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This paper proposes a model for developing an Age-Friendly Media and Information Literate (#AFMIL) city. It starts by addressing general issues concerning ageing and ageism. Key features of UNESCO's framework for a media and information literate city are described. The authors proceed to identify relevant international handbooks, guidelines and initiatives concerning age-friendly environments, cities for human rights, smart cities, creative cities and informational cities. Drawing on these documents, the authors outline a model for developing an #AFMIL city, centred on older people enacting three roles: their role as consumers of media and information; older people as represented in the media; and older people in their role as creators, critics and innovators. They highlight the role of librarians in this development.

The Empowering Leadership Project was developed by the authors to improve management students' practice and understanding of empowering leadership, an emerging theory for leadership in the team context that includes Power Sharing, Motivation Support, and Development Support. In the project, student teams select a short leadership challenge, developed from the authors' consulting work with mid-level team leaders, that exemplifies one of the key aspects of empowering leadership. The teams conduct research on the leadership challenge, analyze research, and prepare proposed solutions and implementation plans to solve the leadership challenge. Instructions for the Empowering Leadership Project are provided as well as students' reactions to the project.

The original concept of information literacy (IL) identifies it as an enabler for lifelong learning and learning-to-learn, adaptable and transferable in any learning environment and context. However, practices of IL in electronic information and learning environments (e-environments) tend to question the origins, and workability, of IL on the grounds that the generic models of IL are inadequate for the complex and evolving context of e-environments. Conducting an analytical review of the literature on the approaches taken to adapt IL in e-environments, we discuss how a failure in understanding the dynamic context and components of e-environments and IL have resulted in the emergence of a marginalised way of viewing and practicing IL in these environments. Drawing on Nazari's (2011) contextual study of IL in an online distance learning programme, we propose a holistic way of viewing and practicing IL in EL environments which is aligned with IL origins; it enables the e-learner to conceptualise IL and customise it to their actual learning style and needs. This study can be of value to IL scholars and practitioners who are interested in the concept and practice of IL in e-environments. (Contains 1 table and 4 figures.)

This paper reports findings from a phenomenographic investigation into blended university teaching using virtual learning environments (VLEs). Interviews with 25 Computer Science teachers in Greek universities illuminated a spectrum of teachers' conceptions and approaches from "teacher-focused and content-oriented", through "student-focused and content-oriented", to "student-focused and process-oriented". Using VLEs was described as a means of supporting: A--information transfer; B--application and clarification of concepts; C--exchange and development of ideas, and resource exploration and sharing; D--collaborative knowledge-creation, and development of process awareness and skills. The study suggests that pedagogical beliefs and circumstances underpinning face-to-face teaching are more influential in shaping approaches to blended VLE use than VLE system features. The authors propose that the findings could be used to inform educational enhancement initiatives and that there is a need for further discipline-focused research on blended teaching. (Contains 4 tables.)

This article discusses activities carried out in the virtual world of Second Life (SL) as part of a compulsory class in the first year of an undergraduate programme. The paper identifies the contribution of SL to the students' learning environment and an Inquiry Based Learning (IBL) approach to programme design. The reasons for taking an IBL approach are explained in relation to institutional and disciplinary goals. The paper reflects on the contribution of the three key learning environments--the classroom, WebCT and SL--to students' learning. SL is evaluated in relation to a conceptual framework of IBL. It is concluded that SL has made a contribution to students' achievement of learning outcomes from the class, and has facilitated the development of students' inquiry skills. In conclusion, further avenues for developing research and teaching are identified.

Purpose: This paper aims to encapsulate the main procedure and key findings of a qualitative research on end-users' interactions with web-based search tools in order to demonstrate how the concept of "information visibility" emerged and how an integrative model of information visibility and information seeking on the web was constructed. Design/methodology/approach: The study was formed of three parts. The first looked at conceptions of the Invisible Web; the second explored conceptualisations of the causes of search success/failure; the third organised the findings of parts 1 and 2 into a series of theoretical frameworks. Data collection was carried out in three phases based on interviews with a sample of biologists. Findings: The first part led to the development of a model of information visibility which suggests a complementary definition for the Invisible Web. The results also showed the participants were aware of the possibility that they had missed some relevant information in their searches. However, perceptions of the importance and the volume of missed information varied, so users reacted differently to the possibility that they were missing information. The third part indicated the "Locus of Control" and "Attribution Theory" that can help us to better understand web-based information seeking patterns. Moreover, "Bounded Rationality" and "Satisficing Theory" supported the inductive findings and showed that users' estimates of the likely volume and importance of missed information affect their decision to persist in searching. Research limitations/implications: The study creates new understanding of web users' information seeking behaviour which contributes to the theoretical basis of web search research. It also raises various questions within the context of library and information science practice to know whether, and if so how, we can assist end-users to develop more efficient search strategies and satisfactory approaches. Originality/value: The research adopted a combination of inductive-deductive methods with a qualitative approach in the area of information seeking on the web which is mainly dominated by quantitative studies.

