Jordan Library Research Articles

The role of social networks in enhancing the library profession and promoting academic library services: A comparative study of the University of Jordan and Al-Balqaa’ Applied University

This paper investigates how academic librarians perceive the role of social networks in enhancing the professional skills of library staff, and how they can be used to promote library services. It is based on case study design in real organizational settings, which are two academic libraries in Jordan, namely the University of Jordan library and Al-Balqaa’ Applied University library. The authors used questionnaires to collect the required data in order to investigate the perceptions of library staff in relation to social networks and how they used social networks to promote library services. The results indicate high awareness and extensive use of social networks for professional development. However, it appears that social networks were not fully exploited to promote library services. It was noted that “job title” (staff position) was the only factor that affected the results, while other factors such as gender, experience, frequency of use and age had no effect on the results. It is concluded that academic libraries in Jordan should make better use of social networks to promote library services.

Map cataloguing training at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine

Purpose – This paper aims to provide a study of a structured approach at map cataloguing training by a team of cataloguers at the Alma Jordan Library of the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology is a case study which underscores the value of the experiences of cataloguers at training themselves in a particular cartographic format. Findings – The collaborative efforts of the cataloguers facilitated the further development of institutional expertise and provided the required skills set for increasing bibliographic access in a specialised format. Originality/value – The paper brings to bear the uniqueness of the cataloguing of Caribbean cartographic materials in a team-teaching setting which serves as a model for other academic libraries and information centres.

RFID Utilization in Public University Libraries in Jordan

RFID technology can help libraries overcome challenges like finding, sorting and discovering misplaced books. The applicability of this technology and its perceived contribution are questioned. This paper conducted an empirical test to explore employees' perceptions regarding the implementation of RFID in libraries. This paper utilized data collected in two public university libraries in Jordan. The method focused on descriptive measures to investigate the adoption of such technology. The study compared perspectives of managers and employees in regard to the benefits of RFID compared to barcode. This exploratory research concluded that no significant difference exists between managers and employees perceptions. Results emphasized RFID's contribution in inventory counting, self-lending, and material tracking; RFID is better than barcode with respect to its tracking capabilities, multiple lending options, and faster and more accurate operations. Finally, RFID cost, tag size and unemployment effect were major concerns.

Cataloguing costume designs from the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival

The paper discusses the approaches to cataloguing carnival costume designs adopted by three institutions in Trinidad and Tobago. These institutions are the National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS), the Carnival Institute of Trinidad and Tobago (CITT) and the Alma Jordan Library, University of the West Indies. Catalogue records from these institutions were examined to determine the similarities and differences in the approaches as well as to highlight some of the issues encountered in cataloguing costume designs. The research shows that in addition to core elements found in metadata standards there are other data elements that the cataloguers have identified as being important for the documentation process including the relationship of the costume design to other pieces in the performance as well as the cultural context.

درجة استخدام الحوافز المادية والمعنوية في المكتبات الجامعية الحكومية في الأردن من وجهة نظر العاملين فيها

This study investigates the degree of using material and moral incentives in public university libraries in Jordan, as perceived by librarians. Another purpose is to know whether there are statistically significant differences in the degree of using these incentives due to sex, position, experience, qualification, and monthly salary. 318 questionnaires were distributed among library staff in the ten university libraries. 255 questionnaires were returned and valid for study analysis. Findings indicate that the degree of using material and moral incentives was generally low, although the use of material incentives was slightly higher than the use of moral incentives. Results also show that the degree of using the incentives from the perspective of librarians does not vary according to the variables of sex and qualification, while showing that they vary according to the variables of position, experience, and monthly salary. تهدف هذه الدراسة إلى الكشف عن درجة استخدام الحوافز المادية والمعنوية في المكتبات الجامعية الحكومية في الأردن من وجهة نظر العاملين فيها، وإلى معرفة ما إذا كانت هناك فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية في درجة استخدام هذه الحوافز تعزى لمتغيرات الجنس، والوظيفة، والخبرة، والمؤهل العلمي، والراتب الشهري، وقد جرى توزيع 318 استبانة على جميع العاملين في المكتبات الجامعية الحكومية العشر، غير أن مجموع الاستبانات التي أعيدت وكانت صالحة لأغراض الدراسة بلغت (255) استبانة، وقد أشارت نتائج الدراسة إلى أن درجة استخدام الحوافز المادية والمعنوية بشكل عام كانت قليلة، وأن استخدام الحوافز المادية أعلى بقليل من استخدام الحوافز المعنوية. كما بينت النتائج أن درجة استخدام الحوافز من وجهة نظر العاملين لا تختلف باختلاف متغيرات الجنس، والمؤهل العلمي، في حين تبين أنها تختلف باختلاف متغيرات الوظيفة، والخبرة، والراتب الشهري.

