bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effective e‐learning recommendation system based on self‐organizing maps and association mining
Authors: Wen‐Shung Tai David , Wu Hui‐Ju , Li Pi‐Hsiang 
Published: June 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to propose a hybrid system to combine the self‐organizing map (SOM) of a neural network with the data‐mining (DM) method for course recommendation of the e‐learning system.Design/methodology/approachThis research constructs a hybrid system with artificial neural network (ANN) and data‐mining (DM) techniques. First, ANN is used to classify the e‐Learner types. Based on these e‐Learner groups, users can obtain course recommendation from the group's opinions. When groups of related interests have been established, the DM will be used to elicit the rules of the best learning path. It is ideal for this system to stimulate learners' motivation and interest. Moreover, the hybrid approach can be used as a reference when learners are choosing between classes.FindingsIn order to enhance the efficiency and capability of e‐learning systems, the SOM method is combined to deal with cluster problems of DM systems, SOM/DM for short. It was found that the SOM/DM method has excellent performance.Research limitations/implicationsThis research is limited by the fact that its participants are from a business college of a university in Taiwan, and it is applied by SOM/DM to recommend courses of e‐learners. This research is useful in the domain of the e‐learning system.Originality/valueThe results of this research will provide useful information for educators to classify their e‐learners or students more accurately, and to adapt their teaching strategies accordingly to retain valuable e‐learners subject to limited resources. The experiments prove that it is ideal to stimulate learners' motivation and interest.
Modeling agent‐based performance evaluation for e‐learning systems
Authors: Chiu Hsiao‐Ya , Sheng Chieh‐Chung , Chen An‐Pin 
Published: June 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to show how rapidly evolving information technology has dramatically changed the knowledge dissemination process. However, many of them lack a generic evaluation process to verify the system's performance. In an attempt to solve this problem, this study seeks to propose an agent‐based model to provide a dynamic, flexible framework for performance evaluations of e‐learning projects.Design/methodology/approachThe paper proposes an agent‐based model which comprises a learning model, balanced scorecard and option‐pricing approach to evaluate the performance of an e‐learning project.FindingsE‐learning could be the paradigm shift of traditional education. Thus, the paper provides organizations with a methodology to deliberately evaluate their e‐learning projects by treating it as a continuous improvement process.Originality/valueThe original contributions in this paper are: application of a balance scorecard to weigh different perspectives; application of a real options approach for risk management of e‐learning projects; construction of an agent‐based system for autonomous qualitative/quantitative information gathering.
Arab universities on the web: a webometric study
Authors: Elgohary Amgad 
Published: June 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the Web Impact Factor of Arab universities.Design/methodology/approachThe study included 99 universities representing 20 Arab countries. The advanced search facility of AltaVista was used for data collection. Two rounds of data collection were conducted to retrieve the links as well as the web presence of the included universities.FindingsJordanian universities represent 40 per cent of the top ten universities with the revised web impact factor. However, this was not the case in terms of the universities' web presence. Results indicated a strong correlation between external links and web presence.Research limitations/implicationsThe variability of search engine results and the unavailability of some university web sites are limitations to the study.Originality/valueBy investigating, for the first time, the Web Impact Factors of Arab universities as well as the relation to other variables such as language, the paper will provide universities with some measure of how they are viewed by the outside world.
Preserving digital local news
Authors: Allen Robert B. , Johnson Kirsten A. 
Published: June 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore issues and approaches for collection and management of born digital local news. Much local news – important documentation of local history – is being lost. The fact that a lot of news media is now available digitally presents new opportunities but also new challenges for such preservation.Design/methodology/approachSeveral specific bottle‐necks for implementing this project are examined. For instance, the size of the problem is estimated by approximating how much local news is generated in one US state. Then the difficulties in capture, storage requirements, selection, access, and sustainability are considered, focusing on difficulties in selection. Finally, a number of business models for handling these challenges are explored.FindingsCurrently, there is no large‐scale effort under way to preserve local television and newspaper news stories, and as a result this part of history is being lost. Many practical difficulties to a comprehensive system have been found but there would be value even in a system which was not the ideal. Newspaper web sites and streaming radio stations should be downloaded. The possibility of capturing video from cable distribution points could be explored.Originality/valueWhile none of the business models offers an ideal solution for the preservation of local news, especially not for multimedia sources, it is believed that some of them provide partial answers which should be tried.
User‐friendly web application for bibliographic material processing
Authors: Belic K. , Surla D. 
Published: June 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is implementation of a software system for bibliographic material processing which does not require knowledge about any format for bibliographic data input. This means that the input can be done not only by librarians, but also by other persons such as authors of bibliographic units, students, employees, etc.Design/methodology/approachAn object‐oriented methodology for developing information systems by means of computer‐aided software engineering (CASE) tools and software components is used. The software architecture is multi‐layered and web‐based. The implementation is done in Java environment.FindingsThe result is a web application by which users can catalogue bibliographic material without being familiar with the corresponding format. Nevertheless, the bibliographic record is formed in accordance with the given format for bibliographic material processing (MARC21, UNIMARC, etc.).Research limitations/implicationsAutomatic generating of screen forms for the chosen set of data for bibliographic material processing is not provided in the presented version of the application. In order to eliminate this limitation, there are preset solutions that can be integrated into the application.Practical implicationsThe application is primarily intended for research institutions aiming at forming their electronic catalogue and/or bibliographies of researchers or institutions.Originality/valueThe originality of the paper lies in the software architecture of the application related to the middle layer, i.e. the one of business logic. This layer implements a mechanism by which different sets of input data are mapped to persistent data by means of the unique object model of an accepted format for the bibliographic material processing (MARC21, UNIMARC, or others).
Achieving OAI PMH compliancy for CDS/ISIS databases
Authors: Kaloyanova Stefka , Luigi Betti Gian , Castellani Francesco , Keizer Johannes 
Published: June 2008

