IFLA Journal recent issues

Reading, Information Literacy and Professional Development

Parker, S. — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:33:52 PDT

Nunavut and the Inuit Peoples

Salaff, S. — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:33:52 PDT

The President's Page

Lux, C. — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:33:52 PDT

Reading Sources and Reading Spaces in Honduras

Adkins, D. — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:33:52 PDT

Though literacy is often presented as a universal and monolithic achievement, it is in fact context-dependent, and largely dependent upon the kinds of texts available in a particular community. This paper presents an observer’s study of reading in Honduras, focusing particularly on the availability of reading materials and spaces dedicated to reading and literacy practices. Environments studied included bookstores, libraries, schools, and Internet cafés, as well as streets and shops. Reading books was observed to be relatively uncommon and primarily done in an educational context. Other reading materials, including newspapers, magazines, and text messages, were far more commonly used and far better integrated into the Honduran society. My observations suggest that libraries could play an important supporting role in Honduras’ efforts to establish universal literacy.

Information Literacy and Scholarly Investigation: a British perspective

Shenton, A. K. — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:33:52 PDT

The phrase, ‘information literacy’, is now well established in library and information science but it is much less familiar to practitioners in other disciplines, even those upon which information literacy impinges. It has yet to gain any significant coverage in education, for example, despite the fact that teaching the basic principles associated with the concept can help learners when undertaking various forms of scholarly work. This paper considers the often overlooked links between information literacy, scientific inquiry and the generic research process, and concludes by advocating that education in schools would benefit from concentrating on the axioms that underpin all three areas. Nonetheless, the author recognizes problems inherent in such a stance. In particular, he notes that activities which may be believed to lead to the acquisition of information literacy are frequently undermined in schools by detrimental attitudes and practices, some of which give priority to other concerns.

Our Space: professional development for new graduates and professionals in Australia

Bradley, F., Dalby, A., Spencer, A. — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:33:52 PDT

This paper explores the changing work environment in libraries and information management and the impact on new professionals and new graduates. New graduates need to have their own support networks and targeted professional development to successfully navigate job and sector changes and to gain transferable skills. The development and structure of a targeted professional development event, the New Librarians’ Symposium, is discussed. This successful event, held in Australia biennially, could be considered a model of targeted professional development for other professional associations and groups.

Open Access Repositories in Computer Science and Information Technology: an evaluation

Bhat, M. H. — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:33:52 PDT

The study reports evaluation of nine Open Access Repositories in the field of Computer Science and IT. The repositories were identified from the OpenDOAR; directory of Open Access repositories (http://www.open doar.org/). Questionnaires were sent via e-mail to repository administrators to ascertain the background, resources, content management policies, preservation policies, rights management, promotion, advertisement, services, feedback and access statistics of the repositories. The findings revealed that most of the repositories are maintained by 1—2 faculty members on a part-time basis. The most popular software platform is Eprints, on account of its excellent support, ease of installation, transparency of interfaces, configurability, OAI compliance and active development. Most of the repositories follow policies for selection of content and submission of documents, have provision for withdrawal of content by the authors and voluntary faculty deposit policies. Although backups are taken for short term preservation of the content, no strategies have been adopted for long term preservation. Authors are responsible for ensuring copyright compliance of their articles in most of the repositories. Links are provided from library or departmental websites to most of the repositories for promotion and advertisement. Most of the repositories have provision for feedback from users. A few repositories provide access statistics. The paper provides recommendations for the establishment and management of OA repositories.

The Library Services to People with Special Needs Section of IFLA: an historical overview

Panella, N. — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:33:52 PDT

The Library Services to People with Special Needs Section of IFLA was founded in 1931 as the Sub-committee on Hospital Libraries. It was the first sub-committee IFLA formed for a special user group, that is, hospitalized people who could not use external libraries. The young sub-committee soon saw, however, that due to a range of disabilities often secondary to the cause of hospitalization, some patients required special reading aids, for example, sensory or mobility aids. Those needs also became evident among community members, confined or not. Wanting to address them, the sub-committee expanded its focus overtime to include people who, for whatever reason, could not use conventional libraries, materials and services. This paper traces the sub-committee’s evolution from sub-committee, to committee, to sub-section, and finally section that today promotes library resources and services for a broad range of special needs people. Its growth in part reflects the expansion of the Federation itself.

Indian Library Association International Conference 2008: a report

Swain, N.K., Kumar, S. — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:33:52 PDT

News

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:33:52 PDT

International Calendar

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:33:52 PDT

Sommaires

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:33:52 PDT

Focus on IFLA

Parker, S. — Fri, 22 May 2009 01:06:42 PDT

The President's Page

Lux, C. — Fri, 22 May 2009 01:06:42 PDT

Libraries in Italy: a brief overview

Guerrini, M., Frigimelica, G. — Fri, 22 May 2009 01:06:42 PDT

The Italian library network is complex and difficult to explain. This article reports some characteristics of this system, that comprises State, university, special, public, school and ecclesiastical libraries, foundations and privately owned structures. An overview of the main historical features is given, as well as present-day major trends, such as education, legislation, new library projects, etc. Concludes with proposals for new national services.

