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The grey silverfish Ctenolepisma longicaudatum is a new and serious pest spreading rapidly across Europe. Compared to the silverfish Lepisma saccharinum, it does not depend on relative humidity above 70% and thrives also in new museum buildings, modern storage depositories, apartments, and office buildings. Especially collections of graphic art, modern art on paper, photographs, but also archives and libraries are increasingly affected by this pest. Damage of paper objects has been reported by different authors and institutions across Europe. As these animals live in inaccessible cracks and crevices inside the buildings, we investigated the spread of microorganisms on living grey silverfish, to show a potential additional threat posed by this pest. In 8 locations in Austria living animals were collected with traps and placed for 10 min on agar plates which were incubated for 2 weeks. After incubation of 50 agar plates, between 2 and 20 colonies of fungi were growing on each plate. The most dominant fungal genera were Cladosporium (Cladosporium cladosporioides clade) and Penicillium (Penicillium glabrum, Penicillium decumbens); also, species of the genera Aspergillus, Alternaria, Botrytis, Bartalinia, Byssochlamis, Chaetomium and Mycothypha were found. The diversity of fungi reflects the common fungal community of museums and archives. The spores and mycelial fragments of the fungi are obviously travelling on the legs and bodies of the silverfish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on a piece of false information at the service desk or a license agreement chosen strategic goals of a library.

The term "Artificial Intelligence" (AI) is increasingly permeating public consciousness as it has gained more popularity in recent years, especially within the landscape of academia and libraries. AI in libraries has been a trending subject of interest for some time, as within the library there are numerous departments that serve a role in collectively contributing to the library's mission. Consequently, it is imperative to consider AI's influence on the digital preservation of historic documents. This paper delves into the historical evolution of preservation methods driven by technological advancements as, throughout history, libraries, archives, and museums have grappled with the challenge of preserving historical collections, while many of the traditional preservation methods are costly and involve a lot of manual (human) effort. AI being the catalyst for transformation could change this reality and perhaps redefine the process of preservation; thus, this paper explores the emerging trend of incorporating AI technology into preservation practices and provides predictions regarding the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in preservation for the future. With that in mind, this paper addresses the following questions: could AI be what changes or creates a paradigm shift in how preservation is done?; and could it be the thing that will change the way history is safeguarded? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A position paper on the topic of freedom of expression and the right to access political, ideological, and religious literature in libraries is presented.

The article discusses a November 2008 further education conference at the Carl von Ossietzky Provincial and University Library in Hamburg, Germany on the theme "So That Paper Persists... Experiences With Mass Deacidification." The rationale, methodology, scope, and evaluated results of paper deacidification projects in various German libraries were reviewed.

The paper presents a study of library and information science students’ perceptions and experiences related to the use of telepresence robots (TPRs) in libraries, with a specific focus on students assuming the role of library consultants. The study explores the innovative application of TPRs, such as Double, Ohmni and Temi, within library settings. The findings of the research reveal a positive perception of TPRs, emphasising their potential for fostering innovation, increasing engagement, providing flexibility and overcoming geographical constraints. The study also identifies distinct advantages of TPRs, including remote accessibility, enhanced communication, flexibility, a personalised user experience and cost savings. However, concurrent challenges, such as limitations in nonverbal communication, pointing accuracy, connectivity issues, space requirements, costs, safety, security concerns and varying levels of user acceptance emerge as crucial areas for refinement. While the results may not be generalisable due to the limited sample size, the study underscores the transformative potential of TPRs in libraries and the necessity of addressing these challenges to optimise their application. Further research, technological advancements and user feedback can help refine and optimise the use of TPRs in libraries to provide innovative and accessible assistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper compares the different views of the two former presidents of the French National Library in the controversy over Google Books. Jean-Noël Jeanneney's criticism and rejection of any library collaboration with commercial