scholarly journals Determining Gate Count Reliability in a Library Setting

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 68
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Traffic ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Statistical Software ◽  
Card Reader ◽  
University Library ◽  
Library Assessment ◽  
Gate Count ◽  
Counter Data

Objective – Patron counts are a common form of measurement for library assessment. To develop accurate library statistics, it is necessary to determine any differences between various counting devices. A yearlong comparison between card reader turnstiles and laser gate counters in a university library sought to offer a standard percentage of variance and provide suggestions to increase the precision of counts. Methods – The collection of library exit counts identified the differences between turnstile and laser gate counter data. Statistical software helped to eliminate any inaccuracies in the collection of turnstile data, allowing this data set to be the base for comparison. Collection intervals were randomly determined and demonstrated periods of slow, average, and heavy traffic. Results – After analyzing 1,039,766 patron visits throughout a year, the final totals only showed a difference of .43% (.0043) between the two devices. The majority of collection periods did not exceed a difference of 3% between the counting instruments. Conclusion – Turnstiles card readers and laser gate counters provide similar levels of reliability when measuring patron activity. Each system has potential counting inaccuracies, but several methods exist to create more precise totals. Turnstile card readers are capable of offering greater detail involving patron identity, but their high cost makes them inaccessible for libraries with lower budgets. This makes laser gate counters an affordable alternative for reliable patron counting in an academic library.

scholarly journals One hundred tweets from library land: A case study of RMIT University Library (academic library) and State Library of Victoria (public state library) in Australia

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 197-207
Author(s):  
Reham Ali Alsuhaibani
Keyword(s):  
Academic Library ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
User Engagement ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Data Set ◽  
University Library ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Twitter Account ◽  
State Library

Twitter is used by different library types to communicate and engage with their community. This case study focuses on content choices in tweets and the level of engagement generated, in the context of two different types of library. The current study attempts to examine the contents of Library Twitter account of two libraries (academic and public) with the aim of evaluating in a comparative mode, their themes and levels of user engagement. This research used a mixed method research approach. For quantitative approach, this study analyzed 100 Tweets from each library, i.e. RMIT University Library and State Library of Victoria. Also, the study analyzed a number of tweets and levels of engagement by recording numbers of likes, replies and retweets. The qualitative aspect analyzed each Tweet to determine engagement level and type of content shared by each library. The results demonstrate that the public and academic libraries publish different types of content. The varied nature, audience and mandate of each library appear to influence the focus of their tweets. Also, the results show that the level of engagement is a factor of the numbers of tweets in any theme. The limitation of this study is the data set contained only 100 tweets for each library. Moreover, the number of users and registered library accounts had probably increased since the study was conducted.

Communicating value through strategic engagement

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 154-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Walter
Keyword(s):  
Academic Library ◽  
First Century ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Campus Engagement ◽  
Library Assessment ◽  
Culture Of Assessment ◽  
The University ◽  
Library Value ◽  
University Setting

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore ways in which “library value” may be communicated in a university setting through more effective engagement with strategic planning and a broader array of campus partners. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents a case study of an academic library in which alignment with the university mission and strategic plan and alignment of library assessment efforts with the broader culture of assessment at the university have resulted in positive gains for the library in terms of campus engagement and recognition of library value. Findings This paper provides insights into successful strategies for improved communication of library value to senior leadership, new investment in library facilities, and enhanced opportunities for collaboration across the university on strategic initiatives including student success, innovation in teaching and scholarship, and community engagement. Originality/value This paper provides library leaders with new approaches to engagement with campus partners and senior academic leadership in promoting the library as a strategic resource worthy of investment in the twenty-first century.

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.

To buy or not to buy? A case study of Western books at Peking University Library

2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (2/3) ◽  
pp. 64-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaodong Li ◽  
Nanyan Liang ◽  
Suqing Liu
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Interlibrary Loan ◽  
Professional Literature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
University Library ◽  
Delivery Times ◽  
Peking University ◽  
Decision Making Model

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a decision-making model for buy vs borrow selection decisions. Design/methodology/approach – The authors conduct a statistical analysis of circulation transactions and Interlibrary Loan (ILL) request data related to Western books as well as the overall subject content of local collections. They compare the relative costs and delivery times for obtaining materials through interlibrary loan channels vs purchase from domestic or foreign publishers. Based on this analysis, they make recommendations for buy vs borrow decision-making model relevant to the Western books collection at the Peking University Library. Findings – For materials available domestically, requesting through ILL is the preferred acquisitions strategy because of the low cost of domestic service and the comparable speed of delivery. Materials that can only be obtained from foreign libraries are best acquired through a combination of purchase-on-demand and ILL. Originality/value – This paper adds to the corpus of professional literature on buy vs borrow collection development models but adds a unique perspective by applying this model to a Western book collection in a Chinese academic library.

