User-centered structuring in university libraries: The case Hacettepe University

Total Quality Management (TQM) is a contemporary management system that first aims to create a client-centered organization and than to provide customer satisfaction. This study reviews the TQM applications in university libraries along with their theoretical and practical reflections in Turkey, and investigates the satisfaction of library personnel from their work lives and that users from the services provided. In addition, it aims to propose a "user-centered library model" for Turkish university libraries. The survey method was used in this study. Data were gathered through literature search, questionnaires and interviews. Two questionnaires were administered: one to the 66 employees working for the libraries of Hacettepe University (HU), the other to 215 research assistants working towards their Ph.D.'s in the institutes of sciences, social sciences and health sciences. Findings were evaluated using "t test" and "one-way analysis of variance" (ANOVA). In addition, high level administrators of HU Medical Center and HU Beytepe Central libraries were interviewed. The research hypothesis formulated as "Library personnel are not satisfied from their work lives and users from the library services provided because Turkish university libraries lack user-centered and personnel-centered structuring as is required by TQM philosophy and principles" was proved. In conclusion, it was found out that HU libraries lack customer-oriented (personnel and users) structuring and that library personnel as internal customers and users as external customers experience high level dissatisfaction with their work lives and with the information services provided, respectively

Assessing the diffusion of nanotechnology in Turkey: A social network analysis approach

This dissertation assesses the diffusion of nanoscience and nanotechnology in the scientific community in the last decade using Social Network Analysis (SNA) in Turkey. This dissertation aims to evaluate the flow of knowledge diffusion of nanotechnology among scientists by using ethnographic methods, co-words analysis and by focusing on an invisible college in the scientific community in terms of citation analysis in Turkey. A total of 10,062 articles and reviews were extracted from WoS (2664 between 2000 and 2005, and 7398 between 2006 and 2011) using a compound text query. Results compiled from co-authorship network analysis comprised a high closeness centrality indicating the small-world phenomenon which facilitates the diffusion of nano-related technology in Turkey. We discovered the scientists who are instrumental in the diffusion of nanotechnology knowledge in the network. We test the hypotheses that: (1) prolific authors stimulate the diffusion of nanotechnology in network structure; (2) dissemination of nanotechnology is more diffusive within sub-clusters than that of the whole network structure; and (3) taxonomy identified by co-word analysis in the research process matches the findings at the global level. Universities with the highest co-occurrence in terms of centralities in the network structure were studied. Then, we compared the results from each period to investigate the rate of diffusion of nano-related technology in Turkey. We found out that research on nano-related technology is done in a wide spectrum from Materials to Biomedical Sciences. Moreover, we found that TÜBİTAK and the Ministry of Development (MoD) have increased their funding support. We corroborate the findings by interviewing the key scientists or authors who are instrumental in the diffusion of nano-related technologies in Turkey. We collected and elaborated on 10 interviewees' responses using a qualitative method (Latent Semantic Analysis). Outcomes indicated that scientists' behavior who participated in interviews share similar patterns matching their co-authorship maps. It was concluded that the diffusion of nano-related technology is steadily progressing due to scientific collaboration among scientists through social network

Migration from Turkey to Germany and Turkish immigrant's statement of using public libraries in Germany

Migration is a social phenomenon which human experiences in every period during the history. Labor migration from Turkey to Germany is a type of perpetual and voluntary migration which leaves behind a long process. Along with this migration, Germany has evolved a multicultural society. Public libraries in Germany try to put the concept of multicultural library on the information services by adjusting to the nature of society. In this study in which cultural dimension of migration from Turkey to Germany and the adaptation of immigrants to dominant culture are studied, the use of public libraries by Turkish immigrants is examined through qualitative data. The aim of the study is to find out the rate of the use of public libraries by Turkish immigrants, and its quantity and the rate of their satisfaction with information services. The large part of the research was done in Germany. Accordingly, Turkish immigrants who live in Germany and use public libraries are interviewed through questionnaire. Assessment has been made in accordance with data obtained after the research, the features of multicultural libraries are presented, and finally some suggestions are made

