OBJECTIVES The paper gives examples of the bioinformatics services provided in a variety of different libraries by librarians with a broad range of educational background and training. METHODS Two investigators sent an email inquiry to attendees of the "National Center for Biotechnology Information's (NCBI) Introduction to Molecular Biology Information Resources" or "NCBI Advanced Workshop fo...

The present study attempted to answer two questions: do academic library users have a distinctive and useful input to make to library strategic planning? If they do, what mechanisms will permit them to participate effectively in this planning process? To address these questions research was carried out in two stages at a single institutional site, the Canberra College of Advanced Education. The...

The post-hurricane recovery processes of two universities are presented in this chapter, with an emphasis on the experiences specific to their library facilities and holdings. Interviews were conducted with library staff and campus leaders at both institutions. Case studies are constructed of the experiences of these libraries with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the Fall 2005 Semester. One libr...

The fundamental issue for survival in modern librarianship is adaptation. In the modern information environment the basic criteria that determines the success or failure of a library is the ability of the library staff to effectively adapt their policies and procedures to the needs of the user. On a daily basis we see users with technologies and skills that often exceed that of the library staf...

A library that recognizes the need for and benefits of assessment of performance and service presents rewarding opportunities for staff to become more engaged in their work and to identify more strongly with the library’s mission and goals. The process and results of both quantitative and qualitative assessment efforts offer possibilities for employees to develop new skills, take on new tasks, ...

creating joint-use libraries, backed to 100 years ago, unfortunately many countries have not yet began to build such libraries. regarding the increasing number of libraries, the most important issue for interaction between libraries as places of intellectual life and centers for activities is to create joint-use libraries and information places for the public. it is obvious that building such n...

purpose: to examine link between conflict management styles used by university library managers with such demographic attributes such as gender, education, academic vs administrative status, experience, and their full vs. part time involvement with their role as library managers. methodology: data was secured by questioning library managers about their preferred treatment of staff conflicts. th...

A DIRECTOR OF A UNIVERSITY LffiRARY has many problems. Besides financial problems, he must decide how to build collections, what resources in the collections can best serve faculty and students, what kind of bibliographical control must be provided, how to cope with the growth of collections and building problems that ensue, how to make more effective public services, how to provide instruction...

Purpose In this paper we report on the adoption and evaluation of a Learning 2.0 program in a pilot program at the Edith Cowan University Library during 2007. Design/methodology/approach We examine the suitability of Learning 2.0 for training eight ‘early adopters’ among our library staff in the new and emerging Web 2.0 technologies. The program was set up and deployed via a blog, which recorde...

A WIDE RANGE OF PEOPLE are just beginning to equate information service in their communities with the institution they once believed served a primarily recreational and educational function-the public library. At present, many rural libraries have inadequate numbers of staff, and many others have staff which are seriously undereducated to meet the expanded information needs of the people in the...