RULibrary and current technologies?

A useful follow-up to Thandiwe's report-back from the Carnegie Leadership Academy.  Some very pertinent issues are addressed.

As Thandiwe's CALL research report discovered, our users are keen for the Library to use current technologies - especially the whole mobile issue.

Is Google Scholar reliable/valuable?

(article in: Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship, Summer 2012) "...takes a look at reliability factors that go into Google Scholar citation counts, selection of resources, and its commercial partnerships...     ...led to the conclusion that Google Scholar may be useful for initial and supplemental information gathering, but lacks a deeper reliability than other existing services currently provide scholars."

University libraries and the postgraduate student; physical and virtual spaces

University libraries and the postgraduate student; physical and virtual spaces

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Document Information:

Title:	University libraries and the postgraduate student; physical and virtual spaces
Author(s):	Colin Beard, (Freelance Consultant), David Bawden, (City University London)
Citation:	Colin Beard, David Bawden, (2012) "University libraries and the postgraduate student; physical and virtual spaces", New Library World, Vol. 113 Iss: 9/10
Article type:	Research paper
Publisher:	Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Abstract:	Purpose - This study examines the library/information issues affecting graduate students, both those on taught courses and those undertaking research. It focuses specifically on their perceptions of the value to them of physical and digital resources and spaces, and how well their needs were being met. Design/methodology/approach - An online questionnaire survey of students was complemented by a series of face-to-face interviews with library staff. Findings - This group of students are different from undergraduates, whose information behaviour has more often been studied. They require silent study space, are enthusiastic book borrowers, and have limited interest in social media in the library. They have a strong requirement for digital resources and IT support, and are not inclined to ask for assistance from librarians. Research limitations/implications - The study is limited to three English universities, although they are sufficiently varied nature to make the results more widely applicable. Practical implications - It provides evidence for librarians in universities and colleges serving graduate students as to the best form of provision, and for any library seeking to make best use of its space as resources become increasingly digital. Originality/value - It is one of the few studies to examine the information behaviour and needs of advanced students. It contributes to the debate on the future of the library as place in a digital age.

New Academic Networking Guide (RUL Subject Guides site)

I have finally got around to re-creating the Academic Networking Guide which mysteriously disappeared from the Subject Guides list - (I think I deleted it by mistake!).

Please give me some feedback on this Guide (is is useful? - what else should be considered for inclusion, etc.)
thanks
Eileen

Social media at the university: A demographic comparison

"Examines faculty and student responses to questions regarding their use of social media and to determine possible demographic differences. Confirms that students and faculty are avid users of some, but not all, social media and the study raises some interesting questions regarding the differences between faculty and students"

This analysis at the Univ of Central Missouri found that "the library cannot automatically assume that prolific users of a particular technology are interested in utilizing it to interact with the library......  [and] that few students used or wanted library services or information offered through Twitter or RSS feeds. There was some interest in podcasts' particularly if they related to their majors. Around 50 percent would like to use Facebook and chat/IM to ask questions and a third of the students were also interested in YouTube and library blog.."

Perhaps we need a similar survey at RUL before we spend a lot of time on social media which will not be utilized???? 

Springer is digitising its out of print books

From Research Information:The anticipated demand for older book titles is based partly on the publishers’ experience with its journal archive. ‘For customers who’ve purchased the journal archive, 20-25 per cent of usage on SpringerLink is of journal content from before 1997,’ noted Willems. ‘And the value of older books is even higher than for old journals so we believe that demand will be high.’

The majority of the books will be available as searchable PDFs, with an accompanying XML file that contains bibliographic information and references. ‘

The Digital World Demands a New Mode of Reading

This is interesting!  Professor says that he reads more now due technology.
"...The owner of a Kindle and an iPad, Mr. Jacobs [ an English professor from Wheaton College]  feels he reads more now because of technology, not in spite of it. "Some of that, I think, is Kindles and iPads allowing me to have so much to read at my fingertips," he says. "Pre e-reading, I watched more TV because if there wasn't something I wanted to read near to hand, I would just pick up the remote...."

I am inclined to agree with him  -  the Internet has opened up so many avenues for discovery and exploration which were not available to us before - Eileen.

Learning Disabilities and Disorders Affecting Learning

I am sure staff will remember the sessions we attended last year about services for people with disabilities and how the Library can help them.

