Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Swinburne University of Technology ;Library'

Magister Bibliothecologiae - MBibl
The purpose of this project was to investigate job satisfaction at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology Library (CPUT). Academic libraries throughout the world and in South Africa have undergone massive change in the last few years. CPUT Library is the result of the merger of two technikon libraries in 2005. The study aimed to investigate the impact of the merger on staff job satisfaction. If libraries are to meet the challenges of change, they need satisfied and committed staff. This dissertation project is framed by two closely related models in human resources management, namely Herzberg‟s two factor theory of motivation and Hackman and Oldham‟s Job Characteristics Model (JCM). Questionnaires were used to gather data from 91 library staff in CPUT. A total of 44 responded. The survey identified areas of satisfaction and dissatisfaction among staff and the impact of the merger on staff who were employed before 2005. The study finds that 66% report overall job satisfaction with strong satisfaction with the work itself and the sense of accomplishment it brings. The majority of library staff is dissatisfied with promotion prospects and work distribution. Despite the years of restructuring, there are several comments on library structures. The need for more participative style of management and clear reporting structures are mentioned. The four questions on respondents‟ future plans reveal that affective commitment to the institution is not very high. Respondents like their work but 48% say they would accept a job outside the CPUT Library and only 50% claim to be proud to say they work at CPUT Library, with another 27% neutral. There are mixed findings on the impact of the merger, which might well be connected to the lack of institutional commitment. Only 50% of respondents who were at CPUT before the merger claim to be more satisfied now than before it. And the open-ended questions uncover the challenges in building or rebuilding a sense of belonging.

Mobile digital library service could make students’ lives easier and may help academic libraries to enhance their image by offering their services through smartphones, which are very popular among students nowadays. However, the literature lacks a comprehensive theoretical framework to understand factors affecting the adoption of such a service. This research focused on factors affecting the intention to use a mobile digital library within the context of the UAE and explored features and services that would encourage students to adopt such technology. The research design considered users’ perspectives, comprised a number of phases and employed mixed methods. The first phase involved designing a preliminary prototype and framework based on the literature and the technology acceptance model (TAM). This prototype was used in the second (exploratory) phase as a stimulus material when students and librarians were interviewed in 10 focus groups. Based on their comments and views, factors that affect their intention were explored and hypotheses were generated. This exploratory phase allowed the development of a theoretical framework for mobile digital library adoption. Focus group results, card sorting methodology and usability testing produced a final prototype that was sent to all students at Zayed University within UAE with an experiential online questionnaire through e-mail. This testing phase was conducted to test the hypotheses and confirm the importance of the same factors extracted in the second phase. The results obtained from the 211 respondents supported a number of paths in the proposed theoretical framework. First, Perceived usefulness, Perceived ease of use, Mobile and web experience, Distinctiveness/prestige, and Trust were found significantly affecting the Behaviour intention directly. Second, Mobility, Library assistance, Interface design, and Social influence were found to affect the intention to use indirectly through Perceived ease of use. Finally, the relationship between Perceived ease of use and Perceived usefulness was found significant. The results lead for producing a final framework for mobile digital library acceptance consisting of seven external factors falling in the three general categories: interface characteristics, personal characteristics and system characteristics. It consists of Interface design, Social influence, Mobility, Library assistance, Distinctiveness/prestige, Mobile and web search experience and Perceived trust. This research contributed in understanding factors affecting mobile digital library adoption within the developing world.

Thesis (M.Inf) --University of Limpopo, 2019.
The use of social media (SM) tools in both public and private institutions is growing remarkably. Academic libraries, in particular are confronted with serious challenges of becoming the leader in adopting various SM platforms to enhance the delivery of library and information services to their users. This study investigated the extent and ways in which librarians attached to the University of Limpopo library use SM platforms in the provision of library and information services to their patrons. The study examined types of SM tools used, purposes that SM tools are used for in academic libraries, factors that determine and impede the use of SM, as well as the attitudes of the library staff towards the use of SM in providing library and information services. The study adopted a qualitative research approach through the use of a semi-structured interview (administered face-to-face) with 10 academic librarians at the University of Limpopo (UL) as a data collection method. The findings of the study show that UL library staff largely use SM platforms such as Facebook to market and promote library services as well as Library-Blog to liaise with the schools or faculties. The study further revealed that librarians at UL are not in charge of SM applications. Instead the Marketing and Communication Department administrator is responsible for the management of SM in the university. The study notes that library personnel are aware of various SM platforms. Therefore, it has a direct influence on their use in work-related tasks. Moreover, the ease of use, low cost, high demand and usefulness of SM applications are contributory factors which motivated the librarians to want to use it. The study further reveals factors that inhibit the effective use of these applications and recommends that library management should create SM policies to boost the effective use of SM for the benefit of library patrons.

Current trends in libraries especially in the academic library require remote and boundary less access to library services. Mobile technology has been recognised as the single most embraced technology in the world. Implementing this technological innovation will bring a lot of relief to students in University of Cape Coast and the University community in general. The study attempts to investigate the preparedness of University of Cape Coast Library to implement mobile technology-based library service. The pilot study involved six management members from the library and fifteen students comprising ten undergraduate and five postgraduate students. Interview guide was used as a tool for data collection. The interview guide was grouped under four headings: perception of mobile library service on campus, students' proficiency and strategies for successful implementation and imminent challenges. The data collected was qualitative in nature. The study shows that majority of the students possess more than one smartphone. A finding is that the use of these smartphone goes beyond receiving and making calls and texting. Management members of the library expressed their willingness, showed maximum support and readiness to have such facility in the library. After the study, it was recognised that: 1. Almost every student had at least one mobile device which is a smartphone and can be used to access library service. 2. Though proficiency level among students was high, there would still be the need for library management to train users to fully appreciate the use of these gadgets in accessing library services. 3. Students and management expressed their willingness to patronise such services. They also showed positive perception regarding mobile phone based library services. The recommendation made after the study was that students should be educated to know the benefits that come with the use of mobile device to access library services while library personnel should be adequately trained for such services. Management should allocate more resources for successful implementation the resources.
Mini Dissertation (MIT)--University of Pretoria, 2017.
Information Science
MIT
Unrestricted

Includes bibliographical references.
As libraries are in the transition of moving from print to electronic resources, the purpose of the study was to investigate the use and value of library's e-resources by academics and postgraduates at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). There is evidence from previous studies that today's users have their information needs met via a number of options. They need not physically come to the library; they can stay at home or at their offices to access e-resources. The study focused on the use and value of the library's e-resources in two departments (Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering and Mechanical Engineering) in the Faculty of Engineering. The main aim was to determine whether academics and postgraduates use e-resources, the purpose for which they used e-resources in the process of teaching, learning and research, the extent to which they were aware of the e-resources, the value they regarded as the benefit from using e-resources and the problems they encountered in their use of e-resources. The study population consisted of 251 academics and postgraduates. A questionnaire was used as data collection instrument. The questionnaire was distributed to 82 academics, 135 MTech and 34 DTech students. The results of the study are based on the data from 60 returned questionnaires from academics and postgraduates. The study found that the majority of the respondents used e-resources, but a few respondents did not use e-resources because they were not aware of them. Respondents who used e-resources used them for a variety of purposes, including gathering information for a specific topic; doing literature reviews, getting answers to specific questions, and gaining general information. The study also encountered respondents who had problems when using e-resources. These problems included internet connections, slow downloading of articles; time constraints and the need for training in the use of e-resources. The majority of respondents from the study thought that they benefited from using the library's e-resources.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD (Library and Information Studies)
The study examined the availability of e-resources in the Ibrahim Babangida Library at Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola (MAUTECH) focusing to integrate e-resources in a dedicated portal for easy access. The study was motivated by the Nigerian vision 20:2020 and the trend in 21st century academic libraries to offer electronic resources and services to meet users? demands and use of technology. Mixed methods were sequential, concurrent, conversion and integrated approaches used. A descriptive case study approach was employed. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Diffusion of Innovation (DoI) theories framed the study. Based on these, a conceptual framework was constructed. To achieve triangulation, questionnaires, interviews and scanning of library portals were used to gather both quantitative and qualitative data. Academics, students, academic librarians, and information and communication technology experts acted as participants. Findings reflected low use of the Ibrahim Babangida Library, dissatisfaction with the quality and quantity of the library collection, insufficient and unreliable Internet access on campus, limited information literacy education, familiarity and utilization of e-resources due to flexibility and easy access to academic information, need for digitisation of library resources and the need for a dedicated library portal. The study recommends, amongst others, information literacy education for students and academics, subscription to full-text databases, provision of sufficient and free Internet access, e-resource and e-services policies, and establishing a consortium with other Nigerian academic libraries. The outcome of the study was a designed, established and functioning library portal based on the input of all the stakeholders of the MAUTECH community.

