World Library and Information Congress (WLIC) Papers and Presentations
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Item Las bibliotecas como guardianas y difusoras de información del conflicto en Colombia diapositivas(2023-07-28) Márquez-Bustos, NataliaThe Colombian armed conflict, which has lasted over six decades, has left a deep impact on the country and over 8 million victims. As Colombia slowly moves towards a post-conflict era, documenting and preserving the truth about the events that occurred during the conflict is crucial for the country's reconciliation and future development. The Colombian government established the Truth Commission to investigate and document human rights violations committed during the conflict. However, the dissemination of this information to the public remains a significant challenge. This paper examines the role of libraries in preserving and disseminating information related to the conflict and, specially, the Truth Commission's report, which was published last year. The paper poses the question: how are libraries contributing to the dissemination of information related to the Colombian conflict, and what challenges do they face in doing so? To answer this question, the paper collects several strategies created by libraries and draws on interviews with librarians from institutions such as the Library of the Central Bank of Colombia and the National Center of Historical Memory. The paper argues that libraries play a critical role in disseminating information related to the Colombian conflict Furthermore, the paper identifies several challenges faced by libraries in the process and the solutions they have found to overcome them. These include: the importance of approaching the conflict from a human and ethical perspective, the use of technologies to reach remote communities, the need for interdisciplinary training for librarians, the importance of creating accessible narratives for the public, and collaborating with both public and private actors to enrich the work of libraries. The findings of this study have implications for other conflict zones around the world, as they shed light on libraries’ best practices and lessons learned in the pursuit of a lasting peace.Item Libraries as Preservers and Disseminators of Information Related to the Colombian Conflict and the Truth Commission Report(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2023-07-28) Márquez-Bustos, NataliaThe Colombian armed conflict, which has lasted over six decades, has left a deep impact on the country and over 8 million victims. As Colombia slowly moves towards a post-conflict era, documenting and preserving the truth about the events that occurred during the conflict is crucial for the country's reconciliation and future development. The Colombian government established the Truth Commission to investigate and document human rights violations committed during the conflict. However, the dissemination of this information to the public remains a significant challenge. This paper examines the role of libraries in preserving and disseminating information related to the conflict and, specially, the Truth Commission's report, which was published last year. The paper poses the question: how are libraries contributing to the dissemination of information related to the Colombian conflict, and what challenges do they face in doing so? To answer this question, the paper collects several strategies created by libraries and draws on interviews with librarians from institutions such as the Library of the Central Bank of Colombia and the National Center of Historical Memory. The paper argues that libraries play a critical role in disseminating information related to the Colombian conflict Furthermore, the paper identifies several challenges faced by libraries in the process and the solutions they have found to overcome them. These include: the importance of approaching the conflict from a human and ethical perspective, the use of technologies to reach remote communities, the need for interdisciplinary training for librarians, the importance of creating accessible narratives for the public, and collaborating with both public and private actors to enrich the work of libraries. The findings of this study have implications for other conflict zones around the world, as they shed light on libraries’ best practices and lessons learned in the pursuit of a lasting peace.Item International Library Cooperation and Trusted News in Times of War. Ukraine Art Aid Center(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2023-07) Bohn, Anna; Hamann, OlafThis study explores the collaborative efforts of libraries within the Ukraine Art Aid Center network, dedicated to preserving cultural heritage during times of war. Emphasizing the vital role of international library cooperation, we investigate the dissemination of trusted news in the Russo-Ukrainian war. The first section examines Russia's use of (dis-)information as a weapon in the ongoing war. The second section clarifies key terminology distinctions related to disinformation, misinformation, fake news and deep fakes. In the third section, we scrutinize the importance of accurate language and wording to avoid manipulation and disinformation. The fourth section explores strategies to counter disinformation, empowering individuals to make informed decisions. Section five highlights the support provided by international library networks in aiding libraries and societies under attack, focusing on the Ukraine Art Aid Center (Zentrum Kulturgutschutz Ukraine). The sixth section presents curated information services and reliable news sources from Ukraine and exiled Russian media. The seventh section underscores libraries' role as providers of access to reliable information on war crimes and human rights violations.Item Lies, damn lies, and fake news: toward a library science and digital curation-oriented methodology for web archiving national news and social media(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2023-08-23) Smyth, Tom J.In recognition of their importance, the National Library and Archives Canada (LAC) has web