E‐books in practice: the librarian's perspective

It has become unimaginable to provide information – particularly scientific information – without e‐books. They have become part of today's combination of media, which includes printed books and journals, e‐journals, e‐books, and databases. When e‐books first appeared on the market, librarians very quickly formulated their key requirements. The most important requirement is functionality: it must be possible to look through a book chapter by chapter, and also to get a quick overview of a comprehensive monograph. Usage arrangements, including concurrent usage and use for interlibrary loans, are also important. The use of uniform technical standards increases the acceptance of e‐books.     

Do Off-Campus Students Use E-Books?

ABSTRACT

The number of electronic books (e-books) that are available is increasing rapidly. Libraries are acquiring them individually, in large groups, and as part of collections. Off-campus librarians perceive them to be the best solution to the problems and expenses related to loaning and shipping print books to off-campus students. This study looks at the usage of e-books by off-campus students at Central Michigan University (CMU) to see if usage patterns can assist librarians with e-book collection development to support off-campus programs.     

Librarians in Children's Literature, 1909-2000

Summary

The presentations of librarians in thirty-five children's books published between 1909 and 2000 in the United States were described, compared, and analyzed to discover indications of attitudes and beliefs about librarians and to discern evidence of changing roles within the profession of librarianship. In regard to gender and ethnicity, most of the librarians depicted are female and Caucasian, including those in books from recent decades.

Consistency in work tasks of librarians is seen throughout the century, but the tools used to perform the work show consistent evolution. Librarians emerge as caring, friendly, and energetic professionals who have positive interactions and relationships with patrons.     

Library Book Theft and Audits in University Libraries of Pakistan

Librarians are the custodians of library materials. University libraries have a large number of materials in their collections; these collections have different challenges to maintain their existence and utilization. Security and protection of these resources is a difficult task. Book theft or loss is a phenomenon naturally associated with libraries and librarians. This article is an attempt to provide an overview of existing conditions of theft and loss of library material and to describe a major initiative that has been taken to overcome the situation. This study was designed with survey methodology and circulated to library professionals at 172 university and degree awarding institutions. There were 94 responses (54.65%) received. The study revealed that librarians faced objections from auditors and sometimes paid a penalty for stolen or lost books. The theft and loss of materials are examined critically by university management, library committees, and internal and external auditors. Some library professionals are required to pay from their own pockets for stolen and lost material. However, a few librarians write off library books as per Pakistan's Higher Education Commission (HEC) rule. Research highlighted that most libraries have not used technology such as RFID, 3M, or EM Tags for the security of books. An effective technological book security system minimizes loss and provides relief for librarians from audit issues and financial penalties.     

Assessing a Promotional Strategy for Marketing Electronic Resources in the Library Environment

In the fall of 2015, two librarians at San Diego State University initiated a project to enhance the visibility of some of the library’s numerous electronic resources. Promotional materials were created to highlight some of the main features and functionality of seven specific databases to which the library subscribes. Although there are many factors of this project that warrant further research, the authors can definitively state that usage for six of the seven electronic resources featured in their promotional project did increase when they were advertised to a wider campus population via the library’s website.     

Review of "The Small Library Manager's Handbook," edited by Alice Graves

As librarians, and especially collections-focused librarians, we almost daily face misperceptions and misunderstandings of libraries, of our work, and of the collections and services that we provide. From outdated ideas, to stereotypes, to incomplete images of the realities and value of our institutions and our profession, these representations may pose constant challenges and consternation. In this special review section, my colleague Dr. Angela Wiseman, Associate Professor of Education and an expert on children's books, joins me in reviewing a sampling of current children's books about libraries.     

Connect,build, develop: Forming effective liaison strategies through peer mentoring and partnership

Many studies show that e-book awareness and usage is growing. Using vendor-supplied usage statistics for business and economics e-books, the authors sought to determine if a few titles accounted for a large percentage of usage. If proven, the authors hoped to be able to develop collections strategies to maximize e-book usage. Focusing on three providers, SpringerLink, NetLibrary, and eBrary, results showed that annually, a small number of titles accounted for a large percentage of usage. However, over the collection's lifetime, a higher percentage of titles were used. A small collection of Patron Driven Acquisition eAudio books were also examined.     

Reference to Stacks: Getting the Most out of Library Resources

Changing patron demands, coupled with significant repurposing of library space, led the library to experience a marked decline in the usage of the print reference collection. Such a significant decrease challenged librarians to find new methods for promoting this still viable collection. It was decided to integrate the print reference books into the general library collection. After a year, circulation data demonstrated that by integrating collections, reference titles were now used more frequently.     

Do Reviews Matter? An Analysis of Usage and Holdings of Choice-Reviewed Titles Within a Consortium

Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries has long been an important tool for librarians making collection development decisions. This study examines the holdings and usage for books reviewed in Choice, books designated by Choice as Outstanding Academic Titles, and the general collections of the Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries.     

Choosing Strategies of Children and the Impact of Age and Gender on Library Use: Insights for Librarians

Libraries continue to be an important source of books for young people, though relatively little is known about how gender and age influence visitation frequency for this purpose. In addition, while supporting children to choose books is part of the role of both school and public librarians, little is known about the strategies and processes children use to select books, and the beliefs and attitudes that underpin them. Findings from the 2016 Western Australian Study in Children's Book Reading offer insights into these areas that can support librarians to guide book choice, and they encourage targeted intervention to ensure that boys and older children make use of their libraries to support their literacy growth.     

