Reference Service to State Government

This paper examined marketing of library and information services and products in academic libraries. Narrative content analysis, with extensive literature review was adopted for the study. The paper discussed the importance and need for marketing library and information services and products in academic libraries. The study discussed the concepts of marketing, and academic libraries. Literature was reviewed on information products, information services, reasons for marketing library and information products and services, strategies for marketing library products and services, challenges of marketing library and information products and services in academic libraries. The paper concludes among others that, in order to remain relevant in this digital age, academic libraries and librarians in university libraries should device functional means of letting prospective library users know that, they exist, and that, their products and services function effectively. The paper recommends among others that, the academic libraries and librarians should draw attention to their libraries, products, services, and their worth to their communities, institutions, staff and users; that academic libraries and librarians should market their products and services effectively to attract and encourage users and keep up with competition; academic library’s management should encourage librarians to attend development programs to acquire marketing and collaborative skills. These will make academic libraries and librarians to remain relevant in this technology changing world.

This study aimed to evaluate the marketing strategies used to promote library and information services in public libraries in Eswatini. Specifically, the study sought to: (1) identify the information products and services offered by these libraries, (2) establish the marketing strategies employed to promote information products and services, and (3) assess the effectiveness of these strategies in enhancing user engagement. The study adopted a positivist paradigm and employed a quantitative research approach, using questionnaires containing closed-ended questions as the primary data collection instrument. A total of sixteen questionnaires were completed by librarians from the Mbabane Public Library, while nine questionnaires were completed by librarians from the Manzini Public Library. The collected data were analysed using Microsoft Excel, with findings presented through tables and figures. The study revealed that public libraries in Eswatini offer a range of information services, including lending, reservation, translation, reference, referral, and children’s library services. The information products provided include printed books, newspapers, magazines, and government gazettes. Regarding marketing strategies, the study found that Eswatini public libraries employ several approaches to promote their information products and services. These strategies include organising trainings, seminars, and workshops to educate librarians on marketing practices; creating and maintaining library web pages; providing electronic access to information; enhancing interpersonal relationships between staff and users; conducting one-on-one discussions with users; having representatives participate in institutional functions; advertising through print and electronic media; promoting staff friendliness towards users; providing suggestion boxes; and ensuring that librarians are appropriately attired. The study recommended a need to have a library website and maintain it. A well-designed website serves as a crucial marketing tool, providing users with easy access to information about library services.

With the development of science and technology and the change of users’ demand, the traditional library ushered in a great change. On the basis of re-examining library function and information service, intelligent library has worked out a set of brand-new user information service scheme. This paper analyzed the concept of intelligent library and the characteristics of information service, summarized the implementation strategy of information service of intelligent library, and finally discussed how to construct the mode of information service of intelligent library, so that to better promote the intelligent construction of the library.

An information services organization based on individual constituent groups, instead of defined physical collections and technologies, encourages a broader, more effective, and innovative use of varying information and technology services for academic libraries. Such a model also provides more focused and clearly defined positions and procedures to ensure high-quality support to all constituents.

The focus of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the marketing strategies for information services in government ministry libraries in Nairobi County. Lack of awareness on the value of government ministry libraries has contributed to their underutilization. The aim of the study was to investigate the marketing strategies adopted and how effective they are in the delivery of quality information services. Specific objectives of the study included: - a) establishing which information services are offered in government ministry libraries, b) establishing the marketing strategies used by government ministry libraries, c) assessing the marketing strategies in use in government ministry libraries and how effective they are towards improving access and usage of government ministry libraries. The study has been based on the Ansoff’s growth matrix theory. A descriptive survey research design was used; the target population comprised 5 heads of library services from the 5 selected government ministry libraries and 169 library users drawn by random sampling. Two data collection instruments were used; interview guide for the librarians in charge of the selected libraries and questionnaires administered to library users. Data collection instruments were subjected to pretesting and reviewed accordingly to ensure validity and reliability. The study involved the collection of qualitative as well as quantitative data. Analysis of quantitative data has been done using descriptive statistics and presented in the form of tables, figures, charts and graphs. Qualitative data has been analyzed thematically and presented in a narrative form. Logistical, ethical and legal issues were observed and upheld by ensuring adequate sensitization of the participants and adequate resources including time for the data collection process. The study established that most government ministry libraries in Nairobi County offered a variety of information services. Various marketing strategies are used, with customer friendliness and social media being the predominant strategies. Conducive physical environment, social media and customer friendliness were rated the most effective however the effectiveness’ of the strategies adopted in aiding usage of government information is moderate. Marketing of government ministry libraries in Nairobi County is largely informal and unintentional with little value assigned to it. The study recommends that all stakeholders be sensitized on the value of marketing information services in government ministry libraries. This should be to ensure that it becomes a core mandate of government ministries towards delivering quality services leveraging on quality information services.

