Collaborative Weeding among Public University Libraries Can Lead to Cost Savings for All

2016 ◽  
pp. 130-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen N. Levenson
Keyword(s):  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Public University ◽  
University Libraries ◽  
Cost Of Quality ◽  
Acquisition Costs ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Preliminary Phase

All academic libraries strive to have the highest quality collections which their acquisition budgets can support. However, the cost of quality resources continues to regularly increase, typically without corresponding increases in acquisition budgets. Additionally, print resources come with associated storage costs which are less tangible to measure than acquisition costs but which nonetheless have impact on overall library operations and expenditures. Storage and retention costs can have a substantial negative impact on general library usage, relevancy, and budget allocations. This chapter will focus on the management of retaining and weeding print monographs within the medium-sized public academic library and what a group of Michigan public academic libraries are doing to collectively address weeding and retention issues through the preliminary phase of a program called the Michigan Shared Print Initiative (MI-SPI).

Collaborative Weeding Among Public University Libraries Can Lead to Cost Savings for All

2018 ◽  
pp. 1409-1435
Author(s):  
Helen N. Levenson
Keyword(s):  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Public University ◽  
University Libraries ◽  
Cost Of Quality ◽  
Acquisition Costs ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Preliminary Phase

All academic libraries strive to have the highest quality collections which their acquisition budgets can support. However, the cost of quality resources continues to regularly increase, typically without corresponding increases in acquisition budgets. Additionally, print resources come with associated storage costs which are less tangible to measure than acquisition costs but which nonetheless have impact on overall library operations and expenditures. Storage and retention costs can have a substantial negative impact on general library usage, relevancy, and budget allocations. This chapter will focus on the management of retaining and weeding print monographs within the medium-sized public academic library and what a group of Michigan public academic libraries are doing to collectively address weeding and retention issues through the preliminary phase of a program called the Michigan Shared Print Initiative (MI-SPI).

Covid-19 impact on the Caribbean academic library: Jamaica's preliminary response to people, place, product and services

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sasekea Yoneka Harris
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Complete Response ◽  
University Libraries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis paper examined the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on people, place, product and services in Jamaican academic libraries. It also compares the Jamaican academic library’s COVID-19 experience with US academic library’s COVID-19 preliminary experience.Design/methodology/approachThe local academic libraries in higher education in Jamaica (also referred to in this paper as university libraries) were surveyed.FindingsGovernment mandates, university mandates and the absence of a vaccine influenced academic library response. The measures implemented, though unplanned and developed on-the-go, constituted a behavioural change model (BCM). COVID-19 has had a positive-negative impact on library people, place, product and services and has created a new normal for Jamaican academic libraries.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper captures the preliminary response of Jamaican academic libraries to the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on library people, place, product and services. As such, a follow-up survey on changes, challenges, strengths, impact, lessons and plans would be a useful complement to this paper. As COVID-19 information is rapidly evolving, this preliminary response of Jamaica is neither the final nor complete response to the pandemic.Practical implicationsThe COVID-19 pandemic has revealed a gap in the literature on disaster management generally and pandemic management in particular, and on the management of health disasters in academic libraries; this paper seeks to fill this gap, albeit incrementally, through Jamaica's preliminary response to the COVID-19 pandemic.Originality/valueThis paper gives voice to the Caribbean academic library’s COVID-19 experience, through the voice of Jamaica. It is the first scholarly paper on the impact of COVID-19 on university libraries in the Jamaican / English-speaking Caribbean, and so presents the elements of the BCM implemented by Jamaica, which provides an important guide to Caribbean academic library leaders. The findings can also inform the Latin American and Caribbean section of international library papers on COVID-19 impact on academic libraries globally.

Student Laptop Ownership Requirement and Centralization of Information Technology Services at a Large Public University

2011 ◽  
pp. 201-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory B. Newby
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Chief Information Officer ◽  
Public University ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
Information Technology Services ◽  
Technology Services ◽  
The Cost

A large, highly ranked public university implemented a requirement for all incoming undergraduates to own a laptop computer starting in fall, 2000. To control increased expenditures for information technology, this requirement has shifted some of the cost of technology to students by decreasing the need for centralized general-purpose computing laboratories. At the same time, a shift towards centralized academic computing support occurred. This shift was away from information technology resources, services and support based in individual departments. This shift, engineered by the newly formed office of the Chief Information Officer (CIO), was envisioned to generate cost savings through economies of scale. The educational impact of the laptop requirement is starting to be felt, but adoption is not widespread in daily classroom use. Envisioned cost savings have not yet become apparent. However, laptop ownership has enabled some new classroom activities and helped to reinforce the leading-edge image of the university.

