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Slovakia is a young and progressive country that has undergone great changes since its establishment as a sovereign state. This paper describes the transformation of the Slovak library system after 1989 in the context of the political, societal, and legislative developments in the new democratic state. It highlights the historical milestones of the development of Slovak librarianship between 1989 and 2014, outlines the historical context of Slovak library legislation, explains the preparation and implementation of the new Library Act passed by the National Council of the Slovak Republic in May 2000, and provides an overview of statistical data for Slovak libraries during the last decade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the end of the last century, catalogs have been changing more and more quickly. This change is following a recognizable course, beginning with the publication of Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records, passing through the reorganization of international cataloging principles, the revision of international standards of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (International Standard for Bibliographic Description), and the foundation of new cataloging codes, such asResource Description and Access. While principles, models, and rules are well established, bibliographic formats seem to be a bottleneck and users seem far from libraries. This article aims to present an overview of current changes, potential convergences, developments, and weak points from Ranganathan's point of view. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this essay, we embrace a vision of the future of academic libraries where librarians confront and creatively address the lack of racial and ethnic diversity within our profession and actively pursue a social justice agenda within our libraries and in the communities we serve. This future requires that we acknowledge that many of our current practices reinforce existing structures of inequity and privilege, and that we leverage our services and resources to support, document, and encourage diversity and social justice efforts within librarianship and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Big data, like MOOCs, altmetrics and open access, is a term that has been commonplace in the library community for some time yet, despite its prevalence, many in the library and information sector remain unsure of the relationship between big data and their roles. This editorial explores what big data could mean for the day-to-day practice of health library and information workers, presenting examples of big data in action, considering the ethics of accessing big data sets and the potential for new roles for library and information workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

University College Dublin became the first library in the Republic of Ireland to trial patron-driven acquisition (PDA) as a collection development tool in 2013. A total of 42% of UCD Library's book budget was allocated to the project, which included both electronic and print books. This article describes the twelve month project from the tender stage, through evaluation and selection of supplier, to the final money being spent. We analyze which disciplines spent the most money, and how usage of PDA titles compared to non-PDA orders placed in the same time period. Finally, we assess the impact of PDA on the library's workflow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Protocols for libraries, archives and information services (the Protocols) were written in 1995 and have been updated twice, most recently in 2012. The Protocols are a guide for library and information practitioners in the provision of appropriate services and management of items about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures. Since 1995 there have been significant changes in the information landscape, driven by demand, supply and technological change. The Protocols have been updated to reflect those changes, although Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander aspirations for the management of the materials about them, access to them and to library services have not changed. Therefore the Protocols are as useful and applicable now as when they were first written. Further, the Protocols offer a path to reconciliation, a guide to community engagement and a means to develop cultural competence. The latter two are gaining importance in library and information science. This article discusses development of the Protocols and provides examples of how they can be used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This article aims to introduces generalist librarians who have music among their subject responsibilities to jazz fake-books as a library resource. Design/methodology/approach – The article begins with a review of jazz as a subject in the professional literature of both librarianship and music education. The second section discusses the origin and history of fake-books, while the third offers suggested selection criteria. This is followed by a bibliography of recommended fake-books, all of which were in print at the time of writing, along with information to facilitate the acquisition process. Findings – Although fake-books in electronic form have become available in recent years, they require an investment in both hardware and software on the purchaser's part. They also carry end-user licensing agreements that make them impractical as library purchases. Print fake-books remain a worthwhile area of study for collection development librarians. Originality/value – In preparing this article the author discovered that jazz as printed music has been largely ignored in library literature, and has been treated only occasionally in scholarly literature in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the ‘point oh’ naming system for developments in librarianship is attracting debate about its appropriateness, basis and syntax and the meaning and potential of Library 2.0. Now a new term, Library 3.0, has emerged. Is there is any significant difference between the two models? Using documentary analysis to explore the terms, the authors conclude that Library 2.0 and Library 3.0 are different. Whereas Library 2.0 could be seen as attempting to weaken the role of librarians in the emerging information environment, Library 3.0 projects librarians as prominent apomediaries guiding library users on how best to locate, access and use credible information in myriad formats from diverse sources, at the point of need. The Library 3.0 model has revived hope amongst those who were uncomfortable with the crowd intelligence architecture on which the Library 2.0 model was founded. It provides the tools and framework to organize the infosphere that the Library 2.0 threw into disarray. The authors see the 3.0 library as a personalizable, intelligent, sensitive and living institution created and sustained by a seamless engagement of library users, librarians and subject experts on a federated network of information pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

