The Library and Information Science Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Diponegoro University successfully held the UNDIP Global Classroom (UGC). At the event, a speaker from Universiti Malaya, Malaysia, Dr. Ali Fauzi Akhmad Khan, was invited. The event, which has been held, is a continuation of the 9th-week lecture of the User Studies course with the theme User Studies: User Community on Library and Information Science.
The activity was conducted in 2 sessions, namely on Monday, April 20, 2026, and Tuesday, April 21, 2026, online via Zoom. The UGC participants in these 2 sessions included students from the Library and Information Science Study Program in their 4th semester and also alumni.
Dr. Ali Fauzi, thru his presentation, explained about Understanding the User Community: Beyond Information Consumers, which is a detailed explanation of the given theme. User consumers in the perspective of Library and Information Science are very broad. There are several points that define user communities from various aspects such as: geography, profession, as well as passion and situation.
The speaker also provided an explanation of Communities of Practice by Etienne Wenger, which includes The Domain (shared interest), The Community (relationship), and The Practice (shared resources). In addition, the concepts of Information Grounds by Karen E. Fisher and Information Poverty by Elfreda Chatman. In addition to the concepts, the resource person also provided explanations regarding studies that can be applied by students in user studies such as ethnography, netnography, Focus Group Discussion (FGD), and Asset-Based Community Development.
At the end of the session, the speaker provided 4 main points in viewing user communities from the perspective of Library and Information Science, namely: 1) users are not a single entity; 2) information spreads more quickly in the informal sector; 3) empathy is needed to understand user communities; 4) a paradigm shift is necessary to study user communities.
Thru this UGC activity, students gain academic and practical insights related to user studies from the perspective of Library and Information Science. Additionally, it can provide critical understanding for students regarding user communities in information institutions, especially libraries. Students are also invited to see global and interdisciplinary perspectives related to user studies. Equally important, the UGC activities can build international academic networks between the Library and Information Science Study Program at Diponegoro University and Universiti Malaya, Malaysia, particularly thru guest lecturer collaborations.