Denise Nicholson from Wits Library has created a comprehensive LibGuide on Learning Disabilities and Disorders Affecting Learning - do have a look at it.

ACRLog - Blogging by and for academic and research librarians

Well, Twitter has demonstrated its usefulness to me today, with a tweet alerting me to a post on the the ACRLog - blogging by and for academic & research librarians. Those who haven't seen this blog - please do, plenty of relevant posts for us.

Think like a Startup

A white paper to inspire library entrepreneurialism
by Brian Mathews

What if Residence Halls and Student Centers managed learning commons spaces?
• What if the Office of Research managed campus-wide electronic database subscriptions and on-demand access to digital scholarly materials?
• What if Facilities managed the off-campus warehouses where books and other print artifacts are stored?
• What if the majority of scholarly information becomes open? Libraries would no longer need to acquire and control access to materials.
• What if all students are given eBook readers and an annual allotment to purchase the books, articles, and other media necessary for their academic pursuits and cultural interests?9 Collections become personalized, on-demand, instantaneous, and lifelong learning resources.
• What if local museums oversaw special collections and preservation?
• What if graduate assistants, teaching fellows, post-docs, and undergraduate peer leaders managed database training, research assistance, and information literacy instruction?
 Read this interesting paper

EBSCOhost tutorials

These might be useful

Faculty Perspectives on Information Literacy as a Student Learning Outcome

"...This study (in J of Academic Librarianship) aims to fill this gap by surveying and interviewing a nationwide sample of teaching faculty in six disciplines for their perspectives on the importance and relevance of information literacy competencies for their students...."
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Given the emphasis which we wish to place on IL integration into the curriculum it would be useful if a similar study could happen at Rhodes. 

In the conclusion of the article the authors states: .... "the onus is still on the librarians to initiate and sustain discussions with faculty. The fact that interviewees strongly believe information literacy is important, but still have not found systematic ways to integrate it into their curriculum, suggests they might be open to suggestions and ideas from librarians in this area..." 

This has certainly been my experience at RUL and I am sure that the other Faculty team-members have similar stories.

SA author makes Booker Prize longlist

South African author Andre Brink has been nominated for one of literature's most prestigious awards - the Booker Prize.

Where is the library in the digital workflow of research?

Do we need academic libraries in the age of the internet?
This paper discusses how researcher and student workflow has changed and looks at the role of the institutional library in this new digital universe.

Who killed Britannica? interesting discussions

As you may know, the Encyclopedia Britannica is no longer being produced in print - see the comments around this issue

One of the comments, which elicited several responses from librarians reads:
"Kingston University library has removed the print version from the main centre! Librarians!

Effective Blogging for Libraries

http://www.neal-schuman.com/ebl
Renowned library blogger, speaker, and educator Connie Crosby shares her experience and expertise in this step-by-step guide to successful library blogging. As you build your skills with Neal-Schuman’s The Tech Set®, Effective Blogging for Libraries is the go-to resource for any librarian in search of practical, easy-to-implement instruction for creating and managing a winning library blog.

EXACTICA: Thesis and Dissertation Solutions.

Dear Colleagues,

I came across this page and I thought it would be interesting to explore and decide whether it's something we can tell our researchers about or not. Please check it.
http://www.exactica.co.za/ 

Nabisa

R we Still Relevant?

The Role of University Libraries in the Digital Age

from EdCetera

As cloud-based content becomes increasingly popular, it’s easy to wonder whether libraries will remain relevant in higher education. Students can download research materials in the blink of an eye, and professors can offer digital or scannable course packets just as easily as they can refer people to original hard copies.

Good news: more visibility for research from South Africa

"PHILADELPHIA, July 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Intellectual Property & Science division of Thomson Reuters, the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals, today announced it has partnered with Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) to host the SciELO database on Web of Knowledge(SM), ...."

The Espresso Book Machine Arrives at the University of Johanneburg Library, South Africa

Bringing what has been called “revolutionary” book-publishing technology to SA, Self-Publish Press – together with Xerox – has launched the Espresso Book Machine (EBM) at the University of Johannesburg's main library.The EBM is the creation of On Demand Books, in New York, and is capable of producing a bookstore-quality paperback with a colour cover, in minutes. The books can be printed in any standard trim size, and the machine eliminates the problem of minimum print runs

To read more, http://www.itweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=57140