NS-Raubgut in Darmstädter Bibliotheken vor und nach 1945

Aschkenas ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Göller
Keyword(s):  
Academic Library ◽  
Intellectual Life ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
United State ◽  
University Library ◽  
State Library

AbstractThis article discusses the attitude, prior to as well as after 1945, of both the former Hessian State Library (Landesbibliothek) and the academic library (Hochschulbibliothek) at Darmstadt towards books confiscated by the Nazis. Since most of the records as well as books have vanished in the bombings of the year 1944, only few items looted from victims of persecution could be identified. After 1948, the now united State and University Library (Landes- und Hochschulbibliothek) was given several thousand confiscated books that have not subsequently been restituted by the German and Allied public authorities. Among them, parts of the former Lodges’ libraries in Mainz (Rhenus-Loge) and Darmstadt (Starkenburg-Loge) give an impression of the intellectual life of the B’nai B’rith Order in pre-war Germany.

scholarly journals Developing an academic library assessment plan: a case study

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory Arnold Smith ◽  
Howard Dale Tryon ◽  
Lori Beth Snyder
Keyword(s):  
Planning Process ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Survey Analysis ◽  
Internal Factors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Library Assessment ◽  
Culture Of Assessment

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze the process of developing an academic library assessment plan and its relation to the furtherance of a culture of assessment. Design/methodology/approach – Qualitative study of a university library’s assessment planning process; findings based on documentary evidence as well as an employee survey; analysis framed in relationship to relevant literature. Findings – Planning for the future of assessment offered the Jerry Falwell Library a significant opportunity for organizational change. Evaluations of the planning process were mixed, but generally revealed evidence of conditions associated with the development of a culture of assessment. Participants saw planning as the product of both external and internal factors. The plan’s orientation toward value and impact, though clearly understood, was not universally appreciated. Implementation of the plan remains a substantial challenge. Research limitations/implications – Reliability is subject to the limitations inherent to qualitative methods. Single case study design limits generalizability to different contexts. Practical implications – The goal of developing a culture of assessment is not to be achieved easily or quickly. Library employees may be most inclined to support an assessment agenda when it is driven by internal factors such as quality improvement and the pursuit of efficiency and effectiveness. Originality/value – The study emphasizes the process of developing an assessment plan at a university with a strong teaching mission. Additionally, it provides insight into the relationship between assessment planning and a culture of assessment.

scholarly journals Servicios a la investigación en la biblioteca universitaria: gestión de la identidad digital

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viviana Fernández-Marcial ◽  
Llarina González-Solar
Keyword(s):  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Research Community ◽  
Digital Environment ◽  
Digital Identity ◽  
University Libraries ◽  
Research Support ◽  
University Library ◽  
The University

The paradigm shift in university libraries where research support servcies are increasingly relevant is analyze. This situation results from the research role in assessing the quality and excellence of universities, as reflected in the various documents and rankings. The various research support servcies are described both in the university and in the academic library, with special emphasis on the management of digital identity. For this purpose, the concepts of reputation and identity, within and outside the digital environment, are defined, their main resources are analyzed and a brief overview is given on the management of the digital identity of the research community through data from three studies. We define possible scenarios in which the university library can work in support of a better management of the reputation and digital identity of researchers, considering that this will have an impact on those of the university itself.Se analiza el cambio de paradigma en las bibliotecas universitarias donde los servicios orientados a la investigación adquieren cada vez más relevancia. Esta situación es resultado del papel de la investigación en la valoración de la calidad y la excelencia de las universidades tal como queda reflejado en los diversos documentos y rankings. Se describen los diversos servicios orientados en la investigación tanto en la universidad como en la biblioteca universitaria haciendo especial énfasis en la gestión de la identidad digital. A este fin se definen los conceptos de reputación e identidad dentro y fuera del entorno digital, se analizan sus principales recursos y se ofrece una breve panorámica sobre la gestión de la identidad digital de la comunidad investigadora a través de los datos de tres estudios. Se definen los posibles escenarios en los que la biblioteca universitaria puede trabajar en apoyo a una mejor gestión de la reputación e identidad digital de los investigadores considerando que esta tendrá incidencia en las de la propia universidad.Accessible in https://www.sopcom.pt/

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