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This study explores how one public library assesses the outcomes of a makerspace and examines whether the approaches taken can be justified as appropriate. An increasing number of public libraries throughout the world are establishing makerspaces, and to date there is little literature on how outcomes of these services are assessed. This study explores the methods that are being used, making comparisons to best practice revealed in the literature. The project is a case-study of the Central City Library makerspace (Auckland Libraries, New Zealand). The study collected evidence from documents, archival records, and interviewees. The findings revealed that while efforts are being made to assess the outcomes of makerspaces, methods and techniques are primarily informal. Current formal reporting relies upon quantitative measurement, such as visitor or participant numbers, which fails to capture the effects of the service on users. The implication is that staff may develop more structured and formalized approaches to assessing the outcomes of makerspaces. Further research could include the design of a prototypical outcomes assessment model that is then tested on a public library makerspace to determine the practicality of the approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtual reality (VR) offers potential for teaching and learning, though there seems to be no prior use of VR for teaching library and information science. This paper reports on a project that used VR for teaching library design, specifically for designing a library for customers with physical impairments. A survey and interviews were used to collect data. The results suggest that students prefer using VR to more traditional forms of learning because it makes physical problems seem more real than they would if presented in a book or video. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [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.

The Council of New Zealand University Librarians (CONZUL) has developed a low-cost and pragmatic solution to pressing storage problems. The CONZUL Store is a cooperative agreement between the eight university libraries, which, by using commercial storage, has avoided the huge costs of a new or adapted building. Because all storage is local, lodged items are close enough to make retrieval convenient if necessary. Using several locations spreads the risk of losing everything in a single disaster. To make it possible for items to be moved quickly, CONZUL adopted the process of 'consecutive deposit' in which one library lodged all its items first, made a list of them that was put onto an extranet, and then the second library could safely dispose of duplicate items already deposited and just move the remaining items it wanted to lodge in the Store. The current contract ends in 2023 and at that time it is possible the Store will be closed (this will be reviewed in 2022) because it is likely that many journals will have electronic versions safely archived by publishers or large cooperatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes an instrument for measuring service quality at polytechnic libraries in Singapore. Development of the data collection instrument; Comparison with New Zealand's instrument; Service quality changes over time; Dimensions of service quality.

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.

Focuses on the issue of measuring effectiveness in library performance. Description of measuring effectiveness; Models of organizational effectiveness; Details of the models; Other aspects of library performance. INSET: Appendix..

After books and other items are deselected from the library, there remains the problem of what to do with them. Traditional means of disposal such as taking books to the tip can mean a public relations disaster is lying in wait. As alternatives, libraries have given away books to organizations that will value them, or they can sell discarded items to generate revenue. Book sales have changed significantly with the widespread adoption of the Web because this creates a much larger potential market than could be reached with sales in the library. There are many companies that take and onsell discarded library books; some are for profit and some are social businesses. Another option is to sell books to recycling companies because paper recycling is becoming much more widespread. The last, newest, and most innovative option is ‘upcycling’, which means using an old discarded library book to make something new, such as a desk, shoes, or even a chandelier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Library cafes have been around for about two decades but what does the future hold for them? The potential of using the café as a performative space has been explored by some public libraries. Other possibilities are the repair café and the science café. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Robots are becoming more commonly used in libraries. A robot that does shelf reading and reports the results to human staff is one example of a practical use of robotics in a library. Others have been used to retrieve large items such as boxes, but identifying and picking up small and varied objects such as books is still on the edge of what can be done. Devices using artificial intelligence can act as guides, or in some cases, as personal assistants for library customers. Some are answering questions and learning as they go. If robots can perform library work effectively and more cheaply than humans it is inevitable they will be more widely used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientists use lab books to record information about experiments. They are used to review work done in the lab, to replicate experiments, and are critical to intellectual property (IP) claims. Organisations must keep the lab books as records, but the question is asked if lab books are vital records. Because the practice of using lab books varies widely amongst scientists, a qualitative method was used to discover practices and opinions from individual scientists. Two research institutions in New Zealand were used for data collection, with nine scientists, two records managers and two IP managers being interviewed. The conclusion is that not all lab books are vital records but most of them are until they are more than 10 years old, and even then they might be necessary to support IP claims. The storage of lab books in some organisations does not match the status of lab books as vital records and needs improving, perhaps by the use of fire-resistant safes. Data saved on computers is often hard to match with experiments recorded in lab books, so the filenames and metadata links used by scientists need more standardisation. Organisations could occasionally audit the location of lab books. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report the results of a study exploring New Zealand library managers’ views on the purpose, outcomes and approaches to measuring library economic value and social impact. Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured interviews with library managers drawn from a purposive sample were undertaken in four main centres in New Zealand. Findings – Analysis of the interviews suggest that library managers do not feel under immediate direct pressure to provide evidence of the value and impact of their services but feel that it is important to have data available if required. There was some scepticism about the validity of quantitative data collected and some uncertainty about how to interpret and communicate it for the best outcome for the service. Strong support for qualitative “stories” or narratives was a feature of the interviews. Research limitations/implications – This was a small scale study, limited to just four centres in the North Island of New Zealand. Practical implications – Library managers may want to consider systematic methods of collecting narrative data to support quantitative data. They could also reflect on how to communicate value and impact data and information proactively, using alternative communication strategies and tools such as social media. Originality/value – There have been no previous studies of library managers’ views of measuring the value and impact of libraries in New Zealand. The focus on the purpose and outcomes of measurement in the New Zealand context is also original. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

