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Introduction: Mediation:

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Chapter I: Introduction

ABSTRACT

Changes in technology, decreased acquisitions budgets, and growing demands from clients have increased pressures on Interlibrary Loan departments. Most manage change by gradually shifting policies and procedures in an attempt to keep up with increased demand. It is important to evaluate interlibrary loan functions to better direct change and assist management decisions. Most studies of these functions focus on the measurement of turnaround lime rather than user satisfaction. The assessment design of the Inter-library Loan Department at Central Missouri State University includes a variety of instruments designed to gather input from many sources. This program may be easily adopted by other libraries.     

Introduction and Overview:

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Introduction: Research matters

The Library Research Round Table of the American Library Association (ALA) is pleased to have been given the opportunity to contribute to this special anniversary issue of Library & Information Science Research. The Library Research Round Table (LRRT), as stated in ALA's Handbook of Organization (Barber & Hodges, 1998), has as its mission:To contribute toward the extension and improvement of library research; to provide public program opportunities for describing and evaluating library research projects and for disseminating their findings; to inform and educate ALA members concerning research techniques and their usefulness in obtaining information with which to reach administrative decisions and solve problems; and expand the the oretical base of the field. To serve as a forum for discussion and action on issues related to the literature and information needs for the field of library and information science. (p. 129)     

Introduction: archiving research data

This article is a general introduction into the special issue of Archival Science on “archiving research data”. It summarizes the different contributions and gives an overview of the main issues in this special field of archiving. One of the leading questions is how and why research data archives differ from public record offices. In the past, the developments in these two worlds have been rather separate. There are however signs that they are converging in the digital world. In particular, this can be seen in the areas of metadata and Internet dissemination as these are strongly influenced by the rapid changes in information technology. These changes have also led to important new developments in the infrastructure of research data to which special attention is paid. New concepts such as collaboratories, data curation, Open Access and the Open Archives Initiative are discussed.

Introduction: Serving Underserved Populations

Issues central to the continuing debate about the future of the reference desk are explored here by two seasoned librarians. A point-counterpoint format allows the two debaters, “fresh” from their Columbia University Reference Symposium 2007 public debate, to continue to engage in argument and discussion. Readers are invited to consider the affirmative and negative sides of the various issues as advocated by the authors.     

Beyond Postmodernism: An Introduction

News coverage of “doomsday” asteroids and comets offers a telling insight into tensions surrounding the reportage of many modern risks. This study of press coverage in the U.S. and Britain discusses differing concepts of uncertainty held by journalists and scientists, and explores the defensive maneuvers that failure of prediction prompts in both communities—strategies that have a significant effect on the news of global threats consumed on both sides of the Atlantic.