Title:From defining 21st century research libraries to implementing 21st century research universities In this keynote, Cornell University Librarian Anne R. Kenney argues that research libraries should focus less on measuring what they are doing and more on developing metrics that measure how well they are enabling research universities to thrive in the 21st century. This requires a paradigm shift away from the work of librarians to that of scholars and students and the development of engagement strategies based on their needs and success indicators. Among strategies she suggests are to concentrate on performance measures that are motivating the academy and to partner with those on campus who collect and assess such data. Based on this information, the library should develop strategies to intervene at points of pain and need that are inhibiting faculty and student performance, adopt automated tools and templates to scale labor intensive efforts, and to quantify goals and progress towards success that impact the university such as recruiting faculty and students, competing for external funding, and enabling new forms of research, scholarship, and creative expression. The library in the future must be prepared to answer two key questions: what does it do that promotes academic productivity and is it the most effective and efficient way to achieve that end? To succeed the library must demonstrate that it is more than a purveyor of content but an essential component of the academic knowledge infrastructure on and off campus.
Biography: Anne Kenney is the University Librarian at Cornell University recognized as a leader in international librarianship and considered one of the most brilliant minds in the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) in the United States. Active in the archival and preservation communities, Kenney is a fellow and past president of the Society of American Archivists. She currently serves on the Social Science Research Council's Committee on Libraries and Archives of Cuba and is a member of Advisory Committee of Portico, a nonprofit digital preservation service. Kenney has served as a commissioner of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (National Archives), the National Science Foundation/European Union Working Group on a Digital Preservation Research Agenda, was a member of the Clinton/Gore Transition Team, and has testified before a Senate subcommittee on government affairs. Her research interests include digital imaging, preservation, and public services in research libraries. Kenney is known internationally for her pioneering work in developing standards for digitizing library materials that have been adopted by organizations around the world, including such important archives as JSTOR, the Scholarly Journal Archive. She is the co-author of three award-winning monographs and more than 50 articles and reports. She has been the recipient of several awards, including: Yahoo en español's 2002 award in the category "Internet y computadoras"; the Society of American Archivists' Best Book Award (Leland Prize) in 1997 and 2000 for books on digital imaging for libraries and archives; the SAA Preservation Publication Award in 1995 and 2004; and the 2001 LITA/Library Hi Tech Award for Outstanding Communication in Library and Information Technology from the American Library Association. For over 15 years, she led continuing education programs in digital imaging and digital preservation that attracted participants from around the globe. She has consulted and given invited talks on all continents save Antarctica. As the chief academic and administrative officer of the university's extensive library system, Kenney leads one of the world's largest research libraries, with a total budget of over $50 million, a staff of more than 450 and close to 8 million volumes. Cornell has 20 constituent libraries located in Ithaca, Geneva (N.Y.), New York City, and Doha (Qatar), and it also actively serves scholars around the globe. Anne's presentations are listed at http://staffweb.library.cornell.edu/Presentations
Lynne M. Rudasill, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
Title: Riding the Waves or Caught in the Tide – The IFLA Trend Report The IFLA Trend Report was published in August of 2013 to provide library and information professionals with a view of the possible futures for the information society. Experts from many parts of the Information Society were called together to explore societal and technological changes that might be driving society in the distant and not-so-distant future. These individuals, coming from a variety of commercial, governmental and organizational backgrounds, provided IFLA with a broader view of the global information environment. The trends identified included new technologies, online education, privacy and data protection, hyper-connected societies and the transformation of the global information environment. Some of the trends will be familiar to all of us, and some not as apparent. But the Trend Report was not meant to be a static document. In addition to exploring the trends highlighted in this report, and other related reports, we will discover the ways in which the report can be used to advance consideration of the future of libraries and the ways in which we can enrich this report with our own experiences and knowledge.
Biography: Lynne Marie Rudasill is an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she is the first full-time Global Studies Librarian. She is embedded in the Center for Global Studies and specializes in global studies, European Union studies, arms control, political science and U.N. serial documents. She serves as the Chair of the Library’s Area Studies Division as a member of the newly created International and Area Studies Library. She is Chair of the Professional Committee of the Governing Board of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and has co-chaired IFLA satellite conferences in Toronto, Canada (2008) and Havana, Cuba (2011). Her areas of research focus on the changes in scholarly communication, including the impact of electronic resources on library services and the impact of grey or fugitive literature on academic publishing and open access. She is also very active in exploring human-computer interactions in the development of accessible and flexible web resources that focus on the library user in a large academic environment.
Sessions
SESSION TITLE: LibQUAL+™ Reliability and Validity of LibQUAL+™ Scores for Different Language Translations Authors: Nisa Bakkalbasi, Columbia University Libraries and Information Services, USA, and Martha Kyrillidou, Association of Research Libraries (ARL), USA Abstract: LibQUAL+™ is a suite of services that libraries use to solicit, track, understand, and act upon users’ opinions of service quality as measured along three dimensions: Affect of Service, Information Control and Library as Place. These services were developed on the basis of numerous studies and an extensive research program developed by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) in partnership with Texas A&M University Libraries. The program’s centerpiece is a rigorously tested Web-based survey, also known as ’22 items and a box.’ LibQUAL+™ has expanded internationally, with participating institutions in many different countries. In this paper we will focus our analysis on data translated in languages in the regions that are close to Turkey geographically, namely we will focus on the LibQUAL+ translations in Greek, Hebrew and Arabic. This paper will describe (a) the historical context in translating the LibQUAL+™ in other languages, (b) an overview of the functionality of the current web interface in handling different languages, and (c) a reliability and validity analysis for the following language versions: Greek, Hebrew and Arabic. As Thompson has indicated before tests are not reliable or valid. It is rather the scores (and not the tests) that can be analyzed for reliability and validity purposes to determine whether a specific measurement has produced valid and reliable scores in the context of its specific implementation. The importance of the contextual elements of measurement are more obvious when one is dealing with translations of an instrument, i.e. linguistic variations of constructs that are hypothesized to have universal dimensions across languages and cultures. In the LibQUAL+™ context as libraries from other countries approached ARL to implement different language variations of the instrument, the need to systematically understand whether the new versions of the survey instrument created are measuring the same constructs as the original instrument was a key question that needs to be answered. Understanding whether a translated instrument has produced reliable and valid scores in some ways is similar to studying the reliability of two parallel test forms that are hypothesized to be equivalent. Historical context for introducing new languages in LibQUAL+™ In 2003, LibQUAL+™ was implemented for the first time in two different language variations, British English and Canadian French. The British English implementation was initiated as a partnership between ARL and SCONUL. The Canadian French implementation was led by the two ARL member institutions, Laval and Montreal, that are located in Quebec. The reliability and validity of these scores has already been reported in previously published studies. In 2004, LibQUAL+™ was implemented again in British English and Canadian French in addition to a Continental French variation, as well as, two new language translations, Swedish and Dutch; additionally, in 2005 the survey instrument was also implemented in Africans. The Continental French version of the survey was developed through the French library that participated in LibQUAL+™ through the European Business Schools Librarians Group (EBSLG) and used as its parent instrument the British English version of the survey. The Swedish and Dutch versions on the other hand used as the parent language the American English version of the instrument. From earlier published research we had established that the two English versions, the British and American, had produced scores that are equally reliable and valid in measuring the three dimensions of library services quality that LibQUAL+™ describes, affect of service, information control and library as place. The Swedish implementation was led by a group of academic libraries but in addition to those we had three Swedish hospital libraries. The Dutch implementation was led by an academic institution. In 2005, we also translated the instrument in Africaans as a group of academic libraries in South Africa expressed the desire to implement LibQUAL+™ in 2005. In more recent years, the instrument has been translated in Hebrew for implementation by the University of Haifa in Israel, in Greek for implementation by the University of Cyprus in Larnaca, Cyprus, and in Arabic for implementations in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The translation process In developing the translation process for other languages, we studied the practices of Canada, a bilingual nation, that supports all official documents in two languages, English and French. As reported in earlier articles, we follow a process where the institution interested in implementing LibQUAL+™ in another language assumes the responsibility of developing the first translation or modification to its existing linguistic variation. We describe this process in more detail in the paper. Once the ‘participating library’ provides the translation to ARL, we go through a reverse translation in the ARL offices usually by hiring an outside translation office. We compare whether the meaning of the translated items seems to be similar to the meaning of the original and clarify any additional questions that may arise with the ‘participating library.’ Once we are satisfied with the language clarifications, we load the items on the website and the ‘participating libraries’ have the opportunity to review these items on the web. Changes to the text are harder to implement once the items are loaded to the database. The online interface allows for multiple parallel language implementations. The University of Cyprus implemented the survey in three different languages simultaneously (Greek, Engish and French) which is the largest number of languages an institution used to this date. Reliability and Validity Analysis This paper reports the results of reliability and validity analysis of the scores of the Greek, Hebrew and Arabic implementations. Conclusion LibQUAL+™ has brought about a revolution in the evaluation of libraries. It has roots in extensive research that has taken place in the services marketing field and libraries over the last two decades with various modifications and applications of the SERVQUAL tool, the parent of LibQUAL+™ over the 1990s. While the foundational mission of research libraries is shifting, LibQUAL+™ is an evaluation tool that shifts the emphasis from the ‘book’ to the ‘user’ in an effort to help libraries keep in touch with the changing landscape from a user’s perspective. In a book bound culture and tradition were libraries have their roots, the shift from studying books to studying people at the scale that the web-based LibQUAL+™ protocol has afforded us across hundreds of libraries and thousands of users is a conception that challenges our institutional, political and economic boundaries. It is striking how users in the multitude of contexts where we have applied LibQUAL+™ surface consistently valid and reliable scores along the three dimensions of library service quality: library as place, information control and affect of service. The need to mobilize our thinking to implement the management philosophy that the application of LibQUAL+™ calls for is a formidable challenge for the future of research libraries around the globe.
