A methodological and theoretical exploration of a two-country,comparative study of collaboration between academics and library staff

Research articles discussing in detail how methodological decisions for a particular study have been made are not common in the literature. The set of choices related to methodological choices must be based on knowledge of research methodology. The present article critically discusses the methodology used for a published study, which explored factors that enable and constrain collaboration between academics and library staff, in universities in two contrasting countries, Australia and Vietnam. A key aim is to provide an understanding of how methodological choices were made, including knowledge of paradigms, methods, and techniques required for the study. Of particular focus is the interaction of methodological choices with the theoretical underpinnings of the research, in this case Giddens' (1984) structuration theory. This article would be beneficial to researchers seeking to evaluate the methodological planning process and its connection with theory development or could serve as a model for researchers wanting to build theory using case study research.     

Faculty–library collaboration: A model for University of Colombo

Faculty–library collaboration paves the way to make students information literate and finally to make them life-long learners. In traditional universities, the faculty–library collaboration is an emerging phenomenon as these two entities are driven by separate agendas; teaching and providing services. Rapid development in information and communication technologies has built a platform for these two institutions to work collaboratively and for making synergies. The purpose of this paper is to describe the conceptual model for faculty–library collaboration based on the extensive literature review and some strategies used by librarians at University of Colombo to collaborate with the academics.     

A Study of the Variables Influencing Academic Library Staff's Attitudes Toward Marketing

This article aims to present an insight into some of the factors influencing the attitudes of academic library staff in three UK university libraries toward marketing and how these factors could be incorporated into an existing model. An online questionnaire about attitudes to marketing and personality was completed by 54 academic library staff from three UK universities. Four academic library management staff were also selected for in-depth interviews. The results indicated that academic library staff have a positive attitude toward marketing and feel that it is vital in the current environment. The research found that personality factors such as extroversion and openness to change, experience and training influenced marketing attitudes. It also revealed that academic library staff were unclear of the definition of marketing, leading to a possible misunderstanding and mistrust of the terminology. The research discovered a gap in marketing knowledge and understanding that must be addressed for marketing success to be achieved. The findings supported the definition of marketing for individual academic libraries as a prerequisite to strategic marketing planning and the importance of considering the attitudes of staff when implementing marketing strategy.     

Two physiotherapists, one librarian and a systematic literature review: collaboration in action

AIM: This paper explores the processes of collaboration between a librarian and two academic physiotherapists working on a systematic review jointly funded by the University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol, and the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases (RNHRD), Bath, UK. The aim of this paper is to describe and evaluate some of the processes of collaboration between the three authors in their work in progress on a funded systematic literature review on the topic of hydrotherapy and pain. METHODS: The vehicle for describing and analysing these processes is a joint (National Health Service Trust and University) funded systematic literature review currently in progress on the topic of hydrotherapy and pain. RESULTS: Systematic review methodology is becoming increasingly complex and is rapidly developing its own research base. Librarian input is a key element in a successful systematic review. CONCLUSIONS: Systematic reviews play a critical role in informing healthcare delivery and research in the UK. The individual nature and inherent complexity of each review demands close collaboration between librarians, academics and clinicians. In addition to enhancing the reviews themselves, there are many other personal and institutional benefits of collaborative working. Consideration may need to be given to library staff structures and roles if these benefits are to be maximized and sustained.     

For a few dollars more: a future for scholarly books in Australia?

Australia's universities have seen significant growth in government research funding, with more to come, but this is not reflected in the output of research monograph publications; structural barriers stand between creation and dissemination of research. This is especially a problem for those working on Australian topics. The author has proposed a new model for funding scholarly publishing in Australia, which may well be applicable to other countries: just a small proportion of the funds committed by the Australian government to research inputs could ensure the publication of research outputs. This would deliver major gains in impact and productivity for government, universities, and individual academics alike.     

Quality in information services: Do users and librarians differ in their expectations?

This article describes part of a project designed to develop a user-based approach to measuring the quality of an information service, that is, the extent to which the service provided by the library meets or exceeds the users' expectations for an excellent or superior service on a consistent basis. The main question investigated is whether there are differences in the expectations that academics hold of information services provided by academic libraries, and librarians' perceptions of these expectations. The results show that academics and librarians have similar expectations but there are differences in the emphasis each group places on aspects of service. Librarians, for example, underestimate the importance to academics of the responsiveness of a service and overestimate the importance of the characteristics of the staff who provide the service. Practical applications of the findings are discussed and theoretical implications explored.     

