Frances E. Wood

An investigation of the impact of information and communication technologies in sub-Saharan Africa

Information and communication technologies (ICT) have been in use for over three decades in different settings in Africa, but the impact of ICT on users in the region is not well documented. This paper attempts to examine the impact of ICT in sub-Saharan Africa, based on a study using a grounded theory approach. It was aimed at understanding users within their ICT applications context. Four main aspects of the impact of ICT were identified: ‘Actual impact’, ‘Potential impact’, ‘Constraints’ and ‘Actions centred around users and their reactions’. The research indicates that an understanding of ICT users’ iterative and adaptive behaviour and their day-to-day pains in coping with problems of ICT in the local context is necessary for impact assessment. The constructionist behaviour in which individuals, organisations, professionals and groups map their world and situation, and the complex action and interaction between them, imposes the structure of ICT use. This paper discusses the impact of ICT in the context of its use and the concrete circumstances of the individuals involved and the tasks undertaken, together with historical and environmental perspectives.

A publication and citation analysis of the Department of Information Studies, University of Sheffield, 1980–1990

This paper discusses the citations to, and publica tions by, 10 members of the full-time academic staff of the Department of Information Studies, University of Sheffield. during the period 1980-1990. It is shown that departmental publications are cited by a very wide range of organisations and in many countries, with more citations in the social-sci ence literature than in the science literature. The journals in which publications or citations occur are in fair agreement with a previous study that considered UK information studies professors. The overlap in the citations to pairs of members of staff is not very large, providing some support for the idea that information studies should not be regarded as an inte grated discipline.

Follow-up study of graduates from the MSc Information Management programme at the University of Sheffield

This paper reports the principal results from a postal survey (response rate: 62%) of the students graduating from the MSc Information Management programme in the Department of Information Studies at the University of Sheffield in the years 1994-96. The most important conclusions to be drawn from the responses that were received are that: most of the graduates rapidly found employment in librarianship and information science, with the largest single group of students starting work in the industrial or commercial sectors; the most commonly occurring duties are database management and searching for information, with library skills being required for only a small fraction of their duties; the extensive restructurings that have occurred in many organisations have left the graduates largely unaffected; use of the Internet, practical computer skills and database design are the elements of most use in their postgraduate careers.

Scientists in Librarianship and Information Work a survey of former information studies students of the Postgraduate School of Librarianship and Information Science, University of Sheffield, I964-I973

A survey of the careers of scientists who graduated from the Postgraduate School of Librarian ship and Information Science between I965 and I973. Aspects considered include the stage at which the career choice was made, types of employment and mobility between types, geographical limitation and employment, duties undertaken, factors affecting job satisfaction/ dissatisfaction, reasons for changing posts, professional activities and wastage from the professions. The survey demonstrates that scientists obtained employment in a wide range of libraries and information units and showed considerable mobility between different sectors of employment and different types of librarianship and information work. The great majority were satisfied with their posts.

Research degrees in librarianship and information science a survey of master’s and doctoral students from the Department of Information Studies, University of Sheffield

This paper reports the results of a survey of the students from the Department of Information Studies, University of Sheffield who successfully completed research degrees (MA, MSc, MPhil or PhD) in librarianship or information science in the period 1968-96. An open-ended questionnaire was distributed to the 123 former students for whom a contact address was available, and usable responses were received from 66 students, giving a response rate of 54%. The questionnaire sought to identify publications derived directly and indirectly from the research programme, and the students’ views of the benefits and drawbacks that accrue from having carried out their research programme. A total of 393 publications were identified as arising directly from the research degrees, with these attracting at least 1593 citations, thus demonstrating the impact of research-degree work on the profession. Students predominantly take up employment in the academic sector, and find their research training invaluable in their subsequent career. The great majority (71%) of the respondents would recommend such training to others; the main problem identified is the lack of a long-term career structure for those wishing to enter the UK higher education system.

