bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The University Library As Learning Organization for Innovation: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Fowler Rena K.
Published: June 2014

This study examines an innovating university library as a learning organization and explores the mechanisms by which organizational learning facilitates innovation. Both qualitative and quantitative methods are applied. Three levels of library activity—individual, departmental, and organizational—are studied. Three aspects of a learning organization model are considered: continuous learning, team learning, and shared vision. Internet use serves as the outcome variable, representing innovation. Through qualitative analysis, a series of vehicles for organizational learning is identified, and partial support for the model was established through quantitative analysis.
New Roles for Special Collections on the Network
Authors: Graham Peter S.
Published: June 2014

There will be no special collections on the network in the traditional sense because electronic information is not maintained in artifacts. Special collections have existed to support preservation of the human record as instanced in original documents or in specific documents of importance. Electronic documents, however, do not depend on their physical medium for their importance, nor does their medium provide evidence that assists in better understanding their texts. Special collections will continue in importance because of the continuing importance of artifactual documents. Special collections librarians may have new and distinctive roles in the electronic environment, particularly with respect to intellectual property and in the merging of special and general digital collections.
The Role of Recruitment in Achieving Goals Related to Diversity
Authors: Winston Mark
Published: June 2014

One of our diversity-related goals is to broaden the number of perspectives represented in academic library decision-making, administration, and library services. The research conducted in library and information science, as well as that conducted in numerous other disciplines, provides a basis for identifying those factors that have an impact on the decisions of individuals to choose a particular profession and/or professional specialty. This information should inform our recruitment strategies, as we identify approaches that will prove effective in increasing the number of minority academic librarians, and thus help to achieve our goals related to diversity.
The Cyberarchive: A Look at the Storage and Preservation of Web Sites
Authors: Casey Carol
Published: June 2014

Although librarians recognize the Internet as a resource for knowledge and information, they have yet to make a formal effort to collect and preserve the Web sites found there. This paper addresses not only the need to set up a cyberarchive but also some of the issues involved. With Web sites appearing and disappearing constantly from the Internet, the time to save them is now—before we lose a precious thread in our cultural and intellectual history.
The Downside of Scholarly Electronic Publishing: Problems in Accessing Electronic Journals through Online Directories and Catalogs
Authors: Ford Charlotte E. , Harter Stephen P.
Published: June 2014

This article reports the results of a study on the usefulness of four online e-journal directories and two online union catalogs in accessing electronic journals. The coverage, accuracy, currency, and overlap among the six sources are compared. Multiple uniform resource locators (URLs) were found for most of the e-journals. Directories were found to include fewer URLs per title than the union catalogs, with a higher percentage of current, functioning URLs; the catalogs offered the highest number of working, current URLs. The findings point to different functions served by directories and catalogs, and highlight the difficulties involved in maintaining these reference sources in the Internet environment. Strategies for improving the accuracy and currency of the catalogs and directories are suggested.
Private Liberal Arts Colleges and the Costs of Scientific Journals: A Perennial Dilemma
Authors: Burnam Paul D.
Published: June 2014

The continuing large increases in the costs of scientific journals is particularly acute in private, four-year liberal arts colleges. This study seeks to learn how academic librarians in these institutions are coping with the price increases. How do they inform and negotiate with their science departments in the face of inflated costs? What alternate strategies are employed to maintain access when local ownership becomes economically unfeasible? Using information obtained via questionnaire and personal interviews, this study describes how liberal arts colleges in the Midwest are confronting these challenges. The conclusion offers suggestions on how to manage a most vexing issue.
Citation Patterns to Traditional and Electronic Preprints in the Published Literature
Authors: Youngen Gregory K.
Published: June 2014

The number of physics and astronomy preprints available electronically has increased dramatically over the past five years. Internet-accessible preprint servers at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), and elsewhere provide unrestricted access to citations and/or full text of many physics and astronomy papers long before they appear in print. Because of the timeliness of these papers, as well as the increasing demand for current research, physicists and astronomers have found it necessary to cite these pre-prints in their research articles rather than wait until they appear in print. This paper identifies the growing importance of electronic preprints in the published literature and addresses several areas of concern regarding the future role of electronic preprints in scientific communication.
Post-Master’s Residency Programs: Enhancing the Development of New Professionals and Minority Recruitment in Academic and Research Libraries
Authors: Brewer Julie
Published: June 2014