References
Philip J. Calvert. “International Variations in Measuring Customer Expectations”, Library Trends, (Spring 2001): 49 (4) 718-731.
Cook, Colleen C. and Fred Heath. “Users’ Perceptions of Library Service Quality: A ‘LibQUAL+™’ Qualitative Study.” Library Trends, 49 (2001): 548-84.
Cook, Colleen C. and Bruce Thompson. “Psychometric Properties of Scores from the Web-based LibQUAL+™ Study of Perceptions of Library Service Quality.” Library Trends, 49 (2001): 585-604.
Colleen Cook, Fred Heath, Martha Kyrillidou and Duane Webster. “The forging of concensus: a methodological approach to service quality assessment” Proceedings of the4th Notrhumbria International Conference on Performance Measurement in Libraries and Information Services. Washington, DC: Association of Research Libraries, 2002.
Martha Kyrillidou and Fred Heath. “The Starving Research Library User: Relationships Between Library Institutional Characteristics and Spring 2002 LibQUAL+(TM) Scores” Journal of Library Administration, 40 (3/4), 2004:1-12.
Martha Kyrillidou, Toni Olshen, Fred Heath, Claude Bonnelly, Jean-Pierre Cote. Cross-cultural implementation of LibQUAL+™: the French language experience Paper presented at the 5th Northumbria International Conference, Durham, UK, July 29, 2003.
Bruce Thompson, Colleen Cook and Russel L. Thompson, “Reliability and Structure of LibQUAL+™ Scores: Measuring Perceived Library Service Quality” portal: Libraries and the Academy 2(1) (2002): 3-12.
LibQUAL+ Trends: Faculty and student perceptions and expectation in ARL research libraries, 2003-2011 Authors: Martha Kyrilidou, Association of Research Libraries (ARL), USA, and Nisa Bakkalbasi, Columbia University Libraries and Information Services, USA Abstract: LibQUAL+™ is a metric that captures key dimensions of library service quality, namely Affect of Service, Library as Place and Information Control. LibQUAL+™’s primary role may be to monitor our user base and ensure that we continue to meet their needs and expectations, while we launch and design new buildings, new methods of teaching, new ways of understanding the world, and new ways of deploying our resources. In that sense LibQUAL+™ may be part of the established toolkit. In this paper we discuss key trends on perceptions and expectations in faculty and undergraduate students in key questions representing the three dimensions of library service quality. Using Columbia University Library as a case study, we illustrate peer comparison capability of the LibQUAL+™. Results Based on many thousands of responses, we can articulate with some confidence that user needs and expectations for undergraduate students and faculty are changing, sometimes in very different ways. Affect of Service: Giving users individual attention • Undergraduates are not very interested in receiving individual attention • Among all respondents, a slight decline in Minimum score, a sharper decline in Desired score, and a slight increase in Perceived score contributed to a widening positive adequacy gap and a declining negative superiority gap. Library as Place: Community space for group learning and group study • Marked difference in expectations • Undergraduates, along with library staff, have significantly higher Desired and Minimum scores than other groups, while faculty rate this item lower than any other. Information Control: Print and/or electronic journal collections I require for my work • Highest average Desired rating of any subgroup (faculty) • Undergraduate students display a positive adequacy gap for all years; faculty have a significant negative adequacy gap, because even though their Perceived response is trending upward, their Minimum is also rising sharply. Conclusion We conclude that we have plenty of data to understand major differences between key constituent groups. As we change our services, our spaces, and our organizational structures we look forward to continuing to track our users’ sentiments towards our ability to provide high-quality services. Looking at the aggregated results from a particular library point of view, using the same instrument over time and across institutions is enormously important, particularly for those who are interested in conducting longitudinal research. Future Research We hope to be able to explore further how design work and LibQUAL+™’ data can enhance the quality of library and information services. References Cook, Colleen C. and Fred Heath. “Users’ Perceptions of Library Service Quality: A ‘LibQUAL+™’ Qualitative Study.” Library Trends, 49 (2001): 548-84. Cook, Colleen C. and Bruce Thompson. “Psychometric Properties of Scores from the Web-based LibQUAL+™ Study of Perceptions of Library Service Quality.” Library Trends, 49 (2001): 585-604.
SESSION TITLE: Collaboration of Cultural Organisations towards Quality and Impact: The Difference that the Cultural Institutions Can Make Coordinators: Beatrice Albeida Esteban, National Library of Spain, Markku A. Laitinen, National Library of Finland, Sharon Markless, King’s College London, Jurgita Rudzioniene, Vilnius University, Lithuania and David Streatfield, Principal, Information Management Associates, UK Scope & rationale: The evidence of impact and value of cultural organizations may be of crucial importance for them to survive in the current economic climate. Good statistics may give a sound basis for the analysis of the operations of the cultural organizations but as such, they are not a sufficient tool for impact evaluation. So, it is necessary to move beyond the traditional performance measurement and to put the focus on the difference that the cultural organizations make. The new tools of analyzing efficiency, impact and outcomes combine different types of results of analysis and data giving better data and information for advocating, marketing and managing as well as demonstrating the impact of the cultural organizations. Proposals on the topics around the theme are welcome.
List of papers: 1. Quality and Value of Library Services from a User’s Perspective: The Case of National and University Library in Ljubljana, Slovenia Authors: Melita Ambrožič, Deputy Director for Ljubljana University Library System, National and University Library, Ljubljana, Slovenia & Damjana Vovk, Head of Lending and Document Supply Department, National and University Library, Ljubljana, Slovenia 2. Clients' Perspective - Qualitative Methodologies for Gathering Data to Support Decision Making in a Modern Research Library Author: B.A. Grazyna Tydda, Macquarie University Library, State Library of NSW, Sydney, Australia 3. Statistics for Assuring Evaluation Sustainability: The Case of Lithuanian Cultural Sector’s Organisations Author: Dr. Jurgita Rudžionienė, Vilnius University, Institute of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Communication, Lithuania 4. Moving towards Better Qualitative Evaluation of the Impact of Libraries Authors: David Streatfield, Principal, Information Management Associates, UK & Sharon Markless, Senior Lecturer in Higher Education, King’s Learning Institute, King’s College London, UK
SESSION TITLE:Linking research and practice: the synergies and their relevance to practise, policy and academia Coordinator: Maria G. N. Musoke, Professor of Information Science and University Librarian, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, East Africa Scope & rationale: As we enter an age of partnership, research and building on the synergies to impact service delivery, practising librarians who conduct research or researchers who do research related to the practise of academic librarianship to contribute papers for sharing innovative experiences and learning from best practices. We need two more presenters from the rest of the world to join us.
