Traditional Library Functions Research Articles

Assessing Maturity in Research Data Management: A Study of Academic Librarians in Zimbabwe

While numerous studies have looked into the nexus between research data management (RDM) and academic libraries, there has been less emphasis on assessing the maturity levels of the RDM services provided. This article reports on a study that investigated the maturity of RDM services in academic libraries in Zimbabwe using the RDM Maturity Model focusing on academic librarians associated with the Zimbabwe Library Association (ZIMLA). The research employed a survey approach, utilizing both questionnaires and interviews for data collection. A total of 91 responses were gathered from academic librarians in university, college and polytechnic libraries. Most universities are compliant with RDM standards however, compliance levels differ, with only one institution having a formal policy and many others intending to create one. Libraries mainly interact with RDM through advisory services and lack the robust technological infrastructure necessary to support research activities. RDM services are integrated into traditional library functions. Challenges identified include insufficient management support and funding. Services in university libraries are largely limited to literacy training, data reuse awareness, and data citation guidance, placing them at "level 1" of the RDM maturity model. Many college and polytechnic libraries do not provide services, resulting in a "level zero" status due to the absence of services, audits, and policies. The study concluded that RDM maturity in Zimbabwe is at “level 1”, indicating basic compliance, and highlighted an urgent need for comprehensive capacity building, policy development, and enhanced institutional support.

KnowAll Matrix: Designed by a UK Legal Librarian to Future-Proof Your Legal Library

AbstractIn an era where efficient information management is crucial, KnowAll Matrix stands out as a transformative tool for legal informational professionals. It was developed by an experienced UK legal library consultant, Penny Bailey, and here Bailey Solutions explains how this innovative platform goes beyond standard library management systems to offer a future-proof solution, revolutionising access to legal knowledge. Utilised by large law firms, barristers' chambers, government libraries, European agencies, a European parliament, and other organisations, KnowAll Matrix supports information staff to proficiently manage all traditional library functions, including cataloguing, subject indexing, classification, circulation, loans, acquisitions, and serials management. Furthermore, it offers essential features for modern electronic resources management. Its user-friendly interface ensures seamless discovery of both print and digital resources in a single search, prioritising user convenience. Over two decades, as the legal and technological landscapes have evolved, so too has the product, with innovative features like multi-hierarchical taxonomies, practice group resources, single sign-on, and contract renewals. This article delves into these new features and their utilisation by clients to make the library and information centre a primary resource for legal professionals seeking information.

On the interdisciplinary library studies (review of the book: Markova T. B. “The library and the book as the forms of memory transmission”)

The interdisciplinary approach to studying the book and library as the forms of memory transmission is discussed. The purpose of the study was to substantiate the concept of the library “as the form to memorize knowledge and preserve cultural memory”. The originality of the study lies in the defining traditional library functions: they not only preserve information and deliver it to users but also orient them in the world of books, and facilitate their creativity. The monograph in structured in four chapters. Chapter 1 “The methodological foundations of the memory phenomenon studies” examines the concepts of the book and reading in the memory structure. Chapter 2 “Conceptualization of the memory in philosophy and cultural studies” comprises the analysis of memory concepts related to the memory institutions: libraries, museums, and archives. In the Chapter 3, “The memory organizational forms”, the evolution and institutionalization of collective memory forms are discussed. Chapter 4 “The library and cultural memory” focuses on the book and library as memory transmission forms. The libraries’ humanistic mission is substantiated; they do not only preserve cultural and historic heritage but are also naturally and creatively apply new technological possibilities. The interdisciplinary approach chosen by the author enables to demonstrate the prospects for the libraries, books and academic community in upgrading cultural environment.

