• Journal of Information Management
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.23-41
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• 2011

Digital reference services have been a key role in academic libraries in the context of various digital environments. The guidelines for the digital reference service are one of important aspects to improve the quality of services and system design and implement better services. In this study, by case studies and a questionnaire survey for academic librarians, the guideline for the digital reference service is suggested with three phases; plan, operation and evaluation. The guideline for the digital reference services suggested in this study is expected to support digital reference services in academic library environment.

• International Journal of Knowledge Content Development & Technology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.49-65
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• 2018

Are the benefits derived from ICT based reference and information service worth the financial and other commitments devoted to it? In an attempt to answer this, this study delved into finding out the perceived benefits; the rational for ICT based reference services in Nigerian university libraries. The main objectives were to find out the purposes for using ICT facilities in reference services delivery and the perceived benefits derived from using ICT resources in reference and information services. Being a survey, questionnaire was used to collect data from the librarians of twelve (12) universities; two (2) each sampled from the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Data was analyzed using frequencies, mean scores and standard deviations. ANOVA statistical analysis was used to test the hypothesis of no significance difference in the benefits derived from ICT based reference services using p-value of 0.05 to calculate the level of significance. Findings showed that librarians and library users made use of ICT facilities for different reference purposes especially to obtain information they need using the internet. Other reference needs for which patrons used the ICT facilities included: - access to current e-books and e - journals, user education and access to global information in other libraries. Provision of current awareness services (CAS) and selective dissemination of information services (SDI), on-line searching using workstations in the library, provision of on-line public access catalogue (OPAC) services, keeping statistics of users of the reference section and compilation of bibliographies. Further findings showed that the librarians and library users derive a lot of benefits from their use of ICT facilities in reference services. The results showed that easy retrieval and dissemination of information to patrons were ranked highest by the librarians amongst others.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.27-52
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• 2014

The employment prospects of graduates in the Library and Information academic has largely concentrated in the field of librarianship as well as the curriculum of the academic itself. Since there are limitations in increasing the number of libraries and the available posts in the librarianship, the full-time jobs in the field are also limited. Even for the available posts in the field of librarianship, the majority is in contract based posts which does not guarantee a good working environment. The purpose of this research is to make policy implications to improve the employment rates of librarians. The main research methods include literature review of the previous studies and available statistical data, and a questionnaire targeting students and librarians. The targeting policy implications can be categorized into 4 factors, including, as supply side, improvements in the qualification of librarian certificate, in training for librarians, and as demand side, laws on library employment, and improvement of library services for co-operatives. There are 15 detailed strategies to support the 4 factors. For the improvement of strategies in library related laws, the following elements will be considered; supporting system for temporary jobs, the title of librarian post and the library itself, and librarian placement criteria in terms of its realization and mandatory, and obligations in library evaluation. The Council discussions propose the expansion of librarian award system, provision of information systems for librarian jobs, and developments in promotional materials and their deployment for librarians.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.123-143
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• 2024

In this study, we analyzed the trends in staffing changes in academic libraries over the past ten years and surveyed staff working there to assess their perceptions of staffing levels and the current criteria for staffing allocation in academic libraries. We utilized statistical data from academic libraries to analyze staffing changes from 2014 to 2023. The survey was conducted through an online questionnaire targeting library staff, and responses from 216 respondents from 4-year universities and junior colleges were analyzed. The analysis of staffing changes revealed a decrease in the average number of employees in large 4-year universities and junior colleges, with a decrease in regular positions and an increase in non-regular positions. Survey results suggest causes such as declining school-age population and admissions quotas, budget shortages in universities, and structural adjustments. The perception of staff from 4-year universities and junior colleges regarding the criteria for staffing allocation was mainly negative, suggesting improvements such as increasing and refining criteria numbers, specifying standards for full-time librarians, clarifying criteria for compliance, and enhancing enforcement of standards. The results of this study can enhance understanding of staffing situations in academic libraries and serve as fundamental data for improving staffing criteria in the future, based on an understanding of librarians' perceptions on the ground.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.77-91
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• 2004

