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1 – 10 of 39Ragnar Audunson, Svanhild Aabø, Roger Blomgren, Hans-Christoph Hobohm, Henrik Jochumsen, Mahmood Khosrowjerdi, Rudolf Mumenthaler, Karsten Schuldt, Casper Hvenegaard Rasmussen, Kerstin Rydbeck, Máté Tóth and Andreas Vårheim
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of public libraries as institutions underpinning a democratic public sphere as reasons legitimizing libraries compared to reasons…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of public libraries as institutions underpinning a democratic public sphere as reasons legitimizing libraries compared to reasons that are more traditional and the actual use of libraries as public sphere arenas.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey of representative samples of the adult population in six countries – Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Hungary and Switzerland – was undertaken.
Findings
Legitimations related to the libraries role as a meeting place and arena for public debate are ranked as the 3 least important out of 12 possible legitimations for upholding a public library service. Libraries are, however, used extensively by the users to access citizenship information and to participate in public sphere relevant meetings.
Originality/value
Few studies have empirically analyzed the role of libraries in upholding a democratic and sustainable public sphere. This study contributes in filling that gap.
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Jamie Johnston, Ágústa Pálsdóttir, Anna Mierzecka, Ragnar Andreas Audunson, Hans-Christoph Hobohm, Kerstin Rydbeck, Máté Tóth, Casper Hvenegaard Rasmussen, Henrik Jochumsen, Mahmood Khosrowjerdi and Sunniva Evjen
The overarching aim of this article is to consider to what extent the perceptions of librarians in Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Poland and Sweden reflect a unified…
Abstract
Purpose
The overarching aim of this article is to consider to what extent the perceptions of librarians in Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Poland and Sweden reflect a unified view of their professional role and the role of their institutions in supporting the formation of the public sphere and to what extent the variations reflect national contexts.
Design/methodology/approach
The multi-country comparison is based on online questionnaires. The central research questions are how do librarians legitimize the use of public resources to uphold a public library service? How do librarians perceive the role of public libraries as public spaces? How do librarians perceive their professional role and the competencies needed for it? Consideration is given to how the digital and social turns are reflected in the responses.
Findings
The results show evidence of a unified professional culture with clear influences from national contexts. A key finding is that librarians see giving access as central for both legitimizing library services and for the library's role as a public sphere institution. Strong support is shown for the social turn in supporting the formation of the public sphere while the digital turn appears to be a future challenge; one of seemingly increased importance due to the pandemic.
Research limitations/implications
This study shows that libraries across the seven countries have expanded beyond simply providing public access to their book-based collections and now serve as social, learning and creative spaces: both in the physical library and digitally. Qualitative research is needed concerning librarians' notions of public libraries and librarianship, which will provide a more in-depth understanding of the changing professional responsibilities and how public libraries recruit the associated competencies.
Originality/value
The article provides a much needed insight into how librarians perceive the role of public libraries in supporting the formation of the public sphere and democratic processes, as well as their own role.
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The study aims to report on a research project that analyzed social websites for booklovers. These sites represent a service that is promising for public libraries in their…
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to report on a research project that analyzed social websites for booklovers. These sites represent a service that is promising for public libraries in their efforts to find new ways in promoting reading and literature. At the same time the growth of such sites is another example of how technological developments challenge librarianship. Many of these sites are established and run independently from the library field.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper reports from a research comparing two such websites – the Norwegian Bokelskere.no and the Hungarian Moly.hu. A questionnaire was published on the two websites in mid September 2010. It was accessible for approximately 20 days. A total of 777 users filled in and returned the questionnaire.
Findings
As the typical user of Moly/Bokelskere is a young, ethnic Hungarian or Norwegian, well educated, female from the bigger cities the complexity and pluralism of society is not reflected in the websites in the same way as it is in physical libraries. They are not heavy library users, and they have a relatively low trust concerning libraries in comparison with other sources of information. The sites are mainly used as information sources and not as places where one can meet with others. Although the social dimension of reading appears, it is related mainly to the family or friends and not to strangers.
Research limitations/implications
It would be inaccurate to claim that the study gives a comprehensive overview on social sites for booklovers. The relatively high number of respondents from the two analyzed websites provides an extensive, but not comprehensive, sample. Self‐recruitment of respondents might cause biases compared with a randomly drawn sample.
Practical implications
The study on which the paper is based is a part of the PLACE project, which aims at exploring the role of public libraries as meeting places. The study generates knowledge on the potential and role of virtual meeting places that is relevant for public libraries in their efforts to adapt to a new reality.
Social implications
The study generates knowledge that can be of importance for developing libraries and library policies in relation to digital meeting places.
