Mirja Iivonen

Consistency in the selection of search concepts and search terms

Abstract Intersearcher and intrasearcher consistency in the selection of search concepts and search terms are considered. The article is based on an empirical study where 32 searchers from four different types of search environments analyzed altogether 12 search requests of four different types in two separate test situations between which two months elapsed. Statistically very significant differences in consistency were found according to the types of search environments and search requests. Consistency was also considered according to the extent of the scope of search concept. At Level I search terms were compared character by character. At Level II different search terms were accepted as the same search concept with a rather simple evaluation of linguistic expressions. At Level III, in addition to Level II, the hierarchical approach of the search request was also controlled. At Level IV different search terms were accepted as the same search concept with a broad interpretation of the search concept. Both intersearcher and intrasearcher consistency grew most immediately after a rather simple evaluation of linguistic expressions.

Trust in knowledge management and systems in organizations

This work aims at tying trust to knowledge management (KM). It highlights the complexity of the invisible phenomenon of trust challenged by the global economy, and explores the multidisciplinary nature of the concepts of trust and KM.

Knowledge processes : A strategic foundation for the partnership between the university and its library

Purpose – To explore the nature of the universitys knowledge processes and to specify the librarys role in these processes. Design/methodology/approach – A theoretical framework for strategic management based on the concepts of the value constellation of networked enterprises and the knowledge processes is applied along with the concept of a strategic partnership to indicate the librarys new role within the university. Findings – The librarys role in the generative knowledge processes is likely to become the major managerial challenge. Its role in the productive knowledge processes will increase, and in the representative knowledge processes it will diversify. Research limitations/implications – The same research object could be approached empirically from a multidisciplinary perspective, i.e. the transforming research and teaching processes and enhancement of the librarys role in them. The impact of the librarys intellectual capital on the universitys intellectual capital should be examined in terms of performance assessment in theory and practice. Practical implications – Illuminative examples indicate how libraries can take a more proactive, strategic role in practice. Originality/value – This timely paper develops a sound theoretical basis on which the library can be understood as a vital member of a strategic partnership in the management of the universitys intellectual capital. It is a significant application to library management of theory from outside the field. The paper is rich in stimulating ideas, and should be of considerable interest to a wide readership.

Searchers and searchers: differences between the most and least consistent searches

Differences between the most and least consistent searchers are considered, Attention is payed both to termconsistency and concept-consistency. The paper is based on an empirical study where 32 searchers formulated query statements from 12 search requests. The searchers were stso interviewed to obtain information about their experience. There was a statistically significant dependence between term-consistency and the terminologicat styles of searchers on the one hand and between concept-consistency and searchers’ search strategies on the other hand. There were also clear differences in the experience of most and least consistent searchers both in information storage and information retrieval.

Library collections contribute to doctoral studies: Citation analysis of dissertations in the field of economics and administration

Purpose – This paper aims to analyse the impact of university libraries by investigating the availability of the references of dissertations in the universitys own library, special attention being given to the electronic availability of cited works.Design/methodology/approach – Citation analysis was used. Ten dissertations of economics and administration from two Finnish universities were analysed. The dissertations were completed in 2005‐2006. The comparison of the availability of references in two different universities – i.e. a large, multidisciplinary university and a small, specialised university – was carried out.Findings – The availability of the references of dissertations was good in both universities. A large number of references, especially journal articles, were already available electronically. The university libraries have a significant role in contributing to doctoral studies because they offer access to adequate information resources.Research limitations/implications – The sample is quite...

The University Library's Intellectual Capital

The article is concerned with the university librarys intellectual capital (IC) as a part of the universitys IC. The concept of IC is analyzed as consisting of the three main components: human capital, structural capital, and relational capital. These components are described in the context of the university library. It is suggested that certain kind of professional understanding and knowledge could be used to integrate the librarys IC with the universitys IC. It is claimed that this integration could enhance the librarys contribution to the overall performance on the university. It is seen as a very important issue to demonstrate the role the university library can play in the growth of the universitys intellectual capital, performance, and outcomes at a time when public funding for the universities is diminishing.