Public libraries are the largest mediators of literature to young children in Sweden. They are obligated to pay special attention to children, and to offer various literature and service that meets the needs of different people. It’s important that libraries offer a wide range of literature that shows a diversity of people and relations for children to be able to relate and thereby find the motivation to keep on reading. Norm creativity (normkreativitet) is a method used to challenge and broaden already existing norms. This essay study how Swedish children librarians apply norm creativity in their everyday practice. This is done by conducting a qualitative analysis in which I’ve interviewed five children’s librarians in five randomly selected public libraries about purchase, weeding, selection for storytelling and highlighting of books in the library.  Shove, Pantzar and Watsons practical social theory is used to describe how librarians can either change norms or deliberately or unconsciously help consolidate already prevailing norms in their everyday practice. The theory contains three elements; material, competence and meaning.  The result shows that it´s up to one and each librarian to apply norm creativity and that it´s very different how well-informed and motivated they are. Lack of published materials and problem finding reviews affects the purchases. The librarians also reflect on how some published books have the purpose to show diversity at the expense of quality.

Thesis (M.A. (Information Studies)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / Digitisation of library materials offers Library and Information Services (LIS) organisations, national libraries in particular, opportunities to preserve and manage fragile and unique materials, by protecting their physical, saving them from deteriorating and facilitating unmediated access to such collection. The aim of the study was to examine processes involved in the digitisation of the South African National Documentary and Cultural Heritage for the purpose of preservation and access at the national library of South Africa (NLSA). The study was guided by the systems theory by looking into the selection, processing and disseminating of digital records at the NLSA. The study examined adherence to the policies and national legislative frameworks, the technologies used for digitization and access to digitized collections, tools used for accessing digital collections, as well the challenges experienced in the NLSA digitization project. Qualitative research methodology was adopted, through a case-study research whereby, semi-structured interviews, document analysis and observations were triangulated as data collection methods for the study. The key findings showed that the digitisation project at the NLSA adheres to pieces of national legislation and international guidelines such as International Standards Organization (ISO), the and draft digitisation policy developed by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture which takes into consideration the national legislative framework such as the RSA Constitution, the NLSA Act, the Legal Deposit Act, Copyright legislation, and the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA). However, the content analysis of these legislation did not mention anything about the handling and management of digital collections. Technologies and equipment used in the digitisation process included high quality scanners, servers and hard drives with software such as Optical Character Recognition, Content document management software and the NLSA website. The challenges uncovered in the study in relation included duplication of digitisation efforts and lack of expertise in digitisation. This study recommends that given the evolution of technology, the NLSA should migrate to a more convenient cloud storage that has a large advantage in case of unlimited storage, and keep up to date with the trends of digitisation technology. Legislation governing the LIS in South Africa also needs amendment to cater for the handling and management of digital collections. v

This study examines the efficacy of collection development and management practices, policies, guidelines and standards in universities of technology to meet the information needs of academics and researchers at such institutions. In South Africa, as in Australasia, technikons or polytechnics have been upgraded first into degree granting institutions and then, at the beginning of the 21st century, into universities of technology. The researcher was concerned that library collections in South African universities of technology have not grown to meet the research and teaching needs of academics at the level of universities offering instruction up to a doctoral level. As research funding, government grants and the general prestige of the institutions depend on the research output of the institutions, it is essential that academics and researchers find the information resources they require in their institutional libraries. Case studies of universities of technology in New Zealand and South Africa reveal that, while Auckland University of Technology has been successful in extending its collection to meet the increasing demands placed on it, the collection development policies, standards and guidelines in a South African university of technology need to be upgraded in order to meet the information needs and information behaviour of their researchers and academics. Current levels of funding for the acquisition