bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Representations of librarianship in the UK press
Authors: Shaw Leah
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The image of the library and information professional has been a source of professional anxiety for many years. The purpose of this paper is to investigate this long‐standing issue by studying the portrayal of librarianship in UK national newspapers during a period of rapid technological change. It also proposes to examine the representation of the professional role, determined by the skills and competencies depicted and the topics associated with librarianship.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach takes the form of a content analysis of a sample of 264 newspaper articles taken from The Times and The Mirror between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 2008.

Findings

The findings reveal a lack of representation of skills and duties performed by librarians. The usefulness and relevance of those depicted are overshadowed by the reported value of libraries. When professional duties are depicted, however, the results appear positive: librarians were seen as having an expert knowledge of content, technological competence and skills in collection development. The reporting of negative behavioural traits was infrequent and it was found that newspapers were not perpetuating negative stereotypes.

Research limitations/implications

Although The Times and The Mirror are important publications in terms of circulation, their depiction of the library and information profession does not form a complete picture of the representation of librarianship in the UK press.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to debates about the image of the profession, and raises awareness about the skills and competencies that practitioners and professional bodies need to promote for the library and information profession to flourish.
A Malawian school library: culture, literacy and reader development
Authors: Anderson Johanna , Matthews Paul
Published: November 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the success and suitability of a Western‐donated school library in furthering the aims of literacy and reader development in Malawi.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative, case study approach was taken using extensive interviews with school teachers and a library assistant at a primary school in Malawi.

Findings

Contrary to a common discourse that libraries are of limited value in a predominantly oral culture, the research revealed a valuable role in providing sources for sharing knowledge by young readers with the non‐literate. Limitations of the library under study included insufficient attention to reader development and inappropriateness of materials for the local context.

Practical implications

The work reveals important shortcomings in furthering global literacy targets through current practice in African primary school libraries supported by international donors and non‐governmental organisations. Recommendations to improve impact are given.

Originality/value

This research is original in representing the voices of school teachers in the debate over the suitability of libraries for the African context and in evaluating the overseas book donation model currently practised in many locations.
Developing work‐based learning for library and information science
Authors: Chelin Jacqueline
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to disseminate information about the development of a work‐based learning (WBL) honours degree top‐up in Library and Information Sciences (LIS), focusing on the motivation for this development.

Design/methodology/approach

The context for the work is explained. The characteristics of work‐based learning (WBL) are explored in terms of the relevance to LIS learning and teaching. The rationale for the development of the WBL top‐up is proposed and considerations that need to be borne in mind in the implementation are offered.

Findings

A synergy between the ethos of the existing approach to the education and development of LIS students at the University of the West of England and that of WBL was discovered.

Practical implications

There are implications for the training and development of teaching staff to engage fully and excel in a WBL approach, and for the institution to support this approach. There are also implications for advising employers and potential learners as to the benefits of WBL, and to ensure that it fits appropriately into the professional framework.

Originality/value

The value of the paper is in the sharing of an approach to developing a positive new way of working, how this fits with different government, local and professional agendas and the implications it has for all concerned.
Practitioner involvement in teaching LIS at UWE
Authors: Richardson Amanda
Published: November 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to review the practitioner‐based teaching model for the MSc in Information and Library Management (ILM) at the University of the West of England (UWE). With input from students, practitioners and academics it considers the advantages and disadvantages of this approach and questions whether this is indeed the way forward for LIS education.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study approach is used with views gained from students, practitioners and academic staff involved in the course. These views were gained from a combination of informal focus groups, informal interviews and a short e‐mail questionnaire asking current students their views on practitioner involvement in the course.

Findings

Findings reveal a model of practitioner‐based learning on the MSc ILM at UWE, which is meeting student and employer needs in terms of the skills they require in their future roles. Findings also raise questions as to how one can best ensure the involvement of practitioners in the future of the course; whether practitioner input is needed from a broader range of roles outside the library and information service; and how one can best maintain a balance of academic and practical skills.

Practical implications

The study suggests that more thought may be needed on securing practitioner involvement in the development and delivery of LIS education and further consideration on whether some of that involvement should be from a wider range of roles.

