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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Librarianship'
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1
Seale, Maura. "Institutionalizing Critical Librarianship." The University of Arizona, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/609829.
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Tolley, Rebecca. "Review of Academic Librarianship." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2011. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/5614.
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Tolley, Rebecca. "Women in Academic Librarianship." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2002. https://www.amzn.com/1576076148.
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Ilett, Rosemary Catherine. "Outstanding issues : gender, feminisms and librarianship." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2003. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/4072/.
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This thesis employs a third wave feminist perspective to consider the regular crises experienced by British librarianship concerning professional status and issues of theory and practice. It proposes that librarianship, particularly within the public library, is being contested by a range of external and internal forces with immense significance, and that such processes have occurred at other periods of major change, notably the late nineteenth century and the late 1960’s and early 1970s. It explores the gendered roots of such manifestations, and reviews the critiques and other possibilities offered by earlier feminist waves, with those of second wave feminism seen as of particular significance, but limited to their ability to offer satisfactory insights. Contemporary librarianship is identified as vulnerable because of its difficulty in accepting the gendered nature of its nineteenth-century construction, when the activities of American librarians like Melvil Dewey has profound effects on its ongoing form, components and practitioners. Ongoing debates about librarianship’s professional status are viewed, using second and third wave feminist insights from sociology and other theoretical positions including queer theory, as outcomes of late Victorian notions of gender roles that have embedded structures, framework and behaviours within librarianship that still continue. It is argued that the librarianship ratified by the professional library associations resists ideological challenges to its construction and maintenance, with feminism the pivotal example under consideration, and that relevant activity taking place in settings outside the mainstream is frequently invisible. This is proposed as limiting the possibilities of librarianship and the work of librarians, within what is defined as a feminised occupation. A twenty-first century interpretation of librarianship informed by feminism is proposed, and considered through the utilisation of an original concept, gendertopia, derived from Foucault’s heterotopia, that describes the transformative potential of libraries and aspects of librarianship. To undertake this investigation the experience and actions of women librarians within mainstream British libraries were explored through field-work, along with the activities of three contemporary British women’s libraries that operate outside the mainstream and which derived form different periods of twentieth century feminisms. The author has been actively involved in some of the activities described, and to reflect this and feminist research methodologies, the development of which are described, an explicit theoretical position is taken that integrates autobiographical and fictional material.
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Stephens, Michael O'Connor Brian C. "Modeling the role of blogging in librarianship." [Denton, Tex.] : University of North Texas, 2007. http://digital.library.unt.edu/permalink/meta-dc-3915.
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Stephens, Michael. "Modeling the role of blogging in librarianship." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2007. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3915/.
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This phenomenological study examines the motivations and experiences of librarians who author professionally-focused Weblogs. I constructed a model of librarianship based on Wilson and Buckland. The results show a close fit between librarian bloggers and the ideals of the field as expressed by two primary library and information science philosophers. A Web survey generated 239 responses to demographic and open-ended questions. Using the results of the survey, I analyzed demographic data and performed a phenomenological analysis of the open-ended questions. A list of category responses was generated from each set of answers via the coding of descriptive words and phrases. Results indicated the motivations of librarian bloggers are based around themes of sharing, participation in community, and enhanced professional development. Respondents reported feeling more connected to the profession and to colleagues across the world because of blogging. Respondents perceived the librarian blogosphere as a community with both positive aspects - feedback, discussion, and support - and negative aspects - insular voices, divides between technologists and librarians, and generational rifts. Respondents also reported an increased ability to keep current, improved writing skills, and opportunities to speak and contribute to professional journals.
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Hudson, David James. "On Critical Librarianship & Pedagogies of the Practical." The University of Arizona, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/612654.
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Metlhaleng, Tlhalefo. "Staff competencies in the planning and establishing of an institutional repository at the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/29179.
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The study sought to ascertain staff competencies in the planning and establishing of an institutional repository at the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN). In addressing the above objective, the study used the innovation-decision making process of the Diffusion of Innovations (DoI) theory (Rogers 1983) to formulate the following critical questions to guide the study: What knowledge, skills and personal attributes are required in the planning and establishing of a successful institutional repository in an academic institution?; Do BUAN staff (academics and relevant support staff) have the knowledge, skills and personal attributes necessary for planning and establishing a successful repository?; How significant a role do personal attributes such as attitudes and perceptions play in the planning and establishing of an IR at BUAN?; and, What measures may be put in place to reinforce the planning and establishing of an institutional repository at the BUAN Library? The research paradigm suitable for this study was the pragmatic paradigm because of diverse types of data used in the study. The study employed a convergent parallel mixed methods design by using both quantitative and qualitative research methods to collect data concurrently. It adopted a case study approach as the researcher undertook an in-depth enquiry into staff competencies in the planning and establishing of an institutional repository at BUAN. The study population consisted of 201 BUAN academics, three Library repository staff, and two Information Technology (IT) staff. Semi-structured interviews were used to source data from purposively selected library repository staff and BUAN IT staff. A structured questionnaire was administered to the academics. Descriptive statistics was used in the analysis of the study’s quantitative data and thematic content analysis for its qualitative data. A number of knowledge sets, skills and personal attributes emerged from the study as being required in the planning and establishing of a successful repository at BUAN, critical amongst these being knowledge of metadata and metadata standards. An important recommendation emanating from the study related to repository advocacy and outreach among BUAN academics as well as on-going training of library repository staff to keep them abreast of latest repository developments.
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Dabengwa, Israel Mbekezeli. "A phenomenological study of experiences in blended librarianship among academic librarians in Zimbabwe with special reference to selected higher education institutions." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/29889.
