Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Library catalogs Use studies'
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Park, Il-jong. "Evaluation by Korean students of major online public access catalogs in selected academic libraries." Thesis, University of North Texas, 1994. http://catalog.hathitrust.org/api/volumes/oclc/33376824.html.
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Leung, Chun-keung, and 梁振強. "Browse or search?: a behavioral study of library catalogue users." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2004. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B29960630.
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Creel, Stacy. "Are Online Catalogs for Children Giving Them What They Need? Children's Cognitive Development and Information Seeking and Their Impact on Design." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2007. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3984/.
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Research shows children in an online environment often search by browsing, which relies heavily on recognition and content knowledge, so catalog systems for children must use effective symbols or pictorial representations, which correspond with children's own cognitive schema and level of recognition knowledge. This study was designed to look at the success of young children (ages 5 to 8) in searching 3 online public library catalogs designed for them, and it focused specifically on the pictorial representations and text descriptors used in the systems' browsing hierarchy. The research sought answer whether young children (ages 5 to 8) are really poor searchers because of cognitive development and lack of technology skills or if system design is the major reason for poor search results; i.e., Do current children's online catalog designs function in a manner that is compatible with information seeking by children? Although these results can not be generalized, this study indicates that there was a disconnect between the cognitive abilities of young users and catalog design. The study looked at search success on the 3 catalogs in relation to the catalog characteristics and individual user characteristics and makes 3 significant contributions to the field of library and information science. The first contribution is the modification of an existing model posed by Cooper and O'Connor and modified by Abbas (2002). The second significant contribution is the proposal of a new model, Creel's second best choice (SBC) model, that addresses the cognitive gap and design flaws that impact the choices participants made. The third significant contribution is that this study addresses and fills a gap in the literature.
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Johansson, Lisa, and Tobiasson Sara A. "Att främja det oväntade : Serendipitet i digitala bibliotekskataloger." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för ABM, 2020. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-414069.
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Introduction. Studies have been conducted on serendipitous encounters in the physical library environment. In this study, we aimed instead to look at features in the online library catalog that can lead to serendipitous en-counters. The aim was also to see if libraries took active steps to promote serendipity in their online library cata-logs. Method. A heuristic evaluation of four online library catalogs was conducted. The set of heuristics used was based on previous research, with the aim of identifying facets of a serendipitous environment. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with librarians from three of the researched libraries. The results from the heuristic evaluation and the transcripts of the interviews formed the data for the analysis. Analysis. Thematic analyses were carried out on the data. The data from the heuristic evaluation and the interviews were analyzed and presented separately, leading up to a joint summary. Results. Most of the online library catalogs had features like "Similar items" and book recommendations, which can lead to serendipitous encounters. Librarians often experience a lack of influence over their online library catalogs. Librarians identified problems such as patrons expecting their online library catalog to function more like a web search engine, for example, Google Search. Conclusion. The online library catalogs have features that promote serendipitous encounters but we identified problems in how they are best designed. Using an integrated interface for the online library catalog and the library's website was one way to give the librarians more influence over their interface, which increased their likelihood to provide it with more information and content. We suggest further research with an extensive approach of serendi-pitous encounters not only in the online library catalog but also in other digital library environments such as web-sites, social media, blogs and apps. This is a two years master’s thesis in Library and Information Science.
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Wall, Terry K. "Studies on frequency distributions of recorded use for students using academic library collections." Thesis, Loughborough University, 1987. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/10938.
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Frequency distributions of recorded use for students using academic libraries were analysed using statistical models not previously employed for the purpose. The suitability of the data for such analysis is discussed. Evidence suggested that frequency distributions of recorded library use reflected real differences in amounts of library use by users. A computer simulation of library use by students was used to investigate the effects of competition among users upon distributions of use. Negative binomial probability distributions were found to reproduce some of the observed patterns of user activity, but were rejected on grounds of fit and applicability. Other two and three-parameter probability distributions were considered. A novel modification of the negative binomial distribution (being a Neyman Type A-gamma distribution instead of a Poisson-gamma distribution) gave good fit to frequency distributions of recorded use from various libraries. The fitted parameters appeared to be related to statistics of use for the observed populations, but the diversity observed in reality among users was clearly simplified in a stochastic model with only three parameters. In the second part of the study, methods of using the model were explored. Given stability in two of the three parameters, the model could be scaled with time to predict future frequency distributions. The extrapolation of numbers of non-users from one set of data is described. The effect upon the uptake of titles from a library collection of distributions of activity among students was also considered. By simplifying the model, relationships between the mean use by a group of users and maximum amounts of use by individuals, and between numbers of uses and numbers of titles used are suggested. A key factor in relating user activity to uptake is the extent to which users diversify in their use of titles.
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Harrell, Charles B. "The Use of an Academic Library by University Students." Thesis, North Texas State University, 1988. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc279070/.
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Academic librarians have for a number of decades been interested in understanding more about how and why students use libraries. This study contributes to that area of library administration by focusing on nine factors thought to be associated with student use of academic libraries.
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Xia, Hong. "Library CD-ROM LAN Performance and Patron Use: a Computer Simulation Model." Thesis, University of North Texas, 1996. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc279383/.
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In this study, a computer simulation model for library CD-ROM LAN systems was created. Using this model, the system optimization problems were examined. The simulation model imitated the process of the actual decision variables changing their values and generated the corresponding results. Under a certain system environment, if the values of decision variables are changing, the system performances are getting changed also. This study investigated these relationships with the created model. The system users' interarrival time, service time, and other relevant data were collected on randomly selected days in a university library. For data collection, both of the observation and the system automatic metering software were used. According to the collected data, a discrete events simulation model was created with GPSS/H. The simulation model was proven valid and accurate by a pilot test and by the calculation with queuing theory. Statistical tests were used for data comparison and analysis. In addition, animation technique was used to show the simulation process by using Proof Animation. By this technique, the simulation process was monitored on the screen.
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Smith, Marvin LaVerne. "Relative use of libraries by students perceived advantages and deficiences [sic] of the T.J. Jones Memorial Library /." Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN), 1985. http://www.tren.com.
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Thornton, Rian. "An evaluation of the attitudes of public library staff to the use of information and communication technologies." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8074.
