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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Academic libraries Information retrieval'
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1
Meho, Lokman I., and Helen R. Tibbo. "Modeling the Information-Seeking Behavior of Social Scientists: Ellis's Study Revisited." Wiley, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/105662.
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This paper revises David Ellis's information-seeking behavior model of social scientists, which includes six generic features: starting, chaining, browsing, differentiating, monitoring, and extracting. The paper uses social science faculty researching stateless nations as the study population. The description and analysis of the information-seeking behavior of this group of scholars is based on data collected through structured and semistructured electronic mail interviews. Sixty faculty members from 14 different countries were interviewed by e-mail. For reality check purposes, face-to-face interviews with five faculty members were also conducted. Although the study confirmed Ellis's model, it found that a fuller description of the information-seeking process of social scientists studying stateless nations should include four additional features besides those identified by Ellis. These new features are: accessing, networking, verifying, and information managing. In view of that, the study develops a new model, which, unlike Ellis's, groups all the features into four interrelated stages: searching, accessing, processing, and ending. This new model is fully described and its implications on research and practice are discussed. How and why scholars studied here are different than other academic social scientists is also discussed.
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Meho, Lokman I., and Kristina M. Spurgin. "Ranking the Research Productivity of LIS Faculty and Schools: An Evaluation of Data Sources and Research Methods." Wiley, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/105802.
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This study evaluates the data sources and research methods used in earlier studies to rank the research productivity of Library and Information Science (LIS) faculty and schools. In doing so, the study identifies both tools and methods that generate more accurate publication count rankings as well as databases that should be taken into consideration when conducting comprehensive searches in the literature for research and curricular needs. With a list of 2,625 items published between 1982 and 2002 by 68 faculty members of 18 American Library Associationâ (ALA-) accredited LIS schools, hundreds of databases were searched. Results show that there are only 10 databases that provide significant coverage of the LIS indexed literature. Results also show that restricting the data sources to one, two, or even three databases leads to inaccurate rankings and erroneous conclusions. Because no database provides comprehensive coverage of the LIS literature, researchers must rely on a wide range of disciplinary and multidisciplinary databases for ranking and other research purposes. The study answers such questions as the following: Is the Association of Library and Information Science Educationâ s (ALISEâ s) directory of members a reliable tool to identify a complete list of faculty members at LIS schools? How many and which databases are needed in a multifile search to arrive at accurate publication count rankings? What coverage will be achieved using a certain number of databases? Which research areas are well covered by which databases? What alternative methods and tools are available to supplement gaps among databases? Did coverage performance of databases change over time? What counting method should be used when determining what and how many items each LIS faculty and school has published? The authors recommend advanced analysis of research productivity to provide a more detailed assessment of research productivity of authors and programs.
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Evans, Paul. "A multimedia system to instruct novice users of online library catalogues." View thesis, 1996. http://library.nepean.uws.edu.au/about/staff/thesis.html.
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Seamans, Nancy H. "Information Literacy: A Study of Freshman Students' Perceptions, with Recommendations." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/27705.
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The research problem for this study is focused on the need to know how students acquire and use information. Research indicates a lack of understanding of what students know about information and how they use information and this study used the Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education (Appendix A) as the basis for acquiring a better understanding of what kind of information freshman students at Virginia Tech need and how they acquire it during their first semester at college. Students were asked questions about their information use during fall semester 2000, using both email questioning and in face-to-face interviews. The data collected was used to develop insights into how students acquire and use information and resulted in suggestions that could be used in revising and improving instruction for freshman students that is provided by the University Libraries at Virginia Tech.Ph. D.
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Zhao, Dianguo. "Information retrieval in digital libraries : the systems aspect." Thesis, De Montfort University, 1997. http://hdl.handle.net/2086/4124.
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Phiri, Lighton. "Simple Digital Libraries." Thesis, University of Cape Town, 2013. http://pubs.cs.uct.ac.za/archive/00000887/.
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The design of Digital Library Systems (DLSes) has evolved overtime, both in sophistication and complexity, to complement the complex nature and sheer size of digital content being curated. However, there is also a growing demand from content curators, with relatively small-size collections, for simpler and more manageable tools and services to manage their content. The reasons for this particular need are driven by the assumption that simplicity and manageability might ultimately translate to lower costs of maintenance of such systems.
This research proposes and advocates for a minimalist and simplistic approach to the overall design of DLSes. It is hypothesised that Digital Library (DL) tools and services based on such designs could potentially be easy to use and manage.
A meta-analysis of existing DL and non-DL tools was conducted to aid the derivation of design principles for simple DLSes. The desig n principles were then mapped to design decisions applied to the design of a prototype simple repository. In order to assess the effectiveness of the simple repository design, two real-world case study collections were implemented based on the design. In addition, a developer-oriented study was conducted using one of the case study collections to evaluate the simplicity and ease of use of the prototype system. Furthermore, performance experiments were conducted to establish the extent to which such a simple design approach would scale and also establish comparative advantages to existing designs.
In general, the study outlined some possible implications of simplifying DLS design; specifically the results from the developer-oriented user study indicate that simplicity in the design of the DLS repository sub-layer does not severely impact the interaction between the service sub-layer and the repository sub-layer. Furthermore, the scalability experiments indicate that desirable performance results for small- and medium-sized collections are attainable.
The practical implication of the proposed design approach is two-fold: firstly the minimalistic design has the potential to be used to design simple and yet easy to use tools with comparable features to those exhibited by well-established DL tools; and secondly, the principled design approach has the potential to be applied to the design of non-DL application domains.
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Houston, Andrea L., Hsinchun Chen, Bruce R. Schatz, Susan M. Hubbard, Robin R. Sewell, and Tobun Dorbin Ng. "Exploring the use of concept spaces to improve medical information retrieval." Elsevier, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/106253.
