Volume 55, Issue 2-3

It seems clear that one of the primary functions and goals of libraries and librarians in our societies is to connect people with information, whether it be in the form of a book, manuscript, painting or digital document. But what is not clear is how this connection in fact takes place, which is essential to understand if librarians are to design and manage their libraries most effectively. It is the purpose of this paper to argue that there are two distinct ways in which people come in contact with information, namely self-initiated acquisition of information and environment-imparted acquisition of information, and that the former is dependent upon the latter. Given this, this paper argues that the present state of librarianship is catering primarily to self-initiated acquisition and paying little attention to environment-imparted acquisition of information, and that as a result, the connection of people with information is not as effective as it could be and indeed should be, if we are striving to live in societies the foundations of which are well educated individuals.

Modern American Librarianship, a model for much of the world, is based on the concept of the informed citizen. This concept can no longer sustain the library and librarianship in a twenty-first century of expanding global electronic in teractive communication and expanding universal human rights. It is argued that a renewed librarianship must shift to the concept of the communicative citizen grounded in a universal human right to communicate. The right to communicate provides a framework for a new conception of the library and of librarianship that builds on the accomplishments of the past but addresses the needs of the individual and the community in an electronically connected world.

As a result of their disadvantaged socioeconomic position, Indigenous Australians experience disadvantaged digital information access, both in terms of the distribution of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and the skills-based capabilities required for their effective utilisation (e.g., literacy and information literacy). As social, economic, and political opportunity becomes increasingly wedded to ICT access in the information society, Indigenous digital disadvantage threatens to perpetuate or exacerbate the existing inequalities constraining access. Despite concerns such as the issue of information imperialism, Indigenous Australians have recognised the empowering potential of the Internet as an information resource, communication tool, and publishing medium. Though the policies of government and the information profession commit to maximising equity of ICT and information access, Indigenous digital disadvantage suggests the need for greater intervention and comprehensive strategies in the interests of a socially inclusive information society, of benefit to all Australians.

This study is to develop and evaluate methods and instruments for assessing the usability of digital libraries. It discusses the dimensions of usability, what methods have been applied in evaluating usability of digital libraries, their applicability, and criteria. It is found in the study that there exists an interlocking relationship among effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction. It provides operational criteria for effectiveness, efficiency, satisfaction, and learnability. It discovers users' criteria on “ease of use,” “organization of information,” “terminology and labeling,” “visual attractiveness,” and “mistake recovery.” Common causes of “user lostness” were found. “Click cost” was examined.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the role that the de-gree of curricular specialization in academic disciplines plays in connection with labour market demand for graduates in the respective areas. The curricula of three conventional social science disciplines for which degrees are awarded by the Carlos III University of Madrid: the general degree in Library Science, the Bachelor of Arts degree in In formation Science and the Bachelor of Science degree in Economics are compared and analyzed in terms of the job offers received for their respective graduates from a series of industries. The results of the multivariate analysis conducted, based on the multidimensional indicators identified, reveal greater subject variability in the former two. In other words, the curricula for these two degrees are of a broader nature, whereas the curriculum for the degree in Economics is more specialized, with content covering a smaller number of areas. The outcome is a wider diversity of job offers for graduates in Economics.

The paper reports on a research study conducted to find out the funding situation of large libraries in Pakistan. It considers their funding sources, satisfaction with present funding, funding needs and the activities for which they demand more funding. The methodologies used included a literature review and a questionnaire survey. The results reveal that libraries in Pakistan have been provided funds without the use of any formula. Provincial governments are the major source of library funding in the country. Libraries also receive funds from the federal government and from their parent institutions. Some libraries also generate their own funds, which include endowments and bank profit (interest) on library security money. Most of the libraries are dissatisfied with their present funding. Among them college and university libraries are more dissatisfied. Libraries demand large increases in their budgets to fund a variety of services including the purchase of the latest materials, the use of modern technology, the improvement in professional status, the organization of materials and the improvement of the standard of library services.

This study, which was conducted in the first half of 2005, investigated the nature and extent of use of school libraries by teachers in preparatory and secondary schools in Oman. It evaluated in detail the types of material and the range of services used. It also assessed the extent of teachers' satisfaction with provision. The results of the survey revealed a low use of school libraries by teachers. School libraries held poor collections, especially of audiovisual materials, journals and electronic resources, and access to the Internet. Teachers expressed their dissatisfaction with library services which appeared poorly developed and tended to be traditional in character.

This study set out to determine whether co-operation exists among the libraries of six theological colleges in the Caribbean and to identify potential areas for further co-operation. The objectives of this study were: to ascertain whether co-operation exists among the selected theological libraries; to identify the areas in which there may be co-operation; to ascertain the opinions of librarians and administrators of the selected theological colleges towards co-operation; to identify the existing factors in the libraries under study which are liable to promote or hinder co-operation; and to make recommendations on possible areas of (further) co-operation. The study found that co-operation exists at a national level but not at the regional level. The factors which foster co-operation are: geography, strong links between parent institutions, the use of CDS-ISIS software as a common platform and a vibrant national information system. The barriers to co-operation appear to be geography, finance, the small number of research students in the colleges comprising CATS, the use of incompatible software, denominationalism, the absence of librarians from CATS meetings and a focus on preparing students to become ministers rather than on theological education more broadly-speaking.

When national archivists and national librarians select and acquire materials, they should ensure that the materials are accessible over time. All their efforts may come to naught if the documentary materials were lost as result of being exposed to extreme environmental conditions. Environmental control and monitoring are keys to preventive preservation strategies in the management of collections in libraries and archives. Libraries and archives may fail to provide access to their holdings over time if they do not take preventive measures to protect their holdings into the future. The current study investigated environmental management at national archival institutions and national libraries in eastern and southern Africa. The results revealed that little attention was being paid to environmental control and monitoring as a collection management strategy.