Exploring the feasibility of applying data mining for library reference service improvement : a case study of Turku Main Library

Data mining, as a heatedly discussed term, has been studied in various fields. Its possibilities in refining the decision-making process, realizing potential patterns and creating valuable knowledge have won attention of scholars and practitioners. However, there are less studies intending to combine data mining and libraries where data generation occurs all the time. Therefore, this thesis plans to fill such a gap. Meanwhile, potential opportunities created by data mining are explored to enhance one of the most important elements of libraries: reference service. In order to thoroughly demonstrate the feasibility and applicability of data mining, literature is reviewed to establish a critical understanding of data mining in libraries and attain the current status of library reference service. The result of the literature review indicates that free online data resources other than data generated on social media are rarely considered to be applied in current library data mining mandates. Therefore, the result of the literature review motivates the presented study to utilize online free resources. Furthermore, the natural match between data mining and libraries is established. The natural match is explained by emphasizing the data richness reality and considering data mining as one kind of knowledge, an easy choice for libraries, and a wise method to overcome reference service challenges. The natural match, especially the aspect that data mining could be helpful for library reference service, lays the main theoretical foundation for the empirical work in this study. Turku Main Library was selected as the case to answer the research question: whether data mining is feasible and applicable for reference service improvement. In this case, the daily visit from 2009 to 2015 in Turku Main Library is considered as the resource for data mining. In addition, corresponding weather conditions are collected from Weather Underground, which is totally free online. Before officially being analyzed, the collected dataset is cleansed and preprocessed in order to ensure the quality of data mining. Multiple regression analysis is employed to mine the final dataset. Hourly visits are the independent variable and weather conditions, Discomfort Index and seven days in a week are dependent variables. In the end, four models in different seasons are established to predict visiting situations in each season. Patterns are realized in different seasons and implications are created based on the discovered patterns. In addition, library-climate points are generated by a clustering method, which simplifies the process for librarians using weather data to forecast library visiting situation. Then the data mining result is interpreted from the perspective of improving reference service. After this data mining work, the result of the case study is presented to librarians so as to collect professional opinions regarding the possibility of employing data mining to improve reference services. In the end, positive opinions are collected, which implies that it is feasible to utilizing data mining as a tool to enhance library reference service.

New Library-curated Faculty Profile Platform Launches Through bepress

As faculty needs evolve and become increasingly digital, libraries are feeling the pressure to provide relevant new services. At the same time, faculty members are struggling to create and maintain their professional reputations online. We at bepress are happy to announce the new SelectedWorks, the fully hosted, library-curated faculty profile platform that positions the library to better support faculty as well as the institution at large. Beverly Lysobey, Digital Commons and Resource Management Librarian, at Sacred Heart University, says: “Both faculty and administration have been impressed with the services we provide through SelectedWorks; we’re able to show how much our faculty really publishes, and it’s great for professors to get that recognition. We’ve had several faculty members approach us for help making sure their record was complete when they were up for tenure, and we’ve even found articles that authors themselves no longer had access to.” With consistent, organized, institution-branded profiles, SelectedWorks increases campus-wide exposure and supports the research mission of the university. As the only profile platform integrated with the fully hosted Digital Commons suite of publishing and repository services, it also ensures that the institution retains management of its content. Powerful integration with the Digital Commons platform lets the home institution more fully capture the range of scholarship produced on campus, and hosted services facilitate resource consolidation and reduces strain on IT. The new SelectedWorks features a modern, streamlined design that provides compelling display options for the full range of faculty work. It beautifully showcases streaming media, images, data, teaching materials, books – any type of content that researchers now produce as part of their scholarship. Detailed analytics tools let authors and librarians measure global readership and track impact for a variety of campus stakeholders: authors can see the universities, agencies, and businesses that are reading their work, and can easily export reports to use in tenure and promotion dossiers. Janelle Wertzbeger, Assistant Dean and Director of Scholarly Communications at Gettysburg College’s Musselman Library, says, “The new author dashboard maps and enhanced readership are SO GOOD. Every professor up for promotion & tenure should use them!” And of course, SelectedWorks is fully backed by the continual efforts of the bepress development team to provide maximum discoverability to search engines, increasing impact for faculty and institutions alike: Reverend Edward R. Udovic, Vice President for Teaching and Learning Resources at DePaul University, says, “In the last several months downloads of my scholarship from my [SelectedWorks] site have far surpassed the total distribution of all my work in the previous twenty five years.”

