Archives des mots-clés : Libraries

Research Data Services in Academic Libraries: Data Intensive Roles for the Future?

Posté le par

Objectives

The primary objectives of this study are to gauge the various levels of Research Data Service academic libraries provide based on demographic factors, gauging RDS growth since 2011, and what obstacles may prevent expansion or growth of services.

Methods

Survey of academic institutions through stratified random sample of ACRL library directors across the U.S. and Canada. Frequencies and chi-square analysis were applied, with some responses grouped into broader categories for analysis.

Results

Minimal to no change for what services were offered between survey years, and interviews with library directors were conducted to help explain this lack of change.

Conclusion

Further analysis is forthcoming for a librarians study to help explain possible discrepancies in organizational objectives and librarian sentiments of RDS.

URL : Research Data Services in Academic Libraries: Data Intensive Roles for the Future?

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.7191/jeslib.2015.1085

Research data management services in academic research libraries and perceptions of librarians

Posté le par

The emergence of data intensive science and the establishment of data management mandates have motivated academic libraries to develop research data services (RDS) for their faculty and students. Here the results of two studies are reported: librarians’ RDS practices in U.S. and Canadian academic research libraries, and the RDS-related library policies in those or similar libraries. Results show that RDS are currently not frequently employed in libraries, but many services are in the planning stages.

Technical RDS are less common than informational RDS, RDS are performed more often for faculty than for students, and more library directors believe they offer opportunities for staff to develop RDS-related skills than the percentage of librarians who perceive such opportunities to be available. Librarians need opportunities to learn more about these services either on campus or through attendance at workshops and professional conferences.

URL : Research data management services in academic research libraries and perceptions of librarians

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2013.11.003

 

Donor Funded Open Educational Resources: Making the Case

Posté le par

PURPOSE

This paper aims to explain the concept of Open Educational Resources (OER) and how libraries can make a good case to donors to fund these types of projects.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH

The literature reveals that donors have been willing to support projects that save students money on textbooks. Course reserves have traditionally been a popular model. More recently, libraries have found funding for OER initiatives. These types of initiatives are discussed and several case studies of donors currently funding OER projects are examined.

FINDINGS

Donors, internal and external to the library and to the university, have shown an interest in funding projects that reduce textbook costs for students. They have funded course reserves in the past and have begun to fund OER projects. There are both qualitative and quantitative methods to induce donors to fund these types of projects.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

Libraries have traditionally supported the mission of access to information and for academic libraries that has sometimes included access to textbooks. Course reserves are a limited solution, whereas when an OER replaces an expensive textbook, it is a viable solution for all students.

SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS

OERs have strong social implications. Any person, whether associated with an institution of higher learning, or not, can access the information in an OER and learn the associated content.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE

There is some literature on specific OER projects. This paper aims to fill a gap in the literature, specifically on how to approach donors regarding OER initiatives.

URL : http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/xmlui/handle/1957/57920

Library support for open access journal publishing: a needs analysis

Posté le par

The aim of this study was to establish the role of academic libraries in the context of open access (OA) journal publishing, based on the perceived needs of the journals and/or their editors. As a study sample, 14 OA journals affiliated to the University of Zürich, Switzerland, were taken. They were very different in nature, ranging from well-established society journals to newly founded titles launched by dedicated individuals. The study comprised two approaches: a comprehensive journal assessment and subsequent editor interviews.

The journal assessments evaluated the functionalities, ease of use, sustainability and visibility of the journal. The interviews were used to get additional background information about the journals and explore editors’ needs, experiences and viewpoints. The results show that journals affiliated to publishing houses or libraries are technically well provided for. Unaffiliated journals offer fewer functionalities and display some unconventional features, often described as innovations by the editors. More resources – financial or human – is seen by nearly all editors as the most pressing need and as a limitation to growth.

In comparison, IT/technical needs are mentioned much less often. The article also describes the launch of an Editors’ Forum, an idea suggested by the editors and implemented by the library. This Forum offered further valuable insight into the potential role of libraries, but also specifically addressed several of the editors’ needs as expressed in the interviews.

URL : Library support for open access journal publishing: a needs analysis

DOI : http://doi.org/10.1629/uksg.256

La protection des données de lecture des livres numériques en bibliothèques aux États-Unis et en France : Étude comparative de la perception des bibliothécaires

Statut

Quels sont les livres les plus lus ? Quels sont les thèmes les plus recherchés dans une encyclopédie numérique ? Au bout de combien de pages les lecteurs décident-ils d’acheter/emprunter ou abandonner l’ouvrage sélectionné ? Autant de questions auxquelles des réponses précises et chiffrées peuvent dorénavant être apportées.

De par leur offre de livres numériques et le prêt de liseuses/tablettes, les bibliothèques confrontent leurs usagers à cet environnement et donc, indirectement, à la collecte des données de lecture.

