Pub Date : 2015-10-02DOI: 10.1080/00049670.2015.1087299
R. Franks
Since the publication of Australia’s first crime novel in 1830, Australians have read crime fiction for entertainment, for the reassurance that wrongdoers will be punished, and to test their deductive skills against those of their favourite sleuth. The novels, short stories and plays within the crime fiction genre that have been produced in Australia between colonial times and the present day also offer opportunities to investigate a particular place or a particular time. Indeed, many crime fiction writers have mastered the art of recreating settings in both rural and metropolitan landscapes. The details provided within these works ultimately reveal a culprit (usually a murderer), yet they also outline the availability of certain products, bus and train timetables, the floor plans of local hotels or world-famous buildings and numerous other particulars, thus providing a rich, if surprising, source of material for the merely curious and the professional researcher. Crime fiction stories set within libraries present a history of the information services profession. This paper demonstrates how crime fiction can provide an important supplement to more traditional historical sources, with a focus on how the genre has documented some of the major changes within libraries over the last 75 years, since 1939.
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Pub Date : 2015-10-02DOI: 10.1080/00049670.2015.1100235
D. Sullivan
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Pub Date : 2015-10-02DOI: 10.1080/00049670.2015.1100273
M. McLean
Currently ‘data’ is the current buzzword in all organisations, not least in the library and cultural heritage sectors. Libraries have been collecting data about their services and collections for a very long time and producing statistics and reports. However, data are just raw facts until analysis is done and the question of why the data are being collected needs to be considered. A quote used in this book best sums this up: ‘Counting the countable that can be easily counted renders impact illegitimate’ (p. 116). This book aims to explore the full potential of analytics and metrics in libraries, which has been made easier and more prolific through electronic collection methods. These analytics and metrics have the potential to drive better management decisions, create new user services and provide tailored services for patrons. To achieve this aim, the book is set out in seven sections, each written by well-known experts. The areas covered are the collection of big and small data in libraries, data-driven collection development, use of analytics to promote library impact and value, a qualitative approach to analytics, the impact of web and social media metrics, and the ethical and legal questions of new data collection techniques. The final chapter examines the future direction of analytics for libraries and directs the reader to consider the broader issues in this area. The case studies at the end of each section are current and provide practical examples on how new areas of analytics and metrics are being applied in a variety of institutions. The lists of further information about the case studies and resources encourage the reader to further investigate the subject area. The book is well-written in language suitable for an intelligent non-expert reader. The structure of the book leads the reader logically from one theme to another. Of particular interest are the ethical and moral aspects and impact of new data-gathering methods that may seem to be in breach of long-held positions on the privacy of library patrons. Likewise, the use of ethnographers in the library, examining qualitative data that is gathered, provides much-needed balance against the dominant presence of quantitative data analysis. I highly recommend this book for librarians in public and special libraries and in libraries in the education sector – that is, for all librarians. It is a particularly invaluable resource for those working with library analytics and metrics. This book inspires the reader to reflect on why they collect the data they do and its potential wider use. It has found a permanent place in my personal library, and I will certainly be following up on many of the resources listed within it.
