bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Survey on the Outsourcing of Cataloging in Academic Libraries
Authors: Libby Katherine A. , Caudle Dana M.
Published: June 2014

The authors conducted a survey on outsourcing of cataloging in academic libraries in order to determine the extent of outsourcing being done in academic libraries and the overall success of such projects. The survey instrument included questions about factors that might affect the decision to outsource, what reasons libraries had for outsourcing or not outsourcing, what was being outsourced, and how vendors were chosen. Libraries were also asked to evaluate the success of outsourcing projects. The results show that outsourcing of cataloging is not a strong trend in academic libraries, but that libraries which outsourced were generally pleased with results. There also seems to be a correlation between size of collection and number of new titles cataloged annually and the decision to outsource.
Computer-Assisted Instruction: Is It an Option for Bibliographic Instruction in Large Undergraduate Survey Classes?
Authors: Kaplowitz Joan , Contini Janice
Published: June 2014

Developing effective library instruction for large undergraduate survey courses can be a difficult task. In 1993, librarians at UCLA’s Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library decided to develop a computer-assisted library instruction program for the roughly 800 to 900 undergraduate biology students per year who are enrolled in the department’s basic, required-for-the-major introductory course. A formal summative evaluation of the effectiveness of this CAI, as compared to the lecture method, also was developed. The evaluation utilized both a quantitative pre- and posttest design using objective questions and a qualitative follow-up survey featuring open-ended questions.
Question Master: An Evaluation of a Web-Based Decision-Support System for Use in Reference Environments
Authors: Richardson John V.
Published: June 2014

Designed for librarians, Question Master (QM) (at http://purl.org/net/Question_Master) is a decision-support system automating some of the more routine, fact-type reference questions encountered in libraries. A series of Web pages guides librarians through a set of clarifying questions before making recommendations of an appropriate electronic or relevant print resource from WorldCat, the OCLC Online Union Catalog. The goal is to improve the accuracy of reference transactions, which in turn should lead to increased end-user satisfaction. Based on usability studies of QM’s biographical module, this study found that although the system already was easy to use, its usability could be improved in several ways. Its ability to answer questions was 100 percent, with an accuracy rate of 66 percent compared to Weil’s 64 percent accuracy. In addition, QM accuracy was substantially better than most reported studies of real reference environments and certainly better than the Internet results of 20 percent for HotBot and 30 percent for AltaVista.
Restructuring Serials Management to Generate New Resources and Services—With Commentaries on Restructurings at Three Institutions
Authors: Schwartz Charles A.
Published: June 2014

Restructuring serials management along access-versus-ownership lines does not solve the serials crisis, but it does alleviate inflationary pressures and has other significant outcomes. The main economic outcome is the cancellation of low-use, high-cost-per-use titles to create a large pool of savings for reinvestment in new resources and services. The main service outcome is a fully subsidized, unmediated document delivery system—for a fraction of the cost savings. The main political outcome is a resolution of the “tragedy of the commons” phenomenon, which tends to dominate library–faculty relations based on conventional serials management.
Small College Library Directors: Getting in the Door and Surviving on the Job
Authors: O’Keeffe Julie
Published: June 2014

This article reports findings from a 1996 survey that examined job preparedness of library directors at four-year colleges in twelve midwestern states. The survey measured: (1) qualifications possessed at the time each person obtained his or her first director’s position; and (2) the skills and abilities directors felt were essential to surviving and doing well in their positions. One hundred fifty-eight directors returned questionnaires for a response rate of 84 percent. Participants in the 1995–1996 College Library Director Mentor Program also supplied a list of essential skills for the first year in a new position.
Development of Critical Thinking Skills: An Analysis of Academic Library Experiences and Other Measures
Authors: Whitmire Ethelene
Published: June 2014

The purpose of this study is to determine the influences that affect the development of critical thinking skills in undergraduate students. This study examines data from the College Student Experiences Questionnaire (CSEQ), a national, cross-sectional survey completed by students during the 1992–1993 academic year. Using Astin’s I-E-O model and Pace’s quality of effort theory as the conceptual framework, the study examined students’ background characteristics, library experiences, experiences with faculty, course learning, and experiences with writing to determine the greatest influences on gains in critical thinking development. Results of the factor analyses and the hierarchical multiple regression indicated that grades, class year, focused academic library activities, informal faculty interaction, active course learning, and conscientious writing all resulted in gains in critical thinking. Implications of these findings suggest that academic librarians should design library research skills courses to increase students’ focused use of the academic library and its resources in order to increase their critical thinking skills.
Effects of Library Instruction on University Students’ Satisfaction with the Library: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Stamatoplos Anthony , Mackoy Robert
Published: June 2014

