The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Library (UNECA Library) has a collection of more than 90,000 electronic information resources and half a million-print collection. These resources are available freely to staff members of the UNECA, United Nations agencies, diplomats, researchers, students and others. The study investigated the utilisation of electronic information resources and the challenges faced by the different users of the Library. A quantitative research approach with a survey research method was applied. The population for the study was 600 users,, out of which 500 were internal users (UNECA and United Nations agencies staff members) and 100 were external users (researchers, students, or non-staff members). From the population, 20% from each category, that is, 120 users were taken as a sample. A webbased questionnaire built on SurveyMonkey was distributed through email to collect data from randomly selected users. The total response rate was 74%. The data were analysed using built in survey monkey analysis software and reported with simple frequency and percentages. The results shows that 92% of the respondents were aware of the availability of the electronic information resources in the UNECA Library. TInstitutional Repository (IR) and e-journals were frequently accessed and utilised. Highly accessed and utilised databases were the Economist, African Journal Online, JSTOR, Ebscohost, ScienceDirect, and Financial Times. 94% of the respondents reported that the electronic information resources were useful, with 84% agreeing that the resources were easy to use. High numbers of the respondents positively agreed that the quality of their output was improved by using the electronic information resources provided by the library. The respondents also indicated that using the electronic information resources have improved their research output, and overall, the resources have increased their performances. The challenges were information overload, access restriction with IP address, lack of training and remembering login credentials. 68% of the users reported that the library services met their expectations. The study recommends the development of strategies for enhancing accessibility and discoverability of the resources, providing information literacy trainings for all users, and finding alternative measures for IP restriction access. / Information Science / M.A. (Information Science)

In this study, research was conducted on the information needs of Unisa students. Most distance students do not personally visit the library, which makes it difficult for librarians to determine whether or not they are meeting their needs. The library plays an important support role in any university, especially in the open distance learning context. It is therefore important for librarians serving distance learners to continually evaluate their services in order to see if they are still meeting their client’s needs. The aim of this study was to determine if students are aware of the library services to which they are entitled, and if the library is successfully reaching and assisting remote students, and how its services can be improved. Questionnaires were posted to students, and interviews were conducted with on-campus students and staff. Chapter 1 covers the orientation and background to the study. Chapter 2 discusses the research methods used to collect information. In Chapter 3, the library needs of distance learners were discussed, while Chapter 4 presented a discussion of the findings drawn from the questionnaires and interviews, and Chapter 5 makes recommendations based upon these findings. It was found that some of the students surveyed were not aware of their library privileges. It is recommended that the Unisa library employ better strategies to market the library services available to students. Furthermore, the library needs to find better ways to reach out to remote students who have no access to information and communications technology upon which the modern library is so reliant.

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)

Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2018-11-27T11:18:22Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Raquel da Silva Oliveira.pdf: 1137899 bytes, checksum: a04a994219ee98f5878458d9f061af9a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-27T11:18:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Raquel da Silva Oliveira.pdf: 1137899 bytes, checksum: a04a994219ee98f5878458d9f061af9a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-09-12 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This work aimed to analyze the profile of the users, their literary choices and the possible increases that the creation of public libraries, in regions highly deprived of public cultural equipment, causes in the population of its surroundings, with support in the contributions of Bourdieu and Darbel (2003), primarily with regard to access to cultural assets and their relationship with the cultural capital of users. In order to do so, through a statistical series of statistical data of use, analyzed the increment of the use of the public libraries of the CEUs – Centro de Educação Unificado, from the City Hall of São Paulo, from 2006 to 2017. Created in this new project of school equipment, libraries were planned not only to serve it, but also to promote the use of the whole community around it in which practically the totality of the 46 units is located in neighborhoods of the urban periphery. As indicators of the users' profile and the use of the units, the data referring to age, sex and level of schooling were collected and organized in tables and graphs, crossing them with the type of literature they are looking for (children's literature, literature in general, books didactic and reference works). The main findings were: expressive growth of loans in the period, predominantly by white, female and with at least minimum elementary education / Este trabalho teve por objetivo analisar o perfil dos usuários, suas escolhas literárias e os possíveis incrementos que a criação de bibliotecas públicas, em regiões altamente carentes de equipamentos culturais públicos, causa na população de seu entorno, com apoio nas contribuições de Bourdieu e Darbel (2003), primordialmente no que se refere ao acesso a bens culturais e sua relação com o capital cultural dos usuários Para tanto, por meio de série histórica de dados estatísticos de uso, analisou o incremento da utilização das bibliotecas públicas da rede CEUs - Centros Educacionais Unificados, da Prefeitura Municipal de São Paulo, no período de 2006 a 2017. Criadas nesse novo projeto de equipamento escolar, as bibliotecas foram planejadas não só para servir a ele, como para favorecer o uso por toda a comunidade de seu entorno, na medida em que praticamente a totalidade das 46 unidades situa-se em bairros da periferia urbana. Como indicadores do perfil dos usuários e do uso das unidades foram levantados e organizados em tabelas e gráficos os dados referentes à idade, sexo, raça/cor e nível de escolaridade, cruzando-os com o tipo de literatura que procuram (literatura infantojuvenil, literatura geral, livros didáticos e obras de referência). Os principais achados foram: crescimento expressivo dos empréstimos no período, com predominância por usuários brancos, do sexo feminino e com, no mínimo e, no mínimo, com formação de ensino fundamental