The authors investigate the question of how Chinese young adults (18-26 years old) in Sheffield seek employment information, and what sources and channels they use. Data collection was via a semi-structured questionnaire (78 responses) and via nine follow-up interviews with respondents to the questionnaire. Fifty-five percent felt that they had encountered barriers when seeking information. The channel which the largest number of employed respondents had used to find their current job was newspapers/magazines, and this was also the channel that the largest number would recommend to a friend. However, the Internet was respondents' favourite and most widely used channel and they perceived both advantages and disadvantages in using it for job seeking. We found that, as in previous studies, affective issues and personal connections were influential in choice of job, and that luck was also perceived as a factor. Recommendations for ways in which services could be better tailored to Chinese young people's needs are made. (Contains 1 table and 4 figures.)

Purpose: Aims to investigate the impact of the internet on reference services in public libraries in England. Design/methodology/approach: A literature review provides the policy context for UK public library services and highlights developments in digital reference. A questionnaire was administered in 2003 to a sample of the public library authorities in England, investigating the use of the internet for receiving or answering reference enquiries, the use of electronic reference sources, and the nature of public library web sites. Findings: Thirty responses were received, representing a response rate of 60 per cent. All respondents used e-mail to answer reference enquiries, but there was low use (and in some cases awareness) of other technologies. The librarians' attitude towards digital reference services, considering aspects such as improved access and increased efficiency, was predominantly positive. Some concerns were raised, such as the administration of public access computers. Patrons could access more electronic reference sources within the library than they could remotely. The majority of public libraries had web sites, most commonly offering access to the library catalogue and community databases. The results of this study are compared with two previous surveys. Practical implications: The paper concludes by identifying the need for public library managers to assess the changing role of professionals and para-professionals in delivering reference services, and to provide appropriate training. It also notes that despite the discussion of real-time reference, asynchronous digital reference is still more common in England. Originality/value: There has not been a survey of this type for English public library authorities. The sample represents 20 per cent of the target population. (Contains 3 figures and 2 tables.)

The aim of this paper is to propose information literacy as a soft applied discipline, of key importance in the information society. This is contrasted with the characterization of information literacy as a personal attribute in the U.S. and Australian Information Literacy standards. Vannevar Bush's vision of the technologically connected and enabled scientist is used to introduce a discussion of citizen's information needs and responsibilities in an age of "cheap complex devices." The authors emphasize the key role of information literacy in this information society. Information literacy is identified as a soft applied discipline, with reference to disciplinary indicators that have been identified in the literature. Building on this concept of an information literacy discipline, the authors propose a mission for information literacy education focused around three elements: information literacy for citizenship, information literacy for economic growth, and information literacy for employability. The paper concludes by identifying that in terms of preparing citizens for managing and taking action in society, information literacy has much to contribute, and that it is vital to nurture this emergent discipline.

Reviews British, U.S., and Australian standards and models of information literacy in higher education and discusses its place in the curriculum. Identifies problems with current practice, in particular, prescriptive guidelines that encourage a surface learning approach, delivery by librarians who may lack both educational training and power to influence the curriculum, and poor assessment methods. Offers a case study of a credit-bearing information literacy class at Strathclyde Business School. (EV)

Argues that as the electronic information industry matures, the ground occupied by the medium-sized host, and by products aimed at the medium-sized customer, is shrinking. Discusses changes, outlines possible legal barriers to industry consolidation, and describes users' concerns about information monopoly. (Author/AEF)

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2006.02.005 Byline: Lian Shao (a), Sheila Webber (b) Keywords: Transformational leadership; Personality; Chinese culture Abstract: Considering the impact of culture on the generalization of leadership theory, we offer a replication of Judge and Bono's [Judge, T.A., Bono, J.E. (2000), Five-factor model of personality and transformational leadership. J Appl Psychol 85 (5) 751-765.] study 'Five-Factor Model of Personality and Transformational Leadership' to examine the applicability of the findings in the Chinese culture. Our study shows that certain personality traits positively associated with transformational leadership behavior in the North American context are not evident in the Chinese environment. Hofstede's four cultural dimensions, cultural tightness and self-monitoring theory are used to explain the differences between our outcomes and those of Judge and Bono. Author Affiliation: (a) Cornell University, School of Hotel Administration, G80 Statler Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA (b) University of Massachusetts Lowell, College of Management, One University Avenue, Lowell, MA 01854, USA Article History: Received 20 July 2004; Accepted 16 February 2006

Transformation leadership model and its implementation in Chinese economy is evaluated.

The relationship among job satisfaction, affective commitment, service-oriented organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs), customer satisfaction, and customer loyalty were examined for a sample of 249 hairstylists and 1 of their corresponding customers. Employee satisfaction was positively related to service-oriented OCBs, customer satisfaction, and customer loyalty, whereas affective commitment was not related to these outcomes. The extent to which the predictor variables interacted with one another and the role of employment status on these relationships was also explored. High levels of job satisfaction or affective commitment resulted in more service-oriented OCBs for employees and self-employed workers, whereas high levels of both resulted in more service-oriented OCBs for owners. Keywords: service provider, employee satisfaction, citizenship behavior, customer satisfaction, customer loyalty

The relationships among geographic dispersion, team processes, and effectiveness in teams carrying out software development work are examined. A study of 218 members of 39 software development work teams was conducted suggesting that geographic dispersion significantly and negatively relates to work processes and team effectiveness.