Stimulating IFLA's Ethical Conscience: FAIFE 2003--2009

Sturges, P. — Fri, 22 May 2009 01:06:42 PDT

Reviews the activities of the Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE) programme of IFLA from 2003 to 2009, based on three types of activity: intervention, education, and advocacy. FAIFE is still prepared to intervene in cases of threat to the stock, services and staff of libraries, but this was not the predominant form of activity during the period. With the aid of a grant from Swedish Sida, FAIFE has developed an education programme consisting of workshops using specially written sets of learning materials. These first dealt with the IFLA/UNESCO Internet Manifesto and Access to HIV/AIDS Information. Further sets of learning materials, on Libraries and Transparency, and Public Access to Health Information, have since been developed. The workshops, facilitated by FAIFE trainers, train local trainers to disseminate the message more widely in their own country and region. The centre of FAIFE's advocacy work has had the creation of the IFLA Manifesto on Transparency, Good Governance and Freedom from Corruption. A model of participative policy development, leading into training workshops, and a consequent strengthening of the advocacy capacity of the library profession can now be identified.

Global Library Statistics

Ellis, S., Heaney, M., Meunier, P., Poll, R. — Fri, 22 May 2009 01:06:42 PDT

When IFLA needed reliable data about libraries and their services worldwide, it became apparent that there are no such data. Therefore, the IFLA Section on Statistics and Evaluation, the UNESCO Institute for Statistics and the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) committee TC 46 SC 8 `Quality — statistics and performance evaluation' have joined forces in order to develop and test a new set of statistics that might be used by libraries worldwide. The final goal is that these statistics should be collected regularly on a national basis, so that there will be reliable and internationally comparable data of library services and library use.

Diffusion of Professional Norms: the impact of IFLA in South Africa

Underwood, P. G. — Fri, 22 May 2009 01:06:42 PDT

A study of the impact of the work of IFLA, including its role in the development of information literacy programmes, on the profession in South Africa, based on the views of South African professionals attending the World Library and Information Congress, 73rd IFLA General Conference, held in Durban, 19—23 August 2007. A series of focus group and other interviews was used. Themes arising from the discussions are:

• That IFLA has a strong role to play in advice, guidance, and the development of standards; its role in national policy development is necessarily limited.

• That the Congress is an important meeting place and its proceedings a source of inspiration to those who have come with a `prepared mind'.

• That the influence of its work and proceedings could be greater if it were communicated in accessible forms in partnership with existing publications such as the IFLA Journal .

• That, for the younger professional, seeking to become involved, IFLA is a daunting organization.

The School Library Development Programme in Pallisa District, Uganda: an impact study

Magara, E., Batambuze, C. — Fri, 22 May 2009 01:06:42 PDT

This study establishes the impact of the School Library Development Programme (SLDP) of the East African Book Development Association (EABDA) on the beneficiary schools in Pallisa District. The study was financed with funds provided by the Guust van Wesemael Literacy Prize, awarded by IFLA to the National Book Trust of Uganda in 2007. Data were collected from implementers and participants in the Pallisa District project including teachers, children, head teachers, teacher librarians and the District Education Office. It was established that there was significant utilization of (a) the skills acquired from the training and (b) the donation of books, in the management of collections and use of the library. Although schools had put in place strategies for enabling children to borrow and read books, the absence of purpose-built libraries with adequate seating facilities and space has limited children's abilities to use the library and enjoy reading in schools. There is a need for a comprehensive school library development programme to guide interventions for stocking school libraries with relevant books and promoting reading practices.

Information Literacy in Students Entering Higher Education in the French Speaking Community of Belgium: lessons learned from an evaluation

Thirion, P., Pochet, B. — Fri, 22 May 2009 01:06:42 PDT

Although universities are providing more and more information literacy training for their undergraduate students, the students' real level of information literacy at the beginning of their studies has never been assessed. Hence EduDOC has decided to team up with the CIUF `Library' Commission in order to organize a wide study aiming at objectively describing this initial level of information literacy, at identifying the students' main weaknesses, as well as allowing instructors to adjust their training on this basis. The questionnaire was based on a similar study carried out in Québec and contains 20 questions grouped in five themes relating to information search steps. It was sent in September 2007 to a random sample of students entering a higher education institution in the French Speaking Community of Belgium for the first time. The students' rather poor results confirm that organizing an information literacy program is imperative if students are to perform well in their studies.

