Library Area Research Articles

Applications of knowledge management in the area of Librarianship and Information Science

The knowledge management (KM) has become an important guideline for the Information and Knowledge Society, as well as for libraries. Thus, this article presents a literature review using a systematic approach, with the proposition of identifying trends and applications of knowledge management in the areas of Information Science and/or Library Science. It has been noticed that there are differences between the concepts of information management and knowledge management characterized as barriers to the implementation of KM. Libraries have often developed KM activities (especially regarding the sharing of knowledge, through Web 2.0 features). The uses currently applied are related to the use of blogs, wiki tools, shared classification systems (tagging), social networks, among others. But in some cases, the libraries are not properly aware of their work. It is necessary that they make KM a part of their routines and think of it in a systematic way, in order to channel resources, planning, among other things, and benefit from the improvements that can be achieved through KM, perfecting their services and satisfying their users.

Digital Curation Bibliography: Preservation and Stewardship of Scholarly Works

This book is one of three bibliographies self-published in print format under a Creative Commons license. The scheme here is the same as one of Bailey's other works that was previously reviewed, Transforming Scholarly Publishing Through Open Access 1. As outlined in the previous review, Bailey compiles bibliographies on various aspects of scholarly publishing in the digital age, publishes them in open-access format on his website, and offers print versions of the bibliographies at a reasonable price. Bibliographies do not make good reading: what readers really want is to have an anthology and to read those sections of most interest. While anthologies are constrained by copyright permission and cost, bibliographies have their own genius, and Bailey's related genius is in working in an area of librarianship that is mystifying to most in the field.

Library Catalogues of the Future: A Social Space and Collaborative Tool?

Next-generation catalogues are providing opportunities for library professionals and users to interact, collaborate, and enhance core library functions. Technology, innovation, and creativity are all components that are merging to create a localized, online social space that brings our physical library services and experiences into an online environment. While patrons are comfortable creating user-generated information on commercial Web sites and social media Web sites, library professionals should be exploring alternative methods of use for these tools within the library setting. Can the library catalogue promote remote readers' advisory services and act as a localized "Google"? Will patrons or library professionals be the driving force behind user-generated content within our catalogues? How can cataloguers be sure that the integrity of their bibliographic records is protected while inviting additional data sources to display in our catalogues? As library catalogues bring our physical library services into the online environment, catalogues also begin to encroach or "mash-up" with other areas of librarianship that have not been part of a cataloguer's expertise. Using library catalogues beyond their traditional role as tools for discovery and access raises issues surrounding the expertise of library professionals and the benefits of collaboration between frontline and backroom staff.

Special Collections in Academic Libraries: Introduction

Like all areas of librarianship, Special Collections continue to evolve. When this editor became a librarian four decades ago, the rare books and archives departments of many academic libraries wer...

Primed for Patron-Driven Acquisition: A Look at the Big Picture

The development of patron-driven acquisition (PDA) as a viable collections practice is encouraging many academic libraries to be proactive about sharing significant collection development responsibilities with their patrons. The adoption of PDA represents a challenge to some long-held understandings about libraries and collections, however, and some libraries are still assessing this option. Further, questions about PDA and its fit with academic libraries are just now being answered. An examination of some of the shifting understandings in this area of librarianship and their relation to PDA provides a snapshot of the big picture, which may assist libraries with the decision-making process.

