bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electronic library and the former Soviet Union and Mongolia
Authors: Myhill Martin
Published: May 2004

Economic difficulties facing the countries of the former Soviet Union and Mongolia as a result of recent political changes are constraining funding for education. However, there is a growing provision of facilities afforded by the electronic library in these countries. Evidence afforded by three European Union funded projects at Yaroslavl’ State Pedagogical University (Russia), Tashkent State University (Uzbekistan) and the Mongolian State Pedagogical University, shows that the Internet is already firmly established in such countries and that users are poised to maximise the benefits. These are not all dependent on western information sources. World Wide Web sites, for example, are rapidly developing in the former Soviet Union bringing an unparalleled window on Russian resources. Difficulties in the introduction of the electronic library in these countries include reliability and performance of systems, sceptical attitudes of many academics, and cost. The latter is the most serious long‐term factor as externally funded projects come to an end and institutions struggle to meet even their salary bills. Economic development especially in Mongolia and Uzbekistan may overcome this problem before very long, endorsing the global nature of the electronic library.
Minstrel – Management information software tool for European libraries
Authors: Adams Roy J.
Published: May 2004

The ability to manipulate efficiently data for management information is becoming increasingly important. Minstrel, a European Union funded project is creating a software tool designed to assist with the acquisition and handling of data on library use. The activity has been developed from a study of decision support and performance measures in European libraries carried out in 1994. The first phase of Minstrel has included consultation with potential users, a specification of functions and investigation of methods for interfacing with potential data sources and decision support tools.
Librarians and innovation: an American viewpoint
Authors: Malinconico S. Michael
Published: May 2004

This paper presents a historical overview of technological developments and their use in libraries and argues that librarians have always been amongst the first to adapt to, and use, the latest information handling and communications technologies. Points made are supported by many citations to the relevant literature of the time.
Developing a web library guide for an academic library: problems, solutions and future possibilities
Authors: Biddiscombe Richard , Knowles Kevin , Upton Ian , Wilson Karen
Published: May 2004

This article describes the development of a Web Library Guide at the University of Birmingham, UK. Having developed a hypertext guide using Asymetrix Toolbook which gave guidance to users on the subjects and services available in the Main Library of the University, the information was repackaged for loading on to the World Wide Web. The reasons for this move are outlined, the process of the transposition is explained and future possibilities for the project are suggested.
EDI between libraries and their suppliers: requirements and first experiences based on the EDILIBE project
Authors: Wiesner Margot
Published: May 2004

The EDILIBE Project – Electronic Data Interchange for Libraries and Booksellers in Europe involved libraries and booksellers in Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy and the UK. It was a project funded by the European Union as part of the European Libraries Programme and ran from April 1993 to December 1995. This paper discusses the current role of an acquisitions librarian and outlines the ways in which electronic data interchange (EDI) can be used to assist in the management of acquisitions infor mation. Practical experiences gained in implementing EDI standards and developing suitable software during the EDILIBE project are described.
Development of a Technical Reports Service at the Higher Education National Software Archive in the UK
Authors: Bowman M.L.
Published: May 2004

Institutions and individuals actively engaged in research disseminate their results and experiences in a variety of ways: journals, books, technical reports, conference presentations. Books and papers submitted to journals are often restricted by the publishers’ copyright, whereas technical reports, conference proceedings and other documents are usually freely available. Documents in this second category may represent the leading edge of research, containing valuable information of interest to other researchers, but there is no widely accepted standard method for dissemination of this kind of docu ment. Often, this material is overlooked because interested parties are unaware of its existence. The Technical Reports Service of HENSA (Higher Education National Software Archive) aims to solve some of these problems. It provides a centralised access point, via the World Wide Web, to collections of relevant documents stored on FTP sites around the world. A user can perform searches over all the documents included in the service, or access an individual collection and retrieve any document of interest. Authors and document collection maintainers can easily include their documents in the service whilst maintaining total control over all the documents they make available.
UNIMARC and international record exchange: an overview of recent projects and developments
Authors: Curwen Anthony G.
Published: May 2004

In recent years the UNIMARC format has come to be more widely used as a method of facilitating the international exchange of bibliographic data. This is due, in part, to a number of projects funded by the European Union as part of the Libraries Programme. This paper provides an overview of the state of such projects as reported to a workshop on the UNIMARC format held in Luxembourg in September 1996. Projects briefly described in this overview include: UseMARCON, CoBRA UNIMARC, CoBRA AUTHOR, ONE, CHASE, DELICAT and BIBLINK. Other initiatives related to UNIMARC by IFLA and OCLC are also described. The paper concludes with the main conclusions arising from the workshop addressing the areas of formats, authority control, character sets and electronic publications.
An overview of some libraries and their computer systems in the Czech Republic and Slovenia: a visitor’s impressions
Authors: Tedd Lucy A.
Published: May 2004

