bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How Institutionalized Are Model License Use Terms? An Analysis of E-Journal License Use Rights Clauses from 2000 to 2009
Authors: Eschenfelder Kristin R. , Tsai Tien-I , Zhu Xiaohua , Stewart Brenton
Published: June 2014

This paper explored the degree to which use terms proposed by model licenses have become institutionalized across different publishers’ licenses. It examined model license use terms in four areas: downloading, scholarly sharing, interlibrary loan, and electronic reserves. Data collection and analysis involved content analysis of 224 electronic journal licenses spanning 2000–2009. Analysis examined how use terms changed over time, differences between consortia and site license use terms and differences between commercial and noncommercial publisher license use terms. Results suggest that some model license use terms have become institutionalized while others have not. Use terms with higher institutionalization included: allowing ILL, permitting secure e-transmission for ILL, allowing e-reserves with no special permissions, and not requiring deletion of e-reserves files. Scholarly sharing showed lower institutionalization with most publishers not including scholarly sharing allowances. Other use terms showing low institutionalization included: recommendations to avoid printing requirements related to ILL and recommendations to allow hyperlinks for e-reserves. The results provide insight into the range of use terms commonly employed in e-journal licenses.
Journals Supporting Terrorism Research: Identification and Investigation into Their Impact on the Social Sciences
Authors: Bullis Daryl R. , Irving Richard D.
Published: June 2014

A citation analysis of two preeminent terrorism journals (Terrorism and Political Violence and Studies in Conflict and Terrorism) was used to identify 37 additional social science journals of significant importance to terrorism research. Citation data extracted from the Web of Science database was used to investigate the impact of the two journals on the social science journal literature. The impact of the two journals was also analyzed in terms of SSCI subject categories. This study could provide useful information for collection development librarians interested in the social sciences.
How Users Search the Library from a Single Search Box
Authors: Lown Cory , Sierra Tito , Boyer Josh
Published: June 2014

Academic libraries are turning increasingly to unified search solutions to simplify search and discovery of library resources. Unfortunately, very little research has been published on library user search behavior in single search box environments. This study examines how users search a large public university library using a prominent, single search box on the library website. The article examines two semesters of real-world data, totaling nearly 1.4 million transactions. Findings include that unified library search is about more than the catalog and articles, though these predominate. Additionally, a small number of the most popular search queries accounts for a disproportionate amount of the overall queries. Also discussed are the merits of ongoing evaluation of library user search behavior.
The Research Process and the Library: First-Generation College Seniors vs. Freshmen
Authors: Pickard Elizabeth , Logan Firouzeh
Published: June 2014

In a follow-up study to the ERIAL (Ethnographic Research in Illinois Academic Libraries) Project, librarians at UIC compared the responses of first-generation college freshmen from the original study to those of seniors. The study’s aim was to determine whether student information literacy increases as a result of undergraduate education and to further explore the student research process with respect to the particular factors that inform and effect change in it. The findings showed that information literacy increased among these students, and they developed a more complex approach to the research process and the library.
Information-Seeking Behavior in the Digital Age: A Multidisciplinary Study of Academic Researchers
Authors: Ge Xuemei
Published: June 2014

This article focuses on how electronic information resources influence the information-seeking process in the social sciences and humanities. It examines the information-seeking behavior of scholars in these fields, and extends the David Ellis model of information-seeking behavior for social scientists, which includes six characteristics: starting, chaining, browsing, differentiating, monitoring, and extracting. The study was conducted at Tennessee State University (TSU). Thirty active social sciences and humanities faculty, as well as doctoral students, were interviewed about their use of electronic information resources for research purposes, their perception of electronic and print materials, their opinions concerning the Ellis model, and ways the model might apply to them. Based on the interview results, the researcher provides suggestions on how current information services and products can be improved to better serve social sciences and humanities researchers. The author makes recommendations for improving library services and technologies to better meet the needs of social sciences and humanities scholars.
Do Open Access Electronic Theses and Dissertations Diminish Publishing Opportunities in the Social Sciences and Humanities? Findings from a 2011 Survey of Academic Publishers
Authors: Ramirez Marisa L. , Dalton Joan T. , McMillan Gail , Read Max , Seamans Nancy H.
Published: June 2014

An increasing number of higher education institutions worldwide are requiring submission of electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs) by graduate students and are subsequently providing open access to these works in online repositories. Faculty advisors and graduate students are concerned that such unfettered access to their work could diminish future publishing opportunities. This study investigated social sciences, arts, and humanities journal editors’ and university press directors’ attitudes toward ETDs. The findings indicate that manuscripts that are revisions of openly accessible ETDs are always welcome for submission or considered on a case-by-case basis by 82.8 percent of journal editors and 53.7 percent of university press directors polled.
Libraries with a Future: How Are Academic Library Usage and Green Demands Changing Building Designs?
Authors: Loder Michael Wescott
Published: June 2014