The Way Forward: Improving Interlibrary Loan Service Delivery at a Caribbean Academic Library

The Alma Jordan Library (AJL) is located on the St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago and is the largest academic library in the University of the West Indies' library system. This article examines interlibrary loan and document delivery (ILL/DD) services, discusses existing ILL/DD activities, and analyzes usage statistics at this Caribbean educational institution. It reviews the current literature that exists about ILL/DD in the Caribbean and other academic institutions outside the region. This article serves to add to the body of literature on this topic and provides practical recommendations for improving the current service.

Provided information literacy instructions at private university libraries in Jordan and trends of Zarqa Private University students towards its objective achievements

This study aims to investigate the resources and methods used in information instruction provided at private university libraries in Jordan. It also investigates trends among Zarqa Private University students towards the achievement of its objectives. Data was collected via two questionnaires. The population of the study consisted of 19 administrators of private university libraries; 14 of them (73.7%) responded positively to the study, and of 600 first year students who were in the first semester of the academic year 2007/2008, 512 of them (85.3%) responded positively. Study findings have revealed that information literacy instruction programmes are not comprehensive in all target libraries. No more than five (35.7%) of the responding libraries offer the required lectures that inform students about the importance of libraries and libraries’ departments, the practical training of online access to databases through internet, or training on the usage of periodical indexes. The curricula offered by more than 78.6% of the respondents lacked courses or exercises that support library usage. Findings of “information literacy instruction programmes offered to students of Zarqa Private University, reveal that the programmes concentrate on theoretical aspects more than practical aspects. This study introduces some recommendations related to its findings.

Library of Congress classification: catalogers’ perceptions of the new Subclass KBP

PurposeProfessional cataloguers working in ten university libraries in Jordan, Malaysia, and United Arab Emirates were interviewed with the aim of investigating their perceptions on the new Library of Congress classification's Subclass KBP for Islamic law (IL).Design/methodology/approachSpecific aspects investigated were accessibility and user satisfaction, clarity of terms, ease of use, inclusiveness and comprehensiveness, modernism and innovation, and systematic arrangement and relationships.FindingsThree aspects received positive feedbacks from respondents. It is also evident that cataloguers’ familiarity with and skills in applying the Subclass KBP should be improved to ensure effective use of the scheme.Practical implicationsThe decision on whether or not to apply the new KBP schedule represents a great challenge for those libraries around the world especially those in the Arab/Islamic countries. In the light of the decision of the LC to apply the newly developed Subclass KBP for IL, libraries are now facing a new challenge and have to decide on the implementation of the new schedule.Originality valueDeals with issues that need to be more clearly understood in the West.

Administrative factors affecting employees absenteeism in academic and public libraries in Jordan

Absence from work is a persistent and challenging problem confronting organizations. This study aims to analyze the effect on absence rates of the following administrative factors: line of authority, work climate, leadership, communication, employment, supervision, decision-making, and innovation; the extent of occupational variables: library type, specialization, and organizational department; and employees’ characteristics: gender, age, marital status, and experience, at eight state academic and six public libraries in Jordan.Data was collected via field visits, personal interviews and a questionnaire. Of the 132 staff applicable to the study objectives, 115 (87.1%) responded. ANOVA, T-test and “Duncan dimensional comparisons” methods were used for statistical data analysis. Study findings revealed that poor organizational structure, improper work climate, poor leadership and communication processes, the absence of sensible employment policies, poor supervision, and managers’ passiveness are administrative factors negatively affecting employees’ absence from work. Statistical analysis of mean values revealed that there is a significant statistical difference, at the α≥0.05 level, between all administrative factors attributed to respondents’ personal characteristics and occupational variables.Recommended solutions include establishing sensible organizational structures delegating authority, promoting teamwork practice, developing job descriptions and evaluation systems, allowing employees’ freedom of choice to perform job duties, supporting cooperative working relations, promoting managers’ attitudes towards delegation of authority, open-door communication policies, and providing employees with training opportunities and motivations.

