Documents librarianship I: Extending patent access through in-state networks

U.S. patents form the largest and most comprehensive body of technological literature in the world. The Patent and Trademark Office has greatly expanded its dissemination efforts in response to the interest and need for technological information, increasing to 58 the number of Patent Depository Libraries able to bring patent collections closer to those who need them. The effectiveness of this program could be magnified by enlisting local Government Printing Office depository libraries in cooperative networks. A model for establishing such a network is suggested, based on the experience of New Mexico.     

Documents librarianship II: Current and future direction of automation activities for U.S. government depository collections

This article reviews the current status of government documents automation and identifies major problems associated with documents automation. These serve as background for a proposed research agenda concerned with the development and implementation of a broad-based documents control system. The proposed agenda, if implemented, would result in the design of full-function, automated documents systems, suitable for depository library collections.     

Inferential statistics and librarianship

This study examines the extent to which inferential statistics were used in research articles published between 2001 and 2005 in professional journals that academic and public librarians are most likely to read. It also explores the kinds of inferential statistics most commonly used, and whether academic and public librarians authored research articles using inferential statistics. Compared with the findings of studies conducted in the 1970s and the 1980s, there is an increase in the use of inferential statistics in articles appearing in professional journals read by academic and public librarians. These results suggest that educators who believe that learning about inferential statistics should become an important component of every librarian's education may be correct, especially because the evolving nature of librarianship has placed new emphasis on performance measures, outcomes assessment, and evidence-based decision making, which often rely on sophisticated analyses of quantitative data.     

International education for librarianship

Abstract

Three major international library science journals -International Information and Library Review, Information Development and Libri are studied to determine the nature and trends in library and information science research in Africa. 72 papers are analysed, covering the period 1990-1992 (three years). This includes the status of the authors, gender, affiliation, country and types of research. The type and origin of cited documents the authors used in writing articles were also explored. The findings show that more information professionals in Africa are getting involved in research and publishing, with the major areas being agricultural information and library education. A majority of the journals cited, however, came from outside Africa.     

Psychology applied to librarianship

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the perception of faculty members at King Abdulaziz University (KAAU) towards online search service in the Jeddah main campus. Survey methods were used to determine the demands of the faculty members from different faculties and to find out the subject areas for which more search requests are made. The data for this study were collected by administering a specially designed questionnaire to all the chairmen of departments within each faculty. Personal interviews were conducted with the library staff responsible for the online search service at the KAAU Central Library. Analysis of relevant data indicates that out of 73 questionnaires delivered to chairmen, 51 completed questionnaires were received, a 70% response rate. Further analysis revealed that 139 requests were made by 11 faculties and institutions during 1989 and 1990. Forty-five percent of respondents used online search service to conduct personal research.     

Work values in librarianship

Schneider's (1987a) attraction-selection-attrition framework explains that groups of workers attracted to the same occupational group may be expected to behave alike in their jobs. Specifically, it suggests that certain types of people are attracted to certain occupations, and that people who choose the same occupation tend to behave in a like manner within their occupational group. This study investigated work values in librarianship and identified the work values of library science students (i.e., a group of individuals attracted to the profession of librarianship). It also looked at the work values of business students, to investigate differences in the work values of individuals attracted to these two occupations. These results provide information about work values in librarianship which should be of interest to library managers, to practicing librarians, and to library science students.     

Foundations of medical librarianship.

The development of medical librarianship during the last forty years is examined as reflected in the changes of its resources, technology, education, and knowledge base. A shift from historical to scientific inquiry constitutes the direction of medical librarianship. Its nexus is the gathering of information and the transfer of knowledge. The social and human resources for this ongoing change and the basis for a quest for excellence is seen in the pool of talent represented by hospital librarians and the aspirations of the women's movement for equality.     

Education for librarianship in India

The ‘globalization’ phenomenon has infiltrated many societies and cultures, promoting the creation of ‘global villages’ where the risks of cultural levelling are evident. The Agence de la Francophonie (ACCT), secretariat of the Francophone Summits, has raised awareness about this issue, through information gathered by its Banque internationale d'information sur les États francophones (BIEF) programme. The last Francophone Summit (Cotonou, 1996) adopted a recommendation recognizing the global impact of the ‘information highway’ while urging the Francophonie to promote the cultural specificities and diversities of its Member States. The information and communication technologies and the information highway seem to favor the linguistic imperialism of certain societies and cultures. This trend triggers two types of reaction: (1) an accelerated merger of cultures into one single conventional universe and (2) an assertion of national cultural identities. The Francophonie has chosen the latter and has developed strategies to support its position.