Originality/value

The paper identifies the need to consider how to best ensure the ongoing involvement of practitioners in LIS education, particularly those outside academic libraries, whilst maintaining the balance of academic rigour. It is valuable to those involved in designing and delivering course content and to those thinking about getting involved.
Explaining index‐based livestock insurance to pastoralists
Authors: McPeak John , Chantarat Sommarat , Mude Andrew
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the methods and findings of an experimental game designed to extend the concept of index‐based livestock insurance in northern Kenya, and analyze patterns of game play. The paper is designed to inform others who may be attempting something similar to this work in other developing country agricultural settings.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents the following: descriptive context of the issue, explanation of the game design to match the conditions in the area, details of how the authors explained the game, and regression analysis of play by participants.

Findings

Games designed to reflect key elements of the local production system can be an effective way of explaining financial products to rural producers in developing countries.

Research limitations/implications

It remains to be seen if the extension effort leads to more informed consumers of insurance products, which the authors hope to address in future work. Also, the approach described in this paper is very labor intensive, which could limit use in a wide ranging extension program.

Social implications

The authors were able to explain the idea to groups that were mixed: female and male. It will be interesting to see if there are any gender dimensions to insurance use. In addition, with competing claims to livestock with complex property rights, there is a need to monitor how insurance interacts with social ideas of livestock ownership.

Originality/value

This is a completely new idea in the area of arid and semi‐arid livestock production, the challenge is pronounced, and as insurance becomes more important in the development economics toolkit, the authors believe others can benefit from seeing what they have done.
The credit advantage of farm and rural small business ownership
Authors: Briggeman Brian C. , Akers Maria M.
Published: November 2010

Purpose

Nonfarm small businesses are an integral part of the US economy, and access to credit is crucial to their success. In rural America, a significant proportion of these businesses are owned by farm households. The purpose of this research is to compare farm households that operate a nonfarm business to other farm households as well as to rural and urban households operating a small business; and identify key factors that differentiate these businesses in their access to credit.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a unique data set to draw comparisons between farm households (from Agricultural Resource Management Survey data) and rural and urban small businesses (from Survey of Small Business Finances data). Each of these data sets asks similar financial, demographic, and access to credit questions. Combining these data provide a unique way to analyze the financial health of farm households that operate nonfarm businesses.

Findings

The paper finds that farm households with a nonfarm business tend to have more household income and assets than other rural and urban small businesses and farm households without a nonfarm business. However, rural small business owners as well as farmers were able to access credit more freely than their urban counterparts.

Originality/value

Many studies have looked at the farmer's decision to work or invest off the farm. However, no study has considered the impact of owning a nonfarm business on the financial health and creditworthiness of a farm household.
Retirement planning by Dutch farmers: rationality or randomness?
Authors: van Asseldonk M.A.P.M. , van der Veen H.B. , van der Meulen H.A.B.
Published: November 2010

Purpose

In self‐directed retirement plans, farmers are responsible for selecting the types of risky investments toward which the funds in their retirement plan are allocated. Furthermore, farmers do not necessarily purchase sufficient annuities with their savings upon retirement. There is little empirical evidence on the level of income sought or obtained. The purpose of this study is to analyze the long‐term investment behavior with respect to retirement planning.

Design/methodology/approach

Two types of data were merged for the analysis: data from the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) cross‐sectional dataset, and subjective data collected by a questionnaire survey. A response rate of 39 percent was achieved enabling analysis of 440 farm records. By means of regression analysis, the impact of subjective elements, for example level of income sought, as well as farm structure and financial farm characteristics on income obtained at the time of retirement were revealed.

Findings

By decomposing the underlying decision alternatives, it was shown that the long‐term investment behavior differed substantially among farmers, but the alternative decisions made were hardly affected by structural and objective parameters. The current study reveals the dilemma faced by any farmer who has the option to invest in his own business. Off‐farm retirement investments simply provide an alternative destination for investible funds and it is a rational decision to invest these funds in their own business, thus making the farm itself their retirement “nest‐egg”. However, a discrepancy between the level of income sought and obtained was found.

Research limitations/implications

There is a need to study how farmers can be encouraged to use existing options for obtaining a more comprehensive retirement plan.

