Journal articles on the topic 'Library surveys Australia'
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1
Wilms, Lotte. "Digital Humanities in European Research Libraries." LIBER Quarterly: The Journal of the Association of European Research Libraries 31, no. 1 (April 26, 2021): 1–23. http://dx.doi.org/10.18352/lq.10351.
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Libraries are increasingly becoming involved in digital humanities research beyond the offering of digital collections. This article examines how libraries in Europe deal with this shift in activities and how they compare with libraries in other parts of the world. This article builds on the results of surveys conducted in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, the United States and the United Kingdom, and compares them with a survey conducted in Europe. We found that European libraries are mostly active in research supporting activities, such as digitisation and storage, while US libraries often include analysis in their activities. Funding comes from the library’s main budget and non-structural funding in a variety of forms. Staff working in DH roles has a diverse range of titles, with various forms of librarians being the most used. Analytical staff such as GIS specialists are only found in the US survey. All surveyed libraries agree that the biggest skill gap amongst their staff is in technical skills. When looking towards the future, European libraries see the role of digital humanities (or digital scholarship) within the library grow and are making plans to facilitate this change within their organisation by positioning themselves as an attractive research partner, by opening and increasing their digital collections and by improving the internal workings of the library.
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Dann, Beverly J., Anne Drabble, and Janet Martin. "Reading between the lines: An examination of first-year university students’ perceptions of and confidence with information literacy." Journal of Information Literacy 16, no. 1 (June 5, 2022): 50. http://dx.doi.org/10.11645/16.1.3106.
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The aim of this paper is to explore how first-year university students at a regional university in Australia perceive and use Information Literacy (IL) as they transition from school to university. A survey method was used to gather data through pre- and post-intervention surveys with 1,333 first-year students enrolled in their first semester of study across all disciplines at the university. The study identified that between 25–35% of students did not enjoy reading, with many students preferring not to read. Students arrived at university with largely misguided confidence in their personal IL skills, especially the skills needed to meet the demands of university level coursework, with up to 47% of students unlikely to have experienced well-resourced libraries at school. The study concludes that implications for university teaching include gaining an early understanding of the IL skills students have when they arrive at university, and the explicit teaching of IL skills, given the identified impact of IL skills on student success and retention rates.
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Houlihan, Meggan, Claire Walker Wiley, and Amanda B. Click. "International students and information literacy: a systematic review." Reference Services Review 45, no. 2 (June 12, 2017): 258–77. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/rsr-06-2016-0038.
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Purpose This study was designed to explore the library and information science research on international students and information literacy published between 1990 and 2014. Design/methodology/approach Systematic review was used to identify and analyze publications from a 25-year period. Three major library information science (LIS) databases were searched for publications meeting the study criteria, and then manual bibliography searches were performed on all those included. Findings Twenty-one of the 23 included publications were papers published in scholarly journals. There was a slight growth in number of publications by year between 1990 and 2014. Most of the research was conducted in the USA, Australia or Canada. Surveys and interviews were the most commonly used research methods, and nine of the studies used mixed methods. “Library experience” and “information seeking” emerged as the most common research topics. Key findings presented in these papers were often related to library and non-library resources, library instruction, language issues and research difficulties experienced by international students. Author recommendations were generally related to campus collaboration, staff training, assessment, cultural awareness and library instruction. Practical implications The findings of this study will be of value for LIS practitioners who wish to develop or improve information literacy training for the international student populations on their campuses. Originality/value Systematic review is a useful and rigorous method that can be of value in LIS research. This paper provides a thorough review and assessment of the original research related to international students and information literacy, and summarizes the resulting recommendations.
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Lo, Patrick, Bradley Allard, Kevin K. W. Ho, Joyce Chao-chen Chen, Daisuke Okada, Andrew Stark, James Henri, and Chung-chin Lai. "Librarians’ perceptions of educational values of comic books: A comparative study between Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Australia and New Zealand." Journal of Librarianship and Information Science 51, no. 4 (March 29, 2018): 1103–19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0961000618763979.
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Comic books are becoming increasingly popular in the field of education. In the past, comic books were excluded from school libraries and classrooms. However, with the resurgence in the popularity of comic books and students’ increased demands for them, they are now considered as recreational reading with educational value. In response to this, school libraries have begun collecting comic books and including them as part of their regular collections. This research paper reflects on the current situation of comic books in primary and middle school library collections and examines school librarians’ perceptions towards educational values of comics. The investigation was launched in Hong Kong, Taiwan, New Zealand, Australia and Japan – making comparisons amongst different levels (primary school and secondary school), and different types (public school and private school) of schools in five different countries. Questionnaire surveys were sent to selected school librarians and were the main method of data collection. A total number of 683 responses were collected for this study. Research results include librarians’ attitudes towards comic books in school libraries, adolescent readers’ use of school libraries, their reading and borrowing practices, as well as other problems encountered with the on-going maintenance of comic books as part of the school libraries’ regular collections.
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Sanett, Shelby. "Archival Digital Preservation Programs: Staffing, Costs, and Policy." Preservation, Digital Technology & Culture 42, no. 3 (September 2013): 137–49. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/pdtc-2013-0019.
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AbstractA three-part longitudinal research study- conducted from 1999-2007-gathered information on management practices in national archives that were developing digital preservation programs. In the first two rounds, data was collected from surveys and interviews. The third round was an in-depth case study conducted at the National Archives of Australia (Sanett 2008). Three core areas of practice in the emerging digital preservation programs were selected for further exploration after the first round: staffing, costs, and policy. Generally, the data indicated that these three areas remained underdeveloped in archival digital preservation programs. This article discusses results of the study and is an overview of what has changed in these areas since the study ended in 2007.
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Beer, Tanja, and Cristina Hernandez Santin. "Refugium WA: crafting connection through plant-relating arts-science experiences of urban ecology." Nordic Journal of Science and Technology Studies 5, no. 2 (December 22, 2017): 30–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.5324/njsts.v5i2.2320.
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Various platforms have demonstrated the value of hands-on activities – such as community gardening and crafting – in making meaningful connections and collective identities for a sustainable and resilient future. In his seminal book, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience (1990), psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi describes how these activities can be an opportunity to engage with ‘flow’ – a highly focused mental state that increases awareness, connectivity and well-being. In Through Vegetal Being (2016), philosophers Luce Irigaray and Michael Marder also argue that it is through ‘vegetal’ (or plant relating) activities in particular (e.g. touching and smelling plants), that our relations with the more-than-human world can be reignited. Drawing upon these publications and others, this paper explores how combining these two modes of thought – to enable ‘flow’ through shared ‘vegetal’ or plant-based activities – may assist communities in gaining a greater awareness of and connection to sustainability. The potential of plant-based creative activities are examined through a recent, practice-led, arts-science research project (Refugium WA, Australia 2017), which used scientific knowledge and ‘vegetal’ or ‘botanical’ crafting as a way of engaging people in biodiversity issues. The project employed the community in creating mini native plant- sculptures which were temporally installed at the State Library of Western Australia. Indication of flow, increased nature-connection and biodiversity understanding were explored through gathering observations of the participants, pre- and post-activity surveys and discussions. The research sought to examine the capacity for vegetal- crafting activities to lead to new modes of arts-science communication that connect people to the importance of biodiversity in urban spaces.
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May, Nicholas, Jeanne Young, and Lucia Gillman. "Take 5: Designing and evaluating 5-minute eLearning for busy hospital staff." Focus on Health Professional Education: A Multi-Professional Journal 22, no. 2 (July 30, 2021): 60–71. http://dx.doi.org/10.11157/fohpe.v22i2.505.
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Introduction: Ongoing professional education is an essential activity to ensure that hospital staff are using the best available evidence to deliver healthcare. Hospital staff from a range of professional groups cite increasing work volume and being too time poor to complete or attend education. To address this issue, a new 5-minute online education format (Take 5) was developed.Methods: A descriptive study using a short evaluation survey was undertaken at Royal Perth Hospital in Perth, Western Australia, to evaluate interprofessional healthcare staffs’ levels of engagement with the new education format.Results: The Take 5 education format facilitated the development of over 120 topics available via an intranet library page. During the study, it received 26,623 hits, averaging 19.3 visits per day. Topics were downloaded 45,611 times. Medication discrepancies (n = 1,326) and personal protective equipment (PPE) conservation (n = 1,115) were the most frequently downloaded. A total of 2,001 evaluation surveys were received, with nursing and medicine having the highest participation. The majority of staff (n = 1,895; 94.4%) rated the resource as having “good” to “high” quality content. Qualitative data showed that the topics were informative, easy to access and understand and perceived to help the participants change their clinical practice.Conclusion: The Take 5 uptake has been strong and sustained, as highlighted by the substantive utilisation and evaluation. The concept was not designed to replace formal education but to act as an adjunct, providing key education to meet staff demands. It provided immediacy of information and quality evidence-based content and directed the learner to more formal learning content and resources.
