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The Deserted Library
Abstract
Explores how, as more students work online, some scholars wonder if something important is being lost in the abandonment of the college library. (EV)
... (Carlson, 2001; Fister, 2004). Gayton further argues that socialising can take place anywhere else but the library is primarily a place for quiet study. ...
... Some of the children also suggested little carrels where they can sit in alone and be shielded from the outside world. It is very vital to keep the quiet space in the library while incorporating the social space (Fister, 2004; Carlson, 2001). Bryant et al agree that " both kinds ...
The study of children library services in Nigeria is very limited in the literature. Existing literature has only focused on the problems facing school or public library services (Ajegbomogun & Salaam, 2011) without a real emphasis on the view of the users and how they want the services to be run. This research therefore focuses on the gap in the literature which is researching the views of children in making libraries a third place option for them. The research focused on current services and current alternative third places with an emphasis on the views and opinions of the users to make recommendations for future considerations.
The research approach was interpretive whereby the discussions and interactions of the focus groups and interviews were analysed and coded to arrive at conclusions. The research revealed that although children would love to use the library regularly, the services, design, access and other factors identified made this difficult. It was concluded that libraries are currently not a third place option but with the recommendations from the data collected, it is not impossible. Recommendations included making the services in libraries accessible to children, renovation of buildings, creation of activities that engage children and collection development.
This research is beneficial to schools and public libraries in Nigeria seeking to improve their services and provide relevant and appreciated services to children. School managements and government bodies in charge of funding these libraries can also see the needs of the children and be more opened to supporting libraries.
... In a provocative article titled "The De serted Library," Scott Carlson discusses decreased gate counts and circulation rates in academic libraries, attributing this evidence of the "deserted library" to an increase in the number of Web-based re sources and a corresponding increase in student use of alternative spaces such as dorm rooms, coffee shops, and book stores. 5 His article has sparked intense discussion among academic librarians about the role of the library within the campus community. Carlson reports that fewer students are actively using library resources within the physical library fa cilities. ...
... 4. How has your use of your study changed over time? 5. When you go to your study, do you tell your department where to find you? ...
The value of the academic library as "place" in the university community has recently been debated in the popular and scholarly library literature, but the debate centers on student use of library space rather than faculty use. This study addresses the issue of faculty use of library space by investigating the use of "faculty spaces" - individual, enclosed, lockable carrels or studies - through a series of interviews with faculty space holders at the University of Oklahoma and a survey of ARL libraries. Both elements of the investigation show that faculty spaces are heavily used and highly valued by faculty members, especially those In the social sciences and humanities. The researchers present the results of the interviews and the survey, and explore the reasons for the continuing value of faculty spaces in the age of electronic information.
... Along the same line. According to Carlson (2001) in order to survive and maintain relevance in this technological age, academic libraries must find ways to "increase ease of effectiveness, efficiency, access, coordination and responsiveness in all aspects of our work-academic, ancillary and support". Also, it is indispensable for University library to note that, a user decision to be loyal or to defect to other competitors is the sum total of many encounters with the organization. ...
This paper is an attempt to study the strategies that leads to effective library users in Federal University of Technology, Owerri with a view to study the expectations of library users, modern infrastructural needs, retention strategies as well as try to bring to light the challenges that confronts the users and recommend some remedial measures for its improvement. Questionnaire was used for data collection, a reliability coefficient of 0.75 was obtained. The study confirmed that the library needs to do well on some issues such as power supply, internet connectivity, subscription to open access database, etcetera for a very good user's retention profile.
... The revolution of information technology has contributed to the change in the unique central role of the University Library as a main repository of information. The rapid growth of the availability of online information sources is the main reason for this (Applenton, Stevenson & Boden, 2011) In the USA it was observed a sharp decline in usage statistics of academic libraries and it leads to rethink about library spaces to attract more users by deviating from the traditional concept "Library as a place" to "Learning space" (Carlson, 2001). According to Gayton (2008) "The apparent death of academic libraries, as measured by the declining circulation of print materials, reduced use of reference services, and falling gate counts, has led to calls for a more "social" approach to academic libraries: ...
Planning and designing learning spaces in any library is not a short-termtask of today’s librarians because of the unpredictable and changing natureof user demands. This study focuses on planning and designing thelearning spaces in the Information & Learning Centre (ILC), the newlibrary of the Faculty of Science, University of Colombo. It was designedto support the multifaceted learning activities of the diverse usercommunities of the university. The main data collection method used foridentifying expected learning activities was focus group discussions. Tenlearning activities expected by users were identified and the mostprominent ones were collaborative learning, student individual learning,learning by discovery (learning by searching and reading), focusedlearning (focusing on research studies) and library classroom learning(information literacy learning). After-hours studying, auditorium facilities,learning by video conferencing, and non-library classrooms are alsorecognized. Eleven learning spaces are designed according to the expected earning activities within five study zones; collaborative, interactive, quiet,reference and open study zone, e-resource centre, Library skill lab, Librarystudio, auditorium, and classroom. These spaces have ensured three mainrequirements of a modern library; technology, furniture and ambience.24/7 Wi-Fi facilities, state-of-art computer labs and other latest technicalapplications are integrated with modern, flexible and comfortablefurniture. Continuous observations and assessment of user behaviour areconsiderably important to plan and design modern library buildings.Prioritizing user needs according to the specific environment and cultureof the institution will yield unique and useful library spaces.Keywords: Academic Libraries, Planning and Designing, LearningSpaces, Learning Centres, Sri Lanka
... It has to be clear that this is a fairly Rocking role, which offers excellent perspectives for the digital librarian. Carlson (2001) points out, library users increasing use of electronic materials often means a decreasing use of materials within the physical building. This trend will likely be exacerbated by efforts such as the Google Books Library Project. ...