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Includes bibliographical references (p. 122-129).This thesis explores the attitudes of public library staff of the Cape Town Administration library Service in 2005 to information and communication technologies (ICTs). This inquiry was appropriate because free Internet access was in the process of being rolledout to public libraries in the Western Cape, and library management was considering investing in a new library management system (LMS). The two systems investigated were the Internet and the BookPlus LMS. The survey instrument was a hardcopy questionnaire, which incorporated an amended version of a well-established technology acceptance model, and was designed to allow for both quantitative and qualitative data to be collected. Analysis of the results suggest that librarians' attitude to ICTs was generally positive. Concerns were raised about both systems, mainly due to their unique characteristics, service history and the manner in which the systems had been implemented. Quantitative results indicated that staff attitudes towards the use of both systems were strongly related to staff perception of the usefulness of the system. The insights obtained from the results of both systems suggest that an understanding of staff attitudes towards ICTs can positively inform implementation strategies and improve user adoption of new technologies.
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Dolo-Ndlwana, Nomambulu. "Use and value of library's electronic resources by academics and postgraduate students at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/10336.
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Includes bibliographical references.As libraries are in the transition of moving from print to electronic resources, the purpose of the study was to investigate the use and value of library's e-resources by academics and postgraduates at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). There is evidence from previous studies that today's users have their information needs met via a number of options. They need not physically come to the library; they can stay at home or at their offices to access e-resources. The study focused on the use and value of the library's e-resources in two departments (Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering and Mechanical Engineering) in the Faculty of Engineering. The main aim was to determine whether academics and postgraduates use e-resources, the purpose for which they used e-resources in the process of teaching, learning and research, the extent to which they were aware of the e-resources, the value they regarded as the benefit from using e-resources and the problems they encountered in their use of e-resources. The study population consisted of 251 academics and postgraduates. A questionnaire was used as data collection instrument. The questionnaire was distributed to 82 academics, 135 MTech and 34 DTech students. The results of the study are based on the data from 60 returned questionnaires from academics and postgraduates. The study found that the majority of the respondents used e-resources, but a few respondents did not use e-resources because they were not aware of them. Respondents who used e-resources used them for a variety of purposes, including gathering information for a specific topic; doing literature reviews, getting answers to specific questions, and gaining general information. The study also encountered respondents who had problems when using e-resources. These problems included internet connections, slow downloading of articles; time constraints and the need for training in the use of e-resources. The majority of respondents from the study thought that they benefited from using the library's e-resources.
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Sikazwe, Dennis. "An assessment of knowledge use and knowledge management maturity among the micro, small and meduim enterprise sector in Zambia." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13919.
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The focus of this study was to establish the knowledge use and Knowledge Management (KM) maturity among the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Sector in Zambia. This is a domain that has received little attention in the Zambian business and economics literature, partially because of the newness of KM as a business concept. Knowledge Management is a very important aspect as far as innovation and competitiveness are concerned in the knowledge economy. Since the inception of the open market economy in Zambia in 1992 and the move to diversify Zambia's national economy from state control into private hands, the MSMEs still seem to be struggling with lack of innovation and competitiveness. Despite several attempts to boost the sector's viability, little success has been recorded.
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Carman, Nicholas. "LibraryThing tags and Library of Congress Subject Headings a comparison of science fiction and fantasy works : submitted to the School of Information Management, Victoria University of Wellington in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Library and Information Studies /." ResearchArchive@Victoria e-Thesis, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10063/1272.
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Masango, Charles Akwe. "User preferences in the use of Law Library collections : a case study of the Brand van Zyl Law Library of the University of Cape Town." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 1997. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13397.
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Bibliography: leaves 129-134.Law libraries are specialised libraries consisting primarily of printed and electronic legal literature which assist their patrons in legal research and the teaching of law. The use of the law library by the entire university often causes concern on the part of the legal patrons and staff who use and manage the library and its collection. This dissertation investigates the nature and purpose of the law library of the University of Cape Town, with a view to establishing patterns of use and revealing the problems encountered by patrons and members of staff in the use of this library and its collections. In the investigation, two types of questionnaires were prepared and administered to the patrons and members of staff of this library in order to establish their library usage and preferences. The researcher undertook the quantitative approach since the qualitative approach in the form of interviews and observations had earlier been effectuated by the researcher during his internship in this library. In the investigation during which a total number (60) of students, academics (14) and four members of staff responded, it was revealed that the patrons encounter problems of space, noise and movements. The members of staff noted inter alia that in addition to the problems of space, noise and movements, there were also problems of mutilation of the library's materials (underlining passages and tearing pages) and of the deliberate mis-shelving of materials. In the light of these identified problems, this dissertation makes a number of recommendations designed to alleviate the problems experienced by the respondents.
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Sehuhula-Mooketsi, Bojelo. "An analysis of school library use in Government Aided Community Junior Secondary Schools in Gaborone city and the Southern district in Botswana." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/10803.
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Bibliography: leaves 106-110.School libraries can have a significant impact on students' academic performance and the quality of learning. This thesis explores the factors surrounding school library use or non-use of school libraries in Government Aided Community Junior Secondary Schools (GACJSS) in Botswana. Background information pertaining to the quality of teaching and learning in GACJSS in Botswana is provided, highlighting policy statements towards the improvement of the quality of learning.
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Tandwa, Nobubele Lindela. "An investigation into the use of literacy materials by adult learners : a study of the education programmes in two Cape Town public libraries." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8073.