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Artificial Intelligence Lab, Department of MIS, University of ArizonaThis research investigated the application of techniques successfully used in previous information retrieval research, to the more challenging area of medical informatics. It was performed on a biomedical document collection testbed, CANCERLIT, provided by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) , which contains information on all types of cancer therapy. The quality or usefulness of terms suggested by three different thesauri, one based on MeSH terms, one based solely on terms from the document collection, and one based on the Unified Medical Language System UMLS Metathesaurus, was explored with the ultimate goal of improving CANCERLIT information search and retrieval. Researchers affiliated with the University of Arizona Cancer Center evaluated lists of related terms suggested by different thesauri for 12 different directed searches in the CANCERLIT testbed. The preliminary results indicated that among the thesauri, there were no statistically significant differences in either term recall or precision. Surprisingly, there was almost no overlap of relevant terms suggested by the different thesauri for a given search. This suggests that recall could be significantly improved by using a combined thesaurus approach.
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Kim, Hyunki. "Developing semantic digital libraries using data mining techniques." [Gainesville, Fla.] : University of Florida, 2005. http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/UFE0010105.
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Malone, Cheryl Knott. "Imagining Information Retrieval in the Library: Desk Set in Historical Context." IEEE Computer Society, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/105951.
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In the 1950s, a computer that could hold the contents of a library, retrieve facts, and formulate questions was laughable to many. The 1957 movie Desk Set accurately mirrored the way ordinary citizens perceived computers and their possible consequences. On another level, the film's focus on libraries was an ideal juxtaposition of human's intellectual capacity with machines' processing capacity.
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Abbas, June M. "Smoothing the information seeking path: Removing representational obstacles in the middle-school digital library." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2002. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3165/.
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Middle school student's interaction within a digital library is explored. Issues of interface features used, obstacles encountered, search strategies and search techniques used, and representation obstacles are examined. A mechanism for evaluating user's descriptors is tested and effects of augmenting the system's resource descriptions with these descriptors on retrieval is explored. Transaction log data analysis (TLA) was used, with external corroborating achievement data provided by teachers. Analysis was conducted using quantitative and qualitative methods. Coding schemes for the failure analysis, search strategies and techniques analysis, as well as extent of match analysis between terms in student's questions and their search terms, and extent of match analysis between search terms and controlled vocabulary were developed. There are five chapters with twelve supporting appendixes. Chapter One presents an introduction to the problem and reviews the pilot study. Chapter Two presents the literature review and theoretical basis for the study. Chapter Three describes the research questions, hypotheses and methods. Chapter Four presents findings. Chapter Five presents a summary of the findings and their support of the hypotheses. Unanticipated findings, limitations, speculations, and areas of further research are indicated. Findings indicate that middle school users interact with the system in various sequences of patterns. User groups' interactions and scaffold use are influenced by the teacher's objectives for using the ADL. Users preferred to use single word searches over Boolean, phrase or natural language searches. Users tended to use a strategy of repeating the same exact search, instead of using the advanced scaffolds. A high percent of users attempted at least one search that included spelling or typographical errors, punctuation, or sequentially repeated searches. Search terms matched the DQ's in some instantiation 54% of all searches. Terms used by the system to represent the resources do not adequately represent the user groups' information needs, however, using student generated keywords to augment resource descriptions can have a positive effect on retrieval.
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Sikhosana, Regina Balengane. "Managing electronic resources at selected tertiary institutions in the Western Cape, South Africa." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/2727.
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Thesis (MTech (Business Information Systems))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.The aim of this research study is to explore the management of electronic resources used in libraries. Three tertiary institutions were used as case studies. The unit of analysis was the three libraries, with library employees (14) working and managing electronic resources being the unit of observation. Non-random, purposive sampling techniques were used. The finding of this study suggests that the participants do not use the Aleph integrated library system (ILS) optimally to manage electronic resources. Library employees do not keep up with current and new emerging technology trends in the library and academic environment. There is a lack of training, as well as understanding, of business processes and workflows. This is emphasised by a lack of knowledge of library system environments and, finally, the high cost of implementing the library systems. Electronic resource management (ERM) systems emerged in the early 2000s, and it became clear that traditional integrated library systems did not have sufficient capacity to provide efficient processing for meeting the changing needs and challenges of libraries at tertiary institutions. Libraries find it challenging to manage the wide range of licensed electronic resources, collaborating, cooperating and sharing resources with different libraries. The increasing number of electronic resource demands from users for remote or off campus access makes it difficult for libraries to manage electronic resources. As a result of this inability to manage the electronic resources, libraries are not effectively and efficiently using appropriate electronic resource systems to meet their business requirements.
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Smith, Michael Quinton. "The impact of information and communications technology change on the management and operations of academic libraries." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2005. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=etd&.
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The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of information and communications technology change on the management and operations of academic libraries. How academic libraries deal with this phenomenon and strategies that could be considered to help deal with an environment where technology constantly change. This study focused on the impact of information and communications technology driven change on the academic library e.g. staff, clients, physical resources and information resources.
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Rathinasabapathy, G., Sundari T. Mohana, and L. Rajendran. "Biometric Applications in Library and Information Centres: Prospects and Problems." INFLIBNET Centre, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/106038.
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Biometrics is the science of measuring physiological or behavioural characteristics that verify a personâ s identity. Biometric identification refers to a technology that uses scanned graphical information from many sources for personal identification purposes viz., fingerprint identification, iris identification, retinal identification, hand geometry, hand, palm, and wrist subcutaneous vein pattern identification, signature identification, voice identification, keystroke dynamics identification, facial feature identification, body salinity (salt) identification, body odor identification, and ear identification. The biometric technology helps the libraries to ensure safety and security to its invaluable collections, infrastructure and human resources. It is a known fact that libraries are not always safe and secure places and they are facing a wide variety of security concerns which includes the theft, mutilation of library materials and other unethical losses. But, it is the duty of the librarian to keep the library buildings, shelves and stacks open and free without losing items to make available or putting individuals at unacceptable risk from the malicious, avaricious or senseless acts of others. Further, the LIS professionals are now handling huge database, provide access to online journals and web-enabled online public access catalogues in the networked digital environment where there are a lot of scope for compute /cyber crimes. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to ensure better safety and security to the library collections, equipment and staff. In this regard, the biometric technology is a boon for the LIS professionals as it provides a single point of control for administrators to manage access to library resources such as computers, buildings, doors, the Internet, and software applications. In this context, this paper attempts to study the various types of biometric applications available for LIS centres, its prospects and problems as well.
