Search

Purpose – At the beginning of this millennium it was decided to renovate higher education legislation and to restructure the institutions in Finland. The new University Act was passed in the summer of 2009. One important aspect of the new Act means that the formerly state-owned universities become more autonomous. In addition, the number of universities in Finland will be reduced by merging some of the old universities into new units, like Aalto University and the UEF, which were both inaugurated in 2010. This also has meant the birth of new multi-campus universities as well as posing new challenges for the management of finances. At the same time, the digital revolution of scientific information has changed the paradigm of the libraries from ownership to access. It is no longer necessary to purchase paper journals and store them within the library building. Instead, the electronic versions are licensed, thus providing academics as well as students with 24/7 access to the material. This digital change has also triggered a generation gap between ageing library staff and the digital-age student generation. This paper discusses the management of the lifecycles of different types of documents – printed/digital and serials/monographs – in a rapidly changing environment. In addition, the paper aims to discuss the distribution of work and outsourcing of the collection storage with the National Repository Library with the emphasis on enabling access to the outsourced collections with the help of modern database technologies. Some evidence of the effects on library expenses and usage is also given. Design/methodology/approach – The paper analyses the statistical data of Finnish academic libraries in presenting its results. Findings – The National Repository Library has enabled Finnish university libraries to focus their collection policies and to make savings in the cost of premises. Research limitations/implications – The paper is based on Finnish experiences. Practical implications – Models for national and international collection and preservation policies are presented. Originality/value – The paper provides thoughts for the building of global division of work in the long-tail management of documents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - Although several collections have been digitized and made available in the University of Pretoria's Institutional Repository, a pilot study has not been done to measure the project management and workflow. The collections available in the repository at the time of this project were all long-term projects. There was a need to identify a project small enough to conform to normal project management requirements to use as an example to establish the planning and workflow of future projects. The purpose of this study is to determine the outcome and quality of the final web-ready institutional repository product against specific digitization project goals. Design/methodology/approach - A collection of anatomical sketches in the custody of the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department of Anatomy and Physiology was identified as a possible collection that could comply with the above criteria. The different sketches in the Elephant collection could be digitized in phases, making it an ideal project for future comparison. In each phase a number of tasks were identified which the various role players should complete during the workfiow process. Each phase would be compared to the previous completed phases to measure the outcomes and progress made in quality and time. Through successful interaction and collaboration between the Library and the Department of Anatomy and Physiology during the digitization process, valuable tacit knowledge could be preserved for future use in the field of Veterinary Science. Findings - The completed project delivered on key areas such as the electronic availability of the collection through metadata description. Basic preservation of the physical collection was undertaken as necessary and the physical as well as the digital collections were archived for future use. The conclusion will describe the lessons learned and how it can be applied in future projects to the advantage of the institution. Practical implications - The paper provides a very useful case study for other academic libraries that want to develop their own digital collections. Originality/value - This paper offers practical help to libraries starting with digitization. It supplies valuable information for project management, planning of workfiow and estimate time frames for completing a specific task in the digitization process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Chinese gazetteers are one of the most important primary sources for the study of history of Chinese economy, politics, culture, military, and science and technology. Since the very beginning, the Yale East Asia Library has been keen on collecting Chinese gazetteers. However, unlike its peer research libraries in the USA, the Yale East Asia Library had never compiled a catalog or written an article about its gazetteer collection. The purpose of this paper is to systematically review, for the first time, original editions of Chinese gazetteers held in the Yale East Asia Library to reveal the holdings and research value. Design/methodology/approach – The author conducted a survey of original editions of Chinese gazetteers in the Yale East Asia Library by searching the Yale online library catalog and comparing with existing catalogs of Chinese local gazetteers compiled by other research libraries in the USA. The paper focuses on the edition, coverage, rarity and variety of Yale's holdings. Findings – According to the author's findings and preliminary research, Yale holds approximately 337 original Chinese gazetteers. The majority of them is rarely found in other North American research libraries and thus has high research value. They cover almost all provinces and municipalities in China and have a great variety of types. Research limitations/implications – Although the author tried to use various search strategies to look up in the Yale online library catalog to ensure high retrieval, the results here may not be accurate. Also it is likely that a number of Chinese gazetteers are not recorded in the Yale online library catalog because of backlogs. A physical survey of Chinese gazetteer holdings at Yale and more research need to be done in the future. Originality/value – This paper is the first of its kind to provide a systematic review of original editions of Chinese gazetteers held in the Yale East Asia Library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to address the challenges that special collections repositories face when creating digital surrogates driven by researcher demand, to link these digitization issues with archival practice, and to provide recommendations for improvement. Design/methodology/approach - Presents an overview of the development of the University of Maryland Libraries' digital imaging workflows and a critique of current practices. Findings - A viable digital repository can be built from