Library Units Research Articles

Strategic Management Model for Academic Libraries

This study utilized the qualitative approach including content analysis of literature and in-depth interviews in order to design Strategic Management Model for Academic Libraries. The literature reviewed indicates many models for strategic management, which were generally made to suit organizations from different sectors. These models were found lack important elements that academic libraries need to connect their strategies to the overall visions and goals of their parent institutions. The Model, which is presented in the present paper therefore, attempts to bridge this gab by providing a new route for articulating and implementing strategies for academic libraries through three main stages: pre-planning stage; planning stage; and post- planning stage. The first stage starts by providing the planning team or committee with skills and knowledge of strategic management. The second stage is achieved through the fulfilment of two components of the Model: strategy formulation; and strategy implementation. The last stage however, concerns with the evaluation process of the strategy to ensure that the quality of services provided, and the performance of all library units and employees are compatible with vision and objectives of the library, and aligned with the overall goals of the Mother Institution.Comments: This paper is a part of my PhD thesis titled “Strategic Management and planning practices at Academic Libraries in Oman”, which was submitted to the University of Sheffield, UK. The Value of Model presented in this paper would be seen in new issues that are involved in its’ structure such as pre planning stage and the alignment with the parent institution strategy, which are not included clearly in other Models. Moreover, all models that the Author could reach through the literature review of library management, either describes strategic planning steps, or strategy perspectives, and none has included the whole process and components of strategic management, which was the focus of this study. The Model also contains three components which have not been seen in other models.

LMPLEMENTASI SNI 7330:2009 PERPUSTAKAAN PERGURUAN TINGGI PADA UNIT PELAYANAN TEKNIS (UPT) PERPUSTAKAAN UNIVERSITAS LANCANG KUNING, PEKANBARU

This study aims to uncover the implementation and realization of SNI 7330: 2009 at Lancang Kuning University Library Unit(UPT) Pekanbaru, where the Lancang Kuning University Library Unit has been established in 1983. This is done to find out whether SN! 73 30:2009. Is fully implemented it this study will answer the problems that exist in the implementation activities, so as to serve the needs of visitors in the learning process (P BM) in college. In addition, this study also aims to encourage the university to pay more attention in order to achieve standardization in university learning objectives that can be a model for 9 (nine) libraries faculties in the University Lancang Kuning Pekanbaru.

Introduction of self issue services and respond of the library users

ABSTRACTSince the year 2000 more than fifteen Slovenian libraries have enabled their users to issue and return library material by themselves. Comparison with Australian, UK and Scandinavian libraries has shown significantly low usage rates of self-service units in several Slovenian public libraries. Research, conducted in public library Knjižnica Prežihov Voranc, Ljubljana, in January 2005, had tried to identify reasons for relatively low usage of self-service unit and suggested several solutions that would encourage library patrons to use self-service unit more often. Article focuses on self-service promotion strategy based on advantages of self-issue unit, and at the same time questions library policies and procedures that may discourage users from using it. More frequent usage of self-issue unit would increase its utilization rate and therefore return library’s investment faster.

Discover collaboration: Collaborative learning from the implementation of a discovery system

Background Lund University Library purchased and implemented a new discovery system in the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012. Historically there has been no collaboration between the digital library unit and the pedagogical unit at the University Library. The conditions for the implementation were quite difficult; an extremely tight time frame, changes of the member of staff, high demands from the library network, a bad relation with current system supplier, a dependency of the current system and its functionalities. What to do? In order to reach trustworthiness and to make sure that we have a learning perspective in all the processes we initiated a close collaboration between the digital unit and the pedagogical unit and formed an implementation group. We also initiated a close and active collaboration between the implementation group and an expert group formed by members from the faculty libraries i.e. the super user group. Activities We had four workshops about pedagogical issues regarding discovery systems. The workshops turned out to be a forum for a dialogue between the digital library, the pedagogical unit and the teacher librarians. They resulted in an action plan which was integrated in the implementation process. We also invited colleagues to informal discussions about the pedagogical use of the discovery system. We encouraged all teaching librarians to share their educational materials on our intranet. Conclusion We found the collaborative strategy fruitful and not only did it result in a closer collaboration between the digital library and the pedagogical unit but also with the library network. Due to several reasons we conducted a new tender of a discovery system during 2012. The tender resulted in a new system with a different supplier. In the implementation started in the autumn 2012, we implemented the experiences and learnings gained by our previous implementation.