Maintaining parallel systems

When I was a biomedical library director, people frequently asked me why libraries had reaped so few savings from the introduction of electronic journals. I often answered by explaining that we were maintaining parallel systems: We had to keep processing print, because it still represented a substantial portion of our collections, while at the same time we provided access to electronic content. The cost of running two systems more than compensated for any savings from moving to digital delivery. Using a term from the business world, like “parallel systems,” seemed to make this rather mundane observation more persuasive. Of course, it probably helped that the answer also gave the welcome impression that sooner or later we would drop print and see some savings. The current issue of the Journal of the Medical Library Association (JMLA) provides a different perspective on the challenge of maintaining parallel systems. This issue confirms that health sciences librarians are definitely experimenting with new initiatives that make use of our ever more “high-tech” environment to improve access to information. At the same time, we still pursue the “high-touch” concept of librarianship that encouraged many of us to enter the profession in the first place. Elizabeth Workman et al.'s article on biomedical text summarization explains how new web-based applications can allow librarians to develop secondary databases in an automated fashion. Painstakingly curated lists of faculty publications and laboriously assembled bibliographies of current literature on a narrowly defined topic once were common in special libraries. They became impractical as the literature expanded, but with these new applications, we may be able to once again create specialized databases for our users. Equally new possibilities for health sciences information delivery are suggested in the brief communication by Valerie Lawrence et al., which describes the efforts in Washington to deliver electronic content to health practitioners throughout that state. Should this pioneering effort gain traction elsewhere, it opens up a whole new set of opportunities for health sciences librarians to reach health practitioners. At the same time, the issue contains two reports of activities in a very traditional area of librarianship, collection development. Ana Ugaz et al. report on the results of the latest update to the “Basic List of Veterinary Medical Serials,” while Amber Burtis and Mary Taylor have updated a 1997 study mapping the literature of health education. Statistics from PubMed Central indicate that the mapping studies for nursing are some of the most frequently downloaded papers from the JMLA, confirming that this traditional aspect of our profession is still very important to us and to our users. Similar evidence of the importance of traditional library functions can be found in Felicia Barrett's brief communication analyzing the decline in reference services at a regional academic health sciences library, and Sandra De Groote and Felicia Barrett's brief communication examining the use of print collections. Barrett concludes that although user groups may be changing, demand for reference services from our core clientele remains important, while De Groote suggests that in some circumstances there is still heavy use of onsite print collections. It is not easy to operate parallel systems, whether we are referring to the maintenance of print and electronic or the introduction of new roles while we still perform our old ones. I hope this issue, however, will help us to meet the challenge.

The Resource Team Model: An Innovative Mentoring Program for Academic Librarians

Mentoring is a service activity that librarians must engage in to ensure a smooth integration of new library faculty. This case study describes the process of implementing a new mentoring model approach in an academic library, the Resource Team Model (RTM). The California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) Resource Team is an innovative model of mentoring, coaching, and training which includes a broader network of support for mentors and mentees.1 It is formed by a trinity of mentor librarians with different strengths who mobilize for six months to guide and support one new librarian. The main objectives of this model are to acclimatize the mentee to all areas of librarianship and to the culture of the new organization. The RTM ensures that new librarian mentees have the tools and support to move seamlessly into the fabric of the organization and to flourish professionally as they move towards tenure. The RTM approach is not a group mentoring, a mutual mentoring network, or a mentoring circle model as described in the literature. The advantages and disadvantages of the model are discussed, and the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and pressures from both the mentor and mentee perspective at the CSULB University Library are examined.

Transitioning to Corporate Librarianship

ABSTRACT With corporate librarianship being a hot job, many professionals may be curious about this area of librarianship. This article provides an introduction to this area for new librarians or librarians interested in transitioning to corporate librarianship. The authors discuss ways to enhance one's education, where to look for jobs, know what to expect on the job, and ways to advance. Corporate librarianship is defined from a broad perspective including areas such as law librarianship and knowledge management, and a number of corporate librarians' experiences and perspectives are incorporated into the article.

Adventures in Online Mentoring: The New Members' Roundtable Career Mentoring Program

ABSTRACT Many programs for mentoring of librarians exist within organizations, for specific areas of librarianship, or for particular groups of librarians. These programs generally depend on face-to-face contact and some organizational commonalities or similarity in positions. With the advent of online communication, could a more general program matching up new librarians and ALA members with experienced librarians for online mentoring be feasible? ALA's New Members' Round-table Mentoring Committee coordinated a new project to find out. This article outlines the planning process and the mechanics of the program through two iterations. Feedback received from participants was mixed but provided valuable insight into what could make a wholly online mentoring program work.

The Music Librarian as Development Officer: Raising Funds for Special Collections

Over the past ten years, advances in technology have led to increased productivity and efficiency in nearly every area of librarianship. As a result, many music libraries across the United States are either beginning a special collections program or are turning to these collections for digitization; as special collections often consist of older materials no longer under copyright, they become priorities for digitization, which also affords a critical preservation benefit. As these collections grow, so does the need for funding, which is essential to their proper archival storage and long‐term preservation. A review of the literature finds that little research has been published in the area of special collections fundraising, particularly specific to music; therefore, this article summarizes the literature and attempts to apply it to music special collections fundraising. Topics covered include grants and grant writing; employing a development officer or becoming one yourself; Friends' groups; and, annual funds and other fundraising methods.

Some Reservations about FRBR

PurposeAims to promote discussion of issues concerning Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (FRBR).Design/methodology/approachAn opnion piece on the value of a new library cataloguing system.FindingFRBR is a theoretical and unproven model for organizing data in online library catalogs. Although the viability of the model remains unproven, it is being accepted largely without question in the library community, supported by a bandwagon effect among many librarians. The model has numerous weaknesses, such as vague terminology, and its implementation will demand large expenditures of resources, while its added value is unclear.Originality/valueOpines that although the model is a new cataloging standard, its implementation will have an impact on all areas of librarianship.

