James Powell, Ketan Mane, Linn Marks Collins, Mark L.B. Martinez and Tamara McMahon
The purpose of this paper is to explore motivations for libraries to build location aware services.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore motivations for libraries to build location aware services.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper examines various techniques for generating geo‐referenced metadata, including converting placenames to coordinates and using entity extraction to discover places in unstructured text, such as abstracts. It describes several prototype services developed, which deliver geo‐referenced data in different ways – as search results overlaid onto a map, as location specific data delivered to location aware mobile devices just in time, and as raw structured metadata supplied by web services, which could be combined with other data sets in support of e‐science.
Findings
Although library metadata standards can accommodate location, catalogers rarely provide location information related to the content of the intellectual product. Entity extraction services can find location information in free text contents, such as abstracts, and even provide the appropriate coordinates for the identified places, thus enabling geo‐referenced browsing and searching of metadata. Libraries should consider multiple strategies for delivering these data, to maximize its utility for end users. Just‐in‐time information retrieval is rarely used in library systems, but is an essential technique for mobile location‐based information services.
Originality/value
The paper describes several distinct ways in which location‐based information services can be delivered to end users. It also examines techniques for enhancing bibliographic metadata with location information.
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Keywords
Linn Marks Collins, Jeremy A.T. Hussell, Robert K. Hettinga, James E. Powell, Ketan K. Mane and Mark L.B. Martinez
To describe how information visualization can be used in the design of interface tools for large‐scale repositories.
Abstract
Purpose
To describe how information visualization can be used in the design of interface tools for large‐scale repositories.
Design/methodology/approach
One challenge for designers in the context of large‐scale repositories is to create interface tools that help users find specific information of interest. In order to be most effective, these tools need to leverage the cognitive characteristics of the target users. At the Los Alamos National Laboratory, the authors' target users are scientists and engineers who can be characterized as higher‐order, analytical thinkers. In this paper, the authors describe a visualization tool they have created for making the authors' large‐scale digital object repositories more usable for them: SearchGraph, which facilitates data set analysis by displaying search results in the form of a two‐ or three‐dimensional interactive scatter plot.
Findings
Using SearchGraph, users can view a condensed, abstract visualization of search results. They can view the same dataset from multiple perspectives by manipulating several display, sort, and filter options. Doing so allows them to see different patterns in the dataset. For example, they can apply a logarithmic transformation in order to create more scatter in a dense cluster of data points or they can apply filters in order to focus on a specific subset of data points.
Originality/value
SearchGraph is a creative solution to the problem of how to design interface tools for large‐scale repositories. It is particularly appropriate for the authors' target users, who are scientists and engineers. It extends the work of the first two authors on ActiveGraph, a read‐write digital library visualization tool.
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James Powell, Linn Collins, Ariane Eberhardt, David Izraelevitz, Jorge Roman, Thomas Dufresne, Mark Scott, Miriam Blake and Gary Grider
The purpose of this paper is to describe a process for extracting and matching author names from large collections of bibliographic metadata using the Hadoop implementation of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe a process for extracting and matching author names from large collections of bibliographic metadata using the Hadoop implementation of MapReduce. It considers the challenges and risks associated with name matching on such a large‐scale and proposes simple matching heuristics for the reduce process. The resulting semantic graphs of authors link names to publications, and include additional features such as phonetic representations of author last names. The authors believe that this achieves an appropriate level of matching at scale, and enables further matching to be performed with graph analysis tools.
Design/methodology/approach
A topically‐focused collection of metadata records describing peer‐reviewed papers was generated based upon a search. The matching records were harvested and stored in the Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) for processing by hadoop. A MapReduce job was written to perform coarse‐grain author name matching, and multiple papers were matched with authors when the names were very similar or identical. Semantic graphs were generated so that the graphs could be analyzed to perform finer grained matching, for example by using other metadata such as subject headings.
