Showing papers in "International Information & Library Review in 1995"
TL;DR: The authors discusses five factors which have facilitated or retarded school library development in the two countries (standards, staffing and certification, government support, rationale, professionalization) and generalizes about development factors and the successful promotion of school libraries.
Abstract: In Great Britain and the United States common developmental issues have resulted in the evolution of two very different models of school library provision. In the United States, school libraries are integrated media centers, separate from public library influence, staffed by specialists with dual training in teaching and librarianship, and dedicated to an educational mission. British school libraries are contested terrain with two patterns of staffing, support by Public Library Services, and incomplete formulation of mission and rationale. This article discusses five factors which have facilitated or retarded school library development in the two countries (standards, staffing and certification, government support, rationale, professionalization) and generalizes about development factors and the successful promotion of school libraries.
13 citations
TL;DR: Findings from a bibliometric survey of research articles published in the Bulletin of the Medical Library Association, the Journal of the Japan Medical library Association and the Medical Information Services during the period from 1990 to 1992 are reported.
Abstract: The present article reports some findings from a bibliometric survey of research articles published in the Bulletin of the Medical Library Association , the Journal of the Japan Medical Library Association and the Medical Information Services during the period from 1990 to 1992. The findings provide valuable information of the articles concerning the methods and subjects, as well as references of the three periodicals.
9 citations
TL;DR: Reviews the computerization projects in the university libraries in Ghana, with a particular reference to the Balme Library of the University of Ghana, and recommendations are made for the improvement of automation.
Abstract: Library automation assumed a great deal of importance in libraries in the mid 1960’s. Since then it has become a household word in librarianship. Library automation in university libraries in Ghana is a relatively new concept. Even though computers have been installed in the three university libraries in Ghana, computerization has not had much impact on the services provided by these libraries. This paper reviews the computerization projects in the university libraries in Ghana, with a particular reference to the Balme Library of the University of Ghana. Reasons for automation, areas of application and problems associated with automation are discussed. Also highlighted are barriers militating against successful university library automation, like financial problems, attitudinal problems, lack of co-operation among university libraries, hardware and software problems and personnel problems. Recommendations are made for the improvement of automation at the university libraries in Ghana. These includ...
8 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the change of the cultural hierarchy is addressed: no longer is the reading of the classics a status symbol indicating the reader's adherence to traditional norms of culture, and the classics have been abandoned as readers unashamedly pursue light entertainment in the form of detective stories, romances, etc.
Abstract: This article outlines several significant features of reading in Russia today. First the change of the cultural hierarchy is addressed: no longer is the reading of the classics a status symbol, indicating the reader's adherence to traditional norms of culture. The classics have been abandoned as readers unashamedly pursue light entertainment in the form of detective stories, romances, etc. Second, there has emerged a new system of cultural organization as a result of the collapse of central state direction. So far these new forms of organization have proven totally inadequate: much of publishing is beyond the reach of both bibliographic control mechanisms and libraries, which are gradually ceasing to function as sites where high culture is consumed.
8 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a proposal for the dissemination of grey documentation in social work is made, where Grey documentation is presented as an additional source of knowledge for the social work practitioner, its characteristics, subject areas, mode of presentation and sources are seen as making it conducive for use by social work practitioners.
Abstract: A practicing profession's bond to the university accentuates the profession's mode of knowledge creation and dissemination. Social work journals are seen to facilitate the growth and development of scientifically based knowledge in the profession. The literature reports that in the social work profession social work practitioners do not read a great deal of research articles in journals, do not contribute many articles to scholarly journals, do not write many articles based on empirical research, and are not influenced by social work theory. Grey documentation is presented as an additional source of knowledge for the social work practitioner. Its characteristics, subject areas, mode of presentation and sources are seen as making it conducive for use by social work practitioners. A proposal for the dissemination of grey documentation in social work is made.
7 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a critical appraisal of the recent financing of 20 Federal University Libraries in Nigeria by the World Bank at the negotiated sum of US$120 million (N = 2·64 billion).