Before running workshops on electronic library developments in the Czech Republic and Slovenia in 1996 and 1997, visits were made to several libraries in order to become aware of current developments. In the Czech Republic the ALEPH system is being used by the National Library whilst the TINlib system is used in many other libraries including those visited at the Parliament and at the University of Economics in Prague. A Czech system was being implemented at the state research library at Kladno that was also visited. In contrast, a centralised system, COBISS, was used in all the libraries visited in Slovenia; these included the National and University Library, Maribor Public Library, Maribor University Library and the Central Technological Library. The Internet is widely used in libraries in both countries. The paper provides descriptions of the libraries visited and their use of electronic library systems, along with brief details of material covered in the workshops.
Assessing the effect of new generation library management systems
Authors: Murray I.R.
Published: May 2004

This paper examines 10 libraries, from the academic, public and special sectors, all of which have recently purchased a new library management system (LMS). The systems can be described as “third generation” library systems, although some differences are noted and the designation “new generation” library systems is preferred. The aim of the study was to assess the effect the new systems had upon the working practices of the libraries, and to examine in particular whether or not the systems were now delivering the kinds of benefits that would satisfy those who have been critical of the lack of achievement of these LMSs to date. The paper considers the impact of client/server architecture, and examines to what extent librarians and suppliers have taken advantage of developments in the areas of World Wide Web technology. It concludes that the librarians in this sample were first and foremost pragmatists; although relatively new and untried systems were chosen by four of the 10 libraries.
Development of the British Library’s OPAC 97: the value of a user‐centred approach
Authors: Ashton Jan
Published: May 2004

This article reviews the development of the British Library’s OPAC services leading up to the launch of OPAC 97, offering access to nine million bibliographic records. The article attempts to show the value of a user‐centred approach in the project management involved in developing such a service as recommended by Human Computer Interaction (HCI) studies. Evaluation studies of the Online Catalogue, the Network OPAC, a web prototype interface and of OPAC 97 are reviewed briefly and the results discussed in relation to the OPAC 97 project. Although the OPAC 97 interface made use of various HCI recommendations, user feedback sometimes contradicted these in specific instances, revealing the value of detailed user evaluation in developing services. room with its own catalogue only available for consultation in that one reading room in London. The British Museum Catalogue of Printed Books with bibliographic records for acquisitions up to 1975 was converted from catalogue slips and published in printed form which could now be available for use by other libraries more easily, but this did not assist users who wished to make subject enquiries. Blaise, the Library’s priced online information retrieval service, was available from 1975 but this was developed for information professionals, offering bulk catalogue record downloading and bibliographic checking. Any reference enquiries had to be carried out by trained library staff on behalf of users. What the Library has attempted to do from 1993 is to offer the Library users themselves access to the collections, especially remote users who cannot visit the reading rooms each day.
The development of the LAMP (Library Automation and Management Program) software for use in developing countries and its marketing in Pakistan
Authors: Mahmood Khalid M.
Published: May 2004

The paper describes the features of an integrated library software developed in Pakistan under a project funded by the Netherlands. The software, called LAMP, has been developed to cater to library automation needs of developing countries and is based on CDS/ISIS. This paper gives some suggestions to develop a marketing plan for LAMP. It analyses the market situation, divides market into segments, presents SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats), and suggests a market mix (product, price, place and promotion) for marketing of the software in Pakistan as well as in other developing countries.
Acquiring an acquisitions module: Croydon Libraries’ solution
Authors: Edwards Frank
Published: May 2004

Although Croydon Libraries have been operating automated stock circulation and cataloguing procedures for some years, they took a management decision to delay automating stock acquisitions. Solutions offered during the 1980s failed to meet requirements in terms of stock control, electronic trading and cost benefits. Information technology (IT) innovations around manual acquisitions procedures enabled them achieve a high level of performance. By mid‐1995 it was thought that technological advances had made automation a viable option, and the demise of the Net Book Agreement (NBA) highlighted the cost‐benefits of electronic trading. The solution would be built around a bibliographic datafile (potential requirements datafile – PRD) with the acquisitions module seen as a station within an electronic trading network. It would have to replicate Croydon’s sophisticated clerical and accountancy systems, demonstrate cost benefits and have development potential and would need to be “stand‐alone”.
Writing abstracts for online databases: results of an investigation of database producers’ guidelines
Authors: Armstrong C.J. , Wheatley A.
Published: May 2004