enterprises such as Google is outlined, including his promotion for Europeana as a joint European alternative project. This is contrasted with his successor Bruno Racine's more open approach towards mass-scale digitisation in collaboration with commercial partners. The paper concludes with an outlook on the National Library's digitisation policy under the current management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disposal has always been a source of conflict in academic and scientific libraries. Amid the increasing relevance of electronic resources, the disposal of e-books is becoming pertinent as well. Weighing up the pros and cons, every academic library should consider carefully whether it sides with the "Das frisst kein Brot/It doesn't consume space" team or the "Need to weed" team. The paper makes a proposal where to start the negotiation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bibliometrics is a current topic in many libraries. It is often associated with many questions, which are also repeated from time to time. In this article, the two authors have identified the 10 most frequently asked questions and try to answer them in separate and independent sections. They address questions about data providers such as Web of Science, Scopus and Dimensions, but also PubMed, ArXiv, EconBiz, as well as bibliometric indicators such as the Journal Impact Factor (JIF), CiteScore (CS), Scimago Journal Rank (SJR), Source Normalized Impact per paper (SNIP). However, spotlights will also be put on related topics such as Open Access and Altmetrics e. g. Altmetric.com, Plum Metric and Article-Level-Metric (ALM). The organizational embedding, the question of how culture-changing topics affect science management and libraries as well as the aspect that libraries should take on an expert function on these data-driven topics complete the article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cooperation between archives and libraries with regard to the cataloguing of autographs and papers has changed dramatically over the course of the last twenty years, mainly due to the use of electronic media. By now there are online data banks which contain information on the autograph and paper collections of the Federal Archives Koblenz and the Berlin State Library. Traditionally, there has been a gap in Germany between archives and libraries in this vital field. It is the task for the future to overcome this gap once and for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on an initiative entitled "Libraries Stand for Expression and Freedom of Information: Position Paper for the Librarian Dealing with Controversial works," by the German Library Association.

The article offers information on the construction of a universal drying chamber for water-damaged library and archival materials at the National Library of the Czech Republic. It provides an overview of the implementation of the three different drying methods which include vacuum drying, vacuum freeze drying and drying in a controlled humidity atmosphere. It notes that books are placed in vertical slacks interleaved by innovative heating tiles to prevent distortion of book during treatment.

This paper provides an overview of the new features of the finite element library deal.II, version 9.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mit Blick auf das Jahr 2040 stellt der Beitrag die Auswirkungen der künstlichen Intelligenz (KI) auf die Bibliotheken dar. Mit der zunehmenden Fähigkeit von Algorithmen, Texte zu generieren, könnten Maschinen in der Lage sein, ganze Bibliotheken zu lesen und auf individuelle Bedürfnisse zugeschnittene Fragen in natürlicher Sprache zu beantworten. Dies könnte dazu führen, dass Informationskompetenz und der Rückgriff auf (veraltete) Bücher für die Nutzer gleichermaßen verzichtbar wird. Dieses Szenario stellt jedoch eine dystopische Zukunft für die institutionelle Informationsversorgung durch Bibliotheken dar; es wird davor gewarnt, zu pessimistisch zu sein. Vielmehr muss festgestellt werden, dass frühere Prognosen über die Auswirkungen der Technologie auf die Bibliotheken falsch waren. Dementsprechend sollte die Zukunft der Bibliotheken nicht in einem aussichtslosen Kampf gegen digitale Trends gesehen werden. Stattdessen sollten sich Bibliotheken an das sich verändernde Umfeld anpassen, indem sie ihre Rolle als Lern- und Wissensinstitutionen neu definieren, die Differenzierungswirkung der digitalen Transformation in den Blick nehmen und sich die Frage stellen, wie das Analoge sich im digitalen Umfeld verändert bzw. wie eine sachgerechte institutionelle Antwort auf diese Veränderung aussehen kann. Looking ahead to 2040, the paper outlines the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on libraries. As algorithms become more capable of generating text, machines could be able to read entire libraries and answer questions tailored to individual needs in natural language. This could make information literacy and reliance on (outdated) books less important for users. However, this scenario represents a dystopian future for institutional information provision by libraries; it is important not to be too pessimistic. Rather, it should be noted that previous predictions about the impact of technology on libraries have been wrong. Accordingly, the future of libraries should not be seen as a hopeless battle against digital trends. Instead, libraries should adapt to the changing environment by redefining their role as institutions of learning and knowledge, looking at the differentiating effects of digital transformation, and asking themselves how the analogue is changing in the digital environment, or what an appropriate institutional response to this change might look like. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Im Oktober 2021 hat die Koordinierungsstelle NS-Raubgut Provenienzforschung und Altbestand an der Sächsischen Landesfachstelle für Bibliotheken ihre Arbeit aufgenommen. Die Koordinierungsstelle NS-Raubgut hat die Aufgabe, die sächsischen Kommunen bei der wissenschaftlichen Suche nach NS-Raubgut in Öffentlichen Bibliotheken, der Restitution und der Aufarbeitung für die Öffentlichkeit zu unterstützen. Nach einem Jahr der Tätigkeit liefet dieser Artikel einen Überblick über die Ausgangslage und Herausforderungen bei der Suche nach NS-Raubgut im öffentlichen Bibliotheksbereich und hier besonders im ländlichen Raum. The coordination office Nazi Loot – Provenance Research and Older Holdings at Landesfachstelle für Bibliotheken (consulting centre for libraries in Saxony) was launched in October 2021, tasked with supporting municipalities in Saxony in their scientific search for Nazi loot in public libraries, including its restitution and making the results accessible for the general public. A year into its existence, the paper gives a brief summary of the initial situation and the challenges of researching Nazi loot in public libraries, especially in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper evaluates freshmen undergraduate students' comprehension of library vocabularies used by librarians in library orientation sessions. For the assessment, a questionnaire survey was conducted among a group of 1456 freshmen students during library orientations at a premier public university in Bangladesh. In addition to students' socio-demographic and personal information, the survey included 15-multiple choice questions on the definition of library terminologies. For each definition, the correct answer was given a score of "1" whereas the wrong or unsure response was assigned a score of "0." Statistical procedures, t-test and ANOVA, were run to test the equality of means between student groups. A Generalised Estimating Equation (GEE) model was applied to determine the effect of socio-demographic and personal variables on students' category-specific scores. The findings indicate that more than half of the terms were either incorrectly defined or not known to students. There were significant differences in freshmen's total and category-specific scores based on gender, age, previous residence, discipline enrolled, computer and library experience and in terms of their previous exposure to library instructions. The GEE model showed that category-specific scores were significantly associated with term types and prior computer and library experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an overview of the new features of the finite element library deal.II, version 9.4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pair of Chinese scrolls representing the earth and sky were donated to the Bodleian Library in 1684. They are thought to be ephemeral items printed during the late Ming dynasty. Records indicate that in 1883 the scrolls were trimmed, patched with transparent paper, backed with cloth and mounted in an unsympathetic manner. In this paper, we consider the conservation and preservation measures adopted by the then Bodleian Librarian and reflect on his participation at the St. Gall Conference in 1898. The conservation treatment of the scrolls completed in 2015 was guided by their past repairs, current ethical considerations and scientific analysis. Breaking the strong bond between the transparent paper and the fragile surface of the scrolls required experimentation with the Albertina Compress and Gellan gum. The recreation of functional hanging scrolls involved the use of traditional scroll-mounting techniques and the reinterpretation of the Chinese mounting style from a western conservation perspective. We also discuss the experience gained in treating two artefacts with almost identical problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open access is a key utopian ideal for a large proportion of librarians, but before discussing libraries in 2040, it is important to define the term "library". For some readers, a complete shift to electronic reading would be a utopia, especially for those with dyslexia and other reading disabilities since electronic reading offers means for compensating. For those whose utopia is the library building itself as a long-term repository for bound paper volumes, the future offers little hope. The prevalence of book banning attempts and of fake news of all sorts is a symptom of a fundamental distrust in information that is the hallmark of the librarian's dystopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article announces that the periodical "Libri: International Journal of Libraries and Information Services" is issuing a call for the Best Student Paper of 2015.