Practical implications

In the investigated case, farmers are entitled like all residents to receive retirement benefits provided by the state, referred to as state pension. The use of three alternative retirement plans complementing the state‐sponsored retirement benefits is investigated. Perceptions about whether or not the state pension was sufficient to rely on as the sole source of income did not affect participation in a retirement plan. This stresses the importance that the contributions made and assets reserved should be regularly evaluated and reviewed (via, for example, extension or internet tools) to ensure that the available capital will meet the future income sought.

Originality/value

It is a challenge to identify the adequacy to attain retirement readiness by self‐directed investment plans. The strategic choices to be made are complex, while the outcome is risky. In the current study, the long‐term investment behavior with respect to retirement planning is analyzed by decomposing the underlying decision alternatives.
Evidence of land hoarding behavior in US agriculture
Authors: Adelaja Adesoji O. , Hailu Yohannes G. , Tekle Ahadu T. , Seedang Saichon
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to test how land owners respond to the appreciation of land values in the presence of speculation. This paper introduces the concept of “land hoarding,” which is land owners' response to higher land prices by selling more land up to a point beyond which accelerated land price appreciation would lead to land hoarding. Specifically, this paper examines the effect of land value appreciation higher than the opportunity cost of selling the land (measured by treasury‐bill (T‐bill) rate) on land sale and land hoarding.

Design/methodology/approach

A theoretical framework is developed to understand the demand for agricultural land retention with and without speculation, the former informing land hoarding behavior. A linear regression model was introduced and estimated using ordinary least square (OLS) method. A panel data model and analysis is also introduced, and following appropriate model selection tests, a fixed effect panel data estimation method is implemented. Data from 48 states, spanning from 1950 to 2004, are utilized.

Findings

An inverse relationship is found between the rate of land value appreciation and the demand for land by farmers, suggesting that the standard direct relationship between appreciation and land supplied to development holds. However, the additional finding of an inverse relationship between the rate of land value appreciation in excess of the risk‐free rate of return and agricultural land development confirms the existence of an identifiable speculative demand component that involves land hoarding.

Practical implications

To the extent to which the findings are broadly applicable, one policy implication is that enhanced land retention can be achieved through market mechanisms. For example, the notion that reduced T‐bill rates can actually result in market triggered land preservation is an interesting policy related finding. Equally interesting is the notion that policies that can trigger increases in the rate of appreciation of farmland may also potentially result in the agricultural hoarding of land. Obviously, enhanced profitability in agriculture due to programs targeting viability, commodity price support, reduction of regulation or market expansion programs can potentially affect land retention.

Originality/value

This paper introduces the “land hoarding hypothesis.” High rates of land appreciation can be expected to signal that holding the land may yield better returns than selling it, suggesting that if rates of land appreciation become significantly high enough, farmers may begin to hoard land, not sell it, to maximize long‐term returns. This concept can be valuable to market‐based agricultural land retention programs at the urban fringe. By linking speculative behavior, land demand and existence of a hoarding behavior under some conditions, this paper adds value and originality to the literature.
Prediction markets: an experimental approach to forecasting cattle on feed
Authors: Karina Gallardo R. , Wade Brorsen B. , Lusk Jayson
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use prediction markets to forecast an agricultural event: United States Department of Agriculture's number of cattle on feed (COF). Prediction markets are increasingly popular forecast tools due to their flexibility and proven accuracy to forecast a diverse array of events.

Design/methodology/approach

During spring 2008, a market was constructed comprised of student traders in which they bought and sold contracts whose value was contingent on the number of COF to be reported on April 18, 2008. During a nine‐week period, students were presented three types of contracts to forecast the number of COF. To estimate forecasts a uniform price sealed bid auction mechanism was used.

Findings

The results showed that prediction markets forecasted 11.5 million head on feed, which was about 1.6 percent lower than the actual number of COF (11.684 million). The prediction market also fared slightly worse than analysts' predictions, which on average suggested there would be about 11.795 million head (an over‐estimate of about 1 percent).

Originality/value

The contribution of this study was not to provide conclusive evidence on the efficacy of using prediction markets to forecast COF, but rather to present an empirical example that will spark interest among agricultural economists on the promises and pitfalls of a research method that has been relatively underutilized in the agricultural economics literature.
Evaluation of the reference yield calculation method in crop insurance
Authors: Rejesus Roderick M. , Goodwin Barry K. , Coble Keith H. , Knight Thomas O.
Published: November 2010

Purpose

This article seeks to examine the reference yield calculation method used in crop insurance rating and provides recommendations that could potentially improve actuarial performance of the Federal crop insurance program.

