 |
|
Just a short listing of relevant articles available this week rather than a full review as recent reviews on similar themes have been completed recently. (See the archives top left for these). This week also is for a fairly specialised audience, with free articles from two professioal and specialised journals for library professionals - Library Review and OCLC Systems and Services. As usual though, we can always ferret out some very useful articles for our generalist business management audience.
Publishing of electronic databases Siriginidi Subba Rao Library Review; 47: 1 1998; pp. 31-37 Presents briefly the impact of information technology on information management. Discuses the publication of electronic databases on CD-ROM and the Internet by considering factors such as media of choice, cost factors, basic infrastructure, steps in publishing and their scenario in India, with products. Also, lists the differences between the two technologies. Concludes that India could use these media for publishing its databases not only for its own use but also to earn foreign exchange.
Keywords: Databases, Electronic publishing, India, Information management
Cataloguing practice in university libraries: A comparison of three developing countries (Pakistan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia) Hafiz Muhammad Khalid , Khalid Mahmood , Jonathan Willson Library Review; 46: 5 1997; pp. 328-338 Surveys the status of cataloguing practice in university libraries in three Asian developing countries, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia. Examines the extent of the usage of international cataloguing tools like cataloguing codes (AACR, ISBD), classification schemes (DDC, LC) and subject heading lists (Sears, LCSH). Finds that there is an overall uniformity in the use of technical tools. There is a trend towards automation of cataloguing services. With the help of new technology, more access points for catalogue searching have been made available. Online catalogues are also replacing all traditional catalogue forms, i.e. Card, Printed, and Microform. Survey findings show that, in using new information technology in technical services, Malaysian university libraries are more advanced than those of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Keywords: Cataloguing, Classification, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, University libraries
The transfer of health information to the rural community in the developing world Sophia Kaane Library Review; 46: 8 1997; pp. 577-585 The achievement of a primary health care approach calls for professional partnership. Both government and non-governmental organizations have repackaged information into various formats which are used to transfer health information to the rural communities in the developing world. Highlights some of the formats. Makes suggestions as to how libraries could also contribute to health information transfer to the rural population.
Keywords: Developing countries, Health care, Information, Librarians, Rural areas
Public relations of libraries in China Jingli Chu Library Review; 47: 4 1998; pp. 230-232 In China, library public relations (PR), in a real sense, began about ten years ago, but have since been accepted by more and more librarians. Many papers on PR have been published in the last decade, PR courses are offered in library schools and PR training is given by local library associations. PR activities are very active and effective. The National Public Library Service and Publicity Week is influential. PR has become an indispensable strategy in Chinese librarianship.
Keywords: China, Libraries, PR
An evaluation of the relative performance of university libraries in Taipei Tser-yieth Chen Library Review; 46: 3 1997; pp. 190-201 Employs data envelopment analysis (DEA) to evaluate the relative performance of 23 university libraries in Taipei City and County. The estimated results show that 11 university libraries are relatively efficient. The results also show that nine out of these 11 have a relatively good academic research function. Only Ming-chuan Management College and Shih-chien Design College are attributed lower research capabilities. Marine and Oceanic University, Yang-ming University and Ming-chuan Management College are rated the top three libraries and enjoy the highest levels of efficiency in the sample. Shows that the resource utilization of these university libraries functions well. Finds that the inefficient libraries manage their acquisition expenditures and book circulation poorly.
Keywords: China, Data envelopment analysis, Efficiency, Performance measurement, University libraries
Self-development of Public Libraries in China: The Current Situation and some Problems Jingli Chu Library Review; 43: 8 1994; pp. 40-43 Since the mid-1980s public libraries in China have been suffering great physical difficulties. Under these pressures, some libraries wait to be rescued by the government but others endeavour to find new sources of finance at the same time as continuing to strive for more investment from the government. These two divergent practices result in two very different results. Advocates self-development as a means of escape from the uncertainties affecting public libraries in developing countries such as China.