A New Model of Geographic Information Librarianship: Description, Curriculum and Program Proposal

Traditional map librarianship has evolved and now takes in many digital resources, including GIS (geographic information systems) data. Historically, ALA-accredited schools of library/information science have not provided comprehensive programs to support traditional print map librarianship nor more recently GIS librarianship professions, as compared to other specializations, such as music librarianship, archives management and others which have been established for many years. Currently, we are experiencing a merging and expansion of the map and GIS librarianship specialties into the field of Geographic Information Librarianship. This paper defines this new area of specialization, describes the need for this expertise in the profession and outlines a proposed curriculum and student recruitment in an interdisciplinary setting. Introduction A new area of librarianship, rooted in traditional map and GIS librarianship, is emerging. Geographic Information Librarianship (GIL) can be broadly defined as the profession of providing geographic information resources and services in a library setting. This new definition of GIL is intentionally broad and has three areas of expertise; (1) cartographic materials cataloging; (2) print map librarianship; and (3) GIS librarianship. While each area of expertise requires unique skills sets, each compliments and builds on the other two. GIL builds upon traditional library skills along with geographic information science and technology, where in the best possible setting, the librarian knows the community and serves the clientele with appropriate as well as appropriate technologies.1 Geographic Information Librarianship supports all media (paper to digital) that contain geographic information. This new specialization embraces the larger library community's move toward a bricks and clicks service model, specifically for cartographic data, often described as a geospatial information center. How can we build upon the current offerings at ALA accredited schools of information and library science to both promote and train for this new specialization? The academic journey to prepare the Geographic Information Librarians (GILs) with the necessary skills sets requires an enhancement to the traditional library curriculum track to ensure the librarians acquire an appropriate understanding of the organizational methods associated with cartographic resources (classification and metadata), cartographic principles, and a proficient GIS knowledge base. The purpose of this article is to define the scope of GIL as a profession and explore potential curriculum models within LIS programs to implement a GIL specialization. Background of Map and GIS Librarianship Cartographic information, traditionally stored in print maps, atlases, and aerial photos has evolved and merged into various digital formats. Many standard map reference resources are no longer offered in print and are only available digitally in the form of an interactive web interface. Two such examples are the USGS National Atlas, published in 1970, available online since 1997, and the US Census Bureau who released TIGER/Line files in 1989, and now hosts an interactive website entitled, American FactFinder. This shift from print to digital format has resulted in new ways that society views, understands, and employs maps. Maps are now incorporated into processes where geographic and topical data can be transformed into information that addresses real world issues and research questions. MacEachren's, How Maps Work, makes the point that are moving away from a form of representation and end-product to a larger role as part of an information infrastructure, a means of communication, and as a tool to facilitate analysis and decision making.2 The impact of this shift associated with the medium change of geographic information (paper to digital) and the application of maps to facilitate decision-making processes has had a ripple effect on map libraries. …

5th International Conference of Animal Health Information Specialists (ICAHIS)

PurposeA Conference Report from the 5th International Conference of Animal Health Information Specialists held for the first time on the African continent. To inform library colleagues about this specialty area of librarianship, the literature, concerns and work of animal science and veterinary librarians. The international scope of this meeting reinforced the importance.Design/methodology/approachDescription of conference content and introduction of speakers and participants.FindingsInformation needs of animal health information specialists around the world appear to be the same but the digital divide is very significant with practitioners in Africa with issues concerning bandwidth, connectivity, local economies and other access related concerns continue to experience an information delivery gap.Research limitations/implicationsSuggests the technological and access concerns of this special librarian population.Practical implicationsAwareness and networking for this relatively small group of librarians.Originality/valueLearning about this group which meets irregularly is of great value.

XVIII Bibliography and Textual Criticism

This year's work in bibliography and textual criticism continues the pattern of previous years. Monographs on editorial theory continue to flourish in a healthy manner and work on the history of the book demonstrates that it has become a fashionable field of activity. The review encompasses materials of interests to students of various areas of librarianship, book collecting, and antiquarianism as well as English literature. As in previous years, the variety and quality of journals and journal articles devoted to bibliography and textual criticism grows and flourishes. The Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America 96[2002] includes the following articles in addition to reviews. David R. Carlson, in his ‘Printed Superior Figures in Nicholas Jenson's Lawbooks, 1478–80’ (PBSA 96[2002] 4–22), explores the evidence relating to the typographical practices found in Nicholas Jenson's Lawbooks. Carlson's article is well served by some interesting accompanying illustrations. Marvin Spevack, in his ‘What...