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Bakr, Mahmoud M., Ward L. Massey, and Helen M. Massa. "Digital Cadavers: Online 2D Learning Resources Enhance Student Learning in Practical Head and Neck Anatomy within Dental Programs." Education Research International 2016 (2016): 1–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/8506251.
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Head and neck anatomy provides core concepts within preclinical dental curricula. Increased student numbers, reduced curricula time, and restricted access to laboratory-based human resources have increased technology enhanced learning approaches to support student learning. Potential advantages include cost-effectiveness, off-campus access, and self-directed review or mastery opportunities for students. This study investigated successful student learning within a first-year head and neck anatomy course at the School of Dentistry and Oral Health, Griffith University, Australia, taught by the same teaching team, between 2010 and 2015. Student learning success was compared, for cohorts before and after implementation of a supplementary, purpose-designed online digital library and quiz bank. Success of these online resources was confirmed using overall students’ performance within the course assessment tasks and Student Evaluation of Course surveys and online access data. Engagement with these supplementary 2D online resources, targeted at improving laboratory study, was positively evaluated by students (mean 85%) and significantly increased their laboratory grades (mean difference 6%,P<0.027), despite being assessed using cadaveric resources. Written assessments in final exams were not significantly improved. Expanded use of supplementary online resources is planned to support student learning and success in head and neck anatomy, given the success of this intervention.
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Boehm, E. W. A., Z. Ma, and T. J. Michailides. "Species-Specific Detection of Monilinia fructicola from California Stone Fruits and Flowers." Phytopathology® 91, no. 5 (May 2001): 428–39. http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/phyto.2001.91.5.428.
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A set of molecular diagnostics was developed for Monilinia fructicola, causal agent of brown rot of stone fruits, capable of sensitive detection of the pathogen in planta. Species-specific repetitive sequences were identified from a partial library of 312 recombinant clones hybridized with total DNA, followed by subsequent screening for specificity. One hundred isolates, comprising 12 fungal species common to California stone fruits, were surveyed for specificity. Three clones hybridized to 60 geographically diverse M. fructicola isolates (California, Michigan, Georgia, Oregon, and Australia) to the exclusion of all other fungi surveyed, including the closely related M. laxa (n = 12). Two clones were identical and of extrachromosomal origin (pMF73 and pMF150), whereas the third (pMF210) migrated with uncut DNA. The sensitivity of all three was comparable and capable of detecting 50 pg of fungal DNA in dot blot hybridizations. Six species-specific primer pair sets were designed. They maintained the same specificity patterns observed in the initial hybridization surveys and were sensitive enough to detect 50 fg of fungal DNA template, approximately equivalent to 10 spores. The species-specific clones were capable of detecting the pathogen in planta, specifically from infected plum flowers and nectarine fruit tissue, using both hybridization- and polymerase chain reaction-based methodologies.
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Stevens, Leonie, and Lynette Russell. "The Dutch East India Company (VOC) Tasman Map and Australia: Competing Interests, Myth Making, and an Australian Icon." Thematic Issue: The Social Lives of Maps, Volume 1 92-93 (August 10, 2022): 72–91. http://dx.doi.org/10.7202/1091245ar.
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The floor of the entrance to the Mitchell Library vestibule, which is part of the State Library of New South Wales, displays a stunning mosaic 1939-1941 reproduction of a seventeenth century map recording Abel Tasman’s two journeys of 1642 and 1644. It charts the west, north and southern coasts of the Australian continent, but is incomplete, thus representing the historical moment between an imagined Terra Australis Incognita, and the final survey of the east coast which presaged British colonisation. The original Tasman map, also held by the Mitchell library and currently undergoing restoration, has a strange and chequered biography. This paper explores the myths associated with what is known colloquially as the Bonaparte Tasman map, in honour of its last owner Prince Roland Bonaparte, a nephew of Napoleon. We examine its contested origins and role as an agent of Dutch East India Company imperial ambitions, relegation to forgotten cast-off when that empire collapsed, Bonaparte’s desire to gift it to the nascent Australian Commonwealth as a symbol of new nationhood, and the international subterfuge involved in its acquisition by not by the nation, but the State Library of NSW. Analysis of what was known of the map in the decades prior to its arrival in Australia challenges the conventional narratives, and we propose the biography of the Tasman map (and its embodiment in the Mitchell Library vestibule mosaic) is a study in imperialism, colonialism, federation, and power.
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Wagner, Robin. "What Munn Missed: The Queensland Schools of Arts." Queensland Review 20, no. 2 (October 30, 2013): 187–202. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/qre.2013.20.
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American Librarian Ralph Munn's historic tour of Australian libraries in 1934 is well documented. Along with Ernest Pitt, Chief Librarian of the State Library of Victoria, he spent nearly ten weeks travelling from Sydney and back again, visiting libraries in all the state capitals and many regional towns throughout the country. Munn's trip was funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, which was then, through its Dominions fund, turning attention to philanthropic opportunities in the Antipodes. The resulting report, Australian Libraries: A Survey of Conditions and Suggestions for their Improvement (commonly referred to as the Munn–Pitt Report) is often credited with initiating the public library movement in Australia.
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Stuart, Katharine. "Methods, methodology and madness." Records Management Journal 27, no. 2 (July 17, 2017): 223–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/rmj-05-2017-0012.
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Purpose This paper aims to present findings from a recent study examining current records management as fit for digital government in Australia. Design/methodology/approach This paper draws on findings from the first phase of research for a postdoctoral degree. This research was collected through an online quantitative survey of government records management professionals in Australia. The survey’s purpose was to understand whether the profession has kept pace with advances in, and expectations of, digital government. Building on the findings of the survey, this paper explores the concepts of methodology and methods and applies them to current digital records management in the Australian Government. Methodology for Australian Government digital records management is contained in the 2015 Digital Continuity 2020 policy. However, measuring method proved more difficult. The researcher supplemented data published by the National Archives of Australia and the Department of Finance with data from her own research to measure the validity of methods by examining suitability of current requirements. Findings Australian Government records management professionals overwhelmingly feel requirements, organisational culture and behaviour form a barrier to implementing successful records management programs. This paper finds that the Australian Government is buying ten times more digital storage per year than the sum of all of the digital Australian Government records known. This suggests perhaps not all records are recognised. While there will always be more storage than records, the ratio should not be so inflated. Further problems are found with requirements for records management being seen as mostly paper-based and too resource intensive to be of use. This research, combined with a contemporary literature review, shows that there is an imbalance with the current methodology and methods and asks the question: Has a methodology (Digital Continuity 2020) been created without suitable and known methods being in place? Research limitations/implications The method for collecting survey data was based on self-reporting, which can lead to limitations in that the population sample may exaggerate their response or demonstrate bias. However, responses to the survey were common enough to eliminate bias. The study is based on the Australian Government; however, findings may translate to other governments. This paper presents findings from the first phase of research of a postdoctoral degree. Not all findings are presented, only those relevant to the topic. Originality/value As the Australian Government moves to become a true digital government, records management is still required to ensure accountability of government actions and decisions. However, while the government transitions to digital, and information stores continue to grow, the question of whether records management has kept up with the rapid pace of digital information flow and expansion does not need to be asked. Instead, the time has come to ask, “What can we do to keep up?”
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Hamilton, Doug. "Linking Strategic Information Systems Concepts to Practice: Systems Integration at the Portfolio Level." Journal of Information Technology 14, no. 1 (March 1999): 69–82. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/026839629901400106.