Support for the modular system of building construction, touted in the second half of the 20th century as the best basis for academic library building design, appears to be waning. A study of “green” libraries in 2008 revealed that not only has energy conservation become important, but that spaces designed for users rather than books have become paramount. The modular system worked particularly well for housing ever-expanding book collections, but collection growth is no longer a practical goal. Users want and need a greater variety of spaces, which purpose-built rooms are better at meeting.
Nonaffiliated Users in Academic Libraries: Using W.D. Ross’s Ethical Pluralism to Make Sense of the Tough Questions
Authors: Lenker Mark , Kocevar-Weidinger Elizabeth
Published: June 2014

Though the academic library’s primary mission is to serve the students, faculty, and staff of its parent institution, would-be users not officially associated with the institution frequently call upon the library to provide services and/or resources. Requests by these nonaffiliated users (sometimes called community users) pose a moral quandary for public-service staff. Library personnel must weigh the demand to be helpful against their responsibility to make students, faculty, and staff their top priority. The authors employ W.D. Ross’s pluralistic framework of prima facie duties to examine the conflicting obligations at the heart of this ethical dilemma.
Coding into the Great Unknown: Analyzing Instant Messaging Session Transcripts to Identify User Behaviors and Measure Quality of Service
Authors: Maximiek Sarah , Rushton Erin , Brown Elizabeth
Published: June 2014

After one year of providing virtual reference service through an instant messaging (IM) service, Binghamton University (BU) Libraries, under the purview of its Digital Reference Committee (DRC), undertook a study of collected session transcripts. The goals of this work were to determine who was using the IM service and why; if staffing for the service was adequate and met our in-person reference standards; and if improvements to the libraries’ existing reference services were needed.
The findings revealed that 31 percent of identifiable users were students and 5 percent of users were campus community members. The analyses also revealed that many used the service for complex questions and not just ready reference, policy, and directional questions as had been expected. The most common question types were Web site navigation help (29% of all sessions), research assistance (22%), and instructional questions (23%).
The American Library Association Reference & User Services Association (RUSA) Guidelines for the Behavioral Performance of Reference and Information Service Providers were used to measure quality of service. The findings reveled that approachability, showing interest, and listening were each demonstrated in over 80 percent of sessions, indicating these activities can be demonstrated effectively in a virtual environment. The study also found that questions were correctly answered 84 percent of the time. The study provided valuable insight into how patrons approach and locate information on our Web site and demonstrated a need for additional training, improved site design and navigational aids, and future discussions of staffing alternatives for the IM service.
Annual Reports to Shareholders: Historical Collections in Libraries
Authors: Nixon Judith M.
Published: June 2014

The purpose of this article is to describe the scope and depth of the historic corporate annual report collections in twelve academic/research libraries in North America. For many decades, a few major academic business libraries have been collecting and preserving corporate Annual Reports (ARS), the reports sent to shareholders documenting the financial status and future plans of the company. Today these historic collections provide more than a record of the companies’ finances; they provide a glimpse into the social and cultural thoughts from the past and the corporate stories of individual companies. Digitization of these reports has only just begun; so, except for fewer than 900 companies (most of which have been on the Fortune 500 list), the companies included in these historic annual report collections are not available electronically. The combined collection of the twelve libraries includes reports from nearly 38,000 different companies. Stanford, Harvard, and Western Ontario have the largest collections. Harvard and Columbia have collections with significant historic depth, while Purdue has a collection with important late–twentieth-century holdings. The overlap of the collections is much smaller than was anticipated. The two largest collections, Stanford with over 18,000 companies and Harvard with over 11,000 companies, have only 3,668 companies in common. The overlap of companies between the largest five collections is only thirty-three companies. This research identifies these collections as unique and therefore valuable to the study of specific company histories and the industrial development in North America. Librarians need to preserve these collections and work toward digitizing them.
Proficiencies for Instruction Librarians: Is There Still a Disconnect Between Professional Education and Professional Responsibilities?
Authors: Westbrock Theresa , Fabian Sarah
Published: June 2014