archived Canadian news and social media since 2006. As part of our Web and Social Media Preservation Program collections development and methodological evolution, and to make advances in efficiency and in our ability to respond to and document unforeseen events of national historic or international significance, we started broadly web archiving front page news and social media from selected sources and in an automated manner in 2015. Since the web now constitutes an invaluable primary source for 21st century digital society and for the writing of future history, managed action is necessary to preserve it while it is available. The news media provides many perspectives and chronological descriptions of how any major event unfolded; social media provides the full spectrum of political, regional, economic, and cultural first-hand perspectives. This paper discusses the web archival strategies and methodologies developed at LAC that drive our news and social media evaluation and acquisition, with particular attention to the politics of “fake news”, COVID-19, and the invasion of Ukraine. It also describes the details of media collection in association with large-scale thematic web archival (research) and data collections – all of which is informed by the guiding principles of digital curation and preservation. Our deliberate targeting of 'fake news’ and 'extreme political viewpoints' will be explored, with arguments for its collection as source to support future inquiries and research in its own right. Ethical and legal considerations (or potential consequences!) libraries could face for labelling or excluding such content, and strategies for addressing this, are also provided.Item "Nada nukuthdam", Firekeepers Initiative: Decolonizing Academic Library Collections through Community-based Participatory Archive-building(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2024-02-16) McAllister, Lorrie; Soto, AlexanderThis paper articulates the decolonial theories and principles that underlie the library and archives information praxis within an Indigenous-led academic center located within a major research university. The Firekeepers Initiative to develop community-based archives in collaboration with Tribal Nations in Arizona, utilizes participatory and relational methods, CARE principles, and the Protocols for Native American Archival Materials. This initiative employs Community-Driven Archives methods set forth by Godoy (2021) and seeks to decolonize higher education through Indigenous librarianship and reparative archival practice. Authors stress the importance of mindful place-making in academic libraries to elevate Indigenous voices within what are typically Western Colonial information spaces. Challenges include navigating organizational hierarchies within the academy to advocate and coordinate services and programs for Indigenous students, faculty, and their communities.Item Vocabulary Work in the Field of the Network Colonial Contexts - A workshop report(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2023-12-10) Strickert, MoritzThe Germany-centred network Colonial Contexts brings together experts from different areas of the GLAM spectrum. It deals with questions of digital consolidation, processing and visibility, as well as possibilities of use of digital materials and data from colonial contexts. To ensure interconnectedness and accessibility, the use of controlled vocabulary is central. To address these issues, a separate working group has been established. The Working Group Thesauri aims to gain an overview regarding existing thesauri/vocabularies, tries to network them and discuss ethical questions when it comes to questions of naming especially regarding cultural groups. Keywords: Authority Files, Colonialism, Controlled Vocabularies, Decolonization, Library EthicsItem Combining different data monitors for more intentional policymaking: the case of Open Access at Utrecht University(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2023-09-07) de Boer, Jan; Constantin, Maria; de Vries, HannaOver the past two decades, scholarly publishing has made a large shift towards Open Access, where research publications are made freely available to all rather than put behind paywalls to be bought back by university libraries. Large funding bodies such as NWO and ERC now require all output of funded research projects to be OA, and many universities in the Netherlands and Europe have formulated similarly ambitious goals. For researchers, this has led to new and additional considerations when it comes to deciding where to submit their research: traditional impact-based measures of journal quality now have to be weighed against the availability (and affordability) of OA options. For libraries and faculties, it means navigating the many ways of financing OA, which differ between journals and publishers. This requires balancing questions of academic values such as scientific quality and equity with an understandable desire for maximal financial efficiency. Of course, researcher choices and library (financial) policies feed into each other. One factor complicating this feedback loop is that neither side is completely transparent to the other. On the one hand, many OA-related costs are invisible to the researcher (for instance, the money spent by library consortia on discount deals with publishers). On the other, publication data such as obtained from a CRIS does not include any details on how these publications were financed, making it hard to see to which extent financial considerations influenced the researchers' choice of publication venue. As a result of these factors and more, it is difficult for libraries and the research communities they support to gain insight into the true cost of Open Access, and, accordingly, the extent to which 100% OA is attainable at a particular institution. In this presentation, we show how a more complete and insightful picture of Open Access publishing practices and costs may be obtained by combining data from different sources, particularly financial monitoring, CRIS publication data, and library consortia discount data. Based on