Pub Date : 2017-01-19DOI: 10.1080/14649055.2016.1263495
Qingshan Zhou, Zhiqiang Li, Xifei Huang, Dickson K. W. Chiu
Most studies on Chinese academic resource selection have used a qualitative approach, focusing on issues such as resource distribution and accessibility. To fill the research gap, the current article analyses the responses of 190 undergraduate students of the Peking University to a questionnaire survey, revealing various academic resources' access methods, usage frequency, and access obstacles, while exploring underlying factors affecting resource usage with a focus on the language impacts. Further, the application of the innovation diffusion model to study the utilization of library electronic resources is novel. The current findings showed that open-shelf books, electronic journals, and open-access resources were highly utilized because of their high quality. Electronic resources were displacing printed resources. Based on Bass's innovation diffusion model, diffusion of different electronic resources among undergraduate students fit well with the S-curve, though with significantly different slopes, for example, there was a significantly different diffusion rate between English and Chinese resources. In particular, difficulties in accessing Western databases was identified because of students' limited information literacy and language ability.
{"title":"Undergraduates' Electronic Resources Diffusion at the Peking University: An Exploration on Language Impacts","authors":"Qingshan Zhou, Zhiqiang Li, Xifei Huang, Dickson K. W. Chiu","doi":"10.1080/14649055.2016.1263495","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14649055.2016.1263495","url":null,"abstract":"Most studies on Chinese academic resource selection have used a qualitative approach, focusing on issues such as resource distribution and accessibility. To fill the research gap, the current article analyses the responses of 190 undergraduate students of the Peking University to a questionnaire survey, revealing various academic resources' access methods, usage frequency, and access obstacles, while exploring underlying factors affecting resource usage with a focus on the language impacts. Further, the application of the innovation diffusion model to study the utilization of library electronic resources is novel. The current findings showed that open-shelf books, electronic journals, and open-access resources were highly utilized because of their high quality. Electronic resources were displacing printed resources. Based on Bass's innovation diffusion model, diffusion of different electronic resources among undergraduate students fit well with the S-curve, though with significantly different slopes, for example, there was a significantly different diffusion rate between English and Chinese resources. In particular, difficulties in accessing Western databases was identified because of students' limited information literacy and language ability.","PeriodicalId":43196,"journal":{"name":"LIBRARY COLLECTIONS ACQUISITIONS & TECHNICAL SERVICES","volume":"41 1","pages":"1 - 9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-01-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77123107","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-10-02DOI: 10.1080/14649055.2016.1209003
Aiping Chen-Gaffey, Heather Getsay
As academic libraries transform their buildings to provide more study space, librarians may consider increasing e-book acquisitions as a space saving strategy. However, to what extent a library's e-book collection is used remains a central question. Using two subject collections as examples, this case study analyzes one academic library's usage data for both electronic and print books over a 5-year period (2011–2015) in order to gain insights into usage patterns, trends, user preferences, and behaviors between print and electronic format. Based on the sample data, the study finds that not only was the library's e-books collection substantively used, but also the e-book usage was noticeably higher than print. In fact, there was a gradual shift in user preferences from print to electronic format. In addition, the study shows that newer publications had higher usage regardless of format. In conclusion, the authors recommend expanding e-books acquisition programs and shifting the focus of future collection development from print to electronic format.
{"title":"More E-Books, Less Print?—What Does Usage Data Tell Us?","authors":"Aiping Chen-Gaffey, Heather Getsay","doi":"10.1080/14649055.2016.1209003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14649055.2016.1209003","url":null,"abstract":"As academic libraries transform their buildings to provide more study space, librarians may consider increasing e-book acquisitions as a space saving strategy. However, to what extent a library's e-book collection is used remains a central question. Using two subject collections as examples, this case study analyzes one academic library's usage data for both electronic and print books over a 5-year period (2011–2015) in order to gain insights into usage patterns, trends, user preferences, and behaviors between print and electronic format. Based on the sample data, the study finds that not only was the library's e-books collection substantively used, but also the e-book usage was noticeably higher than print. In fact, there was a gradual shift in user preferences from print to electronic format. In addition, the study shows that newer publications had higher usage regardless of format. In conclusion, the authors recommend expanding e-books acquisition programs and shifting the focus of future collection development from print to electronic format.","PeriodicalId":43196,"journal":{"name":"LIBRARY COLLECTIONS ACQUISITIONS & TECHNICAL SERVICES","volume":"92 1","pages":"59 - 67"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80449558","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-10-02DOI: 10.1080/14649055.2016.1254495
L. Romano
This article seeks to determine the definition of service in academic institutions, the service criteria at various academic institutions, the percentage that service is valued, what weight specific service activities are given, and how service criteria has been viewed over the years. The focus is on the service criteria for promotion and tenure (including continuing appointment). Additionally, this article discusses some challenges technical services librarians face in fulfilling their service requirements and provides some suggestions on how technical services librarians can present their service activities in their promotion and tenure dossiers.
