Lisa J. Barlow and Margaret E. Graham
A survey undertaken between January and March 1998 investigated the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in a sample of 120 industrial and commercial libraries…
Abstract
A survey undertaken between January and March 1998 investigated the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in a sample of 120 industrial and commercial libraries. Ninety‐six per cent of the organisations which responded to the questionnaire use computers for some aspect of their library and information services. ICT was used for a range of office and other applications including, in rank order, e‐mail, word processing, spreadsheets, presentation packages and database management systems. Ninety‐one per cent of the sample used various Internet facilities including e‐mail, World Wide Web, file transfer protocol (ftp) and telnet. This paper describes the results of the survey, reporting on the current state of the art of ICT use and future plans for automation in the sample.
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John Blunden‐Ellis, E Margaret and Graham
This paper updates previous papers which surveyed the large library system marketplace in the UK. The current study has been expanded to embrace the full range of suppliers and…
Abstract
This paper updates previous papers which surveyed the large library system marketplace in the UK. The current study has been expanded to embrace the full range of suppliers and considers market growth, share analysis, new installations, and an overview of activity in continental Europe. Questionnaires were distributed to vendors in late 1992. Additional information was appended up to September 1993.
Margaret E. Graham and John P. Eakins
Before a trade mark can be registered at the UK Patent Office, registrars need to ensure it isn't confusingly similar to any of 300,000 existing marks in the Registry's database…
Abstract
Before a trade mark can be registered at the UK Patent Office, registrars need to ensure it isn't confusingly similar to any of 300,000 existing marks in the Registry's database. Many trade marks take the form of abstract geometric designs that are especially difficult for indexers and searchers to describe. ARTISAN, developed at the University of Northumbria, is a system that allows such marks to be indexed and retrieved automatically, on the basis of their shape. Evaluative studies have demonstrated the feasibility of this approach, and the newly‐established Institute for Image Data Research plans further development.
Karen L. Furness, E Margaret and Graham
A survey undertaken during August and September 1994 examined the use of IT in 170 libraries and information units in the corporate, government and medical sectors. Ninety‐five…
Abstract
A survey undertaken during August and September 1994 examined the use of IT in 170 libraries and information units in the corporate, government and medical sectors. Ninety‐five per cent of the organisations surveyed use computerisation for some aspect of their library or information service, either for library housekeeping operations or for access to databases in a variety of electronic formats. This paper gives the results of the survey, reporting the current state‐of‐the‐art as well as giving an indication of future computerisation plans in special libraries.
This article reviews the development of the British Library’s OPAC services leading up to the launch of OPAC 97, offering access to nine million bibliographic records. The article…
Abstract
This article reviews the development of the British Library’s OPAC services leading up to the launch of OPAC 97, offering access to nine million bibliographic records. The article attempts to show the value of a user‐centred approach in the project management involved in developing such a service as recommended by Human Computer Interaction (HCI) studies. Evaluation studies of the Online Catalogue, the Network OPAC, a web prototype interface and of OPAC 97 are reviewed briefly and the results discussed in relation to the OPAC 97 project. Although the OPAC 97 interface made use of various HCI recommendations, user feedback sometimes contradicted these in specific instances, revealing the value of detailed user evaluation in developing services. room with its own catalogue only available for consultation in that one reading room in London. The British Museum Catalogue of Printed Books with bibliographic records for acquisitions up to 1975 was converted from catalogue slips and published in printed form which could now be available for use by other libraries more easily, but this did not assist users who wished to make subject enquiries. Blaise, the Library’s priced online information retrieval service, was available from 1975 but this was developed for information professionals, offering bulk catalogue record downloading and bibliographic checking. Any reference enquiries had to be carried out by trained library staff on behalf of users. What the Library has attempted to do from 1993 is to offer the Library users themselves access to the collections, especially remote users who cannot visit the reading rooms each day.
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An image data research institute has been launched at the University of Northumbria at Newcastle, in the UK. The institute gathers together academics from a range of disciplines…
Abstract
An image data research institute has been launched at the University of Northumbria at Newcastle, in the UK. The institute gathers together academics from a range of disciplines who have strong interests in Human Computer Interaction.
Any system of making scientific and technical articles available must meet a reasonable number of the requirements of the main players in the system: authors, publishers…
Abstract
Any system of making scientific and technical articles available must meet a reasonable number of the requirements of the main players in the system: authors, publishers, libraries and consumers. Among the requirements are high visibility (authors), profit (publishers) and affordable costs (libraries). Consumers need inter alia exposure, ready access and ease and flexibility of use. They have most requirements but least power. Needs differ for current and older journals. Of the various single modes of publication none performs very well for all parties. Combinations of modes are more effective but payment has to be made twice. Much depends on authors' willingness to accept less visible forms of publication, but the ultimate deciding factor is publishers' assessment of the economics.
KENNETH J. CAMERON and MICHAEL ROBERTS
Recession, inflation, cuts — these and related keywords have dominated the international literature of librarianship in recent years. The academic library community has been…
Abstract
Recession, inflation, cuts — these and related keywords have dominated the international literature of librarianship in recent years. The academic library community has been implored to change its “mission”, redefining its basic priorities, and substituting service for stock, access strategies for holdings strategies, collection management for collection development, undergraduate needs for postgraduate needs (or vice‐versa), and management skills for professionalism. While the production of prescriptions, frequently radical ones, has become an industry, analysis and, above all, measurement of the underlying problem has been strictly limited. Descriptions of cuts have tended to paint a qualitative rather than a quantitative picture. Statistical analysis of aspects of recession has usually been restricted by time‐span, subject coverage, type of material, or a combination of these.
Yeojin Kil, Margaret Graham and Anna V. Chatzi
Provisions for the minimisation of human error are essential through governance structures such as recruitment, human resource allocation and education/training. As predictors of…
Abstract
Purpose
Provisions for the minimisation of human error are essential through governance structures such as recruitment, human resource allocation and education/training. As predictors of safety attitudes/behaviours, employees’ personality traits (e.g. conscientiousness, sensation-seeking, agreeableness, etc.) have been examined in relation to human error and safety education.
Design/methodology/approach
This review aimed to explore research activity on the safety attitudes of healthcare staff and their relationship with the different types of personalities, compared to other complex and highly regulated industries. A scoping review was conducted on five electronic databases on all industrial/work areas from 2001 to July 2023. A total of 60 studies were included in this review.
Findings
Studies were categorised as driving/traffic and industrial to draw useful comparisons between healthcare. Certain employees’ personality traits were matched to positive and negative relationships with safety attitudes/behaviours. Results are proposed to be used as a baseline when conducting further relevant research in healthcare.
Research limitations/implications
Only two studies were identified in the healthcare sector.
Originality/value
The necessity for additional research in healthcare and for comparisons to other complex and highly regulated industries has been established. Safety will be enhanced through healthcare governance through personality-based recruitment, human resource allocation and education/training.
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Aarhus Kommunes Biblioteker (Teknisk Bibliotek), Ingerslevs Plads 7, Aarhus, Denmark. Representative: V. NEDERGAARD PEDERSEN (Librarian).