of information resources in South Africa lag behind those found at the New Zealand university of technology. The university of technology that was the object of the South African case study needs to bring its collection in line with that of similar institutions worldwide. This entails adapting goals and objectives stating how the collection is to develop, evaluating the collection and the needs of users, changing the Collection Development Policy to reflect the direction collection development will take and ensuring that the institution and the government back this project financially. To this end, a model Collection Development Policy has been drawn up that can be adapted to the local requirements of South African universities of technology to assist with the process of developing and managing library collections that will be worthy of such an institution. / Information Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)

TARUHN, Rosane. Desenvolvimento cooperativo de coleções de revistas científicas na Rede Brasileira de Informação em Ciências da Saúde. São Paulo, 2007. Dissertação (Mestrado) - Escola de Comunicações e Artes. Universidade de São Paulo. A partir da observação das mudanças sociais no final de século XX, em grande parte decorrentes dos avanços da tecnologia, esta pesquisa apresenta um breve histórico do surgimento de livros e revistas científicas até os dias atuais. Descreve os processos do trabalho de desenvolvimento de coleções em bibliotecas, destacando a importância desses, assim como da formalização de política com a finalidade de tornar claros os valores considerados, de acordo com o perfil dos usuários. Inclui aspectos de ações em cooperação no desenvolvimento de coleções de revistas científicas e de programas de assinaturas e acesso a estas no Brasil. Objetivo: Analisar os processos de desenvolvimento de coleções de revistas científicas, nas bibliotecas cooperantes da Rede Brasileira de Informação em Ciências da Saúde, coordenada pela BIREME, e identificar rumos do desenvolvimento cooperativo dessas coleções diante das novas tecnologias. Método: Questionário estruturado e publicado na Web para ser respondido por 45 bibliotecas cooperantes do Catálogo Coletivo SeCS (Seriados em Ciências da Saúde) no Portal de Revistas da Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS). Resultados: Dos questionários enviados 60% foram respondidos. A tabulação das respostas permitiu verificar, principalmente, que 51,9% das bibliotecas respondentes possuem documento formalizado de Política de Desenvolvimento de Coleções, embora apenas 26% tenham pesquisado o perfil do usuário ou da comunidade. Afirmaram fazer parte de um programa cooperativo de aquisição de revistas 48,1%, onde se incluem os programas planificados de aquisição de universidades e outros. Dos respondentes, 88,8% afirmaram fazer parte do Programa Periódico CAPES e 70,8% dessas realizam aquisição adicional de revistas. A possibilidade futura de somar recursos de orçamento para aquisição cooperativa de revistas não se mostra possível para 66,6% Dos 27 respondentes, 96,3% afirmaram utilizar sempre o Portal de Revistas da BVS e o catálogo Coletivo SeCS. Em razão da recomendação existente em acordo da BIREME com representantes da Rede, para que se mantenha pelo menos uma coleção de cada um dos títulos constantes no Portal, a existência do título para decisão de nova assinatura é verificada por 55,6% dos respondentes. Para cancelamento de assinatura, 33,3% consultam o título e coleções e 66,7% não os consultam, o que permite avaliar que, sob o aspecto de desenvolvimento cooperativo de coleções, esses itens não estão sendo suficientemente observados. Sobre o formato das revistas, 44,4% declararam que os usuários preferem revistas eletrônicas; 33,3% não têm preferência; 14,8% preferem revistas impressas e 7,4% não sabem. A grande maioria (96,2%) considera que o Catálogo Coletivo SeCS continuará a existir, independentemente dos formatos das revistas. Conclusão: Para a Rede Brasileira Informação em Ciências da Saúde, coordenada pela BIREME e, mais especificamente para as bibliotecas cooperantes do Portal de Revistas da BVS, permanece o desafio de estreitar a colaboração de forma a divulgar amplamente os trabalhos realizados, modernizar o Catálogo Coletivo SeCS e promover ações que facilitem a sua comunicação e atuação, estimulando a formalização de diretrizes e treinamentos que possibilitem a adoção incondicional dos conceitos e propósitos dessa cooperação. / Starting with the observation of the social changes by the end of the 20th century - mostly due to the advances of technology - this research shows a brief track record of scientific books and journals to this day. It describes the processes of library collection development, highlighting their importance as well as the formalization of politics to make the values contemplated clear and according to the users\' profile. In addition it includes aspects of cooperation actions for the development of collections and subscription programs and access to these in Brazil. Objective: To analyze the collection development of scientific journals in the cooperating libraries of the Brazilian Network on Health Sciences Information coordinated by BIREME, and identify paths in these collections\' cooperative development vis-à-vis the new technologies. Method: A questionnaire structured and published on the Web to be responded by 45 cooperating libraries of the Serials Collective Catalog in Health Sciences in the Portal of Journals of the Virtual Health Library (VHL). Results: The responses corresponded to 60% of the questionnaires. The tabulation of the answers allowed mainly to verify that 51.9% of the responding libraries have a formalized Collection Development Policy document, although only 26% had studied the profile of the user or the community. Of these responding libraries 48.1%, declared being part of a cooperative program for the acquisition of journals. Here are included the planned University acquisition programs. Of the respondents, 88.8% declared taking part in the CAPES Periodicals Portal and 70.8% of these acquire additional journals. 