Improving equity and efficiency in university library branches through intelligent prediction and optimization

As autonomous vehicles begin to drive on the road, rational decision making is essential for driving safety and efficiency. The decision-making of autonomous vehicles is a difficult problem since it depends on the surrounding dynamic environment constraints and its own motion constraints. As the result of the combination of deep learning (DL) and reinforcement learning (RL), deep reinforcement learning (DRL) integrates DL's strong understanding of perception problems such as visual and semantic text, as well as the decision-making ability of RL. Hence, DRL can be used to solve complex problems in real scenarios. However, as an end-to-end method, DRL is inefficient and the final result tend to be poorly robust. Considering the usefulness of existing domain knowledge for autonomous vehicle decision-making, this paper uses domain knowledge to establish behavioral rules and combine rule-based behavior strategies with DRL methods, so that we can achieve efficient training of autonomous vehicle decision-making models and ensure the vehicle to chooses safe actions under unknown circumstances. First, the continuous decision-making problem of autonomous vehicles is modeled as a Markov decision process (MDP). Taking into account the influence of unknown intentions of other road vehicles on self-driving decisions, a recognition model of the behavioral intentions of other vehicles was established. Then, the linear dynamic model of the conventional vehicle is used to establish the relationship between the vehicle decision-making behavior and the motion trajectory. Finally, by designing the reward function of the MDP, we use a combination of RL and behavior rules-based controller, the expected driving behavior of the autonomous vehicle is obtained. In this paper, the simulation environment of scenes of intersections in urban roads and highways is established, and each situation is formalized as an RL problem. Meanwhile, a large number of numerical simulations were carried out, and the comparison of our method and the end-to-end form of DRL technology were discussed. "Due to its robust operation and high performance during bad weather conditions and overnight as well as the ability of using the Doppler Effect to measure directly the velocity of objects, the radar sensor is used in many application fields. Especially in automotive many radar sensors are used for the perception of the environment to increase the safety of the traffic. To increase the security level especially for vulnerable road users (VRU’s) like pedestrians or cyclists, radar sensors are used in driver assistance systems. Radar sensors are also used in the infrastructure, e.g. a commercial application is the detection of cars and pedestrians to manage traffic lights. Furthermore, radar sensors installed in the infrastructure are used in research projects for safeguarding future autonomous traffic. The object recognition and accuracy of radar-based sensing in the infrastructure can be increased by cooperating radar systems, which consist out of several sensors. This paper focus on the data fusion method of two radar sensors to increase the performance of detection and localization. For data fusion the high level cluster data of the two radar sensors are used as input data in a neuronal net (NN) structure. The results are compared to the localization obtained by using only a single radar sensor operating with an ordinary tracking algorithm. First, different models for chosen region of interests (ROI) and operating mode of cooperative sensors are developed and the data structure is discussed. In addition, the data are preprocessed with a coordinate transformation and time synchronization for both sensors, as well as the noise filtering to reduce the amount of clusters for the algorithm. Furthermore, three NN structures (CNN, DNN and LSTM) for static + dynamic objects and only dynamic objects are created, trained and discussed. Also, based on the results further improvements for the NN performance will be discussed."

The aim of this study was to improve reinforcement learning algorithm by combining artificial bee colony algorithm. The traditional method of reinforcement learning algorithm has a very low convergence rate due to random choices. An ant algorithm will help to make random choices in reinforcement learning more appropriate. This hybrid algorithm called the bee colony reinforcement (BCR) algorithm. The tip of the arm must reach a predetermined purpose by BCR algorithm. The results show that the BCR algorithm in the model has been able to reduce the time to reach the goal than the reinforcement learning algorithm (In average 12 steps faster). Also, the path for reaching the goal in the BCR algorithm was far more direct and shorter than the reinforcement learning algorithm. This method also detects the optimal path towards the goal.

