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The purpose of this paper is to show how quality information materials are maintained in Kenyan museum libraries by examining collection development policy, skills and processes used by librarians in acquisition.

A total of 137 respondents, which included 130 registered library users and seven members of staff, completed the questionnaires. This included the principal librarian, for whom an interview schedule was used to collect the required data. A pilot study to ensure data validity and reliability was carried out at the Kenya Medical Research Institute Library. Statistical Packages for Social Science (SPSS) was used to analyze the research data.

The findings, which were presented both textually and graphically, show that the National Museum of Kenya library lacks a collection development policy to guide the acquisition process, as well as a diverse set of information resources that are both comprehensive and current to meet the current user information needs. Furthermore, the key impediment to the acquisition of information materials was revealed to be financial constraints, and there was a positive effort to involve library users in the acquisition process.

The study focus on library users and library staff at the National Museums of Kenya (NMK) library in Nairobi, it may not be, therefore, representative of the acquisition processes at all Kenyan museum libraries. Although NMK has other branches across the country, they were not included in this study.

This paper purposes to provide the Kenyan museum library with important information about maintaining quality information materials from the perspectives of librarians and library users. Despite efforts to improve information materials, the management faces financial challenges.

The study unveils underlying picture in selection and acquisition practices which will inform on meeting library users information needs.

The paper is of value as a case study of Kenya Museums Library.

This study aims to promote the need for advanced skills acquisition within the LIS and academic libraries. This study focuses on the importance of library management systems and the need for the graduates to be equipped with analytics skills. Combined with basic data, text mining and analytics, knowledge classification and information audit skills would benefit libraries and improve resource allocation. Agile institutional libraries in this big data era success hinge on the ability to perform depth analytics of both data and text to generate useful insight for information literacy training and information governance.

This paper adopted a living-lab methodology to use existing technology to conduct system analysis and LMS audit of an academic library of one of the highly ranked universities in the world. One of the benefits of this approach is the ability to apply technological innovation and tools to carry out research that is relevant to the context of LIS or other research fields such as management, education, humanities and social sciences. The techniques allow us to gain access to publicly available information because of system audits that were performed. The level of responsiveness of the online library was accessed, and basic information audits were conducted.

This study indicated skill gaps in the LIS training and the academic libraries in response to the fourth industrial technologies. This study argued that the role of skill acquisition and how it can foster data-driven library management operations. Hence, data mining, text mining and analytics are needed to probe into such massive, big data housed in the various libraries’ repositories. This study, however, indicated that without retraining of librarians or including this analytics programming in the LIS curriculum, the libraries would not be able to reap the benefits these techniques provided.

This paper covered research within the general and academic libraries and the broader LIS fields. The same principle and concept is very important for both public and private libraries with substantial usage and patrons.

This paper indicated that librarianship training must fill the gaps within the LIS training. This can be done by including data mining, data analytics, text mining and processing in the curriculum. This skill will enable the news graduates to have skills to assist the library managers in making informed decisions based on user-generated content (UGC), LMS system audits and information audits. Thus, this paper provided practical insights and suggested solutions for academic libraries to improve the agility of information services.

The academic librarian can improve institutional and LMS management through insights that are generated from the user. This study indicated that libraries' UGC could serve as robust insights into library management.

This paper argued that the librarian expertise transcends information literacy and knowledge classification and debated the interwoven of LMS and data analytics, text mining and analysis as a solution to improve efficient resources and training.

The Pikes Peak Library District has served as a model for public libraries desiring to implement automated systems over the past ten years. This article discusses the creation and operation of the online community resource files system. The changes that have occurred since the initiation of the programme and the reasons for those changes are presented. The relationship of the programme for community information to the overall purpose of the library is explained. This article provides a starting point for libraries considering the automation of files of local information resources.

The purpose of this paper is to explore key issues involved with opportunities, challenges, and future developing trends of delivering dynamic and distributed web‐based academic library information resources, services, and instructions for library users in the digital age.

Based on the typical web‐based, three‐tier client/server architecture, this paper explores ten key issues how to leverage quality library user services in the digital age: roles of academic libraries; funding support; information resources; information access; information services; instructions and trainings; impacts of cutting‐edge technologies and emerging technologies; web contents management and knowledge base; assessment and evaluation; and Librarians. Also discussed are the next‐generation web‐based client/server library information architecture and services in the foreseeable future.

