Showing papers in "Technical Services Quarterly in 2012"
TL;DR: The history of ebooks and e-readers began before World War II with Vannevar Bush, who conceived the memex as a way for individuals to store and read increasing amounts of available information as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The history of the ebook and e-readers began before World War II with Vannevar Bush, who conceived the memex as a way for individuals to store and read increasing amounts of available information. Project Gutenberg started digitizing texts in 1971. In this article the authors trace the history of ebooks and e-readers from these early beginnings to the current explosion of ebook use. While libraries started to experiment with ebooks relatively late, they have jumped upon the ebook bandwagon within the last few years. Problems have arisen with proprietary formats, licensing rather than ownership, and the mechanics of ebook circulation.
33 citations
TL;DR: Responses to a wide-ranging online survey document the workload, tools, practices, and problems of batch cataloging.
Abstract: Groups of bibliographic records are added to library catalogs with increasing frequency. Batch cataloging requires knowledge of bulk record transfer as well as current cataloging standards. While more efficient than cataloging items individually, batch cataloging requires different skills and creates new challenges. Responses to a wide-ranging online survey document the workload, tools, practices, and problems of batch cataloging. The unique characteristics of electronic resources affect many aspects of batch cataloging. Survey respondents lack consensus on how to share improved batch records, and recent trends in the bibliographic environment seem to make a networked solution less likely.
7 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explore the appreciative inquiry framework and its potential value for supporting staff and faculty during a transition leading up to and for the year following the hire of a new University Librarian.
Abstract: The authors explore the appreciative inquiry framework and its potential value for supporting staff and faculty during a transition leading up to and for the year following the hire of a new University Librarian. Appreciative inquiry occurs in four distinct phases: discovery, dream, design, and destiny, known as the 4-D model; currently the Hesburgh Libraries are between stages 3 and 4. The authors define the appreciative inquiry framework and its four phases; provide a context for the current cultural environment, and discuss major recommendations made at all employee levels during a baseline strategic planning process, the introduction of a balanced scorecard approach and the results of an internal climate survey—all of which pointed to the need for a major culture shift in the libraries; and finally, apply the appreciative inquiry framework to explore how the needed changes identified can be supported during the leadership transition.
6 citations
TL;DR: The future role of the academic librarian and the ability to go paperless in a library are addressed in this article.
Abstract: Can academic libraries be a place of learning without any physical materials? Gone are the paper journals and book of old, replaced with study carrels, meeting rooms, and wireless access to a vast collection of knowledge residing in expensive databases and online resources. Is it possible to go paperless in a library? Is this happening today? Should it? The answers to these questions and the future role of the academic librarian are addressed in this article.
6 citations
TL;DR: The author reviews the literature on the information audit in the library and information center environment and provides an overview of the benefits of an information Audit in the academic library setting.
Abstract: An information audit is a tool that can be used to discover and identify patterns and changes in an organization Although most of the research is not focused on the academic library, many of the existing case studies and practical resources on the information audit have details that can be easily applied to the academic environment In this article the author reviews the literature on the information audit in the library and information center environment and provides an overview of the benefits of an information audit in the academic library setting
6 citations
TL;DR: The authors share their experiences and discuss solutions to issues faced during and after implementation of the web scale discovery system, Summon from Serials Solutions.
Abstract: Grand Valley State University implemented the web scale discovery system, Summon from Serials Solutions, in August of 2009. The decision was made to use Summon search as the only search box on the library home page. This fueled the desire to ensure that the Grand Valley State University local catalog was included in the Summon index. The inclusion of these records caused many issues that had to be addressed and worked through, including daily updates and incorrect data. In this article the authors share their experiences and discuss solutions to issues faced during and after implementation.
5 citations
TL;DR: A brief background of collaborative collection development efforts in libraries and ongoing, innovative projects to leverage the strength of collaboration across the VALE statewide academic library network in New Jersey to explore new methods of collection assessment, serials management, ebook collections development, and the pursuit of a shared virtual catalog can be found in this paper.
Abstract: The authors provide a brief background of collaborative collection development efforts in libraries and describe ongoing, innovative projects to leverage the strength of collaboration across the VALE statewide academic library network in New Jersey to explore new methods of collection assessment, serials management, ebook collections development, and the pursuit of a shared virtual catalog.
4 citations
TL;DR: Sue Polanka as mentioned in this paper reviewed the work of as mentioned in this paper and found that if you are reading this review, you are doing so electronically, which is not the case for most of the readers.
Abstract: Edited by Sue Polanka. Chicago, IL: ALA, 2012, 272 pp., ISBN13: 978-0-8389-1145-7, softcover, $65.00 (ALA members: $58.50). Odds are if you are reading this review, you are doing so electronically....
4 citations
TL;DR: The ERM team at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) studied business process management (BPM) principles and applications, including business process reengineering, Six Sigma, and Total Quality Management programs, to build a more effective organizational structure.