In Digital Environments of digital information, e-technology, W3 growing popularity and Rom Products, digital libraries offer a huge range of Information. It is well recognized that libraries all over the world are undergoing transformation, especially owing to the development in information and communication technologies. Traditional libraries are changing to digital libraries and new libraries that are being set up are increasingly of the digital kind. As a result, there is widespread interest and consequently, a lot of research and development activities are being carried out in this area world over. In India a number of institutions are also in the process of setting up digital libraries and many scholars and practitioners are conducting research on digital libraries
... Along the same line. According to Carlson (2001) in order to survive and maintain relevance in this technological age, academic libraries must find ways to "increase ease of effectiveness, efficiency, access, coordination and responsiveness in all aspects of our work-academic, ancillary and support". Also, it is indispensable for University library to note that, a user decision to be loyal or to defect to other competitors is the sum total of many encounters with the organization. ...
This paper is an attempt to study the strategies that leads to effective library
users in Federal University of Technology, Owerri with a view to study the expectations of
library users, modern infrastructural needs, retention strategies as well as try to bring to light the challenges that confronts the users and recommend some remedial measures for its improvement. Questionnaire was used for data collection, a reliability co-efficient of 0.75 was obtained. The study confirmed that the library needs to do well on some issues such as power supply, internet connectivity, subscription to open access database, etcetera for a very good user’s retention profile.
... ... Throughout the eighties, nineties and even into the new century, there has been much comment and forecasting surrounding the death of the academic library(Carlson, 2001). The pervasive nature of technology and the ready access to information over the Internet led to a conclusion by many people that a library would no longer be needed. ...
Abstract
With the rapid prevailing of electronic information resources and services, the traditional academic libraries are being declined and gradually deserted. Recent studies highlighted this issue as one of the challenges of the digital era. Responding to this issue, this paper introduces the idea of revitalizing academic libraries through the concept of "Third place" based on the possibility of providing traditional libraries with new interior spaces wherein students, scholars, and faculty can learn and socialize as well as cooperate, without stress. Based on the literature reviewed, there are several factors through which it is possible to enhance the interior spaces to attract more users to traditional academic libraries and make them more vital. This paper discusses the possibility of revitalizing traditional libraries by activating the role of the "Third Place" identity in their interior design. To activate the concept of "Third Place" in local academic libraries that lack such active spaces, this work focuses, in particular, on the academic library of the University of Technology as a major case study, three student proposals are included in this paper. Indeed,
... The results o f cita tion analysis are used for many purposes, for example, to determine the impact of specific articles or journals on subsequent research and to document the interdisciplinary applicability of various journals. 1 The numbers can be used by collection developers to justify subscrip tion decisions or to quantify decisions about journal quality. ...
... A good academic library building as a place is expected to provide flexible learning space and traditional reading rooms that encourages learning and scholarship. While some groups are regarding the Library as a "deserted library" (Carlson, 2001) and arguing that it is no more relevant in this virtual era, others are maintaining the ground that library is still a place to use for study, learning and research. Smith et al. (2005) cited by Ugwuanyi et al. (2011) corroborate this statement that "library is still indispensable as a place or base for teaching, learning and research in the digital age." ...
This paper explore the actual use of the physical space in Kenneth Dike Library by the students' population, the role these spaces are playing for learning and for related services in the university of Ibadan academic environment. It looked at the suitability of available spaces and suggestions for improvement. Survey method was adopted for the study with 94.5% response rate. It found that quite study is what attract majority respondents to Kenneth Dike Library. What emerged was that academic pursuits remain the most common activity in the library space.
... um paralelo entre o novo perfil do usu?rio e os produtos e servi?os informacionais ambientes e melhorarem os servi?os e produtos ofertados. Independente das vantagens e desvantagens dos espa?os (social ou individual), os estudos apresentados indicam que a biblioteca ainda est? no centro da vida acad?mica dos alunos, e que reinventar tanto os "espa?os sociais" quanto os "espa?os individuais" de uma biblioteca pode ser uma estrat?gica de sucesso para que os nativos digitais utilizem os espa?os e os servi?os com frequ?ncia (CARLSON, 2001). ...
Introduction: the purpose of this paper is to analyze how the digital natives can influence the information services in the University Libraries (ULs) context. Objective: the objectives were to characterize the digital natives; to check the current format of the university libraries with respect to infrastructure, service and staff; to analyze how the characteristics of digital natives may influence future library services. Methodology: bibliographic search. Results: current users of the ULs, are categorized in the context of digital natives. This type of users is characterized by having a contemporary profile, basically communicate virtually, search online form and information in digital form, but at the same time looking
for alternative and collaborative environments to carry out their academic activities in
physical spaces. These users prefer to meet in alternative schedules and aspire
services that meet their needs not only informational but also leisure.