List of papers: 1. The changing IT trends: are academic libraries coping? Authors: Maria G. N. Musoke, Prof. of Information Science & University Librarian, Makerere University, Timothy Sentamu, Systems Administrator, Makerere University Library, Andrew Mwesigwa, Academic Librarian, Makerere University Library Abstract: Since the 1990’s, there has been a proliferation of Information Technologies (ITs) in the Ugandan higher education sector with Makerere University (Mak) taking the lead at a national level. Since then, IT services and facilities have been gradually improving in quality and quantity in most institutions and at a personal level. By 2013, Makerere University Library (Maklib) alone had over 520 Personal Computers (PCs) in its bid to integrate ITs in all library functions. However, in recent times, there has been evidence of own laptops’ usage by Maklib users. In response to this trend, Maklib redesigned space in 2012 in order to provide data points to accommodate laptop users as the wireless connection infrastructure could no longer handle the exponentially increased user population at Maklib. The paper reports findings of a quantitative study that investigated whether Maklib computers were still needed by library users. After a preliminary survey that revealed that 45% of all library users used IT facilities (29% used Maklib PCs, 19% own laptops, while 1% used Maklib OPAC terminals), and the rest were engaged in private study or discussion in the Group study facilities. The study highlighted reasons for the preferred IT facilities and its implications for policy on academic library service delivery. The findings confirmed that the majority of library users still needed the PCs provided by Maklib for various reasons. Keywords: IT usage, Computers in Libraries, Academic Libraries, Makerere University library 2. The correct language for local publications in East Africa: a qualitative inquiry into subject cataloguing Author: Eliz Nassali State, Senior Librarian, Makerere University Library Abstract: Libraries are known as spaces of control. Among the different controls is the linguistic control through controlled vocabulary aimed at providing users a consistent access to information. However, despite the well intentioned standard, publications outside the Western world are forced to fit under guise of universal standards to the detriment of users who are incognisant of the prescribed language. The Eurocentric nature of the subject headings does not favour local publications and instead hinders access to critical research for national development. A qualitative study was carried out at PhD level. The methods included interviews, document reviews and observations. Data was transcribed and manually coded. The findings indicate the following: Adherence to cataloguing standards takes precedence over subject access. Rarely, is a user, the focus of subject term choice in the process of cataloguing. The terms assigned to local publications are generally too broad and at times border on inappropriateness to adequately represent the local publications. The situation is exacerbated by lack of documented cataloguing policies and a waning interest in cataloguing work among the professionals. A model to improve the cataloguing process is proposed. Keywords: Subject cataloguing, Controlled vocabulary, Local publications, Subject access 3. The effect of space re-organisation on Makerere University Library service delivery Author: Patrick Sekikome, Makerere University Library 4. Inclusiveness: the provision of information service to persons with disabilities at Makerere University library Author: Monica Naluwoza, Makerere University Library Abstract: Makerere University Library’s (MakLib) mission is to meet the study, teaching, research and outreach information needs for sustainable development. Its primary users are the University students, although it also serves other users like the University academic staff, administrative staff, support staff and the external users. Among the users are the different persons with disabilities (PWDs). In the last ten years, Makerere University Library has introduced several different services for its users in order to fulfil its mission and remain relevant. These include services to the PWDs among others. The problem is, there has never been an evaluation of these special MakLib services to the PWDs ever since they were introduced. The major objective of the study was to assess the MakLib services to the PWDs. The study therefore presents findings from a survey to persons with disabilities at Makerere University Library. It highlights the different services MakLib offers to the PWDs, challenges faced, as well as recommendations. The researcher used both a qualitative and quantitative research design. The qualitative research design was used to explore all the aspects of library services for persons with disabilities. The quantitative research design was used to actually find out from the library users (PWDs) through a survey questionnaire of the service delivery at MakLib. The emphasis on the analysis was based on data gathered from the questionnaires. Key findings indicated that MakLib has done a lot in the provision of information services to the PWDs. One particular user reports that “compared to when I joined Makerere University in 2000, there is substantial improvement on PWDs facilities”. It is against this background therefore that, this study also presents the importance of assessing all the other special services offered at MakLib for awareness, better access and improvement. Recommendations were put across to the library management for better service delivery to persons with disabilities. Keywords: Information services and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)
5. Users Awareness, Perceptions and Utilization of Makerere University Main and Selected Branch Libraries Author: Lydia Namugera, Makerere University Library Abstract: Demonstrating values for university stakeholders has become an increasingly important activity in academic libraries around the world. The concept of library services and values can be defined as value for users in the level of support and services provided; value for the parent institution in contribution to institutional missions and goals; or economic value for return on investment. The purpose of this study was to investigate awareness, perceptions and usage of Makerere University Library Services in the Main Library and two selected Branch Libraries so as to determine whether users are fully aware of the various services, as well as their perceptions and actual usage of these services. The study adopted a qualitative approach using descriptive statistics to capture the library users’ views about library services with particular references to users’ awareness, perceptions, and usage of library services, and the data were collected and triangulated via a series of interviews. The findings from the study showed that major category of library users are undergraduate students; that more users visit the Main Library compared to the other two branch libraries; highlights a poor rating of awareness of a significant number of library services, yet usage of library and information services has a direct linkage to awareness of users about those services; showed a good rating of the quality of services provided by MakLib; as well as a good rating of the quality of services that are provided by MakLib staff. To address some of the issues raised by the findings, this study recommended promotion and marketing of library services using diverse approaches in order to enhance users’ awareness and increase usage of all library services; continuous improvement of the end-user training programme needs to be engaged; ensuring that there are sufficient networked computers with fast Internet connectivity in the Libraries; funding should be increased to MakLib to enable establishment of appropriate IT infrastructure; and finally, subscription to online electronic resources should be increased to address increasing demands
SESSION TITLE: Changing Reading Practices in Academia Coordinators: Irene Lopatovska and Cristina Pattuelli, Pratt Institute, USA Scope & rationale: The session will host several student and faculty papers reporting the results of the ongoing multi-stage project that examine reading practices and reading technology in several academic libraries in the New York City. During the last conference in Rome, our project was represented by 3 posters (Bronner & Rad, 2013; Foster, et al., 2013; Lange, 2013) and a paper (Lopatovska & Pattuelli, 2013). The current phase of the project have resulted in multiple papers that are being submitted individually: we would like to integrate them all under the unified umbrella of a Special Session. The paper topics fall under the conference themes #4 (Changes in Learning, Research and Information needs and Behaviour of Users), #21 (Library change and Technology) and #29 (Technology & Innovations in Libraries and their Impact on Learning, Research and Users) and discuss various aspects of students’ academic work habits along with connected reading practices, supporting tools and services. The specific information about the panellists and the content of the panel will be provided after the acceptance of individual paper submissions to the conference, specific content and structure of the proposed Special Session will be submitted at the later time.
Keywords: Reading practices, Academic libraries, Technology adoption, College students, Human information behaviour
References
Bronner, C. and Rad, F. (2013). Use of focus group method for investigating emerging phenomenon: the case of e-books. Proceedings of the 5th Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries International Conference (QQML 2013), 4-7 June, Rome, Italy. Foster, A. O’Connell, K., White, A. & Pattuelli, M. C. (2013). Investigating Reading Preferences of University Students in New York City: A Qualitative Study. Proceedings of the 5th Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries International Conference (QQML 2013), 4-7 June, Rome, Italy. Lange, L. (2013). Understanding e-book adoption as the diffusion of innovation. Proceedings of the 5th Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries International Conference (QQML 2013), 4-7 June, Rome, Italy. Lopatovska. I. & Pattuelli, M. C. (2013). Understanding complex phenomena through an educational lens: the case of fluid reading. Proceedings of the 5th Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries International Conference (QQML 2013), 4-7 June, Rome, Italy.
List of papers: 1. Real-time Reading: A Twitter-based Diary Study of College Students Authors: M. Cristina Pattuelli, Elizabeth Kaufer, Gina Shelton, and Storey Sitwala, Pratt Institute 2. Print, Electronic, or Both? A study on the preferences and habits exhibited by student populations in New York City Authors: Peter Nicholas Otis and Ashley Kelleher, Pratt Institute Abstract: This paper reports a selection of findings from research exploring the habits and preferences of students accessing textual content in different formats (e.g., print or electronic text, etc.) as well as on multiple technological platforms (e.g., laptop computers, tablets, textbook, etc.) when performing scholarly activities. Data was collected through a series of methods, 1) a longitudinal diary study, conducted over the course of an approximate two month period from September through November 2013; and 2) observations of student populace in four institutional settings; and 3) interviews conducted with students from these local populations. Analysis of a selection of results indicated that students primarily access eBooks due to their availability as either been provided or promoted by their instructors, a conclusion that is also discussed field literature (RJ Coley et.al., 1997). Yet unexpectedly, results suggest that students most strongly value the ability to directly engage and interact with multiple resources—including print and profoundly electronic—in ways that are ultimately both spatial and tangible. When asked to describe their feelings toward the use of electronic reading devices in the survey, respondents most frequently and strongly described annotating activities (the ability to mark up a document according to the user’s needs, including highlighting, book-marking and note-writing) and a preference for larger or more expansive interfaces in computer screens (in order to provide for simultaneous visibility/accessibility of multiple documents). These trends are enforced by data collected during the observation. Further research engaging the fields of user experience focused on multi-interface engagement as well as cognition show potential to add further value to these findings (Liu, 2005, and Holsonova, et.al 2009).
