bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
E‐books from ebrary at Staffordshire University: a case study
Authors: Parkes David 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe the use of ebrary's e‐books at Staffordshire University.Design/methodology/approachDetails are provided of the history of Staffordshire's involvement with ebrary as a supplier of e‐books as well as methods of searching for information in the ebrary collection as well as other e‐book collections used by Staffordshire University.FindingsIn a split‐site university such as Staffordshire, and with many students never visiting campus libraries, the provision of course material and readings in e‐format is essential. ebrary provides an “instant library” solution, and the possibility of adding individual texts to this core collection strengthens this provision. The ability for students and researchers to search across the full content of 30,000 e‐books in one “go” and then capture that information quickly and easily is also very valuable.Originality/valueThe paper provides information based on some years of practical experience in providing access to e‐book collections.
Web‐based OPACs in Indian academic libraries: a functional comparison
Authors: Kapoor Kanta , Goyal O.P. 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThe paper seeks to provide a comparative analysis of the functionality of five web‐based OPACs available in Indian academic libraries.Design/methodology/approachSame‐topic searches were carried out by three researchers on the web‐based OPACs of Libsys, VTLS's iPortal, NewGenLib, Troodon, and Alice for Windows, implemented in five academic libraries in India. Their functionality was compared using criteria selected from the literature on OPAC searching.FindingsThe web‐based OPACs investigated offered a range of facilities for searching by author, title, control number and by keywords. Federated searching across several e‐collections was limited.Originality/valueThis paper should be a useful source of information to librarians who are planning to introduce web‐based OPACs and also for software vendors who wish to improve the functionality of their products.
Merged service outcomes at Earlham College
Authors: Baker Neal , Kirk Thomas G. 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThe paper aims to provide an overview of merged services arising from the integration of library and information technology units at Earlham College. These services may serve as a model or resource for other institutions.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reviews six years of integration experience, discussing assessment and current goals.FindingsThe paper demonstrates the benefits of integrating library and information technology units in ways that respect the unique strengths of each contributing unit and that are sensitive to local conditions.Practical implicationsLibrary/information technology integration can result when staff from different units work together to provide services for which responsibilities overlap. This type of integration can occur without significant restructuring if shared values and a willingness to collaborate already exist.Originality/valueThe paper provides insights for administrators and librarians considering a merger of library/information technology units, demonstrating how the integration process does not necessarily entail a radical change in doing business.
Getting everyone on the same page
Authors: MacMillan Don , McKee Susan , Sadler Shawna 
Published: July 2007

PurposeUsing staff focus groups in the redevelopment of a library web site deploys their knowledge of user navigation issues and search strategies and addresses the unique needs of library staff. This paper seeks to describe the process of planning, recruiting, and conducting staff focus groups and provide a discussion of lessons learned.Design/methodology/approachA committee of professionals and non‐professionals from the University of Calgary Library conducted a series of five focus groups with library staff. The goals were to determine their content and service priorities for the redesigned library web site, and also to ensure that staff was included in the redesign process.FindingsThis paper makes recommendations for library staff focus group interviewing, including planning, formulating questions, recruitment, conducting sessions, and analysis and reporting.Practical implicationsFocus group interviews can be effectively conducted in‐house, with careful planning and adherence to established guidelines. Focus groups are a very useful method for gathering staff input for web site redesign or any other library‐planning project.Originality/valueThis paper will be useful to librarians interested in assessing staff needs and priorities through focus group interviews. The paper fills a void in the library literature regarding the use of library staff as both focus group leaders and participants.
Understanding our student learners
Authors: Maybee Clarence 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThis research project aims to provide an understanding of Mills College undergraduate students' experience of using information, which Mills librarians can use to develop effective information literacy instructional pedagogy.Design/methodology/approachUsing a phenomenographic methodology, 18 undergraduate students at Mills College in Oakland, California, were interviewed and the transcripts were analyzed to reveal the ways that undergraduates experience using information.FindingsFour distinct ways that Mills undergraduates experience information use are revealed in the paper.Research limitations/implicationsThe results of this research project share similarities with other phenomenographic research, supporting the phenomenographic premise that there are a limited number of ways that a phenomenon is experienced.Practical implicationsKnowing the four ways that undergraduates experience using information provides Mills librarians with the necessary tools to develop effective learner‐centered instruction.Originality/valueKnowing the ways that Mills undergraduates understand information use is the first step to designing an effective learner‐centered pedagogy that holds tremendous potential for teaching students to use information meaningfully to learn and accomplish goals.