Consideration of satisfaction should be an important part of the evaluation of library services. Satisfaction depends, to some extent, on patron expectations of services. This study evaluated changes in student expectations following library instruction and how they were related to overall, long-term satisfaction with the library. Satisfaction appeared to be related to student perceptions of information accessibility, staff competence and helpfulness, computer usefulness and ease of use, and skill level for using libraries. The study suggests that libraries may be well served by measuring patron satisfaction and learning what variables drive satisfaction at particular libraries.
An Analysis of Articles by College Librarians
Authors: Zemon Mickey , Bahr Alice Harrison
Published: June 2014

College librarians recognize research and publication as important components of professional growth and communication. Yet, compared to their counterparts in universities, they author fewer articles in the professional literature. This paper examines articles published by college librarians in College & Research Libraries and Journal of Academic Librarianship from 1986 to 1996 to provide a profile of college librarian authors and to identify factors that contributed to their success in publishing.
Library Home Page Design: A Comparison of Page Layout for Front Ends to ARL Library Web Sites
Authors: King David L.
Published: June 2014

The author examined the home pages of all 120 libraries in the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) in order to compare design similarities and differences. This was accomplished by first filling out a questionnaire on each home page and then tabulating the findings using simple averages and medians. Areas examined were: backgrounds, document headers, document footers, document body, page length, number of steps to library home page from parent institution Web site, and domain name servers. A typical home page is discussed using the averages of these results.
Peer Review in Carnegie Research Libraries
Authors: Leysen Joan M. , Black William K.
Published: June 2014

The review of librarians by their peers is an elemental factor in advancement and continuing appointment. This article reports the results of a survey on structure, support, and expectations in place for peer review of librarians. The authors provide comparisons to previous research and discuss new information on the value placed on individual contributions in the review process. Librarian status is reviewed to uncover important differences in the specific structure of the review process and in how professional activities are weighed.
Faculty–Library Teamwork in Book Ordering
Authors: Neville Robert , Williams James , Hunt Caroline C.
Published: June 2014

Faculty liaisons help to select books and other materials in many libraries, especially those without specialized bibliographers. To get the best results from a faculty liaison system, library staff must take into account the varied nature of academic collections and the uneven pricing of materials, respect departmental cultures and be willing to make adjustments for them, and frequently reassess and fine-tune the system. Using these principles, the College of Charleston has developed a liaison system that permits a range of practices. Two examples, the computer science collection and the English collection, illustrate this range: the former requires the most recent information available and uses relatively little faculty input; the latter seeks to balance primary and secondary materials and benefits from extensive faculty advice. In conclusion, the authors suggest how the institution might further improve its system in the next few years.
Information Use by Molecular Biologists: Implications for Library Collections and Services
Authors: Hurd Julie M. , Blecic Deborah D. , Vishwanatham Rama
Published: June 2014

This article reports on findings from a citation analysis of publications of a group of university molecular biology faculty. The study examined the formats and disciplines of materials cited in published articles to determine the nature of information used in their research. Citations in molecular biologists’ publications are overwhelmingly to journal articles, with the largest number of citations to journals that class in biology. The specialization displays a very high level of immediacy with a citation half-life of referenced articles just over four years. Ranked lists of journals cited provide insights to support library decision-making. The authors explore implications for library information services, collection development and management, and the potential for electronic services to this population. This research provided data on a local user population and also identified a methodology that may be utilized in other settings.
A Measure of the Impact of Tenure
Authors: Meyer Richard W.
Published: June 2014

Although prevalent on campuses, the rationale for tenure lacks an economic explanation of its influence on campus outcomes such as teaching. Because only half of American academic librarians are eligible for tenure, they comprise a sample appropriate for testing the qualitative impact of tenure. The model reported here shows that the quality of institutions is at least partially predictable by the number of librarians and their tenure status. Tenure, therefore, appears to have an impact as a monitor of quality in academe.
Improving Library Relations with the Faculty and University Administrators: The Role of the Faculty Outreach Librarian
Authors: Stebelman Scott , Siggins Jack , Nutty David , Long Caroline
Published: June 2014

