New Library World

Describes the background and development of the migration to an electronic journal collection by the W.W. Hagerty Library of Drexel University, Philadelphia. Starting in 1998, this transition was a key component of the library’s strategic plan, and with a few exceptions, journals are purchased in electronic‐only format whenever possible. Drexel’s collection now consists of only 800 print subscriptions and 5,500 electronic journals. The transition has had a considerable impact on library staffing and workflow. Offsetting a decrease in the activity levels relating to the print format is a large increase in workload for serials’ acquisitions and management functions. A newly created position of electronic resources librarian acts as a focal point for the integrated development of all electronic resources.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a flavour of the content of the first IFLA Presidential Meeting 2007‐2009 held in Berlin, Germany in January 2007. Design/methodology/approach – An outline description of the issues, content and participants of this conference is presented in the paper. Findings – The paper finds that the meeting ended with the declaration on free access to information, reaffirmed by participants from 26 countries. Originality/value – The paper provides a brief conference report of value to library and information professionals on exploring ways to make libraries more visible in society.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a flavour of the World Library and Information Congress: 74th IFLA General Conference and Council. Design/methodology/approach – The paper gives an outline of the issues, content, speakers, participants, social networking and location of this conference. Findings – The conference was informative, useful and provided wonderful international networking opportunities. Originality/value – The paper provides a report of a major annual international conference of value to international information and library professionals.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an account of highlights of the IFLA Congress 2010 held in Gothenburg, Sweden. Design/methodology/approach – The paper provides an account of the IFLA Congress in the context of the IFLA strategic plan and midterm strategy. Findings – Various links to IFLA information are provided. Originality/value – Information about a major internal conference for the information and library profession is given in this paper.

Purpose - To introduce the growing trend of closings of public libraries in the USA due to funding shortages. Design/methodology/approach - Body of knowledge compiled by author from current news and professional sources and personal historical files. Findings - While public libraries are being heavily used, they still face funding challenges due to tax resistance, the economic down-turn, and competition for their services. Originality/value - The column stresses the importance of public library administrators to track and respond to public support.

Vietnam has a fairly large body of dedicated library professionals working in a well structured library system. It is an anomaly that Vietnam does not have a national library association. This article advocates the creation of such a national organization for Vietnam. The first part of the article attempts to answer the question: what is a national library association for? Examples from both developed and developing countries are given to demonstrate the values of national library associations. The second part of the article is aimed at answering the second question: why do we need a national library association for Vietnam now? The author's main arguments are the pressing needs imposed on the Vietnamese library community by the national standardization programme and the overhaul of the national library science curriculum.

Purpose To guide students' thinking about joining professional associations. Design/methodology/approach A few representative professional organizations are explored. Aspects such as organizational structure, history, culture, professional focus, and size are discussed. Findings Many more professional associations exist and encourage student participation than most students are aware of when they enter the profession. Practical implications Students can compare professional associations to find those most suited to their professional interests. These may not be the most local or well known national organizations. Originality/value This is an attempt to help students recognize that professional organizations exist regardless of their niche interest, and despite the larger and more general associations that may be given local emphasis.

Purpose – This paper seeks to examine measures for assessing library performance from three perspectives: efficiency, effectiveness and service quality. Design/methodology/approach – The concepts of the measurement of library performance are discussed in order to identify appropriate research methods for studying the libraries of the University of Ljubljana. Findings – A set of performance indicators and a research method are suggested. Originality/value – This paper fulfils a need for a practical solution of how to improve service quality in university libraries. The libraries of the University of Ljubljana are used as a case study.