Design/methodology/approach

Conceptual, numerical, and statistical analysis is utilized to evaluate the reference yield calculation method used in the US Federal crop insurance program.

Findings

The results suggest that reference yields, which at the time of this study are calculated using National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) data, do not accurately represent the average actual yields of the insured pool of producers in the Federal crop insurance program. In addition, it is found that not regularly updating these NASS‐based reference yields exacerbates this problem because these reference yields do not appropriately represent the current state of technological progress.

Practical implications

The empirical analysis leads this paper to recommend a reference yield calculation procedure that utilizes county‐average yields from the risk management agency (RMA) participation database and an approach that uses spatially aggregated average yields in cases when data for a particular county are sparse.

Originality/value

No previous study has investigated the reference yield calculation method in the Federal crop insurance program using both RMA and NASS data sets. Moreover, this study contributes to the small literature that examines various aspects of the actual production history (APH) rating platform and suggests refinements to improve actuarial performance.
Are social and environmental practices a marketing tool?
Authors: Gallego‐Álvarez Isabel , Prado‐Lorenzo José‐Manuel , Rodríguez‐Domínguez Luis , García‐Sánchez Isabel‐María
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyse whether CSR practices performed by European companies (both those CSR practices related to marketing‐based strategies and those that are not) create value. That value creation will be gauged through two variables: reputation and shareholder value creation.

Design/methodology/approach

To carry out this research, the 120 biggest European companies whose CSR practices have been analysed by Deloitte and Kinchhoff in The Good Company Ranking were taken. European firms have adopted an active stance on CSR and their organisational aspects and responsibilities related to sustainability are better‐founded compared with other companies. Financial data and reputation were obtained from the Forbes and Fortune websites, respectively.

Findings

The findings obtained show that all CSR practices, especially those linked to enhancing a company's image, have a positive effect on shareholder value creation, given that investors are able to detect the level of corporate commitment to sustainable development. On the other hand, none of the typologies of CSR practices undertaken have a relevant influence on corporate reputation.

Originality/value

The results of this study advise managers to design their CSR strategies with an orientation to increasing corporate reputation through large investments in CSR which prevent them from being imitated by direct rivals.
Corruption not an end
Authors: Agatiello Osvaldo R.
Published: November 2010

Purpose

Economic theory and practice profess that corruption is a crime of calculation, normally perpetrated for economic gain. Policy responses, as a consequence, revolve around the restrictions and incentives needed to curb economic opportunities and restrain impulses leading to corruption. Nevertheless, the sciences of politics and management have long brooded over it, noting that power can corrupt, corruption can empower, corruptors can wield manifold instruments, and the satisfaction of pride is one of them. This paper aims to focus on corruption not as an end but as an instrument of power.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper aims at analysing the deeper nature of corruption and the tools made use of to explain and address it. Accordingly it explores the limits of political integrity, the notions of democracy, the constraints of economic theory to fully interpret corruption and its variegated manifestations, and the alleged singularity of the ethics of politicians.

Findings

Political authorities in liberal democracies are expected to act with the consent of their constituencies and as a consequence of it. Constituencies in turn cannot disown what their authorities decide and do, at least in the long run. However, although certain prerogatives can be delegated on authorities, the responsibility of electorates cannot be delegated. Awareness of this double‐sided, principal‐agent co‐responsibility is what gathers together in mature societies mounting preoccupation for the integrity of political and administrative authorities.

Originality/value

The paper concludes that honesty and corruption in political authority and civil service are counter figure and reflection of the material organisation of power in a given society, time and geography. Public politics, through constant scrutiny of political and administrative actors, processes and actions, puts individual innocence to the test. That is, societies cannot be excused for the performance of their representatives because, by selecting some candidates for public office and some courses of action over others, they are also deciding on a collective story that stands as an evolving moral narration.
Understanding the influence of corporate social responsibility on corporate identity, image, and firm performance
Authors: Arendt Sebastian , Brettel Malte
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to examine the effects of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on corporate identity, image and firm performance in a multi‐industry setting, in order to support evidence that the effects of CSR differ in different industry settings.

