The main purpose of this research project has been to investigate the need and, consequently, the perceived feasibility of establishing a cooperative manuscript bibliographical information sharing network among six major libraries in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Perceived feasibility is in this case a good indication of actual feasibility. This is because the perceptions studied here are those of experts. Appeal to an authority is a perfectly legitimate way of gathering information and confirming beliefs. The librarians and directors of the manuscript departments of the six libraries are essentially experts in manuscript and library services. Their opinion, therefore, can be considered as a good indication of the actual feasibility. There is another group who can also provide an indication for feasibility; the users of those manuscript departments. The majority of those users are either university professors or graduate students who rely heavily on manuscripts. Librarians and the users of the libraries were the population of this study. The study went further and compared the attitudes of these two groups to determine whether they are in fact similar. Survey method was used to achieve the goal of this research project. The instruments used are interviews, a questionnaire, and review of related literature. The study showed that the manuscript departments hold large collections of more than 98,700 titles in different forms. In regard to the state of automation, four of the departments are using automated systems, and the other two are planning to. As for library cooperation, none of the departments or the libraries are involved or have been involved in any cooperative library network or any sort of formal cooperation. For bibliographic tools, each of the six departments has developed its own cataloging rules, and only one use one of the major subject lists. Moreover, two departments only use one of the major Arabic authority control lists. The majority of the respondents rate all the suggested functions for the network as very important. Furthermore, they think that these functions can be done without a network but that it would be difficult. The majority also strongly agree with all the listed potential benefits of the network. With regard to the potential obstacles that may face the establishment of the network, the majority of the respondents agree or strongly agree that the listed obstacles are significant barriers, except the idea that there is not need for a network. Ninety-eight percent of the respondents think establishing a manuscript bibliographical information sharing network among the libraries of Riyadh at the present time is both desirable and feasible. The national library of Saudi Arabia, King Fahad National Library, topped the list with 37.7% as the preferred leader and organizer of the network. No significant difference was found between the responses of the librarians and the users except on one case which is that of the interlibrary loan.

The main purpose of this study was to measure the performance of academic library information service points and physical support facilities at seven universities in Saudi Arabia. These measurements provide the means to critically analyze the library program and its operations and make specific recommendations for changes or improvements. The study applied three measures developed by Van House et al. (1990): Facilities Use Rate, Services Points Use, and Reference Transactions. The study investigated if any significant differences existed in the use rates of services points and supportive facilities among the seven Saudi university libraries and between two designated groups---large versus small universities. The study used different individual methods to collect the data: (1) interviews with librarians and department heads, (2) review of the literature and the related library documents and reports, and (3) masurement of the information services points and facilities. Based on the performance measurement data obtained, the average percentage use rate of facilities at the Saudi universities ranges from 17% to 72%. For the service points use rate, the average rate of users per employee for the service points' desks ranges from 0.45 to 2.05. For the reference transactions rate, the average rate of transactions per employee for the service points' desks ranges from 0.77 to 7.90. The study found that at least one of the seven libraries has a significantly different average use rate of facilities, a significantly different average user rate per employee of the service points' desks, and a significantly different average transaction rate per employee of the reference points' desks at Saudi university libraries. The study found that large and small Saudi university libraries have significantly different average usage rates of the facilities except copy machines, a significantly different average user rate per employee of the service points' desks, and a significantly different average transaction rate per employee of the reference points' desks at Saudi university libraries.

The aim of this report is to provide an overview of the present state of development of integrated library systems (ILS) at the time of writing and to identify, describe and evaluate significant trends in the industry in relation to their context within the overall development of library services.

Many small and rural hospital libraries lack the resources required to create services which allow the delivery of documents to their customers in electronic format. Such hospitals share common barriers from small staffs to network firewalls to computer support personnel which prevent the implementation of Internet Document Delivery (IDD) systems required for such services. The docMD project explores creating electronic document delivery services for 12 small and rural hospitals using a centralized service center model. Documents requested through DOCLINE, and which are filled through IDD software, are sent to the central site. Documents are converted into PDF format and placed on a web server. An email alert is sent to the customer indicating a documentâ s availability for download. Project libraries are not required to purchase, install, or maintain any computer hardware. No additional hospital library staff is needed. Documents are sent using the web and are passed through network firewalls. This paper provides a project overview, describes the model, and discusses outcomes. The docMD project is funded through the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Greater Midwest Region

This is an updated scan of the Prefatory Matter (Title pages, Table of Contents, Preface by Madras Library Association, Foreword by Sir P.S. Sivaswamy Aiyer, Introduction by Mr. W.C. Berwick Sayers), Chapter 1: The First Law, Chapter 2: The Second Law and Its Struggle, Chapter 3: The Second Law and Its Digvijaya, Chapter 4: The Second Law and Its Implications Pages, Chapter 5: The Third Law, Chapter 6: The Fourth Law, Chapter 7: The Fifth Law, Appendix, and Index, from S.R. Ranganathan's The Five Laws of Library Science, Madras Library Association, 1931. Shiyali Ramamrita Ranganathan (1892-1972) was a pioneer in the field of Library and Information Science. S.R. Ranganathan's The Five Laws of Library Science, the main premise of which is "books are for use," is arguably the most influential work in LIS to date. © Sarada Ranganathan Endowment for Library Science (SRELS). Permission for non-profit use granted by SRELS. To purchase reprints of this work, please visit Ess Ess Publications at http://www.essessreference.com/.