Conclusions: it is noticed that the ULs are ahead when it comes to achieving not only
the information needs of digital natives users, but also to realize their wishes for the
consumption of information. Many libraries now offer collaborative study spaces, in
addition to individual, vertical establish partnerships with IT companies and cultural
centers in order to meet the current needs of the digital generation.
... If all knowledge and information is perpetually being archived and made accessible online, what is left for the library as a physical place? Carlson (2001) provocatively raised the point that libraries might soon become deserted -a notion that was proven wrong. In a survey across 390 libraries on the usage of library facilities, Shill and Tonner provide empirical evidence that library buildings as physical places, even with online access to library services and a plethora of information resources available online, are still heavily used and continue to matter (Shill and Tonner 2004). ...
This paper presents research findings and design strategies that illustrate how digital technology can be applied as a tool for hybrid placemaking in ways that would not be possible in purely digital or physical spaces. Digital technology has revolutionised the way people learn and gather new information. This trend has challenged the role of the library as a physical place, as well as the interplay of digital and physical aspects of the library. The paper provides an overview of how the penetration of digital technology into everyday life has affected the library as a place, both as designed by placemakers and as perceived by library users. It then identifies a gap in current library research about the use of digital technology as a tool for placemaking, and reports results from a study of Gelatine – a custom-built user check-in system that displays real-time user information on a set of public screens.
Gelatine and its evaluation at The Edge, at the State Library of Queensland, illustrates how combining affordances of social, spatial and digital space can improve the connected learning experience among on-site visitors. Future design strategies involving gamifying the user experience in libraries are described based on Gelatine's infrastructure. The presented design ideas and concepts are relevant for managers and designers of libraries, as well as other informal, social learning environments.
... Since the mid 1990s, with the rapid expansion of the internet and the availability of digital information to the general public, library use has been on the decline. Research has pointed out that both gate counts and circulation of traditional materials in university libraries are declining at many college libraries (Carlson, 2001). In contrast to this declining physical usage of libraries worldwide, the move toward e-books has been increasing among the younger generation because they tend to read books on computers or mobile devices such as pads or smart-phones. ...
Purpose
– The self-service technology (SST) launched outside libraries has received great attention in Taiwan. This automatic book stop (ABS), FastBook, has raised some interesting issues regarding users’ behavior in the library context. The purpose of this paper is: first, to assess critical variables that contribute to users’ acceptance of SST in the library context; second, to propose an integrated SST acceptance model in terms of technological and individual factors; and third, to further examine the gender differences among all the theoretical relationships proposed in this research model.
Design/methodology/approach
– Based on a sound theoretical foundation, the authors proposed a research model to investigate users’ intention to adopt FastBook, including both technological and individual factors. The survey methodology and structural equation modeling were used in this study.
Findings
– The proposed model successfully accounted for about 92 percent of the total variance explained in attitude and 45 percent in behavioral intention (BI). Individuals’ attitudes toward FastBook had a significant impact on their usage intention. All three technological characteristics (perceived ease of use, usefulness, and reachability) and one individual trait (self-efficacy) were confirmed as critical determinants of attitude. Note that the effect of self-efficacy on attitude was much stronger for male than for female users.
Originality/value
– The SST launched outside libraries has received great popularity and extended the library service to readers in Taiwan. This research connected actual users’ experience and the SST literature to provide a conceptual understanding of FastBook adopting process.
... Sco Carlson writes about a controversial corollary development: Widespread end-user searching made possible by these electronic resources will obviate the need for clients to come to the library. 16 Deanna Marcum shares this same view, albeit lacking Carlson's pessimism, describing the library of the future as "less a place where information is stored than an 'information center' through which students and faculty gain access to the vast information resources of the world." 17 She pointed out that these students are likely to be in their labs, classrooms, or at home and that the information they are accessing may be in Tokyo or Paris. ...
The evolution from print to electronic resources and services continues to pose significant challenges for academic libraries. This article presents a systematic, evidence-based approach to guide this transition, which resulted in an exhaustive reorganization of library staffing and services. The approach begins with the necessity of accumulating and then evaluating data on staff workloads and responsibilities. At the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas Library, this evaluation revealed that a preponderant amount of time was still spent on print-related activities that were no longer considered to be library priorities. The corrective actions taken to remedy this misalignment are then discussed.
... Structures that offer cramped spaces and poor lighting often drive stu-New Libraries Remain an Excellent Investment dents to more attractive parts of campus-or to the nearest coffee shop. 1 Notwithstanding their excellent collections, some older universities have deplorable library facilities, especially the book stacks and reading areas. A current architectural analysis of these old, dingy, dark libraries would certainly reveal a common conclusion: These older libraries were designed without the future user thoroughly in mind. ...
... The concept of library as place has been much en vogue as the field faces a potential crisis related to technological progress and mass digitization. The academic library as a massive structure serving as a repository of a hard-copy collection of monographs and serials is facing a clear threat to its continued necessity and usefulness in the shape, form, and scale of the past (Carlson, 2001(Carlson, , 2006. In part to defend proactively against claims that the library will soon be irrelevant as collections are digitized and user access is increasingly remote, the idea of library as place having independent merits is garnering support. ...
