Generalization of bibliographic coupling and co-citation using the node split network

Bibliographic coupling (BC) and co-citation (CC) are the two most common citation-based coupling measures of similarity between scientific items. One can interpret these measures as second-neighbor relations distinguished by the direction of the citation: BC is a similarity between two citing items, whereas CC is that between two cited items. A previous study proposed a two-layer node split network that can emulate clusters of coupling measures in a computationally efficient manner; however, the lack of intralayer links makes it impossible to obtain exact similarities. Here, we propose novel methods to estimate intralayer similarity on a node split network using personalized PageRank (PPR) and neural embedding (EMB). We demonstrate that PPR is strongly correlated with the coupling measures. Moreover, our proposed method can yield precise similarities between items even if they are distant from each other. We also show that many links with high similarity are missing in the original BC/CC network, which suggests that it is essential to consider long-range similarities. Comparative experiments on global and local edge sampling suggest that local sampling is stable for PPR in node split networks. This analysis offers valuable insights into the process of searching for significantly related items regarding each coupling measure.     

刍议新著作权法及其对图书馆工作的影响

根据新作权法的有关款项，论述了信息网络传播、教材编写、从网络下载打印和信息技术措施法律保障等方面对图书馆工作的影响。     

In the Eye of the Beholder

Summary

As with beauty and other concepts, librarians have been viewed in many subjective ways. On the other hand, some attempts have also been made to obtain more objective views of librarians. This paper provides a summary of these views, or images, that extend back to the early 18th century. It presents the many traits that comprise these images, the sources or origins of the images, the various groups that hold the images, and ends with a reason why current images are indefinite and “blurry.”     

Prompt Return by Library Notices

ABSTRACT

The prompt return of checked out materials has been demanded by libraries for more than a century. Together with other measures such as overdue fines, library notices are used to bring in prompt returns by informing the users of their checked out items that will soon be due or are already overdue. The analysis of library notices sent in the past five years indicates courtesy notices that alert users of their soon-to-be-due items fail to improve prompt return significantly. On the other hand, sustaining the library notice service takes effort and cost. In this age of technology, prompt return may perhaps be viewed in a new perspective that serves the users and the library better.     

Perceived Message Effectiveness Measures in Tobacco Education Campaigns: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT

Target audience ratings of the likely impact of persuasive messages, known as perceived message effectiveness (PME), are commonly used during message development and selection. PME is also used to examine receptivity of messages after they are fully developed or deployed. Despite this, we know little about the conceptual and methodological characteristics of extant PME measures used in the literature. We conducted a systematic review of tobacco education video, print, and audio campaign studies to examine conceptual and methodological characteristics of PME measures. One hundred twenty-six PME measures from 75 studies conducted in 21 countries with more than 61,000 participants were reviewed. Results indicated considerable variability in measures’ focus on general perceptions of a message (i.e., message perceptions) vs. perceptions of expected message effects (i.e., effects perceptions). Considerable variability was also found on underlying persuasive constructs, use of referents, and referencing of behavior in PME items and measures. We conclude with several recommendations for future research on PME measurement and validation.     

Trade magazine content and am stereo,part II: Am stereo editorials

In the second part of a study of trade magazine editorial content reported by Huff (1993–1994) in the Journal of Radio Studies, the author discovered discrepancies in trade magazine opinions about AM stereo. Editorial positions taken by Broadcasting and Radio World during the 11 years of the controversial AM stereo marketplace (1982–1993) are not necessarily reflective or representative of broadcast industry views. Some agreement of opinion between letter and editorial writers about AM stereo is apparent, but it is obvious that there is also a great deal of disagreement.     

New Roles and Responsibilities for the University Library

Abstract

Academic libraries with public access computers are faced with the challenge of balancing patron privacy rights with accountability and system security. What should libraries do when a patron uses a public Internet connection to send harassing email messages or hack into a remote network, or into the library's own system? This article examines the conflicting values of privacy and security. It examines patron authentication as a security measure and the safeguards that should accompany such a system. Several options are offered for addressing this dilemma. A summary of university appropriate use policies is presented with recommendations and a sample policy statement.     

