Medium-sized Libraries Research Articles

Development of an Escherichia coli expression system and thermostability screening assay for libraries of mutant xylanase.

A thermostability screening assay was developed using an Escherichia coli expression system to express Streptomyces lividans xylanase A (XlnA). The screening system was tested using mutants randomized at position 49 of the S. lividans XlnA gene, a position previously shown to confer thermostability with a I49P point mutation. The library was cloned into an E. coli expression vector and transformed into XL1-blue bacteria. The resulting clones were screened for increased thermostability with respect to wild-type XlnA. Using this assay, we isolated the I49P mutant previously shown to be thermostable, as well as novel I49A and I49C mutants. The I49A and I49C mutants were shown to have 2.8- to 8-fold increase in thermostability over that of wild-type XlnA. The results show that the screening assay can selectively enrich for clones with increased thermostability and is suitable for screening small- to medium-sized libraries of 5000-20,000 clones.

Development of an efficient maintenance and screening system for large-insert genomic DNA libraries of hexaploid wheat in a transformation-competent artificial chromosome (TAC) vector.

Three large-insert genomic DNA libraries of common wheat, Triticum aestivum cv. Chinese Spring, were constructed in a newly developed transformation-competent artificial chromosome (TAC) vector, pYLTAC17, which accepts and maintains large genomic DNA fragments stably in both Escherichia coli and Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The vector contains the cis sequence required for Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer into grasses. The average insert sizes of the three genomic libraries were approximately 46, 65 and 120 kbp, covering three haploid genome equivalents. Genomic libraries were stored as frozen cultures in a 96-well format, each well containing approximately 300-600 colonies (12 plates for small library, four for medium-size library and four for large library). In each of the libraries, approximately 80% of the colonies harbored genomic DNA inserts of >50 kbp. TAC clones containing gene(s) of interest were identified by the pooled PCR technique. Once the target TAC clones were isolated, they could be immediately transferred into grass genomes with the Agrobacterium system. Five clones containing the thionin type I genes (single copy per genome), corresponding to each of the three genomes (A, B and D), were successfully selected by the pooled PCR method, in addition to an STS marker (aWG464; single copy per genome) and CAB (a multigene family). TAC libraries constructed as described here can be used to isolate genomic clones containing target genes, and to carry out genome walking for positional cloning.

Theft and Mutilation of Library Materials

Abstract Theft and mutilation of library materials is a continuing problem for librarians and past research on this problem offers no real solutions. In this research project, in-depth interviews were held with library managers of small- and medium-sized public libraries to determine their degree of concern with theft and mutilation and what measures they are instituting to manage the problem. No libraries are conducting regular inventories to determine losses and most managers are discouraged by the increase in mutilation of their children'S materials and the high theft rate of music CDs.

The Critical Incident Technique in Library and Information Management Research

The primary focus of this paper is the application of the Critical Incident Technique in three studies undertaken by researchers in the Department of Information and Communications, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. These are: a study of staff development needs as a key element in a study of change in Higher Education in the UK; a study of decision-making practices in small to medium-size libraries in Europe (the DECIMAL Project)); and the development of a learning support tool, which was intended to focus on supporting library and information workers moving into management (the LISTEN Project). The origins and method of CIT as described in Flanagan's seminal paper (1954) are outlined. The use of CIT as a qualitative research technique is discussed, with reference to a number of other relevant studies.

Factores involucrados en el proceso de toma de decisiones en bibliotecas de tamaño medio y pequeño. Resultados del Proyecto Decimal

The article presents the research results of the DECIMAL European project. The aim of the project is to produce an integrated decision support module for library management systems used in small and medium size libraries. The quantitative and qualitative research carried out in United Kingdom, Italy and Spain has been based on a combination of different methods: literature review, interviews, questionnaires and discussion groups during both presentation workshops held. Two basic research lines are discerned: the first one involving the real use of performance measures and indicators in management and evaluation of the library activities, and also their potential interest in the case they have not been applied to the present, and the second one involving the type of decisions most frequantly made in libraries and the issues that influence decision-making process (information sources used, organizational culture, training, satisfaction level). The article has been centered in the results obtained in Spanish libraries, but the general results are also mentioned in order to be compared. The conclusions of the study have resulted in the user requirement specification, as a first step in the design of the decision support module. The project has concluded with a prototype evaluation phase organised as an iterative testing of the prototypes and successive software modifications. The development of four versions of the module has resolved the problems identified earlier in the evaluation process.