Abstract: This article is a critical appraisal of the recent financing of 20 Federal University Libraries in Nigeria by the World Bank at the negotiated sum of US$120 million ( N = 2·64 billion). The World Bank project provides for acquisition of books, journals and equipment based on conditionalities to be met by the Universities. With background consideration of the socioeconomic effects prevalent with such financing, the paper assesses the impact of implementation of the loan on aspects of library professionalism concerning selection, acquisition and staff development functions. The problem of bureaucracy posed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) as arbiter of the loan is also highlighted. For the analysis, statistical data on the schedule of University draw downs based on first, second, third generation of universities; the expenditure on books; funds committed for journals; and foreign beneficiaries of payments made for journals, show that all the universities have benefited from the book fund for the first tranche, while payment has been committed, though not expended, for 1993 journals. The inability of the universities in fully meeting up with set conditionalities and policy implications of the credit facility form the basis of discussion on the aborted future of the World Bank Project.
6 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors focus on contemporary problems affecting the collection development programs of university libraries in Nigeria and suggest that library co-operative networking should be adopted as a cost-effective option for future collection development in university libraries.
Abstract: The article focuses on contemporary problems affecting the collection development programmes of university libraries in Nigeria. The global economic recession of the 1980's is identified as the significant variable for the success and failure of these programmes the world over; hence the treatment of the subject in both a global and national context. At the national level, special examination is made of the financial problems facing Nigerian university libraries and their impact on collection growth and development. While the article agrees that improved budgetary provisions could eradicate the current constraints, it suggests that library co-operative networking should be adopted as a cost-effective option for future collection development in university libraries in Nigeria.
6 citations
TL;DR: A data base of 2297 items on African psychology was compiled from Psychological Abstracts (PA) for 61 years, 1927-1987, to analyse its structure for the amount of literature, author productivity and authorship trend, language distribution, format of literature and geographical distribution of literature.
Abstract: A data base of 2297 items on African psychology was compiled from Psychological Abstracts (PA) for 61 years, 1927–1987, to analyse its structure for the (1) amount of literature, (2) author productivity and authorship trend, (3) language distribution, (4) format of literature, and (5) geographical distribution of literature. This paper presents results of the analysis of the data base in condensed form. Literature growth during the first three decades and in the last 7 years was dramatic. Altogether 1950 authors have produced the entire African psychological literature. The largest number of items, 55, was written by a single author over only 7 years, while over 1500 authors have written only one item each. A collaborative trend is present and its patterns have significantly changed, from 6% during the 1930's–1950's to about 36% in the 1980's. A total of 2088 items (90.1%) have appeared as periodical literature, 143 items (6.2%) as theses, and a few books have also been identified. Other formats, such as conference proceedings or reports, are negligible. A total of 45 countries out of the total 52 African countries have been covered so far. The number of countries covered has risen from 12 to 43 from the first three decades of the study to the last 7 years. Two-thirds of the whole literature have appeared in 10 countries only, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Senegal, Uganda, Ghana, Zambia, Egypt, Ethiopia and Zaire. Items on general African area issues have decreased considerably from 62% (subfile I, 1927–1958) to 11.4% (subfile IV, 1981–1987) and the items on specific countries have risen from 42% to 89.2% during the same periods.
5 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors focused on collection development in the library of the University of Agriculture from 1983 through 1993 and found that over the years, resources for collection development have been declining in real terms leading to a reduction in the student-book ratio from 1:40 in 1983 to 1:9 in 1993.
Abstract: This study focuses on collection development in the library of the University of Agriculture from 1983 through 1993. The metamorphosis through which the university has passed is highlighted to show the effects of policy instability on collection development efforts. Methods used for gathering facts and figures for the study included a questionnaire distributed to staff and students, interviews, and official records searches. The study showed that over the years, resources for collection development have been declining in real terms leading to a reduction in the student-book ratio from 1:40 in 1983 to 1:9 in 1993. Problems confronting collection development such as escalating costs of foreign currency, import restrictions, and the politics of resource allocation are also highlighted. Strict compliance with the National Universities Commission's (NUC) funding standard for university libraries is recommended.
5 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the historical development of early and present modern libraries is described and a few selected important libraries such as National Library of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa University Libraries, Institute of Ethiopian Studies Library and Ethiopian Science and Technology Documentation and Information Centre is also given.
Abstract: Historical development of early and present modern libraries is described. Description of a few selected important libraries such as National Library of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa University Libraries, Institute of Ethiopian Studies Library and Ethiopian Science and Technology Documentation and Information Centre is also given. An account of the development of special libraries, libraries and documentation centres of international organizations, public libraries, school libraries and mission and diplomatic libraries is given in brief. A few factors for the development and current state of libraries and information activities in Ethiopia are also given.