Findings
When performing author name matching at scale using MapReduce, the heuristics that determine whether names match should be limited to the rules that yield the most reliable results for matching. Bad rules will result in lots of errors, at scale. MapReduce can also be used to generate or extract other data that might help resolve similar names when stricter rules fail to do so. The authors also found that matching is more reliable within a well‐defined topic domain.
Originality/value
Libraries have some of the same big data challenges as are found in data‐driven science. Big data tools such as hadoop can be used to explore large metadata collections, and these collections can be used as surrogates for other real world, big data problems. MapReduce activities need to be appropriately scoped so as to yield good results, while keeping an eye out for problems in code which can be magnified in the output from a MapReduce job.
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Focuses on a study about major innovation in the ISO 9000:2000 registration process. Shows that the application of the behavioural science field is an excellent strategy for…
Abstract
Focuses on a study about major innovation in the ISO 9000:2000 registration process. Shows that the application of the behavioural science field is an excellent strategy for businesses to use to help improve investment return on ISO 9001:2000. Reckons that, in order to maximise benefits from implementing ISO 9001:2000, companies should approach the process using an organizational behaviour strategy, to ensure motivation involving the workforce.
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This paper argues that, while one needs to logically decide on an organization's strategy, it does not need to be a product of a lengthy strategic planning process.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper argues that, while one needs to logically decide on an organization's strategy, it does not need to be a product of a lengthy strategic planning process.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper discusses and gives examples to illustrate why an institution does not need to go through an intricate strategic planning process.
Findings
A laborious process is not needed to plan a library's strategic direction.
Practical implications
A library can more efficiently use its money and time to satisfy its customers than by spending them on a drawn‐out strategic planning process.
Originality/value
Hopefully, this article will motivate librarians to find the proper balance between having no strategy and wasting too much time and money on creating a lengthy strategic plan.
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This paper argues that when managing strategically it is important for leaders to consider how to work with the group's culture.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper argues that when managing strategically it is important for leaders to consider how to work with the group's culture.
Design/methodology/approach
Discusses and gives examples to illustrate how one can determine the nature of a group's culture.
Findings
In advancing the library's issues, it is helpful for library directors to determine whether or not the organization's culture will assist the tactics proposed to implement a new plan.
Practical implications
This provides concepts to be considered when a leader attempts to move forward a library's priorities.
Originality/value
Hopefully, this article will motivate librarians to think about the library's culture when working to advance their library's interests.
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Keywords
Colleen Hayes and Kerry Jacobs
The purpose of this paper is to revisit the issue of the entry of women into the Anglo-Australian accounting profession in the Second World War and provide insights on the role…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to revisit the issue of the entry of women into the Anglo-Australian accounting profession in the Second World War and provide insights on the role that gender, class, and ethnicity played in mediating women’s relations with the accounting profession in that period.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on the narratives of three women from diverse social backgrounds who entered the Anglo-Australian profession during this period.
Findings
The analysis indicates that while participants had the mindset needed for accounting work, the more removed the individual’s perceived social identity was from her perception of the dominant British, white, middle-class ideology of the profession, the less likely she was to embrace the opportunity to join the accounting profession. The distance was anchored in social (ethnicity and class) and historical forces. The study also finds that the appropriation of education and credentials ameliorated disadvantages accruing from gender and working-class status.
Practical implications
This study has implications for our understanding of the accounting profession and what is required to reduce the risks of marginalization in a contemporary setting.
Originality/value
The study provides a richer understanding of how class and ethnicity shape the female experience differently. The results also demonstrate that in times of social change, the processes of inclusion and exclusion are not confined to the deliberations of the accounting profession but also the individual. Whether the women valued accounting as an occupation depended on whether or not if offered them the freedom to achieve what they valued most. At the same time, however, the freedom to realize what they valued most was a function of class and ethnicity. Finally, the results demonstrate the capacity of unique experience to shape the perceptions, aspirations and actions of women.