Deborah Goodall

Academic library non/low use and undergraduate student achievement : a preliminary report of research in progress

Purpose – This paper aims to report an ongoing investigation of library use at Huddersfield University that has identified a historical correlation between library usage and degree classification.Design/methodology/approach – Three sets of data – use of electronic resources, book loans, and visits to the library – when represented graphically show consistent amounts of no and low use at campus, academic school, degree‐type and course level. Combining these findings with data showing academic achievement raises the question: is there a positive correlation between library use and attainment?Findings – Understandably, library usage varies between academic schools and there are often pedagogic reasons for low usage, but it would appear that, in some subjects, students who “read” more, measured in terms of borrowing books and accessing electronic resources, achieve better grades.Research limitations/implications – Further work will focus on undergraduate, fulltime students at the main university campus.Practi...

Academic franchising: some pointers for improving practice

Academic franchising has provided opportunities for many thousands of students who would otherwise have been excluded from higher education. Yet, despite the continued presence of franchised courses, the approach has been, as far as possible, to make them fit in alongside traditional courses. Reports some of the work carried out by CERLIM at the University of Central Lancashire during the two‐year Library Support for Franchised Courses in Higher Education project, which was part‐funded by the British Library. Notes the differences in provision between college and university libraries and examines the student experience within this context. Identifies weakness in provision and describes the students’ coping strategies. Presents the practical implications of this work as suggestions to library managers for improving practice in the college and university libraries.

Research activities and UK public libraries: past imperfect, future tense?

Investigates current research activities in public library services. Draws from interviews with 20 chief librarians. Findings reinforce earlier perceptions and data about research activities in the sector. Analysis explores factors such as research purpose, role of corporate strategy, limitations imposed by lack of suitably trained staff, support and funding. Presents evidence that research activity and method is largely confined to “simpler” issues of operational service development and does not extend to “harder” research questions addressing the social and economic impact of the service. Concludes that the restricted research capacity may endanger the realisation of the strategic potential of the service.

Nursing workloads and activity in critical care: A review of the evidence

OBJECTIVES To review current methods for informing nurse workforce decisions in critical care. Many clinical outcomes are worse if staffing is inadequate. Workforce planning is usually according to guidelines developed from the opinions of expert groups. Objective systems for planning and distributing staff have been developed but their value is unclear. DESIGN A rapid review methodology was employed. REVIEW METHODS The search included research studies, guidelines and surveys within and outside United Kingdom since 1995. FINDINGS Thirty-two studies met eligibility criteria. Studies originated worldwide, with considerable work undertaken in the United Kingdom and Brazil. Two were large multicentre studies. Tools examined fell into three groups: those focused on the condition and needs of the patient, those focused on the number and time for nursing activities and those that also took account of psycho-social factors. Many tools were not used beyond their country of origin. CONCLUSION There is limited experience of using tools to determine nurse staffing. No one tool is likely to suit every application. More information is needed to clarify the practicalities of using the tools.