{"title":"Service Requirements for Promotion and Tenure: What Is the Technical Services Librarian to Do?","authors":"L. Romano","doi":"10.1080/14649055.2016.1254495","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14649055.2016.1254495","url":null,"abstract":"This article seeks to determine the definition of service in academic institutions, the service criteria at various academic institutions, the percentage that service is valued, what weight specific service activities are given, and how service criteria has been viewed over the years. The focus is on the service criteria for promotion and tenure (including continuing appointment). Additionally, this article discusses some challenges technical services librarians face in fulfilling their service requirements and provides some suggestions on how technical services librarians can present their service activities in their promotion and tenure dossiers.","PeriodicalId":43196,"journal":{"name":"LIBRARY COLLECTIONS ACQUISITIONS & TECHNICAL SERVICES","volume":"4 1","pages":"82 - 93"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77639171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-10-02DOI: 10.1080/14649055.2016.1214520
Will Buck
A traditional expectation for publicly funded libraries is that they should be institutions where patron records are kept confidential and a standard of privacy is maintained. After the events of 911, methods increasing search and surveillance powers and reducing legal protections were drafted into law as the “Patriot Act.” Searching patron records can be rendered ineffective by library procedures that keep identifiable information to a minimum. Librarians must make responsible collection development decisions while avoiding the pitfalls of censorship. Information has value, and can help or hinder those in the pursuit of goals. Outsourcing collection development decisions is, therefore, not an ideal practice. Librarians should use their training and experience in the selection of information materials.
{"title":"Privacy and Censorship: Another Look","authors":"Will Buck","doi":"10.1080/14649055.2016.1214520","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14649055.2016.1214520","url":null,"abstract":"A traditional expectation for publicly funded libraries is that they should be institutions where patron records are kept confidential and a standard of privacy is maintained. After the events of 911, methods increasing search and surveillance powers and reducing legal protections were drafted into law as the “Patriot Act.” Searching patron records can be rendered ineffective by library procedures that keep identifiable information to a minimum. Librarians must make responsible collection development decisions while avoiding the pitfalls of censorship. Information has value, and can help or hinder those in the pursuit of goals. Outsourcing collection development decisions is, therefore, not an ideal practice. Librarians should use their training and experience in the selection of information materials.","PeriodicalId":43196,"journal":{"name":"LIBRARY COLLECTIONS ACQUISITIONS & TECHNICAL SERVICES","volume":"3 1","pages":"68 - 72"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91043269","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-10-02DOI: 10.1080/14649055.2016.1176842
I. Ezema, V. Okafor
This study was conducted to examine advocacy issues in open access institutional repositories in Nigeria. A descriptive survey research design was adopted to study 150 librarians from six government-funded academic institutions in South East Nigeria. The article identified 12 local content materials as relevant for publication in institutional repositories. It was found that advocacy is very critical in attracting funds and creation of awareness for institutional repositories in Nigeria. Major advocacy strategies are the use of institutions Websites, face-to-face interaction with target groups, seminars, and workshops. The study identified the National Universities Commission, Federal Ministry of Education, and institutional administration as major targets of the advocacy. Library associations, librarians, and management of the institutions are identified as very important groups to spearhead advocacy programs. The problems associated with institutional repositories advocacy were also identified. This study will serve as a useful guide on advocacy issues for institutional administrators and librarians who are interested in developing their institutional repositories using local content available to them. The originality lies in the ability of the article to survey professional librarians who gave their opinions on the questions raised which were used to generate data that addressed the objectives of the study.