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Surveys during the past two decades have consistently shown that many of the most critical management concerns with information systems arise at the portfolio, rather than application, level. Architecture-driven planning with a view to the implementation of integrated information systems structures has been widely canvassed as a means of dealing with portfolio-level issues, particularly the problems of inconsistent data and uncoordinated processes which have affected many organizations in recent years. The benefits anticipated from this type of initiative have been such that many organizations have persisted with architecture-based strategies despite reports of high failure rates. This paper reports on some research into IS integration planning in the organization Telstra (formerly Telecom Australia)) during a period of 40 years. The research was conducted as an interpretive case study, with practitioners’ assessments and perspectives on IS planning being incorporated in the data analysis. The focus of the study was on four critical assumptions, which were identified during an initial review of the theoretical literature as having to hold true for an organization to expect success with this form of planning. The study revealed that none of these assumptions held reliably throughout the period studied, a point fundamental to understanding why relatively little progress was made towards published integration targets. The paper then canvasses the view that though traditionally understood as blueprints for implementation, information systems architectures could be reconceptualized as knowledge assets, with independent value as sources of core planning concepts. The conclusion drawn is that their use in this type of role could facilitate the achievement of many, if not all, of the benefits anticipated from more comprehensive approaches.
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Hare, Joanna, and Wendy Abbott. "Library Support for Indigenous University Students: Moving from the Periphery to the Mainstream." Evidence Based Library and Information Practice 10, no. 4 (December 13, 2015): 80. http://dx.doi.org/10.18438/b86w3q.
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Abstract
Objective – This research project explored the models of Indigenous support programs in Australian academic libraries, and how they align with the needs of the students they support. The research objective was to gather feedback from Indigenous students and obtain evidence of good practice models from Australian academic libraries to inform the development and enhancement of Indigenous support programs. The research presents the viewpoints of both Indigenous students and librarians.
Methods – The research methods comprised an online survey using SurveyMonkey and a focus group. The survey was conducted nationally in Australia to gather evidence on the different models of Indigenous support provided by academic libraries. The survey explored the nature of support services such as specialized study spaces and resources, information literacy education, and liaison services for Indigenous students. The survey also asked respondents to comment on
the challenges they encountered and improvements they would recommend in
providing Indigenous student support.
To provide a student perspective, a small cohort of Indigenous students at a small university in South East Queensland was interviewed in a focus group about their library experiences. The focus group explored Indigenous students’ perceptions of the library, their frequency of use and where they go for help with their studies.
Results – The survey found that 84% of academic libraries provide some specific support for Indigenous students with 89% of those support services being conducted in a place other than the library. Across the sector, Australian academic libraries have a strong commitment to the success of Indigenous students and considerable engagement with Indigenous issues.
The focus group found that Indigenous students’ needs and concerns about using the library were not differentiated by their cultural background. Rather their concerns were similar to issues being raised in the broader student population.
Conclusion – The survey results indicated that the main areas in which support for Indigenous students might be improved are greater inter-departmental communication and collaboration within the university, increased training of library staff in Indigenous cultural sensitivity, and the employment of Indigenous library staff members. The focus group was valuable in opening the communication channels between Indigenous students and library staff and highlighted the importance of engaging with students using both formal and informal channels.
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Volker, Joye. "Changing roles, changing realities: Australian art librarians in a brave new world." Art Libraries Journal 31, no. 2 (2006): 19–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0307472200014449.
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As we all cope with an e-everything world, libraries are moving to accommodate WOW (words on the web) as well as POP (print on paper) in their collections. This has led to a realignment in organisational structures, particularly in university contexts. This paper addressed two major issues: firstly the challenges that major institutional reorganisations in Australia have placed on universities and, in particular, on art schools; secondly the way these challenges may be met, based on actions and solutions to improve access to Australian visual arts information resources which followed from an extensive survey by the National Library of Australia in co-operation with ARLIS/ANZ. These results encourage art libraries to develop partnerships and networking with their parent institution and other libraries and cultural institutions on a national level.
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Apolinário-Hagen, Jennifer, Jessica Kemper, and Carolina Stürmer. "Public Acceptability of E-Mental Health Treatment Services for Psychological Problems: A Scoping Review." JMIR Mental Health 4, no. 2 (April 3, 2017): e10. http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/mental.6186.
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Background Over the past decades, the deficient provision of evidence-based interventions for the prevention and treatment of mental health problems has become a global challenge across health care systems. In view of the ongoing diffusion of new media and mobile technologies into everyday life, Web-delivered electronic mental health (e-mental health) treatment services have been suggested to expand the access to professional help. However, the large-scale dissemination and adoption of innovative e-mental health services is progressing slowly. This discrepancy between potential and actual impact in public health makes it essential to explore public acceptability of e-mental health treatment services across health care systems. Objective This scoping review aimed to identify and evaluate recent empirical evidence for public acceptability, service preferences, and attitudes toward e-mental health treatments. On the basis of both frameworks for technology adoption and previous research, we defined (1) perceived helpfulness and (2) intentions to use e-mental health treatment services as indicators for public acceptability in the respective general population of reviewed studies. This mapping should reduce heterogeneity and help derive implications for systematic reviews and public health strategies. Methods We systematically searched electronic databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, PsycINFO, Psyndex, PsycARTICLES, and Cochrane Library, using reference management software for parallel searches) to identify surveys published in English in peer-reviewed journals between January 2010 and December 2015, focusing on public perceptions about e-mental health treatments outside the context of clinical, psychosocial, or diagnostic interventions. Both indicators were obtained from previous review. Exclusion criteria further involved studies targeting specific groups or programs. Results The simultaneous database search identified 76 nonduplicate records. Four articles from Europe and Australia were included in this scoping review. Sample sizes ranged from 217 to 2411 participants of ages 14-95 years. All included studies used cross-sectional designs and self-developed measures for outcomes related to both defined indicators of public acceptability. Three surveys used observational study designs, whereas one study was conducted as an experiment investigating the impact of brief educational information on attitudes. Taken together, the findings of included surveys suggested that e-mental health treatment services were perceived as less helpful than traditional face-to-face interventions. Additionally, intentions to future use e-mental health treatments were overall smaller in comparison to face-to-face services. Professional support was essential for help-seeking intentions in case of psychological distress. Therapist-assisted e-mental health services were preferred over unguided programs. Unexpectedly, assumed associations between familiarity with Web-based self-help for health purposes or “e-awareness” and intentions to use e-mental health services were weak or inconsistent. Conclusions Considering the marginal amount and heterogeneity of pilot studies focusing on public acceptability of e-mental health treatments, further research using theory-led approaches and validated measures is required to understand psychological facilitator and barriers for the implementation of innovative services into health care.
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Yi, Zhixian. "Effective techniques for the segmentation of academic library users." Library Management 37, no. 8/9 (November 14, 2016): 454–64. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/lm-07-2016-0052.
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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how Australian academic librarians perceived effective techniques used to segment library users into smaller groups and the influencing factors for their perceptions of the used techniques. Design/methodology/approach An online survey was sent to 400 academic librarians in 37 Australian universities and 230 (57.5 per cent) respondents completed and returned surveys. The descriptive and inferential statistics and content analysis method were used to analyse the collected data. Findings A variety of effective techniques were utilised to segment library users. Library variables such as number of staff and number of library branches and human capital variables such as education level, years of present position, formally studying marketing and attending a workshop on marketing in the last five years were significant predictors of perceptions of the effective segmentation techniques used, but this study indicates that other predictors such as number of different library professional positions and years involved in all library services and demographical variables made no difference. Practical implications This paper provides a useful overview of the effective techniques used to segment library users. Originality/value The value of this study is that librarians may utilise the results to better understand different techniques, to reflect on the effectiveness of the used techniques, and to balance the weight of the influencing factors. This will enable them to segment library users more effectively in the future.
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Carson, Louise Caroline, and Kathryn Greenhill. "One hat or many? A comparison of two models for the Copyright Officer position in university libraries." Library and Information Research 39, no. 121 (December 22, 2015): 57–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.29173/lirg659.
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Statute law provides university libraries with a framework for copyright requirements, duties and privileges. In Australia, there are few guidelines or standards for university libraries about providing those copyright services that are not mandated by statute, such as copyright advice and compliance. There is little formally-shared knowledge about the non-statutory services provided by university library Copyright Officers. More information about this would benefit libraries reviewing or establishing these positions. This research uses survey and semi-structured face-to-face interviews with designated Copyright Officers in four Western Australian universities to document four aspects of their work. These four factors are interaction and support within the library and the institution; involvement in institutional copyright advice, involvement in institutional copyright compliance; and satisfaction with authority and resourcing. The survey and interviews revealed two different models for structuring the library Copyright Officer position; one model involving a part-time officer with responsibility only for copyright, and the other model involving a full-time officer who has only 5% of their duties involved in copyright with the remainder of the copyright duties being managed by a member of the university legal / governance office. Similarities were found between the activities of both models, such as the strategies involved in ensuring copyright compliance, and education and training sessions. There was agreement from all respondents that copyright compliance within their institution could be improved by an increase in the resources available to each position.