An academic library’s most powerful constituents are faculty and administrators. In an attempt to satisfy the needs of individual departments and faculty members, many libraries employ subject specialists. To the degree that a subject specialist is proactive, or the department is heavily dependent on the library’s services, those needs will be met. However, few libraries have developed systematic programs to reach all faculty members or to begin targeting university administrators as a special user group. The rationale for doing so is twofold: to educate them on the growing role of information technology in research and teaching, and to enhance their support for new electronic resources. At George Washington University, the position of faculty outreach librarian was created to fill such a need. This article discusses how that position evolved, the projects initiated, and the outcomes that have led to revised marketing strategies.
A Comparison of Research University and Two-Year College Library Web Sites: Content, Functionality, and Form
Authors: Cohen Laura B. , Still Julie M.
Published: June 2014

The authors examined the library home pages of fifty Ph.D.-granting institutions and fifty two-year colleges to determine the home pages’ purpose as manifested by their content and its placement within the structure of the site. By looking at the library Web sites of contrasting academic institutions, the authors identified those aspects of the sites that reflect institutional character. They further identified a core common content that exists across academic library Web sites independent of the parent institution.
The Effects of High Median Age on Currency of Resources in Community College Library Collections
Authors: Perrault Anna H. , Madaus Richard , Armbrister Ann , Dixon Jeannie , Smith Rhonda
Published: June 2014

In 1998, a comprehensive study was conducted of the monograph collections of the twenty-eight public community colleges in Florida. This article reports the findings of that study with respect to median age and currency of resources. The rationale for the interpretation of the findings in the Florida Community College Collection Assessment Project is congruent with the philosophy that college collections should emphasize the instructional and curricular needs of students and, therefore, that the collections should emphasize current resources rather than retrospective depth. The findings on median age from the Florida Community College study serve as an example for the discussion of the implications of median age on currency of resources in college library monographic collections, especially in the professional, scientific, and technical fields. The major recommendation is a Continual Update Collection Management Model for college collections.
Article Publication Patterns of Academic Librarians: An Illinois Case Study
Authors: Joswick Kathleen E.
Published: June 2014

Charting the characteristics of librarian authors offers insight into the field by defining and describing the research patterns of the profession. This study looks at the journal articles published by academic librarians practicing in Illinois. It finds that women are publishing close to their numbers in the profession, that more articles are being written collaboratively than in the past, and that women are more likely to collaborate than men. It also shows that librarians publish primarily in library/information science journals and that librarians at large universities are more likely to publish than librarians at small colleges.
Learning Electronic Reference Resources: A Team-Learning Project for Reference Staff
Authors: Mendelsohn Jennifer
Published: June 2014

This article describes how a large academic library addressed the problem of supporting the extensive learning of electronic information resources required by reference and library instruction staff. Library staff participants were organized into teams called Electronic Reference Resource Groups (ERRGs). Individuals within each team shared responsibility for the topics to be covered and for ensuring that everyone participated in both the teaching and learning processes. The ultimate measure of success was whether individuals, who took part voluntarily, found the teams sufficiently beneficial to warrant further participation in the team-learning process. A further stage, an ERRG Learn-in, was later implemented to extend learning opportunities to all library staff.
Understanding Preferences for Search System Interfaces and the Role of Emotive Forces: A Research Challenge
Authors: Bell Steven J.
Published: June 2014

Information professionals have observed that Web-based search interfaces simplify database searching and are preferred over other interfaces. A further anecdotal observation is that their features, in comparison to other interfaces, enhance the quality of search sessions, resulting in better outcomes. One explanation is that Web interfaces ease the negative emotive forces searchers experience with other interfaces. This paper examines the challenges in designing a research method to test the validity of these assumptions and observations. Although Web interfaces may provide a more supportive search setting, particularly for less experienced searchers, there is no evidence they contribute to better search outcomes.
Librarians’ Personal Web Pages: An Analysis
Authors: Haines Annette
Published: June 2014

An e-mail survey and an investigation were made of academic librarians’ personal Web pages in order to understand what role they play in the organization of the Internet. Subjects were selected from two Internet lists of librarian’s Web pages. Results showed that most Web sites were produced voluntarily and serve multiple purposes. An independent t-test determined that those librarians who were provided with guidelines produced higher-quality Web pages. Guideline effectiveness and suggestions for further research are discussed.
The Disembodied Librarian in the Digital Age
Authors: Martell Charles
Published: June 2014