Administrative factors affecting employees absenteeism in academic and public libraries in Jordan

Absence from work is a persistent and challenging problem confronting organizations. This study aims to analyze the effect on absence rates of the following administrative factors: line of authority, work climate, leadership, communication, employment, supervision, decision-making, and innovation; the extent of occupational variables: library type, specialization, and organizational department; and employees’ characteristics: gender, age, marital status, and experience, at eight state academic and six public libraries in Jordan.Data was collected via field visits, personal interviews and a questionnaire. Of the 132 staff applicable to the study objectives, 115 (87.1%) responded. ANOVA, T-test and “Duncan dimensional comparisons” methods were used for statistical data analysis. Study findings revealed that poor organizational structure, improper work climate, poor leadership and communication processes, the absence of sensible employment policies, poor supervision, and managers’ passiveness are administrative factors negatively affecting employees’ absence from work. Statistical analysis of mean values revealed that there is a significant statistical difference, at the α≥0.05 level, between all administrative factors attributed to respondents’ personal characteristics and occupational variables.Recommended solutions include establishing sensible organizational structures delegating authority, promoting teamwork practice, developing job descriptions and evaluation systems, allowing employees’ freedom of choice to perform job duties, supporting cooperative working relations, promoting managers’ attitudes towards delegation of authority, open-door communication policies, and providing employees with training opportunities and motivations.

Jordan Library and Information Association (JLIA) and its Role in the Continuous Training in the Field of Library and Informatics

The researchers seek to find the relation between the number of training courses organized by JLIA and the number of participants and the relation between the number of participants and the type of training courses .In addition to that, the researchers also seek to investigate whether there was deterioration in the performance of JLIA in training and qualifying staff members.

Local online information systems in Jordanian university libraries

PurposeThe study is concerned with gathering factual data on the use of local online information systems, automation, online connections, online public access catalogs (OPACs), CD‐ROM‐based systems in 19 Jordanian university libraries.Design/methodology/approachInformation was sought through a written questionnaire; personal interviews; literature review, and field visits. The implementation of local online information systems; OPACs, CD‐ROM databases, online searching, networks/databases subscribed to, methods of online services to users, problems and solutions are investigated.FindingsOf the 18 (94.7 percent) libraries responded, half (50 percent) are using MINISIS or CDS/ISIS, one‐third (33.3 percent) is using either M2L, or ORACLE based systems, and 3 (16.7 percent) are using locally designed packages. Technical processing, information retrieval, circulation, reference services, and serial control are the prime systems functions. All respondents are linked to the internet. A total of 15 (83.3 percent) respondents have developed collections of databases on CD‐ROMs; 11 (73.3 percent) use single‐ access, and four (26.7 percent) use multi‐user systems.Practical implicationsOnline services are provided mostly by traditional means. Lack of skilled staff, shortages of fund, and insufficient hardware are prime obstacles hindering systems optimal utilization. Outdated databases, cost, and users incompetence are problems limiting the optimal use of online systems. Developing intranet, funding, trained manpower, training courses to users, sharing subscription expenses in electronic full‐text database, and promote cooperation to exchange OPACs records through the internet, are suggested solutions to overcome these problems.Originality/valueAcademic libraries in Jordan are changing emphasis from ownership of information sources in printed forms, to the access to online databases or local area networks systems based on CD‐ROMs, to linkage with the internet as a prime gateway to information sources.

The Message of the Library: a story of survival

Reviews the history and development of Rissalat Al-Maktaba [The Message of the Library], the journal of the Jordan Library Association, which has been published without interruption since 1965. Discusses the reasons for the survival and success of the journal in terms of economic and financial aspects and intellectual and content aspects. Concludes that the story of Rissalat Al-Maktaba shows that library journals in developing countries can survive with effective management and support from the profession.

Focus on ... The Jordan Library Association

Focus on ... The Jordan Library Association

The Jordanian library scene, 1973 (2) Libraries in Jordan

The Jordanian library scene, 1973 (2) Libraries in Jordan

The Jordanian library scene, 1973 (6) Secondary school libraries in Jordan

The Jordanian library scene, 1973 (6) Secondary school libraries in Jordan

The Jordanian library scene, 1973 (5) Jordan Library Association course in librarianship

The Jordanian library scene, 1973 (5) Jordan Library Association course in librarianship

Book Reviews : Client-Worker Transactions William Jordan Library of Social Work, 1970. £1.25 cloth, 60p paperback

Book Reviews : Client-Worker Transactions William Jordan Library of Social Work, 1970. £1.25 cloth, 60p paperback