The article reports on one area of research in an eLib MODELS supporting study which had three investigative areas: an examination of current database producers’ guidelines for their abstract writers, a brief survey of abstracts in some traditional online databases, and a detailed survey of abstracts from three types of electronic database (print‐sourced online databases, Internet subject trees or directories, and Internet gateways). The examination of database producers’ guidelines, reported here, gave a clear view of the intentions behind professionally produced traditional (printed index based) database abstracts and provided a benchmark against which to judge the conclusions of the larger investigations into abstract style, readability and content. The article concludes with a summary of recommendations for abstract writers.
A personalised current awareness service for library and information services staff: an overview of the NewsAgent for Libraries project
Authors: Tedd Lucy A. , Yeates Robin
Published: May 2004

NewsAgent for Libraries is one of the projects funded by the Electronic Libraries Programme in the UK. Following a brief historical account of the original ideas behind the project, the main stages in developing the project – which aims to create a userconfigurable electronic news and current‐awareness service for library and information professionals with a mixture of content streams, including metadata – are described. Users’ interests are specified by profiles which are then matched with incoming records so that users are alerted by e‐mail of items of potential interest. Examples of creating profiles and of some of the “input feeds” in the project are given as well as an example of the use of the Dublin Core metadata format for describing resources covered in NewsAgent.
An evaluation of textual storage and retrieval software: CDS/ISIS and InMagic
Authors: Minh Kiem Cao , Middleton Michael
Published: May 2004

A comparison was made between CDS/ISIS, its Windows version WINISIS, and InMagic’s INMAGIC and DB/TextWorks software. Packages were evaluated for their database creation, information retrieval and report production capabilities. Windows versions were found to provide significant enhancements over DOS versions of software. The evaluation aimed to determine the advantages to a developing country of creating bibliographic databases using commercial software.
Perspectives on organisational network communities: a review paper for library and information service managers
Authors: Levy Philippa
Published: May 2004

Computer‐mediated communication (CMC) is becoming firmly embedded into library work through the use of electronic mail, and it is likely that computer‐supported collaborative working, using e‐mail and other forms of computer‐conferencing and groupware products, will have a key role to play in the development of integrated digital libraries across sectoral, national and international boundaries. This review paper draws on a literature survey which was undertaken as part of British Library funded research into the use of e‐mail in academic libraries between 1995‐1997. It aims to provide a digest of some influential perspectives from the literature which are likely to be of relevance to managers, team leaders and systems staff in information services who are interested in optimising the use of text‐based CMC across and between library organisations, and within teams.
Formats and cataloguing rules: developments for cataloguing electronic resources
Authors: Willer Mirna
Published: May 2004

Following a brief history of cataloguing and the MARC format this paper describes current challenges in developing suitable international formats and cataloguing rules for dealing with electronic resources. Extensive references to the past and current literature provide an overview of the problems faced.
Widening the SCOPE: Higher Education Resources ON‐demand (HERON)
Authors: Pickering Helen , McMenemy David
Published: May 2004

The Scottish Collaborative On‐demand Publishing Enterprise (SCOPE) was a project funded from 1995 to 1998 as part of the UK’s Electronic Libraries (eLib) programme. SCOPE was involved with providing students with access to key course readings either via course packs or electronically via the Internet. The project achieved its aims of providing improved access, developing a model copyright permissions agreement, and developing a secure user‐authentication and delivery method. At the end of the SCOPE Project, eLib accepted a bid from the project team and other partners to provide a national on‐demand service, known as HERON (Higher Education Resources ON‐demand). This has similar aims to SCOPE, but on a UK‐wide scale with a view to start providing an active service in January 2000.
Developing a medical library website at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Authors: Rozic‐Hristovski Anamarija , Todorovski Ljupco , Hristovski Dimitar
Published: May 2004

This article describes the development of the Central Medical Library website at the Medical Faculty of Ljubljana, Slovenia. The aim of the website is to serve as a guide to the library resources and services. The website is built with a uniform graphic design and a menu driven structure. The structure partitions information space by providing meaningful subject categories that enable efficient exploring by browsing. Because the categories are limited in their granularity a search engine based on the Harvest system is included. An evaluation of website access was carried out by analysing and exploring the web server log files using data warehousing and OLAP (On‐Line Analytical Processing) technology. Finally some possibilities for future development of the website are suggested.
The use and effectiveness of the eLib subject gateways: a preliminary investigation
Authors: Mackie Morag , Burton Paul F.
Published: May 2004