... The students' library use patterns demonstrated typical Millennials' characteristics: they use the library mostly during weekday nights (85 percent) with friends and a group (69 percent). These results imply that the library is still in the center of students' campus life, and that reinventing "social spaces" in a library may be a right strategy in response to the notion of "deserted libraries" (Carlson, 2001) that emerged in late 1990 s. Both communal and social spaces appear to be well used for many different activities. ...
Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to examine undergraduates' perception and use of two distinct library spaces – social and communal – in an academic library in order to provide more customized services.
Design/methodology/approach
– A survey was conducted at D.H. Hill Library at North Carolina State University, including structured questions on perceptions and use of the library, perceptions of library layout and design, and respondent demographics, as well as open questions on the advantages and disadvantages of social and communal spaces.
Findings
– Undergraduates frequently use the physical library. Their usage patterns mirror common characteristics of Generation Y by going there mostly on weekday nights, with friends or in a group. Both communal and social spaces appear to be well‐used for many different activities ranging from solitary academic work to technology‐driven collaborative work and socializing. Some demographic variables, such as ethnicity and gender, are found to affect aspects of perception and use. For example, African American and Asian students tend to engage in activities that involve library technology, tools and resources, while White students simply use the spaces. Despite their excitement and appreciation of the social spaces in the library, students consider the quiet communal spaces integral to their experience of the library and stress the need of quiet space for academic work.
Originality/value
– This is one of a few systematic empirical studies on end‐users' use of library space.
... Disconnectedness is currently attributed to early attachment behaviors in the nursing literature (Hagerty et al., 1993 ). The popular press attributes disconnectedness to proliferating online resources that get in the way of students congregating with others in libraries (Scott, 2001), and to Web-based social networking tools and video games that get in the way of face-to-face interactions (Crawford, 2005 ). Despite these notions, causal insights are hard to identify; it remains unclear whether disconnected people gravitate toward the Web, or immersion in the Web causes people to disconnect with others, or both. ...
Apathy and social disconnectedness among undergraduate business students remain poorly understood and under-researched—despite evidence that they produce an adverse impact on learning-related outcomes. Qualitative research was initially conducted among a sample of undergraduate business students to identify the antecedents and learning-related consequences of apathy and social disconnectedness, develop grounded definitions, hypotheses, and scales. This was followed by a survey that aimed to test a conceptual model that emerged from qualitative data. The study finds evidence to suggest that high levels of anxiety among students antecedes social disconnectedness and powerlessness, which trigger apathy or the lack of caring about being a student or attending college. These psychosocial problems are severe enough, the study finds, to adversely impact the quality of students’ learning experiences. Implications for new thinking and research are discussed, and implications for improving instruction are derived from the findings.
... In most settings, one of the inconveniences was traveling to the library during the hours it was open. The impact on our time-honored gate counts, i.e. foot traffic, was expected and is easily verified both subjectively and quantitatively (Carlson, 2001;Lowry, 2003;Shill & Tonner, 2004;Weise, 2004). What is lost is the personal touch, opportunities to interact face to face and provide "eyes on" and "hands on" instruction and dialog. ...
Electronic, full-text resources and on-line forms have become ever more established in most organizations. As a result, foot traffic in libraries has significantly decreased leading to fewer opportunities for personal contact between librarians and patrons. Innovative outreach efforts are required to counter this trend. In the past two years, some University at Buffalo librarians have set up office hours in the departments they serve to provide on-site reference and consultation services. The author targeted the physics department for outreach with two sets of office hours per week. Feedback, especially from faculty who felt isolated from the centralized Science and Engineering Library, has been excellent. This effort has also produced unexpected benefits, such as outreach to students in other majors taking courses in the department being served. Based on our experiences of the past two years, the various costs, benefits, and pitfalls of setting up on-site will be discussed. A high traffic location in the department is essential because there is no point trading one low traffic area in the library for another in the academic department. Efforts at other institutions will be reviewed, though literature on this topic is sparse. Additional outreach efforts to establish direct librarian-patron interaction will be discussed. Targeted email communications based on faculty research interests have led to other opportunities to promote library resources and services. Visibility at departmental activities such as seminars and social events is invaluable. Taking advantages of any small opportunity such as installing software in a faculty office or responding to a casual request or contact is important. The key to successful outreach is attitude, commitment, and consistency. In sum, the experience at our university has shown that there is no substitute for providing a physical presence. We believe this approach can be applied in most academic settings and beyond to other types of libraries.
... The prevalence of electronic resources available to library users and their apparent penchant for accessing information remotely (rather than on-campus) has led some to assert that libraries may no longer serve as an integral place on the college campus. Scott Carlson's (2001) article, " The Deserted Library, " 2 provoked heated debate among librarians when he postulated that the Internet had diminished the need for the physical academic library. As recently as the late 1990's and the first decade of the millennium, the importance of addressing the changing needs of library users in relation to users' increased interest in, and dependence on, technology was being cited in the literature as vital to the continued success of the academic library. ...
Archived job advertisements from the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) LIBJOBS mailing list (1996–2010) were examined using content analysis. Findings suggest that distance learning (DL) skillsets as job qualifications emerged in the late 1990's and continue to be relevant today. Jobs with DL responsibilities are most prevalent in public services followed by administration. Positions focused on DL also emerged in the late 1990's though it is unclear whether demand for these positions continues to be as strong. “Distance Leaning Librarian” and “Distance Education Librarian” are the two most common job titles for librarians focused on DL responsibilities.
