U.S. academic libraries: understanding their web presence and their relationship with economic indicators

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11192-013-1001-0The main goal of this research is to analyze the web structure and performance of units and services belonging to U.S. academic libraries in order to check their suitability for webometric studies. Our objectives include studying their possible correlation with economic data and assessing their use for complementary evaluation purposes. We conducted a survey of library homepages, institutional repositories, digital collections, and online catalogs (a total of 374 URLs) belonging to the 100 U.S. universities with the highest total expenditures in academic libraries according to data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics. Several data points were taken and analyzed, including web variables (page count, external links, and visits) and economic variables (total expenditures, expenditures on printed and electronic books, and physical visits). The results indicate that the variety of URL syntaxes is wide, diverse and complex, which produces a misrepresentation of academic libraries’ web resources and reduces the accuracy of web analysis. On the other hand, institutional and web data indicators are not highly correlated. Better results are obtained by correlating total library expenditures with URL mentions measured by Google (r = 0.546) and visits measured by Compete (r = 0.573), respectively. Because correlation values obtained are not highly significant, we estimate such correlations will increase if users can avoid linkage problems (due to the complexity of URLs) and gain direct access to log files (for more accurate data about visits).Orduña Malea, E.; Regazzi, JJ. (2014). U.S. academic libraries: understanding their web presence and their relationship with economic indicators. Scientometrics. 98(1):315-336. doi:10.1007/s11192-013-1001-0S315336981Adecannby, J. (2011). 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Search engine results over time—A case study on search engine stability”. Cybermetrics, 2/3. Retrieved February 18, 2013 from http://www.cindoc.csic.es/cybermetrics/articles/v2i1p1.html.Bar-Ilan, J. (2001). Data collection methods on the Web for informetric purposes: A review and analysis. Scientometrics, 50(1), 7–32.Bermejo, F. (2007). The internet audience: Constitution & measurement. New York: Peter Lang Pub Incorporated.Buigues-Garcia, M., & Gimenez-Chornet, V. (2012). Impact of Web 2.0 on national libraries. International Journal of Information Management, 32(1), 3–10.Chu, H., He, S., & Thelwall, M. (2002). Library and information science schools in Canada and USA: A Webometric perspective. Journal of education for Library and Information Science, 43(2), 110–125.Chua, Alton, Y. K., & Goh, D. H. (2010). A study of Web 2.0 applications in library websites. Library and Information Science Research, 32(3), 203–211.Gallego, I., García, I.-M., & Rodríguez, L. (2009). Universities’ websites: Disclosure practices and the revelation of financial information. The International Journal of Digital Accounting Research, 9(15), 153–192.Gomes, B. & Smith, B. T. (2003). Detecting query-specific duplicate documents. [Patent]. Retrieved February 18, 2013 from http://www.patents.com/Detecting-query-specific-duplicate-documents/US6615209/en-US .Harinarayana, N. S., & Raju, N. V. (2010). Web 2.0 features in university library web sites. Electronic Library, 28(1), 69–88.Lewandowski, D., Wahlig, H., & Meyer-Bautor, G. (2006). The freshness of web search engine databases. Journal of Information Science, 32(2), 131–148.Mahmood, K., & Richardson, J. V, Jr. (2012). Adoption of Web 2.0 in US academic libraries: A survey of ARL library websites. Program, 45(4), 365–375.Orduña-Malea, E., & Ontalba-Ruipérez, J-A. (2012). Selective linking from social platforms to university websites: A case study of the Spanish academic system. Scientometrics. (in press).Ortega, J. L., & Aguillo, I. F. (2009). Mapping World-class universities on the Web. Information Processing and Management, 45(2), 272–279.Ortega, José L. & Aguillo, Isidro F. (2009b). North America Academic Web Space: Multicultural Canada vs. The United States Homogeneity. In: ASIST & ISSI pre-conference symposium on informetrics and scientometrics.Phan, T., Hardesty, L., Sheckells, C., & George, A. (2009). Documentation for the academic libraries survey (ALS) public-use data file: Fiscal year 2008. Washington DC: National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences U.S. Department of Education.Qiu, J., Cheng, J., & Wang, Z. (2004). An analysis of backlinks counts and web impact factors for Chinese university websites. Scientometrics, 60(3), 463–473.Regazzi, J. J. (2012a). Constrained?—An analysis of U.S. Academic Libraries and shifts in spending, staffing and utilization, 1998–2008. College and Research Libraries, 73(5), 449–468.Regazzi, J. J. (2012b). 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Role of teachers in promoting reading habits of professional and non professional college students: A study

