Intellectual property information services and the impacts on academic libraries’ transformation from the perspective of Chinese university libraries

IFLA Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 034003522110255
Author(s):  
Wei Yang ◽  
Tianlin Liu

Approximately 100 Intellectual Property Information Services Centres have been established in Chinese university libraries, more than 80% of them since 2017. The context of this boom in Intellectual Property Information Services Centres is the rapidly increasing number of patent applications in China, as well as an unacceptably low transfer ratio. Do Intellectual Property Information Services Centres represent a promising direction for university library transformation? This is the central issue addressed in this article. The characteristics of the Chinese evolutionary path and driving forces are discussed, and distinctive intellectual property information service practices are studied and summarized. Comparisons are made with the USA, the UK, Europe and India. With Intellectual Property Information Services Centres, university libraries can evolve from information providers to innovation catalysts, and establish closer connections between universities, communities and industries. The impacts of Intellectual Property Information Services Centres on university librarianship are multifaceted. The trends and challenges of intellectual property information services are also discussed in the article.

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 375-388
Author(s):  
Salome W. Mathangani ◽  
Japheth Otike

Purpose Copyright law supposedly brings a balance between copyright owners and information users as a way of creating a harmonious relationship. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between Kenya’s Copyright Act and the provision of information services in public university libraries in Kenya. Design/methodology/approach The study was informed by both the organization theory and the social systems theory which, respectively, provided a base for discussion on the library and its basic functions, and an interdisciplinary approach that accommodate library services and law. Data were collected from a sample of 77 librarians from public universities libraries, and analyzed using the qualitative method. Findings The study established that librarians were reasonably aware of the copyright Act. However, they were apprehensive and uncertain about copyright effect on the library. Evidence from the study showed that librarians needed to extend their knowledge and understanding of the copyright law for the effective provision of information services. The paper concludes that there is scope for librarians, using their wealth of knowledge and expertise, to make relevant and useful suggestions on copyright. Such contribution would assist in bringing harmony in the use of copyrighted materials. Originality/value These findings are original and will be useful in giving general direction on copyright. The study highlights the important issue of universities as parent institutions providing needed leadership in the copyright area.


2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 211-221
Author(s):  
Jane Cho

The institutional repositories of most university libraries in Korea are not activated due to the lack of finance, operation ability, technology, etc., and this phenomenon is especially noticeable in small–medium sized university libraries. Thus, as in other countries, a shared repository that multiple libraries share, based on a library network, is required. This study categorizes the typology of shared repositories, after analyzing the operational methods of managing roles, expenses and system sharing among participants in shared repositories in Japan, the UK and the USA. Based on the findings, two models that could be applied in Korea are suggested. The first is a centralized-operation model that involves a shared-system infrastructure in which the host institution takes full charge of the digitization and registration of contents, etc. This model has the potential to be developed into a regional archive center. The second model is a decentralized-operation model that also features a shared-system infrastructure but the participating institutions customize the system individually. Here, the individual institutions perform digitization of all content, daily registration, etc., which can be applied as a test bed for the creation of new technology, considering the potential for independent operation in the future.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 811-829 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yazhong Deng

Purpose The purpose of this study was to establish a massive online open course (MOOC)-based map of higher education knowledge and apply it to university libraries. It hoped to provide more targeted and personalized learning services for every learner. Design/methodology/approach In this study, MOOC and university library information services were outlined, the development status of MOOC at home and abroad and the development of university library information services were introduced, and the necessity and significance of MOOC in developing information services in university libraries were analyzed. What is more, the knowledge map of university libraries was explored. The four modules include the construction of data sets, the identification of related entities from plain text, the extraction of entity relationships and the practical application of knowledge maps. For the logical relationship of the course, a combination of knowledge base and machine learning was adopted. In the knowledge map application module, the knowledge map was visualized. Aiming at the generation of personalized learning scheme, a prior data set was constructed by means of the knowledge base. The original problem was considered as a multi-classification problem. K-nearest neighbor classifier divided all courses into four academic years to obtain all courses. According to the course stage, the personalized learning scheme of some majors in higher education was obtained. Findings The experiment showed that it was feasible to apply the higher education knowledge map based on MOOC to university libraries. In addition, it was effective to divide the course into four stages by classifier. In this way, the specific professional training program can be obtained, the information service of the university library can be improved, and the accuracy and richness of the entire learning program can be increased. Research limitations/implications Due to the limitations of conditions, time and other aspects, there were not many opportunities to visit the field library, which led to limited level and imperfect research. There were many proper nouns and professional terms in foreign references, but my English translation ability was limited. The relevant investigation on foreign studies may not be detailed and comprehensive enough, and the analysis and induction of influencing factors of university library information service may not be rigorous and concise enough. Practical implications As the base of university information dissemination, the university library is the source of knowledge. At the same time, it is also the temple of students’ independent learning and the media of mainstream culture and improving its own information service level is also in line with the trend of The Times. Under this background, this research studied the influence of MOOC on university library information service and focused on the challenges and opportunities faced by university library information service in the MOOC environment, so as to continuously improve its cultural serviceability and better serve teachers and students. Originality/value Since the birth of MOOC, they have exerted great influence and enlightenment on universities and relevant educational institutions within a few years. European and American universities take an active part in the construction of the MOOC platform and explore how to make better use of the library to build MOOC resources in practice. It is also a hot topic for university libraries to participate in the construction of MOOC information resources. Therefore, the study of this topic has both theoretical and practical significance.


Author(s):  
Antonia J. Bunch

The Scottish Science Library (SSL), part of the National Library of Scotland (NLS), was opened in 1989. The NLS, the largest library in Scotland, is one of the legal deposit libraries in the UK and had a large scientific collection that was underused. Together with the foreign periodicals collection of the Royal Society of Edinburgh this formed the basis for a new service. Housed in a new building, the SSL provides scientific and technical information services to Scottish industry as well as to academics and the general public. It also incorporates the Scottish Business Information Service.


2003 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Majoros

The study introduces a Hungarian economic thinker, István Varga*, whose valuable activity has remained unexplored up to now. He became an economic thinker during the 1920s, in a country that had not long before become independent of Austria. The role played by Austria in the modern economic thinking of that time was a form of competition with the thought adhered to by the UK and the USA. Hungarian economists mainly interpreted and commented on German and Austrian theories, reasons for this being that, for example, the majority of Hungarian economists had studied at German and Austrian universities, while at Hungarian universities principally German and Austrian economic theories were taught. István Varga was familiar not only with contemporary German economics but with the new ideas of Anglo-Saxon economics as well — and he introduced these ideas into Hungarian economic thinking. He lived and worked in turbulent times, and historians have only been able to appreciate his activity in a limited manner. The work of this excellent economist has all but been forgotten, although he was of international stature. After a brief summary of Varga’s profile the study will demonstrate the lasting influence he has had in four areas — namely, business cycle research and national income estimations, the 1946 Hungarian stabilisation program, corporate profit, and consumption economics — and will go on to summarise his most important achievements.


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