Calculating the Return on Investment (ROI) for Library Consortia

This column focuses on formal collaboration and networking among libraries through consortia. It offers in-depth examinations of issues facing modern library consortia including (but not limited to) e-resource licensing, ebooks, next generation integrated library systems, shared print archiving, shared digital repositories, governance and other relevant topics. Contributions are accepted for this column and must be submitted to George Machovec (george@coalliance.org). Contact the column editor for suggested topics, deadlines and formatting.

Library consortia are under increasing scrutiny regarding their value to member libraries. Most consortia offer a suite of services which can be valued either quantitatively or qualitatively to determine a return on investment for money and time put into consortial activities. Various common consortial activities are discussed with thoughts regarding their value to local libraries. Recommendations and suggestions are provided on how to perform a Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA)/Return on Investment (ROI).     

Building a Digital Library: What to Expect as a Technology Project Manager on a Library Construction Project

Column Editor's Note. This JLA column posits that academic libraries and their services are dominated by information technologies, and that the success of librarians and professional staff is contingent on their ability to thrive in this technology-rich environment. The column will appear in odd-numbered issues of the journal, and will delve into all aspects of library-related information technologies and knowledge management used to connect users to information resources, including data preparation, discovery, delivery and preservation. Prospective authors are invited to submit articles for this column to the editor at kenning.arlitsch@montana.edu.

The Taylor Family Digital Library is the central library opened in 2011 at the University of Calgary dedicated to supporting digital scholarship, creativity, analysis and a supportive learning environment for students. The new building is a technologically advanced converged cultural institution, with mandates to continually evolve in order to meet the needs of students and researchers. The infrastructure to support these mandates required research, collaboration and intense planning, resulting in new construction and technology standards for library renovation and construction projects. This pragmatic article is written for those who will follow in similar footsteps; it provides a roadmap for those embarking on the construction of a new technologically advanced library building.     

A Human Resources Dilemma? Emergent Themes in the Experiences of Part-Time Librarians

Although many newly-graduated librarians are applying for and accepting part-time library employment after graduation, little research has been done into what working part-time means for these early career librarians. This article, based on a survey of recent LIS graduates who have worked part-time, provides a snapshot of part-time library employment and the advantages and disadvantages it affords to new librarians. This information is particularly relevant in light of the difficult job market for entry-level librarians. All of the surveyed librarians have worked in at least one part-time professional or paraprofessional position in a library after receiving their degree. Many of these respondents describe holding multiple part-time positions and receiving low salaries and few, if any, employment benefits. The themes documented in the open-ended short answers of these part-time librarians will help to guide further research into the professional and personal impact of part-time employment.     

Young and in Charge: Early-Career Community College Library Leadership

Although young leaders and entrepreneurs have become prevalent in the business and technology industries, academic libraries remain much more traditional. Library administrator job advertisements often require seven to ten years of library experience in progressively responsible roles as well as supervisory experience. This article shares the experiences of an early-career community college library administrator working with different generations, provides suggestions to become a manager through intentional leadership, and explores how managers learn to lead. Additionally, the author encourages community colleges to consider younger and/or newer librarians that bring a different perspective to addressing the critical issues facing community college libraries today.     

Better Together: Responsive Community Programming at the U-M Library

In the past seven years, the University of Michigan Library's programming model has evolved to be responsive and reflective of staffing areas of interest and expertise. Our team-based, iterative model enables us to develop responsive exhibits, workshops, experiences, and events in our community. This article explores our experiences in developing this model through the lens of some of our collaborations with the Ann Arbor District Library (AADL). Our approach to programming opportunities builds on learning by doing, building deeper, mutually beneficial relationships with other organizations, and continually making sure we are truly developing programming with our audience (our community) in mind. While public and academic libraries often develop distinct sets of services, collections, and expertise to serve their respective communities, successful collaborations can yield interesting opportunities for more effective engagement and programming. Our relationship with AADL has helped us to identify and better understand how we can connect our teaching and research missions with the interests and needs of the broader community in which we are situated.     

