Researching Researchers: Meeting Changing Researcher Needs in a Special Collections Environment

ABSTRACT

In the competitive Higher Education environment, it is no longer sufficient for special collections to rely on the “uniqueness” of a collection as its unique selling point—it must be supported by a service and strategic plan that is both proactive in anticipating the demands of future researchers and responsive to current researchers’ changing needs. Edinburgh University's Centre for Research Collections (CRC) is addressing this challenge for the first time in a coordinated manner, employing a suite of research methods that allow staff to take an evidence based approach to service development and strategic planning. These include ethnographic observation, structured surveys, object-based learning initiatives, comprehensive data interrogation, and active engagement with the University's academic schools. This article examines how these approaches have been utilized in the development of CRC services, and its benefit to long-term planning.     

Not Left by the Wayside

Abstract

The article presents a case study of the establishment of a library in the Wayside Home School for Girls in Valley Stream, New York, in 1993. Wayside and the services it provides for troubled adolescent girls are described, and the need for the library is explained. The steps taken by librarians from the Nassau County Library Association in setting up the library are detailed. These include the initial planning, funding, collection development, cataloging of the collection, and staffing of the library. The Wayside Library provides not only recreational reading for the girls, but it also supports the school curriculum. The Wayside girls' use of the library and its effect upon their lives arc described. Lastly, related literature on juvenile detention center libraries is annotated.     

The Use of Risk Management to Support Preventive Conservation

ABSTRACT

Risk management approaches have been increasingly used at the British Library to inform and support collection care decisions. This paper addresses the ways in which these methods have been used to address specific preservation issues at the Library, using appropriate case studies: rehousing the microfilm collection, adapting pest management protocols, replacing box-making equipment and assessing the environmental conditions of the philatelic collection. As well as allowing complex, multi-faceted preservation problems to be addressed, this approach also allows options to be presented in a succinct and readily understandable manner to non-specialist colleagues and other stakeholders and helps to ensure buy-in.     

Measuring the Success of the Academic Library Website Using Banner Advertisements and Web Conversion Rates

Abstract

Measuring website success is critical not only to the web development process but also to demonstrate the value of library services to the institution. This article documents one library's approach to the measurement of website success. LibQUAL+(tm) results and strategic-planning documents indicated a need for a new type of measurement. The current literature on e-metrics focuses predominantly on vendor-based network statistics and reporting standards and other collaborative projects by various academic libraries around the world, such as the International Organization for Standardization, National Information Standards, Project COUNTER, and the Association of Research Libraries. There is no evidence within the body of library literature of academic libraries incorporating the use of e-metrics to measure the success of the library website in relation to library strategic planning and marketing. The purpose of this research paper is to consider how academic libraries can use web-conversion rates as a managerial tool for measuring a website's success and provides an outline for further research into a more strategic application of e-metrics as it relates to library strategic planning and marketing.     

Going to New Sources: Zines at the Vassar College Library

ABSTRACT

This conference presentation report introduces the zine collection at the Vassar College Library and describes the research and planning that went into advocating for and building the collection. The discussion addresses several key workflow factors that need to be considered when building a zine collection, including collection development, acquisitions, and cataloging. The report also shares local problems and solutions implemented at Vassar College.     

Copyright and Electronic Library Resources

ABSTRACT

As electronic resources represent a larger percentage of libraries' purchases and services, copyright law, licensing, and other information laws are changing some traditional library functions. This article reviews the law of electronic resources through an outline of affected library services, including acquisitions and collection development; gifts, exchanges, and sales; archiving and preservation; circulation; interli-brary loan and document delivery; reserve; and research, reference, and instructional services. Legal issues considered include copyright, licensing, and database protection.     

Survey on the Needs for Chemistry Research Data Management and Sharing

This paper aims to reveal the situation of research data in chemistry research process and chemistry researchers' need for data management support from five perspectives, i.e., data generation and collection, data recording and processing, data preservation and backup, data publication and sharing, needs for data management and sharing services. Our survey is based on a questionnaire carried out among 119 subjects, i.e., researchers and graduate students in chemistry of Chinese Academy of Science. The analysis results provide us with a better understanding on the current attitudes and needs of researchers and graduate students about data management and sharing in chemistry. Although this survey was implemented in chemistry, it could provide us with some inspirations for designing a range of library services for other disciplines, particularly in promotion, consulting and training of research data management and sharing, and research data storage.     