Argues that the growing availability of information, especially from electronic sources, offers both potential and problems for the researcher. Increasingly, information has become a commodity, commissioned for a specific purpose and shaped to fit the needs of the commissioner. It follows that user requirements will dictate not just the research remit (what information to collect) but also the selection criteria (why the information is needed). Establishing why information is needed is an integral step in deciding on the particular focus or slant that any search strategy, and subsequent information analysis, must take. A comprehensive, or indeed a balanced, collection of information may be neither necessary nor desirable. End users may only require information that will support their information need. Choice of information sources will also be governed by these information needs, and their selection is a vital factor in the provision of useful, relevant information and its successful communication to the end user.

Purpose – To focus on the importance of providing appropriate and specialized services for the senior population. Design/methodology/approach – Body of knowledge compiled by author from current news, professional sources and personal topical files. Findings – Libraries in the US have a wide variety of creative programs and services for senior‐aged patrons, as well as handicapped users. Originality/value – The column stresses the importance of libraries to study and plan for the challenges of serving a rapidly growing senior population.

Purpose - To define the elements of a gift books policy. Design/methodology/approach - Research based on a review of library gift policies. Findings - Provides libraries with general guidelines as to what should be included in a gift book policy. Originality/value - Provides assistance to libraries to find a way to explain to prospective donors how the library handles donations and gifts.

Purpose – To introduce a successful online community information network created and managed by libraries. Design/methodology/approach – Historical and operational overview by director of organization that sponsors the information network. Findings – The 10‐year old online network provides a resource that puts the library in the center of their community, and in a position of leadership. Originality/value – Using the power of the computer, information from all communities is available to everyone.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how library reference departments and writing centers have extended their services to reach audiences beyond their respective locations, and to analyze the experiences of one university in collaboration between the two entities. The aim is to provide insight into the advantages and disadvantages of two approaches toward collaboration: that of a reference librarian holding office hours in a writing center, and writing center consultants providing service hours within the library. Design/methodology/approach Reference/consultation logs and input from participating consultants and librarians are utilized to explore the usage and effectiveness of the two collaborative approaches. Findings Analyzing student participation in the library and writing center services indicate that, while students are not likely to seek library reference services in the writing center, they appreciate having writing consultation services available within the library at times when the writing center is not open. Observation also suggests that students use services differently at the two locations, preferring extended interactions at the writing center where hour‐long consultations are customary. Practical implications This work conveys first hand experiences and makes suggestions regarding scheduling, staffing, equipment, and publicity. Originality/value Little has been written about the feasibility and practical implications of writing center consultants working within libraries.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to show that the demise of quality in the press, possibly due to short‐sighted financial practices, and the decline in some uses of the public library are both effects of the tide of electronicification of information and knowledge. However, this new force can be re‐formed and used as a reinforcement of the democratic roots of society by integrating the public library as a centre of certified and validated culture and information and as the new public function of civil journalism. Design/methodology/approach – The paper starts with a description of developments in the library world in which the Dutch case is taken as a typical example. Subsequently, the decline of the quality newspaper is discussed, its societal role and its increasing dependency on stock market value. Hereafter, the central role of the civic stakeholders is revisited to and the crucial position that free quality information has for a democratic society. Findings – The analysis clearly shows that both institutions, the library and the press, face the same damage as a result of the rapid changes due to the electronic revolution in the media. However, going back to the societal functions of these institutions, the new media can also be used as an engine for change and for development of a novel integration of quality information creation and storage. Originality/value – The paper defends the need for a concerted and conscious policy to turn the public library into a workspace for civil journalism and a centre not only of high culture, social cohesion and a quality information repository, but also as an integrated public space for democratic self‐publishing and news reporting.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the IFLA or World Library and Information Conference held in Seoul, in August 2006. Design/methodology/approach – The paper takes the form of a description of the environment and social setting of the conference together with a selection from the conference content. Findings – IFLA is the key international forum for libraries and information professionals, and was useful and timely. Originality/value – This brief conference report will be of value to library and information professionals worldwide.