This is a preprint to be published in the Extensions & Corrections to the UDC. The paper explains the basic functions of browsing and searching that need to be supported in relation to analytico-synthetic classifications such as Universal Decimal Classification (UDC), irrespective of any specific, real-life implementation. UDC is an example of a semi-faceted system that can be used, for instance, for both post-coordinate searching and hierarchical/facet browsing. The advantages of using a classification for IR, however, depend on the strength of the GUI, which should provide a user-friendly interface to classification browsing and searching. The power of this interface is in supporting visualisation that will 'convert' what is potentially a user-unfriendly indexing language based on symbols, to a subject presentation that is easy to understand, search and navigate. A summary of the basic functions of searching and browsing a classification that may be provided on a user-friendly interface is given and examples of classification browsing interfaces are provided.

Cultural aspect is an interesting subject to study. In the global changing context, all nations become multicultured. We need to understand that this aspect is one of the factors causing something to work or will not work. There are cultural clashes, differences of norms, values, customs, and so on. Studying these cases of JIBIS & Humanities and Pustaka Bersama, two local library networks working in the same field performed by non-government organizations (NGO), we can make an analogue about the whole description of the cooperation of the Indonesian society. We do not make generalizations but at least we will learn the development process, that cultural aspects influence the system. We can use this own experience to build better networks, in local, national or even international levels. Library networks are built based on the following reasons: information explosion, fast develop-ment of technology and the cost of efficiency. These three reasons are the basic factors. On other case, there are special reasons for the libraries, they are: developing relationship, cost efficiency of their in-frastructure, and developing their professionalism. Based on the research performed by Sulistyo-Basuki, 2002. â Information networks and library co-operation in Indonesia, reports thatâ In IFLA library networks in Indonesia, even its local or national scale, are not sustainable. Although, in the global context, where the information are available every-where, and the explosion of information technology, however, among libraries should build a coopera-tion. The fundamental reason is no single library could fulfill its information to its users needs by itself. The research shows that there are constraints in limitation of librarian behavior and lack of financial support. One of the JIBIS founders, Blasius Sudarsono, at Portal JIBIS dan Humaniora launching, in 26th May 2005, convinced the result, and he added that network activities have the lack of their institu-tion responsibilities. The social phenomenon, which is observed from cultural perspectives, will be understood comprehensively. Library network activities emerged in 1971 when Workshop in Documentation and Information Network System in Indonesia, was held in Bandung. The meeting found that Indonesia needs 4 informa-tion networks. They are in the field of science and technology, agriculture and biology, health and medicine, and social sciences and humanities. But there are several libraries and information networks in Indonesia, in various fields, such as law, agriculture. Unfortunately, only few networks can run continuously in the long period. Though the networks can run, it is limited to the information exchange of collections, the informal meetings be-tween librarian members, etc. Based on the problem above, the paper will be focused on analyzing why individuals who engaged in the networks of JIBIS & Humaniora and Pustaka Bersama could not performed well. With the quali-tative approach, analyzing its cultural aspects. Concerning the data collection, I will use interview method and reviwing the documentation, the cooperation attributes, the websites home page and their symbols. The signification of this paper is to enhance and develop the library network processes in In-donesia to aim their objectives; to introduce new cultural perspective of the network for the library and information science in general. By examining the network problems from multidiscipline approaches which are holistic, we can map their strength and the weaknesses, so we can build a better strategic to develop local and international network in the global change. To understand this paper better, this study uses assumptions. First, the rapport between two indi-viduals or more is based on the similarities on behavior, values, beliefs, and commitment of related individuals. The similarity of basic assumptions on â networkâ facilitates the integration and adaptation of individuals to enter new environment. The idea is supported by cultural and behavioral organiza-tional theory from Tuckman (1965), diffusion process from Rogers (1995: 335). The second, the cul-tural organization influences the cultural individual (corporate culture from Schein in Hampden-Turner, 1990: 13 and Rogers, 1995: 335). The third, the individual behavior is related to the organizational pol-icy, such as financial policy, or other interest. If there are such conflicts, individuals may sustain the network. These assumptions are used as a guide to collect data as social phenomena and used in doing the study stages. Data collected from interviews and observations are interpreted based on the cultural concepts.

This is the last book written by S.R. Ranganathan printed in 1973 (India) based on his experience during the last fifty years. It includes a Foreword to Editition 1 (1942) by Sir John Sargent (Educational Commissioner, Govt. of India). Table of Contents: Part A - Preliminaries, Part B/E - Why of school library, Part F/J - What of school library, Part K/N - How of school library, Part P/R - Present difficulties, Part S/Y - Library techniques, Bibliography, Index. © Sarada Ranganathan Endowment for Library Science (SRELS). Permission for non-profit use granted by SRELS. To purchase reprints of this work, please visit Ess Ess Publications at http://www.essessreference.com/.

Japanese school libraries have had issues and conflicts over their specialists for over 50 years. LIPER-SL sets a new hypothetical model of "The Information Specialist for School". A series of research examined the possibilities of this new professional and identified the gap between the ideal and reality. The present situation was analyzed through a national questionnaire followed by a focus group interview. The missions and functions of "The Information Specialist for School" were defined at the end of this research.

This article identifies a common problem in many academic libraries: users having difficulties finding library items. It suggests that a mapping system may help solve the problem if the difficulties stem from users who do not understand floor structures of the library or classification of the collections. The technology of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is proposed to build the system because of its ability to analyze spatial data of collection locations and dynamically present the analytical results in maps of varied detail. Such a GIS item-locating system could be integrated into current online catalog systems so that users would have search results in both textual display and visual demonstration. The article advocates that libraries take advantages of GIS for its inexpensive development and simple implementation.