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1 – 10 of over 191000
Article
Publication date: 1 August 2001

Mumtaz A. Anwar and Dheya Abdulqader Al‐Jasem

Focuses on resource sharing in Kuwaiti libraries, which, due to many factors, has now become an economic and information provision necessity. Presents the results of a survey of…

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Abstract

Focuses on resource sharing in Kuwaiti libraries, which, due to many factors, has now become an economic and information provision necessity. Presents the results of a survey of 17 libraries in Kuwait. It was found not only that the current resourcesharing activities are at a minimal level, but also that all libraries do not actively participate in these. However, librarians consider resourcesharing very important for their libraries, are aware of its benefits, and know the hurdles in developing a resourcesharing network. They are willing to participate in such a network if one was developed. Recommends that the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters should create a National Task Force to develop a detailed plan for a national resourcesharing network. Proposes that the National Library should be designated as the coordinating agency for this network and suggests the establishment of a permanent national committee, with representation from all major libraries, to be responsible for policy making.

Details

The Electronic Library, vol. 19 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-0473

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 August 2012

Stella Anasi and Hussaini Ali

The purpose of this paper is to examine the barriers to effective resource sharing among academic libraries in Nigeria.

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the barriers to effective resource sharing among academic libraries in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

Professional librarians from six randomly selected federal university libraries representing the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria were surveyed using a descriptive survey research design. Questionnaires were sent to 124 librarians; 85 were returned and found to be usable, for a response rate of 68.5 per cent.

Findings

The study revealed that the prospect for resource sharing among university libraries in Nigeria is high. However, factors that hinder effective resource sharing include inadequate funding, a dearth of skilled librarians, power outages, an absence of web‐accessible OPACs, uneven development of libraries, and slow progress of library automation. It is recommended that each university library have a specific annual budget allocation for ICT development and maintenance and for training of librarians to pilot resource sharing projects.

Originality/value

This paper presents resourcesharing challenges facing academic libraries in Nigeria. It encourages information professionals to embark on capacity building for effective resource sharing. This paper was prepared for the 12th Interlending and Document Supply Conference, held in September 2011.

Details

Interlending & Document Supply, vol. 40 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-1615

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 August 2015

Jing Shi, Ergin Erdem, Yidong Peng, Peter Woodbridge and Christopher Masek

Telephone response system is the frontline of hospital operations. The purpose of this paper is to analyze a representative telephone response system of Veterans Affairs (VA…

Abstract

Purpose

Telephone response system is the frontline of hospital operations. The purpose of this paper is to analyze a representative telephone response system of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals, address the existing inefficiency issues such as long call waiting time, and improve system resilience to changes.

Design/methodology/approach

Resource sharing schemes are proposed to improve the system performance in answering calls related to appointment booking and medication renewal. Discrete event simulation is adopted to model the current system and the resource sharing schemes.

Findings

The resource sharing schemes dramatically improve system performance reflected by the decrease of call waiting time and queue, as well as the extreme high utilization of agents in a key unit. Compared with the less desired alternative of hiring additional employees to mitigate the performance issues, the resource sharing schemes perform at par or even better. Sharing more resource during the peak hours can further balance the agent workload.

Practical implications

The resource sharing schemes could alleviate staffing shortage, long waiting time, and high-abandonment rate in the bottle-beck unit of the system, and lead to better utilization of scarce resources on the hospital floor. The concept reflects localized centralization efforts in traditionally highly decentralized telephone operations in hospital systems.

Originality/value

This research provides a structured approach to analyze the operations of a VA telephone response system. The developed simulation model is validated, and this provides a valuable tool for management to analyze the complicated telephone operations of the telephone systems of other VA and non-VA hospitals. Resource sharing constitutes a cost-effective solution for improving system performance and resilience.

Details

International Journal of Operations & Production Management, vol. 35 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-3577

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 January 1984

Robert Dugan and Susan Bjørner

The process of developing a computer based resourcesharing program for Massachusetts is described. Activities include the development and linking of bibliographic databases, the…

Abstract

The process of developing a computer based resourcesharing program for Massachusetts is described. Activities include the development and linking of bibliographic databases, the establishment of document request and delivery procedures, and the provision of computer literacy/training for librarians. Standards, funding, governance, egislation and public information components of the plan are also reviewed.

Details

Library Hi Tech, vol. 1 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0737-8831

Article
Publication date: 17 February 2012

Matt Goldner and Katie Birch

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the historical development of interlibrary loan, identify key milestones such as the codification of ILL practices and…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the historical development of interlibrary loan, identify key milestones such as the codification of ILL practices and development of new technologies to facilitate those practices, and assess the impact that changes in technology and publishing are having upon resource sharing in the digital age.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conduct an extensive historical review of global developments in resource sharing and then conduct a PEST analysis of societal factors affecting present day resource sharing.

Findings

Resource sharing continues to grow but there is a need to work together to find solutions to problems of distributed knowledge bases, incompatible systems, and electronic formats which often prohibit sharing of materials between libraries. Librarians must work with publishers, politicians, and systems developers to ensure that there is the same or equivalent rights to electronic materials as there is to print publications and that resource sharing systems can support new models of sharing and acquiring materials in multiple formats.

Originality/value

This paper provides a global perspective on the challenges of library resource sharing in the digital age.