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This exploratory phenomenological study served the purpose of investigating the phenomenon of the Zimbabwean academic librarian whose professional identity has been evolving into Bell and Shank's (2007) blended librarianship over the past decade. The primary objective of this study was to explore the shared experiences of blended librarianship to find out how effectively Zimbabwean academic librarians adhere to their dynamic roles and functions, and how they are perceived in the university. To achieve the primary goal, the study was framed using the theoretical constructs from Lave and Wenger's (1991) Legitimate Peripheral Participation (LPP) and Communities of Practice (CoP), to understand how academic librarians learnt in the workplace through involvement in authentic work tasks. The research methodology relied on Heidegger’s Interpretive Phenomenology Analysis and the philosophy of interpretivism. The researcher looked for the academic librarian’s experiences of blended librarianship and then made sense of the academic librarian’s interpretation, to draw out a common meaning of blended librarianship. The researcher collected data from a calculated sample of 101 academic librarians from non-professional roles to Library Board level. Data collected was triangulated using multiple methods of data collection that included a semi-structured questionnaire, document research and semi-structured interviews. Data was collected from academic librarians from the Bindura State University of Education, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Lupane State University, Midlands State University, the National University of Science and Technology, and PHSBL80 University which was anonymised. Though blended librarianship had been adopted in different academic libraries through various ways that account for the sociocultural and historical issues in each academic library, it can be concluded that blended librarianship may bridge the theory-practice divide. The study recommends academic libraries to move towards integrating the teaching of Information Literacy Skills (ILS) and Low Threshold Technologies Applications (LTAs) into the courses that are taught by lecturers. This is set to place academic librarians within the context of their community, where they can contribute “legitimately” as equals, rather than working at the periphery of the classroom where they have a subservient role as seen in the study.
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Ngula, Anna Kaukowe. "The information needs of people with albinism in Khomas Region, Namibia." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/29278.
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The dissertation is a report of an investigation of the information needs of people with albinism in Khomas region, Namibia. The investigation aims to ascertain the information needs of people with albinism (PWA), including the kind of information needs they have. It also seeks to establish the mechanisms used by PWA to seek information and to determine who initiates their information-seeking activities. Furthermore, the study identifies the challenges PWA in Khomas region face on a daily basis when seeking information and recommends information services that could be suitable for PWA in Khomas region. For its theoretical framework, the study applies Moore (2002) and Wilson’s (1996) model of information behaviour. It is situated within the interpretivism paradigm following a qualitative approach. The research design is that of a case study with aspects of autoethnography resulting from the researcher’s personal memory of her lived experiences of albinism as a mother of two children with albinism. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with sixteen people with albinism; six parents of children with albinism (CWA); and two key informants from associations dealing with PWA in Namibia. The findings reveal that PWA have information needs related to their condition, specifically skin and eye care, as well as other basic needs, such as shelter, employment opportunities, education prospects and the process of their acquisition of identity and travel documents. The study revealed that the internet (especially Google), the radio and television, healthcare professionals and Support in Namibia of Albinism Sufferers Requiring Assistance (SINASRA) and Namibia Albino Association Trust (NAAT) are some of the sources and mechanisms used by participants when searching for information. The organisational participants revealed that they provide a range of services to PWA, including information about skin care and protective clothing, as well as applications for disability grants. PWA who participated in the study indicated that they encounter problems when accessing information. These include the long distances between information seekers and providers, time constraints and the cost associated with accessing information. Language was identified as a major barrier to information access because most of the content is in English. Lack of awareness of information sources coupled with poor eyesight for PWA the reading of information in small fonts that is not provided in alternative formats a glaring challenge. The study concluded that information about albinism is critical not only for PWA, but also to an African society that often subjects PWA to grievous harm, simply because it still holds myths and stigma about albinism. Therefore, the study recommends that it is crucial to provide information to PWA, including their family members through platforms such as open days, sensitisation meetings, and the creation of WhatsApp groups. These interventions should also be directed at society at large in order to create a sense of belonging and get rid of isolation suffered by PWA. The study also recommends that an information booklet be developed by the ministry of health and social services. This booklet should contain information on different types of disabilities that can affect unborn children, in order to prepare the parents.
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Atkins, Andrea N. "Discretion in Russian Librarianship: Pre-Soviet, Soviet, Post-Soviet." The Ohio State University, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1343769040.
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Anderson, Joanna M., Amy Lippo, Janine Pino, and Laura Sheets. "Embedded Librarianship: A Conversation About What Works in Class." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2016. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/400.
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Walczyk, Christine. "Building an Understanding of International Service Learning in Librarianship." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2016. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc955057/.
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From the very beginning, library education has been a mixture of theory and practice. Dewey required apprenticeships to be part of the first library school at the University of Chicago as a method to indoctrinate new professional. Today, acculturation is incorporated into the professional education through a large variety of experiential learning techniques, including internships, practicum, field work, and service learning projects, all of which are designed to develop some level of professional skills within an information organization. But, what is done for understanding library culture? It is said that one cannot truly recognize the extent of one's own cultural assumptions, until they have experienced another. This study followed a group of LIS graduate students that took that next step – going to Russia.
By employing a critical hermeneutic methodology, this study sought to understand what value students gain by from working on an assessment project in an international school library. Using a horizon analysis, the researcher established the worldview of participants prior to their departure, analyzed their experience through post-experience interviews, and constructed an understanding of value. Among other concepts, the researcher looked specifically to see whether "library cultural competency", understanding library culture in global context, was developed through working on a service learning project within an international school library. This dissertation provides feedback for the program leaders and ideas for future research.