Using Needs Assessment to Determine Library Services for Distance Learning Programs

ABSTRACT

This article provides guidance in using the needs assessment process as a planning tool specifically for library services supporting distance learning programs. The first section covers pre-assessment planning activities, which include defining the specific purpose or purposes of the assessment, assigning responsibility for various aspects of the project, establishing time frames, and defining target groups. The section related to conducting the assessment itself discusses, along with other issues, selecting data collection tools and constructing questions. Promotion of the assessment and methods of encouraging participation are also considered. Since Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery personnel are an integral part of library services, they may be called upon to support distance learning programs. Thus, topics discussed in this article will be applicable to their situations.     

Overcoming Obstacles to Preventive Conservation Projects in Italy: With a Case Study of the Savoy Carriage Collection of the Presidency of the Republic

ABSTRACT

Working on preventive conservation in Italy is difficult but not impossible. After small successes and setbacks convincing museums to adopt elements of preventive conservation in the 1990s, the first author (Rossi Doria) was contracted for 15 years to preserve the historic carriages and associated objects of the Presidency of the Republic of Italy. This required patience to overcome or circumvent obstacles such as an inflexible bureaucracy and the absence of any formal recognition of preventive conservation within the educational and contractual systems for heritage conservation. The key factors in his success were the support of the curators, the financial and planning autonomy of the Presidency, and the obvious need for conservation and preservation of these elegant and complex objects. The program began in 2001 with the recovery of the forgotten collection from inappropriate storage in several locations. The entire collection was surveyed and recorded, not only the carriages but also thousands of harnesses, saddles, clothing, fabrics, weapons and memorabilia. Multiple preventive and interventive actions were undertaken, such as pest eradication for all sensitive materials, environmental surveys, and everyday maintenance, as well as complex treatments for the ornate carriages. Analysis by country of published articles on preventive conservation and of IIC membership both confirm that the topic is not as well established in Italy as in many other countries. Some reasons and solutions are proposed.     

Reference Services and Collection Development Faculty Outreach Through the Campus Network

Abstract

Effective reference services and collection development in a small academic library depend upon collaborative planning and performance by the entire library staff. Coordination of library activities and understanding of the library and college mission are the foundations of a program responsive to the needs of the college community. Partnerships between the library and classroom faculty ensure that curricular needs are satisfied through activities as diverse as bibliographic instruction and materials acquisition. Traditional interactions have been greatly enhanced through rapid advances in telecommunications, offering librarians additional tools for faculty outreach.     

Library-Based GIS Labs

Abstract

Increased use of geographic information systems on college and university campuses has prompted libraries to ask the question: Where and how can libraries fulfill these digital needs? This paper describes the actions taken by the Syracuse University Library to implement GIS and geo-spatial data services to the University community. Discussion will focus on the planning, administration, public services, collection development, and management issues pertaining to a networked multi-Station GIS lab.     

An Automated Reclassification Project at the University of Kentucky

ABSTRACT

The University of Kentucky Libraries began use of the Library of Congress Classification System in 1978, leaving the bulk of their older material in the Dewey Classification System. In 1992 during the planning for the new Young Library, the opportunity arose to complete the reclassification of the collection from Dewey to Library of Congress. This paper outlines the process used to reclassify the collection. Unique features of this project were the reliance on automation to reduce the number of person hours needed for reclassifying the materials and the minimal disruption of services to users.     

News You Can Use: Contemporary SDI and Anticipatory Reference for Government Information

ABSTRACT

Government information is becoming available to citizens more quickly than ever before due to electronic dissemination via the Internet. Two projects that rapidly capture, organize, and publicize regionally relevant government information are examined: Government News for Montana and New Mexico News Plus. These news-based sites serve as tools for collection development and digital archiving, proactive reference, content alerting services, information literacy, promotion, and outreach. Issues to consider and suggestions for the application of these services at other libraries are discussed.     

