and identify lessons that can be learnt for more effective responses
- [An analysis of digital safety net and service costing for public libraries](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/current-projects/an-analysis-of-digital-safety-net-and-service-costing-for-public-libraries/) - Asim Qayyum (Principal Investigator)Anita Dewi (Co-Investigator)Arif Khan (Research Assistant) Public libraries in the Australian Capital Territory (Libraries ACT) are increasingly expected to provide both physical and digital safety net and training for the most vulnerable community members. These expectations are beyond their core information functions and sometimes lacks recognition and resource support for the frontline
- [Libraries, archives, and records placements from four perspectives: placement students, higher education program providers, placement host institutions, and accreditation bodies](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/current-projects/libraries-archives-and-records-placements-from-four-perspectives-placement-students-higher-education-program-providers-placement-host-institutions-and-accreditation-bodies/) - Anita Dewi The project investigates how students, industry host supervisors, professional accreditation bodies, and university placement coordinators view placement programs. The scope of research is undergraduate and postgraduate librarianship, archives, and records management student placements in Australia, within the period of 2020 to 2023. To add to the mix, the COVID-19 pandemic that occurs during
- [Librarian role development in the digital era: A critical analysis of librarian role in Indonesian and Australian academic libraries](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/current-projects/librarian-role-development-in-the-digital-era-a-critical-analysis-of-librarian-role-in-indonesian-and-australian-academic-libraries/) - Anita DewiRahma SugihartatiDessy ArisantyBagong Suyanto This qualitative research project is aimed at investigating librarians' roles in providing research services/support in Indonesian and Australian universities. The study addresses librarians' social construction of their roles in higher education, and constraints faced by these librarians in playing their roles in response to the shift of tertiary level students
- [From books to bots: Scaffolding ethical and critical use of generative artificial intelligence](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/current-projects/from-books-to-bots-scaffolding-ethical-and-critical-use-of-generative-artificial-intelligence/) - Kay OddoneKasey GarrisonKrystal Gagen-Spriggs Far from science fiction, generative artificial intelligence (AI) is undeniably impacting upon the educational arena. As leaders in information and digital literacies, teacher librarians (TLs) are well positioned to explore the potential for AI platforms to transform learning and teaching. This research uses a case study approach to deeply investigate three
- [Investigating school students’ strategies for evaluating online information: An exploratory study ](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/current-projects/investigating-school-students-strategies-for-evaluating-online-information-an-exploratory-study/) - Kay Oddone The purpose of this qualitative exploratory study is to investigate the strategies school students use to evaluate the credibility and trustworthiness of information they encounter online through video sharing platforms, with a specific focus on online health information. Research previously conducted to investigate young peoples’ capacity to critically evaluate online information has focused
- [Usage patterns of public libraries' resources](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/completed-projects/usage-patterns-of-public-libraries-resources/) - Project members: Hamid Jamali and Philip Hider The project involved analyses of usage data library resources of two public library networks in NSW to understand the usage patterns of resources during the COVID-19 pandemic and whether any change occurred in the use of resources during the pandemic. Data analysis revealed an increasing trend in using electronic
- [Dr Monique Shephard](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/our-researchers/dr-monique-shephard/) - Research Fellow, CSU Future of the Professions Research Group Monique Shephard comes from an academic background in arts and the humanities, however has also enjoyed many years working in private psychology practice and a public library. Monique therefore takes an interdisciplinary approach to her work and has researched across a range of social justice issues
- [Dr Anita Dewi](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/our-researchers/dr-anita-dewi/) - Lecturer, School of Information & Communication Studies Anita’s research interests are in the areas of information literacy, professional identity, and work-integrated learning, including but not limited to placements. Prior to joining CSU, Anita spent her career as a professional in the academic library sector, hence she brings both academic and industry perspective into her research. Her
- [Dr Jane Garner](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/our-researchers/jane-garner-phd/) - Senior Lecturer, School of Information & Communication Studies Jane’s research interests relate to the role of libraries and librarians in meeting the information and education needs of their users. The scope of her research extends to the use of educational technologies to improve learning outcomes, and the role of information organisations within their communities. Particular