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El, Bennani Fauzia Khalil. "Librarianship as a profession : an investigation of Libyan librarians' attitudes." Thesis, McGill University, 2000. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=36921.
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The purpose of this study is to investigate the attitude of Libyan professional librarians towards their profession. The study also seeks to compare attitudes of Libyan professional librarians from culturally diverse rural and urban communities toward librarianship as a profession. The diversity here refers to the distinctive characteristics of the two communities, which include social life style, values, hierarchies of values and attitude. It is also the purpose of this research to compare the attitudes of Libyan male and female professional librarians towards their profession. Another purpose of this study is to investigate if working in different types of libraries such as academic, public and special will have a different effect on Libyan professional librarians' attitudes towards their profession.The population of this study consisted of all Libyan librarians who at the time were employed in academic and special libraries, and all Libyan librarians who at the time were employed in public libraries that are located in the Tripolitanian area.
Thornton's scale to measure librarians' attitudes towards librarianship was selected to be used in this study. In order to determine whether the instrument (scale) items possess the desired qualities of measurement and discriminability when used in different settings (Libyan libraries) and with different subjects, (Libyan librarians) and in order to revise and debug the scale by diagnosing and correcting failings, if any, the following steps were taken: (1) Refinement of the instrument (interviewing subjects). (2) Validation of the instrument, (construct validity). (3) Reliability of the instrument. (Split half). (4) Translating the instrument into Arabic. (5) Pilot study.
A computer utilizing (SPSS) Statistical Package for Social Science was used for analyses and comparison.
The study's major findings indicated that: (1) Libyan librarians working in libraries located in urban communities have a significantly higher positive attitude towards their profession than those who work in libraries located in rural communities. (2) Libyan rural librarians' gender has no significant effect on librarians' attitude towards their profession. (3) Libyan female librarians working in libraries located in urban communities have a significantly higher positive attitude towards their profession than Libyan male librarians working in libraries located in urban communities. (4) Libyan male librarians working in libraries located in urban communities have a significantly higher positive attitude towards their profession than Libyan male librarians working in libraries located in rural communities. (5) Library location has no significant effect on Libyan female librarians' attitude towards their profession. (6) Library type has no significant effect on Libyan librarians' attitude towards their profession. (7) Libyan librarians have positive attitudes towards their profession.
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Spring, Hannah Catherine. "The barriers to and priorities for research development in health librarianship." Thesis, University of Leeds, 2012. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.613423.
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Introduction: The process of evidence-based librarianship is fundamentally associated with the generation and use of evidence in practice. A considerable number of factors have meant the evidence base in health librarianship is slow to populate, and that much of the evidence lacks rigour. To date, there have been no studies that examine issues of research engagement exclusively within the context of health librarianship. This thesis set out to answer the question, what are the barriers to and priorities for research engagement in health librarianship? Methodology: Three literature reviews were conducted, the first was a critical review of research within health care and health librarianship, whilst the second and third respectively reviewed the use of focus groups and surveys to investigate research engagement in health librarianship. These were followed by the conducting of a focus group and a national survey. Both studies included representatives from different disciplines of health librarianship. The focus group aimed to gain consensus on aspects associated with research in health librarianship and inform development of the survey. The survey aimed to gain a national picture of research engagement and clarify the barriers to and priorities for research development as perceived by health librarians. Results: The focus group reached consensus on five key barriers and five key priorities to research engagement in health librarians. The survey returned 316 usable responses and analysis revealed no relationship between the research related training and levels of research experience. The perceived importance health librarians place on their role in terms of developing research skills and evidence based practice was not found to be related to either research experience or research training. The survey also revealed perceptions of research in health librarianship are linked to a number of other factors including a diverse understanding of what research is. Conclusion: This is the first and largest study of its kind to explore research development and engagement specifically in health librarianship. The study provides a new definition of research and identifies key barriers and priorities for research in health librarianship. It also provides recommendations that should benefit the health librarian community by supporting the strategic development of research.
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Jansson, Bertil. "Bibliotekarien : om yrkets tidiga innehåll och utveckling." Doctoral thesis, Högskolan i Borås, Institutionen Biblioteks- och informationsvetenskap / Bibliotekshögskolan, 2010. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hb:diva-3551.
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This thesis is about librarians and librarianship. Questions asked in the thesis are how the librarianship developed between 1475 and 1780 and what the core and the main tasks of the profession were. There is also the question whether the profession is built on a common basis to rely on and if it is characterized by unique knowledge. The history of the librarian is divided in three parallel ongoing parts, the practical, the visionary and finally the personal, the librarians own attitudes. The practical area is characterized by the practical work, as cataloguing, classification, care of books, shelving and protecting the documents in different ways from several possible threats. The work is dictated by the employer. The visionary part complements and develops the methods of library work being established in the practical area, the librarians themselves formulate their thoughts of libraries and librarianship, defines the roles of libraries in society, in education and research. The librarians think about the content of the work and the future of libraries. These two areas done, another dimension is born. That is the ethics of the librarianship, how to behave and how to act towards library users and this dimension puts the librarian in the centre. There have been signs of this before but the completion is done in 1780 by Cotton des Houssayes. His speech opens the future for the librarians to come. The time period covers 305 years from 1475 until 1780. Starting point for this research about the librarian is 1475 because in that year pope Sixtus IV appointed Bartolomeus Platina as librarian of the Vatican library. The bull of 1475 is an official document that describes the librarian as a librarian and that he is told what to do, where to do it, how to do it and why. Jean-Baptiste Cotton des Houssayes, appointed in 1780, sets an end to this period with his speech to the General Assembly of the Sorbonne university in Paris. His speech completes the creation of the librarian. It is also the starting point of something new in librarianship. The common tasks of the librarians investigated, reveal what can be regarded as the essence of librarianship. From the practical area, the employers gave the librarians their tasks, executed at different places in different kinds of libraries. From the area of visions, the librarians built their visions as a continuum of the experiences from the practical work. New areas like the role of the librarian, the goals for the library itself and the librarians as the executors and pathfinders for the future. More of theory became a natural part of the librarianship. The last area of the development of the librarian is to adopt ethical aspects of their profession. This dimension is a self-reflecting attitude important to the librarians themselves.Akademisk avhandling som med tillstånd av samhällsvetenskapliga fakulteten vid Göteborgs universitet för vinnande av filosofie doktorsexamen framläggs till offentlig granskning kl. 13.15 torsdagen den 10 juni 2010 i hörsal C203, Högskolan i Borås, Allégatan 1, Borås.
