Section on Library Theory and Research

Annual Report 1994-1995

Ms Beverly P. Lynch (Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, UCLA, 3026 Moore Hall, 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1520, USA (fax: +(1-310) 2066293; e-mail: Iyh7bpl@mvs.oac.ucla.edu)) is Chair of the Section on Library Theory and Research, succeeding Ms Maxine Rochester (Australia). Ms Lis Byberg (Statens Bibliotektilsyn, POB 8145 Dep, N-0033 Oslo 1, Norway (fax: +(47) 22831552; e-mail: lis.byberg@bibtils.no)) is Secretary, succeeding Ms Lynch.

Standing Committee and Section Membership

The Standing Committee has 18 members from 15 countries, plus four corresponding members and three observers. One hundred and fifteen IFLA members are registered for the Section.

Projects

The projects below are related to the Section's goals, as expressed in its Medium-Term Programme 1992-1997.

International Thematic Reviews of Research with Association Publication Programmes

It was decided in 1992 to present each year a study on the library and information research in a member country. In Barcelona Virginia Cano and C. Rey presented a paper on 10 years of Spanish research. It is to be published in the International Journal of Information and Library Research. They used the methodology developed by K. Jarvelin and Pertti Vakkari of the University of Tampere in Finland. A project was approved in 1995 to carry out similar work for the UK and an application was approved for a grant to carry out an analysis of two Australian library journals. More information can be found in Jarvelin and Vakkari's articles, "Content Analysis of Research Articles in Library and Information Science" in Library and Information Science Research 12:395-492(1990) and "The Evolution of Library and Information Science 1965-1985. A Content Analysis of Journal Articles" in Information Processing and Management 29(1):129-144(1993).

Projects Relating to Research Infrastructure Generally

The paper prepared by Stephen A. Roberts (UK) and Penny Biggs (UK) on "Registers of Research Work in Library and Information Science: A Report of a Project Undertaken by the IFLA Section on Library Theory and Research" was presented in Barcelona 1993 and has been published in the International Journal of Information and Library Research 6:50-63(1994).

Education and Training Initiatives in Research with Practitioner, Skills and Dissemination Emphasis

Workshops were held in this area at Istanbul (see below).

Publications

The editor of the Newsletter, Jens Thorhauge (Denmark) sent out the annual newsletter in August in 170 copies. This was financed by the Royal School of Librarianship in Copenhagen.

Activity Reports

Maxine Rochester,former Chair, sent regular reports to all Section and corresponding members. The Secretary, Ms Lynch, dispatched the minutes of the Standing Committee meetings to all members.

Future Conferences

Beijing 1996

The Section will organize a half-day workshop with papers relating to current developments in library and information science research in the region. For the open session a paper on the bibliometric study of library and information research following the Jarvelin and Vakkari model used by the Section will be presented.

Copenhagen 1997

The Section will organize its programme around the research reports of the European Commission. It will also be involved in the planning for the Third International Conference on Continuing Professional Education, to be held as a satellite meeting to the IFLA 1997 Copenhagen Conference.

Istanbul Meetings

Workshops

The Section members, together with the Section on Public Libraries, organized a half-day workshop, the aim of which was to unite researchers and practitioners. The scene was set by a paper by Darlene Weigand (USA) on futures research, followed by a paper by Bob Usherwood (UK) on the future of public libraries in England and Wales. Philip Gill (UK) gave his reactions as a practitioner to the study. The role of libraries for the development of children was explored by Marielle de Miribel (France); Paulette Bernard (Canada) dealt with the perceptions and use of research results by practitioners in Quebec, and Jens Thorhauge addressed the changing role of library and information professionals.

The Section also held a workshop at the Department of Library Science in Istanbul University with the Section on Education and Training on teaching research methods. Papers presented were "Making Sense of Research in Business and Government Issues" by Ian Johnson(UK); "Library Education for Utilizing New Technologies by Diann Rusch-Feja (Germany); and "Application in Teaching New Media Technology as a Basis for Research in Children's Reading" by Irene Sever (Israel).

Open Session

The open meeting of the Section featured three speakers; two of the papers were on professional communication, a sub-theme of the conference. Patricia-Layzell Ward (UK) gave a paper reporting on an ACLIS-funded study carried out in Western Australia. Research which is "in-house", "informal" or "service-based", that is, projects undertaken within a service which are designed to provide information and data to aid decision making and/or strategic planning, often go unreported and unpublished. A report by Aysel Yontar (Turkey) of a content analysis of theses from the three library schools in Turkey identified their main research problems and strategies. A final paper contributed by a staff member, Amee Thoumy from the library school at Beirut University in Lebanon proposed a conceptual model for the study of library development in developing countries. Over 75 persons attended the open meeting and there was good discussion. All papers were available in Turkish translation.

Papers presented

Research Problems Being Investigated in Turkey as Revealed in Graduate Theses
by AYSEL YONTAR

Abstract:
The aim of this paper is to indicate main problems in library and information science research in Turkey as revealed in graduate theses. The database of the study consists of 110 graduate theses completed between 1958 and 1994 in three departments of library science. In the study, content analysis of the theses by organizational context, by topics, by research strategies and by data collection methods is presented. Results of the analysis are discussed within the framework of major research problems in all of the departments.

The Hidden Research in Information and Library Studies
by PATRICIA LAYZELL WARD

Abstract:
This paper is a contribution to a series of papers presented to the IFLA Section on Library Theory and Research which have focused on bibliometric studies of the research literature of LIS. There is now increasing pressure upon academics in many parts of the world to carry out and publish research. This is leading to an explosion in the number of articles that they are publishing. At the same time practitioners are also carrying out in-house projects. A study carried out in Western Australia suggests that their findings are less likely to be published. The paper draws attention to this research output which may be hidden, and proposes ways to make it more viable.

Researching Rural Information Provision: A Case Study
by KINGO MCHOMBU

Abstract:
The paper presents the experience gained in conducting a study on rural information provision in Southern Africa. The paper describes key research procedures, such as problem definition, setting objectives, how the study was conducted, and the main findings. In the process, the paper highlights some of the mistakes committed, including question formulation, over-reliance on quantitative approaches, having too many objectives, and shows how the process may determine outcomes.

A Conceptual Model for the Study of Library Development in Third World Countries
by AIMEE THOUMY

Abstract:
As background for the development of librarianship in Lebanon, a conceptual model was developed. Librarianship is considered a system, interacting with other systems in the country.

Future Research Methodologies: Linking Today's Decisions with Tomorrow's Possibilities
by DARLENE E. WEINGAND

Abstract:
The intent of this paper is to suggest that the use of futures research methodologies can inform today's decision-making. While not claiming to be predictive, futures research can develop intelligent forecasts concerning what is possible while indicating strategies for working toward desired goals. In a time of accelerating change, these methodologies can help library managers to copy successfully with uncertainty and move confidently into tomorrow.

Review of the Public Library Service in England and Wales: A Librarian's View
by P.G. GILL

Le rôle des bibliothèques dans le développement des enfants...ou l'inverse...
by MARIELLE DE MIRIBEL

The DNH Public Library Review: The Research Perspective: A Personal View
by BOB USHERWOOD

Perception et utilisation des résultats de la recherche par les professionnels de l'information au Québec
by PAULETTE BERNHARD and LOUISE LAMBERT with the assistance of BERNARD BIZIMANA, MARC COMBY, MARTINE DAIGNEAULT and JULIE MICHAUD

Abstracts:
Not Available.

Latest Revision: May 29, 1996