The aim of this thesis is to examine how library employees view and work with UX or User Experience. It also examines how they view library users, the library and their own professional roles and how these views are connected with the concepts of documentality, legitimacy and identity. The concept of power is also used. The study was carried out thorough a series of ten semi-structured qualitative interviews with employees at Karolinska Institutet University Library and Linköping University Library and is based on a social constructivist perspective. The results show that UX is viewed as a mindset where one tries to look at the library from the users’ perspectives and adapt the library after their needs. This was seen as a new perspective where the library aims to stand in the users’ shoes. Through the use of methods like interviews, observations and usability tests the informants try to understand their users and their needs. However, there was a strong emphasis on balancing the users’ wishes with the aims and conditions of the library which indicate a strong internal legitimacy. It also shows that UX does not indicate a loss of power in the informants’ minds. The study shows that an emphasis on the users’ perspective can also be linked to the core of librarianship further strengthening the internal legitimacy. The results also show that arguments can be made for the importance of both constitutive and performative documentality in academic libraries today. Among the informants there was a strong emphasis on a communicatively oriented professional identity with its focus om dialogue and cooperation with library users. In conclusion, the study shows that UX can be viewed as a way for academic libraries to cope with the many changes the last decades have brought and continue to be relevant in years to come. This is a two years master’s thesis in Library and Information Science.

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the patterns of library usage of student teachers and lecturers, the factors influencing their usage behaviour and the methods used by lecturers to promote use. A case study was conducted at Tonota College of Education in Botswana. Questioning data collection methods were used. A total of 172 student teachers and 84 lecturers were selected by means of stratified random sampling. The findings revealed that both student teachers and lecturers made frequent use of the library. Borrowing for curriculum-related use constituted more than half of the reasons why student teachers and lecturers used the library. Most of the lecturers indicated that they adopted topic assignments as a method of motivating students to make use of the library. This was confirmed by the majority of student teachers. Most student teachers perceived the College Library as contributing to their educational success. / M. A (Information Science) / Information Science

In this study, a computer simulation model for library CD-ROM LAN systems was created. Using this model, the system optimization problems were examined. The simulation model imitated the process of the actual decision variables changing their values and generated the corresponding results. Under a certain system environment, if the values of decision variables are changing, the system performances are getting changed also. This study investigated these relationships with the created model. The system users' interarrival time, service time, and other relevant data were collected on randomly selected days in a university library. For data collection, both of the observation and the system automatic metering software were used. According to the collected data, a discrete events simulation model was created with GPSS/H. The simulation model was proven valid and accurate by a pilot test and by the calculation with queuing theory. Statistical tests were used for data comparison and analysis. In addition, animation technique was used to show the simulation process by using Proof Animation. By this technique, the simulation process was monitored on the screen.

Introduction. The aim of this thesis is to investigate problems that users face when using a library discovery service, and determine which problems can be solved by UX design and which problems must be solved by information literacy teaching. A second aim is to examine how UX specialists and user instruction specialists cooperate and how these two specialties are shaped by each other and by the discovery service. Method. User problems were identified by analyzing documented reference questions from the library support chat. A survey based on the user problems was sent to UX specialists and user instruction specialists. The survey was followed by a focus group interview with the same participants. Survey data and transcripts of the focus group interview formed the data for analysis. Analysis. Qualitative analyses were carried out on the data. Theories on organizational structure and professional specialization formed the basis for analysis. Results. The results imply that UX design can be used to solve problems related to wayfinding and problems that can be solved by providing short on-screen instructions, while information literacy teaching can be used to solve problems that require a wide set of information literacy skills. Conclusion. Users’ successful use of the library discovery service requires information literacy teaching as well as continuous UX assessment and design. In the studied organization, UX specialists and user instruction specialists have found ways to cooperate in providing users with high quality services. For UX to be successful, a ”UX mindset” must be employed by all members of the organization. This is a two years master’s thesis in Library and Information Science.