Thesis (M. Eng.)--Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, June 2011.
"June 2011." Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 75-79).
For this project, N-terminal and C-terminal peptide library fusions were designed,bconstructed, and screened in order to improve the repression achievable with a novel gene regulatory system. This system, based on the interaction between proteins and proteinbinding RNA aptamers, takes advantage of the reversible interaction between TetR and its RNA aptamer binding partner 5-1.2 to modulate gene expression. With no tetracyclines present, TetR preferentially binds to aptamer 5-1.2 in the mRNA of a gene of interest with low nanomolar affinity and represses translation. Tetracyclines such as aTc induce a conformation change in TetR, prevent TetR binding to aptamer 5-1.2, and induce gene expression. Therefore, TetR binds aptamer 5-1.2 in an aTc-dependent manner, allowing inducible control of gene expression through the TetR-aptamer system. Initial characterization showed a regulatory range of 78% or approximately 5 fold in S. cerevisiae. The aim of this project is to improve repression levels achievable with the TetR-aptamer system by creating libraries of N-terminal and C-terminal peptide fusions to TetR and screening for increased repression in S. cerevisiae. The N-terminal and C-terminal library fusions were constructed from synthesized oligonucleotide fragments and a baseline TetR vector containing library insertions sites at both the N-terminal and C-terminal ends. The library fragments contain 20 random amino acids and a standard SSG linker peptide flanked by both single-cutting restriction enzyme sites and 40 bases of homology to the library insertion sites on the baseline TetR vector, allowing for construction by both restriction/ligation cloning in bacteria and yeast homologous recombination. Both libraries were constructed using restriction/ligation cloning after initial experiments determined optimized conditions for PCR, digest, purification, ligation, and electrocompetent bacterial transformation to achieve a maximum efficiency, fidelity, and purity. The N-terminal and C-terminal libraries produced have a combined diversity of 2.5x 105 variants. These library variants were screened using a plate-based assay with URA3 as a reporter gene. A selection with 5-fluoroorotic acid (5-FOA) was performed to identify library variants with improved repression. Since 5-FOA is a competitive inhibitor of URA3, cells that have URA3 expression cannot live on media containing 5-FOA. Preliminary experiments determined that 0.035% 5-FOA is the threshold for growth for the baseline
(cont.) TetR-aptamer system. Library variants containing 5-1.2-URA3 were grown on media containing a gradient of 5-FOA concentrations between 0.03% and 0.06% and compared to baseline TetR growth. Thirty-one library variants grew at a 5-FOA concentration greater than the baseline threshold for growth. These library hits underwent testing to further characterize their repression, inducibility, and library sequence. The 31 colony hits were streaked on discrete concentrations of 5- FOA to determine colony-specific 5-FOA thresholds and on uracil dropout media in the presence and absence of aTc to screen for preserved inducibility. Of the original 31 colonies, 25 passed both plate assays, growing on 0.045% 5-FOA and in a Tc-dependent manner on uracil dropout media. These 25 colonies were sequenced and analyzed using MEME to detect any conserved motifs. Twenty of the 25 sequenced colonies contained correct and unique libraries, 3 with N-terminal libraries and 17 with C-terminal libraries. Both the N-terminal and C-terminal library sequences had significant motifs. For the Nterminal sequences, all three contained the same 14 nucleotide motif, and 16 of the 17 Cterminal sequences also contained a 21 nucleotide motif. However, the unbiased selection for improved TetR functionality likely returned hits that use multiple mechanisms of action to enhance repression. Therefore, out of a diverse library pool containing 2.5x 105 variants, 20 unique library variants conferred increased repression on the TetR-aptamer system while maintaining inducibility in the presence of tetracycline.
by Jessica Karen Wong.
M.Eng.

This mini-dissertation reports on the guidelines for digitisation that were developed for the University of Zimbabwe Library. A literature study and an empirical investigation were done in order to come up with the guidelines. The literature study was primarily used to inform the researcher on those aspects of digitisation for which guidelines could be developed. A qualitative research design was adopted in this study. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from five South African institutions that are involved in digitisation. Digitisation managers from the five institutions were interviewed in this study. The data from the interviews and the literature study were used to come up with the proposed guidelines for digitisation at the University of Zimbabwe Library. The guidelines that were developed as a result of this study specifically address digitisation standards and best practices, technologies for digitisation, costs and sustainability of digitisation, intellectual property issues, steps in digitisation, challenges in digitisation and the selection of materials for digitisation. Although some of the respondents expressed that digitisation can be used as a sustainable method of preservation, this research could not demonstrate that current practices would be reliable in the long term.
Mini Dissertation (MIT)--University of Pretoria, 2014.
Information Science
MIT

Magister Artium - MA
Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) continue to have a major influence in the promotion and dissemination of information, which has and continues to shape new realities of virtual campuses and virtual libraries, thus allowing students access to information and encouraging participation. This study aims to investigate the impact of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) on academic library services provision and operations, as well as how this has influenced the use of library information resources by undergraduate and postgraduate students at the university. The objectives of the research were to: assess the impact of ICTs on academic library operations and the academic librarians’ functions, assess how ICTs have influenced undergraduate and postgraduate students’ use of library information resources, identify the challenges of ICT-based library operations and services; and identify how conventional library and information services can be delivered more efficiently through ICTs.
2022

Magister Artium - MA
Academic libraries in the economically developed countries have taken the lead in adopting and appropriating various social media platforms to enhance services offered to their patrons. However, there are many unanswered questions on how libraries in the economically developing countries of the South, Africa in particular, are using social media in their service delivery, as well as in the personal lives of their librarians. Against this backdrop, this study investigated how librarians at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), South Africa and the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Zimbabwe deploy and appropriate social media technologies. It examined the familiarity, benefits, challenges as well as the factors shaping and constraining the use of social media by academic librarians in the two institutions. In doing so, the study adopted the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) by Fred Davis (1989) as its conceptual framework. Methodologically, the study deployed a Web-based questionnaire (administered via e-mail) with 59 academic librarians at UWC and 40 academic librarians at NUST. To ensure the validity of the study the questionnaire was pretested among a few librarians at the NUST. The findings of the study show that UWC librarians are more adept at appropriating social media applications than NUST librarians. The study further revealed that UWC librarians are directly in charge of managing social media whereas at NUST the Information Technology (IT) department is responsible for managing the applications. Similarly, while UWC Library largely uses social media for marketing their services, NUST library uses the platforms for reference services. The study also notes that there is a thin line between personal and professional uses of social media. In particular, personal uses of the platforms have a direct influence on their use in work-related contexts. Some of the motivating factors for the use of social media by librarians across both universities are: patron demand, low cost, ease of use and functionality. The study also highlights the factors militating against the effective use social media and recommends that library management for both institutions should put in place supportive policies to encourage their effective use for the benefit of service users.

The study investigates the role of CPUT libraries in supporting research and how academics perceive this role. CPUT is a new university of technology and aims at improving its research record. Research is crucial to South Africa to develop economically, socially and to compete globally. Research is fundamental to the existence of universities. Universities of technology libraries face the challenge of providing support for research. Previously the colleges / technikon libraries provided support for undergraduate and underdiplomates only. Today, they have to provide support for researchers at masters, doctoral, and post-doctoral levels.

University students in Zimbabwe lack immediate access to accurate health information. There is lack of explicit and integrated structures for disseminating health information to students in Zimbabwe. This inductive study proposes a needs-based, integrated information dissemination framework for promoting health amongst students at the National University and Science and Technology (NUST). The study assessed the health information needs of students and evaluated existing health information dissemination methods at NUST in developing a framework for disseminating health information. The study is informed by the Salutogenetic Theory of health which culminated into an integrated theoretical framework that combines information dissemination and behaviour change theories. A case study strategy was used to gather data within the pragmatic paradigm of grounded constructivism. The population comprised of undergraduate students, the Dean of Students, the Student Counsellor, and the Nursing Sister. Within-method triangulation with complementary data gathering instruments was used to improve reliability of data. Questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions were used to gather data. A sample of 426 students and 3 members of staff participated in the study. Qualitative and quantitative content analysis was used to determine the confounding factors that informed the design of the framework. The data was supplemented with health information dissemination principles and procedures drawn from literature. The findings reveal that students need health information on a wide range of health topics. Students prefer mobile electronic media, workshops, qualified health professionals, and peers for their health needs. There are significant gaps between the strategies that are being used by NUST to disseminate health information and the health information needs of the students. The university is using traditional information dissemination media and channels that are not in line with the needs of the students. NUST needs to use more interactive and ICT based information dissemination methods. There is also a need for staff recruitment, training and infrastructural development. The proposed framework emphasizes the need for integration of activities, a viable policy, health information literacy training and the use of a mix of persuasion techniques.

The overall objective of this thesis work is to seek current and potential attractive quality of the career service of Library and Learning Resource in University college of Borås (HB), and try to make students know and experience the career service on their own initiative.First objective is the evaluation and assessment of the current quality work of career service. The main quality evaluation emphasizes on the career service awareness and its communication channels.After reviewing the current situation of the career service in the context of LLR in HB, identifying possible existing problems, and developing a Kano questionnaire to examine some question areas, the authors will offer some recommendations and suggestions for improvement. For this purpose, recommendation concerning communication channels and a specific PDSA approach will be developed with some detailed descriptions of items involved in this approach which will be reviewed.In order to reach to the objectives of this thesis work, the authors will use primary data in the form of interviews, and secondary data from literatures, scientific articles, and books and WebPages. In addition, the authors will use experiment methodology within this research and provide a PDSA solution which can facilitate LLR of HB to improve the quality of its career service.

