[Asis-l] Contents of LIBRI, September 2004

[i.m.johnson at rgu.ac.uk]

Contents of LIBRI: international journal of libraries and information
services, 54 (3) September 2004


Information flow and peripherality in remote island areas of Scotland

National identity and the digital library: a study of the British
Library and the Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru

The Shift from Apartheid to Democracy: Issues and Impacts on Public
Libraries in Cape Town, South Africa

Evaluation of Public Libraries: The 2001 IFLA Standards and the 2003
Standards for Provincial Libraries in China 

Exploration of the Field of Knowledge Management for the Library and
Information Professional

Exploring information 'context' in the published literature of
menopausal hormone therapy


ABSTRACTS FOLLOW:


INFORMATION FLOW AND PERIPHERALITY IN REMOTE ISLAND AREAS OF SCOTLAND

Sue Beer 

Winner of LIBRI Best Student Paper Award 2004

Communities in the more remote parts of areas which themselves are
considered to be peripheral may feel doubly isolated. Access to
information can help reduce negative effects of living and working in
such communities, but, in turn, this peripherality creates barriers to
information access. The purpose of this PhD research is to gain a
greater understanding of the relationship between access to information
and the effects of peripherality; using four remote communities in each
of Shetland and The Western Isles of Scotland as case studies. To this
end, interviews were conducted with representatives of just over a
hundred businesses, community and voluntary groups from these peripheral
communities, and with information providers serving them. The research
was not concerned with a particular type of information, such as
business, market or community information; but with all types of
information need from within the target communities. This paper examines
some of the findings, which point to a strong interdependency between
geographical peripherality and exclusion from information, in remote
communities where accessing information is described as being both more
difficult and more necessary. These findings were presented at the
'Europe at the Margins: EU Regional Policy, Peripherality and Rurality',
Regional Studies Association Conference, at Angers, France in April
2004.


NATIONAL IDENTITY AND THE DIGITAL LIBRARY: A STUDY OF THE BRITISH
LIBRARY AND THE LLYFRGELL GENEDLAETHOL CYMRU

Charlotte Priddle

This paper examines the digital presence of two national libraries, the
British Library and the Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru (National Library
of Wales), and the means by which the perceptions of national identity
and heritage can be seen to influence the choices made regarding the
digitization of specific collections.  It begins with an examination of
the constructed nature of national identity and heritage. Then a brief
study is made of the histories of the two nations in question, Britain
and Wales, and the connections and struggles between the two that have
influenced formations of identity. Using this historical background, a
study is made as to the digital holdings of each institution, including
a comparison of the type, amounts and means by which items have been
digitized, as well as the stated aims of the institutions as to their
own understanding of their mission and remit in terms of the audience
they perceive they serve. Finally, a comparison is made of the two
institutions, and conclusions reached as to the ways in which the
historically constructed myths of national identity can be seen as
reflected in the individual choices made regarding the preservation and
digitization of their collections. 


THE SHIFT FROM APARTHEID TO DEMOCRACY: ISSUES AND IMPACTS ON PUBLIC
LIBRARIES IN CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

Nicole Brown

Providing all citizens with free and equal access to information allows
democracy to flourish. Integral to democratic governments, public
libraries have both social and political responsibilities. South
Africa's 1994 shift from apartheid to a democratic republic makes it an
ideal nation through which to investigate the struggles and issues faced
as a public library system adapts to a new political structure. South
Africa's public libraries did not automatically receive the assumed
benefits of the shift from apartheid's oppressive regime of segregation
and inequality to a democratic government. Rather, it is a work in
progress. South African libraries face social, political, and economic
issues such as: unfair allocation of resources, severe social conditions
and problems with support from the government including problematic
rhetoric within the New Constitution. LIASA (Library & Information
Association of South Africa) has admirably begun to fulfill an important
role in library development in South Africa. With appropriate funding
and support from all levels of government and from local, national, and
international library organizations, the public libraries in South
Africa can become the beacons of democracy that they are intended to be.


EVALUATION OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES: THE 2001 IFLA STANDARDS AND THE 2003
STANDARDS FOR PROVINCIAL LIBRARIES IN CHINA 

Beverly P. Lynch and Wenxiang Yang, 

The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
(IFLA), guided by the interests of UNESCO in assisting libraries to
improve their services, continues to develop statements on standards for
public libraries. The most recent statement was adopted in 2001. IFLA,
while working tirelessly at the international level to develop
standards, also recognizes the importance of national, regional and
local standards. The diffusion world wide of knowledge and information
about library standards development has been useful in the preparation
of standards at the regional and national levels. This paper summarizes
and compares the components of the current IFLA standards for public
libraries, adopted in 2001, and the new standards for provincial public
libraries in China, adopted in 2003. The comparison attests to the
similarities in the evaluation of library services around the world. The
continuing work on library standards at the international level is very
important as it identifies the critical variables needed in evaluation
of library services. While setting the general direction for such
standards work, it also enables the important issue of values, and the
consideration of those values in the evaluation of library services, to
be made at the local, regional, and national levels.


EXPLORATION OF THE FIELD OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT FOR THE LIBRARY AND
INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL

Michelle Sinotte

This study is an attempt to isolate and describe the field of knowledge
management in terms of its relevance for library and information science
professionals. In addition to readings, several interviews were
completed with people who are working in the knowledge management field.
It is intended to be an overview to assist LIS professionals in grasping
the essence of this subject and suggesting ways in which knowledge
management may continue to affect the LIS field in the near future.
First, a brief overview of the origins of the field and some suggestions
of why it persists in the face of numerous challenges will be provided.
Following that will be an attempt to deconstruct the terminology
surrounding knowledge management and give shape to its basic components.
Next, the aforementioned numerous challenges will be considered, and
finally the role of the LIS professional will be discussed.


EXPLORING INFORMATION 'CONTEXT' IN THE PUBLISHED LITERATURE OF
MENOPAUSAL HORMONE THERAPY

Shelagh K. Genuis

Using content analysis, this study explores information context as
expressed in medical and consumer articles, and the role of the
literature in influencing the innovation-decision process. Changing
practices related to hormone therapy for menopausal and postmenopausal
women, and the expression of biomedical and normal life transition
models within published literature provided context for the study;
'diffusion of innovations' theory provided the theoretical framework
that informed the investigation. Findings suggest that both medical and
consumer health literature is dominated by the biomedical model; that
context may influence the presentation of information, thus impacting
innovation decision-making; and that published literature not only
provides information and reinforces knowledge, but, through information
context, it also produces and shapes meaning, and creates belief.
Librarians and information professionals are encouraged to recognize the
influence of context within published literature; to facilitate access
by both professionals and consumers to the diversity of information that
informs human knowledge; and to enhance appreciation for the
contribution of diverse theoretical perspectives and research methods.




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