Networked Information Resources Research Articles

Networked Information Resources

Networked Information Resources

Evaluation of Tolimac

Tolimac (Total Library Management Concept) is an Internet based system for providing controlled access to networked information resources, particularly electronic document delivery (EDD). The system, based on smart cards and PINs (Personal Identification Number), encryption technology and an architecture is designed so that the library acts as an intermediary between the user and the document supplier, addresses three EDD problem areas facing libraries: computer security with regard to open networks (confidentiality, identification, authentication and document integrity); user authorization; and cost recovery. The prototype was evaluated by the Tolimac Consortium at three libraries: Universite Libre de Bruxelles (ULB); George Edwards Library, University of Surrey; and University College Dublin (UCD); results from the first two sites only being reported in this article. User based performance evaluation, at ULB and Surrey was achieved using the Performance Measurement Method (PMM), whereas Dublin used the SUMI (Software Usability Measurement Inventory) evaluation method. Overall reaction to the Tolimac system was positive and users thought that the system was easy to use and were happy with the response time the smart card access.

Representation and Organization of Information in the Web Space: From MARC to XML

Introduction The notion of information representation and organization traditionally means creating catalogs and indexes for publications of any kind. It includes the description of the attributes of a document and the representation of its intellectual content. Libraries in the world have a long history in recording data about documents and publications; such practice can be dated back to several thousand years ago. Indexes and library catalogs are created to help users find and locate a document conveniently. Records in the information searching tools not only serve as an inventory of human knowledge and culture but also provide orderly access to the collections. Just like every other business and industry, the representation and organization of information in the network era has gone through dramatic changes in almost every stage of this process. The changes include not only the methods and technology used to create records for publications, but also the standards that are central to the success and effectiveness of these tools in searching and retrieving information. Today the library catalog is no longer a tool for its own collection for the library visitors; it has become a network node that users can visit from anywhere in the world via a computer connected to the Internet. The concept of indexing databases is no longer just for newspapers and journal articles; it has expanded into the Web information space that is being used for e-publishing, e-businesses, and e-commerce. The heart of such a universal information space lies in the standards that make it possible for different types of data to be communicated and understood by heterogeneous platforms and systems. We all know that TCP/IP allows different computer systems to talk to each other and to understand different dialects of networking language; in the world of organizing information content, the content is represented by terms either in natural or controlled language or both. The characteristics of its container (book, journal, film, memo, report, etc.) will be encoded in certain format for computer storage and retrieval. Libraries in the world have used MAchine Readable Cataloging (MARC) (Library of Congress, 1999) to encode information about their collections. In conjunction with cataloging rules, such MARC format standardized the record structure that describes information containers, i.e., books, manuscripts, maps, periodicals, motion pictures, music scores, audio/video recordings, 2-D and 3-D artifacts, and microforms. The Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) in Dublin, Ohio is the largest and the busiest cataloging service in the world. Almost 33,000 libraries from 67 countries now use OCLC products and services and more than 8,650 of them are OCLC members. As e-publishing thrives and Web information space grows, libraries have expanded conventional cataloging of their collections into organizing the information on the Web. In the early 1990s, OCLC started the Internet cataloging project, in which librarians from all types of libraries volunteered to contribute MARC records they created for Gopher servers, listserves, ftp and Web sites, and other networked information resources (OCLC, 1996). Another major undertaking in organizing information on the Web is OCLC's Metadata Initiative (Dublin Core Metadata Initiative, 1999) inaugurated in 1995, which proposed a metadata scheme containing 15 data elements. Among them are title, creator, publisher, subject, description, format, type, source, relation, identifier, and rights. The metadata scheme was named after the city where OCLC is located: Dublin Core Metadata Element Set (Dublin Core for short). Since its debut, it has become an important part of the emerging infrastructure of the Internet. Many communities are eager to adopt a common core of semantics for resource description, and the Dublin Core has attracted broad ranging international and interdisciplinary support for this purpose. …

Internet Training: Implications of an International Study

This article describes international research which drew on the PBiC model of networked information resource use to study reasons for learning to use the Internet. Implications for Internet training include: take account of differences in trainees' prior knowledge of the Internet; recognise different reasons for wanting to use the Internet; focus on the purpose of use, not just tools; concentrate on developing positive attitudes to outcomes of use rather than on ways to reduce negative impressions; introduce quality characteristics—briefly; acknowledge social influences on Internet use and attitudes; and adopt norms associated with the education of highly motivated adults. Suggestions for course design to meet these objectives are included.