In 1993, based on the proficiencies for bibliographic instruction librarians (1986), Diana Shonrock and Craig Mulder investigated if and where librarians were acquiring these proficiencies. In 2007, ACRL approved a revised set of proficiencies: Proficiencies for Instruction Librarians and Coordinators. The authors recreated the 1993 study, using the revised set of proficiencies. Librarians find the new set of proficiencies to be more relevant to their jobs than the older set of proficiencies; however, they are still most likely to acquire the proficiencies primarily outside their library school education.
OSUL2013: Fostering Organizational Change through a Grassroots Planning Process
Authors: Schlosser Melanie
Published: June 2014

This paper provides background on planning and organizational culture change in libraries and describes a grassroots planning process taking place at the Ohio State University Libraries. Now in its third phase, the process aims to create a long-term plan for the organization while fostering a more collaborative, innovative culture.
Use of Web Resources in the Journal Literature 2001 and 2007: A Cross-Disciplinary Study
Authors: Zhang Li
Published: June 2014

This article examines Web resources in research articles from 30 scholarly journals in disciplines across the sciences, social sciences, and humanities. The purpose of the study is to report the degree to which scholars make use of Web-based resources in the journal literature and to identify Web citation characteristics within different subject areas. The study also explores whether any changes emerged between 2001 and 2007. The examination confirms the finding of previous studies that, even though Web resources are not heavily used in journal articles, the number of such resources is increasing. Publicly accessible database repositories and open source software prevail over other Web resources in research communication. The implications for academic libraries are discussed. The study suggests that new strategies need to be developed to manage Web-based information resources.
The Rise and Fall of Uncitedness
Authors: Schwartz Charles A.
Published: June 2014

Large-scale uncitedness refers to the remarkable proportion of articles that do not receive a single citation within five years of publication. Equally remarkable is the brief and troubled history of this area of inquiry, which was prone to miscalculation, misinterpretation, and politicization. This article reassesses large-scale uncitedness as both a general phenomenon in the scholarly communication system and a case study of library and information science, where its rate is 72 percent.
The Core List Mirage: A Comparison of the Journals Frequently Consulted by Faculty and Students
Authors: Joswick Kathleen E. , Stierman Jeanne Koekkoek
Published: June 2014

By employing a combination of electronic and manual methods, the authors of this study compiled separate lists of the journals most frequently used by Western Illinois University faculty and students. These lists of popular journals, although interesting in themselves, also reveal that journal consultation habits vary considerably between constituencies, even within one academic library. Thus, the ultimate “core list” remains illusory. The dissimilarity of the lists emphasizes the importance of using local data and recognizing the distinctive needs of both ends of the user spectrum when making journal-collection decisions.
Findings from the Condition Surveys Conducted by the University of Kansas Libraries
Authors: Baird Brian J. , Krentz Jana , Schaffner Brad
Published: June 2014

As part of establishing a strategic plan for preservation at the University of Kansas (KU) Libraries, a task force was organized to conduct two collection condition surveys. One survey focused on materials returning from circulation, and the other looked at the general collections. Materials returning from circulation were surveyed to determine their condition because most preservation efforts at KU are “use” driven. The survey of the entire collection shed light on the physical condition of KU’s overall holdings. This information aided in long-term preservation planning. Survey data from the more than 4,000 volumes were entered directly into a computer database using laptop computers. This facilitated quick data entry, improved the accuracy of the information, and made data analysis easier. The results of the survey have had far-reaching effects in determining library policy, from influencing a decision to switch to a paperback-preferred purchasing policy, to increasing awareness of space and facility concerns throughout the libraries, to heightening user awareness of preservation issues.
Small-Group Interaction among Professional Librarians
Authors: Tower Kathleen R.
Published: June 2014

Libraries are using small groups to make decisions, and it is important that the decisions these groups make are effective. Small-group scholars argue that group processes and interactions play an important role and influence effective decision-making. Randy Y. Hirokawa developed a theory called Vigilant Interaction Theory which maintains that group interaction affects decision-making performance by directly shaping the quality of vigilance that leads to a final choice. Small groups consisting of professional librarians were used to test Hirokawa’s theory, and the results showed that group decision performance is directly related to the group’s efforts to perform critical vigilant decision-making functions. Specifically, groups that show a pattern generating more alternative solutions are more likely to develop effective decisions.
MTV to the Rescue: Changing Library Attitudes through Video
Authors: Wakiji Eileen , Thomas Joy
Published: June 2014

Freshmen from small environments often are intimidated by a large campus and a large library. Knowledge about and respect for libraries and confidence in librarians are considered essential to overcoming student reluctance to make effective use of either. Students at a large public university were surveyed about library use and attitudes; 78 percent of the respondents were freshmen. Of the 1,879 respondents, 61.8 percent watched an eight-minute video, which was found to influence positively their self-projected future use of libraries as well as their attitudes about libraries and librarians. Comparisons also were drawn to faculty attitudes on the same campus.
Toward a TQM Paradigm: Using SERVQUAL to Measure Library Service Quality
Authors: Coleman Vicki , Xiao Yi (Daniel) , Bair Linda , Chollett Bill
Published: June 2014