66.6% don\'t see the possibility of adding budget resources for the cooperative acquisition of ournals in the future. Of the 27 respondents, 96.3% declared they always use the Portal of Journals and the Serials Collective Catalog. Because of the existing recommendation - in BIREME\'s agreement with the Network\'s representatives - to maintain at least one collection of each one of the titles in the Portal, 55.6% of the respondents check the existence of the title for the decision making of a new subscription. 33.3% consult the title and collections for the canceling of the subscription and 66.7% do not consult them. This allows assessing that from the collection cooperative development aspect these items are not being sufficiently observed. On the format of the journals, 44.4% declared that users prefer electronic journals; 33.3% have no preference; 14.8% prefer printed journals and 7.4% do not know. The great majority (96.2%) considers that the Serials Collective Catalog will continue existing irrespective of the journals\' formats. Conclusion: For the Brazilian Network for Health Sciences Information coordinated by BIREME, and more specifically for the cooperating libraries of the Portal of Journals in the VHL, remains the challenge of strengthening the collaboration so as to broadly publicize papers accomplished, update the Serials Collective Catalog and promote actions to facilitate its communication and operation, stimulating the formalization of guidelines and training that may enable the unconditional adoption of this cooperation\'s concepts and purposes

This study examines the efficacy of collection development and management practices, policies, guidelines and standards in universities of technology to meet the information needs of academics and researchers at such institutions. In South Africa, as in Australasia, technikons or polytechnics have been upgraded first into degree granting institutions and then, at the beginning of the 21st century, into universities of technology. The researcher was concerned that library collections in South African universities of technology have not grown to meet the research and teaching needs of academics at the level of universities offering instruction up to a doctoral level. As research funding, government grants and the general prestige of the institutions depend on the research output of the institutions, it is essential that academics and researchers find the information resources they require in their institutional libraries. Case studies of universities of technology in New Zealand and South Africa reveal that, while Auckland University of Technology has been successful in extending its collection to meet the increasing demands placed on it, the collection development policies, standards and guidelines in a South African university of technology need to be upgraded in order to meet the information needs and information behaviour of their researchers and academics. Current levels of funding for the acquisition of information resources in South Africa lag behind those found at the New Zealand university of technology. The university of technology that was the object of the South African case study needs to bring its collection in line with that of similar institutions worldwide. This entails adapting goals and objectives stating how the collection is to develop, evaluating the collection and the needs of users, changing the Collection Development Policy to reflect the direction collection development will take and ensuring that the institution and the government back this project financially. To this end, a model Collection Development Policy has been drawn up that can be adapted to the local requirements of South African universities of technology to assist with the process of developing and managing library collections that will be worthy of such an institution. / Information Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)

TARUHN, Rosane. Desenvolvimento cooperativo de coleções de revistas científicas na Rede Brasileira de Informação em Ciências da Saúde. São Paulo, 2007. Dissertação (Mestrado) - Escola de Comunicações e Artes. Universidade de São Paulo. A partir da observação das mudanças sociais no final de século XX, em grande parte decorrentes dos avanços da tecnologia, esta pesquisa apresenta um breve histórico do surgimento de livros e revistas científicas até os dias atuais. Descreve os processos do trabalho de desenvolvimento de coleções em bibliotecas, destacando a importância desses, assim como da formalização de política com a finalidade de tornar claros os valores considerados, de acordo com o perfil dos usuários. Inclui aspectos de ações em cooperação no desenvolvimento de coleções de revistas científicas e de programas de assinaturas e acesso a estas no Brasil. Objetivo: Analisar os processos de desenvolvimento de coleções de revistas científicas, nas bibliotecas cooperantes da Rede