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Discusses differences in student and faculty expectations in completing student research papers and considers possible implications for academic libraries and the librarian's role. Topics include the library's role in academic life; students' perspectives; professors' perspectives; the research process; and communication breakdowns. (LRW)

Considers the successes and failures of academic library responses to multiculturalism and suggests steps that are needed to improve their responses. Topics discussed include recruitment of professional and support staff, changing the composition of management, the role of the library director, developing internships and mentoring, marketing the library, and building library collections. (LRW)

Fourteen undergraduate students who had successfully completed research projects were surveyed on their research processes, including focusing their topic, finding and using evidence, and writing. Their responses revealed significant differences between the way they actually do research and standard search strategies, and the implications of these findings for bibliographic instruction are discussed. (13 references) (LAE)

Interviews with faculty, a survey of 20 students, and examination of style manuals revealed that students are confused by inconsistencies in and multiplicity of styles when confronted with writing and documenting a research paper. Librarians are urged to teach various citation formats and work for adoption of standardization. (17 references) (EJS)

Information Literacy (IL) is recognized around the world as an essential skill for the information society. The aim of the paper is to examine the various information literacy practices in university libraries in Africa, to identify the barriers facing IL programmes in Africa, and to provide suggestions on how best to improve IL practices. A survey of five leading university libraries in Africa showed them mainly practicing IL training by means such as library tours/orientation sessions, introductory information skills classes, and teaching advanced information skills (e.g. database searching). There are, however, many barriers: a lack of interest by students, professors, and library management; inadequate human resources to teach IL; lack of facilities; low use of distance education for teaching IL, and an absence of IL policies. This column argues that university authorities in Africa and other developing countries must see the need to provide the necessary facilities such as: computers with Internet connectivity in university libraries, regular power supply, training for librarians on IT, and most of all, librarians should collaborate with other stakeholders in their institutions to ensure IL policy formulation and implementation in their institutions. (Contains 6 tables.)

Embedded librarianship service describes the practice of librarians integrating actively into the user's environment, rather than remaining in the library to await requests for service. This paper examines the concept of embedded service in the recent literature, within the past 5 years. It reports on a survey of embedded service in Chinese academic libraries conducted mainly in the "985 Project" universities. The paper focuses on some incipient embedded librarian programs, as well as the obstacles to achieving embedded practice, and identifies some best practices in China. (Contains 1 table and 1 figure.)

The electronic environment has significantly shifted library capabilities and user expectations for the delivery of government information and services. At the same time, many laws of the federal government have pushed for the creation and distribution of government information through electronic channels. However, the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) continues as though these changes will not have a large impact on the program. It is time for a meaningful reevaluation of the FDLP program and approaches to government information by academic libraries generally. Drawing upon a range of library research and policy analysis, this paper argues for changes in both concept and practice in the provision of government information by FDLP and other academic libraries and in the educational preparation of future academic librarians. Further, this paper asserts that such a discussion needs to occur beyond considerations of the current economic environment, which some libraries may view as a reason to restructure the FDLP to achieve cost reductions.

This study explores the perceptions of male librarians working in an academic library. Underpinning the methodology of this paper is a series of in depth interviews conducted over several years with a group of selected male librarians. This paper suggests that the meanings constructed by male librarians in the non-traditional work environment have broader implications within organisational contexts.

This paper examines how future metadata capabilities could enable academic libraries to exploit information on the emerging Semantic Web in their library catalogues. Whereas current metadata architectures treat the Web as a simple means of interchanging bibliographic data that have been created by libraries, this paper suggests that academic libraries could use the Semantic Web as a source of rich metadata that can be retrieved and inserted into bibliographic records to enhance the user's information searches and to expand the role of the academic library catalogue as a research tool rather than a mere locating device. The paper uses examples from the fields of rare books, literary criticism, and film studies to illustrate how academic libraries, by shifting their emphasis from cataloguing standards to Web information evaluation, can play a new and exciting role in the development of electronic information services.

This symposium report includes seven papers that address issues concerning the North American Collections Inventory Project (NCIP) Conspectus sponsored by the Research Libraries Group (RLG). Topics discussed include cooperative collection development; rigor and research in library and information science; decision making and uncertainty; and data collection and library research. (LRW)

Argues that preservation and collection development can be effectively coordinated only when the underlying political forces driving these two operations are defined and compared. The discussion explores some of the functions and values of preservation and collection development from a primarily political point of view in three contexts: institutional, interinstitutional, and commercial. (Nine references) (Author/CLB)

Reports results of a survey of 293 colleges and universities that reveals a growing trend toward making computer software and hardware available to faculty and students, despite potential illicit copying software. The role of the academic library and copyright implications are discussed. Twenty-three references are cited. (EJS)

