Meeting Students Where They Are: Just in Time Embedded Delivery of Information and Digital Literacy Skills

Abstract

At the University of Wollongong (UOW) Library we have been exploring ways to deliver information and digital literacy resources at point of need for students. Aligned with the University’s strategic direction, the Future Ready Library Strategy points to a digital first mindset and its application to services and resources offered to the UOW community. Combined with the need to embrace the real life challenges faced by higher education students in Australia today, this has led us to develop a suite of digital learning objects in collaboration with teaching academics that can be delivered at scale, enabling a sustainable way to target student needs. In this article, we discuss the drivers that have brought UOW Library to this point and outline the model for learning and teaching support for our academic community into the future.     

基于CNKI的学科知识服务平台构建与学科化服务研究

利用CNKI机构数字图书馆的机构学科子馆构建学科知识服务平台。论述该平台与其他学科化服务系统相比,具有全面整合学科资源与服务、互动性强等优点;指出该平台可以整合包括馆藏学科资源、CNKI数据库资源、学科导航、定题服务、投稿指南、参考咨询在内的资源及服务,为图书馆开展优质学科化服务奠定良好的基础,有利于提高高校图书馆学科化服务的水平。     

Out with the Old,In with the New: Best Practices for Replacing Library Signage

Abstract

Creating Web research guides is an effective way to distribute the research expertise and resource knowledge of reference librarians. Using a Web reference guide for Pittsburgh history resources, the author demonstrates that reference librarians can play an integral role not only in the promotion of community resources, but also in the teaching and research of local history. Examples of the Web pages are included, as well as the rationale for the arrangement and inclusion of particular resources and research tips.     

Virtual Reference Services

Summary

Traditional reference services are changing in response to the rapid growth of electronic resources available outside of the library. There are an increasing number of libraries that are providing digital reference services to meet the demands and expectations of remote users. This article provides an overview of virtual reference services at Louisiana State University (LSU) Libraries. It also examines the planning, implementation, marketing and user feedback of real time reference service after its first year.     

Balancing Statewide and Local Digital Reference Service

Abstract

As digital and chat reference services become established as another way to do business, many libraries juggle the delivery of consortial and local virtual reference services. Balancing services without overtaxing staff and resources presents a number of challenges. How, for example, do libraries staff more than one chat reference service in addition to traditional services? Or more critically, how are subject specialists used to their greatest advantage in a multi-type library service? This article explores the benefits and issues of offering service at the statewide and local level based on OSU's experience and describes how OSU responded to these issues.     

Scheduling Technical Services Staff at the Reference Desk

Summary

New reference desk staffing configurations are required as reference service evolves from locating in-library resources to using and teaching the use of electronic resources. The tangible and intangible benefits achieved by scheduling technical services staff to assist at the reference desk are discussed. Intangible benefits include improved library service due to technical services staff expertise, and greater flexibility for reference desk staffing. The reference staff can also learn more about the automated library system and current processing initiatives from their technical services colleagues. Technical services staff benefits from seeing the results of their work in a public services setting and experiencing the satisfaction of helping users locate needed information. A stronger sense of library service is instilled in the “back room.” Technical services staff will also enjoy more challenge, opportunity, and variety in their work. Some tangible benefits realized at the University of Minnesota's Bio-Medical Library, which are directly related to the scheduling of technical services staff at the reference desk, are also briefly described.     

Digital Reference in Slavic and East European Studies with an Examination of Practice at the University of Illinois and the Library of Congress

SUMMARY

This article presents a survey of digital reference trends in the United States with an emphasis on services for Slavic and East European studies. It is based on the author's experience as a Slavic reference librarian at the University of Illinois (Slavic Reference Service) and the Library of Congress (European Division). Topics include the conflict between print and digital resources, coping with electronic serials, full-text databases and websites, digital communication tools such as e-mail, chat, and web forms, the proliferation of websites from Eastern Europe and the NIS, and opportunities for bibliographic instruction via the web. The article concludes with suggestions for keeping current and ideas for possible reference collaboration among Slavic and East European studies librarians.     

Costing Reference

Abstract

The Assessing Quality in Digital Reference project is a first step toward understanding the cost of digital reference services in libraries. This article presents three measures isolated by project participants as being most useful for their immediate needs: total cost of providing digital reference service, the cost of digital reference service as a percent of the total reference budget, and the cost of reference as a percent of the total library or organizational budget. In addition, it reviews selected outstanding issues in the ongoing question of how to determine the cost of reference services in libraries and offers direction for further study toward a general cost model for information services.     

Bad Moon Rising

Summary

The profound impact of digital reference claimed by its proponents is overstated. Librarians tend to overvalue technology, assume its intrinsic value in improving library operations and services, and undervalue the human factor of librarian expertise and professional competence. Overstating the impact of trends within librarianship is a cyclically recurring phenomenon and the hype surrounding digital reference is a current example. In most libraries, the adoption of digital reference is not likely to be cost effective nor its utility an improvement on structures already in place and functioning well. Librarians have difficult decisions to make regarding the allocation of resources. The superiority of traditional reference approaches should not be gainsaid by misdirected emphasis on digital reference.     

