Library and Information Research (LIR)
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Centralised classification of library materials- a benchmarking study.
Get PDFThe Library Management Group of The University Of
Huddersfield set up a pilot study to examine altemative
procedures for classifying and cataloguing library material
in the Health sciences. The study tested the impact of
using classification and subject index terms in bibliographic records for titles in the health subject area.
The work of the group concentrated on two areas:
-establishing a benchmark for throughput in Technical
Services in terms of speed, cost and availability of
externally supplied class numbers
-analysis of differences in classification numbers and
subject indexing terms between those human assigned
and system assigned.
Samples of data were analysed using SPSS software; a
fuzzy matching process was undertaken for the subject
string analysis.
The results showed considerable savings to be made in
terms of both speed and cost. lt was instrumental in the
decision to change the existing method of acquiring
classification numbers.The hit rate for records and the
impact on the shelf arrangement were at an acceptable
level. The study produced reliable information to provide
a benchmark for future developments (for exarnple
outsourcing shelf ready books) and performance
indicators
Book reviews
Get PDFKingma, Bruce R. The economics of information; A giode to economics and cost-benefit analysis for information professionals.
Creaser, Claire and Spiller, Davis. LISU annual library statistics: Featuring trend analysis of UK public and academic libraries.
Creaser, Claire. A survey of library services to schools and children in the UK 1995-96
Benchmarking - BLRD&D funded research at Loughborough University of Technology
Get PDFBenchmarking is a term which is being used increasingly in the media. The language and trends of the commercial world often pass into common usage in this way. The problem with the term \u27benchmarking\u27 is that it is concrete, not abstract (unlike \u27quality\u27), so it is easier to perceive in terms of products and industry, but less easy to imagine in the context of a service environment Benchmarking smacks of industrial practice. It connotes production lines, inspection, and above all a tangible product which can easily be improved with
practical results. Consequently, there are many definitions and descriptions of benchmarking. In the light of the increasing interest in the field of benchmarking, the Department of Information and Library Studies at Loughborough University is currently conducting research into the potential role of benchmarking in library and information services. The duration of the project is one year
(December 1994 - December 1995), and it is funded by the British Library Research and Development Department
Project EARL (Electronic Access to Resources in Libraries)
No full textPublic libraries are facing significant challenges over the next decade and into the 21st century. The need for public libraries therefore to network their services is now increasingly becoming the focus of attention. Project EARL will examine the services, technical infrastructure, and application/communication software required to network public library information and resources services. It will also produce a networking strategy with associated costs for providing public libraries with access to the Internet. Following the workshop, 14 libraries agreed to fund a scoping study which would draw up recommendations and produce costed options for the future funding of major developments
Accounting practice and networked services: A review of UK universities.
Get PDFThis report presents the results of a project funded by LIRG and Elsevier to explore accounting practice and networks in UK universities. The project had two phases: preliminary fieldwork consisted of interviews with computer service
staff in universities in Edinburgh and Glasgow; with librarians in Edinburgh, Southampton, Newcastle and Southampton, and with researchers in London, Bath and Glasgow. The second phase was a postal questionnaire in July. and questionnaires were sent to the library and to the computer service in each listed institution (excluding individual colleges in Oxford and
Cambridge and the teaching hospitals and research institutions of the London University). Sixty-five
were returned, a response rate of 34%
Research Seminar Reports
No full textResearching the media
Newspaper cuttings collection and online
information systems at the BBC World Service Information Research Unit.
Based on research conducted between July and December 1992, this paper aims to investigate the frequency of online searching and volume of cuttings usage in order to answer enquiries from joumalists. It presents the level of satisfaction with the two information sources, points out their
advantages and drawbacks and examines their value from the point of view of journalists and information assistants.
Sexism in children\u27s picture books: an update.
As sexism in picture books is now rarely discussed except in the occasional column announcing the failure of non-sexism, a quantitative survey of sexism in contemporary children\u27s picture books was due.What lies ahead?
Looking into the future of independent broadcasting libraries in England and Wales. Over the past couple of years the broadcasting industry has been in a state of flux. Several reasons have contributed towards this discontentment. The main contention has been the enactrnent of the Broadcasting Act 1990. The philosophy behind the Act was to increase competition and to give way to a free market broadcasting environmen
Use of diaries in library and information research
Get PDFThis article explores the limited use, and limitations on use, of the diary within the context of LIS research. The author is currently working on a BLRDD funded project**, examining library support for franchised courses in higher education, which is utilizing the diary method to record library use by
students. A brief literature review, searching for examples of successful diaries and models of good practice, was not as informative as had been expected, so this discussion aims to highlight some useful sources
ldentifying the barriers to Libraries as agents of Lifelong Learning: a research project.
No full textStudents in Further Education and in Higher Education
were surveyed on the extent and frequency of their use
of institutional library resource centres and public
libraries and on their attitudes to them. Among some
significant differences identified were: Females report
greater barriers to accessing information than males;
those from "blue collar" backgrounds rely more heavily
than others on institutional provision materials; those
aged under 21 demand increased electronic access and
those over 21 more provision of paper-based materials;
non-white ethnic groups report more misgivings. There
is a mismatch between students\u27 perception of their own
information retrieval skills and their reported difficulties.
Support from staff is seen as high in quality but
insufficient in availability
