Search results

Examines a project to integrate digital libraries and virtual learning environments (VLE) focusing on requirements for online reading list systems.

Conducted a user needs analysis using interviews and focus groups and evaluated three reading or resource list management systems.

Provides a technical specification for an online reading list system, subsequent work to develop a rights management system and a “library area” within the VLE where electronic resources can be placed. Discusses other relevant developments towards the integration of digital libraries and virtual learning environments, including the IMS specification for Resource List Interoperability (RLI).

Results could be compared to findings from other institutions. The evaluation work could be brought up to date with new developments in the two commercial reading list systems.

Provides an evaluation of three reading list management systems including TalisList, Sentient Discover and an open source solution, Bookworm.

Practical information of value to learning technologists and librarians, recognising the importance of presenting library resources in the VLE in a systematic way.

The purpose of this paper is to review the key components of the introduction of a new resource list management system (RLMS) at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) using the Aspire application from Talis Education. It explains the key service goals; the implementation milestones; the main technical challenges which needed to be addressed; and the dynamic relationship between the rollout of the RLMS and existing selection, acquisition and resource delivery processes.

This evidence in this paper is drawn from the experiences of the NTU RLMS project group, which involved colleagues from Libraries and Learning Resources, Information Systems and the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) teams at the university. It draws on both qualitative evaluations and quantitative assessments of adoption and use by academics, students and library staff; and the internal mechanisms of project review.

This paper concludes that the successful technical implementation of a cloud-based mission-critical service for academics and students depends on a successful collaboration between library, VLE and technical teams; and reaffirms that a hosted RLMS service still requires the deployment of local technical expertise. It is essential (although not always straightforward) to try to anticipate the impact that the introduction of a new RLMS will have on existing processes (inside the library and without). Ultimately, however, the successful implementation of an RLMS is dependent on securing its adoption by both academics and students; not least by ensuring that the application meets their needs. Although it is not a technical prerequisite, the prospect of a successful implementation of an RLMS is greatly improved when working with the grain of a supportive institutional policy environment.

Interest in “next-generation” resource list systems which can address the needs of students, academics and library services is likely to increase sharply in the next few years, as library services seek to align both resource spend and resource discovery more closely than ever with the student experience around “directed reading”. The experiences of an “early adopter” implementer of an RLMS highlight some of the key prerequisites and significant operational decisions, and provide a number of insights for those about to embark on a similar implementation process.

This study aims to report on the findings of a detailed analysis of the collection development tools of use to subject bibliographers in meeting the challenges of the ongoing changes within the broad discipline of area studies.

Select online and print resources are examined for their treatment of specific area studies subjects.

This study identifies the benefits of subject resources, points out inconsistencies with the use of the controlled vocabulary and notes subject access limitations.

The analyzed resources will assist library professionals in identifying and selecting relevant sources.

The detailed analysis of how this subject is treated by numerous resources is unique to the field of library science.

This paper describes a method for carrying out research in a multimedia environment encompassing printed, electronic and Internet based resources. The framework was used to compile a listing of toxicology information resources, as part of a larger study on the effect of new information and communication technologies on scientific communication within this field. It is likely, however, that the approach can be applied to research in any subject.

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the issues surrounding the implementation of an online reading list system at the University of Glamorgan.

The paper reports on an implementation project, using Talis List, which took place between November 2005 and March 2006.

The project itself was a success, with the target number of reading lists made available being exceeded. As with any new system, the development of the processes involved in its day‐to‐day running can be unpredictable. Workflows did not develop as anticipated; the ways in which reading lists were collected from academics varied, as did the styles of the lists themselves. Some issues were encountered around linking to electronic resources and embedding the system into the university's virtual learning environment (VLE).

This paper will be of value to those interested in the development and use of online reading lists.

Following an introduction describing the history of Resource Discovery Network “RDN”, the authors look to the future, particularly the RDN’s relationship to subject librarians’ activity in developing local lists of web links. Research showing the considerable overlap in content between the RDN and such lists is presented and, in the context of a future strategy for offering RDN content through local institutional interfaces, initial developments using XML as well as future plans in this area are outlined.

This article updates and extends previously published work by various authors in the New Review of Information Networking, Online, and Searcher: the Magazine for Database Professionals. Various printed and electronic sources of information about new Internet resources are discussed, with an emphasis on sources originating from, or concentrating on, the UK.

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

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.

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.

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.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the bespoke resource list management system (MyReading) at the University of Huddersfield.

An online survey was designed to assess student use of MyReading and their views on potential improvements. The survey used closed questions designed to obtain quantitative data. Thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data obtained from open questions.

The paper supports findings of another recent study which found that reading lists are perceived as more important by students than by lecturers. A variety of positive and negative themes emerged which pointed to this conclusion. Positive themes were: the perceived helpfulness of reading lists, students’ view of MyReading as a starting point for independent further reading, ease of use of MyReading and the time saving afforded to students and the value students place on their reading lists as being “quality assured” by lecturers. Negative themes were: inconsistency in the length and structure of lists; concerns that some lists are not regularly updated; lack of awareness of functionality, revealing training needs for students and lecturers; and suggestions for future enhancements to MyReading. Another finding from the quantitative data is the clear link between low use of reading lists by students in certain schools and low use of other library resources.

The research provides guidance to universities regarding future development of resource list management systems and promotional and training needs.

The study adds rich information to the existing body of qualitative research on students’ perceptions of their reading lists.

Presents a new model for resource discovery in grids and peer‐to‐peer networks designed to utilise efficiently small numbers of messages for query processing and building of the network. Outlines and evaluates the model through a theoretical comparison with other resource discovery systems and a mathematical analysis of the number of messages utilised in contrast with Chord, a distributed hash table. Shows that through careful setting of parameter values the model is able to provide responses to queries and node addition in fewer messages than Chord. The model is shown to have significant benefits over other peer‐to‐peer networks reviewed. Uses a case study to show the applicability of the model as a methodology for building resource discovery systems in peer‐to‐peer networks using different underlying structures. Shows a promising new method of creating a resource discovery system by building a timeline structure on demand, which will be of interest to both researchers and system implementers in the fields of grid computing, peer‐to‐peer networks and distributed resource discovery in general.