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Wakeling, Simon, Jane Garner, Philip Hider, Hamid Jamali, Jessie Lymn, Yazdan Mansourian, and Holly Randell-Moon. "‘The challenge now is for us to remain relevant’: Australian public libraries and the COVID-19 crisis." IFLA Journal 48, no. 1 (November 14, 2021): 138–54. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/03400352211054115.
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The COVID-19 crisis has had a significant impact on public libraries around the world. In Australia, almost all public libraries experienced some period of building closure, requiring libraries to adapt their services and delivery models. This article reports findings from a large-scale survey of public library managers in Australia, which was conducted in August 2020. In particular, it presents the results of a thematic analysis of the participants’ free-text responses to open questions asked as part of the survey. This analysis reveals important insights relating to responses to library closures, staffing issues, new and expanded services and programmes, relationships with parent bodies, and the role of public libraries during the crisis and beyond. While public libraries are perceived by managers to have been agile and adaptable, and to have utilised technology effectively, the findings clearly demonstrate the value to users of library buildings, with important consequences for understanding the role of public libraries.
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East, John W. "Australian Library Resources in Philosophy: A Survey of Recent Monograph Holdings." Australian Academic & Research Libraries 34, no. 2 (January 2003): 92–99. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00048623.2003.10755223.
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Burn, Kerrie. "ANZTLA and the ALIA Professional Development Scheme." ANZTLA EJournal, no. 22 (June 4, 2019): 6–14. http://dx.doi.org/10.31046/anztla.v0i22.1460.
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This paper reviews the results of a survey of members of the Australian and New Zealand Theological Library Association (ANZTLA). The survey asked whether ANZTLA members were also members of the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and ALIA's Professional Development Scheme. It also sought general comments about professional develpment in the theological library environment. The implications of these results for the ongoing professional development of theological librarians are discussed, and some of the challenges that limit or prevent individuals from pursuing professional development opportunities are noted. A number of questions for consideration, and areas for potential further research are also proposed. If ANZTLA wishes to take a more active role in advocating for the value of professional development for its members, these may assist the organisation to determine the most appropriate path forward.
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Costello, Graham I., and Jörg H. Tuchen. "A Comparative Study of Business to Consumer Electronic Commerce within the Australian Insurance Sector." Journal of Information Technology 13, no. 3 (September 1998): 153–67. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/026839629801300302.
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Electronic commerce is causing fundamental changes in the insurance sector. Inherent opportunities of this innovative sales channel are driving the development of a new customer relationship paradigm, development of new products, pursuit of low cost ‘self service’ strategies, and emergence of ‘virtual brokers’. The Australian insurance sector is well positioned to take advantage of electronic commerce due to the high level of PC penetration, high Internet usage, and extensive broadband infrastructure. The perception is that the Australian insurance sector is meeting these challenges. Surprisingly, despite the emergence of electronic commerce as a ‘hot topic’ in the information technology and insurance sector literature, little empirical research has been reported. Much of the extant literature can be criticized as being too generic and superficial. It is argued that until research is focused on specific aspects of electronic commerce, we will fail to capture meaningful insights. The aim of this research project is to develop a research framework appropriate for electronic commerce, research and to apply it to a specific sector (insurance), in a specific geographical region (Australia), using a specific electronic commerce, medium (Internet), for a specific purpose (business to consumer sale of risk products). The research objective is to discover which Australian insurance companies are using electronic commerce for what. The survey found that of the 21 largest Australian insurance companies only 18 have web sites. These sites are mainly used for promotional purposes and not for directly generating sales. Only six companies offer customer-specific pricing of their products. And of these, only four companies sell any of their products over the Internet. Paradoxically, despite pressing business drivers in the insurance sector and a favourable electronic commerce environment in Australia, these findings demonstrate a significant gap between appreciation of the importance of electronic commerce and realization of commercial potential. Whilst most Australian insurance companies are well aware of the special importance of electronic commerce, many fail to take full advantage. Although further qualitative research is recommended to understand why this is so, it is clear that a significant gap remains between the technical capabilities of electronic commerce and actual practice in the Australian insurance sector.
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Stephens, Michael, and Warren Cheetham. "The Impact and Effect of Learning 2.0 Programs in Australian Public Libraries." Evidence Based Library and Information Practice 7, no. 1 (March 9, 2012): 53. http://dx.doi.org/10.18438/b8qs4q.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract
Objective – With adoption of the program world-wide, the Learning 2.0 model has been lauded by library professionals as a mechanism to educate library staff and transform libraries. This study, part of the 2009 CAVAL Visiting Scholar project, seeks to measure the impact and legacy of the model within Australian public libraries to understand what benefits, changes and effects occur.
Methods – A national Web-based survey for those who had participated in a learning 2.0 program.
Results – The national survey had 384 respondents, and a total of 64 respondents were identified as the public library staff data set for this article. Public library staff reported success in the program and described feelings of increased confidence, inclusivity, and a move to use emerging technologies as part of library service.
Conclusion – The analysis yields the following thematic areas of impact and effect:
personal practice is enhanced with knowledge and confidence; impact is mainly personal, but organisational changes may follow; the library is using the tools to varying degrees of success, and organizational blocks prevent use of tools. These finding offer evidence that Learning 2.0 programs can have a positive effect on library staff and subsequently on the organization itself.
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Newton Miller, Laura. "University Community Engagement and the Strategic Planning Process." Evidence Based Library and Information Practice 13, no. 1 (March 6, 2018): 4–17. http://dx.doi.org/10.18438/eblip29351.
Full textAbstract:
Objectives- To understand how university libraries are engaging with the university community (students, faculty, campus partners, administration) when working through the strategic planning process.
Methods- Literature review and exploratory open-ended survey to members of CAUL (Council of Australian University Librarians), CARL (Canadian Association of Research Libraries), CONZUL (Council of New Zealand University Librarians), and RLUK (Research Libraries UK) who are most directly involved in the strategic planning process at their library.
Results- Out of a potential 113 participants from 4 countries, 31 people replied to the survey in total (27%). Libraries most often mentioned the use of regularly-scheduled surveys to inform their strategic planning which helps to truncate the process for some respondents, as opposed to conducting user feedback specifically for the strategic plan process. Other quantitative methods include customer intelligence and library-produced data. Qualitative methods include the use of focus groups, interviews, and user experience/design techniques to help inform the strategic plan. The focus of questions to users tended to fall towards user-focused (with or without library lens), library-focused, trends & vision, and feedback on plan.
Conclusions- Combining both quantitative and qualitative methods can help give a fuller picture for librarians working on a strategic plan. Having the university community join the conversation in how the library moves forward is an important but difficult endeavour. Regardless, the university library needs to be adaptive to the rapidly changing environment around it. Having a sense of how other libraries engage with the university community benefits others who are tasked with strategic planning
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Tillotson, Greig. "Writings on Australian parliamentary librarianship; a survey." Australian Library Journal 40, no. 1 (January 1, 1991): 45–59. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00049670.1991.10755582.
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Harvey, Ross. "The Last Decade of Digital Preservation: A Personal View from Australia." Preservation, Digital Technology & Culture 44, no. 1 (March 1, 2015): 22–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/pdtc-2015-0002.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract In 2003 an international survey described digital preservation in Australia in these words: “For a country with a relatively small population, Australia has a relatively large number of leading-edge online projects across all sectors.” Is this still the case in 2014? This paper gives a personal view of the current state of digital preservation in Australia and examines what we have learned since 2003 to answer this question; it then notes what we still need to learn about digital preservation-in particular, the activities of the National Library of Australia and of the key roles that research and collaboration play in digital preservation are noted.
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Haglund, Lotta, and David Herron. "Reference Services in Australian Academic Libraries are Becoming More Multifaceted." Evidence Based Library and Information Practice 4, no. 3 (September 21, 2009): 56. http://dx.doi.org/10.18438/b81905.
Full textAbstract:
A Review of:
Burke, L. “Models of Reference Services in Australian Academic Libraries.” Journal of Librarianship and Information Science 40.4 (2008): 269-86.