In the present study an attempt is made to examine the issues related to role of teachers in developing reading habits of professional and non professional college students. The issues studied are their dependency on teachers in improving reading habits, items that they read, other factors which inspires them to develop reading habits so on. A total of 1757 professional and non-professionals students from 52 colleges served as the sample for the present study. The data was collected by questionnaire method. Descriptive statistics and Chi square is applied to find out the difference between course type and gender on various issues. Professional students, female students and students from urban areas indicated more involvement than their respective counterparts in searching for the information. Non-professional students and female students indicated more involvement in projects and assignments by their teachers than their respective counterparts. Non-professional students, and female students, indicated more involvement in knowing current affairs by their teachers than their respective counterparts. Non-professional students, students from Kannada medium and students studying in urban area indicated more encouragement by their teachers than their respective counterparts. Professional students, female students and students from urban area indicated more encouragement by their teachers than their respective counterparts. Personal observation and interaction views are expressed in this article

Electrical and Electromagnetic Studies in Geothermally Active Regions

International audienc

Reading skills: Prospects, issues and challenges

This article deals with the concepts, prospects, issues and challenges pertaining to reading skills. It also deals with the relevance of reading in the Internet era. It stresses the need for the role of libraries in promoting the reading skills of the youth, and issues pertaining to their reading behavior. The librarian plays an important role in developing the reading skills of the children and youngsters, along with the encouragement given by teachers and parents. It deals with educational, political, social, and economical issues. It is of utmost need to organize umpteen numbers of activities in promoting positive attitude towards reading which paves the way for intensive learning. This article deals with the concepts, prospects, issues and challenges pertaining to reading skills. It also deals with the relevance of reading in the Internet era. It stresses the need for the role of libraries in promoting the reading skills of the youth, and issues pertaining to their reading behavior. The librarian plays an important role in developing the reading skills of the children and youngsters, along with the encouragement given by teachers and parents. It deals with educational, political, social, and economical issues. It is of utmost need to organize umpteen numbers of activities in promoting positive attitude towards reading which paves the way for intensive learning

Role of library in promoting reading habits of professional and non professional college students: A survey

The present study examines the issues related to the role of the library in promoting reading habits of professional and non professional students. The issues studied are the students? dependency on libraries, items that they read, and other factors that inspire them to develop their reading habits. A total of 1757 professional and non-professionals students from 52 colleges served as the sample for the present study. The data was collected by questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and Chi square were applied to find out the difference between course type and gender on various issues. Results show that overall non-professional students were more dependent on libraries and were more positive about librarians and libraries than professional students. Suggestions to improve reading habits are also discussed. Factors like motivation through library orientation: library services relating to current events, journal articles, newspaper clippings library hour, book display and personal dialogue by library staff and other factors that improve reading habits are discussed

A new hypothesis for the deep subsurface structures near the Bhuj 2001 earthquake (Mw 7.6) hypocentre zone and its tectonic implications