Focusing on the community of practice in climate change, this research examines the alignment of traditional concepts of scientific and technical libraries in the Pacific region with the identified information needs and dominant modes of information seeking and information sharing behavior of stakeholders. A survey was used to collect primary data from the identified community of practice to identify dominant behaviors and attitudes amongst respondents towards information seeking and information sharing. The prominence of informal networks for information exchange and the value ascribed to face-to-face encounters and personal relationships was a dominant theme. Libraries were regarded as less useful than alternative pathways for both information seeking and sharing. Acknowledging the rapid shift towards electronic access to information and the proliferation of social networking, it is argued that if capacity in libraries in the region is to be strengthened there needs to be a realignment of the library with the goals of the host organizations in light of the stakeholder's information and information seeking and information sharing behavior. Within this context Pacific scientific and technical libraries must redefine their role and the services they offer if they are to be valued and seen as useful and relevant to stakeholders. [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]

Purpose – Librarians have traditionally followed a model of service based on a professional ethic. Attempts to introduce a retail model of service have generally met with staff resistance. The study aims to ask librarians about their attitudes to the retail and professional models of service and what they did not like about the retail model. Design/methodology/approach – Data were drawn from focus groups consisting of experienced reference librarians. Findings – Results suggest that librarians behave differently while front-stage and backstage. They resist the retail model because it is perceived to replace service based upon knowledge with fake behaviour. Practical implications – Managers can draw on the results when considering how best to improve the service provided by library staff who prefer the professional model of service over the retail model. Originality/value – The use of Goffman's theory of dramaturgy has highlighted previously unknown attitudes to service held by reference librarians that will slow or stop the introduction of the retail model of service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to investigate current issues faced by public library staff in rural South Australia and to examine some of the reasons why people choose to work in rural libraries. The study took a mixed methods approach, combining interviews and questionnaires to gain a fuller understanding of the issues and experiences of rural librarians. The findings show that rural library staff in South Australia are a dedicated group of individuals who are motivated by personal interactions with their communities. Constraints imposed by distance, travelling times and geographic isolation concerned many staff - especially the difficulty of finding professional development opportunities, with travel to Adelaide for workshops the most commonly stated barrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Although the digital environment has played an important role in the transformation of more library services into e-services, no published survey instrument focuses exclusively on examining library e-service quality. This article presents such an instrument and reports on a pilot study that applied it to university students. The primary objective is the development of an instrument that will enable libraries to investigate e-service quality locally. Active listening to customers, as this study emphasizes, provides two-way communication between the library and its users. Further research needs to explore the features and dimensions identified in e-SERVQUAL for libraries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Examines the factors contributing to journal quality in Asia. Criteria for evaluating Library and Information Science (LIS)journal; Assessment on the feasibility of an international project aimed at determining LIS journal quality; Level of funding of the substantial project.

Provides information on a study which compared the Chinese students' expectations of library service quality to the students' expectations in New Zealand. Precursors of service quality; Objectives of the study; Conclusion.

Looks at a study which develops an improved technique for measuring anaerobic biodegradibility that simulates decomposition in landfills. Amount of municipal solid waste generated annually in the United States; Design of products which are compatible with biologically based waste management technologies.

Presents a survey of New Zealand public libraries indicating that a national census can be undertaken to determine a set of performance measures suitable for all New Zealand public libraries. Models on organizational effectiveness; Search for a research methodology; Two stages of the Public Library Effectiveness Study.

Examines the health hazards linked to Visual Display Units (VDU). Inconclusive medical evidence linking VDUs to reproductive problems in women; Electromagnetic radiation; Soft x-rays; Low frequency radiation; Legislation; Conception and pregnancy; Organizational implications.

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.

Reviews the CD-ROM version of the student manual 'The student guide to making an oral presentation,' by Sue Drew and Richard Gibson.

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.

As a discipline, library and information studies (LIS) is often considered to lack visibility and a clear identity within academia. Poor understanding of the nature of our field/discipline and our relatively small size has led to LIS programmes being partnered with a range of other subjects, located within diverse faculty structures. We suggest that this can impact on the development of both LIS curricula and research as LIS academics are brought into interdisciplinary relationships with school and faculty colleagues. The study reported here analysed the location of a sample of LIS programmes from New Zealand, Australia, the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Singapore. Compared with previous studies, we found a higher number of ‘stand-alone’ schools as well as some national differences. We reflect on our experiences in a Business School, partnered with the information systems discipline, noting some key differences in boundary setting, field configuration, the use of theory in our research and links with practitioner communities. We conclude that there is a vicious circle in that the LIS discipline’s lack of clear identity leads to it being partnered with disparate other fields which, in turn, further weakens its identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]