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Konstantelos, Leonidas. "Digital art in digital libraries : a study of user-oriented information retrieval." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2009. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/1333/.
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This thesis presents an empirical investigation of the problems of including pictorial digital art in the context of Digital Libraries (DLs). The rational for this work is that digital art material is a significant source of learning and research, provided that it is systematically collected and maintained in structured electronic repositories. The thesis addresses a fundamental question: How to provide description and retrieval services, which are based on the needs of digital art user communities? This raises three research issues. One is the need to combine DL collections into meaningful and functional content. The second is the importance of a user-oriented approach to designing and developing Digital Libraries. The third is the requirement for continuing access to digital art as a record of modern culture. These questions are explored through a needs assessment targeted to Arts & Humanities scholars, digital artists and representatives of the DL community. A data collection methodology is developed, based on the principles of Social Informatics and a case study of evaluation efforts in extant projects. The results from this process demonstrate that the scholarly value of digital art can be established by aggregating material from various repositories into a unified dataset. The results also identify specific documentation and retrieval issues deriving from inclusion of digital art in a DL environment that necessitate further investigation. To this end, a review of sixteen digital art online resources is conducted which reveals ad-hoc collection strategies and metadata deficiencies. The work presents a prototype Digital Library for enhancing the educational outcome of digital art. The application is used as an implementation platform for material aggregation and augmented documentation through the Media Art Notation System (MANS). The summative evaluation findings confirm that the suggested solutions are highly rated by the targeted audiences. The thesis makes a contribution to academic knowledge in situating the representation of digital art within modern society. By critically examining the unique requirements of this material using the resources of social theory, the thesis represents a contemporary and pragmatic perspective on digital media art. In a well-structured Digital Library, the scholarly potential of digital art is much greater than the currently employed ad-hoc context. This work offers a sustained reflection and a roadmap for selecting and consistently applying a strategy that aims to continually improve the quality of digital art provision.
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Brunt, Rodney Malcolm. "Historical and comparative perspectives on information retrieval in libraries and military intelligence." Thesis, Leeds Beckett University, 2006. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.435467.
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Moody, Mary E. "Information commons service model and community colleges in New Jersey /." Full text available online, 2008. http://www.lib.rowan.edu/find/theses.
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Cuthbertson, Mary-Lynn. "Libraries and academic development strategies in South African universities." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13393.
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Bibliography: leaves 122-145.This dissertation examines the role of university libraries in academic support and development programmes in South Africa. It focuses on how libraries and librarians can assist under-prepared students whose educational backgrounds under apartheid have not equipped them for the transition from school to university. The socio-political, educational and library contexts are analysed in comparative perspective by looking at the experience of ethnic minorities in the United Kingdom. Issues of nation building and multi-culturalism in both Britain and South Africa are critically discussed, and the institutional aspects of professional librarianship are construed as the backdrop of user education in academic libraries. Academic development strategies in university libraries are reviewed under the rubric of affirmative action, racism awareness training, a multi-media environment, reading programmes and information retrieval and censorship. Recommendations are offered on the basis of an investigation of the literature on user education in libraries and its application to academic development for under-prepared students.
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Campbell, Kathy, and Leslie Adebonojo. "Nontraditional Students Need Academic Libraries Too." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2014. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/372.
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Dzandza, Patience Emefa. "Use and management of information systems in academic libraries in Ghana." University of the Western Cape, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/11394/6948.
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Philosophiae Doctor - PhDThe use of Information Systems (ISs) has been widely accepted and proven to increase the service quality in many organizations. Academic libraries have embraced the use of ISs and have implemented them to perform different activities. The efficient utilization and management of ISs in libraries will help libraries to derive maximum benefit from adopted ISs. The research used the DeLone and McLean (2003) IS success theory to determine the impact of IS management on the quality of the IS, the use of the IS and the benefits gained. The researcher used nine (30%) of the thirty university libraries which are members of the consortium of academic and research libraries in Ghana (CARLIGH) - an association of libraries that help with the IS and electronic resource use of member libraries. A mixed method approach with questionnaires, interviews combined with content analysis of the university websites was used to gather data. Findings indicated that academic libraries in Ghana are making use of some ISs including; ILS, DAM, social media, websites, among others, amidst a number of challenges. The research also revealed that the management of ISs affects the quality thereof. Quality of ISs affects use, and use affects the benefits gained from use. The researcher proposed an IS management standard guideline which Ghanaian academic libraries could adopt for using and managing ISs to enhance efficiency and better service delivery.
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Yeh, Shea-Tinn. "Integrated Faceted Browser and Direct Search to Enhance Information Retrieval in Text-Based Digital Libraries." Wright State University / OhioLINK, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1252951819.
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Wallace, Rick L., and Nakia J. Woodward. "Linking Libraries: An Analysis of a Consumer Health Partnership between Academic and Public Libraries." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2012. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/8726.
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Murthy, Uma. "Digital Libraries with Superimposed Information: Supporting Scholarly Tasks that Involve Fine Grain Information." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/26866.
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Many scholarly tasks involve working with contextualized fine-grain information, such as a music professor creating a multimedia lecture on a musical style, while bringing together several snippets of compositions of that style. We refer to such contextualized parts of a larger unit of information (or whole documents), as subdocuments. Current approaches to work with subdocuments involve a mix of paper-based and digital techniques. With the increase in the volume and in the heterogeneity of information sources, the management, organization, access, retrieval, as well as reuse of subdocuments becomes challenging, leading to inefficient and ineffective task execution. A digital library (DL) facilitates management, access, retrieval, and use of collections of data and metadata through services. However, most DLs do not provide infrastructure or services to support working with subdocuments. Superimposed information (SI) refers to new information that is created to reference subdocuments in existing information resources. We combine this idea of SI with traditional DL services, to define and develop a DL with SI (an SI-DL). Our research questions are centered around one main question: how can we extend the notion of a DL to include SI, in order to support scholarly tasks that involve working with subdocuments? We pursued this question from a theoretical as well as a practical/user perspective. From a theoretical perspective, we developed a formal metamodel that precisely defines the components of an SI-DL, building upon related work in DLs, SI, annotations, and hypertext. From the practical/user perspective, we developed prototype superimposed applications and conducted user studies to explore the use of SI in scholarly tasks. We developed SuperIDR, a prototype SI-DL, which enables users to mark up subimages, annotate them, and retrieve information in multiple ways, including browsing, and text- and content-based image retrieval. We explored the use of subimages and evaluated the use of SuperIDR in fish species identification, a scholarly task that involves working with subimages. Findings from the user studies and other work in our research lead to theory- and experiment-based enhancements that can guide design of digital libraries with superimposed information.Ph. D.