{"title":"Library consortia: Model for collaboration and sustainability","authors":"M. McLean","doi":"10.1080/00049670.2015.1100273","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00049670.2015.1100273","url":null,"abstract":"Currently ‘data’ is the current buzzword in all organisations, not least in the library and cultural heritage sectors. Libraries have been collecting data about their services and collections for a very long time and producing statistics and reports. However, data are just raw facts until analysis is done and the question of why the data are being collected needs to be considered. A quote used in this book best sums this up: ‘Counting the countable that can be easily counted renders impact illegitimate’ (p. 116). This book aims to explore the full potential of analytics and metrics in libraries, which has been made easier and more prolific through electronic collection methods. These analytics and metrics have the potential to drive better management decisions, create new user services and provide tailored services for patrons. To achieve this aim, the book is set out in seven sections, each written by well-known experts. The areas covered are the collection of big and small data in libraries, data-driven collection development, use of analytics to promote library impact and value, a qualitative approach to analytics, the impact of web and social media metrics, and the ethical and legal questions of new data collection techniques. The final chapter examines the future direction of analytics for libraries and directs the reader to consider the broader issues in this area. The case studies at the end of each section are current and provide practical examples on how new areas of analytics and metrics are being applied in a variety of institutions. The lists of further information about the case studies and resources encourage the reader to further investigate the subject area. The book is well-written in language suitable for an intelligent non-expert reader. The structure of the book leads the reader logically from one theme to another. Of particular interest are the ethical and moral aspects and impact of new data-gathering methods that may seem to be in breach of long-held positions on the privacy of library patrons. Likewise, the use of ethnographers in the library, examining qualitative data that is gathered, provides much-needed balance against the dominant presence of quantitative data analysis. I highly recommend this book for librarians in public and special libraries and in libraries in the education sector – that is, for all librarians. It is a particularly invaluable resource for those working with library analytics and metrics. This book inspires the reader to reflect on why they collect the data they do and its potential wider use. It has found a permanent place in my personal library, and I will certainly be following up on many of the resources listed within it.","PeriodicalId":82953,"journal":{"name":"The Australian library journal","volume":"64 1","pages":"350 - 351"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/00049670.2015.1100273","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"58717813","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-10-02DOI: 10.1080/00049670.2015.1100261
E. Boamah
Information literacy is a very important field, but it can be a challenging area, especially for postgraduate students who need to be effective in evaluating the usefulness of information resources during their search for information from various places of collection. This book is a useful contribution to research that investigates ways of improving graduate students’ information-searching behaviour. The research reported in this book considers metacognitive approaches and strategies as effective means to improve the education of graduate students in information search. The book was written by Barbara Blummer, a reference librarian for the Center for Computing Science in Bowie, Maryland, and Jeffrey M. Kenton, assistant dean for the College of Education at Towson University. The research in this book is an expansion of Blummer’s unpublished doctoral dissertation. The presentation follows a structure similar to a dissertation. The book begins by describing the background to metacognition in information search and moves on to the problem, research questions, a literature review, a description of the methodology, discussion of findings and conclusion, which are all nicely detailed in 19 chapters. The book has a lot of jargon. Readers will have to determine contextual meanings of most of the keywords used in the framework of the research. Although the book was published in 2014, most of the literature materials it refers date back to the 1960s–1990s, with no clear justification for this. Readers will need to refer to more current information literacy materials to corroborate some of the information in this book. While a mixed-method approach of qualitative and quantitative methods is described, how these methods were actually applied in the research is not made clear in the book. For instance, description of the qualitative aspect as a ‘think-aloud protocol to capture participants’ mouse movement during problem solving in Ebsco[host] database’, can be complicated for some readers. Some readers may find it difficult to comprehend how the researchers can achieve in-depth understanding of students’ searching behaviour by observing their mouse movements. But the authors do acknowledge some of the serious limitations of the research; for instance, using just eight participants from the same institution and programme for a mixed-method study makes it hard to generalise the findings. They also acknowledge the fact that participants were compensated with a $25 gift certificate, which raises questions about the originality of the findings. This book is useful as a starting point for ideas about metacognitive process in problem solving and students’ information-searching behaviour. Its rich reference base can lead readers to further understanding of key concepts in information searching.
