Search results
1 – 10 of over 54000Barbara Susana Sanchez Vignau and Grizly Meneses
To identify the necessary components in the formulation of collection development policies.
Abstract
Purpose
To identify the necessary components in the formulation of collection development policies.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is based on both research about collection development policies and data compiled as a result of a survey of 16 centers of higher and technical education in Cuba.
Findings
Although the directors of university libraries and managers of collection development were aware of the process of collection development, few have collection development policies, and few have carried out user studies.
Originality/value
A model for a collection development policy for the system of university libraries is proposed.
Details
Keywords
G. Edward Evans defines “collection development” as “the process of assessing the strengths and weaknesses in a collection, and then creating a plan to correct the weaknesses and…
Abstract
G. Edward Evans defines “collection development” as “the process of assessing the strengths and weaknesses in a collection, and then creating a plan to correct the weaknesses and maintain the strengths.” He goes on to describe the collection development policy as “the written statement of that plan.…” Many librarians have acknowledged a responsibility to provide documentation of this process in the libraries they serve, yet few have done so. When the flush days of the sixties' Great Society were followed by the information explosion, inflation, and an era of accountability for service‐oriented institutions, the need for collection development policies became more urgent than it had been for decades. While selection of library materials has been of vital professional concern during most of the history of modern librarianship, it is only in the past decade that the preparation of selection or acquisitions policies (the terms have commonly been used interchangeably) and of collection development policies has received concentrated attention in library literature.
Vicki Oliveri, Glenn Porter, Pamela James, Jenny Wise and Chris Davies
This paper aims to explore how stolen Indian antiquities were purchased by a major Australian collecting institution, despite cultural protection policies designed to prevent such…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore how stolen Indian antiquities were purchased by a major Australian collecting institution, despite cultural protection policies designed to prevent such inappropriate acquisitions. Using the acquisition of the Dancing Shiva as a case study, the purpose of this paper is to examine how collecting institutions such as the National Gallery of Australia experience difficulty when determining legal title through provenance research. The impact of incautious provenance research produces significant risk to the institution including damaging its social responsibility credentials and reputation when the acquisition is discovered to be stolen.
Design/methodology/approach
This research applies a qualitative case study method and analysis of sourced official policy documents, personal communication with actors involved with the case, media reports and published institutional statements.
Findings
This work identifies four contributing factors that resulted in the National Gallery of Australia’s acquisition of stolen Indian artefacts: a misguided level of trust of the art dealer based on his professional reputation; a problematic motivation to expand the gallery’s Asian art collection; a less transparent and judicious acquisition process; and a collaboration deficiency with cultural institutions in India. Crime preventative methods would appear to be a strategic priority to counter art crime of this nature.
Research limitations/implications
Additional research into how collecting institutions can be effectively supported to develop and implement crime preventative methods, especially less-resourced institutions, can potentially further enhance cultural heritage protection.
Practical implications
Fostering a higher degree of transparency and institutional collaboration can enhance cultural heritage protection, develop a greater level of institutional ethics and social responsibility and identify any potential criminal activity. Changing the culture of “owning” to “loaning” may provide a long-term solution for cultural heritage protection, rather than incentivising a black market with lucrative sums of money paid for artefacts.
Social implications
Art crime involving the illegal trade of antiquities is often misinterpreted as a victimless crime with no real harm to individuals. The loss of a temple deity statue produces significant spiritual anguish for the Indian community, as the statue is representative not only of their God but also of place. Collecting institutions have a social responsibility to prioritise robust provenance policy and acquisition practices above collection priorities.
Originality/value
Art crime is a relatively new area within criminology. This work examines issues involving major collecting institutions acquiring stolen cultural heritage artefacts and the impact art crime has on institutions and communities. This paper unpacks how motivations for growing more prestigious collections can override cultural sensibilities and ethical frameworks established to protect cultural heritage. It highlights the liabilities associated with purchasing antiquities without significant due diligence regarding provenance research and safeguarding cultural heritage. It also emphasises the importance for collecting institutions to establish robust acquisition policies to protect the reputation of the institutions and the communities they represent.
Details
Keywords
Syombua Kasalu and Joseph Bernard Ojiambo
The purpose of this study was to find out ways in which collection development practices in private university libraries in Kenya could be enhanced by the use of information and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to find out ways in which collection development practices in private university libraries in Kenya could be enhanced by the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs).
Design/methodology/approach
This paper is based on research that was carried out on the application of ICTs in collection development in selected private universities in Kenya. The study was done using a survey method. Three universities and a total of 72 respondents were purposively selected for the study. The respondents included librarians, faculty deans and postgraduate students from the three universities.
Findings
The findings indicated that ICTs were available in all the three selected universities but their application in collection development was not adequate in ensuring efficiency and in making sure that the library collections are effective in meeting the needs of the users.
Originality/value
With the changing information environment and users' information needs, libraries are being compelled to adopt ICTs in order to remain relevant and increase their value and meet the changing needs of the users. The paper recommends different ways of applying ICTs in all the processes of collection development to make the process more efficient and effective in meeting the needs of the users.