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Basager, Mohammed Ahmed. "Evaluation of electronic information services in academic libraries in Saudi Arabia." Thesis, Loughborough University, 2001. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/7530.
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This study aims to investigate the strengths and weaknesses of the information technology services in academic libraries in Saudi Arabia and to propose ways in which these services could be developed. The methodology applies theoretical models, questionnaires and structured interviews. Two models were developed to investigate the behaviour of academic staff and students, the first representing users' cognitive attitudes and the degree of user-satisfaction with the services provided. The second model examines interactions between the university administration, computer centres and libraries. Questionnaires and interviews have been used to generate empirical findings. The main findings concentrate on the following issues. Most respondents had used computers either on or off campus. Use of computers at the selected universities was found to vary significantly. Respondents from science faculties were found to use technology more than other users. IT systems, network infrastructure and the availability of qualified staff were, to varying degrees, found to be a constant source of concern and a hindrance to the provision of effective services. There was no consistent pattern of use and there was frequently a failure to provide any service at all. The only means for academic staff and users to gain access to the Internet was through departmental provision as, at the time of this research, this was not available in the libraries. A lack of funding, qualified staff, programmers and connections to the computer networks are regarded as major reasons for not providing efficient electronic services to users. The main recommendations of this study are that coordination and co-operation between libraries, making full use of technology, should be established. Universities should lobby the Finance Ministry to argue for a change in the regulations to allow libraries to generate their own revenue in order to enhance existing services. University administrations, computer centres and academic departments should establish formal procedures to provide effective electronic services to users. The present provision of training facilities for both staff and students needs to be extensively reviewed and enhanced.
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Swan, Ruth Maddox. "Perceived performance and disconfirmation of expectations as measures of customer satisfaction with information services in the academic library." Tallahassee, FL. :, 1998. http://www.famu.edu/library/RSwan.Pdf.
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Schatz, Bruce R., Eric H. Johnson, Pauline A. Cochrane, and Hsinchun Chen. "Interactive Term Suggestion for Users of Digital Libraries: Using Subject Thesauri and Co-occurrence Lists for Information Retrieval." ACM, 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/106216.
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Artificial Intelligence Lab, Department of MIS, University of ArizonaThe basic problem in information retrieval is that large scale searches can only match terms specified by the user to terms appearing in documents in the digital library collection. Intermediate sources that support term suggestion can thus enhance retrieval by providing altentative search terms for the user. Term suggestion increases the recall, while interaction enables the user to attempt to not decrease the precision. We are building a prototype user interface that will become the Web interface for the University of Illinois Digital Library Initiative (DLI) testbed. It supports the principle of multiple views, wherc different kinds of term suggestors can be used to complement search and each other. This paper discusses its operation with two complementary term suggestors, subject thesauri and co-occurrence lists, and compares their utility. Thesauri are generatad by human indexers and place selected terms in a subject hierarchy. Co-occurrence lists are generated by computer and place all terms in frequency order of occurrence together. This paper concludes with a discussion of how multiple views can help provide good quality Search for the Net. This is a paper about the design of a retrieval system prototype that allows users to simultaneously combine terms offered by different suggestion techniques, not about comparing the merits of each in a systematic and controlled way. It offers no experimental results.
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Miller, Kathleen F. "Service quality in academic libraries : an analysis of LibQUAL+ scores and institutional characteristics /." Orlando, Fla. : University of Central Florida, 2008. http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0002007.
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Acanit, Mary. "Status of Information and Communication Technologies in Academic Libraries in Central Uganda." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/59905.
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Library users are constantly expecting new services, which puts tremendous pressure on academic libraries to re-organise their work patterns and devise better ways of service delivery in order to remain relevant. Although there are a lot of developments taking place in terms of information and communication technology (ICT), academic libraries in Sub- Saharan Africa are at different levels of ICT deployment both between different countries and within the same countries. The aim of this study is to determine the status of ICTs in Academic libraries in Central Uganda. The descriptive study employs a survey methodology gathering both quantitative and qualitative data. Data was collected from library staff responsible for the day-to-day management and administration of ICT at 17 of the 22 academic libraries in Central Uganda using survey questionnaires and interviews over a period of twelve months. Findings indicate that there is an improvement in the status of ICTs in academic libraries in Central Uganda although they are deployed at a minimum level. Funding, power fluctuations and low bandwidth still pose a major threat to ICT adoption in academic libraries in Central Uganda. This report informs government, libraries, LIS schools, LIS professional bodies and policy makers on the future course of action regarding ICT deployment and curricula. Notably, there is need for government to support infrastructural development; engage in public-private partnerships for infrastructural developments; exempt taxation of ICT equipment and supplement funding at universities. Libraries should dedicate more funds to purchase ICT equipment; automate all library functions; develop local capacity to manage ICT projects; promote awareness about ICT services and support initiatives from local and international library associations. LIS schools should conduct a curriculum review to reposition the LIS study program to the present and future needs of the job market; monitor and advice government on policy issues affecting higher education include the need to align ICTs to national development. LIS professional bodies need to champion the cause for the standardization of LIS study programs, promote networking and knowledge sharing; articulate national e-strategies and play advisory role to government, LIS schools and libraries.Mini Dissertation (MIT)--University of Pretoria, 2016.
Carnegie Corporation of New York
Information Science
MIT
Unrestricted
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Bedi, Shalu, and Kiran Sharma. "Library Consortia: A Step forward the Information Society." Twenty First Century Publications, Patiala, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/105994.
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The increasing price of electronic journals, indexing and abstracting databases along with the traditional published print subscriptions has forced library community to explore alternative means of subscription. The emergence of library a very promising development in this direction. The Phenomenon of consortia or group of libraries maintaining information resources together has become very common these days, In India, during last few years we witnessed many consortia based subscription. This paper briefly discusses the concept, need, advantages and also the major consortia initiatives in India.