Internet subject gateways were set up under the Electronic Libraries Programme (eLib) in order to address some of the problems of searching the Internet which have been identified by information professionals, i.e. locating relevant, good quality information. This preliminary study examines the extent to which academics in two universities use three eLib subject gateways (EEVL, OMNI and SOSIG). The results are generally encouraging for the eLib programme, but it is necessary for the gateways to be more effectively promoted. The study also found that academice do not have the same misgivings about the general search engines as the information professionals and seem to use them more readily than the gateways.
The use and usefulness of functions in electronic journals: the experience of the SuperJournal Project
Authors: Eason Ken , Yu Liangzhi , Harker Susan
Published: May 2004

This paper examines the general value to users of a range of electronic journal functions and their usefulness in the specific context of the SuperJournal Project. For the evaluation of each of the functions three types of data were analysed in relation to each other and in light of other contextual data: logged data of usage, survey data on user satisfaction, and survey data on the perceived importance of the function. The analysis shows that basic browsing, printing and search make up the core functions of electronic journals; other functions, such as saving of bibliographic data, alerting, customising, links with external resources and communication, serve as peripheral functions. The usefulness of both the core functions and the peripheral functions in a specific service is influenced by various implementation factors. However, it is the realised usefulness of the core functions which determines the use of a service.
Web‐based user education in UK university libraries – results of a survey
Authors: Rhodes Helen , Chelin Jacqueline
Published: May 2004

A survey carried out during 1998 investigated the use of the World Wide Web for user education in 68 UK university libraries. Almost three‐quarters of the libraries surveyed make use of the Web for this purpose. The Web is used as a supplement to existing user education, in order to support independent, student centred learning and to reach parttime and distance learners. Just ten percent of user education is delivered solely via the Web, but libraries indicated that use will grow in the future. It was found that greater use is made of the Web for information skills training than for library induction. The authors suggest a number of reasons why more use is not being made of the Web for user education and propose future developments in this area. Web‐based instruction is unlikely to completely replace traditional methods, but it can be used to supplement and extend existing provision.
Matching people and information resources: authentication, authorisation and access management and experiences at Macquarie University, Sydney
Authors: McLean Neil
Published: May 2004

New horizons are beginning to emerge in terms of matching people and information resources in a networked service environment. Librarians, publishers, subscription agents, database hosts and information service aggregators are now actively engaged in rethinking information landscapes, in harnessing Internet technologies, and in finding ways to link institutional legacy systems to the web technologies in a manner that will appear transparent to the user. There is, as yet, no coherent view of the new service models and this paper attempts to foreshadow a conceptual framework on which to build sustainable service models and technical infrastructure. In doing so, particular attention is paid to the key issues of authentication, authorisation and access management which are basic building blocks for the creation of a secure and efficient networked information service environment. The experiences gained at Macquarie University with projects such as LIDDAS and PRIDE have helped in the development of the ideas presented in this paper.
Building an academic library website: experiences at De Montfort University
Authors: Houghton David
Published: May 2004

The article describes the design and implementation process for developing an academic library website at De Montfort University (DMU) and gives practical guidance and advice. The aim of the website is to provide access to quality information services for students and staff at a large decentralised university. The article discusses resources and subject areas that are specific to DMU’s teaching and learning environment. However it aims, where possible, to give generalised advice to any academic library that is considering building a website in the hope that others will benefit from the DMU experience.
Training courses for ICT as part of lifelong learning in public libraries: experiences with a pilot scheme in Belfast Public Libraries
Authors: Todd Muriel , Tedd Lucy A.
Published: May 2004

Lifelong learning and opportunities in the UK through initiatives such as the National Grid for Learning and the University for Industry, are briefly described prior to an overview of how public libraries can, and are, being involved in the process of providing ICT (Information and Communications Technology) training courses for lifelong learners. In Belfast Public Libraries, partnerships have been made with other organisations involved in running training courses in ICT. A pilot scheme has involved people coming to the library for courses such as CLAIT (Computer Literacy and Information Technology) and the ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence). Preliminary results from this pilot are described.
Multilingual access to web resources: an overview
Authors: Large Andrew , Moukdad Haidar
Published: May 2004

