An investigation into the use of LibGuides for electronic resources troubleshooting in academic libraries

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 573-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Ann Erb ◽  
Brian Erb

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to seek to ascertain how many electronic resource troubleshooting LibGuides are in use and what level of support they tend to provide. LibGuides have become quite popular in academic libraries as a tool for subject and college liaison librarians to deliver library-mediated content to colleges and individual classes. Another promising area for their use is to provide electronic resource troubleshooting support to students and faculty, as well as to other library staff. Design/methodology/approach – A sample of electronic resource troubleshooting LibGuides was obtained through a Google advanced search augmented by additional searches in the limited LibGuides community search utility. These LibGuides were selected according to a standard definition of troubleshooting and were analyzed for content on 36 support variables. Findings – A relatively small number of LibGuides were located, and a thorough treatment of electronic resource access issues was present in only a limited number of the LibGuides found. Research limitations/implications – While some LibGuides may have gone undiscovered owing to an incomplete search strategy for discovery, subsequent efforts to find overlooked pages were mostly fruitless. The relatively small number of electronic resource troubleshooting LibGuides discovered coupled with their simplicity may indicate that the use of LibGuides platform in this capacity has not gained traction. Originality/value – While there have been many case studies discussing the use of LibGuides as a subject and course guide platform, relatively few have explored the use of LibGuides outside of their traditional subject-focused implementation, and none have looked at LibGuides as a potential platform to aid in electronic resource access troubleshooting.

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 310-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaume Argerich ◽  
Claudio Cruz-Cázares

Purpose The lack of a standard definition and data sources makes it hard to compare findings and advance our knowledge in the business angel’s domain. The purpose of this paper is to tackle this problem by presenting a proposal of a potential definition of business angels that it based on ten issues identified in 30 years of business angels’ research. Design/methodology/approach The paper reviews 24 studies on business angels and classifies definition inconsistencies found in ten different issues. Those differences are compared with methodological choices on sampling and with subsequent results. Findings The authors observe a connection between definitional and sampling choices, and the results obtained. Inconsistent definitions can lead to results that are more than 400 times higher in terms of investment per project, for example. Research limitations/implications The authors believe that the main implication of proposing a standard definition of business angles could help the academia in decreasing the great observed diversity which is actually leading to inconsistent and incomparable results that limit our understanding of this phenomenon. Originality/value This paper differs from previous studies as it tackles the problem by identifying the definitional issues and presents a framework in order to build a consensus definition, rather than just comparing definitions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (4/5) ◽  
pp. 173-181
Author(s):  
Emily E. Boss ◽  
Nathan Gerth

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to expand the information technology concept of toil by applying it to system analysis for academic libraries. System mapping and toil definitions are used to measure costs and benefits of maintaining library information systems. The concept of toil provides a vehicle to shape the decisions made by managers when refining or building new library system infrastructure.Design/methodology/approachUsing a system map of all library systems, the definition of toil was used to identify highly manual or high toil systems. This mapping was used to illuminate the need to migrate or eliminate certain library systems to managers in order to reduce the amount of toil undertaken by library employees.FindingsTwo library systems were identified for migration to more automated systems and two library systems were recommended for elimination in order to reduce the overall amount of toil present in the library systems ecosystem.Practical implicationsUsing system mapping and toil definitions are helpful in identifying and relaying the cost of outdated systems to library managers.Originality/valueThis paper provides library managers an easy way to assess the ecosystem and efficiency of library systems without the need for technical expertise. It also expands the use of information technology concepts into the field of academic libraries.