This study provides the results of a survey conducted in the fall of 1994 by the Sterling C. Evans Library to measure service quality. This general user survey provided feedback from customers on their minimum, perceived, and desired levels of service from an academic library. The devised measuring instrument is based on SERVQUAL, a service quality survey created by Leonard L. Berry, A. Parasuraman, and Valarie A. Zeithaml. The SERVQUAL survey is designed to measure service quality in five dimensions: tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy. Survey results showed a discrepancy in the quality of the services provided by the library and those desired by its customers.
A Critique of Customer and Commodity
Authors: Budd John M.
Published: June 2014

For some good reasons, academic librarians see library users as customers, and library materials and access as commodities. However, there are some problems with the focus on consumerism and commodification. This paper examines a number of writings that advocate a customer service approach and the attendant view of library materials and access as commodities. The examination is informed by a substantial body of thought that addresses questions relating to customers and commodities in light of some cultural, social, and intellectual concerns. There are some problems, which are discussed in detail, with the popularly held notions of library users as customers and of library services as commodities.
Information Counseling and the Outsourcing Challenge to Corporate Librarianship
Authors: Agada John
Published: June 2014

The outsourcing of information services challenges corporate libraries to shift their focus toward those services that are not readily “outsourcable.” An analysis of library services indicates that the diagnostic level of service is potentially the least outsourcable. To effect this level of service, it is suggested that corporate librarians serve as information counselors on multifunctional project teams. A framework for an expanded model of the information counselor role integrating information diagnostic and repackaging services is presented.
The Internet As a Medium for Online Instruction
Authors: Vishwanatham Rama , Wilkins Walter , Jevec Thomas
Published: June 2014

A task force of librarians developed an introductory course on the Internet which was conducted over the university’s e-mail network. This sixteen-lesson course was distributed via listserv to students, staff, residents, and faculty, some using university facilities and some using equipment at their home or office, in various locations throughout the state. Initially, more than 450 people subscribed. Subscribers received two lessons a week for eight weeks. Lessons were made available via FTP or gopher after initial distribution. Content included basic information, troubleshooting advice, and exercises for practice. Pre- and post-tests were conducted via listserv to assess the participants’ prior knowledge and subsequent knowledge gain. This article describes the development of the online course. It also discusses the results of pre- and post-tests, and the implications for the library’s instructional role of using an online instruction medium.
Who Speaks for Academic Librarians? Status and Satisfaction Comparisons between Unaffiliated and Unionized Librarians on Scholarship and Governance Issues
Authors: Spang Lothar , Kane William P.
Published: June 2014

Scholarship and governance have emerged as the two most problematic aspects of faculty status for academic librarians. A comparative survey of 201 librarians, 126 unaffiliated and 75 unionized, revealed wide disparities, according to librarian status/title designations, in the opportunities afforded librarians to meet these requirements. The 34-item questionnaire focused on librarians’ status/title characteristics, representation means, and institutional support for professional development, sabbaticals/leaves, travel, tuition, and participatory management. Salary information, as a measure of librarian equality to teaching faculty, also was solicited. The survey results confirm that the absence of uniform representation on these status issues has profound implications for the future of the faculty status model as a standard for academic librarianship.
Résumé Content: Applicants’ Perceptions
Authors: Womack Kay , Goldberg Tyler
Published: June 2014

The authors have reviewed many applications for academic library vacancies and have examined sources in the literature which instruct applicants in proper résumé construction. Having received résumés that were not well prepared, the authors surveyed academic librarians in the early years of their careers regarding items they perceive as important to include in a résumé. Results of the current study are compared with those of Thomas M. Gaughan’s study, and a résumé model for academic applicants is suggested.
Listserv Lemmings and Fly-brarians on the Wall: A Librarian–Instructor Team Taming the Cyberbeast in the Large Classroom
Authors: Dickstein Ruth , McBride Kari Boyd
Published: June 2014

Computer technologies, in both the library and the classroom, have the potential to serve the aims of liberatory pedagogies, especially when used creatively to empower students in the shared construction of knowledge. However, such empowerment can happen only if students are given the tools to find their way through the ever-increasing complexity of print and online resources. This article shows how a reference librarian and a faculty member can team up effectively to teach research strategies and critical thinking skills (including analysis and evaluation of resources, so necessary for the Internet) in a large classroom through careful use of a list (e-mail forum) and focused research assignments. Such strategies revolutionize the ways that reference librarians do their work, greatly increasing their interaction with students by overcoming students’ reluctance to seek help and their fear of computerized resources. Librarian, instructor, and student become partners in the creation, evaluation, and dissemination of scholarly information.
Increasing the Pace of an Integral Library System in China: Moving toward the Twenty-First Century
Authors: Zhu Qiang , Zhang Sha Li
Published: June 2014

