Guide to the professional literature

Citation

(2007), "Guide to the professional literature", Online Information Review, Vol. 31 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/oir.2007.26431dae.001

Guide to the professional literature

This column is design to alert readers to pertinent wider journal literature on digital information and research.

Choosing A Database for Social Work: A Comparison of Social Work Abstracts and Social Service Abstracts

Flatley, R.K., Lilla, R. and Widner, J. in Journal of Academic Librarianship, Vol. 33, No. 1, 2007, pp. 47-55

This study compared Social Work Abstracts and Social Services Abstracts databases in terms of indexing, journal coverage, and searches. The authors interviewed editors, analysed journal coverage, and compared searches. It was determined that the databases complement one another more than compete. The authors conclude with some considerations.

Concepts and Architectures for Next-Generation Information Search Engines

Shepherd, S.J. in International Journal of Information Management, Vol. 27, No. 2, 2007, pp. 3-8

This paper describes the key features of a next-generation information search engine that will enable more powerful and rewarding searches to be made than is possible with current search technology. By combining several powerful algorithms in a unique way, future search engines will be able to solve the problems of both synonymy and polysemy. The synonymy problem, where several different words mean the same thing, is relatively straightforward and represents the current state-of-the-art in search engine technology. The polysemy problem, where one word means several different things, is much harder to solve. The proposal for a new kind of search engine (called Deep Search) prototypes a new idea combining logical linking, semantic analysis and clustering to overcome these problems and make possible a more powerful information search capability.

Content Analysis of an LIS Job Database: A Regional Prototype for a Collaborative Model

Du, Y.F., Stein, B. and Martin, R.S. in Libri, Vol. 57, No. 1, 2007, pp. 17-26

Increasingly LIS job postings are being distributed to e-mail lists or to recruiters’ web sites. The volatility of electronic media had been creating difficulties for students and LIS educators to estimate overall job trends. An online database at an ALA-accredited library school was designed to allow recruiters to make postings at no cost. In total, 974 library-related advertisements have been posted since 2000. Content analysis reveals most recruiters using this site were from academic libraries (48 per cent) and from public libraries (35 per cent). The most frequently cited qualifications requested were academic background along with communication, professional and technological skills. Results from the database analysis confirm previous findings based on print media. The study suggests that a job database implemented collaboratively among LIS institutions at a national and international level might serve to match recent graduates with employers while at the same time providing empirical data on the skills required in the marketplace.

Developing a Framework to Analyse the Roles and Relationships of Online Intermediaries

Barnes, D. and Hinton, M. in International Journal of Information Management, Vol. 27, No. 2, 2007, pp. 63-74

Internet-based information and communication technologies (ICTs) have offered opportunities to reconfigure supply chains. A new kind of intermediary has emerged in many industries: the “cybermediary” – an online intermediary that only operates in the virtual environment. Many new types of online intermediary have emerged with differing business models. As yet, there have been few attempts to describe and categorize their e-business practices or to analyze the roles that they play within their supply chains. This paper seeks to address this deficiency by addressing both the theory and practice of online intermediaries. A two-dimensional framework based on the roles of cybermediaries and their relationships between supplier and buyer in the supply chain is developed from a synthesis of the extant literature. Five roles of cybermediaries are identified: informational, transactional, assurance, logistical and customization. Case studies of three online intermediaries are presented to illustrate and test the framework.

Developing Subject-Related Web Sites Collaboratively: The Virtual Business Information Center

Abels, E.G., White, M.D. and Kim, S. in Journal of Academic Librarianship, Vol. 33, No. 1, 2007, pp. 27-40

This article is a case study of the Virtual Business information Center (VBIC), a collaborative effort since 1998 of the College of Information Studies, Robert H. Smith School of Business, and the University of Maryland Libraries. The case study traces its development, implementation, and evaluation and addresses collaboration among academic units, a user-based design process, and the Web site as an instructional device.

Digitising the Hand-Written Bible: The Codex Sinaiticus, Its History and Modern Presentation

Henschke, E. in Libri, Vol. 57, No. 1, 2007, pp. 45-51

The German theologian Konstantin von Tischendorf discovered the oldest manuscript of the Bible in the middle of the nineteenth century Thereafter its parts were dispersed and stored in famous libraries in London, Leipzig and St Petersburg, and in St Catherine’s Monastery near Mount Sinai, its original home. An international consortium of libraries has been formed to preserve and research all the parts of this manuscript and then to unite them in digital form. This will result in a virtual Codex Sinaiticus on the internet, though there will also be a printed version. Standards for preservation, transcription and digitization have been established with the help of European and US experts. This joint venture, supported by a number of research councils and foundations, began in 2006 and will be completed by 2010.