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Includes bibliographical references (leaves 130-143).The paper deals with the role of literacy materials in adult education in two Cape Town public libraries, namely Bellville South and Milnerton public libraries. Adult education is education that is provided to adult who lack basic education. It involves the teaching of writing, reading, calculation skills and developmental and functional skills such as income generation skills. Literacy programmes are supported by both teaching and reading materials that are usually made available in public libraries and literacy classes. The objectives of the study were to investigate the availability of locally produced literacy materials for use in literacy programmes in public libraries, the types and features of these materials and the suitability of literacy materials in acquisition of literacy skills. Milnerton and Bellville South public libraries were used as case studies because they had literacy programmes and literacy materials in their libraries. The Stikland Learning Centre was also included because it was partly managed by the Bellville South librarian. The enrolled learners in these literacy programmes, facilitators, librarians and providers were interviewed using face to face interviews. Publishers, (Viva Books. New Readers Project and Project literacy) were also interviewed. The study showed that both public libraries provided literacy programmes that aim to equip the learners with survival and functional skills. Although they also provided literacy materials to support and maintain the literacy skills, such materials were not sufficient in literacy classes because some learners did not have literacy materials in their classes. The available reading materials in public libraries also need to be adapted so that they can meet the educational and cultural needs of the users. The research also showed that there are two types of literacy materials, namely learning or instructional and reading or informational materials. Learning materials include study guides, manuals and worksheets. They are usually provided by the literacy providers and their main aims are to support the acquisition of literacy skills and they are also used for assessment purposes. Reading or informational materials are usually provided by the public libraries and they are used to maintain the newly acquired skills. The availability of these materials is important for the success of literacy programmes and to avoid relapse into illiteracy. These materials are published by various publishers such as New Readers Project (NRP), Viva Books. Project Literacy (literacy provider) and government departments such as the Department of Education. They are published in various South African languages. Both learning and reading materials were characterized with simple languages, colourful pictures and large fonts, aiming to equip learners with the developmental and survival skills that are based on their daily activities. The learners' daily activities included reading the bus/train schedule, writing CVs and job searching related skills, reading medical prescription and reading road signs. The use of either local languages or official language in these materials is determined by the needs of the learners and the language that is used in their literacy programmes.
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Thupe, Benjamin O. "Assessing information needs of users of the Career Information Centre (CIC), UCT : working towards a framework for promoting better use of career services, in particular, resources in the CIC." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7954.
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Includes bibliography.This study is an assessment of the career information needs of users of the Career Information Centre (CIC), at the University of Cape Town. The study was conducted because it was clear to the CIC staff that the CIC was under-utilised by the student community. A thorough investigation of the literature on career needs and needs assessment was conducted in order to get an overview of issues that would characterise the study.
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Smith, Marvin LaVerne. "Relative use libraries by students perceived advantages and deficiencies of the T.J. Jones Memorial Library /." Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN), 1985. http://www.tren.com.
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Solling, Daniel. "Handskriftskatalogisering inpå livet : En undersökning av de kategorier som används vid stambokskatalogisering." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för ABM, 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-323807.
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The purpose of this study is to investigate if three scientific articles concerning the cataloguing of alba amicorum written in the 1980’s and early 1990’s had any influence on the cataloguing of alba amicorum. Another purpose is to investigate the similarities and differences between the catalogues from the late 1980’s and onward. The focus lies on the categories used when cataloguing the alba. Alba amicorum are catalogued on two levels: on a general level, i.e. the album as a whole is catalogued and in addition all the inscriptions in the album are cata-logued separately, the so-called leaf cataloguing. The study uses a comparative method. First the three scientific articles are compared with each other, then nine catalogues of alba amicorum from 1988 and onward, five printed and four online ones, are investigated regarding which categories are used respectively not used in the different catalogues. Then the categories pro-posed in the scientific articles are compared with the ones used in the catalogues. One result of the study is that the differences in the cataloguing on the general level between the printed catalogues are small but that the variation is larger amongst the online ones. The same patterns cannot be seen regarding the leaf cataloguing; here the variation between the catalogues is generally somewhat larger but the most central categories can be found in all catalogues. Another result is that some of the categories in the cata-logues reflect the printed or online form of the catalogue. The study shows that it is hard to define exactly which influence the scientific articles had on the catalogues but that it probably hasn’t been that large. Many of the categories occurring in the catalogues have been used when cataloguing alba amicorum since the early 1900’s. Maybe one could say that the alba themselves are con-stituted in such a way that it is more or less natural which categories should be used when cataloguing them. This is a two years master’s thesis in Archive, Library and Museum studies.
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Lawal, Victoria. "Aspects of information literacy with regards to the use of legal resources : case study of third year undergraduate law students of the University of Cape Town, South Africa and University of Jos, Nigeria." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8937.
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Includes bibliographical references (leaves 182-213).The study explores the relevance of information literacy in the context of legal education specifically as it affects issues on the conduct of the legal research skills of undergraduate students as well as the need for its integration into the curriculum of legal education. A review of the literature shows that little research has been undertaken in the field of legal information literacy in contrast to many other academic areas; indications from the literature reveal that there is a skills deficiency among undergraduate law students in many countries which suggest that many are ill prepared for the workplace. This situation also applies to law undergraduates in higher education institutions in Africa particularly Nigeria. The peculiar structure of legal information resources and the distinctive ways in which legal information is both evaluated and used suggest that legal information resources possess special characteristics that would need to be examined carefully in order to design information literacy programmes suitable for the profession. The scope of the study is limited to a comparative analysis of the information literacy skills of undergraduate law students of the University of Cape Town, South Africa and University of Jos, Nigeria; data was collected from both institutions from which comparisons were drawn. Findings from the study have revealed the difficulties experienced by students in the process of legal research and emphasised the importance of recognising the unique information structure of legal resources in developing an appropriate pedagogical model for integrating information literacy to the curricula of legal education particularly in higher education institutions. The study presents a uniquely African perspective on the challenges of integrating information literacy within the curriculum of legal education by providing insights into the needs and challenges for graduate requirement and productivity in higher education institutions in Africa.
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Juth, Pontus. ""En strukturerad soptunna" : samordning av digitala kataloger och system på svenska bibliotek." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för ABM, 2016. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-306437.