Collaboration and Competition in Special Libraries

Librarianship has a long tradition of collaboration and cooperation between libraries, but the literature yields scant evidence of formal partnerships in practice in special libraries. This column explores the barriers to collaboration for special libraries, from organizational culture to legal constraints, as well as the potential benefits and how librarians can overcome the barriers to reap these benefits. Different types of collaboration, including among similar special libraries and between special libraries and other types of libraries and related organizations, as well as informal and formal cooperation, and short-term and long-term partnerships, are discussed. Collaboration and cooperation were part of the impetus to form professional associations. The column provides a brief history of professional library associations and their role in supporting library partnerships in the United States. The conclusion explores how the increasingly digital nature of information and library work affects collaborative library efforts and where the future of these efforts may lie, especially for special libraries.     

基于机器学习的高校图书馆用户偏好检索系统研究

[目的/意义] 针对大数据环境下高校图书馆检索系统的信息超载问题, 提出一种机器学习方法, 为用户提供个性化的偏好检索服务。[方法/过程] 通过提取用户检索行为大数据中的用户特征, 利用监督机器学习方法, 在线学习可随用户偏好同步变化的自适应检索模型, 预测用户对文献的选择概率, 优化检索结果的排序。[结果/结论] 设计出用户偏好检索原型系统, 介绍用户偏好检索系统工作流程, 对比分析系统效果, 并对系统进行客观评价。     

“211工程”高校图书馆自动化系统的利用情况调研分析

[目的/意义] 随着信息技术的发展和用户需求的不断扩展,国内外图书馆自动化系统面临升级和转型的问题,有必要对国内高校图书馆现有自动化系统的利用情况进行调查,了解系统现状,提出进一步发展建议。[方法/过程] 运用在线咨询、邮件咨询、电话咨询、文献调研等方法,对“211工程”高校图书馆自动化系统的使用情况进行调研,对比分析2003年-2015年“211工程”高校图书馆自动化系统的变化情况,对有重大变化的图书馆所使用的ILAS、HORIZON、汇文、GDLIS、INTERLIB、ALlEPH等系统进行深入调研,分析其在使用过程中存在的问题及优势。[结果/结论] 调查结果显示,118所“211工程”高校图书馆中,用户数排名前五位的自动化系统分别是汇文、ALEPH、GDLIS、MELINETS和INNOPAC,其中国内的系统汇文、GDLIS、INTERLIB和国外的ALEPH近年来用户显著增多,也有部分系统市场占有率下降或被淘汰。     

As We May Think对中国学术影响的引用分析——纪念该文发表70周年

[目的/意义] 时值As, We, May, Think问世70周年之际,期望通过该文被引情况的计量分析,揭示该文对我国相关学科研究的学术影响。[方法/过程] 应用基于内容的引文分析方法,利用CNKI数据库检索As, We, May, Think的引用文献,在简单分析引用文献的年代分布和学科分布后,从引用文献的主题分布、主题分布演化特征来揭示该文的主要学术影响域,从主要来源学科引用文献的具体内容分析来证实该文对相关学科的学术影响范围与深度。[结果/结论] As, We, May, Think对中国的学术影响并未随着时间的推移而衰减,尤其对图书情报领域、计算机领域研究具有极其重要的意义。     

国外图书馆联盟信息资源建设制度研究进展(2005-2014)

[目的/意义]揭示2005-2014年国外图书馆联盟信息资源建设制度研究的内容,为我国该主题的研究提供借鉴。[方法/过程]采用文献调研方法,从信息资源采集、组织、保存和共享4个方面分析该主题研究现状。[结果/结论]研究发现:国外研究重视联盟资源建设的顶层设计;将合作性的馆藏规划和馆藏发展政策的研究置于重要地位;研究立足于更广阔的视野。未来的研究应注重:开展联盟资源建设制度的系统性研究;理论界、业界与政府进行三方合作,探索联盟资源建设的地区、国家和国际框架;因时制宜、因地制宜地发展联盟资源建设制度。