A Semiotic Interpretation Of Sense-Making In Information Seeking, Zao Liu

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Sense-making in information seeking process is one of the major information seeking models. Questions have been raised about information seekers’ ambiguous needs and focus-shifting tendency relative to sense-making. This paper tackles this problem by reviewing two related approaches and suggesting an alternative interpretation from the semiotic point of view. The author argues that information seeking is often interactive, dynamic, and infinite just as the relationships between sign, object and interpretant posited in Peirce’s semiotics. The implication of this paper is to alert information seekers about this potential endless information seeking process and come to terms with their search results which …

Measuring Dhaka University Students’ Internet Use Behavior Of The Department Of Information Science And Library Management, Md. Maidul Islam

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This research has been conducted of the undergraduate students in the Department of Information Science and Library Management, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. A survey questionnaire was developed and used to collect data on students’ demographics, internet use behavior and purposes of internet use in the Department of Information Science and Library Management. The obtained input data were then evaluated using SPSS and the findings have been interpreted. The results showed that students prefer electronic media to printed media in seeking information and they use the Internet mostly to do homework and prepare for their lessons. The students find the quality …

Internet Access And Use Among Undergraduate Students Of Bowen University Iwo, Osun State, Nigeria, Aderonke O. Otunla

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study examined the internet access and use among undergraduate students of Bowen University Iwo, Osun state, Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was used. The population comprises of 4,800 undergraduate students out of which 300 students were randomly selected from various faculties, 298 questionnaires were correctly filled and analyzed. The result of the findings shows that all respondents access and used the internet. Major access was through their mobile phones with 52.7%, only 6.4 accessed through University Digital centre while none from the library. Respondent used internet daily with 68.9%, 41.6% used internet between 7-9 hours a week and experience …

Problems Associated With Newspaper Management In A Ghanaian University Library, Afia Densi Asare-Kyire, Edward Mensah Borteye Mr., Victor Teye Mr.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The paper examined the collection, storage, preservation and other management practices of newspapers at the Serials Department of the KNUST Library. The study was based on the subscription statistics from April 2000 to April 2012, a period of thirteen years available at the Department.Observation was also made to augment data gathered from the newspaper statistics and analyzed descriptively. It was revealed by the statistics that newspapers are subscribed, received and collected on a daily basis (i.e. six days a week) thus creating a huge collection. It was further revealed that the newspapers are bound annually which makes it bulky and …

An Assessment Of The Information Dissemination Channels Used By The Zimbabwe Women’S Resource Centre And Network In The Provision Of Hiv/Aids Information To Women., Nancy Nhendodzashe, Collen Nhendo

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

In light of a high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate among women in Zimbabwe, this study sought to assess the extent to which the Zimbabwe Women’s Resource Centre and Network (ZWRCN) was effective in disseminating HIV/AIDS information to combat the pandemic among women. Literature reviewed that in as much as information was crucial in the fight against HIV/AIDS; there are other strategies that should be employed in combating HIV/AIDS to complement information dissemination activities such as economic empowerment of women and promotion of gender equality. The evaluation research design was used to accomplish the research objectives. The population of the study consisted …

Publication Pattern Of Scientists Of Physical Research Laboratory (Prl), Ahmedabad, India, Nishtha Anilkumar

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) is an institute of national repute and is being funded by Department of Space (Government of India). However, a bibliometric study measuring its research output has not been carried out yet. The present study is a step in that direction and tries to find the publication pattern of research carried out in the institute. The period covered is 1997 to 2006. The study aims to quantify the publication output of researchers at the institute, to study the productivity of scientists in PRL and to determine whether it conforms to the Lotka’s Law. It tries to discern …

Development Of A Taxonomy For Key Terms In Mathematics Education And Its Use In A Digital Repository, Pedro Gómez, María C. Cañadas Dr.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Although mathematics education is a young discipline, it has developed rapidly over the last 40 years. During this time, the community of mathematics education researchers, teachers’ trainers, and mathematics teachers has produced a large quantity of literature published in books, journals, and conference proceedings and on Internet, among other sources. Yet there is currently no taxonomy of key terms for the systematic classification of the documents in this discipline. In this article, we present the procedure by which we constructed a taxonomy for Funes, a digital repository of documents in mathematics education. We establish the conceptual framework on which the …

Knowledge-Sharing Behavior In Dairy Sector Of Pakistan, Syed Rahmatullah Shah, Khalid Mahmood Dr.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study is about knowledge sharing behavior in dairy sector. Two-hundred middle managers (with professional qualifications) from five industrial units in Pakistan were selected for study. Fifty-seven managers participated in the study (29 percent of the sample). Research model and hypotheses were based on behavioral theories, i.e., TRA, TPB, and TAM. Data were collected through a questionnaire using Likert scale. Spearman’s and Pearson’s correlation coefficients and structural equation model among different variables tested hypotheses of the research modal. The study proved that attitude, intention, and behavior had accepted mutual positive direct effects for knowledge sharing in dairy sector. Conversely, subjective …

