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

Measuring the economic value of the electronic scientific information services in Portuguese academic libraries

This article has three main objectives: i) to describe the use patterns of electronic and traditional resources in Portuguese academic libraries; ii) to estimate the value of the Portuguese electronic scientific information consortium b-on by using two alternative valuation methodologies; iii) to relate the use patterns with the valuation of b-on. We estimate the value of the Portuguese electronic scientific information consortium b-on by using two alternative evaluation methodologies: a) the value of the time saved by using this electronic resource; and b) the contingent valuation method to estimate how much the user is willing to pay for the service. Our results show wide differences in use patterns, with professors, researchers and PhD students having a more intense use of digital library services than undergraduate and masters students. Moreover, the benefit-cost ratios computed using the two valuation techniques indicate that the value of the electronic scientific information consortium b-on is well above its costs. Finally, the study shows that the valuation of b-on is higher for the user groups with higher percentage use of digital services

The Impact of the Electronic Resources in Portuguese Academic Libraries: Results of a Qualitative Survey

In the last 10 years there have been big changes in the Portuguese academic libraries services as in other academic libraries over the world. These changes include the adoption of automatic catalogues and the electronic access to bibliographic data bases and scientific journals in full text. Nowadays physical and digital sources are together. Professors, students and researchers are able to access simultaneous to a great amount of quality information pay and open access. The Portuguese Government has been investing to improve the access to the production of knowledge so as to develop the country. It is important to know the return on the investments in university libraries. The purpose of this paper is to identify the impact of the electronic sources in the Portuguese academic libraries. This paper describes an ongoing project to assess: The use of electronic scientific information and the correlation to the scientific production of the Portuguese academic community according to standard performance measures indicators and bibliometrics data. The economic value of these library services. In order to estimate in monetary terms the value of these services for end-users we use the contingent valuation method (CVM). This study reports the results of a qualitative e-survey of academic community

Electronic Academic Libraries Services Valuation: A Case Study of the Portuguese Electronic Scientific Information Consortium b-on

This paper investigates the factors that influence the value for the users of the Portuguese electronic scientific information consortium b-on (Biblioteca do Conhecimento Online). In order to be able to estimate this value in monetary terms we used the contingent valuation method based on a willingness to pay scenario. Data was collected through an e-survey sent to the whole Portuguese academic users. The main aims of this study are: (i) to investigate how the Portuguese academic community values b-on; (ii) to investigate the set of factors that determine whether the user is willing to pay the b-on services which allows us to estimate the demand function of b-on services. In order to achieve these objectives we use several regression analysis techniques linear probability model (LPM), Logit and Probit models. The results show that the demand for b-on services is quite sensitive to the "price", frequency of use, whether the user knew previously b-on or not, the type of the user and the scientific area of the user

Which factors influence the willingness to pay for electronic library services? A study of the Portuguese electronic scientific information consortium b-on

This paper investigates the factors that influence the value for the users of the Portuguese electronic scientific information consortium b-on (Biblioteca do Conhecimento Online). We used the contingent valuation method based on a willingness to pay scenario to estimate the value that each user is willing to pay. Data were collected through an e-survey sent to all Portuguese academic users. The main aims of this study are: (1) to investigate whether the willingness to pay is influenced by a set of factors (the frequency of use, whether the user previously knew b-on or not, the type of the user, the scientific area of the user, and the institution of the user); and (2) to estimate the demand function of b-on services as function of the price and the previously mentioned factors. In order to achieve these objectives we use several regression analysis techniques – OLS, Tobit model, linear probability model (LPM), Logit and Probit models. The results show that the factors studied are all important explanatory variables of the willingness to pay for b-on and important determinants of demand for b-on services. Moreover, the demand for b-on services is quite sensitive to the ‘price’

The COVID - 19 pandemic’s impact on the behavioural trends in the use of printed book or e-book a case study in Portugal and Brazil

Abstract:In a time of serious health crisis worldwide, this study is the extension of a case study already started (in February and March 2020) about the issue, reading behaviors, and preferences between the use of books and e-books. The COVID-19 pandemic came to impose social distancing in the world, closing universities, schools, and other services. The implementation of Internet services has presented itself as a valid response to the change that has so brutally arisen. Naturally, everyone had to adapt to it. In this context, the question about the preferences in using books or e-books is now even more relevant. This paper analyses the impact of COVID-19 in the behavioral trends in the use of scientific information from printed books and e-books in Portugal and Brazil. To this end, a survey was conducted on a user sample from various Portuguese and Brazilian higher education schools and public libraries. The first part focused on the characterization of the respondents, which includes data on gender and qualifications attended. In the second part, we obtained viewpoints about the advantages and disadvantages of each medium, frequency of use, choice of medium according to the purpose of reading, and devices used. The results let us examine the factors that influence and change the behaviors of users concerning their choice. Research such as this is beneficial to support the decision not only in selecting the information resources to be bought or pondering user preferences, but also to define strategies for advocating the use of various media that, rather than competitors, should be complimentary.This work is funded by national funds through the Foundation for Science and Technology, under the project UIDB/00057/2020

