PurposeIn response to the changing world of information access, librarians at the New York Law School's Mendik Library became interested in providing a full‐service mobile phone application so that users could search the catalog, access the reserves module, renew books and find information such as library hours. The purpose of this paper is to show how the library went from this concept to an award‐winning product.Design/methodology/approachThe paper shows step by step how the librarians listened to experts in the field, searched the mobile stores to find other libraries that have done this, chosen a vendor, and rolled out the service with a multimedia information campaign.FindingsUsing a team approach, it is possible to develop a mobile application that is useful and still being accessed a year after its first launch.Research limitations/implicationsMore needs to be done to see the precise state of mobile access in the world's libraries.Originality/valueThe approach documented in the paper will serve as a template for libraries planning to add mobile access, but are unsure of how to proceed.
Purpose -The purpose of this study is to show how the addition of a next-generational overlay to an existing online catalog can lead to more-refined searching by users. Users of classic online catalogs have always had the ability to refine their searches and define better the specific type of material they want. However, research in the last two decades has consistently shown that few users take advantage of this extra step. Now with the rise of discovery platforms like Encore and Aquabrowser, the limiting capabilities are automatically displayed to the user, and this study aims to demonstrate that this creates a significant change in search behaviors. Design/methodology/approach -The library worked through months of its search logs for both the classic and online catalogs and compared data from the two platforms. Similar log data were obtained from other libraries to confirm that this was a universal trend. Findings -The study shows that users are 15-20 times more likely to refine their searches if they are searching in a discovery platform. Originality/value -Librarians can base their bibliographic instruction sessions on a better understanding of the search behaviors likely in the two kinds of catalogs.
Purpose -In response to budgetary concerns and feedback from users, the New York Law School's Mendik Library needed to streamline the way it reported current law journal table of contents (TOC) information to its users. As part of this streamlining process, the librarians discovered that most of the journals they provided in paper had web pages that provided full access to all articles in their current issues. The librarians responded to this opportunity by building web pages that provided links to these journals and noted when a new issue had just appeared. The purpose of this paper is to assess the status of current awareness information in the field of legal journals and uncover the options for best using them. Design/methodology/approach -The library worked from a list of journals that they purchased through paper subscriptions. They determined the web page location of each and then checked whether the journal provided TOC data only, full text through internet protocol recognition or open full text for at least the current issue. Findings -More than 60 percent of the law journals that Mendik purchased had online TOC available with full, free access to the content. Originality/value -Librarians can begin to explore replacing TOC reporting with virtual journal shelves that contain full content to the articles.
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