Libraries In Taiwan Research Articles

Resource Sharing Among Libraries in Taiwan

Resource sharine among libraries in Taiwan, Republic of China, is largely coordinated by two establishments: (1) the Library Consortium of Humanities and Social Sciences: (2) the Science and Technology lnformation Center. Library and information centres belong to these bodies to be part of established inter-library links. The main resource sharing activities include inter-library lending, exchange of materials, and inter-library reference services. In addition, several major library and information centres provide on-line information retrieval services via the international tele-communication channels. Library inter-lending, the most prominent resource sharing activity, is dispersed. A strong central lending library is required to facilitate and enhance inter-lending operations.

The acquisition, organization, and utilization of Chinese government publications in libraries in Taiwan

This paper is the result of a study conducted in Taiwan in April and May of 1985. The main purpose of the study was to determine how Chinese government publications (documents) were acquired by libraries in Taiwan, how these documents were organized and used, and what major problems there were in acquisition, organization, and utilization. A second purpose was to make recommendations for possible solutions to problems encountered. The methods used in collecting data were questionnaires, interviews, and site visits. Two questionnaires were employed: one was sent to librarians and the other to social science professors. It was discovered that for many years, Chinese documents did not receive adequate attention either from government publishing agencies in distributing them or from libraries in acquiring and organizing them, nor was there adequate bibliographic control of such publications. When users (professors) needed documents, they often had difficulties in finding them in available catalogs or in obtaining them from libraries of their own institutions. However, some encouraging developments have taken place since 1984, both in documents distribution and in their bibliographic control. Based on the results of the surveys and the latest developments, several recommendations are made.

Literacy in Three Metaphors

Although literacy is a problem of pressing national concern, we have yet to discover or set its boundaries. This observation, made several years ago by a leading political spokesman (McGovern 1978), echoes a long-standing complaint of many policymakers and educators that what counts as literacy in our technological society is a matter "not very well understood" (Advisory Committee on National Illiteracy 1929). A dominant response of scholars and researchers to this perceived ambiguity has been to pursue more rigorously the quest for definition and measurement of the concept. Many approaches have been taken (among them, Adult Performance Level Project 1975; Bormuth 1975; Hillerich 1976; Kirsch and Guthrie 1977-78; Miller 1973; Powell 1977), and at least one attempt (Hunter and Harman 1979) has been made to put forward an "umbrella definition." Each of these efforts has identified important parameters of literacy, but none has yet won consensual agreement (for a thoughtful historical and conceptual analysis of shifting literacy definitions, see Radwin [1978]). The definitional controversy has more than academic significance. Each formulation of an answer to the question "What is literacy?" leads to a different evaluation of the scope of the problem (i.e., the extent of illiteracy) and to different objectives for programs aimed at the formation of a literate citizenry. Definitions of literacy shape our perceptions of individuals who fall oh either side of the standard (what a "literate" or "nonliterate" is like) and thus in a deep way affect both the substance and style of educational programs. A chorus of clashing answers also creates problems for literacy planners and educators. This is clearly evident in the somewhat acerbic comments of Dauzat and Dauzat (1977, p. 37), who are concerned with adult basic education: "In spite of all of the furor and the fervor for attaining literacy . .. few have undertaken to say what they or anyone else means by literacy.

ASPAC Conference on Library Science and University Libraries in Taiwan

ASPAC Conference on Library Science and University Libraries in Taiwan

University of libraries in Taiwan

University of libraries in Taiwan