Design/methodology/approach

The study, based on pre‐existing CSR scales, was tested using data collected from a sample of 389 European companies. Hypotheses are based on the examination of the moderating effects of CSR using a group comparison method.

Findings

Contingency models show that CSR triggers the corporate‐image‐building process and that its relationship to company success varies significantly based on company size, industry and marketing budget.

Research limitations/implications

This research was conducted within a specific region in the EU and as such these findings may or may not be generalized to other regions like Asia or the USA. In addition, the secondary data of the study did not include stakeholders other than customers and suppliers, suggesting that further analysis of the model should be made using data from additional stakeholders.

Practical implications

Previous research has shown mixed results from companies' efforts in the field of CSR. This paper triggers practitioners' discussion about the ability to pursue CSR, depending on their size, industry, and marketing budget, and helps them to set the right focus for their CSR efforts.

Originality/value

The study enriches the body of empirical research on CSR and provides support for research investigating under which conditions CSR is most effective. It is the first to analyze samples from different industries in this context.
Impact of environmental regulations on innovation and performance in the UK industrial sector
Authors: Ramanathan Ramakrishnan , Black Andrew , Nath Prithwiraj , Muyldermans Luc
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The role of environmental regulations in inducing innovation and improving performance has been studied in the literature. However, there have been no studies in the UK using statistical data. This paper aims to study the links among regulations, innovation and performance in the UK using sector level data.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper used structural equation modelling to study the links among the three variables simultaneously.

Findings

The analysis indicates that environmental regulations in the UK are significant in improving economic performance of the industrial sectors. They also find that, in the short run, environmental regulations negatively influence innovation, and innovation negatively influences economic performance in these sectors.

Practical implications

The results have implications both for policy makers and firms in the UK industrial sector. For policy makers, environmental regulations have generally improved economic performance. For firms, the study shows that sufficient planning in meeting government's environment standards can help improve their economic performance.

Originality/value

This is the first study in the UK to explore simultaneously the links among the three variables: environmental regulations, innovation, and performance, using secondary sector level data.
Exploring corporate social responsibility education
Authors: Fen Tseng Ya , Jim Wu Yen‐Chun , Wu Wen‐Hsiung , Chen Chun‐Yu
Published: November 2010

Purpose

This study aims to investigate CSR‐related practices implemented by small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs), including their distinct opinions on CSR education.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey was sent to 50 industrial participants from Kaohsiung, Taiwan, including large businesses and SMEs. Factor and ANOVA analyses were adopted in this study.

Findings

The results reveal that large enterprises place more emphasis on the importance of CSR education than SMEs, based on the number of employees, the amount of capital, and business volume. Interestingly, it was also found that there is a positive significant influence on concern for CSR issues, teaching approaches and courses, if a firm sets up a CSR department, has annual CSR reporting, implements CSR, and evaluates its performance.

Originality/value

Despite the critical role of SMEs in national economies, the existing literature on CSR has traditionally focused on large enterprises. This study provides an empirical, valuable step towards an investigation into CSR education for SMEs on three dimensions: CSR issues, CSR teaching approaches, and CSR courses. The findings also highlight individual strategies in shaping CSR programs in Taiwan.
Why we should dare to manage growth responsibly
Authors: Fleck Denise L.
Published: November 2010

Purpose

This paper seeks to suggest that the responsible management of the growth process can prevent the organization from becoming “too big to fail”. Moreover, responsibly managing growth enhances the organizational propensity to experience healthy longevity.

Design/methodology/approach

Four growth‐related challenges provide the basic framework that organizes the discussion and inspires the main dimensions that make up the responsible management of growth.

Findings

Responsibly managing growth comprises providing responsible responses to the growth challenges. It encompasses nurturing continued value creation; performing responsible risk management; securing value capture for the businesses (profits) and for the organization as a whole (legitimacy); performing systematic scanning of the environment; responsibly reacting to external pressures, preferably in anticipation of upcoming changes; sustaining the firm's integrity, in face of increasing diversity; and equipping the organization with the right amount and variety of skills at the right time.

Practical implications

Management should keep under close scrutiny the growth challenges and develop systematic procedures to check the impact of decisions and actions on the growth challenges.

