A Content Analysis of 3D Printing Policies at Academic Libraries

Many academic libraries are adopting 3D printing programs and researching, writing, and implementing policies for these programs. This article analyzes the content of 50 academic library 3D printing policies looking for commonalities. Five major themes emerged from the analysis: the policy's purpose, potential users of the 3D printers, 3D printing procedures, the acceptable uses of the 3D printers, and user privacy considerations. This article provides a breakdown of these five major themes.     

3D Printing: Making Things at the Library

3D printers are a new technology that creates physical objects from digital files. Uses for these printers include printing models, parts, and toys. 3D printers are also being developed for medical applications, including printed bone, skin, and even complete organs. Although medical printing lags behind other uses for 3D printing, it has the potential to radically change the practice of medicine over the next decade. Falling costs for hardware have made 3D printers an inexpensive technology that libraries can offer their patrons. Medical librarians will want to be familiar with this technology, as it is sure to have wide-reaching effects on the practice of medicine.     

Electronic dissemination of government information in canada: Implications for equitable access

Increasingly, federal government departments in Canada are publishing and disseminating official information in electronic form. A survey of all full and selective depository libraries in the Canadian Depository Services Program was undertaken to determine the extent to which those libraries are prepared for the shift to electronic formats. Findings reported in the article show that academic and government libraries are better positioned than public libraries to provide service. Academic and government libraries have access to greater numbers of more powerful personal computers, better printers, and higher speed connections to the Internet. The imposition of fees for service is seen to be an important issue. Public libraries comprise the largest single sector of libraries among depositories, and yet, their users are significantly disadvantaged in accessing government information by means of the new technologies.     

Introduction

ABSTRACT

Makerspaces and related concepts and technologies are currently the subject of much discussion in the library community, particularly among public libraries. One prominent technology often featured in makerspaces is three-dimensional (3D) printing. In this article the author describes a 3D printing service launched at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Lovejoy Library; the justification for providing the service in an academic library, equipment selection, procedures and workflow, and evaluation of the success of the service to date.     

Scholarly Book Reviews in Literature Journals as Collections Development Sources for Librarians

Librarians must make selection decisions for their libraries based on the actual and perceived needs of their clientele. Scholars in any discipline will most likely become aware of new books in their field through the extensive reviews published in scholarly journals. Reviews in ten journals indexed by the MLA Bibliography were examined for content, timeliness, and evaluation of the reviewer, in order to determine if scholarly reviews in literature journals are useful collection development sources. The findings of the study suggest that collection development librarians at large academic libraries should use scholarly journals on a regular basis for collection development purposes, while librarians at smaller academic libraries should use them to supplement traditional trade reviewing sources, such as Choice.     

Reference Collection Management Policies

Abstract

The literature indicates most academic libraries do not have formal reference collection policies, or that if they do, such documents are not up-to-date. Kansas provides an optimum setting to examine college and undergraduate libraries as most institutions of higher learning in the state are small to medium in size. Kansas is consistent with the trends indicated in the literature. All academic libraries in the state were asked to submit a copy of their policy. Each document was examined in light of: rationale for having a policy, defining the nature of the collection, criteria on inclusion and exclusion, input from stakeholders, managing budget costs, electronic resources, and weeding. Selection criteria and sample polices provide a practical guide for the development of a policy. All formats are considered.     

大学图书馆电子资源绩效评价指标体系构建

电子资源是大学图书馆的重要学术资源,有必要建立电子资源绩效评价体系。在总结国内外专家研究成果的基础上,初步构建大学图书馆电子资源绩效评价指标体系,分为5个一级指标和25个二级指标。应用三角模糊数的概念确定每个指标的模糊权重值,依据二级指标的组合权重进行排名。并对电子资源绩效评价指标体系的实际应用问题进行探讨。     

Prevailing Practices for Libraries on MySpace

Abstract

This paper is a study of academic libraries with sites at MySpace. From a selection of academic libraries with MySpace sites, the author brings to light the most common types of information and styles used to attract and inform patrons.     

Facebook as a Communication Tool for an Academic Library: East West University Library,Bangladesh Perspective

The primary objectives of this research article are to explore the concept of communication tools using Facebook, and to evaluate the performance of the East West University (EWU) Library Facebook page as a communication tool. The EWU Library Facebook page uses a variety of strategies and techniques to engage with its patrons. The author's intention is to examine this library Facebook page, which is explored using a case study method. This article also focuses on how Facebook facilitates collaborations between the library and the patron's community, as well as the implications for academic libraries in the future. This case study reviews the literature on the use of social networking while focusing on Facebook as a communication tool and engaging libraries in social networking. The article emphasizes the author's experience of working in an academic library to identify the main trends in providing services based on posting various topics through the Facebook page of the EWU Library, Bangladesh. The numerous issues in adapting Facebook as a communication tool and an exploration of the opportunity and drawbacks of the use of the Facebook application in academic libraries are also discussed.     

