Planning I & R Services

No abstract available for this article.     

Emerging Issues in Academic Library Cataloging & Technical Services

This article responds to Jonathan Tuttle's article “The Aphasia of Modern Subject Access” in which Roman Jakobson's semiology of “shared codes” consisting of preexisting signs is offered as the explanation for two redundant linguistic tools associated with cataloging: LCSH and LCC. The article criticizes Tuttle's terminology, his semiology, and his argument that selection and combination are both necessary for the operation of language but each are associated with only one of these tools.

“The Aphasia of Modern Subject Access” by Jonathan Tuttle appears in Cataloging &; Classification Quarterly, Vol. 50, Issue 4, 2012, pp. 263—275. doi: 10.1080/01639374.2011.641199. Jonathan Tuttle's “Jakobsonian Library Science? A Response to David Bade” appears in Cataloging &; Classification Quarterly, Vol. 51, Issue 4, 2013, pp. 439—440. doi: 10.1080/01639374.2013.763321.     

Videocassettes and I & R:

As urban communities have expanded and changed over the years, so too have the services of public libraries evolved to reflect the needs of their constituencies. The last fifteen years have given rise to library-based community information and referral (I & R) services whose purpose is to direct the patron to resources and/or organizations which might help answer his/her questions or solve higher problems. Well-developed listening skills are essential for the delivery of I & R service, and providers might benefit from viewing various videocassettes concerned with this subject. For library I & R providers, these videos are often available in the film department where they work.     

Evaluating I & R in Smaller Public Libraries

Small public libraries with few professional and support staff often exist in areas distant from urban libraries. If their communities do not have an effective Information and Referral (I & R) system, the library director may consider seeking a State Library grant to establish an I & R service in the community. Clear-cut goals and objectives, an awareness of the need for coordination and cooperation with other agencies, are all essential to a successful grant application. This article describes the outcome of a grant which made possible The Bridge, an I & R service for a county of 50,000 people. Evaluation after a year of operation shows that the essential goal of establishing and operating such a service has been reached. Suggestions for improvement are noted.     

New I & R Teams in Library-Based Services:

This article presents a new library-based model for I & R called SENIOR CONNECTIONS which is operated by older volunteers and student interns from Schools of Library Science and Social Work with the guidance of library-staff I & R Coordinators. This I & R model combines professional informational skills (librarian) and human relations skills (social worker) plus the rich resources and capabilities of older volunteers. Students and volunteers participate in the I & R training program which is conducted jointly by faculty from both professional schools to develop a cadre of skilled volunteers and professionals. Serving as both an information center and helping service, SENIOR CONNECTIONS is targeted to promoting local access to information and resources for older residents. By utilizing the existing library staff, interns and volunteers, SENIOR CONNECTIONS operates as a service-effective and cost-efficient program.     

Demand for E-books in an Academic Library

ABSTRACT

Rather than create a collection solely to support distance learners, libraries should consider the needs of all customers when developing a digital library. The acceptance of digital libraries is dependant upon the conversion of resources to an electronic format that is easy to use and is fully searchable. While electronic journals are widely accepted by most academic library customers, the delivery of online books has had a very different acceptance rate. Rather than support the sequential reading of books, electronic books are commonly used to find information and can be particularly well-suited for reference purposes. This article will provide insight into the history of e-book models and evaluate the usage statistics of a large electronic book collection in an academic library.     

Library Cartography: Mapping Workflow Processes in an Academic Library

This article will introduce and illustrate process mapping as a valuable tool in the academic library setting. Commonly used in the business world, process mapping is the practice of gathering information regarding a specific workflow and diagraming it visually, usually in the form of a flowchart. This representation can then be analyzed for process improvement. In addition to helping assess current workflow efficiency, process mapping is a valuable way for employees throughout the library to see how they are contributing to essential processes. Process mapping can also help to identify areas where departments can work to further collaborate and can contribute to knowledge management and continuity. This article will highlight the valuable benefits of process mapping and document the authors’ experience focusing this activity on the operations at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s J. Murrey Atkins Library.     

Creation of an Academic Library:

No abstract available for this article.     

Information Literacy at an Academic Library

Abstract

An increase in its distance-learning student population prompted Regent University Library to consolidate the library's information literacy program into one course. The course eventually went online to meet the needs of distance learners. During course development and implementation, librarians learned what worked well and what did not. Unexpected obstacles, such as database name and interface changes, created problems that were handled and overcome. As student surveys were analyzed and librarian experience increased, the course evolved and changed.     

