A Case Study of Use-Centered Descriptions

2011 ◽  
pp. 67-86
Author(s):  
Richard Butterworth
Keyword(s):  
Social Role ◽  
Analytic Model ◽  
Front Line ◽  
Data Standards ◽  
Research Support ◽  
Library Resources ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Library Staff ◽  
The University

This chapter argues the case that there is a mismatch between current meta-data standards for the description of archival holdings and what many users actually want to know about a collection. Standard archival descriptions objectively describe what is in a collection, whereas users wish to know what they can do with a collection. It is argued that matching users’ research questions to library resources that could help answer those questions is a crucial social role played by librarians, archivists and other front line staff. However placing descriptions of what is in a collection online for users to search directly risks disintermediating the users from library staff. ‘Use centred descriptions’ are proposed as a way of systematically describing what can be done with a collection, and are, in effect, an encoding of library staff’s knowledge about what can be done with a collection. Its is therefore argued that use centred descriptions repair some of dissintermediation gaps caused by putting collection descriptions online. A theoretical motivation for use centred descriptions is presented by showing how Heaney’s (1999) analytic model of collections, which underlies the Research Support Libraries Programme (RSLP) collection description standard, only addresses finding and identifying resources. We augment this model to address selecting resources from a range of possibilities and show how use centred descriptions stem from this augmentation. A case study is presented demonstrating the experience of developing a set of use centred descriptions for the University of London as part of a project to encourage wider access to their archival holdings. The project had necessarily limited aims, and therefore conclusions are drawn about the viability of use centred descriptions in wider domains.

scholarly journals Predictors of Users’ Satisfaction with E-payment System: a Case Study of Staff at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria

Organizacija ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 272-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adeyinka Tella ◽  
Isah Abdulmumin
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Payment System ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
System A ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
The University ◽  
Perceived Speed

Abstract Background and Purpose: Many organisations are using the e-payment system; however, its effectiveness has not been determined particularly in the Nigeria context. The University of Ilorin as educational organisation started using e-payment system in 2010 and up till now there has been limited or no study conducted to examine whether or not workers are satisfied with the new payment system together with other related ones they are familiar with. It is in the light of this that this study examined users’ satisfaction with the e-payment system at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. Design/Methodology/Approach: A sample of 260 academic and non-academic staff was taken from six out 12 faculties that made up the university. Using a survey research approach data was collected with a modified questionnaire. Five research questions were developed to guide the study. Results: The results revealed that, respondents (93.5%) were adequately satisfied, satisfied and moderately satisfied, while, only (6.5%) of the respondents were less satisfied and dissatisfied. Perceived speed was identified as the characteristics users mostly satisfied with, followed by system security, traceability, and convenience. Moreover, there is significant correlation among the entire e-payment characteristics/factors (perceived speed, security, anonymity, traceability, perceived ease of payment, and convenience); and that all the six factors jointly predict users’ satisfaction with the e-payment system. In order of magnitude of the prediction/contribution to e-payment, users’ satisfaction, perceived speed made the most significant prediction/contribution. Conclusion: Based on the findings, the study concluded a considerable percentage of the respondents (93.5%) are satisfied with the e-payment system at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. In lieu of this therefore, there is need to improve the e-payment system so that all and sundry could be satisfied.

scholarly journals The Ph.D.-candidate as an information literate resource

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hilde Daland
Keyword(s):  
Reference Group ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Research Support ◽  
Teaching And Research ◽  
New Approaches ◽  
Library Resources ◽  
The Right ◽  
The University ◽  
Do So