Discusses the linguistic influences on an electronic publishing infrastructure in an environment with unstable linguistic standardization from the computational point of view. Essentially, in Serbia in the last half of the century (at least) publishing is based on the following facts: two alphabetic systems are regularly in use with the possibility to mix both alphabets in the same document; the various dialects are accepted as a part of a linguistic norm; orthography is unstable - presently, several linguistic attitudes that have different views of the orthographic norm are under discussion; and, in Serbia, many minority languages are in use, which makes it difficult to provide efficient contact between different communities through electronic publishing. In this context, a systematic solution that responds to this complex situation has not been developed in the frame of traditional Serbian linguistics and lexicography in a way that enables the adequate incorporation of the new publishing technologies. Owing to these constraints, the direct application of electronic publishing tools frequently causes the degradation of the linguistic message. In such an environment, the promotion of electronic publishing therefore needs specific solutions. The paper discusses the general frame based on the specifically encoded system of electronic dictionaries that makes electronic texts independent of some of the mentioned constraints. The objective of such a frame is to enable the linguistic normalization of texts at the level of their internal representation, and to establish bridges for communicating with other language societies. Some aspects of electronic text representation that ensures its correct interpretation in different graphical systems and in different dialects are described. This also allows text indexing and retrieval using the same techniques that are available for languages not burdened with these problems.

Reviews the progress of the UNIverse Project, a large-scale open distributed libraries demonstration project supported by the European Commission’s Telematics for Libraries Programme. Concentrates on the technical achievements of the first two phases of the contract and indicates some technical problems encountered. Describes the development of the special interest groups and the plans for the final stage (the demonstration and evaluation phase) including progress to January 1999. Outlines the work remaining in the demonstration phase including the evaluation and proposed exploitation plans as well as a new task focussing on business and economic issues.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to the fact that there is reverse age discrimination in the field of librarianship. Design/methodology/approach – Literature review and commentary on this topic that is now being addressed by our younger colleagues. Findings – Younger librarians often referred to as “baby librarians” are frustrated by their colleagues in the library workplace. Originality/value – The value is in addressing this issue that is quickly surfacing on blogs and listservs.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact that the recession has had on US libraries. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is an overview of the literature. Findings – The recession has had an impact not only on libraries but also related fields such as publishing. Originality/value – The paper makes libraries aware that planning is essential in order to survive in the recession.

Outlines the challenge to libraries when incorporating the new and sophisticated means of access to local and global information resources. Gateways and portals are seen as possible solutions. Describes the features of quality access via metadata and resource sharing within this framework, and how publishers and aggregators are assisting in the transformation to digital libraries. Identifies and discusses the features of a digital library and offers a definition. Recommends an integrated approach towards the provision of library automation, document management and digitizing/imaging expertise to provide a one-stop shop for library managers and to facilitate the establishment of digital libraries.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine one academic library and how the staff dealt with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Design/methodology/approach – A case study of the Tulane Recovery Center in New Orleans that was created after Hurricane Katrina in cooperation with Library Associates Companies (LAC). Findings – Institutions may have a disaster plan outlined as to what to do in an emergency but in actuality one is never fully prepared for a natural disaster. Originality/value – This paper examines the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina on the Howard‐Tilton Memorial Library at Tulane University and the creation of the Tulane Recovery Center, which can serve as a model for other to follow.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an in‐depth discussion of reference tools in the virtual world of Second Life. Design/methodology/approach – A description is given of the scripted functions employed by the author, a community virtual library reference desk volunteer of three years. Findings – The paper finds that each tool can meet the information needs of community virtual library patrons. Originality/value – The paper reveals that reference desk tool programs that run in the virtual world have implications for real world reference desks of the future.

Focuses on the issue of raising the profile and status of librarians, with emphasis on higher salaries and recognition through pay equity. Considers the issues taken up by Mitch Freedman, President of the American Library Association (ALA) and his Campaign for America's Librarians. Expresses viewpoints on salary issues for librarians/information professionals in the context of the USA and UK, drawn both from an impassioned speech delivered by Mitch Freedman and from the findings of a pay and status survey conducted by The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) and CILIP's consequent response.