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Sedan digitala bibliotekskataloger först introducerades i slutet av 60-talet och början av 70-talet har det funnits två skilda källor för metadata för bibliotek i Sverige. Å ena sidan Libris, utvecklad och använd av framför allt KB och forskningsbiblioteken, och å andra sidan Burk för folkbiblioteken. Nästan lika länge har det gjorts försök att skapa en gemensam, nationell katalog för alla svenska bibliotek, men trots alla ansträngningar, innefattande ett flertal direkt från regeringen, råder fortfarande det tvådelade systemet. Denna intervjustudie har till syfte att undersöka attityder hos anställda från olika delar av bibliotekssektorn i denna fråga. Även frågor om bibliotekssystem diskuteras. Det förefaller finnas stor enighet bland informanterna om att den bristande samordningen av katalogdata faktiskt är ett problem, men det råder delade meningar om vad som borde göras åt saken, och vem som borde göra det. Studien analyseras och sätts i ett sammanhang utifrån debatten om digital upphovsrätt i allmänhet och Tarleton Gillespies teorier i synnerhet. Slutsatser som dras är att samordning skulle underlättas om biblioteken använde sig av öppna data och öppen källkod, vilket skulle peka på Libris som källa för metadata och open source-bibliotekssystem som Koha. De bibliotek som har samordningsuppdrag, regionbiblioteken och KB, skulle behöva ta ett större ansvar för att samordning ska kunna komma till stånd. Om dessa förslag blev verklighet skulle leverantörerna behöva anpassa sina affärsmodeller för att kunna erbjuda data under öppna licenser.Ever since digital library catalogues were first introduced in the late sixties and early seventies, there have been two separate metadata repositories for libraries in Sweden. On the one hand there is the Libris catalogue, developed and used mainly by the national library and the university libraries, and on the other hand there is the Burk catalogue for the local public libraries. For almost as long, attempts have been made to create a single, national catalogue for all Swedish libraries, but despite all efforts, including several government bills explicitly stating that this need to happen, the dual catalogue system prevails to this day. This interview study aims to find the opinions of people from different sectors of the library field on this matter. Views on integrated library systems are also debated. There seems to be great consensus among the interviewees that there is, in fact, a problem with lack of coordination of catalogues, but there is less agreement as to what should be done about it, and by whom. The study is analyzed and contextualized utilizing the debate on digital copyright in general and the theories of Tarleton Gillespie in particular. It is concluded that cooperation would be facilitated if libraries made use of open data and open source, which would suggest Libris as metadata repository and open source library systems such as Koha for ILS. Libraries assigned with interlibrary coordination, i.e. the regional and the national libraries, would have to take on a greater responsibility than the local libraries to implement these cooperations. Vendors serving libraries would have to adjust their business models if these proposals were to become reality to offer data under open licenses.
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Mapulanga, Patrick Makono. "Knowledge translation of health research findings at the University of Malawi and its relevance in health policy formulation in Malawi: a study in developing a communication and dissemination strategy to facilitate the use of health research evidence." Doctoral thesis, University of Cape Town, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/29810.
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Findings from health research ought to play a role in informing health policy formulation. Over the years much health research has been conducted both in developing and developed countries. However, little is known on how health research has informed health policy formulation. The study sought to review health research findings at the University of Malawi’s College of Medicine and Kamuzu College of Nursing and health policies of the Ministry of Health in Malawi, and based on the results, develop a communication and dissemination strategy as indicated by the study objectives. The study focused on exploring the extent of research use in policy formulation by evaluating sampled policies. It established from both researchers and policy makers their views regarding communication of research findings to policy makers, and how the two work together during conceptualisation, carrying out research and disseminating the findings. It sought to identify ways that the translation of research findings into policy formulation could be facilitated. The study is informed by the Knowledge Translation theoretical framework. It adopted the pragmatism philosophical paradigm which advocates for 'what works’. The convergent parallel mixed method strategy was used to gather both qualitative and quantitative data for the study. The population of the study comprised of researchers and academics at the University of Malawi, health research partners in Malawi and directors at the Ministry of Health in Malawi. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected through self-administered questionnaires (246 academics and researchers), semi-structured interviews (17 directors from the Ministry of Health and relevant research institutes), a self-administered self-assessment tool (10 purposively selected directors from the Ministry of Health and from research institutes) and a health policy assessment tool. Qualitative data was analysed through content analysis while quantitative data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for both descriptive and inferential analysis. The data were supplemented with a search strategy through Scopus. The findings revealed that health researchers rarely interact with policy makers. Health researchers prefer publishing in journals, attending conferences and informally interacting with policy and decision makers. Policy makers rely on the use of Internet, reviews of previous policies, internal evaluations, data from the national statistical office, registries and information centres at the ministries for policy information. However, the study revealed in designing the communication and dissemination strategy based on 'what works’, that researchers work in research groups while policy makers work in technical work groups. The interaction between researchers and policy makers in the technical working groups informs the transfer of health research into policy-making. The study makes contributions to theory, practice and policy formulation. In terms of contribution towards the KTA framework, the study examined forms of formal interaction that may result in the transfer of health research information into policy and practice. The study indicates that formal interaction in the technical expert groups is one of such interactions that would facilitate the use of health research evidence in policy formulation. In terms of practice, the study recommends that there should be deliberate efforts by researchers in the research groups and policy makers at the technical working groups to formally engage each other. In terms of policy formulation, the study recommends that a proper interaction framework needs to be put in place for formal interactions between health researchers working in their research work groups and policy makers in the technical working groups.
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Drake, Betty S. (Betty Sue). "Relationships of Selected Factors to Library Use and Attitudes Among Students in a College of Business Administration." Thesis, North Texas State University, 1985. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc279177/.
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This study was an inquiry into the use of the library and attitudes toward librarians and libraries by 484 academic business majors. Data was collected by means of a questionnaire administered to a sample of all business majors at one university. Demographic and social status data, based on Hollingshead's categories, and responses to statements concerning library use, librarians, and libraries were analyzed by means of the Kolmorogov-Smirnov Test, the Median Test and Spearman correlation coefficients.
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Bean, Carol. "Meeting the Challenge: Training an Aging Population to Use Computers." Southeastern Library Association, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/106048.
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Older adults present a special challenge to libraries offering computer training. Many of those seeking training have little, if any, prior experience with the concepts and skills necessary to use computers, yet their ability to learn those concepts and skills is hampered by the aging process. This article summarizes the factors in aging which most affect learning computer skills, and how those factors can be mitigated.
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Rahman, Faizur. "An exploratory study of factors that influence student user success in an academic digital library." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2007. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc5127/.
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The complex nature of digital libraries calls for appropriate models to study user success. Calls have been made to incorporate into these models factors that capture the interplay between people, organizations, and technology. In order to address this, two research questions were formulated: (1) To what extent does the comprehensive digital library user success model (DLUS), based on a combination of the EUCS and flow models, describe overall user success in a prototype digital library environment; and (2) To what extent does a combined model of DeLone & McLean's reformulated information system success model and comprehensive digital library user success model (DLUS) explain digital library user success in a prototype digital library environment? Participants were asked to complete an online survey questionnaire. A total of 160 completed and useable questionnaires were obtained. Data analyses through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and structural equation modeling produced results that support the two models. However, some relationships between latent variables hypothesized in the model were not confirmed. A modified version of the proposed comprehensive plus user success model in a digital library environment was tested and supported through model fit statistics. This model was recommended as a possible alternative model of user success. The dissertation also makes a number of recommendations for future research.