Expanding Our Knowledge of Evaluating Networked Information Services and Resources: Prelude to the Mid‐Year Meeting

Expanding Our Knowledge of Evaluating Networked Information Services and Resources: Prelude to the Mid‐Year Meeting

Improving access to information for nursing staff in remote areas: the potential of the Internet and other networked information resources

This paper reports on a research project which explored the potential of the Internet and other networked information resources to improve access to information for trained nurses working in the remote Western Isles of Scotland. The project was carried out by a multidisciplinary team including a community nurse working in the Western Isles, a nurse educator, an information provider and two information science researchers. Funding was provided jointly by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) and the ational Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting Scotland (NBS). Results show that the Internet does have considerable potential to improve access to information for nurses in remote areas. However, at that time, key improvements to the nursing information on the Internet were required. Results also reveal a low awareness amongst nursing staff of important nursing information resources and a lack of information seeking skills. The paper concludes by saying that although improving access to information is important, what is also important in the first instance is creating an awareness that access to information is both necessary and relevant.

ASIS Mid-year 1999: evaluating and using networked information resources and services

ASIS Mid-year 1999: evaluating and using networked information resources and services

An Internet Role for the Academic Librarian?

ABSTRACTThe academic librarian is a key stakeholder in the development of Internet technologies. The profession is well positioned to promote and exploit the benefits of information networks. In recent years, this has generally meant that academic librarians have assumed the role of campus Internet trainer or instructor. The logic behind this is compelling. The role of Internet trainer will enhance the profile of the profession because it will help academics to become better users of the Internet, and therefore better able to achieve the benefits of improved access to networked information resources and services.Is this the case? This article reports on a pilot study that, amongst other things, examined the relationship between training and satisfaction with information seeking on the Internet. The outcomes suggest that academic librarians might consider shifting their emphasis from Internet training to network-based support for self-learning. The methodology of magnitude estimation, employed in this pilo...

Universal service in a global networked environment: Selected issues and possible approaches

This article provides an overview and summary of selected issues related to the development of universal service to networked information resources and services in a global networked environment. Complex issues have yet to be addressed regarding basic concerns such as defining the term “universal service” as it suggests a range of meanings and uses given different societal contexts. The model for universal service being developed in the United States offers some lessons and concerns for other nations attempting to promote universal service as a national policy. The article concludes with a number of recommendations that address selected policy issues related to universal service in a global networked environment.

Selection and Evaluation of Networked Information Resources

ABSTRACT Public libraries need comprehensive, standardized evaluation strategies for the selection of electronic resources. This paper looks at networked information resources and discusses how to choose appropriate methods for selection. The role of traditional collection development criteria is expanded to include considerations that may be unique to electronic resources. In addition to the selection process, the measurement of how well a collection meets the information needs of users must be addressed. The second part of the paper discusses the different tools available to evaluate the use and effectiveness of a collection of networked electronic resources.

The TOLIMAC project: access control, charging and payment of electronic information resources by means of smart cards

TOLIMAC is a research project funded by the Telematics for Libraries Programme of the EU and is developing a system to provide controlled access to, and management of, networked information resources and other services in a library environment. The system is based on smart cards and encryption technology integrating management functionalities ‐such as user identification, remote access control, electronic payment‐, and security requirements ‐such as secure information transfer and financial transactions, document integrity. The system also enables libraries to adjust user access rights, and charges for available electronic resources, whether local or remote, according to user categories. The system is based on standards. It has a Web interface. The pilot system will provide users from three university libraries with access to an electronic document delivery service based at INIST (France), including search, order and delivery of journal articles, as well as payment facilities by means of the electronic purse on the user's smart card.

Managing networked information resources more effectively: Candle

This article describes some of the design ideas being developed in the European Commission co‐funded Candle project. Our aim in the project is to design a tool for libraries to manage access to electronic resources, particularly electronic journals. In the article we describe the Candle system, features of which will be: role based access control, single sign on, services to remote users, electronic journal subscription management, detailed usage statistics, scaleable administration of thousands of users. Authentication to web resources will be handled through a proxy. We discuss future development plans based on our study of user requirements. We also examine emergent technology and standards such as certificates, directories, mechanised licences and privacy issues which will govern the development of future versions of systems like Candle.