Published Article
The purpose of this research was to investigate the perceptions of clients namely, students, about the quality of library services and also the quality of staff client relationship. It was envisaged that through this study the perceptions, feelings and views of students in as far as their needs satisfaction could be illuminated. The study addressed the following concerns: Apart from the physical and other library resources, are there other mechanisms of evaluating the quality of services an academic library has to offer? In order for an academic library to improve service quality, what role should clients play? What are their concerns about their information needs consideration and what other possible means can be done to satisfy those needs?

Excerpt: Having the skills and knowledge to adequately respond to technology-based information demands has never been more important. When the library at East Tennessee State University was opened in 1999, it was the first new academic building that had been constructed on the campus in a number of years.

ABSTRACT This study focuses on the role of the academic library in supporting distance education through the use of information and communication technology, focusing on the Open University of Tanzania. The study entailed a number of objectives: To examine the information and computer mediated library services needed by the distant learners at the Open University of Tanzania Library, to find out the perceived quality of services offered by the Open University of Tanzania Library to support distance education through the use of ICT, to find out the extent to which the academic libraries embrace/apply ICT to offer library services, to examine the challenges encountered by the Open University of Tanzania Library to support distance education through the use of ICT and to suggest strategies that should be adopted to overcome the challenges at the Open University of Tanzania Library to support distance education through the use of ICT. As regards data collection, questionnaires and focus group interviews were used. The study used a sample of 100 out of 472 students from the faculty of education and 5 librarians out of 15 librarians. This included a total of 105 out of 487. The respondents to be selected included undergraduate and post graduate students. Data analysis involved a set of qualitative and quantitative methods. Qualitative data obtained from the study was coded and grouped into themes pertaining to the study questions, ideas, opinions and recommendations by the individuals. Findings indicate that there are issues that need to be addressed as regards the effective use of the internet in accessing information, the improvement of ICT related infrastructures, space in the library, and effective implementation of the policies in place to address the challenging issues. Moreover, findings suggest that there is a need to raise computer literacy among library users as well as encouraging inter-library loan among the academic libraries.
Mini Dissertation (MIT)--University of Pretoria, 2016.
CARNEGIE COOPERATION OF NEW YORK
Information Science
MIT
Unrestricted

The study sought to investigate the use of RFID technology as inventory control in academic libraries in South Africa, with a focus on the University of South Africa and the University of Fort Hare libraries. The objectives of the study were to describe the current inventory control practices at the libraries of the University of South Africa and the University of Fort Hare in order to determine the infrastructure required for the use of RFID for inventory control for the University of Fort Hare’s libraries; to evaluate the benefits of RFID technologies, in order to gain a competitive advantage for the University of South Africa’s and the University of Fort Hare’s libraries; to identify the challenges associated with adopting RFID technology, as experienced by the libraries of the University of South Africa and the University of Fort Hare. The study adopted both the quantitative and qualitative research approaches. The researcher followed a rigorous methodological path that began with a thorough literature review coupled with the careful and thoughtful posing of research questions and objectives. A purposive sample of forty (40) respondents was selected from the library staff from both the University of South Africa and University of Fort Harelibraries. The collected data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences 23 (SPSS 23) and Microsoft Excel 2010. The findings of the study revealed reasons for both academic libraries to invest in RFID technology; these reasons include RFID’s ability to deliver self-service options, inventory control, improved reader access and improved security. The challenges related to the implementation of RFID technology are also related to staff not being rewarded by library management for being innovative; the difficulty of staff learning new technology; the staff’s inability to generate new ideas for the library; and the staff not being able to share knowledge with each other. Further research needs to be conducted by library RFID vendors in order to meet the need, of academic libraries, for RFID inventory control. RFID hardware and software (API software) should be subjected to further investigation for the purposes of research and development. Libraries should work closer with RFID vendors so as to trial and test hardware and software.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD
This study investigated scholarly communication guidance as a core service by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana, academic library to doctoral students, research and scholarly communication needs and skills of doctoral students and effective dissemination of research findings by doctoral students for national development. The study also explored the adoption of a research portal as part of the academic library website for scholarly communication guidance to doctoral students. A case study research design with KNUST as research site, with a mixed method approach was used. Semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, documentary analysis and a bibliometric survey of an institutional repository were employed as data gathering tools. A scholarly communication guidance model based on Costa’s proposed adaption of Garvey and Griffin’s models of scholarly communication, Wilson’s information behaviour model and Bjôrk’s scholarly communication lifecycle model was developed to frame the study.

The aim of the research project is to investigate the effectiveness of an information literacy intervention for first year engineering students at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Information literacy has been identified as a necessary outcome of tertiary education. It refers to the life-long learning competencies of finding and using information in order to solve problems, to make decisions and to create new knowledge. Information literacy education has evolved from earlier forms of library user education, such as bibliographic instruction, and is central to the mission of academic libraries. However, librarians responsible for information literacy programmes seldom evaluate the effectiveness of their interventions. In today&rsquo
s climate of accountability and outcomes-based education, it is necessary to provide evidence of the benefits of the user education that libraries provide. The researcher uses the American College and Research Library (ACRL) Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education, which are internationally recognized and widely used by South African academic librarians, as a benchmark to evaluate an intervention for a group of first year students enrolled for a mechanical engineering course. The intervention consists of two workshops which aim to teach the students to find information relevant to their essays via the university&rsquo
s OPAC, various engineering databases and to teach them how to reference and cite their sources in their essays. The research methodology assessed students&rsquo
information literacy before and after the two workshops with the use of a questionnaire consisting of a set of questions based on some of the ACRL standards. The questionnaire also gathered data on students&rsquo
prior experience of libraries, reading and computers, which might impact on their information literacy...

This essay is about testing the validity of an article written by Jonas Löwgren, called The use qualities of digital design. The study we have executed is about testing the featured qualities of digital design in the article on two search systems located in the library of Stockholm University and Södertörn University respectively to see how they are able to be applied on search systems. To acquire the information for the study, we handed out a written inquire among users of those systems. The result of this quantitative study shows us that many that five of Löwgrens qualities is likely to be present on the systems. Our conclusion is that five of these are appliable on search systems. More research in the field is required to find out more about qualities of other systems.

Wie geht die Entwicklung der wissenschaftlichen Bibliotheken weiter? Diese Frage ist nicht erst seit heute in der Diskussion und wurde bereits vielfach mit Antworten versehen. Der Wandel der Gesellschaft und vor allem die technische Entwicklung erbringen in dieser Diskussion stets neue Aspekte und Strategien. Der Beitrag versucht nun eine Beantwortung dieser Frage aus Sicht der SLUB Dresden. Ausgehend von den bisherigen Erfahrungen und Lösungsszenarien in der nationalen Diskussion wird aufgezeigt, welche Schritte notwendig sind, um aktuelle Entwicklungen aktiv mit zu gestalten und neue Anregungen aufnehmen zu können. Der Wettbewerb mit anderen Informationsdienstleistern und die konsequente Orientierung auf Anforderungen aus Sicht des Benutzers sollten Kriterien sein, die die Entwicklung innovativer Angebote initiieren. Der Wandel in Gesellschaft und Bibliothek ist gestaltbar und muss als Chance und nicht als Bedrohung wahrgenommen werden
What is to be expected from the development of libraries in the future? This question has already been discussed frequently and numerous answers have been proffered, but changes in society and developments in information technologies continually give rise to new discussions, new answers and new strategies. This article tackles the question from the viewpoint of the SLUB in Dresden. The necessary steps for active shaping of the current development and for the evolution of new ideas will be shown on the basis of previous experience from the national discussion and the scenarios for solutions. The competition with other suppliers of information and orientation to real needs of library users should be criteria for the elaboration of innovative services. The changes in society, as well as their effects for the libraries, must be viewed as a chance rather than a threat

