Urbana-Champaign Library Research Articles

Color-blind racial attitudes, social dominance orientation, racial-ethnic group membership and college students' perceptions of campus climate.

AbstractMethodParticipantsInstruments Assessment of Campus Climate for Underrepresented Groups (URG; Rankin, 2000)Color-Blind Racial Attitudes Scale (CoBRAS; Neville et al., 2000)Social Dominance Orientation Scale (SDS; Sidanius & Pratto, 1999) ProcedureResultsPreliminary AnalysesDiscussion Graphics Table 1Table 2Table 3Table 4 Abstract Racial-ethnic group membership, color-blind racial attitudes (i.e., unawareness of racialprivilege, institutional discrimination, and blatant racial issues), and social dominanceorientation were used to predict perceptions of campus climate in general and specifically forpeople of color among a sample of 144 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students ata predominately White university. Results indicate that after controlling for racial-ethnicminority status, perceptions of “general campus climate” (GCC) and “racial-ethnic campusclimate” (RECC) are predicted by color-blind racial attitudes. Post hoc analyses indicated that Provided by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library

Lost is Found

A study conducted at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Library examines data from unfilled ILL requests to determine the status of materials housed in the Main Bookstacks of the library's collection. This study follows the research that was started in the original study conducted in 2002, “Needles in a Haystack: Using Interlibrary Loan Data to Identify Materials Missing from a Library's Collection.” The results of the second study indicate that the use of a high-density storage facility had a positive impact on the retrieval rate of ILL materials from the Main Bookstacks. It also indicated that fill rates increased when over 770,000 items were removed from the Main Book-stacks resulting in improved shelving conditions for the library's collection.

Decision-Making Factors Related to Bibliographic Database Cancellation

Abstract The database analysis strategies used to decide whether the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Library should maintain a subscription to the electronic database Wilson Social Sciences Abstracts(Wilson SSA) are described. A variety of analyses were conducted: comparison of journal title coverage with four other multi-subject databases available at UIUC (Social Sciences Citation Index, EBSCO Academic Search Elite, Current Contents, and Infotrac); usage statistics; comparison of actual journal year coverage between SSA and the database that offered the highest percentage of title coverage (Infotrac); search retrieval analysis for a small number of subjects; and comparison of journal coverage between Wilson SSA and a multi-social science database search across nine Cambridge Scientific Abstracts social sciences databases. Results showed a high degree of overlap in title, as well as year coverage between SSA and the targeted comparison databases, and low usage/high costs for the SSA pro...

The Growth of Electronic Journals in Libraries

ABSTRACTLibraries have greatly expanded their monetary and infrastructure investments in electronic journals. In addition, libraries have dramatically expanded their e-journal holdings through consortial agreements, publisher licenses, and aggregator subscriptions. User studies show a marked increase in the use of e-journals and a growing reliance on online journals for scholarship and instruction. The increased availability and usage of electronic journals has presented libraries with critical management, bibliographic control, and access problems. This paper explores e-resource management and bibliographic control mechanisms and access solutions, and examines the evolving relationship between e-resource management systems, the online catalog, local link resolvers, and full-text e-journal repositories. To address these interoperability issues, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Library has developed several management and access tools. The Online Research Resources (ORR) combines a relational database, a searchable A-to-Z list, and elements of an electronic resources management system. The Journal and Article Locator (JAL) utilizes metasearch technologies over the ORR, the local OPAC, the local link resolver server, and the CrossRef metadata database to provide unified access to both electronic and print journal holdings and full-text articles.

Where Have All the Dissertations Gone? Assessing the State of a Unique Collection's Shelf (Un)availability

A study conducted at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library (UIUC) examined data from a random sample of PhD dissertation titles to determine the number of items missing from the portion of the collection housed in the Main Bookstacks. Results from the study indicated that a higher number of items were missing than originally estimated based on failures to find materials on the shelf. Analysis of the data resulted in recommendations to replace the titles that were missing to ensure access by future researchers to this uniquely held material.

Time and Cost Analysis of Preparing and Processing Materials for Off-Site Shelving at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is currently in the process of transferring its first shipment of 700,000 books into a temporary storage facility in preparation of a permanent high-density shelving facility in late 2004. This paper discusses the steps all materials must go through before they can be transferred to and accessed through the high-density shelving facility, and offers time and cost analysis for each step whenever possible. It is the authors' intention that this analysis will assist similar research institutions in their financial and staff planning for a similar off-site shelving facility.

Circulation Training in an Integrated Library System

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Library participated in the statewide conversion to a new integrated library system in the summer of 2002. Prior to the system's implementation, various local and statewide committees coordinated efforts to train their staffs so as to ensure a seamless transition. This case study analyzes, in detail, the successes and limitations of the training program at the UIUC Library, with respect to the circulation module. The program can serve as a model for libraries needing to train a large staff body in a short amount of time.