2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey M. Mortimore ◽  
Jessica M. Minihan

Purpose This study aims to report on a series of “essential audits” implemented by technical services personnel at Georgia Southern University to provide proactive troubleshooting of electronic resources. Design/methodology/approach These “essential audits” include bi-weekly link tests in the library’s A-Z database list, quarterly book and link asset tests in LibGuides and rolling authentication audits of link resolver records. Taken together, these techniques help to reduce access issues before they arise, improving overall provision of access. Findings Since implementing these “essential audits,” Georgia Southern has seen reductions in troubleshooting requests related to database-level authentication and access, as well as reductions in link-level troubleshooting requests originating from the library’s LibGuides platform and article-level troubleshooting requests originating from the link resolver. Practical implications Findings recommend implementation of regular audits pursuant to proactive troubleshooting of electronic resources and improved overall provision of access. Originality/value This case study contributes to the recent literature and discourse on electronic resource access troubleshooting by highlighting simple, proactive auditing techniques.


2006 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 84-86
Author(s):  
Jennifer Paustenbaugh

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to provide a tribute to the life and work of library fund‐raiser Gwen Leighty.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses personal knowledge and references to Academic Libraries Advancement and Development Network (ALADN) and LIBDEV web sites.FindingsThe paper finds that fundraising is connecting with people and the journey that each development officer must make while raising funds for their library.Originality/valueThe paper presents a brief history of ALADN and the valuable contribution one person made to the cause of library fund‐raising.


2006 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald McLean

PurposeTo provide for the use of airlines and other civil aviation organizations a practical definition of operational efficiency and to show how it can be determined.Design/methodology/approachA brief account of air transport economics is used to demonstrate how bom load factors and aircraft utilization need to be considered in assessing operational efficiency. Then other efficiencies are treated briefly before an example is given of how the better of two fictitious aircraft can be chosen for a particular route. A second example involving the calculation of the operational efficiency achieved by an imaginary airline is also given to show that the typical value is lower than might be expected, particularly in view of the relatively high load factors involved.FindingsProvides performance values and economic figures which are typical of current airline operations.Practical implicationsUse of the proposed definition will allow the consistent assessment of the economic performance of airlines.Originality/valueAt present there is no definition of operational efficiency in general use although it is greatly needed by airlines. The definition proposed in this paper is practical and easy to use.


2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 186-202
Author(s):  
Francesco Tajani ◽  
Pierluigi Morano

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a method to support the definition of efficient and fair divisional projects in particularly complex cases concerning inheritance disputes. Design/methodology/approach First, the approach involves an appraisal of the market value of the assets, along with an analysis of the respective conditions of concrete divisibility; then, two mathematical models have been developed for the assignment of the assets to the subjects involved in the divisional projects. The logic underlying of both models has been translated into mathematical algorithms that allow for the minimization of the monetary compensations resulting from the differences between the legal right shares and the actual portions to be attributed to them. Findings Both models have been developed through mathematical formulas that can be easily implemented by using an appropriate calculation software. They can be used in particularly complex inheritance divisions, in which the deceased’s assets are numerous and there are several heirs with similar or different legal right shares. Originality/value The methodology is useful in the disputes that could arise in hereditary successions. The fundamental value is that the models could support the definition of the best solution in particularly complex situations, characterized by a large number of assets to be assigned and/or the existence of “preferential” constraints for the assignment of the assets.


2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 10-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Q. Yang

Purpose – This study aims to ascertain the trends and changes of how academic libraries market and deliver information literacy (IL) on the web. Design/methodology/approach – The author compares the findings from two separate studies that scanned the Web sites for IL-related activities in 2009 and 2012, respectively. Findings – Academic libraries intensified their efforts to promote and deliver IL on the web between 2009 and 2012. There was a significant increase in IL-related activities on the web in the three-year period. Practical implications – The findings describe the status quo and changes in IL-related activities on the libraries’ Web sites. This information may help librarians to know what they have been doing and if there is space for improvement. Originality/value – This is the only study that spans three years in measuring the progress librarians made in marketing and delivering IL on the Web.


