Academic literature on the topic 'Liverpool Polytechnic. Library Service'

Purpose Community libraries now constitute a significant proportion of library provision in the UK; however, there is relatively little research on how the transfer to this model has affected those libraries and the wider balance of provision. The purpose of this paper is to broaden the discourse and understanding about the impact of changing libraries to community models. Design/methodology/approach The paper provides a qualitative evaluation of all the libraries transferred to community-managed models within a large city council region in the UK. Structured research visits were made to appraise each library. These are discussed in the context of published literature and data, both specific to the study area and nationally. Findings Transferring the management of libraries to community organisations is often reactive and perceived with negative associations. This study uncovers increases in use and diversification of services following transfer; however, support from the local authority and the previous experience of managing organisations are significant factors. The paper also reveals how the successful transfer of a library to a community organisation led to more being moved out of local authority control, but that the support they receive from the local authority can be inconsistent between them. Originality/value The paper provides a study of community-managed libraries across a large city council area, affording an in-depth understanding of their impact on overall provision over one region. It will be of value to those involved in library management and service provision at both local and strategic levels, including local authorities and community groups considering library transfer.

Elizabeth Mary Moys, known to all her colleagues as Betty, was born on 26 June 1928 at Wickford, Essex. She was brought up in Kent where she spent most of her life when in the UK. She attended Chislehurst County Grammar School then went on to Queen Mary College, London, to read English and took a BA (Hons) degree in 1949. Her first job was in Crayford Branch of Kent County Library Service from 1949–50. After library school in 1950–51 (Northwestern Polytechnic School of Librarianship, where she was one of the leading spirits in starting a School of Librarian-ship Students' Association), Betty became reference librarian at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in 1951.

This Study examines the effects of Training of Academic Staff on employees’ Performance in the Federal Polytechnics in Nigeria. The main objective is to examine the effects of Training of Academic Staff on: employees’ Productivity, Timeliness and Work quality respectively. It is equally hypothesized that there’s no significant effect of Training of Academic Staff on employees’ Productivity, Timeliness and Work quality respectively. A structured, close-ended questionnaire with a 5-point Likert scale was adopted to get data from the respondents. A total of 220 copies of the questionnaire were randomly administered using a stratified random sampling technique across the 7 schools as well as the library unit of the Polytechnic. Ordinary Least Square (O.L.S) method of regression and ANOVA methods of analysis were employed in analyzing the results with the aid of SPSS computer package. Findings revealed that the Training of Academic Staff has a significant effect on employees’ productivity, enhanced timeliness in service delivery and work quality. The study recommends among other issues for the periodic re-training of staff bearing in mind the dynamics of human activities.

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to discuss the impact of performance appraisal on the productivity levels of professional and para-professional librarians in selected academic and research libraries in Ghana, namely, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Building and Road Research Institute, Crop Research Institute and the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and the Kumasi Polytechnic. Design/methodology/approach – Both primary and secondary sources of data were used for the study. The primary data involved the use of a structured questionnaire to 60 respondents, but 50 of them, representing 83.3 per cent, responded. This was supplemented by secondary sources such as records on file, journals, books and Internet sources. Findings – The survey revealed that these institutions practice performance appraisal on an annual basis as a way of promoting team work, reducing grievances, identifying employees’ strengths and weaknesses and their training needs. It was observed that these institutions do not have a common appraisal format for appraising their staff. Furthermore, only the Head Librarians carry out the appraisals instead of the Line Mangers who are always in touch with these employees on a daily basis. Originality/value – The paper will be of significant value to policymakers and administrators in academic and research institutions in the planning and implementation of performance appraisal systems. Challenges facing these institutions in implementing effective performance appraisal have been highlighted and appropriate recommendations have been made to ensure quality service delivery.