This paper discusses the concept of information resources management using the library as touchstone; examines the academic environment and implications of changes for future academic librarianship; and suggests way of looking top-down at library/information school curriculum concentrating on three substantive components of education (theory, problem-solving skills, and study of environment). (EJS)

Since the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill was passed in 2008 and implemented in 2009, over 750,000 veterans have made use of the expanded benefits to earn a college degree. Many academic libraries have created programs and events to help these students along their journeys. Although several librarians have authored papers on these programs and their results, those have always focused on events at one institution. To better understand how libraries have supported student veterans and to learn what types of programs have had the most success, the author of this paper conducted a survey of every R1 and R2 institution in the United States. The survey encompasses outreach events, collections development and maintenance, collaborations with student groups and official campus veterans' centers, and specialized training for faculty and staff. The author hopes to use the results of this study in the creation of a comprehensive student veteran's outreach and engagement program at their institution, and to help other academic librarians who are interested in doing more targeted work to assist this underrepresented student group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the growth of international student enrollment in Chinese universities, user perception has become an area of developing research in academic libraries. China's policy of opening up has led to the education and economic reforms allowing major universities to enroll international students. These changes have created an increasing need for libraries to be responsive to the information needs of these students. In order to serve these students better, universities will be expected to further understand how academic library services are currently perceived by international students. This is particularly the case at Wuhan University, which has experienced significant growth in international student enrollment. This study aims to discover the met and unmet needs as well as barriers encountered in library use by international students. Based on the information gathered, recommendations and future strategies will be formulated to improve the understanding of the information needs of non-native Chinese speakers in both the provision of services and the building of collections. The findings of this study reveal that Chinese academic libraries are considerably well perceived by international students. It also indicates that they have differing purposes, and differing needs for library services and information resources. This paper acknowledges that the study is limited to Wuhan University; however, there is a need for further studies on non-Chinese speakers, particularly, international students to obtain important information on their perception of library services and information resources. (Contains 5 tables and 7 figures.)

Study abroad programs in higher education increasingly play a major role in training students for global citizenship. This case study, conducted in a large research university in the United States, identifies the information needs of students and faculty in study abroad programs. Of particular interest is how awareness of library resources and services enrich students' study abroad experiences. This essay also looks at study abroad in terms of engagement, where the libraries could join with study abroad programs and develop a common vision. (Contains 1 figure.)

How can an academic library most effectively participate and expand its contributions to program reviews at the institutional level? By becoming involved in undergraduate reviews, college and university libraries can articulate new and enhanced roles for themselves on campus. Academic libraries have always contributed to a variety of institutional review processes. However, by embracing a more holistic view of its support, the library can expand beyond collection-related metrics to encompass all the ways the library interconnects with the program. Furthermore, by becoming proactively involved with the committee(s) responsible for managing institutional program reviews, libraries can contribute to the governance of this essential activity on campus. This paper describes one academic library's experience and efforts in becoming involved with undergraduate reviews at both the program and institutional levels. It is hoped that sharing our case study and the tools we have created, will benefit other academic libraries.

The first section of this article reviews the literature on the changing face of reference, beginning with a discussion of the national decline in reference transactions, its causes, and the likelihood that online reference services might one day halt or reverse the decline. It then analyzes definitions of the term "reference," pointing to a disconnect between those definitions and much of the work that actually takes place at reference desks. Next, critiques of desk-centric models of reference are examined, followed by a discussion of the persistence of the desk in so many academic libraries today. The analysis of the literature in section one informs the re-envisioning of reference services at CPP discussed in section two. Specifically, section two describes and assesses CPP's reference desk staffing shift from librarians to LibStARs (Library Student Assistant Researchers) and our implementation of LibAnswers in an effort to automate some reference transactions. The paper ends with an overview of the benefits of these new initiatives.

Purpose: Due to the current financial and managerial difficulties that are encountered by libraries in public universities in Jordan and the geographical diffusion of these academic institutions, the idea of establishing a consortium was proposed by the Council of Higher Education to combine these libraries. This article reviews the reality of establishing a public university libraries consortium in Jordan through answering the following questions: (1) What are the reasons and motives for establishing a consortium?; (2) What are the potential problems and challenges facing the library members when establishing a consortium?; and (3) Where the benefits regarding the economics of knowledge management achieved by the consortium? Design/Methodology/Approach: Using a Descriptive Method of research, this case study examines the initial goals for establishing a consortium related to the benefits achieved four years after the consortium was launched. Findings: The consortium enriches the digital governmental university libraries network with information sources through a sharing mechanism. This mechanism allowed for the consortium to coordinate database subscriptions and to act as a lobby group when dealing with library vendors in an attempt to economize in subscription costs. Originality/Value: The paper focuses on the benefits of developing a library consortium and establishing procedures as a road map for other libraries especially in developing countries. (Contains 3 tables.)