PurposeThe main purpose of this paper is to present the work recently carried out by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with Associazione per la documentazione le biblioteche e gli archivi (DBA) in Italy to make web CDS/ISIS‐based applications compliant with the OAI‐PMH. CDS/ISIS is an Integrated Storage and Information Retrieval System of Unesco, which is widely used especially in Latin America and Africa. There are hundreds of CDS/ISIS‐based application systems managing bibliographical reference, ensuring high quality content through the use of built‐in authority files, data entry guidelines and validations. It also allows for metadata export in many different formats.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology adopted included study, analysis and evaluation of three existing solutions for exposing metadata from the CDS/ISIS database repositories to the OAI framework.FindingsThe implementation did not include the development of automatic procedures for incremental harvesting from CDS/ISIS databases nor the normalization of the harvested data. However, a lot of experience in implementation of OAI was gained which will be useful for future development of non‐CDS/ISIS systems.Research limitations/implicationsThe research and development work demonstrates the importance and implications of this work for the whole CDS/ISIS community and specifically for the participating centres from the AGRIS network.Originality/valueIt proposes an open source, easily parametrizable plug‐in tool, which can be adapted to expose metadata from a general structure CDS/ISIS database using the OAI‐PMH protocol. This work assures that semantically rich metadata for agricultural science and research publications based on the “AGRIS Application Profile” can be handled by the OAI protocol. This in turn allows for further creation of additional services based on the exchange of knowledge on agricultural science and technology publications world‐wide.
The legal problems of document supply by libraries: an international perspective
Authors: Mueller Harald 
Published: June 2008

PurposeThis paper seeks to describe the current copyright environment from an international perspective, particularly as it relates to the supply of document surrogates.Design/methodology/approachThe paper describes the current situation in Canada, Australia, the UK and in particular the current saga of Subito and publishers in Germany. It addresses licences and copyright law generally and the impact of open access. Two specific court cases in Canada and Germany are described and their implications considered.FindingsInternational copyright is complex and publishers are establishing new restrictions on “fair use” provision through the imposition of licences. National and international laws lag behind in clearly addressing “fair use” in the electronic environment.Originality/valueThe paper is one of the very few that addresses the issue of national and international copyright specifically in relation to document supply.
JSTOR and the changing digital landscape
Authors: Spinella Michael 
Published: June 2008