Patron-Driven Acquisition and Circulation at an Academic Library: Interaction Effects and Circulation Performance of Print Books Acquired via Librarians’ Orders,Approval Plans,and Patrons’ Interlibrary Loan Requests

Numerous publications on patron-driven acquisition (PDA) for print books and similar materials have reported that patron-requested materials circulate more. Tying circulation to selector may be failing to address the complex of factors that contributes to items' circulation. In the present study, the authors revisit a PDA program's data and to determine whether PDA print books' circulation advantage persists when the potential interactions of several additional variables are taken into account. As with prior studies, library patrons were significantly better predictors of circulation than were librarians or approval plans. However, librarians proved to be significantly better predictors than were approval plans.     

Children's Librarians and BPH Subregional Librarians

Ways are explored in which public library children's librarians can help sighted children increase their understanding of persons with visual impairment and their skills in communicating with them. Interviews were conducted with six children's librarians and six BPH subregional librarians, and searches were made in the public library catalogs and the Regional BPH Library fiche catalog for selected titles. Three areas for discussion emerged: reader advisory and reference questions, collection development, and programming. Public library children's librarians and BPH subregional librarians can jointly coordinate provision of children's services by identifying and building on present strengths in collection development and programming.     

Circulation of core collection monographs in an academic medical library

Academic medical librarians responsible for monograph acquisition face a challenging task. From the plethora of medical monographs published each year, academic medical librarians must select those most useful to their patrons. Unfortunately, none of the selection tools available to medical librarians are specifically intended to assist academic librarians with medical monograph selection. The few short core collection lists that are available are intended for use in the small hospital or internal medicine department library. As these are the only selection tools available, however, many academic medical librarians spend considerable time reviewing these collection lists and place heavy emphasis on the acquisition of listed books. The study reported here was initiated to determine whether the circulation of listed books in an academic library justified the emphasis placed on the acquisition of these books. Circulation statistics for "listed" and "nonlisted" books in the hematology (WH) section of Indiana University School of Medicine's Ruth Lilly Medical Library were studied. The average circulation figures for listed books were nearly two times as high as the corresponding figures for the WH books in general. These data support the policies of those academic medical libraries that place a high priority on collection of listed books.     

The Nuts,Bolts, and Teaching Opportunities of Real-Time Reference

ABSTRACT

Since the implementation of its instant messaging reference service in the 2000-2001 academic year, the librarians at the University at Buffalo (UB) have succeeded in creating a vital presence for virtual reference. The Instant Librarian chat service, open 57 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters, supplements the traditional face-to-face and e-mail reference services available at UB. Real-time reference using AOL Instant Messenger addresses the expectations of a well-informed population of UB users comfortable with the conveniences enjoyed via the Internet, such as file sharing and instant messaging. Librarians at UB use Instant Librarian to their advantage by employing active learning techniques, while answering both simple and complex questions. A chat session is a unique way to reach a patron who normally would not come into the library for help. In the chatroom, the librarian creates a positive teaching environment, prompting repeat visits and even in-person follow-up research consultations. This paper describes the nuts and bolts of UB's chat reference service and illustrates ways UB librarians attempt to incorporate teaching strategies within the online environment. The first section discusses issues such as staff training, technology/software problems, marketing/publicity matters, and the methodology and purpose of a user survey. The second section addresses the instruction element of UB's Instant Librarian. Librarians take advantage of the online environment to promote self-directed learning. The paper also includes a literature review highlighting published articles, books, and surveys that examine the significant facets of a real-time reference service.     

高校图书馆图书缺藏的现状分析与补缺对策

目前,高校图书馆的图书缺藏现象普遍存在,文章指出了造成这一现象的五个主要原因,提出高校图书馆应合理增加购书经费;与书商建立有效合作制度;完善图书借阅制度,提高图书馆员的职业素养;建立“摇篮书屋”、“爱心书屋”等特色书屋;制定科学、稳定的图书采访政策和选书标准;杜绝盗版歪风,提倡正版善本等补缺策略．     

19世纪末20世纪初美国普瑞特图书馆学校的儿童图书馆员教育

19世纪末,美国普瑞特图书馆学校尝试在一年制图书馆常规技能教育的基础上拓展专业的儿童图书馆员培训,开启了美国儿童图书馆员教育的先河,为第二代儿童图书馆员提供了专门训练,并与20世纪上半叶最具影响力的匹兹堡卡内基儿童图书馆员培训学校有着天然的联系.由其创办者和主要实践者的儿童工作和儿童馆员教育理念出发,探讨普瑞特图书馆学...     

Use and Perception of Ebooks in the University of Ulster: A Case Study

A case study was conducted within two Faculties in the University of Ulster during academic year 2010–11. Its aims were: to assess levels of undergraduate ebook use; how, why, and for what purpose undergraduate students chose to use or not use e-books; assess barriers to use; and consider promotional strategies.

Data were collected by means of a desk-based usage comparison and self-completion online questionnaire. Findings were considered using Diffusion of Innovation theory and Roesnita and Zainab's Ebook Use Model.

Ebooks are used thirty times more than print counterparts. Users expressed a definite preference for print books; format choice is dependent upon study need. Usage has not yet reached self-sustaining take-off. Ebooks cannot be considered interchangeable with books; promotion should take account of how ebooks are considered “different” from print.     

An Empirical Assessment of the Quality and Familiarity Levels of Selected Journals in International Business

Perceptions of quality of thirty journals which publish articles in the international business area were determiend by surveying the members of the Academy of International Business (AIB). In addition to providing judgements on the quality of journals, it was found that AIB members' familiarity with these journals was low. The results are useful to business librarians and information specialists as wella s to library users.