Inkunabula: Journal of Library Science and Islamic Information

Beyond the Similarity Score: A Phenomenological Case Study of Faculty Perspectives on Turnitin Plagiarism Detection Software at Landmark University, Nigeria

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigated faculty awareness, perceptions, and lived experiences with Turnitin plagiarism detection software at Landmark University, Nigeria. It aimed to assess understanding of the tool, evaluate its perceived role in promoting academic integrity, explore practical use in teaching and research, and identify associated benefits and challenges. A phenomenological approach was employed. Data were collected through structured online interviews with 25 faculty members (heads of department) purposively selected for their active use of Turnitin plagiarism detection software. Narrative analysis was used to identify key themes from the transcribed responses. Findings revealed a gap between operational awareness and pedagogical understanding of Turnitin. Faculty perceived a tension between its value as a formative educational tool and its institutional deployment as a summative, punitive mechanism. Lived experiences highlighted its role in standardising output and providing objective evidence, but also cited significant procedural burden and interpretive challenges. Key benefits included safeguarding institutional credibility and empowering faculty, while major challenges involved infrastructure, contextual interpretation of reports, and the emerging threat of generative AI. The study concludes that while Turnitin is successfully institutionalised as a compliance mechanism at Landmark University, its potential as a catalyst for a deeper academic integrity culture remains under-realised. To bridge this gap, a strategic shift from a policy-focused to a pedagogy-centered implementation is required. This involves investing in advanced faculty training, reframing institutional messaging, ensuring reliable infrastructure, and proactively developing strategies to address AI-assisted plagiarism. The study contributes theoretically by validating the integrated examination of awareness, perception, and lived experience as inseparable determinants of technology adoption in non-Western academic contexts, and practically by providing an evidence-based framework for transitioning from compliance-oriented to pedagogy-centered integrity infrastructure in Global South universities.

The Relevance of Library and Information Science Graduates’ Competencies to Non-Linear Careers: A Phenomenological Study of Graduates from the State Islamic University of North Sumatra

Nurul Ilmiyah, Abdul Karim Batubara (Author) — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The phenomenon of non-linear careers is increasingly observed among university graduates, including Library and Information Science graduates who pursue careers outside the librarianship profession. This study aims to examine the relevance of Library and Information Science graduates’ competencies to the non-linear career paths they undertake. A qualitative approach employing a phenomenological method was used in this research. The participants consisted of seven graduates from the Library and Information Science Study Program at the State Islamic University of North Sumatra, Class of 2017, who are currently employed in various non-library sectors. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation, and were analyzed using the Miles, Huberman, and Saldana model. The findings reveal that the competencies acquired by Library and Information Science graduates possess a transferable nature, enabling their application across diverse occupational fields. The most frequently utilized competencies include information management, records management, communication, information technology, and managerial skills. The study also found that graduates were able to develop adaptive career identities through continuous learning and adjustment to new work environments. Furthermore, success in non-linear career trajectories is influenced not only by the competencies gained during higher education but also by individuals’ capacity for self-directed learning after entering the workforce. These findings suggest that the relevance of graduate competencies is not solely determined by the alignment between academic discipline and occupation, but also by the ability to transform and apply acquired competencies across a variety of professional contexts.