Four profound historical discontinuities—time and space, mind and body, real and virtual, and humans and technology—are reaching critical thresholds as we enter the twenty-first century. Existing within multiple environments (technological, social, and cultural), these discontinuities are seldom acknowledged, but their influence on the future of our institutions is incalculable. An awareness of them will assist librarians in (1) creating a new virtual space for libraries as physical space becomes less important, (2) adapting to states of disembodiment caused by roles deeply embedded in virtual environments, and (3) developing the new value-added services necessary for survival in this millennium.
Journal Literature on Digital Libraries: Publishing and Indexing Patterns, 1992–1997
Authors: Herring Susan Davis
Published: June 2014

This study examines publishing and indexing patterns in the area of digital libraries to identify the core journals and the most effective descriptor terms for online searching. A group of 232 citations on digital libraries from 1992 to 1998 was analyzed. Results show that none of the 105 journals listed has emerged as the leading title in the field and that, although two-thirds of the citations were identified by one of two phrases, indexing is inconsistent and subject searching unreliable for full retrieval. The study confirms that skill, persistence, and wide reading are required to keep up with developments in this evolving field.
The Disembodied Librarian in the Digital Age, Part II
Authors: Martell Charles , Moran Barbara , Saunders Laverna
Published: June 2014

In the January issue of College & Research Libraries, the author began a discussion of four profound historical discontinuities—time and space, mind and body, real and virtual, and humans and technology—that are reaching critical thresholds as we enter the twenty-first century. Existing within multiple environments—technological, social, and cultural, these discontinuities are seldom acknowledged, but their influence on the future of our institutions is incalculable. An awareness of these discontinuities will assist librarians in (1) creating a new virtual space for libraries as physical space becomes less important, (2) adapting to states of disembodiment caused by roles deeply embedded in virtual environments, and (3) developing the new value-added services necessary for survival in the next millennium. In part II of this discussion, these discontinuities are related to new ways of being and thinking about the future of librarians and libraries. This article is followed by responses from Barbara Moran and Laverna Saunders.
Patterns of Database Use in Academic Libraries
Authors: Tenopir Carol , Read Eleanor
Published: June 2014

Database usage data from a random sample of academic libraries in the United States and Canada reveal patterns of use in selected types of libraries. Library users tend to use commercial online databases most frequently early in the week, at midday, and at times that correspond to the academic calendar (November in this six-month sample). On average, relatively low numbers of users are simultaneously logged on to research databases at any size of library. A questionnaire sent to these same libraries identified many other factors that might influence database use, including level of instruction, availability of remote log-in, and placement of a database on the library’s home page, although none of these factors was found to be statistically significant.
An Assessment of Publisher Quality by Political Science Librarians
Authors: Lewis Janice S.
Published: June 2014

Publisher quality is one criterion used by collection development librarians in making book selection decisions. Few studies have assessed the perceptions subject specialist librarians have about the quality of academic publishers’ output in specific disciplines. The author surveyed a sample of members of the Association of College and Research Libraries Law & Political Science Section, asking them to assess the overall quality of political science books published by sixty-two academic presses and imprints. The results are reported, analyzed, and compared to a similar survey of members of the American Political Science Association. Many similarities are seen in the rankings, although, on the whole, librarians ranked university presses higher and commercial publishers lower than did political scientists.
URLs: Uniform Resource Locators or Unreliable Resource Locators
Authors: Germain Carol Anne
Published: June 2014

As the use of citing electronic World Wide Web sites grows, the question arises as to whether this practice has scholarly limitations due to the fact that uniform resource locators (URLs) often become inaccessible. This research studies the accessibility of sixty-four URLs cited in thirty-one academic journal articles. Results of this longitudinal study found an increasing decline in the availability of URL citations.
Web-based Learning Environments: Do Libraries Matter?
Authors: Beagle Donald
Published: June 2014

Web-based learning environments are becoming more widely used for on-campus and distance education course delivery. A review of articles on the topic by faculty shows that only a few mention issues related to library access or resource integration. Moreover, only a small number of courseware evaluations posted on academic Web sites include criteria related to libraries. However, a few articles and reviews share common themes that point to a greater library involvement in courseware implementation, which is consistent with arguments made by distance education librarians calling for an active role in technical, pedagogical, and instructional support decisions concerning Web-based learning environments.
Restructuring a Liaison Program in an Academic Library
Authors: Mozenter Frada , Sanders Bridgette T. , Welch Jeanie M.
Published: June 2014