Originality/value

The paper advances the notion that organizations exhibit a dual nature. Growing organizations can develop a potential ability to renew and self‐perpetuate; but they can also sow the seeds of their own destruction.
The effects of organizational factors on green new product success
Authors: Huang Yi‐Chun , Jim Wu Yen‐Chun
Published: November 2010

Purpose

This study seeks to identify the factors influencing the performance of green new product development. Additionally, an examination of the relationship between green performance and financial performance is carried out.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed survey instrument data collected from 181 companies in hi‐tech industries including electrical, electronics, and information industries of Taiwan. Exploratory factor analysis and multiple regressions were used for hypothesis testing.

Findings

Corporate environmental commitment, environmental benchmarking, R&D strength, and cross‐functional integration significantly positively influenced financial performance. Additionally, green product innovation performance has a positive effect on financial performance.

Research limitations/implications

A longitudinal research design is necessary to validate these claims of causality. Furthermore, since respondents provided data on both the independent and dependent variables, there is the possibility that the correlations were inflated as a result of single‐source bias.

Practical implications

The identification of the specific actions of both top management support and environmental benchmarking must be implemented for green new product development to occur. Additionally, successful GNPD needs to be underpinned by an environmental product strategy that is explicit, clearly defined, and linked to the overall strategy of the firm.

Social implications

Taiwan's rapid industrialization has generated numerous environmental problems. Moving forward, the Taiwanese government should implement advanced green management concepts to keep abreast of the global environmental movement. Enterprises have to be dedicated to developing GNPD; achieving GNPD success will bring great challenges for firms in Taiwan.

Originality/value

The integration of innovation, new product development, and green management philosophies is explored in order to develop and empirically test a theoretical framework of the organizational factors. This paper is the first to conduct a large sample survey of the hi‐tech industries including the electrical, electronics, and information industries in Taiwan to examine organizational factor effects on GNPD success, and the relationship between green product innovation performance and financial performance.
Operational efficiency integrating the evaluation of environmental investment: the case of Japan
Authors: Kuo Lopin , Kevin Huang Shihping , Jim Wu Yen‐Chun
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore whether a connection exists between business operational efficiency and environmental responsibility.

Design/methodology/approach

This research adopts the DEA method through a four‐step analysis to examine inter‐industry differences in terms of operational efficiency with environmental consideration. The sample comprises 32 Japanese firms from three different industries listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange between 2001 and 2006.

Findings

The results indicate a positive correlation with statistical significance in terms of a firm's environmental conservation cost, net income and economic benefit of environmental conservation for the three Japanese industries. In addition, the relationship among a firm's environmental conservation cost, CO2emission reduction and total CO2emission are positively correlated but without significance. In particular, business operational efficiency integrating social responsibility for anti‐global warming initiatives ( = total CO2emission level) could be applied to distinguish differences in terms of operational efficiency among industries.

Research limitations/implications

Japanese firms adopt a voluntary environmental disclosure; therefore this study is constrained by the availability of long‐term data.

Social implications

This study enables environmentally conscious investors and fund managers to distinguish the operationally efficient industries when taking environmental performance into account.

Originality/value

The study is a novel attempt to analyze inter‐industry differences in terms of operational efficiency when considering environmental conservation through the DEA method using a four‐step analysis.
Blurring borders, visualizing connections
Authors: Harris Benjamin R.
Published: November 2010

Purpose

This paper seeks to offer a rationale and practical suggestions for the integration of visual literacy instruction and information literacy instruction practice and theory.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper aligns visual literacy and information literacy competency standards, revealing connections and opportunities for practical integration during library instruction and traditional classroom instruction.

Findings

On analysis of 11 visual literacy competencies, three exhibit a strong relationship with the ACRL's Information Literacy Competency Standards.

Practical implications

The paper provides guidelines for teaching and learning scenarios that may be used in a library instruction session or as part of a course curriculum.

Originality/value

The paper advocates the alignment of visual literacy and information literacy competencies as a method for connecting multiple literacies in information literacy instruction.
The borderland of value: examining student attitudes towards secondary research
Authors: Courtney Klentzin Jacqueline
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate traditional freshmen value attitudes towards the secondary research process.