E-Book Use by Students: Undergraduates in Economics, Literature, and Nursing

Hernon, P., Hopper, R., Leach, M.R., Saunders, L.L. and Zhang, J. in Journal of Academic Librarianship, Vol. 33, No. 1, 2007, pp. 3-13

Faculty and students in economics, literature, and medicine (including nursing) are frequent users of e-books. This study examines search behavior and use patterns of undergraduates majoring in the three subjects. The findings have particular relevance for publishers, vendors, content aggregators, classroom instructors, and librarians promoting the effective use of e-books.

A Framework for Information Management: Using Case Studies to Test Application

Middleton, M. in International Journal of Information Management, Vol. 27, No. 2, 2007, pp. 9-21

An analysis is undertaken of a disciplinary framework for information management suggested by Rowley in 1998 in order to consider its applicability to information services. The analysis uses several case studies that have been conducted on the development of scientific and technological information (STI) services. These services have all been involved in the creation of bibliographic and associated databases of Australian STI material. The analysis examines information management domains through the looking glass of the Rowley framework which has as its elements the information environment, information context, information systems, and information retrieval. It is concluded that, while STI services exemplify information management in terms of the framework suggested, the framework could be adapted to be of more benefit in expressing the disciplinary basis and its professional setting. This might be achieved by removal of the differentiation between environment and context, and by elaborating the information systems and information retrieval levels further into analytical and operational domains.

Identity in Customer Service Chat Interaction: Implications for Virtual Reference

Kazmer, M.M., Burnett, G. and Dickey, M.H. in Library & Information Science Research, Vol. 29, No. 1, 2007, pp. 5-29

This article discusses the construction and representation of identity in an online dyadic customer service chat setting, using a data set of more than 6,000 session transcriptions. The analysis explores the use of names and other markers of identity in chat interactions; assumptions about generic, group, and individual identities; authentication and verification activities; and problems related to identity construction, representation, and authentication. The article concludes that providing a satisfactory virtual reference experience requires focusing on identity representation.

The Johnson Center Library at George Mason University

Gibson, C. and Lockaby, D.C. in Reference Services Review, Vol. 35, No. 2, 2007, pp. 322-330

Can a library center built in 1995 already be obsolete? The construction of any library is naturally a reflection of the technology and perceived needs at the time. If both these change, the role of the library might have to be reconsidered. That at least is the challenge confronting the Johnson Center Library at George Mason. The authors make clear through an interesting discussion that the developers got some things right and some things wrong. The question now is how to build on the positive while making optimal use of the space.

Mapping the Reasons for Resistance to Internet Banking: A Means-End Approach

Kuisma, T., Laukkanen, T. and Hiltunen, M. in International Journal of Information Management, Vol. 27, No. 2, 2007, pp. 75-85

Although internet banking has been widely adopted in developed countries, there is still a group of customers resisting the services. That is, internet banking, although proven to be a successful innovation, has still not become adopted by the laggards, and hence, has not met all the expectations of banks. The purpose of this paper is to identify the reasons for consumer resistance to internet banking. The special interest is to explore resistance among those bank customers who already have valid contracts for Internet banking but prefer to pay their bills via ATM. The objective is to identify those characteristics generating resistance to Internet banking and their connections to values of individuals. To achieve the objective, 30 Finnish bank customers were interviewed in-depth using the means-end approach and the laddering interviewing technique. The findings indicate both functional and psychological barriers arising from service-, channel-, consumer- and communication-related means-end chains inhibiting internet banking adoption.

Open Worldcat and Its Impact on Academic Libraries

El-Sherbini, M. in Journal of Academic Librarianship, Vol. 33, No. 1, 2007, pp. 56-66

This paper analyses librarians’ reactions to the Open OCLC WorldCat. A detailed survey was sent to ARL libraries to explore what, if anything, the libraries are currently doing to prepare for these changes and how they plan to cope with the probability of having all their records open to the whole world. Survey findings indicate that most of the ARL member institutions are not making immediate preparations to cope with issues that have not yet emerged and they will continue to provide access to materials based on priorities dictated by current needs and available resources.

Post-structuralism Hypertext, and the World Wide Web

Tredinnick, L. in Aslib Proceedings, Vol. 59, No. 2, 2007, pp. 169-186

The purpose of this paper is to explore the application of post-structuralist theory to understanding hypertext and the world wide web, and the challenge posed by digital information technology to the practices of the information profession. The paper argues for the importance of post-structuralism for an understanding of the implications of digital information for the information management profession.