Two of the greatest human resource concerns in academic and research libraries are the preparation of new library professionals and the recruitment of underrepresented minorities. The lack of practical experience and the changing competencies required of new graduates are discussed frequently at professional meetings and in the library literature. Diversity initiatives on college and university campuses and within the ALA also have raised awareness of the underrepresentation of minority librarians. Post-master’s residency programs are one approach that academic and research libraries have used to address these continuing human resource concerns. This article examines post-master’s residency programs from the perspective of former residents. The survey findings present important information for libraries that currently host residency programs or are considering implementing new residency programs in the future, as well as for library educators.
The University of Iowa Libraries’ Undergraduate User Needs Assessment
Authors: Clougherty Leo , Forys John , Lyles Toby , Persson Dorothy , Walters Christine , Washington-Hoagland Carlette
Published: June 2014

The university community is not a static environment but, rather, one fraught with change and adjustment to change. How do academic libraries within a university setting effectively address the evolving service and resource needs of a diverse patron community? One method that has received increasing attention is the development and implementation of internal instruments specifically designed to assess user satisfaction with services and resources. This study assesses undergraduate resource and service needs, identifies librarywide unmet needs, and gives both library user and librarian an opportunity to engage in proactive dialogue.
A Correlation Method for Collecting Reference Statistics
Authors: Lochstet Gwenn , Lehman Donna H.
Published: June 2014

While studying a sampling technique for collecting reference statistics, a correlation method for calculating reference statistics using weekly door counts also was tested at the University of South Carolina. Reference statistics and door counts taken on the sample weeks of the test year were correlated, and the resulting correlation coefficient between the two variables was used to calculate weekly reference statistics for the nonsampled weeks. The sum of these calculated weekly values and the actual values of the sampled weeks yielded a yearly total of reference transactions that is comparable to the yearly total determined by using the sampling technique. Thus, the correlation method may offer libraries an accurate and less time-consuming procedure for keeping reference statistics.
Using the Contingent Valuation Method to Measure Patron Benefits of Reference Desk Service in an Academic Library
Authors: Harless David W. , Allen Frank R.
Published: June 2014

The authors apply a survey technique known as the contingent valuation (CV) method to estimate the economic value that patrons attach to reference desk service in an academic library. The CV method has been used in environmental economics for the past thirty years to estimate the value of environmental amenities. The authors argue that the appropriate measure of patron benefit from reference service includes use value (the usual benefit concept in the library literature) and option value (the benefit to potential users of knowing they have the option of using the services). The survey population consisted of the students and faculty of the academic campus of Virginia Commonwealth University. The authors surveyed 382 students and faculty eliciting willingness to pay (WTP) for reference desk services: WTP to maintain existing hours, WTP to keep the desk open an additional eighteen hours per week; and WTP to add 18.5 more hours (all hours the library is open). The 10 percent trimmed mean (a robust measure of central tendency) indicates that, on average, students are willing to pay $5.59 per semester to maintain current hours of the reference desk; instructional faculty indicate they are willing to pay $45.76 per year to maintain current hours. Given reasonable assumptions about the cost of service, students and faculty place a value on the current hours of reference desk service that exceeds the cost by a ratio of 3.5 to 1.
Application Practices of Recent Academic Library Appointees
Authors: Goldberg Tyler , Womack Kay
Published: June 2014

Recent academic library appointees were asked to complete a two-part survey. The first part of the study, which focused on the applicants’ perceptions of resume content, was published in the November 1997 issue of College & Research Libraries. The results of part two, which queried specific application practices, suggest that large numbers of applicants will continue to waste both their time and that of those who review their applications despite helpful information available to them. Other librarians are reported as the best source for raising applicants’ awareness of ways to improve their application practices.
Future Historians: Their Quest for Information
Authors: Delgadillo Roberto , Lynch Beverly P.
Published: June 2014

This paper examines how history graduate students at one research university seek information and how they use the university library in their information-seeking process. The general question framing the study was whether graduate students in history demonstrate the same information-seeking behavior as established scholars. Related questions explored the use of new technologies and the reliance that history graduate students place on reference librarians and librarians in special collections.
Increases in Faculty Publishing Activity: An Analysis of ARL and ACRL Institutions
Authors: Budd John M.
Published: June 2014

This study builds on a previous one that focused on publishing productivity of faculty at ARL institutions for the period 1991–1993. The present research expands the analysis to the period 1995–1997 and adds an examination of faculty activity at selected ACRL institutions for the two time periods. Measures of total publications and per capita publications per institution increased significantly for both groups over the two time periods. The increases indicate that, for what is likely to be a complex set of factors, faculty feel the need to communicate more and are turning to traditional print outlets for at least some of the communication. Deliberations on the future of scholarly communication should incorporate the views and practices of faculty.
Publication Patterns of U.S. Academic Librarians from 1993 to 1997
Authors: Weller Ann C. , Hurd Julie M. , Wiberley Stephen E.
Published: June 2014