Critical friends and collaborative partnership

Critical friends: a method for peer feedbackThe Critical Friend-method has been used in various educational settings to facilitate the process of continuous improvement in teaching. The aim of this study was to implement Critical Friends, and to find out if this method could be used for feedback on teaching as part of a librarians' professional development. The project was carried out within the Library Unit of the Faculty of Medicine at Lund University, Sweden, in collaboration with the faculty's Centre for Teaching and Learning. Seven librarians and an educational consultant from the Centre for Teaching and Learning participated; the educational consultant played an essential role in supervising and structuring the project and the evaluation process, preparing readings as well as being an active participant. The participants worked in pairs; the performance of one teacher and the associated classroom activities were observed by the critical friend, and then evaluated and discussed. Evaluation and resultsAfter two preparatory group meetings, a final meeting was held where all pairs reported what they had done and how they perceived the critical friend process. The experiences of the participating librarians were explored using a questionnaire. The questionnaire was analyzed using content analysis by one librarian and the educational consultant independently. The results suggested that use of the critical friend method could have a positive impact by achieving the following: strengthening shared values concerning teaching issues; promoting self-reflection on teaching; facilitating communication with colleagues; and reducing the sense of 'loneliness‘ in teaching. The difficulties in the implementation were lack of time and competing duties. It was perceived as an advantage to work in close partnership with the faculty's educational consultants, who were familiar with the organization.

Accessibility Of Library Services In The Coastal-Karst Region

ABSTRACTPurpose: The analysis shows the geographical accessibility of library services to the population of the Coastal-Karst region and identifies gaps i.e. areas that are not covered or not adequately covered by library services.Methodology/approach: The analysis of accessibility of library services was conducted by comparing geographical locations of local libraries, travelling library stations and movable book collections according to the statistical data on population distribution in settlements in the Coastal-Karst area on the 1st of January 2011.Results: The analysis shows that library services are provided in all municipalities in the Coastal-Karst region. However, 53.5 % or 229 of all Coastal-Karst settlements remain uncovered or inadequately covered by library services, mostly in the area of the Kosovel Library of Sežana (105), followed by the Library of Koper with 72 villages and the Maksa Samsa Library of Ilirska Bistrica with 45 uncovered villages. On the other side the fact that only 21.5 % of inhabitants are left out of library services is encouraging. The establishment of local libraries in Dekani, Sv. Anton and Ankaran and the introduction of an additional mobile library would raise the percentage of population served by the library activity by 18 points (from current 78 % to 96 %). In areas without organized library activities only 4 % of the population of the Coastal-Karst region would be left out.Research limitation: Access to services for users with special needs who are not able to approach the library by themselves will be considered separately. For the same reason, the criterion of development and quality of individual library units was neglected.Originality/practical implications: The results of the research constitute the basis for an appropriate design of public libraries’ network in the Coastal-Karst region in such a manner that it will ensure equal access to library services in geographically disadvantaged areas, too.

Um modelo estilizado da produção de serviços: aplicação empírica a uma amostra de bibliotecas no Rio de Janeiro 2000 – 2007

Embora reduzidas em número, as aplicações de modelos originados na área de Operações ao caso de bibliotecas estão registradas na literatura. Este trabalho adota uma visão estilizada em que a produção de serviços é representada como simples transformação de insumos em produtos, sem atentar para a especificidade dos processos produtivos envolvidos. O principal objetivo do trabalho é examinar empiricamente como essa transformação ocorre, focalizando como se comportam os elos entre insumos e produtos ao longo do período de análise. O exame empírico se apóia em dados coletados junto a uma amostra representando mais de 80% do universo das bibliotecas de uma IFES no Rio de Janeiro entre 2000 e 2007. Com auxílio da técnica multivariada da Correlação Canônica foi possível identificar associações significativas entre grupos de insumos e de produtos. Os resultados mostram que esses grupos se interligam a um nível de significância inferior a 5% e que a medida chamada de redundância cruzada quase sempre excedeu 50%, podendo ser considerada uma boa indicação de poder explicativo, uma vez que os dados se referem a cross sections anuais. Dentre os elos insumo-produto identificados como significativos, o efeito quantitativamente dominante reflete a combinação dos três insumos – a saber, pessoal, acervo e espaço – enquanto que a área ocupada aparece de novo, isoladamente, como segunda dimensão significativa.

Selection and use of KOHA software in two private Nigerian universities

PurposeSoftware has played a crucial role in the management of library operations. Nigerian university libraries are embarking on automation by adopting different library software but many fail due to the wrong selection of software and improper management of the automation project. The paper aims to examine the selection and use of KOHA software in two private Nigerian universities.Design/methodology/approachPurposive sampling was used to select 255 respondents made up of two systems librarians, eight heads of library units and 245 faculty. Data were collected through questionnaire, interview and observation.FindingsKOHA was selected because of integration, ease of use, accessibility, flexibility and feasibility study was carried out. The software was not maximally used in both universities (RU: 49 percent, BU: 64.3 percent).Originality/valueThis paper investigates the factors used for selection of the software, level of use and challenges to its use. It is relevant to university libraries because it emphasises the need to carry out in‐depth feasibility study before the adoption of software to increase the effectiveness of their libraries.