Objective – To investigate the current organizational models for reference work in Australian academic libraries, and how these reference services are staffed.
Design – Mixed methods.
Setting – Academic universities in Australia.
Subjects – Forty Council of Australian University Librarians (CAUL) member libraries.
Methods – A literature study was undertaken to (1) find a definition of reference services and (2) explore the development of reference service models over time. Statistics from the CAUL member libraries were studied for trends in student population and number of academic and library staff. A web-based survey, with questions based on the findings in the literature study, was then distributed to the 40 Australian university libraries in 2006.
Respondents were asked when the library commenced different reference services in five areas: formats in which the library received and responded to reference queries, information literacy, subject specialization, liaison activities, and collection development. Respondents also answered questions about the organization of the reference department, including: whether they had a separate or integrated model; the size of the reference collections; if they had a librarian dedicated to supporting students studying in remote or distant mode; if the interlibrary loans department was part of the suite of reference services; and if they had a mission or statement of purpose for their reference services department.
Main Results – Based on the literature study, the working definition of reference services (1) for the project was “all activities which assist in providing relevant and appropriate information services to patrons” (270), including:
• All interactions with patrons to assist them in their searches for information in all media types.
• All training by librarians of patrons to be able to access information for themselves.
• Activities to help the library stay informed of relevant developments, such as establishing and maintaining relationships with patrons.
The literature study also revealed (2) a shift from the traditional reference service model, focused on the reference desk and the services delivered from that location, to new models involving “consolidation of reference service points, establishment of tiered reference, reference by appointment, reorganization of reference departments, and limiting services to primary users” (271).
The core aspects of reference services have changed little over time, including face-to-face reference work, print collection development, bibliographic instruction, and attending meetings. In some aspects, however, there has been a shift in emphasis, e.g., in bibliographic instruction from the teaching of tools to the teaching of information literacy. In addition, reference work has come to include “going out to users,” or academic liaison work, as well as research consultation as a general way to assist undergraduate student in getting started on assignments and projects.
The Web-based survey (n=40, response rate 87.5%) showed that 32.4% of libraries have an integrated inquiry point which incorporates information queries and other queries that are not necessarily related to traditional library reference services (272, Table 1). This survey result supports the findings of the literature study in showing a trend of library services moving away from the traditional reference desk.
A majority of the responding libraries still retained a separate reference department, but a significant number of libraries have developed departments incorporating reference services with other library services. Those that retained the separate department varied in how they described services to patrons, the most common name being Information Services, a more user-friendly and descriptive name.
In staffing the reference service, the respondents were asked to indicate the classification level of their staff using the Higher Education Worker (HEW) scale (an Australian salary scale, based on competencies, minimum 1 / maximum 10). Staff spans a variety of levels (4-10), the most common level being HEW6, a level where all libraries had staff. This indicates that a large part of reference staff in Australian academic libraries are highly qualified.
The shift in higher education, resulting in greater numbers of students and fewer staff (including librarians), has in many libraries resulted in a more flexible organization of reference services, and the utilization of staff from other sections of the library for manning the reference service point. There is also evidence of how the changing student population leads to changing demands for library facilities and services, e.g. a decrease in the traditional complex reference questions, as well as in over the counter loan transactions, and an increase in more general queries.
Conclusion – Reference services in Australian academic libraries are becoming more flexible and integrated (although the definition for integrated is still unclear), in part as the result of client demand, and in part due to decreased funding. The author sees an emerging role for reference librarians in helping patrons to navigate the increasingly complex information environment, and to assist in developing the skills to critically evaluate the information they access for authoritativeness and appropriateness.
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Purnell, Margaret, and Mary Byrne. "An investigation into health professionals’ use of medication information resources: results of a health library survey." Journal of Health Information and Libraries Australasia 3, no. 2 (September 6, 2022): 17–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.55999/johila.v3i2.116.
Full textAbstract:
Introduction: Accurate and timely medication information is crucial for health professionals working in a hospital environment. This article focuses on the findings of a medication information resources survey undertaken in a northern Australian health service.
Objectives: To examine health professionals’ usage and satisfaction of medication information resources available to them.
Methods: An online survey of staff was undertaken in May 2021.
Results: There were 206 responses to the survey. Eighty-eight percent of respondents were either nurses, pharmacists or doctors. The four most popular resources were: Australian Medicines Handbook, Therapeutic Guidelines, MIMS Online and Australian Injectable Drugs Handbook. Fifty-three percent of respondents use the resources daily or more than once per day. Doctors are more likely to use the app version and the Health Library’s website is where the majority access the resource from. Eighty-one percent felt that it was extremely or moderately easy to access resources.
Discussion: Responses from the open-ended question indicate that there is a lack of awareness of a number of resources which supports the need for strategic promotion and education.
Conclusion: The results of this study have shown that health libraries subscribing to key medication information resources supports patient care and best practice.
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L Callen, Joanne, Kate Fennell, and Jean H McIntosh. "Attitudes to, and Use of, Evidence-based Medicine in two Sydney Divisions of General Practice." Australian Journal of Primary Health 12, no. 1 (2006): 40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/py06007.
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Previous surveys suggested Australian GPs felt positive towards evidence-based medicine (EBM) but had reservations about practising it. Strategies to promote EBM in Australian general practice were implemented by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and published online in 1998. The aim of this study was to explore attitudes to and use of EBM in a population of Sydney GPs four years after publication of the strategies. A postal survey was conducted in 2003 among a group of GPs in Sydney (n=135) with a response rate of 31%. The survey assessed: attitudes to and barriers to practising EBM; preferred methods in moving from opinion-based medicine to EBM; awareness and use of EBM resources; and ability to interpret research evidence. Two- thirds of respondents felt positive towards EBM. Time pressure was the most commonly perceived barrier to practising EBM and use of evidence-based guidelines was the most popular method in moving towards EBM. Among 70% of respondents, at least 40% of clinical practice was evidence-based. Awareness of the databases The Cochrane Library and Medline was high, but use of database information was rare. There was partial understanding of technical terms used in EBM. While overall these GPs had a positive attitude towards EBM, they indicated some reluctance to applying it. Thus it is probable that in this GP group EBM was used less than optimally. The evidence provided by this study suggests that the RACGP strategies to promote appropriate use of EBM in general practice need heightened emphasis among the GPs surveyed. The study's low response rate prevents any generalisation of findings to the Australian general practice workforce.
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Parsons, Kathryn, Agata McCormac, Malcolm Pattinson, Marcus Butavicius, and Cate Jerram. "A study of information security awareness in Australian government organisations." Information Management & Computer Security 22, no. 4 (October 7, 2014): 334–45. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/imcs-10-2013-0078.
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Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the human-based information security (InfoSec) vulnerabilities in three Australian government organisations. Design/methodology/approach – A Web-based survey was developed to test attitudes, knowledge and behaviour across eight policy-based focus areas. It was completed by 203 participants across the three organisations. This was complemented by interviews with senior management from these agencies. Findings – Overall, management and employees had reasonable levels of InfoSec awareness. However, weaknesses were identified in the use of wireless technology, the reporting of security incidents and the use of social networking sites. These weaknesses were identified in the survey data of the employees and corroborated in the management interviews. Research limitations/implications – As with all such surveys, responses to the questions on attitude and behaviour (but not knowledge) may have been influenced by the social desirability bias. Further research should establish more extensive baseline data for the survey and examine its effectiveness in assessing the impact of training and risk communication interventions. Originality/value – A new survey tool is presented and tested which is of interest to academics as well as management and IT systems (security) auditors.
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Fishburn, Matthew. "The private museum of John Septimus Roe, dispersed in 1842." Archives of Natural History 47, no. 1 (April 2020): 166–82. http://dx.doi.org/10.3366/anh.2020.0629.