This study examined the contribution to the peer-reviewed literature of library and information science by practicing academic librarians in the United States. Data on authors were obtained from articles published from 1993 to 1997 in thirty-two journals. Of 3,624 peer-reviewed articles in these journals, 1,579 (43.6%) were authored by at least one practicing academic librarian. These librarians represented 386 institutions of higher education. This study provides benchmark data for publication productivity of academic librarians and identifies a core list of peer-reviewed journals for them. Approximately six percent of these librarians wrote three or more articles in the five-year period. In nineteen journals one-third or more of the articles were authored by academic librarians. Libraries from Research I universities that were members of the Association for Research Libraries were the most productive. The contribution of practicing academic librarians to the literature of their field is significant.
Library and Information Science Education: Preparing Librarians for a Multicultural Society
Authors: Gollop Claudia J.
Published: June 2014

For more than a decade, the demographic prognosticators have been saying that the racial, ethnic, and cultural makeup of the United States is on the verge of a major shift; and that not long after the turn of the new century, segments of the population that had previously been in the minority will collectively become the majority, with Hispanics being the largest minority group. The implications of such an unprecedented event have prompted private- and public-sector institutions to question whether they will be equipped to work with their “new” constituencies. Schools of library and information science (LIS) are not exempt from such self-examination and must make every effort to prepare all their graduates to work in larger multicultural environments. However, such preparation may mean altering several courses in a school’s curriculum. These kinds of changes are likely to meet with greater success when all parties involved, both inside and outside the classroom, hold a committed and vested interest in the reorganization efforts. This article discusses issues of diversity in LIS education programs and how these efforts can be addressed positively to better serve students and their future users.
Snowbird Leadership Institute: Leadership Development in the Profession
Authors: Neely Teresa Y. , Winston Mark D.
Published: June 2014

What is the impact of participation in leadership development programs in terms of career progression and involvement in leadership activities? To address this issue, individuals who had participated in the Snowbird Leadership Institute from its inception in 1990 to 1998 were surveyed regarding their career progression since their participation, their involvement in leadership activities, and their perceptions of the experience’s impact on their careers. Although it is difficult to identify a direct relationship between participation in the Snowbird Leadership Institute and career progression and greater participation in leadership activities, the respondents did report an increased level of leadership activity. In addition, their perceptions of the institute’s value with regard to their careers were largely positive and indicated that many of their career paths would have been different had they not had the Snowbird experience.
Assessing Technology-based Projects for Promotion and/or Tenure in ARL Academic Libraries
Authors: Lawson Karen G. , Pelzer Nancy L.
Published: June 2014

Little is known about how technology-based projects (computer software, articles in electronic journals, Internet-based materials, videotapes and audiotapes) are reviewed for promotion and/or tenure purposes in academic libraries. Reviewers might evaluate projects with traditional criteria or attempt to revise criteria to accommodate computer-related work. To address this issue in more detail, the authors conducted a study to assess how technology-based projects are evaluated in the promotion and/or tenure process for academic librarians in Association of Research Libraries. Survey results show that, while projects, particularly World Wide Web–based materials, are being evaluated in some ARL academic libraries, little has been developed as a core set of measures or assessments for promotion and/or tenure decisions.
Paraprofessional Catalogers in ARL Libraries
Authors: Bordeianu Sever , Seiser Virginia
Published: June 2014

The authors conducted a survey of ARL member libraries to identify the minimum education and experience required of paraprofessional catalogers. The majority of surveyed libraries responded that they use paraprofessionals to catalog various types of materials. A higher number of libraries use paraprofessionals in copy cataloging than in original cataloging. Although no single model of education and training for paraprofessional catalogers exists, certain patterns emerge. The educational expectations for copy catalogers are lower than those for original catalogers. Training takes place on the job. The library profession is not as far along in developing structured paraprofessional degree requirements along the same lines as other professions, such as law or medicine.
An Analytical Index to the Internet: Dreams of Utopia
Authors: Casey Carol
Published: June 2014