Providing Access to E-Books and E-Book Collections: Struggles and Solutions

The University of Tennessee Library has struggled with providing access to e-books as it orders more individual titles and e-book collections. To prepare for and manage complexities that come with rapid growth in the collection of e-books, several different library units—Electronic Resources & Serials Management, Acquisitions, Research Services, Research Collections, Systems, and Cataloging—collaborate to make decisions and develop standardized processes. As problems are identified, they constantly evaluate and modify procedures and streamline and automate workflows. The presenters described problems, decision points, and solutions along the way from selecting, ordering, licensing, invoicing, and payment, to cataloging and access of individual e-books and e-book collections.

Library performance management in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

PurposeThis paper intends to illustrate an application of data envelopment analysis (DEA) to assess library performance from an efficiency standpoint.Design/methodology/approachDEA modeling was applied to a convenience sample of 37 libraries affiliated to a federal university in Rio de Janeiro. Data were collected from the university's managerial database and refer to three inputs – number of employees, area and number of volumes – and four outputs – consultations, loans, enrolments and (user) traffic. Markovian analysis of transitions between efficient and inefficient states along time allowed a long‐term distribution between those states to be computed.FindingsThe retained DEA model provides a list of estimated scores that quantify efficiency status for each library unit and from which both rankings and operation plans can be determined for each unit to assist managers in their quest for library efficiency. In fact, (re)allocative measures, expressed as operation plans, indicate that, for each unit, some input(s) may be decreased and nonetheless some output(s) will increase. Those indicators may also be used to further or avoid either promised or planned changes.Originality/valueAs long as the efficiency principle is accepted the paper provides a three‐step procedure whereby any set of library units may be simultaneously assessed and ranked in relative terms and a set of quantitative operation plans may be used to (re)direct inefficient units toward efficiency. Whenever historical (e.g. annual) data are available, more adequate long‐term efficiency profiles will be computed, as well as some (e.g. yearly) durations relating to time spent in or before visiting (in)efficiency states. This model, combining short‐ and long‐term assessment, may be seen as a novelty contributed by the paper.

„Biblioteka ucząca się” – zmiany w organizacji i systemie zarządzania w Bibliotece Uniwersytetu Finlandii Wschodniej

Zmieniające się, dynamiczne i wymagające otoczenie współczesnej biblioteki naukowej wywiera nacisk na procesy innowacyjne związane ze zmianami modelu zarządzania. Tematem artykułu są zmiany w organizacji i systemie zarządzania w Bibliotece Uniwersytetu Finlandii Wschodniej przeprowadzone w związku z fuzją poszczególnych jednostek bibliotecznych. W artykule opisano przeobrażenia na poziomie struktury organizacyjnej, polityki gromadzenia, przechowywania i udostępniania zbiorów oraz w zakresie zarządzania zasobami ludzkimi w kontekście koncepcji organizacji uczącej się, która potrafi funkcjonować w niestabilnym otoczeniu, dostosowuje się do zmian, ale także poszukuje alternatywy zapewniającej ciągłość i rozwój organizacji.

Library Research: Luxury or Necessity?

The necessity of library and information research is pointed up by referring to some of important categories of research now in progress. Reasons are advanced for the necessity such research in Australia and ways suggested in which students wishing to make a career research and practitioners anxious for research opportunities may be accommodated. The part to be played by library schools and by research units in libraries are also mentioned. A role is seen for the Library Association of Australia in the promotion of research rather than its financing, and moves towards the creation of a central federal funding agency or agencies are suggested as timely.

The Channel Bending Forming Process of Ti-6Al-4V Blank Based on Finite Element Method

According to the actual work conditions, 3D FE model of channel bending forming is established on the platform of eat/DYNAFORM. Belytschko-Tsay (element # 2) in the cell library unit of eta/DYNAFORM is selected, and the geometric model is reasonably meshed by using topological mesh technology. In order to improve the accuracy, adaptive function is adopted. We established the proper material constitutive model for Ti-6Al-4V; gave a reasonable load curve by reasonable calculating and adjusting the loading time step in solving process; chose reasonable lubricant, provided practical coefficient of friction between the mould and blank in the simulation process by using the contact theory and classic coulomb friction law. Finally, we established the finite element model of the channel bending forming of Ti-6Al-4V actually, provided supplementary support for actual production.