The World Wide Web offers access to information resources in many languages. Certain developments facilitate multilingual exploitation of these resources. Some search engines, for example, allow the user to restrict retrieved sites to those in particular languages; some also provide the searcher with an interface in a chosen language. Many web sites also offer their information in several languages, one of which typically is English. Systran, a machine translation system available from the AltaVista search engine, can even translate a search statement or a retrieved page from one language to another. Despite these features, however, language also creates obstacles to full exploitation of web resources. Not all languages are catered for by these multilingual tools. Machine translation output typically is but a rough and ready version of a human translation. The variety of scripts in which the written forms of the world’s languages appear also create major problems in searching, inputting, displaying and printing text in non‐roman scripts. The paper offers an overview of multilingual information access issues in relation to the Web.
Send a boy – or dial it yourself? numbering for the information society
Authors: Adam Ralph
Published: May 2004

Numbering and addressing are key features of telecommunications: without them, the Global Information Society cannot exist. As the demand for new, and more innovative, services grows and the world moves towards deregulation and competition, so the pressure on numbering space increases. This article looks at basic numbering concepts and the role played by numbering in information and telecommunication policy.
The News International Newspapers’ intranet
Authors: Erbach Gertrud , Iley Lynda
Published: May 2004

Since 1985, News International has maintained an in‐house database which provides access to several daily and Sunday newspaper titles and has developed into a powerful research tool for librarians and journalists. A plan to provide a web‐based front end to the Editorial Database led to the development of an Editorial Services Intranet which also makes available content produced by Reference Library staff. The material ranges from the databases such as the library’s book catalogue and a record of all aviation disasters to lists of all IRA attacks in mainland Britain and ministerial resignations.
Who can you trust?
Authors: Rusbridger Alan
Published: May 2004

The text of a lecture given by Alan Rusbridger, Editor of The Guardian, to mark the opening of the new facilities for the Department of Journalism at the University of Central Lancashire, Preston. The theme of the lecture is public trust in what journalists write. Argues that, despite the public’s lack of trust in newspapers, they do in fact uncover many truths that business, industry and Government are attempting to conceal. Examples are provided from the energy industry, science and the environment, transport, Home Office and food safety. Describes the important role The Guardian’s Readers’ Editor has had in increasing public trust in the newspaper.
Dumbing down: the only way is up
Authors: Hunt Robin
Published: May 2004

Analyses the “dumbing down” syndrome highlighting main quotes from BBC online, Kirkus Reviews and an interview between Roan Hoag of Amazon.xom and Pete Hamill whose book “News is a Verb” which attempts to unmask US journalism’s dumbing down. Looks at various tabloid‐style choices of sensational headlines giving examples of these. Concludes that unlike the technology world, newspaper and broadcasting world is full of dreamers staring only at their own reflection!.
Electronic books
Authors: Cawkell Tony
Published: May 2004

Books include novels, dictionaries, telephone books, textbooks, anthologies, instruction manuals, proceedings of meetings and directories. The phrase “electronic books” has been applied to some types of CD‐ROM systems, palm‐top CD players, on‐demand text, electronic document systems of various kinds ± in fact to almost any kind of computer‐based text system that needs hyping up for marketing purposes. The future prospects for the electronic book are examined in this article.
Dumbing down: bottoming out?
Authors: Cole Peter
Published: May 2004

Weighs up whether a dumbing down has taken place in the British tabloid and broadsheet press. Material is presented from The Sun, The Daily Telegraph and The Times, and also from a number of television channels for comparison. Provides evidence which suggests that, while there has been changes in news reporting it is not strictly one way and down; indeed, there is some evidence to indicate an upmarketing amongst the tabloid press and television.
United Kingdom regional newspapers on the World Wide Web
Authors: Neilson Kara , Willett Peter
Published: May 2004

This paper discusses the ways in which regional newspapers in the UK have reacted to the challenges posed by the Internet. A detailed evaluation of the web sites for 25 regional newspapers demonstrated clear audience trends and a certain consensus of styles and features. The level of commercial activity in the form of advertising was found to be generally low, and the strategies to promote local business involvement varied. Nine of these 25 newspapers responded to a questionnaire that sought to gauge levels of awareness of industry developments, how the operation is currently managed, and what expectations are held for the future. The overall picture was one of optimism for the future, tempered by the initial caution that characterises any new field.
The changing information environment in the media: case study The Guardian/Observer
Authors: Martin Helen
Published: May 2004