中美高校数字图书馆教学参考资源比较研究

教学参考资源是高等学校师生在实施教与学的过程中一种重要的文献资源,也是高校图书馆为教学提供服务最直接最重要的体现。本文通过调查10所中关高校数字图书馆,比较我国和美国高校图书馆教学参考资源的特点,分析它们之间的差异,正确认识我国高校图书馆教学参考服务的发展状况,以促进我国高校图书馆教学参考服务事业的发展。     

数字化文献的知识解构研究

数字化文献解构模式及其理论是对于把固化在数字化文献中的知识对象化地解析成基于范畴和相关关联的本体概念体系的方法和理论的总和。知识解构理论还包括解构的逆过程,即知识的重构。参考文献4。     

Helping Public Library Patrons Find Medical Information-The Reference Interview

Abstract

Public libraries are often the first access point for additional information resources on health and medical topics. We, as librarians, must be aware of our role in the information seeking process, and communicate with the patron effectively in order to direct them to appropriate resources. Particular attention must be given in the reference interview, including adequate follow-up support and consideration for protecting confidentiality. This paper discusses elements of the reference interview and describes measures that can be taken to avoid personal liability while directing patrons to health information resources.     

Academic Library Outreach Through Faculty Partnerships and Web-Based Research Aids

Summary

Electronic library services and myriad online resources are shifting the roles and workloads of academic reference librarians. Reallocation of staffing through a differentiated reference desk service model provides time to author curriculum-centered online research guides and tutorials, bibliographies, and webliographies. The expanding electronic information environment also opens new opportunities for teaching partnerships with university faculty. This article showcases a librarian's collaborative work with a history professor, noting student benefits/reactions and implications for future collaboration.     

面向科学研究的个人数字图书馆服务融合

数字化环境下,数字图书馆开始重视为用户构建个人数字图书馆以提供个性化服务,但现有服务未能适应用户的科研创新需求。本文基于面向科研的个人数字图书馆服务融合目标,认为服务融合可综合利用概念图的知识结构展示与知识管理优势、知识图谱的研究热点与趋势描述优势以及电子资源门户的资源获取优势。研究结合Pipes技术框架,选取Conceptmaps、Citespace和Metalib/SFX为服务融合对象,构建了面向科学研究的个人数字图书馆的服务融合模型。进一步使用Yahoo!Pipes工具实施服务融合,实现知识管理、查新和资源获取服务的融合应用,并从知识产权和个性化设置角度深化服务融合的实施保障。图6。参考文献23。     

A Checklist for Starting and Operating a Digital Reference Desk

Summary

This article explores digital reference and offers practical advice to those interested in implementing a digital reference desk in their library. Digital/chat/online reference services are defined and practical guidelines on staffing, selecting and troubleshooting hardware and software, training, and marketing are offered for those establishing such a service.     

The Web of Life: Natural Science Information on the Internet

Summary

As society has come to equate economic prosperity with the health of our living resources, national science policy has called for the development of a comprehensive digital knowledge base to support informed decision making and wise resource management. The Internet and World Wide Web demonstrate the earliest stages of this evolving virtual library of the natural world, offering an increasing array of high-quality, innovative resources and services in the natural science arena. This article discusses the leading providers of natural science information on the Internet and highlights some of the exemplary resources they are delivering online. The discussion concludes with a brief discussion of the role of the librarian in developing the Web of natural science knowledge online and provides a short Webliography of starting points for further exploration of this subject area.     

Training and Retraining Reference Professionals

Summary

In the academic reference environment transformed by electronic technologies, budgetary constraints, and a vast array of new information resources, the author maintains that reference librarians need training and retraining in the following core competencies: reference skills and subject knowledge, communication and interpersonal abilities, technological skills and knowledge, analytic and critical thinking skills, supervisory and management skills, and commitment to user services. The author considers each core competency in the context of the most important factors responsible for continuing changes in the training and retraining of reference professionals. Although responsibility for providing continuing education opportunities resides with library managers, in the end, each reference librarian must assume responsibility for acquiring new knowledge and developing new skills. As librarianship moves towards the 21st century, librarians must educate themselves to survive in the evolving Information Society.     

The Way We Work Now

Abstract

As the Government Printing Office completes its transition to an electronic distribution system for government information, reference services within the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) are changing as well. In addition to meeting new user needs and using new resources to do so, many government information librarians find themselves working in new environments within their libraries. Throughout the 1990s, many FDLP institutions reorganized reference services in order to provide government information assistance at the library's main reference service point. This article reports the results of a survey of FDLP institutions identifying the factors contributing to the reorganization of services, the process and success of reorganizing within these libraries, and the pros and cons of these service arrangements.     

User Navigation in Large-Scale Distributed Digital Libraries: The Case of the Digital Public Library of America

ABSTRACT

This article presents the findings of a case study that examined user navigation in a large-scale digital library in the context of academic use. Using the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) as a case, the study explored user navigation and understanding of a distributed model of large-scale digital libraries. The DPLA model involves two- or three-step navigation pathways. Most study participants could navigate the DPLA distributed, multilayered system effectively. This study found some confusion among the participants when they must move through a three-step process to locate digital objects provided by a metadata aggregator service hub. The study participants also pointed out the advantages of a distributed model in collocating digital resources and connecting users to a wide range of digital libraries.