surrogates created in response to researcher demand, but there are limitations to this approach, with opportunity for improvement. Research limitations/implications - As a case study, this paper is limited to one institution's perspective. Practical implications - Provides insight into constructing and managing digitization programs at special collections repositories. Originality/value - This paper offers a case study approach for an institutional digital repository influenced heavily by researcher demand, in contrast to a digital repository constructed with a more structured plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper aims to discover perceptions of university librarians regarding the needed competencies for collection managers in Pakistan in the emerging digital paradigm. Design/methodology/approach – The mixed-method approach was followed using a questionnaire and interview to collect data. The self-completion questionnaire was sent to central libraries of 40 major, accredited universities of Pakistan and 30 responses were obtained. Then, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 librarians using interview-guide. Interviews were transcribed to analyze and categorize according to the thematic approach. The interpretation and comments of the interviewees have also been reported to strengthen the arguments. Findings – It was found that the university libraries of Pakistan are gradually adopting a digital paradigm and providing access to hybrid collections. But, collection managers would not perceive fully the competencies needed to manage hybrid collections. It also appeared that there were meagre opportunities for university librarians to develop their competencies through regular and continuing education. Originality/value – This is the first study on the needed competencies for collection managers in Pakistan. The paper may invoke, among academia and working professionals, the need to learn the practices of collection management in digital environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose — This paper aims to examine the trend of resource development at the University of Calabar Library, using gift items received from 2005 to 2009. Design/methodology/approach — The study adopts a descriptive research design based on survey. Relevant documents, including gift and donation files, acquisition records and library accession registers, were examined and analysed to provide answers to questions relating to study objectives. Findings — The usefulness of gifts to university library resource development is underscored by the quality and currency of the 2,462 volumes of materials received during the study period. Furthermore, the impact that collaborative donor efforts could make towards supporting university library resource development in the information age is highlighted. Associated problems included deficiency in subject coverage, foreign language materials, irregular giving patterns as well as an increasing tendency towards electronic resources acquisition where manual procedures are available. Practical implications — Acquisition librarians should intensify efforts at soliciting for and directing corporate giving endeavours towards providing for infrastructural support required for university library development in Nigeria. The deficiency in subject coverage highlighted in the study can be addressed if donor agencies are encouraged to adopt relevant library profiles or assign grants to core areas of university academic programs. There is also need for the inclusion or revision of gift statements in collection development policies. Originality/value — The paper highlights strategies for tackling the challenges of resource acquisition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the Korean consortia models generally and discuss how the consortium governing body, Korea Education & Research Information Service (KERIS), manages the e-book consortium effectively from the Korean perspective. Design/methodology/approach - This research is conducted with overall consortia models of online resources by KERIS. Over several years of modeling it has contrived to develop a few consortia modeling patterns in Korea and assess their effectiveness on collection management. The e-book consortium modeling process entailed the following: identifying the appropriate consortium model, sampling the consortium size for pricing models and selecting the criteria for e-book title selection. Findings - Two types of e-book consortium models are presented. One is the subscription model and the other is the purchasing model. Both sharing and purchasing options are quite cost-effective for Korean universities since they try to balance the digital and paper collections. The consortium model for e-books in Korean universities was successful and fit into the conservative collection management in Korea for academic use. Also, perpetual access and purchase model is preferred rather than annual access and lease model. Originality/value - Online resources including e-books need a sustainable model for continuous access due to budget constraints. Considering the life-span of information we need to find the appropriate business and service models for all the resources available online, Various criteria for consortia have been presented. No previous research has been conducted on the nationwide consortium model in Korean universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to determine the impact of the global economic crisis on University of Malawi Libraries and Mzuzu University Library. Design/methodology/approach – A case study methodology was adopted, and data were collected using both interview guides and questionnaires. Findings – Findings show that libraries in this study were not affected much by the global economic crisis. Budgets of the libraries had registered steady increments, and this had positively impacted on collection development activities, staff recruitment and training, infrastructure development, and internal and external travels etc. Effects of the economic crisis, though minor, were evident by the stagnation of some college budgets and absence of scholarships for training abroad. Research limitations/implications – The study covered four of the five libraries in the University of Malawi namely the Polytechnic, College of Medicine, Bunda College, Kamuzu College of Nursing and Mzuzu University. Chancellor College Library did not participate because the researcher faced challenges in getting permission from authorities. So much as the results do give a general picture of libraries under the University of Malawi, the findings may not necessarily apply to Chancellor College Library. Originality/value – In light of the findings, libraries were encouraged to strengthen existing income generating activities, and also explore other ways of generating revenue to cover for shortfalls in the budget that may be prompted by withdrawal of donor funds and cuts in government subvention should the global economic crisis persist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose — This article seeks to suggest that pedagogical forums