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21 – 30 of over 370000Kingdom Hudron Kari and Ebikabowei Emmanuel Baro
– The study aimed to look at the library software in use in Nigerian university libraries, and the challenges and frustrations experienced in their automation projects.
Abstract
Purpose
The study aimed to look at the library software in use in Nigerian university libraries, and the challenges and frustrations experienced in their automation projects.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopts a descriptive survey method and covers university libraries in Nigeria. A questionnaire was used to collect data from 32 university libraries in Nigeria.
Findings
The study revealed that university libraries in Nigeria widely use library software such as KOHA, SLAM and VIRTUA for their library operations. Challenges such as lack of skilled manpower, lack of fund, absence of modern systems (computers) and erratic power supply were identified as the major problems university libraries in Nigeria encountered while using library software. Librarians recommended the use of KOHA, SLAM or VIRTUA library software for use by university libraries that are in search for library software to use.
Originality/value
The findings of this study will provide useful information to librarians and library administrators in Nigeria and other developing countries who want to automate their library operations.
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This article is based on a study of 100 young people who were regular marijuana users, which aimed to discover the impact of their drug use on key life transitions. The…
Abstract
This article is based on a study of 100 young people who were regular marijuana users, which aimed to discover the impact of their drug use on key life transitions. The article identifies the implications for practitioners who work with these young people.
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Fatemeh Sheikhshoaei and Tahereh Oloumi
The purpose of this research is to study the determinant factors in the acceptance of information technology (IT) by librarians in the libraries of engineering faculties of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to study the determinant factors in the acceptance of information technology (IT) by librarians in the libraries of engineering faculties of public universities in Tehran.
Design/methodology/approach
The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) is used as the research framework and the applicability of this model on the research population is studied. The constructs of TAM include its perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitude toward use, and the intention to use IT. These are the independent variables that affect the dependent variable of IT use. The first six hypotheses of the research have been based on inter‐relationships between each pair of variables in the TAM. The applicability of the TAM model on the population of librarians is the seventh hypothesis. The survey method was applied for collecting data, using a questionnaire. The studied population included 160 librarians and the questionnaire was sent to all of them.
Findings
The research findings indicate that all independent variables in the framework of TAM affect the acceptance of IT, but the final results (R=0.033 for Model) indicate that the applicability of the TAM model to study this group is weak.
Originality/value
There is a lack of research of the acceptance of IT using the TAM model in Iranian organizations and libraries, as well as in libraries and in library science around the world.
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Sajjad ur Rehman and Vivian Ramzy
The purpose of this study was to analyse Internet use and related issues among the health care professionals at the Health Sciences Centre of Kuwait University. A…
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to analyse Internet use and related issues among the health care professionals at the Health Sciences Centre of Kuwait University. A questionnaire was administered to all the 180 faculty members in HSC. The response rate was 76.6 per cent. The extent and patterns of their use of the Internet for 12 applications were analysed. The current level of skills was examined and perceptions for improving them were explored. Also, the impact of the Internet on professional and personal development was explored. Problems related to access and use were also investigated. It was found that the Internet had become a vital instrument for research, information, and communication in the lives of these professionals. Respondents wished to be further empowered through rigorous training and the alleviation of problems that inhibited their Internet use.
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Z.T. Temtime, S.V. Chinyoka and J.P.W. Shunda
This article analyzes the strategic use of microcomputers and software packages in corporate planning and decision making in SMEs. Data were collected from 44 SMEs from…
Abstract
This article analyzes the strategic use of microcomputers and software packages in corporate planning and decision making in SMEs. Data were collected from 44 SMEs from three cities in the Republic of Botswana to study their perceptions about the use of computer‐based technology to solve managerial problems, and analysed using simple descriptive statistics. The findings indicate that SMEs conduct both strategic and operational planning activities. However, microcomputers and software packages were used primarily for operational and administrative tasks rather than for strategic planning. SMEs perceive that strategic planning is costly and time‐consuming, and hence appropriate only for large firms. The study also showed that firm size and strategic orientation are related to the use of computer technology for strategic decision making. The major implication of the findings for future research has been identified and presented.
