Library and Information Research static repository http://oaiscotland.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/gateway/cgi-bin/gateway.cgi/hairst.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/repositories/liinre1.xml 2.0 oaiscotland@cdlr.strath.ac.uk 2006-01-10 no YYYY-MM-DD oai_dc http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc.xsd http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc/ oai:liinre0001 2006-01-10 An analysis of patient information leaflets supplied with medicines sold by pharmacists in the United Kingdom Cheryl Twomey Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2001 pdf eng The primary aim of this exploratory study was to analyse the design factors contributing to the reading ease and comprehension of medicinal information leaflets. Good practice guidelines on general typography and layout were chosen from the literature and compared with European Commission guidelines on preparing package leaflets. The suitability of the guidelines for evaluating package inserts was investigated using leaflets accompanying thirteen different medicines available from pharmacies. With minor revision, the design recommendations were appropriate for developing over the counter medicinal leaflets. There was general agreement that simplicity is the key to good information design. It was concluded that the design of readable medicinal package inserts is a complex, process. Consumer participation is essential and advice from a professional designer highly desirable. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article80a.pdf oai:liinre0002 2006-01-10 Exam papers on-demand Sally Rumsey and Jon Maslin Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2001 pdf eng The Exam Papers On-demand Project comprised 1) research into the feasibility of electronic provision of University of Surrey past exam papers and 2) the subsequent development of a scalable and sustainable system for allowing Internet access to past exam papers by members of the University. Although this has been achieved at other institutions, the solution at the University of Surrey is believed to be innovative in a number of ways. The achievements include the compliance with the Dublin Core metadata standard and the design of a generic system that could be used in the future for additional learning and teaching http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article80b.pdf oai:liinre0003 2006-01-10 Comparing ourselves: using benchmarking techniques to measure performance between academic libraries. Report of the LIRG seminar, "The effective academic library" held in June 2001. Liz Hart Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2001 pdf eng None provided http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article80c.pdf oai:liinre0004 2006-01-10 Volunteers - a way of encouraging active community participation? Noeleen Cookman Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2001 pdf eng In 1999 The Library Association commissioned David Haynes Associates and Information Management Associates to investigate the extent of the use of volunteers in UK public libraries. The research also examined the roles and potential roles for volunteers, current management practice and policy. The research concluded with draft good practice guidelines on the use and management of volunteers for local authorities. This article reports on one aspect of the research findings, notably looking at how public library authorities can work with, and engage volunteers, which in turn can contribute to their overall policy of social inclusion and increased community engagement in the local delivery of services. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article81a.pdf oai:liinre0005 2006-01-10 Funding of development projects by Learning and Teaching Support Network - Centre for Information and Computer Sciences Alan Brine Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2001 pdf eng The Learning and Teaching Support Network was established at the beginning of the year 2000 by the higher education funding bodies. It is intended to provide an integrated network of subject centres to enhance learning and teaching activity in UK higher education. The subject centre responsible for Information and Computer Sciences is responsible for promoting quality information, resources and expertise in computing and library and information science. The LTSN - ICS is addressing its strategic aims by creating networks and establishing contacts within the discipline. The Centre has made available a development fund to support small academic projects in teaching and learning from both information and computer sciences. The successful projects are described here, as is the detailed refereeing process that was undertaken to determine the final destination for the development fund money. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article81b.pdf oai:liinre0006 2006-01-10 The impact of libraries on learning, teaching and research. Report of the LIRG seminar held in October 2001. Katherine Everest and Philip Payne Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2001 pdf eng None provided. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article81c.pdf oai:liinre0007 2006-01-10 Libraries and e-learning: be inspired by INSPIRAL Sarah Currier Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2002 pdf eng In 2001, the JISC-funded study INSPIRAL (INveStigating Portals of Information Resources And Learning) examined the non-technical, institutional issues involved in linking digital library resources and services with VLEs in UK HE. The findings of INSPIRAL include the stakeholder communities' vision for the future, potential barriers to implementation, and factors in support of successful linkage. Four UK HE case studies provide preliminary exemplars of good practice. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article82a.pdf oai:liinre0008 2006-01-10 Measure for measure: using statistics to monitor service take-up of the University of Leicester Library's Distance Learning Unit Lou McGill Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2002 pdf eng The new Distance Learning Unit at the University of Leicester Library needed to evaluate and measure take-up of services in order to secure funding beyond the initial three-year funding period. The Unit established a comprehensive procedure for recording transactions which included both manual and computer generated data. This data was presented in several different ways to different groups within the University. Statistics were collected to aid library management, provide information to academic departments and for broader University management. The quantitative data revealed a significant growth in all service areas and qualitative feedback has been very positive. Members of the team have experienced several positive outcomes as a result of collecting this information and are highly committed to this time consuming task. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article82b.pdf oai:liinre0009 2006-01-10 A catalogue quality audit tool Ann Chapman and Owen Massey Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2002 pdf eng The current need for performance measurement and quality targets for services to users requires suitable performance indicators for libraries to use. This paper looks at the self-assessment audit tool for catalogue quality developed by UKOLN in collaboration with Essex libraries. For the tool a checklist of errors was drawn up, which can then be used to assess the quality of records within a catalogue using a sample of library stock. The tool can be used to assess the quality of catalogue records for monographs and non-book materials (but not serials), for complete collections or parts of collections and for records created at different periods. This paper describes the tool and the process of making the assessment and reports on the results of the pilot study carried out at the University of Bath Library in 2000. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article82c.pdf oai:liinre0010 2006-01-10 Publish and be read? A review of usage of Loughborough University Library publications Ruth Stubbings, Paul Reynolds and Frank Parry Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2002 pdf eng In 2000 Loughborough University Library reviewed its publications and redesigned their look, feel and content. The following year the Library asked its customers for feedback on the new publications and its web pages. This article describes the development of the library publications, the survey of customer attitudes and outlines future plans. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article82d.pdf oai:liinre0011 2006-01-10 LIS salaries: cause for concern? Paula Younger Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2002 pdf eng Information from a range of sources was collated to examine salary levels in a variety of advertised LIS posts over a two-month period. Sectors and geographical locations were compared, and the resulting data put into context by use of 'average house price' data for the geographical regions examined. Briefly, factors such as the fact that LIS tends to be a female dominated profession and underemployment are examined. The role of the membership body is also examined in helping to obtain improved levels of remuneration. The effect of chartership status on the pay levels in the advertisements in the sample is also discussed. Some practical suggestions are given as to how CILIP might promote the profession, thereby perhaps raising the salary levels for its members. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article82e.pdf oai:liinre0012 2006-01-10 So what? The power of action centred research to change perceptions Grace Kempster Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2002 pdf eng None provided. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article83c.pdf oai:liinre0013 2006-01-10 LIS researchers and practitioners: creating a research culture Sarah McNicol Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2002 pdf eng The LIS research landscape: a review and prognosis, was a short research project initiated in response to a request from the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP). The overall aim of the project was to review LIS domain research over the past five years (1997-2002) and to make a prognosis for research over the next three years (2002-2005). This exercise identified a number of issues of concern to those involved in research in the LIS domain. One of the most interesting recurring themes to emerge was the need to ensure that research is disseminated effectively within and beyond the LIS domain and to provide mechanisms to allow findings to feed into practice. This article describes the issues surrounding this strand of the review. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article83d.pdf oai:liinre0014 2006-01-10 The Employment Market for Library and Information Management Workers in Ireland John Cullen Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2002 pdf eng Research on the employment market for library and information management work in Ireland analysed 301 advertisements / job notices for 323 positions over a 12-month period (April 2001 - March 2002). This article summarises some of the main findings of this project. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article83a.pdf oai:liinre0015 2006-01-10 Selling the JUBILEE Project: issues arising from a methodology Pat Gannon-Leary, Linda Banwell and Sue Childs Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2002 pdf eng This article, inspired by JUBILEE project fieldwork, is influenced by van Leeuwen and Leeuw's work on the growing negative attitude towards market research. While the JUBILEE team, as academic researchers, were not making a sales pitch, they were trying to sell the project to putative participants. Issues discussed include length - and degree of difficulty - of questionnaire; how to sell a questionnaire; and how to identify key prospects for interviews and focus groups. Through the experiences gained, the JUBILEE researchers were able to identify key points of good fieldwork practice in relation to the issues discussed. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article83b.pdf oai:liinre0016 2006-01-10 Use of book borrowing statistics as a means to establish library use by pre-registration nursing students: a case study at the University of Northumbria Pam Bailey, Chris Myers and Graham Walton Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2002 pdf eng This paper examines the book borrowing by pre-registration students at the University of Northumbria over a three-year period. Nursing education was transferred into higher education in the early 1990s resulting in large numbers of extra students in many higher education institutions. Little work has been done to establish the impact this move has had in library and information services. This work analyses book borrowing by two nursing pre-registration courses from three perspectives: quantity of books borrowed, book borrowing dispersed over an academic year and the subject material borrowed. Analysis of borrowing is completed using the TALIS Library software. The findings of this study are related to some of the major issues facing those providing library and information services to health students http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article83e.pdf oai:liinre0017 2006-01-10 The Cedars Project Maggie Jones Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2002 pdf eng Digital Preservation has become such a pressing issue for libraries world-wide that it is easy to forget what an unknown quantity it was when the Cedars project began in 1998. The Final Report from the RLG/CPA Task Force on Digital Archiving was released in 1996 and this provided a catalyst for further action within the U.K. The Cedars Project was initially funded for three years as part of the final phase of the UK eLib project. An additional year was subsequently funded to enable consolidation and wider dissemination of its findings. The Cedars project made a significant contribution to digital preservation and was able to forge good working relationships with colleagues working in related areas. It delivered both heightened awareness of digital preservation as a critical strategic issue at the broad level, as well as some specific deliverables designed to provide practical support at the operational level. Now that the Cedars project has ended, the primary responsibility within the UK for ensuring the momentum is not lost will rest with the recently formed Digital Preservation Coalition. Significant developments overseas will also feed into the global digital preservation agenda. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article84a.pdf oai:liinre0018 2006-01-10 The Stanford Archival Repository Project: preserving our digital past Brian F. Cooper, Arturo Crespo and Hector Garcia-Molina Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2002 pdf eng The Stanford Archival Repository Project aims to build a robust archiving system that can protect digital objects from failures over very long time spans. Objects are replicated among cooperating digital archives, so that if any archive fails its objects survive. We have designed an architecture for digital archives, and developed techniques for efficiently replicating objects to remote sites. We have also built simulation software that allows an archivist to design the most effective archiving system possible despite limited resources. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article84b.pdf oai:liinre0019 2006-01-10 Digital preservation at the British Library Deborah Woodyard Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2002 pdf eng Ensuring the comprehensive coverage, recording and preservation of the UK national published output is one of the British Library's key responsibilities. A significant proportion of the Library's cultural heritage collections will be in digital formats and require long term access, so the Library has to be at the forefront of national and international efforts to develop digital preservation. The Library is addressing digital preservation by establishing policy, negotiating and legally obtaining the rights to preserve and provide access digital publications. It is participating in research and test-bed projects, and working collaboratively in research and distributed archiving with other national and international organisations with similar interests. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article84c.pdf oai:liinre0020 2006-01-10 The National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program (NDIIPP) and its Implications for a Research Agenda for Digital Preservation Laura E. Campbell Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2002 pdf eng Legislation enacted by the U.S. Congress in December 2000 allocates funding to the Library of Congress to lead the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program (NDIIPP). The collaborative initiative is focused on materials created primarily in digital form for which there are no analogue representations and which users experience as digital products, sometimes known as "born digital". The investigators have consulted with numerous parties in public, private and not-for profit entities and have defined the "infrastructure" as having two major components: a preservation network of individuals and a technical architecture that provides coherence to localized efforts to archive digital works but is able to accommodate change as technologies advance and organizational needs evolve. This article describes the progress of the initiative and its implications for near and long term research. A striking feature of the research is the integration of technology and organization. The program emphasizes collaboration among a wide range of partners, looking toward solutions that can accommodate multiple and disparate requirements, and communication and outreach to many communities and the public. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article84d.pdf oai:liinre0021 2006-01-10 Libraries in the digital world: Library projects in the European Commission's Information Society Technologies (IST) Programme Rosalind Johnson Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2002 pdf eng None provided. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article84e.pdf oai:liinre0022 2006-01-10 WILIP make a difference? Practitioner perspectives of the challenges facing libraries and information services Sue Howley and Stuart Ede Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2003 pdf eng Resource commissioned the Wider Information and Library Issues Project (WILIP) to discover what challenges are facing the library and information domain, what needs to be done to tackle them, and what role Resource should take in helping to develop and promote strategies for action. In the initial consultation phase of WILIP practitioners identified a number of generic themes. Improved access for users was the primary goal with better advocacy, more effective funding - especially to sustain initiatives - workforce development and building a strategic framework as the key means of achieving it. Many respondents believe better focused, very practical research is essential to provide a coherent body of evidence to support the case for developing libraries and information services as a major component of the Knowledge Society. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article85a.pdf oai:liinre0023 2006-01-10 Librarians On Call: an instant messaging enquiry service for Open University distance learners Georgina Payne and Michelle Perrott Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2003 pdf eng From March 4 - May 31 2002, The Open University Library piloted a new, instant messaging enquiry service for use by its distance learners, called Librarians On Call. The service enabled OU distance learners to remain online using electronic library resources, whilst also obtaining instant help from a librarian, without the need to disconnect from the internet to use the telephone. Student reaction to the service was overwhelmingly positive, and as a result the Open University has decided to continue the Librarians On Call service. Exit surveys conducted with students indicated students preferred the Librarians On Call service to both email and the telephone, and that they found the service both beneficial and easy to use. The article details the results of the pilot, and also discusses some of the practical issues encountered whilst setting up the service, such as software selection and staffing. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article85b.pdf oai:liinre0024 2006-01-10 Do libraries aid learning? Approaches and methods for measuring impact. A report of the LIRG/SCONUL seminar, 9-10 December 2002, Scarborough Biddy Fisher Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2003 pdf eng None Provided. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article85c.pdf oai:liinre0025 2006-01-10 Consultation and involvement in the Library of Birmingham Clare Nankivell Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2003 pdf eng This paper outlines the role of consultation in the development of a new city centre library. The initial section focuses on the planning behind Birmingham City Council's project to replace its existing Central Library with a new Library of Birmingham on the other side of the city centre. The paper then goes on to discuss the role of public consultation in the early stages of this project, outlining the purposes, constraints, methods used, early findings and the longer-term ideas, questions and potential. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article85d.pdf oai:liinre0026 2006-01-10 Cyberporn and moral panic: an evaluation of press reactions to pornography on the internet. Anne Littlewood Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2003 pdf eng A summary of the MA Dissertation which won the 2002 Library and Information Research Group Student Prize. The aim of the Dissertation was to find out if there had been a moral panic in the British press over Internet content. The paper briefly looks at the background to the Study. The term "moral panic" is defined in terms of Stanley Cohen's (1972) model and put into context. The Literature Review looks at whether there has been a moral panic over Internet content in the USA, and at the situation in Britain. The legal and regulatory context is explored. The methodology of the Study is then discussed, considering which media were chosen and why, the timescale of the Study and how the data was collected and analysed. The limitations of the methodology are reviewed. The results are then presented, with an explanation of how they coincide with Cohen's model. The Study concludes that there has been a moral panic over Internet content, which began in the latter half of 1995. Options for future study into this area are then offered. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article86a.pdf oai:liinre0027 2006-01-10 The information needs of informal carers: An analysis of the use of the Micro - Moment Time Line Interview Frank Odhiambo, Janet Harrison and Mark Hepworth Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2003 pdf eng Informal carers and the contribution that they make in caring for people in the community is now recognised by government. The publication of the National Strategy for Carers attests to this. This paper presents the findings of a study into informal carers in Leicestershire, commissioned by Leicestershire Social Services Department. Specifically, the paper focuses on the use of the Sense-Making approach to study the informal carers' information needs. Sense-Making theory is explained and a discussion of the development and administration of the micro-timeline interview is given. Sample data derived form the interviews are reviewed followed by a discussion of the acceptability and appropriateness of the Sense-Making method in the context of understanding informal carers' information needs. The paper concludes that the Sense making methodology is an appropriate technique to use with this population . http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article86b.pdf oai:liinre0028 2006-01-10 The use of electronic information services by students at Glasgow Caledonian University: background to the project and introductory focus groups John Crawford Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2003 pdf eng This paper reports on the first stage of a study on the usage of electronic information services (EIS) by staff and students at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) and Leeds Metropolitan University (LMU). The study used by qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The questionnaires used at GCU were modeled on those developed at LMU. The project aimed to monitor off-campus usage of EIS, the use of passworded databases, and the freely available internet. The volume of electronic citations in students' course work and the possibility of developing routine performance indicators were also examined. Focus Groups were conducted with both staff and students between November 2001 and March 2002. These suggested, inter alia, that paramedics are the heaviest users of EIS and that paramedicine is the subject area where EIS are most integrated into the curriculum. Attitudes to the internet are extremely varied. Mode of attendance and workplace usage are important factors. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article86c.pdf oai:liinre0029 2006-01-10 The Plagiarism Advisory Service Fiona Duggan Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2003 pdf eng The issue of plagiarism in education has existed for many years, however, advances in technology resulting in easy access to a multitude of information sources has reduced the effort required to incorporate the work of others into an essay or report. A Plagiarism Advisory Service has been established to provide advice and guidance on all aspects of plagiarism prevention and detection. This article presents the background to the Advisory Service and the associated electronic Plagiarism Detection Service. The nature and operation of the detection software is such that it should always be viewed as an additional element of any plagiarism prevention strategy. Future plans for the Advisory Service include the development of tools aimed at improving students referencing and citation practice and encouraging academics to audit their own assessment practice. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article86d.pdf oai:liinre0030 2006-01-10 Ask Live! UK public libraries and virtual collaboration Linda Berube Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2003 pdf eng Ask A Librarian, the UK public library digital reference service, has been piloting LSSI's Virtual Reference Toolkit. The pilot, managed by Ask administrator Co-East, went live to public users in May 2003 and will continue through September 2003. The pilot objectives include not only an evaluation of the software and support offered by LSSI, but also the eventual integration of the chat component with the main web-form service, and the implications for uptake and sustainability. This article combines a report of the largely positive initial findings of the pilot with an overview of digital reference service and UK public libraries. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article86e.pdf oai:liinre0031 2006-01-10 An evaluation of the development of the People's Network in the North East. Pat Gannon-Leary, Linda Banwell and Sandra Parker Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2003 pdf eng This research was conducted in response to a brief from NEMLAC requesting a review of the development of the People's Network in the North East region's public libraries with a view to the preparation of an Action Plan. The methodology involved interviews with key contacts in each of the 12 authorities in the North East, questionnaires distributed to users of the PN and brief interviews with customers using the PN in libraries within each authority. An Expert Day was held to which PN managers from the 12 authorities were invited to discuss and contribute to the research findings. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article87_gannon.pdf oai:liinre0032 2006-01-10 Performance Indicators and Standards for Polish Research Libraries Abstract: The article discusses proposed standards for Polish research libraries evaluation. At the beginning, the authors present the situation of research libraries in Poland. They write Lidia Derfert-Wolf, Ewa Dobrzyñska-Lankosz, Wanda Dziadkiewicz, Miroslaw Górny, Elzbieta Górska, Marek M. Górski, Artur Jazdon, Anna Sokolowska-Gogut and Teresa Wildhardt Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2003 pdf eng http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article87_derfert.pdf oai:liinre0033 2006-01-10 Benchmarking user satisfaction in academic libraries - a case study. Sebastian Mundt Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2003 pdf eng Customer satisfaction and service quality have so far been evaluated mostly from a local perspective although the quality element has been firmly established in academic library management for at least a decade. Critics of inter-institutional comparisons often object that different preconditions are not considered adequately. Examples from a joint user satisfaction survey conducted by 15 German university libraries in 2001 suggest that comparative data are a suitable means to identify cases of "best practice" and can effectively initialize processes of customer-focussed improvement. Furthermore, if compared with corresponding statistical data or performance measures, satisfaction ratings can reveal possible structural strengths and deficits relative to other libraries. On the other hand, follow-up telephone interviews with participating libraries showed that the survey results substantially challenged the institutions' internal communication and public relations organisation, and underlined that even in a well-developed culture of assessment the need for professional mediation and coordination of comparative analyses may not be underestimated. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article87_mundt.pdf oai:liinre0034 2006-01-10 Evaluating electronic information services: a toolkit for practitioners. Stella Thebridge Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2003 pdf eng As the eVALUEd project reaches the end of its research phase, this article seeks to inform practitioners about the development of the online toolkit which will provide help with the evaluation of Electronic Information Services (EIS). The background to the project and research results are described in order to set in context the development of the toolkit and its content. While the project stems from the Higher Education sector, it is hoped that many of the tools will be transferable to other sectors. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/article87_thebridge.pdf oai:liinre0035 2006-01-10 Why do we need research? Bob McKee Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2004 pdf eng None provided. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/88_mcKee.pdf oai:liinre0036 2006-01-10 Change in store? An investigation into the impact of the book superstore environment on use, perceptions and expectations of the public library as a space, place and experience Helen Cartwright Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2004 pdf eng The book superstore is promoted not just as a place to buy books but also as a community resource in which to read, learn and socialise: traits that have in combination traditionally been the preserve of the public library. This study investigates the impact of the bookstore environment on public library space. The attitudes and behaviours of library and bookstore users were examined through focus group interviews and a self-completed questionnaire. Clear areas of overlap in the functions of the two sites were found, as was evidence of age and income-related splits in use and perception of bookstores and libraries. Results suggest attention should be paid to the beliefs and behaviours of young people and middle-income earners (the groups most noticeably increasing their use of the bookstore) and to the desired balance of education and recreation in the image and nature of the public library. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/88_cartwright.pdf oai:liinre0037 2006-01-10 Scottish Academic Periodicals Implementing an Effective Networked Service (SAPIENS) project Jake Wallis Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2004 pdf eng This article describes the aims and continuing progress of the Scottish Academic Periodicals Implementing an Effective Networked Service (SAPIENS) project which has been running at the University of Strathclyde's Centre for Digital Library Research since September 2001. Initially funded for two years, the project has been extended until October 2004. The rationale behind SAPIENS is the concern that small Scottish publishers, operating on limited budgets, are in danger of finding themselves marginalised in the modern information environment. The project's primary objectives are to explore the viability of, and launch, an electronic publishing service to assist small-scale Scottish publishers of academic and cultural periodicals to publish online. It has achieved these aims by implementing a demonstration service which is gradually moving into an operational mode, delivering current journals. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/88_wallis.pdf oai:liinre0038 2006-01-10 Practitioner research in libraries: a cross-sectoral comparison Sarah McNicol Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2004 pdf eng http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/88_mcnicol.pdf oai:liinre0039 2006-01-10 Routes to knowledge Sue Howley Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2004 pdf eng The Wider Information and Library Issues Project (WILIP) has now reported and is being followed-up. Many of the recommended actions will be implemented via the next, strategic stage -"Routes to Knowledge"- which seeks to re-position libraries in the Knowledge Society and develop capacity so their potential can be realised. Routes to Knowledge will engage with the library and information world to produce an Action Plan by March 2005. Actions will fall under headings such as user need, strategic framework, advocacy, network development, access, funding, workforce, information literacy and knowledge management. The relevance of these activities to research (and vice-versa) is discussed. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/88_howley.pdf oai:liinre0040 2006-01-10 Assessing library web page usability: how benchmarking can help Sue White Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals: Library and Information Research Group 2004 pdf eng The Wider Information and Library Issues Project (WILIP) has now reported and is being followed-up. Many of the recommended actions will be implemented via the next, strategic stage -"Routes to Knowledge"- which seeks to re-position libraries in the Knowledge Society and develop capacity so their potential can be realised. Routes to Knowledge will engage with the library and information world to produce an Action Plan by March 2005. Actions will fall under headings such as user need, strategic framework, advocacy, network development, access, funding, workforce, information literacy and knowledge management. The relevance of these activities to research (and vice-versa) is discussed. http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/pdf/88_white.pdf