Back to basics

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 188-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon Lucky ◽  
Craig Harkema
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Community Organizations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Libraries ◽  
Community Needs ◽  
Strategic Goals ◽  
Active Research ◽  
Allocation Decisions ◽  
Heritage Collections

Purpose To describe how academic libraries can support digital humanities (DH) research by leveraging established library values and strengths to provide support for preservation and access and physical and digital spaces for researchers and communities, specifically focused on cultural heritage collections. Design/methodology/approach The experiences of the authors in collaborating with DH scholars and community organizations is discussed with references to the literature. The paper suggests how research libraries can use existing expertise and infrastructure to support the development of digital cultural heritage collections and DH research. Findings Developing working collaborations with DH researchers and community organizations is a productive way to engage in impactful cultural heritage digital projects. It can aid resource allocation decisions to support active research, strategic goals, community needs and the development and preservation of unique, locally relevant collections. Libraries do not need to radically transform themselves to do this work, they have established strengths that can be effective in meeting the challenges of DH research. Practical implications Academic libraries should strategically direct the work they already excel at to support DH research and work with scholars and communities to build collections and infrastructure to support these initiatives. Originality/value The paper recommends practical approaches, supported by literature and local examples, that could be taken when building DH and community-engaged cultural heritage projects.

Data visualization using Viewshare

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shreedhar S. ◽  
Manju Naik
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Data Visualization ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Visualization Tool ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Use Of Data ◽  
Library Users ◽  
Interactive Environment ◽  
Heritage Collections

Purpose This paper aims to introduce the use of data visualization tool, the Viewshare, in library environment. Design/methodology/approach Viewshare has been successfully adopted in various institutions for depicting cultural heritage collections. Findings An attempt is made here to explore the possibility of the use of Viewshare in academic libraries. Social implications The details of e-journals being subscribed by the Kuvempu University are presented in an attractive and interactive environment using Viewshare to provide clear insights to library users. Originality/value The steps followed for creating different views have been explained to make other professionals feel confident and motivate them to use Viewshare in library environment.

Assessment committees: good practices from ARL libraries

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 224-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle H. Brannen ◽  
Sojourna J. Cunningham ◽  
Regina Mays
Keyword(s):  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Good Practices ◽  
Research Libraries ◽  
Association Of Research Libraries ◽  
Library Assessment ◽  
Current State ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Assessment Activities

Purpose Assessment activities in academic libraries continue to grow as libraries explore assessment endeavors. Ranging from basic stats gathering and reporting to surveys, focus groups, and usability studies and beyond. Many practitioners are finding it necessary to create new processes and programs, with little guidance. The purpose of this paper is to paint a broad picture of assessment activities in Association of Research Libraries (ARL) university libraries with the goal of creating a resource for libraries developing or improving their assessment programs. Design/methodology/approach A survey was developed that asked questions about assessment personnel, activities, mission, and website. A total of 113 surveys were sent to academic library members of ARL. Survey results were analyzed to compile a list of recommended good practices for assessment and working with assessment committees in academic libraries. Findings The investigators had a response rate of 43 percent. The open-ended nature of the survey questions allowed for the respondents to specifically narrow down the problems and opportunities inherent in library assessment committees. Originality/value This study takes the temperature of the current state of assessment programs in ARL libraries, demonstrating the growth of assessment programs. It begins to document the practices of these libraries, particularly in regards to the sometimes informal and hard to track use of committees and other in-house collaborations, as a first step toward developing best practices for the field. The results illuminate productive areas for further study, including investigating how to measure a culture of assessment and maximizing impact of assessment information presented on assessment websites.

scholarly journals Descriptive standards and collection management software for documentary heritage management: attitudes and experiences of information professionals

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chelsea Renshaw ◽  
Chern Li Liew
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Heritage Management ◽  
Collection Management ◽  
Records Management ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Professionals ◽  
System Requirements ◽  
Management Institutions ◽  
Heritage Collections