Full textAbstract:
In 2009, the State Library of New South Wales acquired a collection of 201 letters written by the Royal Navy officer John Septimus Roe. Dating between 1807 and 1829, these letters cover Roe's time serving with Phillip Parker King on the Australian coastal survey voyages of the Mermaid and Bathurst (1817–1823), and later with James Bremer on the Tamar on the Australian north coast and in Southeast Asian waters (1824–1827). This article, based on a close study of the letters, explores how Roe's interest in natural history and ethnography developed during this time, leading to the establishment of an extensive private museum, with the particular encouragement of his brother William Roe, at the family home, the rectory of the church of St Nicolas, Newbury, Berkshire. Roe took advantage of his time, while surveying areas of Australia largely unknown to Europeans, to make a collection of some scientific importance, but the museum was sold and dispersed in 1842, so that the close reading of the letters provides the only substantive account of its contents. The letters also provide an opportunity to make a case study of the web of connections – and opportunities for promotion – that collecting provided for a then quite junior British naval officer. Although no item with a confirmed provenance to the museum is recorded, it is hoped that this article may provide clues that will lead to the unearthing of specimens acquired by Roe which formed part of his enormous natural history collection, and also to the Aboriginal spears, weapons and other implements collected from the remoter stretches of the Australian coast.
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Cathro, Warwick S. "The Australian Bibliographic Network: A Survey of its First Decade." Australian Academic & Research Libraries 22, no. 4 (January 1991): 37–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00048623.1991.10754736.
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Keast, Don. "A survey of Koha in Australian special libraries." OCLC Systems & Services: International digital library perspectives 27, no. 1 (February 15, 2011): 23–39. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/10650751111106537.
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Hicks, W., R. A. Viscarra Rossel, and S. Tuomi. "Developing the Australian mid-infrared spectroscopic database using data from the Australian Soil Resource Information System." Soil Research 53, no. 8 (2015): 922. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr15171.
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We developed and tested spectroscopic models derived by partial least squares regression (PLSR) using data from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation’s (CSIRO) national soil database (NatSoil) and soil samples from the Australian National Soil Archive. Models were constructed for 21 soil attributes, and their predictability assessed using the R2, ranged from 0.57 for bicarbonate extractable available phosphorus to 0.92 for the sum of the exchangeable bases. Investigating the spectral library coverage with a suite of 1484 unknown samples from a geochemical survey of Australian catchments, we found that the models could be used to predict many soil attributes in a geographically diverse set of samples.
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Mani, Deepa, Kim-Kwang Raymond Choo, and Sameera Mubarak. "Information security in the South Australian real estate industry." Information Management & Computer Security 22, no. 1 (March 4, 2014): 24–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/imcs-10-2012-0060.
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Purpose – Opportunities for malicious cyber activities have expanded with the globalisation and advancements in information and communication technology. Such activities will increasingly affect the security of businesses with online presence and/or connected to the internet. Although the real estate sector is a potential attack vector for and target of malicious cyber activities, it is an understudied industry. This paper aims to contribute to a better understanding of the information security threats, awareness, and risk management standards currently employed by the real estate sector in South Australia. Design/methodology/approach – The current study comprises both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, which include 20 survey questionnaires and 20 face-to-face interviews conducted in South Australia. Findings – There is a lack of understanding about the true magnitude of malicious cyber activities and its impact on the real estate sector, as illustrated in the findings of 40 real estate organisations in South Australia. The findings and the escalating complexities of the online environment underscore the need for regular ongoing training programs for basic online security (including new cybercrime trends) and the promotion of a culture of information security (e.g. when using smart mobile devices to store and access sensitive data) among staff. Such initiatives will enable staff employed in the (South Australian) real estate sector to maintain the current knowledge of the latest cybercrime activities and the best cyber security protection measures available. Originality/value – This is the first academic study focusing on the real estate organisations in South Australia. The findings will contribute to the evidence on the information security threats faced by the sector as well as in develop sector-specific information security risk management guidelines.
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Liu, Guifeng, Isidore Komla Zotoo, and Wencheng Su. "Research data management policies in USA, UK and Australia universities: An online survey." Malaysian Journal of Library & Information Science 25, no. 2 (September 9, 2020): 21–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.22452/mjlis.vol25no2.2.
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There has been an increase in demand for research data management (RDM) policies to improve the quality of research data however, there is no clear-cut policy content to guide the process. The purpose of this study is to identify the existing RDM policies. Specifically, the study compares and differentiates the RDM policies in three developed nations (USA, UK and Australia) to ascertain how the policies vary. The RDM policies of 100 universities from the three countries, that are present online were retrieved and content analysis approach using NVivo and SPSS were performed. The results from the analysis revealed that the common underlying facts of the policies were found in the areas of access, retention, sharing, storage and ownership. All the universities share the same core values in the management of their research. They exhibit that Data Management Plan (DMP) is essential. The study concluded that the differences in the data management are mostly issues of focus areas. More so, there is no fixed retention period for research data. To resolve the few differences identified, common criteria for data management is proposed for policy considerations to ensure compliance. Finding from the study is significant to developing countries as it adds to the discourse on data management policies. The study will also enable policy makers in developing countries to draw empirical evidence from the developed world on RDM and this will form a basis for policy direction.
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Watt, Amber, Alun Cameron, Lana Sturm, Timothy Lathlean, Wendy Babidge, Stephen Blamey, Karen Facey, David Hailey, Inger Norderhaug, and Guy Maddern. "Rapid reviews versus full systematic reviews: An inventory of current methods and practice in health technology assessment." International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care 24, no. 02 (April 2008): 133–39. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0266462308080185.
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Objectives:This review assessed current practice in the preparation of rapid reviews by health technology assessment (HTA) organizations, both internationally and in the Australian context, and evaluated the available peer-reviewed literature pertaining to the methodology used in the preparation of these reviews.Methods:A survey tool was developed and distributed to a total of fifty International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment (INAHTA) members and other selected HTA organizations. Data on a broad range of themes related to the conduct of rapid reviews were collated, discussed narratively, and subjected to simple statistical analysis where appropriate. Systematic searches of the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and the Australian Medical Index were undertaken in March 2007 to identify literature pertaining to rapid review methodology. Comparative studies, guidelines, program evaluations, methods studies, commentaries, and surveys were considered for inclusion.Results:Twenty-three surveys were returned (46 percent), with eighteen agencies reporting on thirty-six rapid review products. Axiomatic trends were identified, but there was little cohesion between organizations regarding the contents, methods, and definition of a rapid review. The twelve studies identified by the systematic literature search did not specifically address the methodology underpinning rapid review; rather, many highlighted the complexity of the area. Authors suggested restricted research questions and truncated search strategies as methods to limit the time taken to complete a review.Conclusions:Rather than developing a formalized methodology by which to conduct rapid reviews, agencies should work toward increasing the transparency of the methods used for each review. It is perhaps the appropriate use, not the appropriate methodology, of a rapid review that requires future consideration.
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Ritchie, Ann, and Beth Sowter. "Availability and accessibility of evidence-based information resources provided by medical libraries in Australia." Australian Health Review 23, no. 1 (2000): 77. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ah000077.
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This article reports on the results of an exploratory survey of the availability andaccessibility of evidence-based information resources provided by medical libraries inAustralia. Although barriers impede access to evidence-based information for hospitalclinicians, the survey revealed that Medline and Cinahl are available in over 90% offacilities. In most cases they are widely accessible via internal networks and the Internet.The Cochrane Library is available in 69% of cases. The Internet is widely accessible andmost libraries provide access to some full-text, electronic journals. Strategies for overcomingrestrictions and integrating information resources with clinical workflow are being pursued.State, regional and national public and private consortia are developing agreementsutilising on-line technology. These could produce cost savings and more equitable accessto a greater range of evidence-based resources.
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Warren, Jenny. "Directors’ Views of the Future of Cataloguing in Australia and New Zealand: A Survey." Australian Academic & Research Libraries 38, no. 4 (December 2007): 239–51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00048623.2007.10721306.
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Miller, Robin Elizabeth. "Graduate Students May Need Information Literacy Instruction as Much as Undergraduates." Evidence Based Library and Information Practice 9, no. 3 (September 9, 2014): 104. http://dx.doi.org/10.18438/b8bg7b.
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A Review of:
Conway, Kate. (2011). How prepared are students for postgraduate study? A comparison of the information literacy skills of commencing undergraduate and postgraduate studies students at Curtin University. Australian Academic & Research Libraries, 42(2), 121-135.
Abstract
Objective – To determine whether there is a difference in the information literacy skills of postgraduate and undergraduate students beginning an information studies program, and to examine the influence of demographic characteristics on information literacy skills.
Design – Online, multiple choice questionnaire to test basic information literacy skills.
Setting – Information studies program at a large university in Western Australia.
Subjects – 64 information studies students who responded to an email invitation to participate in an online questionnaire, a 44% response rate. Of those responding, 23 were undergraduates and 41 were postgraduates.