- [Project aims and background](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/current-projects/co-designing-public-libraries/project-aims-and-background/) - Background Public libraries constitute important physical spaces for communities across Australia, in both regional-remote and metropolitan areas, as has been highlighted by the considerable extent to which they were missed during their closure because of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite users’ continued access to their online collections and services (1). In New South Wales alone, during
- [Presentation Guidelines for Assessment Items in the School of Information and Communication Studies](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/sics_presentation_guidelines/) - School assessment presentation guidelines can be found here: https://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/sicspresentationguidelines/
- [Dr Kay Oddone](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/our-researchers/dr-kay-oddone/) - Lecturer, School of Information & Communication Studies Kay Oddone has over twenty years’ experience in the fields of education and librarianship. Having taught at all levels from Prep to Post-Grad, she has spent the past five years working in higher education in several different roles including lecturer and learning designer. Her research interests include personal
- [Krystal Gagen-Spriggs](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/our-researchers/krystal-gagen-spriggs/) - Lecturer, School of Information and Communication Studies Krystal is a Lecturer in the School of Information and Communication Studies. She is part of the Teacher Librarianship team and is a specialist in school libraries and reading for pleasure. Krystal is currently completing her PhD through the School of Information and Communication Studies. Her research is
- [Dr Louise Curham](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/our-researchers/louise-curham/) - Lecturer, School of Information and Communication Studies Louise spent 20 years working in government archives alongside a practice as a media artist. She recently joined CSU’s School of Information Studies teaching in archives, records and areas focused on using, gathering and caring for heritage in documentary and recorded formats. The relationship between technology and real
- [Public libraries supporting people experiencing homelessness](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/current-projects/public-libraries-supporting-people-experiencing-homelessness/) - Group member: Jane Garner Project website: https://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/librariesandhomelessness/ This three-year project funded by an Australian Research Council DECRA Grant allows me to explore how public libraries can best support people experiencing homelessness or insecure housing. The project has the following aims: To understand the service, resource and environmental needs of the Australian homeless community that could be
- [Events](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/events/)
- [Understanding the needs of public library users in a COVID-changed Australia](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/current-projects/understanding-the-needs-of-public-library-users-in-a-covid-changed-australia/) - Group members: Simon Wakeling, Philip Hider, Hamid Jamali, Mary Anne Kennan, Yazdan Mansourian, Holly Randell-Moon The ongoing COVID-19 crisis has had a significant impact of Australian society. It seems likely that these societal shifts will have significant consequences for public libraries; the resources they provide, the needs and behaviour of library users, and models of service
- [Knowledge Bank of Australian and New Zealand School Libraries](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/current-projects/knowledge-bank-of-australian-and-new-zealand-school-libraries/) - Group members: Mary Carroll, Kasey Garrison, Kay Oddone, Simon Wakeling Drawing on over a 100 years of resources for and about teacher librarians and school libraries in Australia and New Zealand, Knowledge Bank of Australian and New Zealand School Libraries (KBANZSL) provides a point in time finding aid to critical reports, books, papers and other
- [Open access policy intent, development, and maintenance at Australian universities](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/current-projects/open-access-policy-intent-development-and-maintenance-at-australian-universities/) - Group members: Simon Wakeling, Mary Anne Kennan, Mary Coe In order to support the development of OA in Australia, and in particular understand how university OA Policies can support OA performance, we are interested in understanding in more detail why and how formal OA policies are developed, maintained and monitored at Australian universities. Understanding this will
- [Hazel Smith, poet without language: A digital archive and retrospective](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/current-projects/hazel-smith-poet-without-language-a-digital-archive-andretrospective/) - Group members: Joy Wallace, Hazel Smith, and Roger Dean (WSU). Project leverages on Dr Wallace’s long association with the poet to provide a timely appraisal of her important work as one of Australia’s leading text-sound and multi-media artists. Contact: Dr Joy WallaceEmail: jwallace@csu.edu.auPhone: (02) 6338 4347
