Thesis (M.S.)--Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Hartford Graduate Center, 1966. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 243-246).

Thesis (M.S.)--Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Hartford Graduate Center, 1966. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 243-246).

M.Bibl. (Information Studies) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Thesis (M.Arch.) - Carleton University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 158-163). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

This thesis explores how library practice has been impacted by linked (open) data. For libraries, adopting linked data principles means moving away from the long-established reality of MARC-formats and opening up their information resources to the internet. While the transformation of library systems to linked data is often described as the necessary next step for the library community promising enormous benefits, the reality of the transformation process is a challenging one. This thesis employs an interview study at the National Library of Sweden, the first national library worldwide that has adopted linked data as its core data-model, to provide deeper insights into how linked data is affecting the current work practices of library professionals from their own perspectives. The findings suggest that linked data is significantly impacting library practice in a multitude of ways, fundamentally changing knowledge and information organization in the digital age. While linked data is still in the beginning stages of its implementation in the library community as a whole, the interviewed library professionals are confident about the benefits the transformation will bring eventually. While there are still many challenges and obstacles to tackle there is a strong believe that the advertised promises of linked data will come true in time. Furthermore, the results of the study suggest that linked data is only part of a paradigm-shifting change currently happening in the knowledge and information organization community, accompanied by many other developments that are as a whole fundamentally changing how information is organized, managed, shared and even perceived in today’s digital information environment of the internet.

Abstract Introduction. The aim of this thesis is to examine use of library didactics in two prominent national libraries. A second aim is to identify digital resources used in the digital library spaces. The study uses “the four-space model” to examine this relation.  Method. Document analysis is used to examine the two national libraries´ websites. In addition to the websites, affiliated sites like social media are also included. Categories from the four- space model are used: learning space, inspiration space, performative space and meeting space. Digital resources are identified and presented in each category respectively.   Theories. Library didactics, as developed by for example Jochumsen, Rasmussen and Skot- Hansen, is the subject of the thesis and main theoretical focus. The digital library rooms are seen as places for possibilities and for developing innovative library practices.  Conclusion. The results imply that of the four spaces, the smallest one is the performative space and that the activities for creating are few. Different social media are to a large degree used as meeting space and thus possibilities for meeting and participation are subject to the companies’ business models and policies. In relation to the visitors the two national libraries mainly use their collections as resources in the inspiration space. One clear example is Gallica, described as a digital library with focus on digitized documents.  In the learning space the format is primarily texts with illustrations and this could be seen as an attempt from the libraries to adapt to a traditional learning environment. Furthermore it is concluded that the search functions can be a hindrance to both the visitor and to the libraries´ objectives. In the discussion, a question concerning competences is raised in regard to innovative library didactics. This is a two years master’s thesis in Library and Information Science.