Details
Keywords
Contingency models have enabled researchers to develop system‐based decision‐making approaches to organizational studies. Two contingency decision‐making models ‐ rational and…
Abstract
Contingency models have enabled researchers to develop system‐based decision‐making approaches to organizational studies. Two contingency decision‐making models ‐ rational and political choice ‐ have been applied to identify those organizational characteristics and strategic leadership qualities associated with acquisitive growth through “absorption” and “diversification”. A study of the International Telephone and Telegraph Company (ITT) organizational growth strategies from 1920 to 1997 reveals that senior managers adopt the rational decision‐making model when organizational growth through acquisition involves absorption, and the political model when organizational growth calls for diversification. A contingency historical study of ITT demonstrates two important periods in ITT’s organizational life cycles ‐ one of growth (1920‐early 1970s) and one of consolidation/stability (from mid‐1970 to the present time). Contingency models indicate that differences in organizational growth strategies arise due to differences in environmental factors characterizing each period as organizations pass through several stages of growth in their life cycles.
Details
Keywords
Karey L. Shaffer and Keith F. Snider
In 2006, the U.S. Defense Acquisition Executive approved a program at the Naval Postgraduate School to solicit, evaluate, and fund proposals for innovative and scholarly…
Abstract
In 2006, the U.S. Defense Acquisition Executive approved a program at the Naval Postgraduate School to solicit, evaluate, and fund proposals for innovative and scholarly acquisition research. This paper presents an exploratory analysis of proposals from 2007 to the present. It seeks to provide an understanding of the types and sources of research proposals, and the extent to which the programʼs goal has been achieved. Cluster and trend analyses classify and examine the data according to several key aspects, such as: topical area (e.g., contracting, logistics); research type (e.g., exploratory, hypothesis testing); research design (e.g., case study, experiment); and type of analysis (e.g., comparative, statistical). The results show positive trends, but the number of institutions with interest in defense acquisition remains low, suggesting that it remains a limited niche research topic.
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the practices for valuation for compensation purposes in Kenya.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the practices for valuation for compensation purposes in Kenya.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative survey design was used to sample the registered valuers using questionnaire/telephone interviews, in addition to review of some policy and legal documents. Content analysis and descriptive statistics was used to analyse the data.
Findings
The study revealed that the most ignored asset losses in valuation for compensation purposes in Kenya are assets of persons without legally recognizable rights, common property resources and social capital, among others, due to the existing legal provisions. Additionally, valuers often fail to apply the appropriate valuation concepts and methods.
Research limitations/implications
The findings of the study are specific to Kenya since valuations for compensation purposes are statutory in nature and hence the applicable legal frameworks are unique to a specific country, although professionalism issues cut across.
Practical implications
The study may help professional valuers to update their knowledge and apply the right valuation concepts and methods, and also help policymakers to review their policies appropriately to match the best practices.
Social implications
The findings of the study, if implemented, are likely to enhance acceptability of compensation amounts hence improving the working relationships between the public project implementers and the project affected persons, to the benefit of the both parties.
Originality/value
The study is of value to professional valuers, policymakers and land acquiring agencies to be more vigilant and professional in the process of acquiring interests in land.
Details
Keywords
In January of this year I was engaged by the Social Science and Government Committee of the Social Science Research Council ‘to carry out a broad review of the present position…
Abstract
In January of this year I was engaged by the Social Science and Government Committee of the Social Science Research Council ‘to carry out a broad review of the present position regarding the provision of printed ephemera in the social sciences in national, university, public and specialist libraries in Great Britain’. In this paper I should like to give an account of some of the more important findings of my research and to offer for discussion a number of recommendations designed to rationalize the acquisition of these important primary sources, to improve access to them, to provide an effective means of acquainting researchers with their existence and location, and to ensure that future library policies are compatible with the known and potential needs of social scientists.
Abhirup Chakrabarti and Will Mitchell
Most research of post-acquisition integration examines integration of individual business units. The research pays less attention to corporate level integration processes, by…
Abstract
Most research of post-acquisition integration examines integration of individual business units. The research pays less attention to corporate level integration processes, by which we mean the standardization of integration routines and synchronization of integration activities across a firm’s business units. We argue that corporate level acquisition activities and post-acquisition integration processes strongly influence long term corporate performance, particularly as a firm which comprises interdependent business units becomes geographically diffuse. Acquisitions tend to increase system diversity and goal diversity across business units. Some goal diversity is beneficial, but excessive goal diversity and the existence of system diversity can reduce long run corporate performance by requiring greater managerial effort and increasing the opportunity cost of managerial efforts. The negative effects become stronger as a firm becomes geographically diffuse or if business units are interdependent. Firms that employ active corporate level integration processes – particularly firms that acquire frequently and have interdependent business units – can enhance the benefits and eliminate some of the problems of diversity.