Journal of Librarianship and Information Science recent issues

Out With the Old and in With the New: the RAE, Bibliometrics and the New REF

Oppenheim, C. — 2008-08-18

Children's conceptualizations of the word `Information'

Shenton, A. K., Nesset, V., Hayter, S. — 2008-08-18

Although information has become increasingly prevalent in young people's lives, minimal research has addressed children's attitudes to the word itself. This paper scrutinizes questionnaire-based data to explore how 45 eight- to ten-year-old Canadians understood the term. `Information' was often considered to be material that met a need, covered particular territory or was associated with action by an individual. The youngsters identified many features they believed characteristic of `good information'; where these requirements were not met the material was frequently deemed `bad information'. The research findings have implications for teachers and librarians, as well as for researchers investigating children's information needs.

The development of information search expertise of research students

Kai-Wah Chu, S., Law, N. — 2008-08-18

This study identifies the development of information search expertise of 12 beginning research students (six in education and six in engineering) who were provided with a set of systematic search training sessions over a period of one year. The study adopts a longitudinal approach in investigating whether there were different stages in the development of search expertise for the research students, and examines the contributing factors in their progress from one stage of expertise to the next. The inclusion of both education and engineering students allows the researcher to examine whether search expertise development is different for students in different domains. This study provides a model which relates students' growth and development in research expertise to information search expertise. The results show that every student went through three stages of information needs during graduate studies, and the changes in information needs reflect the students' growth in knowledge of their subject. It was also found that the research students had problems in finding relevant information sources and that they needed to at least achieve a competent level of expertise in order to effectively locate information.

Information literacy in Tanzanian universities: Challenges and potential opportunities

Lwehabura, M. J., Stilwell, C. — 2008-08-18

A study was undertaken in four Tanzanian universities to investigate the status and practice of information literacy (IL) so as to determine the best ways of introducing or improving IL programmes. This article reports on the findings related to challenges and opportunities that could influence the effective implementation and introduction of IL programmes in Tanzanian universities. Data for the study was collected using a questionnaire-based survey administered to teaching staff, librarians and undergraduate students. Semi-structured interviews collected data from Deputy Vice Chancellors (DVCs) for academic affairs, Faculty Deans, Library Directors and a Library Head. The findings of the study showed that IL was new in the university curricula although some IL rubrics were being practised. Lack of adequate resources, lack of an IL policy, lack of proactive solutions among librarians coupled with the need for adequate library staffing and training, and collaboration between librarians and teaching staff in IL activities were all identified as challenges facing IL effectiveness. Also identified were potential opportunities such as the support by the majority of university stakeholders to mainstream IL and make it a compulsory course. These opportunities would allow the introduction of effective and sustainable IL programmes. The article concludes that librarians should seize the opportunities that are available to spearhead IL while at the same time making sure they tackle the identified challenges.

Books in a virtual world: The evolution of the e-book and its lexicon

Armstrong, C. — 2008-08-18

Over recent years there has been considerable confusion over the use of the term `e-book', and this article examines the variety of definitions used to date while proposing a definitive construct. Beginning by examining the definitions of `book', the paper moves on to consider the essential element of a book — the content, and to examine publishing and structural aspects of e-books, as well as their place in libraries, before arriving at a final definition. The definition and its derivation embrace all of the issues that affect the way in which e-books are understood and used today. In conclusion, the article looks at both the genesis of e-books, and the stage of acceptance and adoption that they have reached, with brief reference to 3rd-generation e-book readers available at the time of writing.

Healthcare personnel's use of e-information sources in Riyadh governmental hospitals

Khudair, A. A., Cooke, L. — 2008-08-18

ICT has enabled a wide dissemination of information and a sharp increase in the magnitude of electronic information sources. The use of e-information sources by healthcare personnel within Saudi Arabia has received little research attention. This paper discusses the use of e-information sources by healthcare personnel in the kingdom. A questionnaire with open-ended questions was designed to collect data from 11 governmental hospitals and health centres in Riyadh. It identified a range of problems and obstacles that impact on the use of electronic information sources. The identification of these difficulties opens the way for development and improvement of the current situation.