Abstract: Organization of electronic resources management (ERM) operations is critical. To build a more effective organizational structure, the ERM team at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) studied business process management (BPM) principles and applications, including business process reengineering, Six Sigma, and Total Quality Management programs. Six Sigma was adapted to reorganize ERM workflows. The existing infrastructure was rebuilt using small, manageable projects, in order to optimize operations and end up with big results. Planning for the future, the ultimate goal is to attempt to use other BPM principles to coordinate diverse ERM functions throughout UMUC.
4 citations
3 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a project evaluation tool is used to prioritize an organization's projects and strategic initiatives in order to evaluate competing projects and select and prioritize only those that make the greatest impact.
Abstract: In this article the author describes a project evaluation tool that has been adapted by Portland State University Library. A project evaluation tool is used to prioritize an organization's projects and strategic initiatives. In any organization, projects and strategic initiatives compete for limited human and financial resources. Librarians can use this tool to critically and objectively analyze competing projects and select and prioritize only those that make the greatest impact.
TL;DR: Three large sound archives experimented with large-scale batch searching using OCLC Connexion's batch-processing utility to retrieve available copy for their holdings of 78 rpm recordings, while also providing high quality original cataloging for portions of their collections.
Abstract: Historical collections of sound recordings are among the most hidden of library collections, with often little or no bibliographic access in local and union catalogs. In a joint project funded by a grant from the Mellon Foundation, three large sound archives (later four) experimented with large-scale batch searching using OCLC Connexion's batch-processing utility to retrieve available copy for their holdings of 78 rpm recordings, while also providing high quality original cataloging for portions of their collections. This article describes the project, the procedures used, and the challenges faced in the batch searching of historical sound recordings.
TL;DR: The authors focus on the procedure implemented by the committee for emerging technologies; methods by which library requests for specific emerging technologies or technology needs are evaluated and processed; the obstacles the committee encountered; recommendations for future Emerging technologies; and resulting conclusions.
Abstract: This article is a case study on the committee approach to identifying, assessing, and initializing emerging technologies in the library environment. The committee path is offered as an effective means of addressing emerging technologies and social software for libraries where budgetary reductions have made the hiring of a single emerging technologies librarian prohibitive. Specifically the authors focus on the following: the procedure implemented by the committee for emerging technologies; methods by which library requests for specific emerging technologies or technology needs are evaluated and processed; the obstacles the committee encountered; recommendations for future emerging technologies; and resulting conclusions. A literature review contextualizes and highlights the importance of developing strategic approaches to emerging technologies, as well as the potential benefits of using a cross-departmental committee or team.
TL;DR: In this article, a trial run of outsourcing the monographic processing procedures at Southern Illinois University's Morris Library is described. And the authors evaluate the trade-offs between the money and staff time saved and the costs/benefits gleaned from outsourcing the pre-processing of our monographs.
Abstract: Faced with a flat budget over the past five years, the acquisitions unit at Southern Illinois University's Morris Library has sought alternative schemas to save staff time and money. One decision was to begin a trial run of outsourcing the monographic processing procedures. During this five month trial, acquisitions staff tracked the number of books funneled into the process, vendor error rate, cost, and the work-flow changes regulated by the process. From this tracking, we hoped to determine and evaluate the trade-offs between the money and staff time saved and the costs/benefits gleaned from outsourcing the pre-processing of our monographs.
TL;DR: In this article the author documents the design and implementation process, including some specific coding examples, to improve access to the library catalog.
Abstract: A combination of cascading style sheets, hypertext markup language, and JavaScript can be used to create interfaces that work for both full-screen and mobile/small-screen devices. This approach can be applied to a library's online public-access catalog to create a mobile-friendly interface that retains the features of the full online public-access catalog. In this article the author documents the design and implementation process, including some specific coding examples, to improve access to the library catalog.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors feature reports on what is going on in the rapidly changing, ever fascinating field of technical services, and each quarterly issue will consist of reports on new developments.
Abstract: This column will feature reports on what is going on in the rapidly changing, ever fascinating field of Technical Services. Each quarterly issue will consist of reports on new developments includin...
TL;DR: In this article, an examination of Amazon's discovery layer interface and search structure reveals that their data is not organized or indexed in a way that is conducive to research, but is designed to improve sales.
Abstract: Academic libraries face growing pressure to provide minimal cataloging, while corporate bibliographic databases provide increasingly extensive bibliographic information. Amazon imports metadata from publishers, users, and authors, creating a virtual community space surrounding every record. An examination of Amazon's discovery layer interface and search structure reveals that their data is not organized or indexed in a way that is conducive to research, but is designed to improve sales. Catalogers' understanding of search mechanisms, organization, and data quality, when paired with Amazon's use of shared and enhanced metadata, could make a powerful next-generation library catalog without compromising libraries' core mission of service.
TL;DR: Library and Information Technology Association (LITA) Mobile Computing Interest Group (MCIG) met at the 2011 American Library Association Annual Conference to discuss and discuss mobile computing in the library.
Abstract: Library and Information Technology Association (LITA) Mobile Computing Interest Group (MCIG) met at the 2011 American Library Association Annual Conference. Four presentations were given, and the d...