Showing papers in "International Information & Library Review in 1999"

The Information Needs and Seeking Habits of Lawyers in England: A Pilot Study

Abstract: This article investigates the information needs and seeking habits of lawyers in England in the United Kingdom. Specifically, it seeks to ascertain the type of information lawyers require to meet their needs; the reasons prompting them to seek information; to establish from where lawyers obtain information; and to determine the factors that influence their information needs and seeking habits. This study was carried out as part of a wider research project for a doctorate programme. Data collection was carried out by semi-structured interviews. The participants comprised lawyers, essentially solicitors, in London and the Midlands. It was found that lawyers' information needs are greatly influenced by the nature of the work they do. It was noted that experience has a considerable influence on their needs: it is generally assumed that experienced lawyers do not require as much information support as newly qualified lawyers. The lawyers' needs for information in turn influences their information seeking habits. It was noted that the card catalogue as an information retrieval tool is fast disappearing from law libraries in the UK. Its ultimate future is likely to be determined by the needs of small firms which are presently unable to afford automated systems. The study confirms the validity of the findings of earlier studies conducted in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. It appears that very little has changed since these studies were published. The legal profession continues to rely heavily on printed media. Electronic media is used only as a last resort. Practising lawyers continue to rely on their junior colleagues for legal research. Many are apathetic to legal research. Despite the fact that law is a dynamic subject, the legal discipline remains a conservative profession.

Insights into Information-seeking and Communicating Behaviour of Academics

Abstract: This paper discusses the information-seeking behaviour of academics in relation to the productivity of academics in South African Universities, with particular reference to the University of Zululand, through a survey of 105 academics. It was established that the nature of the discipline and the rank of the academic, which normally corresponds with the academic qualification, experience, exposure and research productivity level, largely determine the information-seeking behaviour. Academics mainly need information for career development, and occupational and professional needs. Furthermore, university libraries, which currently face budget cuts on acquisitions, still play a pivotal role in information access by the academics. It is confirmed that the use of “local environment” is dominant for intra- and inter-university information access network and system. It is recommended that avenues that work colleagues can use to interact should be supported, and career challenges that stimulate productivity by academics, such as research and publication, should be maintained and sustained.

Resource Sharing Viability in Kuwait

Abstract: With the current economic situation, and the latest advancements in information technology, the information profession is faced with the need to continuously redefine the library as a concept and as a physical environment. Current trends increasingly appear to define the library as a provider of information. This article describes the argument for resource sharing with its different attributes as it appears in the literature, as well as its validity in the case of Kuwait. Two main research collections in Kuwait that constitute the basis for the information infrastructure of the country are used as examples. These collections are the Kuwait University Libraries, and the National Scientific and Technical Information Center, “NISTIC”. A profile of the two collections including their coverage, trends in budget, and service are used to justify the viability of resource sharing among two leading institutions in Kuwait.

The Internet in Nepal: A Survey Report

Abstract: To get an insight into the perspective of Internet use in Nepal, the author conducted a survey of Internet users in Nepal in late April 1998. An electronic questionnaire was sent via e-mail to a selected local listserve (nepal-list@mos.com.np) which had about 100 members at that time. Because the response was insufficient, a second posting of the questionnaire was made in the first week of May, and responses were given a deadline of the second week of June. After the second posting of the questionnaire 12 responses were received (12%), which was accepted as meeting the social science survey sampling standard. The results of the survey provided information on various aspects of Internet use in Nepal, such as frequency of Internet use, benefits from Internet use, application of Internet in development and management of communications. The survey has also identified opinions on how Internet use should be promoted in Nepal, opinions on the north–south balance of Internet use, social effects of the Internet and other aspects. This survey, which was the first of its kind conducted in Nepal, reached only a small portion of Internet users in Nepal. As of August 1998, there are estimated to be over 7000 Internet users in Nepal. Future research on Internet use in Nepal is needed to develop the literature, data and information for use by researchers, development workers, commerce and other industries.