PurposeThis paper seeks to describe the development and current operation of JSTOR, and to identify in particular the cost benefit of JSTOR in terms of cost per article.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is descriptive. Amidst ongoing and dramatic changes to digital communications, JSTOR serves as a microcosm for observing the trends affecting how researchers, teachers, students and librarians access and use information for scholarly purposes. This paper provides background and reports progress on JSTOR's mission to preserve scholarly works and facilitate broader access to them. It also examines usage patterns over the years of JSTOR's operation to discern shifting expectations of users, and consider the impact of Google indexing on broadening the visibility of content both within the scholarly community and beyond it. Finally, the paper analyzes trends in cost per use experienced by a selection of institutions at the high, median, and low levels of usage, as a means to consider the value of shared digital resources.FindingsJSTOR usage has expanded exponentially. Key drivers have been: continuously increasing the amount of content in the archive; growth in the number of participating institutions; greater breadth of discipline coverage, drawing in more users at participating institutions; and an expanding array of linking partners, including Google. Google indexing has had the further impact of exposing the content to a very much broader audience, creating a new set of opportunities and challenges for the organization.Originality/valueThe paper gives an up‐to‐date description of the development of the first organization to provide a service giving access to complete back runs of digitized journal titles. It also provides metrics for analyzing usage trends and determining value for cost that may help librarians manage the increasingly complex demands on library space and budgets.
A costing study of the document supply service at a Chinese research library: the case of Wuhan University Library
Authors: Liu Xia , Lei Ting 
Published: June 2008

PurposeThis paper aims to report on a cost study of document supply at Wuhan University Library, and to investigate the difference in costs over time and the cost‐effectiveness for the university.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative approach is employed.FindingsThe borrowing unit cost and lending unit cost decreased by 27 percent and 60 percent, respectively, between 2002 and 2004, but showed a small increase in 2006.Originality/valueThe paper reveals the cost of document supply in a Chinese research library and proves that the cost could be lowered rapidly by taking effective measures. The paper also demonstrates that document supply is an effective way to resolve the library budgetary crisis as well as satisfying end‐users' needs.
Scholarly communication and co‐operation between Korea and Japan: document supply trends and services between KERIS and NII
Authors: Won Lee Ji , Kim Heejung 
Published: June 2008

PurposeThis paper sets out to investigate current trends and services of document supply between KERIS (Korea Education & Research Information Service) in South Korea and NII (The National Institute of Informatics) in Japan.Design/methodology/approachData during 2004 to 2007 were collected comprehensively from reports related to the KERIS‐NII document supply services, including interview results with practitioners in charge of these services. The data collected were analyzed and interpreted.FindingsThe management system of KERIS‐NII document supply was mediated (agent‐dependent) in 2004, but is now unmediated (direct) document supply due to system enhancements that began in April 2007. After the change to the direct system, the numbers of requests have increased and the time from request to provision has decreased. Therefore, the direct system has brought about more efficient cooperation and user services.Originality/valueThe KERIS‐NII document supply service is important, being the first official cooperation network between university libraries in two Northeast Asian nations, South Korea and Japan.
Interlending and document supply: a review of the recent literature: 63
Authors: McGrath Mike 
Published: June 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the most recent literature concerning document supply and related matters.Design/methodology/approachThe approach is based on the reading of over 150 journals as well as monographs, reports and web sites.FindingsIt was found that fundamental debate on the direction of scholarly publishing continues intensely. Electronic books remain a minority market but the literature at least remains optimistic. The mass digitisation of books continues apace and print on demand is becoming big business. Open access continues to grow but with continuing and widely differing views on its impact. Recent mandating decisions will mean a step change in the establishment of institutional and subject repositories. Publisher pay‐per‐view is starting to stir.Originality/valueThe paper represents a useful source of information for librarians and others interested in document supply and related matters.
eBook Loans: an e‐twist on a classic interlending service
Authors: Woods Bronwen , Ireland Michael 
Published: June 2008