Abstract. The level of knowledge of students and lecturers who are still not sufficiently knowledgeable in finding appropriate reference sources in making scientific papers is still happening at the Harapan Bersama Polytechnic. Currently, the number and quality of citation sources for writing a bibliography of a student's scientific work that is produced is about 80% unsuitable which results in not infrequently students and lecturers who still need to increase their knowledge of digital literacy. The proposed community service activity is a workshop activity to increase knowledge and ability in examining library sources as a literature study of scientific papers. In this activity, the reference manager introduction material was given as a tool to find library sources. The method used in this activity is to use the synchronous method through online media. The training provided provides increased knowledge for students and lecturers to better understand and be able to use Mendeley's reference management software as a tool in their search for digital literacy. The results of the evaluation of activities through interviews with participants, it shows that there is an increase in knowledge and a very good response from the training participants and wants the next training to be carried out again.Keywords: Increased Knowledge, Mendeley, Reference Manager, Workshop, Literation DigitalAbstrak. Tingkat pengetahuan mehasiswa dan dosen yang masih belum cukup pengetahuan dalam pencarian sumber referensi yang tepat dalam pembuatan karya tulis ilmiah masih terjadi di Politeknik Harapan Bersama. Saat ini, jumlah dan kualitas sumber sitasi penulisan daftar pustaka sebuah karya ilmiah yang dihasilkan sekiar 80% belum sesuai yang mengakibatkan tidak jarang mahasiswa dan dosen masih perlu meningkatkan pengetahuan tentang literasi digital. Kegiatan pengabdian masyarakat yang diusulkan adalah sebuah kegiatan workshop untuk menambah pengetahuan dan kemampuan dalam menelaah sumber pustaka sebagai studi pustaka karya ilmiah. Pada kegiatan tersebut diberikan mengenai materi pengenalan reference manager sebagai alat untuk mencari sumber pustaka. Metode yang digunakan dalam kegiatan ini adalah menggunakan metode sinkron melalui media online. Pelatihan yang diberikan memberikan peningkatan pengetahuan bagi mahasiswa dan dosen agar lebih memahami dan dapat menggunakan software pengelola referensi Mendeley sebagai alat bantu dalam pencarian literasi digital. Hasil evaluasi kegiatan melalui wawancara dengan peserta menunjukkan adanya peningkatan pengetahuan dan respons yang sangat baik dari peserta diklat dan menginginkan agar workshop selanjutnya dilaksanakan kembali.Kata Kunci: Mendeley, Peningkatan Pengetahuan, Reference Manager, Workshop, Literasi Digital

BackgroundLung cancer kills more people than any other cancer in the UK (5-year survival < 13%). Early diagnosis can save lives. The USA-based National Lung Cancer Screening Trial reported a 20% relative reduction in lung cancer mortality and 6.7% all-cause mortality in low-dose computed tomography (LDCT)-screened subjects.ObjectivesTo (1) analyse LDCT lung cancer screening in a high-risk UK population, determine optimum recruitment, screening, reading and care pathway strategies; and (2) assess the psychological consequences and the health-economic implications of screening.DesignA pilot randomised controlled trial comparing intervention with usual care. A population-based risk questionnaire identified individuals who were at high risk of developing lung cancer (≥ 5% over 5 years).SettingThoracic centres with expertise in lung cancer imaging, respiratory medicine, pathology and surgery: Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital, Merseyside, and Papworth Hospital, Cambridgeshire.ParticipantsIndividuals aged 50–75 years, at high risk of lung cancer, in the primary care trusts adjacent to the centres.InterventionsA thoracic LDCT scan. Follow-up computed tomography (CT) scans as per protocol. Referral to multidisciplinary team clinics was determined by nodule size criteria.Main outcome measuresPopulation-based recruitment based on risk stratification; management of the trial through web-based database; optimal characteristics of CT scan readers (radiologists vs. radiographers); characterisation of CT-detected nodules utilising volumetric analysis; prevalence of lung cancer at baseline; sociodemographic factors affecting participation; psychosocial measures (cancer distress, anxiety, depression, decision satisfaction); and cost-effectiveness modelling.ResultsA total of 247,354 individuals were approached to take part in the trial; 30.7% responded positively to the screening invitation. Recruitment of participants resulted in 2028 in the CT arm and 2027 in the control arm. A total of 1994 participants underwent CT scanning: 42 participants (2.1%) were diagnosed with lung cancer; 36 out of 42 (85.7%) of the screen-detected cancers were identified as stage 1 or 2, and 35 (83.3%) underwent surgical resection as their primary treatment. Lung cancer was more common in the lowest socioeconomic group. Short-term adverse psychosocial consequences were observed in participants who were randomised to the intervention