Management development for libraries and information services in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Abstract: This paper reflects on the outcomes of a project undertaken in 1997/98, and examines issues relating to the development of the managerial expertise that underpins the library and information services in Latin America and the Caribbean. It reviews the results of surveys of schools of Librarianship and Information Sciences and a small selection of employers in the region, examining the congruence between the needs of the employers and provision by the schools and possible explanations for an apparent mutual lack of awareness of modern management techniques. Proposals for developing management expertise include: enhancing access to indigenous professional publications and teaching materials; developing a Hispanic language distance-learning programme for library managers; improving research into the job market and skills requirements; and developing an electronic network for communication between the schools. The role of international agencies and technical co-operation projects is assessed, and attention is drawn to the need for a more positive approach to overcome the issues surrounding the transfer of management know-how between different cultures.

A Study of the Impact of Medical Libraries on Clinical Decision-Making in Nigeria University Teaching Hospitals

Abstract: This study is aimed at examining the impact of an institution's medical library on the clinical decision-making of medical officers in two Nigerian University Teaching Hospitals. Medical information sources consulted by medical officers in Nigeria University teaching hospitals were examined. The results of the study revealed that the information provided by the library was appropriate to their clinical decisions. Medics rely mostly on their institution's library and personal data collections for information. Information is sought for the purposes of managing patients, evaluating new drugs, and support for the diagnosis of ailments. Scientific and technical journals, Index Medicus, Excerpta Medical, CD-ROM (MEDLINE) databases and foreign magazines are widely consulted. Respondents judged the library collection as fair. The study recommends that the existing medical libraries and information centers in Nigeria be well stocked for the retraining of librarians in modern information technology.

Plowing in Rocky Land: Organizational Culture, Managed Change, and Quality Improvement in Selected Romanian Post-Communist Libraries

Abstract: Romanian libraries have had a rich heritage of collecting and preserving materials in the domains of national and foreign history, literature, art, and science. During the communist regime they served as propaganda tools for the government's Marxist ideology. In post-communist Romania, there is a desire among some librarians to promote change from a system of limited access to information to a more open system that focuses on quality improvement of library services, operations, and organization. In their efforts to overcome the communist legacy to libraries in their country, some Romanian librarians—with local resources and support from international agencies—are implementing western managerial styles and services. This case study reflects the results, assessments, and recommendations from a survey conducted at a workshop of selected Romanian librarians in August 1998. Considerations for the implementation of needed changes are also included.

A Comparison Study on the Confusion and Threat of the United States and Chinese Library Education

Abstract: This article is concerned with the confusion and threat of library and information science education in China and the United States. It compares the similarities and differences between the two countries and explains the reasons for the confusion. It suggests that a small number of American schools of library and information science (LIS) did not adjust their direction during the early period of development of the American information industry. Alternatively, Chinese library education seized the opportunity at the right time and turned its academic direction to incorporate aspects of the emerging information industry. It now has a strong position in the information job market. This turn may provide direction for world LIS education.

Library Education and the Practitioner: The Sierra Leone Experience

Abstract: The pattern of library and information science (LIS) education in any country is shaped by a combination of circumstances, namely the nature of the country's library service; the structure of tertiary education; the system of government; and the professional organizations which librarians themselves have formed. Library education programmes should be innovative, educational options should be open to both instructors and students, and the curriculum should be designed to prepare students to anticipate developments, solve problems and adapt to change. In this article the past and current educational trends of librarianship in Sierra Leone are examined.

Internet in Yemen: Problems and Prospects (A Case Study)

Abstract: The Internet has caught the public in its expanding web. It is beginning to reshape other media and is now making its way into countries all over the world including developing countries. Yemen, as a developing country, introduced Internet services in September 1996. The present study attempts to evaluate Internet services in Yemen from inception up to the end of 1998. The study also hopes to find, among other things, how well and how widely the Internet is used in Yemen and to what extent Yemen can benefit from it, and how Yemen participates in the information highway. A questionnaire was used as a tool for collecting data. The homepages hosted at the Tele-Yemen (ISP) Server were scanned and certain criteria were used for their evaluation. The study was able to pinpoint the problems faced by Yemeni users of the Internet, the constraints confronting its diffusion in Yemen and the profits gained by subscribers. The study came up with several suggestions and recommendations that the two authors hope will provide a basis for assessing the prospects for the future of the Internet in Yemen.

