Judging a book by its cover: interface elements that affect reader selection of ebooks

Digital library research has demonstrated the impact of content presentation on both search and reading behaviours. In this paper, we scrutinise the influence of ebook presentation on user behaviour, focussing on document thumbnails and the first page view. We demonstrate that flaws in presentation increase the volume of short time-span reading, and reduce the likelihood of long-span reading when compared to other documents. This reflects other patterns of information seeking behaviour that demonstrate increased short-term reading when information content is uncertain, and suggests an ineffective use of reader time on less useful content

Systems Analysis as a Decision-Making Tool for the Library Manager

published or submitted for publicatio

Special Libraries, April 1954

Volume 45, Issue 4https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/sla_sl_1954/1003/thumbnail.jp

THE STATUS OF CIRCULATION SECTION IN TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY CENTRAL LIBRARY

This study entitled ”The status of circulation section in Tribhuvan University Central Library” has been carried out basing upon the substantive issues raised by its users about the important aspect of circulation section, its opening time and duration. There is the problem of overdue books. And questions have been raised about the clearance certificate which is compulsory for the PG students, who, in fact are not the bonafied members of TUCL. The present study has been carried out with the objectives to find out the obvious reasons behind it revealing the present status of circulation services of TUCL. This study also discusses about the opening time of TUCL, book issued and returned per year, the users opinion about over dues and compulsory clearance system for the PG students. This study has not covered the over all aspects of TUCL, but only about its circulation section and faculty members and students of other department, are not included due to lack of time and resource. This study has great significance to know the present status of circulation system of TUCL and to find out the problem faced by PG students outside the University Campus, Kirtipur. Different literature, explaining circulation system of various academic and public libraries have been reviewed to get information related to our study. About eleven literature have been reviewed from books, Journals and web. The study has been focused on circulation system of TUCL. However, other activities like membership, overdue, and clearance certificate services have been implicitly carried out. Data have been collected using questionnaire method in this research. Collected data have been tabulated, analyzed and interpreted in a systematic way. Hundred questionnaires were distributed and they were duly filled and returned. 70 percentage of the respondents have said that they are satisfied with the present opening time and rest 30% showed their dissatisfaction. Majority of the respondents (76%) urged TUCL to provide more effective services. They ( 68%) suggested to improve the card filing strictly following alphabetical order. (68%) of the respondents expressed their concern about the proper shelving of books in the book shelves. Majority of the respondents(55%) also pointed the need of the library regular orientation program. A brief summary including all the facts and figures have been provided and a succinct conclusion has been drawn. Necessary recommendation has been made based upon the study. • Circulation service should be carried out till the library opens. • There must not be wide gap between library opening time and circulation service providing time. • Books are to be properly shelved. • Cards are to be filed strictly in alphabetical order. • Library orientation programs are to be conducted timely. • Advocacy of rules and regulation should be properly done. • Circulation section has to be well equipped technically. • Circulation staffs are to be made more cooperative and users friendly. • Some additional staffs are to be deputed in the circulation section. • New books are materials are to be supplied in the library. • The dissatisfied PG students of other campuses are to be reminded and explained about the reason and policy of TUCL

The relationship between ILL/document supply and journal subscriptions

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to provide insights into the relationship between ILL/ document supply and journal subscriptions and to assess recent trends in the ILL service. Design/methodology/Approach: This survey is based on data from the ILL service conducted over the five year period 2005-2009 through the Italian NILDE (Network for Inter-Library Document Exchange) network. Findings: This article bears out important previous findings that ILL is not used as a surrogate for journal subscriptions. This is supported by the analysis of a broad number of titles and over a wide time-range. On the contrary, analysis of data transactions, particularly of the most requested journals, can bring about positive effects on new title acquisitions and negotiations with publishers. This paper also shows, at least for Italy, an overall growth and vitality of ILL, in spite of the widespread availability of e-journals acquired through consortia purchasing. Originality/Value: An insight into the relationship between ILL and journal subscriptions in Italy, a country where few studies have been carried out, and none at all for such a large number of libraries and transactions