Brasileira de Informação em Ciências da Saúde, coordenada pela BIREME, e identificar rumos do desenvolvimento cooperativo dessas coleções diante das novas tecnologias. Método: Questionário estruturado e publicado na Web para ser respondido por 45 bibliotecas cooperantes do Catálogo Coletivo SeCS (Seriados em Ciências da Saúde) no Portal de Revistas da Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS). Resultados: Dos questionários enviados 60% foram respondidos. A tabulação das respostas permitiu verificar, principalmente, que 51,9% das bibliotecas respondentes possuem documento formalizado de Política de Desenvolvimento de Coleções, embora apenas 26% tenham pesquisado o perfil do usuário ou da comunidade. Afirmaram fazer parte de um programa cooperativo de aquisição de revistas 48,1%, onde se incluem os programas planificados de aquisição de universidades e outros. Dos respondentes, 88,8% afirmaram fazer parte do Programa Periódico CAPES e 70,8% dessas realizam aquisição adicional de revistas. A possibilidade futura de somar recursos de orçamento para aquisição cooperativa de revistas não se mostra possível para 66,6% Dos 27 respondentes, 96,3% afirmaram utilizar sempre o Portal de Revistas da BVS e o catálogo Coletivo SeCS. Em razão da recomendação existente em acordo da BIREME com representantes da Rede, para que se mantenha pelo menos uma coleção de cada um dos títulos constantes no Portal, a existência do título para decisão de nova assinatura é verificada por 55,6% dos respondentes. Para cancelamento de assinatura, 33,3% consultam o título e coleções e 66,7% não os consultam, o que permite avaliar que, sob o aspecto de desenvolvimento cooperativo de coleções, esses itens não estão sendo suficientemente observados. Sobre o formato das revistas, 44,4% declararam que os usuários preferem revistas eletrônicas; 33,3% não têm preferência; 14,8% preferem revistas impressas e 7,4% não sabem. A grande maioria (96,2%) considera que o Catálogo Coletivo SeCS continuará a existir, independentemente dos formatos das revistas. Conclusão: Para a Rede Brasileira Informação em Ciências da Saúde, coordenada pela BIREME e, mais especificamente para as bibliotecas cooperantes do Portal de Revistas da BVS, permanece o desafio de estreitar a colaboração de forma a divulgar amplamente os trabalhos realizados, modernizar o Catálogo Coletivo SeCS e promover ações que facilitem a sua comunicação e atuação, estimulando a formalização de diretrizes e treinamentos que possibilitem a adoção incondicional dos conceitos e propósitos dessa cooperação. / Starting with the observation of the social changes by the end of the 20th century - mostly due to the advances of technology - this research shows a brief track record of scientific books and journals to this day. It describes the processes of library collection development, highlighting their importance as well as the formalization of politics to make the values contemplated clear and according to the users\' profile. In addition it includes aspects of cooperation actions for the development of collections and subscription programs and access to these in Brazil. Objective: To analyze the collection development of scientific journals in the cooperating libraries of the Brazilian Network on Health Sciences Information coordinated by BIREME, and identify paths in these collections\' cooperative development vis-à-vis the new technologies. Method: A questionnaire structured and published on the Web to be responded by 45 cooperating libraries of the Serials Collective Catalog in Health Sciences in the Portal of Journals of the Virtual Health Library (VHL). Results: The responses corresponded to 60% of the questionnaires. The tabulation of the answers allowed mainly to verify that 51.9% of the responding libraries have a formalized Collection Development Policy document, although only 26% had studied the profile of the user or the community. Of these responding libraries 48.1%, declared being part of a cooperative program for the acquisition of journals. Here are included the planned University acquisition programs. Of the respondents, 88.8% declared taking part in the CAPES Periodicals Portal and 70.8% of these acquire additional journals. 66.6% don\'t see the possibility of adding budget resources for the cooperative acquisition of ournals in the future. Of the 27 respondents, 96.3% declared they always use the Portal of Journals and the Serials Collective Catalog. Because of the existing recommendation - in BIREME\'s agreement with the Network\'s representatives - to maintain at least one collection of each one of the titles in the Portal, 55.6% of the respondents check the existence of the title for the decision making of a new subscription. 33.3% consult the title and collections for the canceling of the subscription and 66.7% do not consult them. This allows assessing that from the collection cooperative development aspect these items are not being sufficiently observed. On the format of the journals, 44.4% declared that users prefer electronic journals; 33.3% have no preference; 14.8% prefer printed journals and 7.4% do not know. The great majority (96.2%) considers that the Serials Collective Catalog will continue existing irrespective of the journals\' formats. Conclusion: For the Brazilian Network for Health Sciences Information coordinated by BIREME, and more specifically for the cooperating libraries of the Portal of Journals in the VHL, remains the challenge of strengthening the collaboration so as to broadly publicize papers accomplished, update the Serials Collective Catalog and promote actions to facilitate its communication and operation, stimulating the formalization of guidelines and training that may enable the unconditional adoption of this cooperation\'s concepts and purposes