- [Greening libraries: Sustainability in libraries](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/completed-projects/greening-libraries-sustainability-in-libraries/) - Group members: Jane Garner, Kasey Garrison, Sabine Wardle, Karen Bell & Sarah Redshaw This project was funded by the Australian Library and Information Association and conducted by CSU academics Jane Garner, Kasey Garrison, Sabine Wardle, Karen Bell & Sarah Redshaw has led to the publication of the Greening Libraries Report*. The report explores how libraries in Australia
- [Australian public library mission statements](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/completed-projects/australian-public-library-mission-statements/) - Group members: Philip Hider, Jane Garner, Simon Wakeling, Hamid Jamali Do the formal mission statements to be found on Australian public library websites correspond to recent pronouncements about the roles of public libraries in their communities? A large sample of mission statements were analysed both qualitatively and quantitively to find out. The resulting paper was published
- [Social cataloguing revisited](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/completed-projects/social-cataloguing-revisited/) - Group members: Philip Hider, Gemma Steele and Anya Smeaton Social cataloguing, as carried out on sites such as LibraryThing and Goodreads, provides a rich source of data that can potentially inform professional cataloguing practices, and standards such as the Library of Congress subject and form/genre vocabularies (LCSH and LCGFT). This project revisits earlier studies and considers
- [First-language reading and wellbeing](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/completed-projects/first-language-reading-and-wellbeing/) - Group member: Jane Garner In this project, Dr Jane Garner developed an understanding of the experience of own-language reading for linguistically isolated library users. She identified the reading practices of linguistically isolated readers, their awareness of non-English language collections in public libraries, and barriers to accessing these collections. This knowledge has the potential to improve practice
- [The impact of public library closures during COVID](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/completed-projects/the-impact-of-public-library-closures-during-covid/) - Group members: Philip Hider, Jane Garner, Simon Wakeling, Hamid Jamali Although public libraries have done their best to support their communities despite needing to close their physical doors at some points during the COVID pandemic, anecdotal evidence suggested that many users still missed visiting the physical spaces. This project, funded by the State Library of New
- [Dr Sabine Wardle](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/our-researchers/dr-sabine-wardle/) - Senior Lecturer, School of Social Work and Arts Sabine has an interdisciplinary approach to social justice in public libraries. Her interest includes equity and access to information and education for marginalised population groups in regional and rural areas. The scope of her research extends to the role of social workers in public libraries. Her recent
- [Visible importance of libraries and librarians: worldwide “live” online tours](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/completed-projects/visible-importance-of-libraries-and-librarians-worldwide-live-online-tours/) - Background The pandemic has changed a lot of daily life, work and study activities of people around the world. We face common difficulties, including economic and emotional problems. For example, tourist industries have been greatly affected and more and more jobs are insecure in many fields. In addition, people are feeling depressed due to lockdowns.
- [Human information behaviour in the context of serious leisure](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/current-projects/human-information-behaviour-in-the-context-of-serious-leisure-2/) - Project members: Yazdan Mansourian, partnering with colleagues in various areas, including the Schools of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health. This research explores various aspects of HIB in the context of serious leisure and what people can do to enhance the quality and impact of their information seeking and information sharing activities in their everyday life, in general,
- [Evaluating public library community engagement and impact](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/current-projects/evaluating-public-library-community-engagement-and-impact/) - Project members: Asim Qayyum (CI), Linda Mahony and Waseem Afzal. The aim of the current pilot project is to measure the engagement and impact of two library services (Giggle and Wiggle and Story Time) offered in Canberra by the Libraries ACT (Australian Capital Territories) to young children and their families. Outcomes and impact of the Giggle
- [Juvenile justice libraries](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/completed-projects/juvenile-justice-libraries/) - Project members: Jane Garner, partnering with Birchwood School, South Carolina; The project explores the role of libraries and librarians in juvenile justice facilities. An example of international best-practice is to be used to build a case study to illustrate best-practice opportunities to Australian juvenile justice centres. Update: Having completed a survey of the 16 juvenile justice
- [Decolonising libraries](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/current-projects/decolonising-libraries/) - Project members: Holly Randell-Moon, Jane Garner, Philip Hider, possibly partnering with Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Studies (AIATSIS). Decolonising libraries and cataloguing systems by making them more accommodating of Indigenous cultural and language. Contact: Dr Holly Randell-Moon Email: hrandell-moon@csu.edu.au Phone: (02) 6885 7394