In this paper, interaction with clients of the library will be transferred in to the stage of a theatre. Our format is the improvisational theatre with the show taking place at the library information desk: the players (=staff) task is to perform with high flexibility when being confronted with the expectations, demands, wishes, and needs of library visitors. While it can be helpful to play with and emphasise certain individual traits staff, is also asked to implement strategies and case models in order to act and react satisfyingly for both involved parties. Here, it can be extremely rewarding to make use of the basics of improvisational theatre. Also knowing and using the own inner team can be of great asset. Let's party, let's act! [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to examine how librarians construe organizational culture based on employees' satisfaction, good leadership, and organizational support with knowledge sharing practices relationships. The quantitative research method, using a structured questionnaire comprised of three constructs of Organizational Culture (OC), including employees' satisfaction, good leadership, and organizational support, and six constructs of Knowledge Sharing (KS) (innovation, collaboration, communication channel, trust, loyalty, and ethics), was considered as the most suitable for this study. Correlation research design and Pearson correlation test were used for examining the relationships between OC and KS with respect to academic librarians. The findings disclosed significant relationships between OC and KS among the study participants. Organizational support followed by good leadership style and employees' satisfaction are the strong predictors of knowledge sharing practices in the context of this study. This study has some practical implications for academic library administrators to consider the role of effective organizational culture in promoting knowledge sharing practices among LIS professionals. This paper is the first attempt to explore the relationship between OC and KS in library perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the role and potential of libraries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda. Both positive examples and wishful thinking in public and academic libraries are highlighted, as well as the impact of the lobbying activities of the library associations are highlighted. The final "outlook" is intended to encourage awareness of the potential of the agenda for libraries, their communities, and society as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article announces that a position paper on library legislation was developed during the membership meeting of the Borromäusverein e.V. on September 13, 2007. In particular, the paper addresses issues pertaining to library standards and legislation. Additionally, the topic of church and library work in Germany is addressed in the paper.

Der Aufsatz thematisiert die spezifischen Strategien Öffentlicher Bibliotheken bei der Lizenzierung digitaler Inhalte vor dem Hintergrund einer fehlenden Konsortialinfrastruktur für Öffentliche Bibliotheken. The paper discusses public libraries' strategies for licensing digital content against the background that a consortium infrastructure for public libraries is still lacking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dieser Artikel thematisiert die technische Umsetzung eines Webportals und einer SQL-Datenbank (Output.UP), um die manuelle Erfassung und Auswertung von wissenschaftlichen Publikationen für die Universitätsbibliothek Potsdam weitestgehend zu automatisieren. Ein besonderes Augenmerk wird auf die Importe mittels API von ORCID, Crossref und Unpaywall gelegt. Nach Abschluss der Testphase wird Output.UP in einem Git-Repository für die Nachnutzung zur Verfügung gestellt. The paper focuses on the technical implementation of a web portal and SQL database (Output.UP) as automation system for the collection and analysis of scientific publications for the Potsdam University Library, with a pecial emphasis on imports via API from ORCID, Crossref and Unpaywall. After the test phase, Output.UP will be made available in a Git repository for subsequent use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an overview of the new features of the finite element library deal.II, version 9.3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Libraries in tropical Sri Lanka have been suffering from insect infestation for a long time. Library insect pests are observed frequently and feed on books, paper, wooden shelves or building structures and make irreversible damages to the objects. Most librarians in the country struggle with this situation and are looking for long-term solutions to protect their objects. This paper illustrates a simple strategy, which could be applied in many libraries in Sri Lanka or other countries to eradicate pests. This strategy has been composed in the light of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). It consists of four steps: "Monitoring" is a regular check, which indicates the threat to the library from pests. During the second step, "identification", the specific pests active are detected. "Treatment" can be divided in two subcategories: "immediate treatments" focusing on nonchemical and traditional methods to eradicate pests and "late treatment" denotes conservation treatment carried out in the paper laboratory. The final step is "prevention", which includes all activities that help blocking and repelling pests from entering the library. This paper illustrates this four-step strategy with two examples for successful control of insect and fungal outbreak and can be applied in other libraries with similar problems and a low budget. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an overview of the new features of the finite element library deal.II, version 9.2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Videospiele sind Kulturgut und sollten als solches bewahrt und präsentiert werden. Hierzu gehört die Beschäftigung mit antiquarischen Spielen, den Retrogames, bei deren Nutzung Bibliotheken nicht auf Originalhardware setzen sollten, da die Geräte aussterben. Werden nun alte Spiele auf moderner Hardware wiedergegeben, so gibt es viel Fehlerpotential, welches dem Nutzer einen falschen Eindruck vermitteln und das Angebot scheitern lassen kann. Ziel des Artikels ist Bibliotheken praktikable Lösungen zur Präsentation alter Computersysteme und -spiele vorzustellen und einige, im Retrogaming wichtige, technische Grundkonzepte zu erläutern, unter deren Beachtung Bibliotheken funktionell möglichst authentische Nachbildungen realisieren können. Video games are a cultural heritage to be preserved and open to the public. This also includes 'antiquarian' games, so-called retrogames. Libraries are well advised to not rely on their original hardware, as these devices will die out over time. Running older games on new hardware, however, entails a high potential for errors, giving the users false impressions, thus defeating the appeal of this special library service. The paper proposes practical solutions for libraries to make computer systems and games from the past available, including explanations of key technical concepts in retrogaming allowing for the realisation of functionally authentic emulations in the library context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Die veränderten und komplexeren Anforderungen in der modernen Gesellschaft: die zunehmende Digitalisierung, der demographische Wandel, die Wichtigkeit lebenslangen Lernens, die Veränderung hin zur interkulturellen Gesellschaft stellen auch die Bibliotheken vor neue Herausforderungen. Der Beitrag zeigt anhand aktueller Praxisbeispiele des Landesbibliothekszentrums Rheinland-Pfalz (LBZ) auf, wie auch wissenschaftliche Bibliotheken sich verstärkt zu gesellschaftspolitischen Themen engagieren und gibt Beispiele für neue Angebote und Veranstaltungsformate, die diese Arbeit unterstützen. Changing, more complex needs in modern societies due to increasing digitalisation, demographic change, the growing importance of life-long learning and the shift to multicultural societies present new challenges for libraries. The paper illustrates how also scientific libraries may get more involved in actively contributing to socio-political developments, using practical examples from the Library Centre Rhineland-Palatinate. New offerings and event formats are introduced backing these activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an overview of the new features of the finite element library deal.II, version 9.1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Der bibliothekarische Mainstream geht davon aus, dass die wissenschaftlichen Bibliotheken „Serviceeinrichtungen" seien, deren Personal nicht Wissenschaft zu betreiben, sondern „Service" zu erbringen habe. Damit wird nicht nur das Berufsbild der Bibliothekare um seine Geschichte gekürzt, sondern zugleich das Entwicklungspotential der Bibliotheken beschränkt. Wer in dieser Situation nach unbeschränkt-offenen Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten der Bibliotheken sucht, wird diese kaum in den umlaufenden Strategiepapieren finden, sondern einzig in einer Reflexion des eigenen Tuns, einer Reflexion, deren Schriftform eine Einladung zum Dialog ist. The library mainstream sees scientific libraries as mere "service centres" assuming that staff is there to attend to patrons' needs rather than do scientific research. This view does not only deny the historical roots of librarians' occupational profile, it also limits libraries' development potential. In this situation, anyone interested in not just narrowly defined development possibilities for libraries and open options and opportunities, must look further than the circulating strategy papers and critically reflect one's own experience and role in the development of libraries, to engage in a written form of reflection inviting dialogue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes taking place in the modern world related to the digital revolution also affect the library. Libraries should exist in the virtual space in order to promote their services in social networks. Responding to the needs of modern users, the Voivodeship Public Library in Opole continually expands and enhances the range of internet services and web 2.0 activities. The paper presents library web portals and online services in Poland using the example of the Voidvodeship Public Library in Opole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Der Prozess, in dem sich Hochschulen digitalisieren, bietet ein komplexes und widersprüchliches Bild. Im Folgenden wird zuerst versucht, einen Eindruck zu vermitteln, was Digitalisierung von Hochschulen bedeutet und wie weit dieser Prozess vorangeschritten ist. Angestrebt wird eine Darstellung des Prozesses im Überblick: Es sollen vornehmlich die Dynamiken und die Potentiale dieser Entwicklungen aufgezeigt werden. In einem zweiten Schritt richtet sich der Blick darauf, welchen Platz Universitätsbibliotheken in den sich digitalisierenden und digitalisierten Hochschulen einnehmen und welche Veränderungen infolge dessen notwendig sind. The digitization of universities is a complex and inconsistent process. In this paper a first impression is given what does digitization of universities mean and how much progress did this process make. In an outline without dealing with any details it is tried to look at the university and the process of digitizing it as a whole. The dynamics and potentials of this development will be shown. In a second step the place of university libraries in those digitized universities and the necessary changes will be assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the authors – both of whom are library directors and involved in the contract negotiations with the bigger scientific publishers – present the conditions that formed the Dutch approach in these negotiations. A combination of clear political support, a powerful delegation, a unique bargaining model and fidelity to their principles geared the Dutch to their success in achieving open access. The authors put these joint license and open access negotiations in the perspective of open science and show that they are part