O cordel como fonte de informação: a vivacidade dos folhetos de cordeis no Rio Grande do Norte

GAUDENCIO, Sale Mario; BORBA, Maria do Socorro de Azevedo. O cordel como fonte de informaçao: a vivacidade dos folhetos de cordeis no Rio Grande do Norte. Biblioonline, Joao Pessoa, v.6, n. 1, p.82-92, 2010.

A percepção dos bibliotecários quanto ao sistema de administração de bibliotecas Argo: um estudo de caso na Universidade Federal do Rio Grande

O presente trabalho possuiu como tema um estudo a respeito da percepção dos bibliotecários do Sistema de Bibliotecas (SIB) da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG) quanto ao Sistema de Administração de Bibliotecas (ARGO). Convém dizer que na atualidade falar dos sistemas informatizados é buscar caminhos para um suporte melhor a informação e ampliar o acesso para os usuários. Assim, o objetivo geral deste trabalho foi investigar a percepção dos bibliotecários quanto ao sistema de administração de bibliotecas ARGO. Sendo os objetivos específicos identificar os bibliotecários que atuam junto ao sistema; conhecer a opinião dos pesquisados sobre o sistema utilizado; refletir, a luz da literatura sobre os resultados da pesquisa; e apresentar a direção do SIB os resultados, de modo a colaborar com o Sistema. Foi utilizado como metodologia uma pesquisa exploratória, quali-quantitativa e também um estudo de caso. Entre os principais resultados se destaca que o sistema não possui os atributos necessários para um bom funcionamento. Nas considerações se observou que durante um tempo o ARGO atendeu as necessidades da instituição, mas devido ao grande crescimento da universidade e do volume de trabalho, ele deixou a desejar.

Biblioteca Rio-Grandense: um estudo de caso sob o viés da educação patrimonial

Este trabalho buscou investigar a importância da educação patrimonial no processo de reconhecimento de bibliotecas históricas enquanto instituições patrimoniais e as possibilidades de atuação do profissional bibliotecário neste contexto, sendo o objeto de estudo desta pesquisa a Biblioteca Rio-Grandense, localizada na cidade de Rio Grande (RS). Nota-se que esta tem passado despercebida pela comunidade local, situação possivelmente explicada, segundo observações pessoais da autora, pelo comportamento da própria entidade, a qual denota pouca expressividade quanto a realização de atividades culturais, fato que possivelmente vem interferindo na relação e na possibilidade de maiores interações da mesma com a população entorno. Logo, esta pesquisa buscou averiguar quais têm sido as estratégias encontradas pela referida instituição para se fazer perceber junto à comunidade riograndina, especialmente sob o seu aspecto patrimonial. De caráter exploratóriodescritivo, seguindo uma abordagem qualitativa, assume a forma de estudo de caso. Para sua consecução se elaborou um questionário semiestruturado que foi aplicado no período de julho a agosto de 2015 junto às bibliotecárias e equipe gestora da Biblioteca Rio-Grandense, prosseguindo a tabulação e observação crítica das informações coletados adotando o método da Análise de Conteúdo. O conjunto de dados analisados implicou o surgimento de categorias temáticas: Temporalidade; Valor cultural sublimado; Pouco uso popular, quando se questionou se os sujeitos acreditavam que a Biblioteca Rio-Grandense seria reconhecida como elemento patrimonial pela comunidade local; Centralização do planejamento organizacional; Realização de atividades, acerca do planejamento estratégico e projetos para dar visibilidade popular à biblioteca e seu acervo; Serviços culturais restritos; Entrave financeiro, referente a quais ações culturais são executadas pela Biblioteca Rio Grandense; Práticas literárias; Uso do acervo; Público direcionado, relativas a quais atividades que desenvolveriam para divulgar a Biblioteca Rio-Grandense. Pensando ainda no aspecto da mediação cultural foram sugeridas algumas ações que a Biblioteca poderá empregar visando a uma maior aproximação e comunicação com a população local.

