Search

Imagining the World Wide Web as a giant library implies the proficiency of librarians, or at least qualified library services that accomplish the varied tasks assigned to librarians. Existing web search engines are nowhere near fulfilling such tasks and services as cataloguing publications and mediating between library resources and users in a satisfactory manner. Professional librarians could provide much better support especially in long-term and in-depth research projects. This article discusses the advantages and benefits of library services and the assistance of librarians in research, and illustrates how new, decentrally organized web search systems can deal with these complex tasks to provide effective and long-term support for users doing scientific research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In spring 2013, the ETH (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule, Zürich) library management gave out the job of revising the library's web portal. This job seemed attractive as the work promised to produce immediately visible results because the revision procedure was expressly meant to be carried out as quickly as possible. Surveys and the daily work with the clients had shown that improvements were necessary and that adjustments to new usage trends had to be carried out. The following report describes the thoughts on the revision and the measures considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many libraries are convinced that their internet presence should continue to be a central portal for information seekers and would like it to stay this way. However, in reality the situation is completely different. Library websites play an ever-decreasing role for students and teaching staff. The introduction of a discovery system provides a good opportunity to rethink the outdated portal concept used for library internet pages websites and to break new ground. explore new avenues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communicating information in the era of the internet poses a new challenge to public libraries. Is there a way to connect conventional media and digital information to experience both worlds as one? With the research project 'Quellentaucher' ('source diver'), North Rhine-Westphalia intends to develop and test new opportunities of information research. The library user shall be offered an intuitive and entertaining research experience. The research project is carried out in cooperation with the working group Human-Computer Interaction of the university of applied sciences in Konstanz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demographic development shows that the proportion of senior citizens in the German population is growing. Therefore, this section of the population becomes more and more significant and it is important to deal with this target group. The offers which libraries can develop for the target group of senior citizens depend on the respective local prerequisites and the resources of each library (personnel, budget, premises). Senior citizens are a heterogeneous group of several generations, characterised by different interests and levels of education, as well as different intellectual and physical conditions. The library should develop its range of offers within a concept with clear objectives to make it successful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today's library customers seem to struggle with the complexity of traditional online library catalogues and databases when it comes to finding literature relevant to their subjects. This is one of the main reasons why 'Discovery Services' and 'One-Stop-Shop' have shaped up into somehow global buzzwords, since these new service offers do simplify crossing the threshold and learning in libraries. They are the entrance portal to academic research aiming at both customer retention and win-back from large-scale web search engines as primary information resources. DigiBib - The Digital Library has been following the path to offer a full service bundle for library users for many years by now. On these grounds, it was only a matter of consequence to also fit the new technologies into the library portal and provide a discovery service with catalogue feature integration. This article reports on project modules and implementation of DigiBib IntrOX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of the Alliance for Lifelong Learning the state of Baden-Württemberg promotes innovative forms of training and provides, among other things, a virtual learning environment based on ILIAS (German for 'Integrated Learning, Information and Work Cooperation System'). On that basis the public library of Ludwigsburg has designed its own learning platform which is adapted to its individual needs. Since mid-July 2013, library users have been able to gain access to language, business and computer courses with a valid library card, regardless of time and location. The article describes the framework of the Ludwigsburg project and gives an insight into its latest developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the users' point of view two aspects are essential for the quality of library online services. On the one hand, relevant content must be available. On the other hand, it should be simple and intuitive to find and to access this content. Therefore, the topics usability and usefulness are of great importance for libraries. This article describes how these two aspects can be evaluated and how libraries can use BibEval and PECI for assessments of their own services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on a conference on library user expectations and library public services programs, held in Berlin, Germany, from March 4-6, 2013. Topics of discussion included the effect of innovations in information technology on learning and scholarship, open access publishing and institutional repositories, and the use of mobile device applications and electronic media in libraries.

The catalog code RDA will furnish some changes for the catalog of libraries, that are helpful for users. This progress will force also for the cataloguer and the formation, the design of the OPACs further development. For this purpose, the library Software must both be developed regarding cataloguing such as OPAC, what is shown by means of examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the university library in Oldenburg a new „learning space" was created at the cost of „traditional" library services. Thanks to a project for the organisational integration of IT services and library, it was possible for the first time to meet changed users' needs with an overall concept. As a result, library and IT services are now jointly available at one location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses several lectures that focused on library user behavior and on services for library users. The lectures were held at the 100th German librarians' retreat that took place in Berlin, Germany in June 2011. The main lecture, given by the librarian Lynn Connaway, focused on providing library users with certain tools and services, eliminating barriers preventing library users from accessing certain services, and encouraging library users to learn how to use the internet resources.