Search

Joint-use libraries have identified staff integration as a problem. Using focus groups, this project investigated the culture, professional ethics, and attitudes of staff in a public-tertiary joint-use library in Auckland, New Zealand. Findings show some difference in organizational cultures, but more variation at the lower level of roles and tasks.

Discussion of trends in Australian higher education focuses on academic libraries. Highlights include online courses; integrating library services into curriculum development; workload priority for librarians; information literacy; and a case study of the University of Queensland, including their Web site, flexible delivery, special services for remote students, and digital learning objects. (LRW)

Discussion of customer expectations of library service quality and SERVQUAL as a measurement tool focuses on two studies: one that compared a survey of Chinese university students' expectations of service quality to New Zealand students; and one that investigated national culture as a source of attitudes to customer service. (Author/LRW)

An instrument for measuring service quality was developed in Singapore's polytechnic libraries, based on previous work done in New Zealand. Focus groups of academic librarians reported on their understanding of service quality. Contrasts between the two instruments are examined. The time lapse between the projects accounts for some variation. A service-quality survey is appended. (Author/AEF)

Academic library managers need a multimethod, objective, valid tool for measuring service quality. Examines three research studies in the measurement of service quality in Australian and New Zealand academic libraries: the Hernon and Altman Study; Hernon and Calvert Study; and the University of Waikato (Hamilton, New Zealand) Survey, a two-stage gap analysis. (PEN)

Examines the effectiveness of a framework developed to measure service quality in academic libraries. The research, which was conducted in the seven university libraries of New Zealand during 1996 concluded that the survey questionnaire administered is an effective instrument for testing service quality. (AEF)

Reports on the second stage of the New Zealand University Libraries Effectiveness Study, which identified dimensions of effectiveness in New Zealand academic libraries and examined parallels with dimensions of organizational effectiveness in a similar study of public libraries. Each libraries' staff rated the library's performance against 99 indicators of effectiveness. (Author/LRW)

Surveyed stakeholder groups in the New Zealand university system to determine each groups' criteria for measuring university library performance. Compared responses of resource allocators, senior library staff, other library staff, academic staff, and graduate and undergraduate students, and found that the groups have different perspectives on library effectiveness. Contains 11 tables and the questionnaire. (JMV)

Two articles discuss library administration and staff training at the University of New Guinea, and question the value of quantitative standards for the high school libraries of Papua New Guinea. The major problem in the high schools is identified as lack of experienced personnel to implement standards. (CDD)

The purpose of this article is to examine key management principles that are crucial for sustainable social media engagement with library customers. To explore these principles, the Strategic Social Media Marketing Framework was applied in interviews to contextualize the management considerations of preselected Nigerian university libraries (n = 6) with social media accounts. Interview results reveal that clarity of purpose and adequate planning are lacking in the approach adopted by libraries for social media marketing, yet these are established as essential ingredients for creating and sustaining social media engagement. Against this background, a framework was developed to provide a high-level guide for social media management with both practical and theoretical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research examines the contextual landscape of academic libraries in Vietnam with the intention of discovering and exploring the barriers and enablers of cooperation in information resource sharing. The aim of this research is to address the principal question of: what are the contextual factors affecting the cooperation of academic libraries in information resource sharing in Vietnam? The interpretive study employed a mixed-methods approach and its findings are based on the analysis of data gathered from key informant interviews (20 library directors) and surveys (145 librarians, 182 students, and 46 lecturers) from 20 universities, as well as from documentary evidence. The participants involved in this study include library directors, librarians, and information users. Data shows that there are contextual factors affecting the cooperation in information resource sharing in terms of policies, directors' attitudes, cooperative culture, IT infrastructure, information resources, lack of standards, and inappropriate funding roles of professional associations. Based on the findings, a model for cooperation in information resource sharing was developed with the contextual factors. The outcome of this research provides a model which incorporates the contextual factors influencing information resource sharing among academic libraries in Vietnam. To that extent, it contributes to our knowledge of information resource sharing in general, especially in regard to developing countries and more specifically to Vietnam. An acknowledgment of these factors will encourage more academic libraries to collaborate in sharing information resources in order to meet the demands of information users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the challenges of providing access to library and information resources within the University of the South Pacific and its library in Suva, Fiji. The University of the South Pacific was established by the Royal Charter in 1967 on behalf of eleven South Pacific states spread out across the Pacific Ocean. The university is funded on a regional basis by member countries. The library is managed by professional librarians. The library is increasing its investments in online database and periodicals subscriptions and embarking on a digitization program.

Part I. Comments on several issues concerning academic libraries from an international perspective. Availability of electronic resources in academic libraries; Factors affecting academic libraries around the world; Details of a solution to problems in North American and European libraries.

Focuses on the gap reduction between customer expectations and the actual service provided within New Zealand university libraries. Objectives of the research; Questionnare used in the research; Number of responses by indicator; Ranking of the statements; Rotated factor pattern; Conclusions.

Discusses service quality evaluation among academic libraries in New Zealand. Ways of assessing libraries; Instruments for evaluation; Development of a self-reporting data collection instrument.

This paper reports on research into undergraduate students' engagement with university library social media. Social media (SM) applications enable university libraries to reach users in ways that may better meet their needs and preferences, but evidence suggests that undergraduate students' engagement with library social media is limited. This raises the question of whether libraries have a good understanding of student preferences for library SM content and approaches and whether students want to engage with the library at all through SM applications. This research aimed to identify if, how and why undergraduate students in select Nigerian universities engage with their library's SM through a questionnaire survey drawing on the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) of persuasive communication. The results indicate that most students are unaware of university library SM posts. Those who are aware prefer content related to events and happenings on campus as well as news about library service developments. Results of the multiple regression reveal that students attach importance to the content of SM posts suggesting that the university library may still be able to reach them through social media for more meaningful interactions. Recommendations for the management of the content and approach to SM communications for university libraries are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Explores technology trends in the Australian university system. Impact of the trends on the provision of library services in universities; Development of the online agenda within universities; Component of the integrated online communication module of Griffith University; Outline on how University of Queensland's library responded to demands placed by the technology trends.

Reports on the status of academic libraries in Germany. Details on higher education system in Germany; Factors that influence the overall situation of academic libraries in Germany in 2002; Groups of staff in academic libraries.

Examines the general environment of higher education libraries in Great Britain, especially the impact of government initiatives and legislation on a national and regional scale. National and regional developments; Variety of legislation which have an impact on higher education; Proposal for a Distributed National Electronic Resource for learning and teaching.