Biblioteca pública Delfina da Cunha: uma abordagem histórica (1972 a 2014)

A referente pesquisa possui como tema principal a Biblioteca Pública Delfina da Cunha: uma abordagem histórica (1972 a 2014), situada na cidade de São José do Norte - RS. Os sujeitos de pesquisa são as bibliotecárias Lizete Terezinha Santos Abreu e Sueli Thomazine, além das duas bibliotecárias teve a participação da funcionária Eliana Zogbi. Foi utilizado como método o estudo descritivo, e ainda como técnica de pesquisa uma abordagem de pesquisa quali-quantitativa para apresentar um breve estudo sobre a biblioteca pública, sob um prisma contextual. A ênfase na cultura, memória, identidade e ideologia, traçando o perfil da poetisa que foi uma das principais figuras para a história da Biblioteca, também são mencionadas os diferentes aspectos em que se constituiu a Biblioteca, analisando as influências que pode ter sobre a comunidade através das atividades de leitura, pesquisa e extensão. A pesquisa relaciona os diferentes períodos sucedidos na Biblioteca tendo a frente na administração diferentes funcionários, sendo assim, a proposta que norteou esse estudo e pesquisa aponta como objetivo principal apresentar uma abordagem histórica da Biblioteca Pública Delfina da Cunha através do tempo (1972 a 2014), buscando documentos que comprovem os diferentes períodos trabalhados pelas funcionárias frente a administração.

Facebook como red de profesionales de bibliotecología, documentación y archivística en Iberoamérica

Resultados de un análisis cualitativo-cuantitativo del uso que los profesionales y organizaciones relacionadas con la bibliotecología, la documentación y la archivística de Iberoamérica están haciendo de Facebook, comparado con otras plataformas de redes sociales. Más que para relacionarse con amigos y familiares, es una herramienta adecuada para crear comunidad, y establecer intercambios y contactos profesionales y laborales. Se confirma la tendencia cultural y tecnológica de personas que buscan cada vez más la “convergencia”, entendida como la posibilidad de utilizar y adaptar una herramienta tecnológica para diferentes fines, es decir, utilizar Facebook tanto como medio de interacción social (amigos, familiares, compañeros de estudio, etc.), como para interacciones profesionales-laborales, compartiendo así diferentes roles.

Current findings from research on professional librarian skills development and needs in Brazil

This paper presents reflections on the outcome of a research project conducted at the School of Communications and Arts of the University of São Paulo, regarding librarian training, their field of expertise and the need for continued education. The methodological design compiled in the research project involved planning-presenting project, and developing the questionnaire for data collection. The electronic form was applied to an intentionally random, stratified sample of 18,374 active librarians throughout Brazil, totalling 3,320 responses that were statistically treated and compiled. Once the data was collected using the electronic forms, we analysed the collected information and the literature, cleansed the information and standardized the bibliographic records and statistical processing of data that formed the results presented in this research project. As the world gets more sophisticated and diversified, the competence required of the professional librarian, which in a first stage is highly technical – remembering that it is impossible to dispose of or move forward without it being well established – grows and includes other important responsibilities in the new organizational environment. We must work towards a holistic qualification, valuing management, methodological, cultural, multidisciplinary and systemic skills – all highlighted in the economy of knowledge.

DOCUMENTS ANALYSIS DATABASE ON ETHNIC GROUPS CONTROL OF INDIGENOUS DOCUMENTARY OF COSTA RICA 1979-2003

One way to do a bibliometric study is to examine each of the records that make up a database, each record and extract key areas that may disclose relevant information about the use of the database and documents in the collection . This article shows how a reference database allows to obtain important data that can reach conclusions that in some cases surprising. For this study we used the following fields of Database Control Documentary Indigenous Nationalities of Costa Rica 1979-2003: author, place of publication, publisher, year, language and support. The database analyzed has two thousand records and was developed in the Winisis. Moreover, analysis of documents was made after processing of the data, which was to export records to Excel software Winisis. After this information extracted from their chosen fields and are held by their respective separate chart or graph to present the results obtained. Furthermore, we show the application of different methods to learn more about the scientific aspects as: the Price Index, the Index of Collaboration This contribution will, first, for (as) students in the course of the race Metric Studies of Library and Information Science, National University, demonstrate and practice what you learned in this area. They may also benefit the (as) professionals from different areas, such as anthropologists (as), sociologists (as), linguists and librarians (as), among others (as).