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.

The landscape of learning spaces in academic libraries is undergoing continual change, re-adaptation and reconfiguration. These winds of change are ushered in by the very nature of the dynamic information economy. Globally, information needs of end-users in academic libraries have dictated the changing space trends as in this case study of the Research Commons of the Howard College Library at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The demands of the changing information economy have directed institutions of higher learning en route to tailoring their outcomes with the view to increasing research output and productivity. In view of this, Academic libraries are finding themselves increasingly becoming significantly involved in the process of research support. The Research Commons (RC) is one such research support initiative of UKZN Libraries. This RC opened its doors, offering research facilities to a designate cohort of Master’s, Doctoral students, Researchers and Academic staff on the 01st of October 2008. Three years to date, the facility has grown in its popularity and patronage. The study of the end-users of the RC emanated from an express interest of the researcher who supports EUs in the capacity of a Senior Librarian. Time spent in the RC further, piqued the interest of the researcher, who was particularly keen about how EUs interacted with the elements of this space and their experiences thereof. This study was conducted with the express aim of understanding, through a qualitative inquiry the experiences of the end-users of the (RC) situated at the Howard College Library of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. I the researcher in attempting to examine these experiences found myself having to address the following key research questions: What are the experiences of the end-users of the learning space? Who are the end-users of the Research Commons? With what elements of the Research Commons do the end-users interact? In what ways do the end-users interact with the different elements? The survey methodology approach was employed using the following instruments: Online and manual survey questionnaires Interviews Observations The different data collection techniques served to generate the richest data for the researcher to use in the interpretation of the results. An important element of this survey was an attempt to ascertain as deep an understanding of the experiences of the EUs in relation to their interaction with this designated space and its elements in their research journey. The findings of the survey demonstrated that the EUs of the RC did indeed encounter experiences that were precipitated by their interaction with the elements of this space. Significantly, it was revealed that EUs found that their time spent in the RC contributed positively to their research experiences. It was further established that interaction with the space and its elements influenced the way in which EUs work. In disclosing the desirability of the RC in meeting their research needs, the EUs were keen to render suggestions for changes and enhancements to the RC. Overall, it was verified that this study shed valuable evidence on how the EUs experienced the RC. Consequently, emanating through the interpretation of the data, the researcher was able to identify possible gaps in the provision of this research support unit which has perhaps added value to this study in providing library management with the necessary understanding in addressing the research needs of the EUs of the RC more than adequately. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.

The research reflected here examined in depth how one cohort of learners viewed and engaged in literature searches using web browser based resources. Action research was employed using a mixed methods approach. The research started with a survey followed by interviews and a screencast examining practice based on a series of search related exercises. These were analysed and used as data to establish what deficits in using the web to search for literature existed in the target group. Based on the analysis of these instruments, the problem was redefined and a workshop intended to help remediate deficiencies uncovered was run. Based on this a recommendation is made that a credit bearing course teaching digital research literacy be made available which would include information literacy as a component. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

In this study, research was conducted on the information needs of Unisa students. Most distance students do not personally visit the library, which makes it difficult for librarians to determine whether or not they are meeting their needs. The library plays an important support role in any university, especially in the open distance learning context. It is therefore important for librarians serving distance learners to continually evaluate their services in order to see if they are still meeting their client’s needs. The aim of this study was to determine if students are aware of the library services to which they are entitled, and if the library is successfully reaching and assisting remote students, and how its services can be improved. Questionnaires were posted to students, and interviews were conducted with on-campus students and staff. Chapter 1 covers the orientation and background to the study. Chapter 2 discusses the research methods used to collect information. In Chapter 3, the library needs of distance learners were discussed, while Chapter 4 presented a discussion of the findings drawn from the questionnaires and interviews, and Chapter 5 makes recommendations based upon these findings. It was found that some of the students surveyed were not aware of their library privileges. It is recommended that the Unisa library employ better strategies to market the library services available to students. Furthermore, the library needs to find better ways to reach out to remote students who have no access to information and communications technology upon which the modern library is so reliant.