4 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the socio-cultural factors that enhanced the use and transfer of scientific information among agricultural scientists in south eastern Nigeria were determined, and the implications of some of these factors for agricultural development are highlighted.
Abstract: The objective of the study presented here was to determine the socio-cultural factors that enhanced the use and transfer of scientific information among agricultural scientists in south eastern Nigeria. The implications of some of these factors for agricultural development are highlighted.Structured questionnaires were distributed to a stratified random sample of 300 scientists. Two hundred and ten (210) questionnaires were mailed while 90 were self-administered. Two hundred and forty-five (81·6%) usable responses were received and analysed. Data were also generated from interviews with selected members of the stratified random sample. Analyses focused on social and cultural factors of (1) motivation, (2) computer appreciation, (3) choice of media for research communication, (4) recipients of research communications, and (5) scientists' activities considered for assessment and reward. Frequency counts were the presentation techniques used to elucidate results.Results showed that scientists were mo...
TL;DR: The authors describes the economic difficulties in Ghana from 1973 to the early 1980's, culminating in a situation where libraries in Ghana, including the UST Library, were unable to acquire library materials.
Abstract: This papers describes the economic difficulties in Ghana from 1973 to the early 1980's, culminating in a situation where libraries in Ghana, including the UST Library, were unable to acquire library materials. Books in the main library and faculty libraries became so outdated that they were unable to support current academic work. The Library was not able to subscribe to core periodicals and journals. In 1987, the PNDC government, with the help of the World Bank, instituted a policy to replace scientific equipment and to supply books and journals to higher education institutions. Under the Educational Sector Adjustment Programme (EDSAC), academic libraries in the country received books, journals, and equipment including photocopiers, microfilm/microfiche readers and cameras, and telex machines. In 1991, the PNDC Deputy Secretary for Education invited the three university libraries to review the procedures for procuring journals for tertiary institutions in view of difficulties which had been encountered in previous years. Besides materials received under the EDSAC programme, the UST library receives gifts and donations from recognized international agencies. Some of the gifts create problems when materials donated do not cover subject areas of interest to the library. The library also exchanges publications with other institutions as a means of acquiring useful items. The university's calendar and prospectus are the main publications used for the purpose. The Newspaper Registration of Ghana Act, 1963, urges publishers to deposit copies of books published in the country at the UST Library among five others. The majority of publishers flagrantly refuse to do so because the sanctions against defaulters are rarely enforced. The library also receives budgetary allocations, though not enough to purchase books locally.
TL;DR: This article found that Czech public library users did not show a radical change in their choice of titles, but the recently improved distribution and availability of both high and low literature may have altered habits considerably in the period since the survey was done.
Abstract: Reading in Czechoslovakia under Communism did not conform to the official line maintaining that citizens were primarily interested in serious political works. On the contrary, surveys revealed that light fiction and works from the West were the books with the highest public library circulation. The long period of spiritual stagnation led to the degradation of critical ability, one result of which was that some sophisticated and controversial Western works such as John Irving's The World According to Garp were acceptable to Communist authorities because they were mistakenly deemed “light literature”. In the years immediately following the demise of Communism, Czech public library users did not show a radical change in their choice of titles, but the author points out that the recently improved distribution and availability of both “high” and “low” literature may have altered habits considerably in the period since the survey was done.
TL;DR: The article summarizes, from the literature, the history and evolution of CDS/ISIS, revealing that Cuba is the leading country in the production of data bases in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Abstract: The article summarizes, from the literature, the history and evolution of CDS/ISIS. From a directory of 642 entries of data bases from the Caribbean and Latin America, a descriptive statistical analysis was conducted of a random sample of 50% of the entries to show the usage of CDS/ISIS software and its various modalities. The results show that CDS/ISIS, and its modalities, is used in 60% of the data bases while D Base, and its versions, ranks second with 20% use. In addition, the distribution of data bases is noted revealing that Cuba is the leading country in the production of data bases in Latin America and the Caribbean.
TL;DR: The Australian public sector, like that in many other countries, has been undergoing substantial reform for more than a decade as mentioned in this paper, which has involved substantial change in respect of financial management, goal setting and evaluation, structural change and human resource management policies.
