John Feather

Supporting the Development of Skills for Information Professionals.

Preparation for entry into the information professions has always been through a combination of academic study and practical training. Broadly speaking there is probably general agreement about the knowledge and understanding which the new entrant to the profession needs to acquire. There is less clarity regarding the skills which are required if s/he is to function effectively as an information professional. The LTSN-ICS has tried to address this through involvement with the RAPID project. Support for the development of the skill set required by graduates for employment in the wider concept of library and information work is assured by providing for the personal development planning needs of students. The skills that they emerge with at the end of their chosen programme of study determines their employability. The identification and definition of the key skills which are specific to information work is important in ensuring that the academic curriculum, and associated practical training programmes provide new entrants with the skills which they need to complement the knowledge and understanding which is being acquired through academic study. The LTSN-ICS, by defining the skills set and providing a mechanism for recording these is supporting academics in achieving employability for their graduates.

Business information provision for small and medium-sized enterprises in China : the application of marketing models

The marketing of business information to small and medium‐sized enterprises in the UK is complex, and includes a number of variables. Considers the relevance of these variables to the marketing of information services in an emerging economy through a study of 13 enterprises in China, as part of a wider co‐operative project between the Department of Information and Library Studies, Loughborough University, and the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China.

The information needs of UK historic houses: mapping the ground

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to concentrate on establishments that are known as the “built heritage”, often described as “historic houses”. Many operate in a similar vein to small businesses and often have a more diverse range of needs. In the UK historic houses form part of the tourism and leisure market. Heritage encompasses a wide variety of establishments including historic houses, historic gardens, heritage centres, town centres, countryside and museums.Design/methodology/approach – A model was developed for the study to show the information needs of historic houses and the information‐seeking behaviour of those managing historic houses. Data have been collected both via questionnaires to and interviews of those managing properties. The collection of data focused on diversity of activities, information provision, use of information, developments (including technology) and collaboration.Findings – The conclusions discuss the management of information and the difficulties expressed for those ...

LIS Research in the United Kingdom: Reflections and Prospects.

This article discusses the development of academic research in the LIS domain and the purpose of LIS research. It is argued that there are several constituent parts of the research tradition, both theoretical and empirical, and that this has created tensions and misunderstandings between researchers and practitioners. Against this background, the impact of the Research Assessment Exercises since 1988, and especially the implications of the outcome of RAE 2008, are analysed and discussed. Sources of funding, and the roles of various stakeholder bodies in the research process, are also discussed. It is concluded that in the UK, LIS research has been absorbed into the mainstream of academic research, but that it is still producing outputs which are transferable into the sphere of professional practice.

British library and information science journals: a study of quality control

Assessment of the quality of published research is funda mental to the research assessment process in UK universi ties. Citation analysis has been one important method used for such assessment. This paper explores another method, by investigating the selection and refereeing processes used by journal editors. Starting from the journals in which UK LIS academics most frequently publish, the authors have described and analysed the editorial processes employed, drawing on extended interviews with editors and others. It is concluded that valid quality control mechanisms are in place, although there is an element of subjectivity in their application, and it is suggested that professional, as opposed to academic, journals can provide a valuable form of output for practice-oriented research findings. Finally, the authors note that electronic journals could be assessed by a methodology similar to that developed here.

Preservation and library management: a reconsideration

Discusses the results of a questionnaire survey into preservation policies and practice in British libraries, focusing on responsibility for preservation, preservation policies, disaster control planning, staff training and user education, co‐operative initiatives, factors inhibiting preservation activity and spending on preservation. Findings indicate that preservation is considered most applicable to special collections and to rare or valuable items, and that funding is a major problem even in libraries with a strong commitment to preservation. Increased activity in areas such as disaster control planning indicate a greater awareness of preservation issues than in the past. Highlights the advantages of written preservation policies and the success of co‐operative initiatives such as Newsplan, suggesting that a national preservation policy would enable libraries to take a more rational approach to problems such as what to preserve and funding allocation, while helping to clarify their national heritage responsibilities.

Uncharted territory: academic libraries and the growth in student numbers

Considers the statistics and implications of a dramatic increase in student numbers in all UK higher education institutions. Considers also the changes in the nature of students enrolled, such as mature students and credit accumulation and transfer schemes; changes in the provision of higher education through modularization and new methods of course delivery, among others. Reviews levels of resourcing and discusses the effects on library services. Examines service provision, information skills, teaching and management issues; and highlights the resulting problems and opportunities facing higher education libraries in the UK. Examines the issues in more specific relationship to the experiences of four university libraries in the East Midlands of England.

Building a skills portfolio for the information professional

This paper reports on research in progress that reviews the skills used by library and information science (LIS) professionals and how to record them in a manner that encourages continuing professional and personal development. A portfolio was developed by the learning and teaching support network for information and computer sciences (LTSN‐ICS) in conjunction with the Chartered Institute for Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) and academic departments in the United Kingdom (UK). The portfolio was evaluated at pilot sites in UK LIS schools by surveying the progress of those students who took part. Evaluation of the participants indicates that the portfolio is a useful tool in the personal and professional development of LIS students. The general consensus among students themselves is that the portfolio provides a tool to help them plan their future professional development. Further evaluation is planned in 2003/2004 with LIS professionals to enable both the professional body and the LTSN‐ICS to determine the appropriateness of the portfolio as a tool for continuing personal and professional development.

Legal deposit: local issues in a national context

Describes a research project aiming to develop models to facilitate co‐operative initiatives and partnership arrangements which will improve the identification and collection of local publications under legal deposit and the coverage of these publications in the BNB. Underlines the importance of locally‐held collections and outlines the concept of “the national published archive”. Argues the need for a review of, and changes to, legal deposit, highlighting the need for greater co‐operation between the legal deposit libraries and others, whilst noting existing co‐operation. Maintains that the success of any distributed national published archive will depend upon a co‐operative approach, between the legal deposit libraries themselves and other information providers at local and regional levels. Above all, any new arrangements must be sustainable – able to withstand, for instance, future local or regional reorganisations of the kind recently experienced, and properly funded.

Special collections on the World Wide Web: a survey and evaluation

Reports results of a preliminary analysis and questionnaire survey of selected UK university libraries known to have both significant special collections available on the World Wide Web and which are active in using these to promote the libraries. Interviews were conducted with those involved in the development of the Web sites. The special collections resulted from Electronic Libraries Programme (eLib) funding and the study aimed to examine the outcome of these initiatives and to assess their value in giving access to special collections across the Internet. Particular attention was given to the issue of online or virtual exhibitions. Concludes that: the principal objective of special collections Web sites is to publicize collections and provide information for potential users; Higher Education Funding Councils’ non-formula funding has played a significant part in enabling such sites to be developed; many sites are still in an early stage of development, making it impossible to judge their likely future impact; and there is some evidence of a shift of enquiries towards electronic mail contacts from a distance, including researchers from outside the UK.