... co Carlson's "The Deserted Library" received remarkable a ention because the title was so alarming and the message was being circulated throughout higher education by a prestigious news source. 1 Once the alarm was raised, however, scant effort was made to assess the accuracy of Carlson's observations. In "Deserted No More," Andrew Albanese provided anecdotal commentary. 2 In their annual ARL Statistics: Research Library Trends, Martha Kyrillidou and Mark Young have acknowledged declining use in the areas of circulation, gate count, and reference. ...
This article documents changes in library use during the past decade. Data from professional organizations reveal that circulation use has declined slightly, with notable variations in health and law and at indi- vidual institutions, including the Ivy League. Reference use has declined more steeply. Electronic use has skyrocketed, but counting use remains problematic. The HOLLIS Plus counting results at Harvard University are highlighted. Electronic Serials expenditures at academic research librar- ies (ARL) suggest that electronic use will continue to expand unabated. Major studies profiling users are cited. Notable benefits are predicted as the shifted librarian and the elusive user interact in virtual space. coCarlson's "The Deserted Library" received remarkable aention because the title was so alarming and the message was being circulated throughout higher education by a prestigious news source. 1
The study investigates if physical libraries are popular for research by students in the internet age post COVID-19. The study used a descriptive survey research design. The population consisted of 3457 Adeleke University undergraduates. Descriptive statistic was used to analyze data. The findings suggested that physical libraries are increasingly less popular among students for research purposes, owing mostly to the development of the internet era. Other reasons cited include physical library congestion and excessive surveillance, a preference to read with friends outside of the physical library, and a lack of motivation to visit the physical library. It was also discovered that students have a culture of completing their own research rather than paying professionals to do it for them. The study concluded that physical libraries are less popular for research among students, majorly due to the popularity of the internet. As a result, the study recommends that library management make physical libraries the strongest internet hub on campus, where all students would want to come for research. More efforts should be made to expand physical libraries and provide a variety of quiet reading options for those who detest crowds.
This examines the three main themes throughout the book: us versus them, technology as tool, and library as place. Us versus them highlights the relationships that librarians have with their various user communities and even with other librarians. Librarians use technology to position themselves as technology experts, which places users in a subordinate position. Amongst themselves, librarians use technology to distinguish between those who are concerned with patrons' needs and open-minded about the best way to address them and those who are closed-minded and anti-technology. Additionally, librarians use technology to distinguish themselves from LIS faculty members by claiming that faculty members are too distanced from the actual uses of technology in the profession. Technology as tool is perhaps the most dominant theme throughout the book. By understanding technology as just a tool, librarians end up defining themselves by how they use technology, thus limiting not only their use of it, but also placing inadvertent limits on how it can be used within the library itself to provide services. Lastly, technology has changed how librarians understand the library as place. The library, in the face of technological change, has become a place that needs protecting. Librarians, as a result, have become the protectors of the library as place. They use technology in a controlled way to manage this.
Academic libraries face challenges in meeting the information literacy needs of their off-campus students and providing comparable experiences as recommended by the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). One approach to this dilemma is for the academic library to be an integral component of a 3D immersive virtual learning environment. This chapter proposes a conceptual framework that portrays the interplay of the key elements to consider when understanding the role of a 3D immersive virtual academic library. These key elements, including “library as place,” presence/co-presence, the 3D environment, Presence Pedagogy (P2), and planned and serendipitous interactions intersect to enable the development of communities of practice and further learning. Examples from a 3D immersive virtual academic library are provided to demonstrate application of the framework.
This examines the three main themes throughout the book: us versus them, technology as tool, and library as place. Us versus them highlights the relationships that librarians have with their various user communities and even with other librarians. Librarians use technology to position themselves as technology experts, which places users in a subordinate position. Amongst themselves, librarians use technology to distinguish between those who are concerned with patrons’ needs and open-minded about the best way to address them and those who are closed-minded and anti-technology. Additionally, librarians use technology to distinguish themselves from LIS faculty members by claiming that faculty members are too distanced from the actual uses of technology in the profession. Technology as tool is perhaps the most dominant theme throughout the book. By understanding technology as just a tool, librarians end up defining themselves by how they use technology, thus limiting not only their use of it, but also placing inadvertent limits on how it can be used within the library itself to provide services. Lastly, technology has changed how librarians understand the library as place. The library, in the face of technological change, has become a place that needs protecting. Librarians, as a result, have become the protectors of the library as place. They use technology in a controlled way to manage this.
This paper briefly reviews information repackaging, identifies the characteristics of information and discusses the various facets of the information characteristics as it relates to information repackaging. It concludes that the best service gives more than the customer expect.
Background:
In an increasingly digital age, the role of the library is changing to better serve its community. The authors' library serves health care professionals who experience high levels of stress due to everyday demands of work or study, which can have negative impacts on physical and mental health. Our library is committed to serving the needs of our community by identifying opportunities to improve their well-being.
Case presentation:
Librarians at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University developed a group mindfulness program and a space for self-defined personal care to assist health care professionals in alleviating stress. Surveys were used to evaluate the mindfulness program and self-care space.