{"title":"Improving student information search: A metacognitive approach (Chandos information professional series)","authors":"E. Boamah","doi":"10.1080/00049670.2015.1100261","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00049670.2015.1100261","url":null,"abstract":"Information literacy is a very important field, but it can be a challenging area, especially for postgraduate students who need to be effective in evaluating the usefulness of information resources during their search for information from various places of collection. This book is a useful contribution to research that investigates ways of improving graduate students’ information-searching behaviour. The research reported in this book considers metacognitive approaches and strategies as effective means to improve the education of graduate students in information search. The book was written by Barbara Blummer, a reference librarian for the Center for Computing Science in Bowie, Maryland, and Jeffrey M. Kenton, assistant dean for the College of Education at Towson University. The research in this book is an expansion of Blummer’s unpublished doctoral dissertation. The presentation follows a structure similar to a dissertation. The book begins by describing the background to metacognition in information search and moves on to the problem, research questions, a literature review, a description of the methodology, discussion of findings and conclusion, which are all nicely detailed in 19 chapters. The book has a lot of jargon. Readers will have to determine contextual meanings of most of the keywords used in the framework of the research. Although the book was published in 2014, most of the literature materials it refers date back to the 1960s–1990s, with no clear justification for this. Readers will need to refer to more current information literacy materials to corroborate some of the information in this book. While a mixed-method approach of qualitative and quantitative methods is described, how these methods were actually applied in the research is not made clear in the book. For instance, description of the qualitative aspect as a ‘think-aloud protocol to capture participants’ mouse movement during problem solving in Ebsco[host] database’, can be complicated for some readers. Some readers may find it difficult to comprehend how the researchers can achieve in-depth understanding of students’ searching behaviour by observing their mouse movements. But the authors do acknowledge some of the serious limitations of the research; for instance, using just eight participants from the same institution and programme for a mixed-method study makes it hard to generalise the findings. They also acknowledge the fact that participants were compensated with a $25 gift certificate, which raises questions about the originality of the findings. This book is useful as a starting point for ideas about metacognitive process in problem solving and students’ information-searching behaviour. Its rich reference base can lead readers to further understanding of key concepts in information searching.","PeriodicalId":82953,"journal":{"name":"The Australian library journal","volume":"64 1","pages":"348 - 348"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/00049670.2015.1100261","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"58718156","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-10-02DOI: 10.1080/00049670.2015.1100263
Edward R. Reid‐Smith
Written by a troika of experienced Canadian, Australian and British information educators (but all in New Zealand), this vehicle successfully manages to negotiate the theory and practice of information needs analysis (INA) without being either too superficial or too detailed, as it adds to the literature of our profession, which is moving from data through information to knowledge (and perhaps even towards wisdom as the classic cartoon of the knitting old lady once suggested). The book’s aim is to give an overview of the theory of INA and then be a guide for undertaking the process successfully. It is a book meant to be used, not merely read. Surveys of library use, users and non-users have been undertaken for a century, so how is the INA concept different and more pertinent to modern needs? Essentially, it is not restricted to libraries, because information needs exist throughout institutions and societies relative to their unique contexts. It is not an exercise undertaken out of curiosity, but is problem-solving work resulting in identifiable actions. It builds on recognised procedures of preparation, information gathering, analysis and reporting, leading to application and evaluation. Chapters look at data gathering, surveys and interviews, but essentially INA is viewed as a process concerned with quality rather than quantity (although both aspects are noted). The emphasis is on the why and possible hows, but it is not a research methods handbook per se. The 10 chapters range from the background to needs analysis, including analysis vs. assessment, for information managers to practical aspects such as context, models, data-gathering methods and reporting the results. An organisation’s needs and, therefore, the analyses may be either at the macro or micro level, depending on the particular context. The text and argument proceed slowly and methodically, step-by-step, and is, therefore, particularly useful for a novice in undertaking this kind of project. Of necessity, there are occasions when reference to other works is suggested; for example it is recommended that the reader unfamiliar with measures of correlation should consult any textbook on statistics, noting that Excel or SPSS can readily make the actual computations. An interesting feature throughout this book is the series of short scenarios written to illustrate information-need problems in various contexts. Each chapter concludes with a brief review, a short selection of suggested further reading, and a list of works cited which are further consolidated in the 15-page bibliography. The seven-page index adequately rounds off the publication. Who would be the book’s potential users? Although it was published by the subsidiary of the UK Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals and would be useful for LIS students, its value as a guidebook for practitioners in any organisation that is seeking to determine its information needs recommends it for purchase by a wide range