Public Library Patrons’ Use of Collaborative Chat Reference Service: The Effectiveness of Question Answering by Question Type

Kwon, N. in Library & Information Science Research, Vol. 29, No. 1, 2007, pp. 70-91

This study investigated the effectiveness of question answering by question types in the inter-institutional collaborative chat reference service in a public library system. In particular, this study examined whether subject-based research type questions are answered as effectively as simple factual type questions, and whether local-specific questions are answered as effectively as non-local questions in the inter-institutional chat reference service. Effectiveness was assessed in terms of answer completeness and user satisfaction. The analysis was based on user surveys and corresponding transcripts of 415 chat reference transactions initiated by patrons of a public library system. The study found little difference in the effectiveness of question answering between subject-based research and simple factual questions. However, local-specific questions, such as circulation-related and inquires about local library services, were answered less completely and patrons expressed lower levels of satisfaction compared to non-local questions. These findings indicate problems and gaps in coordinating the inter-institutional chat reference service among participating libraries.

Public Opinion Poll Question Databases: An Evaluation

Woods, S. in Journal of Academic Librarianship, Vol. 33, No. 1, 2007, pp. 41-46

This paper evaluates five polling resource: iPOLL, Polling the Nations, Gallup Brain, Public Opinion Poll Question Database, and Polls and Surveys. Content was evaluated on disclosure standards from major polling organizations, scope on a model for public opinion polls, and presentation on a flow chart discussing search limitations and usability.

Relationships between Information Seeking and Context: A Qualitative Study of Internet Searching and the Goals of Personal Development

Kari, J. and Savolainen, R. in Library & Information Science Research, Vol. 29, No. 1, 2007, pp. 47-69

Little research has explored how exactly information processes relate to their context. Context is defined as components which are not an inherent part of information phenomena, but which nevertheless bear some relation to these. This article addresses the issue by discussing empirical findings from a study of Internet searching and personal development. The purpose of the article is to construct a general typology for researching the links between information seeking and its context. Grounded analysis of the whole corpus revealed 11 different relationships between internet searching and the goals of personal development. Because these seem to be quite generalizable to information seeking in other contexts (e.g. parenting or location), they were then abstracted into four generic relationships: detachment, unity, direction, and interaction.

Use and Users of Electronic Journals at Catalan Universities: The Results of a Survey

Borrego, A., Anglada, L., Barrios, M. and Comellas, N. in Journal of Academic Librarianship, Vol. 33, No. 1, 2007, pp. 67-75

This paper presents the results of a survey of the use of electronic journals by the academic staff of the universities belonging to the Consortium of Academic Libraries of Catalonia (CBUC). The results show that a high proportion of teaching and research staff are aware of the collection of electronic journals and that there is an increasing preference for the electronic to the detriment of the printed format. The collection of electronic journals is highly valued and most users expect to increase their use of them during the next few years. The results also confirm the importance of discipline and age as explanatory factors of the use of electronic journals.

Using Wikipedia to Extend Digital Collections

Lally, A.M., and Dunford, C.E. in D-Lib Magazine, Vol. 13, No. 5/6, 2007www.dlib.org/dlib/may07/lally/05lally.html

An example of a library “getting in the flow”, this article documents the University of Washington Libraries’ effort to put their digital collections where their users will see them – in Wikipedia. The result was so successful in driving more users to their collections that they “now consider Wikipedia an essential tool for getting our digital collections out to our users at the point of their information need”. The article also contains some useful tips on creating articles and cross-references within Wikipedia, monitoring for changes and vandalism, and communicating with other Wikipedia users.

Validating E-Learning Factors Affecting Training Effectiveness

Lim, H., Lee, S.G. and Nam, K. in International Journal of Information Management, Vol. 27, No. 2, 2007, pp. 22-35

The development of information technologies has contributed to the growth in online training as an important education method. E-learning provides trainees with education opportunities in diverse ways. It has led to a range of innovative services offering one-stop educational solutions within the e-business sector. The online training environment enables trainees to undertake customized training at any time and any place. The purposes of this research are twofold: to discover the determinants of effective online training; and to reveal how those variables affect learning performance and transfer performance, two important aspects of training effectiveness in the workplace. This paper demonstrates, through empirical data, a positive relationship between individual, organizational and online training design constructs and training effectiveness constructs (learning and transfer performance).