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Haji, Harun Akbar Hakim, and Jean Ping-Hoon Koh. "Enhancing studentsâ learning and research with NTU libraryâ s innovative information literacy programmes." School of Communication & Information, Nanyang Technological University, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/106213.
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Full version of paper. Printed proceedings carried only the abstract.The Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Library has been pioneering and initiating bibliographic instruction and information literacy programmes since the inception of the university as a technological institute back in 1981. The evolving academic and research landscape since then, coupled with technological advancements in the provision of information resources and services, has provided the impetus for NTU Library to develop a structured information literacy programme with the aim of enhancing studentsâ learning and research. The objectives of the programme developed are clearly stated and closely aligned to the universityâ s as well as the libraryâ s mission statements. This paper provides a historical perspective and traces the development of this programme over the years. A model of the programme as it is currently offered to students is presented. Discussion will focus on a number of aspects: information literacy standards consulted, identification of studentsâ learning outcomes, a spectrum of delivery mode and methodology, evolving and expanding content development, as well as, formative and summative feedback. The paper also looks at the enablers of the programme, which include librarians, library management, faculty members, schoolsâ administrative units, external instructors and trainers, and technology. The paper concludes with a look at the future of the libraryâ s information literacy programme beyond 2006 and will address crucial issues which impact upon the implementation and running of the programme across all schools in the university. Issues like profiling of students, matching programme type and delivery mode with these profiles, leveraging on emerging technologies as learning tools and integrating studentsâ assessments can be further researched. A deep insight and understanding of these issues will in return stimulate further the development by the library of a more innovative and creative information literacy programme for the university.
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Venetis, Mary Jo. "Identification of Remote Leadership Patterns in Academic and Public Libraries." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2008. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9017/.
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Seminal works on leadership, including those in librarianship define a traditional model of interaction between leaders and followers without reference to the information technology-driven environment. In addition, remote leadership indicates a different model from the traditional model, one that is focused on the interaction of leaders and their staff through digital technology. Although leaders still use face-to-face interaction, due to varied work schedules or job responsibilities, they also recognize the need to lead employees remotely. Leadership studies in library literature have not addressed how library leaders use information technology to lead employees remotely, nor have these studies addressed remote leadership and remote employees, except for some articles on telecommuting. As a result, this research was conducted to address this gap, providing an exploratory foundation of emergent patterns of remote leadership with its associated leadership dimensions rooted in personality traits, behaviors, and skills. Quantitative and qualitative data were obtained from a small sample size of academic and public-library leaders in the United States who participated in a Web-based survey designed specifically for this study, limiting generalizations. Factor analysis was the principal methodology used to obtain findings. Its composite factor scores were also used in the t-test and chi-square analyses. This study identifies some emergent patterns of remote leadership in the library and information-science field, exploring whether library leaders use information technology to be effective remote leaders in a technology-driven environment, and whether existing leadership attributes could be identified as part of the remote-leadership model. Because this study's findings indicated that library leaders are not quite the traditional leader but are not fully integrated into remote leadership, it becomes apparent that they would function with a blend of both face-to-face and electronic interactions, due to the nature of library work. Additionally, this research revealed underlying issues and challenges faced by library leaders as they transition from a traditional-leadership model to a blended model of face-to-face and remote leadership. Future research could include increasing the sample size and response rate to conduct factor analysis properly, and conducting longitudinal studies.
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Schatz, Bruce Raymond. "Interactive retrieval in information spaces distributed across a wide-area network." Diss., The University of Arizona, 1991. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/185363.
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The potential to provide interactive data manipulation across high-speed nationwide networks is stimulating development of new database technology. An information space is a data model that can support rapid browsing of large amounts of information contained in a digital library physically distributed across many disparate sources. This dissertation discusses supporting interactive retrieval of objects inside an information space across the nationwide scientific network. Implementing such interactive retrieval requires designing caching policies that enable fetching requested objects into a local user workstation from a remote file server with sufficiently short response time to support effective browsing interaction. An adequate caching policy should utilize properties of user perception and data representation within an information space. This dissertation describes a series of new techniques for caching objects within an information space and gives measurements of their performance across the NSFNET. These policies take advantage of special features of interactive retrieval within information spaces, such as initially fetching only the subset of requested objects that will be immediately displayed and prefetching additional objects during idle time when the user is considering which command to issue next. A prototype built by the author, the Telesophy System, supports interactive retrieval for information spaces across local-area networks and serves as a basis for identification of special features. To consider additional needs for efficient implementation across wide-area networks, the significant parameters and policies in implementing caching are systematically identified. Specific values of these caching parameters are used to evaluate the performance of a range of caching policies under a variety of interactions relevant to browsing information spaces. Finally, an incremental caching policy is proposed, which combines many techniques taking advantage of special features of interacting with information spaces. Measurements of the performance of this policy under a variety of conditions demonstrate that interactive retrieval is possible across wide-area networks and that appropriate optimization of the caching policy can produce performance comparable to that across local-area networks.
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Mayekiso, Nozibele. "Knowledge sharing practices in academic libraries with special reference to the Unisa Library." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/11685.
Full textAbstract:
Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references.
In recent years it has been acknowledged that the practice of knowledge management can play an important role to ensure an organisation’s competitive edge within an industry. This study focuses on knowledge sharing practices in university libraries with special reference to the Unisa Library. The aim of the research project was therefore to establish whether the Unisa Library is receptive to knowledge sharing practices,whether there is a need for knowledge management and more specifically for a knowledge sharing strategy. Thus the objective was to establish the extent to which knowledge sharing practices occur among professional library staff, albeit unknowingly, in their daily activities.The study employed both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. A questionnaire was delivered in person to professional librarians while interviews were conducted with managers from the various directorates of the library. The questions explored the knowledge sharing practices, including challenges within the library. They were based on internationally accepted knowledge management themes which include the role of leadership, organisational structure, organisational culture,technology, processes in enabling the effective practice of knowledge management.
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Lopes, Roseane Regina Velho. "A model and prototype for a community-related information retrieval system for public libraries in Brazil." Thesis, City University London, 1995. http://openaccess.city.ac.uk/7546/.