Academic libraries in China are transforming traditionally isolated and separated operations by initiating an integral library system (also known as integral system development) to connect all academic libraries nationwide, and to connect them with other information networks abroad. A three-tier network at the national, regional, and campus levels should be developed. This paper describes the current academic library environment in China, the concept of the integral library system, and the major goals to be realized in the next five years.
Machine Help and Human Help in the Emerging Digital Library
Authors: Heckart Ronald J.
Published: June 2014

As the infrastructure of the digital library takes shape, a range of trends is gradually leading to the disappearance of human help in patron interactions. Taking the place of human help are ever more sophisticated types of machine help. This paper reviews these trends, posits a future scenario of almost total reliance on machine help, and explores implications and policy options for the profession.
Catalogers in Academic Libraries: Their Evolving and Expanding Roles
Authors: Buttlar Lois , Garcha Rajinder
Published: June 2014

Catalogers in academic libraries who belong to ALA’s Technical Services Division were surveyed to determine if and how their job functions have changed over the past ten years. The 271 respondents indicated a change from print to electronic formats, involvement of nonprofessionals in higher levels of cataloging, a trend toward outsourcing (particularly, copy cataloging and foreign-language materials), and more cataloging of specialized items, audiovisual materials, and digital documents by professional librarians. The latter now use their expertise to edit problematic records, engage in managerial tasks, catalog and attempt authority control of Internet resources, do Internet training or Web page design, and use HTML. More and more catalogers are involved in activities formerly in the domain of systems librarians (selecting and implementing catalog products, database maintenance, etc.).
Making the Library Management Systems Acquisition: Achieving Resolution of a Tough Decision
Authors: Bell Steven J. , Cronin-Kardon Cynthia
Published: June 2014

At some point in their careers, library administrators will likely be involved in the acquisition of a new library automation system. Whether it is a first-time acquisition or a migration from old to new, the decision is perhaps the most challenging the administrator will ever have to make. Despite an abundance of information in the library literature on the mechanical and managerial aspects of acquiring a new automated system, there is scant information on, or investigation into, the decision-making process that leads to the selection of an automation vendor. Based on the premise that the automation decision is both complex and risky, it is a decision fraught with ambiguity, uncertainty, and conflict. This study offers exploratory research on the automation decision process and those factors that lead to decision difficulty. Using the Garbage Can Model of Organizational Choice as a theoretical framework, this study uses decision resolution as a criterion of decision success. Based on research to identify factors that have enabled decision makers to achieve resolution, the authors of this study seek to make recommendations that will enable administrators to better manage a tough decision.
What Difference Does Diversity Make in Managing Student Employees?
Authors: Kathman Jane McGurn , Kathman Michael D.
Published: June 2014

Most campuses in this country have made a commitment to increase the diversity of their student population. This presents opportunities and challenges for library staff as they supervise a more diverse group of student employees. The opportunities include employees who can serve as sources of information and who can contribute their perspectives about what might make the library more inclusive in the types of services it offers. The challenges are that library staff must rethink the way they select, train, supervise, and evaluate a more diverse work force. This article suggests some of the methods to adapt each of these dimensions of management as student employee diversity increases.
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Electronic Information: A Case Study
Authors: White Gary W. , Crawford Gregory A.
Published: June 2014

Library services and products have associated costs, including direct monetary costs and indirect costs such as time. The decision to acquire or provide a particular product or service should involve an examination of its costs and benefits to library customers. One technique for analyzing cost-effectiveness is to perform a cost-benefit analysis (CBA). CBA involves analyzing the benefits, or potential benefits, of offering a product or service and comparing them to the costs of offering that product or service. This article describes a study in which CBA was used to examine the cost-effectiveness of an electronic database. Librarians can use the results of CBA studies to justify budgets and acquisitions and to provide insight into the true costs of providing library services.
An Internal Equity Evaluation System Based on Merit Measures
Authors: Seaman Scott , Krismann Carol , Hamilton Fred
Published: June 2014

