Collaboration: The Key to Unlocking the Dilemma of Distance Reference Services

SUMMARY

Distant education offerings are growing at a phenomenal rate for academic institutions, creating new groups of library users that are remote from the main campus with unique library and research needs. Recent studies examining the needs of this unique and growing population note that reference and research assistance are key services needed. Many institutions have appointed or hired distance education librarians to help provide services to distant learners. They are often, however, one-person operations that function more as coordinators rather than full-service providers. Since the coordinator cannot provide all of the reference services alone, the key to providing these services for distant education students is to create and sustain good working relationships both in the library and with external entities. Offerings to distance students include phone reference and accessibility to online resources, plus virtual reference and often 24/7 services. This article will examine issues and experiences in bringing together different groups to provide reference services to distant learning communities. It will also describe key relationships necessary for keeping distance reference services at an optimal level.     

Providing a State-Wide Digital Library

Summary

The State Library of Delaware has brought DelAWARE: The Digital Library of the First State into being in regular, steady increments. Providing a digital library for a state library network, no matter how small, is always a project both blessed with support systems and fraught with unforeseen obstacles. You just never know what will happen next or who will show up to save the day.

By steadfastly working and collaborating with all partners (librarians, vendors, state agencies), De/AWARE: The Digital Library of the First State is being brought into existence, a product at a time. By addressing the needs and difficulties of its users, the digital library grows into something uniquely useful for the state and its citizens.     

阳朔忠南村方言的语音特点及其系属

忠南村是阳朔县杨堤乡人口最多的一个行政村,全村方言统一。忠南村方言的主要特点是,古全浊声母今读塞音塞擦音时不送气,韵母高度耗散,属于桂北平话。     

数字化环境下地方高校图书馆发展定位思考

社会信息化进程的迅速发展及高新技术向社会各领域的广泛渗透,引领着图书馆发生了深刻的变革。研究数字化环境下地方高校图书馆的科学定位,将对地方高校图书馆的发展带来深远的影响。     

客家生育实践的地方性知识阐释

汉族人的生育观念中具有强烈的男性偏好心理,客家人作为汉族的一个族群也不例外。白鹭古村客家人具有诸多关于男性偏好的故事。男性偏好生育观的形成具有香火观念、族人歧视、社会性别、高死亡率等多方面的原因。传统孝道思想的根深蒂固是客家人生男偏好的深层原因。     

我国公共图书馆服务体系制度设计若干基本问题辩正

论文探讨了中国当代公共图书馆服务体系制度设计方面存在的认识分歧和理论争议,主张今后的制度设计应正确处理好国际借鉴与本土创新、系统管理与公共治理、公平目标与效率追求、局部创新与整体配套等基本关系,积极引领和保障我国公共图书馆服务体系的科学发展。     

Collaborative Strategic Planning

Abstract

For the past several years, many have viewed wikis as useful tools for community building and collaboration. A number of free Web services such as PBwiki have claimed convenience and ease of use as part of their overall packages. A review of the literature reveals a great deal of anecdotal support for wiki use in the workplace. However, few studies have been conducted to determine whether wikis are useful collaborative tools for employees within an organization. This case study will examine the use of a wiki by library employees during the strategic planning process at San Jose State University.     

Card-Sorting Usability Tests of the WMU Libraries’ Web Site

ABSTRACT

This article describes the card-sorting techniques used by several academic libraries, reports and discusses the results of card-sorting usability tests of the Western Michigan University Libraries’ Web site, and reveals how the WMU libraries incorporated the findings into a new Web site redesign, setting the design direction early on. The article briefly describes open and closed card-sorting techniques and quantitative and qualitative methods of analyzing data commonly used in computer and library science fields. Findings from this study allowed the library design team to vastly improve its initial redesign decisions for a new Web site tabbed navigation system. Card sorting not only helped the design team validate its redesign decisions, but it also opened the WMU libraries to outside innovation, inviting Web site visitors to redesign the Web site free from the libraries’ influence. The simple and inexpensive techniques used here may be useful to any Web librarian or design team embarking upon redesign and usability testing of their own sites and interested in building a more compelling, insightful Web site.     

21st Century Readers' Aids: Past History and Future Directions

ABSTRACT

This article provides a brief history of the development of library subject guides (often referred to as pathfinders) from the late 1800s to the present. During this period, subject guides have changed both their focus and format. The needs of academic institutions at the turn of the 20th century were very different than they are today, and technology that was non-existent then has become ubiquitous. Much can be learned from studying the evolution of these important library tools and looking to the future as they mature even further.     

Toward a Usable Academic Library Web Site: A Case Study of Tried and Tested Usability Practices

Usability testing is an important element when designing useful, usable academic library Web sites. Since 2001, members of the Florida International University Libraries Web team have worked toward establishing a process that identifies user needs through usability testing. Starting with the libraries’ first Web site redesign project in 2001, the team has taken an active part in improving Web site user experience. After engaging in multiple redesign efforts, the Web team has developed a process that supports awareness of user experience through continual usability testing and feedback gathering. This article presents strategies and practices to measure Web site user experience, including classic usability testing methods (e.g., card sorting activities, focus groups, and task-based user testing), as well as the team's latest effort to assess Web site analytics and content to identify Web site usage patterns and areas of concern. A history of the Florida International University Libraries’ Web site redesign process is presented to illustrate lessons learned and best practices to facilitate future redesign and testing efforts. Taking a longitudinal look at usability testing at one institution, the study aims to inform the development of an effective strategy for user research and content management.