After providing access to over 100 video interviews conducted by a professor with notable entertainers and personalities from film through an institutional repository, an experiment was conducted to discover whether a larger audience could be gained by adding a subset of 32 of these videos to YouTube. The results, over 400,000 views, indicate that libraries should cultivate a mixed method approach to providing access to digital content. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper analyzes the print material of COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT) Islamabad Campus Library. The basic purpose of this study is to compare the library collection against international standards and to know which department or discipline is enjoying sufficient availability of resources and which department or discipline is suffering from their low or lesser availability. There arc about nine departments under five faculties in CIIT Islamabad Campus. The total collection has been analyzed against total no of users according to departments & faculties respectively. The study shows that six departments are enjoying sufficient collection where as four departments have less collections. On the basis of this study, it would be easy for library management to decide which department requires more resources. Furthermore, this will also help in developing library collection policy effectively and positively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes a method for using LibGuides as a tool for collection development by benchmarking peer (Carnegie or other classification) institutions’ reference resource recommendations. The results of this benchmarking can be used to build strong, compact collections. Although the focuses of this study are on building and maintaining of a sociology reference collection, the method transfers directly to other subject areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accumulation of large collections by members of the American Association of Research Libraries is seen by them as fundamental to their research support role. This article outlines collection development and management practice and policy of the association members between 1945 and 1979. The study is a critical history where narrative is accompanied by analysis and context. Collecting policy and practice is reviewed with a focus on the strategies adopted to cope with the consequences of growth which led to pressure on capacity. A critique of collections policy reviews three significant causal factors: institutional competition, the conception of the role of librarian as a "bookman" as opposed to manager, and the belief that collections would be of longer-term value to the university in that they transcended immediate needs. The advent of usage studies is examined, and the implications of the study for current policy concerning printed collections are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biggest challenge facing the library profession in the twenty-first century is staying relevant to its users. It is often stated that the Internet and Google have changed librarianship. This challenge, while significant, does not mean that libraries will go away. It is causing us to re-evaluate what we do, how we do it, and what role libraries have in the academy and in our culture at large. This column addresses some of the ways in which academic libraries can stay relevant throughout the twenty-first century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted in four (4) University libraries, (two states and two federal) in the south -- south zone of Nigeria to provide information on the perception of both librarians and readers on the influence of information source parameters (obsolete information sources and availability of relevant information sources), as well as personal characteristics of librarians (attitude and experience) on readers ability to retrieve information. The study used survey design to determine by means of a one item in a four point likert scale questionnaire, the influence of these variables on reader's ability to retrieve information. Four (4) hypotheses were tested. Out of the total of 700 library registered undergraduate students, only 698 students and all the 9 librarians answered and returned usable questionnaires. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS} and t-test was used for data analysis. The major findings are that all the four hypotheses tested, rejected the null hypotheses, which means that all these variables influence reader's ability to retrieve information. This calls for the librarians to improve upon their personal characteristics as well as the provision of relevant information sources if quality reference services are to be attained. Based on these findings, recommendations were made, the major ones of which are the automation and internet connectivity of the reference section of the library, provision of current and relevant information, online access to information sources/e-library and re-training of librarians especially those librarians working in the reader's services libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on several new special interest groups. They include the National Information and Library Policy Special Interest Group whose mission is to help in the establishment of library and information policies in a national level. The group also examines the structure and implementation process of library and information policies. Another is the Semantic Web Special Interest Group whose mission is to enhance and transform the professional knowledge of libraries in the Semantic Web area.

As we consider the future of the information professions, it is useful to reflect on issues related to the library and information science workforce and the values that underlie the field. The author's professional experience and research are used to highlight important practice trends such as digital libraries, embedded librarianship, broadening the audience for library and information services, involvement in problem-based learning, evidence based practice, end user searching of online databases, and the increasing need to conduct studies that link information services to key outcomes. The importance of tracking practice trends as part of the ongoing curriculum revision process is emphasized. Linking both education and research to practice will be crucial to the success of future educational programs and the ability of graduates to make a useful contribution in the workplace. Workforce tracking of alumni is a key component of effective strategic planning and overall workforce planning, especially in a time of major demographic change. Professional associations have an important role of play in continuing education and building the core ethics and values of the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the literature of collection development and management from 2009 and 2010. Themes and trends reflect the profound effect of environmental forces on libraries, including the economic recession, changes in scholarly communication, and an increasingly networked environment. Libraries reduced print collections and moved them to storage or shared repositories and assessed collections to find efficiencies and demonstrate value. Research libraries moved away from collecting everything toward mission-focused collecting, with an emphasis on unique collections. Collaboration across libraries, within institutions, and with nonlibrary partners continued as a key management strategy. Libraries shifted from a just-in-case to a just-in-time approach to collection development, and subject specialists identified new areas of responsibility, such as data curation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses library and information science in Nigeria as of April 2012, with a focus on how university libraries contribute to local information content availability. Topics include community-generated knowledge and experience, knowledge and its role in developing sustainable economic and social organization, and establishing virtual networks and institutional digital repositories. Additional information is presented on UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