PurposeIn April 2007, the Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information (CISTI), in collaboration with Ingram MyiLibrary, launched the eBook Loan Service. The paper describes the management of challenges associated with the project as well as the background and context of the aims to eBook Loan Service model. Conclusions and future activities by the partners with regard to e‐book lending are discussed.Design/methodology/approachThe paper addresses two main topics: how the eBook Loan Service model was developed, the challenges and risks, the outcomes and benefits; and to evaluate whether a project stretching across boundaries of geography and time as well as between public and commercial partners can be managed successfully. Through a literature review, the context of the e‐book lending model for libraries is addressed, as well as the challenges of virtual project management.FindingsThe challenges and risks associated with implementing the new service were resolved and the project was a success.Originality/valueThe new service delivered by this project underlines the richness of new ideas emerging in the library community to improve access to scholarly literature in the digital age. With this model of affordable short‐term access to scholarly e‐books, libraries will be in a better position to serve the just‐in‐time needs of users in the electronic environment and end‐users will have better access.
Resource Sharing for the Future: Building‐blocks to Success A report of the 10th Interlending and Document Supply Conference, National Library Singapore, 29‐31 October 2007
Authors: Patterson Avril 
Published: June 2008

PurposeThis paper seeks to report on the 10th ILDS Conference held in Singapore.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is descriptive in approach.FindingsThe conference was very successful and, contrary to rumours, interlending and document supply is alive and well throughout the world.Originality/valueThe paper is a report on the only international conference held on the subject of interlending and document supply.
Developing critical reflection in professional focused doctorates: a facilitator's perspective
Authors: Sambrook Sally , Stewart Jim 
Published: June 2008

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the challenges and opportunities for expediting critical reflection in management education and development to highlight particularly how critical reflection has been facilitated within the context of a professionally focused doctoral programme.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws on empirical research conducted for a broader project, focusing here on two awaydays for DBA supervisors (n=25 in 2005 and n=16 in 2006) and a UFHRD workshop in 2007 (n=12) for members involved and/or interested in doctoral programmes in HRD, where the empirical research findings were presented and discussed. The paper presents selected findings from the perspective of staff through their own critical reflections, drawing on the data from the two awaydays and the UFHRD workshop. Detailed handwritten notes were taken and transcribed, in addition to flipchart material provided by the participants. These qualitative data are analysed using thematic analysis. The quotations presented are as accurate as possible (verbatim) and any ambiguous notes have been deliberately excluded.FindingsEmerging findings include the need to clarify the concept for both staff and students, and embed critical reflection from the beginning of the programme and throughout written assignments. Insights into how staff perceive critical reflection within a DBA programme are offered, including how staff might assume (incorrectly) that advanced practitioners arrive with a high level of maturity to engage in critical reflection, and yet advanced practitioners “worry” about critique and perceive it as negative and/or failure.Research limitations/implicationsIt is acknowledged that the subjective experience of student participants is not central to this discussion, and, whilst a limitation of this paper, this presents an avenue for further research.Practical implicationsThe paper presents a critical and reflexive account from a facilitator's perspective and offers practical suggestions for incorporating critical reflection within a DBA programme.Originality/valueGiven the dearth of literature of facilitating critical reflection in the context of professionally focused doctoral programmes, this paper makes a small and initial contribution to this field.
Let's not get too personal: critical reflection, reflexivity and the confessional turn
Authors: Swan Elaine 
Published: June 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to ask how we can think about critical reflection as a pedagogical practice given the “confessional turn”. By the “confessional turn” the author refers to the idea that “subjective, autobiographical and confessional modes of expression” have expanded exponentially across a wide range of social spheres, including education, the legal system, the media and the workplace. Examining these developments, this paper asks what these debates on critical reflection and confession mean for pedagogical practice.Design/methodology/approachThe main approach is a review of key debates in the literature on critical reflection and also in the wider social sciences.FindingsThe discussion compares different debates. Thus it shows that for critics, the turn to the “first person” technologies is narcissistic, psychologistic and de‐politicising. On this view, critical reflective practice might be understood as an individualistic and individualising pedagogy in spite of its claims to be critical. The paper discusses how in contrast, others see this move to talk about the subjective and the self as an extension of the feminist project of the personal is political – i.e. that personal stories, feelings and issues have social and political roots and consequences. For them, reflection can be critical, leading to political consciousness‐raising, i.e. a new awareness about social, political and personal processes. It finishes by examining the view that the idea of reflexivity might help us out of the conflict between these debates.Practical implicationsThe paper poses a number of questions in relation to critical reflection that can be taken up by practitioners in the field.Originality/value of paperThe paper brings new literature to bear on the practice of critical reflection and raises important questions relevant to academics and practitioners.