All the current methods of accessing Internet resources fall short when it comes to locating discrete pieces of information and digital objects. One solution to this problem is to create analytical indexes to the Internet. This article explores the need for analytical indexes by looking at current Internet access, traditional bibliographic control, and Web site design. A discussion of some of the issues and problems concerning the development of these indexes, including the design and the resource selection process, emphasizes the impossibility of a comprehensive analytical index to the Internet. The creation of small, focused indexes may be the best solution for accessing specific types of digital information.
Library Web Sites at Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Authors: Agingu Beatrice O.
Published: June 2014

This article presents the findings of a study that sought to determine how useful library Web sites of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are as tools for disseminating information and providing services to users. The study compared the library Web sites of public-supported HBCUs with Web sites of other public-supported institutions in the Southeast. It was found that most HBCU libraries used their Web sites mainly to provide information about the library and its collections. The article offers some recommendations on what HBCU libraries can do to improve their Web sites to better serve their users.
An Evaluation of Patron Perceptions of Library Space Using the Role Repertory Grid Procedure
Authors: Potthoff Joy K. , Weis David L. , Montanelli Dale S. , Murbach Matthew M.
Published: June 2014

The evaluation of library space for its effectiveness and efficiency in meeting patron needs is an important part of the process in planning library facilities. However, techniques for obtaining such information are not widely available in the library science literature. The Role Repertory Grid Procedure, a technique derived from personal construct theory in the behavioral sciences, was evaluated for its practicality and validity as a way of gathering patron perceptions about the effectiveness and efficiency of library space. The grid did provide useful information on patrons’ perceptions of library space. However, although the Role Repertory Grid Procedure was found to be fairly easy to administer, questions about its validity and reliability remain to be answered. The authors believe that further work to simplify the analysis will be necessary before the grid can be widely used in evaluating library space.
Managing Diversity in Liberal Arts College Libraries
Authors: Winston Mark D. , Li Haipeng
Published: June 2014

Although fostering diversity has been identified as a priority in librarianship, the evidence suggests that the majority of the programs related to diversity in academic libraries have been implemented in large, research university libraries. In this study of the liberal arts college libraries in the United States, data were gathered with regard to programs related to diversity awareness, staffing, information services, and library collections. Although the level of diversity-related activities in liberal arts college libraries has not been overwhelming, the evidence suggests that activities and programs related to diversity have been undertaken in some instances. In addition, the support of college administrators appears to be particularly important in encouraging these activities.
The McDonaldization of Academic Libraries?
Authors: Quinn Brian
Published: June 2014

George Ritzer, a sociologist at the University of Maryland, has proposed an influential thesis that suggests that many aspects of the fast food industry are making their way into other areas of society. This article explores whether his thesis, known as the McDonaldization thesis, is applicable to academic libraries. Specifically, it seeks to determine to what extent academic libraries may be considered McDonaldized, and if so, what effect McDonaldization may be having on them. It also investigates some possible alternatives to McDonaldization, and their implications for academic libraries.
Use of the Journal Citation Reports for Serials Management in Research Libraries: An Investigation of the Effect of Self-Citation on Journal Rankings in Library and Information Science and Genetics
Authors: Nisonger Thomas E.
Published: June 2014

This article explores the use of the Institute for Scientific Information’s Journal Citation Reports (JCR) for journal management in academic libraries. The advantages and disadvantages to using JCR citation data for journal management are outlined, and a literature review summarizes reported uses of these data by libraries and scholars. This study researches the impact of journal self-citation on JCR rankings of library and information science (LIS) and genetics journals. The 1994 rankings by impact factor and total citations received were recalculated with journal self-citations removed; then the recalculated rankings were compared to the original rankings to analyze the effect of self-citations. It is concluded that librarians can use JCR data without correcting for journal self-citation, although self-citations do exert a major effect on the rankings for a small number of journals.
Who Chooses Sci-Tech Librarianship?
Authors: Hackenberg Jill M.
Published: June 2014

Why and how do librarians and graduate students decide to enter the field of sci-tech librarianship? A survey was created and distributed using e-mail discussion groups to answer this question. Factors relevant in this decision were solicited from both practicing sci-tech librarians and library school students. The three hundred eleven respondents included personal opinions and anecdotes in their replies. Topics discussed included the influence of a sci-tech background on job performance and professional association membership. In addition, some questions dealt with perceived expectations about sci-tech librarianship and their outcomes. Most of the respondents had come into sci-tech library positions with some type of background.
Both Sides of the Looking Glass: Librarian and Teaching Faculty Perceptions of Librarianship at Six Community Colleges
Authors: Feldman Devin , Sciammarella Susan
Published: June 2014