Book Review: Subject Librarians: Engaging with the Learning and Teaching Environment edited by Penny Dale, Matt Holland and Marian Matthews 2006, Aldershot: Ashgate, xix + 199pp, {pound}50.00, ISBN 0754640957

Corrall, S. — 2008-08-18

Book Review: Organising Information: From the Shelf to the Web by G.G. Chowdhury and Sudatta Chowdhury 2007, London: Facet, 230pp, {pound}34.95, ISBN 1856045780

Guest, E. — 2008-08-18

Book Review: Managing Stress and Conflict in Libraries by Sheila Pantry 2007, London: Facet, 140pp, {pound}29.95, ISBN 1856046138

Hannabuss, S. — 2008-08-18

Book Review: Change and Challenges: Information Literacy for the 21st Century edited by Susie Andretta 2007, Adelaide: Auslib Press, 202pp, A$44.00, ISBN 9780980330113

Pors, N. O. — 2008-08-18

Book Review: Beyond Survival: Managing Academic Libraries in Transition by Elizabeth J. Wood, Rush Miller and Amy Knapp 2007, Westport, CT and London: Libraries Unlimited, 220pp, $45.00, ISBN 1591583373; Making a Difference: Leadership and Academic Libraries edited by Peter Hernon and Nancy Rossiter 2007, Westport CT and London: Libraries Unlimited, 300pp, $45.00, ISBN 1591582911

Ole Pors, N. — 2008-08-18

Book Review: Blended Learning: Tools for Teaching and Training by Barbara Allan 2007, London: Facet Publishing, 228pp, {pound}39.95, ISBN 9781856046145

Zainab, A.N. — 2008-08-18

Editorial: Virtual Research Environments: What Is the Librarian's Role?

Wusteman, J. — 2008-05-09

Virtual Research Environments (VREs) will increasingly change the face of research and librarians have a crucial role to play in their development and use. In the future, VREs should be as fundamentally integrated into the university library information space as Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) are now. If VREs are to achieve their potential in supporting researchers, librarians need to ensure that they are involved at this early stage of their evolution so that they can influence their development.

The contingent valuation method in public libraries

Chung, H.-K. — 2008-05-09

This study aims to present a new model measuring the economic value of public libraries, combining the dissonance minimizing (DM) and information bias minimizing (IBM) format in the contingent valuation (CV) surveys. The possible biases which are tied to the conventional CV surveys are reviewed. An empirical study is presented to compare the model with the conventional CVM and DM +IBM format. A cost—benefit analysis is used as a tool to determine if the benefit of public libraries outweighs the cost incurred in providing the services. The study conducts a case study in a public library to demonstrate how public libraries could apply the approach to their local studies.

Evaluating open source portals

Dion Goh, , Luyt, B., Chua, A., Yee, S.-Y., Poh, K.-N., Ng, H.-Y. — 2008-05-09

Portals have become indispensable for organizations of all types trying to establish themselves on the Web. Unfortunately, there have only been a few evaluative studies of portal software and even fewer of open source portal software. This study aims to add to the available literature in this important area by proposing and testing a checklist for open source portal software evaluation. The study describes the experience of evaluating open source portal software for developing a portal for cultural information exchange. Usng the checklist, four candidate open source portal software packages, namely Jetspeed, uPortal, Liferay Portal and eXo Platform were evaluated. Results indicated that uPortal was the best performer followed by eXo platform, Liferay and Jetspeed. The present work represents a first step in the development of an exhaustive evaluation tool for portals. While the focus of this paper is entirely on open source software, the checklist can also be readily applied to commercial products.

Teaching information literacy through learning styles: The application of Gardner's multiple intelligences

Mokhtar, I. A., Majid, S., Foo, S. — 2008-05-09

The key for students of today to become independent learners and knowledge workers of tomorrow lies in being information literate. However, existing information literacy (IL) teaching approaches have not always been successful in equipping students with these crucial skills to ensure deep erudition and long-lasting retention. Hence, sound pedagogical approaches become critical in IL education. This research hypothesizes that students grasp IL skills more effectively when their innate interests, such as that determined by their respective dominant intelligences, are stimulated and applied to their work. Consequently, they would produce work of better quality. To verify these postulations, an IL course was designed for students undertaking project work to equip them with the necessary IL skills, by using an established pedagogical approach — Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences. Subsequently the quality of students' project work between the experimental and control groups were compared. It was found that the performance of students who had undergone IL training through the application of learning styles was superior in their project work.