Design/methodology/approach

The study utilized a single‐question qualitative survey, which asked the open‐ended two‐part question: “Do you like research? Why or why not?” The survey was administered to first semester freshmen communication classes where the students were able to write freely about their feelings towards the research process. These results were then contextualized through the lens of Krathwohl, Bloom, and Masia's Affective Domain.

Findings

Based on a content analysis of the written responses, three groups, which comprised eight themes, emerged. A substantial contingent of students (33 percent) described their motivations for conducting research as solely extrinsic in nature and maintained adverse emotions and attitudes towards the process, while a smaller number of students (16 percent) were both intrinsically and extrinsically driven to participate in the research process and reported no negative emotions. The majority of participants (49 percent), however, resided on what could be considered an intellectual borderland where the value of secondary research was entirely dependent on the specific topic of study.

Originality/value

The study adds to the well‐established macro research thread examining the relationship between information literacy and the affective domain and the less‐established micro research thread describing student emotional predispositions towards the academic library. As a result of this study, librarians will be better able not only to understand the attitudes freshmen students “carry” with them regarding the value of secondary research but also to consciously incorporate affective components into their work in order to craft more impactful library sessions.
Undergraduates' academic information and library behaviors: preliminary results
Authors: Mizrachi Diane
Published: November 2010

Purpose

This paper proposes to present preliminary findings from a larger study which examine and describe five issues of undergraduates' academic information and library behaviors: where students begin their research; how they evaluate online sources; what library resources they use; what formats they prefer for reading academic material; and specific laptop behaviors. Student perspectives on these issues and their impact on libraries and information literacy outreach and instruction are discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

Three ethnographic methods were used to triangulate the data: tours of students' work areas in their dormitories, semi‐structured interviews, and free‐write essays about their information management systems. During October and November 2009, 41 participants were interviewed.

Findings

Undergraduates displayed a broad diversity of behaviors that reach beyond the stereotypical lifestyles of this age group as presented in popular media. Behavioral tendencies showed more of a hybridity of high‐tech and traditional formats and tools than a rush towards total embracement of the newest gadgets and applications. Students also showed an understanding of the need to create strategies that help them to lessen the ubiquitous distractions when trying to focus on their academic tasks.

Originality/value

Listening to students discuss their library and academic information behaviors and preferences can help librarians and educators to become more aware of their unique perspectives as one strives to create more student‐centered services and environments that incorporate the best of emerging technologies and the traditional academic library.
Rethinking the library for the international student community
Authors: Knight Lorrie , Hight Maryann , Polfer Lisa
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on a study conducted about international students’ use of academic libraries at three campuses: a medium‐sized private institution, a state university, and a small private school. In light of a growing number of international students on US campuses, the paper has questions about why they do or do not visit the library, their use of media, and their preferred information and communication resources. The study offers suggestions for ways to make the library more central to the students' experiences.

Design/methodology/approach

The investigators collected data from a review of relevant literature, an analysis of academic library web sites that offer information for international students, a poll of listservs, surveys of students, and focus groups. The information was analyzed for themes or trends that could influence the provision of services.

Findings

International students are an underserved population who use the library primarily as a place for study. Academic librarians can take simple, practical steps to encourage this group of students to use all library resources and services.

Originality/value

This study compiles information from published and electronic sources, as well as surveys and focus groups. Rather than make assumptions about library use by international students, this study obtains first‐hand information by asking the students themselves.
A school mascot walks into the library: tapping school spirit for library instruction videos
Authors: Henrich Kristin J. , Prorak Diane
Published: November 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to describe the University of Idaho Library's efforts to develop instructional videos starring the school mascot, Joe Vandal, and integrate these videos across the curriculum using the university's course management system. Video development, implementation in library instruction courses, and student and faculty assessment are discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

The video creation process is described thoroughly, with an eye towards best practices, for those libraries that may wish to develop their own videos. Applications for implementation outside library instruction are also discussed.

Findings

Although costly, professional‐quality videos are an engaging and effective way to reach students. Students at the University of Idaho found the library's instructional videos, starring the school mascot, to be entertaining, informative, and easy to understand.

Research limitations/implications

The longitudinal effect of the videos on information literacy instruction has yet to be determined. Future research should study the efficacy of the videos by evaluating the book‐finding ability of control groups of students who have viewed the video and those who have not.