Purpose This paper aims to examine the attitudes and experiences of information professionals with descriptive standards and collection management systems (CMSs) used for managing documentary heritage collections held by cultural heritage institutions in New Zealand (NZ). The aim is that such insights will inform decision-making around promoting documentary heritage collections discoverability and accessibility, in terms of advocating for appropriate system requirements when procuring or updating CMSs, and application of descriptive standards. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative design was applied to investigate the attitudes and experiences of information professionals working in libraries, archives and records management institutions, museums and public galleries. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with thirteen participants who worked across ten different cultural heritage institutions. Findings The findings reveal that variances among metadata in libraries, museums, public galleries, archives and records management institutions continue to lead to challenges around discovery and access of documentary heritage. If opportunities for connecting documentary heritage collections in the age of linked data are to be realized, the sector needs to work collectively to address these variances along with consideration of the CMSs used. The study findings highlight issues currently affecting the NZ cultural heritage sector goal to make collections discoverable and more widely accessible. Originality/value The findings highlight a need for deeper research into CMSs used by the cultural heritage sector as these systems have an impact on metadata management including constraining the application of appropriate descriptive standards for documentary heritage collections.

An environmental scan of virtual and augmented reality services in academic libraries

2019 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Greene ◽  
Michael Groenendyk
Keyword(s):  
Augmented Reality ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Library Services ◽  
Research Project ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Libraries ◽  
Association Of Research Libraries ◽  
Library Use ◽  
Virtual And Augmented Reality

Purpose The growing popularity of virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR) technologies, and increased research into their educational uses, has seen them appearing in a significant number of academic libraries. Little is known, however, about how many libraries have actually adopted these technologies or how they have structured library services around them. The purpose of this paper is to answer these questions. Design/methodology/approach The authors surveyed the websites of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member libraries to gather information about the availability of VR and AR equipment as well as information about how access is provided. Recorded details about these services included information about staffing, dedicated space, software, what type of technology was offered and whether or not the technology was lent out or only made available for in-library use. Findings Results of the research project showed that a significant number of ARL-member libraries do offer access to VR technology. AR technology was much less widespread. The most common technologies offered were the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. The technology was most typically offered for in-library use only. There were few details about staff or what software was offered to be used with the technology. Originality/value While there is growing research around how VR and AR is being used in education, little research has been undertaken into how libraries are adopting these technologies. This paper summarizes the research that has been done so far and also takes the next step of providing a larger picture of how widespread the adoption of VR and AR technologies has been within academic libraries, as well as how access to these technologies is being provided.

Specialties and strategies in academic libraries: a cluster analysis approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 45-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masanori Koizumi ◽  
Michael Majewski Widdersheim
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Libraries ◽  
Association Of Research Libraries ◽  
Huge Data ◽  
Academic Librarianship ◽  
Job Titles ◽  
Staffing Patterns

Purpose Professional work is becoming more specialized and diffused, with new specialties emerging on the boundaries of established professions. The purpose of this paper is to examine current specialties in academic librarianship in order to infer what strategies they employ. Design/methodology/approach This research uses a sample of 60 US research libraries to investigate current specialties in academic librarianship, in order to analyze and classify the specialties into groups based on similarities, and categorize academic libraries based on the staffing patterns identified, and illustrate the challenges and strategies of each classification. The sample was selected from the membership of the Association of Research Libraries, and designed to include both large and medium-sized research libraries. 888 different job titles were identified for 2,074 specialist positions extracted from staff directories containing information on 11,688 librarians. The positions were analyzed and classified using the framework provided by Cox and Corrall (2013), and the specialty composition of the libraries was investigated with Ward’s (1963) hierarchical method of cluster analysis, using 28 variables. Findings The cluster analysis identified subspecialties within the groups and revealed seven distinct staffing strategies of the libraries. Originality/value Describing specialties and strategies in academic libraries by cluster analysis based on huge data is a significantly novel and effective approach for capturing the concept of specialization.

