Library Review

Nicholas Joint

2011 Library Review

doi: 10.1108/00242531111166674

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to give some insight into current evidence about the value of converging library and information technology departments into single organisational units. Design/methodology/approach – A narrative account of attempts to merge libraries, IT departments and other campus support services, with analysis supported by a selected, representative number of published case studies. A conclusion is offered that emphasises the practical benefits of convergence at the level of the working library professional and everyday library user. Findings – The recent history of convergence has moved through three phases: an early period of optimistic and energetic commitment to the idea of merging IT and library services, gave way to an interim stage of reflection and reconsideration during which some degree of “deconvergence” took place. After this pause, a new dynamic was created, associated both with the trend towards “super‐convergence”, and also with new, more pragmatic ideas about how to bring workers from different professional traditions together. Originality/value – The paper attempts to give some highly contemporary insights into the latest thinking and developments on the topic in question, and emphasises the importance of relating abstract management strategies to practical organisational outcomes.

Ahmad Shabani; Fatemeh Naderikharaji; Mohammad Reza Abedi

2011 Library Review

doi: 10.1108/00242531111166683

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study reading behavior in the digital environment based on demographic factors including faculty, degree and gender among higher education students of Isfahan University. Design/methodology/approach – This study was survey descriptive using a researcher‐made questionnaire and data collection was accomplished using stratified random sampling method. The population of the study was the postgraduate students from seven faculties of Isfahan University. Different aspects of reading behavior were studied including the amount of reading of electronic resources, the style of reading electronic resources, the amount of annotating the electronic and print resources, the amount of printing out electronic documents for reading, and preference of reading medium. Findings – The study showed that the amount of reading of electronic resources is highest in the students of technical and engineering subjects, while the amount of printing out of electronic documents is highest in the faculty of sciences. PhD students usually make use of scanning for reading electronic resources, whereas postgraduate students generally print out more electronic documents. Practical implications – The findings of this study will help university authorities and digital libraries managers to provide better services to users and students. Originality/value – With the advent of internet and computers, reading is not the same as in the past. Reading in the digital age has changed and this paper tries to give some insight about the reading behavior of students and their preferences and the differences based on faculty, degree and gender.

Peter Willett; Rebecca Broadley

2011 Library Review

doi: 10.1108/00242531111166692

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify good practice in conducting outreach for homeless people, and hence to provide recommendations for future library outreach projects. Design/methodology/approach – The authors examine of four case studies taken from the library literature, and conduct six semi‐structured interviews with outreach and/or inclusion librarians from library authorities in South and West Yorkshire. Findings – The recommendations include: developing partnerships with relevant organisations; removing proof‐of‐identity requirements for joining the library; disseminating the results obtained in projects; using book deposits and mobile library stops; training library staff to ensure that they are aware of relevant issues; building trust in the target audience; ensuring that outreach is tailored to the specific needs of different groups of homeless people; and using a range of methods to evaluate project effectiveness. Originality/value – Identification of themes common to the published case studies and to the interviews provides a reasoned basis for the recommendations that are presented. These recommendations provide, for the first time in the UK, clear guidelines for future outreach projects for homeless people.

Essam Mansour; Nasser Alkhurainej

2011 Library Review

doi: 10.1108/00242531111166700

Purpose – The main purpose of this paper is to lighten a very big dark room of research regarding parliament and parliamentarians in the Arabic environment. The two researchers of this study tried to investigate the information seeking behavior of Members of the Kuwaiti Parliament (MKPs) in terms of their thoughts, perceptions, attitudes, motivations, techniques, preferences, ways, tools and problems encountered by them towards accessing information. Design/methodology/approach – The authors employed a questionnaire, with a response rate 42 percent. Findings – The study found that MKPs were mainly seeking information to make a parliamentary request/inquiry, to make a speech, and to make a decision. The study showed that the most important sources of information MKPs were seeking for were minutes of sessions, mass media, personal letters and information networks. It was also found that MKPs preferred printed formats, with a very good use of the internet and computers. This study showed MKPs' confirmation of using the English language, beside the use of the Arabic language, as the most dominating foreign language used to access information. The study found that consultants, secretaries and colleagues were the most important assistants of information to MKPs. The currency of information, the limited nature of the library's role to deliver information, and the use of technology tools were the most significant problems encountered by MKPs when they were seeking information. Research limitations/implications – The paper investigates the topic of parliamentarians' use of information, and as such highlights a topic that has limited previous research. Practical implications – The paper provides valuable insight into the information behavior of a very important client group. Originality/value – Being the first study in the Arab world concerned with the issue and topic of information seeking behavior and needs of Arab parliamentarians, it is considered a pioneering and unique study among many studies conducted in the field of both information access and information seeking, especially with this category of information users.

Rusnah Johare; Mohamad Noorman Masrek

2011 Library Review

doi: 10.1108/00242531111166719

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report the results of a study carried out pertaining to the Malaysian archivists' knowledge and skills in managing electronic records (ER). Design/methodology/approach – The main data collection has been gathered through survey questionnaires. Quantitative data were gathered from a total of 41 archivists at the National Archives of Malaysia. Findings – The insufficiency of education and training received by the archivists contributed to the archivists' limited knowledge and skills to support their roles and responsibilities to manage ER. The archivists' limited knowledge and skills on ER management (ERM) prevented them from implementing the policies and standard procedures on ERM which was part of their main responsibilities. Practical implications – This study would be useful in identifying the required knowledge and skills for the archivists and suitable education and training for them to acquire such knowledge and skills to manage ER. Originality/value – This is the first study of its kind which deals with the archivists' competencies in managing ER in the Malaysian Government.

Jan Irvine; Amanda Cossham

2011 Library Review

doi: 10.1108/00242531111166728

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the changes in undergraduate library and information studies education in New Zealand over the past decade. It considers developments in the delivery of distance education, focusing on e‐learning (or flexible learning) modes, and changes to the curriculum due to the changing nature and requirements of the profession. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is a case study of the Open Polytechnic, the main provider of undergraduate LIS programmes in New Zealand. It compares the current situation to that of 1999 when the programmes were established, and analyses developments in the delivery of distance education and the changing nature and requirements of the profession. Findings – The changing nature of the LIS profession, and in particular developments in information and communications technologies, as well as the possibilities offered by e‐learning paradigms have led to significant changes in the curriculum, especially in the delivery of courses. There is a tension between delivering a sound academically coherent curriculum that meets all the changing needs of the profession: core theory, knowledge and skills remain, while new technologies, services, formats and tools are demanding equal time in the curriculum. Research limitations/implications – The paper is of interest to researchers involved in distance education or curriculum design in LIS. Practical implications – The paper considers the evolution of distance learning courses for the library community and is of interest to the wider LIS sector. Originality/value – The case study presents a picture of New Zealand LIS undergraduate education and shows how programmes are changing in response to educational developments and the profession's requirements.