https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/13661 2026-04-12T19:18:03Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145470 Title: Breaking the ice : a social exchange study on gamification, library anxiety, and the willingness to return at the University of Malta Library Authors: Scicluna, Ryan Abstract: Purpose Grounded in Social Exchange Theory, this study investigates the efficacy of gamified orientation as an initiatory social transaction to mitigate Library Anxiety. It aims to determine if gamification lowers the psychological “cost” of entry and increases the “benefit” of return intention compared to traditional methods, while evaluating the moderating role of “Game Literacy.” Design/methodology/approach A quasi-experimental, post-test-only design was employed with 132 first-year undergraduates at the University of Malta. Following a pilot study to validate content, intact classes were assigned to either a traditional lecture (n = 65) or a gamified narrative quest (n = 67). Immediate affective outcomes were measured using the Library Anxiety Scale and Net Promoter Score. Findings Gamification produced a statistically significant reduction in Library Anxiety (d = 1.55) and higher return intentions compared to the control group. However, a significant interaction effect revealed a “literacy tax”: while gamification benefited all participants, students with low game literacy reported higher anxiety than their high-literacy peers, indicating that game mechanics can impose a secondary cognitive load. Originality/value Unlike studies focusing solely on learning outcomes, this research quantifies the affective impact of gamification through a social exchange lens. It provides empirical evidence that while gamification successfully “breaks the ice,” equitable implementation requires “low-threshold” mechanics to ensure non-gamers are not disadvantaged. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145084 Title: Driving the sustainable development of an open research data culture : two examples of collaborative best practice from the University of Malta Abstract: Open Science is a gradual process that requires a culture shift among the entire research community; as such, it is at different stages of development in different parts of Europe. Malta - a small island country in the central Mediterranean between Sicily and the North African coast, which acceded to the European Union in 2004 - is at the forefront of Open Science initiatives, spearheaded by the University of Malta (UM) Library. Since 2014 the UM Library has been carrying out sustained efforts to drive the sustainable development of an open research data culture and guide researchers through the change, both internally and via international collaborative projects. This presentation focuses on two examples of collaborative best practices to support the sustainable development of Open Science, especially for smaller or under-resourced universities.; First, we will showcase University of Malta’s internal role in advancing sustainable Open Science practices, enhancing research accessibility and management, and supporting collaboration among researchers, as well as between the Library and the Research Office. Following the establishment of an Open Science Department in 2017, the UM formalised its approach with an Open Access Policy in 2019. To further strengthen this commitment, in 2021 the policy was upgraded to a mandate formally requiring researchers to adhere to Open Science principles. In 2023, the UM Library expanded their open research focus to include research data management and implemented a data repository, drUM, providing a robust platform for managing and sharing FAIR data. drUM has become an integral part of research data management at the UM because the repository’s functionality encourages and enables the adoption of research data management practices, ensuring compliance during the grant application process and clearly signposting to how individual research data produced at the UM can be accessed and reused. The platform also includes specific funder and grant details within the item metadata, which fosters researcher collaboration, alongside powerful reporting dashboards and visibility over the research shared, enabling proficient reporting and compliance monitoring. By actively promoting the data repository and core open data principles, we have observed that a gradual culture shift towards Open Science is taking place, and research data management is being integrated as a fundamental aspect of the research process, even at the early stages of research projects.; Second, we will present the work of the SEA-EU Alliance - a European Commission initiative which, since 2019, unites nine coastal universities across Europe - focusing on Work Package 5: Building an Open Future: Fostering Open Science across the SEA-EU Community and Beyond, the research data management and open data project steered by the UM Library. This had various deliverables, including the drafting of a SEA-EU RDM Policy Framework for the SEA-EU Alliance, adaptable by participating universities for their respective communities, further promoting open data practices. Description: Presentation given as part of Parallel Session 11, "SUSTAINABLE OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT - II" during the LIBER 2025 Conference in Lausanne, Switzerland 2025-07-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/144782 Title: Il-jien fil-ħolqien : l-ispiritwalità ekoloġika fil-poeżiji ta’ Oliver Friggieri Authors: Agius, Beverly Abstract: F’dan l-istudju se jiġi mistħarreġ is-sehem integrali tal-Jien fil-ħolqien, jiġifieri, ir-rispons poetiku tal-kelliem jew is-semmiegħ lejn ambjent li huwa naturali daqskemm spiritwali. Xi jfisser li tkun ħlejqa għal Oliver Friggieri? Iċ-ċokon, il-fraġilità, l-insuffiċjenza iżda wkoll ir-rispett, il-qima, u l-ħarsien: dawn ix-xejriet kumplimentari li jikkaratterizzaw il-lirika ta’ Friggieri sikwit jintwerew iwettqu l-kundizzjoni ħlejqija. Skont orjentamenti teoloġiċi tal-filosofija ambjentali diskussi fil-ġabra Being-in-Creation, din il-qagħda — mifhuma bħala d-dipendenza li għandu l-bniedem fuq il-ħlejjaq u fuq il-ħallieq — titlob li wieħed jgħix b’umiltà u f’responsabbiltà lejn il-ħolqien. Il-kwalitajiet elenkati li jsawru din il-kundizzjoni, fil-lirika ta’ Friggieri, jingħarfu ngħidu aħna fl-identifikazzjoni kontinwa tal-kelliem ma’ entitajiet naturali meqjusin insinifikanti: “Jien warda mingħajr isem li tinħasad / minn bidwi aljenat” (“Il-Poeta u l-Politiku”). Iċ-ċirkustanzi daqskemm il-vulnerabbiltajiet infushom ta’ dawn l-oħrajn madwaru, xi minn daqqiet ippersonifikati minnu, jinstigaw fil-Jien sens ta’ dover għall-ħsieb jew il-kura tagħhom. 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/143232 Title: Library marketing survey 2023 Abstract: The University of Malta Library Marketing Survey 2023 presents the findings of a comprehensive user survey conducted to evaluate awareness, usage, and perceptions of library services, resources, spaces, and communication channels. Administered over one month in March 2023 using both online and print formats, the survey collected 577 valid responses from students, academic staff, and administrative and research support staff. The report analyses demographic data alongside patterns of service awareness and usage, identifying strengths in core library services while highlighting gaps in awareness of newer initiatives such as information literacy workshops and archive tours. Particular attention is given to marketing and outreach, revealing that peer-to-peer communication and the library newsletter are among the most effective channels for service promotion, while social media channels require more strategic use. 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z