With the rapid development of the internet and the world wide web, information exchange and information distribution can be transformed either by disparate formats or by dynamic channels. Knowledge, competence, and skills cannot follow up with the rapid advances of science and technologies. Many library users need assistance to access, locate, convert, synthesize, and evaluate information effectively and efficiently. It is very imperative for libraries and librarians to design, develop, enhance, implement, and deliver high quality user‐centered information services, resources, and instruction at the fingertips of library users.

Target readers who include librarians, instructors, trainers, consultants, managers, IT specialists, executives, and other professionals who are involved with developing and delivering distributed library user services via the internet will find this article of value.

China has two separate systems engaged in library and information work. They have their own organizations, functions and tasks under their respective government departments. In China one of the major problems is that documents are not widely available. There is an obvious gap between the demands of users and their satisfaction. In view of China's present situation, interlending activities alone cannot cope completely with the problem of Chinese information needs. In the new situation following China's economic reformation, the structure of Chinese information users has greatly changed. To meet the increasing needs of the Chinese people, library and information systems must improve their methods of service and augment the scope of their service. Viewed as a whole, China needs to set up a nationwide document supply system in order to promote the supply of literature and the dissemination of information. The system may take a hierarchical form in which a number of regional systems are involved. Under the leadership of a central system, services would be provided not only to major scientific research and production and construction projects, but also to the general public at all levels of the country.

This paper presents the results of a study of training opportunities for library and information professionals in India and how a selection of Indian university libraries are providing information skills and information literacy programmes for their users. The need for training students, researchers and staff to make appropriate use of resources made available in libraries is recognised. Library and information professionals also need continuing professional development courses as new ways of providing information resources are developed.

The evolution of information processing and deep integration of social structures and information systems are raising the significance of information and knowledge to a new higher level. The availability of information for everyone is the essence of the universal information service and the basic objective for the national information policy. An analysis of the market for information services shows that libraries remain the major information brokers and a significant guarantee for general availability of information. Tasks and usage of libraries are increasing, therefore the strategy of their development should be elaborated on a state scale. The Concept of Provision of Scientific and Technical Information for Latvia is based on integrated usage of printed and electronic information sources and services, wide application of virtual library strategy and the development of electronic information technologies.

This paper aims to give a snapshot of planning, building and developing the information commons at a comprehensive research university library in China. It seeks to frame and confirm a new and effective strategy for the future development of university libraries illustrated by its actually positive outcomes.

The paper begins with an overview of information commons as a major international concern that represents a strategic direction of library development, followed by the changing academic landscape in China. It then explains the background and process of building the information commons at Sichuan University Jiang'an Library with its emphasis on its positive outcomes, illustrated by the latest factual data compared with other university libraries in Sichuan. It also discusses the future prospects of developing the information commons.

The paper reveals that information commons is undergoing its international journey from theory to practice and has proved its positive impact on improving the usage of physical and virtual space, resources and services of university libraries in the changing information environment.

Detailed recommendations regarding the construction and development of information commons in Chinese university libraries are provided.

This case study offers insight into practical and effective approaches to enhancing the usage of university libraries in China and emphasizes the importance of integrating the actual situation and background of the university, the region and the nation.

The term ‘information superhighways’ has vastly increased in currency in the last 12 months. Like many such terms, it may have been used by politicians and the media to mean whatever they want it to mean, but there is no doubt that its currency in the language presages a major development in access to information and resources. The first significant step on the way to the realisation of information superhighways is the increasing use, for many different purposes, of the Internet.

To review the current state of information communication technologies (ICT) application for information provision in Nigerian university libraries and make suggestions to enable them take fuller advantage of ICT facilities to provide information more effectively to users.

Recent library and information science literature on university libraries and ICT application in Nigeria is reviewed to expose the state‐of‐the‐art and hence the problems which beset the university libraries in Nigeria as regards ICT application.

Identified obstacles militating against effective application of ICT in university libraries to include inadequate funding, inadequate electricity supply, shortage of competent manpower for operation and maintenance of ICT facilities, lukewarm attitude of the Nigerian government towards the provision of ICT facilities and low level of computer literacy among Nigerians.

Physical visits were not paid to the university libraries; conclusions drawn are based on experience and evidence from current librarianship literature on Nigeria.

A very useful source of information on how to ameliorate the problem of low level of ICT application for information provision in university libraries in Nigeria.

Provides very useful and practical suggestions to enable university libraries in Nigeria take advantage of ICT facilities to provide information more effectively to their users. These include massive infusion of funds into purchase of ICT facilities, provision of constant electricity supply, greater commitment of university library staff to computerization efforts in their libraries, training and retraining opportunities for librarians in computer literacy and involvement of libraries in cooperative acquisition of electronic information resources through consortia.