Building a virtual community platform for subject information services at Shanghai Jiao Tong University Library
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/02640470910947610 |
| Date | 10 April 2009 |
| Pages | 271-282 |
| Published date | 10 April 2009 |
| Author | Wei Pan,Xiaoyuan Lan |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Building a virtual community
platform for subject information
services at Shanghai Jiao Tong
University Library
Wei Pan and Xiaoyuan Lan
Library of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to introduce the functional framework of a subject service
virtual communities’ platform and implementation planning at Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Library.
Design/methodology/approach – First, the paper analyses the three aspects which should be
considered when libraries carry out subject information services, next points out the users’ behavior
preferences of scholar communities to use libraries services and access library resources, and then
explains the limitation of current methods used by academic libraries to reveal and deliver resources
and services. Second, the paper describes the advantages of using a virtual community platform to
reveal library subject resources, services, and to construct the communication environment for subject
users. Finally, the functional framework of the subject service virtual communities and
implementation planning at the Library of Shanghai Jiao Tong University are illustrated.
Findings – Based on the next-generation discovery and delivery system – Primo – subject service
virtual communities at Shanghai Jiao Tong University Library integrate diverse functions as follows
to one platform: Subject information discovery and accessing (subject information letters, subject
information gateway, subject information one-stop search), Subject information blog, Subject
information literacy instruction, Subject information generation and preservation, Subject information
consultation. Besides “one-stop” accessing and obtaining only needed library resources and services,
the virtual communities platform gives subject users a more convenient and more attractive
environment to preserve their research results and share their experiences.
Originality/value – Subject service at Chinese academic libraries has become a hot topic in recent
years. Advice on how to support the service and make it become more effective and attractive is also
an important problem. This article covers various library systems and tools that can be used to build
subject service virtual communities and shows it is valuable and could be tried elsewhere.
Keywords Librarians, Virtualorganizations, Academic libraries, Electronicdocument delivery, China
Paper type Case study
Introduction
Subject information service at academic libraries is mainly provided for those kinds of
users who usually have similar domains of interests and scholarly information needs.
Subject librarians are usually assigned to specific academic areas to support the
research, study and teaching of academic staff, researchers and students. Subject
librarians thus need to provide subject-based services and create subject specific
gateways for those people with certain subject backgrounds. Usually, they must
undertake the tasks of reference service and resource collection in these specific subject
domains. They also need to connect with allocated academic departments and teach
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
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Building a virtual
community
platform
271
Received 7 October 2008
Revised 28 November 2008
Accepted 4 December 2008
The Electronic Library
Vol. 27 No. 2, 2009
pp. 271-282
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0264-0473
DOI 10.1108/02640470910947610
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