scholarly journals Statistical factors: What and how academic libraries count

Author(s):  
N. M. Svergunova

Library statistics is an important and effective method of analyzing library activities and identifying problems, planning and forecasting. Reliability, accuracy, completeness and comparability of the data are the most significant provisions. In her earlier publication, the author identified several inaccuracies in annual statistical reports submitted by university libraries. To identify discrepancies in 2019 statistics, the comparative analysis was accomplished for Orel State academic libraries. The study demonstrated that sometimes the libraries didn’t provide accurate and precise statistics with lacking logical connection between the indicators presented in different report sections. Individual factors differ significantly despite similarity of other factors that influence the former ones. The author concludes on the necessity of measures to be taken by RLA university library section, library methodological divisions, and by the academic libraries themselves. For this purpose, the author suggests to develop methodological recommendations on calculating statistics, statistical surveying of academic libraries and implementing the methods into practice.

Author(s):  
K. A. Podrezov ◽  
Yu. V. Ivanova

The need for studies to analyze the evolution of university libraries at the various historical stages is substantiated. The authors identify three periods when the library role was changing radically due to the changes in ideology and social demands. The authors explore the first period in detail and point to the narrative character of most publications on the library history lacking analysis of their humanitarian origins. The authors argue that, to conceptualize academic libraries mission at the present time, it is necessary to understand the university library mission from the historical perspective. They emphasize that cultural and educational activitiestoday is viewed in the context of personal socialization, or student’s social adaptation while the vector of information space development calls for conceptualization of the libraries’ humanitarian mission.The authors argue that, to understand a university library mission and, speaking wider – an education humanitarian principle we have to turn to historical and philosophic essence of humanism and enlightenment at the earliest stage of Russian academic libraries of the late 18th – early 20th century.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 10-16
Author(s):  
Shamima Yesmin

The objective of this study was to compare the availability of web 2.0 tools on selected public and private university library websites in Bangladesh. Existing studies of web 2.0 seem to have ignored the possibility of comparing public university library websites with private university library websites. Conducting a study like this will provide an overview about the existing status of Web 2.0 tools. Content analysis was adopted as the method for the study. Twenty university library websites, comprised of ten top-ranked public and ten top-ranked private universities in Bangladesh, were studied for data collection. The findings demonstrate that the use of web 2.0 tools on the selected university library websites is still in its early stage, but it has been growing rapidly. More than 90% of the university libraries apply one or more web 2.0 tools to their websites. The private university library websites are ahead of public university libraries in terms of the integration of web 2.0 tools. Internal applications that are not publicly accessible contain information that may not be collected through content analysis since these links usually cannot be found on library web sites.This study is unique in terms of comparing public and private university library’s web contents. The findings from this comparative analysis will be useful for a university to track their own position and also those are planning to develop a website.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (6/7) ◽  
pp. 545-563
Author(s):  
Edward Asante ◽  
Patrick Ngulube

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the critical success factors for total quality management implementation and implications for sustainable academic libraries in Ghana. This study is part of a PhD project that focussed on selected technical university libraries in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopted a quantitative approach to collect the data. Samples of 124 participants were involved in this study. PLS-SEM (Smart PLS3) software was used to analyse the data. Convergent, discriminant validity assessment was computed. Eight variables of critical success factors were tested in relation to total quality management implementation at selected academic libraries in Ghana.FindingsThis study established that out of the eight variables tested, six of them (i.e. top management commitment, employee innovation employee training, organisational culture, teamwork and effective communication, quality performance) indicated a significant positive relationship with total quality management implementation apart from strategic planning and human resource management.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was limited to eight variables as the critical success factors mentioned in the previous paragraph. The use of one methodology might be a limitation as the use of multimethod might have given a more comprehensive picture than the case. This study was limited to only technical university libraries in Ghana hence caution must be exercised when applying the results to contextually different academic environments. The results are applicable to academic universities library in Ghana and beyond if they are adjusted to suit the context.Practical implicationsThis study is timely as it may lead to effective total quality management implementation and the sustainability of technical university libraries in Ghana and Africa in general.Originality/valueThe proposed model can be used to enhance the smooth implementation of total quality management in academic libraries in general and Ghana in particular. The framework is termed as Eddie and Pat's Achievement of Quality Performance (EPAfQP) model.


2013 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kun Huang ◽  
Diane Kelly

A survey was conducted at Beijing Normal University to explore subjects’ motives for image seeking; the image types they need; how and where they seek images; and the difficulties they encounter. The survey also explored subjects’ attitudes toward current image services and their perceptions of how university libraries might provide assistance. Based on the findings, this article summarizes the features of Chinese undergraduate students’ daily image needs and their information behavior related to images. The findings reveal the need to improve the image services offered by academic libraries and strengthen undergraduates’ information literacy with respect to image search and use.