{"title":"Information needs analysis: Principles and practice in information organizations","authors":"Edward R. Reid‐Smith","doi":"10.1080/00049670.2015.1100263","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00049670.2015.1100263","url":null,"abstract":"Written by a troika of experienced Canadian, Australian and British information educators (but all in New Zealand), this vehicle successfully manages to negotiate the theory and practice of information needs analysis (INA) without being either too superficial or too detailed, as it adds to the literature of our profession, which is moving from data through information to knowledge (and perhaps even towards wisdom as the classic cartoon of the knitting old lady once suggested). The book’s aim is to give an overview of the theory of INA and then be a guide for undertaking the process successfully. It is a book meant to be used, not merely read. Surveys of library use, users and non-users have been undertaken for a century, so how is the INA concept different and more pertinent to modern needs? Essentially, it is not restricted to libraries, because information needs exist throughout institutions and societies relative to their unique contexts. It is not an exercise undertaken out of curiosity, but is problem-solving work resulting in identifiable actions. It builds on recognised procedures of preparation, information gathering, analysis and reporting, leading to application and evaluation. Chapters look at data gathering, surveys and interviews, but essentially INA is viewed as a process concerned with quality rather than quantity (although both aspects are noted). The emphasis is on the why and possible hows, but it is not a research methods handbook per se. The 10 chapters range from the background to needs analysis, including analysis vs. assessment, for information managers to practical aspects such as context, models, data-gathering methods and reporting the results. An organisation’s needs and, therefore, the analyses may be either at the macro or micro level, depending on the particular context. The text and argument proceed slowly and methodically, step-by-step, and is, therefore, particularly useful for a novice in undertaking this kind of project. Of necessity, there are occasions when reference to other works is suggested; for example it is recommended that the reader unfamiliar with measures of correlation should consult any textbook on statistics, noting that Excel or SPSS can readily make the actual computations. An interesting feature throughout this book is the series of short scenarios written to illustrate information-need problems in various contexts. Each chapter concludes with a brief review, a short selection of suggested further reading, and a list of works cited which are further consolidated in the 15-page bibliography. The seven-page index adequately rounds off the publication. Who would be the book’s potential users? Although it was published by the subsidiary of the UK Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals and would be useful for LIS students, its value as a guidebook for practitioners in any organisation that is seeking to determine its information needs recommends it for purchase by a wide range ","PeriodicalId":82953,"journal":{"name":"The Australian library journal","volume":"64 1","pages":"349 - 349"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/00049670.2015.1100263","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"58718220","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-10-02DOI: 10.1080/00049670.2015.1092193
Amanda Laugesen
In the years following the Second World War and in the context of decolonisation and the Cold War, the public library was promoted at a global level by a variety of organisations such as UNESCO, the International Federation of Library Associations and regional organisations such as the South Pacific Commission. This promotion saw both the idea of the public library being championed – as a means to democracy, individual self-empowerment and modernity amongst other things – as well as practical advice and assistance being given by the developed nations. Australia played a role in this, seeking to assist many countries in the region and even further afield to develop their library infrastructure. Australian librarians such as Harold V. Bonny and Lionel Courteney Key were important in this significant chapter in twentieth century library history. This work sought to bring the public library to all the people of the world.
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Pub Date : 2015-10-02DOI: 10.1080/00049670.2015.1100237
Cindy Bissett
digital resources. The library disciplines of cataloguing, classification, indexing and thesaurus construction translate across as metadata, taxonomy and ontology. These topics are explained in user-friendly fashion. User-centred design and needs analysis are discussed. Collaborative classification is touched on. I would have liked to see these concepts illustrated with practical examples in this chapter, which is mostly theoretical in nature. Overall this work is entirely suitable for library and information students and also experienced classifiers wishing to expand their knowledge. Reading this book will do much to help librarians become more generally comfortable with the concepts of classification and less inclined to view it with distaste.