{"title":"Open Access Institutional Repositories in Nigeria Academic Libraries: Advocacy and Issues in Scholarly Communication","authors":"I. Ezema, V. Okafor","doi":"10.1080/14649055.2016.1176842","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14649055.2016.1176842","url":null,"abstract":"This study was conducted to examine advocacy issues in open access institutional repositories in Nigeria. A descriptive survey research design was adopted to study 150 librarians from six government-funded academic institutions in South East Nigeria. The article identified 12 local content materials as relevant for publication in institutional repositories. It was found that advocacy is very critical in attracting funds and creation of awareness for institutional repositories in Nigeria. Major advocacy strategies are the use of institutions Websites, face-to-face interaction with target groups, seminars, and workshops. The study identified the National Universities Commission, Federal Ministry of Education, and institutional administration as major targets of the advocacy. Library associations, librarians, and management of the institutions are identified as very important groups to spearhead advocacy programs. The problems associated with institutional repositories advocacy were also identified. This study will serve as a useful guide on advocacy issues for institutional administrators and librarians who are interested in developing their institutional repositories using local content available to them. The originality lies in the ability of the article to survey professional librarians who gave their opinions on the questions raised which were used to generate data that addressed the objectives of the study.","PeriodicalId":43196,"journal":{"name":"LIBRARY COLLECTIONS ACQUISITIONS & TECHNICAL SERVICES","volume":"1 1","pages":"45 - 58"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83751778","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-10-02DOI: 10.1080/14649055.2016.1231564
Austin-Jude Chikodi Mole, Nnenna A. Obidike
The study determined strategies for overcoming the challenges associated with electronic collection development (ECD) in Nigerian university libraries. It employed a descriptive survey design. The total population of library respondents (Professionals and Paraprofessionals) used for this study was 208. Questionnaire and interviews were the instruments used to collect data for this study. The result of the study revealed that ECD is not yet very effective in Nigeria university libraries. The major factors militating against ECD as revealed by this study were inadequate funding for automation which is also at infancy level, poor technical knowhow, lack of higher bandwidth in Internet connectivity and lack of sound administrative policies and guidelines. The major strategies for overcoming the challenges include constant evaluation of automation facilities, adequate and regular systems upgrade, provision of skilled manpower and periodic and regular training of librarians and paraprofessionals in the use of modern information and communication technology facilities.
{"title":"Overcoming Challenges of Electronic Collection Development in University Libraries: A Study of Three Nigerian University Libraries","authors":"Austin-Jude Chikodi Mole, Nnenna A. Obidike","doi":"10.1080/14649055.2016.1231564","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14649055.2016.1231564","url":null,"abstract":"The study determined strategies for overcoming the challenges associated with electronic collection development (ECD) in Nigerian university libraries. It employed a descriptive survey design. The total population of library respondents (Professionals and Paraprofessionals) used for this study was 208. Questionnaire and interviews were the instruments used to collect data for this study. The result of the study revealed that ECD is not yet very effective in Nigeria university libraries. The major factors militating against ECD as revealed by this study were inadequate funding for automation which is also at infancy level, poor technical knowhow, lack of higher bandwidth in Internet connectivity and lack of sound administrative policies and guidelines. The major strategies for overcoming the challenges include constant evaluation of automation facilities, adequate and regular systems upgrade, provision of skilled manpower and periodic and regular training of librarians and paraprofessionals in the use of modern information and communication technology facilities.","PeriodicalId":43196,"journal":{"name":"LIBRARY COLLECTIONS ACQUISITIONS & TECHNICAL SERVICES","volume":"30 1","pages":"73 - 81"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77993763","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-04-03DOI: 10.1080/14649055.2015.1108760
Steve H. Ching, M. Hsiao
This article provides a macro analysis to investigate the relationship between e-book collection growth and the decline of total circulation transactions, using data compiled from Hong Kong's eight academic libraries for the period 2007–2011. An econometrics analysis is applied to evaluate the overall impact of a critical mass of e-book collection on use of print books in a region. Based on empirical studies in Hong Kong, this study observed that although the increase in e-books indeed contributes to a drop in the total circulation transactions, it is not the biggest the contributing factor. From the comparison of elasticity measurement, the cross-elasticity of substitution of e-books for print books is –0.11. The e-books are not the perfect substitute for print books. The most important finding in this study is that the main culprit for the decline of total circulation transactions in Hong Kong academic libraries is attributed to the decline in the annual addition of print books in general; total circulation transactions are only negligibly affected by the acquisition of e-books.