Library and Information Science Doctoral Research Appears to be Showing Less and Less Interest in Library Topics, and Concern among Practitioners May be Justified

Library and Information Science Doctoral Research Appears to be Showing Less and Less Interest in Library Topics, and Concern among Practitioners May be Justified

Maintaining parallel systems

When I was a biomedical library director, people frequently asked me why libraries had reaped so few savings from the introduction of electronic journals. I often answered by explaining that we were maintaining parallel systems: We had to keep processing print, because it still represented a substantial portion of our collections, while at the same time we provided access to electronic content. The cost of running two systems more than compensated for any savings from moving to digital delivery. Using a term from the business world, like “parallel systems,” seemed to make this rather mundane observation more persuasive. Of course, it probably helped that the answer also gave the welcome impression that sooner or later we would drop print and see some savings. The current issue of the Journal of the Medical Library Association (JMLA) provides a different perspective on the challenge of maintaining parallel systems. This issue confirms that health sciences librarians are definitely experimenting with new initiatives that make use of our ever more “high-tech” environment to improve access to information. At the same time, we still pursue the “high-touch” concept of librarianship that encouraged many of us to enter the profession in the first place. Elizabeth Workman et al.'s article on biomedical text summarization explains how new web-based applications can allow librarians to develop secondary databases in an automated fashion. Painstakingly curated lists of faculty publications and laboriously assembled bibliographies of current literature on a narrowly defined topic once were common in special libraries. They became impractical as the literature expanded, but with these new applications, we may be able to once again create specialized databases for our users. Equally new possibilities for health sciences information delivery are suggested in the brief communication by Valerie Lawrence et al., which describes the efforts in Washington to deliver electronic content to health practitioners throughout that state. Should this pioneering effort gain traction elsewhere, it opens up a whole new set of opportunities for health sciences librarians to reach health practitioners. At the same time, the issue contains two reports of activities in a very traditional area of librarianship, collection development. Ana Ugaz et al. report on the results of the latest update to the “Basic List of Veterinary Medical Serials,” while Amber Burtis and Mary Taylor have updated a 1997 study mapping the literature of health education. Statistics from PubMed Central indicate that the mapping studies for nursing are some of the most frequently downloaded papers from the JMLA, confirming that this traditional aspect of our profession is still very important to us and to our users. Similar evidence of the importance of traditional library functions can be found in Felicia Barrett's brief communication analyzing the decline in reference services at a regional academic health sciences library, and Sandra De Groote and Felicia Barrett's brief communication examining the use of print collections. Barrett concludes that although user groups may be changing, demand for reference services from our core clientele remains important, while De Groote suggests that in some circumstances there is still heavy use of onsite print collections. It is not easy to operate parallel systems, whether we are referring to the maintenance of print and electronic or the introduction of new roles while we still perform our old ones. I hope this issue, however, will help us to meet the challenge.

Information-seeking behavior of basic science researchers: implications for library services

This study examined the information-seeking behaviors of basic science researchers to inform the development of customized library services. A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted on a sample of basic science researchers employed at a university medical school. The basic science researchers used a variety of information resources ranging from popular Internet search engines to highly technical databases. They generally relied on basic keyword searching, using the simplest interface of a database or search engine. They were highly collegial, interacting primarily with coworkers in their laboratories and colleagues employed at other institutions. They made little use of traditional library services and instead performed many traditional library functions internally. Although the basic science researchers expressed a positive attitude toward the library, they did not view its resources or services as integral to their work. To maximize their use by researchers, library resources must be accessible via departmental websites. Use of library services may be increased by cultivating relationships with key departmental administrative personnel. Despite their self-sufficiency, subjects expressed a desire for centralized information about ongoing research on campus and shared resources, suggesting a role for the library in creating and managing an institutional repository.

Digital audio lectures: a library's path to sustainability

Technology is rapidly transforming traditional library functions, and librarians must ensure that their libraries and services remain valuable, sensitive to user needs, and sustainable into the future. Technological advances in the past several years have enabled libraries to create new services that before were not possible, such as virtual reference, personalized [online public access catalog (OPAC)] interfaces, or downloadable media that library customers can use in the comfort of their own homes. This increase in available technologies gives libraries the ability to offer improved, customer-driven service opportunities. [1] The Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS) Media Library used available technology to upgrade a thirty-year-old lecture recording service. The improved, customer-driven service not only assisted students with learning and helped faculty with curriculum development, it has more fully integrated the media library into the rest of the school and revitalized its basic mission. As school librarians ponder using technology to enhance their services and to strengthen their role within larger the school framework, they may want to consider the experience at the RWJMS Media Library, which has produced sustainable results by responding to customer needs and preparing adequately for change.