The purpose of this study was to develop information and understanding concerning the use of instructional resources, including library materials, by community junior college vocational-technical instructors. The study sought to determine whether the kinds and amounts of instructional resources used by vocational technical instructors in their courses were related to their: (a) level of formal education, (b) number of courses in Higher Education completed, (c) years of teaching experience, and (d) teaching status (full or part-time). Further, the study sought to determine whether the attitudes toward use or non-use of the library were related to such instructor characteristics. The analyses of the data revealed that vocational technical instructors at Tarrant County Junior College utilized a wide variety of instructional resources in their courses. Instructional resources used in at least 50 percent of vocational-technical courses were: audio-visual materials, 88 percent; departmental books, 73 percent; personally owned books, 72 percent; manufacturers' literature other than service manuals, 63 percent; information from notes of previously taken courses, 63 percent; departmentally prepared syllabi, 58 percent; personally owned journals, 56 percent; self-prepared syllabi, 53 percent; manufacturers' service manuals, 52 percent; and association publications, 50 percent.

Submitted by Erika Demachki (erikademachki@gmail.com) on 2017-07-07T17:29:02Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Sandra Hernandez Morais de Araújo - 2017.pdf: 3596744 bytes, checksum: 396468c02a05d61bf35172317ac7f3d7 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-07-10T14:45:10Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Sandra Hernandez Morais de Araújo - 2017.pdf: 3596744 bytes, checksum: 396468c02a05d61bf35172317ac7f3d7 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T14:45:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Sandra Hernandez Morais de Araújo - 2017.pdf: 3596744 bytes, checksum: 396468c02a05d61bf35172317ac7f3d7 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-05-30 / Introduction: The use of Psychoactive Substances (PS) brings problems in several areas of the subject's life such as: health, psychological and social. Epidemiological studies show that it is in the passage from childhood to adolescence that the use begins. In Brazil, the treatment is preferentially done in the Centers of Psychosocial Care and in them are offered psychosocial and pharmacological interventions and the combination of them. Pharmacological interventions can be used to stabilize, detoxify, ameliorate withdrawal symptoms and prevent relapse. The pharmacist plays an important role in the safe and effective use of medicines in children and adolescents, since it can prevent identifying, evaluating and intervening in problems related to pharmacotherapy. Objective: to analyze the use of drugs by users of the Psychosocial Care Center Alcohol and Drugs Infanto Juvenil 24 hours (CPCAD adi III). Methodology: an analytical and quantitative cross-sectional study, carried out by reviewing medical records. The medical records of users who were younger than 18 years of age and with prescription of medicines were included and the medical records that were not filled out were excluded. Potential drug interactions (PDI) were analyzed using the Micromedex® and Medscape® database. Descriptive and bi-and multivariate logistic regression analyzes were performed considering a statistically significant relationship p≤0.5. Results: Of the 159 records used in the study, 71.7% were male subjects with mean age of 16 ± 1.9 years, incomplete elementary schooling (88%) and the search for treatment occurred in 55, 3% by judicial measure. Among the diagnostic hypotheses, the most frequent were mental and behavioral disorders due to the use of multiple drugs and the use of other psychoactive substances (F19) 34.9% and mental and behavioral disorders associated with the use of cannabinoids (F12) With 17.2%. The age of first use of SP was on average 12.4 ± 1.90 years. The most used PS was Cannabis (37.2%). The most prescribed drugs were the N03A (antiepileptic) 39.94% and N05A (antipsychotic) 34.83%% groups. A total of 815 PDI were found per type of interaction, 352 drugcannabis, 139 drug-ethanol, 125 drug-foods, 99 drug-tobacco, 83 drug-drug, and 17 drug-cocaine. Regarding the severity of the PDI found, 59.4% were moderate, 23.8% were secondary, 15.7% were