{"title":"Impact of the e-Book on Total Circulation Transactions—A Case Study for Hong Kong Academic Libraries","authors":"Steve H. Ching, M. Hsiao","doi":"10.1080/14649055.2015.1108760","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14649055.2015.1108760","url":null,"abstract":"This article provides a macro analysis to investigate the relationship between e-book collection growth and the decline of total circulation transactions, using data compiled from Hong Kong's eight academic libraries for the period 2007–2011. An econometrics analysis is applied to evaluate the overall impact of a critical mass of e-book collection on use of print books in a region. Based on empirical studies in Hong Kong, this study observed that although the increase in e-books indeed contributes to a drop in the total circulation transactions, it is not the biggest the contributing factor. From the comparison of elasticity measurement, the cross-elasticity of substitution of e-books for print books is –0.11. The e-books are not the perfect substitute for print books. The most important finding in this study is that the main culprit for the decline of total circulation transactions in Hong Kong academic libraries is attributed to the decline in the annual addition of print books in general; total circulation transactions are only negligibly affected by the acquisition of e-books.","PeriodicalId":43196,"journal":{"name":"LIBRARY COLLECTIONS ACQUISITIONS & TECHNICAL SERVICES","volume":"28 1","pages":"1 - 8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90523384","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-04-03DOI: 10.1080/14649055.2015.1125268
M. Kahn, P. Underwood
In order to investigate the use of e-books at South African university libraries, this study explored patrons’ attitudes to e-books, their current use of e-books, and their expectations of e-books in their academic libraries. Results showed that users were eager to use e-books but that there was a lack of awareness that libraries stocked them, or to what degree. Print was still preferred by many, but e-books were seen as a convenient alternative. Users were ignorant of the limitations that most e-book licensing agreements impose, expecting unlimited access to the content of e-books as they would with print books.
{"title":"E-book Use in South African Academic Libraries: What Patrons Want","authors":"M. Kahn, P. Underwood","doi":"10.1080/14649055.2015.1125268","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14649055.2015.1125268","url":null,"abstract":"In order to investigate the use of e-books at South African university libraries, this study explored patrons’ attitudes to e-books, their current use of e-books, and their expectations of e-books in their academic libraries. Results showed that users were eager to use e-books but that there was a lack of awareness that libraries stocked them, or to what degree. Print was still preferred by many, but e-books were seen as a convenient alternative. Users were ignorant of the limitations that most e-book licensing agreements impose, expecting unlimited access to the content of e-books as they would with print books.","PeriodicalId":43196,"journal":{"name":"LIBRARY COLLECTIONS ACQUISITIONS & TECHNICAL SERVICES","volume":"36 1","pages":"23 - 39"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90881383","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-04-03DOI: 10.1080/14649055.2015.1121067
Inna Shpilko
The purpose of this study is to evaluate neuroscience scholarly journals in academic libraries and to identify the most important journals for academic study, teaching, and research. A Web-based survey of faculty members of the City University of New York participating in different neuroscience programs was carried out. As a result of this study, the list of 116 professional journals which academic neuroscience faculty used regularly for clinical/research information, teaching, and current awareness was compiled. The strength of this listing is that all journals are grouped in three separate use categories: for research, for teaching, and for current awareness. In addition, the ranked list of 43 most influential periodicals was generated. These results are of interest to collection development librarians, to better understand their users’ needs. Furthermore, this project might be of interest to academic faculty and scholars teaching and/or researching in the different areas of neuroscience.
{"title":"An Evaluation of the Neuroscience Journals in a Large Urban Public University","authors":"Inna Shpilko","doi":"10.1080/14649055.2015.1121067","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14649055.2015.1121067","url":null,"abstract":"The purpose of this study is to evaluate neuroscience scholarly journals in academic libraries and to identify the most important journals for academic study, teaching, and research. A Web-based survey of faculty members of the City University of New York participating in different neuroscience programs was carried out. As a result of this study, the list of 116 professional journals which academic neuroscience faculty used regularly for clinical/research information, teaching, and current awareness was compiled. The strength of this listing is that all journals are grouped in three separate use categories: for research, for teaching, and for current awareness. In addition, the ranked list of 43 most influential periodicals was generated. These results are of interest to collection development librarians, to better understand their users’ needs. Furthermore, this project might be of interest to academic faculty and scholars teaching and/or researching in the different areas of neuroscience.","PeriodicalId":43196,"journal":{"name":"LIBRARY COLLECTIONS ACQUISITIONS & TECHNICAL SERVICES","volume":"1 1","pages":"22 - 9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88670964","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}