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Electronic Journals But Were Afraid to Ask

SUMMARY As is implied in the title, this workshop covered the different issues involved with electronic journals (e-journals). Wittenbach, the head of acquisitions for the University of California, Riverside (UCR) Library, discussed these issues based on her four years of dealing with e-journals. She covered e-journals and how they are handled in three main areas of librarianship: acquisitions/vendors, processing/online integration, and public services/collection development.

XVIII Bibliography and Textual Criticism

The year's work in bibliography and textual criticism continues the pattern of previous years. There are an increasing number of monographs concerned with editorial theory and the history of the book as well as bibliographies devoted to the works of individual writers. This year's survey will draw our readers’ attention to useful enumerative, analytical and descriptive bibliographical labours. The review also describes materials of interest to students of various areas of librarianship, book collecting and antiquarianism as well as English literature. The variety and diversity of journals devoted to bibliography and textual criticism continue to flourish. The Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America (95[2001]) contains William Robins, ‘Antonio Pucci's Contrasto delle donne and the Circulation of Fourteenth-Century Florentine Dramatic Poetry’ (PBSA 95[2001] 5–19); Eric Rasmussen, ‘The Date of Q4 Hamlet’ (PBSA 95[2001] 21–29); Don-John Dugas, ‘The London Book Trade in 1709 (Part One)’ (PBSA 95[2001] 31–58); J.A. Leo Lemay, ‘An Attribution of Reflections on Courtship and Marriage (1746) to Benjamin Franklin’ (PBSA 95[2001] 59–96); Robert D. Armstrong, ‘The Only Alternative Course: Incidents in Nevada Printing History’ (PBSA 95[2001] 97–156); Don-John Dugas, ‘The London Book Trade in 1709 (Part Two)’ (PBSA 95[2001] 157–72); Paul Needham, ‘Copy Description in Incunable Catalogs’ (PBSA 95[2001] 173–239); MacD. P. Jackson, ‘Late Webster and his Collaborators: How Many Playwrights Wrote A Cure for a Cuckold?’ (PBSA 95[2001] 295–313); Paul Werstine, ‘Scribe or Compositor: Ralph Crane, Compositors D and F, and the First Four Plays in the Shakespeare First Folio’ (PBSA 95[2001] 315–39); Keith Arbour, ‘Solomon Stoddard's Addition to The Safety of Appearing (Boston, 1729) and the Attribution of its Printing, with a Note on “Reilly 695”’ (PBSA 95[2001] 341–7); Peter Isaac, ‘The English Provincial Book Trade: A Northern Mosaic’ (PBSA 95[2001] 410–441); Christian Y. Dupont, ‘Collecting Dante in American at the End of the Nineteenth Century: John Zahm and Notre Dame’ (PBSA 95[2001] 443–81); R. Carter Hailey, ‘“Geuyng light to the reader”’: Robert Crowley's Editions of Piers Plowman (1550)’ (PBSA 95[2001] 483–502); William Searle, ‘“By foule authority”: Miscorrection in the Folio Text of Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida’ (PBSA 95[2001] 503–19).

Russian Internet Sites: Science, Culture, and Education

SUMMARY The authors discuss the recent rise of the Internet in Russia, its use by Russian librarians, and networks of libraries that have developed over the past decade in Russia. The paper provides addresses for a number of Internet sites in the area of librarianship, education, and culture in general.

Geology Librarianship

Current trends and challenges in geology librarianship are influenced by driving forces such as the exponential increase in knowledge, the interdisciplinary nature of sciences, specialization of disciplines, space and budget constraints, and user expectations. The current trend toward a digital environment affects all areas of librarianship including collection development, current awareness, reference, instruction, preservation, dissemination of information, legislation and copyright law. Although the future role of librarianship may appear murky, science librarians will almost certainly continue to function as information specialists who reach across disciplinary boundaries to find related information. They will continue to prepare users for a lifetime of learning, work to standardize the various electronic resources, and ensure that knowledge is preserved in some format. This article provides an overview of the current state of geology librarianship.

Serial Sources on the Web

The last few years have seen an unprecedented growth of the electronic environment in all areas of librarianship. Recently, the Internet and World Wide Web have been the focus of much of this expansion. Many specialized resources of interest to serials librarians can be found on the Web. This article briefly examines the World Wide Web, and a selected number of resources of interest primarily to serialists.

Developing Readers' Advisory Service for Library Users Whose Primary Language is Not English

This paper presents some ideas about readers' advisory service for library users whose primary language is not English to offer a perspective about some of the issues involved. Questions are raised to stimulate further study and research in this area of librarianship.