Volume 65, Issue 3 -

With the pervasiveness of mobile applications (apps), many Chinese libraries have begun to use apps to provide mobile services to users. Although many mobile library (m-library) apps have a high-downloaded rate in the App store, the rate of users continuing to use them remains extremely low, and the acceptance-discontinuance anomaly phenomenon (i.e., users discontinue using a m-library app after initially accepting it) is a common occurrence in China. This study develops an integrated model designed to explain and predict users’ continued usage of m-library apps based on the expectation confirmation model of information system continuance (ECM-ISC) and the theory of information system success, It incorporates habit, as a moderating variable of continuance intention and behaviour, into the model. Empirical data was collected from 396 users who had prior experience with m-library apps and was tested against the proposed research model using structural equation modelling. The results demonstrated that user perceived usefulness, expectation confirmation and satisfaction are important parts of the formation of m-library apps continuance usage. Furthermore, the three components of the information system success model, system quality, information quality and service quality, also have significant impacts on user confirmation and ultimately affect continuance usage. And the negative influence of habit on continuance intention and behaviour has been supported. The study will be useful for Chinese libraries to better understand users’ continuance usage behaviour and service demands, and in turn to optimize the function of apps and improve the quality of mobile services.

This paper explores the way in which professional staff employed in information institutions perceive changes and different aspects of change management. The research focuses on Croatian libraries, museums and archives, as public and non-profit organizations. The influence of five background variables (institution, gender, age, level of education, and position) was examined in the analysis. The results show that professionals are only partially satisfied with the changes in their institutions. The type of institution they work in, and the position in the management structure proved to be strong predictors of differences in satisfaction ratings. Factor analysis has revealed three factors: change management mechanisms, impact of change on users and local community, and importance and necessity of change. These factors represent the underlying constructs of the professional staff’s perceptions of change and change management. With respect to the background variables, employees generally have similar attitudes toward the latent factors. They are aware that change is important and that well managed changes improve effectiveness and efficiency. However, from their responses, it is clear that change management is not performed properly. Based on the extracted factors, the survey subjects are classified into four clusters. The study highlights some critical areas of change management in information institutions. Since theory and practice of change management in such organizations have been largely disregarded, the paper contributes to a better understanding of these issues.

Although 2015 marks the target year for attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the United Nations member states are in the process of defining a global development framework to succeed these goals, the MDGs nevertheless remain a development tool for countries’ wider development planning frameworks. In South Africa, various sectors, institutions and organisations are making efforts to attain these goals. Accordingly, the library and information sector is well placed to contribute towards the realisation of the MDGs, as libraries provide a critical support structure for education, economic development and poverty eradication. As time runs out in terms of meeting the 2015 deadline, this paper seeks to demonstrate that school libraries may be instrumental in influencing the pace and extent of progress needed to realise the MDGs beyond 2015. The research on which this article is based adds to the body of knowledge advocating the importance of libraries in realising the MDGs. It will also generate insights for policymakers on the important role of school library in development.

This essay examines theory development for local, national, and international information and library programs facing service issues involving the religious beliefs of users. Applying both culturally pragmatic and secular standpoints, the author identifies a relative lack of attention paid to such issues in the English language literatures of North American and European library and information studies (LIS). In contrast, secular theorists throughout the social sciences, as well as other fields and disciplines, are increasingly engaging with the impact of denominational and personal religious phenomena on nations and their cultures. To address this deficit in LIS theory, the essay asserts the value of information, knowledge, and library scholars drawing on understandings of the deep structures of cultures and multiple modernities, specifically including religious modernities. Further, the essay offers suggestions for secular academics and other investigators in developing the research and theory appropriate for advising LIS practitioners who are providing services which take into account the religious beliefs of the users.

Although we have a PhD thesis (Jamil 1985), some independent studies (Kâri 1982; el-Menûni 1991; en-Nemle 1995; Said 2000; Ebu Süleyman 2002) and many articles about the verrak s, The people known as verrak have been dealt with in works on manuscripts. Also some independent research has been carried out on this subject as well: Lütfullah Kâri, el-Verrake ve’l-Verrâkûn fi ‘t-Tarihi’l-Islâmi , Riyadh (1982); Muhammed el-Menûni, Tarihü’l-Verrâketül-Mağibiyye , edited by Abdülvâhid b. Davud, Dârü’I-beydâ (1991); Ali b. Ibrahim en-Nemle, el-Verrake and Eşheri Alâmi’l-Verrâkîn , Riyadh (1995); Hayrullah Said, Verrâkü Bagdad fi’ 1-Asri’l-Abbâsî , Riyadh (2000); Abdülvehhâb b. İbrahim Ebu Süleyman, el-Ulemâü ve’l-Üdebâü’1-Verrâkûn fil-Hicaz fil-Karni’r- Râbi aşeri’ l - Hicri , Tâif (2002). professionals who copied and sold books and writing materials in the Medieval Islamic world, no serious work about sahhaf s (booksellers) and their unique profession exists for the Ottoman era. This is not so much due to a lack of interest in the subject, but rather because documents and sources about booksellers are either very rare or have not yet come to light. Everything written on this topic until the present day consists of a few general accounts (which are not based on any documents or historical sources) and some memoirs from book dealers about the recent history of the book bazaar. In addition, the material is largely repetitious. This article does not claim to systematically study the development of the book trade during the Ottoman era, but rather aims at compiling documents and information about the book trade and providing a background for more detailed, future studies.