This paper describes a statistical method developed by the Faculty Personnel Committee of the University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries to identify and correct internal salary inequities among its faculty. Initially implemented in the 1995–1996 fiscal year for forty-seven librarians, the process measures an individual’s scholarly productivity over his or her entire academic career, accounts for years of experience, and adjusts for his or her most recent annual evaluation rating. The individual’s score is then charted against current salary, and a trend line is generated based on the method of least squares. The individual’s distance from the trend line indicates possible salary inequity.
Information Literacy in Science and Engineering Undergraduate Education: Faculty Attitudes and Pedagogical Practices
Authors: Leckie Gloria J. , Fullerton Anne
Published: June 2014

What are science and engineering faculty doing with respect to the development of information literacy in their undergraduate students? To explore this question, science and engineering faculty at two large Canadian universities were surveyed and interviewed regarding their perceptions of their students’ information literacy skills and their own pedagogical practices related to such skills. Faculty awareness of, and support for, a variety of bibliographic instruction methods and the perceived role of science and engineering librarians in information literacy instruction also were investigated. Based on the survey results, suggestions for the design of library instruction for science and engineering undergraduates are made.
Into the Dustbin of History? The Evaluation and Preservation of Slavic Materials
Authors: Schaffner Bradley L. , Baird Brian J.
Published: June 2014

One of the greatest challenges facing area studies librarians today is preservation of collections. Area studies collections in libraries, the backbone of international studies programs for most colleges and universities in North America, are in danger. Most materials in these collections were published on acidic paper and poorly bound leaving them susceptible to rapid deterioration. Slavic collections, for example, appear to be in dire need of preservation treatment, but there is very little hard data on the scope of the problem. This research project, conducted at the University of Kansas Libraries, is the first step toward gaining a better understanding of the overall condition of Slavic collections. A survey of the Slavic holdings was conducted to provide statistical information on their physical condition. Results of the survey reveal that the condition of these collections should be cause for serious concern. However, the problems are not so great that they cannot be overcome through careful preservation planning and interlibrary cooperation.
Identifying Uniform Core Journal Titles for Music Libraries: A Dissertation Citation Study
Authors: Kuyper-Rushing Lois
Published: June 2014

In an attempt to create a new tool to aid librarians in choosing music journals, citations from music dissertation bibliographies submitted in 1993 from across the United States were gathered and analyzed. Core lists of journals were developed and then compared to lists compiled by analyzing doctoral dissertation bibliographies in the field of music from a single institution. The journal lists from a national study differed from those derived from the study of journals used at a single institution. Also, newly published journals are used regularly by doctoral students in music, and several are on the lists of core journals compiled.
Fund Allocations for Information Resources in China’s Key Universities
Authors: Ma Jin-Chuan , Zhang Sha Li
Published: June 2014

Libraries in China’s key universities will be the bases for collecting and managing information resources that serve their own user communities and will be an integral part of information resources for the China Academic Library and Information System as well. Allocating adequate materials funds from the university operational budget is essential if these libraries are to adequately support their learning and research communities. This article examines the current situation these libraries are facing and makes proposals for changes.
Understanding the Reference Transaction: A Systems Analysis Perspective
Authors: Richardson John V.
Published: June 2014

The reference transaction can be understood as a system and modeled as such. By adopting a problem-solving paradigm other than the one traditionally used in this area (i.e., flowcharting), a systems analysis of the question-answering process can yield new insights. In particular, this article identifies fifteen functional requirements of the process as well as fit criteria to measure success in question negotiation. In addition, the process is graphically illustrated using four diagrams of the reference transaction and provides a top-level perspective of the process.
The Research Literature of Academic Librarianship: A Comparison of College & Research Libraries and Journal of Academic Librarianship
Authors: Crawford Gregory A.
Published: June 2014

College & Research Libraries (C&RL) and the Journal of Academic Librarianship (JAL) are the two primary journals in the field of academic librarianship. This study examines articles appearing in C&RL and JAL so as to evaluate these journals on the basis of type of articles published, structure of the articles, types of statistics used, and data collection methods used. The results indicate that C&RL publishes significantly more research articles than does JAL. Other results show that surveys are the primary form of data collection and that descriptive statistics are used much more frequently than inferential statistics. The percentage of research articles included in these journals has increased since earlier studies.
Publish or Perish: A Dilemma For Academic Librarians?
Authors: Mitchell W. Bede , Reichel Mary
Published: June 2014

This study examines the influence of scholarly requirements on librarians’ ability to earn tenure or continuous employment. After a literature review, the authors present the results of a survey of research, doctoral, and master’s-level institutions. Of the 690 responding institutions, 54.3 percent employ tenure-track librarians. Of these, more than 60 percent require some scholarship and 34.6 percent encourage it. At these 374 institutions, 92.2 percent of librarians who underwent tenure review during a three-year period were approved. The authors summarize survey information on librarians not granted tenure as well as those believed by directors to have resigned to avoid tenure review.
Scholarly Publication by University Librarians: A Study at Penn State
Authors: Hart Richard L.
Published: June 2014