Keywords: China, Finance, Investment, Public libraries
Planning with and without Facts: A Comparative Study of the Uses and Abuses of Information and Information Technology Sam E. Ifidon Library Review; 43: 6 1994; pp. 27-36 Discusses the provision of library services and the use of information technology in developed countries. The situation of library services and information technology in developing countries is then contrasted with that in the developed countries. Discusses and identifies reasons for the gaps between developed and developing countries in information services and information technology.
Keywords: Developing countries, Finance, Information services, Information technology, Libraries
Data mining - a powerful information creating tool Michael L. Gargano , Bel G. Raggad OCLC Systems and Services; 15: 2 1999; pp. 81-90 Data mining can discover information hidden within valuable data assets. Knowledge discovery, using advanced information technologies, can uncover veins of surprising, golden insights in a mountain of factual data. Data mining consists of a panoply of powerful tools which are intuitive, easy to explain, understandable, and simple to use. These advanced information technologies include artificial intelligence methods (e.g. expert systems, fuzzy logic, etc.), decision trees, rule induction methods, genetic algorithms and genetic programming, neural networks (e.g. backpropagation, associate memories, etc.), and clustering techniques. The synergy created between data warehousing and data mining allows knowledge seekers to leverage their massive data assets, thus improving the quality and effectiveness of their decisions. The growing requirements for data mining and real time analysis of information will be a driving force in the development of new data warehouse architectures and methods and, conversely, the development of new data mining methods and applications.
Keywords: Computer software, Data mining, Data structuring, Knowledge-based systems
A user-based design process for Web sites Eileen G. Abels , Marilyn Domas White , Karla Hahn OCLC Systems and Services; 15: 1 1999; pp. 35-44 This paper reports on Phase II of a two-part project to identify and implement user-based design criteria in World Wide Web sites. The test site is a Web page for the academic business community. As an alternative to existing, largely ad hoc design processes, the authors developed a user-based design process, gathering user input at three different times in the process. Delineating this four-stage process (information-gathering; development; test and evaluation; and implementation) is a major focus of the paper. In addition to explaining the process in detail, the paper reports on the second stage of this process, which involves operationalizing definitions of the criteria and translating the criteria into Web page features and, to some extent, on the evaluation activities undertaken during Stage 3. Already reported are the results of Stage 1, which gathered user criteria for evaluating Web sites through a focus group session.
Keywords: Business schools, Design, Focus groups, Information, Internet
An integrated Web-based ILL system for Singapore libraries Schubert Foo , Ee-Peng Lim OCLC Systems and Services; 15: 1 1999; pp. 24-34 The paper proposes an integrated Web-based inter-library loan (ILL) system to replace and enhance the existing manual-based ILL system used by Singapore libraries. It describes the system requirements that must be supported in order to make it a viable and acceptable solution to all participating libraries. Subsequently, it presents the client-server Web-based system architecture, database design and Java development platform that are used to implement the system. The new system exhibits a host of advantages over the manual system including the minimising of human resource by eliminating form-filling and other forms of paperwork completely, improving the access and speed of the ILL process by allowing participating libraries to update each other's databases directly, ensuring data integrity, simplifying status tracking and supporting instantaneous status and statistical reporting.
Keywords: Libraries, Singapore, World Wide Web
Academic libraries, people and change: a case study of the 1990's Thea Farley , Judith Broady-Preston , Tim Hayward OCLC Systems and Services; 14: 4 1998; pp. 151-164 The effective management of change is a crucial issue for academic libraries in the 1990s and beyond, as change is impinging on every aspect of their work. Through a consideration of aspects of organisational theory, changes in academic libraries, and human resource management, this paper demonstrates the pressing need for attention to change and its effect on people, in an organisational setting. A case study is used to illuminate a literature review, and to ground the conclusions of the study in the experiences of staff in an academic library in a time of change. The structure of an organisation and the people within it are identified as the two primary concerns which should be central to any strategy to manage change. The structure should be flexible and organic to allow for innovation and creativity. Additionally, human resource management should aim to minimise the negative impact of change by responding to the needs of staff through communication and information sharing, staff involvement, training and development, and job design.