two recent case studies, we show how the new insights gained in this way are being used to underpin and finetune Open Access policies at Utrecht University. The presentation will be particularly relevant to staff of research libraries with an interest in academic publishing. However, we are aiming to keep it mostly jargon-free and accessible to anyone who would like to be inspired to use their existing data monitors in more creative ways. Case study 1: 'APCs in the wild' - Each year the library identifies invoices regarding publication costs in the university invoice management system (SAP) and records the corresponding publication data. Combined with other data this enables us to connect the university output to money streams in different ways. This project has led to more insight in the 'unofficial' ways researchers fund their OA articles and the largely unmonitored money streams this involves. There is potentially a lot to gain in terms of financial efficiency by centralizing these costs. Case study 2: OA analysis at the Faculty of Science - By combining publication data from CRIS with OA status from Unpaywall it was possible to map the OA status at the UU Faculty of Science. A dive into this publication data, with SCOPUS data, allowed us to differentiate between corresponding authors affiliated with UU and not. This approach showed that UU corresponding authors are publishing 23 % more Hybrid-Gold Open Access than non-UU authors. These findings combined with data on payment ('APCs in the wild') suggest that OA is the preferred route when financial support is available. A presentation at the "Demystifying Statistics and Evaluation in Libraries" Satellite Meeting, organised by the Statistics and Evaluation Section and held at the University of Utrecht in Utrecht, The Netherlands from 17–18 August 2023.Item Evaluating the Accessibility of Electronic Resources & Other Digital Content(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2023-09-07) Spina, CarliWith an estimated 16% of the population having a disability, it is vital for all types of libraries that accessibility and disability inclusion are at the forefront of their work. One important step libraries can take towards this goal is evaluating electronic resources, websites, and other digital content for accessibility, particularly when paying for that content. Not only is this essential so that all community members can access the library, thereby maximizing the library’s impact and value to the community, but it is also crucial in ensuring that these licensed or purchased platforms are widely used. This session will give attendees the tools necessary to start evaluating electronic resources and other digital content to best allocate resources and to accelerate use of these materials. This workshop will start with an introduction to the topic with the facts and statistics needed to make the case for integrating accessibility evaluation into the assessment and evaluation work done at your institution. After learning about the accessibility standards that apply to digital content, participants will learn how to interpret one of the standard tools used to track the accessibility of electronic products, the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT). VPATs are used by many vendors of electronic resources to share information about the accessibility of their products and to track changes to both the platform and the related accessibility. Understanding these VPATs is the first step in creating an accessibility evaluation workflow that fits each library’s needs. Next, participants will learn how to evaluate the accessibility of digital content and the accuracy of the VPATs. Using freely available automated testing tools and questionnaires developed by librarians for librarians, we will learn how to verify claims of accessibility and ensure that content is inclusive and usable for all members of the community. The workshop will also cover how to combine these components to complete a comprehensive evaluation of the digital content purchased and licensed by the library and offer examples of how libraries have used this information to increase the value they offer to their patrons. The goal of this session is to leave participants with the tools necessary to critically evaluate their digital collections and increase the impact of their subscriptions. A presentation at the "Demystifying Statistics and Evaluation in Libraries" Satellite Meeting, organised by the Statistics and Evaluation Section and held at the University of Utrecht in Utrecht, The Netherlands from 17–18 August 2023.Item The Power of a Program Logic Model(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2023-09-07) Hinchliffe, LisaThis session will present the program logic model as a method for planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating library services and then discuss how such a program logic model supports evidence-based decision-making, value reporting, and advocacy for resources. The session will draw on the presenter’s experience with using and also training others to use logic models, using the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Logic Model as an exemplar. Three cases will be presented to evidence the power of a program logic model in different situations: designing a new research professional development support program for faculty librarians and documenting activities and outcomes, developing an implementation plan for a library’s strategic plan and a monitoring strategy and milestones, and documenting an existing library service to reveal the assumed theory of impact and evaluating success relative to existing resources and activities. The presentation will conclude with discussion of challenges faced in using program logic models for planning and evaluation and approaches to overcoming barriers to successful implementation. A presentation at the "Demystifying Statistics and Evaluation in Libraries" Satellite Meeting, organised by the Statistics and Evaluation Section and held at the University of Utrecht in Utrecht, The Netherlands from 17–18 August 2023.Item Collecting & Using