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to understand the importance of keeping library staff motivated during tough financial times. Design/methodology/approach – The paper takes the form of a literature review and comments on this timely topic. Findings – Library staff are feeling nervous over the economy with cuts in funding and the influx of job seekers as library staff become career counselors. Originality/value – The paper's value is in drawing attention to how libraries are coping with keeping staff motivated and providing practical tips and information on resource materials.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand the impact that social networking has had on public and academic libraries. Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents a literature review and commentary on the topic of social networking. Findings – The paper finds that libraries will have to reach users in their preferred methods of communication. Originality/value – The paper shows the value of planning ahead for the future and the ways patrons are accessing information.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the elements of a successful marketing and outreach event for undergraduate students at a medium‐sized US research university. Design/methodology/approach – A case study of LibraryPalooza, an annual event held at the University at Albany since 2004, and attended by 1,500 students in 2010. Findings – Detailed planning and extensive partnerships on campus make for a successful and relatively inexpensive welcome event for new students, introducing them to library services and facilities. Originality/value – This paper provides a practical example of planning a major event marketing library resources to user constituencies.

I became editor of The library world at a funeral. It was October 1960 and W C Berwick Sayers, former chief librarian of Croydon, had died, aged 80 or thereabouts. I joined a large congregation at a Croydon church to pay my last respects to one I had known and admired. Impossible to get a seat, so I stood at the back, finding myself cheek-by-jowl with Clive Bingley, then a friend of two years’ standing.

A thousand is a good old age; even Methuselah failed to achieve it. It is even a good age for a journal. I have spent many a happy hour in the Cambridge University Library's department of dead periodicals and I know that those that have failed to achieve the present magic number are indeed many. James Duff Brown did better than he knew when, in July 1898, his new sixpenny monthly found its way into the libraries. Its pre-history also is not without interest but as I discussed this in fair detail in LW 800 (February 1967) and subsequently in James Duff Brown (pp 51–58) a few sentences of summary may now suffice. JDB founded LW primarily to assure himself of a continuing and regular journalistic medium on the justified assumption that MacAlister's Library was unlikely to remain the LA ‘organ’ after 1898 and that Henry Guppy (1861–1948) as volunteer editor of the projected new LAR was most unlikely to offer him comparable scope. For by 1894 JDB had become MacAlister's right-hand man for the public library side of the Library; after 1894, when the open access revolution began in Clerkenwell, he had also become a very controversial one. It is far from easy now to visualise a state of affairs in which public library readers were not themselves admitted to the shelves. Nevertheless, the early libraries issued books only on request and after they had been found by members of the staff. Civil wars frequently follow revolutions and the open access one was no exception; until his death in 1914 JDB faced much well-entrenched opposition.

To communicate anonymously is a basic constitutional right. It is an integral part of the freedom of speech. However, anonymity on the Internet is increasingly not self-evident. Anonymity is one of the characteristics of the Internet. Is misconduct overemphasized or is improper Internet usage on the rise in the last couple of years? Many governments and lobby groups are of this opinion and want more control over the Internet to prevent misconduct and misuse. Pleas for digital passports and other forms of (self)regulation and legislation are increasing or in some countries legislation is already being put into place to limit the freedom of expression on the Internet. It looks as if anonymity on the Internet will soon be something of the past. The Patriot Act in the USA is an example of the far reaching powers of authorities to limit freedom of speech. It does not only threaten freedom of movement on the Internet, it also affects the business of Internet service providers (ISPs), Internet cafes and libraries. The implications for Internet users and institutions, like libraries, are discussed. It is clarified with some examples from the USA and elsewhere.