Information literacy education through mediated learning and multiple intelligences
Authors: Azura Mokhtar Intan , Majid Shaheen , Foo Schubert 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to present the findings of a study that investigated the impact of information literacy (IL) teaching approaches, which are grounded in pedagogy, on students' level and applicability of IL competencies.Design/methodology/approachA quasi‐experimental control group study was carried out with 476 students, aged from 13 to 15 years old, from four secondary (high) schools in Singapore. The students were given a pre‐intervention test in the beginning. Out of the 476 students, 279 students (from two schools) went through a mediated learning intervention programme, while the remaining 197 students went through a multiple intelligence intervention programme. Students were organised into smaller groups of five each, and were given a group project to do. Students in the experimental sub‐clusters were exposed to the respective intervention approaches, while students in the control sub‐clusters were left on their own to carry out the project. A post‐intervention test was administered to all students at the end of the intervention programmes.FindingsThe results of the group reports and project evaluation done by three independent and neutral teacher‐examiners, as well as those from the pre‐ and post‐intervention tests, found that the application of either mediated learning (or close coaching) or multiple intelligences helped students perform better in the learning and application of IL skills.Research limitations/implicationsThe study managed to involve 476 students from four secondary (high) schools only. A larger number of students from more schools would have been more desirable. In addition, the inclusion of students from primary (elementary) schools and tertiary institutions would be useful in strengthening the findings. However, the study has sufficiently provided evidence that appropriate pedagogy is important in enhancing the learning and application of IL competencies amongst students. This could in turn yield initiatives on various aspects of IL‐related research, such as in IL policy formulation, and IL pedagogy.Practical implicationsThe application of appropriate pedagogical approaches in teaching IL makes the learning and application of IL competencies more effective.Originality/valueAlthough it is widely accepted that IL competencies are useful in helping students perform better, both academically or otherwise, limited empirical evidence is available showing the relationship between IL education and IL competencies. The paper highlights the impact of appropriate pedagogy in imparting and entrenching IL competencies in students.
Bridging the digital divide in Nigeria: a study of internet use in Calabar Metropolis, Nigeria
Authors: Edet Ani Okon , Uchendu Chika , Atseye Emmanuel U. 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThe paper aims to discuss and investigate the prevalence of digital divide in Nigeria, using University of Calabar in Calabar Metropolis as a case study.Design/methodology/approachValidated questionnaires were administered to internet users at designated cyber café in the University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.FindingsThe findings of the survey show the prevalence of various forms of digital divide such as gender, marital status, age and educational level of the internet users in Nigeria.Practical implicationThe federal/state governments as well as university managements in Nigeria should formulate relevant policies to reduce various forms of digital divide that are prevalent in the Nigeria.Originality/valueThe paper recommends the need to effectively address the issue of digital divide in whatever form in Nigeria towards global integration in the digital economy.
The priorities of public libraries at the onset of the third millennium
Authors: Pacios Ana R. 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to show the main action areas to which public libraries are devoting their efforts and resources at the onset of the twenty‐first century, despite their own particularities and needs.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology is based on a comparative analysis on a sample of so‐called “strategic” and “long‐term” plans from US public libraries covering from 1998 through 2010. Of all identified priorities, those appearing in at least 40 per cent of the plans were used for the analysis. Thus, the paper narrowed the list of priorities down to the five most repeated ones in the sample of plans, and their peculiarities are set forth here.FindingsThe paper finds that, although the method used is a simple one and the results are limited to the set of libraries whose plans have been analysed, there are coincidences with some predictions in some papers on the role public libraries should play in the twenty‐first century.Originality/valueIn the long term, this type of research permits comparison of trends among libraries from different countries and the monitoring of how they evolve with time. It can also be useful to library managers as a benchmark.
New modes of governance in activation policies
Authors: van Berkel Rik , Borghi Vando 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThis editorial aims to introduce the first of a set of two special issues on New modes of governance in activation policies.Design/methodology/approachThe article explores the concept of governance, distinguishing a broad and more narrow use of the concept. Then, it argues that issues of governance should be an integral part of studies of welfare state transformations. Not in the last instance, because governance reforms do have an impact on the content of social policies and social services such as activation. The article continues by discussing three models of the provision of social services.FindingsThe article states that the development of the modes of governance in activation in various countries reveals that a mix of service provision models is being used.Originality/valueThe article introduces the articles of the special issue.
Implementing public employment policy: what happens when non‐public agencies take over?
