Researchers in developing countries are more likely to publish in predatory journals (Xia et al., 2015). This study investigates the understanding that research scientists in Ghana, a developing country, have about predatory journals and their publishing practices. Using a mixed methods approach, research scientists within one cluster of research organizations in Ghana were asked about their awareness of the characteristics of predatory journals, based on their own experience as a researcher. Their publications were also examined. The results indicate that most of the research scientists in this study are aware of predatory journals and are often solicited by them, but are less aware of tools they can use to determine the quality of a particular publication. In addition, 12% of the articles published that make up 24% of the unique journals in which these researchers published could be considered “predatory”. The findings of this research are significant because they indicate that research scientists may have more awareness of predatory journals than is expected, but that they may lack the training or tools necessary for deciding whether or not a journal is legitimate.

Purpose This study aims to examine the information needs of Ghanaian immigrants who have settled in Maryland in the USA. Design/methodology/approach Using an ethnographic approach, immigrants from Ghana shared their information needs, challenges and sources they rely upon for information. In total, 50 Ghanaian immigrants participated in this study. Findings Findings indicate that like many immigrant populations, Ghanaians who have immigrated to the USA primarily rely on personal networks, mediated through social media, as their primary sources of information. Despite the availability of immigration resources in the library, Ghanaian immigrants may not view it as a useful resource. Social implications While this study examines a single immigrant population, its social implications are important to libraries who aim to serve immigrant populations in their community. Originality/value This study provides new information about African immigrant population, a population whose information needs have rarely been covered in the literature.

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Scientists around the world benefit from sharing scientific data, lab notes, and preliminary papers, as well as traditional, formal scientific papers. Institutional repositories (IR) are open spaces for scientists to deposit their work. Doing so could potentially spark new collaborations, allowing scientists and scholars to build cross-institutional capacity. However, scientists must trust that the repository is secure, and they must understand copyright law and protections. Many African nations are at a crossroads: poised to solve major problems with well-trained scientists, yet stymied by expensive and unpredictable ICT. Many African scientists are also wary of the Internet due to rampant scams and fraud. This paper describes current African ICT development, reports on findings from a study about ICT, databases, and IRs in Ghana, and concludes with recommendations for expanding the use of IRs.

The shooting death of teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, spurred an immediate national and international response in the fall of 2014. Washington University Libraries in St. Louis, Missouri, established the Documenting Ferguson web archive to gather digital media documenting local protests and demonstrations as captured by community members in order to archive the materials for future research and scholarly use. This preliminary study identified the factors that motivated participants to contribute content to the Documenting Ferguson online community archive, uncovering themes of altruism, reciprocity, and personal development.