Scientists in librarianship and information work: II

Results of a questionnaire survey (93 per cent response) of the 1974 to 1978 MSc in Information Studies graduates of the University of Sheffield are compared with those of the 1975 Sheffield survey and others. There has been an increase in the proportion of graduates entering industry and commerce, polytechnics and public service and a decrease in the proportion entering universities or returning to UK posts. Respondents showed a high degree of mobility between sectors of employment. Half the posts involved computer applications. Their present post was considered satisfactory by 82% of respondents.

Case studies of the indexing and retrieval of pharmacology papers

This article reports a detailed analysis of the coverage and indexing of 30 papers on pharmacological topics by BIOSIS, CAsearch, EMbase, and MEDLINE online, and Biological Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts, Excerpta Medica, and Index Medicus printed versions. Only MEDLINE, Index Medicus, and EMbase had adequate coverage of letters. There was considerable variation in the indexing applied with drug formulations, drug syntheses, clinical trials, pharmacokinetics, drug synergy, and other pharmacological aspects of the papers often inadequately indexed. The value of natural language words in online searching was demonstrated.

Comparison of search techniques (printed and computerised) with specific reference to the RTECS databank

A comparative evaluation of three implementations of a large databank, the NIOSH Registry of Toxic Effects of Chem ical Substances, has been carried out. The three implementa tions are: a printed index, a text searching computer system, and a computerised chemical databank system, with substruc ture searching facilities. Seven test queries were used, with the aim of drawing conclusions of general relevance to chemical databank searching. The computer systems were shown to have advantages over printed indexes for several of the queries, including those involving an element of browsing. Substructure search facilities were especially advantageous. Aspects of indexing of data present, and the criteria for inclusion of types of data, were also highlighted.

Construction and housing information needs in the Third World: an international survey

This paper presents the methodology and findings of an international survey carried out in 1989 on the existing information needs and technical facilities of professionals in the field of construction and housing (448 responses from 92 different countries) The survey armed at the determination of future information services, and five guidelines for future database development in the area were determined, each illustrated with respondents quotations. The guidelines are (1) there is a substantial demand for an information system which allows for information exchange between professionals in the area of construction and housing: (2) for this informa tion system to be fully effective, it must be client-oriented; (3) for the system to be relevant, two approaches were suggested —the establishment of a regular horizontal information flow and the establishment of regional institutions acting as centres for information dissemination; (4) the issue of cost must be tackled since it was identified as one of the major constraints on the widespread use of electronic equipment, (5) the devel opment of such an information system must be carried out in co-operation with existing efforts in the area of information on the building and construction industry

Evaluations using test queries of chemical hazards databases and databanks

This paper consists of short reports on three projects which evaluated online chemical hazards services. Two were studies of bibliographical databases and one a study of databanks. Test queries were used in the evaluations. The chemical hazards bibliographic databases studied were HSEline, CISDOC, Laboratory Hazards Bulletin (LHB), Chemical Hazards in Industry (CHI), Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH), Safety Science Abstracts (SSA), EMBASE, BIOSIS, MEDLINE and CASearch. The main conclusion reached was that whilst all the databases included relevant references none provided comprehensive coverage for the test queries. HSEline produced the highest number of relevant references and LHB and CHI also performed well, but most of the other databases were useful for some of the queries. The chemical hazards databanks compared were RTECS (Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances), HSDB (Hazardous Substances Data Bank), OHMTADS (Oil and Hazardous Materials - Technical Assistance Data - system), BAKER, CHRIS (Chemical Hazards Response Information System) and CESARS (Chemical Evaluation Search and Re trieval System). The main conclusions of the evaluation were that HSDB gives the widest subject coverage and has the longest datasheets. Its coverage of animal toxicology is as good as that of RTECS. HSDB is the best source for human toxicity information and has the same amount or more information than BAKER and CHRIS on emergency actions. RTECS concentrates on toxic effects and has little information on physical/chemical properties, manufacture, emergency han dling, chemical reactions or explosive properties. OHMTADS does not contain first aid procedures but gives concise infor mation on other emergency actions. BAKER and CHRIS are useful for substance identification, waste management and emergency spill procedures.