Student Laptop Ownership Requirement and Centralization of Information Technology Services at a Large Public University

2006 ◽  
pp. 163-175
Author(s):  
Gregory B. Newby
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Chief Information Officer ◽  
Public University ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
Information Technology Services ◽  
Technology Services ◽  
The Cost

A large, highly ranked public university implemented a requirement for all incoming undergraduates to own a laptop computer starting in fall, 2000. To control increased expenditures for information technology, this requirement has shifted some of the cost of technology to students by decreasing the need for centralized general-purpose computing laboratories. At the same time, a shift towards centralized academic computing support occurred. This shift was away from information technology resources, services and support based in individual departments. This shift, engineered by the newly formed office of the Chief Information Officer (CIO), was envisioned to generate cost savings through economies of scale. The educational impact of the laptop requirement is starting to be felt, but adoption is not widespread in daily classroom use. Envisioned cost savings have not yet become apparent. However, laptop ownership has enabled some new classroom activities and helped to reinforce the leading-edge image of the university.

Students’ attitudes towards library overdue fines in an academic library: A study in a private university setting in Bangladesh

IFLA Journal ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 034003522094494
Author(s):  
Sangita Basak ◽  
Shamima Yesmin
Keyword(s):  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Private University ◽  
Hard Copy ◽  
Quantitative Methodology ◽  
University Libraries ◽  
Pocket Money ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Students Satisfaction ◽  
University Setting

In academic libraries, the obligation to pay a fine for overdue books is a common global phenomenon. As university libraries try to meet the growing expectations of their users with limited resources, it is important to ensure that the existing collection is available in circulation. This study investigated overdue returns at the BRAC University library, Bangladesh, focusing on the reasons why users returned their books late; students’ satisfaction with the current overdue policies; and suggested improvements to the overdue procedures. The study was carried out using a quantitative methodology. Structured questionnaires were distributed to the students and data was collected over a period of 60 days between March and April 2019. Of the 300 questionnaires distributed, 258 were returned, with a response rate of 86%. The primary reasons for users’ late return of books were forgetfulness and not completing the task required from the book. It is a positive fact of the study that, most students did not show unwillingness to use the library again after fine had been imposed for a late return; a large number of them managed to pay the fine out of their pocket money. The library’s current policies were considered to be satisfactory. The students considered them to be a form of discipline, which made them return items at the appointed time. There was no gender bias in their reactions. Suggestions for improvement included increasing the collection of hard-copy and e-books. The outcomes of this research may help to develop the overdue and circulation policies of academic libraries in developing countries.

scholarly journals Use of Language-Learning Apps as a Tool for Foreign Language Acquisition by Academic Libraries Employees

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 22-33
Author(s):  
Kathia Ibacache
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Unmet Need ◽  
The United States ◽  
University Libraries ◽  
University Of Colorado ◽  
Foreign Language Acquisition ◽  
The University

Language-learning apps are becoming prominent tools for self-learners. This article investigates whether librarians and employees of academic libraries have used them and whether the content of these language-learning apps supports foreign language knowledge needed to fulfill library-related tasks. The research is based on a survey sent to librarians and employees of the University Libraries of the University of Colorado Boulder (UCB), two professional library organizations, and randomly selected employees of 74 university libraries around the United States. The results reveal that librarians and employees of academic libraries have used language-learning apps. However, there is an unmet need for language-learning apps that cover broader content including reading comprehension and other foreign language skills suitable for academic library work.

scholarly journals The assessment of quality maturity levels in Nigerian university libraries

2017 ◽  
Vol 66 (6/7) ◽  
pp. 399-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Halima Egberongbe ◽  
Barbara Sen ◽  
Peter Willett
Keyword(s):  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Maturity Model ◽  
University Libraries ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Maturity Assessment ◽  
Nigerian University

Purpose Organizations constantly evaluate their activities to ensure that they are attaining their management goals. Maturity assessment enables organizations to examine their capabilities, support innovation and evaluate development. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the maturity statuses of a selection of Nigerian university libraries in a study to investigate their quality management (QM) approaches. The study provides recommendations for means to attain the required statuses in academic library development. Design/methodology/approach The study involved a multisite case study in which interviews were conducted with 15 university librarians (or their representatives) and ten focus groups were conducted with non-management library staff. The resulting qualitative data were analyzed using an aspect of framework analysis – charting, while a maturity model from the field of project management (Prince 2 Maturity Model, P2MM) was used to assess maturity in QM of the libraries. Findings The results of the maturity assessment indicate a basic knowledge of the concept of QM implementation among the libraries. The scores obtained on the P2MM capability scale placed the libraries studied mainly on Level 1 (awareness level) of the model. Practical implications This paper demonstrates that the culture of QM in academic libraries in Nigeria is at a low level with considerable potential for development. It is suggested that future adoption of quality maturity models to assess performance and organizational effectiveness would aid improvements for value-added services. Originality/value This is the first study to attempt the assessment of quality maturity levels in Nigerian academic libraries for identification of the organization’s positioning in QM and strategy.

