Anthony Shong-Yu Chow

Library Technology and User Services

Well, someone can decide by themselves what they want to do and need to do but sometimes, that kind of person will need some library technology and user services references. People with open minded will always try to seek for the new things and information from many sources. On the contrary, people with closed mind will always think that they can do it by their principals. So, what kind of person are you?

Domestic Violence Service Providers’ Technology Readiness and Information Needs

Technology-based applications hold promise as effective, efficient means of disseminating research- and practice-based information to professionals whose work relates to domestic violence. Other related uses of technology in the field have grown, including safety planning to address technology-related risks to victims and software programs being integrated into domestic violence agencies. However, to date, the levels of technology readiness and technology-related information needs of these professionals have received minimal research attention. This study involved a national survey of 471 professionals whose work addresses domestic violence. The findings demonstrate differences in professionals’ technology readiness based on key demographic and professional characteristics. They also reveal the most frequently noted information needs within this professional field. Implications for future research and practice are provided.

Privacy Coping and Information-Sharing Behaviors in Social Media: A Comparison of Chinese and U.S. Users

Although many studies examine privacy in social media settings, few studies examine privacy issues that may arise due to characteristics of user populations. This study compares privacy issues among social media users in the United States and China. It also explores privacy issues among users with different levels of Internet addiction and different online identity perceptions. In doing so, it identifies several populations that are more susceptible to privacy violations due to their online behaviors. The study finds that U.S. and Chinese users differ in their privacy coping and information-sharing behaviors. Chinese users may be at greater risk to privacy violations because of their online behaviors. Additionally, users addicted to social media and users with different online identities may be vulnerable to privacy violations. Potential explanations for these findings are provided and directions for future research are offered.

A community considers a Family Justice Center: perspectives of stakeholders during the early phases of development

Purpose– Family Justice Centers, or “one-stop shops” that enable domestic violence victims to access a range of services at one location, are becoming increasingly common. However, there is a limited body of research examining the outcomes and planning processes of these Centers. The early phases of planning Centers are critical to their initial and ongoing success. The purpose of this paper is to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approach– In total, 15 stakeholders in a community in the early phases of planning a Center were interviewed.Findings– Content analysis procedures were used to identify themes related to participants’ ideas about what the Family Justice Center should look like (e.g. services to include and perceived benefits and challenges for the Center), the steps required for planning it (e.g. identifying the purpose of the Center, getting key people involved, and building collaborations), and desired technologies.Originality/value– This paper is the first known research effort to examine the early phases of development in constructing a Family Justice Center.

Domestic Violence Service Providers’ Needs and Perceptions of Technology: A Qualitative Study

There is growing recognition of the need to better understand the intersections between the work of domestic violence service providers and technology. Professionals who work with clients impacted by domestic violence are increasingly using technologies across different aspects of their work, including communicating with other professionals and seeking information and resources via the Internet. The current study used qualitative data from two sources—individual interviews and two focus groups—to learn about domestic violence service providers’ needs and perceptions related to technology use. The results provide insights about technologies used currently, expected benefits of future technological advances, barriers to using technology, and participants’ self-rated levels of comfort with technology.

Getting to Where You Want to Go: Designing Information Systems and Using Your Data Through the Application of Analytics and Informatics

ABSTRACT This article, based on the closing session from the 2017 NC Serials Conference, describes a systems perspective where data serve as both real-time and summative information and knowledge about how an organization is performing, what services and resources its users are using and interacting with, and areas for which the organization is doing well or needs improvement. The author posits that data are most useful when the context is informed by clear goals that provide a direction to where the organization is and wants to be. Applied examples are discussed for several environments, including an academic department, school of education, regional libraries, and public libraries.

Designing a Responsive E-Learning Infrastructure: Systemic Change in Higher Education.

ABSTRACT As university administrators respond to increasing demands of the educational market to offer greater opportunities for online learning, their capacity to create an economically stable, sustainable, yet rich teaching and learning environment deserves immediate and continued attention. A university-wide study involving 130 participants examined the e-learning perceptions and needs of faculty, students, and staff as part of a needs assessment of the e-learning unit. Results suggest that faculty recognize the importance of e-learning, that students covet it for its convenience, and that real-time technology support was the top priority. Both the school and university resources, however, are not well aligned to meet these needs and remain largely separate and unintegrated. Implications suggest a need to increase the overall ease of use for the adoption of e-learning as a new technology for teaching and learning of both faculty and students and more closely aligned department and university resources.

Emerging technology trends in libraries

Where is library technology and automation headed in the next 10 years? This chapter provides an overview of current worldwide technology trends and the implications of these for libraries of today and tomorrow. Current and emerging technologies – such as e-books, e-readers, mobile computing, cloud computing, instructional literacy, and virtual worlds – are discussed. In addition, the concepts of pervasive usability and how to test that your technology is highly efficient, effective, and satisfying for your users are also explained in detail.

Strategic planning, organizational goals and technology: what and for whom?

Where does one begin in deciding what technology is best for one’s library? The close alignment between organizational and user goals is critical in identifying and implementing the appropriate technology solutions. This chapter walks step-by-step through the process of conducting a needs assessment and developing a strategic plan, and discusses the relationship between following the process and creating a world-class working environment for employees and users alike. Readers are provided with a blue-print for how to develop one on their own. Once a strategic plan is created that paints the strategic goals of both the organization and the users it hopes to serve, the appropriate technology to facilitate attainment of these goals can then be identified.

Technology and budgeting

Technology is expensive. How often should technology be replaced? This chapter discusses the basic budgeting process, the core concepts behind them such as ‘prevention vs. reaction’, ‘quality vs. quantity’, and ‘replacement vs. repair’. How to prioritize and the current budgeting trends for libraries are also discussed.