Subject and learning support librarianship first began in African university libraries in the 1960s, but became more prevalent in the 1980s. Subject librarians, who were known by different titles in various universities, were responsible for one or more subjects, departments, schools or faculties, in terms of providing a subject-based information service, and performing subject-based collection development, user education, and liaison functions. They were organised according to specific models or structures which determined whether or not they performed only subject duties in the library. They formed a core part of the university library, and with each major technological advance, they had to reassess their roles, titles, functions, duties, educational qualifications and skills, so as to adapt to the new information environment. Unfortunately, the inception, development, re-assessment and adaptation of subject librarianship on the African continent did not follow a standard path, and no standards guidelines were compiled that could be utilised by new subject services. The purpose of this study was to investigate the roles, responsibilities and skills of subject librarians in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) region. The target population consisted of subject librarians in this region and a census method was used to determine participants. The quantitative research approach employing a survey design was used by the study. Data was collected using questionnaires, and results were clarified by interviews with a selection of library managers. Data was analysed using SPSS, MS-Excel and content analysis. The research found that the main models of subject librarianship in place were the dual and hybrid models. It determined the main titles that subject librarians were known by, and that their role, involved providing teaching, learning and research support to faculty members, staff, students and researchers. It also determined the main functions and related duties performed, and the main educational qualifications and skills held by, or required by subject librarians. Since the study found that no guidelines, specifically targeted at subject librarians in the region, were available, as one of its outcomes it provided guidelines, in the form of an appendix, for new subject services to adapt or adopt if they desired. / Information Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)

The selection of science fiction was researched to determine how science fiction should be evaluated and selected in the context of the public library. The first sub-problem to be researched concerned the cultural, societal and literary origins of this genre, after which its distinct phases of development were studied as well as the characteristic essence of science fiction which would affect its selection per se, specifically whether conventional literary criteria are suitable for the evaluation of items of science fiction during selection. The next sub-problem focused on, was whether theory can explain the process of fiction selection, The succeeding sub-problem was to empirically Study current practice in science fiction selection. Survey research was conducted amongst selected major urban/regional public library services in the USA. Final research results indicated that science fiction is a sophisticated, multi-textured genre which differs significantly from fellow popular genres, Science fiction is viewed by some critics as being on the cusp of post-modernism, a significant body of work in contemporary literature, and a supreme expression of late capitalism. Research further showed that no satisfactory evaluative criteria exist. It was also established that theory of fiction selection is not always capable of explaining or guiding the process of fiction selection. There is no model for the selection of science fiction. Finn guiding principles for science fiction selection could be formulated by the aid of this study. The study concluded with a specially-designed model for the selection of science fiction (including a scorecard with specially-compiled criteria for evaluating items), as well as a suggested core collection. A structured approach should be followed by the science fiction selector. The guiding principles and core collection which were formulated in this study, the set of special criteria as well as the model, together demonstrate that the selection of science fiction can be structured, controlled and guided within established parameters. / Information Science / D. Lit. et Phil. (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)

