525,112 research outputs found

    Library performance measurement in the digital age

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    Book synopsis: University libraries around the world have embraced the possibilities of the digital learning environment, facilitating its use and proactively seeking to develop the provision of electronic resources and services. The digital environment offers opportunities and challenges for librarians in all aspects of their work - in information literacy, virtual reference, institutional repositories, e-learning, managing digital resources and social media. The authors in this timely book are leading experts in the field of library and information management, and are at the forefront of change in their respective institutions. University Libraries and Digital Learning Environments will be invaluable for all those involved in managing libraries or learning services, whether acquiring electronic resources or developing and delivering services in digital environments

    Digital Reference Services in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) based Environment: A Study

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    Abstract: The digital reference service refers to the task of providing assistance to the library users in fulfilling their various information needs. The digital reference services have become an important part and parcel of the library services in the changing technological environment. The paper is an attempt to provide an overview of the digital reference services in libraries in the present day world

    The Centre for Digital Library Research and the Common Information Environment

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    This paper presents some of the current research and service development projects being carried out by the Centre for Digital Library Research (CDLR), with particular reference to shared services which bring together archives, libraries and museums in a Common Information Environment

    Effectiveness of Asynchronous Reference Services for Distance Learning Students Within Florida\u27s Community College System

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    The impact of distance learning on higher education and the need to provide equitable library services to students in the digital environment emerged as critical areas during the 1990s. Library services available to distance learning students included digital reference and instructional services, remote access to online research tools, database and research tutorials, interlibrary loan, and document delivery. Digital reference services appeared to be one of the more significant services proffered by academic libraries although these services were developed often without forethought to goals and assessment. The purpose of this study was to examine the adequacy of asynchronous e-mail reference services offered through Florida\u27s 28 community college libraries and the contribution of these digital reference service providers to the students\u27 online learning community. The researcher analyzed data obtained through an unobtrusive study of asynchronous digital reference services and interviews conducted with digital reference service providers. Studies existed for traditional and telephone reference service; however, the literature lacked studies addressing asynchronous digital reference service. Results from the unobtrusive portion of this study showed that the researcher received 240 of a possible 392 responses from the digital reference service providers. The researcher scored 24% as accurate with source information, 4% as accurate without source information, 20% as partly accurate with source information, and 7% as partly accurate without source information. The students scored 48% as accurate with source information, 12% as accurate without source information, 17% as partly accurate with source information, and 9% as partly accurate without source information. Responses took anywhere from 6 seconds to 20 days. The communication techniques exercised by the DRSPs were substandard. The study resulted in recommendations for the areas of digital environment, unobtrusive methodology, standards, accuracy, measurements, online relationships, training of digital reference service providers, student training, institutional responsibility, and marketing

    Academic libraries and learning support in the electronic environment

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    Learning and teaching techniques are changing in the new electronic environment. Students are asked to gather information from different sources, most of them in electronic formats. Libraries have to adapt their buildings and services to meet their users needs continuously. Amongst the means librarians have included to support learning are electronic based information and learning resources, a better provision of IT technologies, working environments for different types of learning, digital reference services, information literacy skills and the possibility of accessing all these facilities, resources and services at any time. The conclusion indicates that librarians should continuously improve electronic information and learning resources, as well as discovering new ways to approach students

    A Decade of Digital Reference: 1991-2001.

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    Four surveys conducted over a decade provide insights about changes that have occurred in academic library reference services due to new and rapidly evolving technologies. Surveys were sent to the academic members of the Association of Research Libraries four times during the past decade: 1991, 1995, 1997, and 2000. The surveys contained both open-ended questions to gather opinions and factual questions to measure what libraries offer. Libraries adopted digital information sources and services at an increasingly accelerated rate in the 1990s due to the availability of the Internet, in particular the World Wide Web. Digital sources have brought about changes in the physical environment of the reference room, in the type and range of resources available, and in the attitudes and expectations of reference librarians and patrons. The Web is changing what resources are searched, how results are distributed, how instruction is delivered, and relations with faculty. Quality service is still highly valued by reference librarians. The reference librarians surveyed think that as the reference environment has changed, it has helped them to provide better services to patrons

    E-learning and its Impact on LIS Profession

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    The paper focuses on changing role of libraries and LIS professionals in the digital learning environment. The paper also discusses about the library services in an integrated environment where digital libraries and e-learning programme goes hand in hand. It highlights e-learning scenario in India with special reference to the initiatives taken by educational institutions. Finally, the paper emphasized the need to initiate LIS education in Digital Learning Environment, particularly in India

    A Reference Architecture for Digital Ecosystems

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    Digital ecosystems are a new type of application based on a “universal digital environment” populated by digital entities that form communities that evolve and interact with information exchange and who trade digital objects that are produced through the system. Entities that participate and form the ecosystem can be applications running not only on simple devices: wearable, sensors, actuators, but also on complex services executed on smartphones, tablets, personal computers, company servers, etc. A reference architecture for digital ecosystems is a step toward standardization, as it defines a set of guidelines in designing and implementing a digital ecosystem. Often such architectures are very abstract, difficult to understand and implement. In this chapter, we introduce a vendor- and technology-neutral reference architecture for digital ecosystems and apply this architecture to an actual use case

    Developing a Chat Reference Training Program

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    In the last few years, chat reference services have been implemented by public, college and university libraries. One important aspect of the chat reference service is library staff training. Literature shows that this is a vital step in offering a chat reference service. Library staff need to be well-trained in areas of chatting, reference interviewing in a digital environment and using electronic resources, such as the Internet and databases. This article discusses the chat reference training program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The following text provides an outline for establishing a chat training program including planning, organization, implementation and assessment. Areas of discussion include the chat reference interview, chatting and patron management techniques
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