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Purpose – This study attempts to compare the National Library of Malaysia (NLM)'s cataloguing in publication (CIP) records with their permanent records in the NLM's online public access catalogue (OPAC) database. Design/methodology/approach – The study compares the description of records in the NLM CIP versus NLM OPAC in terms of similarities and differences in the bibliographic elements for each record. The study selected the NLM's CIP records from January to April 2000, allowing more than 5 years for publishers to publish the registered CIP titles and also the NLM to make the records available in their OPAC database. Findings – The findings indicate that libraries that use NLM's CIP records in their copy cataloguing activity should not rely 100 per cent on the records. Verifications and modifications need to be carried out to ensure accuracy and quality of their catalogue records. Research limitations/implications – That Malaysian experience confirms research carried out previously elsewhere. Practical implications – The findings of the study are significant in terms of giving data about whether NLM's CIP records are trustworthy sources for the practical task of copy cataloguing or not. Originality/value – Although comparison studies of the accuracy and consistency of CIP records versus OPAC records are commonplace, having been conducted extensively since the 1980s in a variety of contexts, such a comparison study of CIP records versus OPAC records has never been conducted in Malaysia. With the increased usage of web-based OPACs as one source option for copy cataloguing, it is imperative to ensure the records copied are consistent and accurate to avoid post-alteration of the bibliographic description. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that stimulated the sharing of tacit and explicit knowledge and their effects on performance among research-mode graduate students. The findings of this study provided a better understanding of the knowledge-sharing activities among graduate students who were engaged in project-based or individual learning activities. Design/methodology/approach – The survey method was employed to gather data and the resulting data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. A total of 245 valid responses were collected from students enrolled in various graduate programmes at the main and branch campuses of Universiti Sains Malaysia. Findings – The students reported a positive and constructive approach toward knowledge sharing with the exogenous variables, namely, trust, social networks, and information and communications technology (ICT) reporting significant positive direct effects on the mediating variables, namely, tacit and explicit knowledge. Only tacit knowledge had a significant direct effect on performance, the endogenous variable. In addition, the knowledge-sharing activities were localized to the respective campuses. Research limitations/implications – The investigation involved samples from one university. A large sample size that involves other universities is needed in order to generalize the findings. Practical implications – The paper offers a snapshot of the intensity and pattern of knowledge-sharing behaviours that can be used to improve learning and performance among students engaged in individual learning. Originality/value – To the authors' knowledge, no previous studies have investigated knowledge-sharing activities among research-mode students at the Master and Doctoral levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study attempts to discover the pattern of rural library usage among rural youth in Malaysia and to determine the problems that are associated with such usage. The findings of this study provide an insight into youth usage of rural library services. The most obvious pattern that resulted from the findings is the connection between library usage and the availability of reading materials. Furthermore, it was found that some of the respondents raised their concern with regard to rural libraries being congested with children. A number of recommendations have been highlighted and it is expected that these can be used by concerned parties to further improve and develop rural library services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study provides an overview of what we have learned so far about the information needs of Malaysian male juvenile offenders. This focus is important to consider when designing and delivering the best possible information services to this group. The study seeks to understand juvenile delinquents’ information needs in the prison environment, focusing on their educational needs; online information environment and with the use of electronic resources; their everyday life information seeking (ELIS) needs, in the use of personal sources and prison libraries; in the use of books and other reading materials, and for future life perspectives. Data were collected using unstructured interviews with 23 juveniles (13 to 21 years old) living in four correctional schools in Malaysia. The data analysis revealed a general theme of the purpose of information needs, the location, the information sources, preferred reading materials, preferred language and subjects read. Formal information channels such as the library may be perceived as ineffective by inmates, regardless of their types of information needs and its objective validity. The Internet and informal networks among inmates were the most preferred source of information. Delinquents in the initial stage of imprisonment had significantly greater need for information than those in the final stage. Current findings add to the limited literature the juvenile offenders’ information behavior and that of other youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]