Let's Get Cozy: Evolving Collaborations in the 21st Century

ABSTRACT

As new digital technologies make the storage of redundant print copies less important, as strained budgets can support fewer subject specialists, and as demands for new services such as data stewardship rise, it is clearer now than ever that libraries’ traditional consortia and their places and roles within academic institutions must be rethought and changed expeditiously if academic libraries are to be vitally important. This article, a companion piece to Joan Giescke's article in this issue, explores this concept and offers some possible models for collaboration.     

Suggestions for Formulating Collection Development Policy Statements for Music Score Collections in Academic Libraries

In formulating collection development statements for music score collections, a combination of the structural elements outlined in the RTSD Guidelines for Collection Development together with the terminology and format of the RLG Conspectus is recommended, in part to facilitate cooperative resource sharing activities. Criteria for score selection are discussed, and ways of incorporating selection criteria not provided for in the Conspectus are presented. Although the observations and recommendations are made in terms of academic collections, the criteria and formal elements are applicable to collections in public libraries as well.     

高校虚拟参考服务的用户可用性评估

对高校虚拟参考服务的用户可用性的评估标准进行了初步探讨。论述了该评估标准的建立方法,在此基础上建立了用户可用性层次分析法评估模型,进而利用评估模型进行了实例分析。     

A Study of Salary Constraints in Estonian University Libraries

This article examines salary conditions among the staff of Estonian university libraries. Previous research has shown that academic librarians are not always satisfied with their salaries, whether in developing or developed countries. The data used in this paper are based on a review of relevant literature and on the results of the original online survey created by the paper’s authors and administered in 2011/2012 in Estonian university libraries. The results are interpreted in the light of the literature, the legislation of Estonia, and the authors’ opinions, which are based on long-term working experience in Estonian academic libraries. The study concludes that the biggest challenge today for Estonian university libraries is salary: it is critical that these libraries increase their employees’ salary and thereby improve their economic status. We hope that the issues raised by this research will be helpful not only for library managers but also for library employees generally.     

General characteristics of private academe and public U.S. federal depository libraries

Do public federal depository libraries located in private colleges have paradoxical characteristics? Private academe may have an aura of exclusivity, but federal depository library status ensures that the public has access to government materials. In the first segment of this two-part study, general depository and institutional characteristics are profiled. Comparisons are made between public and private academic depositories and depositories as a whole. Most private academic depositories are located in religiously affiliated small colleges with higher than average tuitions. Due to the small size of many private academic depositories, many may rely on the larger public institutions. Although the average GPO item selection for private academe is far less than the average public academic counterpart, if item selection is compared to student enrollment, private depositories select more than their share. Depository promotion and issues of public access will be further explored in the second article in this study.     

高校图书馆参与大学生就业指导工作的策略分析

针对当前我国高校毕业生就业难的形势,结合高校图书馆参与大学生就业指导的优势,以开展大学生就业指导的部分高校图书馆为例,探讨高校图书馆主动参与大学生就业指导工作的方法,从而进一步提升高校图书馆参与大学生就业指导的作用。     

A Survey of the Value of Library Employment to the Undergraduate Experience

When exploring the overall impact of the academic library on the undergraduate experience library student workers are a unique group to consider. As both direct users and providers of library services to their peers, student workers enable libraries to gain an understanding of the general undergraduate population. The objective of this article is to present the findings of a study of undergraduate students employed at a university research library. A questionnaire distributed to 350 student workers gathered information about who they are and how they engage with their communities. This article will look at the value working in an academic library brings to undergraduates' lives. It will consider whether working in the library promotes student success, builds community, and provides them with valuable opportunities to engage in peer networking.     

Assessing the quality of academic libraries on the Web: The development and testing of criteria

This study develops and tests an instrument useful for evaluating the quality of academic libraries on the World Wide Web (Libweb). By consulting authoritative criteria used for traditional print resources and Internet/Web resources, a set of 68 essential indicators was generated and later reorganized and reduced to 16 criteria through factor analysis. After a survey of library experts, the instrument's reliability was verified by analysis of variance. Furthermore, a regression model considering both the respondents' demographics and the quality criteria was applied to identify 11 significant factors, which were later reduced to eight factors. These eight factors represent the most salient and nonredundant criteria. Two instrument forms are suggested for prospective users to evaluate academic Libweb quality and to construct and maintain a good site.     

高校图书馆文献借阅部人际关系的和谐

高校文献借阅部是图书馆工作的重要窗口,构成了图书馆特定的人际环境,直接影响着图书馆的服务水平和工作质量.如何协调好其人际关系,构建和谐的工作氛围.本文结合多年的工作经验提出构建高校图书馆文献借阅部和谐人际关系的基本思路.     

国内外优秀大学图书馆正职馆长资质条件比较及趋势研究

馆长任职资质能够从侧面反映出大学图书馆馆长的遴选标准。选取各大学排行榜中排名靠前的大学,调研其图书馆现任正职馆长的资质条件,并对比国内外的相关情况,以期为我国其他大学遴选图书馆馆长提供参考。结果显示,我国优秀大学图书馆馆长的选拔呈现出平等化、去职业化、高学历化以及注重交流的趋势。