Abstrak

Fenomena karier non-linear semakin banyak ditemukan pada lulusan perguruan tinggi, termasuk alumni Program Studi Ilmu Perpustakaan yang bekerja di luar bidang kepustakawanan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis relevansi kompetensi alumni Ilmu Perpustakaan terhadap karier non-linear yang dijalani. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan metode fenomenologi. Informan penelitian terdiri atas tujuh alumni Program Studi Ilmu Perpustakaan Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara angkatan 2017 yang bekerja pada berbagai sektor non-kepustakawanan. Data dikumpulkan melalui wawancara mendalam, observasi, dan dokumentasi, kemudian dianalisis menggunakan model Miles, Huberman, dan Saldana. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kompetensi alumni Ilmu Perpustakaan memiliki karakter transferable yang memungkinkan penerapannya pada berbagai bidang pekerjaan. Kompetensi yang paling banyak dimanfaatkan meliputi pengelolaan informasi, pengarsipan, komunikasi, teknologi informasi, dan manajemen. Penelitian ini juga menemukan bahwa alumni mampu membangun identitas karier yang adaptif melalui proses pembelajaran dan penyesuaian terhadap lingkungan kerja baru. Selain itu, keberhasilan dalam karier non-linear tidak hanya dipengaruhi oleh kompetensi yang diperoleh selama perkuliahan, tetapi juga oleh kemampuan belajar mandiri setelah memasuki dunia kerja. Temuan ini menunjukkan bahwa relevansi kompetensi lulusan tidak semata-mata ditentukan oleh kesesuaian antara bidang studi dan pekerjaan, tetapi oleh kemampuan mentransformasikan kompetensi yang dimiliki ke dalam berbagai konteks profesional.

The Role of Kopikuni Library Cafe in Increasing Reading Interest in Medan City: A Theory of Planned Behavior Perspective

Putri Ayu Almaida, Faisal Riza (Author) — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Reading interest among Indonesians, including in Medan City, remains a challenge even though the National Reading Interest Index rose from 66.77 in 2023 to 72.44 in 2024, still leaving disparities in literacy access across regions. One emerging innovation addressing this issue is the library cafe, which combines cafe and reading space functions in a relaxed atmosphere. This study aims to analyze the role of Kopikuni Library Cafe in increasing reading interest among the people of Medan City through the Theory of Planned Behavior framework. A descriptive qualitative approach was used with eight purposively selected informants, consisting of seven active visitors and one manager. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the Miles and Huberman interactive model. The results show that Kopikuni's atmosphere and physical facilities (comfortable seating, lighting, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and power outlets) consistently shaped positive attitudes and perceived behavioral control supporting reading activity among most informants. However, a perception gap was found between the manager and some visitors regarding the completeness of the book collection, which emerged as a barrier to reading interest. Visit frequency also proved to be an unreliable proxy for reading interest, as more frequent visitors did not necessarily read for longer; part of their time was spent browsing the internet through Kopikuni's Wi-Fi and workspace facilities. The study concludes that Kopikuni's role in fostering reading interest is driven more by spatial comfort than by collection availability, so expanding collection variety and developing structured literacy programs are needed to optimize its role as an alternative literacy space in Medan City.

Abstrak

Minat baca masyarakat Indonesia, termasuk di Kota Medan, masih menjadi tantangan meskipun Tingkat Kegemaran Membaca (TGM) nasional meningkat dari 66,77 pada 2023 menjadi 72,44 pada 2024, namun masih menyisakan ketimpangan akses literasi antarwilayah, terutama di kawasan Timur Indonesia. Salah satu inovasi yang muncul untuk menjawab tantangan ini adalah library cafe, yang memadukan fungsi kafe dan ruang baca dalam suasana yang santai. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis peran Kopikuni Library Cafe dalam meningkatkan minat baca masyarakat Kota Medan melalui kerangka Theory of Planned Behavior. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif deskriptif dengan delapan informan yang dipilih secara purposive, terdiri atas tujuh pengunjung aktif dan satu pengelola. Data dikumpulkan melalui wawancara semi-terstruktur dan dianalisis menggunakan model interaktif Miles dan Huberman. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa suasana dan fasilitas fisik Kopikuni (kenyamanan tempat duduk, pencahayaan, pendingin ruangan, Wi-Fi, dan stop kontak) secara konsisten membentuk sikap positif serta kontrol perilaku yang mendukung aktivitas membaca pada mayoritas informan. Namun, ditemukan kesenjangan persepsi antara pengelola dan sebagian pengunjung terkait kelengkapan koleksi buku, yang menjadi salah satu kendala bagi minat baca. Frekuensi kunjungan juga terbukti bukan proksi yang andal bagi minat baca, karena pengunjung yang lebih sering datang tidak selalu membaca lebih lama; sebagian waktu mereka justru digunakan untuk browsing internet melalui fasilitas Wi-Fi dan ruang kerja Kopikuni. Penelitian menyimpulkan bahwa peran Kopikuni dalam meningkatkan minat baca lebih banyak didorong oleh kenyamanan ruang dibandingkan ketersediaan koleksi, sehingga penambahan variasi koleksi dan program literasi terstruktur diperlukan untuk mengoptimalkan perannya sebagai ruang literasi alternatif di Kota Medan.