The present study surveyed university librarians' perceptions of barriers to research utilization using the Barrier Scales. The results shows that in mean Barriers Scale scores, characteristics of the organization had the highest, and then followed by the communication, the research and the librarian. The most important factor was perceived to be organizational support relating to insufficient time to implement new ideas, inadequate facilities, and lack of authority to make changes and in the communication relating to lack of clarity of research implications for practice, lack to demonstrate research's relevance to practice, and lack of readability of research. Also, incomprehensible English research reports and statistical analyses were perceived as major barriers. The comparison with those of nursing was discussed. In order to settle the barriers identified, librarians should be educated to have 'research literacy' and organazational merit and reward systems were reinforced for research utilization. Also, it needs to explore librarians' specific experiences of barriers in utilizing process in practice. In further research, by integrating both the result of the quantitative and qualitative research, it needs to develop and to assess a standard measurement for librarians' barriers of research utilization in national and international context.

• Journal of the Korean Society for information Management
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.165-189
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• 2012

This study investigated the current state of online subject guides in Korean academic libraries and suggests improvement. Through the examination of 100 academic libraries' Web sites, only 14 online subject guides were identified, showing that the development of online subjects guides in Korea is still in infancy. The examined online subject guides were evaluated as high quality in terms of accessibility, integration of information resources, and format consistency, but low quality in the provision of specialized subjects, user instruction, and information retrieval systems. An online subject guide should be a one-stop service that provides fast access to information resources along with subject-specialized user instruction and effective communication with librarians.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.151-172
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• 2005

This study explored the possibilities on the establishment of Korean LIS (Library and Information Science) which is suitable for Korean society. For this purpose, this study traced the trends of 'decolonization discourse' in the humanities and social sciences of Korea. And this study also identified 'decolonization dicourse' in the LIS of Korea. 'Decolonization discourse' here means an effort in scholarly activities to break out of overly dominant western influences. With the context of 'decolonization discourse', this study analysed the colonized situation of Korean academic libraries. and suggested the decolonization discourse strategies to make a breakthrough in this situation. As concrete strategies, this study proposed the setting-up of strategic plan and organization development plan those are suitable for Korean academic libraries, and the intensification of Korean librarians' leadership.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.19-34
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• 1996

This study provides an overview of the accreditation landscape in Korea, and identifies some problems in the current accrediting review program which assesses the library's achievements These are as follows: (1) The weight given to the library sector is insufficient. (2) There are no indicators to appraise the achiement of the informational and educational functions of academic libraries (3) It is completely devoted to input indicators, but not process or output indicators (4) It is impossible to evaluate the quality os library services. (5) The units of statistics are not standardised. Some alternative measures and indicators are proposed to evaluate the performances of academic libraries' services. It is suggested that an official draft should be prepared by Korean academic librarians to amend the library sector of current accrediting review program.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.167-190
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• 2016

This study aims to analyze the current status of e-book management and services in academic libraries and identify related issues in the provision of the services. To do that, it performed case studies with A and B university libraries. E-book usage statistics was collected from each library and interviews were conducted with librarians responsible for e-book management and services. The interviews included questions regarding obstacles to e-book management and services and current issues as well as budget and acquisition, access and catalogues, usage, and marketing for e-books. The results show that in both libraries, the usage of e-books is low compared with that of printed books and the usage of e-books has declined recently. This is because of lack of new books with shortage of budget. Also, the most important issue surrounding e-book services is academic library evaluation, enacted by Academic Library Promotion Act in 2015. This study discussed how the criteria for academic library evaluation influence the way the academic libraries acquire and manage e-books.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.153-179
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• 2017

The purpose of this article is to discuss about both historical progress and current situation of user instruction in Korean academic libraries. Emphasis was on identifying and analyzing the special features and limitations of user instruction from the viewpoints of library users as well as those of librarians. To the end, data were collected from three methods: the first tool was such major statistical sources as 'KERIS university library statistics system' and 'Research Reports' by the Korean Private University Library Association. The second was from the results of surveys and interviews with librarians from 20 university libraries. And the third was from the results of surveys with library users in two sample university libraries.