Contemporary Studies in Information Management, Policies, and Services – serie

Many reference librarians have been highly critical about unobtrusive evaluation studies. But can their opposition be justified? Or is it just a way to detract attention from serious shortcomings in reference service? How can government documents reference service, and reference service in general, be improved? Do librarians have enough general and subject-specific knowledge to provide informed and intelligent answers to reference questions? Would any business or non-profit organization be satisfied with the traditional 55 percent efficacy rate in reference service revealed by unobtrusive evaluation studies?Long a controversial topic in the specialized world of reference librarianship, unobtrusive evaluation is nevertheless a useful tool in gauging the degree to which reference librarians are effectively performing their jobs. Based on a nationwide study of government documents reference service in Canada, this book examines the broad philosophical implications of negative attitudes to unobtrusive evaluation studies within libraries. It also discusses what really happens when librarians make referrals to external sources. Drawing on the insights of such library educators as Margaret Hutchins, S. R. Ranganathan, and James Wyer, it also suggests overlooked ways that may help reference librarians deliver better reference service. Finally, it argues that such proposals as certification and recertification of reference librarians need to be seriously considered if librarians do not willingly take personal responsibility for improving their own knowledge levels.

The organizational world today has been characterized in various terms - turmoil, chaos, the age of paradox and unreason. Common to all these characterizations is that the conventional wisdom fails in responding to novel challenges triggered by the pervasive and radical change of organizations. Information, knowledge, information worker and information technology are at the epicenter of these changes and surprises. This book explores new organizational designs, such as, the network and virtual organization from the information perspective. In addition, proposed is a model of the nontraditional organization in which information work evolves around teams that directly serve customers. This model was put on a test, and elements of the nontraditional organization were identified in firms that have been around for quite some time - the public accounting industry, and specifically its technologically most advanced segment. The book aims at transferring experience and facilitating interest for methods of organizing suitable for the information age.

An examination of power paradigm controls, peer review and scholarly communication. It covers issues such as: silencing scholars within totalitarian and democratic forms of government; intellectual freedom, intellectual suppression, the big lie and the freedom to lie; and rhetoric versus reality.

An examination of power paradigm controls, peer review and scholarly communication. It covers issues such as: silencing scholars within totalitarian and democratic forms of government; intellectual freedom, intellectual suppression, the big lie and the freedom to lie; and rhetoric versus reality.

Search engines, subject gateways, descriptive metadata, Web cataloging--everyone is looking for ways to support information discovery and retrieval on the Internet. To become full partners in new digital access ventures, library and information professionals need to be familar with effective tools and stategies, and need to make decisions about what is appropriate for different resources, settings and communities. This book takes a look at what has been done in providing subject access to networked resources, and what is around the corner.Accompanies by ample illustrations and complementary online material, topics include: Metadata, as a potentiator of subject description; classification schemes and directories; alphabetical subject engines in all their variety; and trends in subject decription and access. A book directed to information professional, educators, and students involved in Web design, cataloging, indexing, reference, and information retrieval.