Collaborating for Success: The Digital Library of the Caribbean

This article will provide a brief overview of the successes of the Digital Library of the Caribbean, an open access, multi-institutional, multilingual, inclusive, international digital library. It will discuss factors that support the sustainability of robust technical infrastructures, collaborative partnerships, shared governance, and shared interests in advancing Caribbean scholarly research. Partner relationships and shared governance are at the heart of the creativity and solutions which continue to grow the largest Caribbean content digital library in the world.     

The Fairfax County Wars:

No abstract available for this article.     

Envisioning the Tapestry: Discovering and Planning Member-Driven Services

ABSTRACT

WiLS is a non-profit organization with over 500 libraries and cultural institutions as members. It facilitates collaborative projects and services to save members time and money and to advance library service. WiLS is designed to be a nimble organization; our staffing structure, membership and cost recovery models, virtual office environment, and service development processes all allow WiLS to anticipate and respond to member needs. We take a unique approach to designing new services to meet those needs, one which is like creating a tapestry. As we begin to conceive of the service, an outline appears on the cloth, but it is faint and difficult to recognize. As we learn more, the outline becomes clearer and we see not only the shape of the service, but begin to see the details that add threads to create the color and texture of the work. By the time we have completed the process, we have a full understanding of the service we may offer, and the full picture with all of its detail has emerged. Any “art” that we conceive and create comes from who we are and the environment in which we are creating. In this article, we’ll share more about our organization and the foundations that make us who we are, along with the process we use to develop our service tapestries.     

Public Library Use of Geographic Information Systems in the United States

Abstract

Public libraries are a source of information and resources for the local community, they also play a role in the use of technologies such as geographic information systems (GIS) in that regard. GIS uses maps as output mediums for displaying demographic or similar information, as well as for spatial comparison or spatially based analysis. This is useful for gaining knowledge as well as for decision making. This article reports research into the awareness and use of GIS-type systems in public library settings in hopes of better understanding the benefits, drawbacks, and limitations to use of systems such as these. Primary findings suggest that there continues to exist limited understanding of the capabilities of GIS technology in public libraries and therefore very little demand for it exists in public librarians and patrons alike.     

A Review of: “Health Informatics for Medical Librarians. Cleveland,Ana D. and Cleveland,Donald B.”

This article is a retrospective look at the changes in hospital libraries from 1970 to 2014 based on the author's experience and a survey of the literature related to hospital libraries indexed in PubMed from 1970 to the present. New roles for librarians and methods for conveying the value of libraries to administrators are described.     

Shopping for Health Information

ABSTRACT

In this time of ongoing health care changes, consumers need to become better informed to actively participate in their health care decisions. As a result, hospital libraries are being challenged to address this need. Scottsdale Healthcare's Health Sciences Libraries have responded to this challenge by establishing a Health Information Center at the premiere shopping mall in the area. Implementing a Health Information Center at a mall is a unique way to bring medical information to the community. The purpose of this paper is to describe the planning process, the implementation, and the future vision of the Health Information Center at Scottsdale Fashion Square.     

Index to Volume 1

No abstract available for this article.     

我国高校图书馆社会化服务研究综述

我国图书馆界对高校图书馆社会化服务多持支持态度,但认为在实施上要视高校图书馆具体情况有条件进行。高校图书馆社会化服务的主要形式有文化宣传、有限开放、参考咨询、联合共建等。当前对高校图书馆社会化服务现实案例研究较少,整体水平有待提高。     

Training,Supervising, and Evaluating Student Information Assistants

Abstract

Training, supervision, and evaluation of student assistants is not a topic covered in most library school curricula; it is a skill that it is assumed one will have or acquire through on-the-job experience. This article focuses on the hiring, supervision, training, and evaluation of student information assistants in the reference/electronic resource setting. Student Information Assistants are known by many names-reference assistants, peer counselors, research assistants, and database assistants, to name a few-but within this article I will use the name Student Information Assistants (SIAs).     

Providing Circulation Services in a Temporary Location

Abstract

This article presents the experience of Circulation Services at Booth Library, Eastern Illinois University, during a 31-month relocation to temporary facilities while the building was undergoing renovation. The move to temporary locations presented new challenges and required unique solutions. Issues such as the rationale for the move to the temporary facilities, the organization of the temporary branches, the delivery service, preservation and security, staffing issues, and the role of student workers are discussed. The article recommends extensive planning prior to a move to temporary facilities, as well as the adoption of a flexible approach during the duration of the stay in the locations.     

A Case Study in the Evolution of Digital Services for Science and Engineering Libraries

ABSTRACT

Building on experiences from earlier digital initiatives and partnerships, the University of Virginia has developed new services and forged new collaborations between traditional information technology and library units in support of changing approaches to science and engineering research and education. Over the past 4 years, the library has evolved through numerous service models, changes in institutional vision, and budgetary shortfalls and has emerged with a new understanding of where to invest resources and energy for coming challenges.