Pervasiveness And Purposes Of Library Usage By Lis Students At The Islamia University Of Bahawalpur, Rubina Bhatti

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study was conducted to assess the frequency and purposes of the library usage by LIS students at the Islamia University of Bahawalpur. The researcher examined the usage of main library of IUB by students of 2^nd & 4^th semester of Department of Library and Information Science. Data were collected from 64 respondents through questionnaires. For data analysis, SPSS is used to determine the mean values of the reasons of library use, kind of material, access to the material, satisfaction with the library services, problem faced by the students and behavior of the library staff. The study shows …

Usability Analysis Of Homepage Of Websites Of National Libraries In Asia, Paramjeet K. Walia, Monika Gupta

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This paper aims to study the usability features of selected national libraries’ websites of Asia with regard to their general features of website, URL, window title, date and time, navigation, content, search and graphic and animation. A usability evaluation checklist was designed on the basis of guidelines given by Neilson and NIC (National Informative Centre) which was grouped into eight major criteria. After evaluating the homepage of selected websites under study it was found that the National Library of Japan is at rank number one among 23 national libraries of Asia and National Library of Maldives at the bottom rank. …

Application Of Marketing Strategies And Mix To Digital Information Services (Dis): Nigerian University Libraries Perspectives, Alice A. Bamigbola

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Purpose: This paper aims at identifying the available digital information products/services (DIS) and marketing strategies employ for these services in Nigerian Universities.

Design/methodology/approach: Case study research approach was explored. The university libraries websites were analysed, email and telephone interviews were conducted with the System Librarians in charge of DIS.

Findings – The DIS in university libraries in Nigeria are on the increase compared with what it was three years ago. The available DIS are CD-ROM, Internet Search, open access institutional repositories (OAIR), E-resources, E-books, E-journals, Online Reference Services, and computer laboratory. The marketing strategies employ for DIS by …

Open Access Literature Productivity Of Physics: A Doaj Perspective, Aswathy S, Gopikuttan A

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The World Wide Web has introduced new vistas for scholarly publishing which can be accessed online via internet. DOAJ is the most accepted and authoritative list of scholarly, peer-reviewed, fully Open Access journals. This study aims to analyze the contribution of open access literature in the subject physics through DOAJ. Directory of Open Access Journals covers literature contribution of a wide variety of subjects, countries and also different languages. Study analyses Indian contribution to DOAJ, institution-wise categorization, language-wise distribution.

Fundraising In Academic Libraries: A Case Study Of Selected Academic Libraries In Southwest Nigeria, Ronke Anke Olurayi

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

ABSTRACT

This study examines fundraising in academic libraries as a global problem. This has become imperative since what these libraries receive from the government through their parent institutions is not sufficient to maintain and sustain library services and operations. Academic libraries in Nigeria have resorted to other ways of raising funds for their libraries due to world economic recession and inflation which has hampered them from effectively and efficiently meeting their set objectives. This study therefore investigated fundraising in selected academic libraries in the southwest of Nigeria in order to ascertain their sources of funds, how adequately it is received, …

An Assessment Of Information Needs And Characteristics Of Users Of Oyo State Public Library, Nigeria, Shuaib Agboola Olarongbe, Olusegun Samuel Adepoju Mr., Hawwa Bolanle Akanbi-Ademolake Mrs., Taiye Austin Pedro Mr.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Information is a resource that is naturally needed in all human endeavors. One can readily infer that information is indispensable in human life, hence a basic human need, which has an over-riding significance to all and sundry. Meanwhile, no country in the world can progress without providing free public library services to the citizens. However, this study is an examination of the information needs and characteristics of users of Oyo State Public Library, Nigeria. It investigates what constitutes the information needs of the library users, what services and resources are available in the library to meet their needs, what are …

Appraising The Quality Of Malaysian Union Catalog, Ahmad Fuzi Md Ajis, Zuraidah Abd Manaf

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study attempted to highlights issues relating to authoritativeness and quality of Malaysian Union Catalog, known as Katalog Induk Kebangsaan (KIK). The development of KIK records involved participation of 101 “participating libraries” in Malaysia. The study adopted document analysis methodology where 500 bibliographic data have been selected from the database. The bibliographic data were analyzed based on its compliance with International Standards like MARC21 and AACR2R. Each data were screened before going through the analysis process. Only qualified data were analyzed in this study. The finding indicates that 90% of the qualified records analyzed in the study are developed according …