3. A Model of Reading in Academia: Relationships among Academic Tasks, Information-seeking Stages and Reading Strategies Authors: Deanna Sessions and Storey Sitwala, Pratt Institute Abstract: The paper will report on one dimension of the larger study, “Exploring the use of e-books: an investigation of reading habits and practices in academia,” that explored academic reading and working habits in the digital age. The larger study was conducted at four New York-based universities and utilized a mixed-qualitative and quantitative methodology to collect a rich body of data on undergraduate and graduate students’ reading habits as well as strengthen the validity of our findings. Data collection methods used in the study included an online diary; semi-structured interviews; observations; and an online questionnaire. The study design was informed by models of human information behavior (Ellis 1989, Kuhlthau 1991, Foster 2004), pedagogical theories of reading (Adler 1998, Holschuh 2000, Hubbard & Simpson 2003, Roberts & Roberts 2008, Liu 2010), and the literature on the adoption and functionality of e-books and e-readers (Lopatovska et al 2013). This paper will examine the relationship between academic tasks, information-seeking strategies and reading behaviors. It will report on findings drawn from an online questionnaire and observations. It will explore the relationship among the following constructs: information needs; information-seeking task; types of information resources used; reading behaviors; specific uses and preferences for information devices and their features. The findings have led to the development of an academic reading model that describes the relationships among academic task, information-seeking actions, reading strategies and associated sentiment. Our findings indicate the presence of relationships among an individual’s academic tasks, reading and information requirements, information-seeking strategies and reading styles. Furthermore, the paper will also discuss how these relationships develop at different temporal stages of the information seeking process. For example, participants have reported that in the early stage of writing a brief report (academic task), they are identifying the type of information needed (information requirement to satisfy the task), selecting information resources (information-seeking strategy), thinking about a topic, and looking for specific facts (reading strategies). In addition to proposing a model, this paper will provide insight into both the methodological challenges encountered during the study and opportunities for future studies. Findings and recommendations from this paper can inform work in several areas, including: a) education arena to inform decisions related to curriculum development; b) libraries’ collection development and services decisions; c) academic publishing in relation to content development based on academic work demands and information practices; and d) software design to support diverse types of academic reading tasks and processes. References Ellis, D. (1989). A behavioral approach to information retrieval design. Journal of Documentation. 46: 318-338. Foster, A. (2004). A nonlinear model of information-seeking behavior. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology. 55(3). 228-237. Retrieved December 2, 2013, from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/asi.10359/pdf. Kuhlthau, C.C. (1991). Inside the search process: information seeking from the user's perspective. Journal of the American Society for Information Science. 42: 361-371. Adler, A. et al. (1998). A diary study of work-related reading: design implications for digital reading devices. In Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI '98).) ACM: New York, NY. 241-248. Holschuh, J.P. (2000). Do as I say, not as I do: high, average, and low-performing students’ strategy use in biology. Journal of College Reading and Learning, 31(1), 94-108. Hubbard, B. & Simpson, M. (2003). Developing self-regulated learners: putting theory into practice. Reading Research and Instruction, 42(4), 62-89. Liu, Feng. (2010). Reading Abilities and Strategies: A Short Introduction. International Education Studies, 3(3), 153-157. Lopatovska, I., Pattuelli, M.C., Lange, L. & Ludas Orlofsky, V. (2013). E-books in Academia: Expectations and Challenges. Proceedings of the i-Conference: Scholarship in Action: Data • Innovation • Wisdom, Feb. 12-15 2013. Fort Worth, TX. Roberts, J. C., & Roberts, K. A. (2008). Deep Reading, Cost/Benefit, and the Construction of Meaning: Enhancing Reading Comprehension and Deep Learning in Sociology Courses. Teaching Sociology, 36(2), 125-140. 4. SWOT Analysis of Emerging Technology: The Aase of E-books Authors: Lisa Peet, Dan Nishimoto, Josephine Evans, Jessica Harwood, and Irene Lopatovska, Pratt Institute Abstract: In keeping up with the growing number of information technology innovations, information professionals face the challenge of navigating and making sense of a vast amount of information. One of the tools that can help evaluate new technology is SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats). SWOT is a strategic planning technique for evaluating a product, service, project, or organization, and is widely used in business and academia to identify areas of strategic development. An example of SWOT application for the analysis of information technology can be found in Joe Fernandez’s (2009) report of social media use in libraries. This article will aim to 1) understand the key characteristics of academic e-book using the SWOT framework; and 2) outline strengths and weakness of this framework for assessing information technology in general. The article will illustrate that application of the SWOT technique for understanding emerging technology enables structuring of the vast amounts of information about this technology into cohesive and actionable clusters. Within the SWOT framework, the Strengths and Weaknesses clusters summarize information pertaining to the technology itself, while the Opportunities and Threats clusters link technology to the broader socio-economic context. In the reviewed e-book example, the SWOT helps to identify the embedded features of e-book technology that make it desirable or undesirable for academic libraries and their users; it also outlines external factors (reading culture, legal and business realities) affecting the current and future uses of this technology. Such structured, summative review of emerging technology provides a useful tool for instruction (e.g., for gaining familiarity with the new tools) and decision making (e.g. collection development decisions). The framework can be applied for evaluating various component of the emerging technology, from the analysis of technology and its functionality to the broader practices and communities around it. The use of SWOT does not require extensive training and can be done within a short timeframe. The limitations of SWOT include a) inability to identify the significance of one item over the other (e.g., is accessibility a more “important” e-book feature than usability?); b) subjectivity of the information selection process that reflects participants’ biases; c) requirement for keeping information updated in order to maximize its validity and accuracy for decision making. Despite these limitations, SWOT offers a viable technique for evaluating and understanding emerging information technologies and can be applied in various contexts. Keywords: SWOT, Strategic planning, Technology adoption, Information use, Reading practices, Academic libraries References Fernandez, J. (2009). A SWOT analysis for social media in libraries. Library Staff Publications. 5. Eat, Rest, Work: A Case Study of Four Academic Libraries Author: Irene Lopatovska, Pratt Institute As the number of academic digital collections and specific tools for accessing digital content increases, we examined whether students are still using library spaces to conduct research and prepare for courses. For the study, we collaborate with four colleges in a greater New York City area and conducted several observations in the public areas of these institutions’ academic libraries. In addition to observations, we conducted on-site semi-structured interviews with students, and collected information about specific projects and academic tasks students were working on in the library, the type of information resources and technology they used to access content required for their academic projects, levels of satisfaction with these resources and technology, as well as specific services available through their academic library. We observed library spaces at different times of the day and days of the week, and always noted a high number of students being involved in a wide variety of activities directly related to students’ academic tasks, including reading print and digital materials, writing, working with a variety of media (e.g. books, iPads, mobile phone, laptops), interact with librarians. We also observed students using library spaces to rest, eat, socialize with other students, and engage in other types of activities not directly connected to their academic tasks. This observation is supported by the literature exploring the coexistence of social and learning cultures within academic library spaces (Gayton, 2008). Overall, we found that students were satisfied with the resources and services offered by their academic libraries. Most of the interviewees identified a strong preference for working with print media due to decreased eyestrain (compare to digital media), ease of highlighting and annotating texts (even in library books); in some cases, when students needed make print content portable, they made print copies or photographs of the content on their mobile phones for future use. Similarities and differences between the four academic libraries affiliated with different types of colleges (private/public; variations in students’ demographic characteristics and disciplinary composition), are also discussed. Keywords: Human information behaviour, Information use, Reading practices, Academic libraries, Library space, Technology adoption References Gayton, J. T. (2008). Academic Libraries: “Social” or “Communal?”, The Nature and Future of Academic Libraries. Journal of Academic Libraries, 34(1), 60–66.
SESSION TITLE: Perceived Outcomes of Public Libraries in Various Countries Coordinator: Professor Pertti Vakkari, School of Information Sciences, University of Tampere, Finland Scope & rationale:
Outcomes are the benefits a system or service produces to its users. This session focuses on the perceived benefits that the users of public libraries derive from the services provided. An instrument for measuring these benefits systematically across twenty two areas of life was created. It was applied in a nationwide representative survey in Finland. The instrument was validated in nationwide representative surveys in Norway, the Netherlands, USA and South Korea. Results from the surveys covering various aspects of the perceived benefits are presented and compared in the session.