New technologies, an expanding universe of knowledge, and a more sophisticated user base influence not only how we provide access to information, but also how we define and organize ourselves in relation to the public. The J. Murrey Atkins Library of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte has endeavored to strengthen the relationship between the library and the teaching faculty by restructuring the library’s liaison program. Concurrently, but independent of this redesign, three experienced reference librarians assessed their effectiveness as liaisons by conducting a survey of selected departments. A review of the development and implementation of the library’s program, together with an assessment of the faculty survey, confirm that specific elements are prerequisites of an effective liaison program.
Selected Reference Books of 1999/2000
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 reference works, it does not pretend to be either well balanced or comprehensive. A brief roundup of new editions of standard works is provided at the end of the articles. Code numbers (such as BC567) have been used to refer to titles in the Guide to Reference Books, 11th ed. (Chicago: ALA, 1996).
A Common Ground: Communication and Alliance between Cataloguer and Curator for Improved Access to Rare Books and Special Collections
Authors: Bradshaw Elaine Beckley , Wagner Stephen C.
Published: June 2014

Rare book catalogers and special collections curators can benefit greatly from cooperating on matters concerning cataloging policy and practice. This alliance is necessary for providing full access to special collections in a rapidly changing library environment. The authors examine rare book cataloging from the perspectives of cataloger and curator; discuss the areas where a cataloger–curator alliance can affect cataloging, as well as relevant factors over which the two have little control; and promote a concept of customized cataloging for special collections materials.
Bringing Federal Documents to the Forefront for Library Users: Selective Cataloging Using an OPAC
Authors: Oliva Victor T.
Published: June 2014

This article reviews the value of federal depository document titles, often underutilized as sources of research, and discusses reasons why many of them are worth cataloging. Several approaches to cataloging these titles to make them more readily accessible are profiled. The Adelphi University Library has devised a system, relying on Boolean logic and using an online public access catalog (OPAC), to choose which depository titles are worth cataloging because of their scholarly research value. This has resulted in the enrichment and expansion of the collection of readily available research titles and has contributed significantly to the library’s permanent collection development program.
Worries with the Web: A Look at Student Use of Web Resources
Authors: Grimes Deborah J. , Boening Carl H.
Published: June 2014

The purpose of this research project was to determine whether students are using unauthenticated resources, whether they are evaluating their resources, and whether there is a gap between the quality of resources expected by instructors and the quality of resources used by students. Using case study methodology, the authors interviewed instructors and students and analyzed Web resources cited in research papers in two English composition classes. The findings show that students are using unevaluated resources and that there is a gap between what instructors expect students to use and what students actually use. Ways to alleviate “worries with the Web” are discussed.
Indexes as Tools for Measuring Usage of Print and Electronic Resources
Authors: Bauer Kathleen
Published: June 2014

Libraries are experiencing rapid change as they add electronic resources. These resources are popular with patrons, but their usage is not captured in traditional library statistics. Libraries must find a way to represent the diverse data available for electronic resources in some meaningful way that allows for comparison with statistics for print resources. To do this, the Cushing/Whitney Medical Library has created two indexes, the Electronic and Print Usage Indexes. An index is a simple tool that combines data on items from a group into one number and so represents overall change in the group. The indexes at Cushing/Whitney show that in 1998–1999, patron usage of electronic resources more than doubled, whereas print use declined.
Assessing Information Literacy among Undergraduates: A Discussion of the Literature and the University of California-Berkeley Assessment Experience
Authors: Maughan Patricia Davitt
Published: June 2014

Although national standards for information literacy have been developed and approved by the Association of College and Research Libraries, little is known about the extent to which undergraduates meet these or earlier sets of standards. Since 1994, the Teaching Library at the University of California-Berkeley has conducted an ongoing Survey of Information Literacy Competencies in selected academic departments to measure the “lower-order” information literacy skills of graduating seniors. The most fundamental conclusion that can be drawn from this survey is that students think they know more about accessing information and conducting library research than they are able to demonstrate when put to the test. The University of California-Berkeley library experience is consistent with earlier study findings that students continue to be confused by the elementary conventions for organizing and accessing information.
Users’ Hierarchical Perspectives on Library Service Quality: A “LibQUAL+” Study
Authors: Cook Colleen , Heath Fred , Thompson Bruce
Published: June 2014

This study confirms that a single second-order factor is associated with the delivery of high-quality library services in a research university environment. However, a hierarchical factor analysis also demonstrated that research library users simultaneously think about library quality at multiple levels. The LibQUAL+ diagnostic tool, a product of the ARL’s New Measures Initiative, shows that although a single factor dominates user thinking about library service quality, all of the items used in the survey suffuse this factor. Nevertheless, several first-order factors contribute important unique information to the notion of service quality. As different types of users place varying degrees of importance on the first-order factors, the utility of the hierarchical model is demonstrated.
Faculty and Student Attitudes toward Credit Courses for Library Skills
Authors: Davidson Jeanne R.
Published: June 2014