Trends and issues in Jamaican academic libraries 2010-2016

2016 ◽  
Vol 117 (11/12) ◽  
pp. 721-745 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sasekea Harris
Keyword(s):  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Libraries ◽  
Academic Librarianship ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Lesson Drawing ◽  
American Academic

Purpose Observing trends and issues plays a key role in the success of any industry. Since 2010, the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) has been publishing papers on top trends and issues in academic libraries in the USA, allowing for reflection, tracking, lesson drawing, adaptation, planning and direction. Such a publication is absent in the Jamaican library industry. This paper aims to examine the extent to which these trends and issues, as reported by ACRL, are evident in Jamaican academic librarianship. Design/methodology/approach Through document and thematic analysis of publications written on Jamaican academic librarianship 2010-2016, this paper highlights trends and issues in Jamaican academic librarianship. Findings There are similarities in the trends and issues in Jamaican academic librarianship and American academic librarianship; the similarities sometimes vary, however, in focus. Additionally, there are trends and issues in Jamaican academic librarianship not mentioned in the literature reviewed on American academic librarianship and vice versa. Research limitations/implications A survey of the chief librarians’ perceptions regarding the trends and issues would be a useful follow-up. Practical implications This paper allows for reflection, comparison, benchmarking, lesson-drawing, planning and direction for academic libraries and other types of libraries in Jamaica and the rest of the developing world. Social implications The gaps highlighted, particularly those with the most potential, can be discussed with the objective of exploring how these can be translated into new or revised services for the community of users. Originality/value This paper is of value, as there is no publication with an explicit focus on trends and issues in Jamaican academic libraries; this paper will be the first publication on trends and issues in Jamaican academic librarianship. In this regard, this paper makes an important contribution to the literature on academic librarianship generally, and to the literature on Caribbean and Jamaican academic librarianship, specifically.

Libraries as publishers: a winning combination

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlene N. Simser ◽  
Marcia G. Stockham ◽  
Elizabeth Turtle
Keyword(s):  
Open Access Publishing ◽  
State University ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Skill Sets ◽  
Research Libraries ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Strategic Goals ◽  
Kansas State University ◽  
And Migration

Purpose – This paper aims to present a case study of the Kansas State University Libraries open access publishing endeavor, New Prairie Press (NPP). The library as publisher is a growing worldwide movement. Many academic and research libraries see it as their strategic mission to highlight and disseminate the research and creative work being done by faculty and students at their institutions. Topics covered include current activities, business plan development, needed technology and skill sets and migration from an open source platform to a hosted solution. Design/methodology/approach – The article presents a case study of one library’s experience of establishing a publishing press – libraries as publishers. Findings – This article finds that during the years of operation, NPP staff members have learned much about the role that libraries can play in the evolving scholarly communications landscape. Originality/value – This article finds that the continual assessment of value, alignment with strategic goals and funding will be critical to ensure future growth and direction of the press.

What is your contribution to the funder’s strategy?

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 146-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Fuehles-Ubach
Keyword(s):  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
Research Library ◽  
Traffic Light ◽  
Max Planck ◽  
Science System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Libraries ◽  
German Research ◽  
Strategic Goals

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe the different positions and roles that German research libraries may have in their funding organizations: center or periphery, making a change with respect to the overall strategy or having just a strategy of their own; having strong communication links to the top management or just to their users. Design/methodology/approach Since 2008, the Joint Science Conference (Gemeinsame Wissenschaftskonferenz (GWK)) in Germany deals with all questions of research funding, science and research policy strategies and the science system which jointly affect the Federal Government and the Länder. For the big four German national research societies (Max-Planck, Helmhold, Fraunhofer, Leibnitz), the GWK formulated a set of performance indicators that are used to compare the different societies in a monitoring report published every year. Interestingly, there are several aspects affecting the libraries and their services and products, but the performance of the libraries (approximately 200) is not clearly mentioned. Findings An exemplary matrix is developed that can be adapted by all research libraries to show to which extent the research library is able to support and influence the level of different performance indicators and thereby to contribute to the overall goal of the organization. A graduated traffic light system is used to highlight which contributions in which areas can be expected from the research library. Research limitations/implications Research libraries are usually quite different from each other and there are not many tools to compare their contributions and to show their performance to the management level. In this paper, a method to show the influence and impact in the German research context is used, which may not be applicable to other countries with other research structures. Practical implications The paper identifies the importance of playing an essential role in the fulfillment of the overall strategic goals of the funding organization, especially for research libraries as there are usually special metrics to compare the big scientific research organizations in Germany. Social implications It is shown that there are simple ways to derive strategic goals and key figures and translate them into a benchmark and even use existing reports and systems. Originality/value The value of research libraries has usually been seen as supporting the research process for the users in the best possible way. As more competition arises between different research institutions or societies, the role of the library with respect to the contribution to the stakeholder’s strategy opens up another perspective.

