Plowing in Rocky Land: Organizational Culture, Managed Change, and Quality Improvement in Selected Romanian Post-Communist Libraries

Romanian libraries have had a rich heritage of collecting and preserving materials in the domains of national and foreign history, literature, art, and science. During the communist regime they served as propaganda tools for the government's Marxist ideology. In post-communist Romania, there is a desire among some librarians to promote change from a system of limited access to information to a more open system that focuses on quality improvement of library services, operations, and organization. In their efforts to overcome the communist legacy to libraries in their country, some Romanian librarians—with local resources and support from international agencies—are implementing western managerial styles and services. This case study reflects the results, assessments, and recommendations from a survey conducted at a workshop of selected Romanian librarians in August 1998. Considerations for the implementation of needed changes are also included.     

松竹挺立群木依梅兰香沁满庭芳--浅谈新时期高校图书馆共产党员的先进性

文章论述了新时期高校图书馆共产党员从思想上、行动上体现自身的先进性,以确保并促进文献信息服务工作向纵深处发展.     

The academic library: Structure,space, physical and virtual use

This mixed-methods study aims to characterize the appropriate structure of the academic library in the information age according to the perceptions of the faculty members who use the library and the academic librarians operating it. Two main issues were addressed: centralization versus decentralization, and the provision of physical versus virtual services. The study population included members of the faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences in three academic institutions in Israel and academic librarians working in these institutions. Qualitative data was collected through interviews with 20 faculty members and 15 librarians, while quantitative data was collected through questionnaires filled by 191 faculty members and 50 librarians in the above-mentioned institutions. Analysis of these data reveal that faculty members generally prefer a concentration of materials—rather than decentralization—and they show a similar preference toward a faculty library model, a combined faculty/departmental library model, and a central library model. Similarly, the academic librarians prefer either faculty or combined faculty/department libraries, but their preference toward a central library model is lower than that of the faculty members. The decentralized, departmental library model was the least favored by both groups. In addition, our findings indicate that both the faculty members and the librarians appreciate the virtual services that the library provides as well as its physical presence, although fewer faculty members than librarians perceived the latter as an important role of the library. Taken together it appears that the preferred model for the academic library in the information age is of large, multidisciplinary libraries that contain materials from a variety of fields and provide comprehensive virtual services.     

Libraries in transition: How librarians in Mongolia are re-visioning the role of libraries in the new democracy,a case study

This paper reports on a study that sought to understand the effects of transition on librarians' perception of their role in Mongolian society. Ten librarians were interviewed by a native Mongolian speaker in the summer of 2006 in Ulaanbaatar. Findings from the study indicate that libraries are emerging from the difficulties of the transition period, which eroded the role of libraries and resulted in declining library services and readership, severely reduced library budgets, the closing of many libraries, and the laying off of hundreds of librarians. In contrast to socialist times, Mongolian librarians currently believe that libraries should respond to the demands of its users, provide proactive information services, and help individuals achieve their own personal goals. The main obstacles they see to achieving the kinds of services they would like to offer are lack of funding, inadequate government policy towards libraries, and centralization of the budget. The librarians have absorbed many of the attitudes prevalent during economic transition to the point where even the language of the market place has permeated library discourse.     

国内外高校图书馆学科服务的对比分析-基于国外iSchool联盟和国内“985”高校图书馆的调查

[目的/意义] 从我国高校图书馆的学科服务入手,找到与国外高校图书馆学科服务的异同点,发现我国学科服务的特点及与国外存在的差距,并提出相应建议,引导我国高校图书馆更好地开展学科服务。[方法/过程] 笔者采用调查分析和比较研究的方法,通过访问各高校图书馆主页以及与部分图书馆员联系,结合相关资料的查阅,分析该图书馆开展学科服务的情况并进行总结,从学科服务在门户网站上的所属路径、学科服务模式、学科服务平台、学科服务内容及学科馆员设置等几个方面进行对比分析。[结果/结论] 国内高校图书馆的学科服务建设程度整体上较为薄弱,但部分高校有其特色;国内外学科服务的内容相似,但在服务模式、学科服务平台的建设及学科馆员的设置存在差异。     