of the transition towards open access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this conceptual paper is to critically review and identify issues in the literature relating to the concept of Information Literacy and how it is being assessed. It provides arguments that the existing information literacy conceptualization and subsequent models do not support the perspective and understanding of information literacy at the workplace, especially in developing countries like Nigeria. Key literature and common models of information literacy are examined to identify the conceptualization of the construct of information literacy and its relevance to practices in the workplace. The paper also argues that existing information literacy models are not inclusive of the theoretical perspective of the person-inpractice workplace information environment and proposes a model that sets the basis for empirical studies on information literacy in the workplace, specifically in developing countries. The proposed model will assist researchers to understand the major components of workplace information literacy and how to assess information literacy of a person in practice at the workplace [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LIS Schools in South Africa, like in many other parts of the world, are part of a triangular relationship involving LIS teaching departments, universities and the library and information services profession. This relationship is profoundly affected by a rapidly evolving information and technology environment as well as higher education restructuring globally. In a context of 'diffusion and diversity' arising from this relationship, this paper takes a look at LIS Schools in South Africa to ascertain whether they have succumbed to the pressures and constraints brought about by a technologically driven information environment and the so called efficiency models of universities. Alternatively, have they used these pressures as challenges to catalyse a paradigm shift from a discipline that evolved largely on a pragmatic basis to one grounded in epistemology and research methodologies providing it with the capacity to embrace rapidly evolving trends in the generation, use and transfer of information in the ICT age? A qualitative approach, involving a cursory survey of LIS School Heads in South Africa analysed against conceptual understandings gleaned from relevant literature, frames the inquiry attempting to address these critical questions. The paper outlines the pressures of the triangular relationship that frames the existence and inherent difficulties of the LIS School and points out that the LIS Schools surveyed, each in their own way within their institutional contexts, have managed thus far to survive their challenges - albeit this being no guarantee of continued survival. In terms of whether these LIS Schools have used these pressures as challenges to catalyse a paradigm shift in their conceptualisation of LIS education, the limited data from the cursory survey of LIS School Heads suggests that some LIS Schools may have been engaging more with such a paradigm shift than others. The paper concludes that LIS Schools, in South Africa or elsewhere, need to dig deeply and creatively into their epistemological resources and use the interdisciplinary nature of the LIS discipline to sustain their academic projects in a highly competitive and arduous environment. The paper suggests a followup to the cursory survey of LIS Schools in South Africa to 'drill down' into individual institutional dynamics to mine primary data for studies towards addressing LIS School challenges emanating from the changing environments within which they are located. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information technology has brought a tremendous change in the nature, boundaries and structure of information. The ongoing movement towards an electronic information society is pushing libraries towards automation and digitization. The revolution has brought impressive changes in the role of LIS professionals who are now being viewed as information managers/facilitators. These developments have also influenced LIS writings and publishing. This study shows that while the application of IT has gained considerable importance in Indian libraries, IT-based papers have surprisingly found less space in Indian LIS periodicals as compared to the LIS literature in general. The findings of this study also indicate that there is an uneven distribution of various topics within the Indian LIS IT-published literature; while some topics/areas of IT have received considerable attention others have been barely touched. Topics like IT in general, bibliographic databases, library networking, library automation and electronic resources have been found to predominate in the growth of Indian LIS literature as compared to the coverage of other areas of IT. Most papers (60%) have single authors, indicating a low amount of teamwork/collaborative writing. The paper's analysis also reveals that working professionals/librarians have made more contributions (48%) in comparison to teaching professionals (22%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile library services are still lacking and insufficient to meet the increasing needs of various users. This paper provides an overview of the development and application of mobile technology in South Korean libraries. It presents the service contexts and issues for the future application and access in the mobile library field. This paper categorizes real world examples. It identifies the new mission for building high quality mobile library services and discusses the future of mobile library architecture. It also presents a summary of key aspects of mobile library projects in South Korea and suggests major areas for future planning and development. Finally it envisions the future of mobile library technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses a 2004 destructive incident at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI) in Pune, India as a case study to discuss the intersection of caste politics, ownership, and violence