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Klaus G. Altmann and G.E. Gorman
This study examines the effect of employing density of use data in making serial relegation decisions. It demonstrates that density of use favours the retention of used…
Abstract
This study examines the effect of employing density of use data in making serial relegation decisions. It demonstrates that density of use favours the retention of used titles which occupy a small amount of shelf space compared with titles occupying a large amount of shelf space. Density of use may favour the retention of low‐use titles possessing a high density of use compared with a high‐use title occupying a large amount of shelf space. While the paper presents an easy method for identifying titles possessing a high total use but having a comparatively low density of use, the strategy fails to identify titles having a high density of use but which also have some scope for partitioning between open and closed access. It therefore outlines a simple method of partitioning these titles between open and closed access to increase the density of use of the open access collection.
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The purpose of this paper is to present evidence of the therapeutic value of cannabis as a harm reduction intervention with people who smoke crack cocaine.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present evidence of the therapeutic value of cannabis as a harm reduction intervention with people who smoke crack cocaine.
Design/methodology/approach
A desk study of published peer-reviewed material supporting the use of cannabis as therapeutic in mitigating some of the harms associated with crack cocaine smoking.
Findings
The use of cannabis as a harm reduction strategy for crack cocaine use has been commented on in the scientific literature since the 1980s. The officially scheduling of cannabis as having no medicinal value hampered further study despite the reporting of positive findings and numerous calls for more research.
Practical implications
There are currently no approved pharmaceutical substitutions for crack cocaine. Cannabis has shown itself effective in mitigating harms for 30–40 per cent of people. Cannabis is inexpensive and readily available and should be allowed for those people who want to use it.
Originality/value
Poly drug use is often framed in a negative context. In this paper, the author shows that with cannabis and crack, the poly drug use is actually a valid harm reduction strategy.
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Since the 1970s the number of journal use studies has been increasing, especially in the Anglo‐American countries, and nearly every article starts the same: It is price…
Abstract
Since the 1970s the number of journal use studies has been increasing, especially in the Anglo‐American countries, and nearly every article starts the same: It is price inflation that forces us to check our subscriptions. The same applies today. For a long time libraries have tried to cling to their journal collection because it was thought wrong to produce gaps in the series that might not be repairable. But in the meantime yearly cancellations are the rule.
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Desktop publishing and how it can be used toproduce documents are described: documentdesign including the intended market, planning anddesigning the page. The principles of…
Abstract
Desktop publishing and how it can be used to produce documents are described: document design including the intended market, planning and designing the page. The principles of design are reviewed together with the use of multiple columns, margins and house style. How text and graphics are prepared and incorporated into a document and how the final document should be produced are further described.
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Cemal Atakan, Doğan Atılgan, Özlem Bayram and Sacit Arslantekin
The purpose of this paper is to encompass the assessment of the effectiveness of the digital library and the value of multidisciplinary databases in terms of user…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to encompass the assessment of the effectiveness of the digital library and the value of multidisciplinary databases in terms of user preferences and use frequency by academic ranking.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper compares the results of two survey questionnaires carried out in 2002 and 2005. It examines the level of awareness by academic staff of digital library resources along with their use rate and to evaluate the preferences of faculty for specific electronic databases case studies were undertaken by means of separate questionnaires in both years.
Findings
Findings were consistent that positive results have been observed in two studies conducted in two years, 2002 and 2005. According to the results of the current survey, increased numbers of the faculty members of Ankara University know about the existence of the digital library. Another result of the survey is that many of the faculty members, although not all, use electronic databases. The most preferred databases have been Web of Science, Science Direct and Ebsco. When use of the electronic databases is analyzed, in respect of faculty rank and level of awareness, associate and assistant professors, assistants are ranked first.
Originality/value
The study presents the first case study in the field in Turkey that compares the current situation of the digital library usage with the initial survey data.
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