Exploring Citizen Science Participation and Challenges in Academic Libraries: A Comprehensive Qualitative Study

Abstract

Citizen science, the involvement of the public in scientific research, is a growing trend that presents both opportunities and challenges for academic libraries. This study delves into the realm of citizen science engagement within Malaysian academic libraries, offering a qualitative exploration of participation levels and difficulties confronted by academic librarians.Drawing upon in-depth interviews, our research unveils the multifaceted landscape of citizen science involvement in Malaysian academic libraries. Key findings underscore the potential benefits and hurdles academic libraries face in fostering citizen science initiatives. Results offer a comprehensive analysis of the present status and prospective development of citizen science initiatives in academic libraries in Malaysia. The study highlights the importance of addressing prevalent obstacles to optimize the advantages of involving the public in scientific research. It also contributes to the evolving field of library and information science by providing evidence of intricate dynamics and possible opportunities for citizen science within the academic library context.

Keywords

• citizen science, academic libraries, qualitative, challenges, malaysia.