We provide a new hypothesis for the deep subsurface structures near the Bhuj 2001 earthquake region based on magnetotelluric (MT) investigations carried out close to the epicentre zone. 2-D inversion of broad-band MT data of two profiles of lengths 32 km (AA') and 52 km (BB') revealed a thick (similar to 3 km) highly conductive (14 O-m) surface layer of fluvio-marine MesozoicCenozoic sediments. The models delineate the hypocentre zone located at similar to 2025 km depth that manifests the high resistivityconductivity transition zone. The accumulation of compressive stresses post-rifting along this weak zone has resulted in the reverse slip of Bhuj 2001 earthquake. The reverse fault (F1) associated with the earthquake is believed to be an ancient normal fault formed during the rifting phase. Contrary to earlier suggested theories, we suggest that F1 got initiated along the high resistivityconductivity transition zone causing the Bhuj 2001 event. The geoelectric models revealed a laterally extending partially resistive zone at 2030 km depth range showing a tendency to extend further deep. Model calculations using synthetic data also support this observation. Therefore, we hypothesize the presence of a basal detachment, marking the transition zone between the continental crust and the lithospheric upper mantle at similar to 40 km depth, intersected by the F1. The geoelectric models suggest that the crustal thinning caused the asthenospheric upwelling and/or serpentinization leading to the ascent of volatiles and melts. The subsurface geometry in Kachchh basin suggests the thick-skinned deformation

Authorship trend and collaborative research in agricultural sciences

Studies the authorship trend and collaborative research in the field of Agricultural Sciences. The required data collected from ?The Indian Journal of Agricultural Science? published during 2000-2001. Result shows that three authored papers were maximum 164 (34.02%) and the degree of collaboration in agricultural sciences is 0.87. Authors in the field have been ranked based on their academic productivity. The study indicate that contribution from research institutions and laboratories 190(39.42%) is vividly ahead of other segments such as universities. Of 456(94.50%)articles. a significant percent i.e., 70(14.52%) is reported from U.P. state

Problems faced in the libraries and suggestions to improve reading habits: A case study of Dakshina Kannada District

In the present study an attempt is made to examine the problems related to reading habits of the students in libraries as well as few of the suggested remedial measures. A total of 1757 students from 24 professional and 28 non-professional colleges were served as the sample for the present study. The data was collected by structured questionnaire which had components on various problems as well as suggestions to improve reading habits. The data were gathered from students studying in professional and non-professional colleges, male and female students, students studying in Kannada and English medium and lastly students from urban and rural areas. Contingency coefficient analysis and chi-square tests were employed to find out the association between type of education, gender, medium & area with the obtained responses. Results revealed that 51.7% of the students indicated that books kept under lock and key was one of the problems faced in library which hinders the reading habit, 43.7% strict rules and regulations, 43.4% for adequacy of important text books for reading, 37.8% indicated lack of computer knowledge to access information, 36.5% indicated misplacement of books, 35.4% each for lack of co-operation from library staff and old books contributed for hindering the reading habits. Some of the important aspects to improve reading habits are - reading more news papers and journals (93.1%), reading more general books other than text books (92.5%), watching media programs (83.3%), attending group discussions (82.3%) and so on

Reading habits of newspapers and magazines among students of urban and rural areas: A case study of Dakshina Kannada districts

It seemed important to study the reading habits of students of rural and urban areas in the light of current political concerns about reading generally, that the issues raised in the appraisal about reading habits are discovered in greater detail. This study is conducted to explore students studying professional and non-professional colleges in their reading preferences. The data for this study are based on 1757 respondents from professionals and non-professional college student respondents of rural (N=866) and urban (N=891) areas of Dakshina Kannada District. Results revealed that students from urban area were found to have higher preferences than students from rural areas in reading Business magazines, Kannada news papers, competitive magazines, subject journals and newspaper clippings. In general newspapers, students from urban areas had more frequency in 'most frequently', whereas; rural students had more frequency in 'frequently' categories. In crime news category, students from urban areas had more frequency in 'most frequently' reading categories. whereas, rural students had more frequency in 'frequently' category. In reading general magazines no difference was observed between students from rural and urban areas. Further, role of librarians and influence of electronic media reading habits are also discussed