As fotografias de obras de arte, objeto empírico desta pesquisa, proveem condições para a realização do registro de um conjunto de informações visuais e sua consequente institucionalização. Com base neste objeto empírico, procurou-se identificar quais os desafios presentes na criação e na manutenção de acervos de fotografias de obras de arte em ambiente eletrônico, considerando-se as necessidades de informação dos usuários especializados. Para estudar estes desafios, a pesquisa teve como objetivo realizar um estudo exploratório, que diz respeito às particularidades associadas à criação e à manutenção de acervos de fotografias de obras de arte em ambiente eletrônico. A partir da revisão de literatura foi possível identificar, de antemão, que o problema não está na tecnologia, ou seja, no uso do melhor software, mas sim no processo de criação e manutenção dos acervos de fotografias de obras de arte. Para entender como este processo se desenvolve, foi necessário o estudo das características do acervo de fotografias de obras de arte de um Serviço de Informação cuja instituição possui cursos na área de Artes Visuais, assim como o estudo do comportamento informacional dos potenciais usuários desse acervo. Para o estudo de caso, foram utilizados os seguintes instrumentos de coleta de dados: observação direta não estruturada, entrevista não estruturada e questionário. Pode-se perceber que as fotografias de obras de arte são utilizadas para atividades didáticas, e que as bases de dados on-line representam uma solução apropriada à demanda por fotografias; os usuários realizam pesquisas semanais de fotografias; os tipos de fotografias mais procurados são de pintura e de desenhos; e os respondentes utilizam as fotografias para pesquisa em criação artística e em arte teórica. Mas, para a criação e a manutenção da base de dados, alguns desafios precisam ser superados, como, por exemplo, a definição de critérios referentes às características técnicas e de conteúdo das fotografias, e questões de direitos autorais. Dentre todos os desafios, o de maior destaque diz respeito à identificação das necessidades de informação visual dos usuários especializados e como as fotografias das obras de arte serão utilizadas nas atividades didáticas. No caso da instituição estudada, a principal solicitação foi a inclusão no acervo das fotografias dos trabalhos artísticos dos artistas da própria instituição. O estudo confirmou que os usuários não querem um acervo que seja mera duplicação dos conteúdos de museus, galerias ou de outros serviços de informação. Assim, foi possível constatar a importância da realização, com maior frequência, de estudos de uso e usuários de fotografias de obras de arte; que a adoção de uma política de seleção e desenvolvimento de coleções de fotografias de obras de arte, impressa ou digital, é indispensável; e que para a criação de uma base de dados on-line a adoção de padrões de metadados e questões de interoperabilidade são indispensáveis, mas dependem de estudos e reflexões, como os desafios apontados neste trabalho. / Photographs of works of art, which constitute the empirical object of this research, make possible the existence of a collection of visual information and its consequent institutionalization. Based on this empirical object, we have tried to identify the challenges related to the creation and maintenance of collections of photographs of works of art in an electronic environment, considering the informational needs of specialized users. In order to deal with these challenges, we aimed at doing an exploratory study regarding the particularities of the creation and maintenance of collections of photographs of works of art in an electronic environment. Starting with the review of the existing literature, it was possible to identify beforehand that the problem is not technological indeed, i.e., it is not about the use of the best software, but it lies instead in the process of creation and maintenance of collections of photographs of works of art. In order to understand this process, it was necessary to study the characteristics of the collection of photographs of works of art of the information service of an institution which offers courses in the field of Visual Arts, as well as the informational behaviour of the potential users of this collection. For this case study, the following data collection techniques were used: unstructured direct observation, unstructured interview and a questionnaire. It was possible to observe: the photographs of works of art are used for educational ends, and online databases constitute an appropriate solution to the demand for photographs; users do weekly research for photographs; the kinds of photographs most sought after are those of paintings and drawings; informants use the photographs for research in artistic creation and in theoretical art. Still, for the creation and maintenance of the database, some challenges need to be overcome, such as the definition of criteria regarding the technical characteristics of the photographs and their content, as well as issues of copyright. Among these challenges, the one that stands out concerns the identification of the visual information needs of specialized users, and of how the photographs of works of art will be used in the educational activities. In the case of the institution where this study was conducted, the main request was the inclusion, in its collection, of photographs of works of art produced by the artists of the institution. The study confirmed that users do not want a collection that is nothing but the mirroring of the collections of museums, galleries, or other information services. It was also possible to observe: how important it is to carry out studies about the use and the users of photographs of works of art, on a more regular basis; the adoption of a policy for the selection and development of collections of physical or digital photographs of works of art is indispensable; and, for the creation of an online database, the adoption of metadata standards and the considering of issues of interoperability are essential, but these measures depend on studies and reflections, such as those indicated in this work.