Practical implications

The increasing ubiquity of film‐making software and of video‐hosting sites makes video a more attractive vehicle for information literacy concepts than ever before. Instructional videos are especially relevant when used by those libraries which wish to integrate materials into a course management system.

Originality/value

Although using video for library instruction is not a new concept, creating instructional videos starring the school mascot in the role of the information‐seeker is unique.
Library instruction and information literacy 2009
Authors: Johnson Anna Marie , Sproles Claudene , Detmering Robert
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a selected bibliography of recent resources on library instruction and information literacy.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper introduces and annotates periodical articles, monographs, and audiovisual material examining library instruction and information literacy.

Findings

The paper provides information about each source, discusses the characteristics of current scholarship, and describes sources that contain unique scholarly contributions and quality reproductions.

Originality/value

The information may be used by librarians and interested parties as a quick reference to literature on library instruction and information literacy.
CEO turnover around earnings restatements and fraud
Authors: Land Judy K.
Published: November 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to examine whether restatement firms with certain restatement characteristics are more likely to have chief executive officer (CEO) turnover within a year of the restatement announcement, and whether these same firms are later subject to regulatory action by the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical analysis uses a logistic regression to test a sample of firms that restated earnings during the years 1996‐1999.

Findings

The results show significant associations between measures of the severity of earnings restatement and the probability of CEO turnover. Also, restatement firms with CEO turnover are more likely to be issued an SEC Accounting and Auditing Enforcement Release in the years after the restatement, indicating that financial fraud has occurred.

Research limitations/implications

The results may not generalize to a more recent time period because the sample of firms is from the 1996‐1999 time period.

Originality/value

This study provides a link between CEO turnover and restatement characteristics within a sample of restatement firms.
Antecedents and organisational performance implications of internal audit effectiveness
Authors: Getie Mihret Dessalegn , James Kieran , Mula Joseph M.
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to synthesize relevant theoretical and empirical literature to develop propositions and suggest a research agenda on the antecedents and organisational performance implications of internal audit effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs institutional theory and Karl Marx's theory of the “circuit of industrial capital” to synthesize relevant internal audit literature to develop theoretically justifiable propositions and highlight an operational research agenda.

Findings

Propositions and a research agenda are provided on potential antecedents of internal audit effectiveness and its possible association with company performance measured as rate of return on capital employed. Also, key variables are identified and operationalisation issues discussed.

Originality/value

As the extant literature does not provide a canon of internal audit effectiveness, the paper's originality is its argument that a positive association between compliance with standards for the professional practice of internal auditors and organisational goal achievement could serve as an approach to assess internal audit effectiveness. Furthermore, the use of the two theories in combination provides additional insights into identifying the antecedents of internal audit effectiveness and its measurement.
HR directors in UK boardrooms
Authors: Caldwell Raymond
Published: November 2010

Purpose

A place in the boardroom is often considered a necessary if not sufficient condition for HR directors to exercise strategic influence on business decision‐making. The purpose of the paper is to explore the perceived importance of HR boardroom representation, both in a formal and symbolic sense, and to what extent HR directors can exercise strategic influence without it?

Design/methodology/approach

Evidence is explored from a survey of 1,188 UK HR practitioners, including 255 board members, and a series of follow‐up interviews with 16 HR directors.

Findings

Analysis of the survey findings suggests that boardroom versus non‐boardroom representation of HR appears to matter in four key areas: board members believe they have greater involvement and influence in business planning processes; they have more positive perceptions of the overall performance of HR; they give higher ratings of CEO perceptions of the HR function; and they believe they achieve greater integration of HR strategy with business strategy.

Research limitations/implications

While there are increasingly other formal mechanisms and forums (e.g. executive committees, personal networks) outside the boardroom for HR directors to exercise their influence, it appears that the “symbolic capital” of boardroom recognition and esteem still retains enormous significance and rhetorical appeal for the HR profession.

Originality/value

The paper seeks to reframe the debates on the relative importance of HR boardroom versus executive committee representation as forums of strategic influence, by focusing on the continued symbolic significance of boardroom representation. It is concluded that a reworking of Bourdieu's concept of “symbolic capital” (i.e. professional esteem, recognition, status, or respect) as board capital may be useful in reframing future research on HR boardroom representation.