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This research was aimed towards the planning, design and evaluation of an experimental prototype for the systematic organisation, access and retrieval of community information and local studies, henceforth defined jointly as community-related information, for public libraries in Brazil. Community-related information services were identified as areas of modern public librarianship still to be developed in that country. To raise relevant theoretical issues that could be discussed in practice, applied prototyping was chosen as the core methodology for this project. The model proposed was built upon a software especially designed by Unesco for library applications available in Brazil called CDS/ISIS - Computerised Documentation System/Integrated Set of Information Systems. The resulting Automated Library and Community-Related Information System (ALTS) was designed based on a theoretical framework which suggested 1) information repackaging of community-related information concerns represented as A-Z listings with corresponding definitions aimed at encouraging public librarians to create their own community-related information systems; 2) a reference function implicit in the self-defining element of information repackaging and by referring the user to wider library resources to complement a community-related information query, thus encouraging the use of wider library resources, and 3) a referral function to direct users to resources external to the library capable of helping him/her with a community-related information concern and to encourage the inhouse creation of local resources files. This conceptual and practical framework was aimed at encouraging indigenous resources-building and a degree of autonomy for Brazilian public libraries to define and create their own community-related information systems based on their perceptions of community needs. ALTS prototype was made of six menu-driven modules or databases (CITYOR, AZHEAL, AZJOBS, AZLAW, LOCAL and LIBRY), related to one another in content and structure, accessed by a top menu via one-key options. Prototype specifications, database maps, data entry, master file maintenance, information retrieval services and user interfaces were described and illustrated with examples. System evaluation was carried out in Brazil in two selected public libraries which agreed to participate in the evaluation exercise. Evaluation consisted of individual interviews on perception of concepts, self-administered questionnaires on system use and implementation and data collection of real users' queries in Brazil to check whether ALTS could respond to present community-related information needs. Finally, the prototype was reviewed and discussed in the light of trends and developments for community-related information supply worldwide, validity of applied prototyping as the core methodology for this project and the setup of a national infrastructure for community-related information supply based on this research findings. Conclusions and recommendations were also drawn to encourage the development of community-related information activities in Brazil and further implementation of CDS/ISIS.
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Namondwe, Trevor. "Implementing knowledge management in academic libraries : a comparative case study of the Kamuzu College of Nursing and Bunda College of Agriculture libraries." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/11585.
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Includes bibliographical references (p. 133-138).This dissertation focuses on an investigation that was conducted to find out the state of knowledge management in the Kamuzu College of Nursing and Bunda College of Agriculture libraries, constituent college libraries of the University of Malawi. Drawing from the literature on knowledge management, the study proposed and implemented two models for the maturity assessment and implementation of knowledge management respectively. The study used the models successfully to measure the levels of maturity of knowledge management and identify the knowledge needs and knowledge assets of the libraries. The results of the study revealed that both libraries are at the same level of knowledge management maturity i.e. knowledge management is still in its infancy as they did not have clearly established strategies to make use of knowledge. Furthermore, there were no significant differences between the two libraries in the various aspects of knowledge management investigated. The study therefore recommended a road map for implementing knowledge management in the libraries. Knowledge management is recognised by many organisations of strategic importance to improving an organisation?s performance and its competitive advantage. Knowledge management thus has been largely associated with profit making organisations. However, knowledge management is also applicable to non-profit making organisations such as academic libraries. The environment in which academic libraries operate continuously changes and it is therefore imperative for the libraries to use knowledge management as a tool to adapt and remain relevant.
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Costello, Anthony. "Facilitating Information Retrieval in Social Media User Interfaces." Doctoral diss., University of Central Florida, 2014. http://digital.library.ucf.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ETD/id/6257.
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As the amount of computer mediated information (e.g., emails, documents, multi-media) we need to process grows, our need to rapidly sort, organize and store electronic information likewise increases. In order to store information effectively, we must find ways to sort through it and organize it in a manner that facilitates efficient retrieval. The instantaneous and emergent nature of communications across networks like Twitter makes them suitable for discussing events (e.g., natural disasters) that are amorphous and prone to rapid changes. It can be difficult for an individual human to filter through and organize the large amounts of information that can pass through these types of social networks when events are unfolding rapidly. A common feature of social networks is the images (e.g., human faces, inanimate objects) that are often used by those who send messages across these networks. Humans have a particularly strong ability to recognize and differentiate between human Faces. This effect may also extend to recalling information associated with each human Face. This study investigated the difference between human Face images, non-human Face images and alphanumeric labels as retrieval cues under different levels of Task Load. Participants were required to recall key pieces of event information as they emerged from a Twitter-style message feed during a simulated natural disaster. A counter-balanced within-subjects design was used for this experiment. Participants were exposed to low, medium and high Task Load while responding to five different types of recall cues: (1) Nickname, (2) Non-Face, (3) Non-Face & Nickname, (4) Face and (5) Face & Nickname. The task required participants to organize information regarding emergencies (e.g., car accidents) from a Twitter-style message feed. The messages reported various events such as fires occurring around a fictional city. Each message was associated with a different recall cue type, depending on the experimental condition. Following the task, participants were asked to recall the information associated with one of the cues they worked with during the task. Results indicate that under medium and high Task Load, both Non-Face and Face retrieval cues increased recall performance over Nickname alone with Non-Faces resulting in the highest mean recall scores. When comparing medium to high Task Load: Face & Nickname and Non-Face significantly outperformed the Face condition. The performance in Non-Face & Nickname was significantly better than Face & Nickname. No significant difference was found between Non-Faces and Non-Faces & Nickname. Subjective Task Load scores indicate that participants experienced lower mental workload when using Non-Face cues than using Nickname or Face cues. Generally, these results indicate that under medium and high Task Load levels, images outperformed alphanumeric nicknames, Non-Face images outperformed Face images, and combining alphanumeric nicknames with images may have offered a significant performance advantage only when the image is that of a Face. Both theoretical and practical design implications are provided from these findings.Ph.D.