Rankings and comparisons: the top lists

The task of searching for the top companies in an industry, in a geographic region or in the world is an important and common one for business librarians and one which is satisfied by lists that rank companies and industries in a rational way (top, biggest, leading, largest). Discusses the issues involved with the concept of ranking and identifies sources of ranking information for North American companies and from US publishers for worldwide rankings, with particular reference to: Dun’s Business Rankings; national business periodicals ( Fortune, Forbes, INC) with contact details and selective URLs for World Wide Web access; regional magazines; compilations ( Gale’s Business Rankings Annual); finding aids; international ranking sources; sector rankings; and online sources. Notes briefly the sources for non-US rankings and screening for company rankings. Includes a reference hint for searchers in small and medium-sized libraries that most ranking questions will be answered from the Fortune or Forbes lists and that Gale’s Rankings titles should be used as finding aids to special issues in their own and other libraries.

Approval Plan Overlap

This study compares a vendor's approval plan shipments for one year to two pairs of similar libraries, to determine the degree of title overlap. Two large academic libraries, Penn State University and the University of Southern California, overlapped on 51 percent of their approval plan titles. Two medium-sized libraries, Wake Forest University and Occidental College, overlapped at a 23 percent rate. Among all titles shipped to these libraries, 6 percent were acquired by all four. Data is analyzed by publisher and by subject, and discussion focuses upon two opinions librarians have expressed, that approval plans homogenize monographs collections, and that they deliver core books to libraries.

A guide to reference books for small and medium-sized libraries, 1984-1994

A guide to reference books for small and medium-sized libraries, 1984-1994

The DECIMAL Project: decision‐making and decision support in small to medium size libraries

The aim of the DECIMAL Project is to produce an integrated Decision Support Module for library management systems. This is being developed from an assessment of the needs and practices of library managers in small to medium size libraries in the UK, Spain and Italy. The Project, which commenced in February 1995, comprises four Phases — Management, Research, Technical Development and Evaluation. The objectives and structure of the Project are described, with an account of progress in the technical development to date and a summary of the findings of the Research Phase. The Module is being developed to incorporate both textual and numeric information to support the decision process.

Cataloging Non-English Governement Publications in a Medium Research Library

The authors provide a brief review of recent literature addressing cataloging of non-U.S. government publications (with an emphasis on publications in languages other than English) and discuss issues specific to bibliographic processing of official government publications, including poor internal bibliographic control, restrictive or unusual government policies, unusual government structures and practices,and highly irregular publishing schedules. They summarize a survey of cataloging copy availability conducted for non-English, non-U.S. government publications in the OCLC database, and conclude with a discussion of practice in dealing with these materials in place in one medium-sized library.

Managing Reference Services in an Electronic Environment

The increasingly electronic environment in today's academic library is placing new demands on managing reference services. Staff are faced with selecting, implementing, and servicing a wide range of services and resources. This necessitates learning the new and integrating it into the established. At the same time, users are becoming more varied. Not only is their demographic profile changing, but more users with interdisciplinary interests are seeking assistance. Reference librarians are also working to establish new interfaces with the increasing number of users who wish to access resources without coming into the library. This article addresses the management of reference services in a medium-sized research library to meet these needs. A model for planning reference services is presented along with a staff organizational structure to meet agreed upon objectives.

Infrared Spectral Search for Mixtures in Medium-Size Libraries

A new algorithm is presented for searching medium-size infrared spectral libraries for the components in spectra of mixtures. The algorithm treats the spectra in the library as an m-component quantitative analysis problem in which each of the library spectra represents a standard mixture having a concentration of 1.0 for that component. Principal component regression (PCR) is used to reduce the dimensionality of the problem and to provide the regression coefficients for determining pseudo-concentrations or composition indices (CI) in mixtures. The PCR analysis is followed by the application of an adaptive filter to remove all similarity of the first target component from the mixture and from a selected subgroup of the library. This is followed by a second PCR analysis on the modified spectral data to identify the next target compound. If the correct target components are selected with successive applications of the adaptive filter, the residuals will approach zero. All components in five two- and three-component mixtures were correctly identified by this new Mix-Match algorithm, whereas only two of the five mixtures were completely identified by a typical dot-product search routine.