Conclusions:
We successfully implemented two collaborative wellness and self-care initiatives with students and other stakeholders, as demonstrated by program attendance, diverse space use, and positive survey responses for both initiatives. While these endeavors do not replace the need to challenge structural problems at the root of stress in the health care professions, this case report offers a blueprint for other medical libraries to support the well-being of their communities.
Introdução: a proposta desse artigo é analisar de que forma os nativos digitais podem influenciar os serviços informacionais no âmbito das Bibliotecas Universitárias (BUs). Objetivos: os objetivos foram caracterizar os nativos digitais; verificar o formato atual das bibliotecas universitárias no que tange a infraestrutura, ao serviço e ao pessoal; analisar de que forma as características dos nativos digitais podem influenciar os futuros serviços das bibliotecas.Metodologia: pesquisa bibliográfica. Resultados: os atuais usuários das BUs, são categorizados no contexto dos nativos digitais devido à maioria ter nascido a partir de 1978 e, portanto, grande parte dessa população estar na idade de frequentar o ambiente acadêmico. Essa fatia de usuários caracteriza-se por ter um perfil contemporâneo, por se comunicar basicamente de forma virtual, busca informação de forma online e em formato digital, mas, ao mesmo tempo, procura ambientes alternativos e colaborativos para realizar suas atividades acadêmicas em espaços físicos. Esses usuários preferem se reunir em horários alternativos e ambicionam serviços que atendam suas necessidades não só informacionais, mas também de lazer. Conclusões: percebe-se que as BUs estão mais à frente no que tange à realização não só das necessidades informacionais dos usuários nativos digitais, mas também de realizarem os seus desejos referentes ao consumo da informação. Muitas das bibliotecas já oferecem espaços colaborativos de estudo, para além dos individuais, estabelecem parcerias verticais com empresas de TI e centros culturais, de modo a atenderem as atuais necessidades da geração digital.Palavras Chave: Nativos Digitais. Serviços e Produtos de informação. BibliotecasUniversitárias.Link: http://www.uel.br/revistas/uel/index.php/informacao/article/view/25861/20733
Prispevek obravnava družbene učinke heterogene rabe prostora v izposojevalnih knjižnicah (t. i. circulating libraries) 18. stoletja in v sodobnih splošnih javnih knjižnicah in na tej osnovi preizprašuje ustreznost koncepta tretji prostor, ki se vsaj zadnjih deset let v knjižničnem diskurzu pojavlja kot deskriptivna stalnica. Skozi analizo ugotavlja, da je stroka premalo kritično posvojila razumevanje referenčne Oldenburgove definicije, saj ta v resnici zgreši osrednjo namembnost javnih knjižnic. V premislek zato ponudi reinterpretacijo koncepta za sodobno knjižnično prakso. Članek zaključuje širša refleksija o tem, kako sploh misliti knjižnico v 21. stoletju.
Purpose – The research explores the emerging specialty of learning space assessment with a focus on how new information professionals represented by graduate students in an academic libraries course defined quality criteria for library spaces and how they approached designing and conducting a one-shot multi-site space assessment project. Design/methodology/approach – The instructor-investigator adopted a diachronic collective case study strategy, using documents generated by six cohorts over three academic years. The data included 180 online discussion posts, 97 individual site assessments, and 32 group project reports. Data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively to identify patterns and trends in student behaviour. Findings – The analysis revealed a strong trend among students for creating their own evaluation frameworks in preference to reusing existing professional tools in their current form; the proportion of students who either developed their own criteria or combined existing criteria in new ways shifted from 40 percent to 80 percent in three years. Their approaches demonstrated willingness and ability to engage in independent and creative thinking, and readiness to explore interdisciplinary and international perspectives on space. They also displayed a commitment to accessible, flexible and adaptable user-centered design for active, collaborative learning, and to bringing a user perspective to their observations. Originality/value – The focus on student-librarians provides a unique forward-looking perspective on the desirable qualities of next-generation learning spaces in academic libraries. The study also documents an unprecedented range of established and novel space evaluation frameworks and tools informed by different professional disciplines. The results should be of interest to LIS educators and practitioners.
Si la notion de structure est tres presente en bibliotheconomie et etudes de l’information, celle de style l’est beaucoup moins. Cette derniere notion sert ici cependant de filon pour faire ressortir cet ensemble composite de connaissances et d’applications avec, en perspective, sa finalite ultime, definie comme une contribution au bien-etre et au developpement de la personne humaine dans la societe. Cet article, prenant la forme de l’essai, aborde quelques elements relatifs a l’experience de l’auteur et divers points d’actualite se rapportant a la bibliotheque universitaire en genie ou celui-ci est bibliothecaire.
Electronic, full-text resources, and on-line forms have become more and more established in most libraries. As a result, foot traffic has decreased significantly, leading to fewer opportunities for personal contact between librarians and patrons. Innovative outreach efforts are required to counter this trend. In the past two years, some University at Buffalo (UB) librarians have set up office hours in the departments they serve to provide onsite reference and instruction services. This effort has produced unexpected benefits and impediments, and as a result additional outreach mechanisms have been employed or discussed. Overall, the key to successful outreach is attitude, commitment, and consistency. In sum, the experience at UB has shown that there is no substitute for providing a physical presence. The authors believe this approach can be applied in most academic settings and beyond to other types of libraries.