Abstract: The Australian public sector, like that in many other countries, has been undergoing substantial reform for more than a decade. The changes, which have been introduced as ways of improving efficiency, effectiveness and accountability, have affected all areas of government operations. The methods for achieving the improvements have involved substantial change in respect of financial management, goal setting and evaluation, structural change and human resource management policies. Occurring concurrently with change within the public sector, the Australian Commonwealth and various state governments have been pursuing substantial change programs in other areas, such as industrial relations, which have had many similar aims to those of the government reform programs, a major one being the improvement of efficiency and effectiveness in the workplace. Libraries have felt, and will continue to feel, the impacts of these reforms as new management requirements and methods are introduced. This paper briefly describes a number of aspects of the various reform programs highlighting their impacts to date and some of their likely future impacts on the librarian and the library workplace.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discussed the impact of the printed word on Estonian national culture and the Lutheran cultural heritage and the Estonians' ethnic homogeneity on the reading habits of Estonians.
Abstract: The article deals with changes in the reading habits of Estonians in recent years. It includes overviews of studies conducted since the 1960's and discusses the impact of the printed word on Estonian national culture. Factors influencing this impact include the Lutheran cultural heritage and the Estonians' ethnic homogeneity. The article's main emphasis is on changes since the transition to the market economy. Under the impact of mass media, reading has become more casual and less frequent. The number of traditionally large Estonian home libraries is diminishing, giving to public libraries a more significant role in the delivery of printed materials.
TL;DR: The main purpose of the sociology of reading is determining, through the analysis of reading data, the social processes actually at work in society as mentioned in this paper, which is the purpose of sociological research.
Abstract: The main purpose of the sociology of reading is determining, through the analysis of reading data, the social processes actually at work in society. This article analyses the results of sociological research done by the research staffs of libraries in Kazakhstan between 1991 and 1994. It focuses also on the problems faced by the sociology of reading in Kazakhstan, where such research was previously considered by the authorities as purposeful only in solving the practical problems of libraries. Today, reading in Kazakhstan is characterized by frequent changes in readers' demands caused by the dramatic changes in ideology, politics and economics in the constituent parts of the former Soviet Union. Reading in Kazakhstan is becoming more utilitarian. Pragmatic information needs determine the choice of literature. There is a sharp decline in the demand for fiction compared to the 1980s. Those intellectual spheres in which ideological control was severest, such as history and philosophy, flourish and effect reading. Finally, the decision of independent Kazakhstan to encourage the use of the Kazakh language is having an effect on reading patterns.
TL;DR: The transfer of authority over public libraries from the central government to the local regions and municipalities after 1989 caused much confusion, especially since many library buildings were reclaimed by the owners from whom they had been confiscated by the Communists as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Laws for public library service were well established in Czechoslovakia before its split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993. The transfer of authority over public libraries from the central government to the local regions and municipalities after 1989 caused much confusion, especially since many library buildings were reclaimed by the owners from whom they had been confiscated by the Communists. The number of libraries in the country has declined since 1989. The shift of publishers to free market conditions meant not only that much “entertainment” literature was published, but also that the price of books was driven up. Library services have changed to meet the new social conditions: there are improved services for business and for the handicapped.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the pattern and distribution of the secondary information, systems and services in China and discussed the challenge of a new social and economic environment to the systems and the possible expansion of new products and services.
Abstract: The article examined the pattern and distribution of the secondary information, systems and services in China The objects of the study include the governments role and relevant policies, the distribution of discipline-oriented systems, the development from printed material to machine readable to data bases and the influence of transition to a market economy on the operation of current systems The study showed that the structure of the secondary information systems was established and the government has played a dominant role in developing and maintaining the systems The article further discussed the challenge of a new social and economic environment to the systems and the possible expansion of new products and services
TL;DR: In this paper, a study of broadcasting libraries in Nigeria was carried out using the social survey method, where Questionnaire, observation, and interview techniques were used to generate data from a representative sample of the nation's broadcast media stations (radio and television) located in the Bauchi and Plateau States of Nigeria.