Librarians and teaching faculty often have different perceptions of the roles of the library and the librarian in undergraduate education. A study surveying six community colleges reveals that there is much room for improvement in the interrelationship between librarians and teaching faculty. More effective communication and mutual respect would enhance the educational experience for students and provide a richer learning environment.
Free Scholarly Electronic Journals: What Access Do College and University Libraries Provide?
Authors: Fosmire Michael , Young Elizabeth
Published: June 2014

Results of a survey of the level of access provided to selected, free scholarly electronic journals by academic libraries is reported. A list of scholarly journals that are available electronically without any access limitations was compiled, and for each title the number of holding institutions on OCLC and its coverage by major abstracting and indexing services were determined. The twenty-five most popular titles, determined by number of holding institutions on OCLC, were searched on a random sample of library Web sites and catalogs to provide a separate gauge for access levels provided by institutions. Despite approximately half the titles being indexed by major vendors, including 88 percent of the top twenty-five, access levels were fairly low and decreased dramatically with size of the institution. The Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society and Journal of Extension provide examples of free e-journals with print counterparts. Approximately one-half and one-third of the institutions, respectively, provide access to only the print versions of these journals (in the latter case, the print version is no longer produced, so access to current issues is not provided).
Information Literacy Instruction in Canadian Academic Libraries: Longitudinal Trends and International Comparisons
Authors: Julien Heidi
Published: June 2014

A national survey of information literacy instruction in Canadian academic libraries revealed that trends in teaching objectives, methods, and content have changed little in the past five years. Instructional librarians continue to face numerous challenges, particularly with regard to limited resources and faculty and student attitudes. Although more than half of the libraries believe they are meeting their instructional objectives, only a minority actually record their objectives formally and evaluation of instructional success remains mostly informal. Findings from the survey are compared with an earlier Canadian study and with similar work done in the United States and New Zealand.
An Analysis of the Research Areas of the Articles Published in C&RL and JAL between 1990 and 1999
Authors: Bao Xue-Ming
Published: June 2014

A total of 682 refereed articles from College & Research Libraries (C&RL) and Journal of Academic Librarianship (JAL) (376 and 306 articles, respectively) between 1990 and 1999 were analyzed with respect to the Research Agenda developed by the ACRL College Libraries Section (ACRL-CLS). The analysis finds that articles on collections, services, staffing, and the Internet have taken up the major portion of the peer-reviewed sections of C&RL and JAL. It also reveals that a wide variety of researchable questions remain to be studied and reported. This presents a challenge and an opportunity for academic librarians who wish to engage in research.
Knowledge Management and Academic Libraries
Authors: Townley Charles T.
Published: June 2014

The emerging field of knowledge management offers academic libraries the opportunity to improve effectiveness, both for themselves and their parent institutions. This article summarizes knowledge management theory. Current applications in academic libraries and higher education are described. Similarities and differences between knowledge management and academic library practices are discussed. Issues needing resolution are presented.
Electronic Pathfinders in Academic Libraries: An Analysis of Their Content and Form
Authors: Dahl Candice
Published: June 2014

Forty-five electronic pathfinders were selected from nine Canadian university libraries to assess their degree of conformity to suggested guidelines in the existing literature about pathfinders. The content and the format of the chosen pathfinders were assessed in terms of consistency and scope. Also considered were overall readability and whether they were effectively constructed to be used as starting points for further research. The analysis revealed that the guidelines were not uniformly followed, leaving some pathfinders more complex and less useful than others. Further, it demonstrated that specific guidelines must be created for electronic pathfinders because they pose particular problems that are not addressed in the current literature about pathfinders in general.
Faculty Acceptance of the World Wide Web for Student Research
Authors: Herring Susan Davis
Published: June 2014

Although undergraduates frequently use the World Wide Web in their class assignments, little research has been done concerning how teaching faculty feel about their students’ use of the Web. This study explores faculty attitudes toward the Web as a research tool for their students’ research; their use of the Web in classroom instruction; and their policies concerning Web use by students. Results show that although faculty members generally feel positive about the Web as a research tool, they question the accuracy and reliability of Web content and are concerned about their students’ ability to evaluate the information found.
What Do They Really Think? Assessing Student and Faculty Perspectives of a Web-based Tutorial to Library Research
Authors: Michel Stephanie
Published: June 2014

