DSpace Collection: https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/10878 2016-02-12T09:56:53Z Cost, value and effectiveness of librray and information service https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/19400 Title: Cost, value and effectiveness of librray and information service Authors: Whitehall, Thomas A. Abstract: Several things conspired to encourage me to attempt this thesis: • My job as a library manager during an economic recession forced me to take an interest in the costing and valuation of library services. I attended courses, seminars and workshops on the subject; but although I learned a great deal I found that could not progress beyond a certain point. The work done in the area seemed a confused jumble of theoretical ideas from librarians and information scientists, contributions from economists which seemed to illuminate parts of the area, and the occasional intrusion of very down to earth but apparently effective ideas from practising librarians. I needed a bird's eye view of evaluation to understand it. • The realisation that the business of cost, value and effectiveness is becoming a theoretical sub-discipline of library and information studies, and will be treated as such by educators and practitioners unless it can be seen as part of the very practical business of resource management. • A point made by Oldman (1976) about there being two approaches to the management of library resources: listening to the users and trying to fulfil their needs, and investing the resources available in a responsible manner. What is needed is an amalgam of the two approaches, she maintains. • A question from a student: "How can the library user influence the effectiveness of library services?" Description: A Masters Thesis. Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Master of Philosophy of Loughborough University. 1984-01-01T00:00:00Z Evaluation of the EI reference desk : a multifunction workstation https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/14404 Title: Evaluation of the EI reference desk : a multifunction workstation Authors: Price, Sandra P. Abstract: This thesis describes an investigation undertaken at Loughborough University of Technology in conjunction with the British Library Document Supply Centre. The overall aim of this research was to investigate and evaluate the operation and use of the Ei Reference Desk, an integrated engineering information workstation developed by Engineering Information Inc.. In addition to adding to the basic knowledge on systems for information retrieval and dissemination, improvements to the Ei Reference Desk and related systems were also identified. The research comprised: production of instructional documentation for the workstation; literature review; testing the workstation using evaluative research in the form of questionnaires; comparison studies; and statistical analysis of results using SPSS-X. The literature review concentrated on the following: Engineering Information Inc., workstations, document delivery, telecommunications, and end-user searching. Two questionnaires were designed: the first questionnaire was for test group members using the full workstation facilities over a five month test period; and the second questionnaire was for general library users using the workstation on an ad hoc basis throughout the year. The main objectives of the comparison studies were to compare the printed and electronic sources available to the researcher, and highlight some of the advantages and disadvantages associated with the various retrieval methods. A comparison was also made between the search results retrieved by both the intermediary/librarian and the researcher/end-user. The conclusions and recommendations draw together the main findings of the research, and have been presented to reflect the: optimal operation for different user groups and functions; impact upon the end-users and institution; value for managing information; suitability and clarity of the user interface; technical robustness and flexibility; and effectiveness of the document delivery options. Overall, the Ei Reference Desk provided end-users with valuable access to engineering literature. Recommendations for future development work include: improved integration of modules and user interfaces; access to other software packages; an easy to use and reliable order module; ability to link into existing document supply services and communication networks; further developments in electronic document delivery; and the integration of on-site library holding records. Description: A Master's Thesis. Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Master of Philosophy of Loughborough University. 1994-01-01T00:00:00Z Japanese childrens historical fiction up to 1983: a critical assessment of its place within Japanese childrens literature https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/13974 Title: Japanese childrens historical fiction up to 1983: a critical assessment of its place within Japanese childrens literature Authors: Collins, Wakiko Ohashi Abstract: The publishing of children's books in Japan has had a relatively short history, beginning only in the late nineteenth century. Whilst historical fiction has formed an important part of children's literature published since that time, it has not previously been the subject of any comprehensive study. The aim of this thesis is to trace the progress of Japanese children's historical fiction and to look at the influence of Japanese society. The study shows that since its inception Japanese children's historical fiction has neither reached a high level of quality nor apparently become very popular with children. Until the late 1950's there was no real historical fiction produced in Japan - historical stories were little more than short recounts of events written only to instruct children how to behave and to influence them to support the state and its policies. From the late 1950's, however, real children's historical fiction began to be produced with long stories, plots and developed characters. Since then the genre has become established and many works have been published. During this time it has in the main shown consistent strengths and weaknesses. Most works have all the essential historical features but have serious literary flaws - in particular a lack of interesting plots and characters. The main reasons why these literary weaknesses have occurred appear to be firstly that children's historical fiction has been written to teach the child reader how to behave, and secondly that authors have concentrated on providing historical information instead of interesting plots. Whilst the weaknesses have apparently been recognized by children themselves, as demonstrated by their preferences for other fiction and biographies, influential adults - in particular librarians and critics- continue to value a historical novel on the instruction it contains rather than the pleasure it gives to the reader. Description: A Master's Thesis. Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Master of Philosophy of Loughborough University. 1986-01-01T00:00:00Z The role of a documentation centre in development planning : a case study of the Development Documentation Centre in Sierra Leone https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/13841 Title: The role of a documentation centre in development planning : a case study of the Development Documentation Centre in Sierra Leone Authors: Savic, Dobrica Abstract: Development, considered as socio-economic growth and prosperity, represents today the paramount goal of all nations. Many countries regard national development plans as the main tool for programming and accelerating development planning. Information plays an important role in this. Development planning needs a specialized information and documentation service which, if adequately organized, could facilitate and improve the quality of development planning. The main goals of this research were to gain a comprehensive understanding of development planning information needs, to investigate the role of a documentation centre specialized in development planning, and to find the way for improving the necessary information and documentation base for more efficient development planning. The study was based on the Development Documentation Centre in Sierra Leone. The main characteristics of development planning process in this West African Country and its corresponding information needs were examined and elaborated. An emphasis was put on the role of Development Documentation Centre in meeting the specific information and documentation needs of development planners in the Ministry of National Development and Economic Planning in Sierra Leone. This is a case study based on the experience of one country. However, similarity of living and working conditions with other developing countries allows that conclusions drawn here could have some wider implications. Description: A Master's Thesis. Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Master of Philosophy of Loughborough University. 1989-01-01T00:00:00Z
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