2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 219-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian M. Johnson

The aim of this short conference presentation was to highlight the importance of seeking alternative technological approaches to the optimization of university libraries’ resources and services. It discusses briefly the changes that are taking place in universities, and the importance for libraries of being seen to contribute to facilitating those changes. It explains the growing importance of research activity, and the expectations of researchers, an increasingly influential group in universities. It then goes on to outline the potential for increasing collections of electronic information by redirecting some of the effort of the libraries’ staff towards discovering and securing resources that are already available and offer data and information that may be valued by researchers. Finally, it provides a reminder that it is not enough to be good at what you do unless this is recognised, and stresses the importance of networking and advocacy as a means of providing a constant reminder to the influential and decision makers. An earlier version of this paper was presented at ‘Los Sistemas Bibliotecarios – Desarrollo y Perspectivas’ [Library Systems – Development and Perspectives]: 14th International Conference on University Libraries organised by Dirección General de Bibliotecas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 16th to 18th November, 2016.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 28-33
Author(s):  
Shamima Yesmin .

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the websites of university libraries to ascertain that libraries are effectively utilizing their respective websites to provide easy access to all electronic resources available in the library. The objective was also to a represent a comparative analysis between public and private university library websites regarding the presence of electronic resources with their easy access via the internet. For the purpose of this study, a research instrument in the form of comprehensive checklist of eighteen e-resources was developed to evaluate their accessibility in the websites of public and private university libraries. Twenty university library websites, comprised of ten top-ranked public and ten top-ranked private universities in Bangladesh, were studied for data collection using content analysis method. The findings demonstrate that the presence of e-resources on selected university library websites is still in its early stage, but it has been growing rapidly. The private university library websites are ahead of public university libraries in terms of the integration of web-resources. It is hoped that the findings of this paper will serve to assist the University librarians and other similar institutions in choosing, selecting and acquiring the most appropriate format of information resources, and making these available to their websites, which will both satisfy the needs of their library users and fit within their library budget.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 56-66
Author(s):  
Afebuameh James Aiyebelehin ◽  
Rosemary Odiachi ◽  
Blessing Omoregie

The study investigated leadership styles, promotion opportunities, and salary as correlates of turnover intention among librarians in Nigerian academic libraries. It applied the correlational survey design, and data was gathered with a questionnaire. The entire 115 librarians in three (3) universities in South-South, Nigeria formed the population of this study. The data was analyzed with mean and Pearson Moment Correlation (2-tailed). The findings show that the turnover intention of the librarians was high; leadership, promotion opportunities, and salary positively correlate with the turnover intention. The major implication of the findings of the study is that the issue of leadership style, promotion, and salary should be carefully planned by the management of the library, otherwise, the librarians will leave the library whenever the opportunity shows up. These findings provide new data for planning the management of library staff to achieve effective information service in the library.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 63-85
Author(s):  
Adekunle Emmanuel Oyadeyi ◽  
Taofeek Abiodun Oladokun ◽  
Oludare Adebanji Shorunke ◽  
Omobolanle Seri Fasola

Aim: There seems to be a dearth of literature on how much Nigerian university libraries are spending on the acquisition of Online Electronic Database (OED). This study sets out to investigate the annual cost of acquiring this important and evolving aspect of library collection with the view of determining whether the returns in terms of utilization is commensurate with the invested fund. Methodology: The study adopts a quantitative research method. A self-developed questionnaire was used to collect data from 55 librarians in 41 academic libraries across Nigeria. The data collected were processed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Findings: Academic libraries in Nigeria spend an average of ₦12,500,000 or $32,637 on OED subscriptions annually. The study has shown that Nigerian academic libraries usually subscribe to the EBSCOhost and Research4Life databases with few adding specialized databases such as Law Pavilion, HeinOnline, Legalpedia, and ScienceDirect. To ensure adequate returns on investment, the libraries are massively providing support infrastructures, user education, and other information services. However, challenges limiting the widespread use of online databases include irregular power supply and slow internet connectivity among others.  Conclusions: The study, therefore, concludes that there is a middling to low return on subscribed OED in Nigerian academic libraries. However, there are still various huddles that must be scaled for Nigerian academic libraries to reap adequate returns on their investments in online electronic databases.


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 60-79
Author(s):  
Eva Revitt ◽  
Sean Luyk

Despite the nearly 40-year history of library councils in Canadian academic libraries, scholarly literature regarding library governance and decision-making processes within the context of Canadian university libraries is almost non-existent. Nevertheless, there is evidence of a general disenfranchisement of librarians from significant decisions affecting library operations, resources, services, and the appointment and evaluation of senior administrative positions. Furthermore, it is evident that library councils in Canadian academic libraries, where they do exist, function primarily as information-sharing forums rather than as the collegial decision-making bodies they were originally intended to be. Through a close examination of the CAUT Bulletin, this paper traces the development of library councils in Canadian academic libraries. Within the framework of institutional theory and drawing from librarianship, management, and educational administration literature, the paper proceeds to critically discuss systematic barriers to collegial governance in academic libraries. Historical and anecdotal evidence suggests that administrative resistance is a continued and key obstacle to the democratization of decision-making processes in Canadian academic libraries.


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