Originality/value
There are few studies analyzing literary websites for booklovers and the study contributes in developing a new research field in library and information science.
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The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the main contents of the 18th BOBCATSSS Symposium, held in Parma, Italy in January 2010, dedicated to the main theme…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the main contents of the 18th BOBCATSSS Symposium, held in Parma, Italy in January 2010, dedicated to the main theme “Bridging the digital divide: libraries providing access for all?”
Design/methodology/approach
The report provides a concise presentation of the main themes discussed during the conference.
Findings
The topics presented focused mainly on the fields of access and delivery, community support and collections, with some others focusing on leadership and management.
Originality/value
This symposium is one of the few conferences in the world where students are the main characters and participate as organisers, reviewers and presenters of the contributions. Reports on such conferences are of interest to both students and to teachers and professionals.
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Chiara Giachino, Luigi Bollani, Alessandro Bonadonna and Marco Bertetti
The aim of the paper is to test and demonstrate the potential benefits in applying reinforcement learning instead of traditional methods to optimize the content of a company's…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of the paper is to test and demonstrate the potential benefits in applying reinforcement learning instead of traditional methods to optimize the content of a company's mobile application to best help travellers finding their ideal flights. To this end, two approaches were considered and compared via simulation: standard randomized experiments or A/B testing and multi-armed bandits.
Design/methodology/approach
The simulation of the two approaches to optimize the content of its mobile application and, consequently, increase flights conversions is illustrated as applied by Skyscanner, using R software.
Findings
The first results are about the comparison between the two approaches – A/B testing and multi-armed bandits – to identify the best one to achieve better results for the company. The second one is to gain experiences and suggestion in the application of the two approaches useful for other industries/companies.
Research limitations/implications
The case study demonstrated, via simulation, the potential benefits to apply the reinforcement learning in a company. Finally, the multi-armed bandit was implemented in the company, but the period of the available data was limited, and due to its strategic relevance, the company cannot show all the findings.
Practical implications
The right algorithm can change according to the situation and industry but would bring great benefits to the company's ability to surface content that is more relevant to users and help improving the experience for travellers. The study shows how to manage complexity and data to achieve good results.
Originality/value
The paper describes the approach used by an European leading company operating in the travel sector in understanding how to adapt reinforcement learning to its strategic goals. It presents a real case study and the simulation of the application of A/B testing and multi-armed bandit in Skyscanner; moreover, it highlights practical suggestion useful to other companies.
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Hungary is situated in east central Europe with an area of 93 thousand square kilometers and a population of 10.2 million. Its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita was 5,669…
Abstract
Hungary is situated in east central Europe with an area of 93 thousand square kilometers and a population of 10.2 million. Its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita was 5,669 Euro in 2001 (Statistical Yearbook, 2001). Ninety-seven percent of the country’s population is Hungarian. The ethnic minorities, comprising 3% of the population, are German, Slovak and Romanian. The minority with the highest population, and of a peculiar status, is the Gypsies. Their proportion of the population of Hungary is estimated at 5–6% (Hablicsek, 2000). Gypsies are linguistically divided, with 70% speaking Hungarian as their maternal language. Their recognition as a separate ethnic group is currently a matter of political debate.
The purpose of this paper was to explore social interactions, banter and the office culture in the public relations (PR) industry in England with the use of the difference…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper was to explore social interactions, banter and the office culture in the public relations (PR) industry in England with the use of the difference approach and Bourdieu’s habitus theory. The paper explores whether PR organisations act as masculine habitus.
Design/methodology/approach
Qualitative interviews were conducted with 26 women practitioners, and thematic analysis was used to analyse data. Women were asked questions on social interactions, banter and the office culture, as well as questions on exclusion, from business decisions and having to work harder to succeed.
Findings
Findings show that two main themes dominate in responses from interviewees, “de-patriarchalisation” of PR with no personal appearance requirements and no business exclusions because of gender, and “gendered organisations” where interviewees reported dismissive stereotypes of women who work in PR, networking as a job requirement and differences between male-dominated and female-dominated offices, which includes differences between social interactions and banter among men and women.
Practical implications
Results indicate that women feel there are differences in social interactions and banter between men and women. Interviewees also report masculine domination as and harmful stereotypes of public PR professionals, most of whom are women. Organisations who have PR departments, as well as those who hire PR agencies to do the work externally, should design policies on the office culture to ensure equality and respectful work environment for everyone.
Social implications
In line with the difference approach, women report differences in social interactions and banter between them and men, thus signalling that social differences influence the office culture and work interactions, which tend to be gendered. Findings also indicate that organisations are functioning as a masculine world where women struggle to fit in and obtain recognition. Consciousness-raising is needed in the industry because many women do not recognise oppression in the form of social interactions, and its effect on the position of women or the fact that the most feminized industry is being trivialised by the men on top.