Information technology gradually started to play a major role in the service rendering of academic libraries since 1994. Large amounts of money became necessary to enable libraries to provide the latest formats of information sources, as well as access to quality electronic databases. Prices of printed information sources also increased dramatically over recent years, along with a high South African inflation rate. Government subsidies for academic institutions also started to decline annually (De Kock, 1997). User needs, and information seeking patterns of library users also changed over recent years because of major information technology developments. Many authors performed studies on changing user needs in recent years, of which five were chosen to form the basis of this study. It became of utmost importance for libraries to monitor user needs regularly, to be able to identify changing needs and expectations. This will enable academic libraries with tight budgets to render more relevant and appropriate information services to specific user groups. Research procedures and methodology: A literature study was done in order to determine which information rendering models currently exist, as well as to find prior research on the information needs of engineers. This was followed by a qualitative study by means of semi-structured interviews. Personal interviews is a flexible method. which enables the researcher to ask follow-up questions, as well as to ask respondents to explain certain issues in detail (Huysamen, 1993 :15 1). The interview schedule contained thirty-three questions, based on eleven theoretical hypotheses constructed throughout the study. The following engineering departments were included in this study: Electronics, Applied Electronics & Electronic communication, Process instrumentation and Control, Power, Mechanical, Civil & Building, Metallurgy, Industrial & Production, and Computer Systems engineering. The aim of the study: This study is aimed at determining the information needs of engineering lecturers in particular, and also to determine if the Gold Fields library currently satisfies their information needs. All engineering lecturers have access to electronic databases as well as internet from their offices, and in many cases don't need to make use the physical library building any more. This study aims at finding out what their current information needs are, and which avenues they are currently being used to acquire relevant subject related information. Lecturers will also be probed about the role of the Gold Fields Library in their information needs. Conclusion: This study reveals that the information needs of engineering lecturers revolve primarily around their personal research interests, as well as changing lecturing methods. Printed and electronic information sources are currently complementing each other, and in no way is one replacing the other. This study also showed that the Gold Fields Library is currently not satisfying engineering lecturer's information needs, with specific reference to the intranet; some printed and electronic resources; training on electronic databases; packaging of information; personalized information services, and the subject knowledge of information librarians. Engineering lecturers were satisfied with the following: information interviews conducted by information librarians; personal attributes of information librarians; information technology competency of information librarians, and ethics. It became evident that the Gold Fields Library should consider certain changes and expansions to the information services currently rendered to engineering lecturers.
Thesis (M.Bibl.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

Trata esta Tese do Plano Nacional de Bibliotecas Universitárias, inserido nos contextos de desenvolvimento de políticas econômica, educacional e de ciência e tecnologia ocor-rida no Brasil na segunda metade do século XX. Tem por objetivo principal analisar historicamente o Plano Nacional de Bibliotecas Universitárias (PNBU - 1986) como planejamento para a biblioteca universitária como instrumento político para o desenvol-vimento científico e tecnológico do Brasil na década de 1980. Os recursos metodológi-cos empregados foram: a pesquisa documental, descritiva, e para análise, o Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo. Esta política para biblioteca universitária brasileira resultou da prática científica desenvolvida no Seminário Nacional de Bibliotecas Universitárias (SNBU), considerando uma conjuntura de contextos favoráveis associados a atores (indivíduos e instituições), que ao examinarem a realidade da biblioteca universitária e constatarem que a mesma não atendia, de forma eficiente, à demanda informacional dos pesquisado-res nas Universidades, propuseram e executaram uma nova arquitetura organizacional para a biblioteca universitária transformando-a em centro de excelência para informação científica nas Universidades brasileiras. Criado em 1986 com 12 diretrizes e 46 ações o Plano Nacional de Bibliotecas Universitárias (PNBU – 1986) modernizou a biblioteca universitária transformando-a num espaço de democratização do conhecimento científi-co e tecnológico, sendo considerada, uma inovação para o planejamento bibliotecário do Brasil contemporâneo; ABSTRACT: This work talks about the National Universities Libraries Plan inserted in the contexts of development of economic policies, educational, science and tecnology occurred in the second half of the twentieth century. It has as main aim to analize historically the Na-tional Universities Libraries Plan (PNBU- 1986) as a planning for university library as a political instrument to scientific and tecnological development from Brazil in the 1980s. The methodological resources employed were: a descriptive documental research and to analize the Discourse of Colective Subject, this policy for Brazilian university library resulted of practice developed in National Universities Libraries Seminar (SNBU) , considering a conjuncture of favorable contexts, associated to actors (individuals and institutions), that on examining the reality of university library and verified that it did not correspond to the informational demand of researchers in universities, it proposed and executed a new organizational architecture for university library transforming it in centre of excellence for scientific information in Brazilian universities. Created in 1986 with 12 guidelines and 46 actions, The National Universities Library Plan (PNBU- 1986) modernized the university library transforming it in space of democratization of scientific and technological knowledge, being considered an innovation for librarian planning of contemporary Brazil.

Case study on the Central Library (BC) of Libraries Integrated Nucleus from the Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA/NIB) with the purpose of analyzing the transformation that have occurred in the work of the librarians in face of the implementation of the new information technology SIG- Modules SIPAC and SIGAA in BC of NIB/UFMA. The chosen population for the development of the research was concentrated in 12 (twelve) librarians that develop their activities in the sectors: control service and formation of collection (SCFA), technical processes service (SPT), and bibliographical information service (SIB). The data were collected through interviews and documentary research that subsidized the analysis of the results. The theoretical framework of the study talked about the information technology and its implications on the work processes of the enterprises and libraries; the evolution of the libraries and university libraries and; the work processes in the context of the world of work, work in libraries and the relationship with the information technology. The analysis of the data showed that the work processes of the BC librarians have become as a result of the implementation of this new technology, bringing consequences in the forms of execution of the tasks, leading them to adapt and create new ways for the development of their activities, in order to correspond to the demands generated. Detach that the introduction of the new technologies allowed to the librarians and the manager of the library a greater control over the work and caused even greater accessibility and visibility of library services to the academic community. Propose actions for adequacy of the work processes of the librarians, that converge with the new technologies. It is concluded that the use of the new information technology SIG- Modules SIGAA and SIPAC by NIBUFMA, brought transformation in the work processes of the librarians, affecting the daily practices, mainly because these professionals were already trained and accustomed to acting with the previous technology that used some manual routines combined with mechanical technologies.
Estudo de caso na Biblioteca Central (BC) do Núcleo Integrado de Bibliotecas da Universidade Federal do Maranhão (NIB/UFMA) com o objetivo de analisar as transformações ocorridas nos processos de trabalho dos bibliotecários em face da implementação da nova tecnologia de informação SIG Módulos SIPAC e SIGAA na BC do NIB/UFMA. A população escolhida para o desenvolvimento da pesquisa foi concentrada em 12 (doze) bibliotecários que desenvolvem suas atividades nos Setores: Serviço de Controle e Formação do Acervo (SCFA), Serviço de Processos Técnicos (SPT), e Serviço de Informações Bibliográfica (SIB). Os dados foram coletados por meio de questionário e pesquisa documental que subsidiaram a análise dos resultados. A fundamentação teórica do estudo abordou a tecnologia da informação e suas implicações nos processos de trabalho das organizações e das bibliotecas; a evolução das bibliotecas e das bibliotecas universitárias e; os processos de trabalho no contexto do mundo do trabalho, do trabalho em bibliotecas e a relação com a tecnologia da informação. A análise dos dados demonstrou que os processos de trabalho dos bibliotecários da BC se transformaram em decorrência da implantação dessa nova tecnologia, trazendo consequências nas formas de execução das tarefas, levando-os a adaptar e a criar novas maneiras para o desenvolvimento das suas atividades, no sentido de corresponder às demandas geradas. Destaca-se que a implantação das novas tecnologias proporcionou aos bibliotecários e à direção da biblioteca um maior controle sobre o trabalho e ocasionou, ainda, maior acessibilidade e visibilidade dos serviços da biblioteca à comunidade acadêmica. Propõem-se ações para adequação dos processos de trabalho dos bibliotecários, convergentes com as novas tecnologias. Conclui-se que a utilização da nova tecnologia de informação SIG - Módulos SIGAA e SIPAC pelo NIB/UFMA, trouxe transformações nos processos de trabalho dos bibliotecários, afetando as práticas cotidianas, principalmente porque esses profissionais já estavam qualificados e habituados a atuar com a tecnologia anterior, que utilizava algumas rotinas manuais combinadas com tecnologias mecânicas.