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Corbett, Anna. "Public Librarianship in Ireland. A Study of Public Libraries and Social Inclusion." Thesis, Uppsala University, Department of ALM, 2007. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-101806.
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Burgess, John Timothy Freedom. "Virtue ethics and the narrative identity of American librarianship 1876 to present." Thesis, The University of Alabama, 2013. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3596086.
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The purpose of this study is to propose a means of reconciling the competing ideas of library and information science's identity, thereby strengthening professional autonomy. I make the case that developing a system of virtue ethics for librarianship would be an effective way to promote that reconciliation. The first step in developing virtue ethics is uncovering librarianship's function. Standard approaches to virtue ethics rely on classical Greek ideas about the nature of being to determine function. Since classical ideas of being may no longer be persuasive, I introduce another approach to uncover librarianship's function that still meets all of the criteria needed to establish a foundation for a system of virtue ethics. This approach is hermeneutical phenomenology, the philosophical discipline of interpreting the meaning given to historical events. Hans-Georg Gadamer's hermeneutic circle technique and Paul Ricoeur's theory of narrative intelligence are used to engage in a dialogue with three crises in the history of American librarianship. These pivotal events are the fiction question, librarian nationalism during World War I, and the dispute between supporters of the "Library Bill of Rights" and social responsibility. From these crises, three recurring themes become apparent: the tendency to reconcile idealism and pragmatism, the intent to do good for individuals and society, and the role of professional insecurity in precipitating the conflicts. Through emplotment of these themes, an identity narrative for librarianship emerges. My finding is that librarianship's function is the promotion of stability-happiness. This is the dual-process of supporting dominant socio-cultural institutions as a means of protecting librarianship's ability to offer the knowledge, cultural records, and avenues for information literacy that can improve lives and facilitate individuals' pursuit of happiness. In the conclusion, the ethical implications of having stability-happiness as the profession's function are considered. It includes a discussion of how librarianship's narrative identity could be applied to develop an ethical character for the profession and how such a character, combined with knowledge of function, might address persistent problems of race and gender disparity in library and information science.
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Byrne, Alex. "The politics of promoting freedom of information and expression in international librarianship." Connect to full text, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/555.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Sydney, 2004.Title from title screen (viewed 8 May 2008). Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the Faculty of Economics and Business. Degree awarded 2004; thesis submitted 2003. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print form.
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Rathbun-Grubb, Susan R. Marshall Joanne Gard. "Leaving librarianship a study of the determinants and consequences of occupational turnover /." Chapel Hill, N.C. : University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2009. http://dc.lib.unc.edu/u?/etd,2494.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2009.Title from electronic title page (viewed Oct. 5, 2009). "... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the School of Information and Library Science." Discipline: Information and Library Science; Department/School: Information and Library Science, School of.
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Byrne, John Alexander (Alex). "The politics of promoting freedom of information and expression in international librarianship." Thesis, The University of Sydney, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/555.
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In 1997 the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) initiated a project to promote and defend the right to information. This decision to engage proactively with human rights was a radical expansion of the profession's self-conception. Applying an action research methodology, this study traces the development and implementation of the Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE) initiative. It traces the origins of the decision, and assesses the outcomes of its first five years as it developed from a project into a continuing and central program of the Federation. Both the internal effects on IFLA and the consequences of the project for the profession of librarianship are explored. The thesis locates the key decision in the history of librarianship, its growth as a profession paralleling the development of libraries as institutions. In turn, the decision is also located in IFLA's own history, and the way it survived and worked to advance the ideas and tools of librarianship amid difficult and changing international environments. The politics of professionalism is at the core of the study. The disturbing innovation which FAIFE represented took IFLA outside its traditional focus on the status and techniques of the profession, postulating a new role for the Federation. By investing librarianship with a higher responsibility, it has gone further than the now widely accepted expectation that professionals will place community interests before organisational and personal interests at all times. The responsibility to promote the fundamental human right to information has been embraced as the key principle underlying and informing library and information service, the touchstone for evaluating professional priorities. This locates the primary purpose of the profession outside the profession's institutional base in a supranational, absolute and almost universally recognised social goal. Adopting these aspirations and this role carried many dangers for IFLA. It would inevitably seem a deviation into politics by some. It heightened the risks of both internal dissent and external criticism. It challenged the habitus of disinterested professionalism by invoking a more interventionist social responsibility for IFLA, its constituent library associations and the broader profession. It drew on evolving and contested understandings of professional responsibilities in a complex global environment and has redrawn the accepted boundaries of professional discourse in librarianship. At least so far, the consequences have been beneficial for IFLA, reinforcing its jurisdiction and strengthening the Federation. As an international federation of professional associations, IFLA faces particular challenges in working across diverse national traditions, ideologies and cultures. Its existence and effectiveness rest primarily on internal cohesiveness. Its capacity to develop the FAIFE initiative into a program without schism, and indeed with growing support, has strengthened rather than weakened its organisational capacities. Through that process IFLA has reinvented itself, to a considerable degree, as a form of transnational social movement organisation. It has developed strong relationships with other civil society organisations while maintaining its position as a respected international professional body. It has strengthened its position by becoming a vigorous advocate for the right to information, thereby becoming an actor in the growing international concern with human rights. This study of a decisive period in IFLA's history offers a rare example of an international professional association in transition. In examining this project to promote unrestricted access to information as the reciprocal right of freedom of expression, the research is a case study of the politics of an expanding sense of professionalism. IFLA's experience is pertinent to a range of other organisations, and is itself part of the realignment of international political discourse in response to the growing influence of international organisations and the priority of human rights in international political agendas.