serious and 1.1% were contraindicated. The drugs that presented the most PDI were chlorpromazine (32.3%) and diazepam (19.6%). Conclusion: the adolescents were the majority of males, the diagnostic hypothesis that had the highest frequency was that of mental and behavioral disorder due to the use of SPA (F-19). The use of PS was on average at 12 years of age and the most consumed PS was marijuana. The most commonly prescribed drugs were valproic acid (30.63%) and chlorpromazine (20.72%). It was found of 815 PDI with 59.4% classified as moderate. The factor involved in polypharmacy was total PDI and among the factors involved in the occurrence of total PDI were: being studying and the amount of diagnostic hypothesis. In view of the high PDI index, the relationship with polypharmacy and a high number of diagnostic hypotheses, it is necessary to increase the attention of health professionals regarding the topic and the development of protocols to support decision making. / Introdução: o uso de Substâncias Psicoativas (SPA) acarretam problemas em diversas áreas da vida do sujeito tais como: na saúde, psicológicos e sociais. Estudos epidemiológicos mostram que é na passagem da infância para a adolescência que se inicia o uso. No Brasil, o tratamento é feito preferencialmente nos Centros de Atenção Psicossocial e neles são ofertadas intervenções psicossociais e farmacológicas e a combinação delas. As intervenções farmacológicas podem ser utilizadas para estabilizar, desintoxicar, melhora dos sintomas de abstinência e evitar recaídas. O farmacêutico exerce papel importante na utilização segura e eficaz de medicamentos em crianças e adolescentes, pois o mesmo pode prevenir identificar, avaliar e intervir nos problemas relacionados à farmacoterapia. Objetivo: analisar a utilização de medicamentos por usuários do Centro de Atenção Psicossocial Álcool e Drogas Infanto Juvenil 24 horas (CAPS adi III). Metodologia: estudo transversal analítico e quantitativo, realizado por meio da revisão de prontuários. Foram incluídos os prontuários dos usuários que eram menores de 18 anos de idades e com prescrição de medicamentos e foram excluídos os prontuários que não estavam devidamente preenchidos. As potenciais interações medicamentosas (PIM) foram analisadas por meio do banco de dados Micromedex® e Medscape®. Foram realizadas análises descritivas e de regressão logística bi e multivariada considerando relação estatística significante p≤0,5. Resultados: dos 159 prontuários utilizados no estudo, 71,7% eram sujeitos do sexo masculino com a média de idade de 16 ± 1,9 anos, escolaridade ensino fundamental incompleto (88%) e a busca pelo tratamento deu-se em 55,3% por medida judicial. Dentre as hipóteses diagnósticas, as que apresentaram maior proporção foram os transtornos mentais e comportamentais decorrentes do uso de múltiplas drogas e do uso de outras substâncias psicoativas (F19) 34,9% e transtornos mentais e comportamentais associados com o uso de canabinóides (F12) com 17,2%. A idade do primeiro uso de SPA foi em média de 12,4 ±1,90 anos. A SPA mais utilizada foi a Cannabis (37,2%). Os medicamentos mais prescritos foram os grupos N03A (antiepilépticos) 39,94% e N05A (antipsicóticos) 34,83%%. Foram encontradas 815 PIM e por tipo de interação, foram encontradas 352 medicamento-cannabis, 139 medicamento-etanol, 125 medicamentoalimento, 99 medicamento-tabaco, 83 medicamento-medicamento e 17 medicamento-cocaína. Em relação a gravidade das PIM encontradas foram 59,4% moderadas, 23,8% secundárias, 15,7% graves e 1,1% contraindicado. Os medicamentos que mais apresentaram as PIM foram a clorpromazina (32,3%) e o diazepam (19,6 %). Conclusão: os adolescentes eram a maioria do sexo masculino, a hipótese diagnóstica que teve a maior frequência foi a de transtorno mental e comportamental devido ao uso de SPA (F-19). O uso de SPA foi em média aos 12 anos de idade e a SPA mais consumida foi a maconha. Os medicamentos mais prescritos foram: ácido valpróico (30,63%) e clorpromazina (20,72%). Encontrou-se de 815 PIM com 59,4% classificadas como moderada. O fator envolvido na polifarmácia foi o total de PIM e dentre os fatores envolvidos na ocorrência do total PIM, foram: estar estudando e a quantidade de hipóteses diagnóstica. Diante do alto índice de PIM, a relação com polifarmácia e alto número de hipóteses diagnósticas, faz-se necessário maior atenção dos profissionais de saúde quanto ao tema e desenvolvimento de protocolos para suporte na tomada de decisão.