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Strickler, Matthew J. "Assessing the Impacts of Land use Change on Hard Clam Aquaculture in Old Plantation Creek, Northampton County, Virginia." W&M ScholarWorks, 2007. http://www.vims.edu/library/Theses/Strickler07.pdf.
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Marumo, Tshipinare Renard. "A survey of the information seeking behaviour of the dental faculty lecturers and students at the University of the Western Cape's Oral Health Centre Library, in Mitchell's Plain." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2000. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=etd&action=viewtitle&id=gen8Srv25Nme4_8949_1213362632.
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McSwiney, Carolyn M(Carolyn Mary) 1942. "Internationalisation of the university implications for the academic library." Monash University, School of Information Management and Systems, 2001. http://arrow.monash.edu.au/hdl/1959.1/9301.
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Bogel, Gayle. "Diffusion across the digital divide: Assessing use of the Connecticut Digital Library (ICONN) in K-12 schools in Connecticut." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2008. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc12085/.
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State digital libraries are manifestations of the diffusion of technology that has provided both access to and delivery of digital content. Whether the content is being accessed and used equitably in K-12 schools has not been assessed. Determining patterns of the diffusion of use across socioeconomic groups in K-12 schools may help measure the success of existing efforts to provide equitable access and use of digital content, and help guide policies and implementation to more effectively address remaining disparities. This study examined use of the Connecticut Digital Library (ICONN) in K-12 schools in Connecticut by determining annual patterns of use per school/district over a four-year period, using transaction log search statistics. The data were analyzed in the paradigm that Rogers (2003) describes as the first and second dimensions of the consequences of an innovation - the overall growth and the equality of the diffusion to individuals within an intended audience --- in this case, students in K-12 schools. Data were compared by school district and the established socioeconomic District Reference Groups (DRGs) defined by the Connecticut State Board of Education. At the time of this study, ICONN used aggregate data (total searches) for K-12 schools, but did not have relevant data on diffusion within the public schools in Connecticut related to district or DRGs.
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Jansson, Camilla. ""Alla pratar om UX nu..." : En kvalitativ studie av UX på två högskolebibliotek." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för ABM, 2018. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-353698.
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The aim of this thesis is to examine how library employees view and work with UX or User Experience. It also examines how they view library users, the library and their own professional roles and how these views are connected with the concepts of documentality, legitimacy and identity. The concept of power is also used. The study was carried out thorough a series of ten semi-structured qualitative interviews with employees at Karolinska Institutet University Library and Linköping University Library and is based on a social constructivist perspective. The results show that UX is viewed as a mindset where one tries to look at the library from the users’ perspectives and adapt the library after their needs. This was seen as a new perspective where the library aims to stand in the users’ shoes. Through the use of methods like interviews, observations and usability tests the informants try to understand their users and their needs. However, there was a strong emphasis on balancing the users’ wishes with the aims and conditions of the library which indicate a strong internal legitimacy. It also shows that UX does not indicate a loss of power in the informants’ minds. The study shows that an emphasis on the users’ perspective can also be linked to the core of librarianship further strengthening the internal legitimacy. The results also show that arguments can be made for the importance of both constitutive and performative documentality in academic libraries today. Among the informants there was a strong emphasis on a communicatively oriented professional identity with its focus om dialogue and cooperation with library users. In conclusion, the study shows that UX can be viewed as a way for academic libraries to cope with the many changes the last decades have brought and continue to be relevant in years to come. This is a two years master’s thesis in Library and Information Science.
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Foudray, Rita Catherine Schoch. "An Investigation of Differences in Public Library Usage Patterns Between Gifted Adults and Members of the General Public." Thesis, University of North Texas, 1989. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc935588/.
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The purpose of this research was to isolate the variable giftedness in a pipulation and determine whether that variable could be used as a predictor of public library use. The analysis of data indicated that public library use was higher for the general public than for the gifted adults. There was less variation among the factors of age, level of education, and public library use for the gifted adults than for the general public. Books as a resource for information were mentioned by the general adults public more frequently than by the gifted adults. Friends were listed more often as an information resource by the gifted population than by the public. Gifted adults both read and owned more books than did the general public. There was no correlation between amount of reading and number of library visits in either sample. 35 of the general public has a Library Usage Index Value of less than 4, 97 of the gifted adults did. There was almost no difference between the first ten information sources listen by both samples.
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Cross, Doug D. "Determining Standards for Sources of Free Information on the Internet for Inclusion in Academic Library Holdings by 2010." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2002. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/715.
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The purpose of this study was to develop a consensus from a panel of experts composed of library deans/directors, reference librarians, and instructors with online teaching experience. The panel developed the methodology necessary for evaluating free sources of information on the Internet for inclusion in academic library holdings by the year 2010. The following areas were explored as they related to the forecast: 1) The changes in higher education institutions that will be necessary to prepare students to deal with free sources of information on the Internet; 2) The procedures that librarians need to develop and implement to ensure that free Internet materials will meet quality standards for inclusion in academic library holdings; and 3) The things that publishers of free sources of information on the Internet need to do to ensure that their materials will be considered for inclusion in academic library holdings.
The Delphi panel was composed of 24 members: eight library deans/directors, eight reference librarians, and eight instructors with online teaching experience. The members of the panel were selected from the community colleges of the Tennessee Board of Regents System.
In the first round of the study, panelists responded to 10 open-ended questions on an e-mail questionnaire dealing with free sources of information on the Internet. The narrative responses to the questions were specific and provided a basis on which to develop the Round 2 Questionnaire. In the second round of the Delphi study, panelists responded to 9 questions with 42 subparts.
The results of this study may be used to project the information needs of students as well as suggest strategies for publishers on the basis of the data collected in this study. A major finding of the study was the need for reliable information in documents on the Internet. The Delphi panel also listed the lack of permanence of Internet sites as a major reason librarians do not use free sources of information on the Internet. The Delphi panel recommended that educators assist students in dealing with Internet materials by teaching them how to use critical thinking skills.
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Krikorian, Margaret. "Factors influencing academics' usage of electronic journals." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2004. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/786.