关于高校图书馆馆员素质的几个问题

在图书馆的诸多要素中,馆员是最重要的要素,因为图书馆的各项工作和服务都是由馆员来完成的,也就是说,只有高素质的馆员才能生产出高水平的工作和服务。本文针对高校图书馆馆员素质不高的现状,提出了提高馆员素质的有效途径和方法。     

论开展学科馆员服务工作的几个关键问题——在CALIS第一期学科馆员培训班后的再思考

大多数图书馆都开展了学科馆员服务,但有些非常重要的问题被图书馆界的研究者们忽略了。例如,学科馆员应具备专业背景,以支撑学科馆员服务工作;图书馆应确立馆藏资源建设在学科馆员制度中的核心地位,明确学科馆员从事具体资源采选工作的职责;图书馆应建设合理、完善的学科馆员考核制度、激励机制。     

Digital Publishing from the Library: A New Core Competency

In the earlier years of the Web, libraries focused on moving services online and building digital collections, but in recent years, libraries have emerged as key players in the world of digital publishing. Librarians possess all of the necessary skills to act as digital publishers; they join the ranks of many others who have discovered the barriers around digital publishing are lower than ever. Library-based digital publishing solutions have matured to a point that the act of digital publishing could—and should—become a new core competency for the library profession. To explore this hypothesis, the researchers offer a working definition of digital publishing and assess the key roles that traditional publishers have historically offered over time. They find that librarians already possess the requisite skills to become digital publishers, and the collaborative culture of the library profession is a strength for this new role. Examples of digital publishing from two libraries at the University of California-Berkeley offer a proof of concept. Services at these libraries include the conceptualization of overall Web site strategies, a content plan that emphasizes distinctive and original material, and special projects that promote digital publishing at the local level, even as they take advantage of campus- or system-level services. Researchers find that offering library-based Web publishing services can reinforce overall information management programs and also advance the status of libraries within their respective host organizations. The comparative ease of digital publishing has opened an opportunity for librarians to follow the user as they use the Web in creative ways.     

MSW Interns and Public Libraries: Enhancing Services through Interdisciplinary Collaboration

While the collaborative trend among professional social workers and librarians gains traction and attention, literature about the utilization of student social workers partnering with libraries is non-existent. Over 64,000 students are currently enrolled in master-level social work (MSW) programs throughout the United States and nearly all are required to complete at least 900?hours of fieldwork. Such students provide untapped skills, knowledge, and values that can help address the broader—and very real—needs of patrons. By reaching out to MSW programs, public librarians play a critical role in helping advance tolerance for a diversity of people and much-needed services. While the professional values and ethics of both librarianship and social work have strong overlap, librarians can invite social work students to partner with them; particularly as libraries are still considered nontraditional service points. MSW students can work with libraries to expand programing, strengthen outreach, and enhance the professional development of both social workers and librarians to the benefit of marginalized patrons.     

Reference Librarians in the Information Age:

Reference service has existed in public and academic libraries for over one hundred years, but as libraries move into an age of increasing technology, many traditional methods for providing reference service will no longer be adequate. By examinmg reference services of the past and present, reference librarians can learn from the mistakes and successes of their predecessors to better plan for the future. Reference librarians must be committed to retaining the most successful ideas from the past and giving up the least successful. This critical examination of past services must also be coupled with a visionary and risk-taking outlook for what is needed in the future if reference librarians are to remain a vital part of the information age.     

Work of the Web Weavers: Web Development in Academic Libraries

Although the library's Web site has become a standard tool for seeking information and conducting research in academic institutions, there are a variety of ways libraries approach the often challenging—and sometimes daunting—process of Web site development and maintenance. Three librarians at Western Michigan University explored issues related to this topic by conducting a Web-based survey, which was sent to two librarians—Web services and reference/public services—at 149 academic institutions. Survey findings are discussed, including references to Web departments and committees, priority setting, Web authoring, soliciting input, outsourcing, content management systems, redesigns, and user involvement. The participants’ insights regarding the greatest challenges and what seems to be working or not working well are also outlined, in addition to the authors’ suggestions for future research in this area.     