Doctorate
Industrial Engineering and Management Systems
Engineering and Computer Science
Industrial Engineering
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Bezerra, FabÃola Maria Pereira. "The representation used as a tool of information retrieval in the information systems: a comparative study between libraries and supermarket." Universidade Federal do CearÃ, 2006. http://www.teses.ufc.br/tde_busca/arquivo.php?codArquivo=1304.
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Programa AlÃan de bolsas de estudo de alto nÃvel destinado à AmÃrica LatinaThis work presents a comparative study between libraries and supermarkets. Its main goal is to observe, to analyze and to describe the behaviour of librariesâ users, in face of subject representation used as a tool of information retrieval, identifying the conditions of access in libraries, shown by users as a difficulty on comprehension of the symbology used in the representation of knowledge. The supermarkets are used as instruments of comparison through the similarity found between libraries and the techniques of salesâ marketing used with success in the supermarkets to identify the uses and choices of their clients in order to direct them to significant results. The applicability of these techniques in libraries would lead, eventually, to much more effective results, regarding the comprehension of the representation, the use of retrieval tools and the access to information.
Este trabalho apresenta um estudo comparativo entre bibliotecas e supermercados, cujo propÃsito à observar, analisar e descrever o comportamento de utentes de bibliotecas diante da representaÃÃo temÃtica como ferramenta de recuperaÃÃo da nformaÃÃo, identificando as condiÃÃes de acesso nas bibliotecas, manifestadas pelos utentes em forma de dificuldade de compreensÃo da simbologia utilizada nas bibliotecas no processo de representaÃÃo do conhecimento. Os supermercados sÃo utilizados como ferramenta de comparaÃÃo atravÃs da semelhanÃa encontrada, confrontando com as bibliotecas as tÃcnicas de marketing de varejo empregadas com sucesso nos supermercados para identificar os hÃbitos e preferÃncias de seus clientes, levando-os a resultados significativos. A aplicabilidade destas tÃcnicas nas bibliotecas conduziria, porventura, a resultados muito mais eficazes quanto à compreensÃo da representaÃÃo, ao uso das ferramentas de recuperaÃÃo e ao acesso à informaÃÃo.
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Matook, Khaled Soliman. "The academic libraries of the future in Saudi Arabia and their manpower requirements." Thesis, Manchester Metropolitan University, 2003. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.270886.
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Taha, Ahmed. "Streamline e-information service for virtual users: A quality function deployment (QFD) approach." School of Communication & Information, Nanyang Technological University, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/106053.
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Migration from the traditional to web-based library paradigm is usually accompanied by remodelling of many library core activities particularly those associated with user-centred services. In this capacity of the web-based service paradigm, many academic libraries have established networked environments within which many virtual-user communities are forming and growing. Understanding the virtual user's needs in these communities has become the first priority of networked libraries for designing, running and managing effective virtual reference services to meet the increasing expectations of the invisible users. To achieve this, the networked libraries strive to improve their quality of service by applying a wide range of such quality management approaches as quality function deployment (QFD) and LIBQUAL™. QFD initially stresses on driving continuous improvement of the user-oriented services towards end-user satisfaction. The paper attempts to incorporate the QFD to be integrated strategically in designing and managing e-information provision within networked library service environment. The UAE University Library is used as a case study, where the evidence-based librarianship (EBL) approach has been employed in three studies to identify user needs and acceptance of e-services. Based on these studies, the paper presents a model aimed at streamlining e-services for virtual users in ICT-rich learning environments.
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Dasgupta, Arjun, and Jatindra Nath Satpathi. "Continuing education programmes of Library & Information Science (LIS) professionals in the Universities of West Bengal (India) with special reference to the University of Calcutta." School of Communication & Information, Nanyang Technological University, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/105941.
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The paper starts with the need of Continuing Education for the LIS professionals in this modern era of information and technology. It narrates the activities of Continuing Education and Professional Development (CEPD) in different developed and developing countries of the world. It enumerates the role of various associations and institutions of India such as ILA, IASLIC, BLA IIMs, ICSSR, AIIMS, which are actively connected with programmes of continuing education. The authors highlight some of the universities and academic institutions of our country which have centres and departments of continu-ing education & critically analyze the work and activities of eight universities of West Bengal based on survey work. The paper suggests some measures to improve the existing conditions and status of con-tinuing education programmes for the university-library professionals of West Bengal.
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Weaver, Mathew Jon. "Enhancing a domain-specific digital library with metadata based on hierarchical controlled vocabularies /." Full text open access at:, 2005. http://content.ohsu.edu/u?/etd,4.
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Shepheard-Walwyn, Emma Jane. "Usage and impact factor correlations in electronic journals submitted to the School of Information Management, Victoria University of Wellington in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Library and Information Studies /." ResearchArchive@Victoria e-Thesis, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10063/1265.
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Chaura, Maloto Green. "Information behaviour of fourth year students of Mzuzu University in Malawi." University of the Western Cape, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11394/4112.
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Magister Artium - MAThe study investigated the information behaviour of fourth year students of Mzuzu University in Malawi. The study specifically intended to establish the information needs, preferred information sources and information seeking behaviours of fourth year students at Mzuzu University. The study also aimed at ascertaining whether emotions experienced by these students conformed to some of those identified by Kuhlthau’s Information Search Process (ISP) model. The study used the Kuhlthau’s Information Search Process model as a theoretical framework because of its being closer to reality on how students search for information. The target population of the study was seven hundred and fifty two (752) fourth year students belonging to the five faculties of the University (Mzuzu University website, 2013). A mixed method survey employing both qualitative and quantitative approaches was used. The study used the probability sampling method. Specifically, stratified sampling in which students were divided into different strata according to the faculty they belong to was adopted. The study used the sample size of two hundred and fifty four (254) students of which two hundred and forty three (243) responded to the questionnaire. The results of the study revealed that most of the fourth year students (65.4%) needed information for their academic studies. The study also found that most of these students (62.5%) preferred electronic and not printed information sources. Most students indicated that they did not use e-journals (66%), subscription databases (94%) or printed journals (52%). As sources of information, students relied mainly on the Internet (64.6%), search engines like Google (56.2%) and the OPAC (45%). When searching for information, the majority of students did not use truncation (98.3%) or Boolean logic (98.8%).It has also been established that students did not fully conform to Kuhlthau’s ISP model of information behaviour. Some of the obstacles met during information seeking were lack of financial resources as well as lack of essential textbooks and important books. The findings suggest that the students lack information literacy skills and it is recommended that the university should re-examine its information literacy education. It is expected that the findings of this study will assist the researcher and the Mzuzu University library and the Learning Resources Centre to establish more effective and user centred services to meet the needs of their students. It also adds to the body of knowledge on information behaviour of students, especially in Malawi.