Evaluation Of Provision And Support For Disabled Students In Libraries Of Special Education Professional Degree Awarding Institutions (Dais) And Rehabilitation Centers (Rcs)., Humara Bano Dr., Syed Rahmatullah Shah, Aisha Masud Ms.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study presents census data of provision and support for students with special needs (usually known as disabled students) in libraries of special education professional degree awarding institutions (DAIs) and rehabilitation centers (RCs) acting in Lahore. Questionnaire was used as research instrument in this quantitative study. Provisions and supports in libraries of DAIs and RCs were illustrated on graphs covering overall students with disabilities and different disability areas – physical impairments, hearing impairments, and visual impairments. Non-parametric tests were used for data analysis. Analysis of collected data confirmed that there was no association or relationship between provisions and supports for …

Bibliometric Analysis Of Journal Of Knowledge Management Practice, 2008-2012, Nilaranjan Barik, Puspanjali Jena Dr

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

ABSTRACT: The present study Bibliometric analysis of Journal of Knowledge Management Practice covers the 180 articles of 21 volumes in 5 years from 2008-2012. The investigators attempted to reveal the year wise distribution of articles, authorship pattern of articles, citation pattern, country wise distribution of articles, average number of citation per articles and length of papers etc. Results showed that, in the year 2011, highest 42(23.3%) articles were published out of 180 articles in 5 years. Single author contribution has predominant with 42.7%. Average numbers of citations per article are 19. In geographical distribution of articles, USA has contributed highest …

Motivational Preferences Of Lis Professionals In University Libraries Of Pakistan, Nosheen Fatima Wairrach

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This paper analyzes the opinion of LIS professionals about their motivational preferences on work place in Pakistani Universities. Questionnaire survey was used as data gathering instrument. The main objective of study is to explore the preferred motivators of LIS professionals and the relevancy of Herzberg Hygiene-Motivational theory to Pakistani context. The findings reveal that the respondents most preferred motivators are: opportunity to learn new skills and groom, opportunity for career development, having authority and responsibility, sense of fulfillment and communication. The least preferred motivators for LIS professionals are: culture of innovation and creativity, job security, participative management, employee welfare policies …

Change Management In The Information Age: Approaches Of Academic Library Administrators In Pakistani Universities’ Libraries, Sidra Shan, Maqsood A. Shaheen

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study investigates the understanding of senior/head librarians towards change management, what areas they consider most important for change, how they are managing the change in work place in context of information technology, acquisition of new resources, negotiating change among top and bottom level management and skill development, The study involves the supervisor librarians of fifteen public sector university libraries of Islamabad (capital of Pakistan) and Rawalpindi region as a sample and data were gathered by questionnaire, based on quantitative research method.

The Politics Of Special Collections And Museum Exhibits: A Civil War Or The War Of Northern Aggression?, Christopher J. Anderson

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This essay examines the political nature of curating special collections and museum exhibits. Exhibits are designed to draw attention to historical or contemporary issues in order for viewers to reflect on the past and to ask questions in the present. The contents of an exhibit also echo the educational backgrounds, interests, and biases of both curator and curatorial team. As a result exhibits are framed ideologically, sociologically, and even theologically in order to give voice to the voiceless and to champion certain positions from history. This essay investigates the contested nature of exhibits by highlighting their basic and complicated spectrums …

The Use Of Icts In The Public Lbraries: A Case Study Of Oyo State Library Board, Ibadan, Nigeria, Olanike Oladunni Olaniyi

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study attempts to investigate the efforts of the Oyo State Library Board in the use of ICTs among its users and staff. The study appraises the library services in the state to highlight the library services development to the populace of the state. The survey research method was adopted and questionnaire was used to collect data from 110 library users and 20 library staff within the headquarter library. The instrument contained three sections with thirty-five questions. The findings of the study reveal that despite the fact that the level of ICT literacy among the users and staff is relatively …

Open Archives Initiative Protocol For Metadata Harvesting, Dublin Core And Accessibility In The Oaister Repository, Michael Peake

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This paper examines the use of Dublin Core as a minimum metadata standard for Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting in terms of its impact on end user experience in the OAIster repository. Specifically the study looked at the use of controlled vocabulary searches versus non-controlled vocabulary searches, as well as the impact of Dublin Core on the granularity and consistency records. Searches were performed in OAIster using Library of Congress Subject Headings and Name Authority Files, as well as non-controlled vocabulary searches for the same terms. The study concluded that controlled vocabulary searches are good for retrieving relevant …

Ict Skills And Computer Self-Efficacy Of Research Students: The Case Of Institute Of Pure & Applied Biology And Biotechnology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan, Muhammad Naushad Sabzwari, Rubina Bhatti, Bashir Ahmed