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Through a survey of academics at Edith Cowan University, Australia, this study explored their usage of and attitudes towards academic electronic journals (EJs). The data provided insights into the way academics were using EJs at the time of the study and their thoughts on how they will use them in the future. The emergence of academics publishing their work in EJs is a fairly recent phenomenon compared to the established tradition of publishing in paper-based journals. Many publishers have also begun to replace paper journals with electronic ones and many librarians have begun incorporating EJs into their resource collections. Librarians need to know their clients' attitudes towards new service delivery mechanisms and/or formats, such as replacing paper-based journals with EJs. The study's findings supported the earlier work of previous authors, indicating that while some academics were adapting EJs into their work practices, there remained a significant number who were strongly opposed to them. The study drew the following conclusions: I. At the time of the survey EJs were not wholly accepted by academics; 2. A group of committed enthusiasts existed who advocate EJs; 3. There was almost an equal number of academics who avidly preferred print journals, and were unlikely to change their preferences for the foreseeable future, perhaps for the rest of their career; 4. Most academics were not submitting articles to EJs, although more were open to doing so in the future; 5. Academics believe that publishing in EJs is given lower respect than publishing in paper-based journals; 6. Academics are troubled about historical access to EJ articles; 7. While academics are not using EJs fully they are normally aware of them; 8. Academics appear to have no time to obtain new skills such as using EJs, although there is a willingness to do so; 9. Academics are not inclined to have personal subscriptions to EJs; and 10. A minor number of academics cited EJs in their research however, a larger number thought their usage of them would increase in the future. Whatever the future of print journals or EJs may be, academic librarians need to continually assess how their clients will be able to gain access to archival information. Short-term access to bundled EJ titles may seem to be a panacea for stagnant or shrinking library budgets unable to keep up with escalating journal costs; however the true cost of abandoning paper journals in favour of EJs needs to be fully considered if the library is unable to maintain the future licensing costs of EJs.
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Holmquist, Kullin Emma. "För användarens bästa : En kvalitativ studie av UX-design och användarundervisning på högskolebibliotek." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för ABM, 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-448211.
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Introduction. The aim of this thesis is to investigate problems that users face when using a library discovery service, and determine which problems can be solved by UX design and which problems must be solved by information literacy teaching. A second aim is to examine how UX specialists and user instruction specialists cooperate and how these two specialties are shaped by each other and by the discovery service. Method. User problems were identified by analyzing documented reference questions from the library support chat. A survey based on the user problems was sent to UX specialists and user instruction specialists. The survey was followed by a focus group interview with the same participants. Survey data and transcripts of the focus group interview formed the data for analysis. Analysis. Qualitative analyses were carried out on the data. Theories on organizational structure and professional specialization formed the basis for analysis. Results. The results imply that UX design can be used to solve problems related to wayfinding and problems that can be solved by providing short on-screen instructions, while information literacy teaching can be used to solve problems that require a wide set of information literacy skills. Conclusion. Users’ successful use of the library discovery service requires information literacy teaching as well as continuous UX assessment and design. In the studied organization, UX specialists and user instruction specialists have found ways to cooperate in providing users with high quality services. For UX to be successful, a ”UX mindset” must be employed by all members of the organization. This is a two years master’s thesis in Library and Information Science.
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Loree, S. "Is Citation Analysis Worth It: A Comparison of the Usefulness of Local Citation Analysis, Interlibrary Loan Records and Usage Statistics for Collection Development Purposes in a Special Library." Thesis, School of Information and Library Science, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/1901/369.
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This study evaluates local citation analysis in comparison to interlibrary loan records and usage statistics as indicators for collection evaluation and development purposes in a special library setting as evidenced through a case study at the Environmental Protection Agency’s Main Library in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. More specifically, it examines how data gathered from these three tools compare as predictors for future trends in use of journals and as tools for developing parameters and guidelines for anticipatory collection development decisions in a scientific research library. Ultimately, citation analysis is the most successful in predicting the following year’s usage.
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Heed, Malva. "Information, makt och konspirationsteorier : En studie av informationskritiska användare." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för ABM, 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-237205.
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Purpose–This study has examined the information behaviour and perception of information in a group ofinformation users who have a critical approach to the media and the information supply. Some of them call themselvesor are being called conspiracy theorists. The purpose was to examine how their information behaviour is influenced by the belief that the information is biased or inaccurate and what the information behaviour looks like when the user searches for discrepancies rather than a response to a question. Method–The study is based on transcribed interviews and email responses to interview questions. The model used to analyze the source material is Christine Bruceʼs seven categories of information literacy as presented in Seven Faces of Information Literacy. The outcome is compared with other user studies. Subsequently, the source material has been studied through Michel Foucaultʼs discourse theory. Focus is on power, anti-discourses and institutions. Findings–The analyses have shown that the informants have a sufficiently uniform information behaviour to be studied as a user group. Their information behaviour is focused on different strategies for evaluating information and understanding courses of events. This behaviour is based on a critical approach to what is considered as "truth" in the discourse. Originality/value–The user group has not been studied before in LIS research. Paper type–This is a two years master’s thesis in library and information science in Archive, Library and Museum studies.
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Oliveira, Raquel da Silva. "Perfil dos usuários e uso dos acervos das bibliotecas dos Centros Educacionais Unificados – CEUs – São Paulo." Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, 2018. https://tede2.pucsp.br/handle/handle/21640.
