title: Collaborative and Social Interaction within Groups of Patrons in Academic and Public Libraries: Implications for Digital Libraries

authors: Alqurashi, Hayat

subjects: collaborative information behaviour

abstract: This Master’s thesis investigates patrons’ information-seeking behaviour in physical libraries. Information available to meet patron’s information needs, and constraints that limit the use of this information have been examined by a number of researchers in the last few years. However, there is a dearth of literature on the information-seeking processes, including the act of selecting books from shelves, and the kind of social interaction that may occur between patrons attending the library in groups. To address this gap we identified in the literature, this thesis used a qualitative method to investigate the behaviour of patrons when visiting libraries, and the way patrons within groups treat each other from the time they enter the library until they leave. 83 groups were observed in both public and academic libraries, totalling 217 participants. The observations and analysis of the study results increase our understanding of collaborative behaviour, group characteristics and other influential factors, such as location, time, physical environment, ambience and layout of the library. Our study also compared the findings with some previous work on similar concepts. Most findings highlight possible implications of social and book interaction in digital libraries, and emphasise the need to support more group collaboration among users of Digital Libraries, without limitations of shared time or location.

text: Collaborative and Social Interaction within Groups of Patrons in Academic and Public Libraries: Implications for Digital Libraries This Master’s thesis investigates patrons’ information-seeking behaviour in physical libraries. Information available to meet patron’s information needs, and constraints that limit the use of this information have been examined by a number of researchers in the last few years. However, there is a dearth of literature on the information-seeking processes, including the act of selecting books from shelves, and the kind of social interaction that may occur between patrons attending the library in groups. To address this gap we identified in the literature, this thesis used a qualitative method to investigate the behaviour of patrons when visiting libraries, and the way patrons within groups treat each other from the time they enter the library until they leave. 83 groups were observed in both public and academic libraries, totalling 217 participants. The observations and analysis of the study results increase our understanding of collaborative behaviour, group characteristics and other influential factors, such as location, time, physical environment, ambience and layout of the library. Our study also compared the findings with some previous work on similar concepts. Most findings highlight possible implications of social and book interaction in digital libraries, and emphasise the need to support more group collaboration among users of Digital Libraries, without limitations of shared time or location.

year: 2014

title: Forty or fifty something

authors: Stanley, Peter

subjects: family work relationship

abstract: Many teachers and human service workers are 40-50 years al age and this paper explores the formative influences, and the developmental characteristics, of workers who are presently middle-aged. This leads onto an examination of the importance of relationships and work to mid-lifers. In the concluding section of the paper, there is some consideration of the significance of having an older workforce for the success of the current policy innovations in special education.

text: Forty or fifty something Many teachers and human service workers are 40-50 years al age and this paper explores the formative influences, and the developmental characteristics, of workers who are presently middle-aged. This leads onto an examination of the importance of relationships and work to mid-lifers. In the concluding section of the paper, there is some consideration of the significance of having an older workforce for the success of the current policy innovations in special education.

year: 2007

title: Hangarau me te Māori: Māori and technology

authors: Keegan, Te Taka Adrian Gregory

subjects: Māori

abstract: A sign of a vibrant, healthy developing nation is the adaptation and uptake of new technologies. Māori have a long, but mostly unrecognised, history of ingenious innovation and adaption of new technologies. This chapter will reveal Māori ingenuity through discussion of historic examples and modern media usages by Māori, and the future implications these have for Māori.
Technology can be defined as tools, devices and machines that have been developed by the application of scientific knowledge. Māori technology, then, is Māori tools, devices and machines that have been developed by the application of Māori scientific knowledge. This chapter discusses some examples of innovative Māori technology and their adoption in both historic and modern times. It includes sections on historic Māori technology, Māori media innovation and Māori adoption of Internet technology. Two sections are further expanded on: Māori in social networking sites and te reo Māori in technology. The chapter concludes with the authors' thoughts on how the adoption of new technologies will shape tikanga Māori and te reo Māori into the future.

text: Hangarau me te Māori: Māori and technology A sign of a vibrant, healthy developing nation is the adaptation and uptake of new technologies. Māori have a long, but mostly unrecognised, history of ingenious innovation and adaption of new technologies. This chapter will reveal Māori ingenuity through discussion of historic examples and modern media usages by Māori, and the future implications these have for Māori.
Technology can be defined as tools, devices and machines that have been developed by the application of scientific knowledge. Māori technology, then, is Māori tools, devices and machines that have been developed by the application of Māori scientific knowledge. This chapter discusses some examples of innovative Māori technology and their adoption in both historic and modern times. It includes sections on historic Māori technology, Māori media innovation and Māori adoption of Internet technology. Two sections are further expanded on: Māori in social networking sites and te reo Māori in technology. The chapter concludes with the authors' thoughts on how the adoption of new technologies will shape tikanga Māori and te reo Māori into the future.

year: 2018