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Byrne, John Alexander (Alex). "The politics of promoting freedom of information and expression in international librarianship." University of Sydney. Government and International Relations, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/555.
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In 1997 the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) initiated a project to promote and defend the right to information. This decision to engage proactively with human rights was a radical expansion of the profession�s self-conception. Applying an action research methodology, this study traces the development and implementation of the Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE) initiative. It traces the origins of the decision, and assesses the outcomes of its first five years as it developed from a project into a continuing and central program of the Federation. Both the internal effects on IFLA and the consequences of the project for the profession of librarianship are explored. The thesis locates the key decision in the history of librarianship, its growth as a profession paralleling the development of libraries as institutions. In turn, the decision is also located in IFLA�s own history, and the way it survived and worked to advance the ideas and tools of librarianship amid difficult and changing international environments. The politics of professionalism is at the core of the study. The disturbing innovation which FAIFE represented took IFLA outside its traditional focus on the status and techniques of the profession, postulating a new role for the Federation. By investing librarianship with a higher responsibility, it has gone further than the now widely accepted expectation that professionals will place community interests before organisational and personal interests at all times. The responsibility to promote the fundamental human right to information has been embraced as the key principle underlying and informing library and information service, the touchstone for evaluating professional priorities. This locates the primary purpose of the profession outside the profession�s institutional base in a supranational, absolute and almost universally recognised social goal. Adopting these aspirations and this role carried many dangers for IFLA. It would inevitably seem a deviation into politics by some. It heightened the risks of both internal dissent and external criticism. It challenged the habitus of disinterested professionalism by invoking a more interventionist social responsibility for IFLA, its constituent library associations and the broader profession. It drew on evolving and contested understandings of professional responsibilities in a complex global environment and has redrawn the accepted boundaries of professional discourse in librarianship. At least so far, the consequences have been beneficial for IFLA, reinforcing its jurisdiction and strengthening the Federation. As an international federation of professional associations, IFLA faces particular challenges in working across diverse national traditions, ideologies and cultures. Its existence and effectiveness rest primarily on internal cohesiveness. Its capacity to develop the FAIFE initiative into a program without schism, and indeed with growing support, has strengthened rather than weakened its organisational capacities. Through that process IFLA has reinvented itself, to a considerable degree, as a form of transnational social movement organisation. It has developed strong relationships with other civil society organisations while maintaining its position as a respected international professional body. It has strengthened its position by becoming a vigorous advocate for the right to information, thereby becoming an actor in the growing international concern with human rights. This study of a decisive period in IFLA�s history offers a rare example of an international professional association in transition. In examining this project to promote unrestricted access to information as the reciprocal right of freedom of expression, the research is a case study of the politics of an expanding sense of professionalism. IFLA�s experience is pertinent to a range of other organisations, and is itself part of the realignment of international political discourse in response to the growing influence of international organisations and the priority of human rights in international political agendas.
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Kumbier, Alana, and Julia Starkey. "Enabling Accessible Pedagogy - Resource Sharing for CLAPS 2016." The University of Arizona, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/612646.
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Beheshti, Jamshid. "Library and Information Studies Curriculum." ALA, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/105051.
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Based on a presentation at the 27th Annual Conference of the Canadian Association for Information Science, June 9 - 12, 1999.This exploratory study attempts to map the curricula of the ALA accredited LIS programs to provide a better understanding of the nature of LIS education as is currently prevalent in the United States and Canada. The mapping methodology is based on clustering keywords of individual course titles and course descriptions from each LIS program. Hence, the study provides a relatively accurate snapshot of the curricula through a concept intensity map of the subjects being presently taught in LIS programs. It is hoped that the map will contribute to discussions in designing a more cohesive LIS education.
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Wright, Lynne, and Jo-Anne Lombardi. "University of Wollongong Library preparing recent graduates for a professional career in librarianship." School of Communication & Information, Nanyang Technological University, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/106104.
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A strategic approach to succession planning, a commitment to the profession of librarianship and a genuine desire to provide authentic learning opportunities for students committed to postgraduate studies in librarianship, resulted in an innovative professional cadetship program being established at the University of Wollongong Library. The program development, overview and preliminary evaluations will be shared in this paper.
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Tolley-Stokes, Rebecca, and Carol Smallwood. "Mentoring in Librarianship: Essays on Working with Adults and Students to Further the Profession." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2011. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu_books/196.
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An anthology by practicing academic, public, school, special librarians sharing their librarianship know-how by mentoring adults or students: personal, one-on-one contact to further librarianship. Concise, how-to chapters using bullets, headings, based on experience to help colleagues further the profession.
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Crawford, John C. "Historical models of library provision : the example of Scotland." Thesis, Glasgow Caledonian University, 1993. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.385906.
