Research in Library Science is conducted in many areas covering multiple questions, but one thing shared is data collection. Qualitative and quantitative information to support the question at hand are necessary to validate the needs or phenomenon or trends (Wildemuth, 2009). Transaction logs and focus groups are two valuable data collection techniques.
Transaction Logs
Whenever a person logs onto and begins to use a computer in the library, different kinds of information are automatically collected into transaction logs (Jansen, 2006). Sullenger (1997) recommends transaction logs “be examined by librarians to analyze how patrons use the catalog, what features they are using, and to see what areas of searching are problematic” (p. 21). Data can also be collected on “items viewed, sessions, site penetration; time online, users (trace evidence of, not individual information), navigational information” (Nicholas, Huntington, Jamali & Tenopir, 2006, p. 121). These data pieces provide useful information on usage patterns (Das & Turkoglu, 2009).
Transaction logs can be generated in two ways. The first is from the server’s side. These logs include data typically already collected on in-house. Data can also originate client-side using a specifically-written program to collect from the participants’ computers (Wildemuth, 2009). The former is more often used due to the abundance of data and less-costly features. Jansen (2006) describes a three step process to using transaction logs: data collection for a given period of time, preparing the data, and data analysis. He further breaks analysis into three parts: term, query, and session.
A major benefit to using transaction logs is that this is data already collected and waiting to ...
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...groups: Continuities and discontinuities. The Public Opinion Quarterly, 51 (4), 550-566.
Morrison, H. (1997). Information literacy skills: An exploratory focus group study of student perceptions. Research Strategies, 15 (1), 4-17.
Nicholas, D., Huntington, P., Jamali, H. R. & Tenopir, C. (2006). Finding information in (very large) digital libraries: A deep log approach to determining differences in use according to method of access. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 32 (2), 119-126.
Shoaf, E. C. (2003). Using a professional moderator in library focus group research. Colleges & Research Libraries, 64 (2), 124-132.
Sullenger, P. (1997). A serials transaction log analysis. Serials Review, 23 (3), 21-26.
Wildemuth, B. M. (2009). Applications of social research methods to questions in information and library science. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.
Who can resist a book with a chapter titled, "Labia Lumps, Chunky Discharge, and Other Things They Never Taught Me in Library School"? Released this past summer, Revolting Librarians Redux: Radical Librarians Speak Out takes no prisoners as its contributors ponder everything from the backtracking of '60s values by ALA's baby boomers to librarian imagery in erotica. This edited volume is a sequel to a 1972 self-published book titled Revolting Librarians. The original is worth checking out for its historical value alone. The editors of the 2003 volume, Katia Roberto and Jessamyn West gathered essays from ten of the original writers from the 1972 book for this version and it is interesting to see what thirty years has done to these radical librarians.
Sheih, C. S. (2009). A Qualitative Study of the Types and Characteristics of Difficult Patrons in University Libraries. Journal of Library and Information Science Research, 4(1), 99-132. ISSN 1990-9128
Each transaction is stored in a log file that will be useful, in conjunction with the error files, in case one of the processes fails validation to go back and find out which process was to determine the cause of the
Libraries are the creations of scholars to preserve and distribute literature and documents to a wider audience. The push to digitize libraries and media to preserve and distribute it has been important to the overall cause of widespread online databases. These libraries are examples of how our technology can constantly do that digitization while monetizing works to support online traffic. Our advancements in the technological field allow digital media from those libraries to be accessed by cellphones, computers, and tablets at any time, anywhere. The way that this advancement works for us, is that companies can digitize the media and distribute it online, where it can then be downloaded
This library system is utilizing all the technologies and materials available to them to serve the community in the best way. Despite certain social indicators and demographic statistics indicating that the library should not be overly utilized, it is thriving and is heavily in use. There are areas that the library can look to improve based on statistical evidence, such as reaching out to the low income population and the over 55 years age group. This library seems to be meeting numerous needs for a wide range of patrons, and doing it well.
Overview According to Ronald Hagler, the first of the six functions of bibliographic control, or information organization, is to identify the existence of all types of information resources as they are made available. The motive for identifying resources is obvious – one has to know a resource exists for it to be of any value. This is true not only for libraries, but for all information providers. This paper will analyze how Hagler’s function is demonstrated by the St. Charles City-County Library District (http://youranswerplace.org/home), the Einstein Archives Online (http://www.alberteinstein.info/), and the domestic organization website, FlyLady.net (http://www.flylady.net/).
“Guidelines and Considerations for Developing a Public Library Internet Use Policy.” American Library Association. 2000. American Library Association, Office for Intellectual Freedom. Accessed 1 April 2008. http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/statementspols/otherpolicies/guidelinesconsiderations.cfm
Hudak, Tina. (2008). Are Librarians reading teachers, too? Library Media Connection, 26(5). (Hudak, Tina, 2008)
In today’s fast paced technology, search engines have become vastly popular use for people’s daily routines. A search engine is an information retrieval system that allows someone to search the...
Katsirikou,A. and Skiadas,H,C. (ed)(2009) Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries: Theory and Applications. London: World scientific publishing.
A library or information unit must have a dedicated plan on having an organized Collection Development Policy, represents the guideposts of all types of library institutions. Collection development is the process of planning, selecting, acquiring and evaluating the library collections’ convenience to print and electronic collection developments. Thus, it is essential to have a written collection development policy, a statement of general collection building principles with desalinating the purpose and content of a collection in terms of relevance and internal audiences (Clayton and Gorman 2007). Broadly, the international and local libraries have sketched written collection development policies which they are aware of its uses. Recently, the written policies consistently renewed with the rise of digital collections. However, the value of the written collection development plan shakes with the complexity of managing electronic resources, funding and time considerations, criticism on how it written and also its inflexibility. This essay will examine the arguments for having the advantages of the written collection development policy (CDP) and the issues evolve which against the latter.
Jeffrey Pomerantz. (2006). Collaboration as the norm in reference work. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 46(1), 45.
... to the Library and that have generally been underused resources. B. Greater use of the Library's Capitol Hill facilities by scholars for the kind of interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, multimedia, multilingual, and synthetic writing that is important to Congressional deliberation and national policy-making, but inadequately encouraged both by special interest groups and by advocacy-oriented think tanks; and C. Greater use by the general public through programs that stimulate interest, increase knowledge, and encourage more citizens to use the collections on-site and electronically.”The Library employees will add their position as information guides by “helping more people find appropriate materials in a swelling sea of unsorted information” and directing them to services and resources exclusive to the Library of Congress. This requires not only more growth of employees that the Library has formerly had, but also making it easier in new ways more wide-ranging and “systematic use by researchers of the distinctive materials that only the Library of Congress has.” Courses for the common public, such as displays or publications, must display the importance and value of the collections.
It is difficult to overstate the important role that the Internet plays in public libraries. Patrons can use the Internet to find information, access services, and maintain connections with social media, while library staff can use the Internet to access informational resources, compile and maintain library statistics, stay networked with other libraries, and store files on "the cloud" . The Alberta government is working to make high-speed Internet available in all public libraries across the province; as of 2009, they had nearly reached their goal (just 15 of Alberta's 310 municipal public libraries that were not able to get high-speed Internet access due to problems with their infrastructure) (Alberta Municipal Affairs, 2009). This demonstrates that the Internet and public libraries are becoming intrinsically linked, and shows the need for library staff to be aware of how they and their patrons can and cannot use the Internet.
Parsons, Talcott. (1938). The Role of Theory in Social Research. American Sociological Review. 3(1), 13-20.