Over the past thirty years, libraries have increasingly used forms of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) in place of librarians for basic instruction tasks. This study evaluates student and faculty perceptions of the Highlander Guide, a Web-based tutorial to library research. Overall, students (particularly those required to use it) and faculty reported positive views of the guide. Correlations drawn between student confidence in using the Web or conducting library research revealed that confident students reacted more favorably toward the Highlander Guide than average students did. In contrast to previous studies, the results of this study indicated that students and faculty were not strongly in favor of using the tutorial to replace traditional library instruction.
Benchmarking Reference Desk Service in Academic Health Science Libraries: A Preliminary Survey
Authors: Robbins Kathryn , Daniels Kathleen
Published: June 2014

This preliminary study was designed to benchmark patron perceptions of reference desk services at academic health science libraries, using a standard questionnaire. Patron responses were compared to determine the library that provided the highest-quality service overall and along five service dimensions. All libraries were rated very favorably by those surveyed, but none rated significantly higher than the others except in facility appearance. Because the study revealed no other service quality differences, the results could not be used to improve services at any single library. However, the preliminary results could be useful in planning future benchmarking strategies.
A Comparison of Web-based and Paper-and-Pencil Library Satisfaction Survey Results
Authors: Perkins Gay Helen , Yuan Haiwang
Published: June 2014

Although authors have done validation or comparison studies of Web-based and paper-and-pencil surveys for different samples, few have published such studies for library patrons. After publishing its previous Web-based library satisfaction survey, Western Kentucky University Libraries developed a similar survey with identical content for library Web and exit patrons to compare these groups’ responses. This article focuses on the collection of Web and exit survey responses in a two-week period, the transformation of response data for analysis, a comparison of the two samples, and discussion of the potential use of the results. Future research on the Web-based and paper-and-pencil methods themselves is indicated.
Planning an Authority Control Project at a Medium-sized University Library
Authors: Zhang Sha Li
Published: June 2014

Authority control is a vital part of providing students and faculty with adequate access to collections in university libraries. Although many large research libraries routinely maintain authority control, small and medium-sized university libraries find it challenging to meet rising user expectations and provide adequate access in an online environment through appropriate authority work. The smaller libraries have to provide persuasive data to demonstrate to their library administrations that tight staffing situations make it difficult to perform in-house maintenance on authority work and keep up with the dynamic and constant changes of new headings for bibliographic records. This article offers a planning process on an authority control project at a medium-sized university library.
An Analysis of Journal Use by Structural Biologists with Applications for Journal Collection Development Decisions
Authors: Lascar Claudia , Mendelsohn Loren D.
Published: June 2014

This paper defines and examines structural biology as a subdiscipline of molecular biology. Using bibliometric methodologies, it analyzes the publication and citation patterns of a sample group of structural biologists from multiple institutions. The citations analyzed covered a very large subject range, demonstrating the multidisciplinary nature of this subfield. The results were consistent with several models for journal selection. These models were used to compile a short list of specialized titles supporting structural biology. Although the research was performed on a relatively small group of local researchers, it has broader applications for other institutions attempting to develop similar collections.
The Measurement of Use of Web-based Information Resources: An Early Look at Vendor-supplied Data
Authors: Blecic Deborah D. , Fiscella Joan B. , Wiberley Stephen E.
Published: June 2014

To manage Web-based resources effectively, librarians need to evaluate vendor-supplied data about their use. This article explores the types of data available, using as its starting point the elements defined by the International Coalition of Library Consortia’s (ICOLC) “Guidelines for Statistical Measures of Usage of Web-based Indexed, Abstracted, and Full-text Resources.” It discusses the problems and issues of comparing use data from different vendors. Then, illustrated with data from one library, the article addresses five measures that have implications for collection management: variability of ICOLC data elements over time, which demonstrated the need to examine data continually; ratios of queries per session, which showed more stability over time than individual ICOLC elements; use by hour, which documented remote use but confirmed that most use occurred during regular library hours; use of electronic journal collections, which was more scattered than the classic 80/20 distribution; and use of Web-based resources in relation to a disciplinary population, which provided an index of value for assessing use of a particular resource. This study identifies aspects of data collection that librarians need to pay special attention to, recommends that vendors report the maximum number of simultaneous users per day and data gaps in addition to ICOLC elements, and suggests per capita use as a comparative measure among libraries.
Subramanyam Revisited: Creating a New Model for Information Literacy Instruction
Authors: Curl Sheila R.
Published: June 2014

Krishna Subramanyam arranged scientific and technical literature in a circular model in the 1970s. As a pedagogical construct, the circle conceptualizes the processes of producing and consuming information. Although more than twenty years old, the model is still valid. Can it be adapted to help undergraduate students of today’s information literacy curriculum understand the structure of the information they need to be able to use to succeed as students and as professionals? This paper presents the model, the revision, and its application to the information literacy curriculum for engineering and technology students.
Selected Reference Books, 2000–2001
Authors: McIlvaine Eileen
Published: June 2014

