Power and Practice in Academic Library Materials Selection Paradigms

This article examines the theoretical and practical implications of three methods of materials acquisitions in an academic library. First, it evaluates how traditional collection development, electronic patron driven acquisitions (PDA) and other older forms of PDA affect materials storage, preservation, purchase speed and usage. Then this paper employs Foucault’s theories about power to discuss the ramifications of these acquisitions methods for librarians and three major user groups: faculty, graduate students and undergraduates. The article concludes that each method presents different practical and theoretical advantages and disadvantages

Microflow valve control system design

A design synthesis for a microflow control system is presented based on the interrogation of an analytical model, testing, and observation. The key issues relating to controlling a microflow using a variable geometry flow channel are explored through the implementation and testing of open and closed-loop control systems. The reliance of closed-loop systems on accurate flow measurement and the need for an open-loop strategy are covered. A valve and control system capable of accurately controlling flowrates between 0.09 and 400 ml/h and with a range of 900:1 is demonstrated

Electronic Resources and Academic Libraries, 1980-2000: A Historical Perspective

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(E-book) Patron Driven Acquisitions (PDA): An Annotated Bibliography

Patron Driven Acquisitions (PDA), also known as Demand Driven Acquisitions (DDA) and Purchase on Demand (POD), has been used by libraries since the early 1990’s. PDA allows libraries to acquire items based on the immediate needs of their patrons, often without library intervention. With the arrival of e-books in the late 1990’s, libraries soon began including them in their PDA workflows. PDA is controversial for several reasons, and PDA of E-books adds further issues to the debate. This bibliography covers PDA and the issues academic libraries face when devising a PDA program. Articles outline the benefits and problems of print and E-book PDA and the debate they elicit. They also document the response of libraries to address these problems. Only peer-reviewed articles that express current thought on the subject (as of this writing) have been used

(E-book) Patron Driven Acquisitions (PDA): An Annotated Bibliography

Patron Driven Acquisitions (PDA), also known as Demand Driven Acquisitions (DDA) and Purchase on Demand (POD), has been used by libraries since the early 1990’s. PDA allows libraries to acquire items based on the immediate needs of their patrons, often without library intervention. With the arrival of e-books in the late 1990’s, libraries soon began including them in their PDA workflows. PDA is controversial for several reasons, and PDA of E-books adds further issues to the debate. This bibliography covers PDA and the issues academic libraries face when devising a PDA program. Articles outline the benefits and problems of print and E-book PDA and the debate they elicit. They also document the response of libraries to address these problems. Only peer-reviewed articles that express current thought on the subject (as of this writing) have been used

Understanding the user - why, what and how?

Explains the need, importance, purposes and scope of user studies, discusses procedure for conducting sound user studies together with associated problems of research like selection of problem, formulation of hypothesis, design of study, sampling strategy, data collection methods, scaling techniques, pilot study, processing and analysis of data, testing of hypothesis, interpretation, drawing inferences, communication and dissemination of results and finally concludes by highlighting methodological flaws and gaps in user studies

Planning strategically, designing architecturally : a framework for digital library services

In an era of unprecedented technological innovation and evolving user expectations and information seeking behaviour, we are arguably now an online society, with digital services increasingly common and increasingly preferred. As a trusted information provider, libraries are in an advantageous position to respond, but this requires integrated strategic and enterprise architecture planning, for information technology (IT) has evolved from a support role to a strategic role, providing the core management systems, communication networks, and delivery channels of the modern library. Further, IT components do not function in isolation from one another, but are interdependent elements of distributed and multidimensional systems encompassing people, processes, and technologies, which must consider social, economic, legal, organisational, and ergonomic requirements and relationships, as well as being logically sound from a technical perspective. Strategic planning provides direction, while enterprise architecture strategically aligns and holistically integrates business and information system architectures. While challenging, such integrated planning should be regarded as an opportunity for the library to evolve as an enterprise in the digital age, or at minimum, to simply keep pace with societal change and alternative service providers. Without strategy, a library risks being directed by outside forces with independent motivations and inadequate understanding of its broader societal role. Without enterprise architecture, it risks technological disparity, redundancy, and obsolescence. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, this conceptual paper provides an integrated framework for strategic and architectural planning of digital library services. The concept of the library as an enterprise is also introduced

Introduction to Library Trends 48 (4) 2000: Collection Development in an Electronic Environment

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