Sharon Q. Yang

Bio: Sharon Q. Yang is an academic researcher from Rider University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Information literacy & Library instruction. The author has an hindex of 12, co-authored 30 publications receiving 520 citations.

Evaluating and comparing discovery tools: how close are we towards next generation catalog?

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate and compare open source and proprietary discovery tools and find out how much discovery tools have achieved towards becoming the next generation catalog.Design/methodology/approach – The paper summarizes characteristics of the next generation catalog into a check‐list of 12 features. This list was checked against each of seven open source and ten proprietary discovery tools to determine if those features were present or absent in those tools.Findings – Discovery tools have many next generation catalog features, but only a few can be called real next generation catalogs. Federated searching and relevancy based on circulation statistics are the two areas that both open source and proprietary discovery tools are missing. Open source discovery tools seem to be bolder and more innovative than proprietary tools in embracing advanced features of the next generation catalog. Vendors of discovery tools may need to quicken their steps in catching up.Originality/val...

The Next Generation Library Catalog: A Comparative Study of the OPACs of Koha, Evergreen, and Voyager

Abstract: Open source has been the center of attention in the library world for the past several years. Koha and Evergreen are the two major open-source integrated library systems (ILSs), and they continue to grow in maturity and popularity. The question remains as to how much we have achieved in open-source development toward the next-generation catalog compared to commercial systems. Little has been written in the library literature to answer this question. This paper intends to answer this question by comparing the next-generation features of the OPACs of two open-source ILSs (Koha and Evergreen) and one proprietary ILS (Voyager’s WebVoyage).

Next generation or current generation? A study of the OPACs of 260 academic libraries in the USA and Canada

Abstract: Purpose – The study described in this paper aims to identify the progress made in the efforts to model current online public access catalogs (OPACs) after the next generation catalog (NGC) in academic libraries in the USA and Canada.Design/methodology/approach – A random sample of 260 colleges and universities was selected from Peterson's Guide to Four‐Year Colleges 2009, an estimated 10 percent of the total population of 2,560 listed academic institutions. A checklist of 12 features of the NGC was used to evaluate the OPACs of the 260 libraries in the sample. The authors took as the OPAC that which the library linked to as its “catalog,” even though some might be more properly considered “discovery tools” or “discovery layers.” Some libraries used more than one OPAC interface simultaneously; in this case, each OPAC was analyzed separately. In the case of several institutions using the same consortial OPAC, only the first instance of the OPAC was analyzed. About 15 percent of the institutions (n=40) in th...

Information literacy online tutorials: An introduction to rationale and technological tools in tutorial creation

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide the findings of a survey of current technologies used in creating information literacy online tutorials in academic libraries. It also aims to inform readers of the technological tools available to develop good online tutorials.Design/methodology/approach – The author surveys 372 online tutorials on the library web sites of 100 academic libraries in a random sample from Peterson's Guide to Four Year Colleges 2008.Findings – About one‐third of the surveyed academic libraries have developed their own online tutorials. Most of the tutorials teach search skills for a specific database. The tutorial contents also include general introduction to library resources, research in a subject area, how‐to for an application, and library‐related concepts and procedures. One‐third of the tutorials have been created by tutorial software. The other technological approaches include portable document format (PDF), Hypertext Markup Language, Common Gateway Interface scripts, ...

Evaluation and Comparison of Discovery Tools: An Update

Abstract: Selection and implementation of a web scale Discovery tool by The Rider University Libraries (RUL) in the 2011-2012 academic year revealed the practical complexity of the endeavor. Research into the state of adoption of Web-scale Discovery tools in North America and the evolution of product effectiveness provided a starting point. The study reported here evaluated a total of 14 major Discovery tools (3 open source and 10 proprietary). The evaluation involves a check list of 16 criteria recognized as the advanced features of a modern OPAC. Some of the features have been used in previous research on Discovery tools and the next generation catalog. The authors examined 5 to 7 library websites that deployed a Discovery tool before a determination is made as to the presence or absence of a feature for a particular Discovery tool. The purpose of the study is to evaluate and compare all the major Discovery tools. These findings will serve to update librarians on the latest development in the library user interface and assist them in their adoption of a Discovery tool.

Technological, organisational and environmental factors influencing managers’ decision to adopt cloud computing in the UK

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine the factors influencing managers’ decision to adopt cloud computing in the UK using the “Technology-Organisation-Environment” (TOE) framework. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected through a self-created questionnaire based survey that was completed by 257 mid-to-senior level decision-making business and information technology (IT) professionals from a range of UK end-user organisations. The derived hypotheses were tested using various data analysis techniques including principal component analysis and logistic regression. Findings – The results show that four out of the eight factors examined have a significant influence on the adoption decision of cloud computing services in the UK. Those key factors include competitive pressure, complexity, technology readiness and trading partner pressure. The latter predictor; trading partner pressure, was the most significant factor for the adoption decision of cloud services reflecting organisations’ c...

Usability Test Results for a Discovery Tool in an Academic Library

Abstract: Discovery tools are emerging in libraries. These tools offer library patrons the ability to concurrently search the library catalog and journal articles. While vendors rush to provide feature-rich interfaces and access to as much content as possible, librarians wonder about the usefulness of these tools to library patrons. In order to learn about both the utility and usability of EBSCO Discovery Service, James Madison University conducted a usability test with eight students and two faculty members. The test consisted of nine tasks focused on common patron requests or related to the utility of specific discovery tool features. Software recorded participants’ actions and time on task, human observers judged the success of each task, and a post-survey questionnaire gathered qualitative feedback and comments from the participants. Overall, participants were successful at most tasks, but specific usability problems suggested some interface changes for both EBSCO Discovery Service and JMU’s customizations of the tool. The study also raised several questions for libraries above and beyond any specific discovery tool interface, including the scope and purpose of a discovery tool versus other library systems, working with the large result sets made possible by discovery tools, and navigation between the tool and other library services and resources. This article will be of interest to those who are investigating discovery tools, selecting products, integrating discovery tools into a library web presence, or performing evaluations of similar systems.

Ten Hot Topics around Scholarly Publishing

Abstract: The changing world of scholarly communication and the emerging new wave of ‘Open Science’ or ‘Open Research’ has brought to light a number of controversial and hotly debated topics. Evidence-based rational debate is regularly drowned out by misinformed or exaggerated rhetoric, which does not benefit the evolving system of scholarly communication. This article aims to provide a baseline evidence framework for ten of the most contested topics, in order to help frame and move forward discussions, practices, and policies. We address issues around preprints and scooping, the practice of copyright transfer, the function of peer review, predatory publishers, and the legitimacy of ‘global’ databases. These arguments and data will be a powerful tool against misinformation across wider academic research, policy and practice, and will inform changes within the rapidly evolving scholarly publishing system.

SKOS Core: Simple Knowledge Organisation for the Web

Abstract: This paper introduces SKOS Core, an RDF vocabulary for expressing the basic structure and content of concept schemes (thesauri, classification schemes, subject heading lists, taxonomies, terminologies, glossaries and other types of controlled vocabulary). SKOS Core is published and maintained by the W3C Semantic Web Best Practices and Deployment Working Group. The main purpose of this paper is to provide an initial basis for establishing clear recommendations for the use of SKOS Core and DCMI Metadata Terms in combination. Also discussed are management policies for SKOS Core and other RDF vocabularies, and the relationship between a “SKOS concept scheme” and an “RDFS/OWL Ontology”.