Finding the right balance: campus involvement in the collections allocation process

Many libraries have sought the best approach to allocating the collections budget. “History plus increment” is the standard for many libraries in the allocation of any new dollars to collections budgets. Other libraries have identified factors that help make the process of disbursing new money more objective including counts of faculty and students, literature size and costs, and program changes on campus.The Library of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is striving toward a more open and understandable allocation process that uses an allocation formula, professional judgment of its librarians, and input from campus faculty and administration. Through this process, we work to achieve balance between formula and professional judgment, between decisions made outside the Library and within the Library, between competing disciplines and old and emerging fields for budget dollars.     

Mathematical derivation of the impact factor distribution

Experimental data [Mansilla, R., Köppen, E., Cocho, G., & Miramontes, P. (2007). On the behavior of journal impact factor rank-order distribution. Journal of Informetrics, 1(2), 155–160] reveal that, if one ranks a set of journals (e.g. in a field) in decreasing order of their impact factors, the rank distribution of the logarithm of these impact factors has a typical S-shape: first a convex decrease, followed by a concave decrease. In this paper we give a mathematical formula for this distribution and explain the S-shape. Also the experimentally found smaller convex part and larger concave part is explained. If one studies the rank distribution of the impact factors themselves, we now prove that we have the same S-shape but with inflection point in μ, the average of the impact factors. These distributions are valid for any type of impact factor (any publication period and any citation period). They are even valid for any sample average rank distribution.     

Loci sigilli and American Indian treaties: Reflections on the creation of volume 2 of Kappler's Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties

The presence–or absence–of locus sigilli “[L.S.]” or “[SEAL]” indicators, to validate the signatures in those texts of American Indian treaties collated by Charles J. Kappler in his Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties, is examined. The results of this inquiry suggest that Kappler spent far more time examining the original treaty documents than Deloria and DeMallie proposed in their Documents of American Indian Diplomacy: Treaties, Agreements, and Conventions, 1775–1979.     

基于4M1W的档案管理定义公式研究

为了更好地理解档案管理定义,从档案工作的4M1W方法入手,借鉴安达信咨询公司提出的知识管理公式KM=(P+K)S,通过对比分析知识管理和档案管理中各要素的相同点和不同点,推衍出档案管理定义公式AM=(P+T+A)M,以期为档案管理人员开展档案管理工作提供借鉴和参考。     

The development and application of a unique percentage-based allocations formula at the University of Windsor

This article summarizes the literature concerning allocation formulas and outlines the development and application of a percentage-based allocation formula as part of the monograph budget at the University of Windsor. It outlines the elements of the formula, the rationale for selecting those elements and a review of the allocation formula after the first year of implementation. Unique to our formula are two elements: we selected to use the actual book price paid and to use circulation data from the actual book funds.     

An Interdepartmental Allocation Formula for the Maximization of Use of Library Materials

A recent contribution by T. J. Pierce proposed that a rational objective for a library is the maximization of use of library materials. The formula proposed by Pierce, however, is not a solution to the use-maximization problem. This note specifies the use-maximization problem in terms of concepts employed by W. E. McGrath and T. J. Pierce in their work on allocation. The problem is then solved to produce the allocation formula that maximizes use of materials. Finally, the feasibility of applying the formula is briefly discussed.     

试述民国公文称谓格式的演变

民国时期,我国公文称谓格式的演变是一个由繁趋简的过程,一个由各行规则到趋于一律的过程:公文称谓词大量减少,公文自称被划一;公文署名程式也逐渐走向统一。这个趋于一律的演变过程,反映了公文礼仪让位于效率的实质,折射出我国公文工具化、平等化的现代化精神。     

Data Driven Similarity Measures for <Emphasis Type="Italic">k</Emphasis>-Means Like Clustering Algorithms

We present an optimization approach that generates k-means like clustering algorithms. The batch k-means and the incremental k-means are two well known versions of the classical k-means clustering algorithm (Duda et al. 2000). To benefit from the speed of the batch version and the accuracy of the incremental version we combine the two in a ping–pong fashion. We use a distance-like function that combines the squared Euclidean distance with relative entropy. In the extreme cases our algorithm recovers the classical k-means clustering algorithm and generalizes the Divisive Information Theoretic clustering algorithm recently reported independently by Berkhin and Becher (2002) and Dhillon1 et al. (2002). Results of numerical experiments that demonstrate the viability of our approach are reported.This research was supported in part by the US Department of Defense, the United States–Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF), and Northrop Grumman Mission Systems (NG/MS).     