Details

Interlending & Document Supply, vol. 40 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-1615

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 December 1999

Shaheen Majid, Tamara S. Eisenschitz and Mumtaz Ali Anwar

Investigates resource sharing activities undertaken by agricultural libraries in Malaysia. It was found that resource sharing was basically limited to interlibrary lending and…

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Abstract

Investigates resource sharing activities undertaken by agricultural libraries in Malaysia. It was found that resource sharing was basically limited to interlibrary lending and document delivery activities. On the average, each scientist from the participating research institutions made 1.25 document delivery and interlibrary loan requests per annum. Nearly 74 percent of these requests were met from local libraries. The participating libraries preferred to make their overseas document delivery requests to the BLDSC. Only a limited resource sharing activity was observed between the participating libraries and libraries in the ASEAN region. Heads of the participating libraries were in favour of a “loose” resource sharing scheme where it should be at their discretion to decide with whom to share their resources and at what level. The study offers several suggestions for improving resource sharing activities among agricultural libraries in Malaysia.

Details

Library Review, vol. 48 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0024-2535

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 April 1988

Helen Wheelhouse

Faced with the obvious impossibility of remaining totally self‐sufficient whilst trying to maintain collections and services in difficult economic times, many librarians have…

Abstract

Faced with the obvious impossibility of remaining totally self‐sufficient whilst trying to maintain collections and services in difficult economic times, many librarians have turned to resource sharing as the answer to their problems. This article aims to review the ever growing field of literature on resource sharing in order to try to discover what resource sharing is, what need there is for it, what it is intended or hoped to achieve, what sort of resource sharing plans and schemes have been implemented, and in particular to try to find any evidence in the literature on the real benefits and actual costs involved in resource sharing which could be used as justification for such schemes in comparison with other methods of maximizing access to resources.

Details

Interlending & Document Supply, vol. 16 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-1615

Article
Publication date: 11 February 2014

Brenda Bailey-Hainer, Anne Beaubien, Beth Posner and Evan Simpson

The purpose of this paper is to highlight significant changes in the information discovery landscape; discuss evolution in discovery systems and their connection to resource

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight significant changes in the information discovery landscape; discuss evolution in discovery systems and their connection to resource sharing; discuss the use of best practices by resource sharing practitioners; and describe new collaborations among libraries that change the definition of resource sharing.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors observed the library landscape with a focus on discovery systems, interlending systems, and collaborative resource sharing models and reviewed literature related to these areas to structure discussion and draw conclusions about the changing role and definition of resource sharing.

Findings

Innovations in discovery have significant impact on library resource sharing. Resource sharing practitioners are using best practices to improve services and develop new roles. New models for collaboration are changing the definition of library resource sharing.

Originality/value

This paper positions resource sharing as a dynamic, highly strategic area of service with growing importance to twenty-first century libraries and challenges readers to consider what new partnerships and collaborative models will benefit both libraries and their communities.

Details

Interlending & Document Supply, vol. 42 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-1615

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 17 July 2019

Shaista Wasiuzzaman

This study aims to investigate the role of interfirm alliances in the form of resource sharing in influencing the access to finance of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs…

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the role of interfirm alliances in the form of resource sharing in influencing the access to finance of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. Further, the effect of different forms of resource sharing – tangible and intangible – is also studied.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey questionnaire was distributed to 456 SMEs in the manufacturing sector and a total of 146 responses were gathered. However, out of these, only 88 responses could be used as only these SMEs had alliances with large firms. Investigation into the relationship between interfirm alliances and SME access to finance was carried out using structural equation modeling – partial least squares.

Findings

It is found that interfirm alliances play a significant positive role in influencing SME access to finance. As interfirm alliances are measured as the extent of resource sharing, further analysis is carried out on the different forms of resource sharing, i.e. tangible and intangible. Tangible resource (asset and cost) sharing significantly influences SME access to finance but intangible resource (knowledge and information) sharing does not.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the understanding of the effects of interfirm alliances on the financing of SMEs. So far, most studies have only focused on the management and technological gains of interfirm alliances. Therefore, this study contributes significantly to literature on resource sharing among firms.

Details

Management Research Review, vol. 42 no. 12
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-8269

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 November 2012

Lihua Wang

This paper seeks to make people aware of the condition of Chinese cultural information resources sharing through the case of the National Cultural Information Resources Sharing

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper seeks to make people aware of the condition of Chinese cultural information resources sharing through the case of the National Cultural Information Resources Sharing Project (NCIRSP). The paper seeks to provide an overview of NCIRSP, and summarize its achievements.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper first indicates that cultural information resources sharing is a kind of special resources sharing, and NCIRSP in China is a good example of the realization of this kind of resources sharing. The author introduces NCIRSP in general, and analyzes the operation and its achievements. The author considers that there are some problems which exist in the practice of NCIRSP which will hinder its development and proposes measures to solve those problems.

Findings

NCIRSP is a project which is advanced by the Chinese government as well as governments at other levels, which means the project has a strong organization and powerful support. The operation of NCIRSP is made up by four aspects: the network, the construction of digital resources, the implementation of technology, and the websites of services. These four aspects determine the effective operation of NCIRSP and promote the project to make great achievements. Meanwhile, there are problems which hinder NCIRSP from developing further, including the unbalanced collection of cultural information resources in various areas, the scattered storage of resources, and the absence of a sophisticated training mechanism for professionals engaged in the project. Measures to solve the problems are suggested.

Originality/value

NCIRSP is an innovative project supported by the Government of China, even though it is rarely known about by people outside China. This paper introduces NCIRSP in detail, and makes people aware of the situation of cultural information resources sharing in China.

Details

The Electronic Library, vol. 30 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-0473

Keywords

1 – 10 of over 191000