Faculty, student, and library staff attitudes toward credit courses, as well as various other instructional methods, for teaching library and research skills were assessed. A surprising number of faculty and students did not know about the courses offered. Although other methods, such as Web tutorials and written guides, are preferred, credit courses may still be considered a viable option. To be successful, the courses must be well marketed to both faculty and students, and their importance and content must be clearly understood by faculty advisors.
Position Restructuring at Peking University Library
Authors: Gao Zhuo-Xian , Zhang Sha Li
Published: June 2014

Peking University Library initiated position restructuring in response to the university’s requirements and to the increasing demands and expectations of users. The goals were to reduce unwanted positions and at the same to enhance the responsibilities of selected positions. The restructuring promised to improve library services and staff morale. This article describes some steps taken in the position restructuring process at the Peking University Library that may help other academic libraries in China in a similar undertaking.
Perceptions of Acceptance: Evaluating World Wide Web Projects in Performance Reviews
Authors: Fountain Kathleen Carlisle
Published: June 2014

Recent literature reveals that World Wide Web projects are beginning to receive more respect and acceptance from administrators. This survey studied the perceptions of librarian and teaching faculty Web creators in universities around the country to see if acceptance is on the rise. It found that respondents generally are satisfied with the recognition granted to their Web projects. Further findings indicate that institutional factors largely influence satisfaction levels. Librarians and teaching faculty can improve acceptance of Web projects only when submitting external reviews of their work to the evaluators.
The Relationship between Undergraduates’ Background Characteristics and College Experiences and Their Academic Library Use
Authors: Whitmire Ethelene
Published: June 2014

This study examines factors that influence undergraduates’ academic library use during the first three years of college. Undergraduates’ high school library use, student–faculty interactions, and active learning and engaged writing activities predicted library use for all three years of the study. There was an interesting relationship between undergraduate library use and self-reported and objective critical thinking scores. These findings are useful for the redesign of current academic library services and future research studies on information-seeking behavior.
Long-term Retention of Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Authors: Teper Thomas H. , Kraemer Beth
Published: June 2014

This paper examines the increasing trend of universities to pursue electronic thesis and dissertation (ETD) programs. Although the goal of most programs is similar, procedural variations impact a program’s long-term success. As primary research generators, responsibility for providing long-term access to unique materials must be borne by universities. However, this responsibility is in conflict with many ETD program goals, such as increased access and ease of production.
Integrating Information Literacy into the Science Curriculum
Authors: Brown Cecelia , Krumholz Lee R.
Published: June 2014

A science librarian and a microbiology professor collaborated to assess information-seeking, evaluating, and usage abilities before, during, and at the end of a senior-level geomicrobiology course. ACRL’s Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education was used as a guide in designing a survey and checklists to measure literacy levels. Following an initial survey of the students’ information literacy level, two instruction sessions were provided in the use of bibliographic finding tools available from the University of Oklahoma Libraries. During each subsequent class meeting, students presented, critiqued, and discussed a referred article. The cycle was repeated, and the survey was administered again at the end of the semester. The survey results indicated an 11 percent increase in information literacy, but no significant improvement in the students’ ability to present, critique, and discuss information. A model for incorporating information literacy into upper-level undergraduate science courses and an instrument for measuring information literacy are proposed.
East Asian Collections and Organizational Transformation in Academic Libraries
Authors: Kamada Hitoshi
Published: June 2014

Special aspects of East Asian collections, induced by constraints in handling vernacular-language information from East Asia, have distanced those collections from mainstream academic library administration. Mean-while, substantial organizational transformation is changing the landscape of academic library management. Quality management, staffing changes, a desire for demonstrated efficiency and effectiveness, and strategic planning are some of the major forces of organizational change in academic libraries now having an effect on East Asian collections. This article explores how organizational changes affect East Asian collections, entities often marginalized in this era of transformation, and how East Asian collections should respond to the changes.
Laying a Foundation for Comparing Departmental Structures between Reference and Instructional Services: Analysis of a Nationwide Survey
Authors: Johnson Kristin , Fountain Kathleen Carlisle
Published: June 2014