Les bibliothèques n’ont-elles pourtant pas pour rôle de permettre aux lecteurs de s’informer et d’avoir accès à tous types de documents de manière anonyme, sans avoir peur d’être jugé ou surveillé ? Ce rôle risquerait-il d’être menacé par la collecte et l’exploitation des données de lecture ?

Pour tenter d’apporter une réponse à ces questions, une définition des données de lecture et une description de leurs caractéristiques seront tout d’abord proposées. Les dangers, mais également les opportunités que représentent la collecte et l’exploitation des données de lecture par les éditeurs commerciaux, les agrégateurs, les gouvernements et les bibliothèques, ainsi que leurs implications sur la vie privée des lecteurs seront ensuite analysés. Une étude des contextes français et états-unien du livre numérique sera également effectuée, axée sur quatre thématiques : le marché de l’e-book dans sa globalité, ainsi que les pratiques de lecture numérique ; le paysage des livres numériques en bibliothèques; l’avis des internautes concernant la protection de leurs données sur le web ; et les aspects légaux relatifs à la protection des données et de la vie privée.

Pour chacun des deux pays, les différentes actions déjà entreprises par les gouvernements, les associations professionnelles et les bibliothécaires pour lutter contre la collecte et la diffusion des données de lecture, seront ensuite décrites.

Dans le but de connaître la perception des professionnels de l’information concernant cette thématique, les résultats d’une enquête quantitative menée auprès des bibliothécaires français et états-uniens seront présentés. Enfin, le rôle des bibliothèques pour la protection des données de lecture sera récapitulé, tandis que des recommandations pratiques à l’usage des bibliothécaires seront proposées, ces suggestions ayant pour but de guider les professionnels souhaitant s’engager à protéger l’anonymat de l’utilisation de leurs livres numériques.

Calliopê.ch : Recommandations pour la mise en place d’une offre de ebooks en bibliothèque

Statut

Initié par la Haute École de gestion de Genève, le projet de recherche Calliopê.ch s’est déroulé entre janvier 2014 et juin 2015. Cette étude visait à appréhender la réception et l’usage de dispositifs mobiles de lecture (notamment liseuses et tablettes) en bibliothèque, de manière à formuler des préconisations sur la mise en place d’une offre numérique globale (contenus, organisation des contenus, interfaces, dispositifs de lecture, modalités de prêt).

Mené en partenariat avec l’enssib (école nationale supérieure des sciences de l’information et des bibliothèques), la Bibliothèque de l’UNIGE (Université de Genève) et la CLP (Communauté de travail des bibliothèques suisses de lecture publique), le projet a abouti à l’élaboration de recommandations basées sur les résultats d’une enquête en ligne et les retours d’expériences d’usagers.

Présentées sous formes de fiches, ces préconisations fournissent des pistes de réflexion et d’actions concrètes aux bibliothèques suisses romandes désireuses d’offrir une collection de livres numériques à leurs usagers. Elles traitent d’une part d’aspects généraux et, d’autre part, de points spécifiques au contexte académique et à la lecture publique.

De nature pratique, elles couvrent à la fois les aspects techniques, fonctionnels, organisationnels et juridiques mais aussi ceux relatifs aux publics et à la communication. L’objectif est de soutenir les bibliothèques dans leur démarche de mise en place d’une offre complète alliant ebooks, dispositifs mobiles et services d’accompagnement nécessaires à leur valorisation et, in fine, à leur appropriation par les publics.

URL : Calliopê.ch : Recommandations pour la mise en place d’une offre de ebooks en bibliothèque

Accessible également sur ArchiveSic : http://archivesic.ccsd.cnrs.fr/sic_01186706

The Impact of Public Access Venue Information and Communication Technologies in Botswana Public Libraries

Statut

Objective

A study on the impact of Public Access Venue (PAV) Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) was conducted in Botswana libraries with Internet connections. The main objective was to determine the impact of ICTs in public libraries.

Methods

Using the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework as a theoretical lens, the study used semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions to investigate the impact of PAV ICTs in 4 study sites, resulting in data from a total of 39 interviews and 4 focus groups.

Results

The results of the study show that PAV ICTs had a positive impact on users in the areas of education and economic benefits. Within educational and economic impacts, social benefits were also found, pertaining to the use of social media and the Internet for formal and informal communication. The study also revealed a slight difference between school going users and non-school going elderly users where the use and acquisition of computer skills was concerned. Elderly non-school going users tended to rely on venue staff for skills more than the younger school going users.

Conclusion

The study recommends that PAV facilities should be improved in terms of skills offered and resources availed so as to appeal to both the younger school going generation and the older non-school going users. It is also recommended that education on ICT be improved to help curb rising unemployment in Botswana; such skills would enhance the income generation skills of the unemployed users as well as school leavers.

URL : The Impact of Public Access Venue Information and Communication Technologies in Botswana Public Libraries

Alternative location : http://ejournals.library.ualberta.ca/index.php/EBLIP/article/view/23908