scholarly journals Discovery search tools: a comparative study

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 2-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mandi Goodsett

Purpose – This review allows librarians to compare three of the major discovery services – EBSCO Discovery Service, Ex Libris’ Primo and Serials Solutions’ Summon – on the basis of price, content, user experience, features and functionality and back-end configuration to make informed decisions about the best tool for their institutions. Design/methodology/approach – The comparisons were made through a literature review, study of the vendors’ websites, several interviews and personal usability testing of each tool. Findings – The tools each have their strengths and weaknesses, and a decision of which tool is most appropriate for an institution varies depending on the institution’s needs and current situation. Originality/value – A literature review shows that no study has yet been conducted comparing these three discovery tools, and few comparative studies of discovery tools have been published recently.

2017 ◽  
Vol 118 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 107-110
Author(s):  
Bruce E. Massis

Purpose The purpose of this column is to examine the process for the transition of library computer labs into “thinking labs”, where existing library workstation space can be reallocated to provide more flexibility, freedom and creativity for the library patron. Design/methodology/approach Literature review and commentary on this topic that has been addressed by professionals, researchers and practitioners. Findings The transition of library computer labs into “thinking labs” is an initiative where library planners can experiment with ideas and concepts in library design to provide the most effective user experience through a “fresh perspective”. Originality/value The value in exploring this topic is to propose that library planners and designers create space unlike traditional designs to provide patrons with a more transformative thinking, learning and creative library experience.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 120-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith Wusteman

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe the process and implications of usability testing a prototype version of the Letters of 1916 Digital Edition. Design/methodology/approach The paper presents the testing, the lessons learned and how those lessons informed the subsequent redesign of the site. Findings Results imply that a majority of users, even digital humanists, were not looking for a unique and specialised interface, but assumed – and preferred – a user experience that reflects common search systems. Although the audience for digital humanities sites is becoming increasingly diverse, the needs of the different user groups may be more similar than had previously been assumed. Research limitations/implications The usability test employed 11 participants, five of whom were coded as “general public”. Four of these five had previously volunteered to transcribe and upload letters. This meant that they were already familiar with the project and with the Letters of 1916 Transcription Desk. However, their prior involvement was a result of their genuine interest in the site, thus ensuring that their interactions during testing were more realistic. Practical implications The lesson learned may be useful for the Digital Editions of future crowdsourced humanities projects. Originality/value Letters of 1916 is the first crowdsourced humanities project in Ireland. The theme of the project is topical, emotive and socially important in Ireland and among Irish diaspora today. The project’s content has been created by the “ordinary citizens of Ireland” and they are likely to be the major users of the Digital Edition. The study explores how the Digital Edition can support these users, while also facilitating the range of traditional scholars and digital humanities researchers.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamer Baran

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on halal research and conduct a content analysis of the same for the purpose of classification, as well as providing a comprehensive bibliography. Design/methodology/approach This literature review study covers 56 articles published in four journals between the years of 2010-2018. Journals indexed were from the Clarivate Analytics and Scopus databases and included at least one of the words “business”, “finance”, “management” and “marketing” together with the word “Islamic” in the title. Content analysis was used for the review of the articles and was carried out by two independent researchers with PhD degrees. Leonard’s (2001) approach was used to classify the articles. Findings The findings show that the number of studies into halal has increased in recent years. Moreover, it is found that studies have been conducted mainly in certain countries and specific sectors. Furthermore, one of the most important findings is that there are no denomination-based researches on halal in the journals included in the study. Research limitations/implications The findings of this study can be generalized only for the selected databases, journals and given period but not for all of the halal literature. Besides the research categories in the current study, further research can be conducted into various disused areas in terms of industry, country of study, product, denomination, etc. Practical implications The paper provides a comprehensive bibliography that will be useful, especially to researchers studying existing research and for contemplating future research. Originality/value This is the first paper that provides a comprehensive literature review and classification of halal literature for the period 2010-2018.


2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 71-75
Author(s):  
Mike Raia

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explain how, if company’s digital experience is a good one, employees can work efficiently and feel positive about their environment while, if a company’s digital experience is poor, staff can become unmotivated and avoid using the systems that are critical to the organization. Design/methodology/approach The authors consulted with user interface/user experience (UI/UX) professionals to explain why attention needs to be paid to UI/UX in the employee experience and how to assess an organization’s current situation. Findings It is possible to prevent poor UI/UX and keep employees satisfied by improving an organization’s digital employee experience using UX best practices from the tech companies who have invested billions in getting it exactly right. Originality/value Understanding UX principles allows you to observe and evaluate how the systems are working, then incorporate UX best principles into the design to boost productivity, happiness and output.