The findings of monitoring of repertoire of and demand for library and information services (document, reference, bibliographic awareness, cultural and educational services) are discussed. The mentioned services are available through the CSAL website. The types and forms of services are analyzed, their place and demand for them are discussed. The focus is made on the online services providing access of in-house information resources, e. g. e-libraries, e-catalogs, virtual exhibitions, etc. The terminological analysis of services titles as compared to the new national standard of library information services was executed. It was revealed that the services titles meet the standardized terms and definitions. The degrees of demand for difference services are estimated as active, fluctuating and decreasing. To improve library and bibliographic services and information support of science for agro-industrial complex, the authors recommend: to study products and services of unstable and decreasing demand, to load explicit list of services in the Information Services section, to design scientist personal accounts, to make it possible for the users to take part in selecting documents for digitization and to receive e-newsletter on new library acquisitions, etc. The authors conclude that CSAL provide the wide range of library information services which is essential to increase accessibility and friendliness of Library-generated information products, to improve information support of research in agricultural industries. The findings will be used in planning user library and information services. It is imperative that user services are monitored and user demands are analyzed.

BackgroundIn Nigeria every year different communities engage in one form of feud or another. This barbaric behaviour has resulted in great losses of property and human lives.PurposeThis study was carried...

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to highlight some of the apps currently available that can assist library personnel in reference and information services.Design/methodology/approach– Initially, 101 apps were identified as possible options for reference and information services. Through various evaluation methods, the list was reduced to 25 apps. Apps were excluded due to cost, function, reviews, currency and usability. Other apps were merely excluded due to time and length concerns of the publication.Findings– Overall, the apps included could be utilized by library staff in reference and information service, though not all are ideal in all library settings due to the requirement of subscriptions and user audiences.Originality/value– While there have been in recent years quite a few articles and books published on apps for librarians, there is very little published on how exactly librarians can use apps to answer reference questions and assist patrons. This article does not attempt to answer the greater question of app application in reference services, but does attempt to identify and evaluate apps that could be used in those instances. With more research and tablet and app training, librarians can begin to more effectively utilize apps at the service desk.

The article presents substantiation of the theoretical provisions underlying the National Standard GOST R 7.0.104—2019 “SIBID. Library and information services of the scientific library. Types, forms and modes of provision”. The author proves the expediency of applying cluster approach, allowed to consider the library and information service in terms of its content (type), form and modes of provision to users. The article demonstrates possibility of applying Standard not only to scientific libraries, but also to the libraries of other types. Definition of library and information service in the standard makes it possible to understand it as a specific result of library services and information activities of the library. The standard determines five types of services: library, bibliographic, information, bibliometric, consulting. Some of them are common to all types of libraries, but bibliometric services are specific feature of scientific libraries. Each type of services is implemented in one form or another, under which the standard refers to the method of providing library and information services in the framework of the existing scientific library organization of library and information services.Forms of library services: loan of a document for temporary use; transfer of its contents by copying; providing the possibility to familiarize with documents. Bibliographic services are implemented in the form of message containing reference or bibliographic advice on request, bibliographic list of publications and bibliographic products. Scientific libraries compose thematic or subject field indexes, lists of publications of individuals and collectives, lists with references to the works of specified persons and collectives. Bibliographic services include improving bibliographic literacy, training of users to create a bibliographic record, the formation of bibliographic apparatus of scientific and educational works. The recognized forms of information services are providing users with information products and full-text information, selected and systematized in accordance with the certain criteria. The prerogative of mainly academic and university libraries are bibliometric services, while the forms of their provision are quite diverse and depend on the degree of proximity of the scientific library directly to the research process and distribution of work in the structure of the research Institute. The standard establishes the following bibliometric services: providing user with formalized performance indicators of scientific work, creation of analytical product based on bibliometric and scientometric studies, checking of scientific works for incorrect borrowing. Consulting services are available in most libraries, but in scientific libraries there is added scientific advice on the design of scientific papers, normative, regulatory and administrative documents, presentation of results of individual research activities. The module includes not only the forms of services, but also the parameters specifying their provision: frequency, reason for rendering, targeting, economic characteristics, service location. Another contour of the module is the mode of providing and receiving services, which does not affect its essence, but may adjust its demand. Modes are characterized by the degree of independence of the user, synchronization of the order, execution and receipt of services, frequency of service, means and channel of communication. The article focuses on the service approach to library and information services. The intermediate version of the standard included the section “Service options” (on the ways to improve the comfort of obtaining library and information services by the user, based on his individual preferences), removed in the final version due to insufficient elaboration of the problem. In conclusion, the author notes that National Standard allows bring the service of scientists to their real needs and requests. As a perspective, the paper calls the development of Standard defining the mandatory range of services for libraries of each type and kind, as well as criteria for their qualitative assessment.