Quantitative and Qualitative Data to Align Resources for Instruction & Research Support(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2023-09-07) Brown, ChristineAcademic librarians spend considerable time and effort planning and delivering instruction/presentations and providing research consultations on their campuses. In Canada, the number of presentations to groups reported in the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) Statistics (2018-2019)1 ranges from 197 sessions to 2,326 sessions delivered to 8,984 to 68,644 participants, respectively. The provision of research consultations is a standard service provided by academic librarians but not currently reported to CARL. In the fiscal year 2021-2022, librarians at my Library (University of Alberta) delivered 1,428 research consultations (mostly one-to-one interactions) to undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty members. This work is significant in meeting curricular and research needs across campus. However, in times of financial crisis, there are many demands on library staffing resources to meet well-identified long-standing services and potential new initiatives. Effective collection, gathering, and use of statistics and other evaluative tools can help managers make effective decisions and advocate for additional resources. Data describing impact can also highlight your impact on key stakeholders who can be potential advocates to support requests for resource investment. In the session, I will highlight several tools libraries can use to describe, highlight, evaluate, and advocate for resource allocation to support teaching and research consultations. I contextualize the presentation by centering it around an exercise undertaken in the Faculty Engagement Unit for the Social Sciences & Humanities at the University of Alberta and projects underway to re-design basic information literacy instruction and evaluate the research consultation from the librarian and user perspectives. A presentation at the "Demystifying Statistics and Evaluation in Libraries" Satellite Meeting, organised by the Statistics and Evaluation Section and held at the University of Utrecht in Utrecht, The Netherlands from 17–18 August 2023.Item A gentle introduction to using NVivo to analyse qualitative survey data(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2023-09-07) Pival, PaulWhile there are a myriad of tools that can be used to analyse quantitative data, computer-aided qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS) seems less common in the library world. In this presentation, Paul will provide an overview of how one such software package, NVivo, can be used to help analyse the results of qualitative data gathered as part of an online survey. We’ll discuss the challenges of working with and making sense of a large amount of text. We’ll then take a look at how NVivo “understands” qualitative data gathered during an online survey, and how you can quickly code written responses into categories and themes that can be used to help you understand what your patrons are trying to tell you. This will be a show-and-tell presentation, but by the end, participants will have an understanding of how NVivo can be used to make sense of a large number of qualitative survey responses. Participants will understand what is meant to code data, organize those codes into themes, and how to slice and dice this information by the demographic, or classifying, data that is also collected by an online survey tool. This presentation should be of interest to all types of libraries. A presentation at the "Demystifying Statistics and Evaluation in Libraries" Satellite Meeting, organised by the Statistics and Evaluation Section and held at the University of Utrecht in Utrecht, The Netherlands from 17–18 August 2023.Item Data-Driven Decisions to Establish and Manage a Temporary Library(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2023-09-07) Ojasaar, HelaThe goal of the presentation is to give an overview of the practice of the National Library of Estonia in collecting, evaluating and using statistics and qualitative measures for setting up the library (services) in a new place for the period of extensive renovation. The National Library of Estonia (NLE) is a legal person in public law who operates pursuant to the National Library of Estonia Act. The mission of the National Library of Estonia is to preserve our cultural heritage and to be a bridge between people and knowledge. A presentation at the "Demystifying Statistics and Evaluation in Libraries" Satellite Meeting, organised by the Statistics and Evaluation Section and held at the University of Utrecht in Utrecht, The Netherlands from 17–18 August 2023.Item Sampling Techniques in Survey Construction and Data Analysis: Strengthening Validity and Generalizability in Statistical Procedures(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2023-09-07) Gilstrap, DonaldLibrarians around the world are proudly user-focused in making decisions about collections, services, and programs for the patrons that visit our physical libraries and our web-based collections. Assessment activities are a critical aspect of the work we perform, and most of us have some experience with managing surveys and interpreting findings. Conducting surveys is one of the most common ways we collect data on patron needs, through directly mailed letters and through links we provide to surveys on our web sites and in emails to groups. But do we always know whether our approaches are strong enough to make effective decisions based on the results of our surveys? The goals of this presentation are to provide guidance on best practices for different types of sampling--ranging from convenience sampling to random sampling to stratified sampling--in order to strengthen the validity of findings and create a path for generalizability to the populations we serve. Issues that arise from different types of sampling techniques, such as confirmation bias and maturation effects, will be discussed with suggestions on how to limit their influence on respondents. In order to estimate the strength of the