Using Course Syllabi to Develop Collections and Assess Library Service Integration

ABSTRACT

Ria Lukes and Angie Thorpe, librarians from Indiana University Kokomo, presented a conference session exploring the use of course syllabi as a core tool for measuring and enhancing library support of curriculum needs and service integration. The researchers described their process and the results from a review of 477 syllabi collected from numerous departments spanning diverse disciplines at their institution. Their findings demonstrate how syllabi may be used to identify collection weaknesses, discover misconceptions about library holdings and services, and ultimately serve as a starting point to interact with faculty and librarians to improve and clarify library holdings, services, and outreach initiatives.     

An Opportunity for Change: College Accreditation and the New Library Manager

Abstract

Administering special collections within an academic branch library presents challenges in the areas of public services, collection management, facilities planning, and staffing. In art and architecture libraries, special collections can include a variety of materials such as rare books, trade catalogs, builder's guides, graphic and visual materials, artists' books, archival records in many formats, and files of ephemera. Public service issues relating to the administration of special collections housed in an architecture branch library (and its off-site repositories) will be addressed. Collection care and access services will be examined in light of recent technologies.     

Moving from Analysis to Assessment: Strategic Assessment of Library Collections

ABSTRACT

Collections are one of the core resources provided by libraries and are often seen as what defines a library. Collection policies and priorities are put into place to guide the growth of libraries’ collections. However as time passes, are the collections created best suited to the current patron population? Collection assessment can be used to evaluate how well the developing collection follows the guidelines that have been put into place. Collection assessment can also be beneficial in the library strategic planning process by identifying strengths and weaknesses in the collection, particularly in new areas of interest. It can also help identify areas that may need additional funding to continue the level of support previously maintained for an area.     

Social Media Marketing: Determining and Comparing View of Public Library Directors and Users

ABSTRACT

Purpose: The present study aims to determine and compare the views of directors and users of public libraries on the use of social media for the marketing of library services.

Methodology: Data collection was done through two researcher-made questionnaires, one from the viewpoints of directors and one investigating the views of users. The questionnaires’ validity was done by four libraries and Information Science professionals, and the reliability was determined by the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. The statistical population of this research is made up of all directors and users of 12 public libraries of the city of Isfahan, one of the largest cities in Iran.

Findings: In users’ viewpoints, the “interaction capability” is the most important feature that social media marketing can have in libraries. From the viewpoints of the directors, “creating a true picture of the role of the library” and “informing users about library services” are among the most important reasons for the marketing of libraries in the social media. From the perspective of both groups, the Telegram is the most appropriate medium for the marketing of library services.

Results: To maintain their customers and their market position, libraries need to use more exciting tools such as social media for marketing. Library directors of this study emphasized on this fact and 79.1% of users expressed interest in receiving library information through social media.

Value: The findings of this study would help the library directors to better decide on the marketing of their library services in social media.

Type of the study: Scientific-Research     

Memory Cafés and Dementia-Friendly Libraries: Management Considerations for Developing Inclusive Library Programs

Abstract

Memory Cafés bring services to families and individuals experiencing memory loss, mild cognitive impairment, early Alzheimer’s, or other dementias. Memory Cafés situated in libraries are designed to be safe, engaging, and welcoming gathering spaces. These equalizing opportunities provide mind-stimulating activities and respond to the growing need to create dementia-friendly library environments. The aim of this article is to highlight management considerations for creating Memory Cafés. Issues such as building community partners, budgeting, planning, library staff training, and marketing are highlighted. Overall, Memory Cafés can be inclusive library spaces for people experiencing different phases of memory loss and their care partners.     

Grasping the Nettle

Abstract

The increasing utilization of computer technology in the public and private sectors, particularly since the mid-1980s, has brought about significant changes in the way organizations do their business. It has led to improvements in productivity, more timely delivery of services, and more efficient business communication; it has also had significant cultural impact. The technology has transformed our working environments, but there has not been an equivalent transformation in records and archival practice.

If the 1980s was the decade in which the tidal wave of electronic change hit us, the 1990s has seen the gradual realization that the new technology alone, without appropriate information and records management strategies, generates substantial risks. While the technology is promoted as the solution to all information management requirements, this message glosses over some critical issues. These issues go to the heart of the preservation of the corporate memory of our society.

In this article the author introduces us to major issues in electronic records management from an archival perspective. He illustrates these points through reference to policy development at the Australian Archives.