Higher Education Libraries Research Articles

El bibliotecario integrado en el aprendizaje universitario

Overview of educational roles of the embedded librarians, based on collaboration and building relationships with the faculty. The concept, functions and models of embedding librarians in learning environments are defined. It is concluded that embedding activities are a good model to empower the library in higher education and legitimate its participation in teaching activities.

‘The Engagement is Announced …’: Collaborative Ventures between the British Library and the Higher Education Sector

Following the appointment of Lynne Brindley as Chief Executive of the British Library – the first professionally-qualified librarian to lead that institution – a new spirit of collaboration between the BL and UK Higher Education libraries was to emerge. This article identifies the factors that led to an environment in which innovative strategic partnerships between the two sectors could bear fruit, and it describes and assesses two significant collaborative ventures, EThOS, an online, electronic thesis service delivered by the BL on behalf of HE under a shared service arrangement, and the UK Research Reserve (UKRR).

Lynne Brindley and the Follett Committee and its Inheritance

Lynne Brindley was a member of The Joint Funding Councils' Libraries Review Group, which was chaired by Professor Brian Follett and tasked in 1992 with undertaking a review of the UK's Higher Education library system, and she chaired the Follett Committee's Information Technology Sub-Group (FIGIT) and the subsequent e-LIB Electronic Libraries programme. She was a member of the Steering Committee of the Research Support Libraries Programme (RSLP) and a member of the Research Support Libraries Group (RSLG). The article concludes that Brindley's contributions to these domain-wide initiatives were both diverse and profound. A short note by Brian Follett himself is appended to the paper.

Sharing and reuse of information literacy resources across higher education libraries in the United Kingdom

Sharing and reuse of information literacy resources across higher education libraries in the United Kingdom

Building the UK Research Reserve: Using Coordinated De-Duplication to Create a Collaborative Print Journal Collection

This article outlines the workings of the UK Research Reserve, a collaborative initiative releasing space in Higher Education libraries within the United Kingdom, while ensuring the retention and availability of a national print journal collection. The method used to process material and identify holdings suitable for disposal is described. The salient issues in the process are identified and discussed, as are some of the challenges that have been encountered to date.

2012 top ten trends in academic libraries: A review of the trends and issues affecting academic libraries in higher education

The ACRL Research Planning and Review Committee is responsible for creating and updating a continuous and dynamic environmental scan for the association that encompasses trends in academic librarianship, higher education, and the broader environment, e.g., economic, demographic, political; providing an annual environmental scan “snapshot.” The committee also is responsible for identifying the ACRL “top ten trends” for release every two years. In order to identify the trends, the com

Library subject guides: A case study of evidence-informed library development

This paper describes the process whereby a university library investigated the value of its subject guides to its users. A literature review and surveys of library staff, library users and other libraries were carried out. Existing library subject guides and those of other higher education libraries were evaluated. The project team reported regularly to the wider library team throughout the year long investigation and made recommendations. The project served to develop the professional skills of the project team, to expand the knowledge of the wider library team and encouraged new ways of thinking about guide provision to users.

Usefulness of digital and traditional libraries in higher education

Due to the role of information and communication technologies (ICT), libraries are in a process of fundamental changes. Digital library is a rather new concept in higher education in Pakistan. The aim of this study is to explore the role of library in higher education from a student’s perspective and to get the answers on this question: “How is the digital library useful for higher education students as compared to the traditional manual library?” In this qualitative study, data had been collected (from three colleges of Foundation University, Islamabad) with face to face, semi-structured interviews from twelve students. Data were analysed according to the four factors described in our conceptual framework. Students have to physically visit a traditional library when one can access digital library from one’s computer. Searching has become fast on a digital library as compared to a traditional library. Although digital library provides easy access, fast search and a lot of related materials but the feeling of holding a book and intellectual environment of traditional libraries cannot be replaced by digital libraries.

Role of University Libraries in Higher Education in India

The role of university libraries in India has been modelled on examples offered by developed countries’ model of academic libraries as a cost-effective information service and provider of knowledge product to a resident community of scholars.

Standards for libraries in higher education: Approved by the ACRL Board of Directors, October 2011

Standards for libraries in higher education: Approved by the ACRL Board of Directors, October 2011

A Library Compliance Strategy for Regional Accreditation Standards: Using ACRL Higher Education Standards with NEASC Standards

The Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE) of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) standards places less emphasis on quantifiable and arbitrary inputs and more emphasis on institutional effectiveness and assessment of student learning. NEASC includes the library throughout the standards and also has a long section specifically for the library. The authors advocate use of the ACRL (Association of College and Research Libraries) Standards for Libraries in Higher Education alongside the NEASC standards to ensure a focus on outcomes and assessment of libraries in the context of other areas of the institution. An effective strategy for streamlining the assessment of library resources and services is provided.

Best Practice in Disability Provision in Higher Education Libraries in England Specializing in Art, Media, and Design

Academic library provision for students with disabilities has become an important issue in the UK as a result of legislation enacted in recent decades. Successive studies have investigated current practice in relation to legislation such as the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (SENDA), but none has specifically surveyed disability provision in higher education libraries supporting Art, Media, and Design (AMD) students, a group generally thought to include higher prevalence of disabilities, particularly dyslexia. The current study reviewed related literature to gain understanding of the area and inform the design of research instruments. Structured observations and semi-structured interviews were conducted to identify best practices and key challenges in disability support at a purposive sample of eight libraries in England serving AMD students. All the institutions had specialist disability provision and many demonstrated innovative best practice. Participants confirmed high levels of disability among the target population, but did not make specific provision for AMD students, though measures linked with dyslexia support were prominent. The results mostly supported findings from the literature and were used to develop recommendations of best practice that should be of value to schools and further education colleges, in addition to higher education institutions. Supplemental materials are available for this article.