One of Agder University Librarys goals is to support teaching and research at the University of Agder (UoA). To do so, the library should be involved in research projects and offer the right products at the right time. The spring of 2012 a survey was conducted among researchers (academic staff and Ph.D.-students) at the faculty of humanities and education at UoA as well as the library staff. Aditional interviews was made with the library´s research librarians and two of the Ph.D.-students. The surveys and interviews made it clear that researchers and librarians have a different conception on what research support is and should be. While librarians focus mostly on library resources, the researchers focus more generally on practical, economical and administrative help to make research possible. However, the majority answered yes to the question on the library being an important part of research support.Working closely with the researchers can help to offer the right library resources at the right time. Ph.D.-students are less likely to be set in their ways in regards to information behaviour and will often be positive to try new approaches. Also, the Ph.D.-students can be used as a reference group for developing library resources for researchers, for example subject guides. The outside perspective on the library can help to find new ways of approaching research support to make it more useful to researchers.

scholarly journals Vendor of the Month: A Marketing Collaboration

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-144
Author(s):  
Lateka Grays ◽  
James Cory Tucker
Keyword(s):  
Las Vegas ◽  
Electronic Resources ◽  
Marketing Program ◽  
Library Resources ◽  
The University ◽  
Library Marketing

Marketing library resources remains an important issue despite library reductions in staff and collections budgets. In order to maintain or expand marketing programs, libraries could do well tapping into the expertise available through the vendors supplying resources to libraries. A case study of a library marketing program called, “Vendor of the Month,” at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas explains the collaboration between the library and its vendors to increase awareness and use of selected electronic resources.

Innovation and the Value of Human Capital in a Collegiate Setting

2016 ◽  
pp. 249-274
Author(s):  
Rachel Erin Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Front Line ◽  
Academic Unit ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
University Of Wisconsin ◽  
Crucial Component ◽  
Innovation Practices ◽  
The University ◽  
Innovation Capital

This case study illustrates the value of intellectual capital measurement, specific to human capital and innovation capital within an academic unit at a University of Wisconsin System campus. Within the case study, the academic unit was audited for their innovation practices and then examined to identify the value of human capital on their front line employees. Innovation continues to be a crucial component within academia as well as organizations in general to provide a competitive advantage. Understanding the value front line employees brings to a non-profit organization in academia continues to be a growing concern for many Universities'. The case study contains three parts; an innovation audit, several models and formulas to understand the value of human capital within a particular academic unit, and an overall conclusion and recommendation will be given for the current academic unit at the University of Wisconsin System campus.

Research Support at University of Porto Libraries

2021 ◽  
pp. 121-141
Author(s):  
Augusto Ribeiro ◽  
Luís Miguel Costa ◽  
Palmira Fernandes Seixas
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Community ◽  
Global Perspective ◽  
Bibliographic Databases ◽  
Scientific Journals ◽  
Research Support ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The University ◽  
Bibliometric Studies

This case study describes the research support services provided by the libraries of the University of Porto (U.Porto). The university is composed of 14 teaching units (each with its faculty library), and each faculty has a wide range of research units. U.Porto has a high research activity, which compels libraries to keep pace with the evolving researcher needs, adapting and creating new services that respond to those requirements. From a global perspective, the overall mission of these libraries is to ensure and promote access to information resources made available by U.Porto to the academic and scientific community, both in physical and electronic supports. More specifically, this case will detail the services already provided in the context of research support, ranging from specialized training sessions in scientific publishing, reference management software, or search in bibliographic databases to the creation of thematic guides, support on the publication of scientific journals from within the university, and bibliometric studies.

scholarly journals University Students Are Unaware of the Role of Academic Librarians

2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 67
Author(s):  
Kirsty Thomson
Keyword(s):  
Critical Incident ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Post Secondary ◽  
Information Commons ◽  
Library Resources ◽  
Post Secondary Institution ◽  
Library Staff ◽  
The University

