/library/oar/handle/123456789/98365 Fri, 19 Dec 2025 19:48:43 GMT 2025-12-19T19:48:43Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/99498 Title: Being relevant in the information society : continuing education for library and information workers : a case study of Malta Abstract: The 福利在线免费 Society is transforming the nature of the services and the working environment of library and information workers all over the world. This represents a challenge that must not be underestimated by the Maltese authorities and the library and information workers themselves. All Maltese library and information workers, irrespective of their qualifications and position need to realise that the environment around them is changing. To be able to play a relevant role, the current workforce needs to acquire a new set of skills that enables them to contribute fully to the 福利在线免费 Society. Consequently, continuing education (CE) has become an indispensable tool in providing the current and future workforce with the skills to remain relevant in the changing society. Examination of the recent international literature identifies a number of projects and papers that have examined and discussed the impact of information and communication technologies (ICTs) on the services offered by the various library and information workers. The need of further skills such as interpersonal and communication skills is also discussed. In contrast to other countries, however, no research on the skills needed by the Maltese workforce was identified. Training opportunities for local library and information workers are sporadic and this has often been the result of a reaction to change rather than an anticipation of future needs and planning for new services. The importance of continuing education (CE) must be emphasised if library and information workers want to play a relevant role in the information society. Description: M.Sc Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/99498 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/98586 Title: Building better relationships : a case study for the University of Malta Library Abstract: This study addressed issues concerning the operations of the University Library in becoming more customer-centric and adopting a customer relationship management philosophy. The University of Malta (UoM) has grown from a small professional school to a much larger academic institution in the last 30 years. The Library has since expanded its collections, increased its staff and improved its services. However, over the past five years book loans have declined by 23%. Eight focus groups sessions were held during the spring of 2003. Academics from campus and off-campus, full-time and part-time postgraduates, undergraduates, non-academics, senior and junior library personnel examined their relationship with the library, through product, service, staff and price. The groups discussed whether the implementation of a Virtual Help Desk (using Customer Relationship Management software) through the library website and Communities of Practice could help in their studies, teaching, research and related work. Findings showed that there were two levels of concern: the current situation and the long-term concerns. Participants revealed that the lack of information resources, the need to develop a strong customer conscious culture and to a small extent the costly library and foreign photocopying services were steering users to seek alternative avenues provided by the local and electronic information market. New electronic services were not the ideal solution to building better relations and the physical traditional contact was still significant to users. The groups recommended increasing finances, strengthening the collection, improving the website, providing the technology, training of staff and customers and providing subject specialists as liaisons between library and patrons before implementing new electronic services. Liaison librarians were considered a crucial element in building relationships between the library and the existing Communities of Practice. The study also set the framework for developing on in-depth survey, to provide a quantitative assessment of library services. Description: M.Sc Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/98586 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/98522 Title: eBooks : a pre-implementation study for the University of Malta Library Abstract: eBooks are becoming an increasingly significant electronic resource for academic libraries. Based on the fact that the collection management process of eBooks is complex, the aim of this dissertation was to carry out a pre-implementation study for the University of Malta Library (UoML) on collection management issues surrounding eBooks. To address this aim, four objectives were constructed. The objectives sought to explore the range of eBook suppliers for the academic library market, investigate the selection and acquisition process of eBooks, identify the diverse modes of access that the UoML is willing to exploit in order to enhance discoverability and visibility of the eBook collection, and establish the promotional techniques that the UoML is planning to adopt so as to ensure a satisfactory level of usage. A qualitative case study approach was employed for this study. An interview schedule was devised on three broad themes that emerged from the literature and which fall within the parameters of this research. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with three key UoML staff, each with different roles and expertise. The librarians offered their perspectives on the introduction of eBooks and how the collection management activities can be executed. Overall, the primary findings confirmed the literature as well as offered additional insights. The results showed that the UoML is planning to pilot test the introduction of eBooks for the medical sciences rather than acquiring eBooks across various disciplines. Moreover, it is considering acquiring eBook content from both publishers and aggregators. The most preferred business models are perpetual ownership and subscriptions. The UoML is willing to negotiate various licensing terms and conditions, and points out that long-term access and preservation of eBooks should be a standard condition within the license agreements. Furthermore, the UoML is planning to employ a multiple access approach. However, the results revealed that the UoML should not opt for the OPAC if it implements a pre-harvested search service such as Primo. Most of the tools and techniques identified to promote eBooks are largely conventional. Nevertheless, innovative promotional methods are recognised. The findings showed that the Library has a dominant role in the promotion of eBooks. Nonetheless, the contribution of academic staff, and the involvement of publishers and aggregators are crucial as they complement on the promotional activities carried out by the UoML. With regards to usage statistics, the study showed that analysis of usage statistics assist the Library in collection development and management decisions. From the study it was concluded that it is indispensable for the UoML to integrate eBooks into its collection. Consequently, before implementing eBooks, the Library is planning to address the processes and procedures within the collection development policy. Additionally, the UoML is willing to provide training so as to enhance the negotiation skills of its workforce. Moreover, the formulation of an eResources promotional strategy, including eBooks, is top priority on the agenda of the UoML. Furthermore, the Library is negotiating the procurement of a pre-harvested search service so as to facilitate the retrieval of all of its information resources in a unified way. Description: M.Sc Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/98522 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z