Methods – Over the course of two semesters, an online survey was administered. In order to measure student performance against established standards, 25 test questions were aligned with the Australian and New Zealand Information Literacy Framework (ANZIIL) (Bundy, 2004), an adapted version of the ACRL Information Literacy Standards for Higher Education (Association of College & Research Libraries, 2000). In the first semester that the survey was administered, 9 demographic questions were asked and 11 in the second semester. Participants were invited to respond voluntarily to the questionnaire via email. Results were presented as descriptive statistics, comparing undergraduate and postgraduate student performance. The results were not tested for statistical significance and the author did not control for confounding variables.
Main Results – Postgraduate respondents scored an average of 77% on the test questionnaire, while undergraduates scored an average of 69%. The 25% of respondents who had previous work experience in a library achieved average scores of 79%, in contrast to 69% among those who had not worked in a library. Average scores for undergraduates in the 20-30 age group were 81%, while those in the 30-40 age group averaged 65%. Among both undergraduate and postgraduate students, scores may indicate deficiencies in information literacy skills in several areas, including parsing citations, strategies for locating specific content, and defining an information need.
Conclusion – The study concludes that postgraduate students’ information literacy skills may be marginally better than the skills of undergraduates. Age was found to be associated with higher performance among undergraduate students, and a variety of “basic” information literacy skills may elude many respondents. These findings might prompt librarians and instructors to look closely at gaps in information literacy knowledge among students at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level.
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Genoni, Paul. "Current and Future Print Storage for Australian Academic Libraries: Results of a Survey." Library Collections, Acquisitions, and Technical Services 32, no. 1 (January 2008): 31–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lcats.2008.03.002.
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Pegrum, Mark, and Ralph Kiel. "“Changing the Way We Talk”: Developing Librarians’ Competence in Emerging Technologies through a Structured Program." College & Research Libraries 72, no. 6 (November 1, 2011): 583–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.5860/crl-190.
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This article reports on the implementation of a professional development program in emerging technologies for librarians at the University of Western Australia. Set up in 2008 to address a lack of pedagogically grounded training in this area, it has now graduated three cohorts. A qualitative analysis of participants’ online contributions and course projects, complemented by quantitative survey data, reveals that most librarians acquired new understandings of both pedagogy and technology; many were able to apply newly gained skills in the workplace; and some went on to create pedagogically grounded, technologically enabled resources of ongoing value to the library. A more intangible change in the discourse around new technologies was also observed. Limitations and challenges are identified and discussed.
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Deng, Hepu, Sophia Xiaoxia Duan, and Feng Luo. "Critical determinants for electronic market adoption." Journal of Enterprise Information Management 33, no. 2 (November 13, 2019): 335–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/jeim-04-2019-0106.
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Purpose Understanding the critical determinants for the adoption of electronic markets (e-markets) is significant for the development of sustainable electronic business. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the critical determinants for the adoption of e-markets in Australian small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for electronic business. Design/methodology/approach A comprehensive review of the related studies is conducted. That leads to the development of a conceptual model for exploring the critical determinants for the adoption of e-markets in Australian SMEs. Such a model is then tested and validated using structural equation modelling on the survey data collected, leading to the identification of the critical determinants for e-market adoption in Australian SMEs. Findings The study reveals that perceived direct benefit, perceived trust, top management support and external pressures are critical for the adoption of e-markets in Australian SMEs. Perceived indirect benefit and organization readiness are insignificant for the adoption of e-markets. Originality/value This paper contributes to existing electronic business research by enriching the understanding of the critical determinants for the adoption of e-markets in Australian SMEs. Such a study provides government departments, e-market operators and SMEs with practical guidelines for the better use of e-markets in electronic business.
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Ganshorn, Heather. "Free Access Does Not Necessarily Encourage Practitioners to Use Online Evidence Based Information Tools." Evidence Based Library and Information Practice 5, no. 4 (December 17, 2010): 83. http://dx.doi.org/10.18438/b86d0r.
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Objectives – To determine which strategies were most effective for encouraging general practitioners (GPs) to sign up for free access to an online evidence based information resource; and to determine whether those who accepted the offer differed in their sociodemographic characteristics from those who did not.
Design – Descriptive marketing research study.
Setting – Australia’s public healthcare system.
Subjects – 14,000 general practitioners (GPs) from all regions of Australia.
Methods – Subjects were randomly selected by Medicare Australia from its list of GPs that bill it for services. Medicare Australia had 18,262 doctors it deemed eligible; 14,000 of these were selected for a stratified random sample. Subjects were randomized to one of 7 groups of 2,000 each. Each group received a different letter offering two years of free access to BMJ Clinical Evidence, an evidence based online information tool. Randomization was done electronically, and the seven groups were stratified by age group, gender, and location. The interventions given to each group differed as follows:
• Group 1: Received a letter offering 2 years of free access, with no further demands on the recipient.
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• Group 2: Received a letter offering 2 years of free access, but on the condition that they complete an initial questionnaire and another one at 12 months, as well as allowing the publisher to provide de-personalized usage data to the researchers.
• Group 3: Same as Group 2, but with the additional offer of an online tutorial to assist them with using the resource.
• Group 4: Same as Group 2, but with an additional pamphlet with positive testimonials about the resource from Australian medical opinion leaders.
• Group 5: Same as Group 2, but with an additional offer of professional development credits towards their required annual totals.
• Group 6: Same as Group 2, but with an additional offer to be entered to win a prize of $500 towards registration at a conference of the winner’s choice.
• Group 7: A combination of the above interventions. The group received the opinion leaders’ pamphlet, the online tutorial, and eligibility for professional development points.
The online survey and usage data from Groups 2 through 7 was to be analyzed as part of a companion study, and is not reported in this article.
To protect the privacy of individual subjects, Medicare Australia mailed out the offers and provided the authors with anonymized data, in table format, on response status by intervention group and by the following sociodemographic variables: age, gender, geographic remoteness as determined by the Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA), country of graduation, and years since graduation. Baseline characteristics were compared between the intervention groups, and then response rates were also compared between intervention groups and between the above-mentioned variables to see whether any of these variables affected the likelihood of practitioners being interested in an online evidence based tool. All comparisons were done using a chi-square test.
Main Results – Overall, 2,105 subjects returned their acceptance forms, out of the total sample of 14,000 (15%). The true acceptance rate was 12.5%, however, when adjusted for the number of subjects in Groups 2 through 7 who went on to complete the online questionnaire.
There was a statistically significant difference in response rates between the seven groups, with the greatest acceptance rate (27%) coming from Group 1 (who received only the letter of offer, with no experimental demands). The other groups averaged a response rate of 10% collectively, with the lowest rates (8.0% and 8.5% respectively) from Group 5 (offer of professional development points) and Group 7 (combination of interventions).
The large sample size offered adequate power to detect differences in characteristics between responders and non-responders. The study found that responders were more likely to be younger, male, recent graduates, and practising in less remote locations. Among responders, there were no statistically significant differences in most of these characteristics among the seven groups, with the exception of time since graduation, which varied somewhat.
Conclusion – The authors conclude that funding of access to free online resources for large groups of practitioners may not be cost-effective if calculations of cost are based on total eligible populations rather than on the number of practitioners who may be interested. They also conclude that the low response rates generated by their offer indicate a need to find ways to increase GPs’ interest in using online evidence based tools and in accessing best practice evidence. Further research into how to achieve behaviour change among practitioners may be needed.
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Savage, A. "(UK) Schmidt–AAO Style into the 1990s." Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia 8, no. 04 (1990): 372–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1323358000023766.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract This is a brief description of the way I see the Schmidt functioning through the next three years. There are four important functions which must be maintained: (a) The Science from the Schmidt material must continue to be of the same high quality as that on which the Schmidt’s reputation has been built; (b) The service we provide to the Australian and British communities must continue despite the new trim (slim) appearance of the Schmidt staff and budget; (c) We must maintain our links with ROE, its Plate Library, which is the archive for Schmidt plate material, and Photolabs which provide some of the survey atlases; (d) We are being actively encouraged to promote Australian and British usage of the UK’s large measuring machines APM and COSMOS. Additionally, we are continually being encouraged to improve our efficiency. There is still at least one area in which we can do this and this is discussed.
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Shimizu Wilson, Concepción, John D’Ambra, and Robyn Drummond. "Exploring the fit of e-books to the needs of medical academics in Australia." Electronic Library 32, no. 3 (May 27, 2014): 403–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/el-09-2012-0118.