This article follows the pattern set by the semiannual series initiated by the late Constance M. Winchell more than fifty years ago and continued by Eugene Sheehy. Because the purpose of the list is to present a selection of recent scholarly and general works, it does not pretend to be either well balanced or comprehensive. A brief roundup of new editions of standard works is provided at the end of the articles. Code numbers (such as AA604) have been used to refer to titles in the Guide to Reference Books, 11th ed. (Chicago: ALA, 1996).
Business Librarians: Their Education and Training
Authors: Liu Lewis-Guodo , Allen Bryce
Published: June 2014

Subject expertise has been regarded as an important contributing factor in determining the quality of information services provided in specialized academic libraries. A telephone survey of academic business librarians was conducted to ascertain their level of business education. A survey of instructors of business information courses in library schools was conducted to discover the areas of business considered important in their courses. Results show that a minority of academic business librarians have been educated in business administration. Broad areas of business are considered important for library school course, but specialized and technical areas are considered less important. These results suggest that traditional education and training for business librarians are less than adequate. Partnerships between schools of business and schools of library and information science are suggested as one way to improve levels of business education for business information specialists.
Tacit Knowledge, Tacit Ignorance, and the Future of Academic Librarianship
Authors: Crowley Bill
Published: June 2014

This theoretical essay uses tacit knowledge, the often-undocumented wisdom of expert practitioners and practitioner communities, to explore future prospects for the academic librarian. Traditional and emerging valuations of the academic librarian held by higher education stakeholders are identified. The practical implications of these views for university funding and other support are explored using the philosophical stance of cultural pragmatism and by applying the sociological perspective of the “stranger,” tacit knowledge gained by the author as a researcher and a faculty member in an LIS program and as chair of a university Committee on the Library, and insights from a spectrum of publications. In the process, the March of Dimes, an organization that successfully repositioned itself after accomplishing its primary purpose, is examined as a possible model for enhancing the academic librarian’s perceived value.
Tour Trends in Academic ARL Libraries
Authors: Oling Lori , Mach Michelle
Published: June 2014

This study explores tour trends in academic Association of Research Libraries (ARL), specifically examining the prevalence of several tour formats, including guided, self-guided, and virtual Web tours. Results from a survey conducted in November 2000 include statistical information about tour administration, audience, and structure, as well as perceptions of librarians in the field. Although tours are still a standard service in most academic ARL libraries, few libraries have formalized methods of testing the efficacy of each format. With the exception of guided tours, librarians’ perceptions of tour effectiveness are dramatically inconsistent with the types of tours they choose to offer.
Conflict Resolution: A Case Study about Academic Librarians and Faculty Status
Authors: Weaver-Meyers Pat
Published: June 2014

The University of Oklahoma librarians underwent a dramatic challenge to their faculty status in the 1990s. This article chronicles that challenge and documents the events that led to the retention of faculty status by the librarians. The event is analyzed in the context of conflict resolution research. Conclusions suggest that a strong sense of service may help to unify academic librarians in future conflicts about their ambiguous status within the broader academic community. Third-party intervention and alternative options are also strategies discussed.
A Constituency-based Support Model for Delivering Information Services
Authors: Barth Christopher D. , Cottrell Janet R.
Published: June 2014

An information services organization based on individual constituent groups, instead of defined physical collections and technologies, encourages a broader, more effective, and innovative use of varying information and technology services for academic libraries. Such a model also provides more focused and clearly defined positions and procedures to ensure high-quality support to all constituents.
The Effect of the Web on Undergraduate Citation Behavior: A 2000 Update
Authors: Davis Philip M.
Published: June 2014

This paper provides a 2000 update to the 1996–1999 citation analysis of undergraduate term papers by Philip M. Davis and Suzanne A. Cohen.1 The total number of bibliographic citations continued to grow from a median of ten in 1996 to thirteen in 2000. However, this growth is entirely explained by the addition of traditionally nonscholarly materials (Web and newspaper citations). A significant improvement in the accuracy of Internet citations was found when term papers were submitted electronically. In 2000, the first year of electronic submissions, 65 percent of the citations pointed directly to the cited document, up from 55 percent in 1999. Internet citations aged six months in both 1999 and 2000 bibliographies were still irretrievable anywhere on the Internet 16 percent of the time. If more scholarly citations in term papers are to be seen, professors must provide clear expectations in their class assignments. Students should be required to submit an electronic copy of their paper so that Internet citations can be scrutinized for accuracy and plagiarism.
University Library Directors in the Association of Research Libraries: The Next Generation, Part Two
Authors: Hernon Peter , Powell Ronald R. , Young Arthur P.
Published: June 2014