Availability/accessibility of periodicals with highest value of impact factor between 2004-2009 in social sciences in university libraries in Ankara

Nowadays , libraries slog on rapidly increasing costs of periodicals. Their insufficient budget to meet the increase creates a big problem. Although the rise of subscriber prices in social science periodicals is not as fast as in the science, medicine and health sciences periodicals, the rise of prices still exists. Social science periodicals are so valuable and have a great importance in the library collection. The need for up to date information can be met most rapidly by periodicals. Therefore, the importance of social science periodicals still remains. It is very difficult to create a collection of periodicals. Periodicals form dynamic, constantly increasing and the most complex kind of collections in libraries. Therefore, when subscribing or canceling a periodical, great care is needed. And this can be possible by taking into account of specific evaluation criteria.The Impact Factor (IF), used over a quarter- century, is a criteria used to determine the use of periodicals.Based on numerical data and thus being neutral and also in terms of functionality , the IF is a valuable criteria which does not lose its usage demand by librarians. In our study, the availability and accessibility of social science periodicals with the highest IF taken from Journal Citation Reports Social Sciences Edition, 2011 published by Institute for Scientific Information at the university libraries in Ankara were investigated. In this study, it is desired to understand how university libraries abide by the IF. If university libraries desire, it is aimed to present a profile of themselves in terms of their periodicals collection. As a result, the availability and accessibility of the social sciences journals with the highest IF are respectively %30.76 and %100. As a result of data obtained , the hypothesis which is "The availability/accessibility rate of social sciences journals with the highest IF at the university libraries in Ankara is high" is confirmed. The availability rate is lower than expected but eventually it is possible to access to the same resource electronically. Only the 166 way of obtaining resource is different. After all, resources which are needed can be obtained even from abroad through interlibrary cooperation. In this context, even the lack of physically availability of printed resources in information center does not create a big problem

User education in university of library: It is in university of library at Istanbul

This research set out with the idea that it would be more useful to give user education with a holistic approach (with and without program). In this thesis theoretical and practical information pertaining to the user education in the university library systems are explained. The study covers also information on why, how, when and by whom the user education in the university library will be provided. It tries primarily to explain the theoretical structure of the user education, and the relevant chapter makes use of survey method. Besides, historical method is used in presenting the historical development of the matter. In the following chapter, with the extent of user education in mind, education is discussed in two groups. And the final chapter tries to ebtablish the level of user education provided by die university libraries in Istanbul and the relevant date is assessed by comparative method. Education is a process made up of stages. The processes differ with the programmed and non-programmed ededucation. An individual benefits from various libraries in accordance with his /her age level. In these libraries user education is provided in different forms and step by step. At the heart of the educational applications are users with individual differences. The librarians should know the characteristics of the educational process as well as the individual differences of user. This thesis has reached conclusions which will shed light on the applications of user education in the university libraries. Yet, the thesis has not touched upon the user education on libraries and information retrieval systems to be received by students at the levels of primary and secondary education. I believe that it will be quite useful to conduct scientific studies in the future on the education of younger library users

Afghan university library evaluation i̇n terms of the organization of i̇nformation

Development and widespread of the informatıon and communication technology has led to the increasing and progressing of the information resources and has enforced different and effective methods intended to storing and quickly retrieval of knowledge. İn this direction the arrangement of information in correct and smooth form has facilitated andaccelerated accessing it in local, national, regional, and international level. İn this research as well as defining of the organization of information, particularly definition, purpose, functions, history and developments of cataloging in international level, also has studied Afghanistan's status and According to him the necessity of cataloging education in the country has described. İn The third part of the study, organization method of the information resources was evaluated which found in the collection of the selected Afghan university libraries. As examples selected bibliographic records from the libraries in different subjects and type of material, measured by international standards, in the result situated errors and missings has set and explained. Additionally a 16 questions consisting description survey has been applied in this study and in the light of the views taken from participants Afganistan unıversity library staff and management positions professional status, performances, service level and quality of the libraries, meet the user's information needs of both quantitative and qualitative, Considering the needs of today, lack off sufficient up to date resources, access status and whether it has been determined in accordance with international standards in the organization of information