Younghee Noh

A study measuring the performance of electronic resources in academic libraries

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an input‐output analysis of electronic resources in academic libraries by verifying evaluation indicators and applying them to the digital library environment.Design/methodology/approach – This study measures the performance of electronic resources in academic libraries in Korea. To measure the efficiency of the input‐output ratio, evaluation indicators were divided into inputs and outputs. Inputs refer to the e‐resource use environment as well as the acquisition of e‐resources such as web DB, e‐books, e‐journals, and so on. Outputs quantify the use of each resource.Findings – First, the results of this study show that a large share of academic library budgets is spent on e‐resource purchases and e‐resource environment improvement for better use. Second, the measurement shows that web DB subscription, annual e‐resource development, and education for e‐resource exhibit higher efficiency, while e‐resource use, web DB and e‐journal download exhibited relative...

A study on next‐generation digital library using context‐awareness technology

Purpose – This study seeks to examine the concepts of context, context‐awareness, and context‐awareness technology needed for applying context‐awareness technology to the next‐generation of digital libraries, and proposed context‐aware services that can be applied to any situation by illustrating some library contexts.Design/methodology/approach – The paper investigated both theoretical research and case analysis studies before suggesting a service model for context‐awareness‐based libraries by examining the context, context‐awareness, and context‐awareness technology in depth.Findings – This paper derived possible library services which could be provided if context‐awareness services are implemented by examining and analyzing case studies and systems constructed in other fields. A library‐applied context‐aware system could recognize users entering the library and provide optimal services tailored to each situation for both new and existing users. In addition, the context‐awareness‐based library could pro...

A Study of Public Library Patrons’ Understanding of Library Records and Data Privacy

As instances of private information leak increase, taking steps to protect such information becomes a necessity. In this study of public library patrons, we strove for a comprehensive understanding of library usage records to suggest viable solutions for private information safety in public libraries. To this end, we investigated the patrons’ understanding of library usage records and determined the relationship between different user characteristics and privacy knowledge or leaks. The results show that a high number of patrons perceived these records as their own private information, but that there was no necessity for legal procedures or consent for the use of these records. Also, even though the understanding of these usage records showed that there was a relationship between the frequency of library visits and leaks of personal information, the correlation was not particularly strong.

Evaluation of the resource utilization efficiency of university libraries using DEA techniques and a proposal of alternative evaluation variables

Purpose – This paper seeks to rediscover the most suitable efficiency evaluation variables (input and output variables) for digital libraries and to employ the data envelopment analysis (DEA) model to measure the resource utilization efficiency of university libraries.Design/methodology/approach – In order to analyze and evaluate university library efficiency, the paper introduces the DEA‐CCR Model and the DEA‐BCC Model. Based on these research tools, the Technical Efficiency (CCR*BCC) was determined. First, a reference group was created with a 100 percent efficiency rate, then the factors contributing to inefficient DMUs were analyzed, and the difference in the efficiency rate compared according to the different governing bodies of the libraries. Finally, the difference of efficiency according to the introduction and rejection of electronic resources was analyzed. It was possible to measure the technical efficiency, pure‐technical efficiency, and scale efficiency.Findings – The results showed that the ef...

The impact of university library resources on university research achievement outputs

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the correlation between university libraries and academic research achievement and analyze if university library resources correlate with academic research achievement.Design/methodology/approach – The paper seeks to verify the correlation between university libraries and academic research achievement and to examine which university library resources relate to research achievement. A variety of research questions were posed concerning the relationship between a universitys library resources and academic research achievement. Structural equation models (SEMs) were developed to answer the research questions. Most research questions posed were affirmatively answered using the SEM process.Findings – This study confirmed that labor and budget, investment in e‐resources and an investment in university libraries enhances academic research achievement.Research limitations/implications – An SEM for verifying the correlation between university libraries and aca...