Public services librarians in academe juggle multiple duties, with reference and instruction being the two most common and visible. A survey of midsized academic libraries measured the departmental relationship between librarians who provide reference services and librarians who provide instruction services. Results indicate that services are generally organized in one department and instruction coordinators are prevalent. Regardless of departmental structure, reference and instruction librarians have similar jobs; they nearly all teach classes and work at the reference desk. Summarization of the subjective commentary reveals underlying satisfaction levels with various organizational arrangements and insight into the pros and cons of maintaining integrated or separate reference and instruction services.
Challenges That Academic Library Directors Are Experiencing as Perceived by Them and Their Supervisors
Authors: McElrath Eileen
Published: June 2014

The study examines perceptions of challenges reported by academic library directors and the chief academic officers to whom they report. Findings indicate that perceptions about user satisfaction were similar, that the challenge of serials was perceived to be the greatest challenge, that perceptions are related about the challenges of diversity and hardware, and that challenges of organizational change and crime in libraries appear to be influenced by age and length of tenure. Findings further indicate that training and the budget are related.
The Books in Bill Clinton’s Donation1,
Authors: Zhang Hongyang , Webb T. D.
Published: June 2014

In 1998, President Clinton donated five hundred English-language books about the United States to the Peking University Library in a high-profile tribute to the role of academic institutions in China’s sociopolitical development during the twentieth century. However, few people know that this canny donation was quietly preceded in 1995 by a gift from the Peking University Library of five hundred Chinese-language books about China to a small U.S. academic library. Although they had different motives and outcomes, these donations indicate a promising role for academic library exchanges in China–U.S. relations and demonstrate the potential benefits of international librarianship in general.
Testing the Competition: Usability of Commercial Information Sites Compared with Academic Library Web Sites
Authors: Travis Tiffini Anne , Norlin Elaina
Published: June 2014

With the growing size of academic library Web sites, constant updating, authentication issues, and organization are increasingly difficult for libraries to maintain user-friendly sites. This usability study examines how students use electronic research libraries such as Questia, which has been designed to replace traditional libraries and compare it with large university library Web sites. Students were asked to perform tasks at two electronic research library sites and then at two large university library Web sites. Major implications of this study are that design features incorporated by Web site designers can drastically affect the success of students doing research.
Improving Database Vendors’ Usage Statistics Reporting through Collaboration between Libraries and Vendors
Authors: Shim Wonsik , McClure Charles R.
Published: June 2014

The article reports the results from the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) E-Metrics study to investigate issues associated with the usage statistics provided by database vendors. The ARL E-Metrics study was a concerted effort by twenty-four ARL libraries to develop and test statistics and measures in order to describe electronic resources and services in ARL libraries. This article describes a series of activities and investigations that included a meeting with major database vendors and the field-testing of usage statistics from eight major vendors to evaluate the degree to which the reports are useful for library decision-making. Overall, the usage statistics from the vendors studied are easy to obtain and process. However, the standardization of key usage statistics and reporting format is critical. Validation of reported statistics also remains a critical issue. This article offers a set of recommendations for libraries and calls for continuous collaboration between libraries and major database vendors.
Evaluating Academic Journals without Impact Factors for Collection Management Decisions
Authors: Dilevko Juris , Atkinson Esther
Published: June 2014

Evaluation of academic journals for collection management decisions is made all the more difficult when some journals do not have impact factors as assigned by the Institute for Scientific Information and its Journal Citation Reports. Focusing on science, technology, and medicine journals, this study presents a method of evaluating such nonranked journals. The method is based on finding a comparator journal to the nonranked journal, distinguishing between original research articles and other article types, tracing citations to these two target journals in citing journals, comparing the quality of the citing journals that cite both target journals, and describing the contextual typology of the citations to the target journals. A case study of two medical science journals, the nonranked Annals of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the comparator ranked Canadian Family Physician, illustrates the method. This method can help in determining the value of a nonranked journal in relation to a ranked journal.
A Library Adventure: Comparing a Treasure Hunt with a Traditional Freshman Orientation Tour
Authors: Marcus Sandra , Beck Sheila
Published: June 2014

This study addresses finding the best means of introducing incoming freshmen to the library and the skills and concepts of information literacy. The results of a traditional librarian-led orientation tour are compared with those of a self-guided treasure hunt. As part of an Introduction to College Life course in a multicultural community college, students in classes selected randomly participated in the alternate forms of orientation. Identical questionnaires, completed by all participants, contained both a test of learning objectives and an attitude survey. Statistical analysis of the test results and highly positive feedback indicated an educational advantage in the self-guided tour, supporting active learning theories. The study also demonstrates the need for continuing experimentation, innovation, and creativity in orientation tour design, as well as the value of such introductory tours, enhancing both comfort level and skill in library use.
Toward a New Enterprise: Capitalizing on the Faculty–Librarian Partnership
Authors: Ducas Ada M. , Michaud-Oystryk Nicole
Published: June 2014