The continued survival and use of university libraries in the present period depend on expanding and modernizing library and information services. The study examined awareness, attitude and use of high-end technologies by libraries in Nigerian Universities. The objectives of the study were to identify the types of high-end technologies available in Nigerian university libraries; determine if staff of Nigerian university libraries are aware of high-end technologies; investigate librarians’ attitude towards high-end technology and ascertain if Nigerian university libraries use high-end technologies for service delivery. The study adopts a survey design of mixed method approach, and the population comprised of 40 respondents in three selected university libraries in Kwara State. A self-designed questionnaire was used for data collection, while the data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistic of frequency counts and percentage. Findings of the study revealed that university libraries now feature all-encompassing, user-friendly technology and service-driven techniques as a result of technological advancements, the study sheds light on librarian understanding, attitude, and use of cutting-edge technologies in university libraries in Kwara State, Nigeria. Only 6 of the 12 high-tech topics mentioned - RFID, IoT, institutional repositories, cloud computing, WEB 2.0/3.0, and WebOPAC - are thought to be well-known and in use. The study recommended that university management and library committee should provide adequate funding, thereby formulating policies addressing the installation and integration of high-end technologies in university libraries; there should be a public awareness campaign about the importance of high-end technologies in academic libraries; librarians should keep up with the latest trends to provide user-oriented services through adherence to these technologies in order to remain relevant in the profession and on the job, and that there should be constant user education on the importance of high-end technologies for both library staff and patrons.

What can classic Atari video games tell us about the human brain?

Reinforcement learning is an artificial intelligence paradigm that enables intelligent agents to accrue environmental incentives to get superior results. It is concerned with sequential decision-making problems which offer limited feedback. Reinforcement learning has roots in cybernetics and research in statistics, psychology, neurology, and computer science. It has piqued the interest of the machine learning and artificial intelligence groups in the last five to ten years. It promises that it allows you to train agents using rewards and penalties without explaining how the task will be completed. The RL issue may be described as an agent that must make decisions in a given environment to maximize a specified concept of cumulative rewards. The learner is not taught which actions to perform but must experiment to determine which acts provide the greatest reward. Thus, the learner has to actively choose between exploring its environment or exploiting it based on its knowledge. The exploration-exploitation paradox is one of the most common issues encountered while dealing with Reinforcement Learning algorithms. Deep reinforcement learning is the combination of reinforcement learning (RL) and deep learning. We describe how to utilize several deep reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms for managing a Cartpole system used to represent episodic environments and Stock Market Trading, which is used to describe continuous environments in this study. We explain and demonstrate the effects of different RL ideas such as Deep Q Networks (DQN), Double DQN, and Dueling DQN on learning performance. We also look at the fundamental distinctions between episodic and continuous activities and how the exploration-exploitation issue is addressed in their context.

The study employed a correlational research design to examine the relationship between different dimensions of job satisfaction and job performance among librarians in federal universities across five states in South-East, Nigeria: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo. The entire 153 librarians in federal universities in South-East constituted population of the study. Data were gathered through questionnaires and achievement tests. Questionnaires were validated by three experts, and reliability test was conducted using Cronbach's alpha, yielding coefficients of 0.934 for Affective Job Satisfaction, 0.917 for Cognitive Job Satisfaction, and 0.907 for Behavioral Job Satisfaction. Data collection was conducted face-to-face, which allowed for the application of both descriptive and inferential statistical methods in the analysis. Results indicated a high and positive relationship between all dimensions of job satisfaction including affective, cognitive, and behavioral job performance. The study concluded that enhancing librarians' job satisfaction across these dimensions significantly boosts their job performance. Based on these findings, recommendations were offered. These involve improving emotional support and recognition to boost affective satisfaction, investing in professional development and clear role definitions for cognitive satisfaction, and involving librarians in decision-making and promoting work-life balance to enhance behavioral satisfaction. These measures are suggested to foster a supportive work environment that enhances both job satisfaction and performance among academic librarians

Purpose This study aims to assess the effectiveness of online e-resource marketing tools used by university libraries to market e-resources. The specific objectives of this study were to uncover the e-resources that are showcased by university libraries, find out instructions posted by libraries to facilitate access and utilization of e-resources, examine marketing tools used, examine how current and relevant marketing messages and test the functionality of the marketing tools used. Design/methodology/approach An exploratory research design was used to assess the effectiveness of e-resources marketing tools. The study population included all public university libraries in Tanzania. The sample was purposively selected to include all publicly funded libraries as they work under similar management environments. Data collection involved the evaluation of online marketing tools using a matrix checklist. Findings It was revealed that most university libraries use websites for showcasing e-resources. The commonly used social media for marketing e-resources is Facebook followed by Instagram while Twitter and Ask a Librarian are the least used. The results further show that only a few universities provide instructions on how to access and use e-resources. The findings indicate that universities had active communication platforms for marketing e-resources. Furthermore, less than 50% of marketing messages are active and current. It is recommended that marketing e-resources should be integrated into the library’s plans and strategies and this should be informed by library policies. Research limitations/implications Given that, this study involved Tanzanian public university libraries, it is possible that the findings do not represent the same situation in all academic university libraries in the nation. Originality/value This study assesses the effectiveness of online tools used to market e-resources in university libraries in Tanzania. It reveals the e-resources that are showcased online, the instructions provided on how to access the e-resources and the functionality of the marketing tools. Unlike the previous research, which primarily focused on evaluating the Web-based tools in university and college libraries, this study focused on public libraries in the country. The results will not only contribute to the theoretical and practical understanding of the functionality of the marketing tools but also provide actionable insights to decision-makers in libraries in marketing their e-resources.

