Peter M. Wynne, Geoff Butters and Peter Brophy
Describes the networking solutions used in the experimental extension of academic library services from the University of Central Lancashire to an agricultural college some 100km…
Abstract
Describes the networking solutions used in the experimental extension of academic library services from the University of Central Lancashire to an agricultural college some 100km distant, under the EC‐funded BIBDEL Project. Includes a detailed description of the functionality of each service. Summarizes the experimental findings of the research, in terms of cost, staff training needs, user training needs and liaison with external third parties. Considers the University of Central Lancashire’s retention and expansion of the extended service, on an operational footing, after the close of the experiment. Contrasts the functionalities of the operational services with those of the experiment.
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Margaret Markland, Geoff Butters and Peter Brophy
The purpose of this paper is to describe an evaluation tool, “The History of the Future” exercise, which can be used at the beginning of a project or service development to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe an evaluation tool, “The History of the Future” exercise, which can be used at the beginning of a project or service development to clarify variation in participants' presuppositions and expectations.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper describes what the tool is, the context in which it is useful, how it is presented and administered, and what kinds of results can be expected. It places it within the corpus of qualitative methods, relating it particularly to phenomenography.
Findings
A case study of the application of the method is used to illustrate its use and the results, which it can generate. A complex European Commission funded research and development project, eMapps.com, provided a challenging environment for its use and helped to verify its utility.
Practical implications
The exercise is a particularly useful activity at the beginning of a large or complex project, which has multiple stakeholders, especially when they form a widely dispersed community. It addresses the fact that different stakeholders may come to the project with different understandings, expectations and priorities, and aims to provide focus and common understanding of project aims and objectives.
Originality/value
Evaluations rarely start early enough in a project to exert significant influence on outcomes. The History of the Future exercise is one way to provide very early information on differing perceptions and goals among those involved and so to establish full agreement on purpose, tasks and desired outcomes.
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Jenny Craven, Frances Johnson and Geoff Butters
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the usability of the user interface to an online catalogue and to explore how user assessment of both system usability and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the usability of the user interface to an online catalogue and to explore how user assessment of both system usability and functionality can provide recommendations for the improved design.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing on previous studies, the usability testing used a mixture of search tasks, interviews and a structured focus group. Representative users completed tasks designed to test the system's features and a “think aloud” protocol collected data about the users' responses when using the system and on its perceived functionality.
Findings
The analysis of the data on users' evaluation, preferences and expectations by a set of usability attributes enabled recommendations to be made with respect to key areas of the system functionality.
Practical implications
The usability study helped to improve the “look and feel” of the interface and demonstrates how the user expectation of what constitutes a supported experience can help make recommendations for the design of a system that is both usable and useful.
Originality/value
The paper demonstrates the benefits of using a mixture of approaches to test system usability and to gain a better understanding of usability from the perspective of the system's users, their expectations and perceived usefulness of the system.
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This paper reviews the needs of distance learners, and looks at ways in which the Internet can assist or obstruct service provision to off‐campus students. A hybrid approach is…
Abstract
This paper reviews the needs of distance learners, and looks at ways in which the Internet can assist or obstruct service provision to off‐campus students. A hybrid approach is recommended. The Internet's impact on the role of librarians involved in supporting distance learners is briefly discussed.
Reports on the CERLIM‐organized conference “Libraries Without Walls 7”, Lesvos, Greece, 14‐18 September 2007.
Abstract
Purpose
Reports on the CERLIM‐organized conference “Libraries Without Walls 7”, Lesvos, Greece, 14‐18 September 2007.
Design/methodology/approach
Reports from the viewpoint of a conference participant and presenter of a paper and gives an overview of the whole conference with more detail on some of the presented papers.
Findings
The conference was worthwhile and enlightening, revealing the diversity of current developments in library service delivery worldwide.
Originality/value
Of interest as a review of the conference.
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NewsAgent for Libraries is one of the projects funded by the Electronic Libraries Programme in the UK. Following a brief historical account of the original ideas behind the…
Abstract
NewsAgent for Libraries is one of the projects funded by the Electronic Libraries Programme in the UK. Following a brief historical account of the original ideas behind the project, the main stages in developing the project – which aims to create a userconfigurable electronic news and current‐awareness service for library and information professionals with a mixture of content streams, including metadata – are described. Users’ interests are specified by profiles which are then matched with incoming records so that users are alerted by e‐mail of items of potential interest. Examples of creating profiles and of some of the “input feeds” in the project are given as well as an example of the use of the Dublin Core metadata format for describing resources covered in NewsAgent.
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Geoff Simmons, Brychan Thomas and Yann Truong
Given the emergent nature of i‐branding as an academic field of study and a lack of applied research output, the aim of this paper is to explain how businesses manage i‐branding…
Abstract
Purpose
Given the emergent nature of i‐branding as an academic field of study and a lack of applied research output, the aim of this paper is to explain how businesses manage i‐branding to create brand equity.
Design/methodology/approach
Within a case‐study approach, seven cases were developed from an initial sample of 20 food businesses. Additionally, utilising secondary data, the analysis of findings introduces relevant case examples from other industrial sectors.
Findings
Specific internet tools and their application are discussed within opportunities to create brand equity for products classified by experience, credence and search characteristics. An understanding of target customers will be critical in underpinning the selection and deployment of relevant i‐branding tools. Tools facilitating interactivity – machine and personal – are particularly significant.
Research limitations/implications
Future research positioned within classification of goods constructs could provide further contributions that recognise potential moderating effects of product/service characteristics on the development of brand equity online. Future studies could also employ the i‐branding conceptual framework to test its validity and develop it further as a means of explaining how i‐branding can be managed to create brand equity.
Originality/value
While previous research has focused on specific aspects of i‐branding, this paper utilises a conceptual framework to explain how diverse i‐branding tools combine to create brand equity. The literature review integrates fragmented literature around a conceptual framework to produce a more coherent understanding of extant thinking. The location of this study within a classification of goods context proved critical to explaining how i‐branding can be managed.