This article has no abstract

This article has no abstract

IN DECEMBER 1969, I reviewed for the Library world the library literature of the 1960s'. I remember hoping, when I wrote that I might have the chance to perform a similar office for the library literature of the 1970s. The opportunity has come. But note: I have not used it to nominate the best publications of the decade. I would certainly like to think that I knew the best, and therefore also the worst, when I saw them, but after a swift reconnaissance of the decade's offerings I was appalled at what I had missed. There was a time when I could recite the names of every British librarian who had published at least one book on librarianship, and a fair number of American librarians besides. Who could do it now? Who would want to?

IT CAN hardly be regarded as a coincidence that 1876, the first centenary of America's independence, was a notable year in American library history. It was a year that saw the foundation of the American Library Association, the launching of the Library journal, and the first publication of Melvil Dewey's classification: three events that have had a worldwide influence on the development of libraries. With only three years to go before the occasion of the second centenary, it is not difficult to imagine that it may also witness the maturity of a new phase in American librarianship. When we consider that less than 125 years ago there were scarce six libraries in America of any considerable size, the fact that—according to the latest issue of the ALA directory—there are now well over 30,000 libraries in North America, makes it clear that American library provision has since developed at impressive speed. Certainly, to anyone like myself, who had the good fortune to see American librarianship in action some 20 years ago, the remarkable strengthening in professionalism in American libraries during the past quarter of a century is astonishing—and it shows no signs of slowing up.

British librianship was well represented at the International Federation of Library Association and Institutions (IFLA) 58th General Conference held in New Delhi, 30 August to 5 September 1992. With 1,500 delegates from 72 nations, ranging from Namibia and Estonia to the USA and Russia, it was truly a cosmopolitan jamboree held in the glittering, ultramodern Taj Palace International Hotel and Conference Centre.

Attempts to predict the changes which will occur at Bradford University Library by the year 2000. Suggests that changes will be more of an evolution than a revolution. Discusses the services provided, finances, staff skills, stock and space in terms of the present and possible future.

Analyses both the impact of social change and the contribution that the library can make to personal and social development within a changing environment. Notes that the problem of increasingly centralised resources can be countered by the proactive decentralisation of delivery. Concludes that frugality of resources combined with increases in cultural quantity means that the librarian of the future will need to operate the service as a needs-based access point to the global whole.

This article has no abstract

Purpose – The paper seeks to provide an overview of the Sofia 2006: Globalization, Digitization, Access and Preservation of Cultural Heritage Conference held in Bulgaria, in November 2006. Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents a description of the environment and social setting of the conference together with a selection from the conference content and comments regarding the future of the conference. Findings – This was the largest Globenet conference to date, with participants from more than 30 nations. Originality/value – This brief conference report will be of value to library and information professionals worldwide.

Purpose – The paper seeks to provide an overview of the Student Poster Session of the “Sofia 2006: Globalization, Digitization, Access and Preservation of Cultural Heritage” conference, held in Bulgaria in November 2006. Design/methodology/approach – The paper gives a description of the student poster session and presentations as part of the conference and the interaction between the students and with library/information professionals. Findings – The paper highlights the engagement of students of many different nationalities in dialogue concerning important issues of librarianship within the context of an international conference. Originality/value – The paper provides a brief report of a poster session within a conference, which will be of interest to library and information students and professionals worldwide.

Purpose – To provide a flavour of the content of the BOBCATSSS Symposium, held in Prague, Czech Republic in January 2007. Design/methodology/approach – An outline description of the issues, content and participants of this conference. Findings – This conference covered marketing of information services in terms of marketing the profession, marketing strategies, marketing tools, branding, customer satisfaction, networking, the electronic environment, competitive intelligence, and marketing and LIS education. Originality/value – A brief conference report of value to library and information professionals regarding marketing of information services.

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is too provide a flavour of the content of the American Library Association Annual Conference held in Washington DC in June 2007. Design/methodology/approach – An outline description of the issues, content, networking, speakers and participants of this conference. Findings – This major conference covered many topical issues and themes, latest trends and research and leading edge technology applicable to librarians and information professionals internationally. It facilitated many networking opportunities. Originality/value – A conference report of value to librarians and information professionals as the variety of themes apply to the various aspects of library and information work.