CALIS学科馆员培训的探索与实践

学科化服务是近年来国内高校图书馆服务重点探索的热点。为全面提升我国高校图书馆的整体服务,尤其是学科化服务水平,强化馆员在图书馆转型变革期的综合素质和服务能力,CALIS三期建设项目特别设立了“馆员素养培训与资质认证”子项目,希望以科学规划、理论指导、实践探索为模式,针对图书馆馆长和馆员,通过现场授课、远程培训、在线研讨、头脑风暴、主题研修、地区巡讲、访问馆员等方式,全面、系统地开展以学科化服务为主导的图书馆服务创新培训,取得了良好的成效和反响。文章在回顾了国内外高校图书馆学科化服务的基本态势后,详细介绍YCALIS子项目的实施情况和收获,展望了知识服务对图书馆员的新要求,提出了CALIS馆员培训的下一步设想。     

Dutch library services to disadvantaged persons

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Integration of information professionals in the newsroom: Two organizational models for research services

Closings have led some to suggest that news libraries are in crisis and require significant changes. In an effort to provide better service, some news libraries assign news librarians, or researchers, to editorial teams, increasing their visibility among the reporters they serve. Other organizations maintain centralized research services, focusing instead on expanding their influence as a team. This article describes a study of four news organizations, two that have adopted the integrated team model and two that provide centralized information services exclusively. Although only minor differences are observed based upon the organizational model in place, there is some evidence that news researchers who are proactive and integrated within the organizational function are more valued by these journalists.     

The Effect of Information Brokers on Reference Services:

Twenty-four public and academic reference librarians were surveyed for the purpose of obtaining information about the services if any, that they currently provide for information brokers, the appropriateness of providing reference services for those who market the information obtained, and whether or not reference departments of public and academic libraries should provide competing fee based reference services. Few public or academic librarians objected to providing reference services for information brokers. Academic reference librarians expressed the view that service should not interfere with services for their primary clientele. Public reference librarians generally held the opinion that their services should be available to all and had already been provided for with public funds. Both public and academic reference librarians expressed concern about qualifications of some commercial suppliers of information as this effected their relationship with them. Public reference librarians were of the opinion that information brokers did not compete with the library and the library should be hesitant about providing fee based reference services. Academic reference librarians were divided in their opinoins about the latter.     

Biotechnology awareness study, Part 2: Meeting the information needs of biotechnologists

The second part of the biotechnology awareness study focused on health sciences libraries and how well they are meeting the needs of biotechnologists working in the study's nine medical centers. A survey was conducted over a three-month period to assess the demand for biotechnology-related reference services at nine libraries and the sources the librarians used to answer the questions. Data on monographic and current serial holdings were also collected. At the end of the survey period, librarians were asked for their perceptions about biotechnology research at their institutions and in their geographic areas. Their responses were compared to the responses the scientists at the nine schools gave to the same or similar questions. Results showed few biotechnology-related reference questions were asked of the librarians. The recorded questions dealt with a range of biotechnology subjects. MEDLINE was used to answer 77% of the questions received during the survey period. More detailed notes in MeSH and a guide to online searching for biotechnology topics were suggested by the librarians as ways to improve reference service to this group of researchers. Journal collections were generally strong, with libraries owning from 50% to 87% of the titles on a core list of biotechnology journals compiled for this study. All libraries subscribed to the five titles most often cited by the scientists surveyed. Generally, librarians were unaware of the biotechnology-related research being done on their campuses or in their geographic areas.     

巡回参考咨询服务——图书馆参考咨询服务的新模式

相对于传统的咨询台服务而言,巡回参考咨询服务是一种馆员主动向用户提供参考咨询服务的方式。近年来,巡回参考咨询服务被国外高校图书馆和公共图书馆广泛采用,并取得了良好的效果。我国图书馆在开展巡回参考咨询服务时应结合图书馆实际制订相应的服务计划,为馆员提供相应内容的培训,并且开展相关的服务宣传。     

The National Health Service and medical libraries in England

This paper provides an overview of the National Health Service in England, including its history, its present structure, and factors that make it different from the U.S. health care system. The NHS libraries and librarians are discussed. The NHS is divided into fourteen regions in England. Three specific NHS libraries in the Wessex region are described--a hospital library, an administrative library, and a patient education library. The problems and accomplishments of NHS librarians are discussed, as well as some similarities between NHS libraries and U.S. medical libraries. Medical librarians are urged to try to understand the medical library scene in England, so that they can Learn from the unique strengths of their counterparts there.