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

In the current changing higher education environment research students need to possess ample skills related to use of computer and different ICTs for education and research purposes. This study aims to investigate the awareness, usage and impact of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for information, education and research purposes among the Botany, Zoology and Biotechnology research students of Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan. For this purpose, data was collected from students involved in research, in order to get information and awareness about their competencies and skills in ICT and other searching and data analyzing tools. The literature review shows that most …

Assessing The Role Of Library Associations In Promoting Research Culture In Lis, Rubina Bhatti, Tariq Mahmood Chohan

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Library Associations play an important role in the promotion of librarianship as a profession vital to an informed and knowledgeable society. This paper discusses the importance of research in LIS, and considers the role of professional association in recognizing, enabling and promoting a research cul­ture amongst qualified professionals. It shows that if the library profession is to grow and thrive as a true profession, demonstrating not only typical practice, but also considered scholarly approaches to the issues of its day, then its commitment in apt and relevant research practice is indispensable. It addresses the prospects, problems and challenges posed in …

School Environmental Factors And Mathematics Teaching Effectiveness: Implication For E-Learning, Sikiru A. Amoo, Akeem B. Disu

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Mathematics occupies a central position in the school curriculum. It is a core subject from the primary through the junior secondary to the senior secondary school levels of the educational system. This important position occupied by the subject in the school curricula is borne out of the role of mathematics in scientific and technological development, a sine-qua-non in national building. However, the teaching of this important subject is beset with problems of societal values for it, there is the problem of inadequate and substandard learning materials and general attitudes among others. Therefore, the study investigated the pre-professional mathematics teachers’ beliefs …

Evaluation Of Entrepreneurship Awareness And Skills Among Lis Students In Universities In South East Nigeria, Felicia Ugwu, C.N. Ezeani

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study examined the entrepreneurship awareness and skills among Library and Information Science (LIS) students in two Nigerian Universities. In Nigeria, the overcrowded job market is forcing thousands of graduates into unemployment and its associated consequences of kidnapping, drug addiction, youth restiveness and general poor standard of living. This has made it imperative that graduates be equipped with skills that are required to achieve self-reliance. With appropriate skills, LIS students as information professionals will be at the vanguard of information generation and reaping its employment opportunities in libraries, companies and corporate organizations. Specifically examined in this paper were the level …

Impact Of The Internet On Research Effort Of Academics At Abia State University, Uturu, (Absu), Cpc Onwubiko

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This paper is on the impact of the Internet on the research effort of academics at Abia State University Uturu. The Internet has become an invaluable tool for teaching, learning and research. The benefits are so enormous that there is no sphere of life without the Internet application. This is certainly true for tertiary institutions. Premised on this consciousness, the descriptive survey research method was adopted in carrying out the study, with the questionnaire as the sole instrument for data collection. The study was guided by six objectives. The findings of the study revealed that there is no felt need …

Electronic Information Resources Awareness, Attitude And Use By Academic Staff Members Of University Of Lagos, Nigeria, Olatokunbo Christopher Okiki

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This paper is an attempt to study the issues of electronic information resources awareness, attitude and use by academic staff members of university of Lagos, Nigeria with a view to survey the exposure of academics to electronic information resources. Also, it aims to highlight the challenges faced by the users and suggests some corrective measures for its improvement. A test-retest reliability method of two weeks interval was conducted, response obtained were subjected to Pearson Product Moment Correlation method and a reliability co-efficient of 0.81 was obtained. The random sampling technique together with a questionnaire was used for data collection on …

Content Analysis Of Journal Literature Published From Uk And Usa, Paramjeet Kaur Walia, Manpreet Kaur

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This paper aims to identify the types of research papers/articles, current trends in the choice of subjects, being included in the Library and information science (LIS) journal literature published from UK and USA. The study also aims to find out the impact of information and communication technology (ICT) on LIS subject fields. A content analysis of 165 research papers and journals articles published in the year 2008 in six LIS journals was conducted. Findings indicate that 93 (56.36%) of the articles out of the total 165 were research based. The variation is found with regard to coverage of core subject …

General Structures, Literatures, And Problems Of Libraries: Revisiting The State Of Librarianship In Africa, James Afebuameh Aiyebelehin

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The society we live in is in constant need of information to solve its problems. The library serves as the agency responsible for the collecting, processing, managing and disseminating of this information in various formats to meet the varying needs of the users. Information may be needed for education, entertainment, socio-cultural development etc. It is therefore the duty of the librarian to ensure that there is availability and accessibility to the required information whenever it is needed. This paper looks at the nature of libraries, the structures of libraries, the literature of libraries and common problems plaguing the delivery of …