Measuring the economic impact of the British library

Assessing the British Library's contribution to the national economy is a complex matter, requiring consideration of a number of different dimensions. First, the value added by the Library takes many forms—economic, cultural, social and intellectual. Second, the British Library adds value both to those who use our products and services directly, and to the wider UK population who benefit indirectly from the Library's existence and the services it provides. Traditionally, attempts to assess these benefits have taken the form of qualitative case studies—telling good stories, but failing to provide a comprehensive evaluation. But now a technique supported by the Nobel Prize winning economists, Kenneth Arrow and Robert Solow, permits a coherent quantitative evaluation of the total benefit to the nation of publicly funded institutions and programmes. Recognising the value of this technique, the British Library commissioned a groundbreaking research study to estimate the impact of the Library on the UK economy. The study demonstrates that the Library generates value of around 4.4 times the level of its annual public funding of £83m. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first time the ‘Contingent Valuation’ technique has been used to derive a figure for the overall economic impact of a national or major research library.     

Measuring the quality of reference services provided by paraprofessionals at an academic library

The goals of this research study are: 1) to investigate the level of complexity of chat reference questions; 2) to measure the performance of paraprofessional reference staff based on answer correctness and patron interactions; and 3) to use this data to assess the overall effectiveness of the triage reference-services model currently used by all three campus libraries of MCPHS University. A team of five reference librarians conducted a retrospective two-year evaluation of live-chat reference transactions. The questions' complexity was evaluated using the Reference Effort Assessment Data (READ) scale, while the answer correctness and patron interactions were scored using a rubric. The study provides data in support of the triage reference-services model and evidence that, with proper training, paraprofessional reference assistants can offer high-quality reference services for academic libraries' patrons.     

Measuring patrons' technology habits: an evidence-based approach to tailoring library services

Librarians continually integrate new technologies into library services for health sciences students. Recently published data are lacking about student ownership of technological devices, awareness of new technologies, and interest in using devices and technologies to interact with the library. A survey was implemented at seven health sciences libraries to help answer these questions. Results show that librarian assumptions about awareness of technologies are not supported, and student interest in using new technologies to interact with the library varies widely. Collecting this evidence provides useful information for successfully integrating technologies into library services.     

为图书馆围上“围脖”

“围脖”是微博客的代名词。微博客是web2．0时代兴起的一种新兴传播形式,它支持手机、浏览器、及时通讯软件等多种发布渠道,实现跨平台交流。图书馆可以利用微博客开展互动的读者服务、信息传播、学术交流等工作,将真正实现“图书馆元处不在”。     

Measuring the value and impact of health library and information services: past reflections, future possibilities

Objectives: To summarize the context, history and results of research studies conducted on the value and impact of health library and information services by the author since 1975 and to use this as a basis for examining ongoing developments related to evaluation research. To provide a comprehensive bibliography of library value and impact studies. Methods: Literature review and background based on personal involvement in the studies under discussion. Results: The author's studies demonstrate an ongoing evolution of value and impact studies since the mid‐1970s. In health sciences libraries, the approach taken to measuring value and impact has been strongly influenced by the type of research being conducted in the health sciences field as a whole. As a result, health sciences library researchers have become early adopters of methods that incorporate outcome and impact measures and rigorous research designs, and the concept of evidence‐based library and information practice. The paper recommends that a range of research approaches from various disciplines be used to guide future evaluation research. Conclusions: Value and impact studies will continue to be important resources for evidence‐based practice as health information professionals deal with evolving user needs and new ways of delivering information to a variety of audiences.     

Stakeholders' stake and relation to smartness in smart city development: Insights from a Swedish city planning project

Many of today's city planning projects aim to realize smart city ambitions. In order to plan and build a smart city district, where ICT is integrated in critical infrastructure and used to control and govern city functions in innovative ways, new ways of working in city planning are needed. The purpose of this article is to develop a framework that takes into account stakeholders and smartness dimensions in city planning. We have studied a city district development in Sweden where a new planning approach was implemented. The developed framework was used to analyze the complexity of this city planning process. By defining which smartness dimension each stakeholder primarily focus on and analyzing the consequences of this, the framework pinpoints each stakeholder's contribution and/or hindrance to the process and outcome. A recommendation from this study is that new stakeholder groups are important to involve in smart city planning, but this also adds complexity that must be acknowledged when setting up this kind of projects. The developed framework can be useful when organizing and staffing city planning processes as well as when evaluating project outcomes.     

The work of a special library: The experience of the library of the Kenya National Museum

The article provides a detailed account of the challenges of an information professional in a special library. Reference has been made to a developing country simply because librarians in the third world have yet to be accorded proper recognition in the society. In an attempt to understand the environment in which a special librarian operates, definitions and characteristics of special libraries have been attempted. In the final analysis, it is evident that the challenges of a special librarian are by far different from those of his colleagues in other libraries, e.g. academic and public libraries.     