scholarly journals Learning commons reference collections in ARL libraries

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 411-430
Author(s):  
Cindy Pierard ◽  
Sever Bordeianu
Keyword(s):  
Random Sample ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Libraries ◽  
Learning Commons ◽  
Reference Collection ◽  
Changing Role

Purpose This paper aims to explore the changing role of the reference collection in learning commons at Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member libraries. Design/methodology/approach A 15-question survey was sent to managers at academic research libraries with membership in the ARL. Respondents were asked about their learning commons and reference collections. To increase the sample size, the researchers conducted phone interviews with a random sample of individuals from the same target population, utilizing the same questions and generated additional results. Findings Most respondents had or were planning learning commons for their libraries. The role of reference collections varied. Of those who had retained a print reference collection, the majority believed them to be little-used. The researchers believe this may signal an end to a formerly cherished idea: the primacy of the reference collection within a library learning space. Research limitations/implications This study involved a random sample of public service managers at North American ARL academic libraries. While the sample is believed to be representative of the broader population, findings may not be generalizable to all ARL libraries or to other academic libraries. Originality/value Many papers have been written about information or learning commons spaces and their distinctive elements. Others have discussed the changing role of reference collections. This paper is unique in examining the changing role of the reference collection within learning commons spaces.

The role of academic libraries in research data service (RDS) provision

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 783-797 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly H. Yu
Keyword(s):  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Research Data ◽  
The Body ◽  
Data Service ◽  
Academic Institutions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Libraries ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Current State

Purpose Propelled by fast-evolving computational technology and cloud-based data storage, the increasing ease in research data collection is outstripping the capacity in research data service (RDS) in academic institutions. To illustrate the challenges and opportunities in providing RDS, the author provides a systematic review of the RDS offered in academic institutions and libraries by combining existing literature and survey data collected from the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). In addition, the RDS websites of 2013 ARL survey-participating institutions are also examined. The aim of the paper is to provide an environmental scan of the current state of RDS provision in academic institutions, to add to the body of knowledge of RDS development, and to inform and enable academic libraries to make strategic RDS plans. Design/methodology/approach The paper analyzes the strategies used and levels of RDS provided by reviewing recent literature, exploiting existing survey data from ARL and ACRL, and examining RDS websites of the 2013 ARL survey-participating institutions, in areas that reflect the life cycle of RDS provision including research data management planning, metadata consultation and tool provision, data archiving, institutional repository provision and data sharing and access. Findings The overall offerings of the library-led research data services in ARL research-intensive institutions have shown signs of increasing. Increased engagement and expanded scope and level of services are two noticeable trends in academic library RDS provision. Academic libraries are taking advantage of open access repositories by advising researchers to use the available resources alongside their local repositories for data safe-keeping and sharing. Discussions on RDS policy and infrastructure development are inadequate or largely non-existent. Originality/value Through systematically reviewing current literature, drawing on the results of available surveys on RDS offerings by academic libraries conducted between 2009 and 2014 and examining and further reviewing the websites of these 2013 ARL survey-participating institutions, the author presents the current state of academic library activities in RDS provision, and provides a critical evaluation of the scope and level of services currently being offered in academic libraries, and the opportunities in RDS development, to add to the body of knowledge of RDS provision by academic institutions.

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