Effective Mentoring

Freedman, S. — Fri, 22 May 2009 01:06:42 PDT

Effective mentoring is essential to the growth and success of librarianship in all types of library. This paper considers the possibilities for fostering mentoring activities among early career librarians, mid-career transitional librarians, and non-professional library workers. First, the paper describes existing studies to illuminate the urgency of mentoring activities to address the diminishing number of librarians and changing librarianship in the workforce as well as to support ongoing staffing needs. Secondly, it documents the academic library and professional organizations' typical mentoring activities including their extensiveness and limits. The paper focuses on academic librarians in a university setting. Thirdly, the article describes one librarian's mentoring activities to support and encourage beginning librarians to advance their careers in library and information science, to become active members of professional associations and to think about possible leadership roles. The paper concludes with (a) an account of how the author's own mentoring/mentee roles have influenced her professional direction and (b) linking effective mentoring to library leadership. It demonstrates how the effective mentor will help the mentee not only to navigate the maze of professional organizations and committees, but also to achieve a more global understanding of the platform of libraries without borders.

IFLA and Language Diversity

Kapnisi, S. — Fri, 22 May 2009 01:06:42 PDT

International Conference of Asian Special Libraries (ICoASL 2008): Report

Bihani, S. K. — Fri, 22 May 2009 01:06:42 PDT

News: From the Secretariat

Fri, 22 May 2009 01:06:42 PDT

International Calendar

Fri, 22 May 2009 01:06:42 PDT

Sommaires

Fri, 22 May 2009 01:06:42 PDT

Editorial: A Selection from Quebec

Parker, S. — Tue, 01 Mar 2005 00:00:00 PST

Letters to the editor: IFLA, Human Rights, and Social Responsibility

Deschamps, C., Law, D., Kagan, A. — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:07:40 PST

The President's Page

Lux, C. — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:07:40 PST

The Sidewalk Is Our Reference Desk: when librarians take to the streets

Friedman, L. G., Morrone, M. — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:07:40 PST

Radical Reference is a volunteer-run collective that provides free reference and instruction services to independent journalists, political activists and the public online (http://radicalreference.info) and in person at protests and political events. In our online setting a highly collaborative, multilingual, volunteer community uses open source tools to answer questions in a constantly evolving conversation, while at protests and actions `Street librarians' armed with tailor-made `Ready Reference Kits' are connected via cell phone to home support librarians who provide synchronous help. In both contexts we strive to reach an underserved population who may have limited access to trusted information.

Mass Digitization for Research and Study: the digitization strategy of the Bavarian State Library

Ceynowa, K. — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:07:40 PST

The Bavarian State Library is one of the largest European research libraries. The Library`s unique collection profile is characterized by extremely precious manuscripts, rare printed books and comprehensive special collections from thousands of years of cultural heritage. Responding to the challenges of the digital age, it is a primary strategic objective of the Bavarian State Library to digitize as soon as possible its unique collections, which are a good part of written cultural heritage, and to make them usable for the world. Aiming for this strategic objective, the library undertakes several large-scale digitization projects, which will bring more than 1.2 million books online during the next few years. The deployment of state-of-the-art robotic scanners as well as a public-private partnership with Google which are part of this digitization strategy are described in detail. The implications for the future role of libraries — especially as `bricks and books' institutions — in the rapidly changing information landscape is also briefly discussed.

The Biodiversity Heritage Library: sharing biodiversity literature with the world

Gwinn, N. E., Rinaldo, C. — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:07:40 PST

Ten major natural history museum libraries, botanical libraries, and research institutions in the United Kingdom and the United States joined in 2005 to develop a strategy and operational plan to digitize the published literature of biodiversity held in their respective collections and to make that literature available for open access and responsible use as a part of a global `biodiversity commons.' Headquartered at the Smithsonian Institution Libraries, the Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL) is one of the cornerstones of the Encyclopedia of Life, a global effort to document all 1.8 million named species of animals, plants, and other forms of life on earth. This paper provides an overview of the BHL and its potential impact on biodiversity research, describes the BHL portal and its innovative search services, and provides a case study of the process from one of the members: the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University.

eBooks on Demand (EOD): a European digitization service

Muhlberger, G., Gstrein, S. — Tue, 01 Mar 2005 00:00:00 PST

Within the framework of the European Union funded project Digitization on Demand (2006—2008), the eBooks on Demand service (EOD) is currently available in more than eighteen libraries in ten countries. EOD enables users to order public domain books as PDF eBooks. The requested books are digitized, delivered as an eBook and saved long-term in a digital library. The EOD service is implemented within the framework of a network. The individual library is responsible for the processing of the order and the digitization. The ordering of eBooks, delivery to the customer, electronic payment and automatic text recognition even for old and gothic font texts are supported through a central database with web access. The basic advantages of the network lie on the one hand in the reduced workload of individual libraries and on the other hand in the recognition value of the EOD service for the user and the public.