Reviewed by: The New University Library: Four Case Studies by Matthew Conner Erin L. Ellis The New University Library: Four Case Studies, Matthew Conner. Chicago: American Library Association, 2014. 176pages. $57 (ISBN 978-0-8389-1193-8) University libraries are wrestling with how to adapt to the future and thrive amidst tremendous change. In The New University Library: Four Case Studies, Matthew Conner, an instruction and reference librarian at the University of California, Davis demonstrates how two midsized university libraries (the University of California, Merced and the University of California, Davis) [End Page 376] and two large university libraries (the University of Hawai‘i, Manoa and the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign) address these challenges. As the chair of the Librarians Association of the University of California Professional Governance Committee, Conner led a system-wide study of the University of California Libraries. Building on that study, Conner aims to show how libraries presently cope with change rather than how they plan for it. He explores seven themes—reference, personnel, technology, collections, buildings, campus roles, and library culture—while prominently featuring the voices of librarians on the ground at each institution. Conner proposes that these four libraries are fairly representative of conditions at university libraries in general. The New University Library is organized into two parts with a short but excellent conclusion. Harking back to Melvil Dewey and setting the stage for the case studies, Part I reminds the reader that the library profession has always been forward-looking by reviewing the history of change, adaptation, and evolution in libraries. Part II presents the four case studies, each of which includes the historical context and an abundance of detail demonstrating both unique and industry-wide challenges. Readers learn how each institution balances local customs and traditions with constantly evolving faculty and student needs. While all four libraries face familiar challenges with budgets, physical space, collection size and storage, and staffing, they utilize different problem-solving approaches suitable for their individual campus environments. These cases also illustrate various attempts at reorganizing staff competencies to achieve efficiencies in critical areas of support and service. The importance of place is a common thread that runs through the four case studies, as campuses expand and library buildings remain largely fixed. Each library is challenged to develop meaningful and efficient spaces, redefine services, and make accommodations for future needs while having little flexibility to make significant physical changes. Tied closely to this theme is a shared interest in developing space for undergraduate learning and study. The learning commons has been with us for some time, but libraries still struggle to implement it successfully. While these case studies might offer a reassuring familiarity to librarians and administrators, readers should also gain a greater appreciation for useful and reliable data. Since we will likely be asking “What is the future of academic libraries?” for a while, libraries engaged in meaningful assessment and data collection will find themselves better positioned to adapt to change and uncertainty. Rather than offer a list of recommendations or identify best practices from these cases, Conner invites his readers to draw their own ideas and inspiration. In his conclusion, he explains that these four cases are meant to provide multiple perspectives in order to define a context for future libraries. He uses the metaphor of the organization as organism to depict the evolutionary complexity of each individual library as well as academic libraries overall. Given the myriad of issues each library faces, no one institution can be representative. Yet there are developments worth examining as we progress. Though some small and private academic libraries may find it more difficult to appropriate the ideas in The New University Library, most librarians and administrators will find it easy to read and applicable to their own circumstances. [End Page 377] Erin L. Ellis Assistant Dean of Research and Learning University of Kansas, Lawrence eellis@ku.edu Copyright © 2015 Johns Hopkins University Press

Reference services are one of the services available at Open University (UT) Library, and they are widely used to meet the information needs of its users. This research aims to determine the reference service process at UT Library, the process of utilizing these services, and the challenges faced in UT Library reference service. The method used is qualitative with a case study approach. Data collection techniques are through observation and interviews with subjects, namely librarians, and objects, namely UT Library reference services. The research results show that UT Library has offline reference services in the library, online reference services via specific platforms, and digitally on the UT Digital Library website. UT Library reference services are mainly utilized online and digitally through the library's online database, although offline services are still available in the UT Library building. The three primary services in the UT Library database are OER/SUAKA-UT, RBV, and E-Resources, which can be visited via the https://pustaka.ut.ac.id/lib/ page and the http://repository.ut.ac page. id/ for UT repository. Because UT Libraries prioritizes their distance services, the challenges come from the uneven distribution of information and network problems in some areas when users access digital services. That is why the distribution of information in UT Digital Library needs to be improved, as well as features that can connect users to librarians directly. This makes it easier for users who want to consult further directly with a librarian.