List of papers: 1. Outcome and Role of Public Libraries: The Case of Norway Authors: Professor Svanhild Aabø & Professor Ragnar Audunson, Oslo and Akershus College of Applied Sciences, Norway Abstract: How are public libraries in Norway used by the inhabitants in the local communities, and by whom? To investigate these questions, representative samples of the population in three townships of Oslo were surveyed both in 2006 and in 2011. The three townships have markedly different demographic profiles. Multivariate regression analyses were performed to analyze the differences in the responses. The findings in the two surveys are strikingly consistent and similar. The library as a learning arena is ranked as its most important role. More surprisingly is the finding that the library as a place where one can be alone but not feel lonely is ranked as number two. Its third most important role is as a cross-wise meeting place in the local community. Assembly buildings such as sports arenas, indoor swimming pools, community and cultural centers are ranked as the most important meeting places in the local communities. The local schools are ranked as number two and the local library branch is ranked as number three. The local shopping center and religious meeting places are significantly less important local community meeting places. The respondents’ trust to different democratic institutions are measured using an 11-point rating scale. The local library scores highest, then comes the police and the Parliament scores as number three of nine institutions. The study contributes to understanding the role of the public library in a digital and multicultural context provision. Keywords: Public libraries, Outcomes, Trust, Norway, Survey 2. Quantitative and Qualitative Methods for Measuring the Public Library’s Role as a Community Meeting Place Authors: Professor Ragnar Audunson & Professor Svanhild Aabø, Oslo and Akershus College of Applied Sciences, Norway Abstract: The social role of the public library is complex. It is related to education at all levels from kindergarten to university; it is related to cultural politics and to leisure time; it is related to social policy – to empowerment and integration of ethnic and cultural minorities etc. One dimension of the social role of libraries which has achieved increased focus over the last years, it its role as a community meeting place. That is reflected in research and it is reflected in library policies. In 2013 the Norwegian law on public libraries was revised and one of the amendments made was a paragraph stating that one of the missions of the public library is to be an independent community meeting place and arena for public debate and conversation. Measuring how the library performs and fulfills its complex mission in general and its role as a meeting place in particular is far from trivial. Norwegian research between 2006 and 2013 has tried out different methods and instruments for eliciting the library’s role as a meeting place. Within the framework of this research, one has been particularly preoccupied with the library’s role and potential as a so called low intensive meeting place, i.e. its role as a meeting place where one is exposed to other values, interests and cultures than one’s own. Both quantitative and qualitative instruments have been developed and tested out. In the course of the research three quantitative surveys, one quantitative observation, qualitative observation, focus group methods and individual in depth interviews have been conducted. In our paper we will present our experiences from using these instruments and methods. Which approaches seem to be most promising when it comes to eliciting the somewhat elusive and not so easily measured concept of the library’s role as a meeting place. Keywords: Public libraries; Meeting place; Methods; Norway 3. Perceived Outcomes of Public Library Services and Lifestyles among South Koreans Author: Dr. Nahyun Kwon, Myongji University, Seoul, South Korea Abstract: The current study undertakes the perceived outcomes of public library services in Korea using Vakkari and Serola’s (2012) scale concerning perceived benefits. Furthermore, this study also examines how a citizens’ use of a public library and her/his perceived outcomes of service uses are associated with her/his socio-economic status and life styles in the multi-media environment of the 21st century. The data of this study are collected by administering a self-reported questionnaire to a national representative sample of 1,000 adults who are 18 years old or above. The questionnaire is composed of closed-ended question items, including the Korean-translated version of Vakkari and Serola’s scale, 22-item European Social Survey’s value scale measuring life styles (Davidov, Schmidt, & Schwartz, 2008), variables measuring media use and media perceptions, and basic socio-demographic variables. The presentation reports the results of the study that investigates the following four specific research objectives: 1. Investigate the extent the general adults in South Korea perceive the benefits from their using the public library services in the 22 areas of their life. 2. Identify the characteristics of the South Koreans’ public library use and service perceptions by comparing the study results with Vakkari and Serola’s Finnish study (2012) 3. Investigate the extent the South Korean citizen’s perceived outcomes of public library services are associated with their socio-demographic factors and life styles in the multiple media environment 4. Examine the replicability of the Vakkari and Serola’s scale and scale’s usefulness in South Korean cultural setting The study results are to inform the status quo of public library services in Korea and the areas where universal public library services are lacking. Keywords: Perceived outcomes, Public library services performance measurement, Lifestyles, South Korea 4. Demographic Differences in Perceived Outcomes of U.S. Public Libraries Author: Dr. Sei-Ching Joanna Sin, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Abstract: Although there are studies on the usage and importance of public library resources and services in the United States, few studies have examined the benefits that U.S. public libraries bring to the nation’s population. To address this gap, the current study surveyed over 1,000 U.S. adults nationwide on how they perceive the outcomes of public libraries. This presentation will discuss the findings on perceived outcomes in different aspects of life, such as in education, work, everyday activities, and leisure. It will also examine the demographic differences in perceived outcomes and explore the implications of these findings on U.S. public library service provision. Keywords: Public libraries, Outcomes, United States, Survey 5. Modeling the Perceived Outcomes of Public Libraries in Finland Author: Professor Pertti Vakkari, University of Tampere, Finland Abstract: The benefits of public libraries as perceived by adults in everyday activities, in cultural activities and in career are modeled by linear regression analysis and by path analysis. The data is based on a representative sample of 1000 Finnish adults ranging from 15 to 79 years. The models include variables measuring citizens’ demographics, book reading, Internet use and library use. The models explain 27 % - 32 % of the variation in the three benefit types observed. The role and the explanatory power of the factors included in the models vary to a certain extent between the benefit types. Keywords: Public libraries, Outcomes, Models, Finland 6. Perceived Impacts of the Public Library on the Dutch: Findings from a National Survey Authors: Marjolein Oomes, Netherlands Institute for Public Libraries, The Hague, Netherlands & Frank Huysmans, Science, Media Studies, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands Abstract: As part of a research program to develop outcome measurements for public libraries, a survey questionnaire was devised to assess the perceived impacts of the public library of Dutch library users aged 13-87. Ca 1000 library users and 500 non-users were interviewed about their personal benefits and about their perception of the impacts the public library has to the community and society at large. Impacts were grouped in 5 domains: educational, social, economic, cultural, and affective. In addition, a slightly modified version of the Vakkari & Serola (2012) items about perceived impacts in every day life domains was administered. In this contribution, the main findings of the survey are presented and placed in the context of a comparison with results from Finland and Norway (Vakkari et al., forthcoming). Keywords: Public libraries, Outcome measurement, Impact assessment, Perceived benefits
How Do the Results from Various Countries Compare? Panel discussion
SESSION TITLE:Using Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Digital Library Education and Research Coordinators: Sirje Virkus, Professor, Tallinn University, Institute of Information Studies, Estonia, & Aira Lepik, Associate Professor, Tallinn University, Institute of Information Studies, Estonia Scope & rationale: This session aims to encourage the discussions and provide examples of usage of qualitative and quantitative methods in digital library research. This session comprises five papers each of them will be presented by individual authors. All five authors are related with Digital Library Learning (DILL) master programme - two are current master students, three are faculty members. Authors explore in their papers the issues related to digital library education, social, economic, educational and organizational aspects of digital libraries, and leadership issues using a quantitative and qualitative inquiry. The students' papers of this session are based on research done within their Master Thesis projects in the Digital Library Learning (DILL) programme at Tallinn University. DILL is a two-year Master Programme for information professionals who intend to work in the complex world of digital libraries. DILL is offered in cooperation between Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences (Norway), Tallinn University (Estonia), and Parma University (Italy) - http://dill.hio.no/
List of papers: 1. Exploring the Academic Libraries' Role in Research Data Management Author: Ádám Dér, Tallinn University Abstract: The management of research data has received extensive attention in the last decade, with many arguing that academic libraries are in a good position to implement such services to support the research process at universities. By applying a mixed method approach, using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews as data collection techniques, this study aimed to discover the capacity and readiness of some academic libraries in Estonia and Hungary, countries where research data management practices are only starting to emerge. Keywords: Research data management, Data curation, Academic libraries, Master thesis 2. Legal and Policy Risks for Digital Preservation Using Cloud Computing Technologies Author: Eva Montenegro Piñeiro, Tallinn University Abstract: The aim of this case study is to investigate the risks and implications that outsourcing components of a digital preservation service using cloud computing technologies might have for institutions with long-term preservation mandates, particularly in the legal and policy aspects. I will put the focus on public institutions that are currently using or considering the use of cloud-computing technologies to preserve the digital assets they are responsible for. There is a growing agreement in the professional and research community on defining digital preservation as a risk management exercise. The use of cloud computing brings in new threats and uncertainties and thus the variety of issues concerning those assets are likely to be identified and managed in terms of risks. Identifying those risks, their mitigation strategies and the implications for trust are the expected outputs of this research. Keywords: Cloud computing, Digital preservation, Long-term preservation, Trust, Risk assessment 3. Leadership and Management in Estonian Academic Libraries: Leader’s Role and Competencies Author: Sigrid Mandre, Tallinn University Abstract: There is a lot of research about academic library leadership. This research includes different sides of leaders’ activities, functions and characteristics. In most studies top leaders are examined. Only few studies have been done about middle managers. This study was designed to include both top and middle level leaders. The goal is to investigate different levels leaders’ views and understanding of their own and the other level leaders’ activities and competencies, needed for accomplishing the leader’s role. The presumption of the study is that all level leaders constitute a team, and therefore need distinct understanding of other team member’s role in the library leadership and management process. The additional research issue is leaders’ education. Is it important, that the academic library leader has a degree in library and information sciences or there is no need for professional educational background in leader’s competence? The research strategy used in this study is Grounded Theory. Grounded Theory is seldom used in academic library leadership studies. Grounded Theory is a qualitative method of social research. This approach gives opportunity to develop the concept of the leading team. The choice for using grounded theory is based on the theoretical approach, that leadership and management in organization is an integrated process. Different levels’ leaders have the role what includes specific competencies and all these roles and competencies have their purpose and place in the leadership and management process. In the presentation the use of Grounded Theory in the pilot study of the research is described. Keywords: Leadership, Management, Academic libraries, Estonia, Grounded theory 4. The Application of Human Resource Management in the Digital Library Programmes Author: Aira Lepik, Tallinn University Abstract: Human resource management (HRM) is a strategic, integrated and coherent approach to the employment, development and well-being of the people working in organizations. The overall purpose