Using the Delphi technique, this paper continues to develop a set of attributes that ARL directors of today and the near future (next ten years) will need to possess. The research reported here drew upon the view-points of both directors and their immediate deputies. The questions remaining are: How does the list of attributes change in other organizational settings? and Where can each attribute best be acquired?
Toward Continual Reform: Progress in Academic Libraries in China
Authors: Ping Ke , Zhang Sha Li
Published: June 2014

This article traces recent developments in China’s academic libraries. Areas covered include managing human resources, restructuring library departments, revising and implementing new policies, evaluating services and operations, establishing library systems, building new structures, and exploring joint-use library models. China’s academic libraries are focusing more on the user; consequently, several major changes accompany this endeavor.
Selected Reference Books of 2001
Authors: McIlvaine Eileen
Published: June 2014

This article follows the pattern set by the semiannual series initiated by the late Constance M.Winchell more than sixty years ago and continued by Eugene Sheehy. Because the purpose of the list is to present a selection of recent scholarly and general reference works, it does not pretend to be either well balanced or comprehensive. A brief roundup of new editions of standard works is provided at the end of the articles. Code numbers (such as BD111) have been used to refer to titles in the Guide to Reference Books, 11th ed. (Chicago: ALA, 1996).
Evaluative Usage-based Metrics for the Selection of E-journals
Authors: Hahn Karla L. , Faulkner Lila A.
Published: June 2014

To measure the value of print journals, librarians have gathered a range of statistics and developed a variety of metrics. Similar work to assess the value of e-journals has just begun. This article explores the usefulness of available e-journal usage statistics and develops three metrics and three benchmarks based on those metrics. The proposed metrics build on earlier work that assesses the value of print journals, although the earlier work is modified extensively to fit the e-journal arena. The e-journal statistics and metrics are further transformed to address a completely new area of application: the evaluation of potential purchases. Statistics and metrics are used to build three benchmark measures for assessing e-journal candidates for purchase. A comparison of Science and Nature site licenses illustrates the utility of the assessment benchmarks. The benchmarks, metrics, and statistics developed here provide a reliable framework for assessing both current collections and candidate collections of e-journals. Implications for standards development are clear; content measures are desperately needed for the development of an effective suite of e-journal statistics.
Full-text Linking: Affiliated versus Nonaffiliated Access in a Free Database
Authors: Grogg Jill E. , Andreadis Debra K. , Kirk Rachel A.
Published: June 2014

This article presents a comparison of access to full-text articles from a free bibliographic database (PubSCIENCE) for affiliated and unaffiliated users. The authors found that affiliated users had access to more full-text articles than unaffiliated users had, but the maximum level of full-text access achieved directly through PubSCIENCE was 45 percent. Both affiliated and unaffiliated users could increase their level of access to full-text content by using alternative avenues for access above and beyond use of the database linkage. However, such additional searching requires a higher level of information literacy on the user s part.
Virginia Tech’s Innovative College Librarian Program
Authors: Seamans Nancy H. , Metz Paul
Published: June 2014

In 1994, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) Libraries founded a College Librarian Program. Begun with four librarians serving four colleges, it has since grown to include eleven librarians providing comprehensive library services to the six of Virginia Tech’s eight colleges not served by branch libraries. Other authors have described the early history of the program or outlined some of its specific elements.1 By reviewing how the program came to be, by analyzing the choice points it presents, especially from an administrative perspective, and by discussing its benefits and costs from a university point of view, the authors hope to illuminate an exciting and potentially beneficial approach that other large institutions might seek to adapt to their own missions.
Discovering How Students Search a Library Web Site: A Usability Case Study
Authors: Augustine Susan , Greene Courtney
Published: June 2014

Have Internet search engines influenced the way students search library Web pages? The results of this usability study reveal that students consistently and frequently use the library Web site’s internal search engine to find information rather than navigating through pages. If students are searching rather than navigating, library Web page designers must make metadata and powerful search engines priorities. The study also shows that students have difficulty interpreting library terminology, experience confusion discerning difference amongst library resources, and prefer to seek human assistance when encountering problems online. These findings imply that library Web sites have not alleviated some of the basic and long-range problems that have challenged librarians in the past.