Developing a checklist for qualitative evaluation of service charters in academic libraries

Pinto, M. — 2008-05-09

In accordance with the recent philosophy of quality in higher education embraced by European institutions, a checklist for the qualitative evaluation of service charters in academic libraries is proposed. The checklist is based on the existing literature on the topic, not only the large number of research papers on quality issues in general, but also more specific research on service charters. So that it can be applied to all types of academic libraries, the checklist is defined on the basis of six criteria (characterization, quality, standards, feedback channels, access-diffusion and accreditation) that are broken down into 21 variables. The checklist was implemented using a randomly selected set of service charters. The relatively low levels of suitability achieved demonstrate that there is considerable room for improvement in the field of academic library service charters.

Use of school resource centre-based computers in leisure time by teenage pupils

Shenton, A. K. — 2008-05-09

Little research has investigated young people's use of school computers outside lessons, a deficiency that prompted the writing of this paper. The ICTrelated behaviour of pupils within the Resource Centre of an English high school is scrutinized, with data collected through observation and online questionnaire. The computers, which were especially popular before and after school, were heavily employed for private e-mailing, and their exploitation for personal purposes was greater than that for school work. E-mailing was particularly common among girls, whilst many boys spent much time playing games. Game playing had plummeted by Sixth Form level, however, and academic use was more prevalent among this age group.

Book Review: The Early Information Society. Information Management in Britain before the Computer by Alistair Black, Dave Muddiman and Helen Plant 2007, Aldershot: Ashgate, 288pp, {pound}60, ISBN 9780754642794

Weller, T. — 2008-05-09

Book Review: The Cambridge History of Libraries in Britain and Ireland: Volume I, to 1640 edited by Elisabeth Leedham-Green and Teresa Webber 2006, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 688pp, {pound}300 for 3 volume set, ISBN 0521781949

Weller, T. — 2008-05-09

Book Review: The Cambridge History of Libraries in Britain and Ireland: Volume 3, 1850--2000 edited by Alistair Black and Peter Hoare 2006, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 737pp, {pound}300 for 3 volume set, ISBN 0521780977

Usherwood, B. — 2008-05-09

Book Review: Emanuel Goldberg and his Knowledge Machine by Michael Buckland 2006, Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 380pp, $49.95, ISBN 0313313326

Vickery, B. — 2008-05-09

Towards an understanding of information literacy in context: Implications for research

Lloyd, A., Williamson, K. — 2008-03-12

Information literacy (IL) has been described as a core literacy. However emerging empirical research indicates that the phenomenon will have different characteristics in different contexts and will be played out in culturally different ways. This paper reviews the nature and growth of IL to ascertain how researchers understand the phenomenon in various contexts. It then considers the contradictions across contexts and the importance of context to understanding the complexity of IL. The conclusion is that a focus on various contexts, not yet explored, will result in the need for a new agenda for IL research.

Changes in the management of information in audio-visual archives following digitization: Current and future outlook

Caldera-Serrano, J. — 2008-03-12

This article attempts to offer an overview of the current changes that are being experienced in the management of audio-visual documentation and those that can be forecast in the future as a result of the migration from analogue to digital information. For this purpose the documentary chain will be used as a basis to analyse individually the tasks that are more significantly affected by this documentary and technological revolution. Although this article will focus on the management of television audio-visual information and the changes in ordinary documentation activities, the results may also be applied to other institutions working with the moving image. Automatic classification, automatic indexing, voice and video recognition and automatic generation of thesauri are some of the elements considered as potential and/or feasible methods to deal with and understand the information management activity of television channels.

Constructing librarians' information literacy expertise in the domain of nursing

Sundin, O., Limberg, L., Lundh, A. — 2008-03-12

This article investigates negotiations of librarians' expertise in relation to information literacy at the micro-level, specifically in the domain of nursing education. A qualitaitve empirical framework is employed. The study draws on 18 semi-structured interviews, 16 with Swedish nursing students, one with a librarian and one with a nursing professor. Three themes on librarians' expertise emerge in the findings: technical-administrative, information searching and source evaluation expertise. The themes have different foci which are shown to be relatively independent, or dependent on the domain of nursing. The results indicate that it is important for librarians to navigate between two different strands of perceiving information literacy practices, either as generic or as embedded.