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A sociedade da informação no Brasil vem trazendo cada vez mais a inserção das tecnologias de informação e comunicação no contexto social, político e econômico. Essas tecnologias contribuem constantemente com a sociedade contemporânea e do mesmo modo que elas são modificadas pela sociedade, a sociedade é modificada por elas. Com a criação e desenvolvimento das universidades no Brasil, a biblioteca universitária se tornou um elemento primordial na disseminação da informação e do conhecimento científico, especialmente para a comunidade acadêmica e, nesse contexto, se beneficia do uso internet para dinamizar sua atuação. A questão que norteou o desenvolvimento da pesquisa consubstanciou-se no seguinte enunciado: os serviços oferecidos pelas bibliotecas universitárias brasileiras estão acordes ao que as TIC oferecem para otimizar o desempenho das instituições? Para responder a essa questão foi estabelecido como objetivo geral conhecer a disponibilidade dos serviços on-line oferecidos pelas bibliotecas universitárias brasileiras e sua relação com o nível de desenvolvimento das respectivas IES. Para cumprir os objetivos estabelecidos, adotou-se o método de estudo de múltiplos casos. A pesquisa se enquadrou no nível exploratório - descritivo e teve como base as abordagens quantitativa e qualitativa. A contextualização teórica e histórica foi realizada por meio de pesquisa bibliográfica e documental, em fontes impressas e eletrônicas, para encontrar fundamentos que sustentassem a convicção quanto à necessidade de atualização da biblioteca universitária. Logo, procedeu-se à identificação das universidades federais existentes nas capitais brasileiras, posteriormente, ao levantamento dos serviços virtuais e on-line ofertados por elas. E a seguir a identificação da coincidência da presença dessas universidades em rankings internacionais com sua respectiva oferta de serviços on-line. Os resultados evidenciaram que as universidades federais da região Norte ainda estão em processo inicial na disponibilização de produtos e serviços on-line. Nas regiões Centro-Oeste, Nordeste, Sudeste e Sul, a oferta de serviços é mais ampla e atual, o que atende em parte ao que as TIC oferecem, contudo apesar de disponibilizarem determinados serviços, constata-se que ainda há o que melhorar.
ABSTRACT The information society in Brazil is bringing more and more integration of information and communication technologies in social, political and economic context. These technologies contribute constantly with contemporary society and likewise they are modified by society, society is changed by them. With the creation and development of universities in Brazil, the university library has become a key element in the dissemination of information and scientific knowledge, especially for the academic community and, in this context, benefits of internet use to streamline its operations. The question that guided the development of the research embodied in the following statement: the services offered by Brazilian university libraries are the chords that ICT offers to optimize the performance of the institutions? To answer this question was established as a general objective to know the availability of the on-line services offered by Brazilian university libraries and its relationship with the level of development of their IES. To accomplish the goals set, we adopted the method of multiple case study. The research is framed in exploratory level - descriptive and was based on quantitative and qualitative approaches. The theoretical and historical contextualization was done through literature and desk research, print and electronic sources to find foundations that sustain the conviction on the need to update the university library. Therefore, we proceeded to identify the existing federal universities in Brazil's capital, later, the survey of virtual and on-line services offered by them. And then the identification of coincidence of the presence of these universities in international rankings in their respective offering on-line services. The results showed that the federal universities of the Northern region are still in the initial process in the provision of products and services on-line. In the Midwest, Northeast, Southeast and South, the supply of services is broader and present, which serves in part to ICTs offer, yet despite available certain services, it appears that there is still room for improvement.

Die SLUB Dresden verfügt über zahlreiche Titel zur Technikgeschichte und beginnt mit Unterstützung der DFG die Digitalisierung ausgewählter technikhistorischer Schriften aus dem 19. Jahrhundert. Diese werden frei im Netz angeboten. Bis 2011 werden so 3 500 Bände der Erscheinungsjahre 1801 bis 1870 digitalisiert und erschlossen. Auch die Digitalisierung der wichtigsten technikgeschichtlichen Zeitschrift des 19. Jahrhunderts, „Dinglers polytechnischem Journal“, ist als Kooperationsprojekt von der Humboldt-Universität Berlin und der SLUB abgeschlossen. Damit wird auch das Sondersammelgebiet Technikgeschichte an der SLUB Dresden wesentlich aufgewertet.

Aujourd’hui, les bibliothèques universitaires (BU) en Syrie sont confrontées à une évolution de leur environnement liée en grande partie à la mutation de l’enseignement supérieur et l’arrivée de nouvelles technologies. Ainsi, les BU se trouvent dans l’obligation de s’interroger sur la pertinence de leurs offres de services. En effet, les besoins et les attentes des universitaires ne sont plus les mêmes qu’auparavant. Ces bibliothèques doivent, par conséquent, suivre cette évolution et répondre à leurs nouveaux besoins pour pouvoir survivre dans un contexte où elles ne sont plus la seule source d’information. L’objectif de cette thèse est de contribuer à la réflexion sur l’adéquation entre l’offre et les besoins. Pour y parvenir, des enquêtes quantitative et qualitative ont été menées auprès d’étudiants, d’enseignants, de dirigeants et de bibliothécaires dans cinq universités syriennes. Cette enquête a été réalisée dans le but de connaître la situation actuelle des BU et des besoins informationnels de leurs publics. Nous avons, ensuite, élargi et diversifié la gamme de services proposés aux universitaires tout en partant de leurs besoins tant exprimés qu’implicites
Today, in Syria, university libraries are facing an actual change in their environment. This change is largely due to the evolution of higher education and the advent of new technologies. In this context, university libraries have to question the relevance of their services. Indeed, information needs have evolved and are no longer the same as before hence libraries need to adapt to evolution by meeting new needs in a context where they are no longer the only source of information. This thesis aims at contributing to reflection on adequacy between supply and service needs. To achieve this goal, a quantitative and a qualitative survey was conducted among students, professors, managers and librarians in Syria to have a clear understanding of the current situation of university libraries and information needs of their publics. We then expanded and diversified the group of services and provided the academics with the basis of their stated and implied needs

Die digitale Transformation der Wissenschaft (Open Science) sowie der Aufbau und die Etablierung von nachhaltigen Forschungsinformationsinfrastrukturen wird auf regionaler, nationaler und internationaler Ebene zunehmend forciert. Auch an der Technischen Universität Chemnitz bedeutet dies ein Umdenken im Umgang mit wissenschaftlichen Artefakten und umfasst sowohl die Erneuerung vorhandener Informationssysteme, innovative Methoden im vernetzten Austausch von Forschungsdaten als auch die frühzeitige Schulung von Endnutzern in diesen neuen Umgebungen. André Langer ist wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter an der Professur für Verteilte und Selbstorganisierende Rechnersysteme (Lehrstuhlinhaber: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Gaedke) und gibt in seinem Vortrag einen Einblick in die langfristige Strategie der Universität hin zu einer neuen Informationsumgebung, welche den interdisziplinären Austausch von Publikationen und Forschungsdaten fördert und durch die enge Zusammenarbeit verschiedener Professuren, der Universitätsbibliothek, dem Universitätsrechenzentrum und der Universitätsleitung an der TU Chemnitz gekennzeichnet ist.

In der Ausstellung „Bilder machen – Fotografie als Praxis“ stellt die Deutsche Fotothek der SLUB Dresden in Kooperation mit der Universitätssammlung Kunst+Technik die Fotografie als vielgestaltige kulturelle Praxis vor. Fast alle Exponate stammen von der Deutschen Fotothek, deren Bestand mehr als drei Mio. Aufnahmen umfasst. Die Ausstellung wird von einer öffentlichen Ringvorlesung begleitet, in der weitere Gebrauchsweisen der Fotografie in den Blick genommen werden. Außerdem ist ein Katalog erschienen, in dem die Themenbereiche vertieft werden.

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It proposes discursive administration in brazilian academic libraries which is considered a current forms of administration alternative. It discusses the main features of the information society and the technological developments and the impacts on education, especially in universities, to contextualize the changes in academic libraries. It presents main aspects of theories of Communicative Action and Discourse of Jürgen Habermas and the basic assumptions of discourse administration, from these theories. It addresses the management of academic libraries, based on the literature, aiming to show brief history on the subject. It presents the results of empirical research shown in the oral communications of the National Seminar of University Libraries in the years of 2004, 2008 and 2012 that report forms of administration used in these libraries. The results reveal that most forms of administration in that period is related to contemporary approaches in the area of administration, indicating linkage between this area and Librarianship; 36% of the universe analyzed come under some aspect, the focus on technology and 23% in the communicative approach; the administration discursive assumptions not identified the universe analyzed, and finally it suggests the predominance of instrumental rationality in these organizations. It presents general guidelines for discourse administration in brazilian university libraries in order to offer help to the managers of these libraries and to encourage reflection and debate on the administration of libraries in contemporary society
Propõe administração discursiva nas bibliotecas universitárias brasileiras, como alternativa às formas de administração vigentes. Discorre sobre as principais características da sociedade da informação, sobre a evolução tecnológica e os impactos na educação, especialmente nas universidades, para contextualizar as mudanças nas bibliotecas universitárias. Apresenta os aspectos principais das teorias do Agir Comunicativo e do Discurso de Jürgen Habermas bem como os pressupostos básicos da administração discursiva, a partir das teorias habermasianas. Aborda a administração das bibliotecas universitárias com base na literatura, visando a mostrar breve histórico sobre o tema. Expõe os resultados da pesquisa empírica realizada nas comunicações orais do Seminário Nacional de Bibliotecas Universitárias, nos anos de 2004, 2008 e 2012, que mostram as formas de administração utilizadas nessas bibliotecas. Os resultados revelam que a maioria das formas de administração contempladas na amostra tem relação com as abordagens contemporâneas da área de Administração, indicando vínculo entre essa área e a Biblioteconomia; que 36% do universo analisado contemplam, sob algum aspecto, o enfoque tecnológico, e 23%, o enfoque comunicacional; que os pressupostos da administração discursiva não são identificados no universo analisado; por fim, sugere predominância da racionalidade instrumental nessas organizações. Apresenta as diretrizes gerais para administração discursiva nas bibliotecas universitárias brasileiras, procurando auxiliar os gestores dessas bibliotecas e incentivar a reflexão e o debate sobre a administração das bibliotecas na sociedade contemporânea