published in two major professional associations' publications can contribute to the literature on collection for academic historians. Design/methodology/approach — The author surveys the literature on historians' information needs and surveys articles published in the pedagogical forums for what they reveal about historians' use of electronic resources. Findings — The forums provide useful bibliographic information regarding e-resources for faculty and collection officers alike; additionally, they provide a useful starting point for discussions of desired learning outcomes, leading to better support for teaching/curricular needs. Research limitations/implications — Findings are limited to academic historians and are also skewed toward US historians, since more articles on e-resources appeared in the forum dedicated to US-historical pedagogy than in the forum encompassing historians of all areas. Practical implications — Similar research could be done on pedagogical forums in other academic fields. Originality/value — This paper examines a field's pedagogical methodology to draw conclusions about collections management for that field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose — By reflecting the historical transition of the University of Southern California (USC) social work departmental library, the article aims to share challenges and solutions of the library collection and services in the electronic environment and to facilitate a discussion about the future of library services. Design/methodology/approach — The author conducted a literature review about departmental libraries, and a historical review of the USC social work library collection and services. Direct observation, surveys, reference statistics and the web visiting data were employed in the research analysis. A new vision and service model were created. Findings — The USC social work students rely on both the print and electronic resources for their research and study. The decentralized social work library collection and the students' inadequate information literacy skills are the major challenges for the librarian. Information literacy instruction, web-based collection management and library outreach are beneficial for the access service at the new information center. Research limitations/implications — Some findings may not be compatible with other user groups in academic libraries. The established service model is applicable in other departmental libraries and information centers. Practical implications — The solutions employed by the USC social work librarian are applicable in other departmental academic libraries. Originality/value — This paper combines research and library service practice at the information center. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - To identify the necessary components in the formulation of collection development policies. Design/methodology/approach - The paper is based on both research about collection development policies and data compiled as a result of a survey of 16 centers of higher and technical education in Cuba. Findings - Although the directors of university libraries and managers of collection development were aware of the process of collection development, few have collection development policies, and few have carried out user studies. Originality/value - A model for a collection development policy for the system of university libraries is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - To determine whether Canada's university research capacity could be increased in quantity, breadth and depth of published scholarly information available to academic researchers, especially through the use of e-journals and cooperatively negotiated pricing and licensing of them. Design/methodology/approach - Evaluates the three-year demonstration project funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation known as the Canadian National Site Licensing Project (CNSLP). This project used surveys and a logical model method, which integrates inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes and impacts into an account of how a program is fulfilling its objectives. Findings - Demonstrates that CNSLP has successfully found a new model for negotiating and licensing electronic information to expand information available to researchers. It also identified that over 80 percent of respondents surveyed believe that e-journal access has had a significant impact on their ability to conduct research. Value - Both illustrates a model to provide greater access to e-journals and shows that greater access to electronic information increases use of peripheral literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The main purpose of the study is to identify the current status of collection development organizational patterns and to make a comparative analysis of collection development organizational patterns of the four central university libraries of Uttar Pradesh (UP) i.e. Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Allahabad University (ALU) and Baba Bhim Rao Ambedkar University (BBRAU). Design/methodology/approach – A well structured questionnaire was administered to the librarians and acquisitions librarians of the four central university libraries under study. Findings – It has been found that there is a conspicuous difference between the two categories and that the newly centralized universities are lagging far behind the old centralized universities in collection development organizational patterns. Research limitations/implications – The present study consists only of collection development organizational patterns in central university libraries of UP. The scope of the study can be extended to some more centrally funded universities. Originality/value – There are a number of studies on collection development organizational patterns in the world, but this is the first of its kind within Indian central universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – To determine and define the role of repository libraries in Finland for a medium-sized university library in the digital environment. Design/methodology/approach – Literature and strategy-based conceptual analysis and a case study of the role of different types of scientific library and information service actors in Finland. Findings – The Finnish University Libraries and Ministry of Education have made strategic solutions in order to ensure an effective national collection policy. Digital materials are acquired mainly via the University Libraries' consortium, FinELib. The older and less used printed materials are collected in the National Repository Library. Modern technologies and logistic solutions are used in ensuring the effective end-user services. Thus each library can make its own strategic collection policy decisions based on these national services. Research limitations/implications – Based on conditions in Finland. Practical implications – Gives an example of a national collection policy and co-operation. Originality/value – Provides a model to be tested and developed for collection policy decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]