scholarly journals Affective relationships between users and libraries in times of economic stress

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 248-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angeliki Giannopoulou ◽  
Giannis Tsakonas
Keyword(s):  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Collaborative Work ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Economic Recession ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Current Situation ◽  
Economic Stress ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quota Sampling ◽  
The Cost

Purpose – Academic libraries are considered as key factors in the educational system of a country and strong pylons for the economic and societal development. During the current economic recession, libraries have been struck by severe budget cuts that have forced them to shrink services to the end users. The purpose of this paper is to measure the opinion of academic libraries users on four main criteria categories, namely, cost, space and atmosphere, personnel behavior and facilitation of collaborative work and to reflect the level of affective relationship of users with their libraries. Design/methodology/approach – The survey followed a quota sampling technique and was addressed to users of all levels (students, post-graduate, faculty members, etc.) from all academic libraries across Greece, resulting in 950 questionnaires that were then processed with inferential statistical methods. The study applies the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) behavioral framework to measure the opinion of the users on the criteria categories. Findings – The study provides representative findings from all Greek academic libraries and shows that libraries are considered as spaces that facilitate pleasant reading and studying, as well as efficient collaborative work. Library users are in overall satisfied by the personnel behavior and productivity, but they also believe that there are margins for further improvement of its knowledge, while they think that the cost of services should be revised and echo the current situation. Practical implications – The study is primarily a quantitative one and as such it provides the broad view of the current situation in the country. It focusses on important drivers of the expression of affective relationships and its findings can be useful to library administrators as it highlights the effects of economic crisis on key areas of library operation. Originality/value – It is the first nation-wide user survey that reports findings and recommendations from a national-wide user-based survey that was conducted in 2012. Previous nation-wide surveys were mainly addressed to library personnel or limited to specific institutions. The study is also the only one to the authors’ knowledge that applies the S.O.R. framework in the academic library setting.

Initiatives towards formation of academic library consortium in Malaysia

2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 102-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hafsah Mohd ◽  
Rosnah Yusof ◽  
Rohaya Umar
Keyword(s):  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Ministry Of Education ◽  
University Libraries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Online Databases ◽  
Year 2000 ◽  
Ministry Of Higher Education ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – This paper aims to report on several initiatives towards formation of national consortium among academic libraries in Malaysia. The consortium focused on subscription of online databases. Design/methodology/approach – In July 2004, CDC on behalf of PERPUN members made several initiatives towards formation of national consortium of Malaysian academic libraries. Proposal paper on the formation of the consortium has been submitted to the Ministry of Higher Education. Through “loose consortia” formed, CDC and later known as Malaysian Online E-Resources Consortium (MOLEC) succeeded in negotiating for subscription of online databases and was able to get financial aid from the Ministry of Education to subscribe several databases since 2002. Findings – A commercial databases committee (CDC) was formed in year 2000 as a platform for academic libraries to evaluate, select, negotiate and manage the online databases. Complications involved in online databases subscriptions such as cost increase, license agreement, various formats of usage statistics, merger and takeover of publishers have made PERPUN (Malaysian Standing Conference of National and University Libraries) realize that there is a need for a formal consortium to be formed. Research limitations/implications – An improved service was established for the benefit of the academic libraries in Malaysia. Practical implications – A more coordinated approach to consortial dealings is being established in Malaysia. Originality/value – This is a report on the process and outcomes.

Digitizing the intellectual output of Ghanaian universities

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 69-75
Author(s):  
Patience Emefa Dzandza
Keyword(s):  
Asset Management ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
University Libraries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Institutional Repositories ◽  
Digital Asset ◽  
Asset Management System

Purpose With the emergence of ranking of universities by organizations, one major factor considered in the rankings is the intellectual output of the universities. For universities to remain part of the global academic competitive society, intellectual output of universities can no longer be stored on shelves in libraries. Academic libraries have engaged in digitization of the intellectual works of their institutions which is a core mandate of any academic library. The purpose of this study is to ascertain the state of digitization initiatives among university libraries in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative approach was adopted. Nine top universities in Ghana were selected to participate in this study. Interviews were conducted with heads of libraries. Findings The findings of the study revealed that seven out of the nine libraries studied have embarked on some sort of digitization initiative, and all libraries studied are using the same digital asset management system (Dspace). Major challenges reported by the participants that are common to all the libraries studied are lack of adequate and modern equipment, lack of trained personnel and lack of cooperation from faculty members. Originality/value This study brought fore the initiatives undertaken by academic libraries in Ghana to establish and maintain institutional repositories (IRs) amidst a number of challenges. It is a major contribution to the literature from West Africa as not much literature on IR is found from this part of the world.

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