A few years ago, a librarian at a major U.S. academic institution was drafting a charge for a university-wide task force that was, at the university librarians request, examining the organizational structure of the library for potential efficiencies. Seeking to convey the complexity of the modern library, she described the role of the information professional as "knowledge manager." She was hesitant about using the phrase, suspecting that the academics who would be participating in the review might construe it as jargon.Nonetheless, in the search for something that was more expansive in capturing the breadth of services librarians provide and that got beyond the simple equation of the library with the management of physical objects, she succumbed. To her chagrin, the draft charge, reviewed by a distinguished dean, came back with the words "knowledge management" crossed out and neatly replaced by the following sentence: "The library acquires and stores books." She knew her road lay uphill. The equation of libraries with books was underscored in the OCLC report Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources (DeRosa, 2005)When asked to list two positive associations with the library, respondents in the OCLC survey most frequently named "Books"(18%),and when asked: "What is the first thing when you think about a library," approximately 70% named "books." Libraries have contributed to the sense that books define them by emphasizing their volume counts,with the clear implication being that the bigger the count, the more excellent the library. With the explosive growth of collections in the 1960s, library buildings constructed in the latter half of the 20th century often emphasized towers of books stacks as a defining feature. In a "damned if you do, damned if you dont" scenario, it sometimes seems thatmost library users think primarily of libraries as repositories for books and papers,while the larger public has already written off the warehouse function as obsolete, believing that the conversion of the worlds published and printed knowledge byGoogle and others is more than a satisfactory substitute for libraries.
Academic libraries face challenges in meeting the information literacy needs of their off-campus students and providing comparable experiences as recommended by the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). One approach to this dilemma is for the academic library to be an integral component of a 3D immersive virtual learning environment. This chapter proposes a conceptual framework that portrays the interplay of the key elements to consider when understanding the role of a 3D immersive virtual academic library. These key elements, including "library as place," presence/co-presence, the 3D environment, Presence Pedagogy (P2), and planned and serendipitous interactions intersect to enable the development of communities of practice and further learning. Examples from a 3D immersive virtual academic library are provided to demonstrate application of the framework.
Anecdotal reports of students working more (in paid employment) and studying less have been coming from academics in Australia with Particular intensity and frustration in recent times. OECD (2001) data suggests that Australian students are more likely than in the past to work while studying, but the trend to increasing hours of part-time work is mirrored in other systems, especially the United States (Astin, 1998; Marchese, 1998), and also in the United Kingdom (Little, 2001). As in Australia, recent interest in the financial conditions of undergraduate students in the UK (Metcalf, 2001) and France (Grignon, 2000) has been stimulated by a broader concern with the condition of student life, largely prompted by issues of equity and students’ social backgrounds: the underlying concern is that the academic performance of students from poor backgrounds is being jeopardised by part-time work during term time.
Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to explore from a number of points of view the perceptions of mainly undergraduate students at the University of Cape Town (UCT) about the value they derive from visiting the physical library.
Design/methodology/approach
– Data from different investigations were assembled to derive a composite view of undergraduates’ perceptions of the value of the library. LibQUAL+® data reflecting the “Library as Place” dimension of the survey which was completed in 2014 were scrutinized; data from two surveys conducted in the information commons and the 24/7 venue of the main library at UCT were compiled and data from gate counts during the past three years showed different aspects of undergraduates’ opinions and behaviour.
Findings
– The combination of data from difference sources provided convincing evidence that undergraduate students value the library as a physical space and that they believe their working in the library enables them to get better marks for their university work.
Originality/value
– The originality of this paper lies in the combination of different data sets to focus on one particular issue, the value of the physical library.
This research investigated the practices of strategic management in academic libraries. The paper is based on a study that was conducted in 2009-2010. Using USIU library as a case study, it aimed to find out the nature of shifting paradigms in information management, establish the key challenges and ascertained how strategic management was practiced. A descriptive research design was used with a sample size of 153 drawn from students, library and teaching staff. Descriptive, inferential statistics and factor analysis were used. The volatility in information industry has necessitated the application of strategic management principles in information management. This is characterized by far-reaching impacts of ICT, paradigm shifts in users’ behavior and subsequent changes in librarian’s roles with implications on library’s strategy development, implementation and evaluation. Staff welfare matters and leadership are critical in successful implementation of the desired strategy. The study concludes that strategic behavior in academic libraries is being inhibited by the leadership behavior, structures, systems, and lack of strategy supportive policies. It underscores the critical role played by library management in building competitive organization. It recommends installation of appropriate leadership models for better alignment of staff goals with those of the library. Strategic behavior should be nurtured in academic libraries through involvement of all stakeholders in strategic management process. The study further recommends need for clear communication and measures of institutionalizing library vision, mission, objective, values, and timely evaluation of performance. Librarians should play a front role in reflecting responsiveness to library’s strategic issues in their professional practice.
A digital library could be understood as not a part of information cycling, but whole process of information production, circulation and reproduction. This study suggests that a digital library should be a creator as which it is publishing, circulating, and re-producing the information resources. Therefore, the role of intrinsic DRM (Digital Resources Management) can be interpreted as a digital library. Open access model have been already adopted to many university libraries, many university libraries are publishing free access online research resources by themselves. Also, research collection based on cloud computing can be extended to networked research collection and share with other university libraries. These evidences show future library can be the digital library with online and open accessible publishing function.