Identifying a Professional Core Collection for the Librarian of the Small-to Medium-Sized Public Library:

Two core collections of professional materials considered helpful in the day-to-day operation of small- to medium-sized public libraries were identified. One core collection was identified through a review of the professional literature and a national survey of public librarians. The second core collection was identified through a comparison of the national study and an earlier study performed in Oklahoma

Use of Periodicals and Newspapers in a Mid-Sized Public Library

The results of a periodicals use study in a medium-sized public library reveal that most of the information needs of the public library patron can be met by using materials published within the last five years, with newspapers forming a large percentage of the publications requested. The identification of appropriate sources is heavily dependent upon the use and availability of indexed materials.

MUSEUM TOL: Small and Medium-Sized Art Museum Libraries: The Problems of Interdependence and Independence

MUSEUM TOL: Small and Medium-Sized Art Museum Libraries: The Problems of Interdependence and Independence

Managing the College Library's Acquisitions Budget

The day-to-day monitoring of the acquisitions budget in a small to medium-sized college library is examined within the context of the educational and fiscal realities of the parent institution. The acquisitions budget is discussed in terms of the allocation of funds for different types of materials, internal accounts for monitoring the budget within these categories, and recommendations for coping with unexpected changes during the course of the fiscal year. A discussion of the book budget offers advice on controlling encumbrances and expenditures, as well as guidelines for a fiscal timetable and the use of allocation formulas. Special problems associated with monitoring standing orders and approval plans are examined. A section on monitoring the periodicals budget addresses concerns with their escalating costs as well as methods for ordering journals and allocating periodical funds in a college library.

CARD DATALOG FOR SMALLER LIBRARIES: AN OVERVIEW

As the previous issue of VINE revealed, one of the fastest growing areas in the present library systems market is in the supply of housekeeping packages for the small to medium size library. Not only is the number of packages increasing but a relatively high proportion has modules covering all housekeeping areas, namely acquisitions, cataloguing, circulation control and serials; some, too, have additional features such as OPAC, interfaces to external systems for record downloading and supply, and interlibrary loans. A recent incomer to the UK market is DTI (Data Trek Inc) with its Card Datalog system. This system originates in the US where it has acquired around 600 sites since its launch in 1981; more recently it has been introduced in the Republic of Ireland where there are 5 installations. In the UK, it currently has one live site, namely the College of Distributed Trades in central London.

Local Officials and the Public Library

The medium-sized public library has an important role to play in providing information to local officials. This role can be achieved on a minimal levcl by development of the collections, contacts with municipal leaders. and the use of specialized databases. The provision of such a service to local governments has two primary objectives: first, to heighten the visibility of the public library in the community, particularly among those controuing tax dollars; second, and most importantly, to provide information services to a level of government closest to the people.

Reference Sources for Small and Medium-Sized Libraries (Book Review)

Reference Sources for Small and Medium-Sized Libraries (Book Review)

The Soviet Union and Eastern Europe: A Bibliographic Guide to Recommended Books for Small and Medium-Sized Libraries and School Media Centers. By Stephan M. Horak. Littleton, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, Inc., 1985. xiv, 373 pp. $27.50. - Eastern European National Minorities, 1919–1980: A HANDBOOK. By Stephan Horak et al. Littleton, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, 1985. xv, 353 pp. Tables. $47.50 (U.S.)/$57.00 (outside

The Soviet Union and Eastern Europe: A Bibliographic Guide to Recommended Books for Small and Medium-Sized Libraries and School Media Centers. By Stephan M. Horak. Littleton, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, Inc., 1985. xiv, 373 pp. $27.50. - Eastern European National Minorities, 1919–1980: A HANDBOOK. By Stephan Horak et al. Littleton, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, 1985. xv, 353 pp. Tables. $47.50 (U.S.)/$57.00 (outside