Needs for guidance and counselling services as expressed by staff of academic libraries in Kwara State, Nigeria

The paper examined the needs for guidance and counselling services by the staff of academic libraries in Kwara State. Fifty staff randomly selected from five academic libraries responded to items in the researchers-designed “Questionnaire on Needs for Guidance and Counselling Services by Library Staff” (QNGCSLS). Simple frequency counts and Mean rating were used to analyze the data. The study revealed the main areas in which respondents needed counselling as coping with stress; preparation for retirement and healthy living. Counsellors were not available in most libraries, even, as guidance and counselling services were considered relevant to solve cognitive, affective and psychomotor – related problems of library staff. The study therefore recommended the establishment of guidance and counselling units in libraries and the employment of professional counsellors to man the units.

The campus‐wide laptop loan service and the library's role

PurposeThis paper aims to present a successful partnership between the library and other campus units of California State University Sacramento in the program of campus‐wide laptop loan service. As an integral part of university resources, the library staff and systems play an exceptional role in collaborating with other university units in the campus‐wide program.Design/methodology/approachThree campus units worked together to create a model of support in innovation, cooperation and sharing of the campus resources, technology and expertise. Introducing the establishment of the campus‐wide loan service program and sharing service feedback retrieved from multiple service units in the project contributed to the success of this new program in the campus resource‐sharing practice.FindingsCollaboration, cooperation, and teamwork are fundamental in sharing campus resources, and creating staffing synergies and delivering an ever‐increasing range of university services, especially in an environment of budget constraints and economic difficulties.Originality/valueThere are many academic libraries now providing laptop loan service, but campus‐wide laptop loan service needs more collaboration, cooperation and communication for the program crew to embrace differences in serving a common‐interest group.

When Preservation Moves Off Campus

Preservation librarians face both practical and fundamental challenges when moving preservation operations from the main library to an off campus location. Practical issues include transporting materials and staff safely and securely between facilities, hiring and retaining student employees, and communicating effectively between geographically dispersed library units. Fundamental concerns include how to continue providing high-quality services and maintain productivity in the remote location. The author conducted a survey of Association of Research Libraries preservation librarians who are discussing a potential move, planning to move, or have moved previously and analyzed the responses. This paper reports on findings from the survey and effective practices identified both in the survey and during follow-up interviews.

A Case Study in the Evolution of Digital Services for Science and Engineering Libraries

ABSTRACT Building on experiences from earlier digital initiatives and partnerships, the University of Virginia has developed new services and forged new collaborations between traditional information technology and library units in support of changing approaches to science and engineering research and education. Over the past 4 years, the library has evolved through numerous service models, changes in institutional vision, and budgetary shortfalls and has emerged with a new understanding of where to invest resources and energy for coming challenges.

The ILL Service in the Biblioteca Nacional de España

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe the recent developments implemented in the ILL Service in the Biblioteca Nacional de España, aimed at a customer‐focused approach.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on those facts and activity figures reported between 2006 and the first semester of 2009 within the ILL Service.FindingsAs a result of the implementation of a series of quality standards (promotion of off‐site options, automation of workflows, review of procedures), a customer‐focused approach has been built in the ILL Service. Performance evaluation is a crucial issue in order to provide a better service and to benchmark with similar units in national libraries. The implementation of new electronic services and the great digitisation projects provide a larger visibility of national collections as well as an increase in ILL demand. The ILL Service continues to play a key role in cooperation and support for research, mainly in Hispanic studies.Originality/valueThe paper highlights the major quality measures introduced in the last few years in order to meet new customer needs in the ILL Service offered by the National Library of Spain. It also incorporates the impact of the main digitisation projects on the ILL Service.

Information Services Provided By Special Collections Units In Federal And State Nigerian University Libraries

This study assessed the information services provided in special collections unit in federal and state University libraries in Nigeria. One research question was formulated to guide the study. Descriptive survey design was adopted in carrying out the study. A purposive sampling procedure was used to obtain a sample of 178 librarians and library officers in 12 federal and state university libraries in Nigeria. A questionnaire was used in the collection of data. Mean scores and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions. The results of the analyses, among others, showed that Advisory services, Reprographic services, selective dissemination of information, indexing and abstracting and short loan services are the services provided to enhance the management of special collections while online service was not provided.

Gem #35

Ada Gem #35 --- Ada 95 introduced "protected types" as a fundamental building block for efficient concurrent programming and interrupt handling. In this Gem we examine the use of protected types in the implementation of the classic asynchronous bounded buffer abstraction provided by the GNAT hierarchy of library units. This Gem assumes the reader is somewhat familiar with protected types and will, therefore, explain some, but by no means all, of their semantics.