Text in English / The study sought to assess the quality of library services by investigating the gaps between various service quality variables using the LibQUAL, SERVQUAL and SERVPERF models. The pragmatic paradigm formed the basis of this study while the mixed methods approach was adopted. The convergent parallel mixed methods design where both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods and data were integrated was adopted. Using the side-by-side comparison style, both sets of data were separately analysed and presented. The results were then compared to establish if they confirm or disconfirm each other. Questionnaires were administered to 94 users of the library. To calculate the level of service quality, the study measured the service adequacy gap (SAG), service superiority gap (SSG), zone of tolerance (ZoT), and D-M scores. Followup focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted to validate, supplement and further explore the issues that arose from data collected using the questionnaires. The findings revealed a gap between the users’ expectations and perceptions of service quality and that library services were not meeting users’ expectations. The users’ expectations exceeded their perceptions since all service quality scores (SAG, SSG, ZoT and D-M scores) were either low or negative. Generally, the library performed well in the dimensions that touch on human aspects of the library but did poorly in the aspects that touch on information collections, library space and equipment. There were no significant differences between the protocols, with the overall gaps between perceptions and desires being all negative. The findings of the FGDs confirmed those of the questionnaires. The study recommended that the Court should allocate resources in a way that ensures human aspects of the library remain at high levels of service quality, while the shortcomings on aspects of information control, library space and equipment addressed. However, while addressing the physical space aspects, the library should bear in mind that users did not rate them as important for their purposes. This means that the library will need to invest in electronic content that can be accessed remotely by users. In view of the findings, the study concluded by developing a service quality framework on quality improvement and its sustenance at the library and the Court at large. / Information Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)

This study evaluates local citation analysis in comparison to interlibrary loan records and usage statistics as indicators for collection evaluation and development purposes in a special library setting as evidenced through a case study at the Environmental Protection Agency’s Main Library in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. More specifically, it examines how data gathered from these three tools compare as predictors for future trends in use of journals and as tools for developing parameters and guidelines for anticipatory collection development decisions in a scientific research library. Ultimately, citation analysis is the most successful in predicting the following year’s usage.

This study investigated the use and effectiveness of the East Africana Collection in the provision of information and resource for teaching and research at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The East Africana Collection is mainly used as a source of obtaining information by students, lecturers and researchers in and off campus. The Collection's goal is to meet user needs and make available valuable materials and services for the purpose of supporting the learning, teaching and research needs of the University of Dar es Salaam community. Special collections in academic libraries especially in the so-called Third World countries have been suffering from financial constraints. The reduced government budget and the economic problems, have forced some special collections to operate ineffectively without any new incoming materials to supplement the old ones. The East Africana Collection of the University of Dar es Salaam Library which operates as a defacto national research collection in the country has also been affected by the government budget cut. In order to find out the use and effectiveness of the East Africana Collection in the provision of information and resource for teaching and research at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, a study sample consisting of 52 teaching and research staff was chosen from four faculties and three Institutes of the University of Dar es Salaam. The teaching and research staff was surveyed by means of a self-administered questionnaire to investigate the user satisfaction, availability of materials, resources and effectiveness of the services to cater for the information needs of users. Other information requested from respondents related to the East Africana services was library staff services and what problems teaching and research staff encountered when using the Collection's materials and services. A total of36 teaching and research staff (representing 64.9%) responded. The results were analysed manually. Content analysis was used to analyse open ended questions. The results were shown in the form of tables and elaborations. The study revealed that East Africana Collection had experienced heavy use of its materials, services and resources by both students, teachers and researchers within the University community and outside the campus. It is an indication that Collection usage among teaching and research staff was generally very high. However, the Collection faces the problem of lack of sufficient facilities and resources. Whatever the problems users experienced, the majority of the teaching and research staff were aware of the East Africana Collection and its information materials and services. Recommendations and suggestions for the future betterment of the services were made by both researcher and respondents with regard to the findings of the study and the literature reviewed. / Thesis (M.I.S.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2000.

