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Article
Publication date: 27 January 2023

Paul Samwel Muneja

This study aims to evaluate Web-based tools that are potentially used by universities and college libraries to market e-resources in Tanzania.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate Web-based tools that are potentially used by universities and college libraries to market e-resources in Tanzania.

Design/methodology/approach

This study evaluated Web-based tools that are potentially used to market e-resources in libraries in Tanzania. A sample of 52 universities and colleges was approved by Tanzania Commission for Universities and was purposively selected for this study. The evaluation was conducted with an established checklist to evaluate the websites with a view to identifying Web-based tools, which are potentially useful in marketing e-resources.

Findings

The finding of this study indicates that most libraries have websites linked to their institutional websites. The finding has revealed that social media are mostly used by public universities to market e-resources. However, only one university is using WhatsApp to communicate with patrons. The findings show that the majority of public university libraries display a list of e-resources on their websites. Moreover, the displayed e-resources of most websites are not up to date, and some of them are irrelevant. Also, most public universities provide guidelines on how to use the subscribed e-resources as opposed to their counterpart.

Originality/value

The study on the evaluation of Web-based e-resources marketing tools is new in Tanzania. The finding of this study will trigger efforts to adjust the way libraries market their e-resources online.

Details

Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2514-9342

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 April 2023

Rajender Kumar and Dinesh K. Gupta

This paper examines the impact of restructuring on the usage of resources and services in the Indian Institute of Technology library, Roorkee. Library users were approached to…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper examines the impact of restructuring on the usage of resources and services in the Indian Institute of Technology library, Roorkee. Library users were approached to know their preferences between an electronic and traditional resources and services. Additionally, the study focused to know the extent of change in users' awareness, dependency, usage, frequency and satisfaction from library resources and services after restructuring these due to the availability of abundance of e-resources.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted survey-based research design, for which a questionnaire was used as the principal instrument for data collection. This questionnaire was distributed to the library users when they physically visited the library. Notably, all the questionnaires distributed were returned, yielding thereby a cent percent response rate. One questionnaire was administrative on the librarian for getting the data regarding the changes made in the subscription of e-resources and services. The collected data were further analyzed with appropriate statistical techniques of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) as chi-square test, mean and standard deviation.

Findings

The results showed that the use of both restructured resources and services had increased, and was found to be helpful for users. Also, the users' dependency on library had increased, showing thereby an upward trend for usage in the future. However, although the users’ awareness, usage and frequency of e-resources and ICT-based services have positively changed, and partially been satisfied, the study suggests that further revision is needed for further strengthening e-resources and services as per user's needs satisfaction.

Practical implications

This study would create interest in rethinking library resources and services among librarians that tend to respond positively to user satisfaction and library functions; it also provides a strategic position of a library per se for its users in the future. Importantly, the assessment of the usage of restructuring resources and services, vis-a-vis their impact on users, may also serve as a key tool, which possibly could be applied to both public libraries and other types of higher education libraries.

Originality/value

Many libraries find it difficult to balance between electronic and printed materials, especially in the fields of science and technology, due to the preferences of the users. Thus far, there have not been too many studies that have looked to assess restructuring of library resources and services, vis-a-vis their impact on library users. Therefore, the results of this study would provide a clear understanding to the library profession as to how users use e-resources and services in the digital age, and how much they are actually influenced by these.

Details

Library Management, vol. 44 no. 3/4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-5124

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 January 2020

Muzamil Mushtaq and Ariba Tausif

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the e-resource collection development practices of the engineering college libraries of Aligarh. The research includes budgeting…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the e-resource collection development practices of the engineering college libraries of Aligarh. The research includes budgeting, collection development policy, collection evaluation, sources of funds, modes of procurement, pricing models and other aspects related to collection development activity.

Design/methodology/approach

The descriptive method was used for conducting the study, in which a well-structured questionnaire was administered followed by interview of the librarians of six engineering college libraries under study.

Findings

It was found that these colleges are much more interested in focusing on building a strong e-resource collection in their libraries. During the past few years, the budget has also been increased in majority of libraries for the acquisition of e-resources. The study found that the major factors affecting the selection of electronic resources (e-resources) in these colleges are quality, subject coverage, license agreement and vendor support. It was also revealed that majority of libraries lack proper collection development policy, especially for e-resources. The study suggested that these libraries should build their collections keeping in mind the different areas of specializations of engineering studies and the contemporary changes in the field.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is restricted exclusively to the study of collection development process of e-resources and the librarians of six major engineering colleges of Aligarh as respondents.

Practical implications

This study has great importance for the librarians of the similar engineering colleges in India. The findings and suggestions of the study can help not only in understanding the engineering college librarianship and its current trends but can also help library professionals who are facing similar challenges in their libraries.

Originality/value

The present study is about the e-resource collection development practices followed in engineering colleges of Aligarh, which can serve as a pedestal for future studies in other academic and special libraries in India and elsewhere.