of HRM is to ensure that the organization is able to achieve success through people. HRM aims to increase organizational effectiveness and capability – the capacity of an organization to achieve its goals by making the best use of the resources available to it. In the contemporary organization, human resources - the people within an organization - are one of the primary means of creating a competitive advantage for the organization, because management of human resources affects performance. Digital Library Programmes are nowadays integrated in many library and information science (LIS) schools curricula. Recently there has been a growing interest in digital library education in almost all parts of the World. Preparing students for work in the digital environment requires set of knowledge and skills where management, particularly human resources management, is needed. Surveys of digital library education have been conducted and results analysed but there is not contemporary research focused on HRM issues in the Digital Library Programmes. The author will use her own experiences of developing the HRM module for Erasmus Mundus International Master program in Digital Library Learning students. The HRM module is designed to develop knowledge on HRM theories, practices, tools and models and to provide students analytical framework needed to understand strategic HRM approach in digital libraries. With successful completion of this module students will have depth and systematic knowledge of the nature and value, current practice and research on library HRM in the digital environment, understanding on concepts of HRM and their applications in digital environment, they will be aware of the range of issues and international trends of library HRM in digital environment. This module consists of seven topics where the overall purpose of HRM - to ensure that the organization is able to achieve success through people – discussed on the society, organizational and personal levels. Each topic contains within it a number of activities for learners to undertake - for example, short/weekly assignments and weekly discussions in the classroom. The module contains collaborative group project and an individual assignment/individual module project. This paper discusses and summarises the application of HRM in the Digital Library Programmes. The main purpose of the paper is to analyse aims, objectives, scope and learning outcomes of the topics of the HRM modules in the Digital Library Programmes, as well compare different HRM theories and models used and framework associated to understand HRM issues within the digital library. Keywords: Human Resources Management, Erasmus Mundus International Master Program Digital Library Learning, Digital Library, Curriculum 5. Student Expectations and Competencies in the Digital Library Learning/DILL Master Programme Author: Sirje Virkus, Tallinn University Abstract: This paper presents the results of the survey of the students’ expectations and competencies in the Digital Library Learning/DILL Master Programme during the period 2007-2013. Since 2007 a diagnostic analysis (DA) survey was conducted among DILL students before they started their studies in Tallinn University. The goal of the DA survey was to clarify the needs and expectations of the learners for the IKM and HRM modules with regard to the content and delivery options. It was expected that it would enable us to tailor the IKM and HRM modules in the best way to suit students’ requirements within the framework that had been set. The objectives of the DA survey were: • To gain information about the students’ existing knowledge about IKM and HRM, prior to the commencement of the module so that the module can be delivered at the right level. • To identify which topics and components of the modules, as set out in the original specification, are the most enthusiastically regarded by the participants, and which are likely to be the most useful for them in their future work. • To identify students’ preferences concerning course organisation and delivery methods. • To gain specific information about access to and familiarity with the technology available to the participants. The data was collected during the period of 2007-2013. The data collection tool was a questionnaire. The questionnaire included qualitative free text responses and a limited number of quantitative tick boxes. The DA questionnaire was divided into five sections: (i) Background Information, (ii) Course Content, (iii) Learning and Teaching Process, (iv) Technical Support and Skills, and (v) Media Preferences. The Background Information section requested demographic information including name, gender, age, country and previous job of the student. The Course Content section asked questions about previous experiences with IKM, the main authors who had influenced students’ thinking about the IKM field, familiarity with IKM topics, the most relevant topics for them, and suggestions for module content. The Learning and Teaching Process section asked questions about students’ learning experiences. The Technical Support and Skills section asked questions about the familiarity and usage of ICT tools and social software. The Media Preferences section tried to find out what is the preferred way of distributing learning materials for them, what file formats do they prefer for electronic learning materials, and what is, according to their experiences, the most effective communication channel during the course. At the end of the DA questionnaire respondents were asked to provide additional comments under the question ‘Is there anything else that you’d like us to know?’ Keywords: Digital Library Learning/DILL Master Programme, Expectations, Competencies, Diagnostic analysis survey
SESSION TITLE: Theoretical and Practical Approaches regarding Methods to Measure Information Management Instruments Coordinator: Prof. dr. Angela Repanovici, Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania Scope & rationale: In information society the roles of infodocumentary institutions are constantly changing and growing. In order for organizations to remain successful and competitive, they must ensure that the stream of knowledge is managed effectively. Information management instruments explore different practices and theories of information management instruments, providing an efficient way of sustaining knowledge to improve academic learning and enhance university library performance. In this section we invite presenters to share experiences on the level of knowledge academic in the environment about open access, copyright, information literacy to build competitive information management instruments, assessment instruments, performance indicators, managers competencies evaluation, ethical issues and information dissemination.
List of papers: 1. Binding Descriptions within a Universal Collective Catalogue Authors: Antonio Carpallo and Esther Burgos, Faculty of Documentation, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain Abstract: From several years ago, at the University Complutense of Madrid, there is a research group working on an idea of developing a textual and graphic contents management tool capable of bringing together bibliographic descriptions of artistic bindings from various institutions, following the same descriptive format for all of them. Such development should be carried out within a free software environment by using PHP programming language, MySQL as database system, and finally including Dublin Core (DC) descriptive metadata. This Artistic Binding Union Catalogue (CCEA), worldwide pioneer, is being developed within the objectives of several research projects: Santander/Complutense (2007-2008), Plan Nacional de I+D+I (2009-2011), Plan Nacional de I+D+I (2012-2014) and group BIBLIOPEGIA (research group on bindings and old books), and where some entities are also interested in participating such as, among others, the Spanish National Library, the Historical Library “Marqués de Vadecilla” (University Complutense of Madrid), the Cathedral of Toledo, the Regional Library of Castilla-La Mancha, the Historic Library of the City Council of Madrid, the Library of the Royal Academy of History and the Library of El Escorial. Keywords: Content management tools, Free software, Binding computer-based cataloguing, Research projects 2. Leadership Challenges in Academic Libraries in Moldova, Norway and Romania Authors: Angela Repanovici, Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania, Ane Landoy, University Library of Bergen, Norway Abstract: The main focus in the Moldovan-Norwegian library development project “Development of New Information Services for Moldovan Higher Economic Education”, is on developing the academic library of ASEM, Economic Academy of Science of Moldavia, for the benefit of Moldovan students and scholars. This is done in partnership between the Academy of Economic Studies, Moldova, and the University of Bergen, Norway. However, this can not be achieved without developing the library leadership as well. In this paper, the leaders of Moldovan academic libraries are investigated in order to find their attitudes to challenges, and their conception of the urgency of the challenges will be compared with similar studies of library leaders from Norway and Romania. Keywords: Norway, Moldova, Romania, Leadership, Attitudes, Challenges 3. Improving Efficiency of Services in an Academic Organization: Methods and Results Authors: Dr. Sanda Bercovici, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, David Yellyn, Academic College, Jerusalem, Israel Abstract: These methods regard both internal and external environment of the organization. The external environment is referring to the customers and the internal reflection, using surveys for human resources management processes as personal performance management, internal organizational services, knowledge and learning in the organization. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, took recent decisions to enhance its Human Resources services using a new survey to examine the staff performance serving both academic and administrative units. This lecture will analyze the method, the staff reaction and cooperation and the conclusions at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Keywords: Performance measurement and evaluation, Human Resources survey, Academic organization staff evaluation 4. How to Find what the Library Leaders Think? Authors: Ane Landøy, University of Bergen Library, Norway and Carl Gustav Johannsen, Royal School of Library and Information Science, University of Copenhagen, Denmark Abstract: In this paper the authors will show how different methods, both quantitative and qualitative, may be used to explore library leaders’ attitudes. The authors will discuss pros and cons of different methods, giving examples from their own research on Scandinavian library leaders through a decade. Keywords: Library leadership, Methods, Scandinavia 5. Indicators for Benchmarking in Norwegian Academic Libraries: Testing the Usability on Collection Data Authors: Ane Landoy, University of Bergen Library, Johanne Raade, University of Tromso Library, Harald Bohn, The Norwegian University for Science and Technology Library Abstract: In a world of rapid changes, there is a need for leadership and strategic planning based on statistical evidence - evidence based leadership. In Norway, the National Library has led the way in developing indicators for the public and the academic libraries, and these indicators may be used either longitudinally or for benchmarking within or between libraries. In this paper, the authors will give examples of the use of indicators for the usage of the university library holdings, through the traditional measurements of loans, as well as statistics on down loads of electronic books. Keywords: Norway, Academic libraries, Indicators, Usage statistics
SESSION TITLE: Information Literacy and Democratic Society Coordinator: Dr. Egbert J. Sanchez Vanderkast, Research Institute for Library and Information Studies, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico Scope & rationale: Information literacy is a kaleidoscopic theme with multiple research possibilities. In the last decade most of the topic has been related with information sharing. Since literacy can also be related with other literacy's and lifelong learning. From a democracy perspective, there is a close relationship with information and his constitutive role in society but also the process of becoming a democratic society. The objective of this session is to present those topics of considered close related to information literacy and democracy in a macro, messo and micro level.