Abstract: A study of broadcasting libraries in Nigeria was carried out using the social survey method. Questionnaire, observation, and interview techniques were used to generate data from a representative sample of the nation's broadcast media stations (radio and television) located in the Bauchi and Plateau States of Nigeria. A general underdevelopment of the libraries was revealed. Staffing is inadequate in number and is also non-specialized. Preservation and conservation practices are virtually non-existent. Whereas the content of the modest collection shows a rich resource base, collection development is near-crippled while mediagraphic control is done more by common-sense than by any system. State stations generally fared better than federal ones. Poor funding was identified as the major constraint in the general development of the libraries. Suggestions were offered towards revenue generation and the need for professional leadership in the country's broadcasting libraries.
TL;DR: The years 1989-1991 saw tremendous changes in the political map of Eastern Europe as mentioned in this paper and these changes have resulted in varying degrees of acquisition difficulties for Slavic and Eastern European languages.
Abstract: The years 1989–91 saw tremendous changes in the political map of Eastern Europe. These changes have resulted in varying degrees of acquisition difficulties for Slavic and Eastern European language ...
TL;DR: This article argued that the Afrocentric-Eurocentric approach is strangely out-of-place in an African context and is curiously out of touch with the issues that are significant in library and information work.
Abstract: The “Afrocentric-Eurocentric approaches” dichotomy is strangely out-of-place in an African context and is curiously out-of-touch with the issues that are significant in library and information work. In its predominant perception of itself as a “counter-offensive” to Eurocentrism, the Afrocentric approach is drawn into a struggle that can only entrench contrary positions and serve divisive interests. More importantly, and as a challenge to information science theorists, Afrocentrism requires an examination of both its overt Pan-Africanist overtones and its covert potentially racist undercurrents. It is proposed that the Afrocentrism vs Eurocentrism duality needs to be deconstructed. The debate is better-suited as a vehicle to sharpen concepts in the design of library and information services that recognize universal continuities.
TL;DR: The establishment and functions of the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and the development of national data bases are traced and the effective use of GULFNET, KACST's data bases and the possibilities of INTERNET use are suggested.
Abstract: This article traces the establishment and functions of the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and the development of national data bases. The data bases, accessible by the public, are introduced with their subject coverage and number of records. The first computer network in the Arab world, GULFNET, which provides communication among the academic communities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, including services available through GULFNET and KFUPM Library, are discussed in detail. The evaluation of the three most frequently used of KACST's data bases is made by using the statistics of the last 8 years. The founding of BITNET in the USA is explained, together with its GULFNET connection in the Arab world and use at KFUPM Library with different commands. Finally, while suggesting a few points regarding the effective use of GULFNET, KACST's data bases and the possibilities of INTERNET use, the future dominance of organizational networks for the purposes of educational and scientific etc., communications in the near future is emphasized.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present an overview of the library and information systems and services available in seven eastern and southern African countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia).
Abstract: Survey works, carried out by 15 MSc (Information Science) students of the School of Information Studies for Africa (SISA) in the course of their dissertation work, reveal some important facts related to information systems and services in the countries studied This paper analyses the student dissertations in order to present an overview of the library and information systems and services available in seven eastern and southern African countries—Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia It is noted that the state of library and information services needs to be improved in all respects; and there is a trend towards introduction of IT, albeit quite slow, in university, special and research, and national libraries and documentation centres The condition of public, school and college libraries is very poor in all the countries concerned Lack of a national policy on information systems and services in the countries concerned results in the inconsistent and insufficient growth of information services in different sectors Major problems in the area are: lack of resources, particularly foreign currencies, lack of awareness on the part of planners and policy makers, lack of trained manpower, lack of adequate servicing facilities for IT equipment, and the continuing political, social, and natural problems that prevail in most African countries
TL;DR: In this article, the transition of publishing from a monopoly state enterprise to a part of the market economy is described, along with the development of the new mass electronic media, and the difficulties experienced by librarians in dealing with the threatened disappearance of traditional culture under the tidal wave of mass media for entertainment.
Abstract: Changes in the state structure since 1989 and their effect on the development of culture are discussed, as is the liquidation of censorship. The transition of publishing from a monopoly state enterprise to a part of the market economy is described, along with the development of the new mass electronic media. A final section deals with the situation in public libraries after 1989 and the difficulties experienced by librarians in dealing with the threatened disappearance of traditional culture under the tidal wave of mass media for entertainment.