In spring 2000, the authors undertook a study to explore the interaction between academic librarians and faculty at the University of Manitoba, the impact of librarians’ contributions, and the future roles of librarians. The following five areas were investigated: teaching/instruction, information services, information technology, research, and collections. The results clearly show that when faculty interact with librarians, librarians have a very positive and considerable impact on both faculty and students. In addition, the faculty responses indicate that they are receptive to collaborating with librarians at a higher level of interaction than currently experienced.
The Wild-Card Academic Library in 2013
Authors: Billings Harold
Published: June 2014

The transformational agents that have produced dramatic changes in academic libraries in recent years will continue to influence those libraries over the next decade, but it should not be assumed that the academic library of 2013 will represent a natural progression from the library of today. Rather, the academic library of the future will be marked by unanticipated “punctuations” that will be just as surprising and unexpected as have been so many of the influences that have shaped the contemporary library. This paper suggests that “wild cards” will be introduced into the evolutionary growth of the academic library, some perhaps harmful, but more likely enabling libraries to provide even richer information resources and better services than they do today.
Towards an Understanding of Annual Reports of University and Technikon Libraries in South Africa
Authors: Swanepoel A.J. , Smit I.P.J.
Published: June 2014

Because of the almost total absence of research on annual reports of university and technikon libraries in South Africa, very little is known about the everyday use of their reports outside their institutions.1 This article reports the findings of a survey aimed at obtaining more knowledge on the topic. Areas covered include the purpose of annual reports of university and technikon libraries, issues included in those annual reports, recipients of the reports, promotion and distribution of annual reports, availability of annual reports, and feedback. The findings presented a wealth of information previously not available or known and also draw attention to a number of issues that could lead to further research.
Selected Reference Books of 2001–2002
Authors: McIlvaine Eileen
Published: June 2014

This article follows the pattern set by the semiannual series initiated by the late Constance M. Winchell more than sixty years ago and continued by Eugene Sheehy. Because the purpose of the list is to present a selection of recent scholarly and general reference works, it does not pretend to be either well balanced or comprehensive. A brief roundup of new editions of standard works is provided at the end of the articles. Code numbers (such as DC86) have been used to refer to titles in the Guide to Reference Books, 11th ed. (Chicago: ALA, 1996).
The Role of the Academic Library in Promoting Student Engagement in Learning
Authors: Kuh George D. , Gonyea Robert M.
Published: June 2014

This study examines the nature and value of undergraduate students’ experiences with the academic library. The data represent responses from more than 300,000 students between 1984 and 2002 to the College Student Experiences Questionnaire. Although library use did not appear to make independent contributions to desirable outcomes of college, such experiences were related to important educationally valuable activities. Because the emphasis a campus places on information literacy is a strong predictor of students becoming information literate, librarians should redouble their collaborative efforts to promote the value of information literacy and help create opportunities for students to evaluate the quality of the information they obtain.
Slow Fires Still Burn: Results of a Preservation Assessment of Libraries in L’viv, Ukraine, and Sofia, Bulgaria
Authors: Baird Brian J. , Schaffner Bradley L.
Published: June 2014

East Central European libraries face a serious threat of the potential disintegration of the vast majority of Slavic publications printed in the twentieth century. This loss will come as result of the combination of inferior materials used to produce most twentieth-century Slavic publications and inadequate facilities to house these collections. In an effort to gain a better understanding of the condition of Slavic publications, over the past two years, the authors have conducted collection condition surveys and reviewed the preservation operations of three major academic libraries in L’viv, Ukraine, and Sofia, Bulgaria. This paper presents the results of these surveys.
Changing the Face of Instruction: Is Online or In-class More Effective?
Authors: Nichols James , Shaffer Barbara , Shockey Karen
Published: June 2014

The Web-based tutorial is an attractive mode of delivery for information literacy instruction, but do we know that it is effective? A pre- and posttest study compared student learning from use of an online tutorial with learning from a traditional lecture/demonstration for basic information literacy instruction in freshman English composition classes. Measures of both student learning and student satisfaction were comparable for online tutorial and in-class instruction. The authors have implemented the tutorial for these classes and continue to improve it based on student and faculty feedback.