The amount of scholarly publication that is required of academic librarians is thought to vary among different types of colleges and universities. The present study looks in detail at the aggregated publishing record of the librarians at Penn State University, an institution that requires publication as a condition of continued employment. Findings indicate that Penn State librarians are quite productive in terms of the number of publications they contribute to the literature, and they are strongly committed to research. Evidence suggests that increasing demands for publication have served to influence both the quantity and the quality of librarians’ publications in recent years.
A Longitudinal Study of the Effects of OPAC Screen Changes on Searching Behavior and Searcher Success
Authors: Blecic Deborah D. , Dorsch Josephine L. , Koenig Melissa H. , Bangalore Nirmala S.
Published: June 2014

A longitudinal study of four sets of OPAC transaction logs was conducted over a four-year period. Analysis of the initial set of transaction logs revealed problems that users experienced while searching the OPAC. Over time, a series of OPAC screen changes were implemented in an attempt to help searchers improve their searching behavior. After each series of changes, a set of transaction logs was analyzed to assess the impact of the changes and to study whether earlier improvements in searching behavior persisted over time. Although the screen changes initially had a positive impact on searching behavior, in some cases the initial improvements in searching success were not sustained over time.
The Impact of Change from Hierarchy to Teams in Two Academic Libraries: Intended Results versus Actual Results Using Total Quality Management
Authors: Owens Irene
Published: June 2014

The current trend in examining library administrative structures to accommodate change is common in library literature. The team approach, used within the construct of Total Quality Management, is examined in this case study, after which the case study is compared with a similar change that took place at Duke University. This article seeks to ascertain the degree to which the goals of the change are met and/or exceeded. The implications for change from hierarchal to team management hold many possibilities that extend beyond those received by traditional means, benefitting the full-time staff and customers, as well as student assistants. Student assistants make up a large portion of the part-time academic library staff and offer a sometimes “untapped” resource. The inclusion of students in comprising teams may be a refreshing and productive change in management structure. The article questions a real change from hierarchy to teams and also suggests that librarianship may need to redefine the meaning of “profit” in a nonprofit environment.
A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Presentation Formats for Instruction: Teaching First-Year Students
Authors: Germain Carol Anne , Jacobson Trudi E. , Kaczor Sue A.
Published: June 2014

First-year experience (FYE) programs offer librarians opportunities to teach new students in a comprehensive fashion. However, large FYE programs can place demands on user education programs that are difficult to meet. Instruction librarians at the University at Albany sought to address this dilemma by developing a Web-based instructional module for one class session. The module was used by a segment of students in the Project Renaissance FYE program, whereas another segment received instruction by a librarian. The effectiveness of the two instructional methods was compared using pre- and post-tests, and was found to be equal. Analysis of the test scores also showed that instruction, regardless of format, makes a significant difference (p < .05) in the number of correct test answers.
When Questions Are Answers: Using a Survey to Achieve Faculty Awareness of the Library’s Electronic Resources
Authors: Weingart Sandra J. , Anderson Janet A.
Published: June 2014

The Utah State University (USU) Libraries spend approximately 11 percent of their materials budget on electronic resources. Because electronic resources occupy no shelf space and often are used from remote locations, it can be difficult to alert users to new resources at the library and to determine what sort of patron support is needed. This study investigated electronic database awareness and use by 856 USU administrators and teaching faculty. The responses revealed the need for greater publicity regarding new acquisitions, training opportunities, and methods of remote access. Unexpectedly, the survey itself, with its accompanying descriptions of databases and access methods, met many of the needs it identified.
Diversity in Collection Development: Comparing Access Strategies to Alternative Press Periodicals
Authors: LaFond Deborah M. , Van Ullen Mary K. , Irving Richard D.
Published: June 2014

This study compares methods of providing access to diverse points of view as represented by journals indexed in Alternative Press Index (API). To determine University at Albany patron access to nonmainstream periodicals, local print subscriptions, expedited interlibrary loan through resource-sharing consortia, and electronic full-text packages were compared to periodicals listed in API. Electronic full-text packages provide some added access to nonmainstream journals. However, much greater access was found to be provided by participation in resource-sharing networks.
Editorial Gatekeepers Confronted by the Electronic Journal
Authors: Dow Ronald F.
Published: June 2014