Charts and evaluates changes to The Guardian/Observer library over the period 1983 ± 1998. Examines these developments in the light of wider changes to the newspaper industry as a whole. Discusses the early arrival and impact of FT Profile; the setting up of the Association of UK Media Librarians; the increasing professionalism of newspaper library staff; computer assisted reporting (CAR), changes in service provision and a consequent change of name for the library, and the role of the Internet and intranet in the work of the unit. Identifies areas of future change.
Information retrieval and the perpetual innovation economy
Authors: Karamuftuoglu Murat
Published: May 2004

The main objective of this article is to show the increasing relevance of the knowledge production capability of information storage and retrieval systems in the context of ‘perpetual innovation’, otherwise known as the ‘information’ economy. The knowledge production potential of information retrieval systems is only barely recognised in the information science community. Traditionally, information professionals and retrieval systems devised by them are conceived merely as guardians and facilitators of knowledge. This prevents information professionals playing a key role in an innovation based economy. In a perpetual innovation economy, information/knowledge embedded in commodities becomes the main source of profit. However, the peculiar character of information/knowledge means that privately owned knowledge tends to flow back into the public domain. This peculiarity necessitates continuous production of new knowledge applied to products and production techniques. Creative acts are not individualistic but collective/collaborative processes. Emerging collaborative systems on computer networks, such as the Internet, make it possible to devise work environments that are conducive to the development and cultivation of collective practices. Informational retrieval systems designers and practitioners may find it useful to study such systems to develop retrieval mechanisms that enhance creativity and facilitate knowledge production as well as knowledge transfer. It is hoped that by putting information retrieval in the context of the perpetual innovation economy, the knowledge production potential of information retrieval systems becomes more widely acknowledged and accepted among information practitioners.
On universality in productive and information technology
Authors: Warner Julian
Published: May 2004

Information science has differentiated information technology from productive technology, but the common concept of technology remains largely unexplored. A view of technology as a human construction, applied to productive technology, has begun to be developed to comprehend information technology. Information technology is regarded as a form of knowledge concerned with the transformation of signals from one form or medium into another. Analogous, although not identical, concepts of universality can be distinguished for both productive technology and for information technology. The steam engine has been regarded as a universal source of motive power and of the computer as a universal information machine. Universality helps account for the wide adoption of the steam engine and the computer. For both forms of technology, theoretical considerations related to universality and working constructions embodying universality have, in contrasting ways, been partly separate developments. Further possibilities offered by a view of information technologies as human constructions are indicated.
A Siberian reality check on open source information
Authors: Yates Athol , Zvegintzovi Nicholas
Published: May 2004

Open Source Information (OSI) and Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) are attracting enormous interest from the business, military and political intelligence communities. OSI and OSINT offer the prospect of delivering valuable intelligence, from so‐called open sources such as newspapers, experts, and online databases. While OSI and OSINT may offer considerable potential when employed to produce information on foreign countries, they are totally dependent on the researchers’ and analysts’ understanding of the target country‘s history, politics and society. A research project on the BAM (Baikal‐Amur Mainline) Railway in eastern Siberia provides a practical example of OSI. The project involved researching a book on the BAM (Baikal‐Amur Mainline) Railway in eastern Siberia using OSI alone as it was impossible to visit the region. The 3,084km BAM traverses an almost unpopulated region which had been virtually closed to Westerners since it became a major gulag zone in the 1930s. Once the book’s research was underway, it became clear that much of the English language published material was ill‐informed and contradictory. After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the relaxation of travel restrictions, it was possible to validate the information gathered. This led to a number of surprising findings about the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the material collected outside Russia.
Survival strategies in the Learning Age – hybrid staff and hybrid libraries
Authors: Garrod Penny
Published: May 2004

In the Origin of Species, Charles Darwin sets out his observations on the evolution of species, and survival through adaptation to changing environments. Darwin‘s theories are applied to the current learning environment, which has undergone radical changes. It is argued that academic libraries and library staff need to adapt swiftly to the new learning environment, now that education is high on the political agenda. Institutions of higher education face stiff competition from a range of non‐traditional education providers, and information professionals also risk being usurped by other professions eager to become involved with the Internet. The hybrid information professional and the hybrid library are evaluated as survival strategies for the new learning environment. The history of the hybrid professional is traced through the literature, and initial findings from the hybrid library projects (Phase 3 of the Electronic Library Programme (eLib)) are evaluated.
Computer‐based video – a tool for information skills training?
Authors: Jackson Cathie
Published: May 2004

