Distance Library Research Articles

An algorithm for fast extraction and identification of star target

How to extract the star targets from star image is a challenging problem, particularly when the background is intricate and star target is weak. In this paper, an algorithm based on visual case is proposed to achieve fast extraction of star target. It is necessary to get every pixel in the star area to calculate the central coordinate. The boundary searching method that can get the boundary pixels was developed to get every pixel in star area according to the max and min line number and column number. By establishing visual case, algorithm complexity can be reduced during searching boundary of star target. An improved triangle identification algorithm is proposed to identify star target by storing angular distance and marking the identifying state during searching angular distance library. Experimental results show that the consuming time of visual case method is reduced by 3/4 compared to the boundary searching method, and the identification rate and storage requirements are improved compared with conventional triangle algorithm.

Listen to What You Cannot Hear, Observe What You Cannot See: An Introduction to Evidence-Based Methods for Evaluating and Enhancing the User Experience in Distance Library Services

Distance librarians often do not have the opportunity to engage face-to-face with users of library services. Without this personal interaction, it can be difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of library services in meeting the needs of the distance learners. Distance librarians may not realize it, but most have a wealth of information at their fingertips. In particular, data can be extracted and behavior use patterns discerned through Web analytics, transaction log analysis, and qualitative analysis of virtual reference transcripts. In lieu of interpersonal communication, distance librarians can listen to and observe user behavior through these evaluation methods. This paper offers an introductory perspective of these methods for the purpose of measuring the effectiveness of various service points and planning a course of action for enhancing the user experience in distance library services.

What Do They Have that We Don't Have? Local Libraries and Distance Students: Why Do Students Stray and Can We Get Them Back?

A significant number of distance students report they “stray” from their home universities by using local libraries, despite the fact that distance education librarians work hard to provide customized resources and services tailored to their programs and needs. Are public libraries and special libraries able to meet the research needs of distance learners, or are these students being underserved? This article explores why distance students may choose non-academic libraries over academic libraries, and the impact of this use—on local libraries serving unaffiliated distance learners, and on academic libraries with potentially underutilized distance library services.

Teaching an Online Information Literacy Course: Is It Equivalent to Face-to-Face Instruction?

College-level students arrive fairly confident in their research abilities. When the university began a new requirement for information literacy competency in the General Education Requirements, distance library faculty had the opportunity to teach an online section. A technologically savvy health science librarian and technologically challenged distance librarian co-taught the online section while three face-to-face sections were taught at the main campus. The goal was to teach the same competencies, present equivalent material and assess learning with equal rigor in all five sections. The sections agreed to similar final projects and final exam. A non-graded knowledge survey has been given to students in all sections at the beginning and end of the semester as a pre- and post-test to help assess if the online course is equivalent to the face-to-face sections. Other factors in teaching experience and technology also affect student competency levels.

How to reach library users who cannot reach libraries?

AbstractThe article discusses the ways of getting library activities closer to the individuals or groups of users who have difficulties to or cannot visit the library themselves. The author presents the services offered by the Maribor Public Library and discusses how one of the basic human rights – the right to the access of cultural goods, knowledge and information - is exercised also through library activities. By enabling access to library material and information, public libraries help to fulfill basic human rights and thus raise the quality of living in a social environment. The following forms of library activities are presented in the article: »distance library« – borrowing books at home, in hospital, station for the bibliobus for disabled users, »mobile collections« in the institutions where users, due to their age or illness, have difficulties in accessing or even cannot reach library materials and information by themselves.

Going the Distance in Academic Libraries: Identifying Trends and Innovation in Distance Learning Resources and Services

In 2012, U.S. News & World Report ranked nineteen institutions on its Up-and-Coming national universities list. The universities were put on the list based on rankings from experts in higher education administration. The experts were asked to identify institutions that had implemented innovative ideas in the areas of academics, faculty, and student life. This article examines the distance education services and resources that are provided by the libraries at each of the Up-and-Coming universities in order to identify innovative ideas and trends related to the support of distance library users.