Originality/value
To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first paper analysing interactions in PR offices using the difference approach and Bourdieu’s habitus theory.
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Zsófia Tóth, Peter Naudé, Stephan C. Henneberg and Carlos Adrian Diaz Ruiz
This paper aims to conceptualize corporate reference management as a strategic signaling activity in business networks. While research has extensively outlined how firms develop…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to conceptualize corporate reference management as a strategic signaling activity in business networks. While research has extensively outlined how firms develop and maintain social capital through business-to-business (B2B) relationships, less is known about how they signal their participation in business networks to develop this social capital. Therefore, this paper conceptualizes B2B references, in particular corporate online references (COR), as a tool through which firms “borrow” attractiveness from their business network. Through the lens of structural social capital theory, COR is shown to capture advantages related to interconnectedness between firms.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper reports on a two-step qualitative and quantitative research design. First, the authors undertook a qualitative study that reports on the COR practices of senior business managers. A quantitative study then uses social network analysis (SNA) to audit a digital business network comprising 1,098 firms in a metropolitan area of the UK, referencing to each other through their corporate websites using COR.
Findings
The analyses find that COR practices contribute to building structural social capital in networks through strategic signaling. Firms do so by managing B2B references to craft strategic signals, using five steps: requesting, granting, curating, coding and decoding references. While the existing literature on business marketing portrays reference management as a routine and operational management practice, this investigation conceptualizes reference management, in particular COR, as a strategic activity.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to use SNA to represent B2B references in the form of COR as a network, which overlaps with (but is not entirely identical to) the business network. Further, the study re-conceptualizes reference management as a strategic signaling activity that leverages the firm’s participation in business networks to build structural social capital by borrowing attractiveness of prestigious business partners that leverages existing structural social capital. Finally, the paper coins and conceptualizes COR as an exemplar of referencing management and offers propositions for further research.
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Daniel Straubinger, Attila Toth, Viktor Kerek, Zsolt Czeczei, Andras Szabo and Attila Geczy
The purpose of this paper is to study the solder beading phenomenon (referring to larger-sized solder balls) of surface-mounted electrolytic capacitors. Solder beading could…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study the solder beading phenomenon (referring to larger-sized solder balls) of surface-mounted electrolytic capacitors. Solder beading could induce failures by violating the minimal electrical clearance on the printed circuit board (PCB). In modern lead-free reflow soldering, especially in high-reliability industries, such as automotive, aeroplane and aerospace, detecting and preventing such defects is essential in reliable and cost-effective manufacturing.
Design/methodology/approach
The large size of the involved components may block the view of automatic optical inspection; therefore, X-ray inspection is necessary. To detect the failure mode, X-ray imaging, cross-section grinding, optical microscopy and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy were used. High-resolution noncontact profilometry and optical microscopy were used to analyse component designs. The surface mounting process steps were also analysed to reveal their dependence on the issue. Test methods were designed and performed to reveal the behaviour of the solder paste (SP) during the reflow soldering process and to emphasise the component design relevance.
Findings
It was found that the reduction of SP volume only reduces the failure rate but does not solve the problem. Results show that excessive component placement pressure could induce solder beading. Statistical analysis revealed that differences between distinct components had the highest effect on the solder beading rate. Design aspects of solder beading-prone components were identified and discussed as the primary source of the problem.
Practical implications
The findings can be applied in surface-mount technology production, where the total failure count and resulting failure costs could be reduced according to the findings.
Originality/value
This paper shows that component design aspects such as the low distance between the underside of the component and the PCB and blocked proper outgassing of volatile compounds of the SP can be root causes of solder beading under surface-mounted electrolytic capacitors.
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Although typologies of violence have become more common, relatively little attention has been given to Donald Black’s (1983) distinction between moralistic and predatory violence…
Abstract
Although typologies of violence have become more common, relatively little attention has been given to Donald Black’s (1983) distinction between moralistic and predatory violence. Moralistic violence is rooted in conflict; predatory violence is rooted in exploitation. We elaborate Black’s typology and show how it is similar to, but distinct from, other typologies of violence. We also address the criteria by which typologies of any kind might be judged. Borrowing from the literatures on typologies and on standards of scientific theory, we argue that explanatory typologies should be evaluated according to four criteria: the degree to which they are powerful, theoretical, general, and parsimonious. Applying the criteria to Black’s typology, we argue that the distinction between moralistic and predatory violence is an important contribution to the arsenal of the student of violence.
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