Gary E. Gorman

Managing information resources in libraries : collection management in theory and practice

1. Managing information resources in context 2. Collection management and collection development policies 3. Conspectus 4. Resource sharing and co-operative collection development 5. Selection: policies and procedures 6. Selection resources 7. Acquisitions processes and procedures 8. Budget management 9. Collection evaluation and review 10. Preservation and weeding 11. The literature of collection management - Adela Clayton.

Core competencies in information management education

Core competencies have long been discussed and developed in the literature of library science education and information systems education. However, for information management, a blending of these two disciplines, there has been much less discussion of core competencies. The purpose of this paper is to consolidate the sparse literature on information management educational competencies and to suggest a set of core competencies and educational outcomes that might be applied to curricula in both developed and developing countries.

Information and digital literacy: a stumbling block to development?: A Pakistan perspective

Purpose – The paper aims to explore the overall state of information and digital illiteracy (IDL) in developing countries and how it hampers the growth of individuals and nations. The case of Pakistan is to be used as an example to illustrate the endemic state of poor information and digital literacy. It also aims to discuss the general drawbacks to effective IDL in developing Asian countries.Design/methodology/approach – To achieve the objectives of the study, the literature review and result of Pakistan‐based surveys are used to indicate the state of IDL among university students and faculty in one country while integrating these findings with discussion.Findings – It was found that in Pakistan, as elsewhere, IL/IDL practice and training are not the norm in libraries or in education; they are not operational priorities. The low level of IL/IDL among the educated classes contributes to the status quo of information illiterate citizens. It also establishes that becoming “critical consumers” of information...

A tale of information ethics and encyclopædias; or, is Wikipedia just another internet scam?

Purpose – This paper seeks to look at the question of accuracy of content regarding Wikipedia and other internet encyclopaedias.Design/methodology/approach – By looking at other sources, the paper considers whether the information contained within Wikipedia can be relied on to be accurate.Findings – Wikipedia poses as an encyclopaedia when by no stretch of the definition can it be termed such; therefore, it should be subject to regulation.Originality/value – The paper highlights the issue that, without regulation, content cannot be relied on to be accurate.

“They can't read, but they sure can count”: Flawed rules of the journal rankings game

Purpose – The purpose of this short paper is to focus on the parallel games of journal rankings and citation counts.Design/methodology/approach – The paper analyses journal ranking and citation procedures.Findings – Journal rankings can often reflect personal bias, and therefore can be flawed.Originality/value – The paper highlights the differences in ranking journals and citations, globally.

Giving way to Google

Purpose – This paper aims to look into why there is an increasing number of library clients that are deserting their traditional knowledge store for something that is much more user‐friendly – Google.Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on the authors own knowledge and expertise.Findings – Opines that there is no contest in the head‐to‐head battle for information services supremacy and that Google Scholar, with its information “now” and “fast” beats others hands down.Originality/value – This paper will be of interest to researchers and academics and those in the information field.

Editorial: Is the wiki concept really so wonderful?

Purpose – To provide a brief viewpoint on wikis. A wiki is a web site that allows – and encourages – users to share information by freely writing new content, adding to existing content, and editing or commenting on content. Design/methodology/approach – An opinion piece based on the authors own experiences. Findings – Reflecting the chaotic nature of the web world in which wikis exist, the reality of the situation is that they often do not operate in a positive environment. The authors experience as a wiki participant on several occasions has been far from positive. Originality/value – Provides advice to users of wikis: use with caution.

Internet use in South Korea

This paper provides an insight into how South Koreans access the Internet and use Internet services such as banking and commerce. The paper shows overall Internet use in relation to users and their behaviour, and presents data on Internet services such in banking and e‐commerce. Data are taken from reports issued by the Korean Network Information Centre in 2002

Investigating KM antecedents: KM in the criminal justice system

Purpose – The specific aim of this paper is to explore the multi‐disciplinary academic antecedents of KM in order to better understand KM. By doing so, it is suggested that KM can be more effectively applied in real‐world situations, such as professional occupations.Design/methodology/approach – The approach is conceptual: five core antecedents of KM – philosophy, sociology, psychology, computing and information systems, and management – are explored and associated with the criminal investigation process.Findings – KM antecedents can be applied to the professional discipline of criminal investigation to create a conceptual model of knowledge management for the criminal investigative process. The model offers guidance on ways in which KM can be understood in terms of the criminal investigative process.Research limitations/implications – KM has been considered a somewhat nebulous subject, so there is value in exploring its multidisciplinary roots to gain a better understanding of it and how it can be more e...

Models and opportunities for library co‐operation in the Asian region

This paper discusses evolving trends in library co‐operation against the backdrop of practices in various Asian countries. Having first reviewed the rationale for co‐operation and both barriers and positive factors, the authors then present an overview of various models for co‐operation, a discussion of key features in successful co‐operative ventures and viewpoints on how such ventures might be managed.