This thesis reports findings from a survey comparing the use of internal and external information services by business persons in the City of Brisbane. The Business Information: an investigation of its sources and use survey was undertaken on behalf of Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Library's Expert Information Service. The study made steps towards the understanding of not only where information is currently sourced, but also why business people prefer the services they currently use to source their information needs. The study has corroborated previous studies into business people's use of information resources and has achieved a better understanding of information use patterns and the potential future role of libraries and library based Fee Based Information Service (FBIS) units. Comparative case studies were undertaken to understand the Australian FBIS environment. FBIS's have developed within the Australian library environment to serve the information needs of business people. They have also developed out of a drive to provide income generation, independent of government funding, for the library that establishes the FBIS. Libraries and FBIS units have resources and expertise of potential value to business people; however, business people still lack an awareness of available information services and resources in general, and specifically in libraries or FBIS units. The main findings of this survey are that: (1) Architects and Small Business Managers are primary markets for FBIS units; (2) The main sources of information currently accessed to make business decisions are internal information services and professional associations; (3) External information service units are favoured for their ability to provide information searching and patents & standards access; (4) The Internet is currently used more than any other electronic form of information resource and an increase is expected in daily and weekly use; (5) Information overload and a lack of time to search for information are major concerns to business people; (6) The majority of respondents have never used a library based FBIS; and (7) Almost 50% of business people report that they have difficulty with not having a budget to acquire information and approximately 35% have no authority to purchase information. Overall the findings suggest that FBIS units should aim to understand the commercial paradigm, providing accurate, timely and up-to-date information for their clients in the most convenient and specific manner possible. The research findings suggest a number of implications for practice for FBIS units, as well as for libraries in Australia.

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Programa de Apoyo a Estudiantes de Doctorado del Extranjero (PAEDEX) “AUIPUNESP”
Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)
Produto do amplo avanço no desenvolvimento de aplicativos e ferramentas para o uso nas bibliotecas percebe-se um notável aumento no nível de complexidade dos ambientes de informação destas instituições, o que desde a perspectiva da Arquitetura da Informação cria a necessidade de projetos de pesquisas mais apurados, e que visem melhorar os ambientes de informação das bibliotecas universitárias, tendo sempre como principal objetivo, favorecer as experiências dos usuários, e ajudá-los nos processos de encontrabilidade das informações pertinentes, no momento preciso e com a máxima qualidade possível. Estudos desenvolvidos na área da Ciência da Informação, da Biblioteconomia, e mais especificamente na área da Arquitetura da Informação têm realizado grandes esforços na busca de técnicas, métodos e ferramentas que permitam facilitar e aumentar para o usuário final, a tomada de melhores decisões em suas atividades diárias. No entanto, estes estudos demostram-se insuficientes na hora de antecipar-se às necessidades dos usuários e proporcionar a eles informações personalizadas que atendam seus gostos e preferências. Diante deste cenário, evidenciamos a necessidade de respostas para este fenômeno, encontrando na área da Ciência da Computação estudos sobre a personalização dos ambientes digitais (aplicados especificamente na área do e-commerce), por meio da incorporação de Sistemas de Recomendações, voltados para o alívio da carga informacional que recai sobre o usuário, e o aumento do serendipismo nos diferentes ambientes informacionais por meio de técnicas de filtragem da informação, que sugerem aos usuários recursos que possam vir a satisfazer suas necessidades. Surge assim a questão que norteia esta pesquisa: Como melhorar a Encontrabilidade da Informação nos espaços informacionais dos CRAI, a partir da inserção e uso dos Sistemas de Recomendação em projetos de Arquitetura da Informação? A fim de demostrar a importância dos estudos sobre esse tema desde a perspectiva da Biblioteconomia, definiu-se como objetivo principal a “Construção de um modelo teórico de Arquitetura da Informação com foco em Sistemas de Recomendação, visando aumentar a Encontrabilidade da Informação nos CRAI”. Como metodologia para o desenvolvimento desta pesquisa, optamos pelo uso do método quadripolar, pela sua capacidade de dinamismo e flexibilidade, e facilidade de análise do objeto de investigação a partir de diferentes perspectivas. Durante toda a pesquisa, trabalhou-se com a hipótese de que, a incorporação dos Sistemas de Recomendação no contexto das Bibliotecas Universitárias facilitará o processo de Encontrabilidade da Informação de uma comunidade de usuários cada vez mais exigente para com os produtos e serviços que consomem. Como resultados foram apresentados, primeiramente, um conceito de Sistema de Recomendação aplicável e usável na área da Biblioteconomia, além de trazer a proposta de um modelo teórico para a inclusão dos Sistemas de Recomendação em futuros projetos de Arquitetura da Informação, não só dos ambientes informacionais das bibliotecas universitárias, como de outros centros de informação, por último, elaborou-se uma ferramenta que permite avaliar a implementação e funcionamento do modelo na sua aplicação prática.
Due to the wide advancement in the development of applications and tools for the use of libraries, there is a notable increase in the level of complexity of the information environments of these institutions, there is an increase in the level of complexity of their informational environments, that, of the perspective of Information Architecture creates the need for more accurate research projects, in the search to improve the information environments of the university libraries, having as main objective, to improve the experiences of the users, and assist them to find the pertinent information, at the right time and with the highest possible quality. Many studies developed in the area of Library and Information Science, and more specifically into Information Architecture have made great efforts in the search for techniques, methods and tools that allow, and enable them to make better decisions in their daily activities. However, these studies prove to be insufficient, when it comes to anticipating the needs of users, and providing personalized information that suit their tastes and preferences. In this scenario, we highlight the need for answers to this problem, finding into area of computer science, studies on the personalization of digital environments (specifically applied into e-commerce area) through the incorporation of Recommendations Systems, aimed at alleviating to informational overburden on the user, and increasing to serendipity in the different information environments, through to the information filtering techniques, that suggest which to users, resources that may meet their needs.. This raises the question that guides this research: How to improve Findability of Information into CRAI, based on the insertion and use of Recommendation Systems in Information Architecture projects? In order to show the importance of the studies on this subject, from the perspective of Library Science, was defined the main objective, being "to the Construction of a theoretical model of Information Architecture focusing on Recommendation Systems in order to increase Findability of Information into CRAI"As methodology for the development of this research, we chose the use of the Quadripolar Method, its capacity for dynamism and flexibility, and ease of analysis of the research object from different perspectives. Throughout the research, we worked to the hypothesis, that the incorporation of the Recommendation Systems in the context of University Libraries will facilitate the process of Findability of Information, an user community increasingly to demanding, with the products and services they consume. As a result, was first presented a concept of System of Recommendation, applicable and usable in the area of Library Science, as well as the proposal of a theoretical model for the inclusion of Recommendation Systems, in future Information Architecture projects, not only for the informational environments of the University libraries, and for other information centers too. Finally, a tool was developed to evaluate the implementation and functioning of the model in its practical application.
Debido al amplio avance alcanzado en el área de desarrollo de aplicaciones y herramientas para el uso de las bibliotecas, se nota un notable aumento en el nivel de complejidad de los ambientes de información de estas instituciones, lo que desde la perspectiva de la Arquitectura de la Información crea la necesidad de proyectos de investigación, que busquen mejorar los ambientes de información de las Bibliotecas Universitarias, teniendo como principal objetivo mejorar las experiencias de los usuarios y ayudarlos en el proceso de encontrar la información pertinente, en el momento preciso y con la mejor calidad posible. Estudios desarrollaos desde las Ciencias de la Información, la Bibliotecología y específicamente desde la Arquitectura da Información se han realizado grandes esfuerzos en la búsqueda de técnicas, métodos y herramientas que faciliten y aumenten el acceso, uso y capacidad de los usuarios para tomar mejores decisiones en sus actividades diarias. Estos estudios aun resultan insuficientes en su capacidad de anticiparse a las necesidades de los usuarios y ofrecerles informaciones con cierto nivel de personalización e que acompañen sus gustos y preferencias. Ante este contexto, percibimos la necesidad de dar respuesta a este fenómeno, encontrando en el dominio de la computación, estudios sobre la personalización de los ambientes digitales (utilizados específicamente en el área de e-comerce), a través de la incorporación de Sistemas de Recomendación, orientados a aliviar la carga informacional que sobre el usuario recae y el aumento del serendipismo en los diferentes ambientes informacionales a través de técnicas de filtrado de información, que les sugieren a los usuarios recursos que podrían satisfacer sus necesidades de información futuras. Surge así la pregunta que guía esta investigación: ¿Cómo mejorar la encontrabilidad de la información en los espacios informacionales de los CRAI, partiendo de la inserción y uso de los Sistemas de Recomendación en proyectos de Arquitectura de la Información? Con el objetivo de mostrar la importancia de estudios sobre este tema desde la perspectiva de la Bibliotecología, se define como objetivo principal de la investigación, la “Construcción de un modelo teórico de Arquitectura de la Información con foco en los Sistemas de Recomendación con el objetivo de aumentar la Encontrabilidad de la Información en los CRAI. La metodología adoptada para la realización de esta investigación fue el método cuadripolar, que brinda cierta facilidad y flexibilidad para la investigación, así como, claridad para la realización de un profundo análisis del objeto de estudio desde diferentes perspectivas. Durante la investigación se trabajó con la hipótesis de que, con la incorporación de los Sistemas de Recomendación en los ambientes de las bibliotecas universitarias, el proceso de encontrabilidad acontecería con mayor facilidad en la medida que tratan de satisfacer las necesidades de su comunidad usuaria. Como resultado final fue elaborado un concepto de Sistema de Recomendación aplicable y usable en el contexto de la Bibliotecología, además de presentar una propuesta de modelo teórico para la inclusión de los sistemas de recomendación en futuros proyectos de Arquitectura de Información, no solo de los ambientes de información de las bibliotecas universitarias, como de otros centros de información, por último se elaboró una herramienta de evaluación que acompañe el proceso de implementación funcionamiento del modelo en su aplicación práctica.
CAPES: 88881.135000/2016-01