Details

Collection and Curation, vol. 39 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2514-9326

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 27 September 2018

Lan Ye, Wei Yang and Weiming Lin

This paper aims to share some experiences and practical activities related to the use and management of usage data in the Digital Resource Acquisition Alliance of Chinese Academic…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to share some experiences and practical activities related to the use and management of usage data in the Digital Resource Acquisition Alliance of Chinese Academic Libraries (DRAA) as a reference for library consortia engaged in providing usage statistics services of e-resources to member libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review and online survey are used to analyze the research and practice of e-resources usage statistics conducted internationally. The case of DRAA is introduced to present how DRAA develops usage statistics services and promotes the implementation of the Standardized Usage Statistics Harvesting Initiative (SUSHI) to deliver usage statistics to member libraries. Future developments and enhancements are also described.

Findings

The main actions taken by DRAA to develop usage statistics services are as follows: development of the DRAA Usage Statistics Portal to provide a single point of access to usage statistics from participating publishers on behalf of member libraries; development of a SUSHI client, taking the lead in promoting SUSHI implementation to automatically obtain usage statistics in Chinese academic libraries; establishment of a working group on usage statistics and the China Academic Library and Information System/DRAA Standards and Recommended Practices Research Task Group to form a long-term mechanism for monitoring and gathering usage statistics; and strengthening of the understanding and application of standards and best practices for libraries and vendors in China. Scheduled enhancements in the future include a deep analysis and utilization of usage statistics, the promotion of Counting Online Usage of NeTworked Electronic Resources and SUSHI to Chinese academic resource publishers and raising awareness about normalizing usage statistics.

Originality/value

This paper has pertinence and wider implications for library consortia engaged in providing e-resources usage statistics services to member libraries.

Details

The Electronic Library, vol. 36 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-0473

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 May 2006

Subrata Deb

The paper seeks to describe the setting up of the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) Digital library, which provides better single window access for researchers to access the…

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Abstract

Purpose

The paper seeks to describe the setting up of the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) Digital library, which provides better single window access for researchers to access the structured information from their desktop. The aim of this paper is to share the experience gained and invite comments and suggestions for further improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes a case study of TERI's Integrated Digital Library resources and digitization in detail and how the digital resources can be accessed through a single window. It also deals with basic problems and suggests practical solutions.

Findings

The paper finds that TERI Integrated Digital Library has been created to provide access to all digital and digitized offline and online resources, online e‐journals, electronic documents and virtual resources, and virtual libraries. The purpose of the integrated library is to provide a single window to researchers, through which they can access all the resources (both digitally born resources and digitized documents). Once users are able to access the Digital Library homepage, all the electronic resources are accessible using linkages with a single click, no matter whether they are available in a database or as a simple file in a virtual collection. A physical digital library has been created to address access to all the LAN connected systems that provide CD‐ROM access and journals and books downloaded or purchased for all time free access to in‐house users.

Research limitations/implications

Integration has helped in saving researchers' valuable time. Library management has become easier and much more effective than was previously the case. Any additions to existing resources are announced by e‐mail for user access. Future plans are to make the resources highly interoperable across platforms or applications, so that platforms should not be a problem. Once a search is initiated, the search engine from the main search window should be able to hand over the search to subsequent search windows for any given database (bibliographic and full text). Once a search is handed over to the subordinate search engines, it should be able to retrieve the items and display the retrieved items in the main window. Future libraries seem to have no escape from the integrated digital library approach other than to an integrated digital collection that will make all available resources accessible from a single window.

Originality/value

This paper could be useful for small and medium special and research libraries who do not have enough funds to start with commercially available digital library software. This paper shows the way to start using Open Source Software, which is easy to use and has been used by the libraries with little effort.

Details

The Electronic Library, vol. 24 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-0473

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 August 1999

William H. Walters

This paper describes a set of collection development strategies for use in the identification, evaluation and selection of numeric data resources. It addresses three primary…

1340

Abstract

This paper describes a set of collection development strategies for use in the identification, evaluation and selection of numeric data resources. It addresses three primary issues: the delineation of collecting scope and organisational role; the identification of potentially relevant data resources; and the evaluation of those resources in accordance with objective, systematic criteria. The policies outlined here can be applied to both print and digital resources, including machine‐readable data files, reference books, graphs and charts, genetic sequence data, and geospatial (GIS) files. The paper concludes with a discussion of unresolved issues in the acquisition and archiving of numeric data files.