- [‘The Virago Archive’](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/current-projects/the-virago-archive/) - Group members: Joy Wallace, Philip Hider, Donna Bridges, Elizabeth Wulff, Valerie Ingham, and UNSW academic Anne Brewster. The project relates to the archiving, bibliographic, textual and socio-political dimensions of contemporary literary studies, focusing on the contributions made by Virago Press to feminist thought. Contact: Dr Joy Wallace Email: jwallace@csu.edu.au Phone: (02) 6338 4347
- [Dr Yazdan Mansourian](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/our-researchers/yazdan-mansourian-phd-aalia/) - Lecturer, School of Information & Communication Studies Yazdan’s research interests include Human Information Behaviour (HIB), Information Seeking and Sharing in the Context of Serious Leisure, Information Visibility/Invisibility, Information Grounds, Sociology of Information, Qualitative Approach in Research, User Education, Educational Approach in LIS and Inquiry-based Learning. His current research is the area of Human Information Behaviour
- [Dr Waseem Afzal](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/our-researchers/waseem-afzal-phd/) - Senior Lecturer, School of Information & Communication Studies Waseem’s primary research area is Information Behaviour and through that lens he explores topics such as information and extremism, properties of information and well-being, and information needs. His research interests also include the role of libraries and other information agencies in promoting well-being and early literacy skills
- [Dr Mary Carroll](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/our-researchers/mary-carroll-phd/) - Associate Professor/ School of Information & Communication Studies Mary’s research draws on a multi-disciplinary background and is focused on the intersection of libraries, books and learning in both the contemporary and historical context. Crossing sectors and historical eras her research examines the role information and information agencies play in addressing equity, promoting social inclusion and
- [Dr Jessie Lymn](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/our-researchers/jessie-lymn-phd-aalia/) - Adjunct Lecturer, School of Information & Communication Studies Jessie’s current and recent research projects consider non-traditional material in collections, arguing for a consideration of non-linearity, disruption, and productive effects. This critical, theoretically informed approach to collection practices is designed to further develop both professional practice and the resources available to researchers in a multitude of
- [Dr Mary Anne Kennan](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/our-researchers/adjunct-associate-professor-dr-mary-anne-kennan/) - Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Information & Communication Studies Mary Anne's research interests focus broadly on scholarly communication including open access and research data management; education of, and roles for, librarians and information professionals; and the practices of information sharing and collaboration in various contexts. She is editor of the Journal of the Australian Library
- [Dr Asim Qayyum](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/our-researchers/asim-qayyum-phd/) - Senior Lecturer, School of Information & Communication Studies Asim has worked with many library sectors as an educator and researcher in Australia and in international settings. His current ongoing research project with ACT libraries is an example of his goal of strengthening the existing ties between academia and the profession. Focusing on evaluating the impact
- [Dr Deborah Lee](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/our-researchers/dr-deborah-lee/) - Senior Teaching Fellow in Library and Information Studies, UCL Debbie’s research interests are in the areas of knowledge organisation, cataloguing and music information. One of her main research interests is in the knowledge organisation of music, and she is interested in deeply analysing how music is classified both within library studies and within musicology, and
- [Dr Helen Cheung](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/our-researchers/helen-cheung-phd/) - Adjunct Professional/College Librarian, Hong Kong SKH Ming Hua Theological College Helen’s cross-subjects academic background (IT in education, library sciences and classical literature) and her work experience have expanded her research. Her research interest is in the use of IT tools to develop multi-literacies skills of library users in digital humanities, as well as digitization and
- [Dr Joy Wallace](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/our-researchers/joy-wallace-dphil-oxford/) - Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Sciences A literary scholar, critic and researcher, Joy views the development of libraries, and the related field of Information Studies, as areas of great strength at Charles Sturt University, and ones which offer a wealth of resources to assist the researcher and teacher. Dr Wallace teaches literacy subjects
- [Contact](https://librariesresearchgroup.csu.domains/contact/) - We welcome comments and inquiries from potential industry partners, researchers and PhD students. Please contact Prof Philip Hider at phider@csu.edu.au.

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