碩士
國立臺北教育大學
資訊科學系碩士班
98
In this thesis, the concept of using the advantage of QR Code and RFID technologies are proposed and implemented into library management and service. Due to shortage of human resources in library routine operation, a concept of using QR Code and RFID will improve customer satisfaction in use of library and the efficiency of library management. To extend library management and functionality, the system could provide various conveniences and help library management to use the system without any difficulty. Therefore, it could not only improve quality of life but also life culture for people who manage the library or use it. At the mean time, in order to reduce the use of paper and fulfill the government policy of energy saving and carbon reducing, using latest technology of QR Code and RFID could reduce paper consumption tremendously and turn library management into high efficiency with low cost operation. The purpose of this thesis is to build an automatic library management system, which not only provide a user-friendly system but reduce the impact of insufficient information of existing system. Also, the system could provide variety of information for the users whenever and wherever they are in a library. The system will have various kinds of information in different level, that provides suitable information whenever users require. This also eliminates the time that library personnel spends and improves user experience in library operation. The expectation of this thesis is to have library work properly when adopting this system and provide better experience in all aspects of library operation.

碩士
國立雲林科技大學
工業工程與管理系
103
Users’ continuance intention points to one of the key indices for a system’s success in implementation. It is different from the intention to use, which was measured at specific points in time. From the perspective of continuance intention, this research looks at users’ evaluation of the target system — an e-library adopted by one of the national technology universities in central Taiwan. The sample consists of postgraduate students at the university, who are the e-library’s primary users. The method involves a questionnaire survey, while Bhattcherjee’s Post-acceptance Model of IS Continuance and Expectation Confirmation Model serves as the theoretical foundation. With the focus on continuance intention, data collection was conducted at two different stages to look for changes in the intention to use the system (covered in questionnaires) in a way to confirm whether there is a continuation of system usage. Data was analyzed respectively using SPSS and SmartPLS, with the former running the sample’s descriptive statistics and the latter testing the structural equation modeling which includes confirmation factors analysis and path analysis. Research results confirmed the model’s overall explanatory power reaching 50%, and the positive effect of perceived usefulness on satisfaction and continuance intention. Perceived ease of use, via improving perceived usefulness, was shown to have a positive ininfluence on satisfaction and a continued intention to use the system - a result consistent with prior research findings. This research has found perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and satisfaction as the key factors affecting the continuation of system usage, of which the R2 values were 0.79, 0.63 and 0.70 respectively. In addition, continuance intention scored an average of 4.8 and 5 (partly agree) respectively at the first and the second time point.his suggests no significant improvement in intention at these two survey stages. The most noticeable finding of all is that the relation between perceived usefulness and continuance intention does not reach statistical significance. As observed in this research, the unfriendly interface design of the system’s data search function is mainly to be blamed for users’ reduced satisfaction and perceived ease of use. This data search function performs especially poorly in its English interface. It is therefore recommended to improve this search function, and in particular its foreign language interface, to boost the e-library system’s usefulness and usability. Doing so should help with the e-library’s overall evaluation and promotes its main users’ continuance intention, consequently fulfilling the initial purpose of system introduction. Keywords: e-library, Expectation Confirmation Model (ECM), perceived ease of use (PEOU), satisfaction, continuance intention

Thesis (M. Tech. Business Information Systems)-- Tshwane University of Technology 2011.
The services of many academic libraries have remained stagnant for many years. They have not been responding to rapid technology change. As a result, some of these libraries have become reactive in the services that they provide to their users. The reactive approach has impact on the activities and processes of the consumers. The impacts are associated to the overall performance of the institution. These challenges have triggered innovation for change in some institutions of higher learning in many countries including South Africa. The technological solutions include the adoption of Mobile Technology to improve and enhance library's services. The study investigated how Mobile Technology could be adopted to enhance the services of academic library, this include investigation on the factors which influence and impact technology adoption. Factors influencing the adoption of Mobile Technology were identified from the findings, and a Framework was developed. The primary aim of the Framework is to guide adoption and use of Mobile Technology for an improved and enhanced service which are provided by library.

Libraries, particularly academic libraries implement technologies to enhance their services to promote teaching, learning and research. In this thesis the impact of information technologies (library technologies) on delivery of services at the Balme Library of the University of Ghana was evaluated. The researcher adopted the multi-methods approach to the research by using a semi-structured questionnaire to collect data from users (students) of the library and para-professional staff of the Balme Library of the University of Ghana who formed one group of the study. The interview was used to collect data form professional staff of the library who on the other hand formed the second group of the study. Responses of the data collected from the two groups formed the components of the study and data collected quantitatively were analysed using univariate analysis method and interpreted by the descriptive and inferential statistics method. The qualitative data, on the other hand, was analysed using the narrative analysis approach. The findings of the study reveal that a variety of IT facilities such as computers, internet, photocopiers, scanners, braille embossers, magnifiers for reading, reference management software, video conference facility, electronic theses, electronic databases, automated library system, electronic past questions and the library website are available at the library and are very accessible to all users (students) and staff of the library. Students and staff of the library have good IT skills to utilise those resources. The findings also reveal that the IT infrastructure had positive impacts on the delivery of library services ensuring that users received the appropriate services they needed at the right times and places The study found challenges of slow internet connectivity, unstable power supply, lack of IT skills, inadequate IT infrastructure among others and these hinder the maximum utilisation of IT in and out of the library and recommends periodic training of staff and users, proper maintenance of facilities, increase of internet bandwidth and better marketing of library services
Information Science
M. Inf. (Information Science)

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of Technology Degree in Library and Information Studies in the Department of Information and Corporate Management, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2008.
This study investigated the job functions of university and university of technology graduates and diplomates in the staff structures of special libraries and engineering firms in KwaZulu-Natal. The objective of the study was to draw on possible trends and best practices in the latter for the Library and Information Services (LIS) work environment, as engineering like LIS draws its personnel from both traditional universities and universities of technology (UoT). Hence, the main target population for the study was university and UoT graduates and diplomates in special libraries and engineering firms in KZN. Graduates and diplomates were chosen for inclusion in the study using a census because of the smallness of the staff complements in these organizations. Two sets of self-administered questionnaires were distributed, one to graduates/diplomates and the other to employers in the selected organizations. Data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. Findings of the study revealed inconsistencies with the National Diploma: Library and Information Studies (ND: LIS) where these diplomates occupy paraprofessional as well as professional positions in special libraries whilst engineering graduates and diplomates tend to occupy job titles according to their highest academic qualifications. In both special libraries as well as in the engineering environment there is much task overlap and downshifting of job functions between paraprofessional and professional university and UoT graduates and diplomates. This study has revealed a valuable best practice from the engineering discipline for the LIS profession, which is that of professional registration. Professional registration of engineering staff with the Engineering Council of South Africa is a statutory requirement in the engineering profession and allows for the growth and development of those in the profession. It is recommended that the LIS profession, and the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) specifically, investigate a mechanism for professional registration of library and information workers.

M. Tech. Interior Design
The focus of this study was a small university library situated on the TUT Arts Campus in Pretoria. Since the library opened its doors nearly 20 years ago, little attention was paid to the interior and no alterations were implemented since then. Staff and students did not perceive the library as a positive asset due to the state of disrepair of its interior. As indicated by previous studies, redesigning a library interior has the potential to improve the learning environment it offers. It was hypothesised that the condition of the TUT Arts Campus library interior may have been a deterring factor causing students' reluctance to use it and that the redesign of the library's interior would have the potential to solve this real-life problem. This study involved itself with the process of redesigning the interior of the TUT Arts Campus library and the process of achieving the final design. The study dealt with answering the research question: How may one go about to redesign the interior of the TUT Arts Campus library, with the use of focus groups involving iterative cycles and user-based input, to increase student usage?