This paper describes about the marketing of library and information services in the college libraries of Hasanpur: A study. The study analysis the library products and its services, Inter library loan services to its users, marketing of information services, income sources to the library, services provided for users, users are denied access to information products/services when fees are charges and computerized literature search should be part of the free normal library services. The result of the study shows that the More that 50% of the users agree that they are satisfied with the Marketing of Library and Information Services.

Assessing the impact of information services in the health sector

Library services have been tremendously influenced by rapid technological innovations over the years particularly in the area of reference and information services. The adoption of CD‐ROM technology has revolutionised the retrieval and delivery mechanism of information.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to establish a massive online open course (MOOC)-based map of higher education knowledge and apply it to university libraries. It hoped to provide more targeted and personalized learning services for every learner. Design/methodology/approach In this study, MOOC and university library information services were outlined, the development status of MOOC at home and abroad and the development of university library information services were introduced, and the necessity and significance of MOOC in developing information services in university libraries were analyzed. What is more, the knowledge map of university libraries was explored. The four modules include the construction of data sets, the identification of related entities from plain text, the extraction of entity relationships and the practical application of knowledge maps. For the logical relationship of the course, a combination of knowledge base and machine learning was adopted. In the knowledge map application module, the knowledge map was visualized. Aiming at the generation of personalized learning scheme, a prior data set was constructed by means of the knowledge base. The original problem was considered as a multi-classification problem. K-nearest neighbor classifier divided all courses into four academic years to obtain all courses. According to the course stage, the personalized learning scheme of some majors in higher education was obtained. Findings The experiment showed that it was feasible to apply the higher education knowledge map based on MOOC to university libraries. In addition, it was effective to divide the course into four stages by classifier. In this way, the specific professional training program can be obtained, the information service of the university library can be improved, and the accuracy and richness of the entire learning program can be increased. Research limitations/implications Due to the limitations of conditions, time and other aspects, there were not many opportunities to visit the field library, which led to limited level and imperfect research. There were many proper nouns and professional terms in foreign references, but my English translation ability was limited. The relevant investigation on foreign studies may not be detailed and comprehensive enough, and the analysis and induction of influencing factors of university library information service may not be rigorous and concise enough. Practical implications As the base of university information dissemination, the university library is the source of knowledge. At the same time, it is also the temple of students’ independent learning and the media of mainstream culture and improving its own information service level is also in line with the trend of The Times. Under this background, this research studied the influence of MOOC on university library information service and focused on the challenges and opportunities faced by university library information service in the MOOC environment, so as to continuously improve its cultural serviceability and better serve teachers and students. Originality/value Since the birth of MOOC, they have exerted great influence and enlightenment on universities and relevant educational institutions within a few years. European and American universities take an active part in the construction of the MOOC platform and explore how to make better use of the library to build MOOC resources in practice. It is also a hot topic for university libraries to participate in the construction of MOOC information resources. Therefore, the study of this topic has both theoretical and practical significance.

India has had a long history of Library and Information Services. However, due to the hierarchical social structure and the colonial past, Indian Library and Information Systems and Services (LISS) have mainly catered to the elite minority. The post-independence policies of the government have gradually changed this scenario and the LISS have become much more broad-based and people-oriented. The paper deals with the historical background of policy formulation in India, which has positively affected LISS in different ways to cope with the new environment and new expectations of the users. It also spells out the details of the National Policy on Library and Information Services (NAPLIS) and the need for a more holistic New Information Policy. Such a policy will have to deal with all the related fields and IT-oriented activities, which will give LISS the much needed direction to steer India to become an information-oriented society.

Review of the joint monograph “Essays on bibliographic activity of the Russian State Library: A monograph” / Russian State Library ; ed. by G. L. Levin. Moscow : Pashkov dom, 2022. 734 p.The author reviews the joint monograph by the leading specialists of the Russian State Library (RSL). The article is publishedon the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the reference and information office as the division of the library of State Rumyantsev Museum in December 1918. The office rendered all types of bibliographic user services (e. g. address, subject, specifying bibliographic references). The reviewed monograph covers all the main fields of RSL’s bibliographic activity: development of reference library collection, reference and information services, building of all the main types of bibliographic directories, bibliographical information service in culture and arts, making of bibliographical indices of Russian emigration literature, research in theory of bibliography, etc. The choice of RSL bibliographic activity as the main object of study makes an appropriate contribution to the development of Russian theory of bibliography. The reviewer regards intensification of research activities of larger libraries (e. g. national) as an attribute of the modern theory of bibliography. The joint monograph is one of few large-scale research works covering the full range of the national library's bibliographic activities of the last century; therefore, it is of high value.