Details

Journal of Documentation, vol. 55 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0022-0418

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 February 1986

David C. Genaway

Prospective online library system buyers are encouraged to examine the total resources (human, hardware/software, and fiscal) of both the library acquiring the system and the…

Abstract

Prospective online library system buyers are encouraged to examine the total resources (human, hardware/software, and fiscal) of both the library acquiring the system and the supplying vendor in an attempt to complement the respective strengths and weaknesses of each. The author proposes a resource analysis model that library managers can apply to help focus on the most appropriate type of system (turnkey, modified turnkey, or in‐house) to acquire. A final checklist of these resources is given that will assist in further narrowing the range of choices to a single system. Includes figures outlining the relationships of the various resources and a matrix matching resources to types of systems, as well as references.

Details

The Electronic Library, vol. 4 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-0473

Article
Publication date: 21 August 2018

Deepa N., P.K. Bhattacharya, Shantanu Ganguly and Anandajit Goswami

The purpose of the paper is to evaluate print and electronic resources of TERI’s Library and Information Centre (LIC) with an aim to maximize the net marginal benefits and…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to evaluate print and electronic resources of TERI’s Library and Information Centre (LIC) with an aim to maximize the net marginal benefits and minimize net marginal costs, without compromising the quality of the library resources.

Design/methodology/approach

The parameters considered for analyzing the value of the library resources for this exercise were resource access costs, strategic value of the resource based on subject area coverage, frequency of use, citations, direct and indirect benefits to users. The data regarding these parameters were provided from wide range of sources (both tangible and intangible), to come out with the qualitative and quantitative assessment through an optimization and simulation based model.

Findings

Out of the total holdings in TERI LIC that were analyzed, 85 percent of book collections and 63.5 percent of journals were found to be useful for the researchers. The least-used books and journals were identified for weeding to optimize the value of library for users and make space for new and topical library collections.

Research limitations/implications

A sample of data sources out of the total library collections was defined for the evaluation.

Practical implications

The paper demonstrates the value of library resources that is of critical importance to libraries for an effective and efficient delivery of services for generating future knowledge. Evaluating the value of libraries resources has implications both for librarians as well as library users.

Originality/value

The evaluation exercise established the efficacy of the TERI library holdings for research and academic purposes in the domain of sustainable development. The library collection was found to be cost effective and beneficial to meet the future demand from the user community.

Details

Library Management, vol. 40 no. 3/4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-5124

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 August 2019

Lilly Hoi Sze Ho

Middle Eastern universities have recently been included in international rankings, driving a shift in priorities from teaching to research. However, research-centric collection…

Abstract

Purpose

Middle Eastern universities have recently been included in international rankings, driving a shift in priorities from teaching to research. However, research-centric collection assessments are rarely applied in the region. The Library and Learning Commons of Zayed University has recently completed the first phase of collection assessment for this transition. This study aims to provide an overview of how electronic resources adequacy was measured, and correlations between utilization of resources and research output were determined. A systematic approach is presented to assess electronic resources impact and to investigate and demonstrate the Library’s support of research output in local research and the scholarly environment.

Design/methodology/approach

Journal article publications from 2009 to 2016 with at least one Zayed University affiliated author were collected from Scopus, the abstract and citation database operated by Elsevier BV. Sources used within these articles were analyzed. COUNTER usage statistics of three indicators (searches, sessions and full-text downloads) were collected from the most used electronic resources in the Library to define the correlation between usage and research activities in the university during the assessment period.

Findings

The change in university direction toward research is apparent in the data since Fall 2014. Since then, faculty publication output grew rapidly and was positively correlated with library resources use. Sessions and searches displayed a strong positive relationship with research output while the correlation with full-text downloads was moderate. This was true for individual colleges as well as for the university as a whole, supporting the assumption that library utilization is highly correlated with the growth of research productivity.

Practical implications

Results of this assessment were used to justify the budget allocation of Zayed University Library for supporting research and improve the focus of collection development to better meet researchers’ needs. The most important outcomes were to provide evidence-based information to Library management for strategic planning and evaluation of their changing role in the digital age.

Originality/value

The systematic approach described has enabled Zayed University library to assess the relevance of its resources to its changed focus toward research, both for the university as a whole and among the more research-productive colleges. This initial approach may be useful for other libraries going through a similar transition, particularly within the region.

Article
Publication date: 2 August 2013

Preedip Balaji Babu and M. Krishnamurthy

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the paradigm shift of library automation to resource discovery by exploring the applications of resource discovery. The present status of…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the paradigm shift of library automation to resource discovery by exploring the applications of resource discovery. The present status of India on adapting resource discovery applications is discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

An evaluative method to examine the status quo of India automation and resource discovery scenario is drawn with a related literature review. Moreover, various pertinent global challenges of embracing discovery tools in the digital environment are highlighted.

Findings

The growth of the Indian library automation industry is booming. However, library software adaptation, next‐generation catalogue enhancements and community development avenues are dearth, seemingly remote and far from satisfactory.

Originality/value

The paper focuses on the emerging scenario of resource discovery applications with an overview of global challenges.

Details

The Electronic Library, vol. 31 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-0473

Keywords

21 – 30 of over 58000