Recognizing Best Practice in Portuguese Higher Education Libraries

The purpose of this paper is to identify best practices in order to improve the quality of services in Portuguese academic libraries. This article describes an ongoing project to assess the performance of library services, resulting from a partnership of six Portuguese higher education libraries. The study has three main steps: (1) selection of criteria to be evaluated and selection of their corresponding performance indicators; (2) data collection and analysis; (3) identification of best practices. The selection of the criteria to be evaluated is based on a mixed model combining the Common Assessment Framework and the Balanced Scorecard. The associated performance indicators are in accordance with International Standards ISO 11620:1998 and ISO 2789:2006

The Use of Academic Library Resources and Services by Undergraduate in Ibadan North Local Government of Nigeria

Libraries provide resources for knowledge acquisition, recreation, personal interests and inter-personal relationships for all categories of users. It enables the individual to obtain spiritual, inspirational, and recreational activities through reading, and therefore the opportunity of interacting with the society’s wealth and accumulated knowledge. This study examined the undergraduate students’ use of University library services and resources. It was affirmed the undergraduate utilized the University Libraries as learning centre. This was shown by the massive turn out to patronize the library services and resources weekly

A visual analysis of the usage efficiency of library books

The monographic collections in academic libraries have undergone a period of tremendous growth in volume, in subject diversity, and in formats during the recent several decades. Readers may find it difficult to prioritize which book(s) should be borrowed for a specific purpose. The log data of book loan record may serve as a visible indicator for the more sought-after books by the readers. This paper describes our experimental efforts in works in a university library setting. The visual analysis is thought to provide an effective way to extract the book usage information, which may yield new insights into a host of other related technical as well as user behavior issues. Initial experiment has demonstrated that the proposed approach as articulated in this article can actually benefit end-users as well as library collection development personnel in their endeavor of book selections with effective measure.</p

Persuasive evidence:Improving customer service through evidenced based librarianship

Objective - To demonstrate how evidence based practice has contributed to informing decisions and resolving issues of concern in service delivery at Bond University Library. &#x0D; &#x0D; Methods - The paper critically analyses three evidence based research projects conducted at Bond University Library. Each project combined a range of research methods including surveys, literature reviews and the analysis of internal performance data to find solutions to problems in Library service delivery. The first research project investigated library opening hours and the feasibility of twenty-four hour opening. Another project researched questions about the management of a collection of feature films on DVD and video. The third project investigated issues surrounding the teaching of EndNote to undergraduate students. &#x0D; &#x0D; Results - Despite some deficiencies in the methodologies used, each evidence based research project had positive outcomes. One of the highlights and an essential feature of the process at Bond University Library was the involvement of stakeholders. The ability to build consensus and agree action plans with stakeholders was an important outcome of that process.&#x0D; &#x0D; Conclusion - Drawing on the experience of these research projects, the paper illustrates the benefits of evidence based information practice to stimulate innovation and improve library services. Librarians, like most professionals, need to continue to develop the skills and a culture to effectively carry out evidence based practice.</jats:p

GAELS Project Final Report: Information environment for engineering

The GAELS project was a collaboration commenced in 1999 between Glasgow University Library and Strathclyde University Library with two main aims:· to develop collaborative information services in support of engineering research at the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde· to develop a CAL (computer-aided learning package) package in advanced information skills for engineering research students and staff The project was funded by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) from their Strategic Change Initiative funding stream, and funding was awarded initially for one year, with an extension of the grant for a further year. The project ended in June 2001.The funding from SHEFC paid for two research assistants, one based at Glasgow University Library working on collaborative information services and one based at Strathclyde University Library developing courseware. Latterly, after these two research assistants left to take up other posts, there has been a single researcher based at Glasgow University Library.The project was funded to investigate the feasibility of new services to the Engineering Faculties at both Universities, with a view to making recommendations for service provision that can be developed for other subject areas