This paper explores training in metadata creation for digital collections among cultural heritage communities in the context of a challenging economic and professional development climate. It is the author's experience that many cultural heritage professionals from smaller institutions have not had the resources to obtain training in the standards and best practices necessary for building and maintaining digital collections that are robust and interoperable outside of their local context. This paper draws on theory and personal experience to propose that larger institutions should assist their smaller counterparts through localized peer training programs, and that the benefits drawn from these programs may position cultural heritage institutions to better innovate and adapt to the ever-changing information landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Special Libraries, Special Challenges is a column dedicated to exploring the unique public services challenges that arise in libraries that specialize in a particular subject, such as law, medicine, business, and so forth. In each column, the author will discuss public service dilemmas and solutions that arise specifically in given subject libraries, while drawing links to how such issues affect librarianship in general. Special or subject-matter librarians interested in authoring a piece for this column are invited to contact Melissa K. Aho at aho@umn.edu Ryan Mattke is head of the John R. Borchert Map Library at the University of Minnesota where he has worked since 2007. When he is not poring over maps he can be found reading, writing, paddling, hiking, gardening or building canoes. He holds a B.A. in English (Creative Writing) from the University of Minnesota and can be reached at matt0089@umn.edu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which explored the relationship between library/information science (LIS) and education. The study made use of different sources, which include blog entries, academic journal papers, and books. Results suggested that there are means in which the duties and functions of information professionals and teachers coincide. The study also revealed the contrasts associated with and perceptions of information literacy, as well as the differences in the relative positions of information professionals and teachers within schools.

Privacy and anonymity in the profession of librarianship was one of the themes emerging from the Internet Public Library (ipl2) institute in March 2010, questioning whether new trends in librarianship are leading to the demise of the “anonymous librarian.” This article examines the research literature on how privacy and anonymity issues can affect users and librarians. The rise of new initiatives such as embedded librarians, on-site liaison librarians, and personal librarians appears to be a shift toward increasing professional visibility and away from anonymity in professional practice. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose – This paper seeks to deal with the "image problem" in the library and information science (LIS) profession from the cultural studies viewpoint. It aims to explore representations of LIS in LIS itself and to research the representation practices of LIS in the social and cultural environment. Design/methodology/approach – After identifying some main features of professional discourse on the LIS image, the empirical part of the research particularly explored two questions: how LIS is constituted and how it is embedded in broader social practices. More than 300 articles were collected from the Slovenian daily newspaper with the largest circulation. The sample was analyzed quantitatively and two-fold qualitatively. Findings – The results of quantitative analysis outline the formation of LIS's community nature. The results of qualitative analysis mostly show the signifying practices in differentiating between the "old" and the "modern" and representing practices in creating "zealous" librarians and "suspicious" users. The results also point to librarians as "organic intellectuals". Research limitations/implications – The study is exploratory and at this point the thesis on "organic intellectuals" cannot be confirmed; in addition to the limits in the analysis methods, the theoretical background needs to be further explored. The findings cannot be generalized due to social and cultural differences. Practical implications – The methodology can be applied to other research subjects. The results may be helpful for library managers and library public relations work. Originality/value – There are only a few studies of such theoretical and methodological design that have researched the role of the LIS in society. The paper also analyzes the "image problem" in the daily newspapers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on relaying hands-on information and real-life tips and perspectives about electronic resources (e-resources) and their roles in libraries. It tackles particularly new and emerging tools and technologies, procedures, tips, suggestions, and opinions that will lead to a better understanding of the digital environment including electronic resources. It also discusses the current economy and its impact on libraries and e-resources.

There are many features shared by electronic and printed book. But also plenty of differences. Digital and traditional library are similar in many ways, but distinct in others. The article doesn't reopen the debate on the future of these entities, but explores the attitudes towards them. How do we see them? How different do they appear to people? Surprising or expected, the answers to these questions were collected and analysed in a sociological research conducted in the "Ioan N. Roman" County Library of Constanţa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]