Search

The evolving field of Book History has had difficulty in integrating the experiences of immigrant culture. In explaining the origins of print culture in North America, Book History has a tendency to associate lowbrow with immigrants and their struggles to establish a foothold in a new land. Book History therefore symbolically defines immigrant culture as other, institutionalizing a hierarchy so that highbrow or learned culture is privileged. Drawing upon the work of Pierre Bourdieu and Homi Bhabha, this paper suggests that this cultural distinction is not only a contingent classificatory choice that sends a fraught ideological message, but one that should be replaced by the idea of hybridity. (Contains 7 notes.)

Although fiction plays a prominent role in the interdisciplinary field of medical humanities (MH), it is physically and intellectually isolated from non-fiction in academic health sciences libraries. Using the Literature, Arts, and Medicine Database (LAMD) as a tool for selection and subject analysis, we suggest a method of integrating fiction with non-fiction through the application of non-literary classification numbers and subject headings to improve physical and bibliographic access to medical humanities collections.

Obituaries can reveal much about the way a profession is conceived and structured in the popular imagination. This article examines obituaries of librarians in the "New York Times" between 1977 and 2002 to determine how librarians were presented to the general public by a major newspaper. Although librarianship is a female-intensive profession, 63.4 percent of the obituaries chronicled the lives of male librarians. Although public and school librarians outnumber their academic counterparts, obituaries focused on academic librarians. Far from creating a stereotypical portrait of librarians as shy, dour, dowdy, and sheltered individuals, the emphasis on large-scale achievements in the obituaries produces an image of librarianship as a glamorous profession. Some librarians are presented as sleuths and detectives who amassed large collections. They contributed to the progress of scholarly research with extensive publications. Many others had connections to prominent people, making the most of these social networks in their work. Librarians were also players on the global stage, founding libraries abroad and developing international guidelines that led to institutional progress. Emphasis on large-scale accomplishment, however, tends to obscure the contributions of librarians who daily perform countless small and caring acts that, summed together, positively affect the lives of ordinary individuals.

Pornography has become part of mainstream culture. As such, it has become a subject of academic research, and this, in turn, has implications for university libraries. Focusing on adult Internet pornography, this study suggests that academic libraries should provide access to adult pornographic Web sites by including them in their online catalogs.

Examines current manifestations of museum-library partnerships in light of the post-object roles assumed independently by these institutions. Suggests that libraries assume a role traditionally associated with museums by incorporating objects into their collections. Two historical precedents and two models are presented. (Contains 65 references.) (Author/AEF)

Examines personal preferences in the development of categorical folders for bookmarks in terms of both the choice and definition of folder domain and the overall structure of the folder system. Considers contextual factors, such as intended use and relevancy to current projects; and navigational preferences. (Author/LRW)

Shows how a well-respected collection development tool contains ideological frames, using the "Public Library Catalog" (PLC) as an example. Evaluation by library science graduate students indicate that the PLC makes recommendations that have an imbalance of perspectives, overemphasize a particular facet or theory within a field, lack authority, and have usability problems. (Contains 48 references.) (MES)

This study examines the different viewpoints of library directors and non-directors about their jobs at tribal colleges. Previous ties to a tribal college or tribal membership were important factors in shaping experiences of library staff. The findings may be useful in developing successful recruitment and retention strategies for tribal college library staff.

Discusses results of a Web-based survey that was conducted to determine the extent to which Canadian public libraries are collecting multilingual materials, methods used to select materials, and whether public librarians are prepared to provide multilingual clientele with adequate materials and services. Examines constraints preventing public libraries from developing better multilingual collections. Survey questions are appended. (Author/LRW)

Discussion of evaluating academic journals for collection management decisions focuses on a methodological framework for evaluating journals not ranked by impact factors in Journal Citation Reports. Compares nonranked journals with ranked journals and then applies this framework to a case study in the field of medical science. (LRW)

Discusses the need for a new model for subject access to government information in academic libraries as a result of the growing influence of supranational organizations. Highlights include the World Trade Organization (WT); ruling under transnational economic agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA); private sector companies; and nongovernmental organizations. (Author/LRW)

Discusses the use of print versus electronic resources by undergraduates and describes a study at a Canadian university that examined the use of print resources in relation to online resources. Investigated which type of source they used first and whether problems associated with electronic journals would cause them to switch to print versions. (LRW)

Looks at some of the new paradigms for reference service, in particular the ideological implications of the digital reference call-center model, demonstrates how they lead to a "deprofessionalization" of reference work, and provides examples of how extensive reading can help reference librarians provide better service and become an irreplaceable contributor in the reference transaction. (Contains 51 references.) (AEF)

Using the financial industry as a context, this study addresses the issue of the classification of electronic bookmarks in a multi-user system by investigating the factors that influence how individuals develop categories for bookmarks and how they choose to classify bookmarks within those organizational categories. Sample participant questionnaires are appended. (AEF)

Presents a theoretical framework for understanding mass media news influence; explores the concepts of agenda setting, priming, framing, asymmetrical selection, binary oppositionalism, and institutional hegemony in a survey of literature in journalism and communications; and outlines a teaching strategy that highlights one news event and compares how different news sources report the event. Contains 161 references. (PEN)

Using a case study approach that compares original and reprint articles from two newspapers, this article examines the consequences of not integrating media literacy skills into reference service. Librarians should be aware of the issues involved in how the print media selects and presents daily news. Figures 1-6 graph word count differences. (Author)

A study of the catalog holdings of all Canadian academic libraries found that fewer noncorporate publications were available than mainstream titles published by corporations and that electronic vendors provide little access to noncorporate "small publisher" titles while providing 100% access to surveyed mainstream titles. Examines the implications to scholarly browsing and the role of the university. (PEN)

Examines the collective agreements of Canadian public and academic libraries to determine the nature and frequency of technological change clauses. Findings indicate that overall, Canadian librarians have not been able to use the collective bargaining process as a means to claim a proactive voice in the introduction and integration of technology in the workplace. (Author/AEF)

Examines whether library reference staff are cognizant of newspapers as a potential source of reference information, and explores what happens when library staff members make referrals--often a sign that they do not know the answer to the question themselves. Discusses results of a recent study of public libraries in Canada which revealed that reference staff are not making good use of this source. (Contains 17 references.) (AEF)

The article informs about the ethics in the cultural and education industries for virtue-signaling and inclusivity. Topics discussed include analysts considered to be discriminatory against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities; inclusion and diversity are real touchstone values in higher education; and well- meaning paternalists and rationalized with hoary sentiments about caring for the well- being of the colonize.

The article focuses on the impact of human behaviour on environment. Topics discussed include preventing environmental destruction; the role of online information on bringing out sustainability; and a phenomenon of server farms dissected by journalist James Glanz which has data centers containing the formidable array of physical infrastructure necessary to address every aspect of our online lifestyles.

The author comments on the culture of competitiveness at U.S. universities and colleges and how they became complicit in the promotion of colonial, sexist and non-environmentally conscious way of thinking. Topics covered include competitiveness in the admissions process and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sports, and how the culture of competitiveness will continually allow universities and colleges to be complicit in furthering behaviors they reject.

The article analyzes freedom of speech and freedom of assembly in education which appeared in 'And Campus for All: Diversity, Inclusion, and Freedom of Speech at U.S. Universities' issue of Pen America. Topics include a critique of Saul Bellow's book "There Is Simply Too Much to Think About: Collected Nonfiction", the importance of customer satisfaction, and campus free speech.