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This study aims to construct a historical model of library provision in Scotland from the 16th century to the present day. It falls naturally into three parts: A first section covering the period 1560-1850 which discusses the origin and development of library provision and use in Scotland and identifies its main characteristics. A second section 'Sectoral Analysis' which is an analysis of the LIBSCOT file, a microcomputer held directory of library provision in Scotland in the 1890s. After an overview chapter each type of library in Scotland, derived from a classification devised by the author, is described in turn and its main characteristics, statistical and factual, are identified. A third section, Evaluation, which analyses the LIBSCOT file data in general terms, examines the development of policy for library provision in Scotland and considers how contemporary librarianship in Scotland has been shaped by the historical model. A final chapter considers the study's importance for library historiography. The historical model, briefly stated, suggests that library provision in Scotland has traditionally been based on small administrative, local community centred roots which originated in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. These traditions originated in small market towns and villages and although they spread to large towns and cities the small population unit remained the essential base for library provision. By the end of the 18th century a structure of library provision had emerged, based on small units which were amateur but not amateurish in character and were hostile to large bureaucratic units and an ideology of professionalism. The evidence of the LIBSCOT file shows that this picture was largely unchanged by the late 19th century. In the 20th century slow progress was made towards a new model of library provision, based on large administrative units and an ideology of professionalism was slow to develop. Attitudes did not change until the 1960s.
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Hibbs, Genevieve Mary. "Information handling : concepts which emerged in practical situations and are analysed cybernetically." Thesis, Brunel University, 1990. http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/5250.
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The thesis provides a cybernetics examination of information handling, and concepts that emerged during attempts to fulfil large information handling requirements. Case studies, descriptions of commonplace realities, are seen to have common themes which if fully appreciated would help information handling: information recovery: a distinct concept demanding consideration in the design of information systems; batching and classification; paying detailed attention to 'insignificant' processes resulting in unexpected effectiveness and efficiency; unaccounted, unobserved losses; Theoretic themes developed include: success of batching / classifying information for each need, a critical factor for success of organisations and organisms; dynamic, interactive information pathways and classification systems as algorithms, flow charts or heuristic methods to enable efficient batching; 'leakage' of information, attrition on a grand scale, proves to be the converse of successful batching / classification; a notion of robustness of information is explored. Logical networks of concepts act similarly to neural networks in providing stability for increased retrieval; 'asnegsist' as good as if it didn't exist', and the 'way in;' to information systems are explored; information recovery assisted by findings on perception and interpretation from readability research; 'way in': a subset of 'design' dealing with access to systems. Further research and developments are proposed.
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Yoon, Choon Sup. "A housing information service : a systematic approach towards the effective use of structured building appraisals in the design of new housing." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 1987. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/24450.
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Al-Otaibi, Mishan S. "Centralization versus decentralization in university library systems : a case study of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia." Thesis, Loughborough University, 1993. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/27355.
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The issue of centralization vs decentralization in university library systems is studied in the context of Saudi Arabia. After a review of the relevant literature, background information is given on Saudi Arabia, with special focus on the higher education sector and its development, and on university library systems. The present situation of three selected university library systems is examined in comparison with library standards, together with the attitudes of users and professionals to .different aspects of the library systems and their quality. The methodology used was descriptive and analytical research, and data were gathered by distribution of three sets of survey questionnaires. An analysis and discussion of survey results is presented in chapters on library use, user satisfaction and user views. A summary of findings and an indication of both general and specific recommendations complete the thesis.
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Drury, Peter. "Information management and intelligence : NHS case studies." Thesis, University of Surrey, 1990. http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/843534/.
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As a contribution to the social theory of organisations, this thesis develops a comprehensive conceptual framework for the analysis of "organisational intelligence". It is developed in the context of some of the empirical problems of information management in the NHS. The framework is based on an information processing perspective. It has a number of components, each of which may be used, individually or collectively by information and social analysts. Organisational intelligence is, therefore, a relative concept, being concerned in essence with assessments of contextually appropriate behaviour and/or information. Organisational intelligence focuses on and reflects how actors / organisations do knowledgework. A number of generic knowledgework processes are proposed, together with some associated pathologies. But the question for information management is how to develop the supporting knowledgebase component. The development of information products of, or for, intelligence is another component of the framework. All these processes and products need to be assessed in their historical, political and information-related contexts. Finally, attention is paid to assessments in the light of experience of the issues in question. The case studies are based on material gathered firstly while working as a District Information Officer in a Health Authority, and then as co-ordinator for the project determining the information requirements of the NHS after the 1991. These studies are supplemented by analyses of secondary material. After a series of case studies using the organisational intelligence framework to illustrate different aspects of the information management in the NHS during the 198 0s, there are two detailed local studies, and then one concerning national developments in information policy in the early 1980s, followed by an analysis of the information requirements of the NHS post-Review. Finally, the case study material is drawn together to illustrate some characteristics of the organisation of intelligence.
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Dearnley, James A. "The decline and fall of the Net Book Agreement 1962-1997 : a study of cause and effect." Thesis, Loughborough University, 1997. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/28070.
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This thesis in equal part considers the contributory factors which caused suspension of the Net Book Agreement (NBA) in September 1995, and, via a number of interviews, the immediate effects of NBA abolition on the bookselling trade. Comparisons are drawn between the UK experience of NBA suspension and that of other European countries (France, Belgium, Netherlands).
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Fuka, Karel. "Knowledge management in digital libraries." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2002. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.268680.
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Dvorak, Radka Radana. "Text to hypertext books : an evaluative investigation into reader-centered link structures for hypertext books." Thesis, Queen Mary, University of London, 1996. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.338728.