Making e-books available through public libraries: Some user reactions

Mcknight, C., Dearnley, J., Morris, A. — 2008-03-12

This paper considers the results of an online questionnaire survey that collected user data on e-book collections held at Essex County Libraries over a two-year period between April 2004 and June 2006. The research was funded by the Laser Foundation, and specifically considered e-book collections held on Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) devices, as well as collections viewable on Personal Computers with Internet access. Questionnaire responses from 58 individuals indicated clearly that marketing of e-book collections needs serious consideration, that certain genres were popular with users (notably Science Fiction), and that the largest number of respondents were aged between 21 and 30. As we discuss, the findings of this questionnaire survey offer few insights into e-book usage that have not been reported in other research. However, what the findings do illustrate clearly is that publicity afforded to e-book and other electronic collections remains crucial. From perusal of the data, 47 of the 58 respondents found out about the e-book collections after browsing the website. Whilst this obviously indicates that the website is indeed useful, the fact that only nine respondents investigated the collections having seen publicity material tells another story.

Henry Evelyn Bliss -- the other immortal, or a prophet without honour?

Broughton, V. — 2008-03-12

The paper takes a retrospective look at the work of Henry Evelyn Bliss, classificationist theorist and author of the Bibliographic Classification. Major features of his writings and philosophy are examined and evaluated for the originality of their contribution to the corpus of knowledge in the discipline. Reactions to Bliss's work are analysed, as is his influence on classification theory of the 20th century. Contemporary work on knowledge organization is seen to continue a number of strands from Bliss's original writings. His standing as a classificationist is compared with that of Ranganathan, with the conclusion that he is not given the credit he deserves.

Book Review: Librarianship and Human Rights: A Twenty-First Century Guide by Toni Samek 2007, Oxford: Chandos Publishing, 200pp, {pound}57.00, ISBN 1843341468

Hannabuss, S. — 2008-03-12

Book Review: Who Next . . . ? A Guide to Children's Authors, 3rd edn edited by Viv Warren and Mary Yardley 2007, Loughborough: LISU [Library & Information Statistics Unit], vi, 182pp, {pound}14.49, ISBN 1905499069

Hannabuss, S. — 2008-03-12

Book Review: The NextGen Librarian's Survival Guide by Rachel Singer Gordon 2006, Medford, NJ: Information Today Inc., 224pp, $29.50, ISBN 1573872563

Usherwood, B. — 2008-03-12

Book Review: Digital Rights Management: The Problem of Expanding Ownership Rights by Christopher May 2007, Oxford: Chandos Publishing, 162pp, {pound}39.95, ISBN 1843341247

Cornish, G. P. — 2008-03-12

`All That Glisters Is Not Gold' Web 2.0 And The Librarian

Anderson, P. — 2007-12-19

Web 2.0 and social media applications such as blogs, wikis and social networking sites offer the promise of a more vibrant, social and participatory Internet. There is a growing interest within the library community in debating the potential impact that such services might have within libraries and such debates have gathered around the moniker of `Library 2.0'. To date, however, there has been little theoretical work and there is a need to develop more formal definitions and frameworks. This editorial discusses the origins of the term Web 2.0, provides a structured framework for rationalizing the implications of Web 2.0 services and outlines some of the areas in which librarians are positioned to provide a unique contribution to the further development of such services.

Secondary school teachers' conceptions of student information literacy

Williams, D. A., Wavell, C. — 2007-12-19

This paper describes empirical research examining secondary school teachers' conceptions of student information literacy and reflects on the implications for the development of information-literate students. The research was designed to be practitioner centred, focusing on curriculum-based information activities and the student learning process from the teacher perspective. The study took a broadly phenomenographic approach and data were collected through a series of group discussions and interviews with subject teachers. Teachers described student information literacy in terms of a variety of skills and processes which overlap with existing models and frameworks. However, significant differences from other models and definitions included the absence of defining the information need and knowledge building. Teachers' conceptions evolved during the study and were influenced by individual experiences and curriculum priorities. The study suggests that overemphasis on mechanistic skills development without local debate and understanding hinders the alignment of information literacy with independent and lifelong learning. A number of challenges are identified for the development of information literacy in UK secondary schools, not least the fact that information literacy was understood by teachers in isolation from the subject curriculum. The study also sheds light on possible reasons why students may not leave school as information-literate individuals.

