John Crawford

Use and awareness of electronic information services by academic staff at Glasgow Caledonian University

The present study reports on the use of electronic information services by staff at GCU. It is part of a wider study which reports on usage by both staff and students. It builds on previous work at Leeds Metropolitan University, and as the user population at GCU is well understood the outcomes contain useful baseline data for comparison. It reports on the views of 97 respondents out of an academic staff of about 700. The freely available Internet was the most widely used source, which some respondents viewed as a more appropriate source of vocationally orientated information than passworded databases. Less than a third used the catalogue to find EIS, which raises questions about the future of the catalogue as a free‐standing comprehensive resource. Non‐use of EIS was rarely due to difficulty of access or use. Staff were pessimistic about their students skill levels in using EIS.

Counting on making a difference: assessing our impact

Purpose. Ten libraries across the UK are participating in the first phase of an initiative to assess the impact of higher education libraries on learning, teaching, and research. The initiative is being undertaken under the auspices of the Library and Information Research Group and the Society of College, National, and University Libraries. This interim report provides an overview of the initiative and describes participation by two of the libraries: Glasgow Caledonian University and University College Chester. Design/methodology/approach. Each of the libraries has chosen an area of their activity where they wish to assess their impact. The ten participating institutions have then followed a common approach to assessing impact which involves specifying objectives for what the library is trying to achieve, determining success criteria, establishing impact measures, identifying what evidence is needed, and choosing methods for gathering evidence. Findings. Assessing a librarys impact is not easy but the potential benefits can be considerable. Issues identified in the first phase include the time/resources needed, the importance of having good research skills, the difficulties of getting the evidence, and separating out the librarys contribution. Benefits illustrated in the case studies include demonstrating that the library is supporting university strategy, building closer links with academics, and enabling staff to gain a better understanding of academic processes. Originality/value. The paper will interest library managers and staff who are concerned about the impact of their services and are seeking ways to demonstrate the difference that they make to their host organisations.

A survey of the use of electronic services at Glasgow Caledonian University Library

This paper describes a survey of the use of the electronic information floor (EIF) located in Glasgow Caledonian University’s Caledonian Library and Information Centre. The survey used both observational and questionnaire based methods and builds on a previous study which used focus groups and semi‐structured interviews. The study was divided into two parts: an observational study and a questionnaire based study. The observational study found word processing, sending and receiving e‐mail, and Web browsing to be the most common activities. The more substantial part of the study was questionnaire based, the questionnaire being administered both on paper and electronically. The main findings were: most respondents were full‐time students: most respondents were PC rather than Mac users; only 18 per cent use CD‐ROMs and only about 13 per cent use online databases. About a third had problems in using the EIF. The main overall conclusions are that information searching is a minority activity and that the volume of non‐curricular activity is substantial but unquantified.

Reviewing a programme of evaluation in an academic library: the case of Glasgow Caledonian University

Glasgow Caledonian University Library has a culture of evaluation dating back to the mid‐1990s. The article examines the qualitative research methodologies which have been used, the issues that have arisen and details the management response. Thus it demonstrates how performance measurement is an essential part of the quality management and the continuous improvement of the university library and is an essential tool in planning the future service.

The use of electronic information services by students at Glasgow Caledonian University

Investigates, through the use of questionnaires, the use of electronic information services by students at Glasgow Caledonian University in a programme of research undertaken in conjunction with Leeds Metropolitan University. Presents a series of conclusions.

Leadhills Library and a wider world

Reviews Leadhills Library, Britain’s first subscription library and also the first subscription library in Britain to have a working‐class base. It originated the ideology of mutual improvement as applied to libraries in Scotland, which has clear links with the social philosophy of the period and formed an organizational model for others to follow. Its book selection policy was both progressive and independent and much of its early stock still survives in situ in a building which has probably been occupied since the late eighteenth century. It functioned actively as a library from 1741 until the mid‐1960s and is still available for use today. The surviving stock, catalogued in 1985, totals about 2,500 volumes.

The ESEP Project at Glasgow Caledonian University and the implications for LIS evaluation

This paper considers the assessment and enhancement of student feedback within a University Library context. It examines the assessment of the overall experience of the student of the university as a whole and the role that the library plays in that. Lessons can be learned from the article about the role of the information service in supporting the mission of the parent organisation.

The Community Library in Scottish History

Communication presentee dans le cadre de la Section dHistoire de bibliotheques de lIFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) lors de la 68 eme conference annuelle de lIFLA, tenue a Glasgow, Ecosse, 18-24 aout 2002. A travers lhistoire, lEcosse a developpe toutes les activites des bibliotheques. Si lon compare dun point de vue international, les plus importantes sont les bibliotheques des communautes locales, dont les origines remontent a la fin du 17eme siecle. Leur modele administratif a pris des formes variees mais la plupart etaient des bibliotheques dabonnement (subscription libraries). Celles-ci ont fonctionne comme des clubs ou des societes et etaient dirigees par une assemblee generale ordinaire dans laquelle un comite qui gerait la bibliotheque jour apres jour etait elu. Au 19eme siecle sont apparus de nouveaux modeles administratifs, influences par lutilitarianisme seculaire et levangelisation religieuse. Ils ont maintenu le modele de gestion par des comites, habituellement composes de personnalites importantes de la communaute locale.

Recovering the lost scottish community library: the example of Fenwick

Abstract Traces the establishment, operation and purpose of two contrasting community social libraries in Fenwick, Scotland in the early nineteenth century. Through an examination of book stock, declared library aims and members occupations and interests, demonstrates that library activity was not a socially isolated phenomenon but reflected contemporary religious and political issues and controversies.

The Langholm Library Project

The Langholm Library is a historic subscription library in Dumfriesshire, Scotland. The aims of the project were to record the Library′s stock, to store and conserve its important books, to make the Library more accessible and to research and publicize its history. Describes the history and present condition of the Library and discusses the project. Draws conclusions from the project, relating both to the Library itself and to performance standards set in the course of the project.