The paper analyzes problems of theorizing and evaluating a short series of "Library Academy" events within a Carnegie Corporation-funded project to improve library service to researchers in six South African universities. (Contains 1 table.)

It is no secret that collegiality matters in academe regardless of the size and type of institution. When it comes to promotion, reappointment and tenure, the invocation of collegiality occurs. This paper aims to examine the perception and issues surrounding collegiality in the academic library setting. The data, based on the survey results of the Massachusetts public higher education librarians, reveals gender disparity on collegiality issues, attitudes and perception. The study findings also include that congeniality is not the same as collegiality. (Contains 8 tables and 3 figures.)

This research provides the first review of publicly available assessment information found on Association of Research Libraries (ARL) members' websites. After providing an overarching review of benchmarking assessment data, and of professionally recommended assessment models, this paper examines if libraries contextualized their assessment activities for planning internal program improvements. Benchmarking data included LibQUAL + [R] and SAILS. Professionally recommended assessment models included Return on Investment and the value-added framework. This research analyzes ARL members' annual reports, websites, and strategic plans to evaluate whether or not libraries used benchmarking assessment and endorsed assessment models to describe their value to the parent institution. The results of this research reveal inconsistencies among ARL members' reporting of assessment. The researchers offer examples of exemplary assessment reporting by three ARL members. (Contains 4 charts, 3 figures and 5 tables.)

Developing collection-level surveys to expose hidden collections in special collections and archives departments within ARL libraries has received a great deal of scholarly attention in the recent years. Numerous standards have been explored, and each has its strengths and weaknesses. This paper summarizes some of the major initiatives in collection-level surveys, descriptions, and preliminary records. A comparison of metadata structures is used to build a preliminary record model that provides a standard description that is easily adapted to various institutions and all formats. This preliminary record model is applied to special collections materials at the University of Colorado at Boulder as a test case, and further areas of research are discussed.

As academic libraries around the world face the dual challenges of rising demand but limits on funding, managers look for ways to improve library performance that do not add significantly to the budget. This paper presents a novel relationship between intrapreneurship and Enterprise 2.0 that suggests there are relatively cheap and easy ways to implement innovation in academic libraries. Building on research data gathered at the University Library in Belgrade, Serbia, the authors advocate ways of enhancing library business performance by using a newly established relationship between intrapreneurship and Enterprise 2.0.

This paper examines the usefulness of poetry book prizes as a selection tool by evaluating their fairness, meaningfulness, and reliability as an indication of quality. The results of two surveys, one collecting data on poetry book prizes and the other asking librarians about their collecting practices, suggest that selecting on the basis of prizes is of limited value.

This paper applied Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) to Quality Function Deployment (QFD) to identify service improvement techniques for an academic library. First, reader needs and their importance, and satisfaction degrees were examined via questionnaires. Second, the service improvement techniques for satisfying the reader needs were developed by interviewing experts. Following, a relation matrix was constructed by GRA. The empirical study specifies top 5 reader needs and service improvement techniques respectively, and some practical suggestions are raised for academic libraries.

This paper analyzes the organizational schemes of information resources found in top 50 academic business library websites through content analysis and discusses the development and evaluation of the identified schemes.

This paper discusses the use of laser pointers at the Engineering and Physical Sciences Library, University of Maryland, College Park, as a personal response system (PRS) tool to encourage student engagement in and interactivity with one-shot, lecture-based information literacy sessions. Unlike more sophisticated personal response systems like clickers, laser pointers are low-cost and low-tech, but comparable in increasing student engagement. (Contains 3 tables.)

This paper presents an exploration of the potential utilization of social bookmarking web sites by academic libraries. These web sites, which allow users and organizations to create accounts for bookmarking online content, provide academic libraries tools to collaborate and network, organize and share electronic resources and teach information literacy.

The academic librarian faces a unique range of changing duties and responsibilities that are often inappropriately documented. The development of an academic portfolio that creates a record of librarianship, scholarship, and service can solve this issue for librarians on the tenure-track or on a job hunt. This paper describes how academic librarians can develop a working academic portfolio for themselves.

This paper proposes utilizing a combination of the Quality Function Deployment (QFD)-Kano model as a useful tool to evaluate service quality. The digital library of the University of Guadalajara (Mexico) is presented as a case study. Data to feed the QFD-Kano model was gathered by an online questionnaire that was made available to users on the library's website. The study makes clear that by listening to the voice of the customer (VOC), relevant information may be obtained about issues that should be improved in order to increase customer satisfaction. (Contains 5 figures and 1 table.)

Field experiences function as a link between LIS theory and practice. Students should be provided with an experience that is a true reflection of the professional environment. The increasing focus on research by academic librarians provides an opportunity and responsibility to integrate research into the field experiences of LIS students. (Contains 1 table.)