March 2022 Editorial

Welcome to the first issue of 2022 for the Journal of the Australian Library and Information Association (JALIA). We begin the year with a reminder about two things.

First, there are four regular sections of the Journal:

1. Peer-reviewed research papers.

2. Peer-reviewed research-in-practice papers.

3. Information-in-practice papers; and,

4. Book reviews.

If you wish to submit a less traditional paper, please be in touch with the editorial team at [email protected] and we can discuss the options.

Instructions for authors for each different type of paper are available at the following link: http://tandfonline.com/action/authorSubmission?journalCode=ualj21&page=instructions

Second, JALIA supports green open access to the papers it publishes and has no embargo on authors making their accepted manuscript (AM) available online immediately on publication. We encourage authors to post an open access version of the full text of the AM version of their papers to an institutional or subject repository and if they wish also to their personal or departmental websites, immediately upon publication. For more information see here: https://authorservices.taylorandfrancis.com/zero-embargo-green-open-access/. Doing this enables readers who do not have access in other ways to be able to read JALIA papers. The AM is the version of an article that has been through peer review and accepted by a journal editor but is not the typeset version of record.

Now, to introduce this issue, in which we have an eclectic but very interesting collection of papers. It begins with three research papers, followed by two research-in-practice papers, and a short research student project summary. The first research paper is by Jodie Boyd (2022) and examines the oral history collection of the National Library of Australia (NLA). The paper focuses on under documented, minoritized, or marginalised individuals, groups or communities to fill ‘gaps’ in the national story, contribute to a more complete historical record, or recover lost, overlooked or hidden histories. Drawing on NLA documentation and using critical librarianship as an analytic lens, the study found a mismatch between aims and practice and suggests a re-think might enable a more diverse collection.

The second research paper, by Peter Chen (2022), examines the contribution of ‘street libraries' in Australia to literacy, community, and the gift economy. Previous writing and research have both promoted and contested the value and role of street libraries. Using a mixed-method approach which included focussed group discussion, a questionnaire, and geospatial analysis, this research finds evidence in support of both advocates and critics. While Australian street libraries are skewed towards localities with the highest socio-economic measures of advantage, ‘street librarians' are disproportionately urban, and ‘street library' maintainers have greater economic diversity than expected. Street libraries can be an example of a gift economy, recycling about $11 million in value in 2021. In addition, some social capital advantages in establishing and maintaining a street library can be identified.

The final research paper, by Anita Dewi and Diane Velasquez (2022), is a case study of work-integrated learning examining the library student work placement program in Monash University Library in Australia. Interviews were conducted with both host supervisors (library staff members) and students who had recently completed a placement. Results revealed that both staff and students value placements as a means of putting theory into practice and value the resultant relationship building. Hosts expected teamwork and found that students were unprepared for this. Improvements to placement programs are proposed.

Despite public libraries being highly visible and promissory places and spaces where individuals and communities can learn, interact, and share, they are increasingly underfunded. In our first research-in-practice paper, Teresa Swist et al. (2022), inspired by library-focused position statements, a previous workshop, and a subsequent experimental writing exercise, offer their own manifesto for co-creating public library futures and include proposed future participatory research agendas. The message is hopeful yet pragmatic.

In another research-in-practice paper, Russell et al. (2022) build on their previous work to discuss the trial and operationalisation of a multi-tier model of a mediated systematic review service at Deakin University Library. The multiple tiers consist of online self-help and consultations through to proof-reading of searches, mediated search design and search translation. The top tier is provided on a fee-for-service basis. Benefits have included opportunity for librarian skill development including peer upskilling and co-authorship.

The final paper is a short summary of Elizabeth Well's (2022) current (and very interesting) PhD research which is an exploration of the potential benefits of read aloud programs for the well-being of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

This issue comes to an interesting and eclectic conclusion with ten book reviews curated by Ian McCallum and Sherrey Quinn.