Knowledge management (KM) has become a vital process in all types of institutions in our society, institutions that also include academic libraries. Furthermore, academic libraries have become an integral part of the knowledge system. These institutions and academic libraries contribute to knowledge development in the current digital age. This study sought to investigate knowledge management processes at St Paul’s University library and to suggest ways by which these processes may be enhanced in order to promote efficiency and effectiveness in knowledge management. The study was based on knowledge management processes that include knowledge capture, knowledge acquisition, knowledge organisation, knowledge creation, knowledge retention and knowledge sharing as advanced in existing literature. The context of this study was St. Paul’s University Library, the academic library of St. Paul’s University. St. Paul’s University is an academic institution of higher learning based in Limuru Kenya. St. Paul’s University Library was found to be encountering challenges in the implementation and adoption of formal knowledge management processes such as knowledge creation, knowledge application, knowledge retention, knowledge acquisition, knowledge organisation and knowledge sharing. These challenges affect the library’s ability to manage and disseminate knowledge to its different stakeholders. This research thus set out to address these challenges. This was a case study of St. Paul’s University library which involved the collection of qualitative data from study participants through the use of interview guides. In the study, interviews were used to collect data from 10 library management committee members, 20 faculty staff and 20 library staff. These three groups of study participant were purposively selected as the target population for the study because they play a key role in knowledge management enhancement at St. Paul’s University library. Interviews were conducted for all categories of participants separately through face-to-face interview method based on their pre-determined availability. Out of 50 interviewees, only 32 were successfully interviewed. Qualitative data collected were analysed using content analysis. Findings of this study were then deduced from analysis done. From the study, it emerged that all the knowledge management processes under study were utilised albeit to varied degrees. From the study, varied gaps were noted on the various knowledge management processes and the use of ICT in knowledge management. The study recommends that St. Paul’s University Library should fully incorporate all the knowledge management processes and ensure appropriate policies be in place to support knowledge management and also increase effectiveness and efficiency in the library. The study further recommends a survey study on academic libraries to be undertaken on knowledge management processes in Kenya.
Information Science
M. Inf.

Most institutions of higher learning in South Africa have had to merge because of the directive from the Department of Education enacted in the Higher Education Act of 1997, which aimed at restructuring the higher education sector. Academic libraries as departments within these institutions also had to merge as their parent organisations merged. The Durban Institute of Technology (DIT) became the first merged institution of higher learning in the country. The purpose of this study is to diagnose whether the merged DIT libraries are viable. This is tested by using the Viable Systems Model (VSM), which is based on cybernetic principles. This research project is meant to give a holistic view of the viability of the DIT libraries. Members of the library staff were asked through an interview process what their views were about the library. The interviews were semi-structured and were conducted individually so as to elicit detailed information from library staff about the library, its processes, procedures, structure and management. Observation and document analysis were also used to gather further information relevant to the study. The study concluded that the library does not have enough resources and there is confusion amongst members of the library staff about what the library goals are. Although the library does not have a single image and culture it is very active and is well represented in the Library and Information Services structures and within the DIT.
Thesis (M.Com.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2006.

The study investigated the preparedness of University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) libraries to implement and use mobile phone technology in the provision of library and information services. This investigation included the factors which could influence and impact technology adoption. It is imperative that libraries respond to changes in technology in terms of the provision of their services. A recent development has been the emergence and proliferation of mobile phone technology and it is the adoption and implementation of this technology by academic libraries in the provision of services that concerned this study. The significance of this study lies in its adding value to the little knowledge out there by improving our understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with mobile technology in an academic library context. In terms of the methodology, the study used a quantitative approach and survey design. Data was collected from a total of 30 staff members working in libraries on the UKZN Pietermaritzburg and Howard College campuses. A self-administered questionnaire that consisted of both open and closed questions was used to collect the data. The research questions which underpinned the study can be summarised as follows: what mobile phone technology is and what it comprised of in this research context, what skills the staff required to be able to provide library and information through mobile phone technology, and finally, what technological, organizational and environmental factors could influence the implementation of this technology in the libraries concerned. The Technology Organisation and Environment Framework (TOE) was used as the framework to guide the study. The data collected was analysed using SPSS and the findings were presented in the form of tables, bar graphs, pie charts and text. Interpretation of the findings revealed that the staff of the libraries were in the main positively predisposed to mobile technology, with many of them having Internet enabled mobile phones and the skills to do some of the tasks associated with the provision of library and information services via the technology. The technological, organizational and environmental factors identified and investigated were such that the libraries could be regarded as sufficiently prepared for the introduction of mobile phone technology in the provision of services. Funding or budgetary constraints, however, were identified as the main constraint. Recommendations were made based on the finding of the survey and the literature review and these relate to funding concerns and the implementation and usage of mobile phone technology to the advantage of the libraries.
Thesis (M.I.S.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

M. Tech. Business Information Systems
Having tools and resources that would enhance the performance of the learners would be of huge assistance to learners and their institutions. The increasing use of internet and technology has enhanced and transformed the conventional library resources into electronic resources. Utilizing electronic library resources helps learners to acquire information anytime and anywhere. Institutions that support the use of e-resources save significant amounts of money because the printing of materials are reduced. As a result, the use of e-resources by learners enhances their learning and their performance gets improved. The major objective of this study was to conceptualize a framework that will assist in successful electronic resources utilization. This was encouraged by the fact that the determinants of effective utilization of electronic resources are still not clearly expressed.

The purpose of this study was to deternine the use and application of information communication technologies (ICTs) by the library workers of the University of Botswana Library. ICTs play an important role in a library environment because they enable libraries to be accessed rapidly as well as increasing the range, relevance and accessibility of information provided by the libraries. ICTs are therefore important for supporting the library workers in their everyday roles. This research was done with a view to propose recommendations which may enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of University of Botswana Library workers in facilitating timely, relevant, accurate and reliable access to information for the library users through the utilisation of ICTs. The population of the research was the University of Botswana Library and its branches namely the Faculty of Engineering Library in Gaborone, the Centre for Continuing Education Branch in Francistown and the Harry Oppenheimer Branch in Maun. Primary and secondary sources of data were used to meet the objectives of the study. The research was done using a self-administered questionnaire, observation and interviews. The response rate was 67 (86.36 %) out of a population of 88. The data collected for this study identified that the University of Botswana Library workers had limitations on the use and application of ICTs as well as varying levels of skills and knowledge on their utilisation. The library workers lack ICT skills because they are only trained for specific routine tasks. In addition, some workers do not have enthusiasm to learn on their own.
Thesis (MIS.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2002.

The purpose of the study was to investigate students’ perceptions of the role of the library in their studies. A positivist research paradigm was employed and quantitative and qualitative research approaches were followed. The research design was a case study. Three sampling methods were used in the study. To obtain a sample of the students, stratified random sampling and systematic sampling were applied. In the case of the library staff, purposive sampling was used. Data was collected from students and a limited number of library staff using questionnaires and interview schedules respectively. The latter was for the purpose of validating and collecting complete data from students.The findings of the study revealed that students at TUT, PC have positive perceptions of the library and are satisfied with library services. The findings of the study further revealed that students find the library to be user-friendly and they use the library to borrow materials, read their own notes and books, access the internet and study. Factors, such as opening and closing hours, a conducive environment for studying, and knowledge of the library staff helps the library to contribute to students’ achievement outcomes. Moreover, the findings reveal that lack of resources, non-attendance of information literacy programmes by students, a lack of research support, and an inadequate infrastructure hinder the library’s contribution to students’ achievement outcomes. The research recommends that there should be a credit-bearing and compulsory information literacy programme offered as part of the curriculum at all levels of study at TUT, PC. Furthermore, library staff need to engage and interact well with students in order to better meet the needs of individual students. They should have continuous engagement with students and notify them about important events within the library.
Information Science
M.A. (Information Science)
1 online resource (xii, 94 leaves) ; color charts

The Library 2.0 model is one of many library service models. It has its origin in, and borrowed concepts from, Web 2.0 which is associated with Web applications that facilitate participatory information sharing, interoperability, user-centred design and collaboration on the Web. The focus of Library 2.0 is on user-centred change and participation in the creation of content. Different scholars and researchers have discussed Library 2.0 and numerous articles have been written discussing the implementation of the model in academic libraries. Findings are that academic library users, who are becoming more involved and familiar with Web 2.0 technologies, no longer want to use the library only as a reading space or a place to use books and journals without being able to make suggestions and have their views heard. The Library 2.0 model facilitates this and, as it encourages sharing and participation, is considered a suitable model for academic libraries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the implementation of Library 2.0 within the libraries of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and the difficulties encountered when using Library 2.0 technologies to deliver their services. To achieve the purpose of the study both primary and secondary sources of data were used, including literature from various sources (journals, books and information found on websites). Interviews and self-administered questionnaires were the instruments used to collect data. The population of the study consisted of all subject librarians on the UKZN campuses, the campus librarians, and the Library Director. Data were analysed through content analysis and the use of SPSS and presented in the form of figures. It was found that UKZN libraries were slow in terms of involving the technologies associated with Library 2.0 in their services. Only Facebook and a weblog are used by the UKZN libraries and it is evident that more needs to be done in terms of implementing and promoting the technologies that encourage collaboration and interaction with users – the essence of Library 2.0. It has been said by different scholars and researchers that institutions that are perceived to be slow in involving new technologies in their services, are at risk of becoming irrelevant to their users. These users will then move to other services who can better meet their needs. Therefore, it is crucial for UKZN libraries to embrace these technologies if they want to keep up and remain relevant to the ever changing needs of their users.
Thesis (M.I.S.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.