Search

The research field of crisis informatics examines, amongst others, the potentials and barriers of social media use during conflicts and crises. Social media allow emergency services to reach the public easily in the context of crisis communication and receive valuable information (e.g. pictures) from social media data. However, the vast amount of data generated during large-scale incidents can lead to issues of information overload and quality. To mitigate these issues, this paper proposes the semi-automatic creation of alerts including keyword, relevance and information quality filters based on cross-platform social media data. We conducted empirical studies and workshops with emergency services across Europe to raise requirements, then iteratively designed and implemented an approach to support emergency services, and performed multiple evaluations, including live demonstrations and field trials, to research the potentials of social media-based alerts. Finally, we present the findings and implications based on semi-structured interviews with emergency services, highlighting the need for usable configurability and white-box algorithm representation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When purchasing electronic journals, many libraries weigh the benefits of ordering direct, through a consortium, or through their subscription agent. Often, the role of the agent in the electronic environment is called into question. The agent's role may seem irrelevant if only the exchange of money is considered. However, when libraries consider the entire e-journal acquisitions process, from negotiation with the publisher to renewing subscriptions, the value of third-party assistance is realized. This paper discusses the tasks associated with the acquisition of electronic journals and the role of the agent in assisting the library with these tasks. It is based on a presentation given at the e-journal continuing education workshop held at Mississippi State University Libraries on May 21, 2004. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]