The Sixteenth Distance Library Services Conference Update

There have been a couple of announcements from the Fifteenth Distance Library Services Conference. First, the Conference has announced that Dr. Trey Martindale, Associate Professor and Program Coor...

Beyond the Reference Desk: A Study on the Effectiveness of Low-Cost Distance Library Services at California State University San Marcos

Many of our reference interactions are face-to-face at a desk or in our offices. Unfortunately, not all of our students are on campus. Whether a non-traditional student or a traditional undergraduate, more of our patrons are attending online classes or attending satellite campuses with no librarians on site. It's difficult to reach these students, but it's even more difficult to reach them when libraries are facing tremendous financial hardships and have limited their technology budgets. Fortunately technological advances such as programs that offer free virtual “face-to-face” time with our patrons are becoming more available. Programs such as Skype, Jing, Moodle and Spark offer librarians and patrons the freedom to interact with each other at low or no costs. Sadly many librarians are either uncomfortable with the new technology or don't feel the quality of service is as good as high-priced tools. This paper will share the basic set-up of various free or low cost online programs, outline the benefits and drawbacks of some of those programs, and provide effective interaction techniques to use with distance learners to help make the reference interview and information literacy sessions a more positive and comfortable experience for librarians and students.

Delivering Relevant Information to a Remotely Located Clinical Department of a Medical Center

This article describes a model used by an academic health library for serving the faculty and staff of a clinical department located at a distance from the main medical campus and hospital clinics. The authors detail the in-person and electronic services leveraged to reach distance library clients effectively, including on-site office hours and electronic newsletters. The article concludes with a discussion of how these strategies can be transferred to hospital library settings.

Your books are in the mail: Fifty years of distance library service at Massey University

Your books are in the mail: Fifty years of distance library service at Massey University

The Fifteenth Distance Library Services Conference Update

The Fifteenth Distance Library Services Conference Update

Learning from Distance Faculty: A Faculty Needs Assessment at the University of Wyoming

Distance educators have special library needs. This article discusses the results of a library needs assessment of distance instructors at the University of Wyoming. Access to resources, use of library instructional services, barriers to distance library use, and perceived gaps in service are all addressed. Follow-up actions, based on survey results, are also discussed.

Spatial Metaphors and Distance Learning Library Services: Why “Where” Makes a Difference

ABSTRACT A close analysis of spatial metaphors used in distance education, such as “distant” education and “extended” courses, shows how these metaphors affect the design and goals of distance education library services. While some metaphors emphasize the possibilities of growth and communication, other metaphors continue to emphasize the isolation of distance learners. Distance librarians can reduce students’ confusion and forge new concepts about distance library services with thoughtful choices of metaphors.

Assessing the Impact of Cloud Computing and Web Collaboration on the Work of Distance Library Services

ABSTRACT Cloud computing and Web collaboration are shaping 21st-century libraries. These 2 developments seem to be behind the newest developments in library services and are driving library automation. The 2 are impacting library work by providing the library administrator with opportunities, especially for greater synergies among various individuals over dispersed locations. While the literature indicates ambivalence about these twin developments among library and information professionals, the administrators of distance library services have no choice but to engage in the use of cloud computing technologies and Web collaboration in order to remain relevant to users. Unfortunately, in doing this, distance services librarians will need to trade off ownership and control, trusting outsiders, while teaching users to be critical of the information gathered from collaborative sources.

Management of open distance libraries with reference to learner support

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to share information on the management of open distance libraries with special reference to technology applications. It seeks to provide information on the changing roles of academic libraries with specific reference to the requirements of open and distance learning (ODL). It aims to focus on the practical management experience of the University of South Africa (UNISA) library in support of the implementation of a new ODL model (optimizing available technology) at the University.Design/methodology/approachA review of the relevant literature was conducted to provide an overview on the topic and a context for the information gathered on the UNISA Library. Information gathered from the planning, policies and procedures of UNISA in general and the UNISA library in particular as well as experience gained by participating in workshops on ODL at UNISA was included in the paper.FindingsThe findings indicate that research and literature on leadership in distance education in general are limited and this is even more true for open and distance libraries. It is, however, evident from experience and the required standards for distance library services, that structured management and planning of these services are important to ensure success and future developments of the services. Furthermore, leaders in open distance libraries also need a variety of skills that are constantly updated to ensure optimization of resources, for suitable strategic planning, policy formulation and suitable in terms of new technology developments.Originality/valueIn addition to the literature survey and analysis the information gathered for the article is original in that it captures the experience gained from management of an ODL library. Although focused on open distance learning, the information is also of value to residential institutions, as the border between online services and open distance services is becoming blurred.