Learning to Use the Internet in a Developing Country: Validation of a User Model

This article describes how a model of networked information resource use was used in a study of Internet training for Namibian information workers, and how the study informed the model. The model is based on Ajzen's (1988) theory of planned behaviour and Klobas's (1997) planned behaviour in context (PBiC) model of networked information resource use. The model describes networked information resource use as a function of intention to use a networked information resource such as the Internet or an intranet. It explains how attitudes towards outcomes of use, perceived control of use, social influences, and information resource quality together influence intentions to use a networked information resource. An e-mail survey and questionnaire based on the PBiC model were used to measure attitudes and intended Internet use among participants in a course for Namibian information workers being trained to train others to use electronic information resources. This was the first group to undertake a substantial formal course of Internet user training in Namibia, at a time when Internet access was being extended to towns and rural regions outside the capital city. All trainees referred to the value of the Internet as a source of information, while only one quarter were concerned about potential barriers to use. The trainees' perceptions of Internet quality were mostly positive, with the most appreciated quality being the currency of the information. Perceived ease of use was relatively low. Perceptions of Internet quality appear to have two dimensions reflecting perceptions associated with working with the Internet and with the initial impact of the Internet. Internet quality characteristics associated with initial impact were correlated with intended use, but quality characteristics associated with working with the Internet over time were not correlated with intentions. Ongoing use of the Internet for work reflects attitudes to the Internet more closely than perceived Internet quality characteristics. Attitudes associated with intentions to use the Internet include perceived usefulness in work and career advancement, enjoyment of use, and a sense that all necessary facilities for use are conveniently available. Trainers and educators who are trying to encourage ongoing Internet use among individuals and to promote more widespread use throughout a community should pay attention to developing positive attitudes towards use in their trainees.

Knowledge Sharing Agents Over the World Wide Web

Large and increasing amounts of information are now available both on the Internet and on corporate intranets. With the availability of these vast networked information resources comes a requirement for tools to manage the information and provide users with the information they want, when they want it. This paper describes a system which facilitates and encourages the sharing of knowledge between groups of users within (or perhaps across) organisations. KSE (knowledge sharing environment) is a system of information agents for organising, summarising and sharing knowledge from a number of sources, including the World Wide Web, an organisation's internal intranet or from other users. Users are organised into closed user groups or communities of interest with related or overlapping interests. Such groups could be members of a project team, students studying the same subject (perhaps at different institutions), members of an organisational department, and so on. As well as sharing explicit (codified) knowledge, the sharing of tacit knowledge is encouraged via the automatic suggestion of, and support for, contact between people with mutual concerns or interests.

Project headline: Access control and authentication ‐ issues for access to networked information resources

Project headline: Access control and authentication ‐ issues for access to networked information resources

Information for trained nurses in remote areas: do electronically networked resources provide an answer?

This paper reports on a research project which examined the potential of the Internet, and other networked information resources, to improve access to information for trained nurses working in remote areas. This paper provides a review of current literature in the field. It describes the research carried out, presents a summary of the research findings and discusses the implications of these findings. The paper concludes that the Internet and networked resources do have considerable potential to improve access to information for nurses working in remote and rural areas. However, information skills, along with professional guidance, are also required.

Information for trained nurses in remote areas: doelectronically networked resources provide an answer?

This paper reports on a research project which examined the potential of the Internet, and other networked information resources, to improve access to information for trained nurses working in remote areas. This paper provides a review of current literature in the field. It describes the research carried out, presents a summary of the research findings and discusses the implications of these findings. The paper concludes that the Internet and networked resources do have considerable potential to improve access to information for nurses working in remote and rural areas. However, information skills, along with professional guidance, are also required.

Evaluating IAIMS at Yale: information access.

To evaluate use of information resources during the first year of IAIMS implementation at the Yale-New Haven Medical Center. The evaluation asked: (1) Which information resources are being used? (2) Who uses information resources? (3) Where are information resources used? (4) Are multiple sources of information being integrated? Measures included monthly usage data for resources delivered network-wide, in the Medical Library, and in the Hospital; online surveys of library workstation users; an annual survey of a random, stratified sample of Medical Center faculty, postdoctoral trainees, students, nurses, residents, and managerial and professional staff; and user comments. Eighty-three percent of the Medical Center community use networked information resources, and use of resources is increasing. Both status (faculty, student, nurse, etc.) and mission (teaching, research, patient care) affect use of individual resources. Eighty-eight percent of people use computers in more than one location, and increases in usage of traditional library resources such as MEDLINE are due to increased access from outside the Library. Both survey and usage data suggest that people are using multiple resources during the same information seeking session. Almost all of the Medical Center community is using networked information resources in more settings. It is necessary to support increased demand for information access from remote locations and to specific populations, such as nurses. People are integrating information from multiple sources, but true integration within information systems is just beginning. Other institutions are advised to incorporate pragmatic evaluation into their IAIMS activities and to share evaluation results with decision-makers.

Erratum

This article has been withdrawn as it was published elsewhere and accidentally duplicated. The original article can be seen here: 10.1108/10662249610152320. When citing the article, please cite: Jane E. Klobas, (1996), “Networked information resources: electronic opportunities for users and librarians”, Internet Research, Vol. 6 Iss: 4, pp. 53 - 62.

NETWORKS AROUND THE WORLD

At December's Online Information meeting in London, one session looked at the topic of networked information resources, with speakers from different countries giving their own perspectives. Now that global networks are a reality, the speakers looked at some of the implications of networked information. Subjects covered were the possibility of a global stock exchange; the utility of environmental information on the Internet; the Internet in India; and Internet user types and habits according to a survey conducted in Denmark.