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This work aimed to analyze the profile of the users, their literary choices and the possible increases that the creation of public libraries, in regions highly deprived of public cultural equipment, causes in the population of its surroundings, with support in the contributions of Bourdieu and Darbel (2003), primarily with regard to access to cultural assets and their relationship with the cultural capital of users. In order to do so, through a statistical series of statistical data of use, analyzed the increment of the use of the public libraries of the CEUs – Centro de Educação Unificado, from the City Hall of São Paulo, from 2006 to 2017. Created in this new project of school equipment, libraries were planned not only to serve it, but also to promote the use of the whole community around it in which practically the totality of the 46 units is located in neighborhoods of the urban periphery. As indicators of the users' profile and the use of the units, the data referring to age, sex and level of schooling were collected and organized in tables and graphs, crossing them with the type of literature they are looking for (children's literature, literature in general, books didactic and reference works). The main findings were: expressive growth of loans in the period, predominantly by white, female and with at least minimum elementary education
Este trabalho teve por objetivo analisar o perfil dos usuários, suas escolhas literárias e os possíveis incrementos que a criação de bibliotecas públicas, em regiões altamente carentes de equipamentos culturais públicos, causa na população de seu entorno, com apoio nas contribuições de Bourdieu e Darbel (2003), primordialmente no que se refere ao acesso a bens culturais e sua relação com o capital cultural dos usuários Para tanto, por meio de série histórica de dados estatísticos de uso, analisou o incremento da utilização das bibliotecas públicas da rede CEUs - Centros Educacionais Unificados, da Prefeitura Municipal de São Paulo, no período de 2006 a 2017. Criadas nesse novo projeto de equipamento escolar, as bibliotecas foram planejadas não só para servir a ele, como para favorecer o uso por toda a comunidade de seu entorno, na medida em que praticamente a totalidade das 46 unidades situa-se em bairros da periferia urbana. Como indicadores do perfil dos usuários e do uso das unidades foram levantados e organizados em tabelas e gráficos os dados referentes à idade, sexo, raça/cor e nível de escolaridade, cruzando-os com o tipo de literatura que procuram (literatura infantojuvenil, literatura geral, livros didáticos e obras de referência). Os principais achados foram: crescimento expressivo dos empréstimos no período, com predominância por usuários brancos, do sexo feminino e com, no mínimo e, no mínimo, com formação de ensino fundamental
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Taylor, Joyce Geneva. "Art exhibition catalogs an exploratory study of their accessibility to patrons in selected academic, museum, and art school libraries /." 1993. http://books.google.com/books?id=kv7gAAAAMAAJ.
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Corrado, Edward M. "Initial Articles in Library Catalog Title Searches: An Impediment to Information Retrieval." 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/106199.
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Initial articles have posed difficulty for end-users since the first online library catalogs. This study examines the way users search using left-anchored title searches for items that contain insignificant initial articles in a library catalog. It also investigates how users react when they do not find an item because their search phrase included an insignificant initial article. The results show that a considerable number of users do not find existing titles that have insignificant initial articles because their search strategy does not coincide with the way the Library Management System was designed to handle index and retrieve these titles. Suggestions for further research are offered.
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Snelson, Pamela. "Relationships between access and use in information systems remote access to and browsing of online catalogs /." 1993. http://books.google.com/books?id=W8zgAAAAMAAJ.
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Kim, Imsoon. "The attitudes of library patrons toward new library technology." 1994. http://books.google.com/books?id=GbjgAAAAMAAJ.
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Forde, Janet Lynch. "A study of reading and library use among Nobel laureates." 1996. http://books.google.com/books?id=c7rgAAAAMAAJ.
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Yeh, Yi-jun, and 葉怡君. "The New Immigrants Use Motivation And the Behavior in the Public Library Studies." Thesis, 2011. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/09136595961315298850.
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碩士輔仁大學
圖書資訊學系
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Abstract The main purpose of this study is to understand the new immigrants who obtain information in public libraries and to know those who use the library’s motivation and behavior. We hope our public library can give strength to serve the new immigrants and the gap of information between residents and new immigrants can make a balance. Research designs have contacted 13 Southeast Asian countries’ new immigrants and have made a semi-structured in-depth interviews to understand the behavior of the information, motivation, and the factors which affect the use of library. Supplemented by five public libraries on the national survey, collected the information which can provide the service for the new immigrants. Research shows that: 1. The new immigrants information needs are as following: literacy learning, computer courses, customs and cultures, and legal knowledge, four cognitive demands; Five physical and psychological aspects such as health information, cooking, work employment, family education, and recreation. 2. The new immigrants information seeking behavior is inclusive of : online search, visit the (local) library, depending on others’ help , participating in learning activities, finding data from bookstore or shop mall . 3. Source of information for new immigrants emphasize on interpersonal relationship, in particular rely on their spouses; other sources of information such as internet is also major source. 4. The new immigrants intrinsic motivation to use the library there are six included: self-fulfillment, understanding Chinese language, learning motivation, pleasure, interest, curiosity. 5. In addition to the extrinsic motivation of the new immigrants to use the library includes: compulsion scholarship, work requirements, raising children, social environment, filling the idle, going with family members. 6. Seven factors the greatly influence the new immigrants’ use of public libraries are as following: personal preferences, individual needs, learning relationship, free time, equipment, environment, social networking, quiet space. 7. The new immigrants’ obstruction to use the library includes: care for children and families, not used to the daily schedule, personal subjective ideas or habits, past experience, the phenomenon of physical barriers, economic pressures of work, lack of pursuit knowledge, not any information pipelines, and short of transportation facilities. 8. Our public libraries provide residents’ new services which main items are : new immigrants language collections, newspaper and periodicals. And promotional activities for “book reading” are majority. We have discussed the finding from the study, and then provide the following recommendations: (A) Learning from foreign successful multi-cultural service examples which can develop domestic public library to serve the new immigrants. (B) The library holds the topic discussion and organizes the professional training activities. (C) The public library can match with other organizations which related with the new immigrants service to promote reading activities together. For further research and recommendation, increase research subjects and school libraries are recommended.
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Xia, Hong. "Library CD-ROM LAN performance and patron use a computer simulation study /." 1996. http://catalog.hathitrust.org/api/volumes/oclc/36123654.html.
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Baker, Robert K. "Faculty attitudes towards student library use in a large urban community college." 1996. http://books.google.com/books?id=0LzgAAAAMAAJ.
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Thesis (Ed. D.)--Northern Arizona University, 1996."This study involved ... investigation at a single large multi-campus urban community college ... Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona."--Leaf 7. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 123-133).
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Bhim, Shanitha. "Adult user perceptions of library services provided by the Bessie Head Library in Pietermaritzburg, Msunduzi, KwaZulu-Natal." Thesis, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/3260.