sample, statistical techniques such as Confidence Levels (CL) and Confidence Intervals (CI) will also be discussed with hands on examples of how to compute them. As a way to increase the reliability of the surveys we produce, models such as Inter-rater Reliability (IR) and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) Analysis will also be introduced. Although most of our surveys focus on descriptive statistics, in cases of inferential statistics, Effect Size will also be presented as a way to interpret the strength of particular variables about which we are asking our patrons to respond. Although these terms might seem foreign to some of the participants in this session, the underlying theme of this presentation will to be to demystify these techniques. I will introduce them in ways that make sense to people who do not have a background in statistical procedures, and a major goal will be for people to walk away from this presentation feeling confident about the new knowledge they may have learned that will help them in their daily work lives. A presentation at the "Demystifying Statistics and Evaluation in Libraries" Satellite Meeting, organised by the Statistics and Evaluation Section and held at the University of Utrecht in Utrecht, The Netherlands from 17–18 August 2023.Item Evaluating Your Collection’s Suitability: Conspectus and Checklist Methodologies in Practice(2023-09-07) Wang, HanrongIn this presentation, the essential components and procedures involved in implementing the Conspectus and Checklist methodologies for processing the library’s collection will be explored. The presenter will delve into crucial topics such as the responsible parties for conducting the assessment, the frequency of assessments, and the data collected for quantitative and qualitative analysis. Attendees will also learn about the available tools for conducting the assessment and how the collected data is evaluated for suitability. Furthermore, the presentation will examine the positive impacts of the assessment, emphasizing how it supports students' academic success, promotes prudent library budgeting, and assists academic departments in achieving accreditation. A presentation at the "Demystifying Statistics and Evaluation in Libraries" Satellite Meeting, organised by the Statistics and Evaluation Section and held at the University of Utrecht in Utrecht, The Netherlands from 17–18 August 2023.Item Using ChatGPT to Evaluate and Improve Library Websites(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2023-09-07) Wu, JingjingA library website serves as the gateway to a library's resources and services. To provide a satisfactory experience for users, it is crucial that the website is user-friendly, accessible, and efficient. AI tools like ChatGPT can be effective in evaluating and improving library websites. According to Jakob Nielsen, users tend to ignore web content that is complex or difficult to understand. Therefore, readability is an essential indicator to measure the complexity of the website's text. ChatGPT can analyze the website's text to determine its readability score and provide suggestions for improving the clarity and conciseness of the text. Another crucial factor to consider is mobile-friendliness. With an increasing number of people accessing the internet through their mobile devices, library websites must be optimized for mobile users. ChatGPT can evaluate a website's mobile-friendliness and suggest improvements such as adjusting font sizes, optimizing images, and improving the site's overall responsiveness. Accessibility is also a critical aspect of a library website. Libraries strive to provide equal access to their resources for all users, regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities. ChatGPT can review a website's code to identify any accessibility issues and suggest improvements. This includes ensuring proper use of alt text for images, labeling of form fields, appropriate use of headings, and code for keyboard element accessibility. Finally, ChatGPT can evaluate a website's performance and suggest ways to improve it. Slow loading times and inefficient code can negatively impact the user experience. ChatGPT can identify areas of the website that are causing performance issues and provide recommendations to improve it, such as optimizing images, minifying code, and reducing the number of HTTP requests. In conclusion, ChatGPT can be a valuable tool for libraries looking to evaluate and improve their website. By analyzing content readability, mobile-friendliness, accessibility, and performance, libraries can make adjustments to provide a better user experience. A user-friendly, accessible, and efficient library website can be an essential tool for many people in their quest for knowledge. A presentation at the "Demystifying Statistics and Evaluation in Libraries" Satellite Meeting, organised by the Statistics and Evaluation Section and held at the University of Utrecht in Utrecht, The Netherlands from 17–18 August 2023.Item Building a Strong Foundation: Selecting the Right Statistical Analysis and Methods(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2023-09-07) Scoulas, Jung MiAre you looking to enhance your statistical and evaluative methodologies for specific library services and resources? Do you want to learn how to effectively use data and other evaluative measures to support and make operational decisions? Look no further than this informative workshop, led by an assessment coordinator in a renowned research university library in the U.S. During the workshop, the presenter will draw upon her extensive experience and expertise to guide participants through various examples of her own assessment projects and provide tips on how to select appropriate methods and analyses. She will also share her views on the importance of independent assessments for evaluating library programs and services and supporting evidence-based decision-making for the success of students and faculty. The presenter, whose assessment projects have already been published in national and international journals, will use these examples to highlight the