A study on metadata elements for web‐based reference resources system developed through usability testing

Purpose – To propose correct metadata elements, it was deemed necessary to close the gap between the perception of metadata creators and data creators through a user behavior analysis. This study aims to improve metadata elements of web‐based reference resources.Design/methodology/approach – The study employed three types of surveys: behavior analysis of metadata creators, perception analysis of users, and system satisfaction. For analysis of metadata creators, the study examined data fields where metadata were recorded among metadata elements of reference resources. For user awareness analysis, respondents were asked to answer the necessity of 17 elements after they actually had entered data and to recommend other necessary elements. Finally, system satisfaction survey was followed.Findings – As a result, first, it was found that the respondents recognized five elements: contributor, source, data, format, and relation as necessary input elements, which in practice had not been well recorded in real opera...

A Study Analyzing Reference Linking Service in Digital Libraries

This study seeks to present an option for including a variety of information resources in a reference linking service system. Discussion on reference linking service in journals began in 1999 and applied to real systems, but linking to research papers and patent registers has more recently emerged. This study further suggests that system construction include various information resources such as books and dissertations. This paper also presents principles and prerequisites that should be considered essential when building such systems, including expansion of resources and media formats, development of identifiers on every sort of information resource, linking methods to existing DB, publication revolution and managing copyright‐holders, use and improvement of OPACs, and building perfect authority DB.

Digital library user privacy: changing librarian viewpoints through education

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to research attempts to educate public librarians in the importance of user privacy issues and assist in reducing privacy violations by providing librarians with an educational program on the subject and measuring its effects. Design/methodology/approach – Research was conducted to examine the influence of education on library user privacy. An education program on the topic was developed and effects of the training were measured with pre- and post-seminar surveys. Findings – Concern for the protection of user privacy increased after the training, and its importance was rated higher as participating librarians became aware of the current likelihood of privacy violations, given the amount of user data libraries collect regularly. The demand for user privacy education also significantly increased after the librarian training course had been completed. Originality/value – This research verified that user privacy awareness can be greatly improved by educating librarians. ...

A Study of the Curriculum Operating Model and Standard Courses for Library & Information Science in Korea

This study seeks to develop a curriculum operating model for Korean Library and Information Science, based on investigations into LIS curricula at home and abroad. Standard courses that can be applied to this model were also proposed. This study comprehensively analyzed the contents of domestic and foreign curricula and surveyed current librarians in all types of library fields. As a result, this study proposed required courses, core courses, and elective courses. Six required LIS courses are: Introduction to Library and Information Science, Information Organization, Information Services, Library and Information Center Management, Information Retrieval, and Field Work. Six core LIS courses are: Classification & Cataloging Practice, Subject Information Resources, Collection Development, Digital Library, Introduction to Bibliography, and Introduction to Archive Management. Twenty selective LIS courses include: the General Library and Information Science area (Cultural History of Information, Information Society and Library, Library and Copyright, Research Methods in Library and Information Science), the Information Organization area (Metadata Fundamentals, KORMARC Practice), the Information Services area (Information Literacy Instruction, Reading Guidance, Information User Study), the Library and Information Center Management area (Library Management, including management for different kinds of libraries, Library Information Cooperator, Library Marketing, Non-book Material and Multimedia Management (Contents Management), the Information Science area (Database Management, including Web DB Management, Indexing and Abstracting, Introduction to Information Science, Understanding Information Science, Automated System of Library, Library Information Network), and the Archival Science area (Preservation Management).

A study on the conceptualization of librarians’ career movement and identification of antecedents

In today’s world, the surrounding environment and organizations are constantly requiring individuals to engage in lifelong learning and develop boundaryless careers. In this paper, the antecedents of career movement for librarians or those working in related organizations will be identified and conceptualized. To this end, this study establishes a theoretical model of internal and external career movement and its antecedents, verifies a model based on surveying librarians working at libraries and those whose functions are similar to those of librarians, and conducts usefulness analysis while exploring a new model. In the previous study, a structural equation model, originally designed for careers other than librarians, was applied to the targets of this study, librarians, to assess external validity. This study, however, sets out a new model because the basic model cannot fully explain the structure of the data. The new model has good fit and also offers a good explanation of a covariance matrix of the original data. The significance of all coefficients, except for the covariance between career development support and external career movement intention, are statistically significant.