The Balance Point: Keeping Serial Bibliographic Records Viable in a Digital Age

Michael Norman, head of serials cataloging at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) library, describes his library's development of an integrated management system for serials, the Online Research Resources (ORR). The ORR was designed to draw together and deliver to the public a wide range of information related to the library's serial holdings that previously could only be obtained by consulting a number of sources. With a single search, UIUC patrons can now consult the ORR for serials information such as variant titles, online availability, subject categories, print summary statements, ISI impact factor, where the title is indexed, and whether it is peer reviewed—an innovation sorely needed and highly welcomed by librarians and patrons alike.

The Balance Point: Keeping Serial Bibliographic Records Viable in a Digital Age

Michael Norman, head of serials cataloging at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) library, describes his library's development of an integrated management system for serials, the Online Research Resources (ORR). The ORR was designed to draw together and deliver to the public a wide range of information related to the library's serial holdings that previously could only be obtained by consulting a number of sources. With a single search, UIUC patrons can now consult the ORR for serials information such as variant titles, online availability, subject categories, print summary statements, ISI impact factor, where the title is indexed, and whether it is peer reviewed—an innovation sorely needed and highly welcomed by librarians and patrons alike.

Re-Establishing Key Control as a Security Measure

Abstract The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Library is a large academic institution, maintaining a combined staff of faculty, support staff, graduate assistants, and student employees in excess of 500 individuals. Distributed throughout the Main Library and over twenty departmental libraries across campus, the employees have access to buildings across the campus. A recent interest in improving security on campus resulted in an institutional key audit. This audit found significant discrepancies between the reported number of keys and those that could be accounted for. Unable to afford more expensive technological security options at present, the Library determined that it would work to secure its own facilities through various changes in managing access authorization and key control.

Needles in a haystack: using interlibrary loan data to identify materials missing from a library’s collection

A study conducted at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Library examines data from unfilled ILL requests to determine the status of materials housed in the Main Bookstacks of the library’s collection. The study focuses on ILL requests that were not filled due to material missing from the collection. Results of the study identified training issues with staff and student employees, indicated that high use materials were more subject to loss, recognized that overcrowding of the collection contributed to error, and noted that maintenance shifting of materials created additional problems for locating materials. Analysis of the data resulted in a suggested procedure to use unfilled ILL requests to update the library’s OPAC for more accurate representation of the status of materials in the collection.

Bridging the Gap Inside … Inside Document Delivery

Librarians today are faced with many choices when acquiring information and directing their users to the sources they need. This is most evident with serials. The choices have become more confusing with new options requiring libraries to determine what a full text purchase actually buys, how to be sure users can identify the material needed, and then how to acquire the actual material in the most appropriate media. Providing access by the piece is a valid solution that can help lead to the transition to full text online journals. This article critiques the use of the British Library Document Supply Centre's “inside” service and its use at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library (UIUC). The article concludes with a review of the components of a good document delivery system.

Cataloging with Copy

Effective management of library staff who catalog with copy requires a combination of technical, human, and conceptual skills. At the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, the OCLC Cataloging Section within the Automated Services Unit is responsible for the cataloging and classification of approximately 85% of all monographic materials processed at the Library. A number of measures were recently adopted in order to enhance production levels utilizing shared cataloging resources. Improving service to our users through a more timely productivity was our goal. These measures were designed both to strengthen our service function and to reinforce the team cataloging environment.

Original Cataloging in a Decentralized Environment

This paper presents the results of a study conducted at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library over a six-month period. The purpose of the study was to determine the types of errors that appeared on original cataloging copy by cataloging personnel in a decentralized environment. The authors reviewed 2,376 records of original copy for books or microforms. The records were scrutinized for errors in description, headings, classification, subject headings, capitalization and punctuation, encoding the MARC format, including omission of data, and any other errors effecting access. Specific areas within these broader categories were discussed as well. An examination of the data shows types and percentages of errors committed in the cataloging copy examined by the authors.

Serials Management at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library

Serials management at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library today reflects many of the trends evident in academic librarianship over the last decade, as well as internal trends toward decentralization and a regrouping of professional and nonprofessional tasks. New challenges for serials control face the Library's staff and its administration in an era of financial retrenchment.

The Decentralization of Selected Technical Services at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The original cataloging of monographs and selected bibliographic verification-related activities were decentralized a1 the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library (UIUC) between 1982 and 1985. This partial decentralization of technical services operations was possible because of the library's online catalog. one component of which is an online circulation system. A brief history of technical services at UIUC since World War II is given as background information. The philosophy governing the decentralization and the process of its implementation are discussed.