Computer‐based video facilitates the creation of ‘movies’ recording actions on a computer screen complete with a voice‐over by the tutor. This paper describes the application of computer‐based video technology for point of need instruction on database searching. The Lotus ScreenCam software was used, being both inexpensive and readily available as part of the Lotus SmartSuite bundle. Initially, eight short movie clips were created, covering the techniques for searching PsycLIT on CD‐ROM and the ISI citation indexes via the BIDS gateway. The movie clips were made available on library PCs where students search these databases. The paper first examines educational theory to identify the role of computer‐based video within the educational framework. The movies created at Cardiff University are then described and the issues in design and implementation discussed. Finally, the effectiveness of this method of database searching instruction is explored and compared with more traditional point‐of‐need instruction techniques such as the handout, computer‐based tutorials and staff assistance.
The Internet and Japanese education: the effect of globalisation on education policies and government initiatives
Authors: McLaughlin Ruth
Published: May 2004

Examines the effect of Internet growth on education within Japan, where English and the alphabet are not the first forms of communication. In 1997 the Internet Society carried out research to find what language people were using on the Internet. English accounted for 82% of all web sites, German was second with 4% and then Japanese at under 2%. However, with policy changes at the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, and better translation software, the Japanese use of the Internet exploded. By the end of 1997 the number of servers using Japanese overtook those using German. This article examines the policies, initiatives and developments of the Japanese Government that created this growth and looks at the effect of these changes on educational policies.
Knowledge management and the EBRD: designing a Knowledge Management Programme for the Office of the Chief Economist
Authors: Moreno Babiera Alfredo
Published: May 2004

It is early days in the life of Knowledge Management (KM) at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The Knowledge Management Audit, undertaken during six months of action research at the Office of the Chief Economist (OCE) in 1998, provided the springboard to a knowledge sharing culture. The findings of the audit prompted an urgent need to apply KM initiatives. Accordingly, two knowledge repositories: ‘OCE Central Knowledge Store’ and ‘The Knowledge Tree’ were proposed and developed for OCE consideration. Their implementation is a big step forward for leveraging corporate memory at the EBRD. These initiatives are already flourishing and providing valuable knowledge sharing guidance to other departments in the Bank.
Building the digital library on solid research foundations
Authors: Rowlands Ian , Bawden David
Published: May 2004

The digital library is a socio‐technical concept of great significance. It redefines the relationships between information providers and intermediaries and, potentially, transforms the way that services are delivered to users. This article, based on a British Library Research & Innovation Centre funded study, reviews current themes and directions in digital library research and scholarship. It locates the digital library in a simple work‐oriented framework emphasising its social as well as its systems and informational dimensions. The article highlights differences in understanding of the digital library construct between the library and computer science communities and identifies some critical areas for further research.
The future of “free” information in the Age of the Internet
Authors: Lennon David
Published: May 2004

As we have developed through the ages, tools have always been the key to adding value to both individuals and society. Information and knowledge are the high‐value tools of the present age. The rise of the Internet has led to a preoccupation with “free” information services. This article looks at how “free” information really is and whether we can continue to expect high‐quality information to be available without cost.
Copyright and Internet fanzines
Authors: Oppenheim Charles , Turner Margaret
Published: May 2004

An investigation of what happens when fans take material related to popular TV science fiction/fantasy programmes without permission, give the copyright holder full credit, and use it to promote the show from which they have taken the material. The web sites relating to two TV series were chosen for study: Forever Knight and the X‐Files. A large number of owners of relevant fan sites were surveyed by questionnaire. The investigation showed that the approaches taken by the copyright holders in the two case studies differed quite markedly. Fox (X files) takes a harder line than Sony (Forever Knight) appear to have done. The issue of rights ownership is becoming increasingly important, especially with the advent of the Internet. Though considered by many to be something of a trivial area, fan activities have in fact been at the forefront of the copyright conflict taking place on the Web.
Using cluster analysis to determine the media agenda
Authors: Kok Y.H. , Holaday D. A. , Goh A. , Holaday D. A.
Published: May 2004

This paper describes a software tool that aids researchers in the study of agenda setting. Agenda setting theory claims that the mass media influences what the public thinks and talks about. The tool is used to cluster documents into topically coherent groupings that are to represent issues dominating press coverage. The documents are taken from the archives of online newspapers. In addition, the tool enables results to be visualised and displayed. Three methods were investigated for the purpose of clustering, of which the Group‐Average‐Linkage algorithm was chosen for the final testing. The choice of the clustering algorithm was predominantly made upon the quality of clusters produced. Comparisons between the computer‐based results and a method involving human readers revealed comparable findings and potential usefulness of the software.
A strategic approach to research using Internet tools and resources
Authors: Robinson Lyn
Published: May 2004