arm and in those who had a major lung abnormality detected, but these differences were modest and temporary. Rollout of screening as a service or design of a full trial would need to address issues of outreach. The health-economic analysis suggests that the intervention could be cost-effective but this needs to be confirmed using data on actual lung cancer mortality.ConclusionsThe UK Lung Cancer Screening (UKLS) pilot was successfully undertaken with 4055 randomised individuals. The data from the UKLS provide evidence that adds to existing data to suggest that lung cancer screening in the UK could potentially be implemented in the 60–75 years age group, selected via the Liverpool Lung Project risk model version 2 and using CT volumetry-based management protocols.Future workThe UKLS data will be pooled with the NELSON (Nederlands Leuvens Longkanker Screenings Onderzoek: Dutch–Belgian Randomised Lung Cancer Screening Trial) and other European Union trials in 2017 which will provide European mortality and cost-effectiveness data. For now, there is a clear need for mortality results from other trials and further research to identify optimal methods of implementation and delivery. Strategies for increasing uptake and providing support for underserved groups will be key to implementation.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN78513845.FundingThis project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full inHealth Technology Assessment; Vol. 20, No. 40. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Background Patients admitted to hospital with a terminal illness and uncertain recovery often receive inconsistent care and do not have the opportunity to die in their preferred place of death. Previous end-of-life care packages, such as the Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient, have sometimes been badly implemented. The AMBER (Assessment; Management; Best practice; Engagement; Recovery uncertain) care bundle was developed to remedy this. It has not been evaluated in a randomised trial, but a definitive trial would face many hurdles. Objective To optimise the design of and determine the feasibility of a pragmatic, multicentre, cluster randomised controlled trial of the AMBER care bundle compared with best standard care. Design A feasibility cluster randomised controlled trial including semistructured interviews with patients and relatives, focus groups with health-care professionals, non-participant observations of multidisciplinary team meetings, a standard care survey, heat maps and case note reviews. Retrospective data were collected from the family or close friends of deceased patients via a bereavement survey. Setting Four general medical wards at district general hospitals in England. Participants There were 65 participants (control, n = 36; intervention, n = 29). There were 24 interviews, four focus groups, 15 non-participant meeting observations, six case note reviews and three heat maps, and 15 of out 23 bereavement, standard care surveys were completed. Intervention The AMBER care bundle is implemented by a nurse facilitator. It includes the development and documentation of a medical plan, consideration of outcomes, resuscitation and escalation status and daily plan revisiting. The AMBER care bundle encourages staff, patients and families to talk openly about their preferences and priorities should the worst happen. Main outcome measures Two ‘candidate’ primary outcomes were selected to be evaluated for a future definitive trial: Integrated Palliative care Outcome Scale patient/family anxiety and communication subscale and ‘howRwe’. The secondary outcome measures were Integrated Palliative care Outcome Scale symptoms, Australian-modified Karnofsky Performance Status scale, EuroQol-5 Dimensions, five-level version, Client Service Receipt Inventory, recruitment rate, intervention fidelity and intervention acceptability. Results Data were collected for 65 patients. This trial was not powered to measure clinical effectiveness, but variance and changes observed in the Integrated Palliative care Outcome Scale subscale indicated that this measure would probably detect differences within a definitive trial. It was feasible to collect data on health, social and informal care service use and on quality of life at two time points. The AMBER care bundle was broadly acceptable to all stakeholders and was delivered as planned. The emphasis on ‘clinical uncertainty’ prompted health-care professional awareness of often-overlooked patients. Reviewing patients’ AMBER care bundle status was integrated into routine practice. Refinements included simplifying the inclusion criteria and improving health-care professional communication training. Improvements to trial procedures included extending the time devoted to recruitment and simplifying consent procedures. There was also a recommendation to reduce data collected from patients and relatives to minimise burden. Limitations The recruitment rate was lower than anticipated. The inclusion criteria for the trial were difficult to interpret. Information sheets and consent procedures were too detailed and lengthy for the target population. Health-care professionals’ enthusiasm and specialty were not considered while picking trial wards. Participant recruitment took place later during hospital admission and the majority of participants were lost to follow-up because they had been discharged. Those who participated may have different characteristics from those who did not. Conclusions This feasibility trial has demonstrated that an evaluation of the AMBER care bundle among an acutely unwell patient population, although technically possible, is not practical or feasible. The intervention requires optimisation. