Library Review

Nicholas Joint

2009 Library Review

doi: 10.1108/00242530910997919

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to comment on recent trends in UK information strategy which aim to further the development of a coherent national “author pays” open access (APOA) research publication system. Design/methodology/approach – A description of APOA national policy initiatives, which is put into a wider context by looking at some economic analyses of the principles underlying this form of open access. This is in turn followed by the author's own conclusions, which synthesise these two perspectives. Findings – It is not at all clear that the economics of APOA are well enough understood to guarantee that the original aim of open access – to deal with unaffordable serials price inflation – will be achieved by a large scale move towards a national APOA system in the UK. An enhanced, nationally coordinated move geared towards establishing APOA on a proper footing would be a bold experiment, and, as such, it might not fully achieve its aims. In recognition of this possibility, it would be worth considering the establishment of a similar, enhanced, UK‐wide programme for the development of purely repository‐based open access materials, to be developed in parallel with an APOA system, as an insurance policy in case the author pays model does not realise its full potential. Research limitations/implications – This paper does not give any clear description of the nature of an enhanced, UK‐wide repository‐based open access programme. Further investigation would be required to ascertain if this suggestion is feasible. It may be the case that existing national initiatives aimed at supporting the growth of open access subject and institutional repositories have exhausted the potential for coordinated UK‐wide development of this strand of the open access movement. Practical implications – The insights provided give some idea of the practical difficulties of taking forward APOA systems on a national basis. Originality value – This paper combines views taken from a variety of different sources in the hope that a fresh perspective on the issue of APOA is made available to the reader.

Steven Buchanan; Adeola Salako

2009 Library Review

doi: 10.1108/00242530910997928

Purpose – System usability and system usefulness are interdependent properties of system interaction, which in combination, determine system satisfaction and usage. Often approached separately, or in the case of digital libraries, often focused upon usability, there is emerging consensus among the research community for their unified treatment and research attention. However, a key challenge is to identify, both respectively and relatively, what to measure and how , compounded by concerns regarding common understanding of usability measures, and associated calls for more valid and complete measures within integrated and comprehensive models. The purpose of this paper is to address this challenge. Design/methodology/approach – Identified key usability and usefulness attributes and associated measures, compiled an integrated measurement framework, identified a suitable methodological approach for application of the framework, and conducted a pilot study on an interactive search system developed by a Health Service as part of their e‐library service. Findings – Effectiveness, efficiency, aesthetic appearance, terminology, navigation, and learnability are key attributes of system usability; and relevance, reliability, and currency key attributes of system usefulness. There are shared aspects to several of these attributes, but each is also sufficiently unique to preserve its respective validity. They can be combined as part of a multi‐method approach to system evaluation. Research limitations/implications – Pilot study has demonstrated that usability and usefulness can be readily combined, and that questionnaire and observation are valid multi‐method approaches, but further research is called for under a variety of conditions, with further combinations of methods, and larger samples. Originality/value – This paper provides an integrated measurement framework, derived from the goal, question, metric paradigm, which provides a relatively comprehensive and representative set of system usability and system usefulness attributes and associated measures, which could be adapted and further refined on a case‐by‐case basis.

Teresa S. Welsh; Susan E. Higgins

2009 Library Review

doi: 10.1108/00242530910997937

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze the Hurricane Katrina‐related narratives of Library and Information Science students at the University of Southern Mississippi's School of Library and Information Science, in order to gain insight into the role of public libraries post‐Hurricane Katrina. Design/methodology/approach – Qualitative NVivo software was used to code the narratives for themes related to public libraries post‐Hurricane Katrina. Findings – Post‐disaster problems include physical damage or destruction of the libraries and inundation of the libraries by refugees and evacuees seeking communication and information. Post‐disaster services provided by public librarians include providing communication and information, helping fill out aid forms, listening, offering comfort, volunteering, and donating. Practical implications – This study can inform practitioners of the value of the public library as a quality of life issue since providing people with information and communication in public libraries played a crucial role in light of a catastrophic circumstance. Originality/value – The unique context of local rural and small‐town public libraries faced with devastating catastrophic circumstances can add to the body of literature related to the value of public library services post‐disaster and form the basis for further, more comprehensive studies.