L’analyse historique et sociologique de la mise en place des bibliothèques numériques dans trois institutions patrimoniales (Bibliothèque nationale de France, British Library, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek), sur une période allant de 1990 à 2011, montre la façon dont ces organisations, produisant et conservant un patrimoine physique, se sont transformées pour constituer et préserver un patrimoine numérique. La bibliothèque numérique est ici considérée de manière double, à la fois innovation technique et organisation. Elle est une innovation technique car elle est fondée sur un ensemble d’inventions (photographie numérique, serveurs web, internet, reconnaissance optique de caractères, métadonnées, etc…). Ces inventions sont combinées sous l’action de groupes de référence (chercheurs, bibliothécaires, informaticiens, éditeurs, pouvoirs publics, responsables marketing, mécènes, entreprises privées). Ces groupes peuvent être soit marginaux, soit inclus dans un réseau socio-technique spécifique qui contribue à la mise en place de la bibliothèque numérique. Cette dernière est un artefact technique qui évolue dans le temps, passant du stade d’objet-valise, caractérisé par une grande flexibilité interprétative, à celui d’objet-frontière, répondant aux besoins de tous les groupes de référence inclus dans le réseau. Une bibliothèque numérique est également une organisation, émanant de la bibliothèque physique, qui crée des services spécifiques chargés de contrôler les zones d’incertitude majeures que sont les techniques numériques et l’émergence de fournisseurs de contenus en ligne. Ceux-ci concurrencent les bibliothèques nationales dans la diffusion du patrimoine culturel. Les controverses entre acteurs sont les moments privilégiés où se dévoilent leurs positions face à l’artefact technique : la traduction est alors le moyen d’enrôler les membres du réseau socio-technique pour aboutir à la fixation provisoire de l’artefact. Le réseau socio-technique évolue dans le temps pour créer de nouvelles versions de l’artefact. / The historical and sociological analysis of the setting up of digital libraries in three heritage institutions (Bibliothèque nationale de France, British Library, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek), from 1990 to 2011, shows how these organisations, which produce and preserve physical cultural heritage, have evolved to produce and preserve digital cultural heritage. The digital library has two aspects: it is a technological innovation and an organisation of its own. As a technological innovation, it is grounded on inventions such as digital photography, web servers, internet, optical character recognition, metadata…These inventions are combined by the action of reference groups (scholars, librarians, computer specialists, public administrations, sponsors, private companies). These groups are either marginal or included in a socio-technical network which creates the digital library. The latter is a technical artefact that evolves from a “suitcase-object” with great interpretive flexibility to a boundary object which satisfies the needs of reference groups taking part in the socio-technical network. A digital library is also an organisation, stemming from the physical library which creates specific departments in charge of controlling major uncertainty zones such as digital technologies and emerging online content providers. The latter compete with national libraries in the diffusion of cultural heritage. Controversies between actors are key moments when actors reveal their opinions concerning the technical artefact: translation is the means to enlist members of the socio-technical network to achieve the temporary closure of the artefact. The socio-technical network evolves with time to create new versions of the artefact.

Text in English / Legislation plays an important role in the provision of public and national library services. However, in Zambia libraries that perform the functions of public and national libraries are operating without a legislative mandate. As a result, there is a fragmentation of library services as there is no single institution which performs all the functions of a national library service. Although several efforts were made before to enact national library service legislation, no Act of Parliament has been passed to date (2014). This study sought to provide empirical evidence to refine our insight of the benefits of having national library service legislation and the consequent implications of not having any legislation in the provision of library services. Quantitative data was collected through questionnaire administration to public library staff; interviews with senior government officials, and executive members of the ZLA and ZALICO; and document analysis on text from grey literature. The existence of the statistical significance of association between “Importance of library legislation” and “Provision of library services in Zambia” was measured and confirmed using Pearson chi-square χ2. Public library facilities, services and collections in Zambia were found to be below par, and it was concluded that this was due to lack of library legislation. The study recommends that appropriate legislation that puts together the functions of public and national libraries under one institution be enacted in Zambia as soon as possible. It is also recommended that further research be undertaken to investigate the current status of library facilities, services and collections in selected neighbouring countries where library legislation has been passed. / Information Science / M.A. (Information Science)

Text in English / Legislation plays an important role in the provision of public and national library services. However, in Zambia libraries that perform the functions of public and national libraries are operating without a legislative mandate. As a result, there is a fragmentation of library services as there is no single institution which performs all the functions of a national library service. Although several efforts were made before to enact national library service legislation, no Act of Parliament has been passed to date (2014). This study sought to provide empirical evidence to refine our insight of the benefits of having national library service legislation and the consequent implications of not having any legislation in the provision of library services. Quantitative data was collected through questionnaire administration to public library staff; interviews with senior government officials, and executive members of the ZLA and ZALICO; and document analysis on text from grey literature. The existence of the statistical significance of association between “Importance of library legislation” and “Provision of library services in Zambia” was measured and confirmed using Pearson chi-square χ2. Public library facilities, services and collections in Zambia were found to be below par, and it was concluded that this was due to lack of library legislation. The study recommends that appropriate legislation that puts together the functions of public and national libraries under one institution be enacted in Zambia as soon as possible. It is also recommended that further research be undertaken to investigate the current status of library facilities, services and collections in selected neighbouring countries where library legislation has been passed. / Information Science / M.A. (Information Science)