Objective – To discover students’ perceptions of information commons staff, and to determine how these perceptions influence the use of library resources. Design – Post-experience survey with one follow-up interview. Setting – The University of Sheffield, a post-secondary institution in England. Subjects – All undergraduate and postgraduate students were invited to take part. Just over 1% of the student population, or 250 students, completed the survey. Methods – Information about the survey was sent to students’ institutional email addresses. One follow up interview was carried out via email using the critical incident technique. Main Results – Students do not understand the academic roles of librarians. They are unlikely to approach library staff for academic support, preferring to turn to instructors, other students, friends, and family. Most students had positive opinions about assistance received in the Information Commons, but a small number reflected on previous bad experiences with staff, or on a fear of being made to feel foolish. The vast majority of students who did not seek help in the Information Commons stated that this was because they did not require assistance. Most students do not perceive a difference between Information Commons staff and library staff. Conclusion – Students have positive views of Information Commons staff at the University of Sheffield, but have low awareness of the roles of professional librarians. Librarians need to develop partnerships with academic staff and strengthen their presence in both physical and online learning environments to promote their academic roles.

Using Koha for cataloging and classification: a case study

2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 15-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aminat Titilola Bayero Abdussalam ◽  
Usman Ajisafe Saliu
Keyword(s):  
Participant Observation ◽  
First Century ◽  
Information Communication ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Power Failure ◽  
Library Resources ◽  
Use Of The Internet ◽  
Integrated Software ◽  
The University

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present the ways in which online cataloguing is used to provide twenty-first century library and information services to a university community in a developing country, together with the challenges and prospects of such an application. The paper aims to examine the use of the internet to catalogue and classify library materials in the University of Ilorin Library. It looks at the use of the Library of Congress Catalogue in copy cataloguing. This paper also discusses the use of Koha, a free library integrated software to classify and catalogue library resources in the University of Ilorin Library. Design/methodology/approach – The methods used are participant observation, interviews with the senior librarians in the library and visits to another library that uses Koha software. Periodical and online articles were also used to gather information to support this study. Findings – The major problem is incessant power failure and the library is planning to get a heavy and very powerful inverter and generator that can stop the disruption of work resulting from the intermittent power supply. Another setback in using Koha is that the cataloguing is being done online unlike Biblofile which is done offline. Research limitations/implications – The researchers visited only one university library in the course of the research. This is due to financial constraints. Practical implications – Information communication technology training must be taken seriously for librarians who want to remain relevant in this age of information technology. Originality/value – This study about Koha software usage is the first of its kind to be carried out in the University of Ilorin Library and will be useful to other university libraries.

Fostering and Developing Leadership Amongst Library Staff at the University of Zambia Library

2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Christine Wamunyima Kanyengo
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
Organizational Development ◽  
Organizational Transformation ◽  
Case Study Approach ◽  
Resource Constrained ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Constrained Environments ◽  
Library Staff ◽  
The University

The chapter critically describes and discusses leadership development experiences at the University of Zambia library by looking at the leadership development opportunities that are availed to library staff. It discusses the challenges of leadership development at the institution. A case study approach to make inferences on leadership development was adopted. The chapter contends that leadership development is an important aspect of organizational development in libraries, because it enables an organization to regenerate and carry on with its mission in an orderly and transformative manner. It offers insights of leadership development and organizational transformation in resource-constrained environments.

Identities in Transition: Shifting Conceptions of Home among “Black” South African University Students

2005 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bongi Bangeni ◽  
Rochelle Kapp
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
South African ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Longitudinal Case Study ◽  
Marginalized Communities ◽  
Black South African ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
University Of Cape Town ◽  
The University

Abstract:This paper is drawn from a longitudinal case study in which we are tracking the progress of twenty students as they pursue their undergraduate degrees at the University of Cape Town. In this paper we trace two first-generation university students' changing constructions of who they are and the concomitant changes in their relationship to home and university over the course of three years. We describe their struggles to present coherent “home” identities and the ways in which these identities are challenged by both the dominant discourses of the institution and by rejection by their home communities. The research questions conventional notions that students from marginalized communities are either alienated from, or uncritically assimilated into, dominant institutional discourses.

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