The proliferation ofinformation available in electronic format has been perpetuated by rapid technological advances. Users have a choice between print and electronic resources. At the same time, the use of these resources is determined by what is available to the users and what the users prefer. Problems that users encounter when accessing these resources determine the use of print and electronic resources. The current study evaluated the use of, and preference for, print and electronic resources by students at the University of Malawi College of Medicine. The study population comprised 179 undergraduate students. A self-administered questionnaire was used to establish the students' use of, and preference for, print and electronic resources, reasons for their preferences and the problems they encountered in accessing print and electronic resources. An interview schedule was used to elicit background information from the College Librarian on issues of budgeting, technological infrastructure, licensing and copyright agreements, archiving and library staff and training. Questionnaire results were quantitatively analysed and presented in terms of frequency tables and graphs. Interview results were analysed qualitatively. The study findings show that the students used both print and electronic resources. However, print resources were more heavily used than electronic ones. The students also preferred print resources to electronic. A lack of sufficient computers and low levels of computer and information literacy contributed to the underutilisation of electronic resources. Recommendations in terms of technological infrastructure, user training, staff training, user support and archiving were made based on the findings of the study. / Thesis (M.I.S.)-University of KwaZulu- Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.

The discussion of introducing the Internet at St. Joseph's Theological Institute in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa took place in 2002 and access to the Internet was introduced in 2003 via 70 computers which were housed in the library. Given that the Internet has emerged as an important learning tool at the tertiary level, the aim of the study was to investigate the use of the Internet by the students at St. Joseph's. The specific objectives of the study were as follows: to find out which students were using the Internet, to find out what students were using the Internet for, to find how often students used the Internet and when they used it, to find out the problems experienced by those students who used the Internet, to find out why certain students do not use the Internet, and lastly the study aimed to make recommendations concerning the use of the Internet by students. The survey research method was used and the data was collected through a self administered questionnaire. No sampling was done as the entire population of 188 students was surveyed. Sixty five students responded - a response rate of 34.6 %. Findings revealed that of the 65 students who completed the questionnaires 34 (52.3%) had used the Internet and 31 (47.6%) had not. Out of the 24 respondents who gave reasons for not having used the Internet, the majority 17 (70.8%) of respondents said that they had not received formal training and did not know how to use the Internet. The major problems facing the Internet users at St. Joseph 's were the shortage of computers mentioned by 13 (38.2%) respondents and computers being slow as indicated by 13 (38.2%) respondents. Six (17.6%) respondents also pointed to not having enough training in the use of Internet facilities. Recommendations concerning Internet use at the Institute were made and suggestions for further research put forward. / Thesis (M.I.S.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

Academic libraries are concerned about being involved in the communities in which they exist by rendering library and information services. In order to maintain effective community involvement, academic libraries find it is important to find ways in which they can serve the community. The study investigated the Mangosuthu Technikon Resource Centre's (MTRC) involvement in the community. The intention was to determine the extent of usage of the MTRC services by Umlazi high school teachers and to identify problems which these teachers experienced with regard to the MTRC services. Umlazi high school teachers as users of the MTRC services and MTRC staff as providers of the services, were the two groups chosen for the study. Two questionnaires, one for external respondents, the Umlazi high school teachers, and another for the internal respondents, MTRC staff: were hand delivered to and collected from the respondents. The results of the survey indicated a very low percentage of usage of the MTRC services by Umlazi high school teachers and a high percentage of interest in and lack of knowledge of the MTRC services by Umlazi high school teachers. There was agreement of opinions between Umlazi high school teachers and MTRC staff on the reasons for non-use of the MTRC services by Umlazi high school teachers. Reasons indicated were that teachers did not know they could use the MTRC. There was a lack of promotional brochures and newsletters, and teachers obtained what they needed elsewhere. It was recommended that MTRC staff be educated on the MTRC's responsibility to community involvement; that the MTRC provide library user education to Umlazi high school teachers; that the MTRC base its services on community needs assessment; that marketing practices be injected into the MTRC services; that consultation with the community during planning stages of community services be maintained; that MTRC provide the community only with services not provided elsewhere; and that the MTRC take initiative in establishing a multitype area network with Umlazi Public Library and Umlazi high schools. / Thesis (M.I.S.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1998.