New roles: professional staff sharing between a hospital and an academic library

Childrens Hospital Los Angeles is a pediatric hospital and research institute affiliated with the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC). Historically, the library at Childrens Hospital was staffed by a hospital-employed librarian. In 1999, the library position was outsourced to USC's Norris Medical Library. The new position is staffed by a librarian who divides her time equally between two locations: the Childrens Hospital Library and the Norris Medical Library. This staff sharing arrangement has three primary goals: increase the collaboration between the libraries; improve access to resources and library staff expertise; and provide faster document delivery service to the Childrens Hospital library. This paper presents the details of the position, and addresses the pros and cons for both libraries and the librarian.     

The Collaboration Between Homeless Shelters and Public Libraries in Addressing Homelessness: A Multiple Case Study

Public librarians are not always able or willing to embrace their role as providers of social and institutional capital for homeless patrons. Yet their position as gatekeepers impels them to do so. Through focus-group interviews with staff of homeless shelters in eight urban communities in one Midwestern state, this study explored the collaboration and communication between homeless shelters and public libraries. Findings indicate that homeless shelter staff recognize the value of public library services for their residents but do not engage in coordinated efforts to capitalize on it. Suggestions for enhanced collaboration between the two institutions are included.     

(2) Annual Report of the President 1972–1973

This study examines the development of six state university libraries in the Arab Gulf countries of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates. Despite the relatively short history of higher education in these countries, these libraries have made some significant progress. It should be noted that in terms of library organization, size of collections, number of staff, service activities, and computer applications, these libraries are considered by default the main libraries in their respective countries. At present, only Saudi Arabia has a national library.

This study employed a survey questionnaire which was sent to all Gulf university libraries to identify and gather pertinent and current information necessary to establish an accurate profile on each one of these libraries.

The study provides basic information on library organization and analysis of collections, services, staffing, budgeting, expenditures, automation, and information technology. The study findings suggest that further research is needed to examine and evaluate collections, service activities and instructional programs, staff development and training, co-operation among Arab Gulf universities, and library education programs in the region.     

Accessibility and Utilization of Electronic Information Resources for Research by Academic Staff at Selected Nigerian Universities Between 2005 and 2012

This paper explored the extent of the accessibility and utilization of electronic resources by academic staff at two Nigerian universities: the University of Calabar and the University of Ibadan. A quantitative research method was adopted in the study and a questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection. The study population comprised 2035 academic staff at the surveyed universities, and a sample size of 586 academics was used in the study. A total of 324 completed copies of the questionnaires were retrieved and used for data analysis representing a response rate of 55.3%. The findings of the study revealed a poor electronic information environment at the surveyed universities. There was no significant influence of demographic variables (discipline, gender, age, education and professional rank) on the accessibility and utilization of electronic resources among respondents in the survey. The paper concluded that an increase in investment in ICT facilities by university management will lead to improvement in electronic information environment at the surveyed universities and recommended that, Nigerian universities should considerably increase their investments in ICT infrastructural facilities to be in line with the emerging digital trend at universities around the world.     

《欧洲学术研究图书馆科研数据服务》调查对我国高校图书馆科研数据服务的启示

[目的/意义] 科研数据的管理和服务已被视为高校图书馆和学术图书馆的重要任务之一,参考借鉴国外相关经验能够促进我国高校图书馆科研数据服务的研究和实践。[方法/过程] 从科研数据服务类型、馆长观念和馆员培训及RDS相关合作与学科支持等方面,详解最新发布的《欧洲学术研究图书馆科研数据服务》调查情况。[结果/结论] 结合国内相关研究及发展状况,归纳科研数据服务的要素和流程,并从RDS内部要素发展、RDS合作关系管理以及RDS服务类型选择等方面,对我国高校图书馆的科研数据服务发展提出建议。     

Barriers and opportunities for research in publishing studies

This paper reports findings from an international survey into the research involvement and support of university teaching staff in a relatively new profession‐orientated discipline, publishing studies (PS). It uses these findings to consider barriers and opportunities for academic research both specifically in PS and more broadly in other profession‐orientated disciplines. Greater understanding was felt to be of value as universities internationally are increasingly being pressurized to create close links with the wider economy, produce employable students, and encourage relevant and implementable research. The survey suggests that while there is strong agreement among respondents that it is beneficial for those teaching PS to be research‐active, there was considerable variation in current levels of research activity. Respondents rated their research activity highest in departments with an active research culture and effective research support processes. Lack of time was the main reason cited for reduced or non‐involvement in academic research and while this is a common issue for academics, PS respondents isolated a number of exacerbating factors. Suggestions are offered for addressing identified barriers and pursuing new opportunities for research. The paper argues that as research outputs of academics are increasingly monitored it is important to consider how the full range of disciplines housed within institutions can be accommodated within research support. Overall, the research has a strong relevance for interdisciplinary areas, and other profession‐ and practice‐orientated subjects within universities.     