Allocation formulas in practice

The literature has, over the years, been represented by a number of contributions dealing with allocation formulas in academic libraries. Previous studies have shown that a majority of libraries made use of formulas. The present study focuses on the proportion of libraries using formulas for resource allocation now, characteristics of the institutions with which those libraries are affiliated, and the composition of the formulas. Relatively few variables are widely used, but the weightings and relationships among variables differ considerably from formula to formula. Examples of some formulas currently in use are presented.     

Adapting to Scarcity: Developing an Integrated Allocation Formula

Rising costs for library materials and shrinking budgets make it more necessary than ever for academic libraries to target their scarce resources to meet the specific needs of academic programs. The authors surveyed other institutions to determine current practices in the allocation of library materials funds in different formats. The results of our survey were inconclusive, which led us to combine monographs and continuations in a single allocation formula. By crafting an allocation formula for both monographs and continuations in print and electronic format, the Cunningham Memorial Library at Indiana State University hopes to satisfy the growing demand for information services.     

Allocating by Formula

This paper describes the formula for fund distribution used at Western Illinois University. The primary intentions are to explain why the formula approach was adopted at Western, how it is set up, and how the decision to allocate by formula affects collection development. A large portion of the information is taken from the final report of an ad hoc committee established to review the Library's materials budget and recommend changes to existing policies. The guidelines set forth in the committee report form the basis of the allocation system as it is presently constituted.     

Comparison of China/USA science and technology performance

The relative performance of science and technology (S&T) in the USA and PRC was compared in terms of quantity and quality, as reflected in their technical literatures. Three databases (Science Citation Index (SCI), INSPEC, Ei Compendex) were selected for the quantity comparison, and citation analysis in the SCI was used for the quality comparison. Thirty technology and research areas were compared for quantity production, and are presented in this paper. These 30 areas were selected based on our previous assessment of PRC S&T output, and represented areas of emphasis by the PRC in physical, environmental, engineering, and life sciences.In almost all technical areas, the USA had the quantity (number of papers) lead (for the period 2002–2007) based on the SCI results, although the PRC has made dramatic strides to overtake the USA. In most of the technical areas, by 2007 PRC had attained parity with, or exceeded, the S&T literature production of the USA in the INSPEC database. The major exceptions were the biomedical field and some aspects of environmental science, where the USA still had a large lead. For most technical areas, by 2007 the PRC had even higher relative S&T literature production, based on the Ei Compendex, compared to the INSPEC results. Moreover, the USA production appears to have peaked (in the Ei Compendex) in the 2005 time frame, despite increasing amounts of funding for S&T research. The PRC challenge in non-biomedical research and technology sectors becomes apparent in those databases that do not contain substantial biomedical research papers, and therefore remove a substantial intrinsic USA advantage.For quality computations, the publication and citation results were normalized to discrete slices of time, and are presented for nanotechnology only (for the period 1998–2003). While the USA held a commanding lead in quality over the PRC (and the other major nanotechnology producer nations as well) during the past decade, the PRC has increased the quality of its publications monotonically, and now appears to be competitive with France, Italy, Japan, and Australia, using the quality metric in this paper.     

Some comments on the journal weighted impact factor proposed by Habibzadeh and Yadollahie

In a recent paper in the Journal of Informetrics, Habibzadeh and Yadollahie [Habibzadeh, F., & Yadollahie, M. (2008). Journal weighted impact factor: A proposal. Journal of Informetrics, 2(2), 164–172] propose a journal weighted impact factor (WIF). Unlike the ordinary impact factor, the WIF of a journal takes into account the prestige or the influence of citing journals. In this communication, we show that the way in which Habibzadeh and Yadollahie calculate the WIF of a journal has some serious problems. Due to these problems, a ranking of journals based on WIF can be misleading. We also indicate how the problems can be solved by changing the way in which the WIF of a journal is calculated.     