Use of a search summary table to improve systematic review search methods,results, and efficiency

Background:Systematic reviews are comprehensive, robust, inclusive, transparent, and reproducible when bringing together the evidence to answer a research question. Various guidelines provide recommendations on the expertise required to conduct a systematic review, where and how to search for literature, and what should be reported in the published review. However, the finer details of the search results are not typically reported to allow the search methods or search efficiency to be evaluated.Case Presentation:This case study presents a search summary table, containing the details of which databases were searched, which supplementary search methods were used, and where the included articles were found. It was developed and published alongside a recent systematic review. This simple format can be used in future systematic reviews to improve search results reporting.Conclusions:Publishing a search summary table in all systematic reviews would add to the growing evidence base about information retrieval, which would help in determining which databases to search for which type of review (in terms of either topic or scope), what supplementary search methods are most effective, what type of literature is being included, and where it is found. It would also provide evidence for future searching and search methods research.     

Preparing for the Future: National Library of Medicine's® Project to Add MeSH® RDF URIs to its Bibliographic and Authority Records

ABSTRACT

Although it is not yet known for certain what will replace MARC, eventually bibliographic data will need to be transformed to move into a linked data environment. This article discusses why the National Library of Medicine chose to add Uniform Resource Identifiers for Medical Subject Headings as our starting point and details the process by which they were added to the MeSH MARC authority records, the legacy bibliographic records, and the records for newly cataloged items. The article outlines the various enhancement methods available, decisions made, and the rationale for the selected method.     

A Study of the Causes of User Dissatisfaction in Academic Libraries: A Case of University Students in a Developing Country

ABSTRACT

This article investigates students’ perceptions and expectations of service quality to understand the causes of dissatisfaction with the services delivered by the university libraries in Bangladesh. A total of 623 usable responses were collected from ten public and private university libraries in the country. The survey data were collected using a modified five dimensional SERVQUAL-based questionnaire, consisting of 26 service items. To determine the level of user satisfaction/dissatisfaction with the service items, the study used the disconfirmation theory with slight modification. It was found that users’ unrealistically high expectation for quality services is one of the key sources of their dissatisfaction. The other causes of dissatisfaction include lack of user-employee relationships, lack of attention to users’ needs, an external communication gap between library and users, lack of attention to enhance staffs’ performance, etc. Based on the service deficiencies identified, the study offers some measures that could be used as a way to improve service quality, and thereby user satisfaction.     

The ERIC Database

Abstract

The ERIC database is available in many free Internet versions, mainly from ERIC clearinghouses. Paying for access to ERIC through a commercial vendor is a decision that needs to be justified by all libraries with finite budgets. This case study attempts to determine the relative merits of the features and functionality of the various free versions of the ERIC database in comparison with one commercial version. Conclusions are shared about decisions reached at one academic library. The conclusion centers on whether libraries can forgo a commercial version of the ERIC database.     

Purchasing or Borrowing

The Interlibrary Loan Department is authorized to make immediate purchasing decisions for inexpensive items to speed delivery of requested materials to patrons and to enhance patron satisfaction. Criteria for purchasing, rather than borrowing materials for patrons through interlibrary loan are outlined. The practices and procedures of several other institutions about buying rather than borrowing in the interlibrary loan environment are reviewed. Copyright guidelines are another factor that affects decisions about borrowing or purchasing articles.     

Clinical Pharmacology: A Comprehensive Drug Reference

Abstract

This column discusses the point-of-care tool Clinical Pharmacology. This review is primarily intended for newer health sciences librarians who are learning about drug references and clinical decision-making support systems or health sciences librarians making collection development decisions, although any librarian will find this review useful. A sample search will be provided to highlight the database’s unique features as well as a comparison to other resources.     

Comparative Measurement of Book Availability in Academic Libraries

Abstract

Paul Kantor’s methodology for availability analysis was applied to measure the degree of success or failure of the users of the General Collection of Punjab University Main Library in getting their needed documents. The availability success rate in this library was found to be 41·3%. Measurement of different performance factors indicated that segmentation of the library collection, absence of appropriate records for tracking down searches, inadequate user skills and insufficient and incompatible acquisitions were among the most significant factors impeding the availability of wanted items. These results were then compared with similar studies conducted in the academic libraries of the United States based on the same measurement methodology. Significant differences were noted in the overall measure of availability as well as for the factors related to library, users and acquisition. Implications of the study were reviewed to propose corrective measures.     

