Developing a publicity plan for library research: the Rochester Study

The hospital librarians in Rochester, New York and a research team developed and administered a questionnaire to measure the impact of information provided by the librarian on physicians' clinical decision making. While the research was underway, the librarians also developed a publicity plan. The goal of the plan was to create awareness of the study results in the local client population, as well as in the health care community at large. The plan served to describe and put in priority order the types of media that the librarians would use to publicize the study to target groups. This article includes examples of a nationwide and an institution-specific publicity plan. those developing publicity plans for future library research may want to allocate adequate funds to hire a media consultant to increase their prospects for national exposure.     

The benefits of library liaison programs for small libraries: an overview

Library liaison programs are commonly used and provide a successful framework for communication in academic libraries. Liaison programs, whereby librarians are formally designated as the primary contact between the library and one or more departmental or administrative units, are proven to improve the transfer of information between the library and users, to improve the quality of collections and services, and to enhance the library's image. Previously published literature on liaison programs is primarily devoted to large-scale liaison programs in academic settings, the market where this model is commonly employed. Small hospital and other smaller libraries are nearly absent in the literature, reflecting the low level of liaison use in the smaller library setting. This article invites hospital and other smaller libraries to explore the liaison model by presenting common liaison goals and activities that are not only pertinent to, but also scalable, adaptable, and adoptable by smaller and larger libraries alike.     

A suggested approach to a library building program

The preliminary building program suggested in this paper makes use of outlines, graphs, charts, and lists, rather than long-winded paragraphs, to describe the needs, objectives, and philosophy of the library. It is hoped that a short, concise, but detailed, report using these methods will save time and make the report more attractive to read, thereby encouraging the many people who will need to assist in the building planning to use the report.     

Advances in digital library initiatives: a developing country perspective

The paper focuses on the digital library initiatives in India with examples, the initiatives of the government of India and state governments towards digital library activities, and the policy of the Government of India towards digital library development. The current initiatives, such as the INDEST Consortia, are described in detail. The challenges facing digital libraries, the problems being encountered while developing digital libraries, the problems of the digital divide facing the country are mentioned.     

International library program to prevent nuclear holocaust

The main focus of this paper is the funding of libraries in Nigeria. The sources of funds for libraries, which include the government, grants, donations and bequests, are discussed. The factors affecting the funding of libraries in Nigeria are highlighted. Finally, alternative sources for funding are also discussed.     

Further developing the library curriculum: skills for life delivery

This feature discusses how the library curriculum was developed at Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust Library Service to aid the delivery of Skills for Life. In particular, the feature describes how, through collaboration with learndirect, literacy and numeracy skills were embedded into the broader library and information skills training programme. The article reports on how the programme resulted in the provision of qualifications and skills development opportunities to NHS staff, and an increase in the NHS library profile.     

Evaluating a monolingual multinational digital library by using usability: An exploratory approach from a developing country

In this paper the authors present a preliminary discussion on some of the results from a survey aimed to explore, describe and explain some of the usability characteristics in digital libraries evaluation in the Mexican context. The study is framed in the evaluation of a multinational and monolingual digital library: the Miguel de Cervantes Virtual Library, from the University of Alicante in Spain. The evaluators were Mexican “expert” users (i.e. Spanish-speaking professional university librarians specialized in electronic reference services) who were asked to carry on an evaluation instrument based on usability criteria as taken from some models in developed countries. Some questions that might be answered with future research are outlined in this paper.     

The medical library: its function in a clinical pharmacy program

Because of the many demands currently being made upon physicians, a Clinical Pharmacy Training Program has been established to assist them in a patient-oriented program of drug therapy. This program provides clinical training for students in the College of Pharmacy, North Dakota State University, and for our local hospital pharmacy interns and residents. Our Medical Library enters into this program by providing training in medical literature resources to students and staff involved in this program. Cooperation between the Medical Service, Pharmacy Service and Library Service, serves to promote our Medical Library as the resource and reference center at this hospital.     

Managing a satellite communications program in a hospital library

A satellite communications service used for the continuing education of hospital staff can be successfully managed by a hospital library. Organization of the service includes managing equipment and personnel, finding programming, marketing the service, arranging for teleconferences, and establishing videotape procedures. A satellite communications program gives the library the opportunity to establish new partnerships with other departments in the hospital as well as with other segments of the community.     

Refocusing a gift program in an academic library

Colorado State University Libraries' recent decision to eliminate its general gift program—and to restrict future gifts-in-kind to materials supporting archives and special collections—came within the context of a number of converging external pressures. In this article, the authors will examine issues arising from a major change in gift operations, as well as report on the collaborative efforts to formulate, implement, and communicate to constituencies a new policy on gift acquisitions.     