Purpose – To provide a flavour of the content of the third Librarians Information Literacy Conference (LILAC) held in Manchester, UK in March 2007. Design/methodology/approach – An outline description of the issues, content, keynote speakers and participants of this conference is described. Findings – This conference covered the themes of recognising the need, advocacy, marketing and promotion, practical approaches to information literacy, information literacy and citizenship, new areas for practice and research, and ethical use of information. Originality/value – A conference report of value to library and information professionals regarding various information literacy themes, with links to two web site launches.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the “Sofia 2008: Globalization and the Management of Information Resources” conference, held in Sofia, Bulgaria in November 2008. Design/methodology/approach – The paper gives an outline of the issues, content, speakers, participants, social networking and location of this conference. Findings – The Sofia 2008 conference offered an excellent balance of informative presentations and social opportunities to meet other attendees and to discuss current topics in libraries, information management, and LIS education. Originality/value – The paper provides a report of the biennial international conference of value to international information and library professionals and LIS educators.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a flavour of the content of the LILAC conference held in Liverpool, UK in March 2008. Design/methodology/approach – An outline of the issues, content, keynote speakers and delegates is provided. Findings – This conference covered the themes of supporting researchers, diversity and social justice, practical approaches to information literacy, the Net generation, ethical information, staff development and information literacy and marketing information literacy. Originality/value – A conference report of value to library and information professionals regarding various information literacy themes, with a link to web site information.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the 29th IATUL Conference on “Digital discovery: strategies and solutions” held in Auckland, New Zealand in April 2008. Design/methodology/approach – The article gives an outline of the issues, content, keynote speakers, social networking and location of this conference. Findings – The IATUL meeting presented a wide range of cutting-edge topics defining the future roles of librarians in a globalised information society. Participants gained insights into the workings and visions of librarians around the globe, had the opportunity to share experiences and best practice and to find new inspiration and encouragement for their own daily work. The conference included areas such as policies for the information society, digitalization strategies, open access initiatives, e-research developments, library support for e-science, library customer orientation, Web 2.0 applications for libraries, learning experiences of the Net generation, information literacy as well as data and knowledge management. Originality/value – The paper provides a conference report of value to library and information professionals, in particular to library directors and senior managers, regarding the development of a modern dynamic infrastructure for digital information and communication and the role of libraries therein.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a flavour of the content of the LILAC Conference held in Cardiff, UK, in March 2009. Design/methodology/approach – The paper provides an outline of the issues, content, keynote speakers and delegates of the LILAC Conference. Findings – This conference held a series of themed parallel sessions and covered the themes of inquiry based learning, emerging technologies, information literacy for life and supporting research. There was evidence of strong demand for pre‐conference events. Originality/value – A conference report of value to library and information professionals regarding various information literacy themes.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a flavour of the content of the American Library Association Annual Conference held in Washington DC in June 2010. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is an outline description of the issues, content, networking, speakers and participants at this conference. Findings – This major conference covered many topical issues and themes, latest trends and research and leading edge technology applicable to librarians and information professionals internationally. It facilitated many networking opportunities. Originality/value – This represents a conference report of value to librarians and information professionals, as the variety of themes applies to the various aspects of library and information work.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a flavour of the content of the LILAC conference held in the Republic of Ireland in March 2010. Design/methodology/approach – The paper provides an outline of the content, structure, issues and keynote speakers of the LILAC conference. The growing trend toward instant communication was as present at this conference with both Twitter and the Facebook LILAC sites available to attendees. Findings – The conference held a series of themed parallel sessions divided into five tracks – Making Connections, Developing the IL Practitioner, IL and Research, Innovative Practice and Measuring Impact. Originality/value – The conference provided an insight into emerging trends and developing resources for information literacy.