Considers the use of new technologies in library informationdelivery systems. Discusses the virtues of paper, CD‐ROM, and onlinemedia in terms of accessibility, timeliness…
Abstract
Considers the use of new technologies in library information delivery systems. Discusses the virtues of paper, CD‐ROM, and online media in terms of accessibility, timeliness, compactness, searchability, preservability, authenticity, and appearance, as well as end user benefit. Surmises that information is a means to an end to the end user, who wants the easy access and speed offered by paper media, with the language and help availability benefits of electronic media.
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There is an anecdote about a man who, when a lost stranger asked him the way, answered: ‘Well, if I were you I would not start from here.’
Paula Dehlez, Just de Leeuwe and Ronald Dekker
To discuss the recent strategic developments of Library at TU Delft.
Abstract
Purpose
To discuss the recent strategic developments of Library at TU Delft.
Design/methodology/approach
Developments at TU Delft are contrasted with the five key requirements for document delivery identified in an earlier article in 2001.
Findings
That the strategy in most libraries is to evolve rapidly to a digital library as far as possible. That there is still an important role for libraries as document suppliers. That much discussion between libraries and suppliers will be necessary in order to give document delivery a stable position within the digital library.
Originality/value
Gives an insight into the working and thinking of a major European document supplier operating from the Technical University in Delft.
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The Institute for Scientific and Technical Information (INIST) is a service unit of the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). A leading integrated scientific and…
Abstract
The Institute for Scientific and Technical Information (INIST) is a service unit of the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). A leading integrated scientific and technical information center, INIST provides the major public research and academic institutions as well as the socio‐economic sector with resources and services designed to improve dissemination of and access to international scientific and technical information. Committed to the new information and communication technologies, INIST offers a whole range of access services to scientific and technical information on the Internet. The article highlights the place and the future of document supply in this context.
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Libraries seem to be moving away from their users and heading towardscustomers. The essential difference between these two types of clientsis that whereas the latter pay…
Abstract
Libraries seem to be moving away from their users and heading towards customers. The essential difference between these two types of clients is that whereas the latter pay (partially) themselves for the services rendered, the former are funded by public means. Does this shift have an impact on library services? Are all the clients better off at the end of the day? Is there a market for library services? At the Delft University of Technology Library a long‐term programme of client orientation is under way. The appointment of a marketeer as early as September 1988 proved to be merely a starting point. Contrary to the expectations of management the first effects were highly introversive and it took about three years before the first well‐planned external actions could be undertaken. The results of both internal and external activities seem to be instructive and similar to experiences elsewhere.
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Anthi Katsirikou and Christos H. Skiadas
Describes the impact of chaos theory in social systems and the phenomena that result from it, drawing attention to related phenomena in the state of the library today. It then…
Abstract
Describes the impact of chaos theory in social systems and the phenomena that result from it, drawing attention to related phenomena in the state of the library today. It then considers the factors that lead library systems to exhibit chaotic behaviour. These factors are the plethora of technological tools and the variety of software and interfaces, the dependence of resource providers and the increasing supply and diversity of information resources. The changes dictated by these factors influence the internal operations of the library, communication between libraries, the methods and channels of providing user services, the time taken to access information and knowledge, and the numbers and variety of users and their unique ways of searching. In conclusion, the organisational changes in libraries dictated by the unpredictability and instability of the present state are identified, including the organisational transition of library management, staff education concerning the new tools and resources, and user education about assist search techniques.
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Reviews the literature of management and information and library service management for 1999.
Abstract
Reviews the literature of management and information and library service management for 1999.
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Ylva Gavel and Lars O.A. Hedlund
The purpose of this paper is to describe how SAGA, a system for managing the library operations associated with document supply, was successfully developed using a very informal…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe how SAGA, a system for managing the library operations associated with document supply, was successfully developed using a very informal project model.
Design/methodology/approach
The project model and system architecture are described.
Findings
Initially, SAGA was tailored for the needs of the medical library at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. Subsequently, it has been implemented at other Swedish academic libraries. The system has features for automating the workflows associated with document supply for both loans and copies externally and internally. It integrates document requests from a diversity of ordering systems under a single interface. The methodology adopted when implementing the system suggests that an incremental approach sometimes has benefits over a more formal pre‐planned approach.
Practical implications
The project model described may be applied to development projects at other libraries. The system architecture may be applied to other systems for managing document supply.
Originality/value
The SAGA approach relies on managing requests placed in different systems via a single interface rather than trying to direct customers to a single ordering system.
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Ryan O. Weir and Ashley Ireland
This paper aims to describe the development of one transactional access/pay‐per‐view model and its current and anticipated impact on ILL at one US university.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to describe the development of one transactional access/pay‐per‐view model and its current and anticipated impact on ILL at one US university.
Design/methodology/approach
The services at Murray State University (MSU) are described and the impact of one year of PPV implementation assessed. Some general implications are explored.
Findings
It found that PPV has not yet had a correlative impact on ILL at MSU but this is likely to change as PPV expands.
Originality/value
The paper shows this to be one of a number of empirical studies which are valuable in assessing the impact of PPV as an alternative to the conventional ILL supply of articles.