Library and Information Science Professionals as Community Action Researchers in an Academic Setting: Top Ten Directions to Further Institutional Change for People of Diverse Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities

The need for progressive change in people’s attitudes and behaviors is essential for a communitywide acceptance of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders, and questioning (LGBTQ) individuals. This article examines our role as library and information science (LIS) professionals working in an academic environment to promote equality of sexual minorities by taking community action and creating social awareness and acceptance on their behalf. Findings based on qualitative studies and action research conducted in the University of Tennessee at Knoxville (UTK) help identify typical barriers and challenges faced by local LGBTQ individuals toward self-fulfillment and social and political empowerment. Research participants share their marginalizing experiences that paint a picture of slow acceptance reflected in the lukewarm campus and community climate of support toward LGBTQ individuals. It forms the contextual motivation for the authors as openly gay LIS professionals to promote “top ten” prioritized community actions of “what do we need to do” and “how do we do it” on behalf of people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. Current directions of progress made in the UTK academic environment over a period of two years are shared in this paper. Future efforts are also identified that require extending traditional library functions of information provision to reflect contemporary nontraditional expectations of relevance that include proactive social justice efforts for libraries and LIS professionals to come out of the closet in support of people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.

From Bibliographer to Curator: archival strategies for capturing web publications

Librarians, archivists, and records managers can no longer be passive recipients of what they have received through often venerable programs, but must actively capture the information needed in the future. Given the quantity of material on government agency websites, traditional, item-level methods for bibliographic control is impractical. An Arizona Model for curating a collection of web publications based on the archival principles of provenance and original order grew out of the observation that the organization of websites parallels the organization of archival collections. The Arizona Model addresses traditional library functions of identification and selection, acquisition, description, reference, and access. It proposes how an archivist’s perspective can help adapt those functions to the needs of the 21st century.

Copyright and Electronic Library Resources

ABSTRACT As electronic resources represent a larger percentage of libraries' purchases and services, copyright law, licensing, and other information laws are changing some traditional library functions. This article reviews the law of electronic resources through an outline of affected library services, including acquisitions and collection development; gifts, exchanges, and sales; archiving and preservation; circulation; interli-brary loan and document delivery; reserve; and research, reference, and instructional services. Legal issues considered include copyright, licensing, and database protection.

Spatial Data and the Digital Library

As geographic information technologies develop and gain new and often non-traditional users, librarians are working to develop services and collections to meet their needs. Acquiring, managing, describing, and distributing information are traditional library functions that must be adapted for spatial data. The heavy toll on libraries, in terms of budgetary and staff resources, however, make service and collection decisions difficult. With assistance, spatial data services in libraries can grow to complement and aid the GIS user community. This article discusses collecting spatial data, partnering with GIS professionals, and implementing GIS services within the library.

The need for versatility in a small research library environment

The need for change in the management and administration of libraries is now well recognized. Current thought seems to be largely devoted to systems analysis and streamlining of traditional library functions. Foskett, however, puts forward a view that libraries ‘are not closed and static systems, but must continually develop in relation to their environment, must be prepared to change the organization of their various parts in order to survive and fulfil the purpose for which they were created’. We endorse this view whilst stressing the need for the research library to be willing to expand its function to that of a system of communication as well as information. In fields of pure research which depend upon the rapid exchange of current knowledge it is necessary for an equal emphasis to be placed on both inward and outward communication. Providing the most useful service to scientific users within the confines of a stated number of staff and a restricted amount of money leads to a necessity for versatility in the staffing of such services.

An Economic Analysis of Library Benefits

Libraries find it increasingly necessary to use their limited resources in the most efficient manner. This requires the use of decision rules which permit library resources to be directed to those activities which yield the highest returns. An effort is made to utilize part of welfare economics to suggest which groups of library users will provide the greatest return to society. An evaluation of the traditional library functions of education, information, and leisure suggests that libraries should direct their resources toward educational activities and not toward recreation when public monies are involved. A case can be made for subsidizing the library activities of school-age children, others explicitly involved in education, disadvantaged minority groups, and governmental officials and staff. Since public and school libraries produce and distribute essentially the same services, it is an uneconomic use of the communities' resources to maintain two separate institutions, one of which imposes costs on the other as children are forced to use public library facilities due to school library inadequacies.