List of papers: 1. Proposals of civil society focused on environment and climate change to promote open Government in Mexico (PAPIIT IN403113-RN40313) Author: María de los Ángeles Medina Huerta, M.L.I.S. student in Library and Information Studies in the National Autonomous University of Mexico Abstract: In 2011 Mexico acceded to the Alliance for the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in order to strengthen actions relating to transparency, access to information and the fight against corruption; in this context, has been sought to strengthen the participation of civil society in the proposals that will improve institutional practices to ensure compliance with the objectives, generating an expanded Action Plan which involved 8 OSC designated as experts on transparency and accountability, on May 31, 2012 of which only one, stands out for its focus on environment and climate change issues. This study analyzes the actions in terms of information resources and technologies of information and communication (ICT) of 3 of Civil Society Organizations, focused on environmental issues and climate change, in order to identify which can encourage the participation of citizens in the definition of public policies on these issues. Keywords: Open government partnership, Civil Society Organizations, Mexico References Azevedo, Marco Antonio de. “Informacao e interpretacao: uma leitura teórico-metodológica. In: Perspectivas em ciencia da infomracao. Vol. 9, no. 3 Mariñez Navarro, Freddy. (2007). Capital social y redes de políticas: Acciones públicas en la zona metropolitana de Monterrey, Nuevo León. Región y sociedad, 19(39), 31-54. Pérez Liñán, Aníbal. El método comparativo: fundamentos y desarrollos recientes. Política comparada.Com.ar. Documento de trabajo 1-julio de 2008 Salinas Amescua, Bertha (2007) Participación de la sociedad civil en las políticas educativas: el caso mexicano. Buenos Aires: Fundación Laboratorio de Políticas Públicas. Available in:
http://www.academia.edu/841435/Participacion_e_Incidencia_de_la_Sociedad_Civil_en_las_Politicas_Educativas Stapleton, Philip J. y Margaret A. Glover (2001) Environmental management systems: an implementation guide for small and medium-sized organizations. 2ed. Grasonville: NSF International. Zarco Mera, Carlos y Rafael Reygadas Robles Gil, coords. (2002) Incidencia pública de las organizaciones civiles en México. México : Consejo de Educación de Adultos de América Latina. 2. Information Literacy and Citizens’ Ethical Education: Mexico’s Case Author: Antonio Cobos Flores, Doctorate’s student in Library and Information Studies of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) / Director of Bachelor’s Degree in Library Sciences of the National School of Library Sciences and Archival Sciences (ENBA/SEP) Abstract: Information is an essential element in human development. In this sense, information access is a basic right for citizens’ participation in decision-making processes. In this aspect, Ethics and citizens’ Ethical education should influence personal decisions, work-related decisions, and, in a macro level, public policies related to information access and use. Since Mexico has a historical significance, cultural personality, territorial extension, and a geostrategic location, it has become a very important support. Nowadays, citizens’ participation is a fact and Ethics is a persistent factor to improve people and consequently, institutions. In the 21st century, education is crucial in people’s life because it increases development possibilities. Therefore, the aim of this study is to analyze from a public policies framework: What is Mexico’s project regarding the subject of citizens’ Ethical education from Educational National Policies linked to informational alphabetization from the framework of the Development National Plan 2013-2018, emphasizing in the development of informational skills and abilities? The methodology to be used is a cross section study of the Development National Plan 2013-2018 and the Educational National Plan of Mexico, allowing a descriptive analysis and the identification of citizens’ Ethical education. Then, this analysis may be related to the development of skills and abilities established in the informational alphabetization, achieving a link to national public policies (Development National Plan 2013-2018 and Educational National Plan). References Hernández Sampieri, Roberto (2010). “Metodología de la investigación”. – México: McGraw Hill, 613 p. México. Gobierno de la República (2013). “Plan Nacional de Desarrollo 2013-2018”. – México: Gobierno de la Republica, 183 p. México. Secretaría de Educación Pública (2011). “Plan de Estudios 2011: educación básica”. -- México: Secretaría de Educación Pública, 92 p. Savater, Fernando (1999). “Ética y ciudadanía”. – Caracas, Venezuela: Monte Ávila, 303 p. 3. Information Policies as Strategic Approaches in Informational Literacy: A Multicultural Society Author: Nayeli Gervacio Mateo, M.Sc., Doctorate’s student, Postgraduate in Library and Information Studies Postgraduate Direction, National Autonomous University of Mexico Abstract: In its proactive character, the library may develop a decisive role integrating minority groups into society through cultural interchange and informational alphabetization. In this sense, information policies should be directed to create strategic approaches considering several actors. Developing information policies, as key strategies to encourage informational alphabetization in multicultural societies from a public library’s point of view, promotes the abilities to an effective and ethical access, evaluation, and use of information. Also, an effective knowledge interaction is facilitated, accepting the value of respect for information differences and oppositions. This study deals with the value of informational alphabetization in the process, design, and implementation of information in a multicultural society comparing a Canadian and Mexican public library. The aim is to analyze the origin from each country’s point of view considering information as a strategic element of the ideological machinery of multicultural communities. Keywords: Information policies, Information literacy, Multicultural society, Strategic approaches 4. Methods to Teach, Learn, and Develop Information Literacy in Future Librarians Authors: Celia Mireles Cardenas, Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi, Veronica Soria Ramirez, Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi & National Autonomous University of Mexico Abstract: Several qualitative and quantitative methods used in subjects directly related with Users Education and Informational Alphabetization for students of Library Studies at two Mexican universities are exposed with the aim that obtained results may be a referent in other contexts. The study begins with a general description of the subjects, then, methods used and obtained results are analyzed. Finally, a consideration about the relevance of applying models from Informational Alphabetization itself, so students utilize mentioned skills in their academical-educational processes, recognizing their significance as an essential practice throughout life. Keywords: Informational literacy, Education methods in informational alphabetization, Users education References Arellano Rodríguez, Alberto. (1994). Guía para la formación de usuarios de la información. México: SEP, 102 p. Association for Teacher-Librarianship in Canada (ATLC) (1998). “Carta de los derechos del alumno en la era de la información.” Educación y Bibliotecas, 91:17. Bernhard, Paulette (2002). “La formación en el uso de la información: una ventaja en la enseñanza superior: situación actual”. Anales de Documentación (5): 409-435 Bruce, Cristhinne Susan (2003). “Las siete caras de la alfabetización en información en la enseñanza superior”. Anales de Documentación (6): 289-294 http://eprints.rclis.org/archive/00002881/01/ad0619.pdf Svinvki, Marilla D & Barbara A Schwarz (1991). Formación de profesionales y usuarios de bibliotecas: aprendizaje y diseño de instrucción. Madrid: Pirámide. 243 p. 5. Facing Internet Filtering: A Challenge for the Library Author: Jonathan Hernández Pérez, PhD Student, Library and Information Studies National Autonomous University of Mexico Abstract: Since the Internet came to the fore of public attention, debates around regulation of Internet content have become increasingly common around the world. Internet is a medium that contributes free access to information, by enabling thousands of people learn, communicate, share their ideas and make changes in their societies, but this freedom of access to information can be interrupted through the use of filtering and blocking software which attempt to block access to web sites with content such as pornography, hate speech, violence, racists or other materials that may be considered objectionable to governments or private. This paper provides a conceptual framework about this special threat against free access to information by highlighting its consequences on the library field. Keywords: Internet filtering, Censorship, Libraries, Access to information, Information policy
Workshops
WORKSHOP TITLE: The Fact-based Management and Decision-making of Libraries Orgnaizers: Jarmo Saarti, University of Eastern Finland Library, Finland and Markku Laitinen, National Library of Finland, Finland Workshop outline: The need for high-quality facts for evidence based management of change is of high importance for the restructuring of the library and information organizations. The workshop and special session will concentrate on the role of facts gathered from the library statistics and user surveys as a supporting tool for the decision-making. In the presentations, various cases and perspectives introduce to these themes. The session continues with a workshop, in which the goal is to share ideas and good practices concerning data use to the managerial purposes. Target group: Library managers and other decision-makers or planners. Schedule: Seminar, 1, 5 hours - Four presentations of 15 min + discussion (7, 5 min) Workshop, 1 hour - Compiling the results of the workshop 30 min All together 3 hours One of the presentations will be made by the organizers and the rest three presentations will be chosen among the candidates. The organizers will act as evaluators for the selection of the papers.
WORKSHOP TITLE: How to Initiate and Implement Qualitative Research Projects Successfully: Practical Hints for Library and Information Professionals Organizer: Yazdan Mansourian, PhD, Associate Professor, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran Workshop outline: This workshop introduces a wide range of useful hints for library and information professionals, who decide to design and conduct qualitative research projects. The presenter, who has several years of experience in running and teaching qualitative research methods, describes a collection of real qualitative research examples in the library and information science field. For example, he refers to his publications in this area and shares his own experiences with the participants. Furthermore, he discusses and answers the frequently asked questions about running a successful qualitative research project including: • How to select a good research topic for a qualitative approach in a real context • How to develop well focused research questions • How sampling in qualitative research differs with quantitative approach • How to collect and analyse qualitative data simultaneously • How to conceptualize and code the data to find patterns and themes • How to deal with uncertainly and exploratory nature of qualitative research • How to address credibility and trustworthiness in qualitative approach. Moreover, the workshop presents a number of useful hints for writing successful qualitative research reports. Finally, a brief description of various methodologies in qualitative research approach will be explained (e.g. Grounded Theory, Phenomenology, Ethnography, Action Research, Case Studies, Narrative Studies and Historical Research) and the similarities and differences between them will be discussed in more details.