2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (7) ◽  
pp. 544-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jatta Jännäri ◽  
Seppo Poutanen ◽  
Anne Kovalainen

Purpose This paper aims to analyse the ways the textual materials of job advertisements do the gendering for prospective expert positions and create a space for ambiquity/non-ambiquity in the gender labelling of this expertise. Expert positions are almost always openly announced and are important to organizations because they often lead to higher managerial positions. By gendering the prospective positions, the job advertisements bring forth repertoires strengthening the gendering of work and gendered expert employee positions. Design/methodology/approach This study draws on qualitative textual and visual data of open job advertisements for expert positions. The materials of the study are gathered from open job advertisements in two countries, i.e. Finland and Estonia with rather similar labour market structures in relation to gender positions but differing as regards their gender equality. Findings The analyses show that the gendering of expert work takes place in the job advertisements by rendering subtly gendered articulations, yet allowing for interpretative repertoires appear. The analysis reveals some differences in the formulations of the advertisements for expert jobs in the two countries. It also shows that in general the requirements for an ideal expert candidate are coated with superlatives that are gendered in rather stereotypical ways, and that the ideal candidates for highly expert jobs are extremely flexible and follows the ideal of an adaptable and plastic employee, willing to work their utmost. This paper contributes to the “doing gender” literature by adding an analysis of the textual gendering of ideal candidates for positions of expertise. Research limitations/implications The research materials do not expose all the issues pertinent to questions of the ideal gendered candidate. For instance, questions of ethnicity in relation to the definition of the ideal candidate cannot be studied with the data used for this study. Being an exploratory study, the results do not aim for generalizable results concerning job advertisements for expert positions. Originality/value This paper contributes to the “doing gender” and “gendering” literature by addressing the question of how and in what ways gender is defined and done for an expert positions prior the candidates are chosen to those jobs. It also offers new insights into the global construction of gendered expert jobs advertisements by addressing the topic with data from two countries. It further contributes to understanding the gendered shaping of expertise in the management literature.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 418-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew M. Cox ◽  
Stephen Pinfield ◽  
Sophie Rutter

Purpose The last few years have seen a surge of interest in artificial intelligence (AI). The purpose of this paper is to capture a snapshot of perceptions of the potential impact of AI on academic libraries and to reflect on its implications for library work. Design/methodology/approach The data for the study were interviews with 33 library directors, library commentators and experts in education and publishing. Findings Interviewees identified impacts of AI on search and resource discovery, on scholarly publishing and on learning. Challenges included libraries being left outside the focus of development, ethical concerns, intelligibility of decisions and data quality. Some threat to jobs was perceived. A number of potential roles for academic libraries were identified such as data acquisition and curation, AI tool acquisition and infrastructure building, aiding user navigation and data literacy. Originality/value This is one of the first papers to examine current expectations around the impact of AI on academic libraries. The authors propose the paradigm of the intelligent library to capture the potential impact of AI for libraries.


2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 1393-1400
Author(s):  
Valerie Uppiah

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the regulation of the financial crime of Ponzi scheme in Mauritius. Contrary to money laundering which has a legal framework to combat it, for Ponzi scheme, there is no specific legal mechanism to combat this particular financial crime. Therefore, the aim of the paper is to provide for an analysis of Ponzi scheme which includes, inter alia, the definition of a Ponzi scheme, its modus operandi and how it should be tackled. Focus will be placed on devising a specific legal framework for it in Mauritius. Design/methodology/approach The research method used to conduct this research and write this paper is a black letter legal research method. An analysis of several laws and cases is carried out so as to provide for the legal background of the research. Findings The investigation conducted in this paper will lead to the conclusion that Mauritius has to devise a law which will specifically combat Ponzi schemes. This law shall provide for the ways to counter this financial crime as well as the duties of the various financial supervisory bodies. Originality/value The paper provides for an analysis of the operation of Ponzi scheme in the Mauritian context. The paper also examines the existing legal framework that combats this financial crime in Mauritius and highlights its strengths and weaknesses.


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