The work of a special library: The experience of the library of the Kenya National Museum

The article provides a detailed account of the challenges of an information professional in a special library. Reference has been made to a developing country simply because librarians in the third world have yet to be accorded proper recognition in the society. In an attempt to understand the environment in which a special librarian operates, definitions and characteristics of special libraries have been attempted. In the final analysis, it is evident that the challenges of a special librarian are by far different from those of his colleagues in other libraries, e.g. academic and public libraries.     

有声图书馆:资源服务的新模式

有声图书馆的出现不仅创新了图书馆资源服务模式,而且以独特的优势在国内外图书馆界得到迅速发展,在促进图书馆服务理念更新、整合服务资源、拓展服务内容、延伸服务方式等方面起到了一定的作用.高校图书馆充分利用有声图书馆的资源,为读者提供全新的"阅听"服务体验,是图书馆资源建设和服务模式的创新.     

Development of methodologic tools for planning and managing library services. II. Measuring a library's capability for providing documents

A method of measuring a library's capability for providing the documents its users need has been developed. The library is tested with a representative sample of such documents to determine how long would be required for users to obtain these documents. Test results are expressed in terms of a Capability Index, which has a maximal value of 100 only if all the sample documents are found "on shelf." Specific tests employing samples of 300 documents have been developed that are appropriate for academic and for "reservoir" biomedical libraries. Realistic field trials have demonstrated that these two tests are practical to administer and that test results are adequately reproducible. When strict comparability is not important, a library can test itself. In assessing a reservoir library, test results are supplemented by data on its typical processing time for interlibrary loan requests. Currently these tests are being used in a national survey. The general method is applicable to other types of libraries, provided appropriate test samples are established. If their limitations are clearly understood, these "Document Delivery Tests" can be valuable tools for planning and managing library services.     

试论数字图书馆的合理使用

数字图书馆的出现为图书馆的发展带来了无限生机,但它对原有的版权制度的冲击也是空前的.本文阐明了数字技术、网络技术对合理使用制度的影响,论述了数字图书馆对作品合理使用的必要性、合理使用的范围等问题.     

Interlending in a university library: The KFUPM library experience

This paper describes the statistics of 1340 inter-library loan/photocopy (ILL) requests processed by the Reference & Information Services Division of the King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) Library, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia from 1 April 1985 to 31 March 1986. The objective of compiling the statistics is to assess the weak and strong areas of the library’s collection so that necessary steps may be taken to balance the collection. Also, it is hoped that these statistics would provide valuable results which will help in managing ILL in future as the number of ILL requests are increasing every year.     

MyLibrary:个性化图书馆的实现

文章介绍了MyLibrary的定义、特点和功能,以一些大学为代表简述了国外MyLibrary研究概况以及国内图书馆个性化服务发展阶段,并分析了今后发展的趋势。文章提出了MyLibrary用户模型建立方案和功能设计。     

From closet to library in the community hospital: remodeling a hospital medical library

Halifax District Hospital's Medical Library, Daytona Beach, Florida was altered from two dingy rooms to a modern, well-equipped Medical Library twice its former size by its maintenance men in six months time, with the help of the librarian's sketches and an architect student from the junior college to draw the plans.A complete renovation was done, eighteen-inch walls between rooms being demolished, plumbing, ceiling, and windows removed. These were all replaced with walnut-paneled walls, special 125 candle-power lighted ceiling, retractable shelves, more shelves for periodicals and books, wall-to-wall carpeting and fashionable decor. New furniture, tape recorders, and TWX were made possible by a Medical Library Resource Grant.The official opening was six months from the first day of renovation, with ribbon cutting, guests, hospital personnel, and a reporter from the newspaper to take pictures for an article about the most modern medical library in Volusia County.The new Medical Library is in the "core" of the Medical Education Department with space for five years growth.     

Implementing PDA technology in a medical library: experiences in a hospital library and an academic medical center library

Personal digital assistants (PDAs) have grown from being a novelty in the late 1990s to an essential tool for healthcare professionals in the 2000s. This paper describes the experiences of a librarian who implemented PDA technology first in a hospital library, and then at an academic medical center library. It focuses on the role of the library in supporting PDA technology and resources. Included are programmatic issues such as training for library staff and clinicians, and technical issues such as Palm and Windows operating systems. This model could be used in either a hospital or academic health sciences library.     

Report of a cooperative venture between the China Medical University library and the medical library of McGill University

In March/April 1986, the medical library at McGill University in Montreal, Canada signed a cooperative agreement with the China Medical University (CMU) Library in Shenyang, China. This paper analyzes the operations of the CMU library within the context of the Chinese system of medical education, health care delivery, and medical librarianship. The CMU library is described in terms of collections, cataloging procedures, filing, public services (reference, bibliographic instruction, circulation, copy service), interlibrary loans, networking, conservation of materials, and personnel. Some interesting comparisons are made between the two libraries with respect to holdings, services provided, and training of staff. The plans for future cooperation are outlined.