Conversations with Web Site Users: Using Focus Groups to Open Discussion and Improve User Experience

ABSTRACT

User feedback on Web site design can be vital to understanding what issues library users may encounter when visiting a Web site, but obtaining this feedback can be time consuming, difficult to structure, and expensive. In past years, staff working on the Cal Poly Pomona University Library Web site collected user feedback from surveys and usability testing. This team was interested in acquiring a more basic understanding of how users interact with the Web in general, whether for research or other purposes, and how such experiences could inform design decisions. This article will discuss what focus groups are, why libraries should consider conducting focus groups for Web site testing and development, how focus groups can complement usability testing, and if focus groups are worth the time and effort. Results from focus group sessions will also be shared and discussed including information that fueled design decisions and benefits that participants gained from the experience.     

Building Collections through Purchase Suggestions in Academic Libraries

Abstract

This research studies the fields contained in “Suggest a Purchase” forms from 100 university libraries, focusing on the data they can provide to subject specialists to make decisions about collection development. The research will consider whether the content of “Suggest a Purchase” forms may be used to aid subject specialists and collection development librarians to make decisions concerning the purchasing of books and other materials. Statistical evidence gathered through the “Suggest a Purchase” forms is analyzed to justify the relevancy of specific fields. The research examines whether patron-initiated purchases may offer data concerning collection gaps and trends in users’ needs. The paper concludes with recommendations for best practices in the design and content of patron suggestion forms.     

Providing Quality Library Service to the Adult Learner: Views of Students,Faculty, and Administrators

Summary

The adult learner in the academic environment faces some unique problems and challenges. Balancing work, family, and a job are just a few examples. Technological changes in information retrieval and research, and in the use of the library can also magnify the adult learner's problems.

The study targets adult learners at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. Focus groups and questionnaires are used to gather information from both active and non library users among the adult population: their views about the library environment, library resources, service, instruction, other traditional students, and staff. Perceptions about the adult learner are also obtained through face to face interviews with teaching faculty and administrators. Findings from the study will assist librarians to better understand the needs and expectations of the adult learner, and plan accordingly to meet these demands.     

A Review of “Facebook: The Missing Manual, 3rd ed.”

Abstract

This case study describes the process of proposing and implementing a wiki for use in an academic library setting, based on the process used by Iowa State University Library. Using the Iowa State University Library Wiki as a model, this article lays out the decisions necessary at each step of the process of establishing a new wiki. Control of potentially sensitive data and other security concerns led the Iowa State University Library to implement a PmWiki installation on its own server. This article provides helpful advice for any librarian who is thinking about implementing a wiki but unsure of where to start. As librarians everywhere discuss the potential of wikis and their potential pitfalls, this article offers an example of a successful project with an eye on what might have made it successful.     

Thinking About Reference Service Paradigms and Metaphors

Abstract

A critical but overlooked aspect of reference service is thinking about paradigms and metaphors. These are subconscious imageries that define how we think about our work-and how our clients think about us. Limitations of the current paradigms affecting reference services are: (1) social-class assumptions about the nature of the library and its clientele; (2) classification systems based on obsolete ideas that subject categories are mutually exclusive; (3) the fortress metaphor implied in physical organization; and (4) failure to capture statistical data that measure contemporary aspects of user service.

New ways of thinking about reference service with new paradigms and metaphors are suggested. Critical elements in a new paradigm are: (1) envisioning the library as portal, both for on-line and in-library service; (2) accepting the fact that knowledge is an open system, not conducive to our closed-system classification systems; (3) breaching our metaphorical fortress to provide more personal reference service; and (4) updating our statistical measures to match quantitative measures with actual quality of service.     

网络在线教育课程：图书馆的机遇和作用

介绍国内外主要的网络开放在线教育课程平台及其特点,探讨网络在线教育课程给图书馆带来的机遇,分析图书馆参与、整合、组织网络在线教育课程的相关案例,最后从图书情报学领域探求图书馆在网络在线教育课程建设中的作用及服务创新方法和措施,如加强网络在线教育课程资源的分类和组织,增加、完善网络在线教育网站检索途径,注重网络在线教育课程资源再加工服务等。