Authors: Bredgaard Thomas , Larsen Flemming 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThe purpose of the article is to analyse the interconnections between formal policy reforms and operational policies, specifically between new governance and employment policy. The main question is what happens to public employment policies when they are contracted out to non‐public (for‐profit and not‐for‐profit) agencies?Design/methodology/approachThe case is the contracting out of the public employment services in Australia, Holland, and Denmark. The data consists of in‐depth interviews with key respondents in the three countries, observations at service delivery agencies, and desk studies of existing research.FindingsThe new quasi‐market models seem to have difficulties in living up to the preconditions for a well‐functioning market, as well as political expectations. Contracted out employment systems do not seem to create higher efficiency, innovation, quality, and less bureaucracy than previous public bureaucracies. But a quasi‐market model, on the other hand, does seems to create a new type of employment policy, and new conditions for steering and governing the labour market and employment policy. This implies that choosing a quasi‐market model involves much more than a discussion about “technicalities” like (cost) efficiency and productivity. Some of the most important – but often neglected and depoliticised – policy changes seem to emerge from changes of the institutional set‐up rather than changes of specific laws and ministerial orders.Originality/valueThe article is innovative in trying to identify relationships between management structure and policy content. Often these changes are analysed in separate disciplines, and isolated from each other. In this article we provide an integrated and multidisciplinary approach.
Emergence of new modes of governance in activation policies: Czech experience
Authors: Sirovátka Tomáš , Horák Pavel , Horáková Markéta 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThe paper deals with the question to what extent implementation conditions influence the profile of activation policies in the Czech Republic. In this way, it helps to clarify more general questions: how are broader objectives of these policies specified at the bottom level of implementation and why activation policies differ among countries, although guided by similar general objectives and principles.Design/methodology/approachThe findings are based on implementation case studies carried out at several local labour offices during the pilot stage and later during the routine stage of implementation of Individual Action Plans (IAPs).FindingsThe paper shows that in the pilot stage of IAPs, the employability approach of enforced activation originated from the top‐down and was adopted at the local level; however, in a fragmented way due to unfavourable implementation conditions (above all poor staffing and a lack of activation programmes). It follows from these very conditions that, in the routine stage, the programme has been dying away, despite being supported by legislation and programme documents. On the other hand, processes of institutional learning have been initiated owing to IAPs and, with the availability of new policy opportunities at the local level (brought about with projects funded from the ESF), policy coalitions and activation policies emerge from the bottom‐up, giving rise to another model: capability approach of inclusion through participation.Practical implicationsThe findings are signalling to policy makers the necessity to control the implementation conditions at the national, as well as local level and to take the bottom‐up processes of policy re‐formulation into consideration.Originality/valueThe analysis of the contradictions between the levels of policy‐making and of the volatility of implemented policies emerging from specific implementation conditions represents the original contribution of the study.
Assembly operations streamlined by ABB's Global Partner Programme
Authors: Connolly Christine 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to illustrate how robots can form an efficient, versatile and cost‐effective component in assembly operations.Design/methodology/approachThe applicability of robots is illustrated by two integrated confectionery‐packing solutions, followed by a description of a portioning machine specially developed for floppy meats. The particular advantages of ABB's FlexPicker robot are described.FindingsABB's Global Partner Programme encourages the use of robots in automation, and such robots can achieve a rapid pay‐back, even in the low‐pay food‐packaging industry.Originality/valueThe paper brings to the attention of assembly engineers the possibility of incorporating robots in the assembly line.
Path‐planning techniques for the simulation of disassembly tasks
Authors: Aguinaga Iker , Borro Diego , Matey Luis 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to develop path‐planning techniques that support a general selective disassembly planner in a virtual reality environment.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents an automatic selective disassembly planning and two path‐planning techniques that support it. The first one is based on single translations, while the second is based on the generation of a random search tree. The methods used have been adapted and modified from available robotic path‐planning methods for their use in disassembly path planning.FindingsThe paper finds that the proposed techniques are applicable to the automatic generation of disassembly sequences.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper provides an automatic tool that can be integrated in simulation software for the analysis and validation of disassembly operation.Practical implicationsMaintenance operations have a great impact in the security and life expectancy of any product. This is especially true for some applications such as aerospace that must pass rigorous security checking procedures. Geometric reasoning and virtual reality can help in reducing costs and design time by moving testing from physical mock‐ups to virtual ones.Originality/valueThe paper shows the integration of path‐planning techniques in automatic disassembly‐planning methods.