Student retention rates have long been a topic among school administrators, but it is an issue barely mentioned in library circles. This article will discuss the role the academic library can play in increasing and maintaining student retention rates on campus. By focusing briefly on four main topics, including reaching out to students early and often, getting them in the library door and getting them to stay, the reader will be able to see the broad picture of how crucial libraries are to fighting student attrition.
The University of Denver's Penrose Library saw a substantial increase in use as a result of several new and enhanced services over a six-year period. In turn, longer operating hours and increased staffing for a 24-hours-a-day, five-days-a-week (24 × 5) operating schedule was funded. This case study analyzes student need for longer library hours and the key factors used to justify additional staffing and enhanced hours of operation.
An empirical study was conducted using methods borrowed from the psychology of religion (instead of corporate assessment techniques) to assess whether the academic library as place supports students' desire to feel connected to higher education's mission. The findings from an in-person survey of fifty-four students at three universities showed a preference for exterior and interior images of traditional libraries over those classed as modern, and those images evoked feelings of scholarship, engagement, spirituality, and other positive emotions, as well as subjects' desire to use those spaces more than they currently use their existing library.
The dawn of the Internet era has prompted many researchers to investigate changes in the use of academic libraries, but most studies explore student use, rather than faculty use, of library space. In contrast, this study surveys use of the academic library space among faculty and doctoral students and explores the phenomenological differences between using library space and using the library remotely. The authors hypothesized that older scholars (by age and by "scholarly age," as measured by the year in which the scholar's last academic degree was earned) would report greater use of the physical library and less use of the library's electronic resources and would make more positive statements about the physical space than would younger scholars. In three of the four major themes that emerged from the qualitative survey data, this hypothesis is supported. However, in the fourth theme, "conduciveness to scholarship" the opposite position was supported. Younger scholars were far more likely than older scholars to make statements reflecting the idea that the physical library is a unique place that facilitates the kind of concentration necessary for doing serious scholarly work.
The expectation for extended library hours including 24 h access presents many questions about late night library users and the value of this service to the library and their corresponding institutions. Using data gathered about patrons who use the library after 11 pm and before 7 am, a study was conducted to discover who the library users were, what services and facilities they made use of, and what, if any, concerns they have regarding the late night library. The usage patterns provide evidence that that while more usage occurs during traditional hours, users who prefer late night do so consistently. The researchers found the late night library was serving patrons who were cross sections of university community with higher than average grade point averages and retention rates when compared to university averages. These figures can have a significant effect on institutional recruitment and retention presenting the library as an indispensable resource to the community.
The 20th century information explosion provided widespread technological innovation and ease of access to information, and due to the 21st century emphasis on digital collections and electronic resources, libraries around the world are facing an uncertain future. This naturally causes librarians to re-evaluate their professional role, but perhaps academic librarians are best prepared for the future due to their co-existing role as professors. Essentially they have always been teaching, but now they must conquer the disparaging image and status treatment to which they have been subjected and evolve their profession by joining their teaching faculty colleagues in classrooms on college and university campuses worldwide.
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the reasons and drivers for academic libraries affecting university strategy with regards to shaping and developing learning spaces in response to changing pedagogic behaviours. Design/methodology/approach – A review of available literature within the context of academic libraries and their position to influence and lead institutional strategic change. This theory and practice is addressed and evidenced by four case studies of university libraries in the UK. Findings – Many UK academic libraries find themselves able to lead on and influence their institution's strategic direction with regards to teaching, learning and research. This is particularly the case in the design and development of learning spaces within the university. Academic libraries are in a unique position within a university with a view to observing student behaviours, being responsive to ever changing demands from academics and students, spotting trends and benchmarking against comparative institutions. These practices make it possible for academic libraries to advise, guide and lead on teaching and learning strategy and lead on learning spaces developments within their institutions. Practical implications – Academic libraries can use existing quality assurance, responsiveness and benchmarking frameworks to influence university strategy and decision making. Originality/value – This paper focuses on the concept of academic libraries influencing change, rather than responding to change, within their university. The case studies provide examples of where this has been the case, and suggest ways and frameworks which can be adopted by other academic libraries.
Purpose
This paper aims to discuss the viability of web server statistics for library‐generated web pages as measures of public service activity. For years librarians have gathered, reported, and analyzed traditional measures such as reference transactions, patron visits, book and reserve item circulation, and interlibrary loan transactions. Since the advent of web‐based databases and services, some traditional usage statistics have declined. Such declines can have political and financial implications for libraries.
Design/methodology/approach
The author did a literature review, studied a suggested revision to the NISO Z39.7‐1995 Library Statistics standard that includes counting usage of library‐generated web pages, participated in a task force on web statistics, and analyzed library web site statistics at a university library.
Findings
The recommendations of a task force on reporting web page usage statistics in an academic library are discussed. The reporting of the usage of library‐generated web pages can be a useful indicator of increased patron contacts and provide a more complete picture of public service activities.
Research limitations/implications
This is a new area for library statistics, and its impact on the perceptions of libraries as sources of information in the digital age has yet to be proven.
Originality/value
This paper is useful to libraries which wish to integrate web page usage statistics into their output measures and reporting procedures.
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