International collaboration in science and the formation of a core group

International collaboration as measured by co-authorship relations on refereed papers grew linearly from 1990 to 2005 in terms of the number of papers, but exponentially in terms of the number of international addresses. This confirms Persson et al.'s [Persson, O., Glänzel, W., & Danell, R. (2004). Inflationary bibliometrics values: The role of scientific collaboration and the need for relative indicators in evaluative studies. Scientometrics, 60(3), 421–432] hypothesis of an inflation in international collaboration. Patterns in international collaboration in science can be considered as network effects, since there is no political institution mediating relationships at that level except for the initiatives of the European Commission. Science at the international level shares features with other complex adaptive systems whose order arises from the interactions of hundreds of agents pursuing self-interested strategies. During the period 2000–2005, the network of global collaborations appears to have reinforced the formation of a core group of fourteen most cooperative countries. This core group can be expected to use knowledge from the global network with great efficiency, since these countries have strong national systems. Countries at the periphery may be disadvantaged by the increased strength of the core.     

Adjusting American Indian treaties: A guide to supplemental article and supplementary treaty citations from opinions of the federal, state, and territorial court systems

Supplemental articles and supplementary treaties were used as tools to modify American Indian treaties. In general, supplemental articles were adjustments to the parameters of a treaty, frequently made as quickly as the same – or the next – day of negotiations, whereas the task of a supplementary treaty was to affect the conditions created in a previous treaty(s).As the law of the land, these materials have been referenced in the opinions of the federal, state, and territorial court systems. This article identifies those 80 documents – a combination of 39 initial treaties and their 41 supplements – cited in the opinions of 101 cases between 1831 and 2000 that bind together these instruments, their modifications, and their application within these various venues.     

The Q formula: The flexible formula for library acquisitions in relation to the FTE driven formula

The purpose of this article is to identify the variables involved in the construction or selection of a formula to allocate library acquisitions funds to colleges and departments in a university; to summarize some of the key administrative issues relating to formula allocation, such as who should do the allocating, how the allocations should be determined, and the amount of the total acquisitions budget that should be allocated; and to present examples of both a working and a theoretical formula. A case study of a medium-sized university (Youngstown State University) where a committee of faculty and students have allocated the acquisitions budget using an FTE (full-time equivalent) driven formula successfully for several years is examined. A Q formula, incorporating most known variables plus productivity in disciplines and average cost per title in each discipline, is also suggested as an alternative formula. This approach would be most applicable in four-year colleges or medium-sized universities. Comments on the problems of the realities of applying formula-generated budgets and their relationship to collection development are given by Susan Jacobson, Acquisitions Librarian, and Carol Wall, Public Services Librarian.     

Research agenda for library instruction and information literacy

Editor's note: The Association for College and Research Libraries (ACRL) made the following research agenda available in the February 2003 issue of College & Research Libraries News (Vol. 64, No. 2, pp. 108–113; reprinted with permission). Although this agenda has already been published, we believe it still merits reprinting, especially within the pages of an internationally focused research journal. The questions raised in ACRL's agenda indeed do deserve investigation, and the results of those investigations should appear in the scholarly literature. We encourage anyone who addresses those questions to first examine Developing Research & Communication Skills: Guidelines for Information Literacy in the Curriculum (Philadelphia, PA: Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 2003). This important report links information literacy with assessment and demonstrates the importance of that topic to an educational accreditation body. Furthermore, that linkage adds to (and rounds out) the research agenda. Clearly, information literacy as defined in that report is a topic of interest to anyone in education—higher education or other.     

A cost-sharing formula for online circulation and a union catalog through a regional, multitype library cooperative

The experience of the Capitol Region Library Council and the University of Connecticut Health Center in developing a cost allocation formula for a circulation and online catalog shared by twenty-nine libraries is reviewed. The resulting formula identifies a basic unit cost as a minimum for each system participant.