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Peters, Glen. "The evaluation of information technology projects." Thesis, Henley Business School, 1989. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.253488.
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Jones, Paul Andrew. "Automatic abstracting and indexing of technical documents : an approach based on concept selection." Thesis, Lancaster University, 1995. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.282380.
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Stokes, Christopher Anthony. "Information societies in formation : making information-society strategies." Thesis, Lancaster University, 1999. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.322863.
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Jang, Seungkwon. "Information and programming : strong and weak thinking in information technology." Thesis, Lancaster University, 1994. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.358922.
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Wright, Anthony. "Some alternative scenarios for electronic text media and a later re-assessment." Thesis, Brunel University, 1990. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.292382.
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Fischer, Detlev. "A theory of presentation and its implications for the design of on-line technical documentation." Thesis, Coventry University, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.360223.
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Eve, Matthew. "A history of illustrated children's books and book production in Britain during the Second World War." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2003. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.275721.
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Bland, Mark. "Johnson, Stansby and english typography 1579-1623." Thesis, University of Oxford, 1995. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.319114.
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Skelton, Matthew. "Some aspects of the cultural and publishing politics of H.G. Wells, 1895-1920." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2000. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.365490.
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Soto, Susana. "Information in dentistry : patterns of communication and use." Thesis, University of Sheffield, 1992. http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/2955/.
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The aim of the present study is to develop an explanation of the information seeking behaviour of dental professionals that relates the three main instances of this behaviour (users, their information needs, use of information sources) in a meaningful way. The research looks into the information-seeking behaviour of one of the less investigated groups of health practitioners and it does so from a qualitative point of view, using data collected by means of semi-structured interviews. 110 dental professionals were interviewed between May 1989 and June 1990. The interviewees were dental professionals in Sheffield District Health Authority (postgraduate students; academic staff; community service dentists; hospital staff and general dental practitioners). A coding paradigm based on grounded theory was applied to analyze their replies. This basic paradigm explains the information-seeking behaviour of dental professionals in terms of 'conditions' that provoke seeking information; 'strategies' implemented to seek information; 'interactions' the ways in which information sources are used. The conditions for their information needs are created by their clinical tasks (diagnosis, treatment and delivery of dentistry) or their academic tasks (teaching and lecturing, research and publications). Dental professionals apply six basic strategies for seeking information: Reading, Talking, Enquiring, Attending/organizing continuing education events, Watching and Using the library. Each of these strategies is associated with the use of certain information sources: Reading with written/printed literature, Talking with colleagues, Enquiring with individuals from other occupations or professions, Attending... with courses and conferences, Watching with audiovisual materials and Using the library with the use of printed literature via a library service. While the strategies are common to every subgroup in the study, the actual patterns of information-seeking vary from subgroup to subgroup because the strategies are implemented in different ways by each of them. The reason for this variation is determined by the particular combination of clinical and academic tasks of each subgroup. The findings - apart from describing how a representative group of dental professionals uses a variety of information sources - have several implications for library and information services, computer applications, dental training and further research in health care user studies.
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Rait, Satwant K. "Reading and information needs of elderly Punjabis." Thesis, Loughborough University, 1993. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/12438.
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A survey investigating the reading and information needs of elderly Punjabis was conducted in Bradford and Derbyshire. A questionnaire was prepared which was used as a structured interview. 120 interviews were recorded, 60 from each authority. This number included Hindus, Moslems and Sikhs and the generic term 'Punjabi' was used for these three distinct religious groups. Women were also included in this survey to see if they have any different requirements from men. Reading and information material included print and nonprint material. This research presents the actual needs of elderly Punjabis as they perceive them. A special collection could easily be prepared on the basis of the material quoted by them in their interviews which would be helpful for any library authority with few adaptations according to their local needs. Social, economic and cultural factors influencing their reading behaviour and pattern are also discussed.
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Qureshi, Sajda Shaheen. "Organisations and networks : theoretical considerations and a case study of networking across organisations." Thesis, London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London), 1995. http://etheses.lse.ac.uk/1674/.
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This dissertation considers the rise of new and emergent organisational forms characterised as networks. The work presents an analysis of the underlying themes that motivate such developments by drawing upon modern models of organisation together with contemporary perspectives on information systems. A network is seen as interlinked work processes supported by communication technologies; work processes which, in particular, can transcend space and time and enable team based approaches. The characteristics that might distinguish the network are set out in terms of technology, the nature of the work process, and approaches to traditional organisational functions. Associations of individuals, institutions and groups of people and institutions; and societal considerations affecting inter-governmental and regional developments are also considered. An analysis of these characteristics is presented within a layered model and further developed by the use of tools and techniques drawn from social network analysis. A detailed case study is presented using this theoretical approach. The case examined is the Commonwealth Network of Information Technology for Development (COMNET-IT). This is an initiative of the Commonwealth aimed at bringing together expertise and organisations from around the world to coordinate their efforts in utilising information technology in pursuit of development goals. The focus of COMNET-IT's activities is on adding value to the work of a group of geographically dispersed experts through the utilisation of electronic networks. The study provides a detailed theoretical analysis of the network phenomenon. Using structuration theory and social network analysis, this research provides insights into processes of network formation and evolution, network structure and the behaviour of network participants. The processes of appropriation of technology are observed and analyzed, and this work is supported by detailed empirical research investigating electronic group meetings.
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Marche, Myron Murray. "Models of information : the feasibility of measuring the stability of data models." Thesis, London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London), 1991. http://etheses.lse.ac.uk/1260/.