The Higher Education Library: What Will $2 Billion Buy?

ABSTRACT U.S. academic libraries have substantial resources to commit to advance the research and teaching and learning agendas of their institutions. In the aggregate, academic libraries annually have $2,000,000,000 in purchasing power for materials. However, the disproportionate increases in the costs of scholarly information continue to erode the ability of libraries to meet the information needs of their users. If academic libraries consolidated their purchasing power and pooled their resources, the results for higher education could be transformational. Effectively, a universal digital academic library could be established to serve higher education.

The Journal Usage Statistics Portal (JUSP): delivering usage data through collaboration

The Journal Usage Statistics Portal (JUSP) provides a single point of access for UK higher education libraries to view, download and analyze their journal usage reports. In a period of economic constraint, and against a background of the increasing importance of the shared services agenda, this is a timely development. JUSP enhancement depends on a process of regular and ongoing com- munity consultation.This paper outlines the main features of the service, and describes how the team is working with libraries and publishers to establish a responsive and valu- able community resource.

UK higher education libraries and the role of JISC, the Joint Information Systems Committee

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to give a working librarian's view of the role of the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC), and make some suggestions about how effective it is from the perspective of practice with a view to justifying its role in terms of recent policies introduced by national government in the UK.Design/methodology/approachThe author sketches some of the broader government initiatives that affect this area and combines this sketch with commentary from the arena of information practice, in order to sum up the case for and against the value of JISC.FindingsIn balance, this paper finds the evidence for the beneficial impact of JISC's work to be quite compelling, but also argues that there is a lack of awareness of how strong this case is at practitioner level. At a time when all public services are under strong financially led scrutiny, this lack of appreciation at practitioner level is of some concern.Research limitations/implicationsThis is a brief and selective account of one particular sphere of JISC's workings. In order to make the case more effectively, a broader investigation could be carried out, but with the requirement that the findings should be focussed on practical outcomes and benefits that are well understood by information professionals working in everyday library and information environments.Practical implicationsThis account tries to make clear in straightforward and practical terms what the larger specific benefits of introducing federated access into the UK university community have been.Originality/valueThis paper gives a double viewpoint on its topic, combining a high‐level view of national information management issues from the government perspective, with a practice‐led view of the same issues.

Peaceful coexistence? Library-delivered e-textbooks and traditional student purchases: findings from a series of trials during 2009–10

During the 2009-10 academic year, eight textbook publishers, three aggregators and ten UK higher education institutions came together in a series of trials to help inform future pricing models for library-delivered e-textbooks to students. Funded by JISC Collections and co-ordinated by Content Complete Ltd, the trials were designed to help identify the drivers and resistors to making core and adopted e-textbooks available to higher education libraries. For publishers, access to their content via libraries is a risk given that the dominant business model is one of student purchase. For libraries, finding funds to purchase this content has always been difficult, given the protection afforded the serials budget.What sort of compromises might be possible to meet the needs of both parties?This paper reports on the trials themselves and the key issues that emerged for the principal stakeholders.

ENGLISH

The Information Age transformed developed nations in the tale end of the 20th century, and now is poised to have an equally dramatic effect on developing nations. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has helped higher education libraries improve the provision of library and information resources and services. African libraries are also adopting ICT to improve and also give a positive impact to the development of research and information utilisation. The key success factor of this implementation is mainly of availability and the good quality of grade of services, adequate resources, and communication infrastructure. The paper has analysed the efforts made by the higher education libraries in Africa to recognise, restructure and re-oriented the library facilities and personnel with ICT adoption. In addition, the paper also highlights the various efforts to establish networking and consortia among the libraries, and the implications that could be derived by applying ICTs into higher education libraries. The paper also highlights the reasons why ICT application is taking a snail speed in library development in Nigeria and provides the solutions as a panacea for library development in Africa. http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/djlit.31.1.765

ACRL’s standards for libraries in higher education: Academic library directors weigh in

ACRL’s standards for libraries in higher education: Academic library directors weigh in

Positioning the technological university library in higher education and human resources development in Africa

PurposeThis paper seeks to discuss the positioning of academic libraries in universities of science and technology in Africa. With the importance that is given to the establishment and outputs of these types of universities and to skills development as a contributing factor to Africa's development, the role of library and information services are to be discussed. The paper aims to focus on the position of the library in relation to the changing complexity of information resources, tools for users to access information, IT developments, knowledge creation and dissemination, community engagement, support for innovation and entrepreneurial development, external partnerships and measuring service delivery through research.Design/methodology/approachThe challenges for the library in science and technology universities are to remain relevant to the development of skilled human resource that can contribute to Africa's economic and social development. The changing information provision landscape, the new community engagement programmes, the thrust to contribute to knowledge development and the support for innovation and entrepreneurial development ensure that the library remains relevant in the academic projects in Africa.FindingsThe library in science and technology universities in Africa and in other developing countries remains an important strategic partner in the development of human resources and overall economic and social development of the continent.Originality/valueThe discussion in the paper provides some insights into the planning and development of emerging technological university libraries in Africa and other developing regions.

A Library Compliance Strategy for Regional Accreditation Standards: Using ACRL Higher Education Standards with Community and Junior Colleges in the Western Association of Schools and Colleges

The standards of the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges provide accreditation guidance for two-year libraries in their jurisdiction. These standards are the basis for a successful evaluation of the libraries. However, the ACRL Standards for Libraries in Higher Education and the associated workbook provide significant guidance and assistance in crafting a successful assessment. The library at Windward Community College is used as an example of successful employment of this strategy to provide a thorough assessment, which was validated by the ACCJC accrediting visit. Appendices provide materials used by Windward library in the successful evaluation and are recommended for use by other libraries.