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN36040085. National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Portfolio registration number 32682. Funding This project was funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 23, No. 55. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Dissertação de mestrado em Informação, Comunicação e Novos Media, apresentada à Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Coimbra
No âmbito das bibliotecas do Ensino Superior, o desenvolvimento das tecnologias da informação e comunicação, promoveram novas formas de acesso à informação, gerando um novo paradigma. Hoje é impossível pensar-se em unidades de informação sem as associar à revolução das tecnologias, uma vez que a pesquisa da informação necessita cada vez mais de competências para acompanhar a evolução e a velocidade de actualização. É por esta razão que o serviço de referência tem sido alvo de várias metamorfoses com vista à adequação a esta nova era tecnológica e difusão do conhecimento. Esta mudança de paradigma tem reflexos inquestionáveis no papel destes serviços, cujo serviço tradicional passa a ser igualmente disponibilizado na forma digital. Pretende-se com este estudo traçar um diagnóstico, com recurso a um questionário enviado a todas as bibliotecas do Ensino Superior Público Politécnico em Portugal, acerca das práticas relativas aos serviços de referência, com o objectivo de caracterizar os diferentes cenários existentes e identificar a tipologia de oferta - tradicional, digital ou misto -, e o consequente impacto na comunidade académica. Nesta investigação de carácter exploratório adoptou-se por uma abordagem de natureza quantitativa. Partindo da análise dos inquéritos, pode afirmar-se que uma grande percentagem de bibliotecas dos Politécnicos, disponibilizam um Serviço de Referência Tradicional e que, só um pequeno número permite o acesso ao Serviço de Referência Digital. Constata-se ainda que, noutras bibliotecas, há emergência de Serviços de Referência Digital e diagnosticou-se a existência de serviços sem regras de funcionamento, dificuldades relativas ao espaço físico e recurso humanos. Com base nos resultados obtidos pode, ainda, afirmar-se que a tendência dos serviços de referência tradicionais é para a sua disponibilização ’on-line’. Os múltiplos desafios com que são confrontados os serviços de referência das bibliotecas dos Institutos Politécnicos, obrigam a uma visão estratégica para que a sua prestação atinja um nível de excelência, tendo como objectivo rentabilizar o investimento para que este se torne um meio de acesso à informação rápido, eficaz, e tenha impacto significativo na qualidade do ensino e da investigação promovida pela instituição.
In the scope of Higher Education, a new paradigm has been generated, due to the development of information and communication technologies, which promoted new ways of information access. Today it is impossible to think about information units without relating them to the technological revolution, because information research needs more and more skills to keep up with evolution and updating speed. That is why the reference service has been subjected to several metamorphoses aiming for the adequacy of this knowledge diffusion and technological era. This shift of paradigm brings unquestionable consequences to the provided services, in which the traditional service is also digitally available. A questionnaire about reference services practices, characterizing different existing scenarios and identifying types of service – traditional, digital or both – and impact in the academic community, in order to outline a diagnosis will be sent to all Portuguese Polytechnic Public Higher Education libraries. In this exploratory type investigation a quantitative approach has been adopted. From the enquiries analysis, we can say that a great percentage of Polytechnics libraries provide a Traditional Reference Service, and that just a small number allows Digital Reference Service access. Other libraries have emergent adoption of Digital Reference Services and services with no functioning rules, and physical space and human resources restraints have been diagnosed. Upon the results we can say that traditional reference services are moving towards providing on-line services. Multiple challenges confronting Polytechnic Institutes libraries reference services force a strategic vision so that a level of excellence is attained, the main goal being making profit of the investment, so that this may become a quick and effective information access and with significant impact in teaching and investigation quality provided by the institution.