Full textAbstract:
Purpose – The purpose of this study is to explore the extent to which e-books fit the needs of medical academics of the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in the performance of their academic tasks. Design/methodology/approach – A web-based survey was distributed to all UNSW academics in medicine, and 224 completed responses were analyzed according to the attributes of a task-technology fit (TTF) model developed for e-books in academic settings. Findings – Although the UNSW Library had access to > 225,000 e-books, usage by medical academics was relatively low (38 per cent); however, most (92 per cent) predicted that they would be using e-books within the next five years. Nearly two-thirds (65 per cent) had portable devices including smartphones, and 90 per cent rated the ability to search across full text in an e-book of moderate-to-high importance. Research tasks dominated the use of e-books, and 71 per cent agreed that e-books helped improve their overall productivity. Research limitation/implications – Only 224 (8 per cent) of 2,790 medical academics at UNSW participated in the study. The low response rate and over-representation of research only academics limit the extent of generalization of the findings. Originality/value – This is the first study on the use of e-books among academics in the Faculty of Medicine – comprising nearly 64 per cent of all UNSW academic staff. The findings highlight the extent of e-books used by medical academics and their enthusiasm for access to digital resources. There is also the suggestion that the library must continue to develop services to ensure delivery of task-compatible e-books to medical academics in increasingly mobile environments.
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Merkley, Cari. "First Year University Students Arrive with Some Search Skills, But Struggle with Scholarly Sources." Evidence Based Library and Information Practice 9, no. 2 (June 23, 2014): 22. http://dx.doi.org/10.18438/b88c9f.
Full textAbstract:
A Review of:
Salisbury, F., & Karasmanis, S. (2011). Are they ready? Exploring student information literacy skills in the transition from secondary to tertiary education. Australian Academic & Research Libraries, 42(1), 43-58.
Objective – To determine what existing information literacy skills first year students possess upon entering university.
Design – Quantitative survey questionnaire.
Setting – A research university in Australia.
Subjects – 1,029 first year students in the health sciences.
Methods – First year students enrolled in the health sciences were asked to complete a paper questionnaire in their first week of classes in 2009. The 20 question survey was distributed in student tutorial groups. The first 10 questions collected information on student demographics, expected library use, and existing information seeking behaviour. The remaining 10 questions tested students’ understanding of information literacy concepts. Data collected from the survey were analyzed using the statistical software SPSS.
Main Results – Most of the students who responded to the questionnaire were between the ages of 16 and 21 (84.3%) with only 2.2% over the age of 40. Approximately 15% of respondents had completed some postsecondary university or vocational education prior to enrolling in their current program.
The students ranked Google, a friend, and a book as the top three places they would go to find information on something they knew little about. Google was also the most popular choice for finding a scholarly article (35% of respondents), followed by the library catalogue (21%).
A large proportion of students correctly answered questions relating to identifying appropriate search terms. For example, one third of the students selected the correct combination of search concepts for a provided topic, and 77% identified that the choice of search phrase could negatively impact search results. Students also demonstrated prior knowledge of the Boolean operator AND, with 38% correctly identifying its use in the related question. Most students were also able to identify key markers of a website’s credibility.
Questions relating to ethical information use and scholarly literature proved more challenging. Almost half (45%) of the students said that they did not know the characteristics of a peer reviewed journal article. Twenty five percent of respondents indicated that citing an information source was only necessary in the case of direct quotes, with only 28% correctly identifying the need for citing both quotes and paraphrasing. Only 23% were able to select the example of a journal citation from the list presented.
Conclusion – Students enter university with existing strengths in concept identification and basic search formulation, but require the most assistance with locating and identifying scholarly literature and how to cite it appropriately in their work. The findings will inform the development of an online information literacy assessment tool to assist incoming students in identifying areas where they may require additional support as they transition to university.
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Hey Tow, William Newk-Fon, Peter Dell, and John Venable. "Understanding Information Disclosure Behaviour in Australian Facebook Users." Journal of Information Technology 25, no. 2 (June 2010): 126–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/jit.2010.18.
Full textAbstract:
The advent of social networking websites presents further opportunities for criminals to obtain information for use in identity theft, cyber-stalking, and worse activities. This paper presents research investigating why users of social networking websites willingly disclose personal information and what sorts of information they provide (or not). The study employed an ethnographic approach of participation in the online community and interviews of community members, combined with a quantitative survey. The findings show that users are often simply not aware of the issues or feel that the risk to them personally is very low. The paper develops a preliminary theoretical model to explain the information disclosure phenomenon. It further recommends that government agencies or social networking websites themselves conduct campaigns to inform the public of these issues and that social networking websites consider removing some facilities. The study was conducted in an Australian context and focussed on the popular Facebook website.
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Kennan, Mary Anne, Sheila Corrall, and Waseem Afzal. "“Making space” in practice and education: research support services in academic libraries." Library Management 35, no. 8/9 (November 10, 2014): 666–83. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/lm-03-2014-0037.
Full textAbstract:
Purpose – How academic libraries support the research of their parent institutions has changed as a result of forces such as changing scholarly communication practices, technological developments, reduced purchasing power and changes in academic culture. The purpose of this paper is to examine the professional and educational implications of current and emerging research support environments for academic libraries, particularly with regard to research data management and bibliometrics and discuss how do professionals and educators “make space” as new service demands arise? Design/methodology/approach – The present paper uses data from a recent survey of research support provision by academic libraries in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Ireland, (authors 2013), and provides additional in depth analysis of the textual responses to extend the analysis in the light of forces for change in higher education. The original online questionnaire surveyed current and planned research support in academic libraries, and constraints or support needs related to service developments. It was distributed to 219 institutions in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and Ireland, and obtained 140 valid responses (response rate of 63.9 percent). Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics with thematic categorization and coding for the textual responses. Findings – Most academic libraries surveyed are already providing or planning services in the focal areas of bibliometrics and data management. There was also increasing demand for other research support services, not the focus of the study, such as eresearch support, journal publishing platforms, and grant writing support. The authors found that while many academic libraries perceive increasing research support services as a “huge opportunity” they were constrained by gaps in staff skills, knowledge, and confidence and resourcing issues. With regard to staff education and training, it was reported they require a broader understanding of the changing research and scholarly landscape, the research cultures of different disciplines, and technological change. There was a near-universal support for development of more comprehensive, specialized, LIS education to prepare professionals for broader research support roles. Originality/value – This further analysis of the implications of our survey in relation to influences such as economics, academic culture, technology, raises questions for both educators and practitioners about the future direction of the profession and how the authors collectively “make space” as new potential services arise.
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Shanahan, Madeleine. "Radiation therapists and the Internet: a perspective from Australia." Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice 8, no. 3 (September 2009): 137–46. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1460396909006682.
Full textAbstract:
AbstractThe Internet is an important information source for health practitioners; yet little is known of how radiation therapists (RTs) are currently using this vast information resource for their professional learning. In 2007, a four-page postal survey was sent to a random sample of 1,142 Medical Radiation Science practitioners with a response rate of 32.8%, which included 76 RTs. This paper reports and analyses the questionnaire responses from RTs on the use of the Internet to update their professional knowledge and issues affecting accessibility to the Internet in the workplace. This research provides an initial data set on the professional use of Internet-based tools and resources by Australian RTs. It has been shown that the Internet is an important information source widely used by RTs as they search the Internet (89%), access specific web pages (85%), use e-mail (84%) and listservs (49%) to update their professional knowledge. Although all RTs reported Internet access within their workplace, a number of factors have been identified which at present limit accessibility of current quality health and medical information through the Internet to RTs. A large number of RTs were unaware of Internet-based resources, such as Cochrane Library (48%) and GoogleScholar (42%), which support evidence-based practice (EBP) and research. RTs in teaching environments had greater access to computers with Internet access than their colleagues in non-teaching environments (p = 0.044). More RTs in the private sector (22%) reported they had ‘no’ access to the Internet in their workplace than their public sector colleagues (4%, p = 0.037). In addition, RTs in metropolitan workplaces had greater access to protected time during work hours for professional reading or study than their non-metropolitan colleagues (p = 0.000). These issues of non-uniformity of resources across workplaces and knowledge gaps within the profession must be addressed so that all RTs can avail themselves of high quality resources available through the Internet that support them in implementing EBP and meeting the mandatory requirement of updating their professional knowledge.