WORKSHOP TITLE: How Do We Create a Basis for Decisions? - An E-resource Evaluation Method Project at Uppsala University Library, Sweden Organizers: Karin Byström, Uppsala University Library, Team leader, e-resources team and Satu Qvarnström, Uppsala University Library, Librarian, Coordinator of user education Workshop outline: The purpose of this workshop is to share and discuss experiences from making renewal decisions for e-resources. An adaptive evaluation method that makes it possible for libraries to combine quantitative usage statistics with qualitative aspects will also be presented. Participants in this workshop will get the opportunity to discuss how they work with quantitative and qualitative methods in evaluation of e-resources and what is important to take into consideration. Together we can come up with new ideas and share our best practices on how to work systematically with evaluation methods as a basis for renewal or cancellation decisions. In the spring of 2013 Uppsala University Library appointed a working group with the aim to find a combined qualitative and quantitative method for evaluation of the library's e-resources at renewal. Criteria were that the evaluation method be implementable with a reasonable effort, at low cost and be easily integrated into an existing workflow. Uppsala university library decided on a method which is based on the use of a matrix where various aspects of the e-resources are ranked: access, cost/benefit, width/target and unique character. It also involves faculty collaboration. We will share our experiences from the project so far; difficulties we have come across and solutions that we have come up with. Keywords: Evaluation methods, Assessment, E-resources, Qualitative methods, Quantitative methods, Collaboration, Evaluation criteria
Conference Topics
Papers are solicited in areas such as: 1. Bibliographic Control 2. Bibliometric Research 3. Change of Libraries and Managerial techniques 4. Changes in Learning, Research and Information needs and Behaviour of Users 5. Climate Change Data 6. Communication Strategies 7. Data Analysis and Data Mining 8. Development and Assessment of Digital Repositories 9. Development of Information and Knowledge Services on the Public Library 10. Digital Libraries 11. Economic Co-operation and Development 12. Energy Data and Information 13. Environmental Assessment 14. Financial strength and sustainability 15. Health information services 16. Historical and Comparative case studies related to Librarianship 17. Information and Data on various aspects of Food and Agriculture 18. Information and Knowledge Services 19. Information Literacy: Information sharing, Democracy and Lifelong Learning 20. Library Cooperation: Problems and Challenges at the beginning of the 21st century 21. Library change and Technology 22. Management 23. Marketing 24. Museums, Libraries and Cultural Organizations 25. Music Librarianship 26. Performance Measurement and Competitiveness 27. Publications 28. Quality evaluation and promotion of info 29. Technology & Innovations in Libraries and their Impact on Learning, Research and Users 30. Technology transfer and Innovation in Library management
Bibliographic Control 1. Terminology project 2. Multiple controlled vocabularies 3. Subject thesaurus 4. Bibliographic utilities 5. New cataloguing rules, RDA and MARC21
Bibliometric research 1. Bibliometrics 2. Analysis of patterns of information 3. Usage data 4. Publication data 5. Citation analysis 6. Content analysis 7. Web sites 8. Databases
Change of Libraries and Managerial techniques 1. Human resources management 2. Organizational challenges 3. Strategic management 4. Re-engineering change in higher education 5. Fast-responded library 6. Learning organization
Changes in Learning, Research and Information needs and Behaviour of Users 1. 21st century librarians for 21st century libraries 2. New services for the research and learning communities 3. Redefining the library service experience 4. Forging collaboration between librarians and students 5. Library in the digital workflow of research 6. Content analysis of academic libraries’ Facebook profiles 7. Marketing the academic library through online social network advertising 8. International cooperation towards the development of technology in academic libraries
Climate Change Data 1. National greenhouse gas inventories 2. Inventory submissions 3. National communications 4. Information sources and availability 5. Socio-economic data 6. Definitions and methodologies 7. Climate change fund 8. Socio-economic data socio-economic data
Climate Change Impacts 1. Climate-related risks and disasters 2. Regional centres and networks 3. Risk management and reduction 4. Adaptation strategies 5. Access to information 6. Public awareness and participation 7. International cooperation 8. Research dialogue 9. Systematic observation 10. Sustainable development
Communication Strategies 1. Working with faculty, students, and staff 2. Users - Non users 3. Alumni, Partners, Stakeholders 4. Groups / teams 5. Archives, historical societies, museums and art galleries 6. Consortia
Data Analysis and Data Mining 1. Content analysis 2. Ontologies 3. Knowledge discovery 4. Machine learning 5. Databases 6. Data visualization
Development and Assessment of Digital Repositories 1. Preservation of records for the next generations 2. Demonstration on fiscal responsibility and sustainability 3. Development of new metrics of their usages 4. Evaluation and best practices
Development of Information and Knowledge Services on the Public Library 1. Public libraries transformations 2. Dynamic information market 3. Public library’s role in the society 4. Challenges before libraries today 5. Diversified societies 6. Public library’s policy 7. Communities and information market 8. Public libraries as creative industries 9. Production and consumption of knowledge
Digital Libraries 1. Digitization 2. Museum and art digital objects 3. Archival digital objects 4. Public libraries digital projects 5. Digital content for teaching 6. Digital images 7. Metadata 8. Repositories
Economic Co-operation and Development 1. Socio-economic, environmental and emissions data 2. Energy statistics 3. Economic and social development 4. Working parties and organizations 5. Education, training and public awareness 6. Financial mechanism 7. Green climate fund 8. Investments
Energy Data and Information 1. Energy consumption, products, prices and taxes 2. Energy-related statistical data include coal, oil, gas, electricity and heat statistics 3. Energy balances, prices and emissions 4. Emissions from fuel combustion from its energy data 5. Data from firms, government agencies, industry organizations and national publications
Environmental Assessment 1. International, national, regional, local core data sets 2. Integrated Environment Assessment 3. Global Environmental Outlook 4. Statistical and geo-referenced historical data sets 5. Emission database for global atmospheric research 6. Socio-economic data 7. Ocean observation
Financial strength and sustainability 1. Fund raising 2. Cost benefit analysis 3. Cost assessment 4. Value analysis
Health Information Services 1. Research by health information professionals 2. Role of librarians in implementing Evidence based medicine/practice 3. Prospects and challenges of implementing Research4Life in low income countries
Historical and Comparative case studies related to Librarianship 1. Library historiography 2. Agencies, people, and movements within the development of librarianship 3. Comparative case studies related to libraries, special collections, or library programs/services
Information and Data on various aspects of Food and Agriculture 1. Agricultural production and trade 2. Land use, and means of production 3. Trade indices and food supply 4. Population and labour force 5. Food balance sheets 6. Fertilizer and pesticides 7. Forest products 8. Fishery products 9. Agricultural machinery
Information and Knowledge Services 1. Resource development policy 2. Resource project description 3. Research and development of the services 4. Knowledge discovery and knowledge creation 5. Knowledge mining 6. Team building and management
Information Literacy: Information sharing, Democracy and Lifelong Learning 1. Information Literacy and citizenship 2. Strategic approaches to Information Literacy 3. New pedagogic challenges for libraries 4. Collaborative work between librarians and academic staff 5. Independent learning skills, online information skills and lifelong learning 6. Concepts of learning, teaching and the developments in networked technology 7. Staff development and Information Literacy 8. New areas of practice and research 9. Information literacy projects on special scientific disciplines 10. Advocacy, marketing and promotion 11. Benchmarking 12. Evaluation and assessment
Library change and Technology 1. Communicating change, scenarios and projections 2. Adaptation technology 3. Technology information 4. Technology diffusion 5. Technology needs assessment 6. Technology research and development 7. Technology transfer
Library Cooperation: Problems and Challenges at the beginning of the 21st century 1. Union catalogue and storage equipment 2. Collection policy and collection development 3. Joint acquisitions (purchasing, access, inter-library loan and document delivery) 4. Joint digitization’s projects 5. Local, regional and country heritage 6. Human resource in local, regional and country level 7. Organizational culture
Management 1. Excellence and innovation 2. Quality and benchmarking 3. Measures and metrics
Marketing 1. Marketing research 2. Public relations 3. Publicity 4. Communication
Museums, Libraries and Cultural Organizations 1. Networks and collaborations 2. Cultural policy, diversity and intercultural dialogue 3. Marketing & communications management 4. Case studies 5. European integration 6. Multiculturalism, interculturalism, transculturalism 7. National and international collaboration 8. Cultural policies, migration and mobility 9. Identity, memory and heritage 10. Divergence and commonality 11. Visitor experiences in collaborative projects 12. Archiving, preservation and exhibition technologies 13. Arts funding 14. Arts policy 15. Libraries, theaters, music, film industry, television etc 16. Libraries, archives and museums and their admission
Music Librarianship 1. Musical archives 2. Collections of music assessment 3. Copyright and broadcasting issues, copying costs 4. Librarianship and musicology 5. Music bibliography 6. Music library automation 7. Music publishing industry 8. Presentation on the duties, challenges and satisfactions of performance music librarians 9. Collections of music preservation 10. Space and music collections
Performance Measurement and Competitiveness 1. Criteria of performance indicators (PI) selection for libraries and the kinds of PI 2. Different methodologies proposed for library assessment 3. The technological effect 4. Financial indicators 5. Organizational performance 6. Comparison among governmental and non-governmental organizations' performance
Publications 1. Internet Filtering 2. Privacy and share of information in libraries 3. The Read/ Write Web and the future of library research 4. Digital rights, copyright management and libraries
Quality evaluation and promotion of info = documentary institutions services methods 1. User education in informational recourses 2. The importance of personal involvement 3. Accreditation of digital libraries 4. Development of a network of peers 5. Cataloguing is changing 6. Customer services 7. Management/administration 8. OPAC 2.0 - the catalogue on web 9. The benefit of change 10. Electronic library 11. Digital repository management
Scientific, Technical and Socio-Economic Aspects of Mitigation of Climate Change 1. Stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations 2. Dangerous anthropogenic interference 3. Forest degradation 4. Afforestation and reforestation 5. Forest Management 6. Land-use change 7. Aviation and marine "Bunker Fuels" 8. Research and systematic observation 9. Methodological issues 10. Socio-economic data and tools
Technology & Innovations in Libraries and their Impact on Learning, Research and Users 1. Creating webliographies 2. Computing interfaces and how libraries need to adapt 3. Creating materials samples collection to support the engineering curriculum 4. Embedding librarians in the classroom 5. Teaching scholarly communication and collaboration through social networking 6. Sustainable development and the role of innovative & benchmarked practices 7. Fostering innovation through cultural change 8. Science & technology libraries as multi academic activities centres 9. Change as a service 10. Embedding innovation for scholarly information & research 11. Trends, possibilities and scenarios for user-centred libraries
Technology Transfer and Innovation in Library Management 1. Innovative management 2. Human resources management 3. Competence management 4. Communications in organizations 5. Intercultural management 6. Information technology and knowledge management 7. Library's ethics and social responsibility