The management of independent secondary school libraries in England and Wales: The skills and perceptions of library managers

Turner, R., Matthews, G., Ashcroft, L., Farrow, J. — 2007-12-19

This paper investigates aspects of the management of independent secondary school libraries in England and Wales. It is based on a survey of 150 independent school library managers, with a response rate of 68.7 percent, which was carried out as part of an ongoing PhD research project. The paper considers a range of issues important to school library managers: for example, policy and procedure document production, project management, sources of guidance, the management skills most important to practitioners and the opinions of school library managers on a range of management issues related to the running of a school library. The qualifications and experience of school library managers are also considered in the research. The survey demonstrated a notable degree of satisfaction with the management and operation of libraries by library managers in individual schools. However, a number of factors were identified as barriers to successful management, which may have implications for policies and procedures within the sector. Additional research is planned to clarify the level of school library provision in independent schools, including further interviews with school library managers, diary keeping and a survey of senior management in independent schools to gauge their opinions on their school library.

Employment information needs of Chinese young adults in Sheffield

Webber, S., Wen Zhu, — 2007-12-19

The authors investigate the question of how Chinese young adults (18—26 years old) in Sheffield seek employment information, and what sources and channels they use. Data collection was via a semi-structured questionnaire (78 responses) and via nine follow-up interviews with respondents to the questionnaire. Fifty-five percent felt that they had encountered barriers when seeking information. The channel which the largest number of employed respondents had used to find their current job was newspapers/magazines, and this was also the channel that the largest number would recommend to a friend. However, the Internet was respondents' favourite and most widely used channel and they perceived both advantages and disadvantages in using it for job seeking. We found that, as in previous studies, affective issues and personal connections were influential in choice of job, and that luck was also perceived as a factor. Recommendations for ways in which services could be better tailored to Chinese young people's needs are made.

Can Scottish public library services claim they are socially inclusive of all minority groups when lesbian fiction is still so inaccessible?

Goldthorp, J. D. — 2007-12-19

This paper explores how Scottish public library services have responded to providing a service to a virtually invisible minority group, i.e. lesbians who enjoy reading lesbian fiction. The evidence that provides the foundation for the results discussed in this paper was drawn from the following sources: a study of the 32 public library services in Scotland, conducted through an e-mail/postal survey on lesbian fiction; an analysis of online public library websites and catalogues; workshops and focus groups with library workers and newly qualified librarians; women who identify as lesbian or bisexual and read lesbian fiction; and a questionnaire on lesbian fiction distributed through recognized lesbian forums and publications. The research found there to be an inequity of service provision for lesbians in terms of recreational reading and, in the light of this, recommends a reassessment of certain library practices. In particular, there is a need to raise awareness of LGBT people among library workers by encouraging contact with LGBT people and their support networks and providing diversity training linked with training in how to develop collections of lesbian and gay fiction and how to promote those collections to their main audience.

Definition of lesbian fiction: For the purposes of this research two definitions of lesbian fiction apply: fiction that is written by lesbians, about lesbians for lesbians; or fiction which has at its centre character(s) who identify as lesbian and/or fiction in which the key themes of the novel are lesbian centric.

Book Review: Libraries Without Walls 6: Evaluating the Distributed Delivery of Library Services edited by Peter Brophy, Jenny Craven and Margaret Markland: 2006, London: Facet Publishing, 242pp, {pound}44.95, ISBN 1856045766

Cornish, G. P. — 2007-12-19

Book Review: A Handbook of Ethical Practice: A Practical Guide to Dealing with Ethical Issues in Information and Library Work by David McMenemy, Alan Poulter and Paul F. Burton: 2007, Oxford: Chandos Publishing, 153pp, {pound}39.95, ISBN 1843342308

Dudley, E. — 2007-12-19

Book Review: Essential Thesaurus Construction by Vanda Broughton: 2006, London: Facet Publishing, 296pp, {pound}22.95, ISBN 185604565X

Brunt, R. — 2007-12-19

Book Review: Supervising and Leading Teams in ILS by Barbara Allan: 2007, London: Facet Publishing, 204pp, {pound}39.95, ISBN 1856045872

Hannabuss, S. — 2007-12-19

Book Review: 501 Must-Read Books edited by Joanna Smith and Emma Beare: 2006, London: Bounty Books, 544pp, {pound}25.00 ISBN 0753713438

Hannabuss, S. — 2007-12-19

Book Review: Libraries and Google edited by William Miller and Rita M. Pellen: 2005, Binghampton, NY: Haworth Information Press, xiii+ 240pp, {pound}17.79 ISBN 0789031256

Foster, A. — 2007-12-19