This paper describes a method for carrying out research in a multimedia environment encompassing printed, electronic and Internet based resources. The framework was used to compile a listing of toxicology information resources, as part of a larger study on the effect of new information and communication technologies on scientific communication within this field. It is likely, however, that the approach can be applied to research in any subject.
Teaching online information retrieval to students of journalism
Authors: Wien Charlotte
Published: May 2004

In the beginning of the 1990s it was decided to start educating journalists at two Danish universities. This was decided in the hope that such academic journalists would carry greater insight into that work. Therefore for the curricula of these students of journalism some traditional academic disciplines were introduced. One such academic discipline was information retrieval. It was clear, however, that the information retrieval course had to be designed specifically for the students of journalism, as the information needs of journalists differ from the information needs of more traditional academic disciplines. Thus, this article describes the work done in order to develop such a course for students of journalism. Firstly, it analyses the information needs of journalists on a theoretical basis. Secondly, an empirical study analyses which information retrieval resources are available to Danish journalists. Finally, it combines the theoretical and the empirical findings in arguing that it is necessary to provide students of journalism with a theoretical understanding of how online information retrieval works, and also practical experience with several information retrieval resources that they are supposed to use in their daily work.
In the catalogue ye go for men: evaluation criteria for information retrieval systems
Authors: Warner Julian
Published: May 2004

The contrast between the value placed on discriminatory power in discussions of indexing and classification and on the transformation of a query into a set of relevant records dominant in information retrieval research has not yet been fully explored. The value of delivering relevant records in response to a query has been assumed by information retrieval research paradigms otherwise differentiated (the cognitive and the physical). Subsidiary concepts and measures (relevance and precision and recall) have been increasingly subjected to critiques. The founding assumption of the value of delivering relevant records now needs to be questioned. An enhanced capacity for informed choice is advocated as an alternative principle for system evaluation and design. This broadly corresponds to: the exploratory capability discussed in recent information retrieval research; the value of discriminatory power in classification and indexing; Giambattista Vico‘s critique of the unproductivity of Aristotelian methods of categorisation as routes to new knowledge; and, most significantly, to ordinary discourse conceptions of the value of information retrieval systems. The criterion of enhanced choice has a liberating effect, restoring man as an artificer and enabling a continuing dialectic between theory and practice. Techniques developed in classic information retrieval research can be adapted to the new purpose. Finally, the substitution of the principle of enhanced choice exemplifies the development of a true science, in which previous paradigms are absorbed into new as special cases. Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men; As hounds, and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs, Shoughs, water‐rugs, and demi‐wolves, are clept All by the name of dogs: the valu’d file Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle, The housekeeper, the hunter, every one According to the gift which bounteous Nature Hath in him clos’d; whereby he does receive Particular addition, from the bill That writes them all alike; Shakespeare. Macbeth. c.1606.
Information retrieval techniques for evaluating search engines: a critical overview
Authors: Landoni Monica , Bell Steven
Published: May 2004

The objective of this paper is to highlight the importance of a scientifically sounded approach to search engine evaluation. Nowadays there is a flourishing literature which describes various attempts at conducting such evaluation by following all sort of approaches, but very often only the final results are published with little, if any, information about the methodology and the procedures adopted. These various experiments have been critically investigated and catalogued according to their scientific foundation by Bell [1] in the attempt to provide a valuable framework for future studies in this area. This paper reconsiders some of Bell‘s ideas in the light of the crisis of classic evaluation techniques for information retrieval and tries to envisage some form of collaboration between the IR and web communities in order to design a better and more consistent platform for the evaluation of tools for interactive information retrieval.
‘Hyped’ text markup language. XML and the future of web markup
Authors: Warwick Claire , Pritchard Elliott
Published: May 2004

There is a widespread perception that, in terms of web‐technology, XML is going to be the ‘next big thing’. Given the amount of comment that it has generated, it seems to be on its way to achieving that status. But how much of the praise should be taken at face value, and how much of the hype is credible? In the following article we examine some of the claims made about the importance of XML and consider how far the enthusiasm about it can be justified. Will XML cause a revolution that will change the way that everyone uses the Internet, whether as searchers or data creators? Or is it a tool for certain types of e‐commerce and large‐scale markup, which may not have a significant impact on the majority of web users?
British official publishing in the Internet Age
Authors: Pond Chris
Published: May 2004

This paper examines the state of UK official Internet publishing in 2000. It discusses issues of design, content, archiving, electronic communication, copyright and points out areas where action would be desirable.