Applying the Critical Theory of Library Technology to Distance Library Services

The re-envisioning of libraries as information leaders in higher education requires an examination of the decisions made in the acquisition and adoption of library technology. The Critical Theory of Library Technology offers a framework for viewing technology decisions through a social, economic and political perspective. This paper uses the Critical Theory of Library Technology to open discourse on the varying levels of impact of distance library technology, suggesting that an application of the theory brings with it a set of questions that libraries may need to address.

Measure for measure: using statistics to monitor service take-up of the University of Leicester Library's Distance Learning Unit

The new Distance Learning Unit at the University of Leicester Library needed to evaluate and measure take-up of services in order to secure funding beyond the initial three-year funding period. The Unit established a comprehensive procedure for recording transactions which included both manual and computer generated data. This data was presented in several different ways to different groups within the University. Statistics were collected to aid library management, provide information to academic departments and for broader University management. The quantitative data revealed a significant growth in all service areas and qualitative feedback has been very positive. Members of the team have experienced several positive outcomes as a result of collecting this information and are highly committed to this time consuming task.

ILLiad, Document Delivery, and the Distance Student: How Document Delivery Can Enhance Support for Distance Library Users

ABSTRACT Academic libraries serve great numbers of distance learners and must address the unique challenges faced by these students. Technology can bridge the gap in terms of access and use of library resources. Academic librarians working with distance students must examine their student population, determine the needs of their users, and be prepared to adapt technology available to meet those needs. Many academic libraries have adapted Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) ILLiad to allow better support of distance learners. Library models that have used OCLC ILLiad or similar software for distance services are discussed and can be used as a model for change in library distance services programs.

Off-Campus Postgraduate Students’ Perceptions About Distance Library Support Services: A Case Study of Allama Iqbal Open University Libraries Network

ABSTRACT The present study was conducted to assess distance learning students’ perceptions about location and physical set up of libraries, collections, resources, and services rendered at thirty-four regional campuses as well as main campus libraries network of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) all over Pakistan. During the spring semester of 2007, a questionnaire was mailed to 250 randomly selected students enrolled in eleven postgraduate programs throughout the country. The response rate was 61.2%, which was made up of 43.1% females and 56.9% males. A majority of the respondents were dissatisfied with the virtual reference services, online database facilities, interlibrary loan, library membership, and borrowing of library material from the AIOU libraries. They were satisfied with the location and physical setup of the libraries, the collections, and the resources of the libraries. The study revealed that most of the respondents used the libraries during workshops as well as for research purposes. The statistical analysis (t = 0.550, Sig. = 0.970) showed that there was no significant difference between the opinion of females and males. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows version 10.0.

Creating a Logo to Market Distance Learning Services

ABSTRACT With distance education rapidly expanding at many institutions, the successful promotion of services designed for distance learning faculty, staff, and students is essential since most of the students will never visit the library building. While many libraries have created a logo for their main web page that is also used on publications and handouts, an evaluation of distance learning sites and portals reveals that few libraries use a logo specific for distance learning. Creating a brand identity is a marketing element underutilized in promoting distance learning library services. In the fall of 2004, it was determined that a distance learning specific logo would help to better promote services. The logo is used on all the library's distance learning sites as well as publications including brochures, bookmarks, and presentations. The goal is to create a unique “brand” to unify all of the library's distance learning materials. This poster session focuses on the history of the design and selection of the logo. During the creation process, several images were considered as logos. The poster describes the reasons for selecting one design over others, and includes tips for the institutional approval process. This poster demonstrates the uses of the distance learning logo to brand presentations, publications, and Web pages to successfully increase use of distance learning services, and create a name for the services.