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Wu, Mei-Mei. "Information interaction dialogue a study of patron elicitation in the information retrieval interaction /." 1993. http://books.google.com/books?id=1jzhAAAAMAAJ.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 1993.Includes vita and abstract. Order number 9320541. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (p. 180-186).
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McDonald, Robert H., and Chuck Thomas. "A Performance Systems Approach to Digital Publishing in Libraries." 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/105776.
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Copyright Robert H. McDonald and Chuck Thomas 2006. This work is the intellectual property of the authors. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright statement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the author. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the authors.Electronic performance support tools are used in many workplaces, but digital libraries have not evaluated their potential usefulness. In a pilot project, the Florida State University Libraries developed inexpensive performance support tools for three types of in-house digital publishing. This strategy improved productivity and quality control. (Author abstract)
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Owens, Irene. "Librarian-patron interaction and information exchange in the reference department of an academic library." 1995. http://catalog.hathitrust.org/api/volumes/oclc/34537053.html.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1995.eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 187-204).
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Corrado, Edward M. "Initial Articles in Library Catalog Title Searches: An Impediment to Information Retrieval." 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/106199.
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Initial articles have posed difficulty for end-users since the first online library catalogs. This study examines the way users search using left-anchored title searches for items that contain insignificant initial articles in a library catalog. It also investigates how users react when they do not find an item because their search phrase included an insignificant initial article. The results show that a considerable number of users do not find existing titles that have insignificant initial articles because their search strategy does not coincide with the way the Library Management System was designed to handle index and retrieve these titles. Suggestions for further research are offered.
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Naidoo, Lovekumarie. "The merging of the library catalogues of the Edgewood College of Education Library and the University of Natal, Durban Libraries: lessons learnt." Thesis, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/652.
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Desai, Christina M., and Stephanie J. Graves. "Cyberspace or Face-to-Face: The Teachable Moment and Changing Reference Mediums." 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/106047.
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This is a pre-print of an article that is accepted for publication in RUSQ Spring or Summer of 2008.This article considers the teaching role of reference librarians by studying the teachable moment in reference transactions, and usersâ response to that instruction. An empirical study of instruction was conducted in both virtual and traditional reference milieus, examining three services: IM (Instant Messaging), chat, and face-to-face reference. The authors used the same criteria in separate studies of all three to determine if librarians provided analogous levels of instruction and what factors influenced the likelihood of instruction. Methodology employed transcript analysis, observation, and patron surveys. Findings indicated that patrons wanted instruction in their reference transactions, regardless of medium, and librarians provided it. However, instructional techniques used by librarians in virtual reference differ somewhat from those used at the reference desk. The authors conclude that reference transactions, in any medium, represent the patronsâ point-of-need, thereby presenting the ideal teachable moment.
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Van, Zijl Carol Wendy. "A model for service rendering to meet the information needs of South African artists." Diss., 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/17785.
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This dissertation analysed the information needs and information-seeking behaviour of visual artists. An empirical survey was conducted on a sample of the more informationliterate visual artists in South Africa. A model of the information environment of South African visual artists was developed. This model provides a basis for another model which represents the optimal service that should be rendered to meet the needs of this user group. It was found that the general information needs of South African artists are fairly adequately met, but that there are several shortfalls, especially in serving their more complex information needs. The most important problems are the lack of training in the use of information sources and services, inadequate marketing of services and inadequate coverage of South African art. It was also found that greater coordination between service providers is urgently required, especially in the provision of information about South African art.M. (Information Science)
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Masenya, Tlou Maggie. "A framework for preservation of digital resources in academic libraries in South Africa." Thesis, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/27518.
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The aim of the study was to examine the implementation of digital preservation practices in academic libraries in South Africa in the light of the rapid changing information environment. The study looked into the strategies, systems and tools being employed to support digital preservation programmes and the costs associated with the various digital preservation programmes. The study was guided by various digital preservation theories and models,namely Davies’ (2000) Policy, Strategy and Resources (PSR) troika model, Kenney and McGovern’s (2003) three leg stool, Corrado and Moulaison‘s (2014)
preservation triad and the Carnegie Mellon University’s (1990) Digital Preservation Capability Maturity (DPCM) model and Open Archival Information System (OAIS) model by OCLC (2002), underpinned by the survey research design, triangulation of questionnaires and document analysis as data collection methods. Out of 27 questionnaires distributed to academic institutions, 22 (81.5%) were completed.
Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive analysis whilst content analysis was used for qualitative data obtained from document analysis. Findings revealed that academic libraries in South Africa were significantly affected by the changes to the digital environment. Most academic libraries face many challenges that hinder the effective
implementation of digital preservation. The problems include: lack of funding, lack of skills and training and technology obsolescence. The study identified migration, bit preservation, replication and risk management approaches as the most widely implemented preservation strategies to address preservation challenges faced by
academic libraries in South Africa.
Although various preservation systems and tools are being developed to enable description, discovery, delivery and preservation of digital collections, there was expressed lack of awareness about digital preservation standards and preservation support organisations. The study also observed that, in some instances, the academic
institutions were not fully involved in collaborative and partnerships with other institutions.
By collaborating and partnering with other institutions, they would be exposed to new ideas, strategies and tools, and be able to acquire knowledge and skills needed to successfully preserve and manage their digital resources. The findings revealed that the
implementation of policies and strategies, provision of adequate resources, sufficient funding and digital preservation knowledge and skills are some of the major factors influencing digital preservation sustainability in academic libraries. This study, therefore,
recommends that these institutions can address some of the digital preservation challenges if they leverage on these factors. The study also made several recommendations on how digital preservation can be successfully implemented, and it further proposed a framework for preservation of digital resources in academic libraries, mapped to international preservation models and standards.Information Science
D. Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)