Phubbing Behaviour and Information Discernment among Students of the State Islamic University of North Sumatra

Liza Octaviana, Franindya Purwaningtyas (Author) — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

With the rise of smartphone use, phubbing is becoming more prevalent in college settings. This illness is thought to impact not only social interaction, but also the ability to distinguish information, or to evaluate the credibility of the information. This study aims to find out the phubbing behaviour on the ability to discern information for students of State Islamic University of North Sumatra and to find out what efforts students do to maintain the quality of information evaluation. The study used a descriptive qualitative method with purposive sampling and included six students who exhibited phubbing behaviour. An interactive analytic model was used to analyse the data that were gathered through observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation. According to the study's findings, nomophobia, interpersonal conflict, self-isolation, and problem acknowledgement are the four dimensions through which phubbing behaviour arises. Through attention disturbance, decreased learning engagement, and a propensity to analyse material superficially, these four characteristics impact the process of receiving knowledge. However, some students continue to make an effort to uphold information discernment by checking information with instructors or peers, going over course materials, and limiting smartphone use according to a priority scale. These results suggest that phubbing increases susceptibility to the deterioration in the quality of information evaluation rather than directly eliminating the capacity for information discernment. Therefore, in order to help students' capacity to critically analyse information, self-regulation, digital distraction management, and information literacy must be strengthened.

Abstrak

Perilaku phubbing semakin sering ditemukan di lingkungan perguruan tinggi seiring meningkatnya intensitas penggunaan smartphone. Kondisi ini tidak hanya memengaruhi interaksi sosial, tetapi juga diduga berdampak pada information discernment, yaitu kemampuan mengevaluasi kredibilitas informasi secara kritis. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis perilaku phubbing terhadap information discernment mahasiswa Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara serta mengidentifikasi upaya yang dilakukan mahasiswa untuk mempertahankan kualitas penilaian informasi. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif deskriptif dengan teknik purposive sampling terhadap enam mahasiswa yang memenuhi kriteria perilaku phubbing. Data dikumpulkan melalui observasi, wawancara mendalam, dan dokumentasi, kemudian dianalisis menggunakan model analisis interaktif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa perilaku phubbing muncul melalui empat dimensi, yaitu nomophobia, interpersonal conflict, self-isolation, dan problem acknowledgement. Keempat dimensi tersebut memengaruhi proses penerimaan informasi melalui gangguan perhatian, berkurangnya keterlibatan dalam pembelajaran, serta kecenderungan melakukan evaluasi informasi secara dangkal. Meskipun demikian, sebagian mahasiswa tetap berupaya mempertahankan information discernment dengan memverifikasi informasi kepada dosen maupun teman, meninjau kembali materi pembelajaran, serta mengendalikan penggunaan smartphone berdasarkan skala prioritas. Temuan ini menunjukkan bahwa phubbing tidak secara langsung menghilangkan kemampuan information discernment, tetapi meningkatkan kerentanan terhadap menurunnya kualitas evaluasi informasi. Oleh karena itu, penguatan regulasi diri, pengelolaan distraksi digital, dan literasi informasi diperlukan untuk mendukung kemampuan mahasiswa mengevaluasi informasi secara kritis.