in the archives. After a brief overview of the events leading up to, during, and subsequent to the violent destruction of archival documents by an angry lower caste mob, this paper provides the historical context necessary to analyze issues of ownership, politics, and colonialism within the context of a South Asian library, keeping in mind the complex interplay of religion, region, and caste in India. The paper then explores this incident from an archival studies perspective, looking at archives as both sites of violence and as cultural and political symbols, and explores how issues of ownership, political pressure, and access, if not properly addressed, can boil over into violent destruction of the archival record. Finally, this paper argues that violent incidents such as the one described can occur outside of the Indian context, in almost any archival setting, and concludes with recommendations on how to avoid future destruction in archival repositories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various government bodies have promoted library-museum collaboration in recent years but research is lacking about common practices and experiences, and, in particular, what has worked and what hasn't. The research presented in this paper addresses this gap. The first part outlines opinion and theory regarding library-museum collaboration as given in the professional literature. The second part describes practical findings from case-study investigations into public library- museum collaboration in England and the USA. This analysis takes a close look at the benefits of such collaborations. The paper concludes with guidelines on how library-museum collaboration can occur successfully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents the results of a study of Bibliothek. Forschung und Praxis 1977-2001 undertaken from the perspective of a foreign observer. The study was aimed to provide a retrospective assessment of the contents of the twenty five volumes and to contribute to outlining its thematic profile. For this purpose, an empirical analysis examining such issues and parameters as subjects covered by articles, types of libraries and institutions covered, the average length of articles, gender of authors, authorship patterns including co-authorship, academic affiliations of authors, the geographical dimension of journal papers, the language of papers as well as the number of papers with bibliographic references versus papers without references was conducted. A total of 546 papers were analysed. It is concluded that the aims and objectives defined by the journal's editors in 1977 have largely been met. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Librarians want to know what users need and want from the library. Ethnography is a useful method for gaining insight into user needs and wants. Because of our presence both inside and outside of the communities we serve, librarians are uniquely well-suited for using ethnographic methods to observe and analyze how our users behave. This paper will therefore describe why librarians are ideal ethnographers and how ethnography provides unique data for library and information science (LIS) researchers. It describes two ways to enter the field: first it explains how to establish rapport with the wider study population and second how to begin fieldwork with a straightforward, low-risk data collection task. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the findings from research which explored decision making and practices underpinning the implementation or non-adoption of social media in archives and libraries worldwide. Archives and libraries continue to face demands, whether from senior management, funding agencies, the government, or taxpayers to demonstrate accountability. Evaluation provides evidence to meet such demands and to gain, validate, or sustain support for programs and activities. Being able to show success is a key step for archives and libraries that need to rationalize or win support for the continuance of their social media efforts. Related to this are questions about whether or not there should be a preservation strategy for the content of social media as well as a plan for sustainability of infrastructure to support these activities. Our survey findings suggest that archives and libraries know that they are not necessarily choosing the evaluation methods that can best demonstrate the achievement of their intentions, and furthermore that they lack strategies and policies for preservation and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the first national survey of public library services to three user groups in the context of children and young adults: hospital patients, prisoners, and persons with developmental disorders. The study was two-part: first the data on potential users and their characteristics was gathered. This was used to prepare the main survey of the existing public library services in Slovenia, undertaken in 2012 and 2013. The results show that of the three user groups in question, two (hospital patients and prisoners) are more localised, being the focus of individual public libraries working in the area where hospitals or prisons are located, while persons with developmental disorders are spread throughout the country and as such relevant to a larger number of libraries. The first two groups also have more potential for development, because Slovenian public libraries offer much richer services for users with developmental disorders. Nevertheless, positive trends were observed in most areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In libraries, politics is wrongly regarded as unpopular. This paper shows why politics is a relevant and legitimate field of action for libraries. It gives examples from German libraries and explains within which institutional bounds ( polity) libraries move as acting and receiving parties in politics. The common political goals and interests of libraries ( policies) are represented as well as the peculiarities of library-related political decision-making processes ( politics). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]