2018 ◽  
Vol 119 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 241-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce Massis

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to review the library’s expanded role into its engagement with the user experience (UX). Design/methodology/approach Literature review and commentary on this topic that has been addressed by professionals, researchers and practitioners. Findings Although UX is constantly expanding its focus, in actively paying close attention to its users’ unique and distinctive requirements, libraries can react more effectively in serving its patrons with a realistic and sensible set of options for the programs and services developed to satisfy the user’s changing needs and expectations. Originality/value The value in exploring this topic is to present a snapshot of several of the elements used by libraries in their efforts to understand and react to its patrons’ needs through its strategies deployed in support of the user experience.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-91
Author(s):  
Kerstin Kuyken ◽  
Mehran Ebrahimi ◽  
Anne-Laure Saives

Purpose This paper aims to develop a better understanding of intergenerational knowledge transfer (IKT) practices by adopting a context-related and comparative perspective. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative case study design involving 83 interviews and non-participative observation in German and Quebec organizations has been chosen. Findings Two distinctive archetypes of IKT emerge from both national contexts: “we-individualizing” (Germany) and “I-connecting” (Quebec), leading to an eightfold taxonomy of IKT practices. Research limitations/implications This research is limited to young and senior workers and to high-tech sectors. Originality/value Comparative and inductive study of IKT, adaptation of IKT practices to national contexts, retaining younger workers. This inductive and comparative study allows a better adaptation of IKT practices to national contexts and therefore a better retention of younger workers.


2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (8) ◽  
pp. 7-9
Author(s):  
Israel Odede

Purpose The paper aims to critically examine the bibliographic utility as a roadmap to increase library consortia and provide an insight into a new library consortia strategy that integrates librarians into a system of sharing both resources and knowledge. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a literature review approach with a focus on bibliographic utility as a necessary prerequisite for effective library consortia, which is a paradigm shift from the concept of individual ownership to a collective access of distributed network resources and knowledge. Findings The reviewed literature indicated that significant bibliographic utilities and integrated library systems are factors that shaped and developed consortia activities in libraries. Originality/value The bibliographic utility has limited literature, and a few published scholarly studies have combined bibliographic utility and library consortia as strategies to share resources and knowledge


2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 333-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Macdonald ◽  
Briony Birdi

Purpose Neutrality is a much debated value in library and information science (LIS). The “neutrality debate” is characterised by opinionated discussions in contrasting contexts. The purpose of this paper is to fill a gap in the literature by bringing these conceptions together holistically, with potential to deepen understanding of LIS neutrality. Design/methodology/approach First, a literature review identified conceptions of neutrality reported in the LIS literature. Second, seven phenomenographic interviews with LIS professionals were conducted across three professional sectors. To maximise variation, each sector comprised at least one interview with a professional of five or fewer years’ experience and one with ten or more years’ experience. Third, conceptions from the literature and interviews were compared for similarities and disparities. Findings In four conceptions, each were found in the literature and interviews. In the literature, these were labelled: “favourable”, “tacit value”, “social institutions” and “value-laden profession”, whilst in interviews they were labelled: “core value”, “subservient”, “ambivalent”, and “hidden values”. The study’s main finding notes the “ambivalent” conception in interviews is not captured by a largely polarised literature, which oversimplifies neutrality’s complexity. To accommodate this complexity, it is suggested that future research should look to reconcile perceptions from either side of the “neutral non-neutral divide” through an inclusive normative framework. Originality/value This study’s value lies in its descriptive methodology, which brings LIS neutrality together in a holistic framework. This framework brings a contextual awareness to LIS neutrality lacking in previous research. This awareness has the potential to change the tone of the LIS neutrality debate.


2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 208-223
Author(s):  
Byung Mun Lee

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze the rules on the formation of contracts under Korean law and the Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) in a comparative way and introduce the relevant proposed rules under the Amendment Draft of the Korean Civil Code (KCC). In addition, it attempts to compare and evaluate them in light of the discipline of comparative law. Design/methodology/approach In order to achieve the purposes of the study, it executes a comparative study of the rules as to the formation of contracts of the CISG, Korean law and the Amendment Draft of the KCC. The basic question for this comparative study is placed on whether a solution from one jurisdiction is more logical than the others and to what extent each jurisdiction has responded to protect the reasonable expectations of the parties in the rules as to the formation of contracts. Findings The comparative study finds that most of the rules under the CISG are quite plausible and logical and they are more or less well reflected in the proposals advanced by the KCC amendment committee. On the other hand, the other rules under the CISG which have brought criticisms in terms of their complexity and inconsistent case law invite us their revision or consistent interpretation. The drawbacks of the CISG have also been well responded in the Amendment Draft of the KCC. Nevertheless, it is quite unfortunate that the Amendment Draft of the KCC still has a rule that regards any purported performance with non-material alteration of the terms of an offer as an acceptance. Originality/value This study may provide legal and practical advice to both the seller and the buyer when they enter into a contract for international sales of goods. In addition, it may render us an insight into newly developed or developing rules in this area and show us how they interact with each other. Furthermore, it may be particularly useful in Korea where there is an ongoing discussion for revision of the KCC.


2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakob Cakarnis ◽  
Steve Peter D'Alessandro

Purpose – This paper investigates the determinants of credit card use and misuse by student and young professionals. Critical to the research is the impact of materialism and knowledge on selection of the appropriate credit card. Design/methodology/approach – This study uses survey research and partial least squares to investigate credit card behaviors of students versus young professionals. Findings – In a comparative study of young professionals and students, it was found that consumer knowledge, as expected, leads to better consumer selection of credit cards. Materialism was also found to increase the motivation for more optimal consumer outcomes. For more experienced consumers, such as young professionals, it was found that despite them being more knowledgeable, they were more likely to select a credit card based on impulse. Originality/value – This paper examines how materialism may in fact encourage some consumers to make better decisions because they are more motivated to develop better knowledge. It also shows how better credit card selection may inhibit impulse purchasing.


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