Ikajarutit: delivering legislative library services in an Inuktitut language environment

Earle, Y. — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:07:40 PST

Nunavut Territory came into existence April 1, 1999. From the outset it was seen as a chance to shape institutions to preserve Inuit language, culture and tradition. No other Canadian province or territory has a majority of people speaking a single aboriginal language and it is a goal of the Government of Nunavut that by 2020 Inuktitut will be the working language of government. In this environment, the Legislative Library works to build collections, deliver services and develop staff competencies in Inuktitut language and library skills.

Delivering a Strategy for Working with Maori, and Developing Responsiveness to an Increasingly Multicultural Population: a perspective from the National Library of New Zealand

Mohi, J. H., Roberts, W. D. — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:07:40 PST

Outlines the role and responsibilities of the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa in a country with a bi-cultural foundation and a multicultural national community. The Library's plan for responsiveness to Maori — `Te Kaupapa Mahi Tahi: a Plan for Partnership' builds on traditional library services and products by developing new electronic services including digitization for access and preservation, through a power-sharing relationship with Maori. A Maori perspective is maintained through a national consultative and facilitative process. New avenues for collaboration between the National Library and other national and local government policy developers are indicated and examples of the Library's working relationships with iwi (tribes) are provided. The Library's collaboration with Pasifika, Asian, refugee and migrant communities in New Zealand is outlined. These activities are linked to the `New Generation National Library' strategy, which is designed to provide all New Zealanders with information important to all aspects of their lives. Issues and challenges for the future are also noted..

Third Meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), Hyderabad, India

Bihani, S. K., Hamilton, S. — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:07:40 PST

News

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:07:40 PST

International Calendar

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:07:40 PST

Sommaires

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:07:40 PST

Focus on Quebec

Parker, S. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:18:33 PST

The President's Page

Lux, C. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:18:33 PST

Congres mondial des bibliotheques et de l'information Quebec, 2008: Discours d'ouverture par le gouverneur general du Canada

Jean, M. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:18:33 PST

World Library and Information Congress, Quebec, 2008: opening address by the Governor General of Canada

Jean, M. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:18:33 PST

World Library and Information Congress, Quebec, 2008: opening address by the President of IFLA

Lux, C. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:18:33 PST

Libraries and the First Nations People of Canada

Bartleman, J. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:18:33 PST

Plenary address presented at the World Library and Information Congress: 74th IFLA General Conference And Council, 10—14 August 2008, Québec City, Canada. Describes the author's childhood as a member of the First Nations People of Canada and his discovery of the value of books and libraries. Describes the social conditions of young people living in poor First Nation communities in Canada and his efforts to establish libraries, summer reading camps, reading clubs and creative writing literary awards for children and youth in these communities.

Libraries Driving Access to Knowledge: a discussion paper

Tise, E. R., Raju, R., Masango, C. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:18:33 PST

Libraries are critical contributors to knowledge generation. The paper provides a brief examination of the evolution of libraries and their contribution to literacy and information provision and access to that information. However, the mode of access has significantly changed, which has brought with it a different set of challenges. These include, among others, the dismantling of barriers to access in an era of information explosion and the moral obligation to drive access to knowledge and information. This paper was prepared as a discussion document for the Presidentelect's Brainstorming Session held at the recent IFLA World Library and Information Congress in Québec City, Canada on 12 August 2008.

World Library and Information Congress, Quebec, 2008: closing address by the President of IFLA

Lux, C. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:18:33 PST

The Public Library in Contemporary Nigeria: challenges and the way forward

Opara, U. N. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:18:33 PST

This paper examines the state of public libraries in Nigeria. It states that the tempo of public library development in the country in the years immediately after independence, and after the Nigerian civil war could not be sustained due to inadequate financial support by the establishing authorities. The paper identifies inadequate funding, demoralized and inadequate workforce, inadequate accommodation, etc. as the challenges currently confronting these libraries. It proposes a remediation of these conditions as a way forward.

Building for the Future: National and Academic Libraries from Around the Globe: report on a conference held in The Hague 3--5 October 2007

Latimer, K., Cranfield, A. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:18:33 PST

Secretary General's Report to Council, 2008

Lor, P. J. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:18:33 PST

IFLA's New Transparency, Good Governance and Freedom from Corruption Manifesto: background and rationale

Sturges, P. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:18:33 PST

World Library and Information Congress, Quebec, 2008: `Libraries on the Agenda' -- Report on the President's Session

Mahnke, C. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:18:33 PST

Reports on Special Group Meetings in Quebec

Garcia-Febo, L. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:18:33 PST

The New IFLA Website

Lemstra, S. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:18:33 PST

Policy and Plans

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:18:33 PST

International Calendar

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:18:33 PST

Sommaires

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:18:33 PST