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This study examined the quality of service provided by the Bessie Head Library from the perspective of the adult users of the library. The study assessed the adult users’ perceptions of the quality of service and determined the level of user satisfaction at the Bessie Head Library. The purpose of the study was to identify gaps in the library services and to measure the users’ perceptions of the quality of the collections, staff services and library facilities. The study population consisted of 200 registered adult library users. Of the 200 adults under study, 197 responded to the questionnaire, yielding a response rate of 98.5% chosen by means of a convenience sample. The LibQUAL+TM survey instrument that was used in this study was modified and adapted for use in a public library, as the majority of research using the LibQUAL instrument was undertaken in academic libraries. The instrument consisted of both open-ended and closed questions. The three dimensions of service quality, that is, access to information, staff services and library facilities, formed the core of the instrument. An interview schedule was used to elicit background information from the Library Manager and Principal Librarian, on issues of library services, collection development policy, funding and general library issues. The results from the questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS to determine the frequency of responses. These were presented in the form of tables and graphs. The interview results were analyzed qualitatively, using thematic content analysis. The results from this study indicate that there is a gap between users’ expectations and perceptions of service quality at the Bessie Head Library. The extent of the gap varies depending on the individual services. The users’ expectations were not in keeping with the actual experiences at the library, especially with regard to access to information, as users experienced problems with Internet access and the reference collection. The level of satisfaction varied among the different user categories and the findings revealed that the majority of adult users rated the overall quality of services as good and that the library is, to a
large extent, excelling in service provision. Based on the findings, recommendations were made to address problems presented in this study.Thesis (M.I.S.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.
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Naidu, Yegisthree. "User perceptions of service quality and the level of user satisfaction at the Mangosuthu University of technology library, Umlazi, Durban." Thesis, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/716.
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Magwaza, Fikile Petronella. "The use of the E.G. Malherbe Library, University of Natal (Durban), by non-University of Natal users." Thesis, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/3112.
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This study investigated the use of the E. G. Malherbe Library of the University of Natal, Durban (UNO), by non-registered users, with the aim of finding out who these users were, why they used the library, what resources and services they used and what questions they most often asked the subject librarians. The study focused on the E. G. Malherbe Library as it is the main library of the Durban campus and because of its frequent use by non-registered users. The tertiary system in South Africa was discussed to provide background information about
the operation of the University of Natal and its libraries. The University is a member of the Eastern Seaboard Association of Tertiary Institutions (ESATI), an organisation that promotes co-operation among tertiary institutions in KwaZulu-Natal. The academic libraries of the six institutions making up ESATI have formed the Eastern Seaboard Association of Academic Libraries (ESAL). The E.G. Malherbe Library is a member of ESAL. The University's membership of these organisations has implications for co-operation and the reciprocal use of libraries in the region. Literature dealing with the use of academic libraries by external users worldwide was examined to provide a wider context within which to view the present study. The survey method was used and questionnaires were distributed to non- registered users as they entered the Library. A self-selected sample of 149 users completed the questionnaire. A separate questionnaire was distributed to the total of three subject librarians of the E.G. Malherbe Library. The results revealed that most of the non-registered users were full-time students
registered at tertiary institutions in and around Durban, many of whom were members of ESAL. The majority of students involved in the study came from the University of Durban Westville, the University of Zululand, Technikon Natal, M.L. Sultan Technikon and Mangosuthu Technikon. Among the reasons students gave for using the library were that it had relevant materials for their needs, it provided them with a place to study, it was close to where they lived and the staff at the library were helpful. The materials used most frequently were books, followed by periodicals. Indications were given that the Library was better stocked than many other libraries in the area. From the types of questions asked and the assistance which was required from subject librarians, it was clear that these users had
deficient library use skills. The non-registered users benefited from the library's long opening hours but were unhappy about being excluded from borrowing privileges. Recommendations were made for improving the teaching of library use skills at tertiary institutions in the region and agreements regarding access for students to libraries which are members of ESAL need to be concluded speedily to normalise use.Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2001.
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Kibakaya, Naendwa Timothy. "The use and effectiveness of the East Africana collection in the provision of information and resources for teaching and research at the University of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania." Thesis, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/3667.
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This study investigated the use and effectiveness of the East Africana Collection in the provision of information and resource for teaching and research at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The East Africana Collection is mainly used as a source of obtaining information by students, lecturers and researchers in and off campus. The Collection's goal is to meet user needs and make available valuable materials and services for the purpose of supporting the learning, teaching and research needs of the University of Dar es Salaam community. Special collections in academic libraries especially in the so-called Third World countries have been suffering from financial constraints. The reduced government budget and the economic problems, have forced some special collections to operate ineffectively without any new incoming materials to supplement the old ones. The East Africana Collection of the University of Dar es Salaam Library which operates as a defacto national research collection in the country has also been affected by the government budget cut. In order to find out the use and effectiveness of the East Africana Collection in the provision of information and resource for teaching and research at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, a study sample consisting of 52 teaching and research staff was chosen from four faculties and three Institutes of the University of Dar es Salaam. The teaching and research staff was surveyed by means of a self-administered questionnaire to investigate the user satisfaction, availability of materials, resources and effectiveness of the services to cater for the information needs of users. Other information requested from respondents related to the East Africana services was library staff services and what problems teaching and research staff encountered when using the Collection's materials and services. A total of36 teaching and research staff (representing 64.9%) responded. The results were analysed manually. Content analysis was used to analyse open ended questions. The results were shown in the form of tables and elaborations. The study revealed that East Africana Collection had experienced heavy use of its materials, services and resources by both students, teachers and researchers within the University community and outside the campus. It is an indication that Collection usage among teaching and research staff was generally very high. However, the Collection faces the problem of lack of sufficient facilities and resources. Whatever the problems users experienced, the majority of the teaching and research staff were aware of the East Africana Collection and its information materials and services. Recommendations and suggestions for the future betterment of the services were made by both researcher and respondents with regard to the findings of the study and the literature reviewed.Thesis (M.I.S.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2000.
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Van, Zijl Carol Wendy. "A model for service rendering to meet the information needs of South African artists." Diss., 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/17785.
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This dissertation analysed the information needs and information-seeking behaviour of visual artists. An empirical survey was conducted on a sample of the more informationliterate visual artists in South Africa. A model of the information environment of South African visual artists was developed. This model provides a basis for another model which represents the optimal service that should be rendered to meet the needs of this user group. It was found that the general information needs of South African artists are fairly adequately met, but that there are several shortfalls, especially in serving their more complex information needs. The most important problems are the lack of training in the use of information sources and services, inadequate marketing of services and inadequate coverage of South African art. It was also found that greater coordination between service providers is urgently required, especially in the provision of information about South African art.M. (Information Science)
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Chan, Shue-leung. "A simulation model of user satisfaction with library policy decisions." 1993. http://catalog.hathitrust.org/api/volumes/oclc/31706015.html.
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