Laser micromachining for mould manufacturing: II. Manufacture and testing of mould inserts
Authors: Vasco J. , Bártolo P. J. , Silva B. , Galo C. 
Published: July 2007

PurposeLaser milling is a non‐conventional layer‐by‐layer material removal technology suitable for machining a wide range of materials. This technology is particularly suitable to produce microstructures inside cavities, also obtained by other conventional processes, though with larger material removal rates, or for the direct development of microcavities not requiring high removal rates. This paper seeks to evaluate the capacity of laser milling for manufacturing of mould inserts.Design/methodology/approachThe paper examined several specific features of laser milling, important for the manufacturing of mould inserts, such as walls verticality, unselected illuminating areas, due to an incorrect STL removal volume definition, aspiration process and orientation, to prevent welding of re‐solidified particles on the surface. Two mould inserts were produced too, assembled on a metallic mould frame and tested with different injection conditions.FindingsThe findings suggest that laser milling is a suitable technology to produce small mould insert for injection moulding, though injection conditions are different as one moves from macroscopic to microscopic injected parts. New design guidelines must be undertaken jointly with the assessment of laser milling performance to make mould microcavities. One of the major difficulties of this process is to keep the side walls vertical plus the generation of undesirable machined volumes, due to unselected illuminating areas below the STL volume, corresponding to the volume to be removed, whenever laser milling is used to operate with structures previously machined. To prevent welding of re‐solidified particles on the surface a proper aspiration must also be considered.Originality/valueThe paper describes the benefits of laser milling technology.
A function block diagnostic framework for a multi‐vendor PROFIBUS environment
Authors: Kaghazchi Hassan , Joyce Ronan , Heffernan Donal 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThis paper sets out to highlight the problem associated with the development of fieldbus diagnostics in a multi‐vendor environment and to propose a solution based on diagnostic function blocks (FB).Design/methodology/approachThe work focuses on the “master‐slave” communication model in a PROFIBUS fieldbus system, where three different vendor solutions are investigated.FindingsAlthough the fieldbus standards specify the type and format of the diagnostics data, the extent, location and sequence of diagnostics data within a controller are entirely vendor‐dependent. The outcome from this work defines a framework for representing the diagnostics data in the context of a special function block.Originality/valueThis research work defines a novel unified framework for representing the fieldbus diagnostics data using FB for multi‐vendor solutions in a PROFIBUS environment.
Around the World: Sushi and Sweet Tea at the University of Mississippi
Authors: Herrera Kevin , Herrera Gail 
Published: July 2007

PurposeA brief review of recent and upcoming technology initiatives at the University of Mississippi Libraries with a dash of southern hospitality.Design/methodology/approachThis is an introduction to a well‐established, academic library remaking itself in the age of bookstore cafes, Google, and heightened user expectations.FindingsIn an age of budgetary constraints and small staffs, the patron experience is reinvented through library technology and creature comforts.Practical implicationsLibraries have to evolve in terms of both space and technology in order to meet the expectations of 21st century users.Originality/valueProvides a profile of the University of Mississippi Libraries.
Strategic purchasing and the evaluation of “problem” key supply relationships: what do key suppliers need to know?
Authors: Pressey Andrew , Tzokas Nikolaos , Winklhofer Heidi 
Published: July 2007

PurposePrevious research has reported that the adoption of a strategic purchasing orientation (SPO) requires closer relationships with key suppliers and greater long‐term planning in supply management. This paper aims to develop a generic framework for the evaluation of key supply relationships incorporating seven key categories and to empirically test these assumptions by comparing firms reporting high levels of strategic purchasing to those with low levels.Design/methodology/approachThe data collection employed a mail survey sent to the senior manager responsible for purchasing in their organisation (n = 50).FindingsThe article finds that high SPO firms more closely scrutinise their supply relationships across a broad range of attributes, and, as well as perennially important issues such as quality and delivery, they emphasise “fit” between buyer and supplier (e.g. fit with the competitive strategy and organisational culture of the buying firm) as an important criterion in identifying failing relationships.Research limitations/implicationsThe positioning of the current study as one of the first to address the evaluation of suppliers under strategic purchasing adoption calls for further replication.Practical implicationsThe results of this study afford suppliers an understanding of the criteria by which firms adopting strategic purchasing evaluate troubled or weak relationships. This would seem particularly timely given the shift towards strategic purchasing by many organisations.Originality/valueThis study presents one of the first attempts to assess “ineffective” supplier performance and to incorporate metrics on strategic supplier selection.