Refereed journals perform a crucial role in the formal dissemination of new knowledge. Significant to the communication process are editors and editorial board gatekeepers. These gatekeepers were surveyed to learn their views on supplanting paper-formatted journals with journals in electronic formats. The survey showed that editorial gatekeepers, although generally supportive of the creation of electronic journals, are still very enamored of the paper format as both a means of publishing and a medium for archiving academic writing. It is suggested that editorial gatekeepers may view electronic journals as an extension of the informal communication system of the disciplines rather than as a medium for supplanting the traditional paper format of academic journals.
Selected Reference Books of 1999
Authors: McIlvaine Eileen
Published: June 2014

This article follows the pattern set by the semiannual series initiated by the late Constance M. Winchell more than fifty years ago and continued by Eugene Sheehy. Because the purpose of the list is to present a selection of recent scholarly and general works, it does not pretend to be either well balanced or comprehensive. A brief roundup of new editions of standard works is provided at the end of the articles. Code numbers (such as AH228) have been used to refer to titles in the Guide to Reference Books, 11th ed. (Chicago: ALA, 1996).
Job Satisfaction of Librarians of African Descent Employed in ARL Academic Libraries
Authors: Thornton Joyce K.
Published: June 2014

Job satisfaction is critical to the retention and recruitment of librarians. This study examines job satisfaction of librarians of African descent employed at academic libraries holding membership in the Association of Research Libraries. The results of a three-part job satisfaction survey are presented. The survey identifies areas of satisfaction and dissatisfaction for this group of librarians. There has been no significant gain in the number of librarians of African descent in ARL academic libraries in the past ten years. If libraries are to recruit and retain a diverse workforce, consideration must be given to what makes these employees remain on the job and in the profession.
Building a Comprehensive Serials Decision Database at Virginia Tech
Authors: Metz Paul , Cosgriff John
Published: June 2014

Although for many years academic libraries have relied on data on cost, library use, or citations to inform collection development decisions respecting serials, they have not fully exploited the possibilities for compiling numerous measures into comprehensive databases for decision support. The authors discuss the procedures used and the advantages realized from an effort to build such a resource at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), where the available data included the results of a zero-based faculty survey of serials needs.
Gaining User Insight: A Case Study Illustrating the Card Sort Technique
Authors: Faiks Angi , Hyland Nancy
Published: June 2014

In spring 1999, Cornell University Library performed a user study to help determine how users would organize a set of concepts to be included in an online digital library help system. The study employed the card sort technique, in which users impose their own organization on a set of concepts. The card sort technique proved to be a highly effective and valuable method for gathering user input on organizational groupings prior to total system design. The authors present Cornell’s experience as a case study with detailed instructions for conducting and evaluating the card sort technique.
The Presence of the Doctorate among Small College Library Directors
Authors: McCracken Peter
Published: June 2014

Although a doctorate provides a library director with little practical assistance toward fulfilling his or her job, many college and university administrators seem to expect library directors to have one. The presence of the doctorate has been studied extensively within ARL institutions, but not within small colleges. This article explores the presence of the doctorate among small college library directors, considering gender and tenure in addition to size of the library, the college, and the library staff. This research finds that 20 percent of library directors at Baccalaureate I institutions have doctorates, and 40 percent have second master’s degrees. Librarians with doctorates do not direct larger institutions than those without Ph.D.s. The value of the doctorate, and its future among female directors in particular, is considered.
Collaborative Authorship in the Journal Literature: Perspectives for Academic Librarians Who Wish to Publish
Authors: Bahr Alice Harrison , Zemon Mickey
Published: June 2014

Academic librarians, particularly college librarians, may increase their contributions to the professional literature through collaborative authorship. For example, university librarians, who published 69 percent of the articles in College & Research Libraries and the Journal of Academic Librarianship between 1986 and 1996, contributed almost 90 percent of the coauthored research in those core journals. This study examines the increase in collaboration in the literature of academic librarianship and in other disciplines, explores the relationship between collaboration and article quality as well as author productivity, compares collaborative patterns of college and university librarians, and considers factors that lead to successful collaboration.
Time and Technology: A Decade-Long Look at Humanists’ Use of Electronic Information Technology
Authors: Wiberley Stephen E. , Jones William G.
Published: June 2014

A ten-year study of a group of humanists reveals that temporal factors had a significant impact on their adoption of electronic information technology. This article identifies and describes four types of time that influence humanists’ behavior. Three are types of time spent: anticipated startup time, actual start-up time, and use time; the fourth is time of life, that is, the stage of a scholar’s project or career. Because the content of electronic resources is closely related to use of time, this article also discusses how content affects whether a scholar adopts an electronic resource. Librarians who are sensitive to humanists’ temporal considerations can better help them utilize technology.