Evaluating Online Real-Time Reference in an Academic Library

Summary

Online real-time or “chat” reference, while still in its infancy when compared to traditional reference services is beginning to come of age. The time has come to move beyond the earlier challenges and issues debated at length in the library profession and begin to consider how to evaluate real-time reference. This article will consider obstacles to evaluating chat reference and present practical recommendations. These obstacles are presented in four basic areas including; organizational structure, scarcity of resources, newness of the service, and difficulty developing techniques of assessment or applying existing methodology.     

Implementing an Electronic Reserve System in an Academic Branch Library

Abstract

The Rodgers Science and Engineering Library which serves students, faculty and researchers in the fields of science, engineering and nursing at the University of Alabama abandoned centralized scanning of electronic reserve materials and moved to branch library scanning in 2003. This article is about how the Library handled the transition in terms of management issues such as planning, executing, training, supervising, monitoring quality and promoting the remote service to faculty and students.     

Media Reference Sources for an Academic Library

Summary

On the surface many media reference questions seem simple to answer. However, the lack of reference tools often hinders the reference librarian's ability to answer even the most straightforward query. In some cases, the library simply has an inadequate collection, lacking necessary sources. In other cases, the reference tools simply do not exist. Experienced academic media librarians develop toolkits, consisting of published sources and Internet sources that allow us to provide quality reference service, despite the challenges. The appended annotated bibliography represents one librarian's media reference toolkit. Although some of the sources will vary from library to library, many of these sources are essential to effective media reference work regardless of the Specific institution.     

Orienting Neighborhood Youth to an Academic Library

Summary

Early in 1997, full Web access was added to Babson Library's public workstations. In a few short months, library computers became a mecca for neighborhood youth. The library's “open door” philosophy and Springfield College's strategic vision to strengthen campus/community ties brought the library to the forefront of actively developing services for community youth. An outreach program for community youth was designed to address the issue of computer access. The development of the program involved the entire library and provided an opportunity for collaborative interaction among the library, related campus programs, and community agencies. Its impact on the library brought to the forefront the debate between “academic service” and “community service.”     

Meta-synthesis in Library & Information Science Research

The meta-synthesis method has received increased interest in social science research, but relatively few meta-synthesis studies have been conducted in the library and information science (LIS) field. The purpose of this study was to analyze 44 LIS-related meta-synthesis studies in terms of contribution, meta-synthesis methodology, and research topics. The results revealed that there are four types of contributions of meta-synthesis research: isolated findings, non-dynamic relationships, dynamic relationships, and models. Moreover, a variety of methods have been used to search, select, analyze, and synthesize the individual studies. Finally, although meta-synthesis studies have been conducted on some LIS topics (e.g., health informatics, library user services, and information management), it has been an undervalued method for other research topics. Recommendations are offered to encourage the use of this method and to guide researchers to conduct more rigorous meta-synthesis studies on LIS topics.     

Building an Academic Library Collection in a Developing Country

The University of Namibia was established in 1992 and started as a one-campus institution with fewer than 2,500 students to a university with twelve (12) campuses and nine (9) centers and more than 25,000 students. This study examines the profiles of the UNAM Library collections and the historical dynamics that have impacted it. New programs, schools, and campuses were introduced at a rapid pace and the library could only attempt to keep track with all new developments surrounding it. The role of collection assessment, collection development policy, and e-books were investigated within this scenario.     

The Effects of Labyrinth Walking in an Academic Library

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine if labyrinth walking in an academic library would reduce library user stress and promote relaxation. A non- equivalent control group design was employed. Systolic blood pressure was significant for time effect (effect size of.136, and power.721). Pulse rate was significant for time effect (effect size 0.93, and power.507). Satisfaction survey results demonstrated increased satisfaction after labyrinth walking. Data from this pilot will form the basis of a larger scale study to determine the effect of labyrinth walking on stress particularly in high-stress learning environments.     

Patron Preferences: Recreational Reading in an Academic Library

In 2014, Sam Houston State University Library librarians distributed a survey to students, faculty and staff to better understand how the university community was using library materials for recreational reading. The survey found that patrons had preference for print materials with a growing interest in other formats. A significant number of respondents did not view the library as a source of recreational reading materials; those who did read across a broad swath of genres. Greater understanding of patron recreational reading preferences empower the library to expand the library collection to meet all patron demands.     

Hiring in an Academic Library: Fit is Essential

Candidates readily assure search committees that they will join up, collaborate, and participate in a group. The challenge for the search committee is learning whether the candidate will truly fit with the existing group and organizational culture. How do we gauge how a new hire will fit? Hiring for fit is critical in libraries because each member of the group interacts on behalf of the library with students, faculty, administrators, and staff. Such work demands not only collaboration but also a shared vision. This article describes how one library altered the hiring practice to address the issue of “fit.”