Edging toward perfection: Analysis of a new approval plan in a health sciences library

Collection management librarians seek to refine an approval plan in order to minimize the number of returns. The University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences Libraries created a new plan and spent 18 months evaluating and fine tuning the plan so that returns could be reduced. After that time, it was decided that, given the amount of literature in the health sciences, that the goal of no (or few) returns is not achievable.     

LibGuides: Customizing Subject Guides for Individual Courses

Reference librarians at East Tennessee State University's Sherrod Library identified LibGuides as an efficient way to introduce undergraduate students, particularly those in their first two years of college, to the university library. Selecting pertinent library resources based on a course syllabus and creating a LibGuide for the course provides the students with a limited number of relevant materials. Librarians and professors view the use of subject guides attached to a course management system site as an effective educational solution. Librarians facing exponentially expanding resources and first-year students who are used to turning to Google for all their information needs can utilize LibGuides to guide students toward more relevant library resources.     

Digital library development: identifying sources of content for developing countries with special reference to India

Digital libraries aim at unhindered access to content over computer and communication networks, and digitization may be taken as a visible proposition to enhance the shelf life of non-digital content by preservation apart from the virtue of increased and easy access, thereby furthering usage. As a fresh, lively and dynamic area with a lot of enthusiasm and activity by researchers from different disciplines, institutions and countries, digital libraries are viewed in different perspectives and the single most development that has brought about sweeping changes in the library and information discipline currently in the developed world is that of digital libraries. Advancements in computer and information technology with breakthroughs in memory technology has not only reduced the cost of infrastructure required for hosting digital libraries, but the demonstrated success of a wide variety of projects in USA and Europe also endorsed the chances of their survival even in a developing country. Though the professionals and libraries in developing countries are also experiencing the virtues of Internet, and electronic information highways, many of these libraries have not gone much farther than the computerization of in-house operations, availing databases in electronic media such as CD-ROMs, and web access of subscribed journals and various free resources. Digital library development should be taken up as an additional task to populate the web sites with valuable in-house content like the research reports, publications of in-house researchers, and so on. Digital library projects and developments in the country are so many, though a large number of them are only at an aggressively enthusiastic preliminary stage. In a country such as India so rich in content of indigenous research and development in disciplines varied from science and technology to social science, humanities and spirituality, there is tremendous need for hosting full fledged digital libraries by appropriately tagging the content with affordable information technology. However, what is lacking, especially in developing countries, is a coordinated collaborative approach to bring in institutions and identifying content valuable for digitization with sufficient monetary and infrastructure support. The digital library development in the country needs a two-pronged strategy (i) to digitize local content, and (ii) to devise options for accessing external resources. Channels for internal content include journals and serials for research, conference proceedings, theses and dissertations and preprints, research and status reports, textbooks and learning materials, government publications, spiritual/heritage sources, tourism information, traditional knowledge, etc. As far as external resources are concerned, there are electronic options from publishers and information provides such as, online access through Web of subscribed journals, CDs and floppies containing supplementary material of printed books, bibliographic/full-text databases, which can be hosted on library servers or intranet along with local content. The problems for digital library development are manifold in India such as lack of interest, non-availability of computer and IT infrastructure for library activities, copyright problems, ensuring secure access, properly selecting content from the mass available, internet bandwidth, absence of sufficient financial support, over concentration of professional time on administrative routines, acute shortage over concentration of professional time on administrative routines, acute shortage of competent manpower, etc. The software boom engulfing the country, as a result of the big leap in computer penetration, sudden rise in proficient manpower, and sizable improvement in communication infrastructure should also be treated as an asset and taken advantage of by authorities and information professionals to create and maintain digital information facilities to usher in the new information age.     

Looking for the library: Using an undergraduate business syllabi analysis to inform an instruction program

This study analyzed 260 syllabi representing a year of the undergraduate curriculum from a business school. The syllabi were examined based on the mentions of the library from across three categories: spaces, resources, and services, as well as possible opportunities for engagement that librarians could target for collaboration. In this study, the library was mentioned 79 times, mostly in relation to library resources. There were also 479 opportunities for engagement coded. This study found that the majority of undergraduate syllabi do not mention the library, but that there are considerable opportunities that librarians can target for future engagement.     

Implementing a personalized resource management program for a small medical library by using LinkOut

End users want easy access to electronic full-text articles from their desktops. This small medical library has implemented an easy and cost-effective resource management program to meet this user need. This column will describe the implementation, use, and maintenance of the National Library of Medicine's LinkOut, a personalized resource management program that provides immediate access to the library's online journal full-text holdings via hyperlinks.