Samuel C. Avemaria Utulu; Omolara Bolarinwa

2009 Library Review

doi: 10.1108/00242530910997946

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine Nigerian academics' adoption of open access initiatives as authors and readers of scholarly resources. The study was necessitated by the growing need to have the number of Nigerian scholarly publications increased on the internet and accessible to scholars around the world through the use of open access initiatives. Design/methodology/approach – Academics of two first generation Nigerian universities selected using convenient sampling technique were surveyed using the questionnaire to find out the extent of their awareness and use of open access initiatives as authors and readers of scholarly works. Two hundred and fifty questionnaire copies were distributed in the two universities out of which 189 copies were returned, while 180 copies were found to be useable for the study. Findings – It was revealed that the respondents were aware of the pre‐print and open access journal initiatives than the post‐print initiative. In terms of the use of open access initiatives, although the study revealed insignificant use among the academics, academics in sciences showed more promise of adopting open access initiative as authors and readers of scholarly resources than their counterparts in the humanities. Research limitations/implications – Unlike studies that assessed specific subject based and institutional repositories that allowed for the search and extraction of depositors' names and characteristics, this particular study relied on respondents' responses as a source of their actual use of open access repositories. Originality/value – This paper reveals that academics' perception and publishing culture, and not awareness, determines the extent of their use of open access initiatives in Nigeria.

Pradeepa Wijetunge

2009 Library Review

doi: 10.1108/00242530910997955

Purpose – A comprehensive analysis of the LIS education system was carried out covering the 2004‐2007 period and it was established that currently 24 LIS education programs are conducted in Sri Lanka by eight educational institutions. The purpose of this paper is to present a critical evaluation of the curriculum development strategy of the LIS education programs in Sri Lanka based on the major research. Design/methodology/approach – The research used both quantitative as well as qualitative research methods to determine the present status of affairs and the study was based on primary and secondary data collected by means of questionnaires, semi‐structured interviews, participatory observations and review of documents. Primary data were collected from the LIS course co‐ordinators, teachers and policy makers. Researcher's own reflections were also used. Findings – The empirical survey identified that six main subjects are taught across most of the LIS programs; that most programs provide a general knowledge in LIS but not opportunities for specialisation; appropriate levels of complexity were not evident across the different levels of programs; and there is no national core in LIS so that all programs cover a set of common subjects at appropriate depths and breadths suitable for different levels of programs. Findings with regard to the curriculum development strategies identified that most of the curricula documents are not comprehensive, and that the Sri Lankan LIS curriculum developers do not use any formal curriculum development model. Analysis of the curriculum development teams indicated that most members have no training in curriculum design, and the teams lack contributions by other stakeholders except LIS professionals. Several recommendations are presented to eliminate the weaknesses of the curriculum development strategy in the LIS programs. Research limitations/implications – This paper is based on a broader empirical study of the LIS education system of Sri Lanka and throws some light on specific research on identifying the most appropriate curriculum development model for Sri Lanka. Practical implications – The findings of the research are directly applicable to the tasks of the curriculum developers and the LIS education policy makers in Sri Lanka and they can use the findings for the improvement of the LIS education programs. Originality/value – Contents or the curriculum development strategy of the current Sri Lankan LIS education programs have not been critically analysed before and this paper presents the original research findings relevant to all the programs conducted in 2007.

Christine Wamunyima Kanyengo

2009 Library Review

doi: 10.1108/00242530910997964

Purpose – The paper highlights the need for grounding library and information policies within the environment they operate. The purpose of this paper is to argue for the grounding of health library and information policies within the health sector context. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is an opinion piece which discusses the importance of grounding library and information policies in the national health sector strategic plans. Findings – A comprehensive and structural approach to improving access to health information as part of the overall priorities in the health sector requires concrete policies, strategies and services to be put in place at all levels of the national health system. Practical implications – The paper offers insights into how to influence the formulation and eventual implementation of a national policy for library and information services in the health sector. Originality/value – It describes the areas in which library and information policies can be used to fulfill the critical roles of supporting the mission of health‐care delivery in the country.