2 results
2 - Flipping the Catalogue: Taking Resource Discovery to the Next Level
- Edited by Simon McLeish
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- Book:
- Resource Discovery for the Twenty-First Century Library
- Published by:
- Facet
- Published online:
- 23 July 2020
- Print publication:
- 26 June 2020, pp 17-30
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- Chapter
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Summary
This chapter reviews the changing role of the catalogue in resource discovery, in particular for monographs. It:
explores the changes from a customer's user experience viewpoint
reviews the impact for libraries that move to a ‘just in need’ model
discusses the benefits of opening up the catalogue to be a self-service acquisition portal
demonstrates that reinventing the catalogue can bring a new aspect to resource discovery, with significant benefit to users; there have been challenges as well as transformations in service, leading to new expectations.
Introduction
Ranganathan proposed that ‘books are for use’ and we should ‘save the time of the reader’ (Ranganathan, 1931, 1 and 336). This sets the scene for our journey into a reinvention of the catalogue. Libraries have endured throughout our history, but today they are changing rapidly. Ranganthan's principles that books are for use and that we should save the time of the reader remain fundamental to the approach we should take in these times, and this is exemplified by recent work at the Australian National University, reinventing the library catalogue.
Libraries have collected an astounding array of resources to support knowledge seekers across a vast range of disciplines. In many ways the collections of research libraries are an investment for future and potential need, an issue that is finely balanced with current need and use, and which may relate to a fraction of the whole collection.
A major challenge has been to enable these potential users to locate and obtain access to these resources. Library and information scientists have studied information behaviour, sought to take on board technological developments and to enhance the metadata we create to open up access. The revolution of the online world has enabled us to develop more complex solutions, including new concepts such as linked data.
Over the past decades the techniques available to reveal resources have changed and improved. We are now in the era of UX, a time where our discovery services are being reviewed and renewed, see for example Curson (2016). Standing the test of time, Ranganathan's principles have been the fundamental premises for developments in resource discovery. The initiatives have sought to create a pathway between the library user and individual resources in library collections. Exploring new resource discovery solutions is now an important activity for research libraries.
10 - Building a Knowledge Society through Library Education in Myanmar
- Edited by Justine Chambers, Charlotte Galloway, Jonathan Liljeblad
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- Book:
- Living with Myanmar
- Published by:
- ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute
- Published online:
- 09 October 2021
- Print publication:
- 31 July 2007, pp 227-242
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- Chapter
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Summary
In recent years Myanmar has seen great changes in society, politics and economics. The opportunities presented to the people of Myanmar as it emerges to engage with the rest of the world have been extraordinary. Like a chrysalis Myanmar is transitioning from what has been a constrained and tightly controlled society and is now emerging into a new, more expansive world. Such transitions always present challenges and extend opportunities. Education is often a critical element in the success of these transitions.
Education is fundamental and integral to many of the changes which are occurring in Myanmar – both in its capacity to increase knowledge that is relevant to all aspects of life and also to allow Myanmar to engage with the wider world. The individuals experiencing this transformation within the higher education sector need to have access to the principles and research insights from scholarship outside Myanmar to successfully develop policy, science, law, agriculture, library science, health, medicine, economics and other disciplines. Providing open and professionally constructed access to such knowledge underpins the principles which guide the library and information professions around the world.
Library and information studies is a fundamental part of this education revolution and the education and training of qualified library and information professionals has been viewed internationally as a critical element in information access. Education for this discipline was established in Myanmar at the University of Yangon in the 1971 at the height of the development of schools of librarianship worldwide. As with much tertiary education in former British colonies and Commonwealth countries the model adopted was that of British education (see Carroll 2013) with both undergraduate and postgraduate professional entry. This remains the prevailing model. First led by U Thaw Kaung, Chief Librarian of the Universities’ Central Library, until 1997 the courses evolved primarily on a print-based culture (University of Yangon 2018). The University is a leader in library studies in Myanmar, consistent with its role as the premier research university in the country. The Department of Library and Information Studies has expanded in 2019 to include eighteen academics, supporting students studying undergraduate and postgraduate, including Masters and PhD, programs. The Department is the largest library education department in Myanmar.