{"title":"Creating a streaming video collection for your library","authors":"Cindy Bissett","doi":"10.1080/00049670.2015.1100237","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00049670.2015.1100237","url":null,"abstract":"digital resources. The library disciplines of cataloguing, classification, indexing and thesaurus construction translate across as metadata, taxonomy and ontology. These topics are explained in user-friendly fashion. User-centred design and needs analysis are discussed. Collaborative classification is touched on. I would have liked to see these concepts illustrated with practical examples in this chapter, which is mostly theoretical in nature. Overall this work is entirely suitable for library and information students and also experienced classifiers wishing to expand their knowledge. Reading this book will do much to help librarians become more generally comfortable with the concepts of classification and less inclined to view it with distaste.","PeriodicalId":82953,"journal":{"name":"The Australian library journal","volume":"64 1","pages":"341 - 342"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/00049670.2015.1100237","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"58718004","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-10-02DOI: 10.1080/00049670.2015.1092201
Sigrid McCausland
Preserving and providing access to local archives is one of the roles performed by public libraries in New South Wales. This role is not mandated, nor is it a stated priority for public libraries. Local government records are regulated by legislation, but what of the other records documenting the lives of rural and city communities? In many cases the library’s local studies collection becomes the default home of the archives of local community organisations and of individuals whose personal papers are acquired by libraries. In some cases, the library shares the role of maintaining local archives with historical societies, museums and universities. The result is a functioning example of distributed custody, where public libraries and other local institutions take responsibility for local archives. This paper is a case study that draws on two major surveys of local studies collections undertaken by the State Library of NSW, the first in 1984 and the second in 2013–2014. It concludes that public libraries have been critical for over 50 years in ensuring that local archives have been acquired and managed, despite there being no explicit regulatory or policy frameworks for doing so.
{"title":"Archives for the people: public libraries and archives in New South Wales1","authors":"Sigrid McCausland","doi":"10.1080/00049670.2015.1092201","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00049670.2015.1092201","url":null,"abstract":"Preserving and providing access to local archives is one of the roles performed by public libraries in New South Wales. This role is not mandated, nor is it a stated priority for public libraries. Local government records are regulated by legislation, but what of the other records documenting the lives of rural and city communities? In many cases the library’s local studies collection becomes the default home of the archives of local community organisations and of individuals whose personal papers are acquired by libraries. In some cases, the library shares the role of maintaining local archives with historical societies, museums and universities. The result is a functioning example of distributed custody, where public libraries and other local institutions take responsibility for local archives. This paper is a case study that draws on two major surveys of local studies collections undertaken by the State Library of NSW, the first in 1984 and the second in 2013–2014. It concludes that public libraries have been critical for over 50 years in ensuring that local archives have been acquired and managed, despite there being no explicit regulatory or policy frameworks for doing so.","PeriodicalId":82953,"journal":{"name":"The Australian library journal","volume":"64 1","pages":"270 - 280"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/00049670.2015.1092201","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"58717825","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-09-29DOI: 10.1080/00049670.2015.1087298
Ellen Ohehir, S. Reynolds
It is important for libraries to confront and successfully adapt for the future needs of users in a world which is continually and rapidly changing. The Australian Library and Information Association believes that Australian libraries are part of a worldwide network of libraries and that the future success of Australia’s public library networks will be determined in part by the future successes, or failures, of public libraries on a global scale. In order to do the planning required, libraries in Australia and internationally are envisioning their future. This research analysed a range of forecasting reports in order to identify the themes and trends that are most likely to have an impact on how Australian public library services are offered, operated, funded and used into the future, a future which is in flux and uncertain. A range of published documents address the predicted future of libraries. These documents cover various time spans, from 2012 out to 2030, and vary in their predictions. The intent of this research project was to map the themes determined from the individual published documents in varying contexts (date span and geographic location) to produce an overview of convergence and divergence. The reports examined are not an exhaustive coverage of the literature that currently exists on the topic of the future of Australian public libraries, let alone the future of libraries generally on a global scale, but the results of the project indicate both agreement and disagreement, enabling a wider view than might be seen by individual organisations.
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