The impact of the hybrid library on strategic management

This paper examines in detail one aspect of the eLib funded BUILDER hybrid library project ‐ the impact of the BUILDER Project on strategic management within the University of Birmingham. Data was collected from senior managers at the outset and end of the Project to explore their changing views on the concept of the hybrid library and its development, and to identify the extent to which the BUILDER Project had influenced their thinking. Although BUILDER was considered to be having an impact on many Schools, social, political and technological developments in the wider arena were having the most impact. It was acknowledged that the services and technologies developed through the Project would be valuable in supporting the transition towards a hybrid environment, and had worked consistently to do this. The paper sets this data within the broader context of factors influencing change in university strategic management over the past five years.     

Why We Watch,Why We Play: The Relationship Between Fantasy Sport and Fanship Motivations

This study compares the tendencies and motivations of the traditional sport fan (who consumes sport to see if his or her favorite teams/players are victorious) and the relatively newer fantasy sport fan (who consumes with the added variable of wanting to see certain players do well in order to secure personal fantasy team victories). A total of 1,261 traditional and fantasy sport consumers were surveyed, with results indicating that fantasy sport users had elevated levels of enjoyment, entertainment, passing time, social interaction, and surveillance motivations when compared to traditional fans. No significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of arousal, whereas traditional fans scored higher regarding escape motivations. In addition, all motivation behaviors increased significantly based on the amount of fantasy sport involvement, leading to the conclusion that fantasy sport participants have many of the same fanship motivations as traditional nonplaying fans, albeit at higher and often significantly higher levels. Theoretical and applied conclusions are extrapolated as well.     

OCLC in the Asia Pacific Region

This essay provides an overview of both the accomplishments and difficulties faced by OCLC as it has expanded in the vast Asia Pacific region. It describes the organizational changes as they evolved as this previously North American collaborative organization expanded westward and details initiatives pursued in each of the Asia Pacific countries where it has operated. Finally, it examines the five major challenges yet facing OCLC in the region: the lack of bibliographic name authority files, competing classification systems, competing MARC cataloging formats, the perceived high costs associated with participating OCLC programs and services, and the need for local vernacular products in addition to those developed largely for the North American and European markets.     

IP Address Data and its Place in the Library Community Today and in the Future

Internet Protocol (IP) technology has played an important role in the management of access to scholarly work within institutions since the advent of electronic publishing in the late 1990s. Despite recent efforts to explore alternative modes of authentication, the ubiquitous use of IP address authentication within the systems of libraries, publishers, and third party vendors around the world suggests it will continue to play a significant role for the foreseeable future. However, recent studies show that a large amount of the IP address data held within publisher systems is incorrect, improperly assigned, or requires clarification. Poor source data carries significant risks—not the least of which translates into unreliable usage reporting for libraries and publishers. The IP Registry is designed to help mitigate these challenges by creating a Registry of cleaned data that libraries and publishers can interact with in a centralized fashion thereby helping to ensure accuracy and reducing the level of resources necessary to manage and communicate changes to existing data. The database of more than 60,000 academic, corporate, and government libraries was created through the amalgamation of raw source data from more than 170 scholarly publishers. In addition to cleaned IP address data, the Registry includes standardized English naming, aliases, local language naming (and characters), hierarchies, and organizational IDs for each record. The importance of accurately understanding current usage and how libraries utilize published content is clear. Regardless of what the future holds, the need for a clean and stable source of IP address data is real for libraries, publishers, and vendors alike.     

A Grounded Theory of Control over Communication Among Individuals with Cancer

This study explored the meanings that people attribute to talking about their cancer. Framed by interpersonal and health communication scholarship on privacy management and multiple meanings, we asked cancer survivors to describe how and why they discussed their cancer with others. Interviews (focus group or one-on-one) were conducted with 40 survivors. Using a grounded theory approach, we developed a conceptual framework that describes how communication about cancer may be particularly meaningful because it is something that people feel as though they can control during a highly stressful and turbulent time. However, attempts to manage communication are challenged by constraints imposed by others, such as unfavorable and unpredictable reactions to disclosure, which ultimately place limits on survivors’ control.     

Cinema Today

Andrew Sarris Politics and Cinema (New York: Columbia University Press, 1978—$12.95)

Randall M. Miller, ed. Ethnic Images in American Film and Television (Philadelphia: The Balch Institute, 18 South 7th St., 1978—$6.00, paper)

Feature Films on 8mm, 16mm and Videotape: A Directory of Feature Films Available for Rental, Sale, and Lease in the United States and Canada by James L. Limbacher (New York: Bowker, 1979—$24.00)

Guide to Short Films by Jeffrey Schrank (Rochelle Park, N.J.: Hayden Book Co., 1979—$7.95, paper)