Currently "Big Data" is an emerging field that presents several Information Technology challenges regarding the capture, storage search, structure, and visualization of this data. The real challenge for organizations is to find ways to extract value from it and provide better services to their clients. The data generated in academic and…

Introduction: Evidence-based practice is a process through which evidence in its various forms is sourced, appraised and applied in order to solve a problem, inform decision making, or improve practice. The purpose of this paper is to share findings from a qualitative research study that sought to identify evidence used by Australian special…

In this interview with Caroline Coward, Library Group supervisor for JPL's Enterprise and Information Systems Engineering Section, Coward discusses her own career journey, the importance of high-impact practices, and what employers--specifically NASA and JPL--look at when hiring interns and recent graduates. Other topics discussed include how a…

Today, in its 70th year, the Stone & Webster Library maintains a vast array of world-wide information resources for its users. (Author/NH)

Reports on a content analysis of the literature of special librarianship. Topics include: what is published, subjects covered, research reported, and who is conducting research. Results indicate that less than 20% of the literature reports on research; research that is reported uses less sophisticated methods than general library/information…

Ten law librarians, at one private and three academic law libraries, were studied to ascertain what types of reference services they provide to their patrons. The current model employed in public libraries today was used as the baseline against which to measure these legal reference services. This model employs five traditional categories of:…

This document contains validated activities and competencies needed by librarians working in a special library. The activities and competencies are organized according to the functions which special librarians perform: acquisitions; cataloging; circulation and user services; collection maintenance; interlibrary loan; management; reference; and…

With the onset of the information explosion, the role of the special librarian began to change. While his service goals remained the same, new techniques had to be developed to cope with the flood of published literature. Both networking and information science represent predictable responses to this situation. Information science offers a new…

The subjects of these metropolitan public library study summaries include: book-selection and purchasing, commercial libraries, library research in developing countries; international understanding through literature, international school for library services, statistics, staffing formulas, and facilities and service of selected libraries.…

The main article in this issue is a report on "Salaries and Expenditures of Illinois Special Libraries, 1983," based on 366 usable responses to a mail questionnaire. Data on 14 variables (including 4 aspects of salaries) are cross-analyzed by 6 factors: geographical area, person to whom head librarian reports, sex of head librarian, size…

In an attempt to define the need of special librarians for continuing professional education to maintain and upgrade their skills, the Special Libraries Association (SLA) undertook an examination of the relevant literature. The scarcity of literature led the SLA to identify two areas for further research: 1) what educational methods would best…

The Hungarian Centre for Library Science and Methodology was established in 1959 with the purpose of increasing library efficiency and supplying professional assistance to librarians. It acts as a professional center for library science, methodological work, library training, and continuing education for librarians in all types of libraries. Tasks…

What might motivate someone with a natural science degree to forgo the lab and pursue a non-traditional career in librarianship? Are there differences between LIS graduates with and without a science degree that might impact recruitment strategies? An analysis of data from a longitudinal career study, "Workforce Issues in Library and…

This paper reports on a study conducted to collect the data pertaining to corporate libraries in the United States in order to provide a statistical profile of these special libraries. A review of the literature was performed. The researcher used the online "1996 Directory of Special Libraries and Information Centers," which lists 21,380…

Treasures await students and researchers on the shelves of libraries and archives across the country, but unfortunately they often remain unknown to the "modern" researcher who limits his/her research to using the Internet. The process of physically going to the library stacks and browsing the shelves in a subject area is on the decline…