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The theory of data modelling makes a variety of claims about schema stability. This research determined the current state of data modelling practice, and tested hypotheses related to measuring model stability. The research developed a method whereby the major elements of a data model can be consistently represented whatever process was originally used for modelling. This was achieved through a construction of a logical relational schema from the record design. The construction/reconstruction process attempted to identify the primary meaning primitives of a data model in order to track changes to them in different iterations of the application. The stability data collection process was applied to a case study followed by a series of models to generate further data. The early evidence indicated that data model instability has it roots in errors in modelling, errors in the semantic analysis whether done consciously or intuitively, and in changes to the requirements brought on by changes to the "reality". This research suggested that some of the elements of a data model are significantly more important than others. The research documented problems associated with the transformation of natural language into the constraints of data dictionaries. This exploration into the potential application of linguistic research into systems theory and practice identified a number of theoretically interesting problems, such as variable semantic determination. The discussion outlined some specific techniques an analyst can use to improve the process of semantic analysis. The work suggested that there should be greater concentration on the question of data model evolvability, and the appropriate preservation of meaning across model versions, and not necessarily on data model stability.
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Gibson, Nicola. "Measuring the quality of patient data with particular reference to data accuracy." Thesis, Keele University, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.363751.
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Health Authorities receive vast quantities of data from providers relating to patients treated. Ibis data is used to survey the health of the resident population and to determine future healthcare services. It is therefore essential that the quality of this data is measured. North Staffordshire Health Authority already monitor, to a certain extent, the quality of data received. However, accuracy is one attribute of quality not monitored. This thesis proposes a method to measure the accuracy of patient data, in particular clinical coding. The traditional method of measuring accuracy determines whether a data item is correct or incorrect. The definition of accuracy, however, is the measure of agreement with an identified source. The proposed measure ranks incorrect clinical codes by their level of inaccuracy. Concepts from measurement theory are used to ensure that this measure adhered to the rules of the theory. This alternative method of measuring data accuracy was tested on a sample of inpatient data. From the results, the most appropriate way to analyse clinical data whilst still maintaining a level of accuracy satisfactory for the intended information purposes could be identified. Managers at North Staffordshire Health Authority were surveyed for their views on the usefulness of this alternative method of measuring data accuracy compared with the traditional method. Auditing a sample of data like this does not help to prevent errors occurring. Therefore, to identify how data accuracy could be improved in the long term, the source of the errors were discovered by examining the data life cycle.
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Williamson, Matthew J. "The public library and social inclusion : information services to jobseekers." Thesis, University of Brighton, 1998. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.287127.
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The principle that libraries have a role to play in the provision of information for jobseekers is recognised widely in public library authorities across the country, not only by the authorities themselves, but also by other bodies concerned with jobseekers. However, the range and variety of initiatives is capable of generating confusion among jobseekers. The library is well placed to act as a focus for information for jobseekers - information that comes from a variety of institutions and initiatives and is not only confined to vacancies. This thus poses three questions which the research attempts to answer :- - is the library at the focus? - is the library seen to be at the focus? - if not, why not - if so, how does it make it work? This project approaches these questions by contributing to the current national debates as to the future development of information agencies, policies and initiatives through the interviews with Job Centre clients, a group whose views in this area have never before been canvassed and who, therefore, offer a new perspective on the issues. This debate has raised the potential of the public library network as an agent of social and economic regeneration, a role of the public library previously accepted within the service, but rarely without. The thesis demonstrates the interface between the social and economic potential of the public library and the needs and demands of the 'information poor', as well as highlighting the importance of the recreational role of the Public Library. The methods used to answer these questions were threefold. Firstly, a survey was carried out of all public library authorities in England and Wales. Of the surveys distributed, 82% were completed, an excellent rate of response. It is clear from this survey that the overwhelming majority of public library authorities feel that it is their role to provide services for jobseekers. The survey also shows that many authorities provide a wide range of non-statutory services. This provision of the "newer" technologies is important for jobseekers as they are generally unable to afford to purchase such technology. The survey also indicated that the view of jobseekers held by public library authorities was an inclusive one, and covered those both in and out of work. Secondly, case-study authorities were chosen from the respondents to the questionnaire. These were selected on the basis of declared level of provision, and also on type of authority. Four case studies were selected, one County Council (Wiltshire), two Urban Authorities (Lewisham and Manchester) and one Welsh Authority (Wrexham). The selection was carried out thus in order to reflect the preponderance of Urban Authorities in the respondents to the original survey. These case studies have investigated the demographics, control and profile of the authorities involved. Managers and staff of library authorities were interviewed about provision and provision was viewed on site and assessed with reference to other case studies and two models of provision, the 'integrative' and the 'targeted' were identified. Thirdly, interviews were undertaken with clients of Job Centres in the case-study authorities. Ninety-four interviews were carried out across the four authorities. These interviews investigated jobseekers use of both the public library and other information providers in this area, and also assessed jobseekers' attitudes towards the public library. The survey showed that almost 70% of those interviewed used the public library, with 48% of these using the library at least once a month. Just over half of the respondents said that the Public library was for everyone and should provide useful information for jobseekers. Only 16% said that the library was not the place for jobseekers to obtain information. When asked if they would use the Public Library if it advertised services useful to jobseekers, 94% said that they would. This empirical work has been placed within a theoretical framework based on the work of Jiirgen Habermas. The public library is "arguably the nearest thing we have in Britain to an achieved Public Sphere" (Webster 1995) and this research enables the conception of the Public Library as an achieved Public Sphere to be reassessed and, therefore, the role of the public library to be reconceptualised.
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Tan, Thiam Chu. "The development of an intelligent conceptual information storage and retrieval system." Thesis, University of Sunderland, 1993. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.358839.
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