Engaging in quality management (QM) is considered one of the approaches for an organisation to change towards improvement, particularly for managing organisational performance and meeting expectations of customers. In Vietnam, with quality reform in higher education, the pressures for improving the quality of teaching, learning and research have resulted in the need to improve academic infrastructure, including university libraries. Change for development in Vietnamese organisations, including university libraries, is slow due to traditional rigid management cultures (Welch, 2010) and lack of requisite resources. The recent official deployment of quality assurance and accreditation in Vietnamese higher education requires critical changes in university libraries to improve the quality of services. The mixed methods approach of this thesis explores QM content in relation to its processes of development and implementation at Vietnamese university libraries. The results are interpreted through using QM theory, strategic change theory, a resource-based view, resource dependence theory, institutional theory and consideration of cultural perspectives. The study first surveyed 93 Vietnamese university libraries, focusing on manager perceptions of QM. The findings show that, while the managers perceived QM as of critical importance, the QM practices at their libraries were at an average level only. The findings indicate that library resources, an application of quality standards, and experience of library managers were important influences, for enabling or impeding QM implementation. The findings of subsequent semi-structured interviews with selected managers and employees of seven university libraries confirm the survey results and add insights into how QM principles were adopted, and how quality standards from the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) and ISO 9001 were followed (or deficient) at the libraries. Interview outcomes supplied in-depth and multiple understandings of social, political and economic influences, information about organisational culture, and human resource characteristics, all of which affected library QM implementation. A framework for QM development and implementation in Vietnamese university libraries is presented, based on the literature review and the findings from the data collection and analysis. The framework proposes that Vietnamese university libraries should design QM programs with priorities given to QM principles, practices and tools, for different stages of the QM process. They need to be based on the understanding of the library cultures and human resource characteristics, and hoped-for collaboration between universities, government and the wider educational environment. The study validates the approach in the QM literature to the extent that implementation of QM in specific organisations is found to be context-dependent. In this study, the term ‘internal context’ is used to cover employee demographics, manager demographics, skills and leadership styles, the physical and financial resources of libraries, and organisational culture. The ‘external context’ is taken as coercive forces for quality imposed by the state and educational institutions, their policies of incentives, and potential resources and subsidies. The findings help Vietnamese university libraries and their managers to understand relevant QM concepts, the challenges around implementing QM programs, and to acquire appropriate methods to strengthen organisational capabilities and to seek resources in the external environment. The study is beneficial for decision-makers in universities and government ministries in advocating appropriate political and economic support for greater library development.

This study analyzed the deterioration of non-print materials in University libraries in North Central Nigeria. It sought to examine the types of non-print materials available in university libraries, causes of deterioration of non-print materials, extent of deterioration of non-print materials in university libraries and the measures for preventing deterioration of non-print materials in the university libraries. Descriptive survey design was used for the study with a population of 467 library staff. The instrument for data collection was structured questionnaire, interview and observation checklist. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Percentages, weighted mean scores and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions. The study found that the type of non print materials available in university libraries in North Central Nigeria were, computers, servers, discs, flash, CD, VCD, DVDs, Digital video camera, CD-ROMs, plasma televisions, tape recorders, cassettes, slides, multi-media projectors. The study equally found that major causes of deterioration of non-print materials in the university libraries under study were poor ventilation, manhandling, exposure to dust, ultraviolet radiation, water, light, lack of proper maintenance, loss of data as a result of system crash and technology obsolescence. Conclusion and recommendations were made based on the research findings.Keywords: Deterioration, Non-print Materials, University Library

