Introducing The Source
Futures thinking for academic librarians (Note: PDF)From the American Library Association (ALA) website
This new report prompts academic librarians to consider what trends may impact the future of higher education in order to take strategic action now. The report presents 26 possible scenarios for the future, which may have an impact on all types of academic libraries over the next 15 years. The scenarios, which are based on implications assessment of current trends and reflect a variety of potential futures for higher education, represent a variety of themes relating to:
- academic culture
- demographics
- distance education
- funding
- globalisation
- infrastructure/facilities
- libraries
- political climate
- publishing industry
- societal values
- students/learning and technology
The life of the space: Evidence from Nova Scotia Public Libraries
From the Evidenced Based Library & Information Practice (EBLIP) journal
The objective of this article is to describe aspects of the 21st century role of the public library as a physical space by observing the actual use of a selection of public libraries. This study seeks to reveal how patrons are using and experiencing these institutions as spaces and how patrons and staff characterise the role of public libraries in communities.
A multiple case study design was used to examine three urban and three small town public libraries within Nova Scotia, Canada. A number of common themes about the use and perception of these spaces emerged, yet when examined individually each library was also revealed to be a unique place, reflecting the particular qualities of the community and the physical space of the library building itself. It is clear that public libraries are complex institutions, which play a variety of valuable roles in the community.
Learning from Chatting: How our Virtual Reference questions are giving us answers
From the Evidenced Based Library & Information Practice (EBLIP) journal
This research compares two types of online reference services and attempts to determine whether the same sorts of questions are being asked; which questions are being asked most often; and whether patron and staff behaviour is consistent or different in the two types of online reference sessions. Patron satisfaction with the two types of online reference services is also examined.
Results of the analysis suggest that patrons are using VR and MSN IM services differently. In general, VR questions tend to be more research intensive and formal, while IM questions are less focused on academic research and informal. Library staff and patrons appear to alter their behaviour depending upon which online environment they are in. User surveys demonstrated that patrons are generally satisfied with either type of online reference assistance.
Both types of online reference service are meeting the needs of patrons, being used for different purposes and in different ways. The relationship building that appears to take place more naturally in IM interactions demonstrates the benefits of librarians being more approachable with patrons in order to provide a more meaningful service.
Seeing standards: A visualization of the metadata universe
From the Indiana University Digital Library Program website
The sheer number of metadata standards in the cultural heritage sector is overwhelming, and their inter-relationships further complicate the situation. This new resource is intended to assist planners with the selection and implementation of metadata standards.
‘Seeing standards’ is in two parts:
- a poster-sized visualisation plotting standards based on their applicability in a variety of contexts
- a glossary of metadata standards in either poster or pamphlet form.
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