The Problems of Tertiary Publishing in Africa and Implications for Training and Education of Library and Information Professionals

Abstract: Trainees in the library and information profession in Africa depend on textbooks that are written for an environment other than Africa because of the dearth of textbooks suited to the local environment. There are very few books that attempt to focus on Africa and none of these books can really be used as a basic text for teaching. This has greatly affected the training of library and information professionals in Africa as the trainees are exposed to the situations in Europe, America and Asia which are generally not relevant to the African environment. Several factors have been identified as responsible for the lack of African library and information science textbooks, including the relatively young age of the profession resulting in a low number of professionals in Africa that have the required expertise to write textbooks. The attitude of publishers to tertiary textbooks is another limiting factor, as they are not likely to make a profit given the small number of trainees in the continent. In short, publishers regard such a venture as non-profitable because of the limited market. Another problem is the lack of interest on the part of professional associations in the continent to promote the writing of textbooks. In order to ameliorate these problems, it is recommended that professionals in the continent should participate in team authorship, by drawing from a pool of expertise, with a view to writing relevant textbooks. Also, there is a need for professional associations and the relevant international agencies to promote the publishing of textbooks. Finally, there is a need for retired information professionals in the continent to form a consortium of marketing outfits for the purpose of marketing and distributing textbooks on the African library and information profession throughout Africa.

Iceland’s National Information Infrastructure

Abstract: This article discusses Iceland's national information infrastructure in the year 2000. It focuses on the current information policy and legislation of the country. It looks at this policy as it is presented in government publications from the last 5 years and evaluates its effects, with particular regard to the education, culture and health sectors. It describes the foundation of a nationwide health database in Iceland, which was established by an Act of Parliament taking force on 1 January 1999. The idea for this database came from deCODE, a company that proposes to make use of the homogeneity and the vast genealogical information of the Icelandic nation to develop better drugs for common diseases. The company is a genomics research company, and is currently working with Hoffmann La-Roche. It has gained a 12-year monopoly on building such a database, the formation of which brings up many ethical questions, and also new possibilities for health management.

Library Development in Developing Countries: The Role of Book Aid International in Nigeria

Abstract: This paper discusses the activities of Book Aid International (BAI) in Nigeria and commends it for its assistance with libraries. The development of libraries in a developing country like Nigeria is described as a Herculian task brought about by inadequate official support coupled with dwindling financial allocations. This paper also discusses the devastating effect of the economic depression of the early 1980s on libraries, as many could barely replenish their stock, either through local sources or through importation. BAI has been helping to end the book crisis in Nigeria through donations. Within the last four years, over half a million volumes have been shared among certain libraries. Various types of libraries have benefited from the project. Suggestions have been made that BAI should not limit its assistance to only books, but should also include journals and provide training for library personnel. Other agencies and organizations are being called upon to emulate BAI in assisting libraries in developing countries. The paper concludes by calling on the Nigerian government at various levels to be more committed to developing a comprehensive library system.

Librarianship and Information Science in The Sahel 1966–1999: An Annotated Bibliography

Abstract: This work is an annotated bibliography that consists of articles, books, conference papers, dissertations, reports, etc., published in various library and information science forums on the subject of librarianship in the Sahel. The Encyclopaedia Britannica Online defines the term Sahel as an English translation of the Arab term Sahil which refers to the semi-arid region of western and north-central Africa extending from Senegal to The Sudan. The Sahel for the purposes of this work consists of the region of West Africa and the nations of Gambia, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. Nigerian library literature will be given a full and separate treatment in two subsequent articles. While this work is by no means an exhaustive analysis of the entire Sahelian library, literature, it does strive to be comprehensive in terms of its country-by-country breakdown of librarianship within the region. In providing a citation for a non-English language work, the English equivalent of the title of that work will be given next to the non-English title.

Information Requirements and Availability to Nigerians with Business Interests in Taiwan

Abstract: This study was undertaken to determine the nature of information about Taiwan required by Nigerian business and industrial executives who have business interests with Taiwan, how they obtain the required business information, and measures that are necessary to ensure speedy availability of such information. The investigation was conducted by means of a questionnaire and some supplimentary interviews and observations. It was found that the respondents required easy access to information concerning currency regulations, export/import regulations, business partners, manufactured goods, industrial machinery, visa requirements, and leisure centres. The arrangement for sourcing any piece of required information was largely unsatisfactory and realistic measures to improve the situation were proffered.