网络环境下高校图书馆职工价值取向的研究

网络技术的迅速发展,为高校图书馆职工思想政治教育带来了挑战和机遇.本文分析了网络环境下,图书馆职工价值取向变化的新特点和产生原因,并提出高校图书馆思想政治工作的相应对策.     

Correlates of staff motivation,satisfaction, and job performance of library staff in selected Nigerian University libraries

Abstract

This study examined staff motivation, satisfaction, and job performance among the librarians and library staff in six selected university libraries in Nigeria. The target population for the study includes the professionals and nonprofessional library staff. A total enumeration sampling technique was used to select 180 respondents, which represent the sample for the study. Data was collected using a self-designed questionnaire titled “Staff Motivation, Satisfaction and Job Performance Questionnaire” (SMSJPQ). Six research questions were developed and answered by the study. The results indicate that librarian and library staff are highly motivated with regular pay while the least motivational factor is frequent interaction with their friends. Library staff are primarily satisfied with their jobs when they are in constant link with their friends. Professional library staff significantly experience better work motivation than their nonprofessional counterparts. Significant correlation exists between staff motivation and job performance and between job satisfaction and job performance. In addition, the two factors (motivation and satisfaction) exert significant contribution to the determinant of librarians and library staff job performance. Based on the findings, the study recommended improvement in the level of motivation of nonprofessionals so that the significant difference with the professional counterpart would not be so much pronounced.     

Building student employability through interdisciplinary collaboration: an Australian Case Study

Abstract

Given that graduate employment is a clear outcome of education success, there is an urgent need to conceptualize course design strategically to maximize students’ chances of employment. In this paper, we present an Australian case study in which we used a structured career information literacy learning approach to build employability in a biological sciences capstone course, through collaboration between the university library, academics, and career service. We report the context, method, measurement, outcomes of collaboration, and roles of contributors in this partnership. This case study lends itself to potential ways of incorporating career information literacy into an academic context.     

Identifying the Serials Librarian: Serials-Related Position Titles in the United States and Around the World

Serials are a familiar academic job responsibility, but serials librarians are becoming difficult to identify. While serials continue to exist, the transition from print to electronic resources contributes to a trend in which the job titles of librarians who manage serials no longer include the word “serials.” A content analysis was conducted to examine the prevalence of the word “serials,” as well as common synonyms including “continuing resources” and “periodicals,” in U.S. and non-U.S. academic library job titles. In a sample of 98 U.S. national and regional universities and colleges, 18 librarian and 98 staff job titles were found that included the word “serials” or a synonym for serials. By comparison, a sample of 71 universities from 8 non-U.S. countries revealed 17 librarian and 85 staff job titles that included the word “serials” or a synonym for serials.     

Writing for Publication and the Role of the Library: “Do Have a Cow,Man!” (“Don't Have a Cow,Man”-Bart Simpson)

The aim of this small-scale research project was to identify the main concerns of editors, academics, researchers, and librarians involved in the writing for publication (WfP) process. This would provide library and information services (LIS) staff with a clearer understanding of the process to enable them to articulate and develop their own role in supporting this activity. A novel “one thing” approach was used to determine the perspectives of editors, researchers, librarians, and research students on key issues surrounding WfP. The results indicate that there are many opportunities for LIS staff to contribute to the WfP process. One major concern which emerged was just how isolated researchers could feel. Suggestion: Having a CoW (Community of Writers) in the library could provide a potential LIS role. Another best practice to support WfP is also identified.     

A place to call home?: A qualitative exploration of public librarians' response to homelessness

Labeled “third-sector” community organizations, public libraries serve homeless individuals by default. Using focus group interview data with library personnel, this qualitative study explored how public libraries in 8 urban and suburban communities in one Midwestern state perceived and served homeless patrons. Three themes emerged: (1) the recognition that libraries serve as makeshift shelters, (2) the inconsistent implementation of code of conduct policy regarding homeless patrons; and (3) innovative “under the radar” responses by administration and staff to resolve the tensions enacted by the presence of homeless persons in library facilities. Recommendations for staff training, internal policy revision, and enhanced collaboration between social service agency and public library staff are provided.     

基于核心-边缘结构的国际科技合作网络分析——以纳米科技（1996-2004年）为例

以1996-2004年间国际纳米科技合作的SCIE数据为例，利用社会网络理论中的连续核心-边缘模型描绘国际科技合作网络。基于核心度，划分合作网络中的核心国家和边缘国家，并量化各国在国际合作网络中的相对位置变化。另外，分别利用MDS分析和因子分析揭示核心国家与边缘国家的合作信息，比较两种方法的差异。认为该分析框架对核心-边缘结构分析具有普遍意义，对纳米科技的实证分析也具有现实意义。