Networked library services in a research‐intensive university
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/02640471211282145 |
| Date | 16 November 2012 |
| Pages | 844-856 |
| Published date | 16 November 2012 |
| Author | Ahmed Taha |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Networked library services in a
research-intensive university
Ahmed Taha
Jimi Business and Engineering Library, Libraries Deanship, UAE University,
Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
Abstract
Purpose – The paper aims to present a conceptual model for networked academic library services in
a research-intensive university. It also seeks to focus on the potential challenges that the networked
library faces in responding to massive needs of the researchers for digital content in different forms
and formats.
Design/methodology/approach – The author conducted a personal interview (face-to-face, and
email communication) with 75 research faculties and postgraduate students in the colleges of business,
engineering, IT, and sciences at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU). The approach to design
the conceptual model for the research-oriented library service was based on the feedback and
observations of the interviewees on the pattern of query processing, research consultations
(e.g. comprehensive, expert, topical search), e-resources coverage, and relevance of the returns to their
queries and information needs.
Findings – The proposed conceptual model demonstrates the virtual reference service, processing of
research queries, online information search and retrieval, and data delivery to the researchers within a
virtual research environment (VRE) in the UAEU. The study argues that the UAEU library should
employ new strategies to meet the arising challenges of digital content and ongoing advances in
information and communication technology (ICT), as well as considering how to embed itself within a
research-intensive university.
Research limitations/implications – The personal interview does not claim to be all-inclusive
since the research faculties in the humanities and social studies were not reached. The inference of the
study is encouraging the directors of the academic and research libraries to consider new models and
strategies for providing reliable research-oriented information services for supporting the emerging
paradigm of e-research activities.
Practical implications – The study derived research-oriented service implications for the subject
librarians to engage effectively with the research-devoted community either in the physical or in the
virtual sphere, i.e. a two-faceted sphere.
Originality/value – An extensive literature review revealed that there is a lack of scholarly works
on research-oriented library services that are provided by the academic libraries at the UAE-based
universities. The study is the first in the UAE to provide a broad understanding to an academic library
in a research-intensive environment for adjusting its web-based information services. It presents also a
suitable approach to embed librarians in the activities of the new paradigms of e-learning and
e-science.
Keywords Networked library,Research information, Digital contents, Query processing,
Academic libraries,Library networks, United Arab Emirates
Paper type Conceptual paper
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0264-0473.htm
This work is dedicated to the memory of the author’s late parents, Taha and Mariam, who
carefully nurtured his early professional career. The author appreciates the patience of Muzna
and Nabaweiya, the sons Amr, Omran, Ghufran, and Ghayth during the preparation of this
manuscript.
EL
30,6
844
Received September 2010
Revised January 2011
March 2011
Accepted April 2011
The Electronic Library
Vol. 30 No. 6, 2012
pp. 844-856
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0264-0473
DOI 10.1108/02640471211282145
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