LIBRARY: A DEFINITION FROM ANOTHER CONTEXT

This essay presents a series of discussions revolving around the discipline of library professionals who are trained in it.It covers the concept of Library from the formal point of view, contributed by some authors and dictionaries, but also from the particular vision of the author, who conceptualized from the working level, academy, research and daily contact with users.Therefore, it is a short journey from the traditional to the current reality with the inclusion of information technology and communication. But above all, a journey of a very personal feel.

METADATOS PARA LA SOCIEDAD DE LA INFORMACIÓN: ENCONTRANDO LA AGUJA EN EL PAJAR

Los metadatos son llaves para la categorización de información en los servicios digitales. En esencia se trata de catalogación y clasificación de información y su uso constituye una de las mejores prácticas en la gestión de información y de la misma manera que los catálogos y OPAC’s impacta en mejores servicios a los usuarios sean éstos de bibiotecas virtuales, e-gobierno, e-aprendizaje o e-salud; asimismo son la base para futuros desarrollos como la Web Semántica.El tema es de particular interés a los bibliotecarios ya que como organizadores del conocimiento conocen los esquemas de clasificación, reglas de registro de datos como las AACR2 y vocabularios especializados. En este documento se manejan algunos conceptos básicos al respecto y se comentan los pasos que América Latina está dando en este tema global.

Editorial

Con sumo agrado hacemos entrega de esta edición del Boletín Bibliotecas, el cual es un instrumento de comunicación científica que pretende compartir experiencias académicas construidas conjuntamente, investigaciones, conocimientos, ideas y problemas por resolver.En este número del Boletín se incluye el discurso del señor Rector de la Universidad Nacional en el Seminario Centroamericano sobre los Manifiestos de IFLA/UNESCO para Bibliotecas Públicas, Escolares e Internet, un evento que hace historia en el desarrollo de la bibliotecología en el país, por ser la primera vez que IFLA se reúne en Costa Rica. Se resalta el trabajo que realiza la Escuela de Bibliotecología, Documentación e Información y se enfatiza en la importancia de la realización de este evento y de los manifiestos, que invitan y orientan a los bibliotecólogos y bibliotecólogas, a trabajar en equipo, a colaborar y se constituyen en el camino para que el conocimiento pueda viajar y trascender hacia un futuro. 

Libraries and open access: the implications of open-access publishing and dissemination for libraries in higher education institutions

This chapter discusses the consequences of open-access (OA) publishing and dissemination for libraries in higher education institutions (HEIs). Key questions (which are addressed in this chapter) include: 1. How might OA help information provision? 2. What changes to library services will arise from OA developments (particularly if OA becomes widespread)? 3. How do these changes fit in with wider changes affecting the future role of libraries? 4. How can libraries and librarians help to address key practical issues associated with the implementation of OA (particularly transition issues)? This chapter will look at OA from the perspective of HE libraries and will make four key points: 1. Open access has the potential to bring benefits to the research community in particular and society in general by improving information provision. 2. If there is widespread open access to research content, there will be less need for library-based activity at the institution level, and more need for information management activity at the supra-institutional or national level. 3. Institutional libraries will, however, continue to have an important role to play in areas such as managing purchased or licensed content, curating institutional digital assets, and providing support in the use of content for teaching and research. 4. Libraries are well-placed to work with stakeholders within their institutions and beyond to help resolve current challenges associated with the implementation of OA policies and practices.

O! She doth teach the torches to burn bright: How JULIET can help authors and repository advocates.

JULIET is a service provided by SHERPA. Its mission is to provide a brief summary of each funding agency’s policy on self-archiving of the published research they have funded. Each entry covers the requirements and details: -Whether archiving is mandatory or encouraged, -What should be deposited -Within what time frame this deposit should take place -Where articles should be deposited -Any conditions attached to this deposit. JULIET interacts with other services such as RoMEO, which listed publisher policies on self-archiving. JULIET is being developed to include funding agency’s policies on open access to data.

Open Access through the Depot

The mission of "the Depot" is to provide a service that enables all UK academics to share in the benefits of open access exposure for their post-print research outputs. It does this by providing a national intake and storage facility - the Depot - for use by any UK academic in Higher Education. This article describes the Depot and the service it provides.