goals, statistical analysis and methods used, and other relevant references of each project, enabling participants to gain a comprehensive understanding of the topic. Additionally, throughout the workshop, the presenter will actively engage with participants by discussing their experiences when involved in statistical analysis and methods for their projects. By the end of the workshop, participants will have gained practical skills and insights that they can apply in their own work through real-life examples shared by the presenter. They will have a unique opportunity to expand their knowledge and improve their library practices. The goal of this workshop is to help participants improve their statistical and evaluative methodologies for specific library services and resources. Additionally, the workshop aims to teach participants how to effectively use data and other evaluative measures to support and make operational decisions, and to advocate the importance of independent assessments for evaluating library programs and services. By the end of the workshop, participants should have gained practical skills and insights that they can apply in their own work. A presentation at the "Demystifying Statistics and Evaluation in Libraries" Satellite Meeting, organised by the Statistics and Evaluation Section and held at the University of Utrecht in Utrecht, The Netherlands from 17–18 August 2023.Item Continuous Improvement in Research Libraries by Using Lean Six Sigma(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2023-09-07) van Otegem, MatthijsA presentation at the "Demystifying Statistics and Evaluation in Libraries" Satellite Meeting, organised by the Statistics and Evaluation Section and held at the University of Utrecht in Utrecht, The Netherlands from 17–18 August 2023.Item Changing Academic Libraries’ Cultures and Empowering Minority Employees in a DEI World(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2023-10-10) Byrd, Theresa S.In the context of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, this presentation will focus on culture's role in building and maintaining culturally diverse and inclusive library work environments. It will examine how tradition, bias, privilege, and racism thwart the typical library organization’s quest to develop an inclusive environment. Concepts such as white and non-white styles, whiteness in libraries, microaggressions, and stereotype threats will be addressed. The presenter will equip minority librarians with tools to survive in organizations where they are othered. Through examples and strategies, non-minority librarians will also learn to manage their ethnocentric tendencies. All attendees will leave with ideas about how they can assist with enabling and sustaining diverse library organizations.Keywords: antiracist, racism, librarians of color, whiteness, academic librariesItem The Influx of Refugees in the United States and Libraries Housing of Religious Documents- Preserving, Protecting, Disseminating, and Conducting Interreligious Dialogues with Refugees(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2023-10-06) Obodoruku, BenedictaThe intricacy of the persistent influx of refugees is a worldwide concern for the United Nations (UN) and the United Nations High Commissioner to Refugees (UNHCR)—too often people have been forced to flee from their homes due to conflicts, persecution and various humanitarian crises. The UNHCR indicated that there were 108.4 million people who were forcibly displaced globally, with 35.3 million of them being refugees, in 2022. Also, there were over 3 million refugees who have resettled in all 50 states in the United States of America, since 1975. In 2022, the U.S. admitted 25,400 refugees and, in 2023, President Joe Biden is projected to admit an estimated total of 125,000 refugees in the U.S.3, Therefore, this exploratory study examines the following: how can libraries better serve the continuing influx of refugees’ communities in the United States by housing religious documents, preserve, protect and disseminate them to refugees? And, how can libraries encourage the implementation of interreligious dialogue for refugees in their communities where they can share their experiences, skills and creativity? — This will enable libraries to increase universal awareness of the messages of peace in their collections and to better provide access to help refugees to learn about their religious roots. The United Nations 1946 Resolution 59 (1) stipulated that “[f]reedom of information is a fundamental human right and is the touchstone of all the freedoms to which the United Nations is consecrated.” Plus, the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 18 indicated that “[e]veryone has the right to freedom of thought...and religion; this right includes...either alone or in community with others...to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.” Thus, refugees have the rights to practice their religion, to have access to religious documents and the right to interreligious dialogue. This research study employed content analysis and observational methodologies to review profuse literature, studies, the UN, UNHCR and U.S reports, treaties, protocols, conventions and declarations on refugees’ protection policies and procedures. This study found that libraries in the United States are failing their responsibilities to house religious documents, preserve, protect and disseminate information to refugees. Also, the findings show that libraries can properly serve refugees communities through interreligious dialogue via focus group discussions and interviews in order to shed light on refugees’ experiences, skills and creativity. This study hopes to shed light on libraries’ inexistence of housing of religious documents, and preserve, protect, disseminate and conduct interreligious dialogues with refugees, which is a crucial point for Sustainable Development.Item UNIMARC for entity relationship cataloguing: Structuring principles, current issues and opportunities(International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), 2023-10-06) Tfibel, Florence; Lecomte, Héloïse