Join us for a lively and engaging discussion on the similarities and differences between academic and corporate libraries and their parent organizations. A panel of librarians who have experienced both cultures will share practical tips for working in and with both areas to help us 'cross boundaries'. / Slides from a panel presentation at the Special Libraries Association conference in Vancouver, B.C., in June 2014.

Academic library services have now significantly developed and are applying some knowledge management (KM) principles in the provision of library services. KM is about enhancing the use of organizational knowledge through sound practices of KM and organizational learning. KM practices encompass the capture and/ or acquisition of knowledge, its retention and organization, its dissemination and re-use, and responsiveness to the new knowledge. The focus of this research was on KM principles and practices that may be in place in the Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) library. The objective was to find out how knowledge was identified, captured, organized and retained in order to enhance performance and improve the quality of service in the library. There is uncertainty about whether the use of KM principles and tools could partly solve the library‟s approach to improving its quality of service to its community in the modern information environment. KM has been implemented in commercial and business environments towards operational advantages and financial gains and its survival principles and tools may help the library to improve performance and fulfil its mandate. A mixed methods research methodology encompassing a questionnaire, observation, interviews, and use of institutional documents was used with an action research design for generating new knowledge and understanding of library concerns. The findings of this study indicate that KM concepts were not universally understood at MCNY, and that collaboration of librarians and faculty in creating an educational environment meaningful and relevant for the study programmes offered by the College was essential. The MCNY library practices were not deliberately based on KM but the study established that they were amenable to KM practice. It was making efforts to share know-how so as to reduce duplication of effort, relying on library staff to identify, integrate, acquire, organize internal and external knowledge for the benefit of the whole College. The recommendation was to perform a knowledge inventory. This could help develop appropriate institution-wide policies and practices for proper and well organized methods of integrating work processes, collaborating and sharing (including the efficient use of Web 2.0 platforms), and developing an enabling institutional culture. / Information Science / D.Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)

Academic library services have now significantly developed and are applying some knowledge management (KM) principles in the provision of library services. KM is about enhancing the use of organizational knowledge through sound practices of KM and organizational learning. KM practices encompass the capture and/ or acquisition of knowledge, its retention and organization, its dissemination and re-use, and responsiveness to the new knowledge. The focus of this research was on KM principles and practices that may be in place in the Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) library. The objective was to find out how knowledge was identified, captured, organized and retained in order to enhance performance and improve the quality of service in the library. There is uncertainty about whether the use of KM principles and tools could partly solve the library‟s approach to improving its quality of service to its community in the modern information environment. KM has been implemented in commercial and business environments towards operational advantages and financial gains and its survival principles and tools may help the library to improve performance and fulfil its mandate. A mixed methods research methodology encompassing a questionnaire, observation, interviews, and use of institutional documents was used with an action research design for generating new knowledge and understanding of library concerns. The findings of this study indicate that KM concepts were not universally understood at MCNY, and that collaboration of librarians and faculty in creating an educational environment meaningful and relevant for the study programmes offered by the College was essential. The MCNY library practices were not deliberately based on KM but the study established that they were amenable to KM practice. It was making efforts to share know-how so as to reduce duplication of effort, relying on library staff to identify, integrate, acquire, organize internal and external knowledge for the benefit of the whole College. The recommendation was to perform a knowledge inventory. This could help develop appropriate institution-wide policies and practices for proper and well organized methods of integrating work processes, collaborating and sharing (including the efficient use of Web 2.0 platforms), and developing an enabling institutional culture. / Information Science / D.Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)

La présente étude se propose d'approcher la notion de "réussite" à l'université dans une perspective critique et interdisciplinaire. Pour servir cette ambition, nous avons mobilisé un appareillage conceptuel issu de deux disciplines : les Sciences de l'Information et de la Communication (SIC) et les Sciences de l'Éducation (SED). Les objectifs de notre démarche sont triples, et visent à : ÉVALUER l'influence des pratiques informationnelles des étudiants sur la validation de la première année universitaire ; MESURER l’appropriation de la formation documentaire dispensée par les bibliothécaires auprès des étudiants formés (L1) ; QUESTIONNER, d’une part la relation entre bibliothécaires et enseignants, et d’autre part leurs actions respectives pour l’acquisition des compétences informationnelles chez les étudiants. Enfin, nous nous intéresserons à la représentation de la notion de "réussite" à l'université en interrogeant les trois groupes d'acteurs étudiés (étudiants, enseignants et bibliothécaires). / This study aim to approach the notion of academic "success" to the university in a critical and interdisciplinary perspective. To serve this ambition, we mobilised a conceptual apparatus coming from two french's disciplines: Sciences of Information and of Communication (SIC) and Sciences of Education (SED). The purpose of this strcuture are triple : ASSESS the influence of informational practices of students on the validation of the first academic year; MEASURE the reception of the library-course dispense to the formed students ; QUESTION, on one hand relation between librarians and academics, and on the other hand their respective actions for the acquirement of information competencies by the students. Finally, we will be interested in the representation of academic "success" to the university by questioning the studied actors (students, academics and librarians).

The aim of this study was to investigate the extent of access to and use of library electronic resources and their implications on remote users at the National Open University of Nigeria. Specific objectives were formulated to: find out the different types of electronic resources available in the NOUN Library; investigate academic staffs’ and students’ level of awareness of electronic resources available in the NOUN library; explore the various types of electronic resources used by academic staffs and students of NOUN; find out how academic staffs and students access and use electronic resources in NOUN library; analyze the policies that enable access to and use of electronic resources by academic staffs and students at NOUN; find out the perceptions and attitudes of academic staffs and students toward the electronic resources available in the NOUN library; and identify the challenges associated with access to and use of electronic resources by the academic staffs and students of NOUN. The study adopted a quantitative research approach and survey research method was employed. The study targeted 1,680 population samples of which include 1,513 Students, 140 Academic staffs, and 27 Academic Librarians. Probability (Stratified random and systematic) sampling and nonprobability (purposive) sampling methods were adopted. Two sample frames were used: Students - classified into subgroups (Level) in each selected study centers and Academic staff - classified into subgroups (academic staff/academic librarian). Online (Google form) self-administered closed-ended questionnaire was sent to participants’ email. Data collected were analyzed through Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). This finding revealed that electronic journals and electronic books are readily available in the NOUN library. Academic staff most likely, interact with the library staff or visit the library to be aware of library electronic resources, however, the students struggled to be aware through personal efforts. NOUN library creates awareness through the email and notice boards. The academic staff and students access and use the library electronic resources for various multidimensional purposes, however, there is a low patronage of these electronic resources by academic staff and students as less than 40% of academic staff and students access and use the library electronic resources. Electricity outage, low internet connectivity speed and high cost of access to internet were presented as challenges encountered while accessing and using electronic resources. Recommendations: the library management should develop awareness programmes that is appropriate for an ODL university community through the use of modern communication tools, and emphasy should be on the use of electronic resources in the university curriculum. / Information Science