This study sets out to investigate the relationship between organisational culture of university libraries and turnover intention of librarians in private universities in southern Nigerian. Type of culture, bond that binds, organisational structure and leadership style were the constructs of organisational culture investigated. The research design employed is the survey of the correlational type. The population are all the librarians in these private university libraries making a total of 308. Census sampling technique was used to study all of the librarians in the universities. The questionnaire was the instrument of data collection. Data collection was done by physically administering the questionnaire to the respondents with the help of three research assistants over a four-week period. Total returned questionnaire found usable was 289. Data from the research questions was analysed using frequency count and simple statistics while the hypothesis posed was tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). Findings revealed that the predominant culture of the private universities studies is the Adhocracy culture with mean of ( x̄ = 15.61, SD = 4.60). Turnover intention of librarians was also shown to be high with mean of (x̄ = 46.46, SD = 5.87). organisational structure was controlled and structures with a mean of ( x̄ =3.14; SD=0.60); predominant leadership style was found to be transformational ( x̄=3.04; SD=0.64) while the bonds that holds was ( x̄ =3.12; SD=0.50). It is recommended that library management of private universities should formulate policies that enhance bonding, structure, leadership and culture type in order to reduce turnover intention and stem actual turnover.

PurposeThis study aims to analyse the basic status of application of social networking sites (SNSs) in Chinese university libraries and explore the relationship between microblog and the output of scientific research achievements in universities. This study suggests methods for improving the efficiency of SNS use in university libraries and promotes scientific research achievements and social services in universities.Design/methodology/approachOnline survey and statistical analysis were conducted to collect the number and types of SNSs used by 112 libraries in Chinese universities under the “211 project”. This study used microblog as an example and analysed the distribution of SNS use in different types of university libraries. Correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were used to analyse the factors related to microblogs, such as number of followings, followers, posts and published articles.FindingsSNSs changed the information utilization behaviour of users. Survey results show that an increasing number of university libraries are using SNSs. These sites are mainly microblogs and WeChat. The proportion of the number of SNSs applied by comprehensive universities and science and technology universities was higher than that of other types of universities. Results of multiple regression analysis using microblogs showed that the number of followers has a significantly positive effect on the number of published articles of the university.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has three main limitations. First, data collection is incomplete, which easily causes the error of analysis results. Second, the overall status of SNS use in libraries is lacking in accurate understanding, which indicates limitations in terms of the analysis and conclusion. Finally, the research scope was narrow and only studied the situation of libraries using microblogs. Future research should focus on the data collection and sorting, make comparative studies of different periods of data, conduct cultural studies on the user usage perspective and conduct research on the application of different social network platforms in libraries.Practical implicationsThe use of SNSs has brought new challenges and opportunities to university libraries because of rapid development of the internet and the scale of expansion microblogs. Moreover, microblogs have become an important platform of university libraries for self-promotion and marketing. This study proposes methods and measures for promoting the SNS popularity of university libraries, enhancing their content and increasing the role of SNSs in their interaction.Originality/valueStatistical analysis was conducted to analyse the status of SNS use in university libraries and the data of SNS use in different types of universities. Effective measures were offered to address the issues found in the study. The results confirmed that the number of followers has a significantly positive effect on the number of published articles of the university, which could improve the enthusiasm of university libraries in using SNS, enhance the efficiency of information service and strengthen the use awareness of the teachers and students.

This study analysed the determinants of performance appraisal in relation to staff productivity in university libraries in Akwa Ibom State. A correlational research design was adopted. Three (3) specific objectives and three (3) null hypotheses were framed to guide the study. The population of the study consisted of one hundred and ninety-nine (199) library staff across all categories from four (4) university libraries. A sample size of 101 library staff, which represented 50% were selected, using proportionate stratified sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was a self-structured questionnaire, designed in two (2) sets to examine the independent and dependent variables. The sets of questionnaire were validated by three (3) research experts, and subjected to reliability test, which yielded 0.82 and 0.79 reliability coefficients using Cronbach’s Alpha. The data collection processes yielded a response rate of 87%, and the data collected were analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) Coefficient to answer research questions while the null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance using the linear regression statistics. The study revealed that clearly defined goals, staff growth plans and reward for excellence in performance appraisal have strong positive relationship with staff productivity in the university libraries. It also showed that staff feedback in performance appraisal has a weak significant relationship with staff productivity in university libraries. It was recommended among other measures, that management of university libraries should set more-specific, clear and challenging goals for library staff and the timeframe for executing such goals so as to guide staff in their responsibilities for enhanced productivity toward attainment of the mission of the university libraries.

Talent management practices and job performance of librarians in university libraries in Nigeria