Keywords: Academic libraries, Organizational change, Organizational structure, Strategy
Document delivery to developing countries Cynthia Dobson , Wayne A. Pedersen OCLC Systems and Services; 14: 3 1998; pp. 110-116 This paper presents the findings of a study of fill rate, time, and delivery costs for international document delivery from the Iowa State University Library to libraries and scholars in several developing countries. The overall results included a 73 per cent fill rate and a total turnaround time of 16.3 days. Per page fax charges were almost 12 times as expensive as air mail costs. International document delivery programmes will need to have the ability to handle a variety of communication methods. In addition, these libraries will need to examine several philosophical issues arising from interlibrary co-operation with partners in developing countries as they determine their place in the complex economic, political and organisational structures related to international document supply.
Keywords: Developing countries, Document management, Interlending
Organizing to meet and face the Web transition Carl Grant OCLC Systems and Services; 14: 3 1998; pp. 117-120 Libraries are struggling with the issues imposed on them by the Web. This has been greatly complicated by the fact that libraries are, for the most part, each acting independently in addressing the issues imposed on them daily by this new technology. This article examines the possibility that if libraries organized and effectively met the larger issues of true networks, better ease-of-use, coordinated digitization projects, authenticated Web resources, international copyright laws, updated teaching programs for librarians and better standards definition they would better position themselves to handle and take advantage of the opportunity created by the Web.
Keywords: Computer networks, Copyright, Distance learning, Electronic publishing, Libraries, Online retrieval
The current state of ILL: some realities behind the hype Mike McGrath OCLC Systems and Services; 14: 3 1998; pp. 103-109 Challenges the idea that the "future is digital". Argues that instead the future will be a complex mix of paper-based and electronic texts; with paper predominating for some years to come. If this view is correct, it has important consequences for the allocation of scarce resources, particularly in university libraries.
Keywords: Academic libraries, Electronic publishing, Interlending, Paper
The Library of Congress catalog Marcia Henry OCLC Systems and Services; 14: 1 1998; pp. 42-45 The Library of Congress has one of the largest library collections in the world. Describes the catalog, which is available online on the World Wide Web.
Keywords: Catalogues, Collection management, Libraries
An evaluation of the relative performance of university libraries in Taipei Tser-yieth Chen OCLC Systems and Services; 13: 4 1997; pp. 164-172 Employs data envelopment analysis (DEA) to evaluate the relative performance of 23 university libraries in Taipei City and County. The estimated results show that 11 university libraries are relatively efficient. The results also show that nine out of these 11 have a relatively good academic research function. Only Ming-chuan Management College and Shih-chien Design College are attributed lower research capabilities. Marine and Oceanic University, Yang-ming University and Ming-chuan Management College are rated the top three libraries and enjoy the highest levels of efficiency in the sample. Shows that the resource utilization of these university libraries functions well. Finds that the inefficient libraries manage their acquisition expenditures and book circulation poorly. Keywords: China, Data envelopment analysis, Efficiency, Performance measurement, University libraries Article Type: Theoretical with application in practice Content Indicators: Research Implication- *, Practice Implication- ***, Originality- *, Readability- **
Electronic journals: myths and realities Hazel Woodward , Fytton Rowland , Cliff McKnight , Jack Meadows , Carolyn Pritchett OCLC Systems and Services; 13: 4 1997; pp. 144-151 Considers the preliminary findings of the Cafe Jus research project, investigating end-user reactions to electronic journals. Issues explored include: access to e-journals; reading habits; human factors; financial implications; and the future roles of librarians, subscription agents and publishers in the electronic environment.
Keywords: Electronic publishing, Journal publishing, Libraries, User studies
|
|
| email updates | email this page | discuss | search | today's asian business strategy news | advertise | about |
| daily asian news, research & commentary for the international business strategy, market research & strategic management professional |