Guidelines, recommendations, and near future for university libraries

In the current context, library associations around the globe seek to present perspectives for the future, supporting professionals to develop strategies, projects, and skills. In Portugal, the Recommendations for Higher Education Libraries have given impetus to the work of professionals to face changes and continue their intervening and active role. At the same time, they aim to serve as a focus, creating national congruence in the areas of activity, and as an inspiration for action, motivating a convergence of information professionals, to contribute to greater unity and coherence of Higher Education Libraries in Portugal. This is the basis for this exploratory study. To this end, a literature review that embases a case study is carried out to understand the librarian's professional strategies that have been used throughout the Portuguese academic community. How do institutions and their professionals position themselves to support and develop actions around future challenges? How is being developed the support for teaching and learning, specifically in promoting information literacy skills and fostering digital fluency and user empowerment? How is addressed the support for research activities and scientific publication, especially in the context of Open Science? How is professional and organizational development that places the librarian at the center of processes and institutions as aggregators of synergies for continuous improvement actions? And finally, how are being taken projects to the design and provision of services and partnerships that facilitate and enhance the creation of networks for cultural expression, including the preservation and dissemination of documentary heritage.It is concluded that the preparation and planning based on guidelines work as stabilizers, which anchor the actions developed, at the same time that the winds of change allow the exploration of new paths and practices, thus enhancing a virtuous context of action

Guidelines, recommendations, and near future for university libraries

In the current context, library associations around the globe seek to present perspectives for the future, supporting professionals to develop strategies, projects, and skills. In Portugal, the Recommendations for Higher Education Libraries have given impetus to the work of professionals to face changes and continue their intervening and active role. At the same time, they aim to serve as a focus, creating national congruence in the areas of activity, and as an inspiration for action, motivating a convergence of information professionals, to contribute to greater unity and coherence of Higher Education Libraries in Portugal. This is the basis for this exploratory study. To this end, a literature review that embases a case study is carried out to understand the librarian's professional strategies that have been used throughout the Portuguese academic community. How do institutions and their professionals position themselves to support and develop actions around future challenges? How is being developed the support for teaching and learning, specifically in promoting information literacy skills and fostering digital fluency and user empowerment? How is addressed the support for research activities and the scientific publication, especially in the context of Open Science? How is professional and organizational development that places the librarian at the center of processes and institutions as aggregators of synergies for continuous improvement actions? And finally, how are being taken projects to the design and provision of services and partnerships that facilitate and enhance the creation of networks for cultural expression, including the preservation and dissemination of documentary heritage? It is concluded that the preparation and planning based on guidelines work as stabilizers, which anchor the actions developed, at the same time that the winds of change allow the exploration of new paths and practices, thus enhancing a virtuous context of action.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Bringing theory and practice together in the crosscultural preparation of newly arrived international students: an integrated program model

The literature shows that, in general, practitioners in the field of crosscultural preparation are more willing to experiment with new program ideas than they are to identify the conceptual and theoretical foundations of their practice. In other words, those in charge of designing crosscultural preparation programs are doing so without the proper consideration of the theories that should support the program design process, thereby compromising the potential effectiveness of such programs. This study attempts to narrow this gap between theory and practice by proposing a program model for the orientation and training of newly arrived international students, which is called the Integrated Model because it integrates theoretical concepts with activities believed essential in effective crosscultural preparation. The goals here are (1) to develop and refine a model by surveying practitioners in the field, and (2) to make recommendations about how practitioners can design more effective programs based on the findings of the study;Subjects for this research were employed at institutions of higher education that admit students from abroad and that offer some kind of orientation to these students upon their arrival. Data was collected through a descriptive questionnaire containing three parts: Part I surveyed the opinions of practitioners in the field about aspects of the proposed model; Part II compared this model with programs that are currently being offered; and Part III provided descriptive infonnation about the institutions and the respondents. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data;Results showed that there is a difference between what researchers have suggested and what practitioners are actually doing in terms of which elements to include in a program and the basis on which to sequence them. Evidence generated from this study showed that, in designing a program, practitioners seem to be giving priority to practical elements, such as the students\u27 immediate needs. For this reason, modifications to the Integrated Model were made so that it incorporated not only the experts\u27 recommendations but also the practitioners\u27 point of view. The model can now be used as a basis for training practitioners in designing more effective crosscultural preparation programs